The Audacity of Dope

Remember a while back when I told you about this project that Braille and S1 were putting together called Cloud Nineteen?  Well the Seattle release party is here and you already know it’s gonna be great.  It’s all ages and only 8 bucks, which includes a copy of the album, at the Vera Project tonight.  Braille, S1, Ohmega Watts, Theory Hazit, Ragen Fykes, and Vursatyl of the Lifesavas (possibly the most underrated MC in the country) will all be in the building and you should be too.  I’ll see you there.

Damn, I slacked on posting this right after it happened, but better late than never right?  If you don’t know, Donuts Are Forever, is a great event honoring the legendary J Dilla that’s now in its third year in NYC.  DJ’s including Waajeed and Ge-ology spun some of Dilla’s classic joints and 2/3 of Tanya Morgan, Von Pea & Donwill, hosted.  Speaking of those fellas, I need to post up the interview we did a while back.  Cool ass dudes and some of my favorite artists doing it today.

But anyway, shout to Rare Form for throwing this event and Dee Phunk for sending over the recap video.  When is someone in Seattle going to launch something similar?  I might even come out of my live mixing retirement for that…since nobody ever rocks one of my favorite Dilla beats…

Phonte and Brainchild are back with another episode of GGR, where more great music gets played and Tay breaks down the Chris Brown/Rihanna situation.  Uh oh, I’m looking forward to listening to this one at work tomorrow…with headphones.

1. Kelis “Get Along With You”
2. RZA “Domestic Violence”
3. Tanya Morgan “So Damn Down”
4. The Beastie Boys “Root Down”
5. The Swingle Singers “Fugue In C Minor (Todd Terje Edit)”
6. Jaffa “Elevator (The Herbaliser Remix)”
7. Bottom Fly “Wave #019″
8. Illa J “DFTF”
9. 14KT “Ypsilanti”
10. 8th1W “A Fool’s Lullaby (Could It Be)”
11. Carlitta Durand “You Got Me (Pt. 1)”
12. Reggie B & Miles Bonny “My Sunshine”
13. Black Harmony “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head”
14. Mr. Scruff “Give Up To Get”
15. Afta-1 “Escape”
16. Koop “Summer Sun (Markus Enochson Remix)”

Download here. (right click, save as)

Right on the heels of TiRon’s Ketchup mixtape comes a fresh video for one of the tracks, “3 Drink Minimum,” featuring Ayomari and produced by Sa-Ra.  Remember how I mentioned that the CunninLynguists’ weed song was my jam despite the fact that I’ve never smoked?  Yeah, same thing with this one and drinking basically.

Shout to GregTheDude with a nice cameo in this one hahaha.

If you aren’t up on TiRon, you’re in luck.  His new mixtape, Ketchup, allows you to do just that and get familiar with yet another dope MC coming from the new wave of Los Angeles hip-hop.  Mixed by the homey DJ Low Key and featuring guest spots from Tunji, Pacific Division, Blu, Miguel, Buff1, and like 20 verses from Ayomari hahah.  Be on the lookout for Handshakes & Pounds 2, the sequel to his first mixtape, and also watch for an appearance from TiRon on this week’s Sound Session.  Shout to Kevin as well.

Download here.

The Vimby x UpOnThingz mixtape, The New Classics, dropped last week as a streamable project on iMeem, but it’s 2009…and that just doesn’t quite cut it these days. Here’s the full project for download, featuring incredible production from the homey Cook Classics and appearances by some of the best rising talent in the game: Shawn Jackson, Outasight, Avriel Epps, Emilio Rojas, Buff1, TiRon, Inverse, Pacific Division, 6th Sense, U-N-I, Convinced, Fashawn, and many, many more. If you need more of a reason to cop immediately, did you forget Tunji’s freestyle?

Download here.

To all my Seattle/Tacoma folks, I highly recommend you check out this year’s Hip-Hop Summit at Highline Community College today and tomorrow.  It’s going to be full of great conversations and great performances, including a panel appearance by yours truly later today at noon in the student union.  For the performance, you get to peep some of the best talent here in the northwest (Parker Brothaz, Common Market, Gabriel Teodros, and more) for only a few bucks.  Here are all the details:

Thursday, February 26th

The History & Evolution of Hip-Hop
with King Khazm(founder of Zulu Nation-Seattle Chapter, Hip Hop emcee & activist)
9-9:50am, Student Union-Mt. Constance Room

Hip Hop Politics
with Dr. Tricia Rose of Brown University
10-11:30am, Student Union-Mt. Constance Room

Panel Discussion: Misconceptions of Hip-Hop
with DJ Hyphen, Kitty Wu, King Khazm, and more
12-1:30pm, Student Union-Mt. Constance Room

Friday, February 27th

Art Showcase
Evolution of Art Club
10am, Mt. Constance Room

Poetry Lounge and Open Mic
11am, Mt. Constance Room

Night Show
Doors Open at 6pm
Highline Student Union, Mt. Townsend Room Stage
2 v. 2 Break Battle
With Performances by:
So HyDef, Nam, Khingz, Gabriel Teodros, The Parker Brothers and Common Market
Highline Students $5, General Admission $10

For more information contact: Tony Innouvong at tinnouvong@highline.edu, (206)878-3710 x3904

Come through:  2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA 98198

Chyea, go ‘head Cook.  If you aren’t familiar with the homey Will, you need to get familiar.  He’s insanely talented and as he mentioned, he’s producing full ideas and making soundscapes that go above and beyond merely “making beats.”  [Mos] Get his rookie card now, while the price is cheap [/Def].

Shout to Greg, Tunj, and the whole 5-C’s.