The Audacity of Dope

Well guys, I hate to admit it, but I’m the Golden State Warriors jinx.  A team that played the best basketball we’ve seen in 20 years, and parlayed that to the greatest regular season record of all time, is on the brink of elimination after getting steamrolled by the Thunder again tonight.  While I was in London, the brilliance of this team, and Stephen Curry in particular, helped keep me connected to the US via texts and social media chat with all my basketball loving friends.  The Warriors went 68-7 while I was out of the country, which translates to an insane 91% winning percentage.  Since I’ve returned, they’re a far more human 14-7 (66%).  So unless Steph goes Super Saiyan in 3 consecutive games against a red hot Thunder team…my bad y’all.

For all my Seattle friends nervously waiting to see if OKC is going to get the title that should have been ours, hopefully some good music can take your mind off this nightmare scenario.  New tracks on this week’s episode of SNSS from The Game, Boogie, Problem, T.I., Chance, River Tiber, Sampha, Yuna, Jhene, OnCue, and more.  No throwback, as we had some technical difficulties that took about 15 minutes off the show, so a few records had to be cut.  Still an hour and a half of that real to get you further through the week.  Enjoy!

Show #553 (5/22/16)

1. The Game ft. Problem & Boogie – “Roped Off”
2. Gifted Gab ft. Jarv Dee – “Gettin’ Smokay” (Local Music)
3. Schoolboy Q ft. Kanye West – “That Part”
4. T.I. ft. Marsha Ambrosius – “Dope”
5. Skepta ft. D Double E & ASAP Nast – “Ladies Hit Squad”
6. Kaytranada ft. Anderson .Paak – “Glowed Up”
7. ScienZe – “Love & Water”
8. Barney Artist ft. Rick David – “Painting”
9. Brasstracks ft. Jay Prince – “Good Love”
10. Cool Nutz ft. Slum Village & Bosko – “Best & Worst (Remix)” (Local Music)
11. Problem ft. BJ The Chicago Kid – “I Love You”
12. Chance The Rapper ft. Jay Electronica – “How Great”
13. OnCue – “Boy On The Come Up”
14. Drake ft. PARTYNEXTDOOR – “With You”
15. dvsn – “In + Out”
16. Gallant – “Bourbon”
17. Jairemie Alexander – “High” (Local Music)
18. Ari Lennox ft. Cozz – “Backseat”
19. Kanye West ft. The Weeknd – “FML”
20. River Tiber ft. Daniel Caesar – “West”
21. Sampha – “Timmy’s Prayer”
22. Yuna ft. Jhene Aiko – “Used To Love You”
23. Rittz ft. E-40 & Mike Posner – “Inside of the Groove”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWc29zb1NMS1dFa2c

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.

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” – Mike Tyson

That phrase popped into my head twice recently: first on Sunday when Rougned Odor gave us the 2016 version of Chris Child to Kobe, clocking Jose Bautista (if you haven’t seen, behold) and secondly, tonight, when the Thunder stepped to the Warriors and handed them only their 2nd home loss all season.  In the long run, both Joey Bats and the Warriors will be ok, but they certainly lost any lingering air of invincibility, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Dubs can recover.  One thing is for sure, the entire city of Seattle is hoping they do…

As for the music on this week’s SNSS, it was decidedly less confrontational.  Smooth tracks from dvsn, River Tiber, Barney Artist, Jay Prince, Rittz, Katy B, Kaytranada, ScienZe, and Chance The Rapper anchored the show.  Special throwback celebrating 25 years of De La Soul Is Dead.  Stream or download below, hope you enjoy!

Show #552 (5/15/16)

1. DJ Quik & Problem – “Straight To The City With It”
2. REKS – “The Recipe”
3. Candidt – “We Won” (Local Music)
4. Schoolboy Q ft. Kanye West – “That Part”
5. Skepta ft. Pharrell – “Numbers”
6. George Maple ft. GoldLink – “Sticks and Horses”
7. TWENTY88 (Big Sean & Jhene Aiko) – “Talk Show”
8. Tope – “Better Place” (Local Music)
9. ScienZe ft. Sidsel Ben Semmane & Adrian Cullen – “Colours & Dates”
10. Drake – “Weston Road Flows”
11. Bas – “Clouds Never Get Old”
12. Chance The Rapper ft. Francis and the Lights & Jeremih – “Summer Friends”
13. Gifted Gab ft. Jarv Dee – “Gettin’ Smokay” (Local Music)
14. J Dilla – “The Creep (The O)”
15. De La Soul – “Trainwreck”
16. De La Soul – “Keep The Faith” (Throwback of the Week)
17. Kanye West ft. Ty Dolla Sign & Post Malone – “Fade”
18. Kaytranada ft. Phonte – “One Too Many”
19. Katy B – “Honey”
20. Rihanna – “Same Ol’ Mistakes”
21. Yuna – “Lanes”
22. Rittz ft. E-40 & Mike Posner – “Inside of the Groove”
23. Brasstracks ft. Jay Prince – “Good Love”
24. Barney Artist ft. Emmavie – “Nothing Around”
25. River Tiber ft. Pusha T – “Illusions”
26. dvsn – “Another One”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWdG0ta2hqZ1NhdjQ

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.

What up y’all, hope you’re having a good week.  Perhaps not Steph Curry good, but hopefully still good nonetheless.  Props to the Blazers but watching Steph rip out their hearts (politely) the last two games has been incredible to watch.  If OKC manages to oust the Spurs, can you imagine how hard Russ is going to play to try to show the world he’s on Steph’s level?  And all the while, he has to show some mental restraint and get KD involved.  This should be a fascinating series to watch, but I’m also not killing off the White Walkers Spurs yet.

Anyway, enough basketball (blasphemy).  Here’s the latest episode of SNSS featuring great new cuts from ScienZe (exceptional album), Bas, Freeway, Skepta, LEISURE, Kaytranada, George Maple, James Blake, RAYE, Problem, DJ Quik, Yuna, GoldLink, and more.  Special throwback because I choose to remember Lauryn for what she once was, not the caricature she has become…

Show #551 (5/8/16)

1. Jerreau – “Really Got It”
2. Royce Da 5’9” – “Off”
3. Skepta ft. Pharrell – “Numbers”
4. Freeway – “Addiction”
5. J Dilla ft. Kenny Wray – “The Shining, Pt. 1 (Diamonds)”
6. Mic Phenom ft. Toya – “Must Be Dreamin” (Local Music)
7. Elzhi – “Misright”
8. ASAP Ferg – “Psycho”
9. ScienZe – “Love & Water”
10. Bas – “Clouds Never Get Old”
11. Vibe – “Cost of Living” (Local Music)
12. Tope – “Better Place” (Local Music)
13. Fugees ft. John Forte, A Tribe Called Quest, & Busta Rhymes – “Rumble In The Jungle” (Throwback of the Week)
14. James Blake ft. Bon Iver – “I Need A Forest Fire”
15. RAYE ft. Stormzy – “Ambition”
16. DJ Quik & Problem ft. Shy Carter – “A New Nite / Rosecrans Grove”
17. Kanye West ft. Ty Dolla Sign & Post Malone – “Fade”
18. Kaytranada ft. Phonte – “One Too Many”
19. Barney Artist ft. Tom Misch – “Stay Close”
20. George Maple ft. GoldLink – “Sticks and Horses”
21. Drake – “Feel No Ways”
22. Drake – “Controlla”
23. Raleigh Ritchie – “Young & Stupid”
24. Yuna – “Lanes”
25. dvsn – “Sept. 5th”
26. Gallant – “Miyazaki”
27. LEISURE ft. GoldLink – “Nobody”
28. Suede Brown – “NightCall”
29. Kraak & Smaak ft. Mayer Hawthorne – “I Don’t Know Why”

Link to download - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWS0JtVG5vd2lrajA

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.

Alright, we’re all caught up with SNSS archives now with episode #550 (!!!), so it feels like we’re truly back.  You know we like to keep our music super, super current and this episode was heavy on Drizzy with his Views release last week, so we had to get this posted sooner, rather than later.

So…Views.  What do you guys think?  Drake rarely takes a step wrong in my book and to me, it’s another quality project but clearly not his best.  He almost seems uninspired on it, which is odd with the way he’s been hyping up this project for years now.  Plus, this one had the entire Apple/Beats marketing machine behind it, so while the rollout was massive, it seems like it could have been even bigger if this was the classic we hoped for.  That said, there are some really good moments, and we highlighted a few on this week’s show.  He also gave me a reason to drop the DMX throwback I’ve been saving for a while, so that alone gets respect from me.

Alongside Drake, we ran new tracks from Elzhi, ASAP Ferg, Jerreau, DJ Quik & Problem, Gallant, Russ, Rockie Fresh, Barney Artist, and more.  Press play:

Show #550 (5/1/16)

1. Kanye West ft. Kid Cudi – “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1”
2. Kanye West ft. Desiigner – “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 2”
3. Nu Era ft. Blu – “Judkins Park” (Local Music)
4. Elzhi – “Cloud”
5. ASAP Ferg – “Psycho”
6. Drake – “Views”
7. Royce Da 5’9” – “Off”
8. Vibe – “Cost of Living” (Local Music)
9. Jerreau – “Really Got It”
10. Phife Dawg – “Nutshell”
11. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Turnin Me Up”
12. Musiq Soulchild ft. Rapsody – “Far Gone”
13. Drake – “U With Me?”
14. DMX ft. Faith Evans – “How’s It Goin’ Down” (Throwback of the Week)
15. DJ Quik & Problem ft. Shy Carter – “A New Nite / Rosecrans Grove”
16. Barney Artist ft. Tom Misch – “Stay Close”
17. Raleigh Ritchie – “Cowards”
18. Avelino – “Rich Soul”
19. Rockie Fresh ft. Rick Ross – “Thank You”
20. John Crown ft. DJ Phinisey – “The Longest Goodbye (For Jessica)” (Local Music)
21. Russ – “Losin Control”
22. Drake – “Weston Road Flows”
23. dvsn – “With Me”
24. Suede Brown – “NightCall”
25. Rihanna – “Sex With Me”
26. Drake – “Controlla”
27. Gallant – “Talking To Myself”
28. Tunji Ige – “Bring Yo Friends”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWc1EwUk5yVWhabW8

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.

Back to back Sound Session updates so you stream/download some of our recent episodes this week and catch up on the good music that’s out there.  Let me know if you’re having any issues with the Mixcloud or Google Drive links, the latter of which is a new way we’re trying to archive the shows.  Hopefully they work and you enjoy!

New tracks from Kanye, Sol, Skizzy Mars, Sam Lachow, Snakehips, Bobby James, Kali Uchis, Yuna, AOSOON, 808INK, Maxwell, Nick Grant, TWENTY88, and more.

Show #548 (4/17/16)

1. Kanye West ft. Chance The Rapper, The-Dream, Kelly Price, & Kirk Franklin – “Ultralight Beam”
2. Sol ft. Dave B – “Don’t Even Party” (Local Music)
3. Skizzy Mars – “Girl On A Train”
4. Tunji Ige – “War”
5. Snakehips ft. Anderson .Paak – “Money On Me”
6. Kali Uchis ft. Vince Staples & Steve Lacy – “Only Girl”
7. Sam Lachow ft. Ariana Deboo – “Friends, Funk & Liquor” (Local Music)
8. Bobby James – “Lifted”
9. Phife Dawg – “Nutshell”
10. J Dilla ft. Bilal – “The Ex”
11. Redman – “Tonight’s Da Night” (Throwback of the Week)
12. Yuna – “Places To Go”
13. The Age of L.U.N.A. – “Blow Me Away”
14. AOSOON – “City”
15. 808INK – “Suede Jaw”
16. Raleigh Ritchie – “Young & Stupid”
17. GoldLink – “Dark Skin Women”
18. Gallant – “Percogesic”
19. Maxwell – “Lake By The Ocean”
20. dvsn – “Do It Well”
21. TWENTY88 (Big Sean & Jhene Aiko) – “Déjà Vu”
22. Royce Da 5’9” ft. Pusha T & Rick Ross – “Layers”
23. Nick Grant ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Killer Mike – “Royalty (Remix)”
24. John Crown ft. Fatal Lucciauno – “Chutes & Ladders” (Local Music)
25. Madeintyo ft. Travis Scott – “Uber Everywhere (Remix)”
26. Joey Badass – “Brooklyn’s Own”
27. Your Old Droog – “42 (Forty Deuce)”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWZkpkM0hHV25zYjg

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.

As mentioned last week, Sound Session is officially back on the air and I’m catching up on our recent show archives for you all now.  Here’s the first episode we’ve recorded in the new KUBE 104.9 FM studio, so apologies for a few parts that peaked a bit high on the audio.  All the episodes going forward will sound nice and crispy, even better than they used to.

On this episode, we ran through tracks from some of our favorite folks out right now: Drake, Raleigh Ritchie, Tom Misch, Kanye, Kendrick, Tunji Ige, dvsn, Gallant, and more.

Enjoy this one and I’ll be back soon with the next episode…

Show #547 (4/10/16)

1. Raleigh Ritchie ft. Stormzy – “Keep It Simple”
2. Drake ft. Wizkid & Kyla – “One Dance”
3. Drake ft. The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z) – “Pop Style”
4. Tunji Ige – “On My Grind”
5. Your Old Droog – “42 (Forty Deuce)”
6. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. KRS-One – “Buckshot” (Local Music)
7. A Tribe Called Quest – “Jazz (We’ve Got)” (Throwback of the Week)
8. Kanye West – “Feedback”
9. Kanye West – “30 Hours”
10. J Dilla ft. Snoop Dogg & Kokane – “Gangsta Boogie”
11. Kendrick Lamar ft. Bilal – “untitled 03 | 05.28.2013”
12. Nick Grant ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Killer Mike – “Royalty (Remix)”
13. Bobby James – “Lifted”
14. D.I.T.C. – “Diggin’ Number”
15. Elhae – “478 (Outro)”
16. Sol – “Happiness” (Local Music)
17. Sam Lachow ft. Tangerine – “Where You Belong” (Local Music)
18. TWENTY88 (Big Sean & Jhene Aiko) – “Push It”
19. dvsn – “Do It Well”
20. Gallant – “Miyazaki”
21. BJ The Chicago Kid ft. Kendrick Lamar – “The New Cupid”
22. Yuna – “Places To Go”
23. Royce Da 5’9” – “Tabernacle”
24. Anderson .Paak ft. The Game & Sonyae Elise – “Room In Here”
25. PARTYNEXTDOOR ft. Drake – “Come and See Me”
26. Tom Misch & Carmody – “Easy Love”
27. Lion Babe – “Satisfy My Love”
28. Kelela ft. GoldLink – “Rewind (Louie Lastic Remix)”
29. Kanye West ft. Kendrick Lamar – “No More Parties In LA”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWZnRaZmpmSUN5bzg

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.

What up everyone?  It’s been a minute but Sunday Night Sound Session is officially back!

I’ve returned to Seattle after working 14 months over in London for ESPN and a lot has changed over the past few months, so we owe you a quick update.  Once KUBE switched from 93.3 FM to 104.9 FM in February, we started working with the new iHeartRadio management team to get all the SNSS details sorted.  While doing that, J. Moore unfortunately suffered a setback with his medical issues and he’s been unable to host the show in my absence.  Now that I’m back, we’re starting the show up again as J continues on his path to recovery.

The frequency may be different, J may not be co-hosting for the immediate future, and we’ve had this little break between episodes, but one thing remains consistent: the music is the foundation of everything we do.  The playlist for our first show back is below, but sadly the recording station in the new studio wasn’t ready to capture this episode.  I’ll get the other recent episodes posted up soon though, so stay tuned!

Feels good to be home.

Show #546 (4/3/16)

1. Kanye West ft. Rihanna & Swizz Beatz – “Famous”
2. Kanye West ft. Kendrick Lamar – “No More Parties In LA”
3. Tunji Ige – “On My Grind”
4. Nick Grant ft. CyHi The Prynce – “Royalty”
5. Torae ft. Phonte – “Clap Sh*t Up”
6. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Chance The Rapper – “Need To Know” (Local Music)
7. Sam Lachow ft. Dave B & Ariana Deboo – “Wrong Man” (Local Music)
8. St. Michael – “Van Ness Ave”
9. Jay IDK ft. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Cookie Addiction”
10. PARTYNEXTDOOR ft. Drake – “Come and See Me”
11. Drake – “Summer Sixteen”
12. Stephen Mykal ft. Botni$ – “Late Night” (Local Music)
13. TWENTY88 (Big Sean & Jhene Aiko) – “Talk Show”
14. Maxwell – “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” (Throwback of the Week)
15. Nao – “Fool To Love”
16. Raleigh Ritchie ft. Stormzy – “Keep It Simple”
17. SG Lewis ft. Dornik – “All Night”
18. Lion Babe – “Satisfy My Love”
19. Kendrick Lamar – “untitled 08 | 09.06.2014”
20. Junia-T ft. Briskinthehouse – “My My My”
21. Anderson .Paak ft. The Game & Sonyae Elise – “Room In Here”
22. Gallant ft. Jhene Aiko – “Skipping Stones”
23. Tom Misch & Carmody – “Easy Love”
24. dvsn – “Do It Well”
25. Kelela ft. GoldLink – “Rewind (Louie Lastic Remix)”

No archive of SNSS #546 available.

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.

Ah yes, the list that generated enough tweets in the Seattle hip-hop community to trend the other day has reached its conclusion with the release of the #1 video above.  For those unaware, D-Money of Juice Radio put together this project inspired by the MTV “Hottest MC” debate where he asked several media figures in the Seattle/Tacoma area to submit lists of their top 15 “freshest MC’s.”  The panel was comprised of myself, Casey Carter, Sara from Fresh N Def, Sermon from Sermon’s Domain, DJ SupaSam, DJ Swervewon, Josh Rizeberg, and DJ Iceman.  A final slot was reserved for fan votes collected on Juice Radio’s website and you can view the entire list and the accompanying videos here.

We were told to construct the list using specific criteria focusing on solo MC’s (not groups or singers) and their accomplishments within the past year.  The various categories we were instructed to key on ranged from sales/downloads to radio play, from concert draws to media recognition, and every variable you can think of in between.  In the end, even with the criteria, the idea was to make picks based on who we felt were the overall “freshest” in the NW, which is obviously subjective to each individual.  Not surprisingly, we had fairly different lists, and also not surprisingly, it was revealed during the course of our discussion that some of the panel did not follow the criteria or fully understand it.  What’s a hip-hop list without some controversy from the very start (and the inability to do the most basic tasks correctly)?

The format allowed for the panel to bump up artists if we were convinced during our discussion that they had been voted to an incorrect slot.  Personally, I would have preferred the panel to simply fill out their lists accurately from the jump and then we could stick with where someone was voted.  If you’re deemed knowledgeable enough to be on the panel, you should be able to construct a good list and defend your picks without getting swayed during the discussion to vote someone up or down.  That said, when Macklemore was revealed as #3 on the list, I was happy we’d have a chance to vote him to his correct position at #1 because it’s clear that with the criteria we were told to use, nobody has excelled more than him in the past year.  It’s not even debatable in my opinion.

I was disappointed that the list didn’t unanimously have him at #1 to begin with, but I can’t speak for the selections of any other panel member.  All I know is that only 6 of the 15 artists I selected made the final list (though they only revealed the top 10, so I suppose 5 were never going to make it).  Of those, I think the most startling omissions were Geologic (aka Prometheus Brown) and Ish (aka Palaceer Lazaro of Shabazz Palaces).  To conclude a “Freshest In The NW” list without two of our most successful and influential artists, who continue to release great music to widespread critical and consumer acclaim, seems like a travesty.

Regardless, it seems the list accomplished what it set out to do, which was to generate conversation about all the talent we have in the Northwest.  Were there things I would do differently if this were my project?  Absolutely, starting with the fact that I would never do it to begin with.  However, this is Juice Radio’s creation and I enjoyed giving my two cents in the discussion.

That said, I’m troubled by the reactions of many people, mainly because they seem to be attacking the idea that this is some sort of definitive list.  Of course it’s NOT a definitive list!  I thought that would have been common sense, but yet again, for the 24823948239423424th time in my life, I’ve overestimated the intelligence and comprehension levels of the general public (though if I continue to do that, it’s really more my fault than theirs).  Individual lists are fine, but it’s the idea that combining a group of lists, from anyone, somehow transforms these individual opinions to fact that is completely absurd.  I assumed everyone would understand that, but I was wrong.

I hope you enjoyed the debate and the videos, but I’d advise you do yourself a favor and don’t take it too seriously.  Then again, that’s also just my opinion…

Mitch: Brand new single from Logics featuring Element of Second Family, with production by Tryfe. Vintage Flow drops June 6th. Get ready…

Logics – Can’t See ‘Em Ft. Element (Prod. Tryfe)

Fice and Erik Soderquist team up for this ode to Tacoma, our friendly neighbors just south of Seattle.  I’m digging the record and the video, though I will say, one of my rules in life is to never answer an unknown number from the 253.  Life lesson.