Reality: "Temptress" Video featuring Skyzoo
Short and sweet cause I'm on my way to a Closed Session with Donnis... CS vet Skyzoo is the feature on Reality's "Temptress". The video was directed by Court Dunn. We got tons of interviews and content with Skyzoo and Court, so check out the video below and do some searching through our archives.
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Sene + The Clubhouse = Recess
Sene never stops... Here he checks in with us to provide info on Recess: his new band and project. Recorded with The Clubhouse at an actual clubhouse it's dance in your pants zone... I'll let Sene take it from here in the video below.
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Best Coast Announce Debut LP
"The world is lazy, but you and me, we're just crazy."
I posted some music from Best Coast a long time ago, and got an email yesterday that their full length debut is ready to lock and stock. The album is entitled Crazy For You, and will be in stores July 27th via Mexican Summer. Short and sweet, the album is 12 songs and 29 minutes, perfect for a lunch break on the beach or one of those Corona commercials, both of which come to mind after seeing this cover.
The band has a few tour dates set up right now, including a stop at Chicago's Pitchfork Festival on June 18th. Check out their video for "When I'm With You" after the jump.
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DJ Quik Takes Over Soul Assassins Radio
Muggs sent this one our way:
"In 1991 the west coast gangsta rap scene was introduced to DJ Quik. Quik became a main player in west coast rap and hip hop. At 20 years old his debut album was very successful and was the start of a west coast legend.
Being from Compton he grew up along side greats in the rap game like Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Eiht, and Above the Law. He has worked with icon rapper Tupac Shakur, and other rappers Xzibit, Kurupt, Truth Hurts, Eight Ball & MJG, Rakim all heavy weights. He works with today’s hit makers too like Ludacris and Chingy and others. He has proven his skills are ever lasting and he stays on top of the pack."
Donnis: The Invitation Mixtape
Donnis drops his Fashionably Late EP on June 22nd, and invites you to get ready for the party with this new mixtape done with DJ Infamous and DJ Holiday. The mixtape is 19 tracks including some remixes from Donnis' last offering, The Diary of An Atlanta Brave. It also includes some freestyles, and a few new joints. Download the mixtape below.
Don't forget, Donnis will be in Chicago tomorrow night for our Digital Freshness series at The Shrine. Also on the bill is Rockie Fresh, DJ Just Desserts (everyoneisfamous.com) and of course, DJ RTC. Pre-sale tix are only $10 and available here.
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Opus: "Street Talk" featuring ADaD
Mr. Echoes and The Isle of Weight are OPUS, a production duo who have worked with the likes of Slug, Aesop Rock, Pigeon John and DJ Krush. They recently released a new project entitled Praying Mantis- Plus, and in celebration of that release, are giving away copies of "Street Talk" featuring one of my favorite emcees, ADaD. The music is lush as well as gritty. It provides ADaD with a lot of room to maneuver, and that he does. Some people have told me that ADaD sounds like Mos Def, and this is the first song where I kind of agree... Whatever it is, it is dope. Download it below.
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Rakaa: "Crown of Thorns" featuring Aloe Blacc
Rakaa's solo album drops 7.20.10 and here is the title track off the LP, "Crown of Thorns" featuring Aloe Blacc. Aloe is going to be in Chicago on June 17th as part of our Digital Freshness series at The Shrine. Cop pre-sale tix for the low right here.
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[Interview] DJ Premier: Even On My Bad Days...
What do you write about DJ Premier that hasn't been written before? His technical skills as a DJ is the stuff of urban myth, and his influence lives everyday in every city in clubs, basements, and bedrooms where DJ's study and mimic his moves. Talk about his production? Come on! After starting a groundbreaking career as part of Gang Starr, Premier's production is often used to define a style of beats and rhymes meant to connotate the truest forms of Hip Hop culture and music... "I want a Premier type of beat," is something every emcee has said at some point in his or her career.
"Some people do it for the corporate reasons, I do it for the cultural reasons and that's the difference," Premier told me last week after arriving in Chicago after a brief tour of Europe. "I'm corporate too in certain avenues, but not when it comes to sacrificing the culture and compromising my views... If that ends up being the case, you can count me out and let somebody else take that gig."
After 22 years of gigs, DJ Premier is still a highly sought after DJ and producer. His Chicago set at The Shrine last week was sold out, and counted Pharrell of N*E*R*D amongst its audience members. Aside from his skills, Premier's longevity can be attributed to his passion for Hip Hop, something he said has led him to study the culture devoutly. He knows his history as well the moves of young guns such as Drake, Wacka Flocka and others who have captured Hip Hop's spotlight.
"I applaud all of them for even wanting to do Hip Hop as long as they respect their elders and they respect the culture, go on and do what you want to do," he says about Hip Hop's rising stars. "We all have different audiences that we touch and I will never knock an artist on the audience they attract... At the end of the day, we're all doing a service to the culture. There are consequences that will come down the line if you don't do it right, and they are consequences that will haunt you financially to where you could completely disappear and you can't even do it anymore," he adds, issuing a warning that is more matter of fact, than some kind of threat.
We caught up with DJ Premier last week while he was in Chicago to play The Shrine's 1-year anniversary party. He shared knowledge about what's kept him going for more than 22 years, why he'll never stop, why there's never any dirt on his name and why even on a bad day, he's still the nicest. Read the full interview on the next page.