Blog Entries

NYC, The Roots Jam's Back W/ Special Guest Nneka!

ginny@okayplayer.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:05:00 +0100

The Roots Jam is back, for 2 dates in November only (11/10 + 11/17), so get those tix now! In addition to the usual slew of surprise guests, we've got a special performance set up from Nneka, a Nigerian-German hip-hop/soul singer and songwriter relatively new to the U.S., and new to our eardrums. She has quickly managed to capture our attention as a new OKP fave. If you haven't yet hear [...]

Video: Bilal "Levels"

femi@okayplayer.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:28:00 +0100

So word is already out about Bilal's new album slated for an early 2010 release. Today, we have some footage of Bilal performing a new song that may appear on the LP. The song is entitled "Levels." The clip was captured at the recent Plug Research/Vtech CMJ showcase (we'll be milking content from this one for a minute). Enjoy "Levels," and be on the lookout for more new music form Bilal in the coming months. Video shot by B+ and Eric Coleman.

Video: Kam Moye "Let's Be Honest"

femi@okayplayer.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:04:00 +0100

Kam Moye's (aka Supastition) album, Splitting Image, is in stores now. Here is the first video off the LP, "Let's Be Honest." In describing the song Kam had this to say: "The song was inspired by a quote that I read once which said 'happiness isn't having what you want, it's wanting what you have.' That's my perspective in life on everything from family to my career. It's not settling, but sometimes you gotta just accept tha [...]

Video: The Wu-Massacre (Trailer 2 of 3)

femi@okayplayer.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:31:00 +0100

The Saga continues, here's the second Wu-Massacre trailer video. As we mentioned before, these trailers are in anticipation for the upcoming Method Man x Ghostface x Raekwon album (12/22). There's one more trailer left. In case the reference went over your head, the vids are inspired by the movie Se7en. Video directed by Rik Cordero.

Video: The Roots "How I Got Over" (Behind The Scenes)

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:08:00 +0100

[video:http://vimeo.com/7353314 485x321]

You've already seen The Roots latest video "How I Got Over," and come up with your own interpretations of the visuals. Now go behind the scenes with Black Thought, ?uestlove, Dice Raw, and BBGUN, live from Bushwick Brooklyn where the vid was shot. Watch as they bring the video to life and give us commentary on the elements you see in the final product. How I Got Over is currently slated for a February 2010 release.

Audio: Emilio Rojas "Piano Bounce (Prod. DJ Green Lantern)"

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:50:00 +0100

The homie Emilio Rojas' new mixtape, The Natural, is still on the way, and should be out at some point next week. Here's another leak from the project, the DJ Green Lantern produced joint, "Piano Bounce."

Emilio Rojas "Piano Bounce (prod. DJ Green Lantern)"

>>>Download

Video: Embedded with Common

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:10:00 +0100

Last month we gave you Current TV's embedded feature on Mos Def in Japan. This month we travel across the U.S. with Common for his promo tour. Watch as they travel from radio shows to record store signings, and of course, to the stage. They travel to Com's old neighborhood in Chicago, where he explains how Barack Obama has raised the bar for all of hip-hop. Mos Def, Pharrell, and Will.i.am also speak on why they believe Common is one of the best in the game.

Video: Janelle Monae "Smile" Live @ Cargo

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:17:00 +0100

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b8oaLJS5T0 480x295]

Last night, Janelle Monae crossed the pond for her first ever live performance in London. Watch the above as she moves the crowd with her rendition of "Smile," the classic song made famous by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Nat King Cole, and more recently the late Michael Jackson. Props to Soul Culture for the vid.

Video: Jay Electronica Live From Somewhere Show NYC + Jay Elec x Mos Def x Curren$y

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:54:00 +0100

[video:http://vimeo.com/7454384 450x253]

I was waiting for some better quality footage to turn up, and here we have it, a HQ video recap of Jay Electronica's secret show at Santos Party House NYC this past Tuesday (vid shot by Adam Saewitz). In other Jay Elec news, apparently he has joined forces with Mos Def and fellow N.O. emcee Curren$y to form the group, Center Edge Territory. They are supposedly 6 tracks deep into the project, but have no set plans as to when the full-length [...]

Video: Alchemist vs. Just Blaze (Red Bull Big Tune Finals ATL)

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:15:00 +0100

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oI1STo2MhY 480x295]

The Red Bull Big Tune Final ended with a bang this year, once again. Unfortunately I didn't get to see it this year since it was in ATL, but this looks to be one of the highlights of the night. Here is a friendly beat battle between The Alchemist and Just Blaze. Both of these dudes have hits for days, and they show you just how deep their crates are with this battle. Very different sounds/styles, but they're both legen [...]

Video: Keelay and Zaire "Addicts For Real (Remix)" Behind The Scenes

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0100

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUXXvcJQ2QA 425x344]

Keelay and Zaire decided to remix their track, "Addicts For Real" featuring Tunji, off of their album, Ridin' High. Instead of your typical remix, they decided to redo the track completely with their band, The Park. Watch this clip from the studio of Tunji, Thurzday (U-N-I), and Kam Moye all laying down vocals for the remix. The redone track should be out next month, with Ragen Fykes singing the hook.

Video: Diz Gibran "Truly Yours" featuring BJ The Chicago Kid

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:02:00 +0100

[video:http://www.vimeo.com/7446854 485x182]

If you still haven't listened to Diz Gibran's mixtape, Soon You'll Understand, I don't even know what to say to you at this point, but trust it's on the mixtape of the year ballot. Here is the first official vid from the project, "Truly Yours" featuring BJ The Chicago Kid. Video directed by Jerome D.

Video: Murs on Felt 3 and New 9th Wonder Collab

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:45:00 +0100

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J36bl2TuAM 480x295]

In this clip, live from last months' Cypress Hill Smokeout, Murs gives us an update on what's going on with him musically. He lets us know that the new Murs x 9th Wonder album, ForNever, will be coming out in 2010. He also discussed Felt 3 (Murs x Slug x Aesop Rock), which will be out November 17th, and he talks about his love for Hayley Marie Norman.

MaG + G.C. - $5 Cover [EP]

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0100

Here's a free release via the homie Kevin Nottingham's label HipNOTT Records. The EP, $5 Cover, comes from emcee MaG and producer G.C. You may not be too familiar with the two artists (I wasn't), so you can check out the full stream of the EP after the jump, before you download. "Rich and Famous" was the first song that stood out to me initially. The download link and tracklisti [...]

Video: Novel "E.O.T.W. aka Donnie Darko"

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Here's a brand new vid from Novel for his song "E.O.T.W. aka Donnie Darko." If you checked out his last mixtape, Suspended Animation, you should already be familiar with this track. The Audiobiography is coming soon.

Zo! - ... Just Visiting Too [EP]

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:33:00 +0100

I meant to post this one yesterday, but here it is. Frequent Foreign Exchange collaborator and bandmate, Zo!, released a free EP yesterday, ... Just Visiting Too. The 7 track EP includes features from Yazarah, Carlitta Durrand, Sy Smith, Phonte, and Darien Brockington. Enjoy this for now, and be on the lookout for Zo!'s upcoming full length album, SunStorm, droping next summer. Follow me [...]

Video/Audio: Diamond District Freestyle + "Gully"

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:05:00 +0100

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxX6vz7xyf0 480x295]

As you already know, Diamond District's new album, In The Ruff, is in stores now. Above is a vid of DD members XO, yU, and Oddisee spitting some bars a capella. "I doubt they'll ever cross over to the rap game so they rootin' for me yellin' cuz get a plaque mang, done and I don't even want the rap fame, it's a by-product when you always give a track flames, One." As a bonus, below is a previou [...]

Audio: CunninLynguists "Imperial" featuring Freddie Gibbs

femi@okayplayer.com — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:25:00 +0100

CunninLynguist's new album, Strange Journey Volume Two, just hit shelves today. On this final leak, "Imperial," Natti and Freddie Gibbs trade verses "imploring peasants and wack blog rappers alike to kiss the crown, over a haunting organ track produced by Kno." Once again, SJv2 features E-40, Evidence,Sean Price, Tonedeff, Geologic of Blue Scholars, Substa [...]

Video: Phil Ade "Hollywood"

femi@okayplayer.com — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:41:00 +0100

[video:http://www.vimeo.com/7419618 485x273]

As promised, here is the OKP premiere of DMV emcee, Phil Ade's, video, "Hollywood." For more of that heat, download Phil's tape, Starting on JV. I've been impressed with what I've heard thus far from dude, so be on the lookout for more Phil Ade content to come. Video directed by Tabi Bonney.

Audio: Buff1 "When The Winter Comes (2 Track Mix)" [prod. Damu The Fudgemunk]

femi@okayplayer.com — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:25:00 +0100

On December 2nd, Athletic Mic League emcee, Buff1, will be releasing a free digital release entitled, It's a 1derful Life. The homie JNota shot over this joint from the project entitled "When The Winter Comes (2 Track Mix)" with Damu The Fudgemunk on the boards. Damu also has a release on the way, the instrumental version of his group Y Society's debut LP, Travel At Y [...]