What I'm Watching ... IAmDanielMoore - "Half Way Love (Stripped & UnCut)"

Currently residing in Atlanta, GA, Grammy nominated singer, producer, song-writer, musician Daniel Moore brings to us his #2 hit on the UK Soul Chart titled "Half Way Love" off his album IAMDANIELMOORE EP. I love the live sound he brings on this video. It gives it more life and gives the track a little bit more of an intimate sound. But those are my opinions, haha. Check it out for yourself.






For more info : http://www.iamdanielmoore.com/

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What I'm Watching ... Dru Hill - "Love MD"

Sisqo, Jazz, Nokio and new member Tao, who joined the group after winning a 'Dru Idol' contest, are back with a new single titled "Love MD" off their album InDRUpendence Day set to be released in the spring. Check it.





For more info : DruHillOnline.com

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What I'm Listening To ... Gerald Levert - "Can It Stay"

Check out the new single by the late great Gerald Levert titled "Can It Stay" off the album The Best of Gerald Levert due out August 31st. Really good track from one of best. R.I.P.





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Download ... Purpose (of Tragic Allies) "Better Than Your Album Mixtape"

Uh, what's funny is that this shit is really better than a lot of albums. A LOT. Ha! I caught this joint from Khal over at Rock The Dub. This Purpose joint is dope. BLAST IT!! Enjoy.

Today, Friday the 13th, marks the release of Tragic Allies-member Purpose's new mixtape, Better Than Your Album, which does exactly what it says on the tin. Hosted by Statik Selektah and presented by OneThree Music, this project truly showcases the raw Hip-Hop that emanates from Purpose's pen, and his board. Features include Singapore Kane, Ghetto Lion, both Code Nine + Estee Nack of the Tragic Allies, multiple-tracks featuring cuts from DJ Slipwax, and production from cats like KOS, Abstrakt, Archimedes, Bug, White Lotus and Purpose himself. It's an all-around proper slice of rugged and raw Hip-Hop that should set your weekend off properly.

Check my favorite cut, "No Explanations."

Download "Better Than Your Album"

tragicallies.com

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Sadat X & Will Tells True Wine Connoisseurs, S3 Ep #2

Another dope episode of True Wine Connoisseurs. Enjoy.



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TMB's Track of the Week 8/13/10: "The Teenage Love" AUTOMatic

There's obviously something in the water out in Milwaukee, because the Hip-Hop projects coming from that scene is dope. Anyway, "The Teenage" love comes from AUTOMatic (A.P.R.I.M.E. and Trellmatic) second project, "Transistor." I had the opportunity of getting an advance of the project ahead of it's August 28th release and the entire thing is dope. They'll be a follow up feature on the Milwaukee emcee/producer duo but for now, enjoy "The Teenage Love", the track of the week. Oh and I kept the interlude on at the end as an extra bonus. Enjoy.





WWW.HOUSEOFMUTANTS.COM

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Check It ... Black El "Hi(gh)"

I think the homie Andrew Martin over at Potholes said it best about this track "... In my opinion, a good track is a goddamn good track no matter if I can relate to the subject matter or not." There are a few tracks that I CANT relate to and don't like (mostly because I know the person rhyming can't relate to that shit either). Anyway, that's not the case with this new joint from Black El. Yeah, I don't smoke (and don't plan too) but this joint is tough and the production (Durkin on the beat) is dope. This joint is off Black El's upcoming A Color Commentary album. Chea!

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Friday's Five Random Questions with Andy Suzuki

Andy Suzuki (center) and The Method

Andy Suzuki is one of my favorite people, even if you put music aside. The dude makes great music, he's really talented and he's funny as hell too!

His sound is hard to explain but his music is unforgettable. And while the dude exudes confidence, he's probably one of the humblest musicians I've ever met. Anyway, Andy decided to take the challenge this week. Check out how he answered five random questions.

Stats
Hometown: Washington DC
Current City: New York City
How long have you been doing music: Singing since day 1, playing with my band for three years.
Discography: "300 Pianos" - 13 track CD on iTunes/AmazonMP3/etc
Label: Independent
Describe your music in five words or less: Acoustic Pop


TMB: Aight, let's get to the questions. Who was your celebrity crush at age 10, 15 and now?

Andy: Age 10: Eliza Dushku. I saw "Bring It On" 5 times. Age 15: Apolo Anton Ohno. Long Story. He was my half-Japanese idol. Now: Mila Kunis. No contest.

TMB: What TV character would you be and why?

Andy: JD aka Zach Braff from Scrubs.

TMB: You're at dinner with five people from history (living or dead) who are they?

Andy: Mila Kunis, Jessica Alba, Adriana Lima, Scarlett Johansson and John Mayer. We would have a great time.

TMB: You're stranded on an island with one other album, which album is it? (not necessarily your own music)

Andy: Jason Mraz - Live At Java Joe's. It's his live shit before he got famous and it changed my life. Before listening to this album I exclusively listened to hip hop and RnB. This album put me on the singer-songwriter path.

TMB: Jesus and Kanye West are producing a track for you. What's the name of the song?

Andy: "I'mma let you finish but Jesus had one of the best Beatitudes of all time."



300 Pianos on iTunes
twitter.com/aasuzuki

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What The Eff is Shyne and 50 Cent Talking About Anyway? (video)

I don't normally post this shit but it's funny.

Shyne and 50 still beefing? About what? FOH with the rap beef. Truth be told, rap beef is fake. Fake, fake, fake. It's cooked up in boardrooms by record execs and scripted like a reality show. Seriously.

Shyne lives on an Island and 50 is doing movies. Neither one of these dudes are doing anything Hip-Hop should really be concerned about right now. Oh and the counting money thing 50, that shit was lame. Oh well, check out the 50 video and then Shyne's response. I'll say this about the videos, they both have some funny quotables.

“You’re on a fucking island. You can’t go to war from a fucking island.”



"I didn’t know he was so desperate. He’s gone from confidential informant, witness-protection program dude, getting order [of protection] on muthaf—as. Now he’s a stalker. I was in shock. He called up saying he was ‘Jamal from Harlem.’ He didn’t call up saying he’s Curtis Jackson, Hawaii 5-0. He’s a busta. I can’t believe it.

MTV Shows

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What I'm Watching ... @mynamecuey "Cuey Sings The Blues" trailer

I've known the homie OnCue for a while. He's one of the few people who makes music that has my personal email address. Hahaha! I've definitely been a supporter of OnCue and his work for a minute. I'm excited for his newest project, "Cuey Sings the Blues," dropping September 7th! The young kid is dope. Definitely keep your eye on him. Check out the promo vid.


OnCue - Cuey Sings The Blues EPK from VisualHighLife on Vimeo.


mynamecuey.com

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Download ... @Circa_87 "Dreams and Dream Killers"

Get high. Have sex. Get high. Party. Drink. Did I say get high? Ha! Yeah, that basically sums up this album. It's a cool and fun project from beatsmith Mikey Fresh and emcee Digital Dao who collectively are Circa 87. The project is definitely worth a listen.

Check out one of my favorite cuts off the project. If you dig it, head over to DJBooth and preview/download the rest of the joint.



"Dreams and Dream Killers" [Preview/Download]

www.myspace.com/circa87music
twitter.com/Circa_87

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Interview: @LDrummonds discusses "Time and Space"

Smooth.

That's probably the easiest way to explain Lance Drummonds' "Time and Space" album. But his album is more complex than that. It's about the complexity of the "baggage" we inevitably carry from relationship to relationship. And quite frankly, the album is dope.

I had the opportunity to check out Lance's album well ahead of it's release date. It was back in June that I first heard "Time and Space." From the initial listening, the project resonated with me. Tracks like "Share My Heart", "Gon' Love Me" and the album's namesake "Time and Space", all spoke to my real life experiences.

It will resonate with you too. Lance belts out lyrics that touch home, over well produced tracks. "Time and Space" gives our experiences a soundtrack.

I reached out to Lance just after he released his latest offering for a Q&A. Check out Lance in his own words.

The Mad Bloggers: Who is Lance Drummonds?

Lance Drummonds: If the music from the 70's and the 90's had a baby that could sing, that is who Lance Drummonds would be.  He's from Elmont, Long Island, a college grad, and loves to connect with a crowd.

TMB: Sum up Time & Space in five words or less

LD: Transition from pain to promise

TMB: How was the journey to creating and putting out Time and Space?

LD: It was a long, tedious but a fulfilling process. Creating the concept and idea was easy because it was based on life experiences that both I and Old Money encountered but executing the idea was what threw me for a loop. Because it was my debut album, it had to be to as close to perfect as possible, so I recorded it, didn't like the sound then re-recorded, re-mixed and had it re-mastered all on my own budget. I was just speaking about this yesterday, what many listeners may not understand is that it takes a singer at least twice as long as a rapper or musician to create a song from start to finish. From the writing to the recording to the mixing could take easily up to 12-24 hours for one song, especially if you are critical with its sound and delivery. But all in all this process was full of lessons that I will take with me for the rest of my career.

TMB: What's the one track that speaks to who you are as a musician on Time and Space?

LD: Well, I think "Gon Love Me" is my favorite production on the album.  It shows my range as a producer. But because I am a pianist, "Selfish" may be a more appropriate answer.

TMB: What's the one track that speaks to who you are as a person on Time and Space?

LD: HANDS DOWN, "Share My Heart Again."  This song is the true emotional - cancer, I just want to crawl up and be alone song. And sometimes we just need that outlet, that medium to address what we are feeling and with me, music is the way to do that. I think this is the best example of how I transform my inner emotions, concerns or thoughts into a song that not only allows me to release it and get it off of my chest, but allows me to connect with someone else who may have been or who is going through the exact same situation. Because as a 20 something year old man, I KNOW I am not the only one who has ever been afraid to love again, so I think people can relate.

TMB: Random ... you're stuck on an island with one record for a year, what record is it and why?

LD: Michael Jackson, "Thriller" -- It has a song for every mood you will feel, should you be stuck on an island for the rest of your life. There is the "I'm on an island" party song in "P.Y.T" and on the other side of the spectrum there is the, "I'm on an island" solitude song in "Human Nature."  You can't go wrong with that album.

TMB: And last but not least, what's next?

LD: I plan to do as many shows as possible to promote the album. Im heading down to Atlanta from August 19- August 22nd.  I'm going to head to LA in the fall and I plan to have a few more shows in New York.  I want Time and Space to reach as many people as possible, not because I want to go platinum but because I know there are a ton of people who can relate to this story and it is my duty to let them know they are not alone.

www.ldmblog.com
www.twitter.com/ldrummonds
lancedrummonds.bandcamp.com

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