Wednesday

Disney Buys Lucasfilm For 4Billion, New Star Wars Movies Coming


 I never would have imagined the day George Lucas would sell his company, especially not to Disney.  As a Star Wars fan I'm thrilled to see what the direction Disney is going to take the franchise.  As a writer this may be an opportunity for writers like myself to provide Disney with some new material. With a new series of Star Wars films to come the creators of the iconic global franchise, George Lucas‘ company Lucasfilm Ltd is to be acquired by The Walt Disney Company in a $4.05bn (£2.52bn) deal, announced yesterday (October 30).
“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next,” George Lucas says of the deal. “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I’ve always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime.”
Adding to their umbrella which includes ESPN, Pixar, Marvel and ABC, Disney is acquiring all facets of of Lucasfilm’s operating businesses – including Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound, alongside the Star Wars franchise rights.
“George Lucas is a visionary, an innovator and an epic storyteller – and he’s built a company at the intersection of entertainment and technology to bring some of the world’s most unforgettable characters and stories to screens across the galaxy,” says Robert Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, in a press statement. “He’s entertained, inspired, and defined filmmaking for almost four decades and we’re incredibly honored that he has entrusted the future of that legacy to Disney.”
He explains, “Lucasfilm fits perfectly with Disney’s strategic priorities. It is a sustainable source of branded, high quality creative content with tremendous global appeal that will benefit all of Disney’s business units and is incredibly well suited for new business models, including digital platforms.”
Financial details on the deal show Disney will buy Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion – a similar value to their prior acuisition of Marvel in 2009 – in an approximate 50/50 split of cash and Disney stock.
The newest feature film to come in the ongoing cult saga, Star Wars Episode 7 is anticipated for worldwide release in 2015 – with Lucas serving as creative consultant joined by Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm co-chairman and new president of Lucasfilm at Disney, as executive producer, also serving as the Star Wars brand manager.
Watch Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger and George Lucas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm, discuss the big announcement below.

 

Cody ChesnuTT Performs On 'Later With Jools Holland '



 Here is the moment we've all been waiting for his long awaited sophomore LP, Landing On A Hundred, soulful Atlanta, Georgia native Cody ChesnuTT recently stopped by the Later with… Jools Holland BBC show in London to give an excellent performance of album cut “Under The Spell Of The Handout” with a live band.
ChesnuTT made a mark in 2002 with his debut, The Headphone Masterpiece, leaving fans hungering for more until after, “a period of family-man retreat and reflection that did a world of good for him after his meteoric rise to near fame,” the Shortlist Music Prize nominated singer-songwriter warmed up for his full-length return by releasing the six-track EP Black Skin No Value in 2010.
His new album, Landing On A Hundred is out now on One Little Indian records.

Tuesday

Obama Declares Major Disaster In NYC & NJ Due To Sandy

Image: Cars washed away in NYC

 President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in the New York City area and New Jersey Tuesday after Superstorm Sandy pounded the Northeast, killing at least 28 people, sweeping homes into the ocean, flooding large swaths of coastal areas and crippling public transit.
As the day wore on, millions without power faced the prospect of up to a week without heat, light or refrigeration, while authorities tried to measure the full wrath of the once-in-a-generation hurricane.
The deaths included at least 10 people in New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday, adding "tragically, we expect that number to go up."
Obama, speaking at the headquarters of the American Red Cross in Washington, said Tuesday that the federal government would do all it could to help local authorities cope with damage.
The storm, he warned, is "not yet over ... it is still moving north.'' The president will visit damaged areas in New Jersey on Wednesday, the White House said.
Details of the devastation were also becoming clear:
  • More than 8.2 million homes and businesses were without power across 20 states, and half of the outages were in New York and New Jersey, according to a tally by the federal government. NBC News meteorologist Bill Karins warned to "expect the cleanup and power outage restoration to continue right up through Election Day."
  • A massive fire destroyed at least 80 homes in Breezy Point, a seaside community in Queens, N.Y. Firefighters had difficulty reaching the blaze due to the severe weather. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
  • Ten subway tunnels under the East River in New York City were flooded, leading MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota to declare: "The New York City subway system is 108 years old, but it has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night." Subway service was unlikely to resume for 4 to 5 days, Bloomberg said.
  • PATH train service between Manhattan and New Jersey is likely to be suspended for 7-10 days, Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday.
  • Half of Hoboken, N.J., was underwater, preventing emergency crews from reaching areas of the city, according to Mayor Dawn Zimmer. "We want people to be aware that it's a very dangerous situation," she told MSNBC.
  • At least four towns in north New Jersey were submerged by up to 6 feet of water after a levee broke.
  • New York University Medical Center evacuated 215 patients to other hospitals because its backup generator was out.
  • The storm surge destroyed homes, boats and other property in beach communities like Long Beach Island, N.J., and Fire Island, N.Y. Sand several blocks inland remained after the water receded.
  • More than 15,000 flights have been canceled so far and New York City's airports remained closed Tuesday. Amtrak canceled all of its Northeast Corridor rail service, in addition to some other lines.
  • A half-dozen nuclear power plants were shut down or impacted, while the nation's oldest facility declared a rare "alert" after the record storm surge pushed flood waters high enough to endanger a key cooling system.  

M.I.A. Releases Autobiographical Book - Documentary



 M.I.A. has always been known not only for her musical abilities but for also being super creative, and has been one of very few people to push artistic boundaries with all her visuals whether it be with her clothing style or videos – so it comes as a no-brainer that she would put her thoughts and visions down on paper for a new book.
The two-time Grammy nominated London born artist has now put together collages, photos and prints dating from her more recent inspirations whilst touring and all the way back to her time as a student at Central Saint Martin’s art and design college in London; including artwork and also assorted lyrics along with portions of an exclusive interview from the normally private M.I.A., who candidly discusses personal events and themes that have influenced her art and music throughout her journey.
Available in hardcover with a foreword by Steve Loveridge, M.I.A’s artschool friend and creative collaborator, you can now purchase her self-titled book from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Watch an accompanying video below.





Courtesy Of SoulCulture

Koncept - "Watch The Sky Fall"(Feat. Royce Da 5'9) - Video



From the depths of the underground a new release single from the infamous Koncept featuring Royce Da 5'9".  This track Watch The Sky Fall, takes me back to the mid 90's when HipHop was at its best.  You can cop this Awaken album right now.  In the mean time checkout the video above its definitely different from most.

Monday

Affion Crockett Spoofs 2 Chainz In "Enunciation" - Video



 I like this dude he's been doing his thing for a minute now.  Funny thing some of the rappers he impersonate I actually see them the same way he does....clowns.  So in preparation for his upcoming comedy album Watch The Clone, comedian Affion Crockett gives fans a taste of what they can expect vith his 2 Chainz spoof “Enunciation”.
Crockett, as 2 Chainz, is seen in a classroom learning words with a group of school children. In typical music video fashion, changes of clothes, hats, and even haircuts are a part of the parody.
Known for his impressions, the Hollywood mainstay has previously spoofed the likes of Drake (‘Headlines’), Lil’ Wayne (‘WTF’), and John Legend (‘I Am John Legend’). Also appearing in movies alongside Samuel L Jackson and Sandra Bullock, and last year he hosted his own show on the Fox Network titled In The Flow With Affion Crockett.
Out November 6th on iTunes, Watch The Clone will feature parody’s of Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Eminem.

Check out ‘Enunciation’ here:

Sunday

Doom Returns To His Roots In London


Probably one of HipHop's most reclusive emcees alive known primarily as MF Doom and a mastermind of a prouducer.  He links up with Adidas in London to talk about his experiences as a graffiti artist.
Describing the UK’s capital city as, “an artistic community with all types of eclectic things,” Doom reminisces upon his days selecting the right spot for his artwork, and explains how graffiti depends upon cooperation between both sides of the human brain. Fans may be surprised to see Doom deviating from music, but he appears to bring forth the same level of precision for his visual artwork as he does for his audio masterpieces.
Watch the full interview below, and the finished piece seen in the video can be seen at the Shoreditch Art Wall at 17-19 Great Eastern Street in London.



UPDATE: Natina Reed's Killers Said They Thought She Was A Dear


 
October 28, 2012: MediaTakeOut.com learned that Natina was killed RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE . . . as she crossed the street trying to get some snacks from the gas station on the other side of the road.
According to a TOP MTO insider, Natina crossed Lawrenceville Highway in Georgia on her way to a CITGO gas station. We're told that Natina did NOT CROSS at a pedestrian crossing.
Well, a car moving at a high rate of speed STRUCK Natina. The car did not immediately stop, but after a few miles the couple inside decided to turn back and see what happened. According to the couple they didn't IMMEDIATELY STOP, because they thought they "hit a deer"
When they turned back and saw Natina, they called 9-1-1. And Natina was rushed to the hospital - where she was dead on arrival.
Police are still investigating Natina's death.  It really sounds like it was a true accident, but I still wonder how fast were they going.  Being a speeder myself I speed on highways, I never speed through residential areas for this exact reason.  So it still on the driver to think responsibly when driving through residential areas.  This could have been prevented.

Courtesy Of MediaTakeOut

Doug E Fresh Beat Boxes While Will Smith Freestyles



Wow....we all know Will Smith aka The Fresh Prince can probably retire off of his "Hollywood Money" but instead he has revisited his first love, HipHop.  Most people are really are not aware of the lyrical skill and talent Will has on the mic. Now I must admit I don't listen to too much of his new stuff but I have to respect him for keeping it real and being comfortable just being him.  So at Gabrielle Union's 40th birthday party in Miami, performer Doug E Fresh was surprised by a guest appearance from Will Smith. Will spit an impromptu freestyle and then performed "Summertime" and the theme song from "Fresh Prince of Bel Air".

Saturday

Jabari Presents Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Documentary


 Macklemore and Ryan Lewis‘  independent album The Heist sold an incredible 78, 000 copies in its first week, reaching No. 2 on the US Billboard chart, and there’s a great story behind it, one which encompasses everything from addiction to Major League baseball.
In this episode of Jabari Presents, Jabari met Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in Seattle as they were filming their hilarious video for “Thrift Shop” and preparing for the release of their album. The rapper discloses some of his past problems with addiction, and both artists discuss the “70-hour-a-week” sacrifices needed to be successful as indie artists, revealing their belief that doing everything in-house and maintaining control of your brand can give you significant bargaining power with major labels.
You’ll learn that the album’s success, “was grassroots, it wasn’t big money behind it, it wasn’t a label. It wasn’t a co-sign, it was just hard work and people connecting with the music… and that’s the dopest thing, you cant take that from me.”
Macklemore expands, “Like, you can talk shit about my music, you can say whatever you want, you can not like it, but you can’t away the fact that there are x amount of people that believe in what I do, passionately… and that’s better than any co-sign, that’s better than any signing bonus, that’s better than any label.”
Watch the video for yourself below, and check out our review of “The Heist” here.

Alicia Keys Releases Animated Storytelling App For Children



 Amidst promoting her upcoming Girl On Fire album and supporting the President, Alicia Keys has released a new animated app for children called The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee.
The story focuses on the relationship between a wise grandmother (voiced by Touched By An Angel actress Della Reese) and her eight-year old granddaughter, based on Alicia and her own grandmother, and is mostly set in LeeLee’s bedroom, where users can play a virtual piano and sit at her desk to draw or write in her journal.
The app also features brand-new music  from the singer, and is intended as an inter-generational experience.  “It’s something that a mother and child can experience together, siblings can experience together, something that a grandmother and a grandchild can experience together. My mother and (2-year-old son) Egypt would definitely go through the story and play the games … and write in the journals and draw pictures.”, Alicia recently told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Blue Moon”, the first of The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee‘s episodically released story-packs is available now for select iOS devices on iTunes

 

Courtesy Of SoulCulture

MTV's HipHop Squares - Episode 10



This is the first time I seen this show so I had to post it to see what you guys think.  
Here is the latest episode of MTV's Hip Hop Squares.

Fat Joe, Draya Michele, Andrew Schulz, Dev, Rachel Feinstein, Biz Markie, DJ Khaled, Lil Duval and Common make up the panel.

Hosted by Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg, the show is a modern take on the old American panel game show, Hollywood Squares.

Natina Reed From The Group Blaque Killed In Hit & Run



 Natina Reed who broke into the limelight as one third of the 90s R&B group Blaque, who were signed to Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes production company Left Eye Productions, has died today aged 32(October 27th). While the exact cause of the death of the rapper, singer and songwriter has not been disclosed yet, several unconfirmed reports say she was killed by a hit-and-run driver in the early hours of this morning crossing a street in Atlanta, Georgia one day before 33rd birthday.
The remaining members of Blaque, Shamari Fears-Devoe and Brandi Williams, have both taken to their twitter accounts to express their shock at her untimely passing.


Friday

Journalist 103 - Walk With Me - New Release (Audio)



  Journalist 103 drops this track Walk With Me produced by Oddisee.  This joint is dope, Emcees like Journalist are hard to come by.  Reporting Live drops October 30th. Pre order here.



Rapsody Has A Sit Down With AFHTV



Rapsody released her debut album, The Idea of Beautiful, in August. The album is on 9th Wonder's Jamla records and bears many tracks from him. For those who have been fortunate enough to hear it, it has been widely regarded as one of the best albums of the year. 

AFH had the opportunity to sit down recently with the talented Emcee. She talked about a number of things, including how a trip to Africa changed her life and shaped the sound of her album and look of its artwork, her code of culture over everything, why she considers herself an Emcee--not a female Emcee, her idea of what's beautiful and much more.

 Courtesy Of AFHTV

Thursday

Dean Atta - ‘Love or Money’ - EP Release



Award-winning poet and acclaimed writer Dean Atta released his new poetry EP Love or Money about a week ago and has already been mentioned by several media sources, including a review by MTV. With all this attention, it’d be easy to forget that this is a poetry EP and not a chart-selling music compilation.
The five-track EP, although accompanied by a musical backdrop, is a beautifully crafted compilation of eloquently delivered poetry. Produced and mixed by Michael Antoniou, Atta discusses issues such as race, identity, love and money across melodic beats with an engaging rhythm.
Well-known on the poetry scene, Atta earned mainstream acclaim with his powerful, hard-hitting poem “I Am Nobody’s Nigger,” which went viral earlier this year. The poem was in response to the outcome of the Stephen Lawrence murder trial and discussed the negative effect of casually using the black community’s casual use of the racial epithet. If you haven’t seen the video then please check it out below; the power of this poem really is in the combination of the visuals and the words.



 The EP’s title track has to be my favourite. Accompanied by the beautiful vocals of Maverick Sabre‘s talented backup singer Chantelle Nandi, “Love Or Money” is a powerful start to the project. Although I’ve distinguished this as a compilation of poetry rather than a typical music collection and am trying to avoid using the word “track” to refer to each individual poem, this one does feel more like poetry. Which is neither here nor there, as it’s simply an amazing piece with Atta and Nandi complimenting each other beautifully.
Mother Tongue” speaks about lack of identity and the difficulties one can face when he doesn’t his cultural background. Surprisingly, this piece is about Atta’s lack of connection with his maternal family in Cyprus and not receiving the “basic right” to learn the Cypriots’ language. Although not personally affected by this, I know many people will connect with the topic.
I loved “[I Am] Nobody’s Nigger” when it first aired and still do. However, I prefer the original version to the one on the EP. There’s something about the silence and moving imagery in the video that really makes it powerful. Even without the video, the execution of words on the original were more moving and captured the essence; I feel like the musical backdrop somewhat takes away from that.
I didn’t quite connect with “Nothing” on my first sampling, so I sat back and kept it on repeat and really listened. I think this one is a grower for me. Poetry is often very personal. You often have to be going through it and/or have gone through it to really appreciate it.
“Poems” felt like it went back to the values of traditional poetry. The flow, the pace, the structure and the delivery are everything I feel a poem should be. The soulful harmonies and drums throughout are almost nonexistent until Atta’s voice disappears, then you are left in your thoughts while the background fades out. Beautiful end to a moving and thoughtful EP.
With no PR or marketing budget, the project is already making it’s rounds and is Collectively created by combining Atta’s words with Antoniou’s vision, Nandi singing, the musical efforts of Kareem and Yussef Dayes, Renell Shaw and Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Love or Money is a milestone for poetry from the underground circuit a refreshing move towards variety. We look forward to more of the same.
Check out a short clip of the EP launch, where you’ll see live performances and hear a few words from Atta himself.


Courtesy Of SoulCulture

Anthony David - “Can’t Look Down” - New Release



Taken from his upcoming album Love Out Loud and bearing the distinctively smooth voice that makes a welcome addition on any soulful playlist, Anthony David‘s new single “Can’t Look Down” takes an upbeat leap of faith into new romance, putting his relatable fears out in the open. Artist like Anthony David are a dying breed especially since the explosion of HipHop.  Not to take anything away from HipHop but I'd like to have my Soul music separate from my HipHop lineup. 
Having been nominated for a Grammy for his duet with India Arie on “Words,” Love Out Loud is the soulful singer’s fifth album to date. Comprised of 11 tracks including collaborations with Algebra Blessett, Demetria McKinney and Gramps Morgan, the Georgia native’s new album is set for released on November 13 through Purpose Music/eOne.
You can pre-order Love Out Loud via iTunes, and in the meantime, you wouldn’t be wasting your time to trace back through his solid, soulful prior projects; 3 Chords & the Truth, The Red Clay Chronicles, Acey Duecy and As Above So Below

Josephine Performs “Portrait” Live On Jools Holland Show



 Manchester-raised rising talent Josephine made her debut appearance on the highly revered BBC2 live music showcase Later… with Jools Holland this week.
The soulful-folk singer & songwriter, who we had the pleasure of debuting her video for her single “What A Day” a few months ago, delivered a stand-out performance of her album title track “Portrait” backed by a full band and a string section.  This might not be your cup of tea and that's cool.  But check it out and let me know what you think, or do whatever the F#@! you wanna do......!!!!




Wednesday

Sean 'Seanwuar' Price vs. Pharoahe Monch - Video


Sean Price as "Seanwuar" interviews Pharoahe Monch in Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY, USA before his gig at SOBs.  Sean P. is my "Man" this parody is actual kind of funny..!!

Sean Price 'Mic Tyson' album out October 30th. Fans can pre-order at iTunes today: bit.ly/mictyson

Filmed and edited by Guy Blelloch. 
Additional footage by Shane Gill 

Donnie Brasco Writer Paul Attanasio Talking About Scarface Remake



The script for the upcoming Scarface remake that was written by David Ayer (Training Day) is now being rewritten by Oscar-nominated writer Paul Attanasio, who wrote the screenplay for 1997′s critically acclaimed Donnie Brasco.
The story is expected to be a fusion of the 1983 cult-classic starring Al Pacino and the original 1932 film from which it was based, though Deadline notes that Universal Pictures has not yet released the main character’s ethnic and geographical background, both of which were pivotal to the previous versions.
With The Sun having reported that Rihanna is pursuing the role of female lead back in August (taken by Michelle Phieffer in the 1983 film), the film could yet be very different to past iterations.

Alchemist, Willie the Kid, Action Bronson Talks About Chemistry - Video



Emcees Willie the Kid and Action Bronson link up with legendary producer Alchemist for a in-depth interview with Gun Rule TV to discuss the work they’ve done together as of late.
Alchemist proves to be the most outspoken of the trio, comparing having multiple artists such as Willie and Action in the studio at one time to a highly unstable, explosive chemical reaction with huge potential. Alchemist describes Action Bronson as “a perfectionist,” noting that he continues to apply the perfectionist tendencies he honed as a chef in his previous career, and whilst the lesser known of the three, Willie The Kid gains Alchemist’s praise for his intense, unique style of rhyming and ability to be unpredictable with his music. 

 Watch the interview below:


Thurz, Los & Skyzoo - The Sparks - New Release - Audio



 I just received some new evidence that "Real" HipHop is still alive! This proof was brought to us by Thurz, Los and Skyzoo from Stankonia Sessions: 2012 AC3 Edition.  Artist like this reminds me why I do what I do.  Show some respect to "Real" Emcees, "Real" lyrics, Real HipHop...


KKK Writes A Thank You Letter To Black Americans



In early 2011, the Ku Klux Klan released a letter applauding young black males for their efforts, and thanking them for their contribution to African American communities. I really have mixed feelings about this letter.  I mean this is the first time I can agree with the KKK, we are killing each other at a alarming rate.  This cycle needs to stop...!!!

Here’s the letter: 
"The KU KLUX KLAN would like to take this time to salute and congratulate all gang bangers for the slaughter of over 4,000 Black people since 1975. You are doing a marvelous job. Keep killing each other for nothing. The streets are still not yours nigger…it is ours. You are killing each other for our property. You are killing what could be future black doctors, lawyers, and businessmen that we wont have to compete with. And the good thing about it is that you are killing the youth. So we won’t have to worry about niggers in generations to come. We would further like to thank all the judges who have over sentenced those niggers to prison. We are winning. Pretty soon, we will be able to go back to raping your women because all the men will be gone. So you gang bangers…Keep up the good work. We love to read about drive-by shootings. We love to hear how many niggers get killed over the weekends. We can tolerate the nigger’s jungle fever (for now)… because that further breaks down the race. To all gang bangers across the world: we don’t love you niggers, but we can appreciate you gang bangers. You are doing a wonderful job in eliminating the black race. Without the men…your women cannot reproduce…unless of course, we do it for them. Then we will have successfully eliminated a race thanks to your help and commitment to killing each other. If most of you nigger gang bangers cannot read this letter, it is ok. Go pull a trigger and kill a nigger.
As shameful as this is to say, they are absolutely right.
In Chicago alone; 49 were shot over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, 53 were shot over Memorial Day weekend, and this past weekend, 43 were shot. That’s three times in the past SIX weeks that at least 40 plus people were shot over a weekend in Chicago alone.
We are destroying ourselves with guns more effectively then they ever could with a rope. Over the past 86 years, the Ku Klux Klan has murdered approximately 3,440 blacks. Blacks are killing about the same amount of blacks every six months.
The saddest part about those lives that have been lost is that every time someone is murdered, two lives are ended. The victim who lost the most precious gift that can be bestowed to anyone, and the shooter, who will likely spend the majority if not the rest of his/her life inside of a prison cell. They both had the potential to be the next Barack Obama, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, or Russell Simmons.
Instead they were buried six feet beneath the dirt, or placed behind six inches of bulletproof glass as they watch their loved ones shed tears for a man who they will never be able to embrace again, unless of course they end up in the penitentiary as well.
While my Editor-In-Chief Michael Skolink is in Sanford consoling the family of Trayvon Martin, there are 43 grieving families in Chicago whose loved one’s names will appear on a tombstone - not trending topics, or international news headlines.
We have all expressed our outrage over the tragic death of Trayvon, and rightfully so. He could’ve easily been any one of us. He was killed in cold blood for no justifiable reason. Well, there are literally thousands of young brothers who look just like Trayvon, who just as well could be anyone of us being slaughtered on a daily basis. Not by men who look like George Zimmerman, but men who look just Trayvon.
If we were able to unite and rally for justice for Trayvon, but are unable to band together to end this intraracial genocide, the message being sent is clear. It’s okay to murder young black men for trivial reasons as long as blacks are the ones doing the killing.
That’s similar to the stance that some of us use in defense of the word nigger. While I find this to be asinine in defense of a word, it as an utterly unacceptable when it comes to the destruction of a race of people.
If we can voice our opposition to cops killing us, whites killing us, and dictators killing their citizens in different countries, we are obligated to do the same for our own self-destruction.
 
Courtesy Of GlobalGrind

Tuesday

Broadway Barrett - "Your Favorite Rapper" - Audio



 Broadway Barrett is one of those HipHop artist/producers when you hear him your like WTF,  his style is so unorthodox its dope.  Born and raised in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and he is not your average rapper.  He is also the newest member of Fokis' Local-Mu12 Crew and with his latest and second single "Your Favorite Rapper" he goes crazy over a symphonic style beat. Broadway Barrett’s mixtape "The Intervention" set for a winter release.

 

Wu-Tang Performs “Six Directions Of Boxing” Live On The Jimmy Fallon Show



Not to long ago on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon show a large chunk of the legendary Wu-Tang clan (RZA, U-God, Ghostface Killah,Masta Killa and Cappadonna) joined the incredible The Roots band for a live performance of “Six Directions Of Boxing” which is taken from The Man With The Iron Fists official movie soundtrack (which you can listen to in full here).

Watch t he full performance below.

Freeway Releases "Diamond In The Ruff" Tracklist



 Freeway has released the Tracklisting for his upcoming Diamond In The Ruff album and it features artists such as Musiq Soulchild, Wale, Nikki Jean and more. The album will be dropping November 27th. Pre order right here. Hit the jump for the tracklist.

Tracklist:

1. Right Back (featuring Marsha Ambrosius)
2. Greatness (featuring Vivian Green)
3. The Thirst
4. Wonder Tape (featuring Suzann Christine)
5. No Doubt
6. Dream Big (featuring Musiq Soulchild)
7. Early
8. Ghetto Streets
9. Numbers (featuring Neef Buck)
10. True (featuring Wale)
11. Sweet Temptations (featuring Nikki Jean)
12. All The Hoods (featuring Miss Daja Thomas & Alonda Rich)
13. Hottest Akhi
14. Jungle
15. Money Is My Medicine
16. Lil Mama

7evenThirty - Twenty Twelve (Apollo Brown Remix) - Audio



7evenThirty and Apollo Brown get together to make a fresh remix to the track Twenty Twelve, off of 7evnThirties Heaven's Computer album.
Wake The F#@! Up People..!! 7evenThirty is bringing all kinds of hell for those wack emcees out there how think its a game. After tearing up Atlanta at the A3C showcase, then swinging thru Jackson, Mississippi for a little celebratory event, 7evenThirty brings labelmate Apollo Brown to the table for a fresh mix of Twenty Twelve.
Apollo does nothing short of drop the hammer on this one with the thrown in the trunk mix of the standout track Twenty Twelve. Apollo pares it down to a raw crackle before bringing in organs, running filters, and burying some nasty drums in the sample. Apollo’s sparse mix leaves it wide open for 7evenThirty’s smash mouth intensity. “And you say you Mace Windu, so I sling you out the window/ F#@! you and the Force, I’m the source/ Shine light in your third eye and throw you off course”
 

Monday

III Conscious - The Pledge (Feat. Cyn Hawkes) - Official Video


  This joint right here coming from my hometown of B-more with the lyrical beast III Conscious doing his thing on this new project called The Essence which features my girl Cyn Hawkes a talented emcee and songstress. It was produced by Cold Legistics and directed by Jay Mastermind. There is no release date on this project as of yet but this track definitely gives you a glimpse into what "Real" Baltimore HipHop sounds like.  Not that lame club BS you might have heard on the radio back in the day. 

"The Pledge" is a track based on the betterment of a people. It preaches liberation, the uplifting of the youth and just rising above hardships & modern oppression of the 21st century. It portrays a militant feel, yet gives off a very positive, triumphant message. "The Pledge" also epitomizes what true and expressive hip hop is all about. I am optimistic that many people growing up in tough environments and those who have suffered mentally, physically, as well as economically, will gravitate to this song and video."
 

Eminem Talks To VIBE About The 10th anniversary Of ’8 Mile’



 Who would have thought that nearly ten years have passed since 8 Mile brought Eminem‘s story to the big screen?
The year was 2002, it was November, and I was still loitering around rap music awkwardly. UN Weapons Inspectors had just begun their search for WMDs in Iraq but me and my white, small-town friends were too busy listening to the 8 Mile soundtrack to really notice. Eminem fascinated me. Ever since my friend’s older sister sneaked him The Slim Shady LP I’d been acutely aware of his existence.
Another friends of ours had bleached his hair and been kicked out of one of his SATs exams. “Don’t listen to that Eminem” our parents said, and none of us listened. Then the first single from the soundtrack dropped, and became the longest running rap song at No.1 (“Lose Yourself” topped charts in 24 countries), and there this guy was, at the centre of youth culture, black and white, across the globe.
It wouldn’t all be plain sailing after this. The “Just Lose it”/Michael Jackson controversy exposed ‘Em to criticism from all angles, and sleeping pills took their toll. Jackson himself perished, and Brittany Murphy, Eminem’s beautiful co-star, died in tragic circumstances. As Eminem receded into the background, ‘Ye and Jay rose to the pinnacle of urban and youth culture. They occupy a very different world. The Iraqi War (or at least, the invasion) ended in 2011.
Of course, we couldn’t have known any of this then. All that mattered was this shaved-head guy and his music, this film and the rap battle which ended it. We watched and listened with awe.
In an attempt to commemorate the film, VIBE have dedicated their November 2012 cover story to Eminem and the 8 Mile cast. Marshall himself appears on the cover, wearing a grey hat similar to that worn in 8 Mile, whilst Mekhi Phifer, Anthony Mackie, Evan Jones and Omar Benson Miller all join ‘Em to discuss the making of the film.
Read the full article, entitled “Eminem Re-unites 8 Mile Cast for 10th Anniversary” here.

Courtesy Of Vibe Magazine

Sean Price - Bar-Barian - New Release (Audio)



  It's Emcees like Sean Price that really keeps "Real" HipHop alive. He seems like he gets better with every rhyme he writes.  Probably one of the most underrated rappers alive today he holds it down for us "Real" HipHop fans.  This is another single produced by The Alchemist on the Mic Tyson album, you can pre-order it from iTunes or pick up a physical copy here.


Sunday

Game Unveils ‘Jesus Piece’ Album Artwork



 Gamme is wasting no time following the release of his Billboard topping The R.E.D. Album which was released in August, the West Coast emcee is now set to release his fifth solo studio album Jesus Piece in December which is said to be his last release on Interscope Records.
Taking to his instagram, the 32 year old, Los Angeles California hailing rapper unveiled the conversation sparking album artwork moments ago (pictured above). The stained glass window style cover featuring Jesus as a Blood gang member and rocking a ‘Jesus Piece’ pendent is definitely bound to get a few riled up this Sunday morning, but Game definitely is not one to shy away from controversy.
Jesus Piece is set to be released sometime in December and will feature the Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, Tyga and Chris Brown assisted single “Celebration“, as well as guest appearances from John Legend, Rick Ross, Trey Songz, 2 Chainz, Meek MilL and more.
What do you think of the Jesus Piece cover? Hit us in the C-Section.

Saturday

Kendrick Lamar - "The Heart Beat Pt.3" (Feat. Jay Rock/Ab Soul) - Audio



 As we stand mere hours away from the release of the most anticipated (and in my opinion important) hip hop album release of the year, good kid, m.A.A.d city, the Compton, California hailing Kendrick Lamar drops off one final free download for his fans.
The sequel to his track “The Heart Pt. 2″ (which he revealed contained his Favourite Verse), Mr Lamar brings us a heartfelt open letter with some help from Jay Rock and Ab-Soul, produced by Tae Beast and mixed by Ali. Press play on loop till October 21st (Oct 22nd U.S)
Listen To: Kendrick Lamar – The Heart Pt. 3 (Will You Let It Die?) (Prod. By Tae Beast)
 
 
 
 

Method Man - "Built For This" - The Man With Iron Fist Soundtrack - Video



It's always a pleasure to hear from my dude Method Man, I'm sure Wu Tang fans can't wait until another Wu album drops which I hope will be soon.  This new cut off the RZA's movie soundtrack The Man With The Iron Fist, Built For This goes hard featuring Freddie Gibbs & StreetLife.  This joint is dropping Oct 23rd and the movie hits theatres Nov 2nd. Support Real HipHop...!!!

J. Cole Releases New Music At Footaction Event



Performing at a recent private Footaction event in Hollywood, Roc Nation signee J. Cole gave the intimate 30 plus audience an exclusive look at a few new tracks he’s been working on.
In a video from the event Cole is seen jamming with his band whilst reciting, and occasionally fumbling through, three never-before-heard tracks. The first is titled “Man On Fire”, the second “Crooked Smile” – a rhyme about the young emcee’s teeth, and the third is a verse over Jay-Z‘s acclaimed “Dead Presidents.”
Telling the crowd that his album is complete and ready to go, he says there’s just one thing he needs to wait for; “I’m honestly waiting for Kendrick Lamar to release his album and fuck up the world so I can come right after and fuck up the world. We gonna run a train on the world.”

Peep the footage below:

Common Rapping With Elmo On Sesame Street "Belly Breathe" - Video



 Hands up if you were educated (in part) by Sesame Street? I definitely was. To this day I still count in this melody (in my head of course) and in the past some of the my favourite artists have made cameos on the show including the likes of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and many many more.
Carrying on the tradition, the long running children’s edutainment series is now in it’s 43rd season has recruited a host of famous faces to entertain the kids (and me). Take a peek at this segment featuring Chi-town hailing rap legend Common and pop singer-songwriter and guitarist alongside Elmo performing a song titled “Belly Breathe” teaching kids how to cope with anger and frustation by breathing deeply.  All I can say you know you have officially crossed over into the mainstream when you appear on Sesame Street.  I'm not mad at cha get that money and exposure...!!


The Life Of British Jazz Musician Femi Temowo


It’s probably about time that you’re introduced to Femi Temowo. The Nigerian-born guitarist (and producer) is amongst the most talented jazz musicians currently residing in the UK. Fittingly, he’s just been nominated for a MOBO in the Best Jazz Act category.
His track record speaks for himself. A Ronnie Scott‘s regular, Femi was taught his craft in his late teens by jazz bassist Michael Olatuja, and has perfected it in no time, collaborating with some of the genre’s geniuses, including those more inclined to go down the pop route. On the one hand he’s performed and worked with Courtney Pine, Julie Dexter and Soweto Kinch, on the other he’s provided guitar accompaniment to Irish starlet Samantha Mumba and UK girlgroup Misteeq – remember them?
It’s testament to Femi’s relevance in the current jazz world that his playful guitar riffs and sunny persona have been instrumental (no pun intended) to the rise of two of British jazz’s recent prodigies. Firstly, the guitarist worked and toured with the MOBO award winning rapper and saxophonist Soweto Kinch as that artist’s career really took off, before he became the late, great Amy Winehouse‘s guitarist and Musical Director in the mid ’00s.
He accompanied Amy during some of her formative years, contributing to the development of her artistry with his fast-accumulated jazz acumen and creative instincts. Darcus Beese, Amy’s former A&R representative and Co-President of  Island Records, to which she was signed, says “they spoke the same language.” It was a language that came to life on stage.

That was 2004. It’s now 2012 and Femi is establishing himself as an artist in his own right. Just as The Roots’ drummer ?uestlove (whose “Black Lily” night Femi introduced to the UK) has become renowned for his technical brilliance as an individual, so Femi is striking out on his own. In ’06 he composed and recorded his debut solo effort Quiet Storm, making an impression with a record that he said was only him “clearing his throat.” Femi went on to open the 2011 Canary Wharf jazz festival with tracks from this album, getting the crowd moving to the groove of his international jam “Wood & Strings”.
In that same year Femi released his incredible second album, Orin Meta, a work heavily influenced by his brief return to West Africa. The MOBO-nominated project, which literally means “Three Songs”, is loosely based on the the folk rhythms and storytelling tradition of the Yoruba people. In the words of an expert – Soweto Kinch – he fuses this “Yoruba identity with the jazz idiom in a way that’s really truthful to both”.
His is a transnational story, the narrative of a man who moved (in his formative years) from Akure to Streatham, discovering multifarious kinds of music in the process. Parts of Orin Meta have been compared to jazz guitar maestro Wes Anderson‘s funky hard-bop, but talking drums, samba influences and an array of stunning string arrangements make this a unique and eclectic project. Listen to the ambient, expansive ten minute opener “The Storyteller’s Psalm” below, and try not to smile:



 If you like what you hear as much as I do, you can buy Orin Meta on Amazon. There’s still time to vote for Femi in the MOBOs here, and to explain why you should, I’ll leave you with a video made by some of his closest supporters (who also happen to be some rather important figures in British jazz).

Courtesy Of SoulCulture

Friday

Jesse Boykins III x MeLo-X x Fink – “Naked For Life" (Zulu Guru RMX) - Audio



 As the grains of sand gently trickle down the hourglass that is the countdown to Zulu Guru (the collaborative entity comprised of singer & songwriter Jesse Boykins III and emcee & producer MeLo-X)’s 1st headline London show at the Jazz Cafe in Camden this Sunday (get your tickets here) and the Zulu Guru album release on November 5th, the New York residents just dropped into the SC:HQ office to personally hand deliver this SClusive track.
The forward thinking duo turn their attention to Brighton based singer, songwriter & producer Fink’s guitar led track “Naked For Life”, and infuse it with that Zulu Guru magic. Fall in love with it and download free below.



 Remember, if you are in London this Sunday make your way to the Jazz Cafe; get your tickets here, and pre-order the Zulu Guru LP HERE.

Sway Sits Down With Alistair Campbell & Michael Portillo - Video




North London rapper & producer Sway made an appearance on BBC One’s ‘This Week’ yesterday (October 18th) for an interesting discussion of how social media can be utilised for politics and public relations. In a discussion with former politicians Michael Portillo and Alistair Campbell, Sway had some enlightening points on the benefits of tweeting and Twitter followers.
The rapper said that his followers gave him “genuine feedback” and that communicating with them via social media helped provide important information about what direction he should follow with his music, campaigns and tours. Speaking for a younger generation, he even went as far as to say that tweeting had become a “necessity” for him; that it was the third thing he did every morning after waking up. Whilst admitting that he doesn’t follow the Prime Minister, Sway commented that were David Cameron to post more tweets about everyday life (as opposed to politicking), the British people would see him less as a politician and more as a “person”.
Indeed, by the end of the short debate, Sway and Campbell (who was in agreement about the positive role of Twitter) had convinced the rather more traditional Portillo that using social media in the right way could positively help with PR.


Checkout The Video Below
 Courtesy of SoulCulture

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Get Adobe Flash player

Thursday

Talib Kweli x Res (Idle Warship) “Beautifully Bad” - Video



 This “Beautifully Bad” video appeared on the Idle Warship Tumblr this morning and it’s another great reason to revisit Talib Kweli and female Philly singer Res‘ excellent LP, Habits of the Heart, which came out last year. The lyrics describe a poisonous, pain-inducing relationship, and the visuals, which were co-directed by the New York rapper, provide a perfect visual accompaniment. After Kweli opens the downtempo track with a guilty verse from the shadows, Res appears against an empty, whitewashed background in flowing, blood-red attire. 

Her heartfelt vocal performance makes the track her own, and to provide a visual metaphor for the pain she conveys so brilliantly, two darkly robed performance artists leap and lunge at each other in the background. You almost forget that, when the track began, this was a couple dancing in harmony.  You see this is HipHop grown up these are some of the topics we need to be rapping about.  Not putting down the new era I'm just saying HipHop should be a even platform for all styles of HipHop to get proper respect and attention.  Believe it or not we are losing the black audience especially black women because of mainstream HipHop.  This is are real fly song check out the video below.

 

50 Cent Explains On Twitter How Fake Rappers Ruined HipHop


50 Cent is getting fed up with the direction the hip hop industry is headed in. 50 blasted on Twitter about Rick Ross and new rappers who are unoriginal.  I must say I have to agree with him, personally after knowing Ross was a fraud I kind of lost respect for him.  Not for him being a correctional officer, but lying about that he never was and pretending to be a drug dealer in his early years.  But that's my opinion check out what 50 said.

"Hip hop has been damaged by fake fraudulent artist who just say anything.now it seems like authenticity means nothing," 50 wrote on the social networking site. "The culture is so confused a gangsta is bobbing to a cop LMAO think about it. It's just the facts. I'm not impressed by some of the new artist it feels like nothings new stop following trends be your self. Rappers write cars, money, big house, big shot talk. The truth is they ain't got it man for real."


The G-Unit boss said that because of Chris Lighty's passing he is now managing himself and won't rush the release of Street King Immortal. He also issued a warning to any rapper that wants to step up and test him because the music on the album is just that good.


"Every artist that puts them selves in direct competition with me will suffer due to how well Street King Immortal is put together. Watch the fools who decide to question my talent. Find them selves over whelmed by this album"

Rome Clientel - The Empire: The Battlegrounds EP - Audio



 My man Rome Clientel has released his The Empire 2: The Battlegrounds EP. The EP features the artists Rav P, Alias, Devon Wright, and Reks.  ATG, Kount Fif (of the Swashbucklers), Chaundon and the Gemstones, Parks, and Mr. Scott are on the production. Check it out below and hit the jump for official tracklist and download.
The Battlegrounds represents the metaphorical battle an aspiring Emcees who are true masters in the art of HipHop.  The now over flooded genre of HipHop, its sometimes make it hard for the "Real" Emcees to see the light of day.  With Emcees like this and UnsungHipHop.Com the revolution is in full affect.  What side are you on?  Check it out Below and see what "Real HipHop" sound like.
 

Tito Lopez - "They Told Me" - Official Video



  Checkout Tito Lopez's new mixtape Hunger Game, probably one of the most underrated Emcees in HipHop.  A true artist to the core which means he is extremely creative and versatile. Sometimes as artist we can get in the way of our own success.  I'm rooting for Tito to come back harder and stronger than before. 

The Black Opera - Balcony - New Album Release



 Here's a leak from Black Opera's new album release Libretto: Of King Legend.  Pretty much anything coming out of the Mello Music Group is dope those guys are always on point. But don't listen to us check it out for yourself below.




Wednesday

Funkmaster Flex Talks With The RZA About "The Man With The Iron Fist"



 The RZA is undoubtedly one of the masterminds of his time. 
The man singlehandedly put together one of the most epic rap groups of all time when he assembled Wu-Tang and penned books to tell the tales of just how he did it. Now, RZA is making another dream come true with his new film, The Man With The Iron Fists.
RZA had a one-on-one interview with the legendary Funkmaster Flex, wherein he opened up about everything from the origin of the Wu-Tang Clan, to the idea of the brotherhood of the Kung-Fu that kept them all together. 
RZA gets especially deep when he opened up about his newest project, The Man With The Iron Fists.
Check out the talk between RZA and Flex by heading over to our exclusive unit, and to find out more about the man behind the Clan, check out his personal blogYeah yeah I know as you can see the staff at UnsungHipHop really are big fans of Wu Tang.  So make sure you go out and support the RZA new movie "The Man With The Iron Fist".