The Audacity of Dope

I can’t even make out all the words around today’s WLotD, but Snoop gets the prize for hawking McDonald’s mid-verse.

“Mo’ at it, mo’ padded/
I’m the Big Mac with 4 patties/
Special sauce, mo’ cheese…”
–Snoop Dogg, “Day Dreaming”

Kanye skipped across the pond last week for the Glow In The Dark Tour and sat down with the BBC’s DJ Semtex for a great interview.  ‘Ye is the illest artist in the game right now, [Jay-Z] plus his interviews are hotter [/Hov].  I highly recommend checking this out…quotables for days.

Kanye West talks with DJ Semtex – http://www.zshare.net/audio/516729337e0e3225/

808’s & Heartbreak drops today.  Go cop that.

If you’ve been sleeping lately, Keelay & Zaire are an incredible production duo that have been doing their thing for a minute now.  They’re about to drop their debut full length album, Ridin’ High, at the start of next year and people are finally starting to catch on.

Here’s the video for their current single, “The Times,” featuring Blu, Fortilive, and Nino Moschella.  If you’ve been listening to Sound Session, you’ve heard this one and the b-side, “Addicts For Real,” with the homey Tunji.  It’s been a long week, so my memory is failing on me, but I thiiiiiiink I remember hearing that there will be a video coming for that joint as well.  Do yourself a favor and get familiar with these dudes.  Shout to Karim and the whole Myx Music family too.  Big things in ’09!

(watch it in HD on HyphenTV right here)

A few weeks ago, the big homies Talib Kweli and Corey Smyth stopped by KUBE to make their 4th appearance on Sound Session.  It’s always great to meet and interview people for the first time, but it’s even better once you get to know them and your ‘interviews’ just turn in to catching up with old friends.  It probably could have been under better circumstances though, cause right before we got up, this happened.  It shows you how cool Talib is that despite just finding out about the theft, he still took time for us before trying to find the laptop.  Booooooooo @ that “fan” who took Kwa’s MacBook.  Shame on you.

Anyway, if you missed any of the previous discussions, you can check ’em out on our podcast page right here.

This time around, we talked all about his current projects, including updates on the next Reflection Eternal album with Hi-Tek, his Idle Warship group with Res & Graph Nobel, and all things Blacksmith. We also discussed what it’s like to operate his own label, how new media has affected his career, a little politics, and more.  Be sure to watch it in high-def on the HyphenTV Vimeo page, or if you only want the audio, grab it below:

Talib Kweli on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?2dmzymzi3jt
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/515797634df69ac9/ )

Blacksmith is the movement.

…but he makes dope music off it, so I ain’t mad!

The homey Brainstorm of Dyme Def won our 2008 Redbull Big Tune beat battle a while back and now he’s preparing for the finals out in NYC.  Peep the preview video and get familiar with young Brainy Stacks.  Shout to our runner up, Rising Son, who will also be representing Seattle in the finals.  Good luck fellas!

Rik Cordero and the team at Three/21 Films connected with Q-Tip for another video off his new album, The Renaissance, which is in stores now.  I need to listen to the full project, cause everything I’ve heard so far has been pretty dope.  Be on the lookout for the next Cordero/Tip collab for “Manwomanboogie” dropping soon…

My train of thought:

• Ah, I hate that phrase, “it is what it is”…right up there with “everything is everything.”
• Oh wait, this is from Prez…that dude is dope.
• Oh word up!  This is off his mixtape from a few months back…good stuff.
• I was already won over, but I forgot Prezzo gave the ill Above The Rim reference.  Shout to my favorite movie of all time.  “Guard?  Coach, I’m all the guard you need!  Man…get to the back of the bus.”
• Haha, forgot DNEZ kicked a Beckham line too.
• Man, the new West ain’t playin’.

My friend: “There are so many dope videos dropping these days, it’s tough to keep up.”
Me: “Didn’t I just talk to you bout my new job?  Tell me about it…”

Here’s that video Al was talking about in my interview with him and Evidence off his new EP, The Alchemist Cookbook.  It’s always cool to see someone tackle making a video for a song like this in a dope and creative way.  Super dope, but if only they could have dropped this in time for Halloween…

Courtesy of OnSmash.

Ok, I’ve had some recent discussions about how Barack’s election might inspire artists to create happier, more hopeful music, but this is ridiculous.  Nah, just playin’.  Great stuff here from the Legendary Roots Crew for all the witto ones, swiped from NahRight.

Y’all are up on The Dino 5 too, right?

Ever messed with a girl who fits this song?  Ever fit the song yourself?

This is my jam right now.  Sure, it may be a little corny/emo…and perhaps it gives you flashbacks of roller skating songs from back in the day…but ‘Ye and Cudi killed this one.  I’ve been singing it all week.

Kanye West ft. Kid Cudi – “Paranoid”

you worry bout the wrong things, the wrong thiiiiiings…