Category Archives: News

Free Kutmah

Photo taken from Alpha Pup’s Facebook page. Looks like a Hit + Run design. For more on Kutmah’s plight with the INS, visit www.freekutmah.com.

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Myx Music Label disappears

Last Thursday brought an announcement of a new marketing company, Quality Control. QC* is the result of four individuals (Karim Panni, Kyle Pierce, Ian Davis, and Jonathan Kim) combining ideas, contacts, experience, and resources to form one like-minded company. QC* … Continue reading

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A beautiful mine: Flying Lotus

I find it hard to embrace the new Flying Lotus album, Cosmogramma. It’s not as if it’s a bad album — it’s great, in fact. But the secret is out about FlyLo. He’s not mine anymore. I wasn’t one of … Continue reading

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The numbers are in…

I don’t usually post about analytics numbers, and I don’t plan to make a habit of it, either. But the results for this month tie in with my ongoing ramble about content changes. Plug One’s page views are at their … Continue reading

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Get ready for more short cuts

Starting today, I’ll post some of my Rhapsody reviews on Plug One. I’m a little wary of doing this because these reviews tend to be more “service-friendly” than my usual work. At best, however, they cut to the chase and … Continue reading

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Number 1000

I’ve finally reached my 1000th post, and it damn sure wasn’t easy. I’ve already detailed at length the various problems I’ve had in building Plug One, so I won’t rehash them here. Given all that’s happened (or rather, hasn’t happened), … Continue reading

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R.I.P. Keith “Guru” Elam

I wrote this tribute to Guru for my weekly Rhapsody column, Rap is Not Pop. It was posted posted earlier today on the Rhapsody Music Stuff Place blog and its new Rhapsody Hip-Hop Blog. ————————————– Rap Is Not Pop: R.I.P. … Continue reading

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Why Duck Down matters: Duck Down’s 15th anniversary

This essay on Duck Down Records’ 15th anniversary was posted April 9 on the Rhapsody Music Stuff Place blog and its new Rhapsody Hip-Hop Blog. I have a weekly column called Rap is Not Pop. ————————————– Rap is Not Pop: … Continue reading

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Until then…

Don’t worry, I’m still here. But since I’ve promised to stop wasting time on release date press releases and concert listings, I won’t be updating my site unless I’ve actually got something interesting to write (or re-publish). Stay tuned.

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VH1 Soul is dead, long live Centric

Today, the lovely folks at MTV/Viacom removed VH1 Soul from Comcast’s programming slate in my area. Instead, there is a new Viacom channel called Centric. What is Centric? “What we’re creating is a brand-new network targeted to adult, upscale, sophisticated … Continue reading

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Tigallo vs. Ninth

Next up on Hip-Hop Smackdown: 9th Wonder vs. Phonte Coleman. Isn’t it interesting when rappers start beefing with other rappers, catching weapons/drugs/robbery charges, and dating R&B singers just months before their albums are released? It seems like this is the … Continue reading

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Jun “Nujabes” Seba, 1974-2010

In the midst of my Hamlet-like soliloquy I neglected to note that Jun “Nujabes” Seba died last month from injuries related to a car accident. The Japanese producer made over a decade’s worth of downtempo and instrumental hip-hop. My familiarity … Continue reading

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Why Plug One survives

So why does Plug One exist? Good question. It’s one I’ve obsessed over for months, especially during the past few days. It haunts me as I write this, causing me to neglect my (slightly overdue) paid writing assignments. It wasn’t … Continue reading

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Sole leads Fake Four Inc. tour

Apologies for not posting for so long. Yes, an actual human writes and posts this information. Here’s an item that should have went up two weeks ago — another run by Anticon co-founder Sole & the Skyrider Band. They’ll be … Continue reading

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K-os, Drake on tour

Canadian rappers unite! Pioneering iconoclast K-os (pictured above) and Weezy-approved superstar-in-training Drake are heading out together for a tour of universities and, uh, “private locations.” I assume these “private locations” are RSVP-only affairs and frat-house parties booked by trust-fund idiots. … Continue reading

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Sage Francis’ tour for “Li(f)e”

Sage Francis has scheduled a series of tour dates in support of his forthcoming album, Li(f)e, which drops May 11. B. Dolan, who just released Fallen House, Sunken City; and Free Moral Agents will join him. Check out the above … Continue reading

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2Mex’s “Serve and Protect” tour

2Mex (pictured right) is on the road again. This time, he’s not doing one of his stealth “house” tours, but playing small and mid-size clubs throughout the country. Now all we need is that Strange Famous album…maybe this year?

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New Nosaj Thing dates

If you still haven’t seen Nosaj Thing live yet (*raises hand*), you can catch him opening for overrated British band the xx this month. If that tour isn’t coming through your town (*raises hand*), then you’ll just have to wait … Continue reading

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Mayer Hawthorne’s “I Wish It Would Rain”

I think this is the fourth video from A Strange Arrangement. This isn’t my favorite track on the album, and I think I liked the “Green Eyed Love” clip better. But check it out for yourself. Directed by Henry DeMaio.

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The Wrap Up – March 1, 2010

Here’s hoping Guru gets better: Walmart in trouble for promoting Ice Cube’s The Players Club as Black History (allhiphop.com) Jneiro Jarel announces Android Love Mayhem EP for April 13 (jneirojarel.blogspot.com) RIP Chilly B of Newcleus (pitchfork.com) Guru goes into cardiac … Continue reading

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