Legendary Wu-Tang rapper Raekwon opens up about "Jackass" star Steve-O
disrespecting ODB by jumping on stage at his Rock the Bells tribute in
2006. Raekwon explained what was going through his mind at the time, and
why he was so upset about the situation. The "Only Built for Cuban
Linx..." rapper also opens up about ODB rushing the stage at the 1998
Grammys, exclaiming "Wu-Tang's for the children!"
After releasing his single and the accompanying visuals for "Paradise" in October, G.O.O.D. Music artist Ryan McDermott linked up with Very G.O.O.D. Beats mainstay Hit-Boy for "Joy." The two are back today with the visuals for the single, which dropped last month.
While filming the video, in which Ryan is shown underwater and Hit-Boy on the beach, Ryan almost drowned after the engine on their boat caught fire. Thankfully, he's fine and has stayed busy in the studio working on his debut project. Tour dates will be announced by his camp very soon. Checkout the visuals for "Joy" below.
Baltimore emcee Substantial released his Oddisee executive produced album Home Is Where The Art Is late last year and quickly garnered accolades from his strong worldwide fan base. Since then, Substantial has toured with yU (of Diamond District), seen the vinyl release of his record, performed at the Smithsonian in DC, and released a wildly successful tribute album to Jill Scott titled "Jackin' Jill". Today, Substantial wanted to share the entire collection of instrumentals from Home Is Where The Art Is with his fans. The complete instrumentals will be free for a week before heading up on itunes, so be sure and grab them now. Beats by Oddisee, Eric Lau, M-Phazes, Algorythm, and more!
Soul Culture sits down with Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T for our ongoing #OKNotToBeOK mental health campaign, as he speaks on music as therapy, loneliness, depression and finally making the decision to be happy.
“Music has always been my therapy; from writing records when nobody could hear them to now,”
he says. “You get to a point where you don’t know how to express
yourself. It’s like I don’t have a punching back to beat on and I can’t
just scream in front of everybody…
“So I write down my problems and then I play it back to myself over
and over again and it makes me feel good. That’s really what it is. It’s
like I’m trying to reassure myself that everything's going to be ok.
“As far as depression I think everybody gets down and out about life.
You get to a point where you feel, ‘Is this really what I am supposed
to be doing or does this really make me happy?’ – especially when you
throw yourself in a realm where you can’t really quit. You can’t stop
because you have invested everything into it but it’s about waking up
the next morning and starting all over again.
“Meditation is something I’m starting to figure out a little bit. Getting
a moment of quiet before everything starts up, waking up before
everybody else does – before my phone starts ringing. It’s not easy,
man. Normally when you set a goal for yourself its tunnel vision and you
go months and months working on this one goal. When you get there you
look back and so much has changed. Your family has changed and as far as
your friends whatever they got going on in their life has changed.
“You might leave everything behind. Relationships – you might lose some friends – and all that can be a real shock to you.
When you look around and are like, ‘Damn, I’ve accomplished everything I
wanted but am I really happy? I’m alone with all of this. I don’t
really have anybody to share it with.’ That’s when you have to kind of
sit down and find some happiness inside and take in everything slow.
“I call it the slip slow syndrome. When I eat, I eat
slower now. When I have a drink, I drink slower now and when I’m around
friends I enjoy everything about it because you never know the next day
you on the road. You super busy and you’re like damn! You gotta make
yourself happy.”
“It’s the pursuit of happiness, so that means we’re always chasing it – because it’s just that easy to not be happy.”
Janelle MonaeandErkyah Badurocking together on wax is a soulful funkster’s wet dream. Take a listen below as they join forces for the anthem “Q.U.E.E.N.”, complete withPrince-like synths, sass, bad-ass melodies and rhymes with a nasty groove.
Taken from Ms Monae’s upcoming sophomore albumThe Electric Lady, which will be released through The Wondaland Arts Society, Bad Boy and Atlantic Records later this year,get your download of “Q.U.E.E.N.” via iTunes.
Check out Livin
Proof & Joell Ortiz at Krystal Clear Recording Studio, creating a heatrock,
produced by Fantom Of The Beat. This as of yet untitled-track will appear on
Livin Proof's upcoming LP "Die For A Deal 5.0" which will be
available June 4, 2013.
With DJ Evil Dee on the 1's and 2's, Buckshot
spits a freestyle on BET's 106 & Park 'The Backroom.' I really like Buckshot he's one of the few real Emceesin the game today.
Purchase Buckshot's latest album with producer
9th Wonder"The Solution"here.
Whether viewed as a modern genius or a shock tactician, both the musical and public antics of LA’s 22 year old rhymer/producerTyler The Creatorhave divided opinion amongst many. Whilst outlandish music videos and controversial song topics have drawn criticism, his aptitude for constructing grimy, underground beats and penning creative narratives has been heralded for standing head and shoulders above the sea of mediocrity in Hip Hop. With the studio album,Goblin, rounding off a fairly successful 2011, 2013 finds Tyler back behind the mic and boards, with the aim of catching lightning in a bottle twice with his new LP,Wolf.
Wolfsteps into familiar territory with regards of running themes throughout the album. Tyler’s inner psychiatrist, “Dr TC,” once again makes its presence felt in all of the rapper’s thoughts and decisions, this time being aided by an accomplice – “Sam.” [His alter-ego] Wolf Haley’s fondness for synths and dirty drones once again resurfaces onWolf, handling all production [alongside a few co-producers].
First cut “Jamba” sees fellow Odd Future affiliateHodgy Beatsproviding additional verses to aid Tyler’s monotonous, tongue-in-cheek rambles. At times refusing to bow down to any formulaic structure, Tyler the Creator’s verses are peppered with dark humour, short barbs and flow almost without a clear message within. Regardless, the subtle cleverness within most lines exhibit skill and, from twisting the usual take on love stories on “Awkward” to childishly spoofing hood anthems on “Trashwang,” Tyler’s dark humoured matter patents every track.
What impresses onWolfare two factors. Firstly, amidst all the anarchy and senseless humour, Tyler the Creator successfully pens songs which delve beyond the adolescent nature often associated with him. Addressing the absent father in his life on “Answer,” the bottled up frustrations are expressed with minimal immaturity and instead transcribed with more feeling than expletives and abuse.
“Colossus” paints an encounter between rapper and fanatic, where both the thoughts of both are played out by Tyler [similar toSlick Rick's familiarised role-playing traits]. Odd Future’s talisman even goes beyond his own experiences and gets into the character of a local drug dealer on “48.” With segments of aNasinterview breaking up the track, TTC’s monologue explains the reasons for pursuing such actions and the consequences, his raspy tones having a sense of sincerity within.
The second element to be praised is the score which is crafted all by Tyler. Capturing the essence of the ’90s hardcore-meets-jazz arrangements, the mellow head nodding beats allow the Creator’s fiendish raps to echo loudly; notably on cuts “Cowboy,” “Rusty” (alongside brotherEarl SweatshirtandCasey Veggies) and the three part “Partyisntover/Campfire/Bimmer” featuringFrank OceanandStereolabsingerLaetitia Sadier. Tyler the Creator’s arrangements also bear resemblance to the eclectic creations of super producersThe Neptunes, with the most obvious tribute coming on thePharrell-featuring “IFHY,” which the legendary beatmaker helped produce.
Tyler the Creator’s third offering could be viewed as the effort which finally bottles up the youthful rage which ran rampant on his prior works. TheErykah Badu-featuring “Treehome95″ inspires a sensitive, intimate affair whilst the closing track “Loner” revisits the events of his grandmother’s passing; his growing up is evidential. But with tracks such as “Domo23″ still following the familiar OFWGKTA formula, there still remains some elements of the wildchild which caught the attention of many some time ago.
Wolffavourably highlights the musical transition which Tyler the Creator has taken sinceBastardfirst offended ears in 2009. With productions sounding crisper and the offensive lyricism toned down significantly,Wolfputs the spotlight on Tyler’s creativity as an artist instead of a moral panic, resulting in the 22 year old conjuring up numerous solid offerings. Bearing both the old and new artist equally, although his transition still bears some hiccups,Wolfdemonstrates the merits of Tyler the Creator’s musicianship.
LegendaryEmcee and Urban ActivistImmortal Technique explains where he
stood in the 90's when people were heavily comparing Biggie vs Tupac in
the East Coast vs West Coast beef. Immortal Technique also talks about
how battle rapping has evolved over the years, how social media has
changed things, and why some battle rappers would rather be songwriters.
The Sway in the Morning crew made a pit stop in DC the other day
andran into King Los, who was bearing gifts: a world premiere of
Disappointed featuring Diddy and Ludacris along with two sick freestyles. Who would ever imagine a Bad Boysartist would be featured on UnsungHipHop.Com. Well Diddy is not featured on the freestyle...lol so it's real dope check it out below.
Apollo Brown, Verbal Kent, and Red Pill recently sat down with UHF Cable Access Channel 43 for an interview about their new self-titled group album UGLY HEROES that drops 5/28/13. Hear what the record is about and check the album previews!
An Ugly Hero is considered a myth. Growing up, the heroes we saw in
cartoons and movies were perfectly chiseled, intelligent, and had senses
none of us possess. An UGLY HERO is the everyday blue collar individual
that makes the world go 'round. These are the heroes that work hard all
day, everyday to help ensure that the lives around them are taken care
of, and do it all without recognition. They wear themselves into the
ground and sacrifice vanity for family.
Mini.G or M.Gutta to most is aEmceefrom London, Uk.
With true genuine skills and
flare when it comes to music. Whatever genre of music he does fromHiphop,Dubstep,Reggae or
House he never fails to grab the attention of any audience. You don't see many artist from the states tackled more than one style of music.
Alicia Keys and Maxwell take the
temperature up by a few 100 degrees for the official visual
accompaniment to their bedroom ready duet “Fire We Make”, a standout
track from Ms Keys’ most recent album release Girl On Fire.
The video, which was shot in New Orleans by director Chris Robinson,
is set to be premiered this week but for now we have a 1 minute
teaser of the very steamy clip which features the superstar singer and
pianist and some ice cubes while....well you get the picture.
FRUSTRATED isn't an ironic song title; from the personal to the societal, LONGEVITY takes the listener on a tour through the battle for inner peace amid all of life's BS. The video takes his direct narrative sideways into visuals of the artist spitting a sermon Malcolm X/'Falling Down' style, with vintage bullfighting clips and a female matador turned video dancer guiding the spiritual quest for inner peace...all through well composed shots of hazy black and white, punctuated by red anger and blue sadness...both of which seem to be circulating heavily in America these days.
LONGEVITY is a staple of the Los Angeles underground scene, and is one of the most sought out producers of the last decade, having worked with Jurassic Five, Kanye West, KRS One, Fishbone, Psycho Realm, Talib Kwali, Aceyalone, Black Eyed Peas, Pete Rock, Visionaries, Fat Jack, Medusa, C-Minus, J-Rock, D.J. Hive, Otherwize, and many more. His talent at crafting bangers by merging old school hip hop with hardcore rock is undeniable, and on the mike he excels with strong, steady, level headed vocal delivery while speaking the truth with lyrics of a life lived in the hip hop game.
Demigodz (Apathy, Celph Titled, Ryu of Styles Of Beyond, Esoteric, Motive, Blacastan) first official full-length LP, KILLmatic, featuring appearances from RA The Rugged Man, Termanology, Panchi (of NYG'z), Planetary (of Outerspace), Scoop Deville & Eternia with production from DJ Premier, Marco Polo, The Snowgoons, Apathy, Teddy Roxpin, Chumzilla, Skammadix & Will C this is like the "Legion of Doom" gone HipHop very dope combination.
Ill Bill drops new visuals to his DJ Premier tribute / produced track off this latest album “The Grimey Awards” in stores now. Produced & Edited by
NO/FI - ILL BILL's latest solo LP, "The Grimy Awards",
featuring HR of Bad Brains, A-Trak, El-P, Jedi Mind Tricks, OC, Cormega,
Meyhem Lauren, Q-Unique, Shabazz the Disciple & Lil Fame of M.O.P. +
production by DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, Pete Rock, Large Professor,
Beatnuts, El-P, Ayatollah, MoSS & ILL BILL himself
Bodizepha was born and raised in Woodstock, NY and has lived in
Jamaica, the Middle East and traveled throughout the world. His music is
largely influenced by the likes of Bob Marley, Nas, Bob Dylan, Miles
Davis and The Roots; speaking on personal, social and cultural issues of
today.
Bodizepha is releasing his nine song album, "Truth Seeker," which will be available, along with a separate book of lyrics soon to be released this year. I like the concept of this video and is original style of rap. Let us know what you think about the video below.
Five Steez, has released a free EP of remixes of songs from his debut album, “War for Peace.” The freEP features 6 tracks, including remixes of fan favorites, ‘Yard Nigga Rap’, ‘Rebel Music’ & ‘Slaving on the Plantation’. It also has a bonus track available only via a Bandcamp / FiveSteez.com download.
“I’m not usually a fan of remixesbut I had multiple versions of the song‘Growing Pains’…so I always knew some sort of remix project for the album could manifest,”saysFive Steez. “After the album was out,Zitro reached out, to me, to remix ‘Yard Nigga Rap’ and I liked what he sent back. From there, I put the word out that I was doing a free remix EP. Over a few months, I got dozens of remixes, some from producers already on the album and others from those who never had the chance to make it. I ended up choosing the best remixes that gave the tracks a different but natural feel. New beats, same boom-bap.”
Since its August 2012 release, “War for Peace” has received excellent reviews “This isreal music to help people in the struggle find peace,”saysFive Steez.“It is new millennium boom-bap Hip Hop with soulful production, heavily themed with a lot of commentary, storytelling, introspection and raw lyricism on display.”
Since 2010,Five Steezhasbeen making a name for himself among underground Hip Hop fans worldwide through features on various Hip Hop blogs and websites. Despite the fact that local artists of the genre go largely unrecognized inJamaica, he is seen as one of the leaders of an emerging Hip Hop movement inKingston.
In a battle of old vs. new, legendary Hip-Hop producer DJ Paul takes part in the hilarious Paul Vs. Paulweb series presented by Dubspot with his son PForreal. For lovers of the culture, debating on subjects such as DJ cue points, rap voices, and cash or credit, the father and son question time proves very entertaining and funny throughout.
While DJ Paul has his son imitateLil’ Wayne
to prove that all of today’s rap voices sound the same, PForreal shows
his famous father up when it comes to using modern day technology to mix
with cue points. This particular episode weighs up Paul’s golden era
with what he refers to as the ‘copper era’ [much to his son's dislike]. This is a very funny series check it out below.
Most of you by now should be familiar with Nardwuar the Human Serviette.
He’s the Canadian music journalist with an insane eye for detail with
research so on point that he could tell you what brand of toothpaste
you use without ever meeting you before. With that said, one of the
in-depth interviews he usually conducts himself was recently turned on
him.
Hooking up with Pharrell Williams at SXSW, Nardwuar, after thinking the interview was over, was not expecting what was about to happen next. Filming for his I Am Other
web channel – a cultural movement dedicated to thinkers, innovators and
outcasts – Pharrell had a few questions of his own for the journalist.
Discussing his love of cheese, Heather Locklear, and
confirming that one of the most sampled records in HipHop history is
in fact from Canada, it’s interesting to hear Pharrell stump the usually
confident motormouth to the point where he stumbles over his own words a
few times while discussing his own musical inception.
Peep the interview with Nardwuar below its very funny.
With everyone and their mother attempting to freestyle over, remake or re-trace JAY Z‘s recent “Open Letter” cut, we are in for a flood of weak as wet cardboard cutout versions, today we get a remix featuring one of the very few that have the HipHop Jesus given right to drop a verse on the cut.
The Chi-Town repping rap legend Common links up with J.Period
to drop his own verse on the Swizz Beatz and Timbaland produced
soundbed and adds an insightful verse to Shawn Carter’s original words.
Press play below.
Not too long ago since the impressive #DAQS FreEP was released, D.O.E.BOY Philly gives us even more straight-forward narratives and gripping, soulful beat mechanics with the "Lost My Mind" official music video.
Amassing years of support in thePhiladelphiaunderground for a series of cult-classic mixtapes,aD.O.E.BOY Philly,100% original music premier has been in demand for some time now. Now, the highly anticipated Deuce & A Quarter Sh!tEP (#DAQS) is here, and is already exceeding expectations for D.O.E.Boy's aesthetic leap from dropping tough industry freestyles on mixtapes to trade marking his sound through an entirely self-produced EP.
Since news broke a while back that Jamie Foxx would be playing Electro in the next addition to the new Spider-Man franchise – The Amazing Spider-Man 2
– fans were intrigued to know what the multi-talented entertainer would
look like once kitted out. Well wait no more. Freshly released images
have now appeared thanks to some snapshots during filming in New York.
While fans of the comic book character Electro might be disappointed
that the green and yellow has gone, looking at what they’ve actually
done is pretty interesting. With a hagged look to him, Foxx’s character
now appears to sit in the same dark category that both Bane and The Joker did in the Dark Knight movies – frightening yet visually epic. With that said, could this be the introduction of the best Spider-Man movie yet?
Foxx recently sat down with BlackFilm to discuss the new image of the character:
“It won’t be green and yellow. It will be a different color. They
(the producers) want something for the future. They want to have it more
grounded and not as comic book-y, so it won’t be green and yellow. They
want to try new things, like a liquid rubber and things like that, and
there are all these bolts and stuff in my arms when they are hanging me
upside down and trying to figure out what happen. How did he become this
way? So, it will be some new stuff.”
With his hood filled with a set of bioluminescent blue lights, Foxx’s
face offered a glistening ice effect that will surely look even better
once the film is complete and put on the big screen. Take a look at the
images below for a more in-depth look.
Quelle Chris is proud to present a new project "Niggas Is Men" that he put together with the help of some lyrically gifted friends: Cavalier (who holds down 9 tracks in remarkable fashion), Tanya Morgan, Fresh Daily, Denmark Vessey, DJ GroWeyez, and more. The dusty, sharp cornered 13 track project
is a mere prelude to Quelle's upcoming Mello Music Group debut proper,
but is none-the-less a head-nodding, intoxicating journey through
reincarnation, long tokes, the poisoned food supply, addiction cycles,
and even hot & crusty hoes. Quelle is ready to remind you "Niggas Is Men". I love it..this takes me back to "School Daze", old heads know what I mean.
Having
made an impact supporting the likes of Catherine Feeny and Melodica,
Melody and Lucy Cait starts 2013 with the release of her debut EP,
'Gabriel's Wharf' through Folkroom Records. Named after a corner of
London's South Bank the EP opens with the title track – a strange and
hypnotic song that captures the city's beguiling nature. But let's face it the only reason why I posted this was because she reminded me of Nina Simon, she is borrowing her style 100% no doubt about that.
While Cannibal Ox’s seminal debut, The
Cold Vein, was released in 2001, Vast Aire & Vordul are currently in
the studio recording their long-overdue sophomore LP, which will be released in
2013, as Vast states “we never broke up, but the timing is now right for a new
Cannibal Ox LP. Iron Galaxy Records is about to take over.”
After a successful west-coast tour run, Vast
and Vordul are preparing for a east-coast run and recording new material for
there forthcoming sophomore LP and Iron Galaxy Records is gearing up for a few
new releases as well.
The Maxi-Single, “Gotham,” which includes
three new tracks and will be available for purchase today...!!
No it's not snowing in HELL, I am featuring Nelly on UnsungHipHop.Com, you are not having a Nightmare. Everyone who knows me know that I am not a fan of Nelly's music, never have been. But I do respect him as a man knowing that he is doing what he love to do his way. That being said I just had to post this interview with Vlad Tv because, Nelly really breaks down the industry from a artist point of view behind the smoke and mirrors of the Record Label. This is great advice for all new artist who is trying to get in the game before the record deal is made. Checkout the video below as Nelly drops some knowledge on the "NewJacks" coming into the business.
"How far must I go to gain respect? Um
Well, it's kind of simple, just remain your own
Or you'll be crazy sad and alone
Industry rule # 4080, record company people are shady
So kids watch your back 'cause I think they smoke crack,
I don't doubt it. Look at how they act." - Q-Tip
After releasing his “P.S.
I’m Sorry 2” Mixtape late last year, rising Miami EmceeBizzy Crook went
on to appear on Nelly’s “Scorpio Season” (alongside Trae Da Truth on “Like Dat”)
and Bizzy is now back in the lab finishing up his new forthcoming Mixtape, ’84,” which will be released in
May.
Today, Bizzy releases a stalwart track, "Make It Back,"
from his "P.S. I'm Sorry 2" Mixtape featuring
thenewest member of DJ Khaled's We The Best Music Group.
A new
episode of the web series, EPIPHANY, Dr. Christopher Emdin explores what
happens when you combine science education and hip-hop in public
schools.
Science Genius is a new urban science education
initiative spearheaded by Dr. Christopher Emdin of Columbia Teacher's
College & GZA of the seminal HipHop group Wu-Tang Clan. Over the
course of a semester, 10 New York City high school classes will write
raps on core science concepts to demonstrate an in-depth understanding
of the topics.
"We're not going to accept nursery school rhymes.
You're not gonna come in here and say 'I'm here to play, it's DNA.'
We're turning up the responsibility for the young people to engage in
hip hop differently," says Emdin. "We're changing the narrative of
commercial hip hop."
Emdin has been featured in multiple episodes of EPIPHANY, all of which can be viewed here: http://goo.gl/umIaA.
THNKR is also producing a documentary profile on the Science Genius
program and its students that will be released in the coming month.
Check THNKR's video below.
About THNKR
THNKR, created by @radical.media in
2012, is an original YouTube channel that gives viewers extraordinary
access to the people, stories, and ideas that are transforming the
world. @radical.media is a global studio that creates some of the
world’s most innovative content across all forms of media. THNKR has
over 130,000 subscribers and its content has been viewed over 16 million
times. All of THNKR's content is viewable at youtube.com/THNKR.
