The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Connecticut: Mavbeatz (Interview & Instrumentals)

Right out of New Haven, Connecticut, the up and coming producer, Mavbeatz, hit me up with some music he wanted to share for the blog. I know the homie. I heard his previous work. When this journey stopped in my own home state, he came to mind soon after. Years before, I heard him working on remixing arguably one of the greatest MCs in my time's album. I kept that in memory for future reference. Now, here we are, a few years later and he's got more work. I'm here to give it to you. Definitely something I'm digging. I'm sure this ain't the last you gonna hear of the dude. I hit Mav up with some questions so y'all can get to know who he is and what he's about. Check the interview then bump the beats. Let us know what you think.


What kind of music influences you to produce?
Seriously, anything and everything you can imagine. From Progressive Rock to Electro House to Indie. But mostly 70's Soul and 90's Hip Hop.

Who do you look up to as a producer?
J. Dilla is the best. Kanye, Premo, 9th Wonder. The Neptunes are dope. All the usual suspects. Dangermouse and Madlib definitely. I like a lot of beats by DJ Toomp and Don Cannon too.

What kind of audience are you trying to reach?
Anybody who appreciates good music of anykind. People who aren't zombies. People who don't watch American Idol haha. Anybody who knows the best music tends to not be in the Top 40.

Who would you love to work for in the industry?
Work for? As far as label? Most people would probably say some Rap label. But I wanna be on XL Recordings with a variety of artists like The Cool Kids, Radiohead and Vampire Weekend... As far as work with? Mos Def, Chip tha Ripper is dope, Kanye, CuDi and the rest G.O.O.D. Music, Clipse, Andre 3000. Anyone who tends to think outside the box.

Have you worked with anyone so far?
Besides that I've worked with a few artists in New Jersey (Gambino Cappacino, Kyoto Jones). I've worked with a few dudes in New Haven. There's not too much talent to choose from around here. Too many rappers doing the same exact thing other people have been doing for years.

What projects do you have out?
I've been doing a lot of experimenting. And pretty much just working on Gambino's new album. I did a Jay-Z remix album a while back, and Gam's first album. But that's all kinda old now.

Where can people get em?
That remix album I did is on www.DatPiff.com titled "Jay-Z - The Hov Project".

Do you have any projects coming out soon?
I did 14/16 tracks on Gambino's new album, Murder's Martyr. That's coming at the end of the month I believe. And I'm trying to finishing up this instrumental EP soon, sampling only psychadelic rock. Mostly late 60's shit.

Are you open to working with people?
Yeah, I'm definitely into working with people. As long as they take what they do serious. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist. And if they're not garbage of course haha.

What albums do you have on rotation as of recently?
Total Life Forever by Foals, Omni by Minus the Bear, Kush & Orange Juice by Wiz Khalifa, The Cleveland Show by Chip tha Ripper, Contra by Vampire Weekend, Gorilla Manor by Local Natives, Congratulations by MGMT. Not much Hip Hop for me.

What do you think of the music nowadays and where do you get your music you listen to?
Music has seen better days. But there's still plenty of great music out there. It's up to all of us to find it, spread it, and make sure it's heard. Where do I get my music? Mostly Pitchfork, Nah Right, and here at The Mad Bloggers, of course.

Last but not least, how did you come up with your name? Where should I say you "rep" and with who, it not solo?
I came up with my name from "Hypnotize" by Biggie. He started the song off with "Ha! Sicker than your average." But shortening that to Sav sounds dumb. So it turned into "more than average" to Mav, then mavbeatz. I didn't get it from Top Gun, contrary to popular belief. I usually just say Connecticut. But New Haven. Dolo.


"Minute Of Your Time"


"Best You Can"


"To Say"


"Fly Away"


"Ramparts"


"Take This Time"


Mavbeatz's MySpace
Mavbeatz's Twitter

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BRM Presents "NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT"

After
 nearly 
five 
years 
of 
showcasing 
groundbreaking 
and
 emerging 
talent 
in 
music 
and
 lifestyle,
 Beyond
 Race Magazine
(BRM)
 is 
on 
the 
verge
 of
 shutting
 down
 operations.

“The
 economic
 landscape
 in 
the 
magazine
 publishing 
area 
is 
slowly
 repairing 
itself, 
but 
not 
enough
 to
 support 
the
 longevity 
of 
a
 nationally
 distributed 
publication,”
 said
 David 
Terra,
 Publisher
 of
 BRM.


With
 continued
 cuts
 to
 print
 advertising 
and 
limitations
 due
 to 
a 
lack 
of 
consistent 
revenue,
 BRM is
 poised
 to 
follow
 along
 the
 lines 
of 
other
 publications
 that
 have
 had 
to 
reinvent 
themselves 
in 
order
 to 
continue
 operating. 

One 
last
 chance 
at 
saving 
the 
magazine 
in 
its 
current
 form
 is 
its 
audience
 and 
followers.
 BRM
 has 
launched 
a 
fundraising 
campaign 
through
 it’s
website 
(www.beyondrace.com) and will
 be 
hosting 
a
 series
 of 
benefit 
concerts 
called 
“Not
 Without 
A 
Fight.”
 All
 shows
 will
 be
 during
 the 
week 
of 
May
17 
at
 Santos
 Party 
House
 in 
Manhattan,
 New
York
 with
 the
 goal 
of 
“keeping 
the 
doors 
open”
 by
 hopefully
 raising
 enough
 money 
for
 BRM to
 continue 
operating.


The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Connecticut: Chris Webby

Saw this cat perform once and realized he had a fan base already chanting his choruses with him. Looked like he had most of his female fan base on stage too. Wild cat. Haha. Dude freestyles too so if you catch yourself in a cipher with him, don't underestimate.

Hailing from the suburbs of Connecticut, he's got a style that I don't hear from anyone else around this state. Definitely a good thing. Checked out his mixtape "Teenage Mutant Ninja Rapper" he got on DatPiff.com. I got some tracks on repeat. Pretty interesting. What's more interesting is his self-written bio on MySpace (I think it's self-written.) Still, hilarious either way. Check out these tracks by dude. See what you think.

Chris Webby - Off The Chain


Chris Webby - Trouble Maker


Chris Webby - Go Back featuring OnCue


Chris Webby's MySpace
Chris Webby's Facebook
Chris Webby's Twitter

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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Connecticut: Political Animals - "Wannabe MCs"

Yet another set out of Connecticut helping continue the journey of finding Hip-Hop in places you wouldn't normally look being done by heads you wouldn't give two thoughts about. Definitely a track I'm feeling. They'll be performing at Toad's Place May 20th. Check them out and check this track.

Off Political Animals' MySpace:

POLITICAL “of or relating to your views about social relationships involving authority or power; "political opinions"

ANIMALS “Living beings which can feel things and move freely”

Remember when hip-hop had meaning and substance? When hip-hop was political, thought provoking, and a party all at the same time? Some may feel the genre has lost it’s touch, some even consider the genre “dead.” Hip-hop isn’t dead, it just needed a revival, and that revival is known as POLITICAL ANIMALS. Stampeding their way out of New Haven, CT the group is composed of Sotorios Fedeli on vocals, Jen Harper on bass, and Trenton Wright on drums.

Covering a wide range of topics, POLITICAL ANIMALS make sure their music can be enjoyed by any and every fan of hip-hop. “Wannabe MCs,” is a song which calls out all the artists who follow the latest trends rather than their heart. The tribute song to the Hip-Hop artists who came before them.

In an era where the majority of hip hop artists “press play” and hit the stage, POLITICAL ANIMALS stand out by bringing out the raw sound of hip-hop with a completely live sound. No pre-recorded music, no background beats, just pure Hip-Hop. Laced with funk grooves, break beats, the power of rock, and classic Hip-Hop, their sound is unlike anything you‘ve heard before.

Currently recording their 5 song debut EP for BeazWax records with hip-hop artist/producer Jack Beazly, be prepared for the POLITICAL ANIMAL stampede. POLITICAL ANIMALS will be sure to be playing in your town sooner than you think, because when the animals come through they turn the party into a zoo. This is more than music this is a movement.

“It’s just that animal mentality to turn a dream into reality.”

Political Animals - "Wannabe MCs"


Political Animals' MySpace


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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Connecticut: Asylum Lifetime

Right out Bristol, CT, home of ESPN, Asylum Lifetime comes through on these tracks doing what he does best. I got a word about this MC through the grapevine. Did a little research, found out he has a mixtape out titled "Check The Résumé Mixtape" that you can get hard copies for. Hit him up for ways to get it. I heard these two tracks and had to share. The journey continues....check it.


Asylum Lifetime - "One Hundred featuring Black Flag"



Asylum Lifetime - "Rhyme Cocky featuring Sherm Larock, Red Lo & Black Flag"


Asylum Lifetime's MySpace
Asylum Lifetime's Facebook


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Catch us on the Internets

Each week O and I get together (online) with Khal of RocktheDub.com and Shaun of BeanpiePromotions.com and put together a list of 10 videos you should be watching. We spend half the time telling jokes and the other half watching some incredible videos from some really talented artists. The thing we've noticed is that folks with minimal budgets put together some phenomenal videos. Delorean "Look Alice" is a great example of that.



You can catch the rest of this weeks selections over at Beanpie. Enjoy!

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15 Years of Duck Down Music

I caught this joint in the email.

15 Years of Duck Down Music - ALBUM + NYC RELEASE SHOW (July 13th)

YOU THE FAN HELP DECIDE THE FINAL TRACK LISTING

Duck Down Music is celebrating its 15 Year Anniversary.

Founded in 1995 by Dru Ha & Buckshot, Duck Down Music has sold over 3 million records in its rich history.

The label, currently home to acts such as KRS-ONE & BUCKSHOT, 9th Wonder, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Sean Price, Kidz In The Hall, Skyzoo, Smif N Wessun, Heltah Skeltah, Boot Camp Clik, Marco Polo, Torae, Ruste Juxx, DJ Revolution, Team Facelift, Blue Scholars and more, is continuing to thrive in the Independent Hip-Hop scene.

To highlight the 15 year milestone, Duck Down is engaging YOU THE FAN, to help in deciding the final product for the commemorative album - 15 Years of Duck Down Music.

Fans can visit www.duckdown.com/15yearsofduckdownsurvey

There, you'll find a list of the top songs released through Duck Down, beginning in 1995 through 2010. Fans can vote for their favorite song from each year. The song with the most votes from each year will be highly recommended to be included in the final album track listing.

Voting will end June 1st.

On July 13th, just after INDEPENDENCE DAY, the collector's item will be made available strictly as a physical CD. Fans can expect unique packaging in honor of this historic album.

To celebrate the release, Duck Down is taking over BB KINGS in NYC (237 West 42nd Street) with a night of music featuring performances by:

Boot Camp Clik Featuring Sean Price, Buckshot, Smif N Wessun
Pharoahe Monch
Kidz In The Hall
Skyzoo

Music By DJ Evil Dee

Doors 8:00PM

Click Here for Ticket Info

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Download ... Senica Da Misfit x V-12 "Word Is Out"

I caught this from @LGDanjah via twitter. It's a pretty dope project from Senica Da Misfit. I've had it for a few days and I'm finally getting around to posting it up. Check out one of my favorite jawns on the project. Enjoy Senica Da Misfit x V-12.

Zone


Senica Da Misfit x V-12 "Word Is Out" [Click to Download]

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Dope-Ish from @HAZxTHEWORLD x @Signif

Darren Cole x Haz Solo x Signif. Are you kidding? Is this Christmas morning?

I've been following Darren Cole's work for a while (dude is a talented director out of Milwaukee). I've been a fan of Signif (crazy talented emcee) since her "Beutifully Flawed" project. And I've been checking Haz Solo (dope producer and emcee) since our Milwaukee installment of The Journey to Hip-Hop. All three very, very talented in their own right. Cool people too.

So, I have a bit of a double feature for you. Kind of a combined effort of these three talented people. First, catch the visuals for Signif's "Unleashed" directed by Abigail Benavides for Alphabang Productions, edited by the homie Darren Cole. Then you can catch Signif on vocals and Haz Solo on production (including Unleashed) with "The Transition Remixes." Both the video and remix ep are dope. No, seriously, VERY DOPE! Happy Holidays (lol) and enjoy!


Signif "Unleashed" Music Video from Alphabang on Vimeo.

Get The Transition Remixes: hazsolo.bandcamp.com

www.twitter.com/HAZxTHEWORLD
www.signif.bandcamp.com
www.alphabangproductions.com
www.signifthegift.com/blog

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What I'm Watching ... Fashawn - "Samsonite Man featuring Blu"

Fashawn got a dope album in "Boy Meets World". I have his album but dude didn't really punch me in the face lyrically until I saw him perform live when he came through with Brother Ali. Now, I'm listening but right here, I'm watching.



Check him out at Fashawn.net

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Check It ... Super Chron Flight Brothers - "Reggie Miller" (Prod. by Willie Green)

I caught this from the homie Willie Green. Enjoy.

It's been a long time coming, as they say, but finally the new Super Chron Flight Brothers album, Cape Verde, has a release date (June 22nd). So what better to time hit y'all with the first single, "Reggie Miller", produced by the incomparable Willie Green. And while we are at it, here is the tracklisting (or should I say, TV Guide) for Cape Verde. So twist up, turn up the volume and think back on the days when, for better or worse, "skunk" just meant it wasn't completely brown, and the biggest bill you had every month was for your pager.

Cape Verde Tracklisting

1. Reggie Miller
2. Golden Grams
3. GMA
4. Good Country People
5. Travailler
6. B More ft. Zesto
7. Jumpstreet
8. Wheel Of Fortune ft. Masai Bey
9. Double Jeopardy
10. Strangers With Candy
11. Rap City ft. MarQ Spekt
12. The Spin Off
13. 42nd St. ft. Lord Superb, Pastense & HiCoup
14. No Spin Zone
15. Unsolved Mysteries ft. Vordul Mega
16. Emmanuel Goldstein ft. Bigg Jus
17. Nigger Pennies
18. 100 Ft. of Cold Dirt ft. Johnny Voltik
19. Guns And Pussy
20. Paid Programming

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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Connecticut: Cee Reed - "King of Dragonmen"

We're not done with our search here in the state of Connecticut. Here, I bring you an MC by the name of Cee Reed out of Danbury, CT. He's been putting in work for some time now and maybe you need to hear it. This track is titled "King of Dragonmen" off his latest album Fight or Flight. Check it out.

In the late 90's CEE took a stab at production, picking up tips from long time friends Stroe, Dirt E Dutch and UVJT. CEE also gained knowledge in the background areas of music. Interning at local record label and getting a certification in Live and Studio Engineering. 2003 CEE REED created Northeast Abilities, which went on to develop a local scene for underground Hip Hop. 5 years as a solo artist CEE REED has released 3 albums and has appeared on several mix cds. Steady on the grind to get his name out CEE REED has a great start. Featured in the New York Times, opening for acts De La Soul, Lupe Fiasco C-Rayz Walz, J-Live, One B Lo, Ok Go, Louis Logic, and Troublemakers to name a few.

Cee Reed - "King of Dragonmen"


Cee Reed's MySpace
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