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Category Archives: News
X-Clan postpones Mecca until 2007
In an Oct. 18 MySpace bulletin Brother J announced that X-Clan is postponing its comeback album.
"Suburban Noize and the X-Clan music group have both agreed that the best time for this product to drop would be February 2007," writes Brother J. Founded by Daddy X of Kottonmouth Kings, the rap-rock and funk-metal Suburban Noize imprint is releasing X-Clan’s Return from Mecca. "This album is not just an average release," Brother J promises. "It is the blueprint for the new millennium of conscious writers, artists, and music consumers that don’t have a consisent source to inspire them. This album feels pure like when I first recorded To the East, Blackwards in 1990."
Jazzy Jeff announces Hip-Hop Forever III
"Jazzy" Jeff Townes is a rare example of an old-school giant who stays relevant. Never selling out to the Hot 97 formula of club mixing, he mentors young Philadelphia acts (think Musiq and Jill Scott) while staying true to the sonic activism of turntable hip-hop through sundry panel appearances and DJ gigs. He’s more than that weirdo who gets thrown out of Will Smith’s mansion on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Now Jazzy Jeff is finally issuing a follow-up to his acclaimed 2002 debut The Magnificent. The new album is tentatively scheduled for a February 2007 release and reportedly includes collaborations with Method Man, De La Soul and Little Brother.
Before that, Jazzy Jeff is dropping Hip-Hop Forever III, a sequel to his 2004 mix CD Hip-Hop Forever II on October 31. It finds Jeff flipping classic backpacker cuts, from Eric B. and Rakim’s "Eric B. is President" to Jay Dee’s "Fuck Tha Police."
Cut Chemist brings “Listening” to Apple, tours with Lyrics Born
Former Jurassic 5 turntablist Cut Chemist continues to promote his excellent debut album, The Audience’s Listening. You can hear "The Audience’s Listening Theme Song" on a new iPod Nano commercial. The success of the clip — which is undoubtedly playing on your television set as you read this — fuels the momentum of "What’s the Altitude," the second single from the album. The single, a collaboration with Los Angeles MC Hymnal, includes dance-oriented remixes from She Wants Revenge and the Astronauts, and an Avalanches-like sampladelic adventure from UK producer Joe Buddha.
Meanwhile, Cut Chemist is taking to the road for a co-headlining tour with Lyrics Born. The man formerly known as Asia Born, whose music has also appeared in "commercial form" (courtesy of Coca-Cola) is about to release a live album, Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live! The Quannum Records release hits stores on October 31. Audiences will get a taste of what it sounds like when they see the chief party rocker in person.
Fourth-quarter comebacks from Jay-Z, Nas
Three years after The Black Album and his "retirement" from the rap game, Jay-Z finally returns with his 9th album of original material, Kingdom Come. The disc is scheduled for release via Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam on November 21.
Last week the Def Jam president "leaked" what may become the most overanalyzed MP3 in history, "Show Me What You Got." An in-depth history of the song by Jay-Z and producer Just Blaze is available for perusal at XXL magazine, and a video will debut on MTV on Oct. 16.
Meanwhile, Nas is launching the hype machine for his new album. The title was tweaked from Hip-Hop is Dead? to Hip-Hop is Dead…the N, and its release date was pushed back from November 7 to December 19. The first street single is "Where Y’all At."
Mr. Lif covers football, international territory
Last week, Definitive Jux artist Mr. Lif launched a new podcast, Yo! Football Radio, with RhymeCity Records owner Jason Griffin. On the hourlong show, the duo offer some dense analysis of week four in the NFL.
"One thing you will know about our radio stuff is that we will flash some stats at you. But generalization is probably my specialty," says Lif.
"We’re about 50/50 on our stats," adds Griffin.
"But that’s why it’s by the fans for the motherfuckin’ fans," says Lif.
Funkstörung: 1992-2006
Funkstörung has split up. Chris de Luca and Michael Fakesch announced the group’s end through a statement posted on their website last month. "Whatever the reasons were: musical differences, personal problems, the distance of 700 KM between Rosenheim and Chris’ new place in Berlin – who cares … fact is we both agreed it’s better to focus on solo projects from here on out," wrote the duo.
Zion-I & the Grouch hit the road
Bay Area rap mystics Zion-I and Living Legends cynic the Grouch are hitting the road for a massive 40-city-plus tour across the United States and Canada. The two Cali acts will promote their new collabo album, Heroes in the City of Dope, which just hit stores courtesy of Om Records. As an added bonus other underground acts like the Visionaries, Crown City Rockers, Hangar 18, and Deuce Eclipse will join in on special dates.
Plastic Little gets mature, reveals Jay-Z-roticism
Dopest album cover of the year: Plastic Little’s sampler for the upcoming She’s Mature, where some kid fronts like The Smiths’ famous artwork for "This Charming Man" (a still of Jean Marais from Orphée).
The liner notes on the back, designed by grahic artist Jayson Scott Musson (a.k.a. Plastic Little’s PackofRats) are even more hilarious:
Consequence announces new album, tour dates
While opening for A Tribe Called Quest at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Consequence announced that his long delayed album Don’t Quit Your Day Job will finally drop in February 2007. Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music, which enjoys a distribution deal with Sony BMG, will put it out. But with SA-RA and Fonsworth Bentley set to drop soon, too, you may have to wait a little longer.