The Audacity of Dope

Big news for our station this week as we announced that our old friend, Eddie Francis, will be returning to host KUBE 93’s night show starting September 2nd!  To celebrate and help spread the news, Eddie came by SNSS this week and hung out with J. Moore, myself, and DV One.  Felt great to be surrounded by family and play some dope music for our extended family, you guys.  On this week’s show, we ran cuts from Vince Staples, G-Unit, Spesh, DJ Premier, Saigon, Porter Ray, STL GLD, Rapper Big Pooh, OnCue, Drake, MINH, 1-O.A.K., Azad Right, Ian Kamau, J. Cole, Bas, and more.

Plus, we announced details on how you can win a ticket to our upcoming “Studio 93” interview/listening party/hangout with Sam Lachow on September 6th.  All you have to do is text “SAM” to 97373 and we’ll notify you if you win.  It’s that simple!

Enjoy the show y’all…

Show #480 (8-24-14)

1. Vince Staples – “Blue Suede”
2. G-Unit – “Ah Sh*t”
3. Spesh ft. Kool G Rap – “The Meeting (Problems or Peace)”
4. Saigon – “Nunya”
5. **INTERVIEW WITH EDDIE FRANCIS, PT. 1**
6. Wizdom ft. Neema – “No Good” (Local Music)
7. Porter Ray – “Aquamarine” (Local Music)
8. Bas ft. J. Cole – “My N*gga Just Made Bail”
9. STL GLD (Moe Pope & The Arcitype) – “Again”
10. Doja Cat – “Nunchucks”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH EDDIE FRANCIS, PT. 2**
12. Statik Selektah ft. Snoop Dogg, Wais P, & Ransom – “All The Way”
13. Junia-T ft. Kemikal – “Sky Is Falling”
14. Rapper Big Pooh ft. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Last Chance”
15. Mos Def & Marvin Gaye – “You Are Undeniable (Amerigo Gazaway Yasiin Gaye Remix)”
16. OnCue – “So Much Love”
17. ILOVEMAKONNEN ft. Drake – “Tuesday (Twinsmatic Remix)”
18. Shaprece – “Molting” (Local Music)
19. Ian Kamau – “You, I”
20. MINH – “Gold”
21. 1-O.A.K. – “Rewind”
22. Born Allah ft. Luckyiam & J-Ro – “Westside”
23. 2Pac ft. Val Young – “To Live & Die In L.A.” (Throwback of the Week)
24. Azad Right – “Showtime”
25. Dave B & Justo (of the Physics) – “He Got Game” (Local Music)

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/883b539527/DJ_Hyphen_and_J._Moore_-_Sunday_Night_Sound_Session%2C_Show_480%2C_8-24-14.mp3
(back up – http://linkmixes.com/u6kxic2q78bs)
(2nd back up – http://www10.zippyshare.com/v/71256725/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.

Normally, I’d stay completely out of the buffoonery that is the MTV Video Music Awards, but this year, everyone in Seattle paid close attention since some of our homies were up for the night’s biggest awards.  Congrats don’t even seem like enough, but perhaps all caps will help: CONGRATS to Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Zach, Jon Jon, Ray Dalton, Mary Lambert, and the entire crew responsible for “Thrift Shop,” “Same Love,” and “Can’t Hold Us.”  I know MTV wasn’t ready to let Justin lose after the N’Sync reunion, but let’s be honest, Mack & Ryan deserved the video of the year too.  3 out of 6 ain’t bad though.  An amazing accomplishment and one Seattle will be proud of forever.

As for the rest of the VMA’s, well, it made me think of Amy’s famous opening line to the first verse of “Me and Mr. Jones“.  I will say that of all the silly memes to spawn out of the debauchery, this one of Kanye’s had me in stitches (only 5% of readers will get it, but if you do…maaaaaaan).  Other than that, this article from The Onion pretty much nailed it, and expertly laid out why every commercial media source is inherently flawed when presenting you with content.

This is part of the reason we enjoy doing SNSS as much as we do.  We literally have no stake in any of this, so we aren’t required to do anything other than play great music we believe in.  It could be from mega-stars (Jay-Z or Drake), local artists (Royce The Choice and GMK stopped by this week), longtime industry vets (Fat Joe or AZ), up and coming MC’s (Earl Sweatshirt or Vince Staples), or even artists outside hip-hop (Janelle Monae, Yuna, Miguel, and Jose James).  Whatever we like, we play.

This week, we liked some damn good records.  Check ’em out.  And RIP to Aaliyah.

Show #428 (8-25-13)

1. Jay-Z ft. Rick Ross – “F*ckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt”
2. AZ – “I Excel”
3. Fat Joe ft. Action Bronson – “Your Honor”
4. Drake ft. 2 Chainz & Big Sean – “All Me”
5. Shawn Chrystopher ft. Dom Kennedy & Ashly Breshe – “Situation”
6. THURZ ft. Cali Martyr – “Got Damn, Got Damn”
7. The Kid Daytona – “Hilary”
8. Fice – “The Odyssey” (Local Music)
9. Black Milk – “Perfected On Puritan Ave”
10. Big Sean ft. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica – “Control”
11. Rapsody ft. Phonte & Jay Electronica – “Jedi Code”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH ROYCE THE CHOICE & GMK, PT. 1**
13. Royce The Choice ft. Peta Tosh – “Benihanas” (Local Music)
14. Earl Sweatshirt ft. Vince Staples & Casey Veggies – “Hive”
15. **INTERVIEW WITH ROYCE THE CHOICE & GMK, PT. 2**
16. The Weeknd ft. Drake – “Live For”
17. ST 2 Lettaz ft. Joi Tiffany – “Flashlight”
18. Janelle Monae ft. Miguel – “Primetime”
19. Mayer Hawthorne ft. Jessie Ware & Large Professor – “Her Favorite Song (Large Professor Remix)”
20. Tope ft. Luck-One – “New Day” (Local Music)
21. Tanya Morgan – “Pick It Up”
22. Wu-Tang Clan – “Method Man” (Throwback of the Week)
23. Yuna – “Falling”
24. Jose James – “Come To My Door (Taylor McFerrin Remix)”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www61.zippyshare.com/v/22899875/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/5502d20793/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/wzibepo0dquv)

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 follow me on Twitter (and if you don’t, you should…#humblebrag), you know that I was down at SXSW last week in lovely Austin, Texas. The first night that I arrived, the staff at MTV hooked up a pass for the MTVu Woodie Awards and I got my first experience on a red carpet. Aside from just enjoying the overall environment, I was able to chop it up with everyone who walked by. I grabbed a couple quick videos for y’all with Wiz, Yelawolf, Skylar Grey, and Lil B. Enjoy.

I could write an essay on Kanye’s Runaway film, and the ensuing debates it sparked, but what’s the point?  There will be a million analytical pieces by Monday, and none of them will be any more “right” than the others.  It’s art…and I’m really not looking forward to hearing other people tell me how to consume it.

Personally, I’m satisfied with an interesting concept, some beautiful shots & colors, and some really dope music.  The intro scene with “Dark Fantasy” and the “Devil In A New Dress” segment were flawless, though part of me wishes this was the first time I ever heard any of these songs.  That’s always been one of my least favorite aspects of the internet age and I may have to revert back to avoiding music from my favorite artists until it’s officially presented.  Even with all the live performances, interviews, and song/artwork leaks spoiling much of Runaway, I thoroughly enjoyed the film.

Regardless of how you felt about it, you have to agree: no mainstream MC puts more effort and care into his music than Kanye.  Sure, it can come off pretentious at times (ok, much of the time), but he’s really trying to express something in his art and take it to new places.  He doesn’t always hit the mark, but musically, he’s never disappointed me.

A toast to Yeezy.

Another insanely busy weekend around the Northwest, and pretty much all over, with the first official week of the NFL season taking the country by storm.  Between the NFL, NCAA football, the FIBA championship, the US Open, EPL, the WNBA Finals (hey, gotta rep the home team…plus I’ve had a crush on Sue Bird since about 2002), and the MTV VMA’s, not only do we have a lot of acronyms, but Saturday & Sunday were jam packed with entertainment.  Rather than rehash it here, you really should be following my Twitter…and of course, J. Moore’s as well.

On the heels of our web chat footage of J. Cole from last week, if you missed his live performance at Bumbershoot, I shot some footage you can check out right here.  When “Grown Simba” drops at 8:47, it’s really too ill, and this performance shows why Cole is gonna be a star in the near future.  It’s well deserved too.

Show #276 (9-12-10)

1. Joell Ortiz – “Battle Cry”
2. J. Cole – “Villematic”
3. John Legend & The Roots – “Hard Times”
4. Big Boi ft. Andre 3000 & Sleepy Brown – “Lookin’ 4 Ya (Full Mix)”
5. Black Milk ft. Mr. Porter – “Closed Chapter”
6. **INTERVIEW WITH LANGUAGE ARTS, PT. 1**
7. Language Arts – “Fast Life” (Local Music)
8. **INTERVIEW WITH LANGUAGE ARTS, PT. 2**
9. Wiz Khalifa ft. Fashawn – “In The Cut (Remix)”
10. Andy Allo ft. Blu – “Dreamland”
11. Pollyn ft. Freddie Gibbs – “Falling Out of Place (Remix)”
12. Aleon Craft – “Early Moan”
13. Kno ft. Thee Tom Hardy & Tunji – “Rhythm Of The Rain”
14. Kanye West ft. Common, Pusha T, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, & Charlie Wilson – “G.O.O.D. Friday”
15. Grynch – “My Volvo (Sabzi’s Bolbo Riddim Remix)” (Local Music)
16. Dres of Black Sheep – “For The Record”
17. Maxwell – “This Woman’s Work” (Throwback of the Week)
18. Lace Cadence – “Moonlight” (Local Music)
19. Bilal – “Think It Over”
20. Aloe Blacc – “Mama Hold My Hand”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?frnjg15cxyj539a
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/80382355fdc0bc38/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/zri3p6vkyaht)

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.

Web 2.0 is all about social media and appropriation, right?  So as long as I credit Chris Ryan at MTV, I can steal use his write up, right?  Works for me:

We’re not only devotees to Mayer Hawthorne’s impeccable neo-retro soul stylings but also his panache when it comes to making music videos, especially the melancholy beauty of his recent clip “I Wish It Would Rain.” So we’re pretty excited (in a melancholy way) to bring you his new video for “One Track Mind,” taken from his delightful A Strange Arrangement album.

“One Track Mind” mixes the innocence and wit of early ’60s rom-coms with the concept of the ’80s classic (using the term “classic” loosely) “Mannequin.” Over a note-perfect Motown arrangement, Hawthorne and his almost-perfect woman (save the whole being-plastic-thing) have a tea party in a garden, go on a boat ride, share an ice cream … pretty much the perfect day. Like most love stories, this one has a bump in the road. But you’ll have to watch to see how it plays out.

Watch Mayer Hawthorne’s “One Track Mind” video below. A Strange Arrangement is out now.

You really could have made about 10 different soundboards with all the glorious quotes from Jersey Shore.  I’m just glad they had my favorite quote, where the Situation explained that he’s in the gym for an hour and a half…workin’ on his fitness.

FTW.

I already know what you’re thinking: did Hyphen really just post a LMFAO video on TAOD?

Yeah, I did…here’s why:

1. I’m currently infatuated with Jonna from the Real World Cancun (strangely, this obsession started after the threesome episode that aired last week…hmmmm) and she’s looking great in this clip.  KW did point out that she clearly didn’t get the “video girls don’t have to kiss the artist” memo though.
2. Chelsea from the Paradiso Girls isn’t that bad either (she’s killing the Kelly Kapowski look here…I approve).
3. The theme is a nod to the late John Hughes.
4. Keytar dude, keytar.
5. And, to be honest, I kinda like this song.  Sue me.  That hook is a smash.

Maybe I’m watching too many of these Euro dance videos that come across my desk at the day job, I dunno.

Quick!  Somebody make a generic, wannabe Premo beat that reminds me of the Rawkus days so I can tighten my Jansport.

Yo…my people are DOIN’ IT y’all!

It’s so great to see two of my favorite people in the industry, Thurz & Y-O, really start to take off and make some major moves.  This track was produced by Ro Blvd (who gets a quick cameo in the clip as well), but it’s not from their Love Supreme project.  Instead, it was a special song and video commissioned by Mountain Dew’s Green Label Sound, closely affiliated with the FADER Label and my folks at Cornerstone.  Just like our collaboration with GLS, the project turned out great and this clip is yet another stellar music video in U-N-I’s library.  Do your thing fellas…

Sidenote, be on the lookout for the official Love Supreme documentary coming soon from DRG Films.  You just might recognize one of your favorite DJ’s as the narrator…nomorganfreemano.