CT's Own Big Stat @ Toad's Place w/Canibus

Catch the homie Big Stat at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT on February 14, 2010. Print out the pass and get a $9.99 admission. Canibus will also be in the house on the 14th.


www.toadsplace.com
djbigstat.blogspot.com


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

DJ Hyphen - Sound Session #243 - Favre pulled a...Favre edition

Been a minute since we hit you up with the good music that my man DJ Hyphen constantly blesses us with on his radio show on Sunday nights. If you're not subscribed to his email, something wrong with you. Really good music in his playlists. Check it out.

Whoever looked to standardize the whole 9-5 work day definitely wasn't part of the music industry. More like 9-9...at least. With that in mind, just the basics this week. Shout to Cymarshall Law for calling in to talk about his new Creator's Kid project, which drops today. Cop that!

Show #243 (1-24-10)

1. Fashawn – “Hard Freestyle”..
2. CurT@!n$ - “Exodus”..
3. David Banner – “Slow Down”..
4. Rhymefest ft. Little Brother & Darien Brockington – “How High”..
5. Method Man, Ghostface Killah, & Raekwon – “Our Dreams”..
6. Freeway & Jake One – “She Makes Me Feel Alright” (Local Music)..
7. Joell Ortiz ft. Novel – “Like I Know”..
8. Consequence ft. Asher Roth – “Childish Games”..
9. Broken Bells – “The High Road”..
10. Gorillaz ft. Bobby Womack & Mos Def – “Stylo”..
11. Lupe Fiasco & Kenna – “Resurrection”..
12. Nas & Damian Marley – “As We Enter”..
13. **INTERVIEW WITH CYMARSHALL LAW**..
14. Cymarshall Law – “Magic”..
15. Chikaramanga ft. Dr. Oop – “A Life Like This”..
16. Outasight – “Outasight”..
17. AB ft. Black Milk – “Reppin’ For You”..
18. DJ Semaj ft. Xperience – “Big Faces” (Local Music)..
19. IsWhat?! – “Fanta (Arch Cupcake Remix)”..
20. Adrian – “I Love Your Sexy” (Local Music)..
21. Little Dragon – “Blinking Pigs (1-O.A.K. God Made Me Funky Remix)”..
22. RJD2 ft. Phonte – “The Shining Path”..
23. Robin Thicke ft. Snoop Dogg – “It’s In The Morning”..
24. Theophilus London – “Humdrum Town”..


Link to download the mp3 of the show - http://www.mediafire.com/?zxaqtztrztd
(back up / streaming link - http://www.zshare.net/audio/7170523656654e80/ )

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.

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Watching ... Sean Price "Duck Down" ft Skyzoo & Torae

Track off Sean Price's KIMBO PRICE MIX CD Video directed by Court Dunn in association with Nahright's ONE SHOT Video Program

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

General Steele - "State of the Union Address"

From General Steele of Smif N Wessun's Forthcoming Solo Album "Amerikkka's Nightmare Pt. 2: Children of War" In Stores Feb 23, 2010.

General Steele - "State of the Union Address"


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Vivian Green - Beautiful

Caught this song from Vivian Green in my email. Check it....



Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Flashback to Def Poetry Jam

I posted this joint a year ago and felt the need to re-post. At the time I had been talking about Def Poetry Jam and recently thought about the show again. Below are some joints I found from the show. Enjoy the post.

"MySpace" by Shannon Matesky

"A Letter to the Law" By Common



"Wife ... Woman ... Friend ..." By Dana Gilmore



"Hell" By Talib Kweli



"Daddy's Song" By Suheir Hammad



"The Ugly Show" By Black Ice



"Worth" By Black Ice

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Check out the new leak for Basic Vocab, "What They Want". Dope track. Enjoy.

"On April 13th, 2010, Basic Vocab (JL Sorrell, Mental Growth and Tony Galvin) return with their sophomore LP, A Better Way, which once again is primarily produced by Tony Galvin.

After leaking "There You Are" f/Donwill (of Tanya Morgan) before the holidays and more recently, "Prescription," today we hit you with "What They Want.""

Basic Vocab "What They Want" [Click to download]


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

ETERNIA: 5 Minutes Ago (VID) + KRS-One this Friday!

I'm a huge Eternia fan! I caught this video via email earlier today. Fresh. I felt the need to pass it on.

"Was just feelin' the moment ... I hope you can take it for what it is: a first take of a new rhyme that I was just inspired to write."




Eternia LIVE w/ KRS-ONE!
w/ Chesney Snow, Colin Dean & DJ Boo @ SOUTHPAW in Brooklyn 01/29/10!

125 Fifth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11217
door time: 8PM / 9PM SHOW
$15 advance / $18 @ the door
21+

Performances by:
Eternia w/ Chesney Snow, Colin Dean & DJ Boo,
Jah C & The AnTiDote, Donny Goines and
The Legendary KRS-ONE

CLICK HERE for TICKETS


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

When She Speaks, You Listen: @LadyBlogga "Got Ink?"

Last week I decided to grab some of my homies and head into Brooklyn to meet a man by the name of @Tat2Slim (Slim) at Jaz Tattoo. I am not a person for pain but I will sit still for some ink. Tattoos are addicting and once you start, you don’t stop. I have to tell you that he is working on a piece for my thigh as we speak and I can’t wait to get it in. I don’t know how many of my followers are ink fanatics but Slim can definitely bring your ideas to light. Whether it’s an ass or finger, I am sure Slim can bring it to life and ink you right. While he was inking a client, I had a brief conversation with him. Brief because the master was hard at work and dammit a tattoo leaves no room for mistakes. When he was finished with that customer, it was my turn. He blessed my finger with “Sui Generis” (see pic below). Let me just say, I will be seeing him again soon. He does tat parties and house calls. If you are interested in seeing him for ink, hit him up @Tat2Slim on Twitter or stop in the shop. Jaz Tattoo is located at 212 Greene Street in Brooklyn.



Check the interview...


LB: So.. How long have you been tattooing?

Slim: I’d say 2 years officially. Four years all together. A lil' bullshit in between because I had part time jobs here and there.

LB: What got you interested in becoming a tattoo artist?

Slim: Ahhh. Well I got a tattoo that I was drawing myself and everybody kept on complimenting me on it so I said 'Let me try it'. See what happens.

LB: Were you an art student?

Slim: I was always an art student but I never took it seriously. My mom was into art and shit but I was everywhere else besides art. So I did a little bit of everything and then I found this and was like “Oh Shit!” I like it. The rest is history after that.

LB: What does your family think about your choice of profession?

Slim: Well it was either between this or being a cop.

LB: Ohhhhhhhh (O_o) (LOL)

Slim: So... I decided to do this. They were with me. I never got any complaints about it. It was one of those things where you jump into it and you’re like “I don’t know if this is gonna be good because it takes a certain kind of person to deal with it.” But they never held me back from trying it so.

LB: What’s your favorite part of the job?

Slim: When a person is happy with their tattoo. There’s nothing better than that. They get what they want. They come to me trying to find an idea. Or they come to me with an idea, nothing on paper and I come up with an idea that matches what they’re thinking. And if they’re happy with it, that’s my favorite part.

LB: Are there any artists that influenced your career choice?

Slim: No. I don’t really know anything about the tattoo industry besides getting tattoos. I can’t really say anybody from the industry influenced me. Na'mean?

LB: At one time it was a stereotype that bikers, biker chicks, punks, freaks were the people to get tattooed. Is that true now? If it isn’t, how has that changed?

Slim: The stereotype is still there. But now everybody is getting 'em. It’s become so main stream. Little kids are coming to get tattoos. Fourteen year olds are getting their boyfriend's names tattooed on 'em so I mean it's not necessarily for everybody but it’s turning into that point where everybody is walking around with them. I figure in the next couple of years everybody is going to be tattooed so nobody can really hate on the fact that you have tattoos.

LB: So with that being said, do you thing tattooing is a fad, a trend? Considering it’s been around for so many years and people are still doing it. Do you think it’s going to fade?

Slim: Nah, I don’t think it’s going to fade. People are going to have children and they are going to want tattoos and so on and so forth. No, it’s not going to fade but the kinds of tattoos that people are going to get are going to change. There is always a point where a type of tattoo is popular.

LB: Where’s the weirdest place you’ve had to put a tat?

Slim: There isn’t one. I do tats in all kinds of places. I’ve done all kinds of places. Ass tats are my favorite though.

LB: So if and when you have children, are you going to allow them to get inked?

Slim: Absolutely!! And I wanna be the one to do it. And if I’m not, they are going to be in trouble! LOL!

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Follow The Genius: twitter.com/LadyBlogga
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

"The Journey to Hip-Hop" ... First stop, Milwaukee, WI (promo vid)

"The Journey to Hip-Hop" is a little project/idea that me and O have been cooking up for a while and decided to finally pull the trigger on it. It's a huge project and we are sure each month our readers will enjoy the talented artists that we spotlight. Our first stop, Milwaukee, WI! Check the promo vid for more details.



Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Check It ... Kil Ripkin "Aftermath Part 1"

Check out new music from Kil Ripkin off the upcoming release, "The Balancing Act". This joint, "Aftermath Part 1" is dope! It's currently on repeat. Enjoy!



Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Listening To....Del The Funky Homosapien

Check out this song for Del's collaboration with Osiris shoes. Spotted this surfing the net for more music. Can't ever have enough.

The Rhyme "Osiris Shoe Collab"


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Download ... Oddisee - Odd Winter

Oddisee's back with some more good music. You gotta download it. Check it.....

Odd Winter is the third installment in Oddise's season themed series. Just as Odd Summer & Odd Autumn did, Odd Winter will be the theme music to it's season.

1. Ci'iy Life Feat. Tranqill 01:55
2. Frostbit 01:28
3. Winds From The North 01:36
4. Black Broadway Feat. X.O 03:38
5. Brain Wash Remix Instrumental 03:29
6. Riiight Feat. Stik Figa 03:04
7. Carry On Instrumental 01:03
8. The Warm Up Feat. Homeboy Sandman 02:39
9. Queue With No Coat 03:16
10. 60901 Instrumental 01:52
11. All Because She's Gone Instrumental 03:51
12. It's Over Feat. Tranqill 01:41
13. Blizzard Of 09 03:23

Download here: Oddisee - Odd Winter

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Check It ... @MalaReignz featuring AC "Paper Cities"

I caught this track in the email a day or so ago. Once I finally had the chance to listen, I was blown away. A deep and dope track! "Paper Cities" (produced by Mike Cash) is off Mala Reignz's new mixtape, "The Calm Before the Storm", due out January 29. I've heard a few tracks from the project, all VERY dope! Enjoy the track!

"Paper Cities" [Download]


TWITTER.COM/MALAREIGNZ
TWITTER.COM/ACONDEMAND


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

A Song For Haiti ... Melanie Fiona "Redemption Song"

A great and fitting cover of "Redemption Song" by Melanie Fiona, sung for Haiti. Like she said, she felt to do her part. Let's also feel to do our part. Hope for Haiti!



Ways to donate:
yele.org
hopeforhaitinow.org
www.redcross.org


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Download...MICK BOOGIE + nVMe + Duck Down Present SURVIVAL KIT

Survival Kit is an ode to KRS-ONE & BUCKSHOT's incredibly rich history of music. Their classic hits have been reinterpreted by today's artists to watch:

Track Listing:
1) Survival Kit (Intro) by DJ Sherazta
2) Gotcha Opin Original (RMX) - Tanya Morgan (produced by NVME)
3) South Bronx (RMX) - Cause, The Kid Daytona & Chaundon (produced by NVME)
4) Buck Em Down (RMX) - Christian Rich (produced by NVME)
5) Sound Of Da Police (RMX) - Diz Gibran & Shawn Chrystopher (Produced by ILL TAL)
6) Shit Iz Real (RMX) - Ruste Juxx (produced by NVME)
7) Step Into Our World (RMX) - Team Facelift & Jade (produced by ABADDON)
8) Talk Shit (RMX) - Torae & Skyzoo (produced by NVME)
9) MC's Act Like They Don't Know - Sha Stimuli, Promise, J.A.M.E.S. Watts, Fashawn (produced by NVME)
10) I Got Cha Opin 09 - Kardinal Offishall & Buckshot (produced by Havoc of Mobb Deep)
11) Past Present Future - KRS-ONE, Buckshot, Melanie Fiona & Naledge of Kidz In The Hall (produced by 9th Wonder)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE

Click Here To Purchase KRS-ONE & BUCKSHOT Survival Skills Album @ iTunes

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Yo! MKE Raps presented by HipHopDX.com, JC Poppe of GrownManCollective & M.A.A.D. Management

The Mad Bloggers are on the verge of a huge project looking at local music scenes throughout the country and internationally and Milwaukee is up first (the project kicks off February 1).

If you've been following us over the last year, you know the love we have for MKE! This compilation of MKE Hip-Hop heads is just a taste of the quality music flowing out of Brew Town! Shoutout to the homie JC Poppe who was instrumental in pulling "Yo! MKE Raps" together. Download and enjoy!

"Out of love for the city and county that birthed and raised him, hip-hop artist JC Poppe has undertaken the task of putting together a compilation showcasing the extreme talent that Milwaukee has. HipHopDX.com, one of the largest hip-hop websites, and Maad Management are the official hosts and sponsors of the project.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, also known as the “cream city” and “brew town”, is not a place traditionally known for its hip-hop music. However, just like any other large city that has a diversity of cultures, Milwaukee has a living and breathing scene that is growing and thriving. Yo! MKE Raps is a project that intends to serve as an introduction to the city’s extremely talented underground. The 19 tracks on the compilation cannot completely cover the entire soundscape Milwaukee offers but it does give the listener an insight into its many different aspects.

Yo! MKE Raps has songs that range from the most gangster to the super lyrical and poetic, by artists that have been established in the city for several years as well as those who have been active for only a couple."

Yo! MKE Raps [Download at HipHop DX]


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Survival Kit ... Tanya Morgan "Gotcha Opin Original"

Check out the second leak off the Survival Kit Mix CD, dropping tomorrow.

Second leak off the Mick Boogie + nVMe + Duck Down SURVIVAL KIT Mix CD featuring today's rising stars paying tribute to the creators of Survival Skills.

The complete, 11 track mix cd, will be dropping tomorrow, January 21st at 3pm EST at www.duckdown.com/survivalkit

Enjoy Tanya Morgan's version of "Gotcha Opin Original" produced by nVMe

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Clearing Out the Inbox ... Music From 810, Beyond Belief, Louis Rip & Mike Classic

It's another one of those clearing out the inbox days. For a blogger committed to posting music, I slack a bit on keeping up on emails. To be honest (like many other bloggers) there are the emails from reliable and trusted sources that get a higher priority in the inbox and sometimes the emails from folks I don't know just fall by the wayside. I'm not even going to promise to keep up with emails because every time I do, I don't. I'll try to do better however. Anyway, here's a collection of some tracks that The Mad Bloggers have received over the last two weeks. Enjoy!

Check out 810's "U Won't Like This" produced by Mydus off his "Glass Half Full" project.



www.myspace.com/810musik
twitter.com/810musik
www.810muzik.blogspot.com

Check out the joint "Bigger Checks" from Beyond Belief featuring Red Cafe.



www.myspace.com/beyondbeliefmusic

Out of Kansas City, Missouri is Datura Records' Louis Rip. "End of the Free World", produced by Lemroc Evil is off the debut release, "Vestige Autonomy". It's a different sound but I dig it.



www.myspace.com/daturamusic

Check out "Fabric of Our Lives" from Mike Classic, out of Queens New York.



www.twitter.com/Mike_Classic
www.myspace.com/classicwilliams
www.mikeclassic.blogspot.com



Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

When She Speaks, You Listen: @LadyBlogga "TRENDING TOPICS… Uggggggh!"

Boy oh boy…

Trending Topics have to be the worst feature on Twitter. Some of the things that end up trending are nonsensical. And sometimes if you don’t feel like using many brain cells, you participate in a Trending Topic or 2.

Well yesterday on Twitter, the top Trending Topic was #aRealWifey. First of all, I know this is just Twitter. But gosh, if you are going to host a Trending Topic, at least let it be correct. What in the hell is a “wifey”? I believe the correct term is Wife. Wifey/Wife… Is there a difference? I bet some idiot is going to tell me that there is a difference between the two… You’re wrong! Let me just tell you that up front. Anywho…

Now… there were a lot of ridiculous responses I have to tell you. Dudes talking about how #aRealWifey “puts a collar around her neck and then hands me the leash”, needs to give her husband head everyday, lets him sleep with whoever he wants, stands by him even though he cheats, irons his shirt while he’s in the shower, holds him down when he doesn’t want to work and other ridiculous things of that nature. These dudes were probably serious because all of the tweets were similar. And the women, they were no better. Talking about how #aRealWifey stays in her place… the kitchen and the bedroom (naked), is number one and doesn’t care about #’s 2,3,and 4, gives head with Listerine in her mouth, holds the heat, hides her husband from the Feds, stashes drugs in her coochie… I mean seriously folks, I don’t think that these people were kidding. They really feel that those are qualities they need to have in a mate.

Basically, before people talk about what a real wife or husband is, they need to learn the role. There are plenty of people playing the role of a label that they know nothing about and they have huge misconceptions about what they should be. I don’t understand how people talk about things they know nothing about. But I guess that’s the way of the world, people do that all the time. How are you telling me what I as a wife need to do when you don’t even know what you need to be doing as a husband? And all this Trending Topic is doing is reinforcing the ignorance and relationship dysfunctions that plague this country… Hence all the Tiger Woods’ and …. (I tried to find a woman cheater, there weren’t really any good ones. LMAO) situations.

Come on folks. Get it together. Let’s stop entertaining these stupid Trending Topics and if we do, let’s not make ourselves look stupid and ignorant in the process…

Thanks.
-Lady Blogga

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Listening To....Rakim feat. Jadakiss, Styles P., Busta Rhymes - "Euphoria"

This isn't new but still, I'm mad this track ain't on the Seventh Seal album. Don't know why it didn't make the cut but damn it Rakim. Haha.

Rakim feat. Jadakiss, Styles P., Busta Rhymes - "Euphoria"



Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Happy MLK Day!

In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we at The Mad Bloggers revisit his historic speech he gave on August 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.





I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
Martin Luther King, Jr., delivering his 'I Have a Dream' speech from the steps of Lincoln Memorial. (photo: National Park Service)

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

(Speech transcript provided by USConstitution.net/dream.html)


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Blitz the Ambassador - "Emmett (S)Till"

Check out the latest track by Blitz the Ambassador speaking about Emmett Till.

Blitz the Ambassador - "Emmett (S)Till"


You can download the track here: Emmett Still

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

When She Speaks, You Listen: @LadyBlogga "My Conscience is NOT Guilty"

The Human Conscience is a crazy thing. Why is that??

People are always reacting to situations. We react to things everyday. But in relationships and other types of ‘ships, the conscience is responsible for a lot of behaviors. Especially a guilty conscience.

It must suck to have a guilty conscience. What ends up happening is that a person’s insecurities and doubts are transferred into the relationship and it causes a lot of problems. There are certain situations in relationships, especially infidelity, that are fueled by a guilty conscience. A lot of the time, people feel a certain way about something because they know what they do. They automatically assume that other people do the same thing. Some reactions have “Guilty Conscience” written all over them. And a lot of the times, it’s really nothing.

Let’s start with the ever popular, “Why didn’t you answer your phone?” – I am sure all of us at some point have had this problem. You meet someone and in the first few months, he/she answers the phone religiously when you call. After a few months, it becomes a lot more difficult to catch up with this person. You call, they don’t answer the phone. Now under normal circumstance, you would just shrug this off as the person was not accessible. If you’ve had a bad experience or found a partner cheating behind this then perhaps you may be suspect. But people with a guilty conscience, take this small situation to a whole other level. It becomes “Where were you?” “What were you doing?” and “Oh so you can’t answer the phone?” If a person ignores someone’s phone calls because they are with someone else, chances are they are cheating. So immediately they think that if they are with someone and they don’t answer the phone, they are cheating or creepin’ around too.

What about the people who sit on Twitter, FaceBook, AIM, GChat, Skype etc. etc. and try to holla at people all day. If you are in a relationship with someone then that is considered cheating… Did you know that? I read a statistic that 1 in 5 married couples divorce because of such social networking sites. There are people who take to the DM’s, FaceBook chats, GChats and AIM screenames to kick serious game, all while their spouse or partner is in the next room. So now this person sees their partner doing it… And NOW it’s a problem. They flip out. Why is it a problem? Because they think they are doing the same nonsense. Really though? Just because you sit around and do that, doesn’t mean that your partner does it too. Take your guilty ass and go sit down. Perhaps your partner actually respects you and your existence and doesn’t do that to you.

The gossip chick is always apprehensive about having friends. Why? Because she walks around talking about other people, telling people’s secrets and basically being a crappy friend. She thinks that all of her friends are out to get her. She doesn’t trust telling them anything because she talks about everyone. Her conscience is telling her that because she acts like that, people are going to do it to her. Those are the worst kind of people to be friends with. You are always there for them but because they are not genuine with what they do, they are never there for you.

When it comes down to it, your experiences in life and your conscience are drivers in your relationships, be it with friends or lovers. Sometimes it is best to start things with a clean slate and not bring past experiences/insecurities with you. They could save you a lot of difficulties. Word.

-LB

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

#MusicMonday : Common ft Will.I.Am - "I Have A Dream"

What perfect song to select as my Music Monday song of the day than this one by the legendary mc in Common with a track even more perfectly titled "I Have a Dream"? Check out the video.





"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

UMG's Yo-Dot "UMBRELLA SEASON"

Check out a new video out of the Umbrella Music Group camp for Yo-Dot. His webtape will be available for free download at the end of the month at umbrellasup.com. Enjoy the vid.



Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Download ... DJ J​-​Live "Do The Knowledge Mixtape" Vol. 1 (THE LATE PASS) 2009 Hip Hop

I caught the link from the homie J-Live earlier on twitter. While in transition from upstate New York to Connecticut I didn't have the opportunity to post earlier. Better late than never, a late pass I suppose. The project is dope! Quality tracks. Great music. Hip-hop IS NOT DEAD, you just have to know where to look. Appreciate the link J! Enjoy!

"Basically, I got tired of hearing a lot of people say stuff like, "there's nothing new out" or "hip hop is wack now". Upon hearing this I usually run down a list of names of new artists and even old artists with new albums and ask if they've heard of'em. Nope! These people have no idea. There's a lot of good new hip hop. You just have to do the knowledge and keep your ears open. These are some of my favorites from 2009 alone. Enjoy!"

Do The Knowledge Mixtape" Vol. 1 (THE LATE PASS) 2009 Hip Hop

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Listening To....The Knux - "Floozy"

"She'll steal your heart....and take your mind / she'll smoke up all your herb....and drink your wine / she'll listen to your mama....she don't want ya / she nothing but a floozy, floozy, floozy...still wanna take her home."

I'm jamming to this track by The Knux off their F*ck You EP.

The Knux - Floozy


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Wu Tang - Return of the Wu & Friends

A gift in the Mad Bloggers email. Keep em coming....

Wu Tang - Return of the Wu & Friends


Since their debut album, 1993's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Wu-Tang has become synonymous with gritty, direct lyrics and beats that draw from classic soul, horn-blasted funk, cinematic curios, and dirty guitar licks (among many others.) With each successive album, the group solidifies their hold on hip-hop, watching over the years as rappers, trends and ephemeral styles come and go and become musical footnotes in the game.

As devoted fans clamor and salivate for anything Wu-related, Gold Dust & Nature Sounds are proud to announce the release of Return of the Wu & Friends, produced and compiled by Wu-Tang Clan producer/DJ Mathematics and including some exclusive tracks, lost gems and old time favorites featuring all nine emcees.

The 16 tracks featured on Return of the Wu & Friends were compiled from songs recorded during the group's critically acclaimed 2000 album The W through 2008, including exclusive tracks like "Steppin 2 Me" featuring GZA, Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa. The producer also offers a slew of new remixes, including "Respect Mine" and "Clap". On the former, featuring Raekwon, Method Man and Cappadonna, the sprightly piano loop found on the original (from Mathematics' 2003 solo album Love, Hell or Right) gets flipped into a slower, more ominous track anchored by a funky slap bass line.

On Return of the Wu & Friends, every member gets their chance to shine, backed by Mathematics' acute ability to perfectly match each member's cadence and tone to the respective beat. Slower, more soulful tracks like "Da Way We Were" and "Strawberries & Cream" are balanced with classic Wu funk like "Iron God Chamber" and "It's What It Is" (the latter the new superhero anthem for the 21st century.) For anyone fiending for more Wu classics, Return of the Wu & Friends offers up an album's worth of tracks sure to fill the need for Wu bangers.

Having known the Clan since the mid-80s and produced for them since 1996, Mathematics is no stranger to the group. Starting off as GZA's DJ during the emcee's Cold Chillin' days, the producer has since gone on to create a diverse and memorable production catalog with the group, contributing tracks to The W and 8 Diagrams, as well as Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele, GZA's Beneath The Surface, Method Man's Tical 2000: Judgement Day and Method Man & Redman's Blackout!.

Wu-Tang- The Return of The Wu-Friends will be released on 2-16-10 on Gold Dust Records

DL Link to "Clap 2010" f/Raekwon, Ghostface Method Man & U-God: "Clap 2010"

www.WuTang-ReturnOfTheWu.com/

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

"Get up, Get out and Give something for Haiti" -Jay Smooth

Check It ... Basic Vocab "Prescription"

I caught this in the email yesterday. Dope track. Enjoy.

"After releasing their debut, The General Dynamic, in 2006, Basic Vocab would go on to be featured in Vibe, Urb, XLR8R Magazines (among many) and most of the esteemed Urban Net destinations as well. Their debut was given an extra boost by the LP's breakout single "Come Get With It" which was featured on HBO's wildly popular show Entourage (Season 5, Episode 8) and Miami Ink. Their appearance on Entourage resulted in over 250K Net plays of "Come Get With It."

In April of 2010, Basic Vocab (JL Sorrell, Mental Growth and Tony Galvin) will return with their sophomore LP, A Better Way.

After leaking "There You Are" featuring Donwill (of Tanya Morgan) before the holidays, here is the second leak, "Prescription," from Basic Vocab's sophomore effort A Better Way."

"Prescription"(produced by Illastrate) [download]

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Check it ... "South Bronx" feat. The Kid Daytona, Cause & Chaundon

Mick Boogie + nVMe + Duck Down Records Presents "SURVIVAL KIT". Enjoy the first leak from the project, "South Bronx", featuring The Kid Daytona, Cause and Chaundon. Enjoy.

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

When She Speaks, You Listen: tha Lady Blogga "Life ..."

WoW!

So 2010 came in and is proving to be bigger and badder than 2009. Personally, my life has done a 360 since the start of the New Year. And well, for some parts of the rest of the world, it seems that way too. There are a lot of things going on. Some say it's the beginning of the end. I say it's just life progressing.

It's amazing to see how people react in a time of need. Everyone talks a lot of talk but when it comes down to it, that's all it is. Who's to say that you won't be needing some assistance of some kind one day. There are certain people who always put themselves before others and are willing to lend a hand at all costs. Then there are others who don't want to help but talk about what could be done. Then you have those that just don't care. At the end of the day, it's about treating people the way you want to be treated. I am not only talking about Haiti and the Earthquake efforts but in life itself. People don't realize that Karma is real. The way you treat people is going to come back to you when you least expect it. Pat Robertson and his ignorant way of thinking is going to find out about Karma real soon.

It doesn't take much to give a hand. I am learning first-hand about that as we speak. I am always there for others, willing to give to others. If I have 2 bucks and you need 1.50, I'll give it to you. That's just how I am. People sometimes take advantage of that or can't muster up the energy to reciprocate. But it's not going to change who I am.

I think that we, as a civilization, will be tested this year. This earthquake is the first of many situations that we are going to have to deal with. As a human race we need to learn how to come together and be there for one another. It's not about race, ethnicity or gender... We are people first.

I am no longer on Twitter but you can follow my posts on the blog.

-LB

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Watching ... @WordSpit "Poet's Haiku"

I caught this joint via email from the homie WordSpit. The track and video are dope! Enjoy!

"WordSpit turns to his pen and pad to find salvation from the world around him to create ... Poet's Haiku. Directed By Robin Winter and DP'd by Adam Donald. Please Leave a comment!"

www.twitter.com/wordspit
www.myspace.com/wordspit


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Watching ... DJ Prince "Borough" Prod By Cyrus The Great

Check out this joint from DJ Prince and directed by Napoleon Wright III of BecauseUs.org. Both the track and video are dope. Enjoy.

"When DJ Prince contacted us to create a video for his new single "Burough", we were amped. After a weekend in the big city, here's what we came up with."

The Boroughs (NY Anthem) Prod By Cyrus The Great from BECAUSEUS on Vimeo.

keepupwithprince.blogspot.com

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

What I'm Listening to ... Mos Def "Quiet Dog" (live)

I tweeted earlier that I was listening to Mos Def's "Quiet Dog" and the homie @phillupclinics hit me up with this link of footage from Mos Def performing "Quiet Dog" in Denver at the Gothic Theater back in August '09. Enjoy ... Boogie MAN!

www.youtube.com/PhillupClinics

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

Download ... "The Purple Tape" Rapper Big Pooh x Black Milk x DJ Jaycee

O gave you a preview a few days ago with "When I'm Done" from Rapper Big Pooh off "The Purple Tape" and now here's the full mixtape. "The Purple Tape" produced by Black Milk featuring Rapper Big Pooh and mixed by DJ Jaycee. Download and enjoy.

TRACKLIST:
01 When I’m Done
02 Blueprint
03 Impatient f. Ms. Cris
04 Put It In The Air f. Joe Scudda
05 Holding Back f. Erica Thompson
06 Girlfriend
07 Camera Tricks f. Chaundon
08 Law & Order f. Jozeemo
09 Bounce
10 Say Something f. DJ Flash
11 Shoutemout

The Purple Tape (Download)

Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

#MusicMonday ... Deto-22 & Sketch Tha Cataclysm "The Sound"

Deto 22 and Sketch Tha Cataclysm got together on an entire EP titled "Sharing Is Caring" that was released on November 3rd. Here's a track on that EP that I'm digging. Check it out...

Deto-22 & Sketch Tha Cataclysm - The Sound


Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

#MusicMonday ... John Mayer "I Got a Woman" (cover)

My one-year-old loves Ray Charles. His music was introduced to him before he was even born and his love continues. "I Got a Woman" is among his favorites. I decided to share John Mayer Trio's cover of the track on this Music Monday. Enjoy and happy Monday!



Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers

STOP, COLLABORATE and LISTEN: Email Tips for Rappers (and other artists too)

I originally did this post a while back after an increasing frustration with aspiring artist basically spamming my inbox with a bunch of incoherent bullshit. No shots but some people need other people (people that know what they're doing) running their promotion. This is one of my favorite posts and as we churn through the first month of a new year and new decade, I figured it deserved a repost. I also reposted mostly because the same bullshit is finding itself into my inbox again without following these guidelines. Aspiring artist, take notice.

Dear Rappers (and other artists too),

So, you want to be featured on someone's blog? That's cool. I know I can speak for others who have opened their inboxes and websites to your music ... you need a bit of guidance before hitting send.

Are the tips below the end all, be all to sending an email? Probably not. But you know what, it's a great start and some of you NEED this type of start because the emails you're sending out right now are hurting your chances of being heard and featured (well, at least at The Mad Bloggers). You want to be taken a bit more seriously and have a chance of being heard and featured? Here are a few things to keep it mind:


1) Be humble - No one and I mean NO ONE wants to receive an email with, "Dis dat shit you been waiting for right here" or "Da realest and most anticipated n*gga in music" or "Da best shit you'll hear dis year" (especially if you're writing the email and it's your music). Why? Well, first of all, that shit is lame. Secondly, you've set one hell of an expectation for your music. I mean, how do you know what I've been waiting for and are you kidding by saying this is "da best shit I'll hear this year"? What happens when you say that, we'll listen to 3.5 seconds of your track and if it doesn't hit, we delete. Be confident but remember humility will take you much further. Let the listener decide if you are "the most anticipated" in music. Otherwise, you just look like a douchebag.

2) Mailing List - Rapper meet BCC, BCC meet Rapper. Yeah, I DONT want to see the 10,000 other emails addresses that you are sending this email to *scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll, still scrolling* oh, there's the music. Listen, do one of two things, BCC (blind carbon copy for those just joining us from the back of the room) or set up a mailing list with those email addresses. Both are pretty basic and simple. Please note, because my email address is on my website doesn't mean I want to broadcast it in a mass email through you, nor do I want to scroll for 45 minutes to get to the body of the email. It looks messy, so just don't do that.

3) Short and Sweet - Keep it simple, ya dig? I don't need to read five paragraphs in the body of the email about who are and what you bring to the game. If a blogger wants to know more, we'll reach out to you or read the "about me section" on your website (oh, you better have an online presence). I'll be honest, if it's more than a paragraph most of us aren't reading it (truth be told, most of us aren't even reading the paragraph). Honestly, we just want to hear the music. So, make it simple -- "I'm blah blah blah out of blankedy blank and I'd appreciate if you give my music a listen. Find tracks attached and a link to my site. Peace" (NOTE: Artists, feel free to copy/paste). It's simple, all you need is : Brief intro, photograph and playable attached music (NOTE: We don't want HUGE audio files either. If you can't figure this out, send a link to a download). BOOM, simplicity!

4) Don't abbrv. - Yeah, no need to abbreviate champ, okay? This isn't a text message or a tweet. PLEASE SPELL IT OUT. "U gon luv it" --- actually, I'm going to delete it. Don't assume that because you are submitting your music to a hip-hop or urban website, that there isn't an educated person on the other end of the computer who is mumbling, "this n*gga saving characters for what?" I know it's a recession but the other two letters in "you" don't need to be left out for "u" because they don't cost a dime (Sidebar: It's not at all creative to make up new spellings of words either, i.e. dis, waz, dat; so cut that out too).

5) Online Presence - You need to have a myspace (not just a myspace tho), bandcamp, reverbnation or your own website or something. Send the links and make sure they actually work. It's 2010 and you're trying to push music without an online presence? I hope you're kidding. You need to have something, so I hope you do. It's also pretty cheap to set up a domain, so why not invest. I mean, you are serious about your music right? Make it look like it.

6) Get Your Files Right - Remember in tip 3 when I mentioned "playable attached music"? Yeah, well you also need to learn how to tag your music the right way or don't send that shit out. FOR REAL! Nothing more annoying that downloading an album, importing to iTunes and going on a scavenger hunt to find the album and realizing that it's somewhere hiding as "track 01" with no artist name or album name for that matter. Why the eff is your track being so mysterious for? I don't work for you, so why am I formating your music to fit into my iTunes. Why am I guessing the name of your tracks? Step your tech savvy game up. It's not that hard. If you think it is, go back to burning cds and good luck sharing.

7) The Remix to the Remix - As an example, Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" is a good track. Do I need to hear the fifty-leven remixes of it? Absolutely not. It's cool you made your own and I'm happy for you and all but sending it to me with, "Jay's was straight but this one really hits" is just a foolish set up. Not to say you can't rhyme or your version isn't better, originality goes a whole lot further. We get a lot of these emails all day long, stand out by being different. It' just a suggestion.

I'm not trying to be an asshole, I'm just trying to help. We get a lot of emails each day and it's frustrating to sift through bullshit. You can read these tips and say, "dat n*gga is a hater" (don't even get me started on this statement). If you feel that way, fine by me. Or you can read and say, "oh, thanks, I appreciate it." I'm just saying.

Good luck with your music.

Sincerely,

-Q of the Mad Bloggers



Follow the madness: twitter.com/madbloggers
twitter.com/throatchopu
Check out more from The Mad Bloggers