J.J. Brown mixes Hall & Oates & Gym Class Heroes

J.J. Brown is makin' major moves! Following the mainstream attention he received for re-working Ludacris' most recent album using Jackson 5 songs as the template (you can download it here), J.J. has taken on the task of melding Gym Class Heroes "As Cruel As Schoolchildren" with Hall & Oates entire catalogue!!

"We've been making indie rap records since 1998, and Trav has always been a huge fan," Brown explained of the relationship, which began a few years ago when the Heroes opened up for Brown's crew. After the Luda album was released, McCoy called up and asked if Brown and his 5G Productions team could do the same with the Heroes' album.

"We asked him if he had any suggestions for catalogs — and he didn't know our camp were huge fans of Hall & Oates — and [McCoy] stuttered a bit and said, 'What about Daryl Hall and John Oates?' since [the Heroes' summer] tour was called 'Daryl Hall for President,' " Brown recalled. "The timing was crazy, because we almost did the Ludacris album with Hall & Oates, so we had the stack of records waiting for the next thing."

Not only did 5G not get a cease and desist from the Hall & Oates camp, Brown said, but in a remarkable coincidence, a company that bought the blue-eyed soul duo's catalog sent out an e-mail to the managers of several hot groups earlier this summer asking them if they had any ideas for new ways to market the tunes. That led to a meeting with the new owners of the H&O catalog, which Brown said went better than he could have imagined. "We got past song number two, and everyone is on their Blackberries!" he said. "Hall & Oates' managers are on the phone, the original producers of the tracks are on the phone. When I imagine in my fantasy world what might happen with a great idea, it was happening. We're New York hip-hop producers, and we're used to sampling things and hoping the artists don't catch us. Now we're doing it with their blessing and they're impressed with what we're doing."

How impressed? Two weeks ago, Brown and his partner were given the VIP treatment at a Hall & Oates show in New York, where the duo were as excited to meet Brown as he was to meet them. "I was trying not to be star-struck, but whenever I paid them a compliment, they hit us back with five more."

No release date has been set for the Heroes match-up album so far, but Brown said he's been told it might be part of a package the group is planning to release before the end of this year.

Download "7 weeks" Gym Class Heroes
Download "Re-Release Therapy" Ludacris & The Jackson5


interview via MTV.com

Daryl Hall Interview at Pitchfork

One more reason why Hall and Oates is so fucking cool! The guy is all about the upcoming Gym Class Heroes Hall & Oates Mash up Project!

Pitchfork: We've also just heard that the Gym Class Heroes produced a mash-up album with your music. What do you think of people sampling your music?

DH: I love it. I talked to the producers that did that, John and I both talked to them, and we're working on a project with them. Out of all this came a probable collaboration. What they did was really artistically groundbreaking, I think...And it created a really interesting piece of music. To me, it's like the spirit of Sacred Songs. That's what it reminds me of. It's that experimental spirit that breaks new ground artistically, and I really like it.

To answer your question about people using my samples, once I do something it belongs to the world. Now, I like being paid obviously, but other than the credit, financial and-- you know, real credit, I love it. Do whatever you want. Mess with me. It's fair game.

Read the full interview at PITCHFORK

Promise & Numonics "First Name Basis"

Got a pretty hot E.P. today and figured I better let folks know about it.
Promise & Numonics "A Brief Introduction" is just that, a quick hit into the talents and abilities of Trendsetters members, Promise & Numonics. It's also the introduction to their soon to be released full length album "First Name Basis"

Tampa's been seeing some talented artists on the come up lately (Acafool, Strizzo, Dutchmassive, Breakdown, Surreal). It seems like only a matter of time before somebody breaks big around here. I don't know if these are the cats ta do it but I don't know why they shouldn't either.

The opening track "Ya'll Ain't Ready" is an urgent banger, wrapped up in horn stabs, and sped up vocals (ala Kanye West). What's most striking about the entire E.P. is the extremely well crafted production. Numonics delivers just the right mix of sampling and clean drums, and MC Promise rides the beat with a delivery that usually fits right in the pocket. Numonics, however, is the star here. More than just a beat maker, his tracks have movement and a progression to them that isn't always in effect for most producers these days.

His talents are most notably on display in "Sick & Tired" when the song opens with bongos and a vocal sample and quickly swells into an uptempo, 70's guitar driven, fiery, anthem. They do fall into a cliche or two here and there (suffice it to say that if I never hear another song about smoking weed I'll be just fine) but overall these are some talented cats that you're gonna wanna pay attention to in the very near future. Plus Numonics rocks Mishka gear so I gotta give him love right?!?!



Don't take my word for it. Check 'em out!


Download "Ya'll Ain't Ready"

Download "Sick & Tired"

New Balance Fall '07 Releases

I just took a look at the New Balance Fall/Winter 2007 releases that have been posted at Overkill Berlin.

Here is a more detailed pic of the New Balance "Ndividual" project. Note the "N" text within the replaceable "N" logo. It's growing on me I have to admit.

They received a nice M576 with great brown leather and gold applications.

They also got two fresh WRC574 lady sneakers - one black with woven multicolored upper (kinda like your grandma's couch material) and lacquer “N”-logo; another one with bone white suede upper and glimmering gold colored material.

In addition New Balance drops two brand new models called H754 that veer dangerously close to an air jordan silhouette if Air Jordan made a hiking boot...or something. They feature waterproofed leather uppers and special lacing. The "N" logo is part of the mid material which is a new twist for NB. Not sure what I think of 'em yet but New Balance always keeps it movin' forward.

Overkill always has the dope New Balance releases.

Other Music I'm Listening To

Hope you all had a nice 3 day weekend. How 'bout some music???

It's come to my attention that it may seem as if all I listen to or check for or enjoy is hip hop music. Nothing could be further from the truth. I, in fact, love all different kinds of music. With that in mind let me put some shine on some CDs that've been in my player for a minute. It's been a lotta female artists lately. Maybe because there are so few women in hip hop these days...

Vedera (formerly Veda)- "The Weight Of An Empty Room"

The Falling Kind



My not so guilty pleasure is female fronted indie rock bands from the 90's. I love The Blake Babies, The Cranberries, 10,000 maniacs, Sinead O'Connor, The Sundays, Belly, Aimee Mann and all that stuff. So a band like Kansas City's Vedera is gonna quickly rocket into my most played list because Kristin May and her band obviously came up on these very same bands. They do add a little something extra with Kristin's crystalline, and searingly powerful, vocal delivery and Brian Little's almost U2-like effected guitar dynamics. Anthemic deliberations on heartache, relationships (both beginning and ending) are at the core of the album. As my friend Mudd so correctly points out on a regular basis, Kansas City does not let a mediocre band out on the road. Both live and on record Vedera is a captivating experience. I can't wait for their next album!! They have apparently signed with Epic so here's hoping that a big label knows how to work them properly and they get a chance to really shine.

Download "Trade This Fear"

The Forecast - "In The Shadow Of Two Gunmen"



Now here is a band for long road trips and whiskey soaked nights. They're from Peoria, Illinois (a little farm town that I spent my childhood summers in, visiting relatives, and attempting to stave off boredom) but don't hold that against 'em. One of the tightest rhythm sections in indy rock music today. Seriously, like metronome precision. Driving guitars, equal parts earnest and soaring vocals about love, loss and the joys and pains of traveling the open road in a van with your friends. I am constantly reminded of another Illinois band, Pegboy. But the Forecast is no knock off. Original and exciting with just that perfect sense of world weary melancholy that you might not expect in a band so young. They'd tour with Murder By Death and Brazil in my perfect world.

Download "A Fist Fight For Our Fathers"

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - "100 Days, 100 Nights"


Now hear is a funk and soul sister number 1!! None of this fake-the-funk, flash-in-the-pan, trend hoppin', Amy Winehouse, bullshit for Ms. Jones. Serious funk from this Augusta, Georgia born, Brooklyn bred lady. After years of non-stop worldwide touring and recording, Sharon Jones and her mighty Dap-Kings give you their finest full-length effort to date. As Sharon says, "If you cant feel the music on this album, then you must be a dead ass!"
Daptone Records releases this album October 8th.

Download "Keep On Looking"


Now go and pick up some of these albums. I really recommend them very highly.

Knobody "Tha Clean-Up" drops sept 18th on Hiero Imperium

Hieroglyphics Imperium has been adding new artists to their roster lately. O.C. was their high profile acquisition but he's no longer alone. Along with former Rhymesayer Musab, and Prince Ali, comes Bay Area rapper Knobody. Knobody came to the attention of Hiero's resident A&R man, veteran MC Casual, at a show that he was performing at in '06, and was signed to the label within weeks.

Download "What U Think"

Knobody's first album on Hiero, "Tha Clean Up," will hit stores on September 18. "Tha Clean-Up" is a heavy hitting, cohesive album that aims to do what a clean-up hitter does on a baseball team: smack some balls out of the park. With featured appearances from the hottest underground rapper in the Bay, Mistah Fab, as well as Casual, Opio, & A-Plus it looks like a guaranteed quality release from the next generation of Hieroglyphics artists.

Grab the album when it drops fools!!
Hit Knobody on Myspace.

More from Hiero coming soon.
tracklisting for the album
01. Message from Quiana(intro)
02. Back
03. Supa ft. Francis S. & Jacoria
04. Im On It ft. Radio
05. Sacrifice ft. G7
06. What U Think ft. Radio
07. I Neva Said ft. Ginger
08. Wrong Clock ft. Mistah F.A.B., A-Plus, Butchie, & Opio
09. On My Job
10. OthaWorld
11. Granted ft. Jacoria
12. Menace
13. tha Caged Bird
Bonus Track: Champion ft. Casual

IN STORES 09/07

Bizzy & Twista "Money"

Chicago emcee Twista (formerly Tung Twista) made his name initially as one of the fastest rappers in the game. He has since moved up into mainstream consciousness (and slowed his flow significantly) with high profile appearances on tracks from R. Kelly (his mainstream breakout appearance), Kanye, Jaime Foxx, Trick Daddy, Lil John, Faith Evans, Mariah Carey, Pharrell etc.

Bizzy (formerly of Bone Thugs & Harmony) also came up as a "fast rapper." His crew popularized the "sing-song rapping" that has been taken to nauseating heights by Nelly and many of his mid-west affiliates. Bizzy was always a little more interesting to me because he married his flow with a nasal delivery that threw his slang into a different range than his partners.

Bizzy has released a single that, I will admit, initially left me with little or no interest.

That's right! I was "PRE-HATING!" I admit it!

The track is called "Money" (wow! such an original concept that's almost never addressed within hip hop ...yeah right!) But damn if they don't both bring it over an extremely ill, synth-guitar driven, mid-tempo, banger. Twista flips back to his old style by speeding through his verse to a hair-raisingly dope snare rolling conclusion.

Seriously, go check out this track. I guarantee it is gonna grow on you.


This is the first single off Bizzy Bone's new album "A Song For You."

Also featured on the album are DMX, Jim Jones, Trina, Lyfe Jennings, Good Charlotte, Chris Notez and more!

Expected October 30, 2007!

Download "Money"

Association Of Freedom "free spirit"

I got this from a Ukrainian cat named Dorofeev Roman. It is some pretty ill instrumental music.


"Association of freedom" was formed in 2005 in Makeyevka, Ukraine. It consists of easterly electronic music. I wanted to pass the spirit of mystery and travel in my track. I also like to explore with different directions. I want that my music can hear people. This is my goal. "

Download "Free Spirit"

New Balance X Hanon M576 "SMU" re-released

Just saw this at the Hanon Shop website...

The original Hanon M576 is back! This is the first ever hanon x New Balance SMU ( Special Make Up) designed and released in 2004.

Assembled at New Balance's renowned UK Flimby factory, our first collaboration featured the classic M576 running shoe remixed with a combination of suede, full grain leather and airflow mesh. We released two styles to an edition of 196 pairs, each featuring notable details such as a contrast white saddle and the now familiar gold 'N.

What is the Vault and what was up with the green colourway?

Initially we designed 3 colourways but due to some difficulty meeting factory minimums, one unfortunately had to go. Reluctantly the green was dropped and only the navy and red were manufactured. However New Balance Japan liked the style so much they took up the production of the green colourway and the shoe was released as a special edition in the Far East. ( subsequent NB SMU's are now produced only once). Upon its launch, sneaker heads across the globe quickly picked up on the 3rd? model, and although never an official hanon release - was out there. The secret colourway!

The Vault.

The Vault includes our 'stash' and a short run of the green model from the allocated release. We opted in to piggy back on the production and pulled some as the style was to be manufactured once only. The opportunity arose to tag on to the line allowing us to hold all of our original colours.

All three can now be released as the original pack and the green ones are back home!

The Launch.

We have a short run of stashed vault stock which will be released this weekend. We dont have many and this is it. The last of them. If you missed out on the original launch in 2004 now is your chance to grab a pair before they disappear into sneaker folklore forever.

Saturday September 8th 2007. Instore from 10am. Up at 1pm (UK).

NEW BALANCE 1500 X SOLEBOX "Toothpaste Pack"

Pictures via Sneaker Freaker of the New Balance x Solebox Toothpaste Pack.

I think these are extremely nice shoes and a little different than both what has been released by New balance and the rest of the shoe companies lately.

The pack consists of two New Balance 1500's, each using a nice mix of premium suede, mesh and patent leather. The details on these are mad hot. I am especially feelin' the gum sole (I'm a sucker for gum sole sneakers!) and the understated use of patent leather. There is still no exact release info, but we'll keep you posted.

New Balance M576 model 25th anniversary

New Balance is celebrating the 25th anniversary for their M576. To start the M576 anniversary celebrations they got together with Atmos from Japan.

This New Balance M576 comes with a mostly black upper, lime green accents, mesh toe box, graphics over the upper, pattern over the back heel, a dope graphic on the tongue, and a custom inner sole design as well.

The sneaker will release on the 7th of September exclusively at Atmos.

New Lil' Mama track "G-slide/tour bus"

Lil' Mama is back with the next single after "Lip Gloss." I'm not feelin' this track as much as "Lip Gloss" but that doesn't mean that a lotta people aren't gonna be "G-slidin'" all Fall...

Download "G-Slide/Tour Bus"

Smif N Wessun's "The Album" drops Oct 23rd

Smif N Wessun are preparing their 4th album entitled "The Album." It'll feature appearances from fellow Boot Camp Click member Rock of Heltah Skeltah, and Joell Ortiz. The record is being released by Duck Down Records and should make the heads who have always supported Boot Camp Click happy.

make sure to go pick it up October 23rd.

Since October is a little while away hopefully this will satisfy your appetite 'till then.

Download "Stomp" ft Joell Ortiz

Diamonds In The Dirt "Bring It Back"

So I'm mindin' my own business checkin' my e-mail and what do I see in my inbox but a track from a Brooklyn group called Diamondz In The Dirt. I get a lotta tracks in the mail. I get a lotta garbage in the mail. But I'm pretty diligent. I try to check out everything so I don't throw a diamond (pardon the pun, and the following alliteration) out with the disposables.

I'm immediately struck by the fact that one of the members of the group (Loustar) is the son of Bow Legged Lou (of Full Force). You remember, the cat Pee Wee from House Party, who said "I smell somethin. What is that? Oh yeah! I smell....PUSSY!!!"



So they have a little pedigree. Because besides being in House Party, the members of Full Force have produced and written music for such diverse artists as Rhianna, UTFO, Doctor Ice, Samantha Fox, Jasmine Guy, Britney Spears, James Brown, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Backstreet Boys, La Toya Jackson, and Selena. Full Force received their first record contract thanks to their production of UTFO's "Roxanne Roxanne" (1985), a record that led to countless answer records, most notably by Roxanne Shanté. I'm at least gonna give 'em a chance.

So I check 'em out to see what's up. They strike me as a mix between Destiny's Child and DJ Kool ("let me clear my throat"). No lyrics to speak of, the production is OK, but on some level I gotta give respect to the track as a kinda DJ party starter record. Not great but who knows, we could be hearin' more from these cats in the future.

Check em out on their myspace page

Download "Bring It Back"

Board Bangers make the beats hot!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. These cats The Board Bangers have somethin' special goin' on. Just download the track and I dare you to tell me that it doesn't stand up to tracks like MIMS "This is Why I'm Hot" or Lil Mama "Lip Gloss" or any Dem Franchize Boyz track. It will thump in the club without question. Believe that! What really sold me on them as something other than flash in the pan fad jumpers though was the track "Skate Like That." They each flip the flow of a classic hip hop artist and flip it well!! Plus the production is stellar. You can see the video at their myspace page.

Download "Cause The Beats Hot"

MURS is dope!

Just thought I'd mention that...



You can still pick up 9th Wonder & MURS' "Murray's Revenge" album so go cop it already!!

Download the single "Murray's Revenge"

Hype or Harbinger? The Battle for the "soul" of hip hop

Another article on the state of hip hop...
This time the so-called decline of hip hop is cast as the backdrop for Kanye and 50 cent's "beef"(?)
Hip hop is "doomed" if 50 sells more and is "saved" if Kanye does. As if this isn't all simply hype to sell both artist's albums.
I mean come on! Pretending as if there are enormous differences between Kanye West and 50 cent is just a little like pretending that there are massive differences between Democratic politicians and Republican politicians. Sure, of course I have my preferences, but let's be honest, both are millionaire pop stars who work for multi billion dollar corporations. (Kinda like Republicans and Democrats in congress...)
Once again the numbers are a little more telling than the general thrust of the article. Sales have dropped... Alot in the last few years. What does this mean. I don't think anyone can be sure just yet. But whether or not 50 moves more units than Kanye is not gonna determine the future of hip hop. Your casual listener is not gonna suddenly realize that the Roots are awesome if Kanye sells more records. Some moron is still gonna go lookin' for the next single from that shitty group that made "Laffy Taffy" whether 50 retires or not.

Hell, me just posting about this is adding to the hype I guess...

whatever.

This article can be found in The Guardian

Lupe Fiasco "The Cool" coming in Nov.

Now here is an emcee who keeps it movin'. Not waiting to cool off and definitely not worried about a sophmore slump, Lupe Fiasco is readying his 2nd album for a November 20th release. "THE COOL," the follow-up to last year's Grammy nominated FOOD & LIQUOR, in stores November 20th! Keep an eye out for the first single 'Superstardom' coming soon.

Until then check out this track and go get that album when it drops!!!

Download "Dumb it Down"

Q-Tip & Common are "The Standard"

In an exclusive interview with XXLMag.com, A Tribe Called Quest frontman, Q-Tip, reveals he’s forming a new group with Common entitled The Standard. “Me and Common [are] getting ready to form a group,” ‘Tip tells XXLMag.com. “We’ll probably run it through the Uni [Universal Records] joint because we’re both on Universal.” According to The Abstract, it was Common who suggested the two from a group. “It was more of his suggestion,” he says. “He was like, “We just need to do a record.” So I’m really excited about that.” While the two haven’t started recording together yet, The Standard will start churning out material once the two starting touring together in a few weeks. As far as the production on the album, though, fans can expect Q-Tip to handle the majority. “I’m probably gonna do a lot of it,” ‘Tip says. “And we’ll get Kanye [West] on a couple things, but you know, that cat is busy.”

This should be good!!!

Clipse interview at INQMND

The interview is a little old but whatever. Some lyrical emcees from the south deserve a little shine.

INQMND does the interview so go check it.

Madlib "Beat Konducta Vol. 3-4: In India" Aug. 28

When it comes to Madlib these days I am constantly of two minds. He is, without question a visionary, a musical prodigy with few peers in modern music. His style is copied by and has influenced countless other artists. He has released some of my all-time favorite albums (Quasimoto "The Unseen," Lootpack "Soundpieces Da Antidote." JayLib "Champion Sound," Madvillain "Madvillainy," Declaime "Andsoitisaid") and any number of tracks and remixes that are bright spots on the work of other artists (just click here for a full discography of the guy).

At the same time he meanders and wanders and has a general weed head's penchant for getting lost inside his own obsessions. When he works without a creative collaborator he can become tedious. His attempts at Jazz, while interesting for their very audaciousness, are not particularly good. I would call his most recent Yesterdays New Quintet album almost un-listenable. His beat albums have up to this point been mostly dull, tiresome affairs with few gems that might eventually end up on one of his crew's albums. His own lo-fi aesthetic has spawned a mutant band of poor sound quality, talentlessness within underground hip hop that has been allowed to masquerade as artistically stylized because of the cover layed down by some of his work.

All this being said, I still fucking LOVE the guy!! I wait with anticipation for each of his new releases. I gleefully insert them into my CD player and give them my full attention. Because whether I love it or hate it I know that I'm listening to a real artist in the truest sense of the word. He follows his own muse, blithely unaware of the cultural whirlpools that he leaves in his wake. His name alone could have gotten him some sorta major label production deal. He coulda been producing for 50, or Eminem, or any number of other cookie cutter mainstream artists. But this guy does his own thing. Makes his own music. Works with cats that he wants to work with. And the underground loves him for it! I love him for it!!

All this leads me to Madlib's most recent album "Beat Konducta vol. 3-4: In India." While I have usually been underwhelmed by his beat tapes with delusions-of-album-grandeur this release sees Madlib take a slightly different approach. The samples & vocal sound bites come from Indian Bollywood soundtracks. No great surprise in and of itself, Madlib used the same approach previously on "Beat Konducta vol. 1-2 movie scenes." But this time the production is a little more polished. The drums sound (dare I say) clean and compressed. The samples are intricately chopped and layered with a mathematical precision. Each instrumental pulses with what feels like a specific purpose and direction. This strikes me as Madlib with a Ritalin prescription. Maybe Oxnard went through a month long green drought? I don't know but this album is one of his most cohesive projects in quite some time.



Take a listen to a few tracks and make sure to go pick up the album from Stone's Throw as soon as it drops. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Download "Masala"
Download "Sitar Ride"
doesn't that sample sound like "King of Pain" by The Police???
Download "Club Scene"

K-N-J SPOTLIGHT #1: Lynn Ness

Hey folks!
This is the first installment in what I'm currently calling the "Kicks-N-Jams Spotlight."
It'll feature an artist and cover some of what they're doin', or have done, and what they will be doin' in the near future. Hopefully you dig it and will get a little learned about some talented cats who haven't gotten all the attention their abilities so richly deserve. We might even talk shoes if at all possible haha!

The first artist we're gonna spotlight is California producer & crate digger extraordinaire Lynn Ness. He came to my attention via an extremely jazzy 12" that featured Yesh (of WeeBeeFoolish), Sach, & L Roneous. I was immediately impressed with the depth of this guys digging for jeweled samples and the way he layered them with extremely fat and dusty drums. I've been impatiently waiting for more ever since. It came out on New Medina Music in 2005. So click on the tracks then sit back and check out Lynn Ness.


Download "Ain't 2 Much" ft Yesh
Download "Droppin' Jew-els" ft Sach

1) when/where did you get started as a producer?

I didn't start producing on my own until around '96. But there were a number of things that led up to that, so I would actually say around '95 or so, I was really getting the bug to make beats. At that time, I was friends with a couple cats here in San Jose who were tight with the Homeliss Derelix and PB Wolf. I was kinda casually rhyming back then and got a beat from G-Luv that he pieced together real quickly when I was with him in the lab one day, and that definitely helped push me into the production arena. Just seeing it all come together like that. The process attracted me. Plus, I've always kinda been a nerd like that, so seeing the sampler and all this gear piled up with mad records everywhere just really appealed to me. Shortly after that, I ended up going to Chicago for a summer to attend art school and I became really close friends with this cat who had just transferred out from Atlanta. We both came from the same school of hip-hop and we just clicked. We would walk the streets of Chicago just freestyling, bugging out and exploring the city. I remember he told me he had a little sampler that he'd mess with from time to time, and one day I go into his dorm and he's got it hooked up and was putting together a little loop. Man, I was so geeked! From that moment, I knew when I got back to San Jose, that was what I wanted to do. Four months later, that's exactly what I did, and here we are now. Over ten years later, still digging strong and having fun with it, man.

2) You are an Adidas addict. What was your first pair of Adidas? Or your favorite pair?

I'll be honest, I really can't remember my first pair of Adidas. I was probably about a year old! All the men in my family played soccer professionally, and my father was actually sponsored by Adidas for a long time, so I would get a lot of stuff from him. Right now, my favorite pair of Adidas is my Sambas. They're my everyday beaters. I can get them dirty and scuffed up without worrying about how hard they are to replace.

3) Who were some of your early influences? the cats who made you wanna do this?

It was definitely cats like Prince Paul, Diamond D., Buckwild, Tribe, Premier, Beatnuts, No I.D., Beatminerz. Those were the main guys, for sure. And they still make me wanna do this. All the stuff they did in the early '90s that I came up on is timeless to me. And inspires me now just as much as it did back then. Throw on Dah Shinin' and I just get so amped! Or O.C.?! Man, forget about it.

4) current influences or just favorite artists of the moment?

I would say for the most part, my current influences are my past influences. I don't really stay too current with hip-hop and maybe that's going to be my downfall. I don't know. I just heard a nice track from this group called Y Society that impressed me though. Big up to my man Omar. But on the day to day basis, I get most of my influence from jazz and other stuff from the '60s and '70s. Music was just so much more personal back then. And even with hip-hop in the late '80s and early '90s. That's what I miss the most, especially with hip-hop. So I guess it's only natural that I'm influenced largely by music that was created during decades passed. And plus, being a record digger, I think it really gives you a much clearer perspective of the big picture. When you're buying all these amazing records that are 30/40 years old, you see how they've stood the test of time. Then you listen to some shit that came out last year and it's already sounding mad dated! It's bugged out.

5) any meaning behind the name?

Yeah, it means "for the people" in Arabic. Of course, not spelled like that, but that's where it comes from originally.

6) any secret artists (or not so secret) that you are working with?

Well, I'm casually working on a group project with Sach (ed. note - of The Nonce) and Mista Sinista (ibid - of The X-Men) called the Cookers. We finished two songs thus far and one of them features Aloe Blacc. That's a slow moving project though because we're all in different places, both geographically and psychologically. Needless to say we've definitely had our share of hurdles, but I really hope we can manage to get it done one day. I think it will be a beautiful listen. I'm also finishing a couple remixes for Pigeon John that will hopefully be coming out this Fall. Otherwise, just working on things for myself here and there. I'm kinda piecing together an instrumental thing that I'd like to hand out to some folks, but mostly it's just for the homies. If some interest develops, maybe it will get released on a little larger scale but I'm trying not to get ahead of myself.

7) who would you like to work with? dream collabos?

Sadat X comes to mind. Also, Ghostface, Dres.

8) a guilty pleasure?

In-N-Out burger? Gold chains maybe. Haha. Can't say I've ever acted on that one, but I've definitely done my share of fantasizing, and that makes me feel guilty enough!

9) your studio and gear setup?

Nothing too crazy. MPC60, ASR-10, Planet Phatt, a computer, turntable, records. That's about it.

10) what gear did you get started with?

Got started using an E-mu Emax sampler, along with Cubase.

11) does that gear still get used or hold a dear place in your heart or are you happy to be rid of it?

No, it definitely does. I really liked what E-mu did with the Emax I and II samplers. Their sound was very similar to the SP, but in keyboard format. And it didn't have any filtering. But it had that rawness to it. Such a heavy sound on the drums. I've actually thought about picking one up again. They're pretty inexpensive.

12) best crate digger tale?

Hmmm. A few come to mind, but I'm gonna go with the most recent. A month or so ago, I copped an original mono press of a Bill Evans' record for like $6.00 and sold it on eBay for over $200. Didn't really find shit else that day, so that was a welcomed surprise! I'm not huge on the selling side of things because I'm much more of a collector, but it is something I'm trying to do more of. Especially when it's with a really sought after title that I don't mind parting with. But I'll be honest though, I listened to that Bill Evans heavily for the two days prior to selling it and was having some serious second thoughts about it. But with all of my crate digging affinities aside, you have to remind yourself that no matter how much you love them and the music they hold, records are just things, man. And like all things in life, they're destined to come and go. I cherish them for as long as they're with me, but I try not to get too attached. Famous last words perhaps.


You can check out Lynn Ness at his myspace page.

Kanye West ft T-Pain "The Goodlife"

Kanye West has pulled out all the stops in promoting for his upcoming album. Last Sunday he made a cameo appearance on HBO's Entourage and the closing credits featured his new song "The Goodlife" featuring T-Pain. Will we see 50 cent in the opening episode of Grey's Anatomy making a play for McDreamy?? Could happen...

Download "The Goodlife"

DJ Alibi "One Day" drops Aug '07

Tres Records has released DJ Alibi's album "One Day." Consisting of eleven purely instrumental tracks and five tracks complimented by his label mate Giant Panda, Boston's Insight, Theo 3, and Alibis crew Bamboombox. Alibi is an obvious acolyte of People Under The Stair's Thes One and if you are a fan of the PUTS then this record is gonna be right up your alley. Alibi delivers well chopped samples and dusty breaks aplenty all over the album. His musical knowledge and approach bely a maturity well beyond his age (he's only 21!) and this record offers the listener a glimpse into the mind of a beat maker that is sure to be around pushing the envelope of what "that ole boom-bap" can sound like for years to come.

Go pick up the album and check out a couple tracks.

Download "Eglinton West Blues"
Download "Champion Sound"

S.K.I.P. "Autobiographicology" on Nonsense Records

On August 21st, Nonsense Records (yep, the good folks who brought us X:144 & SPS in '06) released "Autobiographicology" from Orlando, Florida emcee S.K.I.P.

The album, produced entirely by Swamburger of Sol.illaquists of Sound, offers up the same wide open and eclectic sonic experience that Sol.illaquists of Sound first introduced to the world on their Anti/Epitaph debut "As If We Existed." There is little doubt that S.K.I.P. wears his influences on his sleeve. A flow that owes a debt to Sage Francis isn't always a bad thing however. He is most interesting and (listenable) when he manages to stay out of the way of his own earnestness and instead lets the funk and soul of the tracks and his own rhythms breathe.

S.K.I.P. has also made his way into URB's next 1000 contest. You can go over there and throw some support his way by clicking right here. And go cop the album!! It is available all over the place.

Download "sky piece"
Download "limelight"

Stone's Throw Records has some weird shit

weird...

yeah. Baron Zen "At The Mall: Remixes" is a project described as, "the missing link between PIL and DFA." I don't know about that but I will say that the similarities between the '89, deadpan, nihilistic, slice-of-life, observations of Baron Zen and current band All Teeth And Knuckles is striking.

"From '88 to '92 DJ Sweet Steve was a one-man punk rock/disco army known as Baron Zen." The fact that we are even aware of this is ironic (Baron Zen never played a show, never released a record, and rejected all forms of publicity) because before making his name as a DJ and Producer and founder of Stone's Throw Records, Peanut Butter Wolf was programming drums for Baron Zen.

The remixes feature production from: PBW, J. Rocc, Blu Jemz, M-80, James Pants, Arabian Prince, Madlib, Danny Breaks, DJ Romes, & Tekblazer. It feels like a modern electro-blog-house project featuring snotty vocals from Paul Banks of Interpol. This project is so unusual because Stone's Throw (an admittedly idiosyncratic label) has, up until this point, never dipped into the new blog/electro/mash-up scene. When you think of Stone's Throw, you think of dusty breaks and jazzed out weirdness yes, hipster dance music...not so much. Yet despite this unexpected turn of events here is a CD that is equally comfortable sandwiched right in the middle of a PBW DJ set and an Iheartcomix mix.

Check out Baron Zen and go cop this record when it drops in Sept. The hipsters will love ya for it. :-)

Download "Walked In Line" Blu Jemz rmx
Download "Turned Around" Peanut Butter Wolf rmx

New Balance ST33 "Natural Resources" ???

Props to Highsnobiety for finding these new releases from New Balance.

The "Wood" model in this series features parts in hemp, the logo and the inner sole in cork. Also there is a tree graphic on the side of the sneaker. Colors stay in the white and brown tones with some dark green accents. The "Water" model comes in blue/white colors and features a graphic on the side that you cannot really see unless you look close. The mid sole fades from white to blue. We think the third one goes for the name "Metal", but that is a pure guess. They come in black premium leather, red suede and a metallic material. On the side they also feature a graphic. All three come with the Super Team 33 logo on the inner sole and the outside of the sneaker. Also, as usual, quality in terms of materials and execution on these is really good.

Nike SB X U2 sunday bloody sunday

Nike continues to tease us with their "Classic Rock" Pack. This time U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is the inspiration for what is my favorite shoe in the pack so far! And make no mistake, I am already a big fan of the "November Rain" G&R Dunk Mid. But this one with the crushed velvet on the heel and the gold outline on the swoosh is just a neckbreaker. Really sweet and nicely designed in my opinion.

pics via SneakersBR

Size? x New Balance 577 Clerks Pack

WOW!!

I have gotta get these!!

These New balance sneak peaks are awesome!!

UK sneaker store Size? has just revealed their latest upcoming collaboration with New Balance. The 577 is back again in two electrifying colors. To build the hype even more, Size? has a contest goin' and a lucky winner will make off with these new sneakers. I wanna win!!!

Paulie Rhyme & Deedot release "Public Radio"

San Francisco Bay area MC Paulie Rhyme and producer Deedot have gotten together to release "Public Radio" on Browntown Wreckords. Paulie has made a name for himself in hip hop band Finless Brown while Deedot has been producing tracks out in the Bay for a minute now.

I'd been hearin' about Paulie since back in the day. He has worked with lotsa artists (oddjobs, heiruspecs, & DJ Lord Jazz to name a few), and a few months ago he blessed me with a solo EP called "The PDA," that got a little action on Hip Hop Flavors radio. Now he is hitting the world up with a more fully realized album than anything I've heard from him so far. Deedot's production smooths out some of the rough edges on Paulie's delivery and flow. The message is a mixture of both the positivity and paranoia within hip hop culture that has seemingly been there since the beginning. Paulie somehow lyrically melds equal parts Grand master Flash's "The Message," and "The Show" from Doug E. Fresh without getting lost in the dichotomy. No mean feat to pull off.

Of course if I'm gonna be really real here I gotta admit I woulda posted this up regardless because Paulie features one of my favorite emcees, Rasco, from one of my favorite West Coast groups, The Cali Agents! Tough to go wrong when Rasco blesses the track on "Block 4 Block."

Then we also get a treat from the banger "Komodo Spit" that features Khai of Lunar Heights!

Check out these two tracks and go cop the album.



Download "Block 4 Block"
Download "Komodo Spit"

Monday Night @ The Orpheum SOUL!

Come to the Orpheum in Tampa and dance to The Sapphires, Dobie Gray, The Contours, Mary Wells, Bob and Earl, Bob and Fred, Marvin Gaye, J.J. Barnes, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, The Olympics, TSU Tornadoes, Archie Bell and the Drells, James Brown, Etta James, Sister Sledge, Dean Courtney, Edwin Starr, The Commodores, The Jackson 5, The Bar-Kays, Soul Brothers Six, and so on...... Literally the best night of Soul! music in the southeast

Supastition EP "Leave of Absence" drops 9/18

North Carolina emcee, Supastition returns with the Khrysis -produced single, "Word Has It," from his upcoming digital EP entitled "Leave of Absence (Reform School Music)." The album is set for a September 18, release date. Production on the EP is handled by Khrysis (HOJ/Justus League), D.R. (Little Brother/The Others), Marco Polo (Masta Ace, Kool G Rap), and a few others. Guests appearances include Torae, Finale, Von Pea (Tanya Morgan), and Promise (Toronto).

For those of you unfamiliar with him, Supastition first gained national attention when his collaboration with Dutch producer, Nicolay, was selected over 5000 entries to appear on ?uestlove's Okayplayer Records album, "True Notes Vol 1." Since then, Supa has released two critically acclaimed (Scratch, XXL, The Source, URB) albums, "The Deadline" and "Chain Letters," on Soulspazm/Rawkus Records. He has appeared on tracks with KRS One, Little Brother, Cunninlynguists, Royce the 5'9, Elzhi, and many others. In a one year span, Supastition headlined 3 European tours and 1 Australian tour while performing in over 14 countries. Supa recently decided to break with Soulspazm/Rawkus and is shopping his third full length "Limelight" to labels in hopes of a mid-'08 release.

Download "Word Has It"

DeeJay Quickie Mart "Super Mart Sessions" Mix

So let me start by saying my man DJ Quickie Mart is one of the hardest workin - on his grind - do the damn thang DJs on the planet. Originally he was in New Orleans (before Katrina - and you mighta seen him in Urb magazine when they covered the effects of Katrina on the music commuity in the area) and currently he's out in L.A. causin' havoc on the one's and two's all over the place.

I reached out to him to see what was up and suffice it to say that we will be featuring some music from the group he DJ's for in the very near future right here on Kicks-n-Jams!! Cool right?!?!! But for right now I wanna drop this "Super Mart Sessions" Vol. 3 mix on ya! Check it out.


Download "Part One"
Download "Part Two"

Do you Dig That Ole Cypress Hill Sound???

DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill Fame has teamed up with Sick Jacken from Psycho Realm to release the concept album "Legend Of The Mask And The Assassin," on August 21st. They plan to deliver a story-based, thriller album with the street level elements that made Cypress Hill so popular. The tracks offer up that dark and dusty classic Muggs style production and will expose Jacken to an audience outside of the greater L.A. area. Jacken states, "A project with Muggs is going to open up doors for me as an independent artist. We have proved record sales in the L.A. market up in the 30,000's. That's with no promotion, distribution, or agents!"

Says Muggs, "We have the same music sensibility and same goals to keep the music hardcore. This is what attracted me to the music in the first place. You couldn't sound, look like, or use another artist's style. If you did you were considered wack. Now everybody is cloned from one another and we refuse to fall into that category. This is one of the most original creative albums I've ever been involved in."

The album will be released on Rebel Music/Universal Latin on August 21st. Make sure and go pick it up!

Download "The Mask And The Assassin"

check the promo video on youtube.com right here

New Balance Japan Whiz x Mita P580 / New Whiz ‘Border’ collection

Mita Sneakers have teamed up with NB Japan and Japanese label Whiz for these new P580s that have just dropped to coincide with the unveiling of Whiz’s new ‘Border’ A/W collection. They feature a snake skin ‘N’ plus plenty of tartan trim, which is something of a Whiz signature.
If your Japanese is up to it check the Mita website for a round table discussion on the development of the shoe. Also check the Whiz site which has just been updated with their new range. The distinctive Whiz arm-length lightning bolts have had their day, being replaced by more mature and subtle branding. But it’s anything but drab, with vivid color still a key part of their mix.

Not particularly my style but I support New Balance even when they come out with the odd shit...

Steve Aoki x WESC Headphones

WeSC was founded by six avid skateboarders and snowboarders in 1999 and is currently established in nineteen countries.

WeSC is not merely a brand in the fashion industry, but rather a company within the skateboard culture. A company that today makes clothes, but in the future, will represent product lines in other areas. WE creates “street fashion”, a fashion with its roots in a subculture that sets its own rules and follows its own trends.

WeSC is addressing people with awareness, no matter the race, religion or financial background, that all share the values and lifestyle of the founders. WeSC delivers “life after skate”, a more developed style that also targets people outside the skateboard community, but still shares its values. Our product line includes a diversity of garments – jackets, jeans, sweatshirts, shirts and blouses, underwear, pants and accessories like bags and caps. WE is not like other fashion companies. WeSC is unpredictable and does not follow trends.

Once again WESC gets together with a well known DJ to release pro model headphones. This time they worked with DJ Steve Aoki. They are available in a variety of colors, in-sync with each seasonal collection. They are now available at Karmaloop.

Witchdoctor of Dungeon Fam returns on new CunninLynguists 12"

CunninLynguists (Deacon The Villain & Kno) have returned with a new album "Dirty Acres" and, alongside Witchdoctor and Phonte, of Little Brother fame, they have delivered a pretty dope, simmering, burner called "Yellow Lines."

I have been a geek for Witchdoctor since he released the track "Holiday" way back in '97!! He is probably the least acclaimed member of The Dungeon Family (Goodie MOB, Outkast, Killer Mike, Cool Breeze etc.) but that's always been why I dug him. I like the underdogs, what can I say?

The guitar sample is what drives this one for me. It just takes me back to that time when Dungeon Family was makin' moves. Before Andre became 3000 and stopped making albums in the same room with Big Boi. When Cee-Lo wasn't covering 80's one hit wonders and dressing like 70's pop cultural icons. When "Southernplayalisticadillacfunkymusic" was what every head knew was the next shit that hadn't blown into the mainstream yet. When the whole crew got into a room and dropped a banger like "Watch For The Hook." When it was still "ours" and it was so so dope!! Big props to Cunninlynguists for takin' me back there for just a few moments at least!!

This is highly recommended! Go and cop it when it drops!

Download "Yellow Lines"

Telephone Jim Jesus "Anywhere Out Of The Everything" 9/25

For Those of you who are down with the instrumental side of music allow me to introduce you to Telephone Jim Jesus and his new album "Anywhere Out Of The Everything" on Anticon.

Terms like laid back, ambient, and chill out get thrown his way on a regular basis and make no mistake, throwin' this on for a late night drive out to the beach, or after a particularly stressful day at the office/cubicle/purgatory would not be out of the realm of possibility.

But the atmospherics of a TJJ album are a little edgier than what one might normally expect from standard ambient fare. A "trip" is what you get from this record. Not a bad one mind you, but don't expect Deepak Chopra to wander through the haze and reassure your troubled psyche. Melancholy is a key element, as is a certain openness to ambiguity over certainty.

TJJ is also a member of Restiform Bodies along with The Bomarr monk and Passage, both of whom appear on this album as well. The rest of the Anticon collective wanders in and out of the proceedings both announced and unannounced. This album is not for the dance floor, neither is it a backpacker anthem. If you dig Anticon's vibe you're gonna swear by it. If you don't well...

Download "Birdstatic"

Tampa MC Dutchmassive single "Better man"

The new single from Dutchmassive "Better Man" features production from Beat Fanatic, Illmind. Illmind delivers a jazzy, mellow, sound scape for Dutch and Justus League MC, Median, along with Von Pea to wander and perambulate over.

Check out the new project "The NEXT Final Fantasy" from Dutchmassive featuring Buff1, Median, U-N-I and others as well as a star studded production line up featuring Celph Titled, Illmind and others.

More on Dutchmassive can be found at: http://my.rawkus.com/profile/dutchmassive

Download "Better Man"

Format Releases Dope Wallpapers

I saw this on joshspear.com and had to repost it!

"Toronto’s Format Mag just released a HUGE series of downloadable wallpapers. The great selection features over 70 high quality artist, sneaker, and general designs by some of the best urban artists around, as well as a few of the latest up-and-comers. Headliners include: Stamp Rodeo; TLFI (who you may remember from a recent SpearTalks); a bunch of UNKL x Futura; and Bijules. That’s obviously just a teensy taste of the collection, so head on over to get your desktop some fresh and free lovin’."

info via Joshspear.com

Remix a Sage Francis Track

There is currently a remix contest for a chance to be on Sage Francis’ upcoming remix album. Looks like Sage is trying to get some new producers. (via The Phila Flava Forum)

Here is what Sage wrote"

"Reanimator made the beat for the original version of the song, and I believe he mentioned to me that even he’d like to take a crack at doing a remix.

Here is the acapella:

Accapella

The acapella fades out before the beat tempo switches at the end of the original song, and that’s so I can avoid a lot of headaches.

Here is the original song (to give you an idea as to where the vocals should be falling on the beat):

Hoofprints

If you can’t figure out the BPM then this project might not be for you.

All submissions must be sent to strangefamous@gmail.com by Sept 10th. The winner and top 3 remixes will be announced on Sept 11th.

The winner will be featured on the front page of www.sagefrancis.net www.strangefamousrecords.com and have the option of appearing on my remix album (2008.) But mainly, this is just an excuse to get some activity going in an effort to find untapped talent.

Best of luck!

Remember Remember the 11th of September."

-Sage Francis

E Reece is "A New Breed" of artist

So I promised earlier that I'd hit you up about this cat E Reece.
His new album is called "A New Breed" and if you've been buggin' out over the new Common, and the new Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monche's latest album then I suggest you get onto this kid right now! Not a lotta marketing and promotion just a lotta skill, heart, & soul.

The soul music foundation is deep on this album. Most especially on the track "Everything," produced by Leggo. E Reece is based in L.A. but his roots go back to the East coast and you can feel it in his flow. Reece works soulful smoothed out tracks like "Get Into It" without letting the vibe dissolve into simple head nodding. This stuff can definitely get the ladies dancin'. And right about the time you started thinkin' that he was just another smoothed out jazz cat he hits you with bangers like "Never Mind That," and "The Get Up" (a track that makes me think of Purple Rain era Prince). In years to come this is gonna be one of those artists that everybody name checks. A West coast Spit kicker with East coast cred. Check him out now and get on the band wagon early. You won't be disappointed.

Go cop the album!

Download "Everything"

Download "The Get Up"