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Subtle revisits “For Hero: For Fool”
In October, experimental unit Subtle will revisit last year’s wondrously dynamic For Hero: For Fool with Yell & Ice. Similar to Prefuse 73 and his "remix EPs" that follow every album; Subtle reworks much of the material on For Hero with guests. (They used the same tactic for their 2004 album, A New White, with Wishingbone.)
"Both ‘wishingbone’ and ‘yell&ice’ were fashioned to further explore Subtle’s conceptual protagonist, Hour Hero yes, while creating a medium for the band’s love of collaborative music making," wrote the band in a MySpace post. "Unlike a typical collection of remixes, ‘yell&ice’ utterly reapproaches the lyrics and music of ‘for hero: for fool.’ In order to better suit the pallette and prowess of each respective collaborator, poems were rewritten, sounds resampled, and time signatures unlocked. Then these songbones were sent to our collaborators/confidantes who then rewrote, sang, and sequenced to the tune of their talents."
Guests on Yell & Ice, which comes out via Lex Records/EMI, include Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio, Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade, Markus Acher from the Notwist, and Chris Adams from Hood. Subtle continues to work on its next album for a 2008 release. Before then, they’ll play several shows this fall, including a string of dates with Seattle indie-rock band Minus the Bear.
Tour dates are below.
2Mex books his own tour
Two months ago, L.A. veteran 2Mex sent out a MySpace post announcing "We Book Our Own Tour," a DIY adventure across the United States. "In true D.I.Y. fashion, these artists are taking control of their own destinies," he wrote. " ‘We Book Our Own Tour’ is going to be a monumental 50-60 city tour completely booked by the artists. Be a part of this event and help make ghetto history for underground Hip-Hop."
Well, 2Mex is finally about to head out on the road. While the schedule isn’t as impressively long as 60 dates — although dates are still being added — it is a two-month journey that will course through towns big (New York City) and relatively small (Manzanita, Oregon). Joining him will be Life Rexall, 2Mex’s collaborator in last year’s $martyr project; Shapeshifters member Existereo; and DJ Pickster One.
As an underrated rap vocalist, 2Mex will bring the freestyle gospel throughout the tour/road trip. Normally a prolific artist, he doesn’t have any product on the market, since he’s working on a major label-distributed album for 2008. Curious heads are advised to purchase a copy of his 2001 underground classic, B Boys in Occupied Mexico.
The tour dates are below.
Beastie Boys book sold-out tour
The Beastie Boys have embraced a strange contradiction. On the one hand, their instrumental album The Mix-Up earned reviews that ranged from middling to scathing — though not necessarily worse than those that greeted their last proper full-length, 2004’s To the Five Boroughs, which led Village Voice to call the group washed up.
On the other hand, their national tour is completely sold out. In fact, their live shows always sell out. The Brooklyn trio may be in the legacy chapter of its two-decade-plus career, but it is a glorious legacy. Their first three albums are not only core hip-hop texts, but rock and roll classics. Their brash, obnoxious style resonates loudly in current music, from Andre "I fuck like a ninja" Legacy to "Fett’s Vette" nerdcore hero MC Chris. Beastie Boys are unquestionably one of the great artists of the past twenty years.
So perhaps this tour, like others before and surely others after, will be about witnessing the greats before they become too removed from their glory years. Of course, the next album can always restore their primacy…who knows?
In the meantime, check out the tour dates below. One dollar from each ticket benefits Artists Resources in Action (ARIA), which has set up an EcoFund for the tour. Fans are also encouraged to bring their old cellphones and PDAs for cellular recycling. For more on the latter initiative, visit www.reverbrock.org/beastieboys.
Flying Lotus makes “Reset”
Earlier this year L.A. producer Flying Lotus joined Warp Records, becoming the classic imprint’s most high-profile signing since Battles last year. This fall he’ll unveil the first fruit of that relationship. Reset EP drops October 4, and is a prelude to a planned full-length next year. Some of the tracks, particularly "Tea Leaf Dancers" with Andreya Triana, can be heard on his MySpace page.
Since his 1983 debut last year, Flying Lotus has become a leader in the "space hip-hop" beat movement (kudos to Andrew Meza for the phrase). Peers include Jneiro Jarel’s Shape of Broad Minds and Carlos Nino. This year he’s produced tracks for the Beat Dimensions and From LA with Love compilations. But now it’s time for Reset; the track listing is below.
Rob Sonic presents “Sabotage Gigante”
I’ve always liked Rob Sonic. He’s usually overshadowed by others — first by Mike Ladd when the two recorded for Ozone Entertainment (remember Sonic Sum?), and now as a part of the mighty Definitive Jux family. His music is quirky, organic and a big bohemian culture jam, sort of like El-P but without the malevolence. Sometimes difficult to get with at first, his music rewards repeated listenings.
Rob Sonic’s second album, Sabotage Gigante, drops September 25 on Definitive Jux. As usual, when he heads out on tour this fall he’ll play second banana to someone else, namely the equally accomplished Aesop Rock. Smart fans will get to the venue early.
The track listing for Sabotage Gigante and the tour dates are below.
Talib Kweli tours for “Ear Drum”
Two and a half years after The Beautiful Struggle, nearly a year after it was first scheduled for release, three months after it leaked onto the Internet, and around a month from its most recent July 24 date, Talib Kweli’s third solo album Eardrum will finally hit the streets via Warner Bros this month. Kicking off with a benediction from the great poet Sonia Sanchez, it finds Kweli collaborating with Jean Grae, Kanye West, UGK, Norah Jones, Roy Ayers, Lyfe Jennings, Musiq Soulchild and Justin Timberlake. As I’ve written before, it may be Kweli’s last chance at establishing a mainstream rap career.
Stakes are mad high, and Kweli deserves credit for putting in extra work. This month, in addition to reuniting with his Black Star partner Mos Def on the Rock the Bells tour, he’ll fulfill a number of spot dates around the country. The concerts will most likely be an appetizer to a full-fledged run later this year.
Pick up Eardrum on August 21, and check out the tour dates below.
9th Wonder preps “Dream Merchant 2”
The last several months have been quiet ones for 9th Wonder. Once widely hailed, and sometimes criticized, for his productivity — in 2005 alone he produced several albums, from Little Brother’s The Minstrel Show to Kaze’s Spirit of ’94 — he’s mostly stuck to the lab in 2007, even as wild rumors surrounding his departure from Internet faves Little Brother surrounded him.
9th’s absence will end this fall, however, with the incipient arrival of Dream Merchant 2. The first edition, released in 2005, was strictly an in-house affair with his longtime crew the Justus League. Volume 2 will be considerably more high-profile, with guest shots from Sean Price, Camp Lo, Royce da 5′ 9", Saigon, Buckshot, Naledge from Kidz in the Hall and a slew of fam like Joe Scudda and Skyzoo. It will also include the "Brooklyn on My Mind" track with Jean Grae, Mos Def and Memphis Bleek that circulated earlier this year. And, yes, it will feature a Little Brother reunion.
Dream Merchant 2 will likely be just one of several 9th Wonder-affiliated projects that drops before the year is out. Others include Median’s Relief (due out September 25) and possibly The Formula, the sequel to his Chemistry collabo with Buckshot.
But first, Dream Merchant 2, which drops October 9 on Six Hole Records. The track listing is below.
Grayskul broadcasts “Bloody Radio”
Two years ago, a relatively unknown group called Grayskul released Deadlivers on Rhymesayers. Despite its low profile, Deadlivers drew kudos from those who heard it. It was an album that balanced Gothic-styled lyrics with a dark, mystical atmosphere, and was reminiscent of early 90s horrorcore classics like Gravediggaz’ 6 Feet Deep and Organized Konfusion’s Stress: The Extinction Agenda.
Now the Pacific Northwest group is back with a new joint. Bloody Radio features Onry Ozzborn (where’s that Gigantics album you promised?), JFK and DJ Wicked holding court with the likes of Slug, Cage, Aesop Rock, Pigeon John and Andrea Zollo, formerly of the late indie-rock band Pretty Girls Make Graves. The duo’s mighty Oldominion crew help out, too.
Grayskul’s Bloody Radio drops September 11 on Rhymesayers Entertainment. The track listing is below.
Aesop Rock tours for “None Shall Pass”
It’s a time-honored tradition. Take a gazillion years to make album. Release album to critical acclaim. Go on tour…a lot.
That’s the tentative plan, it seems, for Ian Bavitz, also known as Aesop Rock. Already anticipating good reviews and solid sales (for an indie record) for his first full-length album in four years, None Shall Pass, Aesop has devised a two-month itinerary of gigs that will take him across the country twice. DJ Big Wiz will back him with the trusty one-and-twos. Blockhead (who will release Uncle Tony’s Coloring Book via Ninja Tune on August 14) & DJ Signifiy and Rob Sonic (whose Sabatoge Gigante comes out this fall) will open most dates. Cage, indie-popsters the Octopus Project and Black Moth Super Rainbow will drop in on select gigs.
Now, the dates. And don’t forget that None Shall Pass drops via Definitive Jux on August 28.
Rock Steady Crew celebrates 30 years
This week (July 24-29), the Rock Steady Crew will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a series of events in New York City. Scheduled happenings include a panel discussion, art exhibit, free outdoor concert and, of course, plenty of B-boy battles.
The Rock Steady Crew is probably the most famous B-boy crew in history. Formed by Bronx dancers Jimmy D and JoJo in 1977, the crew was immortalized in the early 80s through the now-legendary Roxy world tours that exported hip-hop culture around the globe, as well as the 1992 musical So, What Happens Now? and Hollywood movies like Flashdance and Beat Street.
"After 30 years we’re proud to say that we’re still going strong," says RSC president and figurehead Crazy Legs in a press release. "For the anniversaries, we want to focus on all aspects that make Hip Hop the social force that it is. This is about education and entertainment. With crew battles, hot DJs, panels and live graffiti shows our 30th promises to showcase everything Hip Hop represents."
A schedule of events is below. For details such as times and addresses of locations, visit www.rocksteadycrew.com.
Hiero Imperium builds fall slate
Hieroglyphics is a famously close-knit crew. Its members — Del the Funky Homosapien, Souls of Mischief and Casual — first united when they attended high school in the late 80s, and it’s been on ever since. Domino mentored them as they built their careers, and in 1997 they added Pep Love to the lineup. A decade later, the group remains unchanged.
Their record label, Hiero Imperium, has occasionally released albums by artists that aren’t Hiero crew. They released former Stones Throw homie Encore’s second album Layover in 2004; and Yay Area weirdo Z-Man’s Dope or Dog Food that same year. This year, however, will mark Hiero’s busiest year in regards to recruiting outside talent.
At the top of the list is Musab. Often credited as the man who helped build Rhymesayers (his 1996 debut album as Beyond, Comparison, was the first Rhymesayers album with national distribution), the Minneapolis veteran has evolved from a street-savvy backpacker to a game-spitting pimp. Literally. His third album, The Slicks Box, drops August 14.
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Tagged A Band Called Pain, Del the Funky Homosapien, Hiero Imperium, Knobody, Musab, Prince Ali
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MF Doom plays a few shows
Two years ago, MF Doom was everywhere. He was still basking in the success of his Madvillain classic with Madlib, and had released one of the year’s biggest albums, the Danger Doom banger with Danger Mouse. His early work for Fondle ‘Em sold on Ebay for hundreds of dollars.
Since then, save for the odd guest appearance (he recently produced a track for Hell Razah’s well-received Renaissance Child), the prolific Daniel Dumile has mostly disappeared from view. Dude may be a little eccentric, but he’s a savvy businessman, cutting off the product just when he was in danger of being overexposed. Now, instead of thinking "Dang, another Doom album?", heads are eagerly waiting the man’s next epic. When will Madvillain 2 come out? When will Def Jam finally allow Nature Sounds to put out Swift and Changeable, his album with Ghostface?
On July 24, MF Doom will re-issue his 2004 Rhymesayers album Mm…Food as an expanded CD/DVD package. Imaginatively wrapped in aluminum packaging like a candy bar, it includes a tour DVD, a sticker and a poster. New York zine Impose is also issuing a limited-edition 7-inch of Metal Fingers instrumental material. Finally, Doom is making a brief trip across the States. He’ll mostly stick to major markets, and half of the dates are on the Rock the Bells tour. Hopefull all of these scraps are just mere appetizers for a full course meal in 2008. How’s that for food metaphors? Tour dates are below.
Guru presents live Jazzmatazz
Let’s face it: Guru’s new Jazzmatazz Vol. 4 can’t compare to the original Jazzmatazz, one of the best albums to emerge from the acid jazz movement. And no matter how many times he claims it, his new collaborator DJ Solar will never measure up to DJ Premier, one of the greatest beatmakers ever.
But so what? Although not as popular as his early 90s heyday, the voice behind the mighty Gang Starr deserves to do his thing. It’s no smear on his reputation, which is secure. I’m not a huge fan of Jazzmatazz, but I’m always interested in what he has to say. Undoubtedly, thousands of others are, too.
Originally set to land in May, Guru’s Jazzmatazz presents The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: Black to the Future drops via 7 Grand Records on July 31. Guests who pay homage include Raheem DeVaughn, Bobby Valentino, Caron Wheeler, David Sanborn, Common, Bob James, Damien Marley, Vivian Green, Blackalicious, KEM and others. Guru and Solar will hit the road to promote it, hitting theaters across this great land. Tour dates, along with a video for the first single w/Common, "State of Clarity," are below.
Strong Arm Steady get “Deep Hearted”
This year has seen a lot of onetime major label heatseekers, onetime prospects who rose from the lowly world of underground rap to tastemaker articles in XXL, resign themselves to dropping indie albums under vastly reduced expectations. Hip-hop acts (nor anyone else, for that matter) usually won’t admit that they’ve been dropped; they’d much rather assert that they left a label of their own volition. (Yeah, right!) Still, what to make of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Consequence, Raekwon and now Strong Arm Steady dropping albums on indie labels? What happened to the major movement each promised?
To be accurate, Strong Arm Steady is still on Blacksmith/Warner Bros., and are working on a major label debut for 2008. Perhaps I make an ass out of u and me when I assume that the West Coasters won’t ever get that title shot, especially since Blacksmith head Talib Kweli is in a career-defining battle to get his Eardrum out — once scheduled for July 31, it got pushed back to August 21.
But hey, let’s be positive. Strong Arm Steady’s Deep Hearted looks like a beautiful thing. Scheduled for release via Nature Sounds on August 28, the disc features guest shots from the Game, Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Chamillionaire, Juvenile, Planet Asia, tha Liks and a gang of other rappers. Production is handled by DJ Babu, Madlib, DJ Khalil and others. But the spotlight is on Mitchy Slick, Phil the Agony and Krondon, three L.A. MCs who have been slugging it out since the mid-to-late 90s. Talk about patiently waiting! The track listing, along with a YouTube video for their single "One Step," are below.
The Roots work on new album, tour
Last month, Questlove of the Roots told Allhiphop.com that the band is working on its 10th full-length album, tentatively called Rising Down.
"We’re trying to make number ten as exciting as number one was, as exciting as number five was," he said. "I’m amped that not many groups get ten opportunities to make a statement. Not even Hip-Hop, just period. You can’t even count ten records from the same group, that much, maybe on a few fingers. We’re very fortunate, and happy, and we are definitely pushing our envelope again."
It’s great to read that the Roots continue to work on an album-every-two-years schedule, especially since 2006’s Game Theory was excellent. But their main role has always been as hip-hop’s certified road warriors that annually play 100+ concerts around the world. After wrapping up a summer jaunt in Europe, they’ll return to the U.S. under the auspices of thirtysomething entertainment/celebreality channel VH-1.
This particular package is called the VH-1 Hip-Hop Honors Tour, named after the channel’s hall of fame blowout. For those who have seen the band play countless times (like, uh, me), old school legends MC Lyte and Big Daddy Kane will bring some new flavor. Expect plenty of breakbeats and thousand-strong singalongs to "Ain’t No Half Steppin’." The tour is part of a U.S. journey that winds through several late summer festivals, and dates are below.
Little Brother gets back “Getback”
Somewhere in the midst of a typical MySpace "Tigallo" rant about the NAACP’s mock funeral of the N-word, Little Brother figurehead Phonte Coleman managed to share news on the group’s third album, Getback. He writes that it’s scheduled to drop September 25 on ABB Records.
"Anyway, for all the people who’s been askin, "Getback" is droppin 9/25 on ABB Records, and don’t worry, me and Pooh gon be sayin ‘nigga’ all thew that shit," he writes.
Unlike 2005’s The Minstrel Show, the new Little Brother epic will not be released via Atlantic, since the group and the label parted ways earlier this year. More updates soon.
Mumbles returns with “Transformations/Illuminations”
It’s been nine years since Matthew "Mumbles" Fowler (not to be confused with Mums the Word) paired with the great West Coast lyricist Aceyalone to create A Book of Human Language, one of the best albums of the late 90s independent era. Despite the acclaim it earned from the press, he chose to disappear into a long spiritual journey. He studied with the Indian spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and traveled to India, deepening his commitment to Hinduism.
The result of his travels is Transformations/Illuminations. Set for release on August 28 through Sound In Color, it reunites him with Aceyalone for three tracks. (In related news, Aceyalone is dropping his new album, Lightning Strikes, via Project Blowed on August 14.) The guest list for Transformations is an eclectic one, ranging from his father and uncle the Fowler Brothers; to labelmate and rapper Blu; to DJs Cut Chemist and Marvski; and Brazilian jazz singer Flora Purim. The sounds, inspired by Indian music and jazz, are more authentic than any of Timbaland’s kitsch. The track listing is below.
Embedded gets Iller Than Theirs
Brooklyn imprint Embedded Records — the small imprint owned by Definitive Jux label manager and DJ/producer Ese — comes back to life with a slate of fall releases after a year-plus silence marked by the occasional 12-inch single and/or EP and Loer Velocity’s Ready for a Renaissance.
First up is Iller Than Theirs. Due on September 18, Tone Tank and Krayo’s self-titled debut was produced by J. Howells Werthman, and features guest shots from Masta Ace and Cool Calm Pete. "Iller Than Theirs is a reaction to all things bloated & phony, boring & corporate, fancy & fashioned, dead & robotic. It is a barroom brawl of a record, honestly eccentric, wildly colored and just a little bit ILLER than the rest of y’all," reads a press release for the album. That sounds more evocative than anything I could come up with.
Junk Science, who’ve been making trips up and down the East Coast for a minute now, are equally dedicated to sparking barroom brawls. Their new album, Grandad’s Nerve Tonic, is scheduled to hit in October. Look for more projects from the Nuclear Family, too, including an album from Scott Thorough and a crew sampler. But first, the Iller Than Theirs track list, which you’ll find below.
Z-Trip goes “All Pro” on tour
By now, it’s well established that Z-Trip is the modern progenitor of the mashup, thanks to his groundbreaking 2001 mix CD with DJ P, Uneasy Listening. But you’d be surprised how few of the Music for Robots crowd that jock Diplo, Danger Mouse, Girl Talk, Donna Summer, et al give him props.
Oh well. Z-Trip’s got plenty of fans anyway, especially on the West Coast. He’s got a whopping 400,000 friends on MySpace — top that, Greg Gillis! And he’s got a new project, too. It’s his first since 2005’s Shifting Gears, and it’s for a video game, the forthcoming All-Pro Football 2K8. Z-Trip’s All Pro features guest shots from Chali 2na, Rakim, Aceyalone, Gift of Gab, Slug, dead prez and many others. Highlights include a revisit of Rakim’s "Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em" and a remix of Rush’s "Tom Sawyer," a prime cut for turntablists back in the day.
Z-Trip’s All Pro comes out July 31 on Decon Records. He’s also heading on the road to promote the CD: tour dates and track listing are below.
Jneiro Jarel introduces Shape of Broad Minds
After much MySpace hype, hard-working New York producer-rapper Omar Gilyard is debuting his latest creation: Shape of Broad Minds. The man known as Jneiro Jarel has assembled a supporting cast that includes Atlanta rapper Panama Black, Houston multi-instrumentalist Jawwaad and, schizophrenically, a few alternate Jneiro personalities named Rocque Wun and Dr. Who Dat.
The group’s first release is The Blue Experience EP, a teaser that hits July 17 and features the lead single "Let’s Go" with MF Doom. After that comes Craft of the Lost Art, a long player featuring guest appearances from Count Bass D, Lil Sci, Stacy Epps and Deborah Jordan. It arrives via Lex Records on September 4, and the track listing is below.
"It’s basically Jneiro Jarel plus," he told the Chicago Sun-Times earlier this year. "When you have one name, people expect whatever they’ve heard from you in the past. But if you go by these different aliases, they know to expect [different styles] from you."