Pete Rock Camp Lo: 80 Blocks From Tiffany's Pt 2

Pete Rock continues to rock his low key high hit profile by releasing a new mix with Camp Lo featuring Mac Miller, Ab-Soul, Talib Kweli and a few special guests with 80 Blocks From Tiffany's Pt 2. Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the classic Mecca and The Soul Brother, Pete Rock delivers his signature producing skills for free courtesy of Dat Piff. Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth recently played a free concert this past weekend at Central Park for their Summer Stage series. This mix is all killer and no filler, every track is high quality and deserves to be analyzed like a text book, go grab it!

Additionally 80 Blocks From Tiffany's is a documentary about gangs in the South Bronx, primarily The Savage Skulls and Savage Nomads in 1979. It was directed by Gary Weis who at the time worked on Saturday Night Live. I believe he actually got Lorne Michaels to fund this gritty examination of ghetto life before the crack epidemic took hold of those neighborhoods. The title relates the distance between jewelry store Tiffany & Co. and the South Bronx.

The Afrika Bambaataa Master of Records Open Archive

Afrika Bambaataa is as essential to Hip Hop Kulture as DJ Kool Herc. While Herc was the first to bring B-Boys and Girls, Emcees together during his park Jams it was Afrika Bambaataa who after a trip in Africa decided to transform the gang he led, The Black Spades into The Universal Zulu Nation. The organization expanded to all areas of the city and became a large proponent of Hip Hop and all of its active elements including but not limited to Deejaying, Graffiti, Breaking and Rapping. It was Bambaataa who met Malcom Mclaren and he was the first to bring Hip Hop to the attention of record executives and was a major supporter of the art in its infancy. I encourage you to listen to the Buffalo Gals- Back to Skool compilation for further info.

Bambaataa's song Planet Rock is my unofficial musical anthem. Before I really cared about music I knew that was my jam. I had a chance to speak to Bambaataa and give my respect. He is truly a powerful inspiration and humble figure in Hip Hop. Now his record collection is on public display as part of The Cornell University Library's Hip Hop Collection. The public can come and view the collection Mon-Fri from 12-5PM at Gavin Brown's Enterprise 620 Greenwich Street in New York City. The exhibit ends on August 10th 2013.

Press Release

Basquiat and RAMM:ΣLL:ZΣΣ Collaborations

Many people are familiar with Jean-Michel Basquiat's artwork, but just as many don't know about New York's RAMM:ΣLL:ZΣΣ a Graffiti Writer, Emcee, B-Boy and visual artist who pioneered many elements of art that are still in effect today. Check this video featuring RAMM:ΣLL:ZΣΣ rapping lyrics he and Basquiat worked on together. It came out of a rivalry between the two artists, claiming they could do what the other could do and better. Basquiat set up some canvas and paint for RAMM:ΣLL:ZΣΣ and the result was all the paintings he being sold. 

When Jean-Michel went to the studio with RAMM:ΣLL:ZΣΣ to rap RAMM recalled that Basquiat's lyrics weren't up to snuff "...we crushed up his paper with the words he had written down and we threw it back at him face first." Beat Bop is an incredibly rare Hip Hop record that features RAMM:ΣLL:ZΣΣ and K-Rob on vocals and Basquiat's artwork on the sleeve and label. It is said to have influenced The Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill and El-P among many others. Live at The Rhythm Lounge features RAMM:ΣLL:ZΣΣ and Toxic C1 and Basquiat's visuals. Despite the rivalry both artists were incredibly creative forces and we continue to build the foundation that they laid down.

Daft Punk Figures Push My Luck

I saw these fresh as fuck new Daft Punk figures on Amazon and I like many I want them. Don't fret as these aren't Comicon exclusives, but are actual figures Bandai is releasing in December at $45 each. Best to get on your good behavior now and hope that Christmas treats you well. Me? I'm pushing my luck with this wish, but man I would love to have these guys rock Castle Grayskull, Unicron and The Death Star!

Ka, Grief Pedigree

Straight out of the brownsville section of Brooklyn stands Veteran Emcee Ka and he is armed with vintage cuts with a modern flow that recalls the golden says of the 1990's while moving steadily ahead with Ka's main vision of survival and personal progression. These days a solo rap album is very much a family affair with guest appearances on nearly every track, but Roc Marciano is the only featured artist on the album proving that Ka's twenty plus years experience can control and handle every track with ease.


Grief Pedigree is a laid back, but rough traversal of Brownsville's gritty landscape. It's a great listen that recalls the dark and gritty days of New York in the 90's. Ka also directed and edited videos for every song, pushing his abilities and credits past a mere Emcee. The visuals are all very meticulously chosen and placed, it's clearly a labor of love. I doubt you will be able to cop Grief Pedigree and Ka's new release, The Night's Gambit in record stores. If you want a physical you can get it directly from Ka which you should be doing for all music you respect. Peace!

http://brownsvilleka.com/

The Gaslamp Killer's Brush With Death

The Gaslamp Killer is probably America's wildest DJ, hands down I can't think of a DJ who performs like a true rock star- no holds barred high energy flowing from every angle of his physical as he pumps unconventional jams to packs of rabid partiers all over the world. His debut album Breakthrough is a wonderful reflection of his reputation and style of glitchy breaks mixed with elegant melodies. It is easily one of last year's best releases. I had a chance to see GLK back in May in Brooklyn and I had a chance to express my appreciation for his musical efforts and I'm glad because this past week he had a brush with death that reading about it still sends shivers down my spine.

Photo by Ani Yapundzhyan

While riding a scooter he had an accident that caused the bike to flip over and land on top of him. He had to deal with conflicting information from Firefighters and navigating road conditions. After arriving at the hospital he found out after waiting in pain in the ER that he was suffering from internal bleeding and if he was left alone longer he would have died. He's out of the hospital and healing at home in LA, but due to the surgery of losing his spleen he is out of action for the rest of the Summer. 

Our prayers go out to GLK and all who are affected by his presence, transformations and manifestations occur in this world because those changes are necessary to our individual life experiences. We are confident that Gaslamp Killer has the power to pull through his hurdle and deliver the music he was born to create. Get well, brother, I'll be sure to see you at the next show. Peace!

More details and Interview at LA Weekly.

DJ Kool Herc Live at Crotona Park

Listen up, tomorrow your grandfather's grandfather's godfather is coming over. DJ Kool Herc is responsible for exposing the elements of Hip Hop to inspire an entire nation of artists and performers. August 11, 1973 at a party for his sister Clive Cambpell better known as DJ Kool Herc played at 1520 Sedgwick Ave in the Bronx. This was the first time mixing records was presented to the public. Many great individuals were there including but not limited to KRS-One, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash. Herc is responsible for the foundation of sound that Hip Hop used as a platform to extend beyond recreational centers and the streets, by playing the breaks from Funk and specifically James Brown records Herc provided generations with an infinite spectrum of sound that eventually would grow into Hip Hop. He's playing for free tomorrow in the Bronx. New York Hip Hoppas, be sure not to miss this jam!!

DJ Kool Herc is considered the “The Founder of Hip-Hop Culture.” In the early stages of Hip-Hop music, he brought his sound system to block parties in the Bronx and began playing the brief rhythmic sections of records which would become known as “breaks.” Using the two-turntable set-up of the disco DJs, Kool Herc’s style led to the use of two copies of the same record to elongate the break. This breakbeat DJing, using hard Funk, Rock, and records with Latin percussion, formed the basis of Hip-Hop music. DJ Kool Herc’s music along with his announcements to his dancers, called  B-Boys and B-Girls, helped pave the way to what everyone now knows as Hip-Hop.

Part of SummerStage’s “This is __ Hip-Hop” series.
7-9PM, Crotona Park Bronx, NY
ALL AGES, FREE
http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/calendar/dj-kool-herc/

KRS-One: Never Forget

Honestly I can't express how much we really appreciate and enjoy the music and lyrics of KRS-One. Actually, this blog might not even exist if it weren't for KRS- without getting into too much details I was going to quit, but I didn't. So much like last year's BDP Album we are happy to hear anything new from The Teacha. A few songs from an unreleased album titled Never Forget feels like fresh air being let in a stale environment, Radio Rap I'm addressing you.

With only these five songs KRS-One rolls the rap dice and hits all the prime elements while staying very relevant. Take the lyric from They Are Taking Your Time for example "See back in the day to avoid gettin jerked we was told to go to college in case rap didn't work, Now today not to be so hurt you betta no how to rap in case your degree don't work!" The track titled Nina deals with putting down the steel which so many rappers don't talk about and It Appears is a perfect example The Blast Master entity with its thumping drums With every collection of songs KRS-One shames the flyest lyrics from whoever is the flavor of the month. I know there are a lot of KRS tracks that don't get released and I hope this makes its way on to Wax very soon. Shout Out to the Real Hip Hop Heads out there!

In Betweens

Yo, thank you for checking the blog. The schedule has been irregular, but that is due to Work and Family, but more than anything listening to a lot of music. The Summer is in Full Effect and it's like no other with amazing music to check out and enjoy. I'm just going to drop a few gems that I have been enjoying so far.

Daft Punk's Radom Access Memory was a classic before it was released, the hype that was produced and how well it lived up to all of it is a rare vision. Buy this record!!

http://www.daftpunk.com/

Thundercat's latest album Apocalypse is the perfect match to contend against R.A.M. It's a dreamy funk journey through a hazy magic land. Some of the albums have songs named after films, but they remind you nothing about them and instead just take on their own life. This is a wonderful breath of fresh air.

http://www.brainfeedersite.com/2013/06/03/thundercat-apocalypse/

The Black Opera follow no rules for their Hip Hop and by doing so (or not doing) they come with lyrics that break boundaries and smash misconceptions. They have three albums out and you need to check them all out as they are all insightful and diverse.

http://www.theblackopera.com/

Finally (for now) I want you to know that Hip Hop as a music is being redefined as a Culture. It is no longer about selling albums or singles or even who is played on the radio (Radio has been played out for at least a decade). It's not about rappers, but about EMCEEs and it's being reborn with an entirely new perspective that is going to send your favorite rapper to The Grave. Brooklyn's Finest has produced a hefty roster of artists and the still young Progressive Era are proud to show their ancestors what they have learned. Twelve deep, The Pro(gressive) Era joins the Beast Coast crew that draws members from all over the United States and represents their vision with skilled finesse.

http://theproera.com/music/

Yo, that's it for now, I hope I made up for some missing months and yes I'm still working on the GZA Liquid Swords box set review. Thanks and Peace, people.

Cannibal Ox, Gotham Maxi Single

While Cannibal Ox’s seminal debut, The Cold Vein, was released in 2001, Vast & Vordul are also 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. Today, Cannibal Ox announces the release of a new Maxi-Single, “Gotham,” which includes three new tracks and will be available on 4-16-2013.

Hit up SoundCloud to listen to all three Bill Cosmic produced tracks:
https://soundcloud.com/macmediapromo/gotham-ox-city