Shoutout to @MoReilley for hiting me up with this cool track by Stanza. Had to share good music. You know how we do. Haha.
"Young Love" is a song off my mixtape "Searching for Bobby Fischer". Original song ( Murs "Love and Appreciate" ). From The Murs and 9th wonder Album Murry's Revenge.
I'm a week and some change late on this post but that's what happens when life occurs. Haha. I had a busy 3 day weekend involving some Hip-Hop heads I personally know, some I don't. Lots of pictures were taken and I put them together in different setups for you to see. Hope you enjoy.
Friday: Enter The Cipher Presents ... The Baby Bus Benefit
This night's Enter The Cipher event was dedicated to The Baby Bus Benefit (Fundraiser for Danny "Baby Bus" Holt). Live performances by Dina Brass, Rising Sun Quest, Expertiz, Roc Doogie of Phenetiks, Workforce, Sketch Tha Cataclysm, and Breez Evahflowin filled the night's schedule and each and every performer ripped the stage. The place was packed with friends and family as well as random supporters of the cause and music. Wristbands were sold to further help the fight for cancer and many people bought hands full. The night turned out very successful and Hip-Hop definitely represented. It was great to see the genre come through for a cause like this.
Saturday: Westhill High School Hosts 4th Annual Hip-Hop Summit
Westhill High School Hosts 4th Annual Hip-Hop Summit held on May 22nd. Event featured workshops, open forum and live performances.
The 4th Annual Hip-Hop Summit was held on Saturday, May 22 at Westhill High School in Stamford, CT. The Summit was being coordinated by the Connecticut-based Hip-Hop artist collective Ant Farm Affiliates in conjunction with the Stamford Public Schools. The event began at 12:30 pm with a welcome session and an artist meet-and-greet. That was followed by workshops that began at 1 pm, an open forum discussion at 4 pm, a skills competition beginning at 5 pm, and a concert at 6 pm.
The Hip-Hop Summit is an annual tradition at Westhill High School, celebrating the culture and history of Hip-Hop and addressing the issues and concerns that teens face everyday. Throughout the day, students and attendees will have the opportunity to attend hands-on workshops on deejaying, break-dancing, music production, making and distributing an album, podcasting, and Hip-Hop as a global movement.
Presenters included Connecticut's original hip hop Deejay Terrible T, Indiefeed Podcasting Host and Music Director Dirt E. Dutch, Hip-Hop activist and Freedom Bee Project founder Courage2Change, b-boy and Flying Squirrel Productions founder Pat "Tricks" Hayes, and the entire Ant Farm Affiliates artist roster.
Students were invited to participate in the Hip-Hop skills competition and to perform during the concert portion of the program from 6-9 pm.
Sunday: "Hip Hop for Racial Harmony" Benefit Show
Immortal Technique headlined this benefit show that included guests Diabolic, Chris Webby, Offramp, Guy Dupont - "ILO Productions", Rising Sun Quest, Hurrikane, and Chef Luv.
It was a day and night of Hip-Hop and charity. Good music for a great cause. This event was held on May 23rd at Cheshire Park in Cheshire, CT with proceeds directly benefiting the student-envisioned "Orphanage For Opportunity".
A plot of land in Pakistan is currently sitting quietly, unused up to this point. But, if some local students reach their goals, it will be transformed into a orphanage in the country's capital.
Students from Cheshire High School and founding members of the fundraising and awareness group ENOUGH are holding a benefit concert later this month, with the proceeds going to help create an orphanage in Islamabad, Pakistan. The "Orphanage for Opportunity" project was undertaken by members of ENOUGH and the concert, scheduled for May 23 at Cheshire Park, is a way to jump start their fundraising efforts. Since the group’s inception last year, it has held peace rallies, hosted speakers, and helped raise awareness about world issues. The group even rallied at Town Hall to support the education budget last month.
ENOUGH is an acronym for education, necessity, opportunity, understanding, giving, and helping. and all of the group's projects seemingly encompass the acronym. Mansoor Alam, a junior at CHS, said the concert is the starting point for the "Orphanage for Opportunity" project, and admitted that it was a big task to undertake.
Yet, the group, Alam believes, is prepared. (Story continues...)
For more on Enough, this event and the rest of the story, visit Chesire Herald
Speaking of doing it again ... The Roots follow up their first leak with "Doin it Again" featuring John Legend. Yeah, I'm gonna be stuck on this joint much like I was stuck on "Dear God 2.0" Damn you Black Thoughts and the Legendary Roots Crew!! "How I Got Over" in stores June 22nd.
There isn't a formula or pattern that Homeboy Sandman is following. At least I don't think so. He's simply making music. Not to be mistaken with pop music, as his track "Not Pop" eludes to. He's making music he hopes others will enjoy.
I dig what the Queens native and college educated Homeboy Sandman is doing.
I won't claim to have been a long time fan of Homeboy Sandman, simply because he was flying under my radar. It wasn't until a few months ago someone hit me with some of his music. I also won't jump on the bandwagon saying this dude is the dopest thing since slice bread (seriously, was sliced bread that big of a deal when it first came out?). I will however say that after hearing "The Good Sun" (a few times) that I'm quickly becoming a fan of Homeboy Sandman. I think that can be credited to his unique style and lyrical approach.
No dumbing it down on "The Good Sun".
As many will say, Homeboy Sandman's music is an acquired taste. How do you approach listening to his music with that in mind? You can take a lesson from Homeboy Sandman's first encounter with a Roots album.
"I find the mind has delayed reactions like that when presented with something fresh the likes of which it's never been presented before," he writes in his bio. Oh, he thought The Roots were whack but during that second listen he realized their dopeness. Perhaps "The Good Sun" will provide you with that ah ha moment too.
"The Good Sun" is a collection of tunes that will surely continue to propel Homeboy Sandman from the dude many have never heard of, to the dude many will continue to check for. Will it bring him mainstream? Of course not, it's too dope for that. But "The Good Sun" will continue to push Homeboy Sandman forward in the underground/indie circuit.
Check "The Good Sun" now available on iTunes and other online music websites.
Homeboy Sandman is best known for his guerrilla style marketing. Check out the behind the scenes video of Homeboy Sandman on his guerrilla style mission.
Originally released May of 2007 and now remastered with a bonus track ("No Answers Will Be Found Here" featuring Roc Doogie) Sketch tha Cataclysm releases "Party Music 4 Pissed Off People."
After sitting on the project for well over a week, I finally had the opportunity to check it out. It's dope. The project starts off with the hard hitting "The Editor's Note" and just takes off from there. "The Editor's Note" is a very fitting title with some serious rhymes to lay the foundation of what's to come on the eight track EP.
Just a glance at the track titles and you know this isn't going to be an average listening experience. Keep in mind the original EP dropped with the Bush Administration, Katrina and the war in Iraq in the backdrop. With Arizona's new Immigration Law, the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the continued war in Iraq and Afghanistan, "Party Music 4 Pissed Off People" still fits in three years later.
Tracks like "Free the Radio", "Besty Ross and the Miseducation of America" and "The Revolution Will Not Be" attack with hard hitting content and some pretty dope production (my favorite joint is "The Revolution Will Not Be"). If you're pissed off about the current state of things, "Party Music 4 Pissed Off People" is perfect for you. If you just enjoy quality music, "Party Music 4 Pissed Off People" is perfect for you too. Either way, the EP is a quality well deserved listen.
Sketch has plans to release two full length LPs back-to-back, "Indie Rappers Do It For Gas Money 2" and "The Complete Collected Poems Of Maya Angelou."
In the meantime, enjoy "Party Music 4 Pissed Off People", available on bandcamp.
I apologize for my lateness, as this was supposed to be done yesterday, but I promise you won't be disappointed. I've been tooling through the Atlanta music scene here lately because in the South, sometimes our music can be a hit or miss. Right? I think I know some people who can attest to that. So, that's why you should definitely check out Laura Reed & Deep Pocket! You know how people say music saves the soul? Well, Laura is surely doing that for me personally right now. After first hearing her single "Happy" I instantly fell in love. Listening to the song is giving me a sense of joy. Laura Reed's music has a deep, strong soulful influence that records just don't have anymore; and her band is outrageously dope. So if you're looking for someone to "put a smile on your face," go ahead and take a listen.
My other favorite song is "Don't Go." It expresses a gritty, heartfelt story that I'm sure all of us have experienced at some point in our lives. As stated in her bio, Reed's music is without a doubt reflective and her songs maintain a lyrical depth that a music connoisseur can appreciate. Enjoy.
Anarch Eighty is making it easier for the people to know what great music is. As this Hip-Hop game continues to turn, my job is to keep you updated.
On Tuesday June 1st the long awaited releases of Homeboy Sandman “The Good Sun” and Spec Boogie “Introspective” will be jointly celebrated at the legendary SOB’s in N.Y.C. Hosted by Hip-Hop head himself, Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg and WBAI’s TastyKeish, this promises to be an awesome way to start the summer. Aside from the guests of honor, I know a few other lyricists will be in attendance and I am sure they will bless the stage as well.
Not being new to the scene, Homeboy Sandman and Spec Boogie have been around for awhile and as this game evolves they are being pushed to the forefront. I knew the voice. I knew the name. But my first live encounter with Homeboy Sandman was at SouthPaw last Winter. He was hosting an event and occasionally spit in between the sets. I had heard songs, never saw the man behind the lyrics perform. Tight lyrics, variable style and tough beats are what put him ahead of most and better than the rest. Spec Boogie has worked with the likes of Aeon, featuring Von Pea, Elucid, Che Grand amongst others. I have yet to bear witness to a live Spec Boogie but I am looking forward to seeing him perform his effortless lyrics over smooth beats. Seeing it live is like the icing on the cake. Once you do, you’re sold.
Advanced Tickets are being sold online and if you plan on coming I suggest you cop your tickets NOW.
Another week, another fine selection of videos compiled by Shaun (beanpiepromotions.com), Khal (rockthedub.com), O and I. Philly Cousins is just one fine example of the videos selected this week.
YC the Cynic entered this track in this year's NBA 2K contest to be included in the game. It didn't win but he released the track anyway. Check the behind the scenes video and the track.
Shoutout to YearOfTheBlackSmith.com for this video of Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek performing "Ballad of the Black Gold" on the Jimmy Fallon show live with the help from my all time favorite band, The Legendary Roots Crew. What else can you ask for?
