The Audacity of Dope

As much as I love all my favorite classic artists, there’s really nothing better than seeing the next generation come up and begin to establish themselves.  I remember when I first heard of B.o.B., I was impressed, but not blown away.  Fast forward to almost 2 years later and now I’m definitely a huge fan of Mr. Bobby Ray.  He killed every verse and hook in 2008 and ’09 will officially be his break out year.

Not only is he insanely talented, but he’s also a real cool dude.  You all saw a glimpse of that in the “Autotune” video, but I got to see it firsthand when B.o.B., Playboy Tre, and their manager B. Rich came through Sound Session to chop it up a while back.  We talked all about their backgrounds, B.o.B.’s upcoming debut album, the lead single (“I’ll Be In The Sky”), their ability to write infectious hooks, why their music has to be genuine, why the industry needs a reality check, and much more.  You can check out the full interview below:

B.o.B. & Playboy Tre on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?xnlx1wmo0gz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/54012448089f57ba/ )

Big shout to the whole crew for dropping by and a special shout to TJ Chapman too.  Get ready for the B.o.B./Tre takeover in ’09, for real.

Ok, when the snow first started this winter here in Seattle, it was pretty dope because we don’t get scenes like this too often. Then when it stuck around for the week after and forced J. Moore and I to miss an episode of Sound Session due to the madness on the roads, it started to really get on our nerves. Now that a random blizzard decided to hit the city out of nowhere (thanks for the “light rain/snow mix moving into rain all night” forecasts weather dudes), I’m officially over this weather.

Unfortunately, due to the latest round of snow, J and I were unable to get to KUBE for the first SNSS of the new year. Just like when this happened 2 weeks ago, I’ve decided to put together the songs we would have played in a .rar file for y’all (again, please say you use WinRar for all your zipping/extracting needs), all sequenced and ready to go for you. So consider this our (semi) official 2009 jumpoff…yaaaaay. Hopefully we’ll be back to normal next week, but in the meantime, if you have any trouble, just contact me through any of the methods on the right sidebar –>

Show #188 (1-4-09)
**Online Only Edition**

1. Skillz – “2008 Rap Up”
2. Shad – “I Don’t Like To”
3. DJ Cadik ft. Phat Kat & Elzhi – “Keep It Real”
4. Super Smoky Soul ft. Guilty Simpson – “Knockout Kings”
5. People Under The Stairs – “The Wiz”
6. Grieves & Budo – “Guenevieve” (Local Artist)
7. Adele ft. Naledge (of Kidz In The Hall) – “First Love (Remot Remix)”
8. Jadakiss ft. Faith Evans – “Letter To B.I.G.”
9. **Inverse ft. Substantial – “Spark My Soul” (WORLD PREMIERE)**
10. Butta Verses – “INTL”
11. Colin Munroe ft. Joell Ortiz – “Piano Lessons”
12. Termanology ft. Sheek, Joell Ortiz, Bun B, Freeway, & Saigon – “Say It”
13. Statik Selektah ft. Bun B & Cory Mo – “Get Out The Way”
14. Snowgoons ft. Boom Bap Project – “The Storm” (Local Artist)
15. Big Pooh – “The Comeback”
16. Wale ft. Brother Ali – “2nd Time”
17. Evidence ft. Defari – “Don’t Hate”
18. Josh Martinez ft. Devin The Dude – “Hurricane Jane” (Local Artist)
19. Common – “Gladiator”
20. Kenna ft. The Cool Kids – “Loose Wires (Remix)”
21. 88 Keys – “Morning Wood”
22. Asher Roth – “I Love College”
23. Little Dragon – “Constant Surprises”
24. Robin Thicke – “Dreamworld”
25. Johnson&Jonson – “Hold On John”

Link to download the mp3’s – http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VEW9GCRL
(back up link – http://www.zshare.net/download/538391387729daed/ )

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. If the weather cooperates, we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled program next week.

The snow is melted, the ice is gone, and Seattle’s back to its normal 35 degree winter climate.  That can mean only one thing: Sound Session is back.  After last week’s online only edition, it felt good to be back on the air and broadcasting some of the best new music around.  We featured dope tracks from people like Royce The 5’9″ (produced by DJ Premier), Q-Tip (w/D’Angelo), Blu, Kenna, K’Naan, Wale, Shad, and more, plus we aired a few snippets from our Universal Mind Control listening party with Common.  We also had Silent Knight call in to give us an update on his Loud.com contest and speak about his Jake One produced single & video for “Pop Culture Shock.”

All in all, another dope show.  I could go into more detail, but I’m in the process of moving places and I kiiiiiinda need to pack.  Consequently, blogging might be at a premium over the next week or so.  In the meantime, enjoy!

Show #187 (12-28-08)

1. Royce The 5’9” – “Shake This”
2. Joell Ortiz ft. Joe Budden – “Move On”
3. Kali – “Cali Kali”
4. Inverse ft. Deacon The Villain (of the CunninLynguists) – “So True”
5. Clockwork – “Laid Back” (Local Artist)
6. Q-Tip ft. D’Angelo – “I Believe”
7. DJ Cadik ft. Phat Kat & Elzhi – “Keep It Real”
8. Blu – “SpaceJive”
9. Adele – “Daydreams (nVMe Remix)”
10. Kardinal Offishall ft. Barrington Levy & Busta Rhymes – “Numba 1 (Tide Is High) (Remix)”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH COMMON #04, SNIPPET PT. 1**
12. Common – “Inhale”
13. **INTERVIEW WITH COMMON #04, SNIPPET PT. 2**
14. Kenna ft. the Cool Kids – “Loose Wires (Remix)”
15. K’Naan ft. Chubb Rock – “ABC’s”
16. Josh Martinez ft. Devin The Dude – “Hurricane Jane” (Local Artist)
17. Shad – “I Don’t Like To”
18. Sene – “Whateva, Wheneva”
19. Exile ft. Muhsinah – “Stay Tuned (Stay High) (Vocal Mix)”
20. Willie Will – “Honor You” (Local Artist)
21. **INTERVIEW WITH SILENT KNIGHT**
22. Silent Knight – “Pop Culture Shock”
23. Wale ft. Brother Ali – “2nd Time”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?zomdnmgzq3m
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/534609092e2de29d/ )

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.

Cause if you do, you might be videotaped and clowned.

Big shout to Eclipse and Stretch of The Parker Brothaz, one of the dopest up and coming groups in hip-hop and some of the nicest talent we have here in the Pacific Northwest. When you’re on the grind like they are though, sometimes you get a little tired. Hopefully you don’t pass out on the air like Eclipse did on when they dropped by Sound Session recently on Episode #181.

And just so y’all don’t think I did the homies dirty, Stretch hooked up the video and gave me the go ahead.  Hahahaha, sorry Clipse!

But on the real, don’t sleep on these dudes…no pun.  Y’all heard the remix to their “Text Me” joint with Big Pooh, Naledge, and Talib Kweli?  Smoooooooooth.

What can I say…I was bored and needed to get out of the house.  Seeing as how its been snowing for 10+ hours now and the roads are completely covered, I’m guessing there won’t be an episode of Sound Session tonight.  I’m hoping to have some cool stuff to post up in the next few days to make it up to y’all.  We’ll see.

In the meantime, stay warm!

(watch part one in HD on HyphenTV)

J. Moore and I recently got the chance to have one of our favorite artists in the game, the one and only Murs, come through Sound Session and kick it with us.  Back when I used to do college radio down in Los Angeles (KSPC what up!), I used to joke about how many people would call in to request Living Legends music.  Seriously, I’d get one every 15 minutes…it was crazy.  They have such an ill following in Cali (and worldwide), and it’s been great to watch Murs build upon that to take his career and brand to a new level.

When we sat down with him, we talked all about his new Murs For President album, why he decided to sign to a major label, his love for No Limit & Cash Money records from the late 90’s, life on the road, politics, and much more.  Be sure to watch both parts of the interview to see why he’s the most authentic rapper you’ll ever find.

(watch part two in HD on HyphenTV)

If you need the audio for your mp3 player, here you go:

Murs on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?zwmqjo3htnj
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/529083346101e751/ )

If there are any problems with the links or videos, just let me know.  Enjoy!

(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.

It’s been a while since I archived Sound Session immediately following the show, but I figured I’d toss the latest episode up for y’all before I crash.  That said, I’d prefer not to start off my week with no sleep, so I’ll keep this brief.

While J. Moore is in NYC to host the finals of the Red Bull Big Tune beat battle, I held it down solo (“so low they can’t hear you Carlton” © Will).  As usual, we played dope joints all night and I decided to switch it up for the last block and played some of my favorite ‘alternative’ type songs to close the show.  I’ll forever be a backpacker, but thankfully I’ve grown to understand that good music is good music, boom-bap or not.

Special note: the full interview with Elzhi & Black Milk (aka “40 minutes of dopeness with two of the illest in the industry”) will is posted below. I aired a few snippets last night, but trust me, you’ll want to listen to the entire thing.

Show #183 (11-30-08)

1. Ludacris – “M.V.P.”
2. Evidence ft. Alchemist – “So Fresh”
3. Convinced – “Miss Memory”
4. Dela ft. Talib Kweli – “Long Life”
5. Grynch – “Take A Trip (Local Artist)
6. GLC ft. Kanye West – “Big Screen”
7. B.o.B. – “I’ll Live In The Sky”
8. 88 Keys ft. Kid Cudi – “Ho Is Short For Honey”
9. Common – “Gladiator”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH ELZHI & BLACK MILK, SNIPPET #1**
11. Elzhi ft. Royce The 5’9” – “Motown 25”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH ELZHI & BLACK MILK, SNIPPET #2**
13. Black Milk – “Long Story Short”
14. Fresh Espresso (Rik Rude & P-Smoov) – “Diamond Pistols” (Local Artist)
15. Self Scientific ft. The Game, Talib Kweli, & Cobe – “Everywhere I Go”
16. Keelay & Zaire ft. Tunji (of Inverse) – “Addicts For Real”
17. Json – “M.O.B.” (Local Artist)
18. Kanye West ft. Kid Cudi – “Welcome To Heartbreak”
19. The Knux – “Hush”
20. He Say She Say – “Crash Dummie”
21. Colin Munroe ft. Wale – “Will I Stay (Remix)”
22. Robin Thicke – “Cry No More”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?qym2mje1k2m
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/521000594c2910a1/ )

Link to download the full interview with Elzhi & Black Milk – http://www.mediafire.com/?4nl20wo3wjy
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/52144263069bf0be/ )

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.

Ever have one of those times where everything is going great, and then something completely random goes wrong and tries to pull you down?  That’s pretty much how my weekend went.  Aside from my 6th grade basketball team crashing out of our tournament with the quickness, everything was busy, but still dope…until I drove in to the station for this week’s Sound Session and my car decided to blow up.  It took all day today to get things back up and running, but I swear, those Prius jawns look better by the minute.

Thankfully, this week’s show provided a little therapy through an hour and a half of good music and good people.  We ran a ton of great tracks and played two short snippets of our recent interview with Talib Kweli.  Be sure to check out the full version of that interview (and watch the video in HD) below.  Also, shout to the homegirl Jessica from Spectre for coming through to kick it!

Show #182 (11-23-08)

1. Alchemist ft. Evidence, Blu, & Kid Cudi – “Therapy”
2. Keelay & Zaire ft. Blu, Fortilive, & Nino Moschella – “The Times”
3. B.o.B. – “Left Field Lovely”
4. Grynch ft. Geologic (of Blue Scholars) & Thig Natural (of the Physics) – “I’m A Dreamer” (Local Artist)
5. Q-Tip – “Fever”
6. Black Milk – “Hold It Down”
7. Colin Munroe ft. Wale – “Will I Stay (Remix)”
8. Reef The Lost Cauze – “Home”
9. Ludacris ft. Nas & Jay-Z – “I Do It For Hip-Hop”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH TALIB KWELI #04 (SNIPPETS)**
11. Self Scientific ft. Talib Kweli & the Game – “Everywhere I Go”
12. Evidence – “Rain Or Shine”
13. GLC ft. Kanye West – “Big Screen”
14. Kanye West ft. Mr. Hudson & Kid Cudi – “Paranoid”
15. Foreign Exchange – “I Wanna Know”
16. 88 Keys ft. Phonte (of Little Brother) – “Close Call”
17. Fresh Espresso (Rik Rude & P-Smoov) – “Diamond Pistols” (Local Artist)
18. **INTERVIEW WITH JESSICA WEBER (of SPECTRE)**
19. Json – “M.O.B.” (Local Artist)
20. Statik Selektah ft. Jon Hope, Torae, & Sha Stimuli – “Destined To Shine (Obama Mix)”
21. Now On – “Unwind”
22. B-Real ft. Young De – “Don’t Ya Dare Laugh”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?koggndwnmqw
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/5182069911de45aa/ )

Link to download the full interview with Talib Kweli – http://www.mediafire.com/?2dmzymzi3jt
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/515797634df69ac9/ )

(watch in HD on HyphenTV)

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.