The Audacity of Dope

“We back.  We back, we back, we back” – Ma$e

Yes y’all, another SXSW trip in the books and while there were certainly great moments and it’s always fun to see all the industry homies, I must say, it’s good to be back home.  It’s a great event, but when you go 5 straight days walking mile after mile, shouting over loud sound systems in every venue, giving a million daps, and all without eating or sleeping properly, it’s a bit draining.  Not to mention that the weekend always coincides with the best 4 days in sports: the opening 2 rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.  Suffice it to say, I’m glad I don’t drink, otherwise I’d still be lost on 6th street somewhere.

As you would expect, the list of people we need to shout out is faaaaar too long to get everyone, but here goes.  Peace to…

Mekado @ NY Times, Jason @ the Orchard, Vicki @ Girlie Action, Cook Classics, Greg The Dude, Freddie Gibbs, all the Stones Throw folks, Pill, Von Pea, Donwill, Dom & ID @ Interdependent Media, 6th Sense, Outasight, XV, Shake & Meka @ 2DopeBoyz, Eskay @ NahRight, GLC, Geno, The Kid Daytona, DJ Reflex, David Dallas, Che, Peter & Nick Rosenberg, Rhymefest, 88-Keys, Jessica @ Spectre, JJ @ Foundation, Davey D, Devon & Jenn @ Sport’n Life, Michelle @ Audible Treats, Josh & Steph @ A-Side Worldwide, Jackson Perry, Buff1, DJ Graffiti, Rhettmatic, Mayer Hawthorne, 14KT, Vaughan T, D. Black, Spaceman, J. Pinder, Grynch, DJ Nphared, Ryan On A Mission, Sioux @ Magnum PR, Crew 54, Killer Mike, El Prez, Soulico, Jake One, Vitamin D, DV-One, Mind of I, THEESatisfaction, Theo Martins, Karim @ Myx, Talib Kweli, Strong Arm Steady, Jean Grae, Mela Machinko, Ayah, Corey @ Blacksmith, Fashawn, Aren, Alchemist, Evidence, Carlitta Durand, Pac Div, the Cool Kids, Chris @ Chrewd, Freeway, Jakk Frost, Pugs Atomz, Mic King, One Be Lo, Primeridian, Keelay, Kooley High, Jon Hope, Balance, Noah Ayala, U-N-I, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Murs, DJ Quik, Kurupt, Daz, Sean Price, Black Milk, Kosha Dillz, Smif-n-Wessun, GZA, Jon Kim, Paul & Omid @ Zune, Torae, Skyzoo, Marco Polo, Temper Trap, Nneka, Dru & Noah @ Duckdown, Jon @ Cornerstone, Evil Dee, Buckshot, SMKA, Kyle Lucas, D-Solo, Clint @ MVD, Mike & Connie @ Filter, Mazzi, PSo, Homeboy Sandman, Brittany Bosco, Fadia Kader, TC & LC @ The Smoking Section, Hollyweerd, Sean Falyon, Grip Plyaz, Aleon Craft, Stat Quo, Bobby Creek, Steve-O, Yelawolf, Donnis, BB Gun, Motion Family, John Norris, Maridi @ Cornerstone/GLS, Brianne @ Cashmere, John Public, Get Busy Committee, Invincible, A-Trak, Catchdubs, Theophilus London, Finale, Nabil @ 4AD, Khrysis, The Are, Babu, Court Dunn, Curtis Santiago, Pharoahe Monch, JR & PH7, Oddisee, Grieves, Budo, Tishiz, Mistah F.A.B., Logics, Dyme Def, Soul Gorilla, Meli, QB Da Problem, Jasmine, Andrea, Jansport J, DRG Films, Chris London, Kidz In The Hall, Wiz Khalifa, Chamillionaire, Dam-Funk, Blue Scholars, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Larry Mizell Jr., Bun B, J. Cole, Nas, Damian Marley, Mos Def, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and more.  Oh, and my personal favorite, the lovely Zoe Kravitz (helllllllllllo).

I’m running on fumes, so I know I’m forgetting hella folks, my bad.  But you can see why…it’s craziness all around.  Shout to everyone!  In celebration, we decided to do a little SNSS x SXSW show this week, so every track features at least one person we saw in Austin.  Until next time…

Show #251 (3-21-10)

1. Freeway & Jake One – “Throw Your Hands Up” (Local Music)
2. David Dallas ft. Buff1 – “Front To Back (Remix)”
3. Balance ft. Thurzday, Fashawn, & Mistah F.A.B. – “Bootleg Liquor”
4. Nas & Damian Marley – “As We Enter”
5. 88-Keys ft. Colin Munroe – “Wake Up Call”
6. Rhymefest ft. Little Brother & Darien Brockington – “How High”
7. Consequence ft. Pharoahe Monch – “Let U Live”
8. Kendrick Lamar ft. Punch & BJ The Chicago Kid – “Faith”
9. U-N-I ft. Miguel – “Lately”
10. THEESatisfaction & OC Notes – “Icing” (Local Music)
11. Ayah – “He Don’t Want It”
12. Gorillaz ft. Snoop Dogg – “Welcome To Plastic Beach”
13. Outasight ft. Asher Roth – “Catch Me If You Can (Remix)”
14. Kidz In The Hall ft. The Kid Daytona – “Out To Lunch”
15. Strong Arm Steady ft. Thurzday – “Follow Me”
16. El Prez ft. J7 – “Lil Miss Popular”
17. Ski Beatz ft. Jean Grae, Jay Electronica, Joell Ortiz, & Mos Def – “Prowler 2”
18. Reflection Eternal – “In This World”
19. Mos Def – “The Panties” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Blue Scholars – “Michelle Malkin” (Local Music)
21. Grip Plyaz ft. Young Trimm & Aleon Craft – “Caddy’s”

Link to download the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?yl2z4knmy1y
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/74063181588513f2/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/ejwq91np5yyu)

**Sidenote:  Warner Music Group decided to kill our links last week (apparently they don’t want their artists played?), so here’s a re-up of Show #250 – http://www.mediafire.com/?1mhtjkrmnmj

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.

So…I would write a quick wrap up of yet another dope edition of Sound Session, but in all honesty, there’s only one thing consuming every waking moment of my life right now.  Oh yes, that’s right.  Young Hyph is in the process of becoming a first time home owner.  While it’s a daunting step to take, it’s exciting to wander down this path and we’ll see where it takes me.  For now, I’ve got my eye on this one spot downtown…really nice location, incredible views, iconic building…perhaps you’ve seen it?

But nah, in all seriousness…[Hov] it’s…about…to go…down [/Jay].  Any advice from those who have been through the process recently would be much appreciated.  In the meantime, holler @ some dopeness:

Show #249 (3-7-10)

1. Redman – “Lookin’ Fly”
2. Kendrick Lamar – “Celebration”
3. Dave Coresh – “Keep It Movin’”
4. Kidz In The Hall ft. The Kid Daytona – “Out To Lunch”
5. Co$$ – “Dub Plate”
6. Concise Kilgore – “Alaska”
7. J. Pinder ft. Big Pooh & Zach Bruce – “Later On” (Local Music)
8. U-N-I ft. Miguel – “Lately”
9. Black Spade ft. J*Davey – “New U”
10. Drake – “Over”
11. Laws – “Hold You Down”
12. Freeway & Jake One – “Stimulus Outro” (Local Music)
13. B.o.B ft. J. Cole – “Gladiators”
14. A.R.M. ft. Slug – “Fear Of The Mundane”
15. Balance ft. Fashawn, Mistah F.A.B., & Thurzday – “Bootleg Liquor”
16. Little Brother – “Curtain Call”
17. Spaid – “Clarity” (Local Music)
18. El Prez ft. Diz Gibran & Tunji – “2 Live and Die In L.A.”
19. Nas – “Undying Love” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Reflection Eternal – “In This World”
21. Aloe Blacc – “Dollar”
22. Alicia Keys – “Unthinkable”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?inwmdhwawno
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/7349578590aaa3aa/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/411hsusshkpf)

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.

Time is absolutely flying.  It’s about to be Halloween?  WTFFFFFFFFFFF, fail.

Another fun show this week, complete with a great soundtrack from artists like J. Cole, the CunninLynguists, Kidz In The Hall, Skyzoo, Vstylez, Paten Locke, Fashawn, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, Extended Famm, and more.  Shout to the homies Clockwork for coming through the studio and also Emilio Rojas for calling in from NYC, fresh off his victory celebration for the Yankees.

Is it wrong that I don’t even mind that the Evil Empire made it to the World Series this year?  It feels like it’s been so long, I’m almost…*gasp*…rooting for them.  Ok, perhaps I can’t go that far, but I’m fairly apathetic towards this year’s series.  One team that just won and the other team where everyone pretty much has a ring (though I’d like to see CC get one, so he can CC all the girls he see sees around town)?  Eh.

I’ll just root for good baseball and hope it goes 7.  I bet Cleveland is maaaaad salty looking at those Game 1 starters though…

Show #230 (10-25-09)

1. Royce Da 5’9” ft. Phonte – “Something 2 Ride 2”
2. J. Cole – “Welcome”
3. Crooked I ft. Snoop Dogg – “Guess Who’s Back”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH CLOCKWORK**
5. Clockwork – “Accountability” (Local Music)
6. Big Boi ft. Gucci Mane – “Shine Blockas”
7. Camp Lo – “Satin Amnesia”
8. CunninLynguists ft. E-40 & Evidence – “Running Wild”
9. BK-One ft. Black Thought – “Philly Boy”
10. Clipse ft. Cam’ron & Pharrell – “Popular Demand (Popeyes)”
11. Kidz In The Hall – “Jukebox”
12. Skyzoo – “Popularity”
13. **INTERVIEW WITH EMILIO ROJAS**
14. Emilio Rojas – “Bold and Arrogant”
15. Vstylez ft. Royce Da 5’9”, Big Pooh, Elzhi, & Phat Kat – “Clash Of The Titans”
16. Drake ft. Logics, Spaceman, Brainstorm (of Dyme Def), & Grynch – “Forever NW Remix)” (Local Music)
17. Substantial & Burns ft. Extended Famm – “The W.W.K.Y.A. Tour”
18. Paten Locke – “Wadaap!”
19. Fresh Espresso ft. Grynch, Macklemore, & Gatsby – “Something New (Remix)” (Local Music)
20. Fashawn ft. Blu – “Samsonite Man”
21. Wyclef Jean – “Toussaint vs. Bishop”
22. Joss Stone – “4 and 20”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?zn005o5zz5k
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/675511091424ed84/ )

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 you listen to Sound Session at all, you know that we give out tickets all the time on the air.  Well today we’ve got a little present for our loyal TAOD readers as well, courtesy of the homies at Obese Productions.

If you want to go check out the Ghostface Killah show this Saturday night at the Showbox Market, I’ve got one pair for the reader that can email me at DJHyphen@gmail.com with the best reason why you should get to go see Ghost.

Contest ends at 5pm (PST) Friday the 23rd.  Let’s go!

In case you want a little video to go with the audio from this week’s SNSS, here’s some footage of the homey Sol sitting in with us.  We talked about his new EP (download here!), his upcoming trip to Brazil, and more.

Alright, I’ve put this off long enough but the time has come for me to officially put out the call: we are looking for an intern to assist with Sunday Night Sound Session on KUBE 93 and The Audacity of Dope.

Long story short, with my day job going well, I’m finding less and less time for SNSS and TAOD related projects.  Meanwhile, the demand for radio show and website content gets greater and greater. 

Sound Session has been broadcasting on KUBE’s 100K watts for over 4 years now and we’ve established ourselves as one of the premier outlets for dope, progressive hip-hop on the radio throughout the country.  We have great relationships with artists and labels and folks tune in from all over the world each week.

Likewise, the blog has grown from merely a place where I archived radio shows and interviews, to a fairly active site with an increasing amount of traffic every quarter.  I would like to post up more content, but my schedule doesn’t allow that many updates each week.  Even with the limited posts, TAOD is pretty well known in the hip-hop blogosphere, and I’m always pleasantly surprised when I’m talking with an artist or label and they mention they check out the site regularly.  But the bottom line is that there’s a lot of untapped potential here, so it’s time to turn this up a notch.

That’s where you come in.

I’m looking for someone to assist with a few main things regarding the radio show and the website:

• Recording and editing our video interviews. We interview artists almost every week, but the amount of time it takes to edit the video and post it often means that they sit on my computer for weeks, if not months (…or even years).  We turn down interviews all the time as well, just cause we don’t have time to put together the content after recording.  We want someone who can record them (either on your own camera or our Kodak Zi8) and then edit them in iMovie or Final Cut Express/Pro for posting online.  We can tweak the format if you have new ideas, or we can stick to the current presentation that we use.  Check out www.vimeo.com/hyphentv for some examples.
• Editing our audio interviews. Sometimes we don’t record video (though hopefully this would be less often if we had an assistant), so we’d like someone familiar with editing audio.  You don’t need to be a Pro Tools expert by any stretch of the imagination, but you should be familiar with basic editing concepts and be able to use an audio editing program or two.
• Assisting in the studio during Sound Session. If you’re able to come down to the station most Sunday nights, we’d love to have someone help take phone calls and assist with the production of the show.  We don’t run a very complicated broadcast, but if you’re interested in learning how it all goes down and chilling with J. Moore and myself, we could use an extra hand.
• Blogging on The Audacity of Dope. I would like someone to help post dope content on the site.  It would probably work two ways: 1) I’d send you some material to post up when you have the chance.  2) You’d find content that you think should be posted on your own and then toss it up (probably with my approval at first and then if that goes well, you could post up whatever fits with the site at your discretion).  This would also entail sending content to some of the other main blogs to post up from time to time, so you should be able to network fairly well without annoying folks.  I.e., if you’re unfamiliar with the magic of the BCC function in emails, please stop reading now.

So there you have it.  Nothing too fancy and, in all honesty, nothing too glamorous.  This won’t make you a star or guarantee you a job in this industry, but it should be a great way to learn about the business.  Plus, you’ll get some fun perks like hanging out with artists, free tickets to shows, being cooler than your friends, etc..

Unfortunately, we cannot offer school credit right now because the Clear Channel intern system would require us to get a new person after every quarter.  I don’t want to have to find a different person every few months if I can help it.  I’m looking for someone who wants to really throw themselves into this, take pride in his/her work, and dedicate a few hours a week to it for a long period of time.  If you’re interested in interning for the KUBE promotions staff and receiving school credit, you can read more here.

A few people have also already asked, “is there any pay?”

Of course not, welcome to the music industry!

If you’re interested, please email me at DJHyphen@gmail.com with a brief letter and any links to work you’ve done that might be similar to this position.  I’d also like to know:

• Who you are
• Why you want to help
• Why we should select you
• What special skills you may have

Obviously you’ll need to be a Seattle-area resident to help, but if you’re not and still want to get involved, hit me up and we can talk about it.  If you know someone who might be interested, please help spread the word via email, messageboards, Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, etc..

Thanks y’all…

Asher returns with another perfect college single, just in time for the back to school rush.  They’ve actually been pushing this track for a minute and I’m a bit surprised it hasn’t caught on little more honestly.  The beat is cool, the content is radio friendly (read: Becky from the suburbs likes to sing it in her new Jetta), the hook is catchy, Asher’s verses are cool, and the crowd at our Summer Jam responded well to it (interview still coming soon).  Oh…and Keri Hilson is fiiiiiiiiiine (in real life too).

We’ll see if the visuals help turn the song into a hit…but in the meantime, this song will always remind me of one of Dane Cook’s few funny moments:

As I mentioned in the post for the most recent Sound Session, Krispy and Al from the Knux came through the studio to kick it and co-host last night’s show.  We talked about their next album, upcoming tour plans, an all-star remix to their “F!re” track that’s in the works, the Twitter phenomenon, and more. Plus, they even kicked a quick freestyle live over the air.

You can watch part of the interview above (including the freestyle) and/or download the audio below:

The Knux on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?aowymygdmhm
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/60507495869da4aa/)

In case you missed their first appearance on SNSS, click here.

Shout to the whole crew for coming through.  Be sure to cop Remind Me In 3 Days if you haven’t already and catch the Knux on tour in your town soon!

Fresh off last week’s 200th edition of SNSS, we’re hitting you over the head with another dope show, this time, packed full of exclusive joints that I believe we world premiered Sunday on KUBE.  In today’s internet age, the traditional idea of ‘exclusives’ has pretty much gone out the window, and regardless, I’ve never even been that big a fan of the whole notion anyway.  Simply because a DJ plays something first, doesn’t make it worthwhile (“NEW SOULJA BOY!!!!”).

Instead, this past week, we ran some great songs that the general public just hasn’t heard yet, but everyone will probably have soon.  Some of them will be included on our upcoming Cornerstone Mixtape (with some other exclusives), but who knows if they’ll leak before that drops in May.  Speaking of which, DJ B-Mello, J. Moore, and I finished up the mixtape last night (shout to Taybot and L for the engineering assistance!) and it sounds fresh.  Looking forward to y’all hearing it, but for now, peep the show and some world premieres from Fashawn (prod. Exile), Roddy Rod ft. Phonte & Carlitta Durand, Asher Roth, and Tanya Morgan ft. Blu.  [Kanye] Good music definitely in the building! [/Yeezy]

Show #201 (4-5-09)

1. Donnis – “Party Works”
2. CunninLynguists ft. Khujo Goodie & Killer Mike – “Georgia (Remix)”
3. Drake – “November 18th”
4. Kid Cudi – “Rollin’ Freestyle”
5. Kid Cudi ft. Kanye West, Common, & A-Trak – “I Poke Her Face”
6. Melanie Fiona ft. Talib Kweli – “Give It To Me Right (Remix)”
7. J. Pinder ft. Shawn Starr – “Havin’ Problems” (Local Artist)
8. Crooked I & DJ Wicked – “Jackin’ For Beats 2009”
9. Bishop Lamont – “Friends”
10. Method Man & Redman – “Mrs. International”
11. Fashawn – “The Outer City” (WORLD PREMIERE)
12. Outasight ft. The Kid Daytona & Donny Goines – “Fame & Fortune (Remix)”
13. Shad – “Exile”
14. Illa J ft. Grynch – “Showtime (Remix)” (Local Artist)
15. Roddy Rod ft. Phonte (of Little Brother) & Carlitta Durand – “This Time Around” (WORLD PREMIERE)
16. U-N-I & Ro Blvd – “Lauren London”
17. Pac Div – “Shut Up”
18. Common Market – “Escaping Arkham” (Local Artist)
19. Scratch ft. Musiq – “Tonite”
20. Asher Roth – “La Di Da” (WORLD PREMIERE)
21. Keelay & Zaire ft. Supastition & Slo Mo (of Fortilive) – “Trapped”
22. Tanya Morgan ft. Blu – “Morgan Blu” (WORLD PREMIERE)
23. Mayer Hawthorne – “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?mxjmgntmwmy
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/58302299c213a043/)

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.

Look at me staying up late on a Sunday night to archive the show right away, fresh off the presses for y’all.  Well, to be honest, I’m actually posting it up with the quickness because I’m trying to prep for this week as best I can.  It’s set to be a crazy one as I’ll be headed down to SXSW in Austin on Wednesday and coming back to Seattle right before the next SNSS, so free time will be at a minimum.  In fact, J. Moore will also be down there with a lot of the 206 family, so if you’re there too, give us a shout.  SNSS x SXSW, you know what it is.

Shout to Keelay (of Keelay & Zaire) and Nightclubber Lang for coming through last night’s show as well.  If you haven’t copped Kee & Zee’s Ridin’ High album, you’re sleeping on one of the best releases of the year.  Look out for some video footage of the interview coming soon as well.  In the meantime, enjoy the audio:

Show #198 (3-15-09)

1. Fashawn – “Remember The Times”
2. Slaughterhouse (Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Royce The 5’9”, & Crooked I) – “Fight Club”
3. Focus ft. Big Pooh, Sha Stimuli, & Kurupt – “Homage To Pete Rock”
4. Zion I – “Antenna”
5. Braille & S1 ft. Ragen Fykes – “Stay Together” (Local Artist)
6. Blu & Miss Jack Davey – “iFeel”
7. **INTERVIEW WITH KEELAY & NIGHTCLUBBER LANG, PT. 1**
8. Keelay & Zaire ft. Blu, Fortilive, & Nino Moschella – “The Times”
9. Nas ft. Marsha Ambrosius – “If I Ruled The World ’09 (Smirnoff Signature Remix)”
10. Method Man & Redman ft. Saukrates – “A Yo”
11. Ghostface Killah & MF Doom – “Chinatown Wars”
12. Brother Ali – “Begin Here”
13. Buggs Tha Rocka ft. Little Brother – “Get Away”
14. LaRue – “Rise Up” (Local Artist)
15. **INTERVIEW WITH KEELAY & NIGHTCLUBBER LANG, PT. 2**
16. Keelay & Zaire ft. Tunji – “Addicts For Real”
17. Ripynt ft. Jazz Digga – “Can’t Take It” (Local Artist)
18. Deep Rooted – “Billie Jean Theme”
19. JR&PH7 ft. Black Milk & Guilty Simpson – “Top Rank”
20. Ernie Gaines – “So Sorry”
21. Mayer Hawthorne – “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”

Link to download the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?zzzazggmzzg
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/57120189f9bbb2a7/ )

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.