Download ... Slippery Elm and AstroLogical - "Milky Ways (And Other Slippery Galactic Phenomenon)"

Check out this eclectic album from Slippery Elm and AstroLogical. I assumed just by their names what kind of album this was gonna be. Though not what I usually listen to, I kinda enjoyed this one.

Milky Ways is a revelation—an electric dream, and a succulent curse. It is the shared artistic vision of two Vancouver hip-hoppers questing to realize the dark spirit of space-lust, also known as nazza, in sound form. Celebrated producer & musician—AstroLogical, and emcee & published poet—Slippery Elm, have ventured deep into the black waters of their unconscious and emerged with a new jazz & poetry that is at once otherworldly, insurgent, and uniquely their own. Unlike previous creative endeavours as members of Vancouver hip-hop super-group Elekwent Folk, for this project Astro and Slippery have navigated away from their usual eclectic and carefree sound in favour of a highly stylized, focused, and specific vibe that permeates the entire album—start to finish. Twisting psychedelic word-images wrap nimbly around cosmic cushiony beats oozing with space-lust and the milk of all worlds, in a dazzling display of musicianship and lyricism. Here are two masters of their art who shaped and polished the rough coal of these songs till they glowed like a supernatural diamond. And they’re not alone; the album features collaborations with Vancouver vocalist Claire Mortifee, and saxophone player/editor of White Hot Magazine of Contemporary Art—Noah Becker.

If what they’re saying is true, and Astro really did produce this album in a two day beat-making binge, and Slippery really did get kidnapped from out his window by a giant black bird while enjoying a morning wake and bake, and if lightning really did breakout in Vancouver during the recording of this album—mid take, the result is a musical masterpiece designed to be enjoyed while on mushrooms, in a dark forest, or while sipping absinthe from a silver goblet in a leather chair by fireside. Regardless, whatever your listening preference, play this album at night.



Thank you,
Eli Muro

jellyfishrecordings.com/
jellyfishrecordings.bandcamp.com/

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INTERVIEW: Jessica Estevez (iHeartDilla.com) x Manik Mag

ODE TO HIP HOP: LADIES FIRST WITH JESSICA ESTEVEZ OF iHEARTDILLA.COM from MANIK MAGAZINE on Vimeo.

Are you an aspiring artist? Well, get out a pen and paper and write notes. Even if you're not, my homegirl Jessica Estevez (iHeartDilla.com) drops knowledge in her interview with Manik Magazine for their ODE TO HIP HOP piece. And she shouts out The Mad Bloggers? Yeah, I can't be mad at that (Ha). Anway, enjoy. It's definitely worth the watch.

www.manikmag.com

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Check It ... Chuuwee "Bikini Bottom (Sponge Bob)" (Prod. Cookin Soul)

The homie Chuuwee might watch a bit too much Spongebob. But this track is pretty cool. Cookin Soul on the production and the Sacramento emcee on the rhyme. Enjoy the Film Collins directed short, "Bikini Bottom (Sponge Bob)." It's okay to laugh. Chea!

www.cookinsoul.com
www.chuuweeoftus.bandcamp.com
twitter.com/CookinSoul
twitter.com/ChuuweeTUS

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What I'm Watching ... Jessica Kaya "Fake It"

Jessica Kaya delivers an incredibly beautiful track. INCREDIBLY. BEAUTIFUL. You may recall this soulful track from an earlier post, where I included a live performance version. You might also look at Jessica and say, "man, she looks familiar." Well, her and Eternia are sisters. Yes, that Eternia (My Favorite Rapper Wears a Skirt). It's apparent that talent runs in the family. Anyway, check out the vid for "Fake It", directed by Chris Ak. Hit up the comment section with your thoughts. Chea!

www.myspace.com/kayasmusik

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Take Three: OutKast "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik"

"The devil up in your grill, and you still won't even know 'em..."

Stupid admission time: prior to even knowing that rap came out of Atlanta, the closest thing I knew to rap coming out of the south was from Texas. Back then, Scarface, Willie D and Bushwick Bill came out with "Grip It! On that Other Level" which I still gravitate to as a great record out of the south. As a music fiend, I started joining CD clubs, holding memberships at Columbia House & BMG Music clubs while I was only 15 (many a Taco John's paycheck went to fund the habit). But behold, coming home one night from a full day at the part time job to find BMG's music selection of the month, which was OutKast's debut record. I had mulled over getting it while I was at Circuit City (my parents got a home theater system, I got Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) on tape, but the CD came in. My parents literally became frustrated with me to find the graphic on the CD itself, while I thought nothing of it. But what was on that CD, further blew my mind just as N.W.A. did about the West and Nas making me recognize the resurgence and dominance of the East.
OutKast's debut album, "Southernplayalisticadicallcmuzik" played like a jazz standard, long before the many innovations took place, and long before Andre 3000 and Big Boi started handling a lot of their own production, and their debut played very much with the intensity and focus of the east coast, while the flows drew from the west stylistically, their southern gentlemen drawl combined with their snarl on flows made for quite the debut. Take three once again takes place, this time choosing three cuts to unsuspecting listeners who either have not heard of Outkast, have not heard of their debut record, or both. Enjoy the ride.

1. Ain't No Thang

The loading of a clip, a beat that screams something of vintage west coast hip-hop, plus Andre & Big Boi trading verse for verse? It has all the makings of a classic battle track, while Organized Noize provides the eerie and neck-breaking beat. Obviously taking such a saying as "Ain't no thang but a chicken wing," then altering it to almost a sing-song like quality, shows Andre's and Big Boi's greatness on verses. You want a winner? You can decide whether you dig Andre's hungry stance when he says "Remember when we ran deep/remember at the party when we served them n****z dandy/they know not to test us, test me/do me, try me..." or Big Boi when he ends it with perhaps one of the coldest endings "I'ma kick you in ya ass/and your n***a gettin' pistol whipped," its a pretty dead even battle for those even testing the brothers from East Point.

2. Git Up, Git Out, Git Something

Trying to ask someone for patience and undivided attention for seven and a half minutes for a song, unless they are of the Hendrix nature or the song says something deep, are rare to try out. However, Goodie MoB and OutKast utilize the latter, all the while talking about life and its struggles, where Cee-Lo starts the song stating clearly "You need to git up, get out and get something/How will you make it if you never even try?" In the meanwhile you get the life stories of Andre and Big Boi, where Big Boi states "In a sense I was Rosemary's baby/but then I learned the difference between a bitch and a lady," while Andre "So let me take y'all 'way/back to when a n***a lived in southwest Atlanta, hey/y'all could not tell me nothin', thought I hit that bottom rock/at age 13, start working at the loading dock," its pretty much a worthwhile story of OutKast and Goodie Mob and their juvenile tribulations discussed almost with the author-like penmanship of American literature.

3. Crumblin' Erb

The slowly played bongos, the groovy bassline, and a moderate tempo help become the palette to speak on weed. Sure, there have been many odes to Mary Jane, and by the time this song came, rap had its fair share. But OutKast chooses to keep it comfortable, while Sleepy Brown croons the chorus. Both Andre and Big Boi have their fair share of quotables throughout the tune, "But still Andre got action/they sweat like Keith, outta my teeth," while Big Boi states calmly "Ten millimeters, count 'em n****a, fuck a nine/see I added a millimeter for all my n****z doing crimes and drive-bys." Call the song what you will, but your standardized weed anthem this is not.

What I'm Watching ... @GodzGiftCT & @Maddsonn - Brass City Freestyle

Caught this via Twitter and wanted to spread some Brass City love. Real short video but you'll get the gist of it. Check out the mixtape for more of their music. Check it!



Maddsonn & Godz Gift To Guardian - Best Of Maddsonn Mixtape Vol. 1. Ally Films/Make-A-Video 2010. Ally Fam Entertainment.


www.reverbnation.com/maddsonn
www.facebook.com/maddsonn
@MADDSONN
www.myspace.com/maddsonnmuzik
www.myspace.com/godzgiftct
@GODZGIFTCT


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What EMS Is Listening To ... @DrewVision - "Super Sounds"

So, I'm on FB and I came across this YouTube vid that showed up in my news feed. It was a live version of "Can't Be Friends" done by Drew Vision. I really liked it so I messaged him to ask if he had any other music I could hear. Suffice it to say, once I heard "Super Sounds," I immediately loved it. Oh, and ladies he's a looker too! I've listened to the song a few times to get familiar with the elements of the track and I'm particularly fond of the bassline in the song. I'm excited to see what the future holds for Drew Vision. He's got talent and great vocals. Perhaps we can forge a blogger/artist relationship so I can get more music out to the peoples!

To keep up with what else Drew Vision is up to, find him on Myspace Music and twitter.com/DrewVision. Enjoy.







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Hip-Hop Breakfast Ep 32

It's Wednesday. I hope you enjoy the midweek mix. Have a great day.

01. Your Own Supply - OnCue
02. Maestro Madness - Jinesis feat. Homeboy Sandman
03. Night Train (Feat Novel) - Joell Ortiz
04. Pretty Girl Rock - Keri Hilson
05. Summa Spring Wenta June - Myk Dyaleks
06. Zero Hour - Zumo Kollie



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Check It ... Melodye Perry "For Colored Girls Song"

To make a long story short, I know three of the songwriters on this track. It was intended for the For Colored Girls Soundtrack. It didn't make it. But it's a great song, with a powerful message. The folks behind it wanted to share it with folks. So, they reached out to me. I whipped up some artwork, set up the bandcamp and now I'm sharing it with you.

I hope you dig it.

Music and lyrics by Thomas Niblack, Andre' Deyo, Jason Gilmore and Melodye Perry.

Hit up the comment section with your thoughts. CHEA!



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What I'm Watching ... Signif "Drifting"

Signif "Drifting" Music Video from Alphabang on Vimeo.


I've been a Signif supporter for a little while now. It was her Beautifly Flawed project that first caught my attention. Then when her Transition project dropped it sealed the deal. Signif is one of my favorites. We've gone back and forth online about her music and random other things. I finally got the chance to meet her a few weeks back while I was in NYC for the first Independent's Day Showcase. She's definitely good peoples and down to earth and her music is purely a reflection of who she is. Anyway, she hit me with this vid a week ago to check out and I'm excited that I'm finally able to share it with you. Enjoy. Shouts to Darren Cole (vid was shot, edited and directed by Cole for Alphabang Productions). Dude is a beast.

Signif.BandCamp.com
SigniftheGift.com

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What I'm Watching ... Triboro - "Game Called Life"

Sean Conn hit me up on Twitter with the link to his group's video. Triboro consists of Sean Conn, Elus, Verse and Frsh Aire. Finally got a chance to check it out and listen to the track. I enjoyed it and I'm posting it so you guys can check it our and see if you feel the same. I like the tone of this track and the four guys hold their own on it as well. Check it out.




www.triboronyc.com/
www.myspace.com/teebeerow
www.facebook.com/pages/Triboro


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Download ... @Crew54 & @CientifiQ - "Slap Rapz"

From the complementing opening track featuring audio from the movie "Black Dynamite", to the hilarious skits of L.S.N.U. (Light Skin Niggas United) and the iGoons skit that had me thinking my pc restarted on its own when I stepped away, this album entertained and came through with its meat and potatoes, or in Layman's terms, beats and flows. I received this album a few weeks ago but with life and my short term memory issues, it took me till today to really get into the album. Finally.

Overall, I enjoyed it musically. From the production to the flows. I wasn't disappointed. Pretty good album to listen to. Add the fact that it's completely free as a digital copy and you can't complain. They also offer a physical copy along with a t-shirt to go with it for a low price of $12. I suggest you check it out and listen for yourself. G-Christ and Master of Self (Mos) did their thing on this as well as the homie CientifiQ. Tracks that stand out to me are Good Liquor, For The People and Keep Climbing. Definitely check it out.

CientifiQ hit the crates for the classic rugged boom bap sound and provided the perfect bangers for Crew54 to smash. This is the first Crew54 project produced entirely by one beat smith and you can hear how well they meshed.

All tracks produced and recorded by CientifiQ at "The Laboratory and mixed by Dot Nyce at Dirty Rugged Studios. Mastered at Daisy Power Studios. Artwork by Kwestro for www.illscene.com

www.the54realityshow.com
www.reverbnation.com/cientifiq
www.facebook.com/crew54music
www.hotbox254.com
twitter.com/crew54
twitter.com/gchristcrew54
twitter.com/CientifiQ

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