Tiny Toones: Cambodian Hip Hop Academy

If anyone has ever doubted the global reach of Hip Hop or its ability to uplift cultures around the world, all the proof you need is the Cambodian dance group Tiny Toones. Though the video below helps celebrate the growing breakdancing community from Cambodia, the promotional effort is meant to help build interest for supporting youth education in Cambodia. Read more after the jump:

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!