The Audacity of Dope

Apologies for the delay, but here’s our backstage interview with Kendrick Lamar from KUBE 93’s Summer Jam a few weeks ago. Kendrick spoke on balancing his journey to stardom with his focus on the music, his Top Dawg Entertainment family behind the scenes, tour life, “The Recipe” and finding the right single, and his upcoming album. When “Cut You Off” came up in discussion, I had to ask him about his motivations behind that one too since it’s one of my favorite records of the last 5 years or so. All around, a very cool dude and I know we’re all rooting for him to breakthrough and have mainstream success when the next album drops.

This is undoubtedly one of the hardest records out right now, which as a fairly mellow, pseudo slow jam, is quite an accomplishment.  Big shout to Ab and Schoolboy Q, who came by the Sound Session studio this past weekend.  Interview coming soon.

RIP Alori Joh.

Just in time for his weekend here in Seattle (shows tonight at Seattle U and tomorrow at Neumos), Ab-Soul drops his newest video, this time for “Terrorist Threats” with Danny Brown and the lovely miss Jhene Aiko.  I’ve been hoping to play this on Sound Session for a while, but it’s a bit too dirty to clean up.  Works pretty nicely for the web though!  Dope record.

Nardwuar hit a home run with all his hip-hop interviews at SXSW last year and this year was no different.  Dude was everywhere.  Here’s his clip with Kendrick Lamar, where K. Dot gives you a little insight into his history.  Love the story about his dad driving him and his mom home from the hospital for the first time and blasting Big Daddy Kane because “he has to hear this.”  Awesome.

Been trying to tell y’all about BJ for quite some time now. “Good Luv’n” is off his recently released project, Pineapple Now-Laters.  Go cop that, for real.

New Jerome D visuals for one of the standout records off Q’s new Habits & Contradictions project.  Loving the sample.

Another video I’ve been meaning to post for a few weeks, but better late than never.  Most of you should have already seen this but if you aren’t a big K. Dot fan, perhaps you missed it.  Kendrick absolutely spazzes on this record, though my favorite crazy ending to one of his songs is still this one.

Jhene is apparently half black, but either way, this hook reminds me of the always hilarious moments in my life where I’ve been called the n-word.  Nothing will ever top this one Hispanic chick in college…but I’ll have to tell you that story offline.

Anyway, yet another dope record from the Top Dawg camp.  These guys are killin’ it.  Shout to Jerome D on direction as well.

My strategy is to keep the circle to a minimum.  That way, I never even have to worry about cutting you off.  But in case you get too close and I need theme music, Kendrick provides it nicely.