Fine Art Friday: DJ D-Styles

While I usually feature visual artists here, the art of turntablism is very much about the same creative process of mixing, matching, trial and error, improvisation and creating a mood, at least to me.

D-Styles was recently featured in the Serato Icon series of videos, doing both scratch demo's and an interview about his evolution as a musician. From his time as youth figuring out music and turntables to his time with the Invisbl Skratch Piklz and Beat Junkies to his current residency at LA's Low End Theory, D has been able to share his music with a wider audience with each performance. In the world of scratch DJ's, his album Phantasmagorea is untouched in terms of a concept album and has inspired generations of DJ's to approach scratching in a more musical style. Check the recent sessions out below to see what makes D a Serato Icon.

Music: Rapsody - The Idea of Beautiful

"TRYIN TO MAKE MUSIC THAT MY CHILDREN CAN PLAY" -- Rapsody

Rapsody just dropped her album "The Idea of Beautiful" from the Jamla Records crew, headed by 9th Wonder and the results are great. For all of the people that miss the Lauryn Hill's and Bahamadia's of the hip hop universe, Rapsody carries the torch with pride and honors the Golden Era sound with a great selection of fitting beats and insightful lyrics about the world. Every since I heard Rapsody team up with Nottz for the "Queen to Be" flip from a few years ago, I knew she could deliver a solid album and the IoB is exactly that.

Check out her work at the links above or the video of her in the studio working below and help support quality music in 2012! 

Casual and J Rawls - Give Respect

Casual (of Hieroglyphics fame) and J Rawls recently teamed up for a collaborative album entitled "Respect Game or Expect Flames". The musical backdrop is pretty chill for the most part, but the topics range from police brutality, family life and more mature and grown man rap from the 2 longtime vets.

My personal favorite is "Give Respect" for both the sample and the lyrics of the song, addressing discrimination and police abuse, with a somehow upbeat vibe. Check the video preview above and look for the album on itunes.

ALBUM HERE
itunes.apple.com/us/album/reign/id549250970?i=549250977

Video: Ruste Juxx and The Arcitype - "Rock to the Rhythm"

What started as a single collaboration between Ruste Juxx and The Arcitype, soon grew to an entire EP/album and the formation of a group called V.I.C. (Victorious Impervious Champions). The upcoming album, based on the above single and video, shows lots of promising lyrics and production from the 2 underground champs. Check out the "Rock To The Rhythm" video out and see what you have been missing....even though it isn't out yet.

PRe-Order it at UGHH here: http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/ruste-juxx-the-arcitype-vic-victorious-impervious-champions/DDRJTACD/

Video: Uptown XO - "Occupy DC"

Uptown XO is 1/3 of DC supergroup Diamond District and a steady working MC from the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) hip hop scene. I watched XO slowly build his career up over to embrace the role of the grimey, soulful, former-hardhead MC he is today. XO always comes with an educated approach to street music that is rooted in the hip hop underground and sample-heavy beats that DC hip hop is known for (Kev Brown, Grap Luva, J. Sands, etc.). Check out his latest video for "Occupy DC" that puts a new spin on the concept of "knowledge is power".  New mixtape "The color grey" and album "Colour de Grey" coming soon!

Directed by Ralph Lorenzo // CLCTV

More music from Uptown XO @BANDCAMP

Video: Peet Caliber - "Amoxicillin"

As a preview for an upcoming collaborative EP "Beats and Tetas" between myself and New Jersey MC and true school representative Peet Caliber, I wanted to share this promo video for one of the tracks featured on the project. Peet Caliber flipped the track "You Tell Me" from my recent Mental Rental  project and fit the mood of the beet with a mix of smart and grimey lyrics. Check it out and keep your ears open for the project coming soon.

Download the single, dirty and radio versions, at http://askouniversity.bandcamp.com/album/amoxicillin-prod-luvjonez-single

Support quality music!

Interview: DJ Z-Trip - Crate Diggers Unite!

Z-Trip is best known for his Uneasy Listening Vol.1 DJ mix (with DJ P) from 2001's and help popularize the mash-up albums that Girl Talk seems to have taken over lately. He sits down with Crate Digger's TV and talks about his collection, storage issues, losing girlfriends to vinyl, tracking BPMs for his vinyl, and how he developed his style. This is not a new feature, but it is one of many interviews with Crate Diggers like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock, Da Beatminerz and many more that all fans of music should enjoy.

Fine Art Friday: Rammellzee

Rammellzee has a mythical place in hip hop history as one of the original MC's/artists/everything man to create a character for himself, much like MF Doom has done today, coining the term "Gothic Futurism" to describe his "advanced styles". He also contributed to one of the most storied recording sessions in hip hop history by collaborating with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fab 5 Freddy and K-Rob on the 1983 release "Beat Bop.

This was an era when all of these guys were at the top of their game and monsters of the burgeoning hip hop culture and art movements. The meeting of minds on this 12" makes it a crown jewel of vinyl collector's and while you may never get one, you can listen to it below or read about it on wikipedia.

DJ Premier vs Pete Rock: Front Row Seats

My inner-Golden Era stan came out in full effect yesterday when I got to see the Dj Premier vs Pete Rock battle at the East River PArk in NYC. The stage itself is a sort of Hip Hop icon because it is where the now famous "Wildstyle"movie was shot back in 1983. The event started out chill, with DJ Enuff spinning original breakbeats for the crowd, then the Lyricist Lounge crew came out to introduce PR and Preemo. P and P started off with a tribute to Heavy D, then built up with hits through the decades from other artists before starting to play there on hits.

However, it looked like the Hip Hop gods didn't want anyone to win because the power went off right as the 90's hits were about to play and never came back on. Overall, it was great to see 2 of my personal favorites live on stage for the first time, for me. Check the videos below and see some of what you missed!

LYRICIST LOUNGE INTRO
MIDSHOW CROWD PARTICIPATION MINI-MC LYTE VS AUDIO 2 BATTLE BETWEEN PR AND PREEMO

DJ Premier X Young Guru: Hip Hop Education

Media Assassin Harry Allen's GrindXDesign is kicking off an eight-week digital conference series featuring Chuck D, ?uestlove, DJ Drama and some top magazine, online Hip Hop and industry executives.

GrindXDesign will launch its digital conferencing platform this week. The New York City-based consortium of Hip Hop artists, producers and executives is led by famed journalist, radio host, activist and "Media Assassin" Harry Allen, as a way to educate and empower hopeful artists and industry movers and shakers.

The first of GrindXDesign's digital conferences will include legendary Gang Starr deejay/producer DJ Premier as well as longtime Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation Records engineer Young Guru. The hour-long live conference on August 29th at 8pm will be moderated by Harry Allen, featuring an interview, followed by live Q&A from attendees.

Future guests in the eight-week series will include The Roots' ?uestlove, Public Enemy's Chuck D, DJ Drama, XXL's Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Satten, The Source's Editor-In-Chief Kim Osorio, DatPiff.com's founder Marcus Frasier, Rap Coaltion founder Wendy Day, attorney Dan Booth, Tunecore's Jamie Purpora, social media strategist Lena West, and film exec Arthur Wylie.

The conferences are built to take up to 1,000 simultaneous participants, and may run as long as 90 minutes based on guest availability and engagement.

"What's incredibly exciting about GrindXDesign," began Allen in a statement, "is that, if you're a beat-maker in Argonne, Wisconsin, through digital conference call technology, you'll have as much access to DJ Premier or Young Guru as someone from New York or L.A. If you want the mixtape success of a Lil Wayne, but need to understand what makes this format
hot, you'll be able to listen to, and maybe get a question in to, DJ Drama, or the founder of DatPiff.com; the dominant mixtape website."



"Like Twitter," Allen continued, "the technology eliminates geographic or other boundaries, connecting fans and students directly to knowledgeable authorities. Unlike Twitter, you're not limited to merely sending or receiving extremely short pieces of text."

"Our objective is equipping people who want careers in Hip Hop with the right information, at an incredibly low cost; certainly cheaper than what even small mistakes in any of these areas could cost them."

To attend these conferences, tickets may be purchased by credit card or Paypal at GrindXDesign.com. If purchased before August 23, tickets are $77, and $97 following.

(via hiphopdx and grindxdesign)

DJ Premier vs Pete Rock: Epic NY Battle

DJ Premier is always busy, whether producing tracks for MC's and crews from around the globe or DJ'ing parties around the block, and continues to help promote the culture of Hip Hop in all forms. Not too long ago, I wouldn't pick an album up unless it featured at least one track from "Preemo" and Pete Rock, which often meant if they co-signed you that you were at least worth a listen. Tonight these 2 legends in the game face off in a friendly battle of beats and skills in front of a crowd for FREE and to honor the Lyricist Lounge 20th Anniversary in NYC.

If you are in the NYC area, you should come out and support these two greats and if not, then I will tell you about it soon. Check the link here for times and directions LINK.

Interview: Skyzoo - A Dream Deferred

Recently, Skyzoo sat down with 2DopeBoyz to talk about his upcoming album, due Sept. 18, and preview some of the tracks that will be featured. With production by 9th Wonder, illmind, DJ Khalil, Focus, Tall Black Guy and others, A Dream Deferred looks to be a promising album from the reliable Skyzoo.

He has come a long way from battle raps on 106 and Park and has built a notable career from linking up with 9th Wonder's Jamla Records and Duck Down Records in the past, to his current situation without a label home. Skyzoo seems to grow with each new release, mixing bravado and story telling but always with a sense of truth and honesty.

With guest appearances on the album from Talib Kweli, Freeway, Jill Scott, Raheem Devaughn and some lesser known acts like Jessy Wilson and Jared Evan, Skyzoo knows how to balance the album without overloading the features. Watch the interview above and be sure to pick up A Dream Deferred when it drops. Help support quality music and shine the light on MC's who care about the music they make. (via 2DB & TheWellVersed).

Video: D-Styles - Live In Chicago

For all my fellow scratch nerds out there, I just found this video of D-Styles cutting up some of his classics from earlier this year. However, it made me think of what folks in the Chicago area got to see  this past weekend (08/17/12) where he performed live at the @Darkroom . It is just a short highlight of his time on the decks, but shows his flawless cuts in HD quality (via Jam1photo.com).

Glad to see him out making the rounds and excited about making new music. If you have never heard Phantazmagorea, and you like DJ scratching, then please check it out on itunes or wherever you can find it. Probably the most famous track form it "John Wayne on Acid" is posted below. Keep in mind that the entire album is made of just scratching and try to imagine that process when listening to it.

Interview: Action Bronson - Foodie Champ

Action Bronson has steadily been building a buzz for his Ghostface-esque rhymes but also for his focus on high-end food related content. He constantly drops reference to the wide palette of tastes, spices and foods that he frequents in his native Queens, but also around the world. New York magazine recently sat down with Action to detail his recent journeys with food and family and name checks some secret spots in New York to stuff your face.

Check out the full interview here and open your mind to some new flavor.

Follow him on Twitter for comedy and cooking tips @actionbronson

Video: KA - Born King N.Y.

KA continues to make videos that are NY-centric and quality visuals to promote his latest album, Grief Pedigree. KA is a humble and consistent MC that is super slept-on but has started to slowly build internet buzz for his laid back, quality control approach to music. He is the definition of today's independent artist and does everything himself with no pollution by Top 40 attempts to water down his sound. Check him out and support quality underground music!

http://brownsvilleka.com
http://itunes.com/ka/griefpedigree
http://amzn.com/B0078VAFQI
http://twitter.com/brownsvilleka

Fine Art Friday: ROA, Valerie Hegarty

Both of these artists deal with similar themes, but in two completely different ways, and I enjoy the darkness of them both. Using the concept of decay and neglect for the Earth, both artists approach the subject with destructive yet amazing results.

ROA tends to work in public spaces, often forcing the wounded or trapped animals to interact with the preexisting construction around it, as a comment on man's encroaching elimination and destruction of natural spaces around the globe.

Valerie Hegarty deals with the concept of decay with a similar nod to destruction, but more in the sense of a metaphorical rediscovery of the planet after man has destroyed himself and nature takes over the recovery of Earth. Kind of what the set of "The Road" looked like of Earth in its last days. The results are toxic and subtle jabs at mankind's constant drive to drain the Earth of it's resources and how nature always has to deal with the fallout in the end.

GQ - A Baller Evolved

GQ is a somewhat slept on member of the 9th Wonder imprint Jamla Records, but keeps putting out quality mixtapes and EP's in support of his upcoming Jamla full-length album this Fall. GQ's story is unusual, as Quentin Thomas is a former UNC Tar Heel college hoops champ and chose to pursue rap as a career after school, but not with the typical radio-chasing, mainstream poppy, Young Money-esque bravado. GQ chose to pursue the art of MC'ing and collaborated with 9th Wonder's Jamla records family to embark on his path.

Though GQ's choice in beats seams uneven at times (clubby trunk music vs. soulful laid back), I tend to skip the heavy handed Trap sound and land on the more introspective, throwback tracks that allow GQ to tell stories and show his range, much like BIG K.R.I.T.

Check out one of his most well-received projects entitled "Trouble Man" from DJ Booth and see for yourself. If he can iron out the "trappish" wrinkles in his sound, I feel like GQ will be around for a while and help the Jamla family make a bigger dent in the hip hop underground. If you like J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, J. Hurt, or Pac Div, you should check it out.

Stay updated on GQ at Twitter or Tumblr

PART 1 OF A 2 PART INTERVIEW FROM THIZZLER.COM

Art: BONEFACE

I recently came across the work of BONEFACE, a UK based illustrator, and wanted to share his work with you guys. He has excellent command of line, texture and color combined with often gritty subject matter, which is always something I am drawn to. He has lots of great work on his site, so check out the images below for an overview and check out or buy some of his work at the links below. (via stapledesign)

BONEFACE BLOG
BONEFACE STORE

Interview: Slug X Atmosphere X Rhymesayers

Slug, of Atmosphere, recently sat down with HipHopDX for an interview on life, music and the legacy of Rhymesayers Entertainment. With his usual mix of goofing around and seriousness, Slug shared some stories about how he creates music, how he listens to new music, and how he stands up to icons like Slick Rick and Ghostface.

It is always surprising that more people don't know about the RSE crew from Minnesota and how their success has kept many hip hop favorites thriving in the rap underground for so many years. They continue to build a strong roster and promote quality music that avoids the "bitches and bling" era of radio mainstream music in 2012. Check out the interview at HHDX after the jump and research the RSE website here for more info. If you don't know, now you know!

HipHopDX link
Rhymesayers Entertaiment website 

Video: D-Styles vs. Q-Bert 2012

After recently attending the DMC finals this year, I have scratch DJ's stuck in my mind again constantly and was glad to come across this video of two of the legends of the game, D-Styles and Q-bert, performing at the KAIKOO POPWAVE FESTIVAL earlier this year. The video shows both DJ's cutting some of their classic material live and doing some improv cuts to make it special. I never get tired of hearing great DJ's cutting and hope that an album or some more collaborations come out of these type of public reunions. More please!

For more info on both check out Q-Bert's Thud Rumble and D-Styles sites.

Educate: The Hip Hop Archive

The Hip Hop Archive, founded at Harvard University and searchable online at http://www.hiphoparchive.org/, has been up and running for 10 years now and continues to evolve. The HHA has been producing academic scholars and utilizing researchers to help develop the archive into a wealth of information and history about the origins and world wide impact of hip hop culture.

When it first began, I was a bit suspect of an Ivy League school taking on this endeavor, but as the years have passed and many collegiate programs refuse to offer curriculum that studies the culture as a whole, Harvard seems to be light years ahead of its peers in most academic fields. There seems to be some "cheesy" elements to how the HHA is presented to the larger population (bland graf, typical images, etc.) but in terms of building a solid foundation to reach a broader audience, the HHA has done well.

For me, because I grew up during the Golden Era, it is sometimes hard for me to digest overly theoretical or philosophical assessments from often white educators who claim a thorough understanding of but little actual experience in culture, as if discussing an ancient Egyptian mythology in a far away land. I give them credit for seeking out an ever-evolving culture that is vastly important to generations of people, but I feel like the Hip Hop Elders should have organized something like this years ago.

Hopefully, the HHA can just be seen as a launching point and other organizations with closer ties to community and culture will spring up one day. It would be great if universities could see Hip Hop as an entire department and not a dissected section of spoken word poetry, theatrical dance and other fragmented and "ivory tower" versions of the original movement. I applaud the HHA for existing in the first place, but would be glad to see these type of educational facilities spring up within the communities that birthed the movement instead of a private college campus.

Check out the links above and research the lectures, demos and history offered by the HHA.

Logan Hicks: Stencil Master

While attending the Joe Lurato and Chris Stain show last night, I headed to the drink cart to get a water (good story I know). While waiting for my drink, a guy and his son walk up beside me to also ask for water and when i looked up, it was stencil and street art master Logan Hicks.

I recognized him from always checking out new work on his site at http://www.loganhicks.com/ and had a chance to talk to him for a few minutes. He told me about some upcoming shows and I asked about all of his recent sewer and bridge photos that I see on Facebook all the time.

Almost 10 years ago, I was walking down the street in Milwaukee and saw a "workhorse" tag on the sidewalk and recognized the name from an article I read in Anthem magazine. It was nice to meet the man in person and discuss his work.

The amount of work that goes into his images is staggering, often huge canvases of layered stencils with incredible detail, best seen in person.

Check out his recent work below and his website for more and do some research on one of the OG's of the street art and stencil art movement.

Fine Art Friday: Chris Stain, Joe Lurato, Dave McKean

JOE IURATO X CHRIS STAIN

I hate to lump two great artists together in one post, but in this case, they are doing a show tonight @The Mighty Tanaka in Dumbo, Brooklyn (NY) called DEEP IN THE CUT (New Work by Chris Stain and Joe Iurato) and it makes perfect sense. I am a long time fan of both of their work, as it is the type of street art that makes you stop and study it with the level of detail and mystery that they both build into the process. Both artists interact with the surrounding walls and objects and I have long enjoyed the similar but distinctly different methods they use to execute the work. If you can't make it to the show tonight in BK, check out there work online and educate your self on some quality artwork hidden a neighborhood near you.


DAVE MCKEAN
Though he is a legend in the comic book art world, I always enjoy revisiting the work of Dave McKean whenever I need inspiration. His work floored me the first time I saw it and I realized that having a "dark" style and abusing photographic source material was a legitimate path to follow. I have long been a fan of darker themes in art work, as evidenced on my @Pinterest account I guess, and McKean was a launching point for me. If you don't know his work, check more out below and online here.

Artists You Should Know: Devine Carama

Devine Carama



Devine Carama is an MC that has built his story from the unlikely home field of Kentucky, where I was also born and raised. Much in the spirit of the underground heroes like Cunninglynguists and the 502 Hedz, Devine keeps his eyes on the story of the struggle told through honest rhymes and a good mix of southern soul and sometimes mellow vibe. His music embodies the Golden Era of rap and the more introspective rhymes from Nas, mixed with the southern consciousness of early Outkast and Goodie Mob.

The video above, for his track "The Populist Pulpit" is from an older album, but it is a good introduction to the mind state and skills that you can hear on all of Carama's albums.

Check out his ode to the Nas classic "The Message", featured on Soundcloud and research his back catalog. Help support good music and good artists!

"Nas is my favorite MC & this is one of if not my favorite albums of all time. I just wanted to pay homage & hopefully shed light and inspire the younger generation to go back and study It Was Written." – Devine Carama

Video: Chaundon ft. The Audible Doctor " Success, Part 1"

Chaundon, of JUSTUS LEAGUE and 9th Wonder fame, teams up with The Audible Doctor for TAD's upcoming album I Think That due out September 25th. Download the song at the link below and keep an eye out for the final project coming soon.

FREE DOWNLOAD: http://www.sharebeast.com/4bfn119jpmgi
"Success (Part 1)" is off of Audible Doctor's "I Think That..." EP (Out 09/25/12)

CREDITS
Audible Doctor Feat. Chaundon "Success (Part 1)" (Prod. By Audible Doctor, Cuts By DJ Brace)

http://audibledoctor.com
http://twitter.com/audibledoctor

Video by Civil Productions // Directed and Shot by Rob Levy (@CivilProd_Rob) // Assistant Directed by Joe Gherardi of Macro Films

Video: Scram Jones - "Boom Bap Jones"

SCRAM JONES – “BOOM BAP JONES” 



Though this video is in support of Scram Jones The Hat Trick project from 2011, I am still rocking the bulk of this free download in my ipod. Check the video starring – DJ PREMIER, TONY TOUCH, LORD SEAR, SHIEST BUBZ, EVIDENCE. With help from SHADE 45 BEAST MUSIC – PACE MEDIA PRODUCTIONS and SMOKESTACK RECORDINGS, Scram was able to release this project and help shine some light on one of the most slept on MC/Producer/Song Writers in all of rap.

With production and MC credits on multi-platinum albums and artists ranging from RnB to Latin to Hip-Hop – Scram Jones has proved that his melodies and beats have universal appeal.

"Scram Jones is not your average Producer, DJ or MC; he is a Grammy-nominated “triple threat”! 
– Via ScramJones.com

If you never heard of Scram Jones until now, do your research! Follow @Scram Jones on Twitter


SCRAM JONES - 40 BAR FLASHBACK  (an audio history lesson)

Read: Where is N.W.A. When We Need Them?!

Juan Vidal recently posted an interesting read at Huffington Post on the history of politically aware and outspoken hip hop artists (Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, etc.) with a long review of what the popularity of NWA in their prime meant to the US at large. The group promoted anti-police brutality, angst and hardcore approaches to the oppression of the larger "powers that be" and corrupt "system"present in US policies and law. Vidal discusses the influence that the "angry black rapper" had on the media and society that should make you long for the day when rappers were genuinely pissed off about the world and not just partying to house music like they do in 2012. Read the full article after the jump:

Interview: DJ House Shoes

In the first in a series of video interviews, Abraham Beltran interviews House Shoes about his early years and how he was introduced to the Detroit Hip Hop scene. Afterwards, the latest music video from House Shoes Let It Go album for the track "Castles" featuring  Jimetta Rose.
(via 2dopeboyz)



CASTLES ft. Jimetta Rose

New Album: LuvJonez - Mental Rental

Officially released today, Mental Rental is 30 tracks of instrumental brain food with a mix of throwback sounds and soul samples to fit inside your head. Check out the streaming album at the Bandcamp link above and share it with anyone you think would enjoy it. Thanks for the support!

Video: Rapsody - Believe Me

RAPSODY - "BELIEVE ME" (PRODUCED BY 9TH WONDER)

Rapsody lays down some Lauryn Hill quoting, mellow, battle rhymes for the wack MC's of the world and folks who continue to sleep on her skills. Nice to hear some less anthem-like tracks from 9th Wonder and more of a laid back feel. Nice mix of lyrics and visuals from the Jamla family.

Watch out for the "The Idea Of Beautiful" project coming soon. More please!

Schlomo: New Music Mix

Shlohmo was a recent guest on Benji B’s BBC Radio 1 show and laid down a hypnotic and, to quote PIMB, a "woozy 27-minute mix of previously unreleased material from his discography, a Ryan Hemsworth cut, and, perhaps weirdest/best of all, chopped-and-screwed Carly Rae Jepsen. Yes, I hate “Call Me Maybe”, too, but this is hilarious." Stream or download the mix below.
(via Potholesinmyblog)

Music Mondays: Future + Past

TRILLECTRO

Though I do not live in DC, if I still did, I would be checking this show out. A chance to see some of the dope DC area musicians like Oddisee, Tabi Bonney, DJ Underdog is good enough, but Flosstradamus has been killing the club remixes of everything lately and it would be cool to see it done live. I can just be jealous of the show, and the doep flyer, long distance and encourage others to go and tell me about it afterwards. Check it out at http://dctobc.com/trillectro/



ROCKI EVANS

I know this is older material and a bit out of a left field post, but I recently came across some songs by Rocki Evans and I like his mix of hip hop production (throwback style) and soulful singing. This is the type of sound I wish folks like Anthony Hamilton would rock with, but I am glad to see an authentic voice of soul singing using the Golden Era sound as a backdrop for his words. Check out his Bandcamp link below and the latest remix/ cut from SoundCloud below.






LUVJONEZ - MENTAL RENTAL

One more plug for my upcoming release, tomorrow, for an instrumental hip hop project of 30 songs with unreleased material and remixes of mellow, throwback beats to fit inside your head on your daily commute. Preview or Pre-order today or check it out on Bandcamp here: http://luvjonez.bandcamp.com/album/mental-rental

2012 DMC Finals: The Results Are In

For my first time seeing the DMCs live and in-person, it turned out to be a pretty dope show. Hosted by Lord Finesse, who took time to crack jokes, freestyle some gems, took turns cutting on the tables and spoke honesty about his issue with Mac Miller (unprovoked), the finals featured a few DJs I knew and many I didn't. However, in addition to seeing fan favorites like DJ Precision of the X-ecutioners crew ( who won) and Boogie Blind (also of Xmen), it was nice to see some former champs share the stage and cut live, like DJ Cheese, Snayk Eyez, Spiktacular, Total Eclipse, DJ Swamp, and Fat Fingaz. I even got to meet Pharoah Monch (one of my all time top MCs) who was just hanging out in the crowd watching. Even got a chance to see my old friend and professional goofball DJ John Swan in the crowd. Overall, great event and glad to see DJs still drawing a crowd with scratching in 2012! Pics below!

DJ SOL RISING, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SKWINT

1986 DMC CHAMP, DJ CHEESE

LORD FINESSE, HOST

PRE-BATTLE CREW PRACTICE W/ FAT FINGAZ, PRECISION AND WAYSTYLEZ

DMC US Finals: Turntable Madness in NYC

Not to many people are up on turntablism these days, but I am still a die hard fan. The DMC US finals is being held in NY this year, so it is the first time I am able to see it live! The entire weekend is filled with DJ events and hopefully I can make it to most, if not all of them to see some of my favorite DJs reveal their tricks in person. Check it out if you can!

LOCATION AND TICKET INFO

Le Poisson Rouge

158 Bleecker Street, New York, NY, United States

+1 212-505-3474 ‎ · lepoissonrouge.com

Fine Art Friday: Sigur Ros, Laurence Demaison, National Geographic

Video: Sigur Rós: Varúð
Kind of a left field post here, but the video below is artfully done, as is most of Sigur Ros' videos, and the music is hypnotic, much like the visuals. I enjoy the fact that they don't use stereotypes of model girls and other cliche video props and try to illustrate the music with more poetic grace. By the end of the shoot, the girl probably had to get a tetanus shot from the barefoot skipping, but it looks nice!


Sigur Rós: Varúð from Sigur Rós Valtari Mystery Films on Vimeo.


LAURENCE DEMAISON
I am a big fan of dark art, but not everything dark, as some of it is too "ham fisted" and obvious. However, the work of Laurence Demaison seems to carry the darkness through more creative territory, somewhere between surrealism and fashion photography. I enjoy the distorted faces and bodies and mostly black and white images that he churns out. Check out his work below and see how to push the boundaries of shadow and light with photographs.

MOTHER NATURE: AN OLDY BUT GOODY
This is an old photograph but still amazes me when I look at it. Look closer, and you may be able to make it out, that yes, this is a photograph, not a painting. As National Geographic remarks of the photograph taken in Namibia, "Tinted orange by the morning sun, a soaring dune is the backdrop for the hulks of camel thorn trees in Namib-Naukluft Park."

The power of nature combined with right time, right place-ism! Even if it ever turns out to be Photoshopped,  which NG claims it is not, it still looks awesome.

Download: Alchemist X Domo Genesis - No Idols

After just discussing the Durag Dynasty project earlier this week, Alchemist drops the official No Idols project with Domo Genesis today! Filled with grimey samples, mellow flows and key guest vocals from Smoke DZA, Tyler the Creator, Freddie Gibbs, Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, Prodigy and more, No Idols keeps the dirty underground sound of recent left coast projects alive. Check it out and zone out to some space cadet raps and hazy beats! More please!

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Free Download: MyOne - "Away With Words" EP

MyOne of Strange Fruit Project just released an EP called Away With Words. While S1, Symbolyc One, has been building his mainstream cred with contributions to Kanye West projects and other major label features, he is still loyal to his Strange Fruit Project family by lending his production to this EP. MyOne is building up his own catalogue with smaller projects like this and hopefully that bodes well for future music from the SFP crew. Check out the link on Bandcamp above and check it out!

Liquid Swords: Why It Changed My Life and Could Change Yours

On the heals of the re-issue of GZA's masterpiece Liquid Swords, I felt moved to share why this, among other Wu-Tang family albums, changed my life when I was growing up. I have to admit that GZA was not my favorite member of the Wu in the beginning, as I was a stan for Method Mad and his gravel voiced, grimey sounds, but once Liquid Swords came out, and due to my stan-ism for all things Meth, I checked it out since he was featured on "Shadowboxin'". I spent way too many hours of my life memorizing all of only-Method Man's parts for all Wu songs, but the first time I heard the song "Shadowboxin'" I was floored. The super creepy and grimey soul loops from the RZA, which I was convinced had the bomb sounds from Metroid in it, and the graphic lyrics made me take notice of GZA's ability to paint pictures with words. The combo of Meth and GZA made me rewind the cassingle about 5000 times to memorize all the words from this song.   "Check these non-visual niggas with tapes and a portrait" --GZAThese words forever changed how I approached albums and how I appreciated an artist's vision for his work. Liquid Swords was one of the first hip-hop albums I had heard that envisioned the entire album as an entire piece, even weaving the song titles together in some kind of jumbled story on the back of the CD.   I was always weirded out how they cut the video track short and flipped "4th Chamber" into the mix, but that song was ill too, and made me bug out at how the GZA could build an entire mood for the album that embraced the grime, wit and soul of the Wu Tang's 36 Chambers, but with enough changes to stand on it's own. If you don't already own this album and claim to like hip hop, you need to march the the store and trade your cash so one of the illest albums of all time. No flashy club hits, no forced features from unlikely artists, just straight Wu-Tang, grimey hip hop for the soul!