New Jersey emcee CYMARSHALL LAW returns with a new solo project featuring full production by Swedish production team The Beatnikz. Due to drop in August, Cymarshall is proclaiming this to be his best work to date. Preorder at AMAZON.COM. First single, "The Flyness", to be released later today.
In case you missed- Cymarshall Law & Skit Slam are EVERLIVEN SOUND available now on iTunes!
Yes! AT LAST the long awaited, long promoted, full length debut album from ETERNIA & MoSS is here. Long time listeners of THEZROHOUR podcast and readers of the blog have gotten familiar with the self proclaimed "hip hop unicorn". Yes she's white, from Toronto, yadda yadda yadda...and skilled to def as an emcee. Producer, MoSS (fellow Canadian and no less ill), combined forces to provide a refresher course on skills and substance in hip hop.
My review may be somewhat biased considering that I have long championed Eternia's talent and viability. Make no mistake, if I am not feeling any of the material I would not hesitate tossing a brick at it. I kept "At Last" on repeat for a few days to take it all in. The project is VERY personal, sharp, filled with commanding flows and dense production. When I first cracked open the CD, I went through my ritual of scouring the liner notes. To my surprise, Eternia and MoSS revealed their thoughts and creative process about every track. It was good to read that there was some disagreement over the direction or content within a couple of the tracks. Creative minds will always disagree or stand by personal vision but it was nice to know that the final product reflects the dedication of these two artists.
The album begins with an audio scene from one of Eternia's live concerts which is fitting due to the way MoSS had the epiphany which led to this project. Seeing Eternia live was the way I first became exposed and my reaction was just as visceral. The next four tracks, "Any Man", "32 Bars", It's Funny (ft. Joell Ortiz) and "The BBQ (ft. Rah Digga & Rage)", go hard showcasing Eternia's lyrical venom. She more than holds her own with veterans and fellow lyrical beasts Joell Ortiz, Rah Digga and (Lady of) Rage. MoSS dials in some pure, neck snapping heat that makes Eternia rise to the occasion. The following 6 tracks is where you understand that her life is truly in the pad. "Pass That" is an autobiographical account of her turbulent entry into the world juxtaposed with third (?) person tales of other kids faced with challenging family and societal pressures. "To The Past" finds Eternia regretful, slightly ashamed yet focused on her new beginnings in life. "The Half" is the anthem for children of "rolling stone" fathers. Eternia often speaks on her father who is a reputed gangster and on this track she reaches out to her extended siblings who share his bloodline. "Played Out" is an ode to many of her failed relationships and examines the role she played in choosing some of these situations. Talent runs in the family as her sister Jessica Kaya laces the hook with lilting vocals. "To The Future" is a haunting, revealing letter to Eternia's future husband. She is warning any potential suitor that she is damaged, distrustful and still healing from some very traumatic experiences with men. One of my favorites. "Dear Mr. Barcardi" is a "Dear John" letter to her favorite libation. All was not good though as you can assume. This classy emcee was sort of a lush at times and sloppy with her drinking. She mentions running into EPMD's Erick Sermon and embarrassing herself. A cautionary tale that many (especially young women) should heed.
The final 4 tracks from the album return to the boom bap/flame spittin' rhymes that Eternia & MoSS excel at. "At Last" (ft. Termanology and long time collaborator Reef The Lost Cauze) finds E back in her comfort zone mic to mic. Termanolgy and Reef are the proper company to keep as they kill the beat like its their own track. "Day In The Life" features fellow Toronto emcees Tona and veteran Maestro Fresh Wes (!). The track is pure fun and high energy. On "Catch Me", one of the hottest beats on the album, reveals that Eternia is both humble enough and sure of herself to avoid diva status and mix it up with the peeps. The album wraps with the sinister backdrop of "Goodbye". Eternia has often intimated that she could very well leave the industry behind. She is a leader exhibiting a no nonsense swagger. Her lyrics on this closer exemplify this attitude. There is already a dearth of female emcees repping with true lyricism and it would be a shame to see her magnetic presence diminished. The video for "Goodbye" just dropped today! Check it out:
ETERNIA & MoSS' "At Last" is the album that I wanted to hear from this great team. MoSS' production is laced with thick drums, bluesy organ, guitar licks and theatrical backdrops. Eternia delivers some of the most passionate lyrical content that you will hear from any emcee- male or female. If I were to rate it, I would give it an 8 out of 10. No fast forward material present at all. If there is another project from these two, I would like it to be just one mic and one producer. Eternia's verses leave you wanting more.
Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek release a brand new music video for "Ballad of the Black Gold", an ode to the oil crisis. I premiered this song on the latest podcast of THEZROHOUR. Great, great song. Powerful video.
This is another video showing how Native Instruments Maschine is not just a sampler or beat machine, but that it can be used just like a workstation or keyboard.
Instead of using it by sampling records or songs into it, I am using the internal sounds and creating music like I would on a Roland Fantom or Yahmaha Motif.
In this video I just want to show you how easy it is to import your samples for use in maschine. When you do it this way, you can browse through your own sounds right from the hardware controller, just like internal native instrument sounds.
This is important for me, as I use Maschine without having the monitor on or the software is minimized. I do EVERYTHING from the controller. Maschine is dope, straight up, probably my favorite released product last year. Serious.
I am on the edge with this one. The video is shot very well, the story within the song is cool and I like the chemistry between Cons and Styles. The hook and choice of song inspiration, not so much..
BLACK SHEEP returns with the first single from upcoming album "From The Black Pool Of Genius". Original member DRES, is carrying the Black Sheep brand solo this time.
Back with a fresh episode for the Independence Day (U.S.A.) weekend! The show features new music from REFLECTION ETERNAL, RHYMEFEST, LADY DAISEY, FRESH VETZ, ETERNIA & MoSS, DRAKE, RAH DIGGA, AUDIO KNOX, MONSTALUNG, MARCO POLO & KALAE ALL DAY. Classics by MASTA ACE INCORPORATED and PETE ROCK & C.L. Smooth round out the show.
Rising on the indie scene, Brooklyn, New York rapper C.CRAZED calls in to chop it up about his upcoming project THA LOYALTY 2. C.Crazed first appeared on THEZROHOUR back in 2004 as a part of my Indie Showcase podcast. Check out "Tha Loyalty 2" First Official Street Single below. It features, C.Crazed, Sos Pachino, Hollywood, & Redemption On The French Rappers Jil Aston Produced Record "Foreign Exchange" Be On The Look Out For The Jil Aston/C.Crazed collab "Foreign Exchange Part 1"-
THE B-SIDE- Masta Ace Incorporated
RESILIENCE- Fresh Vetz
WHO I BE- Diamond District (Marco Polo RMX)
THE BBQ (RMX)- Eternia & Moss feat. Tiye Phoenix & Jean Grae
BALLAD OF THE BLACK GOLD- Reflection Eternal
ONE THING- Freeway & Jake One feat. Raekwon
HOLLOW BONES FREESTYLE- Safari
FANCY- Drake feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz
SAY WASSUP- RHYMEFEST feat. Phonte
SEARCHING (RMX)- Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
4 A.M.- Lady Daisey
SO I- C.Crazed
INTERVIEW WITH C.CRAZED
THE TRIP- C.CRAZED
ANY MAN- Eternia & MoSS
THIS AINT NO LITTLE KID RAP- Rah Digga
ON LOCK- Audio Knox
FRESH LIKE DOUGIE- Monstalung
THE INTRODUCTION- Mitch L. Hennessey
KEEPONPUSHIN (THISISIT)-Kalae All Day
SIX ZRO's own SAFARI drops a new freestyle over a classic Wu-Tang instrumental. Hit him up and tell him what you think! Safari's debut mixtape, "WILD LIFE: WHO LEFT THE GATE OPEN??" is right around the corner. Stay tuned..
Brooklyn Bodega, producers of the 6th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (BHF) announced today that legendary producers DJ Premier and Pete Rock will be joining The Large Professor for a special DJ set at BHF '10 Show and Prove Super Bowl. The event will be held at Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue on Monday, July 5th.
Description: Previously only done in Japan, for the first time ever, fans in the United States have the opportunity to see three of the greatest producers in Hip-Hop rocking the same stage. Brooklyn Bodega and YUME Music have partnered up to showcase this "Unforgettable Set" as the headlining act of its Show & Prove Superbowl where six aspiring Hip-Hop artists compete for two slots that open the stage at the Main Day of the Festival, Saturday, July 10th.
Show & Prove Superbowl Finalists are: Kalae All Day, St. Joe Louis, Poetic Republic, The Crowd, Mikeflo and Ashy L. Bowz.
Kalae All Day is a definite favorite and of course I am also rooting for Randy Mason and his group THE CROWD. Both have been featured here on this site and podcast.
