The Audacity of Dope

I’ve heard a few of them done better, but overall, this beatbox performance from France’s EKLIPS is bananas.  Oui, c’est bon.

Fice and Erik Soderquist team up for this ode to Tacoma, our friendly neighbors just south of Seattle.  I’m digging the record and the video, though I will say, one of my rules in life is to never answer an unknown number from the 253.  Life lesson.

While on tour with Reflection Eternal (check our interview here) and U-N-I, one of the nicest up and coming MC’s in the game, Laws, stopped by the Sound Session studio to chop it up.  We talked all about his background, linking up with the J.U.S.T.I.CE. League production team, his 4:57 mixtape with Don Cannon, his upcoming Yesterday’s Future project, and more.  Check out the links below for the full interview!

Laws on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?mz1yu3znh20
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/772049093f61ac06/)

If you haven’t downloaded 4:57 yet, grab it right here.

Not a music video, but the homies Court Dunn and Emilio Rojas hooked up for this quick piece where Emilio runs off some things that define hip-hop to him.  Really well done and bonus points for the Wu-Tang Financial reference.

The homies Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are not only two of my favorite artists from the town, but they are also two of my favorite people in the Seattle music scene.  They’re just really cool dudes who love making art and take it pride in everything they do.  When you mix in their incredible talent on top of that (need proof?), it’s mandatory to check for everything they’re involved in.

Here’s their long awaited collaboration, The Vs. EP, where they sampled some contemporary bands and combined rock with hip-hop.  Don’t get it twisted though, this isn’t some half-assed, corny mash up project.  Instead, it’s an excellent piece of work where Ryan’s lush soundscapes are complimented perfectly by Mack’s heartfelt and sobering (quite literally) rhymes.  I can’t recommend this highly enough.

Download here.

For getting a mention on the cover on the new Billboard!  Not a bad look for the homey Grynch or the town…I love it.  Peep the Q&A right here.

A little before Pac Div dropped their Church League Champions project, Like, Mibbs, and BeYoung came through the Sound Session studio to chop it up on a variety of topics.  We discussed that mixtape, the digital EP they put on iTunes a while back, and of course their upcoming full length debut, Grown Kid Syndrome.  They also talked about the importance of their live show, how their creative process likens to their game on the court, their favorite underrated West Coast MC’s, the L.A. scene, a possible collaboration with Andre 3000, and much more.

Pac Div on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?nzmr3eh32oi
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/649045665d98875b/)

This was one of the most enjoyable interviews I’ve done, mainly because chilling with Pac Div reminded me of kicking it with my college homies back in SoCal.  These dudes are real hip-hop heads who love Dilla and basketball…pretty much all it takes to be cool in my book.  Plus, we’re both fans of the Arizona Wildcats and even spent time commiserating over that damn 2001 NCAA Championship game.  For the record: I still hate you, Mike Dunleavy.

New Rik Cordero visuals for the DJ Khalil produced lead single from Joe Budden, Royce The 5’9″, Joell Ortiz, and Crooked I, aka Slaughterhouse.  Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll hip-hop.

ahahahahahaah aw man, look at the homies Krispy and Al!  The Knux made one of the least diverse crowds I’ve ever seen go absolutely crazy at the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee this weekend.  LOL @ the irony of ending with Dead Prez’ “Hip-Hop”…I love it.

Seattle people: Be sure to come check out the Knux at Bumbershoot this year, where they’ll be opening up for the Black Eyed Peas on the mainstage.  Shout to Krispy, Al, Josh, and the whole crew.  See y’all soon fellas.

The first of the homey Court Dunn’s 4 part video series highlighting the elements of hip-hop creates some ill breaking visuals for Camp Lo’s “Double Doors.”  I believe that’s a Thirstin Howl III spotting on the last verse too.  Just like the Blue Scholars proved with “Coffee and Snow,” you don’t need a huge budget to make a dope video these days.  Major labels should take note.

Camp Lo – “Double Doors”

Swiped from the Dopehouse.