Blog Entries

Video: Slum Village Picks Beats for New EP

femi@okayplayer.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:15:00 +0100

Wanna get an inside look at some beats that may appear on Slum Village's upcoming EP, Villa Manifesto (12/15)? Step into the studio with T3 (with the Stewie house slippers on) and Young RJ as they go through the submitted beats for the digital EP. Young RJ also tells the story of when he first tried to play one of his beats for Slum V (funny ish right there). I was feelin' that first beat they played, what y'all think?

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Audio: Curren$y "Breakfast (In & Out)" [prod. Mos Def]

femi@okayplayer.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:39:00 +0100

Photo: Mel D. Cole

On the low, I've been a fan of New Orleans emcee Curren$y for a minute now (the kid is nice), but I can't say that his format quite went with what we do here at OKP. However, with the news of Spitta joining forces with Jay Electronica and Mos Def to form the super group Center Edge Territory, y'all are bound to see plenty of him on here in the future. So why not formally [...]

Video: N.A.S.A. "Spacious Thoughts" feat. Tom Waits & Kool Keith

femi@okayplayer.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:54:00 +0100

I didn't think there were any songs left off of N.A.S.A.'s debut album, Spirit of Apollo, that didn't get the video treatment. Apparently there are a few left (and I'm not complaining). Here's the latest, "Spacious Thoughts," featuring Tom Waits & Kool Keith. This very well may be my favorite vid from the project so far, very crisp animation as always. Video directed by Fluorescent Hill and animation by Mark Lomond, Johanne Ste-Marie, &a [...]

Video: In Their Words - Emilio Rojas

femi@okayplayer.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:05:00 +0100

Emilio Rojas was the latest guest on KarmaloopTv's segment, Their Words. In this piece he discusses how he makes music that is relatable, what it's like working with DJ Green Lantern, and his fashion sensibility. If you haven't done so yet, go get Emilio's latest project, The Natural (presented by DJ Green Lantern).

Video: Shafiq Husayn EPK 6 of 7

femi@okayplayer.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:15:00 +0100

[video:http://vimeo.com/6973067 485x273]

Here is the 6th Installment of the Shafiq Husayn EPK video series. This time, we sit down with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, master arranger/composer and strings player, who provided Shafiq Husayn a majority of the string arrangements for Shafiq's recently released album, Shafiq En' A-Free-Ka. The two talk about the process of working together and their mutual respect for each other. Y'all should remember Miguel from his work [...]

Video: Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind II" Live

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:27:00 +0100

I'll admit I've been jockin' Alicia Keys kinda heavily lately, but you can't deny how hot this is. Tuesday night, at PC Richard & Sons Theater in Tribeca New York for the iHeart Radio series, Ms. Keys performed her song "Empire State of Mind pt.II" (sans Jay-Z). This is the version that will appear on her album, The Element of Freedom (12/15). I know this is borderline blasphemy but part 2 > the original. All of that live instrumentation and [...]

Audio: Add-2 "Cassette Tapes"

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:08:00 +0100

Fresh off the release of Tale of Two's City vol.3, the homie Add-2 is back with some new music. Add links up with Miami producer Mydus for this new jawn called "Cassette Tapes." The lyrics and wordplay are top notch as always. Add just wrapped up the shoot for his video, "Luxury," and the vid for "Starter Jacket" should be out by next week.

Add-2 [...]

Video: B.o.B aka Bobby Ray Live @ Whynatte 1 Year Anniversary Party

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:33:00 +0100
[video:http://vimeo.com/7698322 485x273]

Here's some more live performance footage of B.o.B aka Bobby Ray. This time he is at Whynatte's 1 year anniversary party. Watch as he performs "Monster" and "Generation Lost." They really need to let this man put out his album already. Video directed by Motion Family.

Audio: Tekitha "On It"

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:01:00 +0100

Awhile back we let y'all know that former Wu-Tang songstress, Tekitha, had a new solo project on the way. Now word has arrived that Tekitha's EP, The Prelude, will be dropping on January 19th. The EP has production from The RZA, Armand Van Helden, Bdotforealla of The Ahficionados, and Jeff Jones/Joneszilla. Here's the first single from The Prelude, "On It." [...]

Video: Grizzly Bear "Ready, Able"

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:11:00 +0100
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puph1hejMQE 480x295]

Kidz In The Hall's Grizzly Bear sampled track yesterday, "The Grizzly Man," helped remind me of how dope indie band Grizzly Bear is. They released their latest album, Veckatimest, this past May. Here is their latest video from the LP, "Ready, Able" (shout out to the kid Legend on the assist). Video directed by Allison Schulnik.

Audio: Buff1 "The Best Are Full of Love" feat. Diz Gibran & Shawn Jackson

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:40:00 +0100

To avoid leaving the fans without a new project in '09, Buff1 will be releasing a free download entitled, It's a 1derful Life on December 2nd. The project is a compilation of Buff's guest appearances as well as a few new and unreleased tracks. The first leak was the Damu The Fudgemunk produced song, "When The Winter Comes." The second leak is entit [...]

Video: Saul Williams & The Niggy Tardust Experience @ The Roxy

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:04:00 +0100
[video:http://www.vimeo.com/7679843 485x273]

Quddus and All The Way Live got some footage of Saul Williams' show at The Roxy in Hollywood for Saul's, The Niggy Tardust Experience. In the clip we get Saul performing "List of Demands," Tr(n)igger," and "Sunday Bloody Sunday." The Niggy Tardust Experience just wrapped up two nights ago in Vancouver. Be on the lookout the next time Afro-Punk and Saul take their act on the road.

Video: U-God "Wu-Tang" featuring Method Man

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:40:00 +0100

In case you weren't aware Wu-Tang member, U-God, currently has a new album out called Dopium. Here's the latest video from the LP, "Wu-Tang," featuring Method Man. Video directed by Don Tyler.

Diva Speak TV Mini Episode 11

femi@okayplayer.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:26:00 +0100
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHhtaZH3Bt8 425x344]

Amanda Diva is back with another mini episode (#11) of her online show, Diva SpeakTV. In this episode, Deevs gives her review of the new movie Precious, discusses the streak of random shootings around the country, and gives her thoughts on Rihanna's recent interviews.

Audio: BlakRoc "Hope You're Happy" feat. Billy Danze, Nicole Wray & Q-Tip

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:25:00 +0100

Blak Friday is almost upon us, so before the release of the BlakRoc Project on 11/27, here's one more leak that we're sure you'll be happy with. For this latest track we get Billy Danze, Nicole Wray, and Q-Tip getting down with The Black Keys for "Hope You're Happy." This release snuck up on me, but it's probably my most anticipated LP in the 4th quarter. Follow me after the j [...]

Emilio Rojas - The Natural [Mixtape]

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:15:00 +0100

The delays are over, and at long last Emilio Rojas' mixtape, The Natural, presented by DJ Green Lantern, has arrived. Mixtape is used loosely here, because this one plays like an LP - I highly suggest downloading this project. Production on the tape is handled by Keelay & Zaire, DJ Green Lantern, Sean C & LV, BOI-1DA, M-Phazes, Nottz, and more. Follow me after the jump for the [...]

Audio: Consequence "Whatever U Want (G.O.O.D. Music Has Arrived Remix)"

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:05:00 +0100

The G.O.O.D. Music crew has picked Consequence's single, "Whatever U Want," as the first track that the new Grammy Family goes in over. Here is the "Whatever U Want (remix)" featuring Kanye West, John Legend, Common, KiD CuDi, and Big Sean. Conseqeunce's new album, Cons TV (exec. prod. Q-Tip & Kanye West) will be out in 2010.

Consequence < [...]

Audio: Kidz In The Hall "The Grizzly Man"

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:44:00 +0100

On December 8th Kidz In The Hall will be releasing a free EP entitled, Professional Leisure Tour (presented by LRG). The project will contain 13 tracks, and act as a warm up for KITH's 3rd LP, Land of Make Believe (3/10). For the first leak off the EP, the duo sample indie band Grizzly Bear's single, "Two Weeks," on this song entitled "The Grizzly Man."

Audio: Theophilus London "Humdrum Town"

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:30:00 +0100

Green Label Sound once again releases an exclusive track for the masses to enjoy. This time around they enlist the help of Brooklyn's own Theophilus London for this song, "Humdrum Town." Theophilus explains the song as such: "I visited a town once with someone, and it was great and amazing--kids and dogs outside in the sun," explains London. "' [...]

Audio: Cee-Lo & The Good Time Guys "Hello Miss"

femi@okayplayer.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:37:00 +0100

Cee-Lo always seems to be affiliated with one group or the other. While we wait on some new Gnarls and Goodie Mob, Cee-Lo brings us his latest collaborative effort, The Good Time Guys. The group consists of Cee-Lo, Ace, Hank, and Mente. We haven't heard any details on an upcoming project just yet, but here is their first song, "Hello Miss." This joint is pretty f [...]