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- VH1 Soul is dead, long live Centric posted on March 29, 2010
- The ten most popular indie-rap artists… posted on January 11, 2011
- Digable Planets fracture, cancel tour posted on March 22, 2009
- Superlists!: Top Ten Femcees posted on March 24, 2009
- The Plug One Q&A: Flying Lotus posted on June 10, 2008
- Review: Atmosphere, “To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy” posted on September 9, 2010
- R.I.P. Paper Thin Walls posted on August 29, 2008
- Zion-I tour dates posted on February 25, 2009
- Vibe’s demise posted on July 1, 2009
- Why Plug One survives posted on March 17, 2010
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Tag Archives: Stones Throw
Review: Aloe Blacc, “Good Things”
Aloe Blacc, Good Things Stones Throw On his first album in four years, L.A.’s Aloe Blacc travels further from his hip-hop roots. Years ago, he was a rapper in the indie group Emanon and a sometime-vocalist; on Good Things, he’s … Continue reading
Review: Guilty Simpson, “OJ Simpson”
Guilty Simpson, OJ Simpson Stones Throw It’s not easy rapping over a Madlib Invazion. The Los Angeles producer is infamous for layering his beats with all sorts of nonsense that can turn an MC’s performance into a mere sideshow. However, … Continue reading
Review: Strong Arm Steady, “In Search Of Stoney Jackson”
Strong Arm Steady, In Search of Stoney Jackson Stones Throw Madlib has promised to release at least twelve albums in 2010, along with several Yesterdays New Quintet adventures and collaborations such as this production gig for Los Angeles hard knock … Continue reading
Welcome to violence: Madlib, “Medicine Show No. 1”
This essay on Madlib’s first installment in his Medicine Music Show series was published in the January 27 issue of the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Welcome to violence Madlib, now in his hardcore phase, hands out sonic pamphlets like a … Continue reading
James Pants’ “Seven Seals”
On December 8, Stones Throw Records will release the second album by Northwest eccentric James Pants, Seven Seals. Judging by the cover artwork on the label site, Mr. Pants has turned his gaze from the electro and New Wave stylings … Continue reading
Mayer Hawthorne’s “Strange Arrangement,” tour
I’m sure everyone’s aware that Mayer Hawthorne’s highly anticipated A Strange Arrangement drops on September 8. (It’s already on sale via the Stones Throw website.) The original release date, October 6, was changed ostensibly due to demand (and to the … Continue reading
Savath y Savalas’ “La Llama”
Scott Herren has unveiled the final installment in his spring trilogy of albums. Ironically, however, it has gone on sale before the two previously-announced projects by Prefuse 73 and Diamond Watch Wrists. Savath y Savalas’ fourth album, La Llama is … Continue reading
Madlib’s “Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6”
On February 10, Stones Throw will release the latest chapter(s) in Madlib’s Beat Konducta saga. Unlike the prior two editions, Vols. 1 & 2 (Movie Scenes) and Vols. 3 &4 (In India), Vols. 5 & 6 doesn’t have a cinematic … Continue reading
Stones Throw expands for 2009
Next year, Stones Throw promises to offer its most exciting slate of artists since 2006. Like that groundbreaking season, which brought classic recordings from Oh No, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Aloe Blacc and the late J Dilla, 2009 will find the … Continue reading
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Tagged Dam-Funk, DJ Haircut, Mayer Hawthorne, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Savath y Savalas, Scott Herren, Stones Throw
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Guilty Simpson records “Ode to the Ghetto”
As one of the later additions to the late James “J Dilla” Yancey’s cast of collaborators, Detroit rapper Guilty Simpson has been a near-constant presence on Stones Throw’s hip-hop projects, from its myriad compilations to the reissue of J Dilla’s … Continue reading
Percee P commissions remixes, tours with Slick Rick
Bronx rhyme inspector Percee P may have only released one official album in over 15 years, this year’s Perseverance. But he’s making up for lost time.
Earlier this fall, Percee P joined the 2K Sports Bounce tour headlined by kufi expert Common. And this month, he jumped on the Stones Throw "Holiday edition" of the 2K Sports Bounce tour, too. Now, he’s jumping on the December edition of Scion’s Live Metro tour. It’s just a brief excursion that only encompasses four cities: Houston, Austin, Atlanta and Carrboro. But lucky attendees will get to see Percee with the mighty Slick Rick, both backed by the funky soul of Connie Price & the Keystones.
Meanwhile, kids who have been raiding the Stones Throw merch table have noticed one exclusive, a disc of Perseverance remixes by Madlib, that currently isn’t available anywhere else. The CD, however, will go on sale at retail outlets on January 29. The highlight is an original track, "Real Talk."
The track listing for Perseverance: The Madlib Remix and the Live Metro itinerary is below.
Stones Throw undertakes 2K8 Sports Bounce tour
Unlike many of their indie brethren, the Stones Throw crew isn’t known for doing shows. They’re mostly content to lamp in the studio and maybe rock a DJ date in L.A., New York, London or some other major international city. Sitting in a hot-ass van and plowing through 50+ cities? That shit is for the birds.
So consider yourself lucky if they come to your town on the upcoming 2K8 Sports Bounce Tour "Holiday Edition" (also known as the B-Ball Zombie War tour). Just like last year’s Chrome Children package tour, it won’t be very comprehensive, and only encompass a baker’s dozen of shows. Featured artists will be the mighty Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib’s Supreme Team partner Karriem Riggins, onetime Beat Junkie J. Rocc, and rhyme inspector Percee P.
How rare is this tour? It’s so rare that the lineup for some recently added shows (ATL and Baltimore) hasn’t even been confirmed yet. Check out the itinerary below; as usual, I’ll update as more details become available.
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Tagged J. Rocc, Karriem Riggins, Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, Percee P, Stones Throw
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PB Wolf compiles “2K8”
2K Sports sure likes hip-hop. For the past few years, the video game company has teamed with Decon Records to organize a series of rap-themed projects and promote its latest video games. This year alone, as previously reported, 2K Sports has sponsored a DJ Z-Trip-helmed compilation, All Pro, and an upcoming tour featuring Common and Q-Tip. Now, fan favorite Stones Throw is getting involved, too.
On October 2, Stones Throw will release 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War, an album compiled by the mighty Peanut Butter Wolf himself. It will feature the usual Stones Throw cast members, from the late James "J Dilla" Yancey, MF Doom, Oh No and Madlib’s many guises (Beat Konducta, Quasimoto) to Talib Kweli and Q-Tip. Enticingly, it will also feature the official premiere of Supreme Team, a touted collaboration between Madlib and J Dilla confidante Karriem Riggins.
Stones Throw will promote its latest all-star comp with a label showcase tour featuring PB Wolf, Madlib, J-Rocc and others. Dates for the tour, which takes place at the end of the year, will be announced soon. Meanwhile Percee P, whose long-awaited debut Perseverance drops on September 25, is jumping on the 2K Sports Bounce Tour with Common. (The earlier post with those dates has been updated to reflect Percee’s involvement.)
The track listing for 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War is below.
Percee P debuts with “Perseverance”
On September 18, Bronx MC Percee P will finally release his debut album, Perseverance. Amazingly, it’s the first full-length of his career after nearly twenty years of obscure 12-inches, scene-stealing cameos and obscure CD-Rs. The album itself arrives after nearly two years in delays and promises from his label, Stones Throw Records.
Perseverance is completely produced by Madlib. Not counting the Talib Kweli EP Liberation, it is Madlib’s first full collaboration since the Madvillain classic of three years ago. Other guests include Vinnie Paz from Jedi Mind Tricks, Guilty Simpson, Diamond D, former Jurassic 5 rapper Chali 2na, Prince Po and Aesop Rock.
For much of the last several years, bloggers, crate-diggers and rap experts have celebrated Percee P’s legendary "fast rap" style, essentially calling the greatest MC no one had ever heard of. With Perseverance, everyday Stones Throw geeks will finally get to decide if he lives up to the hype.
The track listing is below.
August 9 update: I was wrong about Perseverance being Madlib’s first full collabo since Madvillain. How could I forget about Dudley Perkins’ Expressions (2012 a.u.) from last year? Sorry, Dudley.
Stones Throw summer: Madlib, Percee P, Tortoise
Following a relatively quiet spring, Stones Throw Records has announced an ambitious slate of summer releases.
First up is the re-release of Jaylib’s Champion Sound. Originally released in the fall of 2003, Madlib and the late James "Jay Dee/J Dilla" Yancey’s highly anticipated collaboration drew disappointing reviews and record sales. "Few knew who or what ‘Jaylib’ was, and many of those who did felt that Champion Sound wasn’t given the attention is deserved when it was originally released," notes the label in a press release. Much as it did with J Dilla’s Ruff Draft reissue, Stones Throw has turned the album into a two-CD set with remixes and instrumentals. With luck, its reputation will improve in light of hip-hop fans’ ongoing reassessment of J Dilla’s career. The new Champion Sound drops May 8.
For those interested in Madlib’s Invazions, the enigmatic producer is reviving his Yesterdays New Quintet pseudonym for Yesterdays Universe: Prepare for a New Yesterday, Vol. 1. The story goes that the fictional "band" (Ahmad Miller, Monk Hughes, Malik Flavors, Joe McDuphrey and Otis Jackson, Jr.) has broken up, and this is their final album. It drops July 3.
Posted in News
Tagged Arabian Prince, J Dilla, Jaylib, Madlib, Oh No, Percee P, Stones Throw, Tortoise, Yesterdays New Quintet
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Review: Peanut Butter Wolf presents “Stones Throw Ten Years”
Peanut Butter Wolf’s Stones Throw team has been cranking out product lately, from free albums to idiosyncratic manifestos. This retrospective is a re-release of a compilation exclusively released through Guitar Center last summer. Continue reading
Free Chrome Children from Stones Throw
Stones Throw has done it again. Today the fan-friendly indie rap label will issue Chrome Children 2 for free. It follows Madlib & Talib Kweli’s Liberation, an internet-only EP posted on the Stones Throw website for just a week (and is no longer available).
Much like its predecessor, last fall’s Chrome Children, this compilation is a collaboration with frat-boy haven Adult Swim. The first edition sampled from the label’s roster; Chrome Children incorporates close associates like Four Tet, Dabrye and West Coast hip-hop legend Arabian Prince.
Chrome Children 2 will only be available on Adult Swim and Stones Throw for a month, so get your download pronto.
2007 brings Kweli and Madlib’s “Liberation”
On New Year’s Eve, fan favorite Stones Throw closed an amazing 2006 by posting a free album in tandem with Talib Kweli’s Blacksmith Music Label.
The album, a collaboration between Kweli and mystery achiever Madlib, is called Liberation. Kweli has talked up the nine-track EP-length set on his MySpace page for months. As recently as December 5, he wrote, "So I know I know, I said Liberation will be out in November. I like to be a man of my word and believe me, I really tried! There are just politics with putting out a free album that I wasn’t ready for. Everyone has to be on the same page, and I got a lot of business on my plate right now." But all’s well that ends well.
Liberation, which can be downloaded for free here (with additional artwork) and here is, in Kweli’s words, "a straight ahead, sample driven hiphop record, from two of the best doing it." It marks his second underground release following the Blacksmith: The Movement mixtape in November. His new album, Eardrum, was scheduled for release last fall; it is now tentatively set for February. Meanwhile Madlib is working on a new Madvillain collabo with MF Doom.