What I'm Listening To: @TQDofBNC "The Tunnel" (Produced by @EcidFITB)

Here's a new song by T.Q.D which has Ecid of Fill In The Breaks doing work behind the boards.

T.Q.D is currently at work on a new album and EP which should be out this year.

Download: T.Q.D "The Tunnel" (Produced by Ecid) (Right click, save as)

What I'm Listening To, Pt. 2 @statusreign "Dedicated"

Here's the 3rd single from Status Reign of the Background Noise Crew. Brutally Honest (his debut record) is out on April 5th, 2011. So much good music coming out!



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What I'm Listening To: ToneKrusher Smith (@tonekrusher) "Big Bombs of Love" (Album)

Well, it's finally here. I made a long post about this album on the Background Noise Crew website, but Q & OC figured it'd be best if I share it with you today. So without further adieu, here's ToneKrusher Smith's sophomore effort, Big Bombs of Love!

ToneKrusher Smith "Big Bombs of Love" (right click & save as)

In Memory of Micheal "Eyedea" Larsen

R.I.P. Micheal "Eyedea" Larsen 1981-2010

My man Eyedea was an artist in every sense of the word. I still remember being a part of the Hip Hop Union at Roseville Area High School. Me and Snakebird ran into Eyedea then, and were very well aware of the genius he'd become. Every now and then we'd run into each other and just talk about those times back in the day. It wasn't until Spring Jam '98 at the U of M when I'd see him again, and more and more he was becoming a true genius. Every freestyle was with clarity and self-awareness, and his uncanny rhyming ability definitely made his rise continuous. I still remember stories when me and Mike Lover started hosting The Beat Box on Radio K, Eyedea would come on to freestyle and would just blow us away each and everytime. He was definitely one of the best talents the Twin Cities have come to know. I still remember going to Mike Lover's house after a night class once he told me that he recorded the Blaze Battle, which Eyedea won, and staying at his house until 10:30pm avoiding calls from my parents while I sat and rooted all the way for Eyedea, as he delivered his lines standing tall and making us all in the local scene proud.

After my travails in radio, and starting up Background Noise Crew, we were honored to be graced by Eyedea twice. Phingaz was working with him on Carbon Carousel, and was beyond elated when he contributed a verse to "Dead Wallets" off Sinthesis' "Movement 4:6" album. I still remember the moment myself, Phingaz and T.Q.D were all sitting in my car listening to "Dead Wallets," and being blown away by Eyedea's verse. Little did we know that kindness would return when Eyedea gave his blessing to Phingaz to cover "Here For You," from Oliver Hart's "How Eye One The Write Too Think" for "Everybody Does This, Vol. 1." Just recently I included his song, "Coaches" featuring Carnage for my Definitive Minnesota Playlist for Reviler. The freestyle prior to the song was still the main reason why I included such a tune on my list.

While I am devastated and saddened about the loss, and grieving for his family and friends who knew him so closely, I want to be selfish enough to say that I wish he was still here. I continue to be in sadness, disbelief and shock that we lost such a wonderful and amazing person, a person who pulled me and many others to the side to catch up and see how things were going. As I sit here, blasting my vinyl of the "Pushing Buttons" 12", I recall the greatness and amazing person that Eyedea was. He was one of the most kindest and down to earth people I ever knew in the local scene and was part of my inspiration (along with the rest of Rhymesayers) to pursue my dreams of doing radio and hip-hop. Michael "Eyedea" Larsen, may you rest in peace. You might not be here in the physical sense, but you are still with us, in every waking moment. Especially when you recited the following from "Hay Fever," which I would say is fitting:

‎"Winter takes the warm away, spring takes the cold away, summer takes the rain away and fall took away my friend."

Thank you Eyedea, for everything.

Egypto Knuckles & TMB - The Labor Day Mix

I'm one big on surprises, so for my post, allow me to present to you the Labor Day Mix.

The mix itself was compiled with the theme of Labor based around it. So here you have 11 jams built around the course of what goes through my mind on a workday. It may sound foolish at times, other times it may sound downright demented but you know, the whole purpose of labor is to work, so regardless of my thoughts, these might work for the rough work day you might be having on your days. Take today (and Monday if you got it off or not) to listen to these songs and reflect. Thanks to my fam over at The Mad Bloggers and my crew, Background Noise for the vision.

Please note: This mix was compiled from artists that are in no way, shape or form affiliated by The Mad Bloggers, Egypto Knuckles or Background Noise Crew, this is simply a labor of love where I wanted to just get this out to the people and open 'em up to new artists you may not be aware of. So without further adieu, go to the Bandcamp link below to download the mix and enjoy!

twitter.com/EgyptoKnuckles

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What I Downloaded

I'd consider myself eclectic when it comes to music. Here are a few heads that are providing free downloads of their music for you to check out. A little different (different is always a good thing) and definitely dope!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Reason the Citizen, Survival Plus: Reason, an emcee out of California is pushing out his slightly older mixtape as a re-released free download. The download comes ahead of a new full-length project, “Broke For Free”, dropping later this year on Fameless Entertainment.

Download Survival Plus
www.myspace.com/reasonthecitizen

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Background Noise Crew, Sampler Vol. 1: The Background Noise crew reached out to us with this free sampler. The crew out of Minnesota, describes their sound as, “pretty different since we all got a bit of diversity in the crew. When we form together, you'd be hard pressed to say we sound the same when together cause we all bring different styles to the pot,” said Egypto Knuckles, part of the Background Noise Crew. Other members include: ToneKrusher Smith, Analyrical, Status Reign, Phingaz and T.Q.D.

Download Sampler Vol. 1
www.myspace.com/backgroundnoisecrew

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