Download ... @IanWellz "Jim Beam: No Chaser"

I caught this joint in the email. I passed on a few of the tracks but overall Ian Wellz delivers on his "Jim Beam: No Chaser" mixtape. Check it out.

"With musical influences from Mos Def and Common to Ryan Leslie and Ne-Yo, Ian Wellz's artistry supersedes that of the typical rap artist. Ian Wellz love affair with music began in 1997 when he picked up the trumpet but it wasn't until he heard Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life Vol. 2" that he fell in love with Hip-Hop...

...Throughout the mixtape lyrical wordplay, quality production and entertainment value can be found."

Check "Dics Jockey"


"Jim Beam: No Chaser" [Download]

www.twitter.com/IanWellz

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Beanpie Comic Strip: Sarcasm

(Click to make larger)

beanpiepromotions.com/blog


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What I'm Watching ... Novel "Switch It Up" featuring Algebra Blessett

Novel is doing it. Building a buzz. Flowing, singing, writing. He's making moves. Here he is with a track titled "Switch It Up" talking about a lot of artists that's doing the copycat, unoriginal thing. Sounds like good advice he's giving. Check this video directed by him & Carlton Lynn.




Novel's MySpace
Novel's Twitter
Novel's Facebook

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What I'm Watching ... Wizdom & Grynch "Got Ya Numb"

I caught this joint over at DJ Hyphen's www.theaudacityofdope.com. Cool video, dope track.



www.wizdomsound.com


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Straight Repeat ... The Roots "Dear God 2.0"

"They said he's busy, hold the line please ... Call me crazy, I thought maybe he could mind read ... Who does the blind lead, show me a sign please ... if everything is made in China are we Chinese..."

This joint is serious and has been on straight repeat for several hours. Black Thought goes in. The irony of this line, "technology turning the planet into zombies..." and me sharing the joint on my blog, twitter and facebook. Well, check it.



Shouts to RocktheDub.com for the link and The Smoking Section indirectly.


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Catch us on the Internets

Another week of "Beanpie Select: Top Ten Hip-Hop videos." All I can say is, Morgan Freeman and these guys are straight clowns. Each week O and I get together (online) Khal of RocktheDub.com and Shaun of BeanpiePromotions.com and clown while picking out 10 dope Hip-Hop videos. Like I said last week, the thing we've noticed is that folks with minimal budgets put together some phenomenal videos. This Ruslan featuring Braille and Blame One "Domesticated" video is an example of that. Enjoy.



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


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FRESH TEE: Worthy Knows ... via @grpfly

"Since I wore goggles my whole basketball careeer 88-96, it was only right I design a shirt after my childhood hero, James Worthy."

I saw this shirt over at grpfly.bigcartel.com. Whatcha know about James Worthy?! Yeah, this t-shirt is dope.

grpfly.bigcartel.com
twitter.com/grpfly


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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Connecticut: Roc Doogie & Dirt E. Dutch - "Who Figured"

Big shoutout to IndieFeed Hip Hop for hitting us up with this "exclusive" track by Roc Doogie and Dirt E. Dutch. Danbury, CT knows about these cats. Shoot, the state of Connecticut should know about them. And if they don't, they're missing out on Hip-Hop. I don't b.s. you. Roc Doogie, 1/4 of Phenetiks, holds it down on this track titled "Who Figured" off his upcoming album, "My Mom Thinks I'm Awesome". Anyone who knows me has to know I definitely dig that album title. Haha. Anyways, check it peoples.

Roc Doogie & Dirt E. Dutch - "Who Figured"


Roc Doggie's Antfarm Affiliates' Page
Roc Doggie's Twitter
Roc Doogie's MySpace

Dirt E. Dutch's Page
Dirt E. Dutch's MySpace
Dirt E. Dutch's Twitter

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From Music's Heart to Yours w/@ericamsimmons

Editor's Note: Each Friday @ericamsimmons will be bringing R&B and Soul music to the internets via The Mad Bloggers. We're still working out the details but here is the first installment. These dudes are dope by the way. Enjoy.

We've all discussed the age old question "What is Hip-Hop?" But what about Rhythm & Blues? The term Rhythm & Blues was first coined by Billboard to represent music marketed toward the African-American audience in the late 1940's. Then, R&B encompassed jazz, blues, doo-wop and a host of other urban genres that now span across racial and ethnic lines. This column is dedicated to the artists and listeners who appreciate true R&B music. Even though Rhythm & Blues has redeveloped to include elements of different genres there is an eternal underlining foundation that represents what R&B has been, is now and will be in the future.

Aaron Marcellus and the Will Band

A couple of years ago, I met Aaron and his brother Pierre after a gospel concert at Agnes Scott College. Our director, Nathan Grigsby told us prior to our concert that his sons were going to sing a duet as our special guests. What we didn't know was how awesome they were going to be. I couldn't tell you what song they sang that night, but I can tell you that it left a lasting impression on me. This brother duo is highly gifted in voice and are talented pianists. Off their debut album Aaron Marcellus and the Will Band "Hold Me Down" and "She's Really Gone" are two songs that showcase their broad range of musical talent. After listening to the album, Aaron Marcellus and The Will Band can easily compete with seasoned and well-respected R&B artists. I never got the impression that they made music for the money, but for the love of music. As simply put by Pierre on his Twitter page, "Music brings us together and makes us one people."

Check out their artist page on Reverb Nation and Mypace.

Tune in next Friday for my next installment.


Follow: twitter.com/ericamsimmons
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"It's a Celebration" ... @LadyBlogga's One Year Anniversary

So, I hit LB up randomly on twitter earlier asking, "hey, when is your blogging anniversary with TMB?" Then I decided to search the blog. Weirdly enough, it's today. Today marks the first time she posted on the page.

So, it's a celebration! *Dave Chappelle as Rick James voice* (Hahahaha)

When we met her she was rocking the handle Sui Geniris on-line. We were impressed by her love of Hip-Hop and she was cool as hell too. We went back and forth over email trying to hash out the details. A week later she was Tha Lady Blogga (O's idea) and part of the team. She's been blogging with us ever since. Now she's all over the internets contributing to various sites and she's got a book in the works. But at the end of the day, she always come back to homebase here with TMB and we appreciate that.

Anyway, today marks a year of Tha Lady Blogga contributing to the site and so we figured we'd shout her out. Check out the first piece she wrote for us, "Just Plain UGGly…" A year later, I'm sure she still feels the same way about Uggs in the Spring and Summer.

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The Journey to Hip-Hop ... Connecticut: The Skinny Boys - "Jock Box" (Bonus)

I had to throw it back, waaaaay back for this journey. A little history for the site. Didn't know Connecticut went this far back with Hip-Hop, did you?! Haha. Check it.

Via Wikipedia -

Skinny Boys were a rap group originally out of Bridgeport, Connecticut, with members Shockin' Shawn, Superman Jay, & The Human Jock Box. The Skinny Boys were directly influenced by The Fat Boys; and The Human Jock Box was directly influenced by The Human Beat Box from The Fat Boys. They started their career on the Bush Label, a small independent local label run by Rhonda Bush.

The first release was a twelve inch single titled Awesome b/w "Skinny Boys" in 1985. New York based label Warlock soon recognized their talents and signed them to their label in 1986. That year they released two twelve inch singles Jockbox & Unity, as well as an LP title "Weightless". Featured on the Weightless LP were a handful of human beatbox songs like Jockbox & Get Funky.

The group went on to sign with Jive Label and have a handful of peripheral releases including LP's "Skinny & Proud" & "Skinny (They cant get enough)".


Not to be confused with the british rock band 'The Skinny Boys'

The Skinny Boys - "Jock Box"


The Skinny Boys' MySpace

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What I'm Watching ... TheSeKondElement "Closer" LIVE!

We featured this joint as the track of the week. It's fresh. TheSeKondElement's "Closer" is a smooth flow over the Goapele track of the same name. It's dope. I caught the visuals from a live performance and figured I'd share that too. Video shot and edited by Kenneth Allen. Enjoy.


TheSeKondElement Performs "Closer" LIVE! from KAMMs TheACE on Vimeo.

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


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