Categories
Archives
America's Most Blunted
Category Archives: News
MIA goes back on tour
On Thursday, M.I.A. launches a new leg of her ongoing tour in support of the excellent Kala. She’ll be supported by Toronto’s Holy Fuck, an LCD Soundsystem-style electronic band worth checking out. (See — I like some indie bands, too.) … Continue reading
Madlib visits Brazil, becomes Jackson Conti
Acclaimed photographer/filmmaker Brian “B+” Cross’ MySpace subscribers have been receiving mysterious bulletins lately. They read, “Madlib and Mamão are…Jackson Conti. Please repost.” The source of the mystery is a forthcoming album by Jackson Conti called Sujinho. It’s set for release … Continue reading
Raashan Ahmad pushes along with Akil the MC
I already told you that positive hip hop advocate Raashan Ahmad drops his debut, The Push, via Om Records on May 20. Before that happens, though, he’ll lay the groundwork for a successful release with a brief tour. His running … Continue reading
DJ Presto presents “State of the Art”
Los Angeles hip hop producer DJ Presto has corralled some impressive names for his second album. Set for release on June 17 via his Concrete Grooves imprint (with Fat Beats distribution), State of the Art features guest appearances from Fatlip, … Continue reading
Vast Aire throws “Dueces Wild”
Fresh from his Mighty Joseph collabo with Karniege, Vast Aire isn’t waiting the requisite two years to drop another project. Instead, he’s following up with his first solo project since 2004’s Look Ma, No Hands. Vast Aire’s Dueces Wild is … Continue reading
Cyne makes plans for “Pretty Dark Things” and “Starship Utopia”
When we last heard from Cyne, the underrated Gainesville quartet was making plans to release Pretty Dark Things, in February. Well, it’s April, and the group’s third full-length album still hasn’t come out. Luckily, the group recently announced on its … Continue reading
Kidz in the Hall support Obama with “Change,” tour
As fellow Chicagoans, Kidz in the Hall have made a lot of noise about supporting Illinois senator Barack Obama. In December, they recorded a tribute track, “Work It Out,” to the prospective Democratic presidential nominee. Now they’ve made a new … Continue reading
Jay-Z leaves Def Jam, joins Live Nation
A New York Times story posted this evening (April 2) reports that Jay-Z is leaving Def Jam and joining forces with music industry behemoth Live Nation. According to the story, Jay-Z is on the verge of signing a $150 million … Continue reading
Four Tet coins “Ringer”
After a series of improvisational jam sessions with experimental jazz drummer Steve Reich, Kieran “Four Tet” Hebden has returned with his first solo collection of original music since 2005’s Everything Ecstatic. Set for release on longtime home Domino Records, Ringer … Continue reading
Steinski asks “What Does It All Mean?” on greatest hits comp
On May 27, Illegal Art, home to club prankster Girl Talk, will issue Steinski’s What Does It All Mean?: Retrospective 1983-2006. Steinski, along with then-partner Douglas “Double Dee” DiFranco, is the mastermind behind “the Lessons.” Originally released as a promo-only … Continue reading
Giant Panda triggers “Electric Laser”
True school trio Giant Panda is preparing to release its second album, Electric Laser, via Tres Records on May 20. The music, in keeping with the times, is slightly different from the sun-dappled West Coast beats of the group’s 2005 … Continue reading
MC Chris dies, lives on Warped Tour
Now that the hip-hop world finally knows MC Chris, thanks to his appearance on Talib Kweli’s MCEO mixtape, I just want to say that I wrote about the former Adult Swim star/Star Wars fanatic a while ago. It’s nice to … Continue reading
Roots unveil “Rising Down” tracks, prep festival and Al Green album
Don’t worry, I’m not going to compile every tidbit filtering out of the legendary Roots crew. That’s what Okayplayer.com is for. (And more power to them; they make an amazing site.) But as one of the all-time greats, the Philadelphia … Continue reading
Ill Bill tolls “The Hour of Reprisal”
After losing a Warner Music Group distribution deal for his Uncle Howie imprint last fall, backpack thug pioneer Ill Bill has found a new partner in Strange Music, home of Kansas City eccentric Tech N9ne. It will help release his … Continue reading
A-Trak completes Nike mix, tours
A-Trak has lived a charmed life. I mean, dude has been a DJ star since he won the DMC World Championship at the age of 15 (back when people cared about those things). He was made an honorary member of … Continue reading
Tanya Morgan drops new mixtape, tours
Usually, when someone releases a mixtape it isn’t a big deal. But it has been over two years since Tanya Morgan released their debut album, Moonlighting, to rave reviews and backpacker fame. Since then, the Cincinnati-Brooklyn trio has spent more … Continue reading
Juice Crew reunites for A3C Hip-Hop Festival
By now, everyone — or at least the thousands of Internet geeks who gourge on RSS feeds and blogs — knows that the legendary Juice Crew will appear at the fourth annual A3C Hip-Hop Festival. On March 21, the world’s … Continue reading
Busdriver rambles on with El-P, Dizzee Rascal
Last year, with RoadKillOvercoat in tow, Busdriver became the road mate of choice for many an artist. With his trusty DJ, producer/Mush Records publicist Antimc, he pulled off stints with Deerhoof, RJD2, Cocorosie, and Daedelus — a motley crew, no … Continue reading
Eliot Lipp explores “The Outside,” tours
Arizona-bred, Brooklyn-based beatmaker Eliot Lipp drops his third album, The Outside, via Mush Records on April 8. The album, his third, may be his best to date. It finds him adding deeper and more complex electronic melodies to his hip-hop-inflected … Continue reading
Nobody signs with Ubiquity for Blank Blue
Elvin “Nobody” Estela, one of the leading lights of the Los Angeles beat scene, has found a home for Blank Blue, his long-gestating project with singer Niki Randa. Nobody presents: Blank Blue – Western Water Music Vol. II is tentatively … Continue reading