Colorado crew and longtime OKP fam, The Procussions, made a promise at the end of 2012 to rejoin forces if fans raised 10k for their next project via indieGogo. Apparently, the demand was higher than they realized as the now L.A. based duo raised nearly the double the amount and now are hard at work on a new project. As we wait on their first LP in seven years, Mr. J. Medeiros and Stro Elliot give us “Today,” a non-album promo track featuring Canadian lyricist Shad and jazz trumpet playing from Itlaian musician J Kyle Gregory. Look for an official single and Euro tour in March, followed by their self-titled LP in April.

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Been a hot minute since last we talked about Canadian emcee Shad, but it’s good to see he’s still as entertaining as ever, as evidenced by his latest vid “It Ain’t Over.” Let’s hope Mr. Kravitz doesn’t send papers his way (lol @ uncommonly handsome). “It Ain’t Over” appeared on Shad’s 90s themed EP, melancholy and the infinite shadness. Video directed by GARY.

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We’ve been deluged with so many good mixtapes ’round here this week that I’m gonna have to start rolling them all into one post and calling it Mixtape Mondays, LargeUp-style. For this trial run we got some bangers to set it off and keep you soundtracked up right through to the hollerdaze (hold on, we’re almost there, y’all). Let’s go:

Shad – Besides: In dude’s own words: “a 25-minute mix of some of the guest spots I’ve done on other projects over the past couple of years. Mixed by my man, the former DMC and Scribble Jam Champion, DJ TLO.” Download below and get a track-by-track breakdown including links for all the individual songs on Shad’s blog.

>>>Download

DJ Spinna - The Best of Mark de Clive Lowe: What else you need to know really? “34 tracks of MdCL productions, remixes and collaborations with Kenny Dope (Masters At Work), DJ Spinna, Phil Asher (Restless Soul), Zed Bias and more.” Stream below and if you like what you hear (oh yes. You will like it.) cop MdCL’s disc Renegades on iTunes while you’re up.

Us & Them – Midnight Rockers Express: Songs From the Modern Age, NYC 2001-2003: This latest in the MRE podcast/mix series from OG FADER editor Lee Harrison and DJ Greg Poole is in many ways the perfect Okayplayer mixtape. Running down rare versions of the essential work of some OKP mainstays (Cody Chestnutt, Mos Def, Jay-Z x The Roots) as well as some sleeper agents (Roots Manuva, DJ Shadow, El-P) this shit will make you grumps realize how much great music has already emerged from our young millenium. Check the tracklist after the jump to see what I mean (stream or download below).

MRE SONGS FROM THE MODERN AGE / NYC 2001-2003 by Midnight Rockers Express

>>>Download

Us & Them – MRE: Songs From the Modern Age, NYC 2001-2003:

Intro
Yeah Yeah Yeahs_”Modern Romance”
Liars_”Dust That Makes The Mud”
A.R.E. Weapons_”Don’t Be Scared”
El-P_”Deep Space 9mm”
Le Tigre_”The Empty”
The Strokes_”Hard To Explain”
The Libertines_”Don’t Look Back Into The Sun”
LCD Soundsystem_”Give It Up”
White Stripes_”Hello Operator”
Roots Manuva_”Dub Come Save Me”
DJ Shadow feat. Mos Def_”Six Days”
Cam’Ron feat. Juelz Santana_”Oh Boy”
Cam’Ron feat. Jim Jones and Juelz Santana_”Come Home With Me”
Jay-Z_”Ain’t No Love”_edit w/The Roots live
The Roots feat. Cody Chesnutt_”The Seed 2.0″
LCD Soundsystem_”Losing My Edge”
Headman_”It’s Rough”
The Rapture_”Olio”
Kaos_”Lessons In Love”
Playgroup_”Make It Happen”
The Streets_”Weak Become Heroes “_Royksopp remix
The Rapture_”House Of Jealous Lovers”_Metro Area remix
Dizzee Rascal_”I Luv U”
Sia_”Little Man”_Wookie remix
Jammin’ aka DJ Zinc_”Kinda Funky”_Wookie remix
The Streets vs DJ Zinc_”Has It Come To This”_Stanton Warriors edit
Wookie feat. Lain Gray_”Battle”
Mos Def_”Umi Says”_dub version
Cody Chesnutt_”Smoke And Love”
The Strokes_”The Modern Age”_live

The post Mixtape Mondays: DJ Spinna x Mark de Clive Lowe, Shad & Midnight Rockers Express appeared first on Okayplayer.

Another tough remix of “Notorious“–proving that nobody recognizes the potential of a song bubbling on the underground like a bunch of rappers between album projects. Like the man said, “deejay ears cock up when the hear boom riddim.” I wonder if Freeway, Skillz and Kardi realize they are the best street team Ayah never hired?

>>>Download

spotted at 2DB

The post Audio: Ayah x Jazzy Jeff “Notorious” Remix f/ Kardinal Offishal, Skillz & Shad appeared first on Okayplayer.

Canadian emcee Shad has been bringing that heat from up North for years now… but you don’t hear him though. Well see if this one right here wakes you up. Shad goes in over some hard hittin’ Frank Dukes production for this track “Flawless” (check the unofficial vid above). The song will appear on The Real Frequency’s compilation album, The New North, which features over 30 artists reppin’ the T.dot music scene.

>>>Download

The post Audio/Video: Shad “Flawless” appeared first on Okayplayer.

Shout out to Vancouver based MC Shad for bringing home a Juno award this past weekend for his LP, TSOL (which beat Drake for ‘Rap Recording of the Year’). The Juno awards are pretty much the Canadian equivalent to the Grammys. As a thank you, Shad released this new song on his blog, “Give You All I Can” produced by Skratch Bastid.

>>>Download

The post Audio: Shad “Give You All I Can” appeared first on Okayplayer.

First off, congrats to Shad for his Juno nomination (pretty much the Canadian equivalent to the Grammys) for his latest LP, TSOL. This morning, he dropped the new video for his song “Keep Shining” an ode to women and a critique of hip-hop’s relative shortage of female voices. Video directed by Sarah Michelle Brown. Very dope visual – check after the jump for some words from the director.

To me, the ‘Keep Shining’ video is an ode to the strong and often under-appreciated spirits of women.  This video was designed as a candid and thought/emotion-provoking concept.  My goals were to create a candid and uplifting experience that featured a wide diversity of women and girls and to also unearth what I felt lay beneath the lyrics:  A call to claim one’s voice.  Early on, I realized a key to this concept:  Shad barely appears in the video.  The ladies own the lyrics.  For me, it’s as if Shad is saying ‘take it, own it, your voice belongs to you.’ It was my intention to show strength, vulnerability, joy, catharsis and reclamation of the spirit of all those who appeared in these 3 minutes and 44 seconds.  My hope is that it will speak to women, girls, men and boys and everything in between.  Let’s all ‘Keep Shining’.

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The latest OKP interview features Canadian emcee Shad. The witty lyricist discusses his latest LP, TSOL, Toronto, juggling school and rap, and more.

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Back in April, Canadian emcee, Shad, dropped the hard hitting first video off his upcoming LP, TSOL. The video was for "Yaa I Get It," a song which immediately grabs your attention with a serious head-nod inducing bassline. Today, we get a new take on the song with the premiere of the Oddisee remix. With the toned down and more relaxed beat you can really focus on Shad's witty wordplay. "So many sold their souls, my sole ambition is to hold solid, soul calm and bright as the solar system." TSOL will be dropping stateside via Black Box/Decon on October 5th. You can catch Shad on tour with k-os in October – check after the jump for the dates.

Shad "Yaa I Get It (Oddisee Remix)"





>>>Download

10/08 Seattle, WA – Nectar
10/09 Boise, ID – Promenade Music Festival
10/11 Portland, OR – Berbati's Pan
10/13 San Francisco, CA – Slim's
10/14 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
10/15 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
10/16 Scottsdale, AZ – Chasers
10/18 Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater
10/19 Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
10/21 St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
10/22 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
10/23 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
10/24 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
10/25 Columbus, OH – Skully's Music Diner
10/26 Baltimore, MD – Sonar
10/28 New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
10/29 Philadelphia, PA – North Star Bar
10/31 Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs

The post Audio: Shad “Yaa I Get It (Oddisee Remix)” appeared first on Okayplayer.

London, Ontario emcee, Shad recently took some time out to chop it up with The Come Up Show. Shad discusses his new album, TSOL, his love for performing, and Kanye. I can appreciate this man's perspective, he's as well spoken as he is nice on the mic.

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