NYC: Kick off your summer the right way, in BK, at the 5th annual Afro Punk Festival. The film portion of the festival has already begun (and runs through July 8th), but this weekend, July 4th-6th, live bands, skaters, and bmx-ers will be taking over downtown Brooklyn. The festival will conclude with a bloc party on July 12th with live music, DJs, fashion, food and local artists. "Last year 30,000 people attended, and this year even more are expected, along with 40 bands, 24 films, a visual art exhibit and a custom built skate park where you can check out pro riders and skaters from around the country." A few of the artist you can look forward to seeing at this years' festival are: Saul Williams, Earl Greyhound, Pure Hell, Whole Wheat Bread, Janelle Monae, The Dallas Austin Experience, Tamar-kali, John Forte, Game Rebellion, The Objex, American Fangs, The London Souls, Peekaboo Theory, Sabatta, Apollo Heights, FunkFace, The Echo Jinx, DJ Rich Medina, DJ Prince, and many more. Click here for the full schedule and more more details on the '09 Afro Punk Festival.
While we wait for Novel's LP, The Audiobiography, Novel is hitting us with a free-bee in the form of his mixtape, Suspended Animation, dropping on July 4th. Here's the first video off the tape "So Much More" featuring Joell Ortiz and Papoose (produced by Statik Selektah). The Audiobiography will be out this summer.
Tanya Morgan's lead single off of Brookylnati, "So Damn Down" was so damn tight, but the homies Keelay and Zaire decided to make a remix anyway. It's a completely re-worked version that will be hitting iTunes with the "Morgan Blu" single (featuring Blu) in a few weeks.
Tanya Morgan"So Damn Down (Keelay & Zaire Remix)" >>>Download
DJ JS-1's new album, No Sellout (Ground Original 2), is in stores now via Fat Beats Records. As we mentioned before, the album is laced with over 40 guest artists (I ain't typin' that lineup again, click here). Here is the latest track, "Nuthin'," featuring some well respected mic vets, CL Smooth, Sadat X, and Brother Ali.
DJ JS-1"Nuthin'" feat. CL Smooth, Brother Ali and Sadat X >>>Download
Speaking of Truck North, while making the Chicago stop of the Rock The Bells Tour with The Roots, Truck linked up with Mikkey Halsted. The two, along with Ken Rock, put together this song, "Changing of The Guard." The track will appear on Uncrowned City's Iron Sharpens Iron mixtape. Props to Andrew.
Mikkey Halsted"Changing of The Guard (prod. Gcasso)" >>>Download
Here is Mic Legacy's video for "TJ Hooker," featuring Journ, Che Grand, and Truck North, with Nottz Raw on the boards. In the video: "Four young men find themselves frustrated while they try to make it through a normal day while a crooked police officer consistently runs interference." Video directed by Monsee'. "TJ Hooker" appears on Mic Legacy's mixtape, Channel Zero, which you can download here.
NY emcee D.Julien stays on his grind. Just 4 months after the release of his last tape, The Experiment, D is back with a new project entitled, Live, Love, Learn. We gave you a sample of the tape with his track "Absolute Perfection", and now you can download the full project, entirely produced by Soulful.
As we continue remembering Michael Jackson this week, many who were touched by his life mourn and pay tribute to the King Of Pop. First up is this touching blog by Little Brother's Phonte, who speaks for many of us as he breaks down the real *facts* behind much of the hearsay surrounding the MJ scandals of the past. Phonte asks, poignantly, "What about this man wasn't Black enough? ...Why did we turn our collective backs on a man who always reminded us that he never forgot who he was, or more importantly, whose he was?" At the end of the day, Mike absolutely inspired Phonte and his music, and 'Tay reminds us all that we should focus on remembering the music. He ends his blog with this potent question: "Why would people express such disgust and contempt for a man who constantly sang of love and peace, and used his talent to entertain, uplift, and inspire millions?" Next up, we've got OKP Lesson head, and one half of Windimoto, Scorpeze (aka scorp on the boards), with his beautiful MJ tribute blog. We couldn't have said it better ourselves. In the above clip, Katie Couric speaks exclusively with Spike Lee, and it's all about Michael. Although the interview is a bit lengthy, it's worth the watch. Also check out this in-depth Q&A with Qunicy Jones, where Jones shares some of his fondest, and weirdest, MJ memories with the fans. Finally, read the eulogy of all MJ eulogies, by our man Greg Tate, published in The Voice.
It looks like September will now play host to TWO heavily delayed and long awaited albums. Raekwon announced that Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II has once again been pushed back (surprise!!). OB4CL2 will now come out September 8th instead of August 11th due to sample clearing issues (not holding my breath).Yes, that is the real album art, and yes, it's supposed to remind you of this. The following Tuesday, September 15th, Q-Tip's Kamaal The Abstract will see an official release (though I'm sure many of you Tip fans have already heard it). The album was set to drop in 2001, but now has been re-mixed and re-mastered and will be released via Battery Records.
BK and YO, NY get together for this uplifting song "We Can Do It." Joell Ortiz and D Block's own Styles P give you some reason with the rhymes on this joint.
Joell Ortiz"We Can Do It" feat. Styles P >>>Download
