The Audacity of Dope

Spree tells the story behind the making of “Don’t Pass Me By,” his duet with Esthero off The Never Ending Now.  If you haven’t checked out the project yet, grab it here.  “Don’t Pass Me By” is one of my favorite records of the year, hands down:

It seems like when folks aren’t discussing planking on Twitter (hip-hop, you’re late to the party on that one), they’re talking Drizzy. I’ve seen negative feedback from a lot of my friends and peers for “Marvin’s Room” and “Trust Issues,” but like pretty much all of Drake’s music, I like these records.

And as emo as people want to accuse Drake of being, there’s something pretty gully about dropping the official visuals for “Marvin’s Room” right after Chris Brown released his version. Wamp waaaaaamp.

“I’m talkin’ crazy girl, I’m lucky that you picked up…”

When Biz Markie spit the classic line, “damn it feels good to see people up on it,” it wasn’t really about having other people validate your work.  Nah…you were still going to grind and do your thing,  regardless of whether or not cats caught the “Vapors.”  But clearly, there’s something rewarding about seeing others share and appreciate that work, especially when they spread it to their circle of friends with no ulterior motives.

That’s precisely what I’m seeing with the tidal wave of critical acclaim from journalists, bloggers, artists, DJ’s, label reps, and most importantly, listeners, for the new album from SNSS‘ close friends, Shabazz Palaces.  Fans may be familiar with Ish’s previous work in Digable Planets or Cherrywine, but I promise you, Black Up is an album unlike anything you’ve heard.  It’s officially out today on the venerable Seattle label, Sub Pop Records, and if you haven’t peeped it yet, consider your cool kid card pulled.

Cop it here (or at your favorite retailer…support indies!) and if you need convincing, read glowing reviews on Pitchfork, Prefix, the Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, the BBC, NPR, and the Seattle Times.  Speaking of NPR, Ann Powers and Andrew Matson are highlighting the burgeoning hip-hop scene in Seattle all week in their Grind and Shine piece.  On SNSS #317, you can hear interviews from both Shabazz and Matson.

Clear some space out, so we can space out.  Black Up.

Show #317 (6-26-11)

1. Curren$y – “She Don’t Want A Man”
2. Kendrick Lamar – “Hol’ Up”
3. Rapsody ft. Raekwon – “Black Diamonds”
4. Nas – “Take It In Blood” (Throwback of the Week)
5. Nas – “Nasty”
6. Elzhi – “One Love”
7. **INTERVIEW WITH SHABAZZ PALACES, PT. 1**
8. Helluvastate – “Make Moves” (Local Music)
9. TiRon & Ayomari ft. Seinabo Sey – “Back 2 U”
10. Cocaine 80’s – “Summer Madness”
11. Casual ft. Mike Frost – “Sunday’s Best”
12. Shabazz Palaces ft. Thee Satisfaction – “Swerve…the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)” (Local Music)
13. **INTERVIEW WITH SHABAZZ PALACES, PT. 2**
14. Shabazz Palaces – “Recollections of the wraith” (Local Music)
15. **INTERVIEW WITH SHABAZZ PALACES, PT. 3**
16. J. Cole – “Work Out”
17. The Cool Kids ft. Mayer Hawthorne – “Swimsuits”
18. Random Axe ft. Roc Marciano – “Chewbacca”
19. Royce Da 5’9” – “Second Place”
20. Apathy – “Check To Check”
21. **INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW MATSON**
22. Blue Scholars – “Anna Karina” (Local Music)
23. Thurz – “Prayer”
24. H.O.P.E. ft. Jhene Aiko – “Do Better Blues”
25. Drake – “Marvin’s Room”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?qrila94pmaboeta
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/h4xfnd3g4z4w)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/919711259dd2b26e/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

It’s late on a Saturday night and I don’t really feel like typing. You should watch this video though.

Ok, I need a vacation stat. I’d probably choose the French Riviera over England’s, but perhaps a visit to Torquay is in order.

New music from France. They don’t dance no mo’.

The ongoing joke is that Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa are always rapping about hooking up and smoking weed with YOUR girl. Even Macklemore referenced it in “Tommy Chong” off the Blue Scholars’ new project. And what do you know, Spitta’s newest video touches on that subject (and your girl) yet again. Don’t get it twisted though, if they keep making records this dope, they can rap to my girl anytime.

Tell me I’m wrong.

The 316th episode of SNSS marked the return of the Mayor, J. Moore, from hip-hop’s injured list.  We also welcomed longtime homies Grieves and Budo to the studio to discuss their new project, Together/Apart, dropping on Rhymesayers today.  Go cop that!

Other artists featured on this week’s SNSS include Nas, Royce Da 5’9″, Casual, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, J. Cole, Wale, Rapsody, Tonedeff, and more.  Enjoy!

Show #316 (6-19-11)

1. Nas – “Nasty”
2. Royce Da 5’9” – “Second Place”
3. Random Axe – “Monster Babies”
4. MED – “Superman”
5. Casual – “Mic Memorial”
6. Helluvastate – “Fresha Adventure” (Local Music)
7. **INTERVIEW WITH GRIEVES & BUDO, PT. 1**
8. Kendrick Lamar – “Ronald Reagan Era (His Evils)”
9. CyHi Da Prynce ft. Big Sean – “Woopty Doo”
10. Curren$y – “She Don’t Want A Man”
11. Grieves – “Light Speed” (Local Music)
12. **INTERVIEW WITH GRIEVES & BUDO, PT. 2**
13. Grieves – “On The Rocks” (Local Music)
14. Blue Scholars ft. Macklemore – “Tommy Chong” (Local Music)
15. Charlie Smarts – “Torture”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH GRIEVES & BUDO, PT. 3**
17. Drake – “Dreams Money Can Buy”
18. Bentley – “Venice Beaches”
19. Kanye West – “The New Workout Plan” (Throwback of the Week)
20. J. Cole – “Work Out”
21. Wale – “Lacefrontin’”
22. Rapsody ft. Raekwon – “Black Diamonds”
23. Skyzoo – “Rap Like Me”
24. Emilio Rojas ft. Rittz, Laws, Laura Reed, & Voodoo – “Champion (Remix)”
25. DJ JS-1 ft. Tonedeff – “Last To Know”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?ot9hle0fo1u6hi8
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/n0kme3cnqbxi)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/91693445c0f9aecb/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Obviously one of my all time favorite artists and good friend of SNSS, but I heard this not so classic opening bar to a classic record (and album) in the gym earlier today:

“We in the house like Japanese in Japan or Koreans in Korea”
— Talib Kweli, “K.O.S.”

Still a great track though. “The funky singing by Miss Vinia Mojica”: