The Foreign Exchange: "Maybe She'll Dream of Me" video
Phonte has come a very long way from Percy Miracles... The Foreign Exchange offer up a video for "Maybe She'll Dream of Me", a song from their new LP, Authenticity. Sticking to the theme of the track, FE goes with a dream within a dream plot for this new video. See it below.
Illecism: Molotov Mixtape
First was the visual version, but now we've got the audio for his fourth mixtape. Don't sleep on the kid from Sacramento, CA. He's battle proven and he's shown that he can deliver. Production is from MF Doom. The mixtape serves as a bit of a teaser for Illecism's Cloud Strife which is set to drop on November 25th. Make the jump to grab the mixtape.
Laws: "The Rising" Freestyle
Laws is fire. He goes in over a Numonics produced beat for the upcoming The Rising in Miami. Laws will be performing with Emilio Rojas on November 18th down at Transit Lounge in Miami. Make the jump to grab the track.
America's Top Producers Hit Chicago For Big Tune Finals
And the Lord said, '"Let the beats rain down upon them!" And so it has come that some of the country's top producers have traveled to the Windy City to seek the title of best in the land... Cue the drums!
The Red Bull Big Tune Championships will take place on Thursday at The Metro. 18 producers from all over the country will slug it out in the 5th edition of the Big Tune, a showcase created by Johnathan Moore and Vitamin D that sheds some much needed light on up and coming producers. The competition takes its influence from Jamaican dancehall/reggae culture, where two DJs would clash, each trying to find that "Big Tune". The search still goes on today, with the Big Tune championships judged by the people in the audience. One winner will emerge. They will claim the title of Big Tune champ, and also receive a studio session with an A-List artist of their choice. I would probably choose Mos Def, or the Beastie Boys (just saying)...
Along with the finalists, producers such as DJ Premier, Exile, Arab Muzik, Jake One, Just Blaze, Black Milk, Vitamin D and more are in town as part of the festivities. They will visit and lend their knowledge to all the finalists as well as take part in performances, panels, screenings, and workshops throughout the week.
The fun starts tomorrow when the producers will visit Columbia for a workshop during the day, then head to Reggie's for a Black Milk concert at night. On Wednesday night Just Blaze will headline a pre-party at the Shrine, thus setting the table for the championships on Thursday, which will also feature a very special guest performance.
Hit the jump to see a list of the finalists including Athletic Mic League's 14KT, Dibiase, Washington D.C.'s T-Mos, and more. Visit Red Bull to RSVP to the free events.
Kid Cudi In Store at RSVP video
Props to everyone at The RSVP Gallery for letting Virgil and me cut the huge line stretching down Damen Avenue. Props to Kevin of S.L.A.B. Ent for looking out. Props to Kid Cudi for making an amazing sophomore album that has inspired me in the short time I've been able to really sit with it, and making riding in the car that much better this weekend, and for signing the lyric book. Props our homie Chip Tha Ripper for also signing the lyric book. Check out the video below shot by Justin Oh. Props to him as well... Props all around.
If you like in-stores, CyHi
Travis Barker: "Carry It" feat Tom Morrello, Rza, Raekwon
"My Uzi weighs a ton..." A line originally made iconic by Public Enemy's Chuck D gets a refrain in this new one from Travis Barker featuring Wu-Tang Clan's Rza and Raekwon, as well as RATM's Tom Morrello. Rza's verse is choppy and awkward, a style he has rocked since the earliest days of the Wu. Raekwon continues to get better with age. He told me while he was in town for Closed Sessions and Digital Freshness that he feels like his best music is still to come.
Check out the video below.
Jay-Z: Juan Epstein Podcast
Jay chats it up with Cipha Sounds & Peter Rosenberg for the latest of the episode of the Juan Epstein series. This is one for books an as Jay give in-depth classic interview touching just about everything. Yeah, Ether, Big L, Biggie, Mobb Deep, Dilla....Just sit down tonight before you go to bed and just listen to Hov drop knowledge. There is no question he is questionably the most prolific hip-hop artists off all time. period. Hit the jump for the interview.
Naledge: "Player of The Century" feat Freddie Gibbs video
Here is the world premiere of Naledge's "Player of The Century" video featuring Freddie Gibbs. The song comes from Naledge's recent mixtape, 20 Something... Noah Banks teamed up with RH's Virgil Solis for this video, and it was filmed at the infamous RH offices. See it below and tell a friend to tell a friend.