Tuesday, May 18, 2010

TMB's Track of the Week 5/18/10: "Closer" TheSeKondElement


I recently caught the new project from TheSeKondElement, "The Kommencement LP", which led me to this track from her EP released ast year. I'll definitely be bringing you some tracks from the LP but in the meantime, enjoy "Closer" from TheSeKondElement, the track of the week.

Download "Closer"



www.kammstheace.com
www.thesekondelement.bandcamp.com


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Download ... @Donwill & @VonPea (of @TanyaMorgan) "The Sandwich Shop"


I'm not gonna lie and be like I've been checking Tanya Morgan for a while. It wasn't until last year that they popped up on my radar. Since then I have been checking their collective and solo work (even going back and copping some of the earlier projects). The homie Donwill's "Don Cusack In High Fidelity" gets weekly plays. Anyway, two thirds of Tanya Morgan (Donwill and Von Pea) dropped "The Sandwich Shop: Cos Hoes Gotta Eat Too!" today. Yeah, get that, ASAP!
Riding a wave of critical and commercial success, and fresh off a successful tour if the UK, Donwill and Von Pea, two-thirds of acclaimed rap group Tanya Morgan, are proud to announce The Sandwich Shop.

The project sees the two witty MCs rapping over The Roots "Sandwiches", a collection of short musical segments released by drummer Questlove in late December 2009. "Sandwiches" consists of the tunes that The Roots play coming in and out of commercial break on their nightly gig on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Tanya Morgan members Donwill and Von Pea decided to rap over some choice selections of "Sandwiches" and cleverly renamed the project The Sandwich Shop: Cos Hoes Gotta Eat Too!

<a href="http://donwill.bandcamp.com/album/the-sandwich-shop">Spaintro by donwill (of tanya morgan)</a>


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Check It ... Goines "Leader of the New School"


Another installment of the DJ Booth freestyle series. Check out Goines.
The 170th entry in the DJBooth.net Freestyle Series comes courtesy of Goines, the Arkansas native (and Suga City member) who earned reader acclaim for mixtape tracks "Jim Brown" and "Dope as Me." On his brand new, exclusive Leader of the New School freestyle, the Conduit Entertainment rapper flows over a Chuck Inglish-produced instrumental originally featured on the Cool Kids’ 88. Goines is preparing for this Wednesday’s (May 19) release of his latest street album, the DJBooth.net-sponsored "Lead By Example: Leaders are Real People 2."
Goines "Leader of the New School" [Click to Download]

www.facebook.com/IAMGOINES
twitter.com/GOINES870

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Dr. Quandry "Beyond All Spheres of Force and Matter"


I reached out to the good folks over at World Around Records regarding music. They hit me back with a gang of projects. This joint is from Dr. Quandry (a Boston-area producer). This one line from the email sums up this project very well, "Beyond All Spheres of Force and Matter, which is some heavy cinematic instrumental epic shit." It's like the soundtrack to a motion picture. While listening to the joint, I'm thinking of scenes in my head. It's a good listen. "A Dream of Distant Shores" and "My Soul Longs for Her" are among my favorite listens. It's different. Remember that. Sit back and enjoy.

<a href="http://quandary.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-all-spheres-of-force-and-matter">Ekbat de Sebat by Dr. Quandary</a>

Production, synths, sampling and arrangement by Dr. Quandary. Additional bass on tracks 2, 4, 8 & 9 by Matt Scott. Artwork and design by Federico Piatti.

www.worldaroundrecords.com

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Check It ... Epsilon Project "America" (prod. DJ Vadim)


A few days ago we hit you with "Inspiration" from Epsilon Project's upcoming album "Audacity". We were feeling "Inspiration" so much, we even put the jawn on episode 7 of the podcast. Anyway, the crew is back with the second leak off the project, "America" produced by DJ Vadim. It's serious. Check the promo vid and track below. "Audacity" drops May 25th with production from Ohno, Kev Brown, Supa Koopa and DJ Vadim.



<a href="http://epsilonproject1.bandcamp.com/track/america-prod-dj-vadim">America Prod. DJ Vadim by Epsilon Project</a>

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Check It ... Kayo and Coo.L.Era "We Are Here"

I've been getting really bad at checking email again and then posting the stuff I like. I caught this joint a few days ago. Enjoy.



Kayo and Coo.L.Era "We Are Here" [Download]

Monday, May 17, 2010

What @LadyBlogga is Listening to: "The Ground Work" Vol. 2




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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Connecticut: Phenetiks - "Shootout Number 9 featuring Deto-22 and The Protege"


Deto-22 is a cool dude. Real humble. Real down to earth. Really into music. The group, Phenetiks, is mainly out of Waterbury. According to Deto, that's where the magic happens. Haha. Here's some info about them direct from the source and check out the track they got out. Not your average!


Phenetiks:
The amalgamation of MCs Roc Doogie and The Protege, producer and part time MC Deto-22, and DJ Sircumference. This crew within the Antfarm Affiliates crew has been around for a long time, since it's inception in 1994, and is constantly working on projects whether as a group or solo/side projects. Collectively putting out four projects since 2006, with two to follow this year Roc Doogie's "My Mom Thinks I'm Awesome" and the next, untitled 3rd Phenetiks album. Their second album "Revolutionary Non-Pollutionary Mechanical Wonder" was released in 2007 as part of Rawkus Records' "Rawkus 50" project.

"Shootout Number 9" an exclusive look into the next Phenetiks album that features Deto-22 and The Protege.

Interesting production note...both halves of the song share the same exact bass, kick, snare and rhythm pattern which plays alone for a two bar piece in the middle.

<a href="http://phenetiks.bandcamp.com/track/shootout-number-9">shootout number 9 by phenetiks</a>


www.littleax.com
phenetiks.bandcamp.com/
twitter.com/phenetiks


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Download ... T.Q.D. "The Appetizer, Vol 2"


I caught this a week or so ago from the homie Egypto Knuckles. It's got that alternative Hip-Hop feel to it. It's pretty fresh. Check out T.Q.D "The Appetizer, Vol. 2" [Click to Download]

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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.



Sunday, May 16, 2010

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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