Plug One

Jazzy Jeff announces Hip-Hop Forever III

Posted on October 15, 2006 by plugoneboss

Jazzy Jeff_Vince MacDonald.jpg

“Jazzy” Jeff Townes is a rare example of an old-school giant who stays relevant. Never selling out to the Hot 97 formula of club mixing, he mentors young Philadelphia acts (think Musiq and Jill Scott) while staying true to the sonic activism of turntable hip-hop through sundry panel appearances and DJ gigs. He’s more than that weirdo who gets thrown out of Will Smith’s mansion on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Now Jazzy Jeff is finally issuing a follow-up to his acclaimed 2002 debut The Magnificent. The new album is tentatively scheduled for a February 2007 release and reportedly includes collaborations with Method Man, De La Soul and Little Brother.

Before that, Jazzy Jeff is dropping Hip-Hop Forever III, a sequel to his 2004 mix CD Hip-Hop Forever II on October 31. It finds Jeff flipping classic backpacker cuts, from Eric B. and Rakim’s “Eric B. is President” to Jay Dee’s “Fuck Tha Police.”

Both Hip-Hop Forever III and the new album will come to you via UK imprint BBE. Here’s the track list for the former:

01. Biz Markie – Tear Shit Up
02. The Pharcyde – Passing Me By
03. Lil Brother – Whatever You Say
04. The Large Professor – Ijustwannachill
05. Masta Ace Inc – Top Ten List
06. Mister Complex – Visualize
07. Little Brother – Speed
08. Big L – Ebonics
09. Saukrates – Play Dis
10. Slum Village – Players
11. The Pharcyde – Runnin’
12. Jay Dee – Fuck Tha Police
13. Eric B And Rakim – Eric B Is The President
14. Marley Marl – Droppin Science
15. Gangstarr – The ? Remains
16. Gangstarr – Mass Appeal
17. Gangstarr – Full Clip
18. Royce da 5’9 – Boom
19. A Tribe Called Quest – Award Tour
20. Phat Kat – Dont Nobody Care About Us
21. Mobb Deep – Quiet Storm
22. Black Moon – Who Got Da Props
23. Redman – Lets Get Dirty
24. Black Sheep – The Choice Is Yours
25. Main Source – Lookin At The Front Door
26. J-Live – Them Thats Not

www.jazzyjeff.com
www.myspace.com

Posted in News | Tagged BBE, Jazzy Jeff | Leave a comment

Cut Chemist brings “Listening” to Apple, tours with Lyrics Born

Posted on October 14, 2006 by plugoneboss

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Former Jurassic 5 turntablist Cut Chemist continues to promote his excellent debut album, The Audience’s Listening. You can hear “The Audience’s Listening Theme Song” on a new iPod Nano commercial. The success of the clip — which is undoubtedly playing on your television set as you read this — fuels the momentum of “What’s the Altitude,” the second single from the album. The single, a collaboration with Los Angeles MC Hymnal, includes dance-oriented remixes from She Wants Revenge and the Astronauts, and an Avalanches-like sampladelic adventure from UK producer Joe Buddha.

Meanwhile, Cut Chemist is taking to the road for a co-headlining tour with Lyrics Born. The man formerly known as Asia Born, whose music has also appeared in “commercial form” (courtesy of Coca-Cola) is about to release a live album, Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live! The Quannum Records release hits stores on October 31. Audiences will get a taste of what it sounds like when they see the chief party rocker in person.

Dates for Cut Chemist & Lyrics Born:

10/19: El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
10/20: The Independent, San Francisco, CA
10/21: The Independent, San Francisco, CA
10/22: Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
10/24: Richards on Richards, Vancouver, BC (Canada)
10/25: Neumo’s, Seattle, WA
10/26: The Big Easy, Boise, ID
10/27: Suede, Park City, UT
10/28: Belly Up, Aspen, CO
10/29: Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO
11/02: Foundation Nightclub, Minneapolis, MN
11/03: Eagles Club, Milwaukee, WI
11/04: The Abbey, Chicago, IL
11/05: Magic Stick, Detroit, MI
11/06: Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON (Canada)
11/08: Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, So. Burlington, VT
11/09: Middle East, Cambridge, MA
11/10: Webster Hall, New York, NY
11/11: Theatre of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
11/12: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC

Stream: iPod Nano commercial w/Cut Chemist

www.cutchemist.com
www.myspace.com/cutchemist

Posted in News | Tagged Cut Chemist, Lyrics Born | Leave a comment

Fourth-quarter comebacks from Jay-Z, Nas

Posted on October 9, 2006 by plugoneboss

Three years after The Black Album and his “retirement” from the rap game, Jay-Z finally returns with his 9th album of original material, Kingdom Come. The disc is scheduled for release via Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam on November 21.

Last week the Def Jam president “leaked” what may become the most overanalyzed MP3 in history, “Show Me What You Got.” An in-depth history of the song by Jay-Z and producer Just Blaze is available for perusal at XXL magazine, and a video will debut on MTV on Oct. 16.

Meanwhile, Nas is launching the hype machine for his new album. The title was tweaked from Hip-Hop is Dead? to Hip-Hop is Dead…the N, and its release date was pushed back from November 7 to December 19. The first street single is “Where Y’all At.”

The success or failure of these two albums — and Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come in particular — will not only test the commercial potency of mainstream hip-hop, but the solvency of a formula (big-name producers, high-profile guest artists) that has dominated New York rap culture since the Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die in 1994. Will these projects last beyond to-be-expected huge first-week sales (expect Jay-Z to debut with over 500,000 SoundScans)? Will they reaffirm hip-hop as a cultural force to be reckoned with, and not just a fountain of novelty dance hits and lurid tabloid headlines?

Stay tuned.

Stream: “Show Me What You Got”
Stream: “Where Y’all At”

Posted in News | Tagged Jay-Z, Nas | Leave a comment

Mr. Lif covers football, international territory

Posted on October 8, 2006 by plugoneboss

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Last week, Definitive Jux artist Mr. Lif launched a new podcast, Yo! Football Radio, with RhymeCity Records owner Jason Griffin. On the hourlong show, the duo offer some dense analysis of week four in the NFL.

“One thing you will know about our radio stuff is that we will flash some stats at you. But generalization is probably my specialty,” says Lif.

“We’re about 50/50 on our stats,” adds Griffin.

“But that’s why it’s by the fans for the motherfuckin’ fans,” says Lif.

If football isn’t your sport, you can see Mr. Lif doing what he does best: rocking shows. The Beantown MC is heading out on a worldwide tour in support of his second album, Mo’ Mega, that reaches the U.S. in November.

11/24: Nighlight Lounge, Bellingham, WA
11/25: Neumo?s, Seattle, WA
11/26: Berbatis Pan, Portland, OR
11/28: The Independent, San Francisco, CA
11/30: Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, CA
12/01: House of Blues, San Diego, CA
12/02: Chasers Bar & Nightclub, Scottsdale, AZ
12/03: Abbey Theatre, Durango, CO
12/05: Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO
12/06: Quixotes, Denver, CO
12/08: Gardner Lounge (Grinnell Main hall basement), Grinnell, IA
12/08: The Abbey Pub, Chicago, IL
12/09: The Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH
12/12: The Mod Club, Toronto, ON (Canada)
12/13: Foufounes Electriques, Montreal, QC (Canada)
12/15: Paradise Lounge, Boston, MA
12/16: BB King’s Blues Club & Grill, New York, NY
12/17: Ottobar, Baltimore, MD
12/18: Black Cat, Washington, DC
12/19: First Unitarian Church Sanctuary, Philadelphia, PA

www.mrlif.com
www.myspace.com/mrlif
www.rhymecity.net
www.myspace.com/rhymecity

Download: Yo! Football Radio, Week 4

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Funkstörung: 1992-2006

Posted on October 4, 2006 by plugoneboss

FunkstÃ¶rung has split up. Chris de Luca and Michael Fakesch announced the group’s end through a statement posted on their website last month. “Whatever the reasons were: musical differences, personal problems, the distance of 700 KM between Rosenheim and Chris’ new place in Berlin – who cares … fact is we both agreed it’s better to focus on solo projects from here on out,” wrote the duo.

Though they never achieved the success of Prefuse 73, FunkstÃ¶rung (German for transmission interface) was a leader of the short-lived IDM/hip-hop interface alongside Autechre, Kid-606, and Push Button Objects. Their 1999 collection Additional Productions, a compilation of remixes for BjÃ¶rk, Wu-Tang Clan and others, is considered a minor classic of modern electronic music. In the States, they’re best known for 2000’s Appetite for Disctruction and 2004’s Disconnected, both released on !K7 Records. The latter was arguably their best full-length album, and found them incorporating warm future soul as well as their trademark glitchy hip-hop.

According to his MySpace page, de Luca (who issued an album with rapper Peabird called Deadly wiz da Disco in 2002) is working on a new project with techno artist Phon.o. Meanwhile, Fakesch reports on his MySpace page that he’s preparing a new !K7 album with vocalist Taprikk Sweezee. He also posted a new, unreleased remix of Herbert’s “Something Isn’t Right” (from Herbert’s acclaimed Scale.)

To document their history together, FunkstÃ¶rung relaunched its official website as FunkstÃ¶rung Complete. The site allows you to listen to their complete discography, including unreleased remixes, as well as videos and other esoterica.

In a statement posted on October 5, the duo writes, “This website will serve as an official retrospective of basically anything that we ever touched as FunkstÃ¶rung. The concept may seem a little unorthodox. But then again, we have never been massive conformists.”

www.funkstorung.com
www.michaelfakesch.com
www.myspace.com/michaelfakesch
www.myspace.com/chrisdeluca

Posted in Hip-Hop Heaven, News | Tagged Chris de Luca, FunkstÃ¶rung, Michael Fakesch | Leave a comment

Zion-I & the Grouch hit the road

Posted on September 25, 2006 by plugoneboss

Bay Area rap mystics Zion-I and Living Legends cynic the Grouch are hitting the road for a massive 40-city-plus tour across the United States and Canada. The two Cali acts will promote their new collabo album, Heroes in the City of Dope, which just hit stores courtesy of Om Records. As an added bonus other underground acts like the Visionaries, Crown City Rockers, Hangar 18, and Deuce Eclipse will join in on special dates.

Dates for Zion-I & the Grouch:

10/07: Vault 350, Long Beach, CA
10/12: Agenda Lounge, San Jose, CA
10/13: UC San Diego
10/14: Pier 27, San Francisco, CA
10/15: WOW Hall, Eugene, OR
10/17: Doug Fir, Portland, OR
10/18: Chop Suey, Seatttle, WA
10/19: The Plaza, Vancouver, BC
10/20: Nightlight Lounge, Bellingham, WA
10/21: The Other Side, Missoula, MT
10/22: Zebra Cocktail Lounge, Bozeman, MT
10/24: Grove Street, Boise, ID
10/25: Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
10/26: Aggie Theatre, Ft. Collins, CO
10/27: Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO
10/28: Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO
10/29: Abbey Theatre, Durango, CO
10/31: The Cavern, Dallas, TX
11/01: Emo’s, Austin, TX
11/03: Sunshine Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
11/04: Chasers, Scottsdale, AZ
11/05: Club Congress, Tucson, AZ
11/06: Orpheum, Flagstaff, AZ
11/07: The Casbah, San Diego, CA
11/08: Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, CA
11/10: Downtown Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo, CA
11/12: The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
11/16: Odeon Theatre, Saskatoon, SK (Canada)
11/17: TBA, Red Deer, AB (Canada)
11/18: Sidetrack, Edmonton, AB (Canada)
11/19: Hi Fi Club, Calgary, AB (Canada)
11/20: Royal Hotel, Fernie, BC (Canada)
11/22: Hume Hotel, Nelson, BC (Canada)
11/23: TBA, Kamloops, BC (Canada)
11/24: TBA, Whistler, BC (Canada)
11/25: TBA, Victoria, BC (Canada)
11/28: Great Scott, Allston, MA
11/29: Nectar’s, Burlington, VT
11/30: Sonar, Baltimore, MD
12/01: Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY
12/02: The Fire, Philadelphia, PA
12/04: The Mocambo, Toronto, ON (Canada)
12/05: Casbah, Hamilton, ON (Canada)
12/06: Call the Office, London, ON (Canada)
12/07: Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI
12/08: The Abbey, Chicago, IL
12/09: The Annex, Madison, WI
12/10: 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis, MN

w/Deuce Eclipse
10/07: w/Visionaries
10/07, 11/28-12/10: w/Crown City Rockers
10/15-10/18: w/Bicasso
10/15-10/31: w/Hangar 18
10/20-10/24, 11/10, 11/18: w/Instant Messengers
11/01-11/07: w/Pigeon John
11/12: w/Saul Williams
11/28-12/10: w/Strange Fruit Project

www.myspace.com/zioniandthegrouch
www.zionicrew.com
www.myspace.com/zioni
www.therealgrouch.com

Posted in News | Tagged the Grouch, Zion-I | Leave a comment

Consequence announces new album, tour dates

Posted on September 23, 2006 by plugoneboss

Consequence_MySpace page.jpg

While opening for A Tribe Called Quest at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Consequence announced that his long delayed album Don’t Quit Your Day Job will finally drop in February 2007. Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music, which enjoys a distribution deal with Sony BMG, will put it out. But with SA-RA and Fonsworth Bentley set to drop soon, too, you may have to wait a little longer.

In the meantime, for those who missed Consequence re-enacting his classic “Phony Rappers” verse, the Queens MC will make select appearances on John Legend’s promo tour. Here are the dates taken from G.O.O.D. Music’s MySpace page:

11/08: State Theater, Detroit, MI
11/09: Riviera/House of Blues, Chicago, IL
11/10: The Quest, Minneapolis, MN
11/13: Paramount Theater, Denver, CO
11/14: Harry O’s, Salt Lake City, UT
11/16: Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, CA
11/17: The House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
11/18: The Warfield, San Francisco, CA
11/20: The House of Blues, San Diego, CA
11/21: The House of Blues, Anaheim, CA
11/22: The Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, AZ
11/24: The Gypsy Ballroom, Dallas, TX
11/25: The Warehouse, Houston, TX
11/27: The House of Blues, Orlando, FL

www.constothequence.com
www.myspace.com/constothequence

Posted in News | Tagged Consequence | Leave a comment

Plastic Little gets mature, reveals Jay-Z-roticism

Posted on September 23, 2006 by plugoneboss

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Dopest album cover of the year: Plastic Little’s sampler for the upcoming She’s Mature, where some kid fronts like The Smiths’ famous artwork for “This Charming Man” (a still of Jean Marais from OrphÃ©e).

The liner notes on the back, designed by grahic artist Jayson Scott Musson (a.k.a. Plastic Little’s PackofRats) are even more hilarious:

“I know white people have stolen a lot from us, but we still have F.U.B.U., so let those devils keep jazz, rock and swing dancing as well as their contemptible white Jesus. You know the real dilly, and that dilly is: One day Jay-Z will buy you a house because you bought all of his records and then he’ll buy you a pony because you had his back when he was beefing with Nas, and then he’ll give you a recording contract because your voice is so very unique and then he’ll ask you to marry him. He ain’t on some gay shit though, he just thinks youz a real nigga and he wouldn’t mind that real nigga quality in a life partner. Jay-Z lightly mumbles to you: ‘Maybe we’ll kiss a little, nah mean? But that it dog. I ain’t gay.’ You know Jigga isn’t telling the whole truth…it’s obvious that he wants more than a kiss. But secretly, so do you…”

That about sums up hip-hop in 2006.

Posted in News | Tagged Plastic Little | Leave a comment