Here’s an unusual one:
Director Shan Baidwan’s video for “World We’re In” builds on the politically charged lyrics from emcee Cynic,depicting a dream-like scenareo where youth are manipulated like puppets by the man with the microphone.
Cynic on the mike, DJ Muggs on the boards. From Soul Assassins’ Intermission, out now.
For all you cineastes. More on this project shortly.
Brother Ali’s fourth album, Us, drops September 22 on Rhymesayers. As usual, ANT handles the production, while Joell Ortiz, Freeway, Chuck D. and Stokley Williams from Mint Condition make guest appearances.
Here’s the press info:
Brother Ali’s last album, the critically acclaimed The Undisputed Truth, was a landmark in hip-hop, an album that carried weight equally with critics and fans alike, an album of bold statements and bolder beats, politically and socially aware without being preachy. His new album, Us (out September 22nd on Rhymesayers Entertainment), is a progression that will make Brother Ali one of the most enduring figures in hip-hop; while still aware, Ali has turned his gaze inward, and started examining the human condition from the outside in. A profound personal glimpse into a vulnerability seldom seen or heard in music, Us touches on the strengths and flaws of the human condition, exploring drug abuse, divorce, homophobia and many more topics that most people are scared to touch in their own lives, much less on an album for the world to see.
New video from Mayer Hawthorne’s forthcoming A Strange Arrangement. Plug One is not dead!
Paul D. Miller, best known as DJ Spooky, is about to release his first full-length solo album in nearly a decade. But he’s been far from idle. In the new millennium, he’s issued conceptual mix CDs (from Modern Mantra to Under the Influence), collaborated with other musicians (including pianist Matthew Shipp for Optometry and Twilight Circus Dub Sound System for Riddim Clash), created audio/visual projects (including last year’s Antarctica adventure) and written a few books. But for those of us who remember the 90s “subliminal kid” who called his dub-strained beats “illbient” and worked with Kool Keith and Pharoahe Monch, The Secret Song is a long-awaited event.
Set for release on October 6 via Thirsty Ear Recordings, The Secret Song features collaborations with Thurston Moore, the Jungle Brothers, the Coup, Rob Swift and Mike Ladd. Check below for an excerpt from the press release. As is typical of the loquacious Spooky, it goes on a bit, so pull up a chair.
On September 1, Chicago rap vet Qwel and producer Maker will complete their “four seasons” trilogy with So Be It. It (and the crazy album cover) arrives via Galapagos4. Check the press info for a musical description:
Qwel & Maker reunite for the highly anticipated and long overdue “So Be It†on Galapagos4. The album’s grimy soundscape and hard hitting drums make it the perfect ending for Qwel’s four seasons project, which began with Qwel & Maker’s 2004 classic, “The Harvestâ€.
Maker’s production on “So Be It†masterfully captures both the blazing and sometimes overwhelming hear of the summer and the cool relief of a summer night. The hypnotizing beats provide for a roller coaster of emotions and wide range of topics while staying true to a much larger overall theme.
Whether pondering hope and love or drug addictions and authority, Qwel amazingly accentuates the provided backdrop with flows ranging from rapid fire to melancholy and hazy.
Those expecting the fluff and filler so prevalent in modern hip hop will surely sit in disappointment. So be it.
Seattle duo Blue Scholars has signed a deal with Duck Down. In recent years they’ve issued material on Rawkus and Hyena Records; hopefully Duck Down will provide a lasting home for them. (No word on where their Massline brethren, Gabriel Teodros and Common Market, will head next.) An EP, Oof!, is scheduled for August 25, followed by a new album in 2010.
To fund their upcoming projects, Blue Scholars have partnered with Caffe Vita, a small coffee roasting company that operates several stores in the Northwest area. “Coffee is both International and local, it effects the lives of millions, and it has tremendous ability to generate culture. We believe strongly in the work of the Blue Scholars and their power to look beyond the basic commodity that music has become. We are honored that Sabzi and Geo see that Vita is striving for the same goals,” says Caffe Vita founder Mike McConnell in a press release.
By working with two indie companies in Duck Down and Caffe Vita, Blue Scholars are continuing their commitment to socially responsible and politically aware art. Their music has yet to accomplish those ambitions, but they came incredibly close with the remarkable (if somewhat uneven) Bayani. Duck Down will reissue Bayani on September 1.
“I believe Blue Scholars is positioned to be one of the next important groups, not just in hip hop, but in music worldwide, and I want Duck Down to be a part of that,” says Duck Down CEO Dru Ha in the aforementioned release. “They bring their progressive ideas not just to their music and lyrics, but also in the way they think about and do their business.” At the very least, they could develop into a Brother Ali-type artist who communicates a true-school hip hop ethos to a wide audience.
The same could be said for Duck Down. Though the label has grown into one of the most important in independent hip hop, it has yet to release a universally acknowledged classic that truly motivates fans. But with a catalog of exciting albums (including Torae & Marco Polo’s recent Double Barrel), strong business moves and a diverse, talented roster that ranges from figurehead Buckshot to new-schoolers Kidz in the Hall, Duck Down is on the verge of becoming the next great indie rap influencer, and the first label to occupy that category since Stones Throw’s breakout year in 2006 (J Dilla’s Donuts, Georgia Anne Muldrow’s Olesi).
So, as you may have noticed, I have switched the WordPress theme back to the old “Mandigo” design. As much as I liked the “Evidens” design, I had trouble with its three-column structure. Apparently, many site visitors didn’t like it, either.
“Mandigo” is an old standby, but I’d much rather get off the stock template train once and for all. That’s where you come in.
I am currently looking for a designer who can bang out a WordPress theme for me. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just functional, search engine-friendly, and capable of handling several widgets. It should have some flavor to it; after all, this is a progressive hip hop site. And I don’t mind if you dip into your stock themes, as long as it is customized exclusively for this site.
I’d prefer to work with someone in Northern California, but am willing to entertain offers elsewhere. Price is negotiable, but free is better. This site is a labor of love — I haven’t made a single dime off it — and I don’t have much to spend.
If you’re interested, contact me at plugoneboss@yahoo.com. Be prepared to provide some examples of your work.
Thanks!
Mos Def is currently on tour behind his new album, The Ecstatic. Jay Electronica, who has an album dropping via Decon Records this fall, is lending support. Erykah Badu and Mos’ old crew Medina Green appear on select dates.
Old news is good news:
Mission:’s Everything but the Album (divshare.com), Kenn Starr’s It’s Still Real (freshselects.net), J. Rawls’ Hotel Beats Vol. 1 (beatlife.net), B. Dolan’s House of Bees Vol. 1 (urb.com), Beatnick & K-Salaam’s Where The Streets Have No Name (illroots.com), Omni’s I Am Omni EP (www.iamomni.com)
It seems like Slum Village, one of the most influential rap groups of the past decade, is marked by tragedy. Titus “Baatin” Glover passed away on Saturday, August 1 from mysterious causes. He was 35 years old. (A medical autopsy is pending.) His death comes three years after the demise of co-founder James “J Dilla” Yancey.
With his trademark turban, piercingly ruddy voice and sinewy demeanor, Baatin exemplified Slum Village’s contradictions more than any other member. On their classic Fantastic Vol. 2, he espoused spirituality and a holistic lifestyle, yet celebrated urban hedonism on record, predating subsequent Muslim thug rappers like Freeway and the Jacka.
After J Dilla left amicably for a solo career, T3 and Baatin added Elzhi to the group and landed a hit single, “Tainted,” from Trinity (Past, Present and Future). Shortly after that, Baatin went AWOL as he suffered from crack addiction and mental illness. (He would be diagnosed with schizophrenia.) Slum Village, now just Elzhi & T3, distanced themselves from Baatin — “Reunion,” the final track on SV’s 2004 album Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit), was considered a “wake up call” to him.
In recent years, Baatin cleaned himself up, and he rejoined T3 and Elzhi for their Rock the Bells dates this year. The trio was set to issue a new album, Villa Manifesto, in September on Barak Records. Sadly, it will now commemorate two fallen soldiers in the SV family instead of just one.
Rest in peace.
Tanya Morgan made a video for their hilarious parody “Hardcore Gentlemen.” It’s directed by Ilyas. Check below for Hardcore Gentlemen’s slightly overdone “press bio.” Question: How can they have only one self-titled single AND a gold album and follow-up single?
True to the Rhymesayers tradition, Eyedea & Abilities are putting in major work for their just-released album By The Throat. The summerlong trek kicks off with several Rock the Bells and Atmosphere support slots, and continues with a short headlining run.
With the years-in-the-making CrownsDown scheduled for October 6, Themselves head to the road and knock off a few West Coast dates.
Next up on Brainfeeder:Â the Gaslamp Killer’s My Troubled Mind EP. Is anyone surprised that Brainfeeder is taking care of business in ’09? So many artists announce boutique labels that come to naught that it’s easy to get cynical. Props to Flying Lotus for taking care of business.
My Troubled Mind drops August 5. Here’s more info from the bio:
Resident DJ at the world renowned Low End Theory club night, the Gaslamp Killer has received global acclaim for his magnificent turntable skills and larger-than-life stage presence. Now the Gaslamp Killer is proud to unleash his highly anticipated debut release, the aptly-titled “My Troubled Mind” EP. Dropping August 4th on Flying Lotus’ essential Brainfeeder imprint, “My Troubled Mind” is a tastefully short seven songs, showcasing GLK’s courageous expeditions into otherworldly soundscapes.
“My Troubled Mind” ultimately portrays the eccentricity and multiple personalities of the wildest DJ in Los Angeles. Raw drum breaks glide over the deep sample palette of GLK’s prestigious world psych/funk collection, making the “My Troubled Mind” EP a true voyage into sound. The Gaslamp Killer experiments with freak-out sound effects and analog delays, married with analog synth lines provided by close friend and collaborator Computer Jay. The result is a truly remarkable audio experience, meshing perfectly with the unclassifiable sonic aesthetic of Brainfeeder.
Here’s the new video for Zion-I’s “Coastin’,” courtesy of Okayplayer.com.
Sorry for the abrupt shifts in the template design. I am trying to switch Plug One over to a new stock template, but my analytics system isn’t recognizing the subsequent traffic. I hope to fix the problem soon.
Today, seminal trio De La Soul kicks off its first tour since last year’s “Rock the Bells” run.
Of course, touring hasn’t been a problem for the Long Island group. However, they haven’t released a new album since 2004’s The Grind Date. De La recently took some steps towards that elusive goal by issuing Are You In?, a mini-album for Nike’s “Original Run” series in April. Hungry fans can content themselves with that and the knowledge that they’ll see one of the better live rap acts in the business. And oh yeah, isn’t this year the 20th anniversary of 3 Feet High and Rising?
De La Soul will be backed by the Rhythm Roots Allstars. Newcomer Kenan Bell (more on him in a minute) opens.
Next month, hardworking MC John Robinson joins forces with Midwest producer J. Rawls to form Jay Are. Their project, The 1960s Jazz Revolution Again was originally released in Japan on August 2008. It now gets international distribution via Polar Entertainment/Groove Attack on August 28.
Pigeon John and Flynn Adam (a.k.a. Rootbeer) are playing a few shows with Canadian reggae/punk troupe Bedouin Soundclash. Me, I’m still waiting for the LA Symphony reunion.
