As the 2010 music season heats up, don’t forget about Sage Francis. The Providence, Rhode Island poet, rapper and iconoclast is returning with his first album since 2007′s Human the Death Dance. Set for release via Anti- on May 11, Li(f)e is a collaboration with several rock musicians, including producer Brian Deck (known for his work on Modest Mouse) and Jim Becker and Tim Rutili from Califone. The overarching theme is a critique of organized religion.

Intrigued? Check the bio facts:

An underground star from his years as a battle champion, poet and founder of influential Strange Famous Records, Francis garnered even wider acclaim with his incendiary 2005 release “A Healthy Distrust,” a timely condemnation of corporate greed, war-mongering and American complacency. On his electrifying new album Li(f)e, Francis turns his keen observational skills to a culture of rampant hypocrisy and, in particular, organized religion.

This album is a marked evolution for Francis. His signature wordplay, a dazzling mix of sardonic humor and biting social commentary, is now complimented by a talented band consisting of producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine) and cohorts Jim Becker and Tim Rutili of the acclaimed Chicago outfit Califone. It proves an effective soundtrack for Francis’ riveting lyrical discourse. The record’s title Li(f)e is a deliberate amalgamation of the words life and lie. As Francis says, “What about life is a lie? What we’re told about God is a lie. What we’re told about race, gender roles, beauty, war, food, drugs, sexuality, capitalism, history, the nature of humankind…a gang of lies. I feel it in my gut, I think it in my brain, I write it with my hands and I speak it with my mouth. That’s what makes Li(f)e the general theme of this album.”

To help convey his impassioned message Francis has enlisted a cadre of uniquely talented songwriters. The album begins with a stirring Steinbeck imbued tale of prison break entitled Little Houdini’ with music written by ex Grandaddy frontman turned solo artist Jason Lytle. “We specifically sought out songwriters who had never worked with a rapper,” Francis explains. “And I didn’t want them to write music they thought they should for hip-hop. The music for ‘Little Houdini’ was a long epic instrumental piece Jason had just hanging around which I then worked my story into.” Next up is a rousing and energetic anthem entitled “Three Sheets” with music written by Chris Walla of the band Death Cab for Cutie. Subsequent songs feature compositions by Tim Fite, members of Calexico, DeVotchKa, and Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse – each interpreted by Francis and the band resulting in an entirely organic and captivating vehicle for Francis’ dramatic narratives.

Here’s the track listing:

• 1. “Little Houdini”
• 2. “Three Sheets to the Wind”
• 3. “I Was Zero”
• 4. “Slow Man”
• 5. “Diamonds and Pearls”
• 6. “Polterzeitgeist”
• 7. “The Baby Stays”
• 8. “16 Years”
• 9. “Worry Not”
• 10. “London Bridge”
• 11. “Love the Lie”
• 12. “The Best of Times”

Orlando, Florida’s Solillaquists of Sound have finished their sophomore album for Epitaph imprint Anti-. Set for release on August 4, No More Heroes features more of the community-raising hip hop that marked their 2006 bow, As If We Existed. However, the group may be best known for “Death Of The Muse,” the benefit single it released last year for Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, mother of the late James “J Dilla” Yancey.

More information is imminent:

From Hollywood to our nation’s capitol, the concept of the hero is more pervasive than ever in 2009. But in a time when donning the cape is so en vogue, Florida’s Solillaquists of Sound go the next step with their most personal work yet. The second in a trilogy of conceptually-linked albums, No More Heroes sheds the overtly cerebral approach that marked their debut As If We Existed in exchange for a more aggressive, in-your-face sound that is driven by the synth-heavy beats of MPC mastermind DiViNCi and the urgent vocals of Swamburger, Alexandrah, and Tonya Combs.

With a musical canvas fusing elements of hip hop, dubstep, prog-rock, afrobeat, folk music, and epic movie scores, the sound of No More Heroes is a blistering collage that never loses its identity, maintaining an underlying unified sound. The kid gloves are off; the record is primal, energetic, and as passionate as ever, a collection of songs representing a group at the apex of their collective virtuosity.

Here’s the track listing:

• 1. “Marvel”
• 2. “Harriet Tubman Pt. 2″
• 3. “New Sheriff In Town”
• 4. “Gotham City Chase Scene”
• 5. “Look”
• 6. “Popcorn”
• 7. “The Curse”
• 8. “Dolla Dolla”
• 9. “The Roots of Kinte”
• 10. “Fittin’ In”
• 11. “Death Of The Muse” (feat. J-Live & Chali 2na)
• 12. “4 People”
• 13. “Heroes”
• 14. “Solillaquy (The 4-Telling)”
• 15. “Bulletproof”
• 16. “No More Heroes (the illusion of silence)”

Busdriver has finished his fifth solo album, the jiggly-sounding Jhelli Beam. Set for release on June 9 on Anti- Records, it features guest spots from Nick Thorburn of Islands, Mikah 9, Nocando and John Dietrich from Deerhoof. In addition to production by Busdriver, the album’s music comes courtesy of L.A. beat scene vets Daedelus, Nobody, Omid, Nosaj Thing and Antimc.

Here’s a portion of the press release:

Busdriver explained the recording process for Jhelli Beam, which was whittled from 30 songs to 13 while he was making the rounds of local Los Angeles home recording studios: “A bulk of the songs were written on planes somehow. I listened to Sublime Frequencies records, Bollywood soundtracks and electronic music rather than indie rock and rap. I was able to shed a good amount of self-awareness that way. Still, this was definitely the most grueling stint of recording that I’ve undergone…I nearly quit doing music twice.”

Lucky for us he didn’t, for Jhelli Beam is both smart and smart-ass, theatrical without being pompous, and, as always, funny as hell. Busdriver’s legendary breath-defying flow teeters precariously on top of samples of classical music, jazz drumming and proggy guitar parts, without ever losing sight of the electronic music that helped define BD’s sound, enthralled fans and stood out from the soggy beats that weighed down much of his contemporaries’ work. Sound schizophrenic? It’s not. The sum of Jhelli Beam’s seemingly disparate parts creates a record that is mindfully engaging and physically palpable at the same time – a wholly unique take on what an underground hip hop album should be.

• 1. “Split Seconds (Between Nannies and Swamis)”
• 2. “Me-Time (with The Pulmonary Palimpsets)”
• 3. “Handfuls Of Sky”
• 4. “Scoliosis Jones”
• 5. “Least Favorite Rapper” (feat. Nocando)
• 6. “Quebec And Back”
• 7. “Do The Wop”
• 8. “World Agape”
• 9. “Manchuria” (feat. Mikah 9)
• 10. “Unsafe Sextet/Gilded Hearts of Booklovers”
• 11. “Happy Insider” (feat. Nick Thorburn from Islands)
• 12. “I’ve Always Known”
• 13. “Fishy Face” (feat. John Dietrich from Deerhoof)

N.A.S.A. (North America South America), a collaboration between producer Sam “Squeak E. Clean” Spiegel (Crystal Castles, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fatlip, 2Mex) and Brazilian turntablist DJ Zegon, is set to release a sprawling collection of tracks called The Spirit of Apollo.

Set for release via Anti- on February 17, The Spirit of Apollo includes a jaw-dropping assortment of MCs and singers. On the hip-hop side, there’s Ghostface Killah, RZA, Gift of Gab, M.I.A., Method Man, KRS-One and Del the Funky Homosapien. For vocals, there’s David Byrne (formerly of Talking Heads), Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, George Clinton, Lovefoxxx from CSS, Santogold and John Frusciante from Red Hot Chili Peppers. Shit, even Kanye West is scheduled to join in — although his track has yet to be confirmed. Comparisons to Handsome Boy Modeling School seem inevitable.

• 1. “Intro”
• 2. “The People Tree” (feat. David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift of Gab & Z-Trip)
• 3. “Money” (feat. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge & Z-Trip)
• 4. “NASA Music” (feat. Method Man, E-40 & DJ Swamp)
• 5. “Way Down” (feat. RZA, Barbie Hatch & John Frusciante)
• 6. “Hip Hop” (feat. KRS-One, Fatlip & Slim Kid Tre)
• 7. “Four Rooms, Earth View”
• 8. “Strange Enough” (feat. Karen O, Ol’ Dirty Bastard & Fatlip)
• 9. “Spacious Thoughts” (feat. Tom Waits & Kool Keith)
• 10. “Gifted” (feat. Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li)
• 11. “A Volta” (feat. Sizzla, Amanda Blank, & Lovefoxxx)
• 12. “There’s A Party” (feat. George Clinton & Chali 2na)
• 13. “Whachadoin?” (feat. Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold & Nick Zinner)
• 14. “O Pato” (feat. Kool Kojak & DJ Bãboa)
• 15. “Samba Soul” (feat. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien & DJ Qbert)
• 16. “The Mayor” (feat. The Cool Kids, Ghostface Killah, DJ AM & Scarface)
• 17. “N.A.S.A. Anthem”

On March 18, Lyrics Born will release his second album, Everywhere at Once. It’s his first disc since 2003′s Later That Day, and it comes via Anti-/Epitaph Records.

“Taking a new approach to recording, LB threw in everything but the kitchen sink on this one. Whether it was hiring horn and keyboard arrangers for specific songs and parts or bringing in the right MC or musician for the right song, LB took his time (not as much time as Later That Day of course) and the result is some of the best Lyrics Born music to date,” reads a message posted on his official website, LyricsBorn.com. Guests on the album include Chali 2na, RJD2 and, of course, his wife and longtime collaborator Joyo Velarde.

In related news, sterling vocalist Joyo Velarde will finally release an album of her own after years spent with the Quannum crew. Love and Understanding is scheduled to drop in the spring, and Lyrics Born handles production.

The track listing for Everywhere at Once is below.

• 1. “Intro Tag”
• 2. “Don’t Change”
• 3. “Hott 2 Deff”
• 4. “Differences” (feat. Joyo Velarde)
• 5. “Cakewalk”
• 6. “Shoe Hoes Anonymous (skit)”
• 7. “I’m a Phreak”
• 8. “I Like It, I Love It”
• 9. “The World is Calling”
• 10. “Top Shelf”
• 11. “Is It the Skin I’m In?”
• 12. “Homeland Security (skit)”
• 13. “Do U Buy It?”
• 14. “Rules Were Meant To Be Broken (remix)”
• 15. “Whispers”
• 16. “I Can’t Decide (Everywhere at Once)”
• 17. “Re-Intro”
• 18. “Let Me In, Let Me Out (remix)”

Plug One review: Lyrics Born, Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live!

www.lyricsborn.com
www.myspace.com/lyricsborn

Canadian rap prodigy Cadence Weapon is preparing to release his new album, Afterparty Babies.

Set for release on March 4, Afterparty Babies is the first effort from Cadence Weapon’s new deal with Anti-/Epitaph Records. (The label reissued his 2005 debut, Breaking Kayfabe, last year). “Afterparty Babies explores friends and feelings, crews and club nights, hometowns and heroes, media and fashion. The recognized wordsmith continues to push the theme, surrounded by socially conscious commentary, and personal subject matter while dropping it over punishing electronic dance jams,” reads the press release for the album.

While you wait for those “punishing electronic dance jams” to manifest themselves, check out the track listing below.

• 1. “Do I Miss My Friends?”
• 2. “In Search of the Youth Crew”
• 3. “True Story”
• 4. “Limited Edition OJ Slammer”
• 5. “Juliann Wilding”
• 6. “Real Estate”
• 7. “Messages Matter”
• 8. “Your Hair’s Not Clothes!”
• 9. “Tattoos (And What They Really Feel Like)”
• 10. “The New Fashion”
• 11. “Getting Dumb”
• 12. “House Music”
• 13. “Unsuccessful Club Nights”
• 14. “We Move Away”

www.cadenceweaponmusic.com
www.myspace.com/cadenceweaponmusic

Remember when Galactic announced that it was collaborating with several rappers on a new album? Well, the New Orleans jazz-funk-jam outfit has completed their new project, From the Corner to the Block. The album is set for an August 21 release via Anti- Records.

For those who haven’t heard Galactic — and I’m one of them — From the Corner’s stellar guest list should encourage you to introduce yourself. Lyrics Born, Mr. Lif, Chali 2na, Boots Riley from the Coup, Juvenile, Ladybug Mecca from Digable Planets, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Ohmega Watts and Vursatyl from Lifesavas make vocal appearances. N’awlins legend Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, the Soul Rebels Brass Band, Trombone Shorty and Nino Moschella are among the non-rap participants. Galactic saxophonist Ben Ellman produced the album.

As part of the world-spanning jam band scene, Galactic will stay plenty busy over the summer, making appearances at numerous festivals (including Bonnaroo). For a preview of From the Corner to the Block, check out the track listing and tour dates below.

First, the track listing for From the Corner to the Block:

• 1. “I Got It (What You Need?)” feat. Lyrics Born
• 2. “…And I’m Out” feat. Mr. Lif
• 3. “The Corner” feat. Gift of Gab
• 4. “Second and Dryades” feat. Big Chief Monk Boudreaux
• 5. “Think Back” feat. Chali 2na
• 6. “Bounce Baby” feat. DJ Z-Trip
• 7. “Hustle Up” feat. Boots Riley
• 8. “Sidewalk Stepper”
• 9. “From the Corner to the Block” feat. Juvenile & Soul Rebels Brass Band
• 10. “Squarebiz” feat. Ladybug Mecca & Nino Moschella
• 11. “Tuff Love” feat. Trombone Shorty
• 12. “No Way” feat. Lateef the Truthspeaker
• 13. “Fanfare”
• 14. “Find My Home” feat. Vursatyl & Ohmega Watts

And here are the tour dates:

• 5/27: Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe, IL
• 6/08: Clinton Lake, Lawrence, KS
• 6/15: Capital street, Jackson, MS
• 6/16: Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN
• 7/05: Plumas Sierra Fairgrounds, Quincy, CA
• 7/06: Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
• 7/07: Big Easy Concert House, Spokane, WA
• 7/08: Big Easy Concert House, Boise, ID
• 7/10: Central Station, Whitefish, MT
• 7/12: Gallivan Center, Salt Lake City, UT
• 7/13: Grand Targhee Resort, Alta, WY
• 7/15: Copper Mountain Resort, Copper Mountain, CO
• 7/19: Soo Pass Ranch, Detroit Lakes, MN
• 7/20: Shank Hall, Milwaukee, WS
• 7/21: Headliners Music Hall, Louisville, KY
• 8/11: Central Park Summerstage, New York, NY
• 9/22: Family Circle Tennis Center, Charleston, SC

5/27: Summer Camp 2007
6/08: Wakarusa
6/15: Jubilee! Jam XX
7/05: High Sierra Music Festival
7/13: Targhee Fest
7/15: Trancegression
7/19: 10,000 Lakes Festival
8/11: w/Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, the Golden Eagle Mardi Gras Indians, Soul Rebel Brass Band
9/22: Chazzfest

www.galacticfunk.com
www.myspace.com/galactic