The Audacity of Dope

As I write this, I’m posted up on my deck overlooking the Space Needle and soaking in some Seattle sunshine with the Manchester City vs. Swansea game on ESPN2 in the background (Sergio Aguero putting in WORK).  Ah yes, my week of vacation is off to a nice start…

Enjoy this week’s show with new music by artists like Royce Da 5’9″, Miguel, The Cool Kids, Maffew Ragazino, Big Sean, Frank Ocean, and more.  Special shout to Braille, Cool Nutz, and Avatar Young Blaze for dropping by and blessing us with some new music as well.

Braille’s track, “Feel It,” was a world premiere and actually has an interesting SNSS related back-story.  A few years back, Braille came through and killed a true off the dome freestyle for us (watch the video here).  Evidence saw the freestyle on the blogs and reached out to Braille for a collaboration.  The story came full circle last night when we debuted the Evidence produced track with DJ Revolution on the cuts.  SNSS bringing the world together through good music…

Show #324 (8-14-11)

1. Royce Da 5’9” ft. Eminem – “Writer’s Block (DJ Premier Remix)”
2. Fowl – “Cha Cha Chicken (We On)”
3. Thurz ft. Black Thought – “Riot”
4. Roc Marciano – “Momma Told Me”
5. **INTERVIEW WITH AVATAR YOUNG BLAZE, PT. 1**
6. Avatar Young Blaze – “World Keeps Turning” (Local Music)
7. Omar Aura ft. Fashawn – “1,000 Palm Trees”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH AVATAR YOUNG BLAZE, PT. 2**
9. Miguel – “Quickie”
10. The Cool Kids ft. Tennille – “Boomin’”
11. Asher Roth – “In The Kitchen”
12. Theo Martins – “Mario Kart”
13. Big Sean ft. Lupe Fiasco – “Wait For Me”
14. **INTERVIEW WITH BRAILLE, PT. 1**
15. Braille – “Feel It” (World Premiere) (Local Music)
16. Union ft. Elzhi – “Wings”
17. **INTERVIEW WITH BRAILLE, PT. 2**
18. Frank Ocean – “Swim Good”
19. Jay-Z & Kanye West ft. Frank Ocean & The-Dream – “No Church In The Wild”
20. Maffew Ragazino – “Short Yellow Bus Theory”
21. Hassaan Mackey & Apollo Brown – “Something”
22. **INTERVIEW WITH COOL NUTZ, PT. 1**
23. Cool Nutz – “Hamptons” (Local Music)
24. **INTERVIEW WITH COOL NUTZ, PT. 2**
25. Mos Def ft. Tash & Q-Tip – “Body Rock” (Throwback of the Week)
26. Drake – “Headlines”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?kbdrkci0rc18y84
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/5o5qd1wmkpki)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/9372391718b9a265/)

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.

In case you’ve been sleeping, Braille & S1 recorded an album together called CloudNineteen and they just dropped the video for “Skepticold” today.  Not only is the album one of the best of the year, but it’s also serving a much greater purpose than mere entertainment.

As I mentioned a while back, they plan on giving away 30K CD’s at their shows, many to at-risk youth who desperately need some positive hip-hop in their lives.  Along with dropping off the video, Braille gave us an update on the project:

So far they have manufactured 15,000 copies and given away over 8,000.  With many events already booked for the summer, they anticipate reaching the half way mark within the next two months.  For more info check out www.itsnineteen.com and www.braillehiphop.com.

I can’t speak highly enough of Braille’s dedication and work ethic to use his gifts in a positive way.  It’s truly inspiring and everytime I get annoyed by the foolishness in this industry (*cough* Jeezy vs. Gucci *cough*), I think of folks like Braille and remember what I love about this culture.

Plus…the dude can flat out rap his ass off:

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.

This is pretty self-explanatory, but I’ll try to sum it up for you.  One of the dopest MC’s around, the big homey Braille, has linked up with one of the dopest producers, S1 (of Strange Fruit Project fame), to create a project called CloudNineteen.  Along with making an incredible record, there’s a larger purpose with the album.  I’ll let Braille explain:

In my last Newsletter, I shared details about my vision for this record.  It was really hard for me to share the vision at first because I feared that people wouldn’t understand.  At this point, I feel very comfortable with the vision and I am confident that this is what I’m supposed to do.  Starting February 25th, me and S1 will begin traveling around the U.S. with the intent of giving out as many CD’s as we can press.  My hope is to press 30,000 copies and in order to meet that goal I am accepting donations and financial contributions to help with the manufacturing cost.  None of the donated money is going in my pockets, and with a total goal of raising $20,000 – every 70 cents we raise represents a CD being given away to someone.  Rather then continuing to type out the vision, I filmed myself on DJ Idull’s computer so that I could verbalize the vision in a video.

If your interested in contributing to the cause then my PayPal is braillehiphop@hotmail.com.  If you’d rather send a check in the mail then just email me and I will hit you with my address.

It’s crucial to mention that these 30K CD’s that will be given away will almost all go to at-risk and incarcerated youths across America.  The same kids who see all the negative images that are most visable in hip-hop will be directly touched by positive, genuine, and dope music from their culture.

If you’ve read my blog over the past year, you already know that with all the problems in the world, America, and hip-hop, I think the solutions lie in education.  We have to teach the next generation how to act and right now, hip-hop just isn’t pulling its weight.  Huge shout to everyone who is doing something positive with their music and careers right now, Braille and S1 especially.

I just wrote Braille a check for $100 to help support the project and I hope you’ll join me in getting CloudNineteen out to as many kids as possible.  Like he mentioned, every 70 cents he raises represents giving one CD to a kid locked in juvenile detention or in a tough neighborhood.  Instead of going out to dinner and a movie one night, shoot Braille some $$ and help out.

Thank you.

I’ve been meaning to post this up since I went to Braille’s “Everybody Say Ho!!!” event last week here in Seattle (Portland people, yours is this Friday, details here).  It was a real dope show and I even got to catch up with some old friends from way back in the day.  Plus, the Frosty the Snowman vs. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer battle was classic.  You think I’m jokin’.

As an added bonus, everyone who attended received this ill mixtape from Braille’s Lightheaded brethren, Ohmega Watts.  If this doesn’t get you in the mood for Christmas, stop being such a Scrooge.  Download this and bump it while you hang your stockings with care.

Hooooooooooo!

1. RUN-D.M.C. “Christmas in Hollis”
2. Dana Dane “Dana Dane is Coming to Town
3. Beastie Boys “Sure Shot”
4. Sweet Tee “Let The Jingle Bells Rock”
5. Da’rel Jr. “This Christmas”
6. Braille “Blessed Man”
7. Sojourn “Definitely Special”
8. Flying Lotus “Roberta Flack Ft. Dolly”
9. Surreal “First Chapter”
10. Poems “Love”
11. Nicolay & Kay “Tight Eyes”
12. Choclit Kennedy “On & On”
13. J Dilla “Won’t Do”
14. Othello “Silhouette”
15. James Brown “Don’t Tell It”
16. Red Astaire Ft. Caretta Bell “You Dead Wrong”
17. Theory Hazit “Grizzly”
18. Grand Puba “Amazing”
19. Charles Brown “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (Ohmega Watts Remix)

Download here.  (right click, save as)

(or watch on HyphTube)

The homey Braille has made a few appearances on Sound Session before, but this was the first time he’s been able to make the trek up from Portland to Seattle to kick it with us live in the studio. He brought along his Lightheaded fam too, Othello and Ohmega Watts, so we caught up with them all for a minute and talked about their current projects. Braille allowed us to give a world premiere to “Fill It In,” one of the joints off his upcoming album with S1 (of Strange Fruit Project). Also, before he left, he even dropped a real freestyle (remember those?) off the dome and killed it. You can watch the freestyle above and download the audio of the full interview through either of the links below:

Braille on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?mmzmmkjwzjq
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/524711662323a585/ )

Northwest people: be sure to check out Braille’s holiday event, “Everybody Say Ho!”, on the 11th in Seattle (see flyer) or the 19th at Berbati’s Pan in Portland. It’s going to be a great time…be there!

Yes y’all, another dope edition of Sunday Night Sound Session for you to enjoy if you weren’t able to catch it live.  Or if you did, and you just want to relive the glorious night, you’re in luck.  Ok ok, perhaps it wasn’t a life changing event, but you know we had to hold you down as always with the best new music of the week.  We played great songs from artists like Black Milk, Evidence, Common, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and more, plus debuted new tracks from Nipsey Hussle, Blaq Poet, and the longtime homies, U-N-I.  Thurz & Y-O were even in town yesterday for a concert, so while they had to rock the stage while SNSS was on air, we did get a chance to record a nice interview that I’ll post up ASAP.

In the meantime, peep this episode for all that music, including a snippet of an interview we did a while back with West Coast legend Murs.  Again, I’ll post the entire interview (and video) soon.  We were also joined in studio by the local group Clockwork and some of Portland’s finest, Braille, Othello, and Ohmega Watts, collectively known as Lightheaded.  Braille even stuck around and dropped a dope (legit) freestyle off the dome to help us close the show.  You can watch it below.  Enjoy!

Show #184 (12-7-08)

1. Black Milk – “Try”
2. Evidence – “The Cold Weather”
3. Keelay & Zaire ft. Blu, Fortilive, & Nino Moschella – “The Times”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH BRAILLE, OTHELLO, & OHMEGA WATTS**
5. Braille – “Fill It In”
6. Common ft. Cee-Lo – “Make My Day”
7. Nipsey Hussle – “Hussle In The House”
8. Jay-Z ft. Santogold – “Brooklyn (We Go Hard)”
9. Grynch ft. Tunji (of Inverse) – “All Right” (Local Artist)
10. **INTERVIEW WITH MURS (SNIPPET)**
11. Murs – “Can It Be”
12. 1982 (Statik Selektah & Termanology) ft. Lil’ Fame (of M.O.P.) – “Thugathon”
13. Blaq Poet – “Ain’t Nuttin’ Changed”
14. The Knux – “Hush”
15. U-N-I – “Hollywood Hiatus”
16. Convinced – “Miss Memory”
17. **INTERVIEW WITH CLOCKWORK**
18. Clockwork – “Hold On” (Local Artist)
19. Fresh Espresso (Rik Rude & P-Smoov) – “Elegant” (Local Artist)
20. Don Cerino ft. Royce The 5’9” – “Missing Element” (WORLD PREMIERE)
21. Kid Cudi – “Dat New New”
22. **BRAILLE – LIVE FREESTYLE**
23. Kanye West – “Street Lights”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?ddyogjhymzi
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/524277280b292ccc/ )

Link to download just the parts with Braille – http://www.mediafire.com/?mmzmmkjwzjq
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/524711662323a585/ )

Braille’s freestyle:

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.