The Audacity of Dope

As I was saying, the talent in the 206 is immense right now.  I meant to put this on TAOD when Ryan first sent it to me, but I failed.  Thankfully, 2DopeBoyz posted it up and reminded me about it.

In Ryan’s own words:

All summer I’ve been working on my thesis project to graduate from the UW. It’s another still-image motion picture like the 2Pac Vs. Franz Ferdinand mash-up I made last year. It features Macklemore and a few other people you may know (list below). Take in mind this is version one. Between limited access, finances, etc I couldn’t really pursue a lot of the ideas I originally envisioned in efforts to make it epic. I feel like the music got there more than the storyline. However, we may do an improved remix of it for the VS. (Macklemore/RyanLewis) EP featuring Mack rapping and a revised production more like a music video, shot with actual video.

It was shot entirely with regular still-image cameras (Canon 5D, Canon 5D Mark II, Nikon D300 and a Nikon D3), batch-edited in Photoshop and produced in Final Cut Pro. The music was probably the biggest Pro-Tools session I’ve ever ran. Although it samples the original Fake Empire’s piano and backing vocals, everything else was recorded live over numerous sessions.

Thanks a ton to everyone who helped:

The National – Fake Empire (Sample)
JkoePhoto.com (Jason Koenig) – Photographer
MazagranPhoto.com (Johnny Valencia) – Photographer
Myspace.com/Macklemore (Ben Haggerty) – Main Actor
Tricia Davis – Actor
Kevin Veatch – Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Engineer
Andrew Joslyn – Violins and plucking
Zach Fleury – Main Drums, Percussion
Jonah Peters – Percussion
Ryan Lewis – Music Production, Photography, Film Production, Drums, Key Strings, Organ

We shot 100 + strangers portraits who choose a sticker that pertained to an organization/company that has either consumed them or acted as an alternative means of communication to operate with society.

Group Vocals –

P Smoov (Mad Rad)
Rosanna Veatch
Zach Fleury
Sol
Xperience
Macklemore
Anna Clausen
Isabella Du Graf
and more.

Also, Ryan has been working with a dope MC/vocalist named Symmetry for about 3 years now and I believe they’re just about to drop their full project for the masses.  Here’s a taste:

Symmetry / Ryan Lewis – “Fireflies”

For those who aren’t aware, the talent in Seattle is crazy right now.  One of my favorite releases of the year, local or national, was Fresh Espresso‘s Glamour, and Rik Rude & P-Smoov just enlisted Grynch, Macklemore, and Gatsby for the remix.  Video by Stephan Gray.  Bananas.

Fresh Espresso ft. Grynch, Macklemore, & Gatsby – “Something New (Remix)”

Damn, when we first played this song on Sound Session a while ago, apparently it wasn’t finished.  I had know idea the homies Budo, Krukid, and M.anifest were getting Ali on there too!  This is a big tune…

A.R.M. ft. Brother Ali – “Heaven Only Knows”

Check out their site and stay up to date with one of my favorite up and coming crews out there.

The song is called “Pay Us No Mind,” but do so at your own peril.  The homies M.O.S. and G-Christ are back with a new video, and as usual for the Texas duo, it’s ill.  Do yourself a favor and download the track too:

Crew54 – “Pay Us No Mind”

By now, most of you have heard Nas’ collaboration with the 2009 Red Bull Big Tune champion, C-Sick, but I thought I’d post up the ill behind the scenes footage of the making of “Film.”  Above, you can peep a little background on C-Sick’s journey, while the two studio segments are below.

Also, neither of the 2 versions of the song that have leaked online so far are the final edit, so I’m posting that up too.  In case you’re living in the woods, my co-host on Sunday Night Sound Session, J. Moore, created the Red Bull Big Tune with Vitamin D, Jake One, DV-One, and Marcus Lalario.  The homies helped put this song together and even recruited Seattle’s own Choklate to sing the hook.  Due to sample clearance issues, C-Sick’s original beat had to be replayed, and you’ve yet to hear the final, official version of the track…until now.  Enjoy!

Nas ft. Choklate – “Film” (final version)

If you name drop me in an interview, there’s a good chance I’ll post it up on TAOD hahaha.  4:53 ftw!

Nah, but for real, Outasight and 6th are two of my favorite artists these days and people are starting to recognize the incredible talent they possess.  If you’re still in the dark, peep the interview with Terry Urban (what up Mick!) for some good background info and be sure to download one of the best songs of the year too:

Outasight – “Brand New Day”

Flawless record.

This is too funny.  Shout to all my folks in the video…but damn, why did Sean have to do Blaze like that ahahahaha.  Here’s the track too, courtesy of 2DopeBoyz:

Sean Price – “Ruck Down”

Sean PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Suspect voice…naked pics on the net…dating Diddy…half her head shaved…I don’t even care, I love this woman.  And to be honest, I actually do like this song.  The beat is on some underground hip-hop ish or maybe something that Nas woulda told a crazy story over in the late 90’s.  I’d rather hear this on the airwaves than most other pop-R&B singles these days, but it doesn’t look like it’s catching on too well.

Cassie ft. Diddy – “Must Be Love”

Perhaps she’ll hit with the second single.  Either way, Diddy knew exactly what he was doing when he signed her.  Well played sir.

Back in the good ol’ Napster days, one of my favorite discoveries was a dope crew from Maryland and NYC named Maspyke.  Tableek and the criminally underrated Hanif Jamyl held down mic duties while Roddy Rod killed the production.  Whether you’re familiar with Rod through Maspyke or his Low Budget crew affiliation, just make sure you’re not sleeping.

Here’s his new video for “This Time Around” with Phonte (of Little Brother) and Carlitta Durand.  SNSS listeners will remember us world premiering this track last month, so act like ya know.

Roddy Rod ft. Phonte and Carlitta Durand – “This Time Around”

Off the re-release of Rod’s Cuba After Market album.