The Audacity of Dope

Catching up on the SNSS archives tonight, so here’s episode #522 from 2 weeks ago, aka another good one.  Dope music from Elle Varner, Jakk Frost, DJ Premier, Daytona, Chinx (RIP), Action Bronson, Joey Badass, Rashad, OverDoz., Dom Kennedy, The Weeknd, Main Attrakionz, Jay Dot Rain, Mura Masa, Nao, Ryan Caraveo, The Physics, Slum Village, and more.

Stream it, download it, share it.  Just be sure to rock to it.

Show #522 (6-14-15)

1. Elle Varner ft. 50 Cent – “Birthday”
2. Jakk Frost – “Dope Boy Talk”
3. The Physics ft. Dave B – “Sleeping Alone” (Local Music)
4. Daytona ft. Chinx – “Lights Off”
5. Apathy – “Warfare”
6. eMC ft. Strickie Love – “I Like You Like”
7. Russ – “Lapped”
8. The-Dream – “Black Magic”
9. Statik Selektah ft. Action Bronson & Joey Badass – “Beautiful Life”
10. Slum Village ft. Illa J & BJ The Chicago Kid – “Expressive”
11. Slum Village – “Fall In Love” (Throwback of the Week)
12. Rashad – “I Thought About Leaving Her”
13. Moka Only ft. Illa J – “Freak Ya Heart Out” (Local Music)
14. Post Malone – “White Iverson”
15. OverDoz. ft. Pharrell – “Last Kiss”
16. Dom Kennedy ft. Tish Hyman – “2Bad”
17. Ryan Caraveo – “Alright” (Local Music)
18. DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge – “You Know You Like It (DJ Premier Remix)”
19. The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face”
20. Jamie xx ft. Young Thug & Popcaan – “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
21. Main Attrakionz – “Ain’t No Other Way”
22. Jay Dot Rain – “Dozen”
23. Treasure Davis ft. Luke Christopher – “Heart Flavored Sucker”
24. Alina Baraz & Galimatias – “Can I”
25. Mura Masa ft. Nao – “Firefly”

Stream/Download via Soundcloud:

(back up – https://www.sendspace.com/file/n6u53p)

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.

Elzhi’s manager, Jae Barber, teams up with Gerard Victor to create some nice visuals for El’s remake of Nas’ classic (and my favorite song off Illmatic).  You’ll recognize faces like Eminem, Royce Da 5’9″, J Dilla, Proof, T3, Baatin, and others in the footage of Detroit’s legendary Hip-Hop Shop, famously highlighted in 8 Mile.

Inspired by Slum Village’s “Climax,” of course.  Dilla told you later with “Won’t Do” as well.  Shout to all the homies in this one!

Watch this immediately.  There’s really nothing else that needs to be said.  RIP Dilla.

Big L is my favorite MC of all time, but in his absence, I’m not sure there’s a rapper out there that I appreciate on a technical level more than Elzhi.  The way he constructs each verse and flips these words together is insane, plus his flow is about as sharp as it gets.  All this is on display in his new video for “Deep” off his Leftovers Mixtape.  Shout to the homey Gerard on the direction as well.

Well this came out of nowhere.  Peep this Dwele directed video for a brand new Slum Village song produced by Karriem Riggins.  Seems like there may have been more, but after Baatin’s untimely passing, perhaps the video and song were cut short to highlight Titus.  RIP.

Seattle people: Don’t forget that we have our (abridged version of) Rock The Bells on Friday at Showbox Market.  Reflection Eternal, Slaughterhouse, Slum Village, Pete Rock, and a few others.  Holler @ a Hyphen when you see me there.

I’m not sure if it’s just a natural part of getting older, but it seems like an inordinate number of people in the public eye have passed away this summer.  We’ve had to start our show with RIP shouts almost every week, and sadly this edition of SNSS was no different.

By now, you’ve probably heard that we lost yet another member of the legendary Slum Village family, Baatin, last week, but I also got news that an old friend of mine passed too.  Jose Hernando was a great friend of my family and even rented a room from us when I was in 7th and 8th grade.  For those two years, he was almost like a big brother to me and I’ll always remember those days fondly.  We used to play all sorts of video games and he was always there to help with anything I needed.  He was also a semi-pro bicyclist and was training a few weeks ago near Seward Park when a van hit him and placed him into a coma.  After fighting bravely, he passed in peace on the 24th.  He’ll be survived by his wife Chanel, his two children, and all the people he touched throughout his life.  You couldn’t wish to know a nicer and cooler guy, and I’m happy I was able to have Jose in my life, even though it was far too brief.  I really wish we could have caught up before all this happened.

You hear it all the time, but it’s so important not to take life for granted.  Reach out to your friends and family and tell ’em you love ’em.  You never know what life will bring, so live each day to the fullest and be the best person you can be.  We’re all in this together and our interaction and relationships are what make life special.  I hope you’re all doing well and if I haven’t talked to you in a while, let’s catch up – DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Show #218 (8-2-09)

1. Eminem – “The Warning”
2. Clipse ft. Keri Hilson – “All Eyes On Me”
3. Noel Zancanella ft. Baatin – “Could It Be”
4. Slum Village ft. Marsha Ambrosius – “Cloud 9”
5. Crown City Rockers – “Soul”
6. The Roots – “How I Got Over”
7. Lushlife – “Until The Sun Dies”
8. Fresh Espresso – “The Lazerbeams” (Local Music)
9. Drake ft. Saukrates – “The Search”
10. Statik Selektah ft. Lil’ Fame, Saigon, & Sean Price – “Critically Acclaimed”
11. Blue Scholars – “Coo” (Local Music)
12. Consequence – “Closer”
13. Nas ft. Choklate – “Film”
14. Beatnick & K-Salaam ft. Bun B, Talib Kweli, & Colin Munroe – “Don’t Die”
15. Mayer Hawthorne – “Shiny & New”
16. Nicolay ft. Carlitta Durand – “Lose Your Way”
17. Peter Hadar & Theophilus London – “Want U 4 Myself”
18. Mr. Hudson ft. Kid Cudi – “Everything Is Broken”
19. Brother Ali – “Us”
20. Guilty Simpson – “Coroners Music”
21. Sonny Bonoho – “Judge Brown” (Local Music)
22. Jay-Z ft. Kanye West & Rihanna – “Run This Town”
23. Raekwon ft. Inspectah Deck, Method Man, & Ghostface Killah – “House Of Flying Daggers”
24. J. Cole – “Dream Girl”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?gfzijmezgtd
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/636035690e255b56/)

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.

This beat is too smooth.  Vintage Dilla on production and his younger brother linking up with Debi Nova for the vocals.  Off Illa’s Yancey Boys album, which is entirely produced by Dilla if you didn’t know.  Cop that.

Sidenote, I wish they would have got Debi in this video…she’s a dime.

I always liked this little interlude that acted as a nice homage to Dilla and Dwele decided to make some quick visuals for it.  “Workin’ On It!”

A few months back, J. Moore and the rest of the Red Bull Big Tune fam brought Elzhi (of Slum Village) and Black Milk to the town for the Seattle edition of the beat battle.  Before tearing it down at Neumo’s that night (I’ll toss some of that footage up if I get time), they came through Sound Session to record an interview with us.  Unfortunately, since we’ve had so many guests coming through lately, it’s taken a minute to get the audio up for y’all.  Better late than never though, especially when you’re dealing with two of the dopest artists in the industry right now.  I don’t think anyone is seeing Elzhi bar for bar, and with the release of Tronic, Black has staked his claim for the top MC/producer out there.  Seriously…do you hear how he’s spittin’ on that album?

Anyway, the interview was recorded in between the releases of Elzhi’s The Preface and Black’s Tronic, so there are a few occasions where it sounds dated.  Even still, I highly recommend checking out the full discussion to hear them break down both projects in detail.  They also talked about their inspirations both past and present, their creative processes, all things Detroit, what changes they hope Barack can bring to the people, their upcoming work, and much more.  Enjoy!

Elzhi & Black Milk on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?4nl20wo3wjy
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/52144263069bf0be/ )

Do yourself a favor and go cop The Preface and Tronic if you haven’t already.  Your “Best of 2008” list isn’t complete without both of ’em, trust me.