Plug One

Lyrics Born prepares new album, tour

Posted on September 9, 2007 by plugoneboss

lyrics born.jpg

Lyrics Born is one of hip-hop’s great showmen, as well as a much-underrated influence on the underground rap scene. His live album, 2006’s Overnight Encore, is sonic proof of his onstage abilities, but it can’t match the real thing.

So take his upcoming tour as a chance to witness a great concert experience. The jaunt — he usually does one a year — prefaces Everywhere At Once, which will only be his second solo album in a 15-year career. Scheduled for February 2008 on Epitaph Records, it’s also his first album since 2004’s Later That Day.

The tour dates are below.

10/12: Echo Music Project, Atlanta, GA
10/17: UC Davis, Davis, CA
10/18: Indigo Nightclub, Eureka, CA
10/19: Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
10/20: Showbox, Seattle, WA
10/21: Nightlight Lounge, Bellingham, WA
10/22: Neurolux, Boise, ID
10/23: Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO
10/25: Foundation, Minneapolis, MN
10/26: City Park, New Orleans, LA
10/27: Metro, Chicago, IL
10/28: Lucas Schoolhouse, St. Louis, MS
10/31: Paradise Nightclub, Boston, MA
11/01: University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
11/02: Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
11/03: World Cafe, Philadelphia, PA
11/04: Sonar, Baltimore, MD
11/06: Workplay, Birmingham, AL
11/07: Grant Street Dance Hall, Lafayette, LA
11/08: House of Blues Parish, New Orleans, LA
11/09: Emo’s, Austin, TX
11/10: Palladium Loft, Dallas, TX
11/13: Orpheum, Flagstaff, AZ
11/15: Belly Up Tavern, Solano Beach, CA
11/16: El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
11/17: The Independent, San Francisco, CA

10/19-10/20: w/Blackalicious
10/26: Voodoo Music Experience w/Galactic
10/27: w/Del the Funky Homosapien, Devin the Dude, A-Plus, Bukue One, Junk Science, Iller Than Theirs
11/04: w/Sage Francis, Hangar 18, Glue

www.lyricsborn.com
www.myspace.com/lyricsborn
Plug One review: Lyrics Born, Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live!

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Little Brother waits for “Getback,” tours with Evidence

Posted on September 6, 2007 by plugoneboss

In a MySpace post, Little Brother figurehead Phonte Coleman announced that his group’s third album, Getback, is being delayed from September 25 to October 23.

“I’m over this shit,” writes Coleman in a post titled “Oh well….whatever…..nevermind… (c) Kurt Cobain.” “All I ever wanted was for my music to be heard. If it was solely up to me I’d throw up a zshare laink for y’all to download tonight, rather than leave it in the hands of people seemingly hellbent on fucking up what many have called our best and most complete record to date. I never understood how animals could eat their young until now.”

Coleman may be getting overemotional, however. Having just announced the album’s release less than two months ago, the slight pushback allows ABB Records more setup time for an album that’s generating positive buzz among those who have heard it. “As an artist, I vow to keep creating, keep recording, and keep releasing new music, but I refuse to keep puttin my energy into Getback when we’re surrounded by lies, half-truths, and incompetence on the label’s end. Why keep nursing a stillborn baby?”

Meanwhile, Coleman has other projects in the can, including an 80s-themed EP with Maryland artist Zo! and the follow-up to his acclaimed Foreign Exchange project with Dutch-born producer Nicolay. His LB partner Big Pooh has another solo album coming next year as well.

But first comes Getback…eventually. The group has announced its first round of tour dates as well, many with Evidence from Dilated Peoples. The track listing and itinerary are below. (October 18 update: The tour itinerary has been updated.)

1. “Sirens” (feat. Carlita Durand)
2. “Can’t Win For Losing”
3. “Breakin My Heart” (feat. Lil Wayne)
4. “Good Clothes”
5. “After the Party” (feat. Carlitta Durand)
6. “Extra Hard”
7. “Step It Up” (feat. Dion)
8. “Two Step Blues” (feat. Darien Brockington)
9. “That Ain’t Love” (feat. Jozeemo)
10. “Dreams”
11. “When Everything is New”

And here’s the tour schedule:

10/17: Paradise Club, Boston, MA
10/18: The Station, Portland, ME
10/19: Pearl Street, North Hampton, MA
10/20: Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
10/22: Babylon, Ottawa, ON
10/23: The Mod Club, Toronto, ON
10/24: St. Andrewâ€™s Hall, Detroit, MI
10/25: The Abbey, Chicago, IL
10/26: High Noon, Madison, WS
10/27: Waiting Room, Omaha, NE
10/29: Fox Theater, Boulder, CO
10/30: Bluebird Theatre, Denver, CO
10/31: Big Deluxe, Salt Lake City, UT
11/03: Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
11/04: Richard’s on Richards, Vancouver, BC
11/05: Nightlight Lounge, Bellingham, WA
11/06: Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
11/08: The Independent, San Francisco, CA
11/09: Williams College, Williamstown, MA
11/10: Canes Bar and Grill, San Diego, CA
11/12: El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
11/14: Club Congress, Tucson, AZ
11/15: The Brickhouse, Phoenix, AZ
11/17: Stubb’s, Austin, TX
11/18: Numbers, Houston, TX
11/19: Prophet Bar, Dallas, TX
11/20: The Parish, New Orleans, LA
11/21: Soul Kitchen, Mobile, AL
11/24: The Social, Orlando, FL
11/25: PS 14, Miami, FL
11/27: The Earl, Atlanta, GA
11/28: Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN
11/29: The Dame, Lexington, KY
11/30: Bogart’s, Cincinnati, OH
12/01: Black Cat, Washington, DC
12/03: Paradise Lounge, Boston, MA
12/05: Toad’s Place, Richmond, VA
12/06: Soapbox Laundrolounge, Wilmington, SC
12/07: Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC

10/17-10/31, 11/08, 11/10-12/07: w/Evidence
10/20: w/Brother Ali
10/24-11/12: w/The Away Team
11/05: w/Ghostface Killah
11/24-11/25, 11/29-12/01: w/Reef the Lost Cauze

www.myspace.com/littlebrother

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Daedelus brings new music, concerts

Posted on September 5, 2007 by plugoneboss

Alfred Darling, better known as Daedelus, has been in the lab for the better part of a year, working on his official Ninja Tune debut, among other projects. This fall, he’ll reveal some of the fruits of his labor as well as a few limited-edition goodies.

First comes Fair Weather Friends, an EP of material that serves as a prelude to the Ninja Tune joint. Due out on October 8, it finds him refining his singing skills over five tracks. Then comes a live album, Live at Low End Theory, that captures a gig performed at the Los Angeles club night. It should land in stores iTunes via Alpha Pup before the end of the year.

There are other bits and pieces, including a track on one of Dublab.com’s infamous limited-edition EPs (Echo Expansion). But the best way to get some Daedelus is in person, since he always takes plenty of rare and unusual merchandise with him on tour. This fall, he’ll head out on the road with Busdriver, who has worked tirelessly to promote his nifty but weird Roadkillovercoat. The dates for the tag team duo are below.

10/26: In The Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
10/27: Hi Dive, Denver, CO
10/28: Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO
11/01: Engine Room, Houston, TX
11/02: Palladium Loft, Dallas, TX
11/03: Wateroo Park, Austin, TX
11/05: Beta Bar, Tallahassee, FL
11/07: AKA Lounge, Orlando, FL
11/08: Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, GA
11/09: Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
11/10: Ottobar, Baltimore, MD
11/11: The Khyber, Philadelphia, PA
11/12: Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
11/13: Harper’s Ferry, Allston, MA
11/14: Soundlab, Buffalo, NY
11/15: Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH
11/16: Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
11/17: Triple Rock Club, Minneapolis, MN
11/19: Zebra Cocktail Lounge, Bozeman, MT
11/20: The Loft, Missoula, MT
11/21: Nectar Lounge, Seattle, WA
11/23: Holocene, Portland, OR
11/24: Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
11/30: Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
12/01: Casbah, San Diego, CA

11/01-12/01: w/Busdriver
11/01-11/02: w/Girl Talk
11/03: Fun Fun Fun Fest

www.myspace.com/daedelusdarling

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Kanye West trumpets “Graduation”

Posted on September 5, 2007 by plugoneboss

Yes, I know that I’m extremely late in posting the news about Kanye West’s third album (although, like everyone else, I’ve been writing about it all year.) At this point, a whirlwind of hype and buzz has already enveloped Graduation.

One of the tracks, “Stronger,” sits on the Billboard top ten singles chart. Another, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” gets constant airplay in urban markets. Two more, “Big Brother” and “Barry Bonds,” are mixshow favorites. Meanwhile, 50 Cent, perhaps in a bid to pump up his failing fortunes, has announced that his Curtis dud will compete for the number one slot when both discs arrive on September 11. Even lame country singer Kenny Chesney has joined in the fun.

All of this fake noise is to ensure that West’s Graduation actually goes platinum; alarmingly, it would only be the second hip-hop album released this year to do so. Place your bets, Soundscan nerds! The track listing is below.

1. “Good Morning”
2. “Champion”
3. “Stronger”
4. “I Wonder”
5. “Good Life” (feat. T-Pain)
6. “Canâ€™t Tell Me Nothing”
7. “Barry Bonds” (feat. Lil Wayne)
8. “Drunk & Hot Girls” (feat. Mos Def)
9. “Flashing Lights” (feat. Dwele)
10. “Everything I Am” (feat. DJ Premier)
11. “The Glory”
12. “Homecoming” (feat. Chris Martin)
13. “Big Brother”
14. “Good Night” (feat. Mos Def & Al Be)
15. “Bittersweet Poetry” (feat. John Mayer)

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

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PB Wolf compiles “2K8”

Posted on September 4, 2007 by plugoneboss

2K Sports sure likes hip-hop. For the past few years, the video game company has teamed with Decon Records to organize a series of rap-themed projects and promote its latest video games. This year alone, as previously reported, 2K Sports has sponsored a DJ Z-Trip-helmed compilation, All Pro, and an upcoming tour featuring Common and Q-Tip. Now, fan favorite Stones Throw is getting involved, too.

On October 2, Stones Throw will release 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War, an album compiled by the mighty Peanut Butter Wolf himself. It will feature the usual Stones Throw cast members, from the late James “J Dilla” Yancey, MF Doom, Oh No and Madlib’s many guises (Beat Konducta, Quasimoto) to Talib Kweli and Q-Tip. Enticingly, it will also feature the official premiere of Supreme Team, a touted collaboration between Madlib and J Dilla confidante Karriem Riggins.

Stones Throw will promote its latest all-star comp with a label showcase tour featuring PB Wolf, Madlib, J-Rocc and others. Dates for the tour, which takes place at the end of the year, will be announced soon. Meanwhile Percee P, whose long-awaited debut Perseverance drops on September 25, is jumping on the 2K Sports Bounce Tour with Common. (The earlier post with those dates has been updated to reflect Percee’s involvement.)

The track listing for 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War is below.

1. Supreme Team, “See (Suite)”
2. MED, “Break It Down”
3. Guilty Simpson, “Make It Fast”
4. J Dilla feat. Q-Tip & Talib Kweli, “Lightworking”
5. Percee P feat. J-Rocc, “Legendary Lyricist Pt. 2”
6. J-Rocc, “Super Sound”
7. Madlib, “The Wigflip”
8. J Dilla feat. MF Doom & Guilty Simpson, “Mashâ€™s Revenge”
9. Oh No, “Action (Rap Version)”
10. Beat Konducta, “Trouble”
11. Quasimoto, “Hydrant Game (Jaylib Remix)”
12. Aloe Blacc, “Find A Way”
13. Dam-Funk, “Sidewayz”
14. Baron Zen, “Electronic (Koushik Remix)”
15. James Pants, “Ka$h (Peanut Butter Wolf Remix)”
16. Niko & DJ Babu, “Now You Know”
17. Koushik, “Basketball Beat”
18. Arabian Prince, “Professor X Saga”
19. Jonathon Brown, “Bass Creatorâ€™s Groove”
20. CX Kidtronik feat. Tchaka Diallo, “Big Girl, Skinny Girl”

www.stonesthrow.com
www.myspace.com/stonesthrow
www.myspace.com/pbwolf

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Review: Panacea, “The Scenic Route”

Posted on September 4, 2007 by plugoneboss

Panacea
The Scenic Route
Glow-in-the-Dark

Rating:

True to its name, the music of Panacea has an opiate smoothness. It’s bright and melodic in a way that few other avowed true-school acts can achieve. It sounds lighter than air, as if the group were pushing its arrangements into the atmosphere.

On The Scenic Route the Washington, D.C. doesn’t necessarily change its formula from Ink is My Drink, last year’s full-length rookie effort. Instead, the group pushes its aesthetic to the extreme, achieving the equivalent of a hip-hop quiet storm. Other groups dabble in neo-soul-like sonics, of course, but producer K-Murdock introduces a New Age element that makes his tracks sound jazzy and ambient. Think of it as a meeting between Wes Montgomery, George Winston and Boards of Canada. The title track in particular is reminiscent of mid-90s rap group the Nonce.

With such a dynamic background to rhyme over, MC Raw Poetic twists some nice lyrics. “Summer time and six o’clock’s about the hour/My afternoon white russian has got me louder/My house I’m walking out of with a pick in my hair/Rapping to a beat inside of me that no one can hear,” he says on “Epiphany.” But his voice, cool and even, sometimes gets lost amidst K-Murdock’s cumulus beats. On “Bubble,” he tries to weave an abstract lyric as K-Murdock crafts a bouncy, bassy rhythm overlaid with psychedelic effects. The track is so magnificent it’s easy to ignore what Raw Poetic is talking about. It’s one of hip-hop’s odd ironies: sometimes the most lyrically astute rappers have the least distinctive voices, while mainstream rappers with nothing to say speak in unforgettable tones.

Nevertheless, The Scenic Route has some great songs, among them “Bubble,” “Square 1” and “Pops Said.” If the tracks tend to meld into one another, it’s only because Panacea works with admirable consistency. Still, it will be interesting if the group can evolve beyond these early triumphs, or become — much like Boards of Canada — a one-trick pony with a much-loved but predictable sound.

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Krush takes “History of Krush” on tour

Posted on August 30, 2007 by plugoneboss

dj krush.jpg

DJ Krush is one of the few non-American producers to have a major impact on the U.S. hip-hop scene. As a Japanese artist who doesn’t speak fluent English, he’s nevertheless recorded several albums considered classics among the beat/downtempo/electronic set, from 1994’s Strictly Turntablized to 2001’s Zen. His dusted free jazz beats demarcates an entire era in beat culture.

For the past two years Krush has been reminiscing on his glorious past, beginning with last year’s Stepping Stones: The Self-Remixed Best, followed by a fall tour that was heavy on memorable tracks like “Kemuri.” This year brings another retrospective in History of DJ Krush. Set to drop on September 18 via Red Ink/Sony, it’s a 3-DVD set featuring a 1996 tour documentary created around the time of 1996’s Milight, his first U.S.-distributed album; a documentary tracing his career; and a set of rare videos. The cherry on the cake, however, will be another North American tour. DJ Krush is one of the most compelling live acts in the DJ world, with compositional skills comparable to DJ Shadow.

The dates, which kick off in October, are below.

10/04: Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
10/05: Le National, Montreal, QC
10/06: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
10/08: Mod Club, Toronto, ON
10/09: Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights, OH
10/11: Foundation, Minneapolis
10/12: Smart Bar, Chicago, IL
10/13: The Loft, Atlanta, GA
10/16: The Social, Orlando, FL
10/17: The Bishop, St. Petersburg, FL
10/19: Minc Lounge, Dallas, TX
10/20: Bluebird Theatre, Denver, CO
10/22: Holocene, Portland, OR
10/24: Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
10/25: Neumo’s, Seattle, WA
10/26: Mighty, San Francisco, CA
10/28: Glass House, Pomona, CA
10/30: House of Blues, San Diego, CA
10/31: Knitting Factory, Hollywood, CA

www.mmjp.or.jp/sus/krush

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Buck 65 faces “Situation”

Posted on August 27, 2007 by plugoneboss

buck 65_myspace.jpg

Ricardo Terfry, better known as Buck 65, has enjoyed a large cult following in the United States throughout this decade. Imports of his Canadian albums so are pervasive, in fact, that few realize only one of his albums has officially been released here: the 2000 watermark Man Overboard, thanks to his early affiliation with Anticon. (V2 issued a compilation, This Right Here is Buck 65, in 2005.)

So the new Situation is a major event. Buck 65’s current U.S. benefactor is Sage Francis, the Providence, R.I. radical who took him on a successful summer tour, and introduced Buck 65 to a whole new audience. What those kids will encounter is an unusual ride back to 1957, a year recounted through the eyes of several semi-fictional characters. Situation drops via Francis’ Strange Famous Records on October 30.

“I’ve long argued that the roots of hip-hop music go all the way back to folk and blues — even minstrel music that predates the birth of both those genres (take a listen to a song called ‘The Gypsy’ by Emmett Miller to see where I’m coming from, for example), but I can understand how that could be seen as an unpopular and controversial idea,” says Buck 65 in a press release.

Emmett Miller, for the record, comes from the blackface minstrel tradition of the late 18th-early 19th century, where white performers lampooned black culture. Long derided for its blatant racism, some scholars have recently tried to rehabilitate minstrelsy’s low reputation, with debatable results.

“Hip hop (and especially the teachings and ideals of Afrika Bambaataa) is very important to what I do,” he continues. “But maybe in fairness, it should be seen as some kind of starting point for me. I write songs on a wide variety of topics — many of which are not common ones in hip-hop, admittedly. When writing a song, considerations of hip-hop or street credibility never cross my mind.”

Here’s the track listing:

1. “Intro”
2. “1957”
3. “Ho-Boys”
4. “Lipstick”
5. “Shutter Buggin'”
6. “Spread ‘Em”
7. “The Rebel”
8. “Way Back When”
9. “Cop Shades”
10. “The Beatific”
11. “Mr. Nobody”
12. “Benz”
13. “Heatwave”
14. “The Outskirts”
15. “White Bread’

www.buck65.com
www.myspace.com/buck65

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Common, Q-Tip head on 2K8 Sports Bounce Tour

Posted on August 27, 2007 by plugoneboss

common_gregory scaffidi.jpg

Last week, I posted an item about several spot dates Common will fulfill next month, a few as part of the Heineken Red Star Soul tour. Well, only several days later, it turns out that the much-beloved Chicago rapper will undertake another corporate-sponsored jaunt, too.

Some fans might remember that A Tribe Called Quest reunited last year to headline the 2K7 Sports Bounce tour with Rhymefest and Consequence in tow. This time, Common will lead the 2K8 Sports Bounce tour. According to MySpace bulletins sent out by the artists, opening acts include Q-Tip, who continues to promise that The Renaissance will come out this year; Termanology, a rising Boston MC known for mixtapes and assertions of lyrical superiority; and 88-Keys, a producer who has credits on classics like Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides, and who is prepping a solo album, The Death of Adam, for Decon Music. (September 4 update: Percee P has just been added to the tour.)

This is the third edition of the 2K Sports tour; Tribe led the 2006 version, and the Roots inaugurated it in 2005. Also, Z-Trip produced a 2K Sports-affiliated compilation, All Pro, and completed a tour for the album this summer. Which means 2K Sports really likes hip-hop, I guess.

Official details about the tour have yet to be released, but all of the artists have posted dates on their MySpace pages. Those dates, along with the rest of Common’s itinerary, are listed below. This post will be updated when official information becomes available.

9/04: Seldom Blues, Detroit, MI
9/05: Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA
9/06: Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
9/07: Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
9/08: House of Blues, Anaheim, CA
9/09: House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
9/12: Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM
9/13: The Fillmore, Denver, CO
9/15: House of Blues, Dallas, TX
9/16: La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX
9/18: Opera, Atlanta, GA
9/19: Pageant, St. Louis, MO
9/20: Charter Pavilion, Chicago, IL
9/21: The Myth, Minneapolis, MN
9/22: The Rave, Milwaukee, WS
9/24: Kool Haus, Toronto, ON
9/25: Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
9/26: Love, Washington, DC
9/27: Amos’ Southend Music Hall, Charlotte, NC
9/28: N Club, Greensboro, NC
9/29: House of Blues, Myrtle Beach, VA
9/30: House of Blues, Orlando, FL
10/01: Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
10/03: Sonar, Baltimore, MD
10/05: Love, Washington, DC
10/06: Palladium, Worcester, MA
10/07: Nokia Theater, NY, NY
10/08: Norva, Norfolk, VA

9/04: w/Raheem DeVaughn
9/04, 9/26: w/Teedra Moses
9/07: w/Kanye West, Lily Allen (?)
9/18: w/Emily King, Jazzy Jeff
9/20: w/Joss Stone
9/22-9/25, 9/27-10/08: 2K8 Sports Bounce tour w/Q-Tip, Percee P, Termanology, 88-Keys

www.common-music.com
www.myspace.com/common

Posted in News | Tagged 2K Sports Bounce Tour, Common | Leave a comment

Review: Madlib, “Beat Konducta Vol. 3-4: India”

Posted on August 27, 2007 by plugoneboss

Madlib
Beat Konducta Vol. 3-4: India
Stones Throw

Rating:

Madlib drops a lot of records. This year alone has already included Liberation, a triumphant pairing with Talib Kweli; and his latest Yesterdays New Quintet adventure, Yesterdays Universe. This new instrumental album as the Beat Konducta follows last year’s Vol. 1-2: Movie Scenes. While that recording explored the world of Hollywood soundtracks with mostly pleasing results, this edition ventures into Bollywood soundtracks with less ease.

The problem isn’t necessarily with the source material, a wellspring of ideas ever since Mike Ladd and Dan the Automator began sampling it in the late 90s. But Madlib’s techniques seem less sure than usual. Many of the instrumentals, bite-size cuts that often last between 1-3 minutes, roll along aimlessly in loops. They don’t sound as tightly composed as his best material. Vol. 3-4: India very much feels like an experiment, with Madlib slowly feeling his way through decades of Indian film history.

The compilation isn’t a complete loss, however. Its best tracks, including “New Bombay,” “Sitar Ride” and “Get It Right,” are closely tethered to thick percussive drums and sampled voices of declamatory rappers, a formula Madlib perfected long ago.

Posted in Reviews | Tagged Madlib | 1 Comment

Review: Shape of Broad Minds, “Craft of the Lost Art”

Posted on August 26, 2007 by plugoneboss

Shape of Broad Minds
Craft of the Lost Art
Lex

Rating:

The narrative behind Shape of Broad Minds is that it splits Jneiro Jarel into several identities: Panama Black, Roc Wun and Dr. Who Dat? The only other real person, it seems, is Houston multi-instrumentalist Jawwaad Taylor. But the furiously brilliant Craft of the Lost Art also diverges between Jarel the producer and Jarel the MC. The qualititative differences between the two are striking.

It comes into focus whenever someone else jumps on his tracks. “So Much (Chaos)” opens with Jawwaad burning from a global nightmare: “Streets of Fallujah, Ramallah/Wild-eyed bomber with no target/They say the babies is heartless, regardless/We reap what we sow/So then, let us gather our harvest.” Lil Sci follows with an equally inspired verse: “Too many heads in our culture not repping it right/That’s why we’re here now/Philanthropists through the mics, feed the hungry with these ill styles.” Then Jarel brings up the rear: “Never heard something like this before/And probably won’t for two or three thousand centuries more.” Although enthusiastic, Jarel lacks the precision of the others.

But if Craft of the Lost Art suffers from Jarel’s lyrical deficiencies, he successfully makes his case as one of the most exhilirating beatmakers on the scene today. From beginning to end, he stocks the album with innovative ideas, richly textured rhythms, and powerful tracks. The opening track, “Light Years Away,” truly sounds like the future, a textbook study of space-hop with its filtered drums, distorted choral samples, and simulated breathing as if emanating from an astronaut. On “OPR8R” he lifts folk guitar from an Italian film and pairs it with echoing handclaps. “They Don’t Know” is a traditional, piano-laced boom bap cut that guest rapper Stacy Epps rips to pieces. Jarel’s critics, whom he seemingly references on several cuts, will be hard-pressed to dismiss him as just another J-Dilla mimic.

Still, there’s the question of his words. Jarel isn’t the best rapper, but he knows how to ride a track; even on “So Much (Chaos),” where he’s clearly outclassed by Jaawaad and Lil Sci, his voice blends in. As a vocalist, he doesn’t disrupt the music, even if he doesn’t necessarily enhance it.

On the final track, “12C,” he geeks out over a corporate soul-rock loop that bounces with the light intensity of Slave’s “Just a Touch.” It’s just him and the song fitting together in a harmonious whole. Craft of the Lost Art frequently achieves that balance, even if the sum sometimes doesn’t match its disparate parts.

Posted in Reviews | Tagged Jneiro Jarel, Shape of Broad Minds | Leave a comment

Lupe Fiasco promises “The Cool”

Posted on August 25, 2007 by plugoneboss

lupe fiasco_myspace.jpg

Back in May, I noted with some amusement that Lupe Fiasco planned to release another album before the end of the year. It was going to be called Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, named after one of the tracks on his acclaimed debut Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor. I didn’t take it seriously…most rappers talk up projects well before they’re completed. (See Dr. Dre’s Detox, et cetera.)

Well, the summer’s almost over, and Lupe Fiasco continues to insist that The Cool will hit stores in 2007. However, it has been pushed back from October 31 to November 20. Most of the production, it seems, will be handled by Pro and Soundtrack — the guys who drew some criticism for overproducing Lupe’s debut. Fiasco previewed two of its tracks, “Us Placers” and “Superstardom” (feat. singer-songwriter Matthew Santos, last heard on Food & Liquor‘s standout track “American Terrorist”) during a showcase set at Lollapalooza this month.

According to a Billboard story, Fiasco is also relying on a few cliches, namely the “supergroup” concept and the “retire before I fall off” concept. The former is in regards to CRS (Child Rebel Soldiers), his pairing with Pharrell Williams and Kanye West.

Continue reading →

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Sadat X re-emerges

Posted on August 20, 2007 by plugoneboss

sadat x_robert adam mayer.jpg

Derek “Sadat X” Murphy is finally free. After spending several months in Riker’s Island on weapons charges, the veteran New York rapper beloved for his solo music and work with Brand Nubian is back on the streets, and is working on re-starting his career. “The God is back in town,” reads a message on his MySpace page.

There’s no word yet on when a new Sadat X project will appear. In the meantime, West Coast fans have a brief tour to look forward. Sadat will take along Coolzey, a rap-rock band, with him. For the rest of us, Traffic Entertainment is issuing a previously-unheard collection of recordings from Brand Nubian. Titled Time’s Runnin’ Out, it features songs recorded just prior to their acclaimed 1998 reunion, Foundation. It comes out today (August 21).

Tour dates are below. Check with venues and area resources prior to the concert, as many shows are still being confirmed.

8/22: Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO
8/23: TBA, Colorado Springs, CO
8/24: Monks House of Jazz, Salt Lake City, UT
8/25: The Loft, Missoula, MT
8/26: Nectar’s, Seattle, WA
8/27: The Greek Cusina, Portland, OR
8/28: John Henry’s, Eugene, OR
8/29: Harlow’s, Sacramento, CA
8/30: Milk Bar, San Francisco, CA
8/31: Urban Underground, Los Angeles, CA
9/01: TBA, San Diego, CA
9/03: Hidden House, Phoenix, AZ

8/22-9/03: w/Coolzey
8/22-8/28: w/Jak Danielz, Johnny Walker
8/29-9/03: w/Radix
8/29: w/Dangerzone

www.myspace.com/sadatx

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Atmosphere returns to the road

Posted on August 20, 2007 by plugoneboss

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It’s an annual tradition. Every year, Minneapolis heroes Atmosphere head out on the road, bringing their brand of emotional hip-hop to American youth everywhere. This year has been a relatively quiet one so far, though. Slug and Ant (who just produced Brother Ali’s critically acclaimed The Undisputed Truth) have been hard at work on their sixth album, When Life Gives You Lemons…, which is tentatively set for release next spring.

Earlier this month Atmosphere issued an EP on its Rhymesayers label, Sad Clown Bad Summer, to tide their fans over. They also scheduled a month-long jaunt. But this tour won’t aim at the indie-rap loving Emo’s clubs of the world. Instead, the group will head to secondary markets like Lubbock, Tex. and Santa Cruz, Calif. Fans in those cities will get a nice package, since Portland goth-rappers Grayskul, living legend Luckyiam, and Minneapolis upstart Mac Lethal will be joining them. (September 6 update: New dates have been added below.)

Tour dates are below. Try to purchase your tickets through Atmosphere’s Ducat King vendor; it will contribute a dollar towards victims of the recent I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis for every ticket sold.

9/14: Pizza Luce, Duluth, MN
9/15: Pizza Luce, Duluth, MN
9/17: Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
9/18: Mr. Smallâ€™s Theatre, Millvale, PN
9/20: Ramâ€™s Head Live, Baltimore, MD
9/21: Lupoâ€™s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI
9/22: Toadâ€™s Place, New Haven, CT
9/23: Catâ€™s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
9/24: 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA
9/26: Tipitinaâ€™s, New Orleans, LA
9/27: Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX
9/28: Jakeâ€™s Sports Cafe, Lubbock, TX
10/01: Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff, AZ
10/02: Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles, CA
10/03: Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA
10/04: Downtown Brewing Co., San Luis Obispo, CA
10/05: The Dome, Bakersfield, CA
10/06: Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
10/08: Midtown Ballroom, Bend, OR
10/09: Nightlight Lounge, Bellingham, WA
10/10: Venue, Boise, ID
10/11: In the Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
10/12: Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
10/13: Belly Up Aspen, Aspen, CO
10/15: Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WS
10/16: Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WS
10/17: Playmaker’s Pavilion, Fargo, ND
10/21: The Canopy, Urbana, IL
10/22: The Metro, Chicago, IL
10/23: University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
10/24: The Blue Note, Columbia, MO
10/25: Granada, Lawrence, KS
10/28: Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ
10/30: Emo’s, Austin, TX
11/01: The Conservatory, Oklahoma City, OK
11/02: Picador, Iowa City, IA

9/14-10/16: w/Grayskul, Luckyiam, Mac Lethal

www.myspace.com/atmosphere

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Common hits number one, quickly plummets

Posted on August 18, 2007 by plugoneboss

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On the week of August 11, Common’s Finding Forever debuted at the top of the charts. The most impressive thing, however, wasn’t the fact that Common landed the first number one album of his decade-plus career. With movie roles, a high-profile creative partnership with Kanye West, and much critical acclaim for his work, Common was expected to do well with his latest release. Remarkably, however — and no one noted this — he may be the first rap artist in history to top the Billboard charts on his seventh album. His resiliency is a great rebuttal to the ongoing debate over hip-hop’s durability in the mainstream marketplace.

On the following week, however, Finding Forever quickly tumbled from the top to number seven on the Billboard charts. (Ironically, it was replaced by UGK’s self-titled sixth album, making for perhaps the oldest hip-hop group to achieve a number one slot.) Unfortunately, most rap stars still depend on radio hits to move major units; since nothing has yet emerged from Finding Forever, it’s doubtful (but not impossible) that Common can translate his amazing feat into massive record sales.

Meanwhile, dude is heading out on the road for several spot dates, some of which will be for the Heineken Red Star Soul tour with promising new soul artist Emily King. He’ll probably announce a more extensive run during the next several months. In the meantime, check out the dates below.

9/04: Seldom Blues, Detroit, MI
9/05: Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA
9/07: Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
9/08: House of Blues, Anaheim, CA
9/09: House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
9/13: Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
9/15: House of Blues, Dallas, TX
9/16: La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX
9/18: Opera, Atlanta, GA
9/24: Kool Haus, Toronto, ON
9/26: Love, Washington, DC
10/07: Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

9/04: w/Raheem DeVaughn
9/18: w/Emily King, Jazzy Jeff
9/26: w/Teedra Moses

www.common-music.com
www.myspace.com/common

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The Plug One Q&A: Andrew Lojero’s “From L.A. with Love”

Posted on August 15, 2007 by plugoneboss

Andrew Lojero and the L.A. skyline. Photo by Theo Jemison.

Some compilations just collect tracks that fit into a genre; others introduce a brand name. From L.A. with Love exposes a West Coast movement. Its 17 tracks hail from well-known underground musicians such as Madlib (as Sound Directions and Yesterdays New Quintet), Georgia Anne Muldrow, Flying Lotus, Free Moral Agents, Carlos NiÃ±o (from AmmonContact, Hu Vibrational and other projects) and DJ Exile. Famous visual artists like B+ (the photographer/filmmaker famous for his work with DJ Shadow and the documentary Keepintime), HVW8 and Kozyndan interpret the songs with imagistic paintings and photographs. The CD package, from its color booklet to its colorful songs, exposes a criminally-unsung scene bursting with creativity.

Andrew â€œPlandruâ€ Lojero is the man who conceived From L.A. with Love. A lifelong Los Angeleno raised in Boyle Heights, Lojero first made his name as part of Prima Lux, an event promotions team that also included Pablo like Picasso and the late Tarek â€œDJ Duskâ€ Captan. He soon launched his own imprint, ArtDontSleep, and began throwing off-the-map parties at warehouses and under bridges.

Iâ€™ve never been to an ArtDontSleep party. But thatâ€™s what so unique about From L.A. with Love. It communicates the adventurousness of L.A.â€™s underground music scene, and makes it vivid for anyone who cares to purchase the CD.

My conversation with Lojero began after he reached out to me via email this spring, a few months before the compilationâ€™s release on June 5. I used a press release on the album to write a short preview. Somehow, he found the preview and generously added a link to his newsletter and MySpace bulletin blasts, resulting in hundreds of new viewers for Plug One. After he contacted me via email, I agreed to interview him about From L.A. with Love. This interview took place in mid-May.

A brief warning: unlike some of the past profiles Iâ€™ve written for Plug One, Lojero isnâ€™t a known personality. Much of our dialogue can be categorized as â€œinside baseball,â€ and refers to events, venues, promoters, labels and artists that most people â€“ even hip-hop heads â€“ may have never heard of. Iâ€™ve added dozens of links to proper names mentioned in order to facilitate translation. Click on the links and educate yourself.

Continue reading →

Posted in Greatest Hits, Interviews | Tagged Andrew Lojero, ArtDontSleep | 2 Comments

Solillaquists build creative center for youth

Posted on August 14, 2007 by plugoneboss

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Some people like to gossip about whether Lil’ Wayne reunited with Trina or if Kanye West is gay. Me, I like to write about artists who are actually doing shit instead of speculate about their personal lives.

Case in point: Epitaph Records quartet Solillaquists of Sound. The quartet, which consists of two married couples, want to build a creative arts center in Orlando. “The Solilla Center 4 Creative Kids will offer kids yoga, a kids art gallery & store, massage, a smoothie and juice bar, language, art, poetry, theater, gardening, vegan cooking and raw food courses, & an after-school tutoring and study program!” writes Alexandrah. “Our goal is to raise $20,000 in 30 days.”

Solillaquists are asking for $2 donations, which will earn contributors a coupon good for, uh, $2 at the group’s gift shop. How they’ll be able to raise 20 Gs from $2 donations apiece in a month is anyone’s guess. But hey, it’s a worthy cause.

“This center is a much-needed outlet of expression for Orlandoâ€™s Kids, so please spread the word!!” writes Alexandrah. To donate, visit solilla.myshopify.com.

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Prefuse 73 makes “Preparations”

Posted on August 13, 2007 by plugoneboss

Scott Herren is arguably one of the most influential producers of the past decade — if not necessarily in hip-hop (he’s got a lot of competition in that department), then most certainly in electronic music.

So why all the haterade? Perhaps because, over an 8-year career, he’s made a lot of music under many guises. Not all of it’s great, and some of it is pretty dismal (I particularly didn’t like Security Screenings). His predicament reminds me of J-Dilla, another prolific producer who drew a lot of criticism around 2001-2002. This was four years before he died and became deified by the hip-hop faithful. Hopefully Herren won’t have to die to get his props.

So here comes another Herren adventure, this time under his most successful pseudonym, Prefuse 73. Preparations, set for release on October 9 via Warp Records, arrives only five months after Golden Pollen, his recent album as Savath y Savalas. The man is currently planning a U.S. tour, but in the meantime here’s the track listing.

1. “From the East Intro”
2. “Beaten Thursdays”
3. “Aborted Hugs”
4. “The Class of 73 Bells” (feat. School of Seven Bells)
5. “Girlfriend Boyfriend”
6. “Smoking Red” (feat. John Stanier)
7. “Prog Version Slowly Crushed”
8. “Noreaster Cheer”
9. “Let It Ring”
10. “17 Seconds Interlude” (feat. Tobias Lilja)
11. “I Knew You Were Gonna Go”
12. “Pomade Suite Version One”
13. “Spaced + Dissonant”
14. “Preparation Outro Version”

www.prefuse73.com
www.myspace.com/prefusion73

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Perkins and Muldrow preach “The Message Uni Versa”

Posted on August 9, 2007 by plugoneboss

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On September 25, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dudley Perkins will unveil The Message Uni Versa. For fans of Muldrow’s brilliant Olesi: Fragments of an Earth, this album is more straightforward and spiritual-based than her searing, sometimes-anguished solo work. For fans of Perkins’ solo albums (not including his music as Declaime), it finds him collaborating with a new partner, not the mighty Madlib.

With two talents as formidable as Muldrow and Perkins, there isn’t any need for cameos and guest appearances. Muldrow handles the bulk of the beats, but Perkins chips in some beats. The music is a unique blend of hip-hop, funk and soul.

Some may surprised that The Message Uni Versa isn’t arriving via Stones Throw Records. Instead, it comes through Look Records, the Bay Area label founded by onetime Stones Throw artist DJ Design. The Message Uni Versa, says Perkins in a press release, “means one song in the universe; we’re trying to reach the masses through this album to let everyone know we are all one.”

As for Epistophik Peach Sounds, the duo’s erstwhile label? Its first release will be Jimetta Rose’s “America” 12-inch. Produced by Muldrow, it’s scheduled to arrive with Groove Attack Distribution on September 21.

Meanwhile, the track listing for The Message Uni Versa is below.

1. “Ye Olde Skit”
2. “GodUnit”
3. “On One”
4. “One”
5. “Peace of Mind”
6. “Time”
7. “Found”
8. “U”
9. “All 4 U”
10. “Ye Olde Skit Too”
11. “Good Mornin Amerikkka”
12. “P.I.F.O.T.P.H. 34”
13. “War Drums”
14. “The Stomp”
15. “Poppa’s Song”
16. “MGD” (feat. M.E.D.)
17. “Stronger”
18. “Ye Last Olde Skit”
19. “The Message”
20. “Uncle Dudley’s Outro”

Posted in News | Tagged Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Look Records | Leave a comment

DJ Vadim tours for “The Soundcatcher”

Posted on August 8, 2007 by plugoneboss

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This fall, UK producer DJ Vadim will head across the U.S. on tour in support of his latest album The Soundcatcher. Accompanying him will be Yarah Bravo, the rapper/vocalist who collaborated with him on his One Self project; and L.A. rap veteran Abstract Rude. The trio plan to course through the nation’s bohemian cafes and small nightclubs, and are looking for people to help spread the word.

“If you are familiar with One Self. Then you are probably familiar with mine and my crew’s work ethics,” wrote Vadim in a MySpace message. “We are looking to create a Street Team in all the cities we are hitting. We need people who can help us distribute flyers and posters to record stores, clothes stores, coffee shops, colleges … hit up local radio, campus radio, promote at local shows etc … and spread the word! If you got a website, or run a blog etc … feel free to post it on there as well. We’ll make online flyers too.”

So consider this modest post a contribution towards the effort. If you want to help, contact the Russian through his MySpace page. In the meantime, check out the tour dates below.

9/26: Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
9/27: Soundlab, Buffalo, NY
9/28: TBA, Chicago, IL
9/29: The Social, Milwakee, WS
10/03: Hume Lounge, Nelson, BC
10/05: Lucky Bar, Victoria, tk
10/06: Richards on Richards, Vancouver, BC
10/11: Nectar Lounge, Seattle, WA
10/12: John Henrys, Eugene, OR
10/13: Fez Ballroom, Portland, OR
10/14: Domino Room, Bend, OR
10/16: The Wayside, Shasta, CA
10/17: Green Room, Reno, NV
10/19: Mighty, San Francisco, CA
10/20: Kava Lounge, San Diego, CA
10/21: Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, CA
10/23: Continental Room, Orange County, CA
10/24: Solar Culture, Tuscon, AZ
10/25: Blunt Club, Meza, AZ
10/26: Grab Bar, Houston, TX
10/27: Flamingo Cantina, Austin, TX
10/28: Granada Theatre, Dallas, TX
10/30: Spanish Room, Baton Rouge, LA
11/01: Beta Bar, Tallahassee, FL
11/02: Apache Cafe, Atlanta, GA
11/03: TBA, Charlotte, NC
11/04: Alley Cats, Richmond, VA

www.djvadim.com
www.myspace.com/djvadim

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Plug One

Lyrics Born prepares new album, tour

Little Brother waits for “Getback,” tours with Evidence

Daedelus brings new music, concerts

Kanye West trumpets “Graduation”

PB Wolf compiles “2K8”

Review: Panacea, “The Scenic Route”

Krush takes “History of Krush” on tour

Buck 65 faces “Situation”

Common, Q-Tip head on 2K8 Sports Bounce Tour

Review: Madlib, “Beat Konducta Vol. 3-4: India”

Review: Shape of Broad Minds, “Craft of the Lost Art”

Lupe Fiasco promises “The Cool”

Sadat X re-emerges

Atmosphere returns to the road

Common hits number one, quickly plummets

The Plug One Q&A: Andrew Lojero’s “From L.A. with Love”

Solillaquists build creative center for youth

Prefuse 73 makes “Preparations”

Perkins and Muldrow preach “The Message Uni Versa”

DJ Vadim tours for “The Soundcatcher”

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