The Audacity of Dope

The homey Mistah F.A.B. stopped by SNSS this week and as is tradition with F.A.B., he blessed the mic with a crazy freestyle off the top of his head.  He completely killed it, with all sorts of Seattle references for us: his cousin Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch and his 3 touchdowns in the Seahawks vs. 49ers game earlier that night, Richard Sherman vs. Skip Bayless, Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton, Tha Bizness, Macklemore, and more.

Props to F.A.B. for being one of the few MC’s brave enough to spit…and murder…a legit freestyle live on air with us.  Some of your favorite MC’s have declined to rhyme live with us, and even those that do rarely do it off the top.  No writtens here, just improvisational skill at it’s finest.

You can download the audio of the freestyle right here – http://www62.zippyshare.com/v/69183512/file.html

And the full interview is available on the archive for SNSS #431, right here.

Playing catch up on the SNSS archives tonight, so here’s the second episode that I didn’t have the chance to put up before.  On this one, we played new music from folks like Guilty Simpson, The Clipse, Chance The Rapper, Freddie Gibbs, Madlib, Bambu, BANKS, Meek Mill, Tanya Morgan, Demrick, Polyester, John Legend, Kyle, Majid Jordan and more.

Plus, we were joined in studio by one of our good friends, and an artist that many are calling the next to breakthrough from Seattle (following in Macklemore’s footsteps), Sol.  While there are similarities between Sol and Mack, folks categorizing them in the same field are being pretty lazy.  It’s actually been really dope to watch Sol’s growth over the years, aided greatly by his recent 11 month trip around the globe.  We chatted with him before he left, during the trip (calling in from Haiti), and since he’s returned, and I’ve been more and more impressed with him as a person and artist each time.

On this episode, we were joined by one of producers, 1/3rd of The Zillas, Nima Skeemz, and we talked to the pair all about Sol’s new Eyes Open EP, which dropped last Tuesday.  Be sure to check out the project and support if you’re feeling the music.  You won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy the show!

Show #430 (9-8-13)

1. Guilty Simpson & Small Professor ft. DJ Revolution – “On The Run”
2. No Malice ft. Pusha T – “Shame The Devil”
3. Rapsody ft. Chance The Rapper – “Lonely Thoughts”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH SOL & NIMA SKEEMZ, PT. 1**
5. Lil Wayne ft. Chance The Rapper – “You Song”
6. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Deeper”
7. Bambu – “Yayo”
8. Smif-N-Wessun ft. Starang Wondah & Top Dog (of O.G.C.) – “Sound Bwoy Bureill” (Throwback of the Week)
9. BANKS ft. Gilbere Forte – “Waiting Game (RAAK Remix)”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH SOL & NIMA SKEEMZ, PT. 2**
11. The Foreign Exchange – “Pity”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH SOL & NIMA SKEEMZ, PT. 3**
13. Sol ft. Shayhan – “Tomorrow” (Local Music)
14. **INTERVIEW WITH SOL & NIMA SKEEMZ, PT. 4**
15. Sol – “Turn Me Loud” (Local Music)
16. **INTERVIEW WITH SOL & NIMA SKEEMZ, PT. 5**
17. Sonny Bonoho – “Concubine Juicy” (Local Music)
18. Meek Mill – “Ooh Kill ‘Em”
19. Ransom & Statik Selektah – “Unexplainable”
20. Demrick & Polyester The Saint ft. Chuck Inglish – “Dazed & Sedated”
21. Tanya Morgan – “Eulogy”
22. Nissim ft. Bonhom – “Live For Now” (Local Music)
23. John Legend – “Tomorrow”
24. Kyle ft. Beldina – “Deeper”
25. Majid Jordan – “Tea & Coffee”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www75.zippyshare.com/v/60187404/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/43d4099b34/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/qwksnn6plnt6)

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.

Apologies for the massive delays on the recent episodes of SNSS, but sometimes real life just likes to keep me busy.  This episode (#429) was from September 1st, which was right in the heart of the Bumbershoot Festival weekend.  That Saturday, J. Moore and I hosted the main stage at the Key Arena for Joey Bada$$ and Kendrick Lamar’s show.  Joey killed it and watching K. Dot take his show to another level every time we see him is always incredible.  I had to Vine one of my favorite moments from the show and here’s my favorite pic of the day as well.

Speaking of Kendrick Lamar, our good friends at Hard Knock TV posted some lost footage of our sit down with him from KUBE’s Summer Jam a while back.  If you missed that one, be sure to check out the interview here.

While J and the homies enjoyed the rest of the festival that weekend, I jetted down to San Diego to attend a wedding from my good college friends (congrats Andrew & Daya!) and get in some family time.  Shout to everyone I caught up with in SoCal and extra shout to J for holding down SNSS that week solo!

Enjoy the dopeness:

Show #429 (9-1-13)

1. Pusha T ft. Chris Brown – “Sweet Serenade”
2. Big K.R.I.T. ft. Future – “Just Last Week”
3. The Lox – “Summer’s Too Hot”
4. Shawn Chrystopher – “Biscayne”
5. THURZ ft. Cali Martyr – “Got Damn, Got Damn”
6. Thaddeus David – “Save Time” (Local Music)
7. MC Eiht – “Make Some Mo”
8. Bambu ft. Cutso – “My Potnas”
9. Ransom x Statik Selektah – “Unexplainable”
10. Shad – “Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)”
11. Tanya Morgan ft. Tiara Wiles, Mike Maven, Spree Wilson, & Rocki Evans – “The Only One”
12. Rapsody ft. Chance The Rapper – “Lonely Thoughts”
13. Nissim – “World Heroes” (Local Music)
14. Yancey Boys (Illa J & Frank Nitti) ft. Common and Dezi Paige – “Quicksand”
15. Jay-Z ft. Rick Ross – “F*ckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt”
16. Earl Sweatshirt ft. Vince Staples & Casey Veggies – “Hive”
17. Sonny Bonoho – “Concubine Juicy” (Local Music)
18. Dr. Dre ft. Jewell – “Let Me Ride” (Throwback of the Week)
19. CharlieRED – “Lovely”
20. John Legend – “So Gone”
21. The Foreign Exchange – “Call It Home”
22. AZ – “I Excel”
23. Black Milk – “Perfected On Puritan Ave”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www15.zippyshare.com/v/80912223/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/65e587be59/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/3rlg440azmy1)

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.

This week’s SNSS archive featured new music from Rapsody, denitia and sene, Kent Money, Lupe Fiasco, Royce The Choice, Porter Ray, Ayatollah, Anthony Hamilton, Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, Lapalux, and more.  Of course we also had to spin the new Big Sean record, “Control,” and talk about Kendrick Lamar’s verse that took over social media last week.  Was it a game changer?  Was it even one of Kendrick’s best verses?  Why are the only rappers responding, those who weren’t even mentioned?

Check out episode #427 to get our take, and enjoy the music as well!

Show #427 (8-18-13)

1. J. Cole ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Forbidden Fruit”
2. Rapsody – “Kingship”
3. Thaddeus David – “Love Sh*t” (Local Music)
4. Drake ft. Majid Jordan – “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
5. denitia and sene – “it’s your fault”
6. Royce The Choice ft. GMK & Porter Ray – “For The Jeeps” (Local Music)
7. Kent Money ft. Dave Young – “Wondering Why”
8. Nickelus F – “Watermelon and Chicken”
9. Craig David ft. Mos Def – “7 Days (DJ Premier Remix)” (Throwback of the Week)
10. Lupe Fiasco – “SLR 3 (Round Of Applause)”
11. Big Sean ft. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica – “Control”
12. Stalley ft. Schoolboy Q – “NineteenEighty7”
13. Earl Sweatshirt ft. Frank Ocean – “Sunday”
14. Banks ft. Gilbere Forte – “Waiting Game (RAAK Remix)”
15. CharlieRED – “On My Mind”
16. Ayatollah ft. Anthony Hamilton – “I Just Love Music”
17. Arima Ederra – “New Old School Love”
18. Raleigh Ritchie – “In Too Deep”
19. Scribes – “Backseat (New Ride)” (Local Music)
20. Sound Fx – “Nothing Less”
21. David Dallas ft. Freddie Gibbs – “My Mentality”
22. Lapalux ft. Kerry Leatham – “Without You”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www55.zippyshare.com/v/61720141/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/8776907ac9/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/dqpoo3pni8ho)

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 past Sunday marked the unofficial 40th birthday of hip-hop, dating back to when DJ Kool Herc held his first house/block party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx.  In that spirit, we wanted to do something a little different with this week’s SNSS and it just so happened that one of hip-hop’s greatest journalists, Elliott Wilson, was in town to celebrate with us.  Elliott co-hosted this entire episode and gave great insight about hip-hop over the years, as only someone whose been working in this crazy industry since 1992 can.

In addition to new records from artists like Shad, Drake (can we just hurry up and make this a #1 chart topping hit?  What a SMASH.), Ellie Goulding, denitia and sene, Nickelus F, Sound Fx, David Dallas, and more, we also played 4 throwbacks, each one representative of a decade in rap history.  On top of all that, one of the dopest up and coming singers around, Arima Ederra, called in and allowed us to world premiere her new track, “New Old School Love.”

This was one of my favorite SNSS episodes in a long time.  Hope y’all enjoy!

Show #426 (8-11-13)
**Co-Hosted by Elliott Wilson**

1. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – “The Message” (Throwback of the Week)
2. Shad ft. Saukrates – “Stylin’”
3. Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Collard Greens”
4. Kanye West – “Blood On The Leaves”
5. Jay-Z ft. Travis Scott – “Crown”
6. Lorde ft. Gilbere Forte – “Royals (RAAK Remix)”
7. David Dallas ft. Freddie Gibbs – “My Mentality”
8. Eric B. & Rakim – “Microphone Fiend” (Throwback of the Week)
9. J. Pinder – “Loaded Gun” (Local Music)
10. Sound Fx – “Apathy”
11. Drake ft. Majid Jordan – “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
12. Nickelus F – “Watermelon and Chicken”
13. Outkast – “Ain’t No Thang” (Throwback of the Week)
14. denitia and sene – “it’s your fault”
15. **INTERVIEW WITH ARIMA EDERRA**
16. **Arima Ederra – “New Old School Love” (WORLD PREMIERE)**
17. Ellie Goulding & BURNS – “Midas Touch”
18. Malice & Mario Sweet ft. Raz Simone – “Goodwill” (Local Music)
19. Grynch & Budo – “Treadin’” (Local Music)
20. Jay-Z – “What More Can I Say” (Throwback of the Week)

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www48.zippyshare.com/v/59335975/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/d92436c482/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/12ep1kflxae8)

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.

A few random thoughts for this week’s SNSS archive.  Let’s break out the bullet-points!

• Yeezus gets better with every listen, and I already liked it to begin with.  If you don’t enjoy “Bound 2,” “Black Skinhead,” “New Slaves,” “Blood On The Leaves,” “Send It Up,” etc., I don’t know what to tell you.
• I enjoyed our little sexy time set in the middle of this week’s show.  Jesse Boykins, Raleigh Ritchie, AB, and Rhye, all in a row.  Yes.
• You need to peep that Raleigh Ritchie record.  Watch out for this kid.
• Clint Dempsey signing with the Seattle Sounders is great for our city, the MLS, and the continued growth of soccer in America, but it’s bad for the progression of our top level talent with the national team.  We still need our best players playing in the top leagues and the MLS isn’t there yet.  There may be more positives than negatives here, and being in Seattle, I’m certainly fine with Deuce playing for the hometown team, but I wish he could still represent for us in the EPL.
• Speaking of the EPL, Jason Sudeikis killed this.
• Be sure to peep the video of our recent interview with Kid Ink right here!

And with that, enjoy episode #425:

Show #425 (8-4-13)

1. Kanye West – “Black Skinhead”
2. U-God ft. Inspectah Deck & Elzhi – “Mt. Everest”
3. Willie The Kid x Alchemist ft. Action Bronson & Roc Marciano – “Medusa”
4. Tony Touch ft. The Lox – “Bars”
5. Add-2 – “Rings & Crowns”
6. Jay-Z – “Picasso Baby”
7. YP ft. James Fauntleroy – “Money Talks”
8. J. Cole – “Mo Money”
9. Tito Lopez – “Re-Lax”
10. ANTHM – “AMG Forever”
11. J. Pinder – “Loaded Gun” (Local Music)
12. Drake ft. 2 Chainz & Big Sean – “All Me”
13. Shad ft. Saukrates – “Stylin’”
14. ScienZe – “Under The Bleachers”
15. Homeboy Sandman – “Relapse”
16. Tom Pepe & Jesse Judd ft. Chev – “Coffee & Tobacco” (Local Music)
17. Dave B – “Galaxy Defenders” (Local Music)
18. Jesse Boykins III – “Young and Beautiful”
19. Raleigh Ritchie – “In Too Deep”
20. AB – “You Used To Love Me”
21. Rhye – “Open”
22. Phil Ade ft. Dee Boy & Raheem DeVaughn – “Simply Beautiful”
23. Joey Badass ft. Smoke DZA – “Death Of YOLO”
24. Arrested Development – “Tennessee” (Throwback of the Week)
25. Mos Def – “Pistola (Preservation Remix)”
26. sayknowledge – “I’m Here”
27. Mayer Hawthorne ft. Jessie Ware – “Her Favorite Song”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www57.zippyshare.com/v/66867345/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/e97c7a9cf1/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/bxkuahd3we14)

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.

Shout to Kid Ink for coming through the Sound Session studio recently and chopping it up.  We discussed his background and when he first realized he could make music a career, before getting in depth on the keys to his independent success and why he decided to sign with a major label. He had an interesting take on how labels are adapting to work better with artists like himself, who have a dedicated fan base before inking a deal.

Real cool dude, I enjoyed our convo.  Shout to Detooz Films on the cameras!

New music on this week’s SNSS from artists like E-40, Hieroglyphics, Mayday, Da$h, AB, Oddisee, Stalley, Kavinksy, The Weeknd, Jesse Boykins III, and more.  We were also joined in studio by our good friends, Malice & Mario Sweet of the Physics crew.  Be sure to check out their new project, Enjoy:Like:Love, right here.

To top it all off, our longtime pal, Mayer Hawthorne, called in to chop it up about his new Where Does This Door Go album and the status of his highly anticipated Tuxedo project with Jake One.

Enjoy the show!

Show #424 (7-28-13)

1. Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Collard Greens”
2. E-40 ft. Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q – “All My Potnas”
3. Hieroglyphics – “Highway Five”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH MALICE & MARIO SWEET, PT. 1**
5. J. Cole ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Forbidden Fruit”
6. Mayday ft. David Correy – “Save Ferris”
7. Da$h ft. Ab-Soul & Retch – “Whale”
8. Kanye West ft. King Louie – “Send It Up”
9. Jay Z – “Beach Is Better”
10. Joey Badass ft. Chuck Strangers, Dessy Hinds, & Kirk Knight – “Satellite”
11. ChillxWill ft. P. Blackk – “Pickin’ Pockets” (Local Music)
12. Def Dee ft. Oddisee & Tranquil – “Still Propa” (Local Music)
13. Mobb Deep – “Survival Of The Fittest” (Throwback of the Week)
14. **INTERVIEW WITH MALICE & MARIO SWEET, PT. 2**
15. Malice & Mario Sweet – “Kortney Luv” (Local Music)
16. AB – “You Used To Love Me”
17. **INTERVIEW WITH MALICE & MARIO SWEET, PT. 3**
18. Mac Miller ft. Niki Randa – “I Am Who Am (Killin’ Time)”
19. ScienZe ft. Luxx – “The Pleasure”
20. **INTERVIEW WITH MAYER HAWTHORNE**
21. Mayer Hawthorne – “Allie Jones”
22. Asher Roth – “Pop Radio”
23. Stalley – “A-Wax”
24. Jesse Boykins III – “Young and Beautiful”
25. Kavinsky ft. The Weeknd – “Odd Look (Remix)”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www21.zippyshare.com/v/23056028/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/0b2c619215/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/48wb5ddczad3)

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.

New music on this week’s SNSS from Rapsody, Wale, ScienZe, Mayer Hawthorne, The Rub, ANTHM, Jesse Boykins III, Hiatus Kaiyote, Tech N9ne, Quasimoto, and more.  Plus, we ran our interview with D-Why, an up-and-coming artist poised for big things.  No frills, just dopeness.

Enjoy the show!

Show #423 (7-21-13)

1. Rapsody ft. Wale – “Dark Knights”
2. ScienZe – “Lights”
3. Mayer Hawthorne – “Robot Love”
4. The Rub ft. Misun & Lil Fame – “Feel You (Marco Polo Remix)”
5. REKS ft. EzDread – “Only Lonely”
6. Tito Lopez – “Y.O.U.”
7. ANTHM – “AMG Forever”
8. TxE – “Recess” (Local Music)
9. Jay-Z ft. Nas, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, & Swizz Beatz – “BBC”
10. Shad & Skratch Bastid – “Bound 2 (Dub)”
11. Kanye West – “Blood On The Leaves”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH D-WHY, PT. 1**
13. D-Why – “Good Will Stunting”
14. **INTERVIEW WITH D-WHY, PT. 2**
15. J. Cole – “Chaining Day”
16. Quasimoto – “Astronaut”
17. iLLChris ft. Like & Stewart Villain – “U Know What I’m Like” (Local Music)
18. Joey Badass – “#LongLiveSteelo”
19. Tech N9ne ft. Kendrick Lamar, Mayday, & Kendall Morgan – “Fragile”
20. Unknown Mortal Orchestra ft. Killer Mike & Mr. MFN eXquire – “So Good At Being In Trouble (Black Noise Remix)”
21. Sol – “Jump In” (Local Music)
22. Slum Village – “Summer Breeze”
23. Jesse Boykins III – “Doing It Wrong”
24. Paid & Live ft. Lauryn Hill – “All My Time” (Throwback of the Week)
25. Hiatus Kaiyote ft. Q-Tip – “Nakamarra (Remix)”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www2.zippyshare.com/v/17737971/file.html
(back up link – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/90f3875367/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/dma6y9ztey7d)

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.