The Audacity of Dope

(watch it in HD on HyphenTV right here)

A few weeks ago, the big homies Talib Kweli and Corey Smyth stopped by KUBE to make their 4th appearance on Sound Session.  It’s always great to meet and interview people for the first time, but it’s even better once you get to know them and your ‘interviews’ just turn in to catching up with old friends.  It probably could have been under better circumstances though, cause right before we got up, this happened.  It shows you how cool Talib is that despite just finding out about the theft, he still took time for us before trying to find the laptop.  Booooooooo @ that “fan” who took Kwa’s MacBook.  Shame on you.

Anyway, if you missed any of the previous discussions, you can check ’em out on our podcast page right here.

This time around, we talked all about his current projects, including updates on the next Reflection Eternal album with Hi-Tek, his Idle Warship group with Res & Graph Nobel, and all things Blacksmith. We also discussed what it’s like to operate his own label, how new media has affected his career, a little politics, and more.  Be sure to watch it in high-def on the HyphenTV Vimeo page, or if you only want the audio, grab it below:

Talib Kweli on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?2dmzymzi3jt
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/515797634df69ac9/ )

Blacksmith is the movement.

Like I mentioned a while back, I got a chance to catch up with the homies Evidence (of Dilated Peoples) and Alchemist when they came to Seattle at the start of the month for the “Still High” tour with Red & Meth.  We’ve had both dudes on Sound Session a few times before, but this was the first occasion where they came through together.  Every time I chop it up with Ev and Al, they’re cool as hell.

This time around, we talked all about their current projects, including Evidence’s Layover EP, Alchemist’s Alchemist Cookbook (which drops online today!), Al’s Gang Green album with Oh No, and their Stepbrothers group effort.  They also touched on how new media has affected their careers, the recent West Coast resurgence, who they list as dream collaborations, and much more.  Peep that:

Evidence & Alchemist on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?yzjtjgejieu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51481522ef6ce739/ )

Go grab Al’s Alchemist Cookbook at your favorite digital retailer and be sure to cop The Layover EP a week from today.  If you’ve been staying up to date on the videos so far, you know it’s crazy…

Even though life has been really hectic lately, there are certain episodes of Sound Session that just feel like the good ol’ days.  Every now and then, I’ll forget all the other stuff I have to do and just enjoy hanging out with good people, playing some dope music.  This past Sunday was definitely one of those nights.  We had the homies Grynch and The Parker Brothaz roll through to talk about recent projects they’re involved in and the jokes were flying all night.  I wish y’all could hear all the off air moments each week…they might even be more entertaining than the music we play.

Speaking of which, here are the playlist and download links for this week’s edition of SNSS.  Be sure to check out the full interview with Evidence (of Dilated Peoples) and Alchemist to hear about all the dope projects they’re working on.

Show #181 (11-16-8)

1. Chester French – “She Loves Everybody”
2. The Knux – “Life In A Cage (Electric)”
3. Q-Tip – “Move”
4. Black Milk – “Try”
5. **INTERVIEW WITH GRYNCH**
6. Grynch ft. Tunji (of Inverse) – “All Right” (Local Artist)
7. 88 Keys ft. Bilal – “M.I.L.F.”
8. Foreign Exchange – “Valediction”
9. Illa J – “All Good”
10. Ghostface Killah – “Computer Love”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH EVIDENCE & ALCHEMIST, PT. 1**
12. Evidence ft. Phonte (of Little Brother), Blu, & Will.I.Am – “For Whom The Bell Tolls”
13. **INTERVIEW WITH EVIDENCE & ALCHEMIST, PT. 2**
14. Jay Electronica – “Exhibit A (Transformations)”
15. B.o.B. – “Left Field Lovely”
16. Reef The Lost Cauze – “Home”
17. **INTERVIEW WITH THE PARKER BROTHAZ**
18. AD – “All That I Had” (Local Artist)
19. Fashawn ft. Evidence – “Our Way”
20. The Reallionaires – “Give It 2 U” (Local Artist)
21. Keelay & Zaire ft. Blu, Fortilive, & Nino Moschella – “The Times”
22. Kanye West ft. Kid Cudi – “Paranoid”
23. John Legend – “Cross The Line”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?tgntzjt3zlw
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51862674c65d7d54/ )

Link to download the full interview with Evidence & Alchemist – http://www.mediafire.com/?yzjtjgejieu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51481522ef6ce739/ )

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.

^^poor Adam.

Even though we had 88 Keys call in to Sound Session a few months ago back in June (peep that interview here), with Death of Adam finally dropping today, we thought we’d remind y’all to cop it.  You can check the first interview for all sorts of information about the album and then check part two below.  This time around, Keys talked about what he wanted to do with DoA, how it affected his musical plans for the future, and even dispensed some important advice to men everywhere.  Check it out:

88 Keys on Sound Session #02 – http://www.mediafire.com/?gvyhtqz5zdn
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51176379078607c9/ )

Cop Death of Adam in stores now!

I don’t know if you heard, but some dude named Barack Obama is our 44th President.  Pretty crazy, huh?

With this being our first Sound Session since the historic election, you know we had to celebrate.  We kicked off the show with a nice set of tracks dedicated to Barack’s victory, including new joints from Jay-Z, Common, Brother Ali, Q-Tip, and 3 of XXL’s Incoming Freshmen Class, B.o.B., Charles Hamilton, and Asher Roth.  After getting our celebration out the way, we got back into some of the best music out right now from people like Kanye, Devin The Dude, Black Milk, Evidence, and more.  Good music + good times recapping the past week.  Listen to the very beginning to hear how J. Moore watched the election results with WHO?!?!?!?! How crazy is that?

We also had 88 Keys call in (again…peep the interview from June here) to talk about his Death of Adam project that drops today, so make sure you cop that and support G.O.O.D. music…yes pun.  Also, shout to J. Pinder for swinging by the studio to fill us in, pause, on his new mixtape, No New Taxes.  Pinder may have lost his campaign for President, but at least he’s still one of Seattle’s best.  Cop that for a buck at OnlyGP.com.

Show #180 (11-9-08)

1. Jay-Z ft. Tony Williams – “History”
2. Novel ft. Joell Ortiz – “I Can Be President”
3. B.o.B. ft. Charles Hamilton & Asher Roth – “Change Gonna Come”
4. Brother Ali – “Mr. President (You’re The Man)”
5. Common – “Changes”
6. J. Period ft. Q-Tip – “Q-Tip For President”
7. Jake One ft. Kardinal Offishall & Pharoahe Monch – “Hurt U” (Local Artist)
8. **INTERVIEW WITH 88 KEYS #02**
9. 88 Keys ft. Kanye West & Malik Yusef – “Stay Up (Viagra)”
10. Kanye West – “Heartless”
11. Devin The Dude ft. 14K – “I Need A Song”
12. Illa J ft. Debi Nova – “Sounds Like Love”
13. Foreign Exchange ft. Darien Brockington – “Take Off The Blues”
14. The Reallionaires – “Call Me” (Local Artist)
15. Black Milk ft. Royce The 5’9” – “Losing Out”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH J. PINDER**
17. AD – “All That I Had” (Local Artist)
18. Keelay & Zaire ft. Tunji – “Addicts For Real”
19. Fashawn ft. Evidence – “Our Way”
20. Evidence – “The Layover”
21. John Legend – “If You’re Out There (Obama Mix)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?mmdz21ovyja
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/5117608845439706/ )

Link to download the full interview with 88 Keys – http://www.mediafire.com/?gvyhtqz5zdn
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51176379078607c9/ )

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.

Wow. I can’t believe we’re here: less than 24 hours from Election Day.  After all the hard work everyone has put in over the past year (and more for some of y’all), it’s finally time to go to the polls and vote for change.  By voting for Barack Obama tomorrow, we’re telling the world that America is ready to turn the corner on the last 8 years and move into the future with the right policies, strategies, beliefs, and behavior.  It’s time to regain our position at the head of the table and make the world a better place.  We’ll lead by example from here on out.

Throughout the election cycle, hip-hop has played an important and influential role, one that future generations will look back upon and recognize much more than we do right now.  Yes, at times, our culture does more harm than good, but overall, hip-hop continues to be the voice of young people around the world.  It drives popular culture and was synergistically tied into Barack’s entire campaign, providing an ever changing soundtrack throughout the primary and general elections.

On last night’s Sound Session, we ran an entire prObama show and played nothing but songs written for and inspired by Barack.  Big shout to all the artists who used their platform to speak on such important issues and apologies to those who we didn’t get to play on the show due to time constraints.  It may seem corny, but everyone who has made Obama songs over the past 2 years has really played a part in this campaign.  Somewhere, somebody was moved by the art you created…and that’s what it’s all about.

Another huuuuuge shout to Michelle Gregoire, daughter of Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, for coming through and co-hosting the show.  She broke down exactly why Barack and Michelle Obama have endorsed Gov. Gregoire’s bid for reelection, and why we all need to vote for Gregoire when casting our ballots for Obama.  This may be a “change” election nationally, but here in Washington, Gov. Gregoire has done a great job and deserves another 4 years…especially with like-minded people coming into power in Congress, the Senate, and the White House.  With everyone pushing progressive policies, we’ll see a lot of great things happen in the next 8 years, both nationally and at home here in Washington.

Lastly, many thanks to the founder of Hidden Beach Recordings, Steve McKeever, for calling in to talk about the Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement album they released in conjunction with the Obama campaign.  Be sure to check out the full interview through one of the links below.

Download this episode of SNSS and spread it around to anyone who’s fired up about this historic time.  If you’re waiting in line tomorrow at the polls, bump this in your mp3 player and remember what you’re doing this all for.  Change is coming and it starts with us.  GO VOTE TOMORROW!

Show #179 (11-2-08)
**Co-Hosted by Michelle Gregoire**

1. Big Boi ft. Mary J. Blige – “Sumthin’ Gotta Give”
2. DJ Green Lantern – “Stand Up (Interlude)”
3. Dres (of Black Sheep) – “The Choice Is Yours (Taster’s Choice Remix)”
4. 6th Sense – “Ignite The People (Like Obama)”
5. Daytona – “Can I Kick It”
6. Jay Smooth – “A Poem For The Young Voter”
7. John Mayer ft. Twista & Joe Budden – “Waiting On The World To Change (DJ Green Lantern Remix)”
8. M.anifest – “Age Of Obama”
9. Kidz In The Hall ft. Talib Kweli & Bun B – “Work To Do (Change Remix)”
10. Cocoa Tea – “Barack Obama”
11. DJ Green Lantern ft. Gabe Real & Jay-Z – “What We Need”
12. Wyclef Jean – “Obama For President”
13. Nas ft. Johnny Polygon – “Black President”
14. Joell Ortiz ft. Dante Hawkins – “Letter To Obama”
15. H-Town All-Stars (Bun B, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Cory Mo, & Trae) – “Obama ‘08”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH STEVE MCKEEVER (CEO OF HIDDEN BEACH)**
17. Malik Yusef ft. Kanye West & Adam Levine (of Maroon 5) – “Promised Land”
18. DJ Green Lantern ft. Jay-Z – “Lick A Shot”
19. Ludacris – “Get Buck Freestyle (Politics (Obama Is Here))”
20. DJ Noodles – “Division & Fear (Interlude)”
21. RAtheMC – “Ready Or Not”
22. DJ Green Lantern – “Find Ur Dreams (Interlude)”
23. Alpha – “Obama ’08 (Do The Knowledge)”
24. DJ Green Lantern ft. Wale, Rhymefest, Christina K, & Royce The 5’9” – “Black President (Remix, Pt. 2)”
25. DJ Green Lantern – “1 Mic, 1 People (Interlude)”
26. Rock City – “Paper Planes Freestyle (Ride For Obama)”
27. Nappy Roots – “Good Day (The Barack Obama Yes We Can Remix)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?di3x3z2oynz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/513827915293195f/ )

Link to download the full interview with Steve McKeever – http://www.mediafire.com/?zryzqgfj2nu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50825349e7680eb2/ )

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.

Over the weekend, I got the chance to talk with Steve McKeever, the founder of Hidden Beach Recordings, for the latest edition of Sound Session.  You’re probably familiar with the label through their releases from some of the dopest soul & jazz artists (Jill Scott, Kindred, Bebe Winans, Mike Phillips, Tony Rich, Lina, etc.), but they also recently teamed up with the Barack Obama campaign to release Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement.  The compilation features great songs from artists like Kanye West, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Ozomatli, and more, and all the money goes directly to the Obama campaign.

With November 4th only 2 days away, I talked with Steve about how this project came about, what issues are most important to him this election, what words of wisdom he wanted to impart to the youth, and more.  You can check out the entire interview below:

Steve McKeever on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?zryzqgfj2nu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50825349e7680eb2/ )

After you check out the interview, head on over to BarackObama.com/music to cop the album and donate to the campaign.  Every little bit helps as we push through the finish line.  After the 4th, the album will be available in normal retail locations.  In any case, GET OUT AND VOTE!

It’s a beautiful thing to see some of my favorite people all working together.  The homies GregTheDude and Tunji linked up with the other homies Com and Okayplayer to cook up a couple videos for y’all.  In these clips, Common talks about his upcoming Universal Mind Control album, politics, his past work, and more.  Hit the jump to watch the other two pieces and click here to check the last time we had Com on Sound Session.

Read more »

(watch it in High-Def on HyphenTV)

A few weeks back, David Banner came through Sound Session and I jumped at the chance to talk a little politics with one of the more socially aware rappers out there.  Granted, Banner drops his fair share of standard commercial/club type joints (“Play” comes to mind…), but it’s all about balance, and he provides that with his social commentary.

In this clip, Banner talked with me about the importance of the election coming up a week from today.  He explained why he supports Barack Obama, what the presidential candidate represents to him, and why it’s critical that the youth get involved in the political process.  With the election so close, we really need everyone on board down the home stretch.  Are you in or are you out?

WARNING. WARNING. We are now one week away from the most important day for the United States that any of us have lived through.  Are you ready to vote on Nov. 4th and turn this country around?

If you’ve listened to any episode of Sound Session or read a few blog posts here on TAOD, you know that I’m taking this election very seriously.  I hope the rest of you are too, because we simply can’t afford another 4 years of the same failed policies both home and abroad that we’ve witnessed during Bush’s disgraceful presidency.  We didn’t talk too much about the election on the latest episode of SNSS, mainly because I’m saving that for next week’s show on the 2nd.  Oooh boy, you hip-hop republicans will hate that one…

This past show featured our normal mix of dope music from people like Black Milk, Evidence, Kardinal Offishall, Q-Tip, Shad, Foreign Exchange, and more.  Plus we ran Kanye’s emotional ode to his mom, Joe Budden’s reworking of that Coldplay track I’ve been telling everyone to rhyme over, one of the standout tracks from the exceptional new album from The Knux, and more.

We also had Brainstorm of Dyme Def and Twixx of the world famous Massive Monkees crew come through to talk about the International B-Boy Championships going down at the Paramount on Saturday.  Dope breaking, DJ’ing, and performances by Dyme Def, B.o.B., and Pacific Division?  Wow.  I’m there.  Cop your tickets here.  Of course, if you were listening live, you could have won free tix to that show and Q-Tip, The Cool Kids, and The Knux too.  But you already knew that…

Show #178 (10-26-08)

1. Planet Asia & DJ Muggs ft. B-Real – “Lions In The Forest”
2. Ruste Juxx ft. Lil’ Vic – “Get Up”
3. The Knux – “Life In A Cage (Electric)”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH BRAINSTORM (of DYME DEF) & TWIXX (of MASSIVE MONKEES), PT. 1**
5. Jake One ft. M.O.P. – “Gangsta Boy” (Local Artist)
6. Saigon ft. Lil’ Fame (of M.O.P.) – “WW4”
7. Black Milk ft. Royce The 5’9” – “Losing Out”
8. Evidence ft. Phonte, Blu, & Will.I.Am – “For Whom The Bell Tolls”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH BRAINSTORM (of DYME DEF) & TWIXX (of MASSIVE MONKEES), PT. 2**
10. Kanye West – “Coldest Winter”
11. Kardinal Offishall – “Nina”
12. John Legend ft. Andre 3000 – “Green Light (Cook Classics Remix)”
13. Now On – “The Willows”
14. Joe Budden – “Sidetracked”
15. Mos Def – “Life In Marvelous Times”
16. Sweatshop Union – “Timelines” (Local Artist)
17. Shad – “Brother (Watching)”
18. Q-Tip – “Move”
19. Illa J ft. Affion Crockett – “DFTF”
20. Diverse – “Escape Earth”
21. Incise ft. Tunji (of Inverse) – “True Greatness”
22. Akrish – “No God” (Local Artist)
23. Foreign Exchange ft. Yahzarah – “If This Is Love”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?mbymlzle0lm
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50562182aa8e6ee7/ )

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.