Marco Polo & Ruste Juxx’s “The Execution”

Last year, Marco Polo killed it on his collaboration with Torae, Double Barrel. The producer returns on March 23, this time with Boot Camp Clik associate Ruste Juxx. Set for release via Duck Down Records, The eXXecution features guest shots from DJ Revolution, Ruck (a.k.a. Sean Price) and Rock from Heltah Skeltah, Freddie Foxxx and Black Moon.

Here’s a little bio hype:

Marco Polo & Ruste Juxx have combined forces to bring fans a serious dose of hardcore Hip Hop. The eXXecution is entirely produced by Marco Polo with Ruste Juxx providing gut-wrenching vocals over heavy hitting drums.

Marco Polo explains that a “simple studio session to play beats turned into Ruste Juxx recording 9 songs. The joints came out so crazy that we said let’s turn this into a full-length album. Working with Duck Down all these years it was only a matter of time before Juxx and I got to a specific project. The best part is the work happened organically. Nothing was forced. Ruste came through, heard beats, wrote, recorded…done deal. March 23rd is The eXXecution!”

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Raashan Ahmad tour dates

Crown City Rockers rapper Rashaan Ahmad goes back on the road for a few Western Hemisphere dates. Coolzey, who just dropped his new album The Honey, opens.

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Donwill’s “Laura’s Song”

Donwill adds the first chapter in his homage to the John Cusack vinyl-nerd classic High Fidelity. Props for the visual shot of David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane.

Directed by Marques Green. Taken from Don Cusack in High Fidelity, which drops March 26 on Interdependent Media.

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Daedelus and Nosaj Thing on “Magical Properties” tour

Next week, Daedelus promotes his new Magical Properties label with a month-long tour featuring Nosaj Thing and inaugural label artist Jogger.

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Amp Live’s “Murder At The Discotech”

Amp Live’s solo debut Murder at the Discotech drops March 16 on Child’s Play/Om Records. Sure, the Zion-I producer has dropped plenty of mashup mixtapes before — most notoriously the Radiohead mashup Rainydayz Remixes — but this is the first official collection of original material.

Cue the bio snippet:

The anticipated electronic and hip hop fused record features guest vocals by Mickey Factz, Zumbi of Zion I, Grouch, Eligh, Trackademicks, Fashawn, Myka Nyne, Hot Tub, Yak Ballz, My First Earthquake, Golda Supa Nova, Bambu, Dude Royal and more. Featuring the internet buzz hits ‘Gary is a Robot’ featuring Trackademicks (Fools Gold) & Mr. Micro and ‘Turn it Up’ featuring Mickey Factz (XXL hottest mcs to watch out for 2010), Murder at the Discotech is best defined as electro hop; melting dubstep, electro, hip hop and indy in to one pot.

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Donwill’s “Don Cusack in High Fidelity”

In 2008, all three Tanya Morgan’s MCs dropped Internet mixtapes. But this year, they’ll issue their solo efforts officially. First up is Donwill: Set for release via Interdependent Media on March 23, Don Cusack in High Fidelity features production from TM cohort Von Pea, Keelay & Zaire, Brick Beats and A-Plus from Souls of Mischief.

More via the bio:

Don Cusack In High Fidelity is Donwill’s musical representation of the movie from which it took its name. Not only is High Fidelity Donwill’s personal favorite film, but he identified with John Cusack’s character, Rob Gordon, so much that he created an entire album inspired by the movie. Donwill incorporated personal stories of falling in love, fearing commitment, hating his job, and learning life lessons, to create a clever and deeply personal musical interpretation of the film. Skillfully and artfully crafted using direct subject matter and quotes from the cult classic, the 16-track personal odyssey will resonate not only with fans of the original movie but also with anyone who has spent time trying to figure out the opposite sex. “The album is based on being in a state of perpetual pre-mid-life crisis,” says Donwill. “Nothing in life will give you all the answers, but this album will help people find some of the answers they might be looking for.”

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DJ Yoda’s brief U.S. run

UK cut-n-paste dynamo DJ Yoda is about to make a rare visit to the States for a very short series of gigs. Check him out if you happen to be in his proximity.

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Kidz in the Hall’s “Land of Make Believe”

Originally scheduled for October 13, 2009, Kidz in the Hall’s third album Land of Make Believe now drops March 9 on Duck Down Records. Guests include established artists MC Lyte, Marsha Ambrosius and Just Blaze; as well as blog-buoyed upstarts Colin Munroe, the Kid Daytona, Donnis and Chip tha Ripper.

Here are a few details:

Kidz In The Hall are embarking on their next journey into the LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE. For Naledge, MC of Kidz In The Hall, he sees the project as “the moment we have worked for has come to a crossroad. We strive for success in this music industry, but we have never taken time to look ourselves in the mirror and analyze what this industry has made us. As a lyricist, I used this album to serve as a soundtrack to my aspirations and to my downfalls, but also as a chance to evaluate who I am as a man compared to whom I envisioned myself to be.”

Examining the current climate of our world today, LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE, is a timely reminder for us all to take a step back and analyze how we can strive to be better and achieve more. Double-O highlights this further by saying that “The Land of Make Believe is different things for different people. For us it is the space between where we are now as artists and where we feel we should be. It’s the idea that until you actually get to your destination or goal you have to act like you are already there.”

The first single from the album, “FLICKIN”, currently available at iTunes worldwide, is a prime example of dichotomy of imagination and reality. The title is a colloquial Chicago term. Naledge explains “Flickin'” is the idea that at any point in time something is photo-ready or picturesque. When I was younger it was used to describe a person’s car, shoes, haircut, or outfit. Any material possession with physical beauty.” “Confidence is key” Double-0 adds, “The song should make you feel good when you look in the mirror regardless of what you have on.”

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Eyedea & Abilities back on the road

Eyedea & Abilities continue to tour behind last year’s By The Throat. One-man band and Andrew Bird collaborator Dosh opens.

Want to read an official missive? Have at it:

2009 was a landmark year for Minnesota-based duo Eyedea and Abilities – the group made a rousing comeback from a five-year hiatus with the release of their new album By The Throat, their most progressive and refined effort to date. The live appearances that followed the album’s release (including several dates with Atmosphere) once again proved the duo’s penchant for intense, emotionally draining performances.

In keeping with the Rhymesayers’ penchant for relentless touring schedules, the duo are heading out on a three week run of dates that will see them crossing into Canada as well as blanketing the West Coast and Southwest of the US. Audiences can expect nothing less than a frenetic bombast featuring the respected vocal talents of legendary MC Eyedea (renowned winner of HBO’s Blaze Battle, Scribble Jam, etc.) accompanied by the virtuosic accompaniment of DJ Abilities, long respected for his immaculate turntablism skills.

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Kosha Dillz’ “Heroes for Haiti” tour

Kosha Dillz hits the road for another string of dates, this time in tow with Flex Matthews and Pig Pen. Many of the shows are support gigs for others but hey, as long as he gets it done. The New York rapper promises to dedicate some of the proceeds from the tour to victims of the Haiti earthquake disaster.

Here’s more from the press release:

In times of cold weather and despair, Kosha Dillz has decided to heat it up by taking a trip to the some of the most frigid and tropical places in America w/ Flex Mathews (DC rapper of the year). With guests ranging from Trevor Hall and Slick Rick to Del the Funky Homospaien and Mike Posner, the alternative DIY MC has set up each show as a fundraiser for Haiti earthquake victims with a donation box and portions of merchandise sales to go to victims. The tour spans across the entire USA from NJ to Hawaii, and aims to increase the awareness of the devastation in Haiti and raise over $10,000 dollars in humanitarian aid for the earthquake victims via real face to face contact, the way all heroes should interact.

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Gil Scott-Heron’s “Me and the Devil”

Interesting if disorienting clip. I would have preferred to see more of Gil instead of all the skateboard kids dressed up for Day of the Dead. However, videos are a marketing tool, and Scott-Heron’s label obviously wants the young folks to pick up the album.

Directed by Coodie & Chike (the same team behind Mos Def’s recent “Casa Bey” clip) and Michael Sterling Eaton. Taken from I’m New Here, which drops February 9 on XL/Beggars Group.

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The Wrap Up – January 22, 2009

The love I lost:

  • Al Green producer Willie Mitchell dead at 81 (pollstar.com)
  • 10 reasons to be cautiously optimistic about rap in ’10 (latimes.com)
  • Philly soul legend Teddy Pendergrass dead at 51 (billboard.com)
  • Admin for defunct torrent site Oink wins criminal court case (wired.com)
  • Wyclef Jean defends Yele Haiti against accusations of financial impropriety (rollingstone.com)
  • Hudson Mohawke’s awesome Internet video game Butterstar Galactica (hudsonmohawke.com)
  • Remembering the late Jam Master Jay on what would have been his 45th birthday (rollingstone.com)
  • Radiohead’s Thom Yorke openly pines for collabos with DOOM, Madlib, other progressive hip hoppers (hiphopdx.com)
  • Supreme Court openly lusts for Mumia Abu-Jamal’s execution (cnn.com)
  • Queensbridge rapper Killa Sha of Juice Crew, Super Kids fame passes (hiphopdx.com)
  • Banksy set to debut Exit Through the Gift Shop documentary at Sundance Festival (beatlife.net)

Wake up, everybody: Blame One, Leaks & Gemz (okayplayer.com), Blu, theGODleeBarnes(lp) (okayplayer.com), Mickey Factz’ the dark phoenix: ALPHA (okayplayer.com), Reflection Eternal, The Re:Union (okayplayer.com), The Knux, The Fuck You EP (yousendit.com), The Cool Kids’ Merry Christmas (coolxkids.com), Jack Splash’s King of the Beats (mediafire.com), Big Pooh’s Purple Tape (rapperbigpooh.bandcamp.com), Count Bass D & DJ Pocket’s In The Loop (limelinx.com), Gucci Mane and Diplo’s Free Gucci: Best of the Cold War Mixtapes (maddecent.com), Om Unit’s All City Records 2010 sampler (soundcloud.com), Strictly Kev’s Kraftwerk Kover Kollection (bosbos.net)

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P.O.S.’s “Every Never Is Now” tour

I’ve written it before, and I’ll write it again…Rhymesayers are the ultimate hip hop road dogs. While overhyped swag rappers screw over audiences with drunken lip-synch gigs, and indie rap artists wander around their respective states for a dozen dates and call it a day, the Minneapolis crew perform hundreds of shows a year. And people still act surprised when P.O.S. clocks over 20,000 albums while the media “sleeps.” The proof is in the pudding.

The punk rapper/vocalist continues to support last year’s gem, Never Better. This time around, he’s taking along fellow Doomtree member Dessa, with Astronautalis and Grieves on select dates.

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Meanest Man Contest’s “Partially Smart”

Oh snap, it’s Meanest Man Contest. Early 00s Anticon/”emo” rap geeks will remember those guys.

Directed by John Irwin, and made in conjunction with the web series “TXTM3B1TCH.” Taken from the Partially Smart EP, which you can download here.

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Myka 9’s “Upper Echelon Tour”

First, the good news: Myka 9 is touring again, ostensibly in support of his new Magic Heart Genies project, Cardiac Arrest (which drops January 26). And yes, he’ll probably do renditions of “Park Bench People,” and maybe even “7th Seal” for you. Now the bad news: much of this tour hasn’t been booked yet, so there’s a good chance that he won’t hit your fair town. Fingers crossed.

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Goodie Mob mount proper comeback tour

Recently reunited Southern gods Goodie Mob have mounted a proper tour less than a few months after their last attempt resulted in a string of canceled dates. However, don’t be surprised if this is a merely a warm-up to a slot on this summer’s Rock the Bells jaunt, as the tour is being presented by Guerilla Union.

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Count Bass D and DJ Pocket’s “New Day”

Count Bass D and Baltimore producer/MC DJ Pocket rock the low-fi visuals. Normally this would be a problem but, hey, it’s Count Bass D.

Taken from the “street album” In the Loop, which you can download here.

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Dessa’s “Dixon’s Girl”

Dessa drives through the snow with a horde of Minneapolis freaks. I’m not really sold on her album — she does too much singjay harmonizing and not enough spoken-word/rapping — but this clip will do just fine.

Directed by Todd Cobery. From A Badly Broken Code, which drops January 19.

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Prefuse 73, Gaslamp Killer on tour

Next week, Prefuse 73 kicks off a tour with the Gaslamp Killer as support. The opening act will be indie-pop duo VoicesVoices; their debut album, Origins, was produced by Prefuse and drops January 26 on Manimal Vinyl. VoicesVoices will also join Prefuse during his live set.

For all those who think Prefuse just sits on stage and tweaks his laptop, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. He’s toured with a quartet for the past few years, and the combo delivers muscular renditions of his glitch-hop hits. And, of course, the unpredictable Gaslamp Killer always delivers the banging beats sets. It’s worth checking out.

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RJD2’s “Let There Be Horns”

This isn’t exactly what I expected in regards to a video treatment for this track, but I guess it fits in with the current quirky/”indie” aesthetic. At least there weren’t any naked white guys running around (inside joke).

Directed by Thom Glunt. Taken from RJD2’s The Colossus, which drops Tuesday, January 19 on RJ’s Electrical Connections. I’m sure all you guys looking for a leaked version of the album will be happy about that…

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