The Audacity of Dope

Well, that escalated quickly.

A lot of eloquent words by folks more intelligent than I have been written this week, plus I’m burned out from the emotion of it all and traveling from Australia to New York (24 hours straight on the move is no joke), so I’ll keep it as brief as I can.  There are three points I want to stress to everyone:

1. Almost 50% of the eligible voting population sat this one out.  Voter suppression occurred both via laws (reducing early voting windows, requiring additional identification, etc.) and by killing all enthusiasm for being a part of the process.  In such a close election (where the Electoral College has failed the will of the people for the second time in my life), every vote is crucial and we simply couldn’t afford so many people to stay at home.  Shameful, in my opinion, especially with local races and propositions on the ballot too.  It’s interesting watching this happen while I’ve been in Australia, where voting is required by law.  Sure, that gets abused too, but it definitely looks like a better system to me.  The Republicans have decided not to update their platform to move with the changing world, so they know their best chance to win is to have as few people vote as possible.  Credit to them, it worked this time around.  It’s on us to ensure more people, from all parties, get out to the 2018 midterms.
2. Trump won just 25% of the vote.  I would hope that the hardcore racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia he based his campaign on is only embraced by a small percentage of that group, say up to 10%.  Perhaps we’ll never be able to reach those people.  Maybe they’re just stuck in their ways.  But the rest of his voters amazingly decided that all of this nonsense was NOT a deal-breaker, which, at best, tells all the targeted people, “I don’t hate you…but I don’t care about you.”  These are the people we need to have conversations with, to ensure they understand that they have just emboldened and validated this rhetoric by putting him in the White House.  Those values are NOT shared by the vast majority of America and we cannot let a small few hijack the narrative in attempts to normalize this.  Speak up and stay vocal, shouting this down at every turn.
3. We gon’ be alright (c) Kendrick.  Sound Session has been here during the Bush years, the Obama years, and we’ll be here during the Trump years too.  So will you.  You are valued.  You matter.  You are loved.  Be the change you want to see at the local level and control what you can control.  Progress is not a straight line and we’re going to continue on our path to a more perfect union, one day at a time.

And now, some music for your soul:

Show #576 (11/13/16)

1. ASAP Mob ft. ASAP Nast & Onyx – “Nasty’s World”
2. Common ft. Bilal – “Home”
3. The Game – “Grew Up On Wu-Tang”
4. Like – “Diamond”
5. Mibbs ft. Blu – “Tell Me ‘Bout It”
6. Notorious B.I.G. ft. 112 – “Sky’s The Limit” (Throwback of the Week)
7. Meek Mill – “Blue Notes”
8. Khalid – “Hopeless”
9. Alicia Keys – “More Than We Know”
10. Mickey Factz & Nottz ft. Phonte – “Treat You Right”
11. Jay Prince – “Smile Good”
12. Dame D.O.L.L.A. ft. Lil Wayne – “Loyal To The Soil” (Local Music)
13. TYuS – “Shapes and Sizes” (Local Music)
14. Jalen Santoy – “Foreplay”
15. Big Sean – “No More Interviews”
16. Mayer Hawthorne – “A New Love”
17. JAHKOY – “Don’t Beg”
18. Solange ft. Sampha – “Don’t Touch My Hair”
19. Ray BLK – “5050”
20. All-Star Opera ft. Warm Gun – “Lifeline” (Local Music)
21. starRo ft. Masego – “Yams”
22. Childish Gambino – “Me and Your Mama”
23. Daniel Caesar ft. Kali Uchis – “Get You”
24. Nas – “I Can” (Throwback of the Week)
25. A Tribe Called Quest ft. Andre 3000 – “Kids”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWaFdjcjJNQTV3Q2M

If you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and stream/download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

One of the most eye opening parts of this election has been the lack of discussion around the rampant sexism and misogyny allowing these two candidates to be seen anywhere near equally qualified. When I worked on the Obama campaign, I encountered racism quite often (mostly indirect, sometimes explicit) and I was happy we were going to get him elected in spite of it. I thought it was awesome how we were going to overcome this ridiculous self-constructed hurdle, and anticipated future doors being much easier to break down as a result.

Only later, when Hillary won the nomination, did I realize that old racist white men were actually more willing to accept a black man than a white woman. Not knowing how these people think, I just always assumed they valued race over sex. After all, they came from white women, married white women, and fathered white women. Logic would indicate their fear of the “other” would apply to a group outside their own immediate family.

Turns out, I was wrong. These folks will begrudgingly, while fighting every step of the way, accept the fact that a minority male can join their inner circle, but ask them to do the same with a woman and that’s where they attempt to draw the line.

Tiger can join the golf club. After all, he’s a male. He “gets it” (though perhaps too fervently and too publicly, as it turns out in that case). A woman though? Bollocks. Read the sign: “No Girls Allowed.”

Well, we are here: at the last stand of the patriarchal Alamo, and we are poised to make history.

If that’s not exciting enough, this is merely the beginning!

With all the negativity and pessimism surrounding us, we must recognize that progress takes time and we continue to steadfastly march down that path, undeterred by the delays and extra effort it requires. We will not see “the end” in our lifetimes, because it doesn’t exist. The goal continually moves because we continually evolve. The only constant is change and living life is to embrace that change.

This week we will take a massive step forward, one that will change the perception of what is possible for every generation of girls AND boys that follow. I’m so excited to take that step with you all.

Vote! And I will see you on the other side…literally in this instance.  I’ll be coming back to the States for some business in New York City from the 10th to the 20th, so holler accordingly NYC homies!

Onwards.

Show #575 (11/6/16)

1. Meek Mill – “Blessed Up”
2. Dame D.O.L.L.A. ft. Lil Wayne – “Loyal To The Soil” (Local Music)
3. Apollo Brown & Skyzoo ft. Patty Crash – “One In The Same”
4. Common ft. BJ The Chicago Kid – “The Day Women Took Over”
5. ASAP Mob ft. ASAP Nast & Onyx – “Nasty’s World”
6. Onyx – “Last Days” (Throwback of the Week)
7. No Panty (Bodega Bamz, Joell Ortiz, & Nitty Scott) – “The Afterparty (Live At Jimmy’s, Pt. 2)”
8. Action Bronson ft. Big Body Bes – “Durag vs. Headband”
9. Like – “Lamped”
10. Jalen Santoy – “Foreplay”
11. Dave ft. Drake – “Wanna Know (Remix)”
12. Big Sean – “No More Interviews”
13. Ari Lennox – “Night Drive”
14. GTA ft. Jarina De Marco – “True Romance”
15. Jay Prince ft. Raheaven – “All In”
16. Drake – “Fake Love”
17. Taliwhoah – “Alright”
18. Khalid – “Hopeless”
19. Manatee Commune ft. Sol & Flint Eastwood – “What We’ve Got (Remix)” (Local Music)
20. All Star Opera ft. Warm Gun – “Lifeline” (Local Music)
21. JAHKOY – “Don’t Beg”
22. NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge) – “Sidepiece”
23. Mayer Hawthorne – “A New Love”
24. Joe Budden – “Forget”
25. Brent Faiyaz – “Invite Me”
26. Mickey Factz & Nottz ft. Phonte – “Treat You Right”
27. De La Soul ft. Usher – “Greyhounds”
28. Ray BLK – “Chill Out”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWbzhjN2hkUGNuSDQ

If you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and stream/download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Well, in keeping in line with the horrible events of the past few weeks, the Republican National Convention has just ended with one of the scariest and darkest speeches a major party candidate has ever delivered.  While the tone and fear mongering will be the largest takeaways, don’t forget all the outright lies peppered in throughout.  It’s amazing, and we’ve come close before, but we’re officially here now.  An election where the Republicans are trying to manipulate the narrative to completely ignore actual facts, such problematic little hurdles.

Sorry, I’m not ready to accept this.  Beliefs, preferences, moral leanings, etc. are one thing and whatever way you lean, hey…go for it.  Personally, I’m a fan of hope, diversity, love, and acceptance, but if you’re a fan of hate, division, and exclusion, do you, boo boo.  Make your decisions based on actual facts though, not fear.  Remember, as a very wise individual once said, “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

On a lighter note, treat this week’s SNSS as a respite from the madness.  New tracks from Warm Brew, BANKS, Phonte & Eric Roberson, Michael Christmas, Wiley, Blu & Nottz, Polyester, Joe Budden, Rexx Life Raj, and more.

Show #560 (7/17/16)

1. Kanye West ft. Rihanna & Swizz Beatz – “Famous”
2. Asher Roth ft. Michael Christmas & Larry June – “Laundry”
3. KnowMads – “Smoker’s Corner” (Local Music)
4. Logic – “44 Bars”
5. Rexx Life Raj – “Young Wardell”
6. Gensu Dean & Denmark Vessey ft. 7evenThirty & Iman Omari – “Black Love”
7. Polyester The Saint ft. Moni Mendoza & Marc Merlot – “How Far (Interlude)”
8. Snoop Dogg – “Two Or More”
9. Joe Budden – “Freedom Freestyle”
10. LaRue ft. Silas Blak – “Nat Turner” (Local Music)
11. Dee-1 – “We Are The Undefeated”
12. Blu & Nottz ft. Bishop Lamont, Torae, Skyzoo, & DJ Revolution – “Giant Steps”
13. A-F-R-O & Marco Polo ft. Pharoahe Monch – “Swarm”
14. Apathy – “Attention Deficit Disorder”
15. The Avalanches ft. Camp Lo – “Because I’m Me”
16. Schoolboy Q ft. Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, & Ab-Soul – “That Part (Black Hippy Remix)”
17. Lil’ Kim ft. The Notorious B.I.G. – “Drugs” (Throwback of the Week)
18. Warm Brew ft. Hugh Augustine & SiR – “No Time”
19. antbzy ft. Ariana DeBoo – “Since I Been Away” (Local Music)
20. Fudge (Michael Christmas & Prefuse 73) ft. Alex Mali – “In My Shoes”
21. Dusky ft. Wiley – “Sort It Out Sharon”
22. 808INK – “Suede Jaw”
23. Loyle Carner – “Tierney Terrace”
24. Khalid – “Let’s Go”
25. Phonte & Eric Roberson – “It’s So Easy”
26. Yuna – “Time”
27. BANKS – “F*ck With Myself”
28. Maggie Rogers – “Alaska”
29. Damaged Goods ft. Jesse Boykins III – “Where Do You Go”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWSzMwWVd0WVFLakU

If you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and stream/download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Long time friend of SNSS, Lupe Fiasco returned to Seattle to speak with J. Moore and I on 1-14-11. We broadcast live on KUBE93.com and talked all about his long awaited Lasers project, his rabid fan base, his life away from the stage/studio, and much more.  In the first half of the interview, Lu discussed how his lyrics impact listeners, how he’s often misinterpreted in the media, his hobbies when relaxing at home, and more.

In the second half of the interview, Lu discussed his car collection, his favorite albums of 2010, his plans to become an author, Lasers, and he even spit an acapella verse from the project.

Lastly, we opened up the floor to questions from viewers who were logged in, watching it live.

Hopefully you enjoy this candid conversation with one of our favorite MC’s in the industry and just an all around good guy.  I wish we recorded footage of the meet & greet we held right before this (remember when we gave out tickets?) so you could all see how Lu’s lyrics have really impacted the lives of his fans.

Support Lasers when it drops March 8th!

Slow down J, you’re killin’ em.

Any clowning of the FCC always gets my blessing.

(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!

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?

Some simply visuals for a web video of LL’s “Mr. President” off his new album, Exit 13.  Is it good?  Ehh.  Does LL’s rhyme style work in 2008?  Ehhhhh.  Do I support him making a song with at least a cursory amount of substance?  Absolutely.

I don’t even hate wackness.  I hate wackness that glorifies other forms of wackness.  If your heart’s in the right place, I’ll let it slide all day.