The Audacity of Dope

It’s 3am here in London and I’ve been listening to Joey Badass and Lupe’s new albums all night, which are completely reinvigorating my feelings towards contemporary hip-hop. Honestly, outside of some of the best, I feel like hip-hop’s been a bit stale the past few years. Well both of these projects and both of these artists are absolutely KILLING it right now and restoring my faith. This legit, off the top freestyle from Lupe is a great example of what I’m talking about. Cop Tetsuo & Youth in stores now and enjoy!

Big shout to Lupe for calling in on last week’s episode of SNSS.  We chopped it up about his role as Musical Director on the US Men’s National Soccer team, working on music with Clint Dempsey, and his new “Next To It” single.  FNF UP!

I could write pages on the World Cup but I’ll spare you guys.  Hopefully you’re watching and you’re as enthralled as I am, but talk about a punch right in the gut with the way the US/Portugal game ended.  Dah well…hopefully we still get through to the next round.

Speaking of the US Men’s National Soccer team, we welcomed their musical director on this week’s SNSS, none other than longtime friend of the show and arguably the best writer in the rap world, Lupe Fiasco!  We spoke about how he got involved with the team and his new single, “Next To It,” with Ty Dolla Sign.  Additionally, we aired part of our interview from Summer Jam with another great MC, Big K.R.I.T..  If you haven’t peeped the full video of that one, click here – http://youtu.be/gsNueP33BSs

Aside from these two heavyweights, episode #471 featured new tracks from Mike Will, Kendrick Lamar, Joell Ortiz, G-Unit, AB-Soul, J Rawls, Jessie Ware, the Yancey Boys, and more.  Enjoy!

Show #471 (6-22-14)

1. Drake – “0 To 100 / The Catch Up”
2. Teyana Taylor ft. Yo Gotti & Pusha T – “Maybe”
3. Joell Ortiz – “House Slippers”
4. Parker (of Parker Brothaz) ft. Henny (of Tha Bizness) – “The Spread” (Local Music)
5. Mike Will Made It ft. Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, & Future – “Buy The World”
6. **INTERVIEW WITH LUPE FIASCO**
7. Lupe Fiasco ft. Ty Dolla Sign – “Next To It”
8. G-Unit – “They Talked About Jesus”
9. Rejjie Snow ft. Loyle-Carner – “1992”
10. The Bar (Prometheus Brown & Bambu) ft. Thig Natural (of the Physics) & Hollis – “Dead Serious” (Local Music)
11. Dilated Peoples – “Good As Gone”
12. Ab-Soul ft. The O’My’s – “These Days”
13. **INTERVIEW WITH BIG K.R.I.T. (KUBE 93 SUMMER JAM)**
14. Big K.R.I.T. ft. Yo Gotti – “Something Right” (Exclusive)
15. Isaiah Rashad – “Cilvia Demo”
16. J Rawls ft. P Blackk, Jean P, & Driskill – “Mr. Cool”
17. L’Orange ft. Blu – “Need You”
18. Troy Ave ft. Puff Daddy, Mase, & T.I. – “Your Style (Remix)”
19. Melat ft. THURZ – “Fanclub (Remix)”
20. Tope – “All For You” (Local Music)
21. Yancey Boys ft. Posdnuos & Botni Applebum – “Beautiful”
22. Erykah Badu – “Bag Lady (Cheeba Sac Edit)” (Throwback of the Week)
23. Tom Misch & Carmody – “Atmosphere”
24. Jessie Ware – “Tough Love”
25. Little Dragon – “Killing Me”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/c32d5e0417/DJ_Hyphen_and_J._Moore_-_Sunday_Night_Sound_Session%2C_Show_471%2C_6-22-14.mp3
(back up – http://linkmixes.com/m9ybasj1jxj6)
(2nd back up – http://www15.zippyshare.com/v/44590895/file.html)

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.

Another enjoyable week on Sound Session.  Check out show #453 for new music from Common, Ab-Soul, CyHi, Fashawn, Vado, Bishop Nehru, Mar, N.A.S.A., Chuck Inglish, Chromeo, Supastition, and many more.

Plus, if you missed our recent interview with Lupe Fiasco, be sure you peep that right here.  Enjoy!

Show #453 (2-16-14)

1. Common ft. Ab-Soul – “Made In Black America”
2. CyHi Da Prynce – “Napoleon”
3. Jamall Bufford – “Oh My God, Forever”
4. J. Pinder – “Life Is Simple, Pt. 1” (Local Music)
5. Fashawn – “Ladies”
6. Beyonce ft. Kanye West & Jay-Z – “Drunk In Love (Remix)”
7. YG ft. Drake – “Who Do You Love”
8. Vado ft. Chinx Drugz – “Hay Now”
9. Future ft. Pusha T & Pharrell – “Move That Dope”
10. Snoop Dogg ft. Daz – “What’s Your Pleasure”
11. 2Pac ft. Snoop Doggy Dogg – “2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted” (Throwback of the Week)
12. Curren$y – “Hi Top Whites”
13. Dave B – “Cigarettes” (Local Music)
14. Bishop Nehru – “You Stressin’”
15. Mar – “Man x Woman”
16. Mac Miller – “Diablo”
17. Mundy – “MunGotti” (Local Music)
18. Supastition – “Eardrum”
19. TwizzMatic – “Re-Program”
20. Isaiah Rashad ft. SZA – “Heavenly Father”
21. Jarell Perry – “Black Valentine”
22. Chuck Inglish ft. Chromeo – “Legs”
23. N.A.S.A. ft. Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) – “I Shot The Sheriff”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/9fd55e5b28/DJ_Hyphen_and_J._Moore_-_Sunday_Night_Sound_Session%2C_Show_453%2C_2-16-14.mp3
(back up – http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/9596635/file.html)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/duud29stmauf)

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.

Our good friend Lupe made another appearance on Sound Session recently, though this one was in the form of our “Studio 93” series, where we interview an artist in front of a large group of winners.  We talked about his upcoming Tetsuo & Youth album, including details about his creative process and a discussion about how responsible complex MC’s are in ensuring listeners understand the messages they put in their verses.  We also discussed how he collaborates with other artists and how he’s often turned down for these projects because of his past controversial statements, before moving on to topics like his relationship with Rick Ross and how the music industry has changed as technology has improved over the years.

It’s always fun to chop it up with Lu, who really is one of the most gifted individuals we have in hip-hop.  He’s an innovative thinker that likes to challenge the status quo, which is always necessary, plus him and Shad are the 2 best writers in the game, imo. Hope you guys enjoy the conversation.  Shout to the Marsupial Empire for recording and editing.

FNF up!

New music on this week’s SNSS from artists like Schoolboy Q, Dom Kennedy, PREZSPORT, Black Milk, Step Brothers, Add-2, Masta Ace, The Physics, TxE, Astro, Bishop Nehru, Sampha, and more.  We were also joined in studio by one of our favorite guests, Fleeta Partee, who came by to debut his new record, “Huey Newton,” produced by BeanOne.  Enjoy the show and be on the lookout for our upcoming interview with Lupe Fiasco!

Show #441 (11-24-13)

1. Schoolboy Q – “Man Of The Year”
2. Dom Kennedy ft. TeeFlii – “Still Callin’”
3. PREZSPORT (El Prez & Jansport J) – “Home Sweet Home”
4. Black Milk ft. Mel – “Interpret Sabotage”
5. Step Brothers (Evidence & Alchemist) – “Step Masters”
6. Add-2 & Khrysis – “The Glorious”
7. Marco Polo ft. Masta Ace, A.G., Posdnuos, & Dion – “Glory (Finish Hard)”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH FLEETA PARTEE, PT. 1**
9. Fleeta Partee – “Huey Newton” (Local Music)
10. **INTERVIEW WITH FLEETA PARTEE, PT. 2**
11. DJ Khaled ft. J. Cole & Bas – “Hell’s Kitchen”
12. DeLorean – “Young Legend”
13. Yo Gotti – “Pride To The Side”
14. Jhene Aiko ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Stay Ready (What A Life)”
15. The Physics – “Play It Off” (Local Music)
16. Sampha – “Too Much”
17. MeLo-X – “Handle It (Alt Version)”
18. Disclosure, Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes, & Nile Rodgers – “Together”
19. Kenna ft. Childish Gambino – “Relations”
20. Snoop Doggy Dogg ft. Jewell – “Who Am I (What’s My Name)” (Throwback of the Week)
21. TxE – “Cold Heart” (Local Music)
22. Astro – “New New York”
23. Bishop Nehru ft. Que Hampton – “Exhale”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www51.zippyshare.com/v/18400815/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/c295684a53/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/d8ssq217czfw)

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.

Another fun week on SNSS.  Keyboard Kid joined us in studio to chop it up about his upcoming projects and a dope monthly event he’s holding in Seattle called “#Rare.”  You can find out details about this Friday’s event on the flier here.  Come through.

We ran a bunch of dope records this week too, but I mean, what’s new?  Tracks from Nacho Picasso, Jhene Aiko, Vince Staples, Kardinal Offishall, Harry Fraud, Dom Kennedy, MeLo-X, Cheri Coke, Disclosure, Kenna, Yuna, BANKS, DeLorean, Sampha, and more.  Enjoy the show and be on the lookout for an in-depth interview we’re doing with Lupe Fiasco this week as well.  Peace y’all.

Show #440 (11-17-13)

1. Nacho Picasso – “The Lick” (Local Music)
2. Drake – “The Language”
3. Jhene Aiko ft. Vince Staples – “The Vapors”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH KEYBOARD KID, PT. 1**
5. Timbaland ft. Drake & James Fauntleroy – “Know Bout Me”
6. Fearce Vill – “Only Me” (Local Music)
7. Blended Babies ft. Asher Roth & Chuck Inglish – “See The World”
8. Marco Polo ft. Kardinal Offishall, Lil Fame, & Styles P – “What They Say”
9. Eddie B & Harry Fraud – “Splash”
10. Busta Rhymes ft. Q-Tip – “Thank You”
11. Big Daddy Kane – “Ain’t No Half Steppin’” (Throwback of the Week)
12. **INTERVIEW WITH KEYBOARD KID, PT. 2**
13. Leezy Soprano – “The One” (Local Music)
14. Dom Kennedy ft. Krondon – “Honey Buns”
15. Snoop Dogg – “Bad 4 Me”
16. MeLo-X – “Handle It (Alt Version)”
17. Cheri Coke & MeLo-X – “The Garden of Eden (Maths Time Joy Remix)”
18. Disclosure, Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes, & Nile Rodgers – “Together”
19. Kenna ft. Childish Gambino – “Relations”
20. Yuna – “Hanging On”
21. BANKS – “Change (The Chainsmokers Hot & Steamy Edit)”
22. Eminem ft. Buckshot – “Don’t Front”
23. DeLorean – “Go Round”
24. Sampha – “Happens”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www51.zippyshare.com/v/28867233/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/e51b4c766f/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/96vzvat2f68f)

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.

Speaking of amazing writers, if it’s not Shad, then Lupe gets my vote for the best writer in the game. So many messages in his bars, it’s almost a must to follow along on RapGenius. Peep this video for visuals set to a few of his songs: “Lamborghini Angels,” “ITAL (Roses),” and “Audubon Ballroom.”

“ITAL (Roses)” is still the one.

It doesn’t look like Lupe had anything to do with the creation of this video for “Double Burger With Cheese,” but whoever spliced together all these clips of Juice, Menace II Society, Boyz N The Hood, New Jersey Drive, Dead Presidents, Sugar Hill, New Jack City, Colors, and more did an excellent job.  Would have liked to hear and see an Above The Rim reference, but other than that, flawless.

I find it kind of comical that so many people, myself and even Lupe included, had issues with various elements of L.A.S.E.R.S. and yet it’s been an incredibly successful commercial album for him.  “The Show Goes On” is one of the biggest chart topping records of the year and the new single, “Out Of My Head,” is getting considerable airplay as well.  Hopefully that continues now that the video is out.