The Grouch delivers “Show You the World”

Posted on March 4, 2008 by plugoneboss

When we last heard from the Grouch, he was making a memorable guest appearance on edIT’s acclaimed Certified Air Raid Material. “You ain’t artsier than me,” he rapped on “Artsy,” “because you got sideburns and a vintage T.”

With his umpteenth album, the Grouch continues to prove that he can get just as artsy as any self-respecting yoga-practicing L.A. hipster. (Dude’s put out so many collabos, solo joints, and demo collections that I’ve lost count.) Show You the World hits retailers via Legendary Music and Alpha Pup Distribution on April 8.

Guests on Show You the World include Murs, Bicasso, and Scarub from the mighty Living Legends crew, Raphael Saddiq, and Abstract Rude. “I worked on this record for almost threes years,” says the Grouch in a press release. “More, this record was an idea that sprang to mind after the birth of my daughter, Rio, in 2006. As soon as she arrived all I could do is think about wanting to show her everything that I love. I was quickly humbled when I realized I was learning as much from her as she was from me.”

Show You the World is one of several Living Legends releases set to hit stores this spring. More on that later. But for now, check out the track listing below.

  • 1. “Watch Watch” (feat. Mike Marshall)
  • 2. “Clones”
  • 3. “Artsy”
  • 4. “Favorite Folks”
  • 5. “Yardwork”
  • 6. “God Bless the Elephant” (feat. Abstract Rude)
  • 7. “Show You The World” (feat. Raphael Saadiq)
  • 8. “The Bay to LA” (feat. Murs)
  • 9. “Mom & Pop Killer”
  • 10. “Never Die”
  • 11. “Woman”
  • 12. “Bring It Back”
  • 13. “Hot Air Balloons” (feat. Bicasso & Scarub)
  • 14. “The Time” (feat. Marty James from One Block Radius)
  • 15. “Breath”

Plug One review: Zion-I & the Grouch, Heroes in the City of Dope

www.therealgrouch.com
www.myspace.com/thegrouch

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The Roots author “Rising Down”

Posted on March 3, 2008 by plugoneboss


Visitors to Okayplayer.com will notice that the hype machine is in full gear for the next Roots opus. Their eighth album, Rising Down, is scheduled for release via Def Jam on April 29.

To stoke the online faithful, the Roots has released a new video for their debut “street” single, “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction).” (You can download the video at Okayplayer.com.) They’ve also unveiled the first wave of dates for what will undoubtedly be a long and extensive world tour. And finally, the Roots have a new bassist to replace founding bassist Hub, who left the group in 2007: bassist Owen Biddle.

No track listing has been revealed yet. However, several song titles have been carefully leaked to satisfy the online rabble, including an “official” first single, “Birthday Girl,” with Fall Out Boy lead singer Patrick Stump. “We don’t know if we’re gonna have another chance for a grand statement,” Questlove told MTV.com. “We’re not playing. This is probably our most political record.”

Excited yet? Check out the tour dates below.

  • 3/07: Langerado Music Festival, Homestead, FL
  • 3/08: House of Blues Lake, Buena Vista, FL
  • 3/09: Janus Landing, St Petersburg, FL
  • 3/29: Millikin University, Decatur, IL
  • 3/30: Kool Haus, Toronto, ON
  • 4/05: University of Texas, Austin, TX
  • 4/07: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
  • 4/09: Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
  • 4/11: Pickle Barrell Nightclub, Killington, VT
  • 4/12: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
  • 4/16: Purdue University West, Lafayette, IN
  • 4/17: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
  • 4/18: Webster University, St. Louis, MO
  • 4/20: Green Apple Festival, Washington, DC
  • 4/26: Tigerfest Towson University, Towson, MD
  • 5/03: Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA
  • 5/04: House of Blues, New Orleans, LA

www.myspace.com/theroots

Photo by Mel D. Cole

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Review: Cadence Weapon, “Afterparty Babies”

Posted on March 2, 2008 by Max Herman

Cadence Weapon
Afterparty Babies
Anti-

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

The number of MCs who rely on dance-centric sounds has increased dramatically. Yet not many within the party rap scene have been able to move past a carefree, sex-saturated paradigm. No doubt, there’s a time and place for booty anthems, but Alberta, Canada’s Cadence Weapon is part of the hip-hop minority that believes there’s room for intelligence and variety in the club.

While Cadence Weapon’s sophomore release, Afterparty Babies, isn’t made entirely for enjoyment on linoleum floors, it does draw heavily from multiple dance styles. His up-tempo beats certainly make a curious and oft-effective pairing with his steadily shrewd raps. Taking influence from the sounds of his youth and experiences as a DJ, Afterparty Babies exudes plenty of party vibes, including the bouncy house styling of “In Search of the Youth Crew” and the electro-inspired “Getting Dumb.” On both tracks, Cadence openly raps about relationships and his generation while encouraging you to turn off the TV set and thinking for yourself. What works about these tracks is that he doesn’t beat listeners over the head with his wits or BPMs — he finds a balance.

There’s no denying that Cadence often succeeds at combining club sounds with sharp lyricism. But he can’t always have it both ways. With the frenetic new single, “House Music,” or “We Move Away,” his production overpowers the tracks to the point where you don’t necessarily want to pay attention to what he’s saying. At moments like this, Cadence arguably leaves his hip-hop foundation too far behind him. He still stands strongest when implementing his chopped-up video game style – the same direction he took on his 2005 breakout single, “Sharks.”

The good news is Cadence often updates this approach, most notably on “Limited Edition OJ Slammer.” This electro-meets-classic-arcade joint continues the danceable thread of the album while allowing room for textured sample manipulation. And amid the glitchy blips and video game synths, Cadence also drops some of his most biting social commentary as he deconstructs the devious nature of celebrity-focused tabloids and TV news coverage.

Even when he’s just commenting on club trends (“The New Face of Fashion”), though, Cadence Weapon is an enjoyable MC to listen to. His flow is effortless and conversational. True, his formula of rare IDM and complex lyrics doesn’t always work. But with Afterparty Babies, Cadence does his best at diving deep into the party movement while not giving in to one-dimensional sex rhymes.

— Max Herman

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Jay-Z leads “Heart of the City” tour

Posted on February 28, 2008 by plugoneboss


Remember Kanye West’s “Big Brother,” where he recounted how he and “big brother” Jay-Z always try to top each other? Well, before Kanye kicks off his “Glow in the Dark” marathon in May, Jay-Z will launch his “Heart of the City” tour in support of last year’s acclaimed American Gangster.

Named after a track from Jay-Z’s 2001 classic The Blueprint, the “Heart of the City” run features the queen of hip-hop soul herself, Mrs. Mary J. Blige. It marks the two’s first run together since Jay-Z’s aborted “Best of Both Worlds” tour back in 2004, when R. Kelly’s bitch-ass antics forced Jay-Z to finish the dates with a superstar-packed lineup. And, of course, Blige sang on Jay-Z’s first mainstream hit, “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” way back in 1996.

Check out the tour dates for Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige’s “Heart of the City” tour below.

  • 3/22: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
  • 3/24: Amway Arena, Orlando, FL
  • 3/26: 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD
  • 3/27: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NJ
  • 3/28: Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
  • 3/30: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
  • 4/02: AirCanada Centre, Toronto, ON
  • 4/03: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
  • 4/05: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
  • 4/06: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
  • 4/08: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
  • 4/09: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
  • 4/10: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
  • 4/12: Superpages.com Center, Dallas, TX
  • 4/15: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
  • 4/16: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
  • 4/18: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine, CA
  • 4/19: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
  • 4/20: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
  • 4/23: Pepsi Arena, Denver, CO
  • 4/25: Palace at Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
  • 4/26: United Center, Chicago, IL
  • 4/27: United Center, Chicago, IL
  • 5/02: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
  • 5/03: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
  • 5/06: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
  • 5/07: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

3/22-5/07: w/Mary J. Blige, the-Dream

www.jayzonline.com
www.myspace.com/jayz

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Braille gets help, tours for “The IV Edition”

Posted on February 28, 2008 by plugoneboss


Portland, Ore. rapper/entrepreneur Braille has assembled an amazing team of guests for his third album, The IV Edition.

Set to drop April 15 on Syntax Records (with distributon from Koch Entertainment), The IV Edition features spots from former Procussion J. Medeiros, Rob Swift, Speech from Arrested Development, Theory Hazit, and Manchild from Mars ILL. Producers include Ohmega Watts, the Are from K-Otix, Marco Polo, 88-Keys, DJ Spinna, S1 from Strange Fruit Project, Oh No, Kno from Cunninlynguists, K-Murdock from Panacea, and J-Zone.

Crazy lineup from a relatively unknown rapper, right? To top things off, Braille — who shares the Portland group Lightheaded with rappers Othello and Ohmega Watts — will jump on this year’s Warped Tour with Othello. Either Braille has made a backpacker masterpiece, or he just hired an incredible manager.

The “IV” in The IV Edition stands for international vision. Musically, much like Lightheaded’s work, Braille’s album promises to blend Christian and socio-political beliefs with bright, positive beats. The track listing for The IV Edition is below.

“The underground hip-hop base is a lot bigger than people think it is,” says Braille in a press release. “Sometimes when people think of the word underground, they think of basement albums that just get dubbed on tape. So I’m sticking to my roots. I believe that the audience for lyricism and good hip-hop is much larger than most people assume. I wanted to start with the hip-hop base and take it from there.”

  • 1. “Beautiful Humanity”
  • 2. “Submission Hold”
  • 3. “Calculated Risk” (feat. J. Medeiros & Manchild from Mars ILL)
  • 4. “The IV” (feat. Rob Swift)
  • 5. “Main Squeeze”
  • 6. “Remember Your Path” (feat. Rob Swift)
  • 7. “Constantly Growing” (feat. Speech from Arrested Development, Surreal & Sojourn)
  • 8. “Blessed Man”
  • 9. “Many Stories” (feat. Barry Hampton)
  • 10. “Raise the Dead” (feat. Poems from LA Symphony)
  • 11. “Double Dose”
  • 12. “Counter Attack” (feat. Theory Hazit & DJ Idull)
  • 13. “Mental Guards (Snitch Blade)”
  • 14. “Get It Right” (feat. Ragen Fykes)
  • 15. “Restless”
  • 16. “The Cure”
  • 17. Bonus Track
  • 18. “ADDvice” (feat. DJ Bombay)

www.myspace.combraillebrizzy

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Subtle offers “ExitingARM”

Posted on February 28, 2008 by plugoneboss


Bay Area mindbenders Subtle have prepared a new album for imminent release. ExitingARM, the third full-length release from the sextet, drops May 13 on Lex/EMI.

Subtle has maintained an uncategorizable, wildly artistic identity since Dose One and Jel from Anticon formed the group with musicians Dax Pierson, Jordan Dalrymple, Alexander Kort and Marty Dowers in 2001. Similar to TV on the Radio, the group uses pop and rock as springboards into sonic adventurism, led by Dose One’s mix of beat poetry, singing and freestyle raps.

“ExitingARM is a post-modern pop opus that’s crafted with the production sensibility of hip-hop and a prog/krautrock sense of collective composition,” reads a bio for Exiting ARM. “Subtle emboldens its sound with a unique songwriting style that’s loaded with fully developed characters and ongoing storylines, for an engrossing blend of prose and comic book imagery.”

The track listing for ExitingARM is below.

  • 1. “ExitingARM”
  • 2. “Day Dangerous”
  • 3. “The No”
  • 4. “Sick Soft Perfection”
  • 5. “Hollow Hollered”
  • 6. “The Crow”
  • 7. “Unlikely Shock Rock”
  • 8. “Take to Take”
  • 9. “Gonebones”
  • 10. “Wanted Found”
  • 11. “Providence”

www.subtlesix.net
www.myspace.com/subtlesix

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N.E.R.D. mounts promo tour for “N.R.3.D.”

Posted on February 26, 2008 by plugoneboss


You already know that skateboard icons and coke-rap enablers N.E.R.D. will open for Kanye West on his upcoming “Glow in the Dark” tour. Before that arena outing gets underway, though, Pharrell, Chad, and Shay will embark on a month-long tour through the eastern half of the United States.

The promo tour builds momentum for the group’s new album, tentatively titled N.R.3.D.. The album, scheduled to drop on Interscope Records, doesn’t have a release date yet. But in keeping with current trends, N.E.R.D. has begun promoting it months ahead of time in hopes that people will actually buy the music (as opposed to download it) when it comes out. For the young influents at SXSW in Austin, Tex. and other lucky towns, that means protracted chants to the strains of “Rock Star,” “Lapdance,” and N.E.R.D.’s new B-more influenced single, “Everyone Nose.”

Check out the dates below.

  • 3/01: Pearl Street Ballroom, Northampton, MA
  • 3/02: Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI
  • 3/04: Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY
  • 3/05: House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
  • 3/06: Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
  • 3/07: Bogart’s, Cincinnati, OH
  • 3/09: The Pageant, St. Louis, MO
  • 3/10: Sokol Auditorium, Omaha, NE
  • 3/11: Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS
  • 3/12: Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
  • 3/13: Fader Party, Austin TX
  • 3/14: Stubb’s, Austin TX
  • 3/17: The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN
  • 3/18: City Hall, Nashville, TN
  • 3/19: Diesel, Pittsburgh, PA
  • 3/21: House of Blues, North Myrtle Beach, SC
  • 3/22: The National, Richmond, VA
  • 3/24: Coyotes, Louisville, KY
  • 3/25: The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
  • 3/26: The Valarium, Knoxville, TN
  • 3/28: Free Bird Cafe, Jacksonville, FL

3/13-3/14: SXSW

nerdofficial.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/nerdofficial

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Prince Paul orchestrates “Baby Loves Hip-Hop”

Posted on February 26, 2008 by plugoneboss


Following in the footsteps of Andre 3000, who unleashed the underpromoted Class of 3000 last year, legendary conceptualist Prince Paul has assembled a demented new creation just for the kids: the Dino-5.

The cuddly supergroup — MC T-Rex (Chali 2na), Billy Brontosaurus (Wordsworth), Tracy Triceratops (Ladybug Mecca), TEO Pterodactyl (Scratch), and Prince Paul (DJ Stegosaurus) — have completed Baby Loves Hip-Hop, the latest installment in the Baby Loves Music series. The album drops on April 1. Several guest stars will up its appeal to buppies and rappers’ baby mamas alike, including De La Soul and Ursula Rucker.

“Part book on tape (narrated by Grammy winner poet Ursula Rucker) and part Broadway show (Chris Rock just optioned the story), ‘Baby Loves Hip Hop’ follows five best dino friends on a musical adventure as they teach key life lessons and have fun at the same time,” reads a press release. “The result is a prehistoric musical masterpiece for both kids and their parents!”

Baby Loves Hip-Hop follows last year’s Prince Paul project, Baby Elephant, a funk collaboration with Don Newkirk and P-Funk keyboardist Bernie Worrell. Upcoming releases for Paul include a soundtrack to the Ra the Rugged Man horror movie spoof Bad Biology.

Plug One review: Baby Elephant, Turn My Teeth Up!

www.myspace.com/princepaulofficialmyspacepage
www.babyloveshiphop.com

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C.R.A.C. holds “The Piece Talks”

Posted on February 26, 2008 by plugoneboss


L.A. rapper Blu, co-author (along with producer Exile) of last year’s critically-acclaimed Below the Heavens, and J-Dilla associate Ta’Raach have formed a new group called C.R.A.C. The duo’s debut, The Piece Talks, drops April 22 on Tres Records.

“C.R.A.C. is an acronym for Collect Respect Anna Check, a name and idealism representing the movement of like-minded musicians, artists, and producers for a structural change in previous stratifications of power and belief systems,” reads a press release. “Produced by Detroit’s finest, Ta’Raach, the musical landscape is reminiscent to early Bomb Squad productions complimented by the left-field humor and sensitivity similar to the work of Prince Paul for De La Soul.”

Some Internet nerds are already familiar with the C.R.A.C. sound. Two songs, “Love Don’t” and “Bullet Through Me” have circulated online for the past few weeks. The rest of the track listing, which you’ll find below, reveals a song-naming process as imaginative as their somewhat cryptic name (which is pronounced crass, by the way). Have a gander.

  • 1. “What Up (Part 2)”
  • 2. “Buy Me Lunch”
  • 3. “Love Don’t”
  • 4. “Major Way”
  • 5. “Activate (Too…)”
  • 6. “CRACHAUSE”
  • 7. “Respect”
  • 8. “Pop Dem Boyz”
  • 9. “2.16.05”
  • 10. “Mr. Big Fizz”
  • 11. “Chill”
  • 12. “Hello?!”
  • 13. “Go!”
  • 14. “Activate (As Well)”
  • 15. “Bullet Through Me”
  • 16. “Cotton”

Plug One review: Ta’Raach, The Fevers


www.myspace.com/cracknuckles

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Atmosphere previews “Lemons” with U.S. tour

Posted on February 24, 2008 by plugoneboss


Atmosphere, the dynamic tandem of rapper Slug and producer Ant, will celebrate the release of their highly-anticipated album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold with a relatively brief U.S. tour.

As one of the great hip-hop road dogs, Atmosphere are renowned for months-long tours that take in every nook and cranny of North America — meaning the U.S. and Canada; why not Mexico? But this jaunt will only include major U.S. cities, along with favorite markets such as Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Denver. The run is meant to build excitement for When Life Gives You Lemons, which drops April 22 on Rhymesayers Entertainment. So small market fans shouldn’t fret — Atmosphere will probably follow up with a more extensive run later this year.

In the meantime, check out the dates below.

  • 4/22: The Metro, Chicago, IL
  • 4/23: The Metro, Chicago, IL
  • 4/24: Opera House, Toronto, ON
  • 4/26: The Roxy, Boston, MA
  • 4/27: Webster Hall, New York, NY
  • 4/28: Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
  • 4/29: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
  • 5/02: Emo’s, Austin, TX
  • 5/03: Emo’s, Austin, TX
  • 5/05: Marquis Theater, Phoenix, AZ
  • 5/06: Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
  • 5/07: Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
  • 5/08: The Regency, San Francisco, CA
  • 5/09: The Regency, San Francisco, CA
  • 5/12: Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
  • 5/13: Showbox, Seattle, WA
  • 5/14: Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
  • 5/16: In The Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
  • 5/17: Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
  • 5/18: Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO

4/22-5/18: w/Abstract Rude, DJ Rare Groove

www.myspace.com/atmosphere

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Brand Nubian meets Connie Price and the Keystones

Posted on February 23, 2008 by plugoneboss


Next week, Brand Nubian will play four concerts with Connie Price & the Keystones for Scion’s monthly Live Metro showcase. Originally from New Jersey, Grand Puba, Sadat X and Lord Jamar originally promoted a strong Five Percenter philiosophy on hits such as “Wake Up” and “One For All,” which it makes it incredibly ironic that the trio makes its living from performing for multi-racial audiences (re: lots of white people) trying to the early 90s and hip-hop’s so-called “golden age.” Connie Price & the Keystones, the L.A. funk crew that’s set to release its second album, Tell Me Something, on March 4, seem less complicated by comparison.

Soup, formerly of Jurassic 5, will make a special guest appearance during these sets. Each show will be managed by the trusty hands of Cosmo Baker, one half of NYC crate-diggers the Rub.

Despite Brand Nubian’s contradictory nature, they should put on a good show full of singalong hits. Punks jump up to get beat down! The tour dates are below.

  • 2/23: The Parish, Austin, TX
  • 2/25: The Warehouse, Houston, TX
  • 2/26: The Loft, Atlanta, GA
  • 2/27: Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC

2/23-2/27: w/Soup, Cosmo Baker

www.myspace.com/conniepricethekeystones
www.scion.com/livemetro

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Abstract Rude signs with Rhymesayers, preps “Dear Abbey”

Posted on February 23, 2008 by plugoneboss

Abstract Rude, the woolly-haired MC who opened for DJ Vadim last year and is opening Brother Ali’s “Truth Is Here” tour next month, has signed a deal with Rhymesayers. He has completed a new album, Dear Abbey, set for release later this year.

Abstract Rude is one of the major innovators of 90s underground hip-hop. First appearing on the 1995 classic Project Blowed compilation, he and his group Abstract Tribe Unique recorded the stellar Mood Pieces, which was initially slated to come out on the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal imprint. (They eventually released it themselves in 1998.) Mixing smoky, soulful vocals and brash rhymes, Abstract Rude approaches hip-hop with a jazzman’s spontaneity. His sound can truly be described as unique.

Like so many of his Los Angeles compatriots that didn’t receive as much publicity as their East Coast counterparts, Abstract Rude has yet to receive his due. With luck, that will change with Dear Abbey.


Continue reading →

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Bisc1 heads “Traveling Circuits” tour

Posted on February 22, 2008 by plugoneboss


New York MC and graphic designer Bisc1 is touring in anticipation of his upcoming album When Electric Night Falls, which drops March 11 on Embedded Records. It’s not just a solo adventure, however, but a touring package featuring several NYC woodshedders.

On the “Traveling Circuits Tour,” Bisc and DJ Human will join Domer (who is dropping his Vaguest Vacation on April 8), Metermaids, DJ Halo and Grimace. They’ll hit both coasts and circuit through the ever-popular SXSW and A3C Hip-Hop Festival. And if you’ve never heard of these dudes, don’t worry: That’s what live performances are for. Get acquainted and check out the tour dates below.

  • 2/25: Knitting Factory, New York, NY
  • 2/29: Misinformats Gallery, Detroit, IL
  • 3/01: TBA, Chicago, IL
  • 3/02: Club Underground, Minneapolis, MI
  • 3/04: Boulevard, Spokane, WA
  • 3/05: Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA
  • 3/06: Humboldt Brewing Company, Arcata, CA
  • 3/07: Grant & Green, San Francisco, CA
  • 3/09: The Prospector, Long Beach, CA
  • 3/11: TBA, Phoenix, AZ
  • 3/13: Scoot Inn, Austin, TX
  • 3/20: CW Midtown Music Complex, Atlanta, GA
  • 3/25: Nightlight Lounge, Chapel Hill, NC
  • 3/26: Artist Underground Cafe, Richmond, VA

2/25-3/11, 3/25-3/26: w/Domer, Metermaids, DJ Halo, Grimace
3/13: SXSW
3/20: A3C Hip-Hop Festival

www.myspace.com/bisc1
www.travelingcircuits.info

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Kanye West mounts “Glow in the Dark” tour

Posted on February 18, 2008 by plugoneboss


Last week, Kanye West drove the Internet nuts with his latest proclamation: an upcoming spring arena tour.

Dubbed the “Glow in the Dark Tour” and co-sponsored by Absolut Vodka, the North American jaunt will further West’s ambition of becoming the first hip-hop stadium artist. The list of stars who can successfully sell out stadiums is short and ever-shrinking, so his Quixote-like quest may be quixotic at best. Still, with four hit singles and a double-platinum album in Graduation, West is well positioned to draw tens of thousands of people to his concerts.

To help gather a profitable amount of teenyboppers, suburban thugs and backpackers, West has assembled a killer opening line-up: “Umbrella” girl Rihanna, N.E.R.D., and Lupe Fiasco. Wow! Aren’t you excited? Check below and see if your city made the itinerary. (May 31 update: The itinerary has been updated.)

  • 4/16: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
  • 4/18: ARCO Arena, Sacramento, CA
  • 4/19: HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA
  • 4/20: Sports Arena, San Diego, CA
  • 4/21: Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
  • 4/24: McKale Auditorium, Tucson, AZ
  • 4/25: Red Rocks Casino, Las Vegas, NV
  • 4/26: Journal Pavilion, Albuquerque, NM
  • 4/27: Pepsi Center, Denver , CO
  • 4/28: Ford Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • 4/30: Frank Irwin Center, Austin, TX
  • 5/01: Superpages.com Center, Dallas, TX
  • 5/02: Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX
  • 5/04: Gwinnett Arena, Atlanta, GA
  • 5/05: Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
  • 5/06: Cruzan Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, FL
  • 5/08: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Charlotte, NC
  • 5/09: Walnut Creek, Raleigh, NC
  • 5/10: Nissan Pavilion, Bristow, VA
  • 5/11: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Virginia Beach, VA
  • 5/13: Madison Square Garden, New York , NY
  • 5/15: Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA
  • 5/16: North East Dodge Music Center, Hartford, CT
  • 5/17: Susquehana Bank Center, Philadelphia, PA
  • 5/18: Toyota Pavilion, Scranton, PA
  • 5/20: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
  • 5/21: Molson Centre, Toronto, ON
  • 5/22: Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI
  • 5/23: United Center, Chicago, IL
  • 5/24: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
  • 5/27: Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon, SK
  • 5/29: Rexall Palace, Edmonton, AB
  • 5/30: Saddledome, Calgary, AB
  • 6/02: GM Place, Vancouver, BC
  • 6/03: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
  • 6/05: Reno Events Center, Reno, NV
  • 6/06: HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA
  • 6/07: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
  • 6/08: Jobing.com Arena, Phoenix, AZ
  • 6/09: E Center, Salt Lake City, UT
  • 6/11: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
  • 6/12: I Wireless Center, Moline, IL
  • 6/13: U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
  • 6/14: Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN
  • 8/01: Grant Park, Chicago, IL
  • 8/09: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD

4/16-6/13: w/Rihanna, N.E.R.D., Lupe Fiasco
6/14: Bonnaroo
8/01: Lollapalooza
8/09: Virgin Mobile Festival

Plug One review: Kanye West, Graduation

www.kanyeuniversecity.com
www.myspace.com/kanyewest

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Kidz in the Hall schedule “The In Crowd”

Posted on February 18, 2008 by plugoneboss


Chicago rap duo Kidz in the Hall has scheduled a release date for their second album. The In Crowd, their follow-up to 2006’s School is My Hustle, drops April 29 on Major League Entertainment/Duck Down Records.

“The In Crowd is going to solidify us as the best new group in Hip-Hop,” says rapper Naledge. “Our new album is the re-definition of the Kidz In the Hall sound and our experimentation with artist collaboration. The first album was a lot rawer and showed our potential for greatness, but The In Crowd is our greatness coming to fruition. We went out of our way to create an album that has something for everyone and is air-tight from beginning to end. This is a definite classic for the Hip-Hop lover.”

Them’s big words. While it remains to be seen if The In Crowd will be a masterpiece, or even a good album, it undoubtedly has an amazing guest list. True to the album title, Naledge and producer/DJ Double-O have gathered a clique of popular kids to help out. Masta Ace, Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes, Camp Lo, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Sean Price and Buckshot lend support. In addition, there’s a bonus track, a remix of their well-received single “Drivin’ Down the Block,” that features Clipse and the fellow Chicagoans the Cool Kids.

The full track listing is below.

  • 1. “Intro”
  • 2. “Blackout” (feat. DJ GI Joe)
  • 3. “Paper Trail” (feat. Phonte Coleman)
  • 4. “Drivin’ Down the Block (Low End Theory)” (feat. Masta Ace)
  • 5. “Lucifer’s Joyride” (feat. Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes)
  • 6. “Snob-Hop” (feat. Camp Lo)
  • 7. “The In Crowd” (feat. Tim William)
  • 8. “Let Your Hair Down” (feat. Skyzoo & Lil Eddie)
  • 9. “Midwest Thang Pt’s 1 & 2” (feat. Black Milk, Guilty Simpson & Fooch)
  • 10. “Mr. Alladatshit”
  • 11. “Sean Na & Buck” (feat. Sean Price & Buckshot)
  • 12. “Life I Know
  • 13. “Drivin’ Down the Block” (remix) (feat. Clipse & the Cool Kids)

www.myspace.com/kidzinthehall

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The Plug One Q&A: Brother Ali

Posted on February 17, 2008 by plugoneboss

Brother Ali, holding the mic tight. Photo by Jonathan Mannion.

Brother Ali is salt of the Earth, a regular dude who happens to rap. He’s an artist, true, but for him hip-hop isn’t a gateway into something alien and strange. It’s a tool to illustrate his thoughts and ideas, a palette that turns personal insights into music.

When he spits, he spits hard. Even if Brother Ali doesn’t boast that he can mow you down with gunfire (although he will threaten to kick your ass); or engage in the kind of humiliating personal attacks that his longtime hero, legendary MC KRS-One, sometimes indulges in; you can feel his fire when he raps. It’s the reason why, while critics and fans still debate whether Brother Ali’s labelmate and co-owner of Rhymesayers, Slug from Atmosphere, ruined underground hip-hop. Brother Ali gets a fully stamped credibility pass. Both men explore their personal thoughts and feelings in a “truth-telling” style that’s often mis-labeled as “emo rap,” but Brother Ali adds a healthy dollop of booming vocal authority. It’s either his way or the highway.

Brother Ali’s 2007 album is called The Undisputed Truth. One surmises that the truth isn’t exactly relative in this equation. He rhymes with dexterity, but he’s not a wordsmith. His songs, particularly “Daylight” and “Truth Is,” he hits with punchy wisdom like a union worker.

“I want more!” he raps on “Truth Is” over a ska-lite beat from Ant (who is also one half of Atmosphere). “People need more freedom/Children need to hear more truth when y’all teach em/Damn I want to hear a plan from the dude preaching/Got new seeds with new true needs and who’s leading/I truly believe every word i ever uttered on a drum break/Right or wrong life goes on but it wasn’t nothing fake/I demand you start listening to the crowd/If not we gon burn this bitch to the ground!”

This interview was conducted on May 11, 2007, two months after the release of The Undisputed Truth. Unfortunately, I called Brother Ali at a bad time; judging from background chatter, it sounded like he was en route to an airplane flight. He was polite and graciously answered my questions, but he wasn’t really engaged, and we didn’t develop an interesting dialogue. It didn’t help that all my questions addressed the same topics he’s always asked — his racial background, being an independent MC, etc. To him, I must have seemed like another press geek reading from the “stock Rhymesayers questions” list. It was a clumsy and mercifully short conversation.

As often happens with interviews conducted for this site, I didn’t transcribe it for many months. Eventually, the interview lost its newsworthy value, and didn’t seem worth posting anymore.

So why post it now? First, Brother Ali is going back on the road for a new tour called “Truth is Here.” He’ll be accompanied by Abstract Rude, who just signed a deal with Rhymesayers; and his hypeman Toki Wright and DJ BK-One. Brother Ali doesn’t have a new album out; he’s just hitting the road to do some shows. Rhymesayers artists get down like that.

As of this writing, Plug One looks like something of a mess, thanks to a difficult upgrade. (Tech-savvy readers will know what I’m talking about.) With all the intra-site confusion, and the serendipitous arrival of a new Brother Ali tour, it seems like a good time to revisit my talk with the Minneapolis bomber.

The Truth is Here tour dates:

  • 2/29: High Noon, Madison, WI
  • 3/01: Picador, Iowa City, IA
  • 3/02: WMTU Houghton, Houghton, MI
  • 3/03: Pizza Luce, Duluth, MN
  • 3/04: University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
  • 3/05: Waiting Room, Omaha, NE
  • 3/06: Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO
  • 3/07: Bluebird, Denver, CO
  • 3/08: Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, UT
  • 3/08: Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
  • 3/09: The Venue, Boise, ID
  • 3/10: Neumo’s, Seattle, WA
  • 3/11: Hawthorne, Portland, OR
  • 3/12: Slim’s, San Francisco, CA
  • 3/13: Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
  • 3/14: Canes Bar & Grill, San Diego, CA
  • 3/15: Club Congress, Tucson, AZ
  • 3/16: Sunshine Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
  • 3/18: Club 101, El Paso, TX
  • 3/19: Prophet Bar, Dallas, TX
  • 3/21: Orpheum, Tampa, FL
  • 3/22: The Social, Orlando, FL
  • 3/24: Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
  • 3/25: Ottobar, Baltimore, MD
  • 3/26: World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
  • 3/27: Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
  • 3/28: Middle East, Boston, MA
  • 3/29: Nietzche’s, Buffalo, NY
  • 3/30: Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI
  • 3/31: Abbey Pub, Chicago, IL

2/29-3/31: w/Abstract Rude, Toki Wright, BK-One

www.myspace.com/brotherali

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Live Review: “Winter Heat,” 2/08 at Abbey Pub

Posted on February 17, 2008 by Max Herman

Photo by Max Herman.

“Winter Heat” featuring Akrobatik, Juice, 2/08 at the Abbey Pub

More and more promoters/organizers of hip-hop shows are realizing that a straightforward night of rhymers is usually no longer enough. Today’s audiences demand more. With the show dubbed “Winter Heat,” which went down at Chicago’s Abbey Pub, the crowd was given an impressive range of talent to take in within the allotted five hours.

Sponsored by Northwestern University’s WNUR-FM and Chicago indie imprint Gravel Records, “Winter Heat’s” most obvious draw was deserved headliner Akrobatik. Before this imposing Boston MC took command of the stage, though, local artists built the momentum. Graffiti writer and artist Revise CMW drew a good amount of attention throughout the night as he painted abstracts with mixed media. In between energetic sets by under-the-radar acts like Dynamic Vibrations, producers K-Kruz (of Modill) and Maker (of Glue) provided brief beat showcases. K-Kruz particularly got a strong response for his off-kilter yet robust original compositions and remixes of classics by Busta Rhymes and others. Kruz even inspired the handful of b-boys in the building to show off their footwork and power moves – something you don’t see that often at hip-hop shows anymore.

Chicago’s mixtape masters Mass Hysteria also got the crowd amped with their punchline-driven raps and a solid remake of Kanye’s “Good Life.” During Mass Hysteria’s set, nomadic hip-hop stalwart and public transit performer GQ tha Teacha did a routine with DJ Noble; he imitated Noble’s scratches on the tables with beat-boxing. Spots like this definitely kept things unpredictable. Righteous rhymer Iomos Marad also added to the spontaneity by occasionally dipping into stand up mode, divulging the hip-hop feuds he has with the Lil Wayne-loving fourth grade students he works with on Chicago’s West Side.

The last of the local acts on the bill was Juice, former freestyle champion and underground pioneer. Without offering many surprises, Juice still managed to get the crowd’s hands up – even when performing his less potent attempts at club-friendly hip-hop. As expected, though, his defining 1999 single, “Freestyle or Written,” was the highlight of his set. This Molemen-produced heater recalls the days when Juice blurred the line between ad-libs and pre-meditated raps, leaving listeners in awe.

Like Juice, the headliner Akrobatik has been in the indie spotlight since the late-90s. But the Boston vet hasn’t put out many records as of late. Thus it was interesting to hear Akrobatik dedicate a new track to his woman, who he cites for convincing him to stick with hip-hop when he thought he was through. After all, it has been a long five years since his last solo effort (2003’s Balance) and three years since the Perceptionists album (2005’s Black Dialogue) with Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One.

Akro won over the audience in his abbreviated set with semi-old singles like the black empowerment anthem “Remind My Soul” and material from his forthcoming album, Absolute Value. With his strong presence on the mic and pronounced personality, it’s reassuring to know that the MC didn’t decide to call it quits. He delivers every time, especially live. Unlike a lot of MCs who just stick to a five-to-ten song list and then hit the exits without really connecting with their fans, Akro takes the time to talk to the crowd. Even though his set was cut short because of time restrictions at the venue, he told the Abbey attendees about him and Mr. Lif’s shameful trip to the Super Bowl in Phoenix, Ariz. where their favored New England Patriots took an unexpected loss. Then like the true sports fan and master of ceremony that he is, he went on to bust on the Chicago Bears for not having a real quarterback. He got some “boos,” but it was all in good fun and everyone knew it. Whether he was casually talking sports or fervently rapping, Akro brought this well-balanced night of hip-hop to a triumphant close.

— Max Herman

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Zion-I tours with Mistah F.A.B., Amplive frees Radiohead remixes

Posted on February 12, 2008 by plugoneboss

Today, in a pleasantly surprising turn of events, Zion-I producer Amplive has decided to release his Radiohead remix project, Raindayz Remixes, after all.

As has been widely reported, Amplive planned to offer an EP’s worth of remixes of Radiohead’s new album, In Rainbows. However, before he could issue them via his MySpace page, Radiohead’s management stepped in and threatened legal action. The project seemed dead, but today Amplive announced that he has been given permission to release the remixes after all.

A statement posted on One Seven Six Six, the site for Zion-I’s management company, reads:

After a cease & desist put the breaks on Amplive’s Radiohead In Rainbows remix project, the online music community reasonably wondered if the tracks would ever see the light of day. Well, here they are.

While the Oakland producer/DJ acknowledges that he probably should have contacted Radiohead (who were not involved in the project) to seek approval prior to making his interpretations publically available, an agreement has been reached between all involved parties and Amplive has been granted permission to release Rainydayz Remixes for free to the general public. Effective immediately, the eight-track record is available here.

You can download Rainydaz Remixes at One Seven Six Six.

Since that controversy has been resolved, Zion-I can go back to focusing on better things, like their upcoming tour with Mistah F.A.B. Dubbed the Fresh Coast Tour, it finds the Bay Area veterans touring around the West Coast with a slew of special guests, including the Grouch from Living Legends. But few in the mainstream media who covered Rainydayz Remixes acknowledged Zion-I’s existence. It seems like the group needs to tour the rest of the country, too, if only to show that Zion-I’s appeal runs deeper than a Radiohead mashup.

In the meantime, the tour dates are below.

  • 2/20: UC Riverside, Riverside, CA
  • 2/29: The Avalon, San Jose, CA
  • 3/01: 28th & B Skatepark Hangar, Sacramento, CA
  • 3/02: Whiskey Dicks, South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • 3/03: Whiskey Creek, Mammoth Lakes, CA
  • 3/06: El Rey Theater, Los Angeles, CA
  • 3/07: The Brickhouse, Phoenix, AZ
  • 3/13: Emo’s, Austin, TX
  • 3/15: The Sandbar, Vail, CO
  • 3/16: Abbey Theater, Durango, CO
  • 3/18: Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
  • 3/19: The Other Side, Missoula, MT
  • 3/20: Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
  • 3/21: WOW Hall, Eugene, OR
  • 3/22: Fez Ballroom, Portland, OR

2/20-3/22: w/Mistah F.A.B.
2/29-3/01: w/the Grouch
3/06: w/Amad Jamal
3/13: SXSW
3/22: w/DJ Quest

Plug One review: Zion-I & the Grouch, Heroes in the City of Dope

www.myspace.com/zioni
www.myspace.com/amplive

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Ill Insanity promotes “Ground Xero” with Guitar Center

Posted on February 11, 2008 by plugoneboss

Ill Insanity, the superstar DJ crew comprised of Rob Swift, Total Eclipse, and Precision, release their debut album Ground Xero tomorrow (February 12) on Swift’s own Ablist Productions. To celebrate the occasion, the trio will do a quick tour of Guitar Center outlets around the country.

It may sound like a joke — Guitar Center? — but it’s not. Since the DJ movement went mainstream in the late 90s, Guitar Center has capitalized with contests, DJ competitions and other promotional tie-ins. When Stones Throw cobbled together Stones Throw 10 Years in 2006, it struck a deal to make the retrospective available exclusively through Guitar Center.

So consider the Ill Insanity junket a new extension of Guitar Center’s long history with hip-hop culture. The five-date tour kicked off today (February 11) in Brooklyn, and continues throughout the month. The dates are below.

  • 2/11: Guitar Center Brooklyn, New York, NY
  • 2/13: Guitar Center Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
  • 2/15: The Cop Shop, Smithtown, NY
  • 2/17: Guitar Center Miami, Hallandale, FL
  • 2/19: Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
  • 2/21: Guitar Center San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
  • 2/21: Levende Lounge, San Francisco, CA
  • 2/22: Vinyl, Denver, CO
  • 2/24: Guitar Center Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

2/11: w/Evil Dee
2/13: w/Jaycee
2/17: w/I-Dee
2/19: w/the Perceptionists, Black Milk, Freddie Foxxx & DJ Premier, J. Rocc
2/21: w/DJ Apollo
2/24: w/Hapa

www.myspace.com/illinsanity

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9th Wonder and Buckshot schedule “The Formula”

Posted on February 11, 2008 by plugoneboss

As most 9th Wonder fans know by now, Asylum Records has put the North Carolina producer’s major-label debut The Wonder Years on hold … for now. However, it’s full speed ahead for the second leg of 9th’s spring attack: a new album with Buckshot from Boot Camp Clik.

9th Wonder and Buckshot’s The Formula drops April 15 on Duck Down Records. It’s the follow-up to the duo’s 2005 collaboration, Chemistry. The project includes a few guests such as North Carolina singer Carlitta Durand, Talib Kweli and several members of M1 Platoon.

“Every song is dealing with a topic. Each track specifically has a formula,” says Buckshot in a press release. “I’ve always had a certain sound within Hip-Hop and 9th Wonder helps bring out my unique style. We share a comfort level that allows me to be at ease when it comes to recording and that natural sound translates into great music.”

Heads tend to scrutinize and fuss over 9th Wonder’s work; it’s why he’s one of the most influential producers to emerge this decade. Will The Formula meet his fans’ high standards? Check out the track listing below.

  • 1. “Intro – The Formula” (feat. the Formula Crew)
  • 2. “Ready (Brand New Day)”
  • 3. “Be Cool” (feat. Swan)
  • 4. “Go All Out” (feat. Carlitta Durand)
  • 5. “No Future”
  • 6. “Hold It Down” (feat. Talib Kweli & Tyler Woods)
  • 7. “Whassup with U” (feat. Keisha Shontelle)
  • 8. “Only For You (Lou)”
  • 9. “Just Display”
  • 10. “Here We Go”
  • 11. “Throwin’ Shade”
  • 12. “Shinin’ Yall” (feat. Arafat Yates & Big Chops of M1 Platoon)
  • 13. “Man Listen”

www.9thwonder.com
www.myspace.com/9thwondermusic
www.myspace.com/bdithug

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