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Monthly Archives: January 2008
Tonedeff triumphs over Gibson Guitars, pops up on new EP
Earlier today, New York MC Tonedeff announced victory in a years-long business dispute with Gibson Guitars that drew considerable interest around the Internet. He’s also set to appear on a new EP, Baby Blue for Pink, that drops February 12 … Continue reading
Take issues two new EPs
Last year, West Coast hip-hop producer Take issued a much-admired debut, Earthtones & Concrete. Next month, he’ll satisfy lovers of abstract beats with two EPs. The first, Plus Ultra EP, dropped earlier in January on Brooklyn imprint Inner Current. It … Continue reading
Amplive tangles with Radiohead over “Raindayz Remixes”
In the grand Plug One tradition of reporting stories long after they cooled, we take a look at the unfortunate debacle surrounding Zion-I producer Amplive and his aborted project, Radiohead: Rainydayz Remixes. Last November, Amplive began leaking tracks from the … Continue reading
Masta Ace + Punchline + Wordsworth + Stricklin = EMC
Juice Crew legend Masta Ace, Lyricist Lounge vets Punchline & Wordsworth, and onetime major label prospect Stricklin (remember Tommy Boy’s Black Label?) have been performing together as EMC for the past several years. Masta Ace featured the crew on his … Continue reading
DJ Vadim adds dates to “Soundcatcher” tour
After a lengthy fall tour for last year’s impressive reggae/future soul/electronic/hip-hop hybrid The Soundcatcher, DJ Vadim will head back out on the road in February to complete some West Coast dates. This time, it will be a mix of full-on … Continue reading
Saul Williams tours for “Niggy Tardust”
It’s unfortunate that the press chose to focus on the way Saul Williams’ The Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! was sold instead of the music itself. The last you probably heard about the album was when Trent Reznor from Nine … Continue reading
RJD2 heads back on tour
Columbus, Ohio producer RJD2 has carved out a dependably lucrative touring career. Thanks to his catalog, which includes one undisputed classic (Deadringer), a decent follow-up (Since We Last Spoke), and impressive production stints for others (Aceyalone’s Magnificent City, Soul Position’s … Continue reading
Review: Food for Animals, “Belly”
Washington, D.C.’s Food for Animals make their debut with Belly, a morass of industrial-strength noise that sounds like B-more on acid. Continue reading
Review: Lupe Fiasco, “Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool”
Lupe Fiasco’s morality play, The Cool, is his second and partially successful attempt at making progressive rap suitable for home stereos and sporting arenas. Continue reading
Review: Percee P, “Perseverance: The Remix”
With Perseverance: The Remix, producer Madlib offers a fresh perspective on Perseverance, BX rapper Percee P’s long-awaited 2007 debut. Continue reading
The Procussions: 1998-2008
On January 17, J. Medeiros sent out a MySpace bulletin announcing that the Procussions have broken up. The Procussions — rapper/multi-instrumentalist/producer Stro and rapper/keyboardist/producer J. Medeiros — may be best remembered as one of the groups that anchored Rawkus Records’ … Continue reading
Paid Dues Festival returns for 2008
In 2006, Paid Dues Festival emerged as the indie conscience of the fast-blossoming Rock the Bells Festival. Organized by Murs’ 3:16 Productions and Rock the Bells’ Guerilla Union, it championed many of the smaller artists that had helped launch Rock … Continue reading
Dizzee Rascal reissues “Maths + English”
Last year, Dizzee Rascal’s label XL Recordings shocked a lot of people when it announced that his new album, Maths + English, would not be available on a physical format in the U.S. Instead, the label made it available as … Continue reading
Brother Ali spreads more “Undisputed Truth”
Brother Ali isn’t scheduled to release a new album this spring, but that isn’t keeping him from reclaiming the road. In February, he’ll travel the states again in support of last year’s acclaimed The Undisputed Truth. On this tour, the … Continue reading
Review: Ghostface Killah, “The Big Doe Rehab”
A typically solid performance by Ghostface Killah, one of the great artists of this decade, elevates The Big Doe Rehab’s familiar exploration of crime and redemption. Continue reading
Power Douglas slices “Pentecostal Fangbread”
If you like Saul Williams’ brand of poetry, hip-hop, rock and electro, then watch for Power Douglas. The Brooklyn-based trio is prepping its debut album, Pentecostal Fangbread, for King Britt’s FiveSixMedia, and is scheduled to arrive on April 15. Guests … Continue reading
Bisc1 writes “When Electric Night Falls”
Embedded Music, the “sister” label to indie rap powerhouse Definitive Jux, is set to issue its latest disc: the debut album from Queens rapper Bisc1. When Electric Night Falls is set for release on March 11. According to a press … Continue reading
DJ Spooky debuts Antarctica documentary
If you weren’t a music fan back in the 90s, you may not understand how important DJ Spooky is. Back then, he was a hugely popular underground artist and intellectual who not only helped launch groundbreaking magazines (Artbyte) but collaborated … Continue reading
Atmosphere produces “Lemons”
Atmosphere is set to release its first album since 2005’s underrated You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having. On April 22, the Minneapolis, Minn. group drops When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold through its Rhymesayers … Continue reading
Vote nears end for 2008 Plug Awards
The fifth annual Plug Independent Music Awards is coming soon — albeit a month later than last year — to honor the best independent music in 2007. Voting is open to the public, so you can champion your favorite nominees. … Continue reading