The Audacity of Dope

Meek and Drizzy team up for the visuals to the current single off Dreamchasers 2, which is rumored to have been downloaded over 6 million times.  Who knows if that number is close to accurate, but any way you slice it, Meek is winning right now.  He’ll be in Seattle on Wednesday and word is, he’ll be dropping by the studio for an interview.  MMG don’t stop.

While I don’t think anyone is capable of improving on Frank Ocean’s flawless original, I was happy to see Yuna cover “Thinkin’ Bout You.”  She came with a unique twist on it and it turned out dope.  There’s a rumor that a certain Seattle based radio show might be linking up with Yuna in a few days for an interview and exclusive acoustic performance…

Maybach Music Group’s Stalley stopped by Sound Session while in Seattle on tour on 6/10/12. We chopped it up about various topics, including his “Savage Journey To The American Dream” mixtape, linking up and receiving advice from Rick Ross, how he plays the “every man” role in the MMG crew, his upcoming major label debut album, and more.

Big shout to Stalley and Dan for coming through the studio, plus Detooz Films for filming and editing the footage.

Now…say it with me:  M-m-m-m-m-maaaaaaybach music!

New music on this week’s SNSS from artists like Dom Kennedy, GLC, Fly.Union, YP, Nas, Meyhem Lauren, Frank Ocean, Cheri Coke, Dion Primo, Wu-Block, M.O.P., and many more.  We had some recording equipment issues (shocking, I know), so apologies in advance for the sliiiiight hit in audio quality.  Either way, hope you enjoy the show!

Show #369 (7-8-12)

1. Dom Kennedy ft. Kendrick Lamar – “We Ball”
2. Fly.Union ft. GLC – “Seen This Before”
3. Eighty4 Fly ft. Royce The Choice & Logics – “Hammer” (Local Music)
4. YP – “Who I Be (Clap)”
5. Kanye West ft. Pusha T – “New God Flow”
6. DJ Khaled ft. Kanye West & Rick Ross – “I Wish You Would”
7. 50 Cent ft. Schoolboy Q – “Can I Speak To You”
8. Nas ft. Large Professor – “Loco-Motive”
9. Meyhem Lauren ft. Sean Price – “Grown Man Palettes”
10. Big Shug ft. Fat Joe & M.O.P. – “Hardbody”
11. The Kid Daytona – “Cuban With The Jesus Piece”
12. Wu-Block – “Union Square”
13. Oddisee – “The Need Superficial”
14. Little Dragon – “Sunshine”
15. Frank Ocean – “Sweet Life”
16. Cheri Coke – “The Interlude”
17. Dion Primo ft. Chris Turner & MeLo-X – “Gone”
18. Rashad – “I Wanna Love You”
19. Ray Dalton – “So Emotional” (Local Music)
20. Lupe Fiasco – “Bitch Bad”
21. Above The Law – “Flow On” (Throwback of the Week)
22. Serge Severe – “Seasons” (Local Music)
23. DJ Nu-Mark ft. TiRon & Ayomari – “Feel The Way About”
24. Big K.R.I.T. – “Yesterday”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?o4qe1usa6iw637u
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/9mvtu7vz0u1y)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/a5axca2ap1ft)

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.

Nothing too fancy from Spitta for the “Showroom” video, but it has the basics you’d expect with this song: cars, gear, and weed.  While the visuals are pretty basic, I wanted to post it mainly to highlight the beat.  Crazy slap from Cardo…

I can’t get enough of Henri and his growing disillusionment with the world. Here’s video three, another masterpiece. If you missed the first two, click here.  From the looks of the credits, Henri calls Seattle his home.  Makes sense.

New School Noise is the brainchild of my guy DJ Same and Le Fresh Perspective, who hope that the event can shine light on some of the younger MC’s in the Seattle area.  The idea is pretty straightforward: fans will vote from a list of MC’s to decide who will perform at the showcase, which goes down August 19th at Neumos.  In the build up, they’ll be releasing a few of these teaser videos showing cyphers with some of the artists looking for votes.

Up above, you can see Dave B, Sean Brooks, Rebel, and J’Von, while down below, you’ve got Warm Gun, TayWill, Key Nyata, A-Rawlo, and Antbeezy.

Since Same has been helping out with Sound Session, we’re helping out with this program and co-signing it.  I think I may be hosting the event at Neumos too, but we’ll have more official news released on Le Fresh’s site, Neumos’ site, and TAOD as we get closer.

Yeah, I know WLotD kinda died a few years ago when I became equal parts too busy and too apathetic to continue to call out idiocy in new songs, but if I happen to be blogging as I hear something dumb, I reserve the right to revive it.  You can thank Pleasure P, he of the legendary wack lyric veteran group, Pretty Ricky.  His new song with Tyga is called “I Like Girlz,” which aside from the always classy and edgy replacement of the letter “s” with a “z,” seems straightforward enough…until you hear the chorus:

“I love girls, I love girls, I love girls // So much, I think I’m lesbiahonest”

While Drake’s original line was pretty funny and somewhat clever, turning it into a hook for your single was a bad move P.  But then again, you named yourself Pleasure P, so I suppose it’s all relative.

Ah yes, the list that generated enough tweets in the Seattle hip-hop community to trend the other day has reached its conclusion with the release of the #1 video above.  For those unaware, D-Money of Juice Radio put together this project inspired by the MTV “Hottest MC” debate where he asked several media figures in the Seattle/Tacoma area to submit lists of their top 15 “freshest MC’s.”  The panel was comprised of myself, Casey Carter, Sara from Fresh N Def, Sermon from Sermon’s Domain, DJ SupaSam, DJ Swervewon, Josh Rizeberg, and DJ Iceman.  A final slot was reserved for fan votes collected on Juice Radio’s website and you can view the entire list and the accompanying videos here.

We were told to construct the list using specific criteria focusing on solo MC’s (not groups or singers) and their accomplishments within the past year.  The various categories we were instructed to key on ranged from sales/downloads to radio play, from concert draws to media recognition, and every variable you can think of in between.  In the end, even with the criteria, the idea was to make picks based on who we felt were the overall “freshest” in the NW, which is obviously subjective to each individual.  Not surprisingly, we had fairly different lists, and also not surprisingly, it was revealed during the course of our discussion that some of the panel did not follow the criteria or fully understand it.  What’s a hip-hop list without some controversy from the very start (and the inability to do the most basic tasks correctly)?

The format allowed for the panel to bump up artists if we were convinced during our discussion that they had been voted to an incorrect slot.  Personally, I would have preferred the panel to simply fill out their lists accurately from the jump and then we could stick with where someone was voted.  If you’re deemed knowledgeable enough to be on the panel, you should be able to construct a good list and defend your picks without getting swayed during the discussion to vote someone up or down.  That said, when Macklemore was revealed as #3 on the list, I was happy we’d have a chance to vote him to his correct position at #1 because it’s clear that with the criteria we were told to use, nobody has excelled more than him in the past year.  It’s not even debatable in my opinion.

I was disappointed that the list didn’t unanimously have him at #1 to begin with, but I can’t speak for the selections of any other panel member.  All I know is that only 6 of the 15 artists I selected made the final list (though they only revealed the top 10, so I suppose 5 were never going to make it).  Of those, I think the most startling omissions were Geologic (aka Prometheus Brown) and Ish (aka Palaceer Lazaro of Shabazz Palaces).  To conclude a “Freshest In The NW” list without two of our most successful and influential artists, who continue to release great music to widespread critical and consumer acclaim, seems like a travesty.

Regardless, it seems the list accomplished what it set out to do, which was to generate conversation about all the talent we have in the Northwest.  Were there things I would do differently if this were my project?  Absolutely, starting with the fact that I would never do it to begin with.  However, this is Juice Radio’s creation and I enjoyed giving my two cents in the discussion.

That said, I’m troubled by the reactions of many people, mainly because they seem to be attacking the idea that this is some sort of definitive list.  Of course it’s NOT a definitive list!  I thought that would have been common sense, but yet again, for the 24823948239423424th time in my life, I’ve overestimated the intelligence and comprehension levels of the general public (though if I continue to do that, it’s really more my fault than theirs).  Individual lists are fine, but it’s the idea that combining a group of lists, from anyone, somehow transforms these individual opinions to fact that is completely absurd.  I assumed everyone would understand that, but I was wrong.

I hope you enjoyed the debate and the videos, but I’d advise you do yourself a favor and don’t take it too seriously.  Then again, that’s also just my opinion…

Even with the product placement (which I’m ok with if it provides more support & exposure for the band), Little Dragon can do no wrong.  Pretty much in love with the band and Yukimi at this point.  #NoShame