All You Can Eat Hip Hop

Clear Soul Forces - Stick Em (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:01:00 +0000

Those dude from Detroit, Clear Soul Forces, went and dropped a video for "Stick Em" off Detroit Revolution(s). The video is dope. I felt like I knew what was about to happen just from the intro, then...BAM...it was exactly what I was hoping for. It could have only been better if they would have incorporated Noveliss's Deadpool costume from ComicCon...jussayin.

Oh shit, I almost forgot. Go check out their new website HERE...

Dyme Def - Let It Be (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:14:00 +0000

One of my favorite cuts from 2007's Space Music, "Let It Be", finally got some visuals. It's a bit misleading though. It's more of a Fearce Vil joint than a Dyme Def joint...I mean he's the only dude spittin on it. The video was shot and directed by The Note. It's dope, check it out...

PS: If you're gonna be at Sasquatch this coming weekend you can catch Dyme Def Sunday on the Maine Stage. Lookin forward to this shit!

Sasquatch 2012

noreply@blogger.com (The Disco 3) — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:43:00 +0000

We're coming up on a week away from the 2012 Sasquatch Music Festival held annually at The Gorge in central Washington and it has the makings of being a good one. With a lineup that includes the likes of Jack White, Bon Iver, Beck, The Shins, The Roots, Santigold, Shabazz Palaces, AraabMuzik, Gary Clark Jr. AND the addition of a NW Hip-Hop stage the possibilities are nearly endless. The addition of The Maine Stage will allow some of the best hip-hop acts from the NW to showcase their talents to a larger crowd. I have no doubt that it will be dope.
NW hip-hop aside, cause really it's a given that I will be camped at that stage, I am really looking forward to seeing Gary Clark Jr. (among many others) after hearing his recent collaboration with Nas on the theme song for the 2012 NFL Draft and listening to his "Bright Lights EP" (which you can cop here). Needless to say I have my schedule all filled out and ready to go. Check out the trailer video they put together or hit the website above for more Sasquatch info...

Oh and congrats to all the NW hip-hop artists invited to perform...it's gonna be a hellava show.

Errythang Gang - On My Way

noreply@blogger.com (The Disco 3) — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:51:00 +0000

Brain alluded that some new shit was on the way a couple weeks ago when we watched Sugar Shane (WHOOO, that boy good) get smacked before the Mayweather fight. Now here it is, albeit a couple days late. Another joint from Errythang Gang, a collab between Brainstorm and Young Gizzle. "On My Way" features another slap by Brain. Watch out kids, with some of the heat I heard coming out of dudes computer that night...well let's just say you'll be happy to hear it.

Errythang Gang - On My Way

Frankly speaking...

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:23:00 +0000

First of all I owe a huge apology to my dude Frank Ramz, he sent me an advance copy of his new project Quite Frankly which dropped April 30th. I have been bumpin it for nearly 2 months and completely spaced on puttin up. I mean I have been riding with Frank since the MyspAYCE days...and just spaced. Y'all remember those days? My bad, Ramzy. Quite Frankly is his most complete project to date. With singles like "Zone Out", "Gold Mine", "Brief Intermission 2.0" and the Blue Sky Black Death produced joints "S.A.D." and "Still Thinking Sober" your bound to find something to satiate your ears. Check it out.

Frank Ramz - Quite Frankly

Fuck Prof.

noreply@blogger.com (BrainSlice) — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:19:00 +0000

Yeah I said it. I have seen this dude five damn times live on stage, and it is always flawless. From ridiculing a fan for handing him a Lemon Drop (that’s a fruity girl drink, in case you didn’t know), to completely controlling the mood and tone of his show with a perfectly balanced set-list, he can do no wrong. That’s why I say Fuck Prof, and I mean that as a compliment. Since I became a fan of the self-dubbed “Kaiser Von Powderhorn” (yes, he reps his ‘hood), I have felt like his tracks addressing topics of a more serious nature have been overlooked. As usual, I was fucking right. This shit, right here? “Myself” is my favorite track off the album, and I was excited to hear he was dropping a video for it. Check it out, and please take the time to read Prof’s description, since he’s the fucking expert, not me. By the way, you can get his music right HERE, for FREE. So stop being a dick-face and listen to it. Then, next time he is in your town, buy a ticket and some merch and support REAL Hip Hop.

Raw Poetic Goes To Work.

noreply@blogger.com (BrainSlice) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:48:00 +0000

Raw Poetic's band (Restoring Poetry In Music)

Many of you know Raw Poetic as emcee of the group Panacea, as co-host of our radio show Subsoniq, or maybe even from his recent collaboration "Hole Up" with Damu .

Below is the first song off of RPM's new album "Kingdom Of The Fireflies" dropping in August. It's a return to the group's bluesy roots. Guitarist P-Fritz absolutely kills this track and Raw Poetic gives us a sampling of his vocal abilities and artist direction that span beyond just being an emcee. Check the song "Tale Tail Signs" and let us know what you think?!?!

Note from BrainSlice: If you haven't heard KB and Raw Poetic chop it up on the SubSoniq Podcast, you are missing out! Check it on your Stitcher Radio App, or get it at: www.SubSoniqRadio.com !

RoQ'y TyRaiD - Year Round School (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:12:00 +0000

My man RoQ'y TyRaiD fucked around and dropped a video a couple weeks ago for the track "Year Round School". Keep and eye out for "Ark of Arts", coming sooner than you think. Head on over to his bandcamp and get his other joints.

Also, check out the dope interview with Mr. TyRaiD here.

Kidz In The Hall - Real Life (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:42:00 +0000

Visuals for one of my favorite tracks from Kidz In The Hall's Occasion, "Real Life". Double-O kills the beat and Naledge...ooooo that boy can spit.

Scripts 'N Screws - Escalators (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:01:00 +0000

Damn this is the week when crews and people come back around. Been a long time since we heard, or saw, us some Sripts 'N Screws. They just came through for a minute to drop off some visuals for a bonus track, "Escalators", from The Hangover 2 EP which is schedule for a mid-June release. Finally!

Thaddeus David - Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:50:00 +0000

On the 18 year anniversary of Nas' classic Illmatic Thaddeus lets loose of "Jones", a joint he labeled as an "unintentional response to his lifelong appreciation of Nas". I can get down with this.

Thaddeus David - Jones

Speaking of Dyme Def...

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:38:00 +0000

Fearce Vil and BeanOne have "formed like Voltron" to become FRCxBNE and teamed up for what they are calling a FREElease album titled There Goes The Neighborhood. Check out the first single and video, "Outlandish", from the duo and then pick up the album May 1st.

This guy Brainstorm (of Dyme Def) is grindin...

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:28:00 +0000

Seriously, my guy Brainstorm is puttin in work right now. I think he dropped off 3 new joints in the last week. The first is a joint called "Rocky IV" followed by "The Sound Of People Burning" produced by 14KT off his Killa Tape. The last is a joint called "F.Y.B." is a collaborative joint with Young Gizzle, collective known as Errythang Gang. Turns out they will be dropping the self titled Errythang Gang album in August. Be on the lookout for The Celestine Prophecy 2 droppin October 16th.

Brainstorm - Rocky IV

Brainstorm - The Sound Of People Burning (Prod. by 14KT)

Errythang Gang - F.Y.B.

Sound and Vision Ep.2: Clear Soul Forces

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:02:00 +0000

If y'all haven't had the chance to check out Clear Soul Forces new album Detroit Revolution(s)...what the hell is wrong with you? You can take my word for it or you can go here and cop that shit and find out for yourself. While you're here though, check out the Redbull Soundstage Sound and Vision documentary on these dudes. It is incredible and gives you some insight on these cats that you might never have known. Check it out below.

You see the Bloods just roll right up on them...that shit was crazy. Much respect to Ilajide, J-Roc (aka Noveliss), E-Fav, and L.A.Z.

Mike Classic - Where Amazing Happens Mixtape

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:18:00 +0000

It's been a while since we had a new mixtape from Queens native Mike Classic. I've thought dude has talent and potential since I got that first email a couple years ago. Dude has dropped a few joints here and there and even a video but Where Amazing Happens is the first full length in a minute. The joint with French Montana, "Whole Different Lane", is dope. The Fugees sampled "Pandora's Box" and the Track4merz produced "Tomorrow" are nice as well. This whole joint is starting off nice. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up below...thank me later (no Drizzy).

Mike Classic - Where Amazing Happens

Jarv Dee - Dopamine

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 07:06:00 +0000

Of course with the arrival of April 20th...4/20 to my dope heads...Seattle, Cloud Nice, and Moor Gang spitter Jarv Dee dropped his album Dopamine. Just making my first way through right now. I will tell you though, the first single "I Just Wanna", has been in HEAVY rotation and remains in the random playlist since I first got it sometime last year. Check out the video here. It still amazes me that with the amount of weed Jarv claims to smoke that he still has such a frenetic flow. I dig it. Go grab that free album below.

Jarv Dee - Dopamine

PS: I dig the play on words with the title as well..."Dopamine". Educate yourselves people. Peace.

Zombie Tupacalypse?

noreply@blogger.com (catch91) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:02:00 +0000

So…umm..well…I don’t even know what to say. Peep:

Shit is crazy.

Hey, Brainslice...

noreply@blogger.com (Digg) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:26:00 +0000

I read your shit about falling head first into Hip Hop despite being trapped in that desolate fucking wasteland they call Idaho. (Of course, I'm paraphrasing.) The post got me thinkin' though... about my own past. And how I found Hip Hop.
My story starts in southern Indiana. In a town with less than 1000 folks. These days, they got a riverboat casino and goddam golf course, but this story happened when I was a grade school kid in the early 80's... when that town didn't have shit. (Yeah, I'm old. Go fuck yourself.) Side note: That town is in the smallest county in Indiana... but still had the highest teen pregnancy rate in the state back then. (Like I said though... "Grade Schooler". I miss all the fuckin' fun.)

As a kid, music was whatever dad played in the truck... usually Merle, Hank Sr., or Willie. If they weren't old and white, I didn't hear em. That is until pops took a job in Georgia. South-muh-fuckin-Georgia. Lil' 8-year-old me didn't know what he was in for. Living in an actual city. With neighbors. And streets... With lights and shit. And a HUGE school. Filled with kids. Kids that didn't look like me. At all.

Fucked up as it may sound, I had never met a black person before then. And here I was in a place where I was decidedly in the minority. I was a typical scared new kid, but I made friends quick. And all of them with skin darker than mine. I dove head first into a new culture and for the short time I was there, I was in heaven. My family though, was in hell. I didn't know it, but my older brother was flunking out of school, my dad hated his new job, and my mom missed her family up north. So before I knew it, we were packing back up and heading out. Six months was all I got. Six months of fun memories sure, but even bigger than that, six months that completely changed me as a person. How? By introducing me to Hip Hop.

The house we lived in was rented by my dad's company. Nice place on a nice street. All my friends though, lived about 3 blocks away, in a not-so-nice area separated from "us" by a bunch of liquor stores and gas stations on a major street. Smaller houses, jammed together and filled with people. My buddy Stephon had a bunch of sisters and big badass Momma that would probably slap me if she heard me use the word "badass". Before I knew it, they were fam. And it was on the porch of their house, with Stephon and his sisters that I heard rap for the first time ever. I wish I could remember the song. I really can't. and I've tried... HARD.

The radio hits then were things like Kurtis Blow - The Breaks or Sugar Hill Gang - Rappers Delight ... but part of me hopes it was something more obscure. Something his sisters were into like Paulett & Tanya Winley -Rhymin and rappin.

Whatever it was, I was hooked. I stayed glued to the radio... or to Steph's 45s (look it up, young fucks). For six months, I soaked it in... And then back to the country I went. Where none of my friends cared about rap. Where my parents had banned it. (Except for Blondie... her "Rapping" was NEAT!) My older brother hated it. He didn't get how people "talking" was "music".

So... I hid it. Kept it for myself. My friends got into Motley Crue, Iron Maiden and Poison. I guess I did, too. But when no one else was around I was in my room with the volume low diggin' on Kangol and the rest of U.T.F.O. choppin' it up on how best to bang Roxanne... or laughing when Roxanne Shante spit back at em. or trying to beat box in the barn (that's right, I said the BARN) as Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick stole The Show.

Later on, I told big brother about my rap obsession. He laughed at me. I tried to cover by saying I still liked Rock. He asked me who I meant and I said Motley Crue. He laughed even harder. Then he hit the next gas station, ran inside and bought me Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic, saying "THIS, is Rock N Roll". I listened to that too. And the Lynyrd Skynyrd album he brought me a week later. I soaked it all in. Even occasionally dipping back into those old Hank Williams Sr. songs my dad loved so much. But I never strayed far from those scratches, those beats, all those quick-witted lyrical blasts.

Then in Jr. High my brain exploded... when Rev RUN and Mr. McDaniels cut wax over my brother’s favorite band on MTV. (I thought big bro would REALLY love the new Walk This Way ... but he just laughed again.) After that, my whole high school was talking about LL Cool J, Erik B and Rakim, Ice-T, Salt N Peppa and The Beastie Boys. Everyone in my world soon loved rap because NWA was unlike anything anyone had ever heard and 2 Live Crew was nastier than any of us could ever be. All of it meant FUCK AUTHORITY. Kids ate it up. "Rock" didn't cut it anymore. Our parents didn't hate it enough. RAP was the new way to ensure that they wouldn't understand you.

But I knew my friends didn't hear what I heard. They couldn't. I love the Beastie Boys as much as anybody I went to high school with... but I love Rakim more. And I'll bet most of those folks don't even remember who Rakim is. I wrote this piece because of what Brainslice wrote, and I know for damn sure that dude knows more about rap and Hip Hop than I ever will. I'm not tryna put my experience above anyone else's. I'm just sayin'... This was how it went down for me. How it's still goin' down. Every time I hear a beat that makes me sour up my face or bob my head. Every time my eyebrows raise over some clever line I didn't see comin’... I'm that 8-year old kid again, on a porch in the south Georgia heat... Feelin' it all for the very first time.

Thanks for reading. Peace.

Oh, and also... Ice Cube. Just cause I didn’t work him into this story anywhere else.

It's a Clear Soul Revolution(s)

noreply@blogger.com (Benny B) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:52:00 +0000

The revolution will not be televised (RIP Gil Scott-Heron), there will be no mention of John Carter, Sara Carter, or Sky...oh wait, just a small mention of Skynet...but it will be bangin your eardrums courtesy of Clear Soul Forces (CSF) and their recently released debut album Detroit Revolution(s). Lemme give y'all some background. CSF is a foursome out of, where else, Detroit and made up of L.A.Z, J-Roc (aka Noveliss), E-Fav, and producer/emcee Ilajide. With one mixtape, an EP, a couple videos, a performance at Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival's Show and Prove Super Bowl *cough robbed cough* these dudes barely had time to relish the release of their first full length LP. You see the day before it dropped they were on a plane and set for a trip to SXSW to perform on the Red Bull Soundstage thanks to Dru Ha of Duck Down Music. They have come a long way from when I first saw them at BHF eight months ago.

It would be arduous, and extremely long winded, for me dissect Detroit Revolution(s) track by track so I'm gonna hit the high notes and leave the rest for you to discover on your own. #REVO, as it's come to be known, is incredible listen. You will be ambushed throughout the 15 track LP by lyrics, on lyrics, on lyrics (no Kanye) and assaulted with slaps mostly courtesy of Ilajide (10 tracks) with the remainder filled in by Nameless, KanKick, and King Midas. #REVO opens with "Detroit Revolution(s)", a call to order of sorts, to present the album Detroit Revolution(s) to the people and then followed immediately by "Welcome To The Show". This is just a mere introduction to the lyrical capabilities of all four emcees highlighted by lines like L.A.Z's "we drop gems like clumsy jewelers" and Ilajide's "blade in my wrist like Assassins Creed". A nice welcome to for those that appreciate lyricism. Attempting to define each emcee is difficult because each bring a different flavor to the table and all are more that capable to carry a track at any time.

In my very humble opinion, J-Roc is the more refined lyricist. I have yet to hear a J-Roc verse that I didn't like. "Half As Long//Twice As Nice", one of my favorites, opens with a verse from J-Roc. Remember that small mention of Skynet...yep it's right there a long with the line "they tell me 'break a leg'/I get on stage and become a paraplegic". Then later he spits "Only fall asleep to beats/take this instrumental Ambien"...fresh. Ilajide chimes in later in the record that his "shit is velociraptic"...and I couldn't describe him any better. Ilajide, to me, is the wild card of the group. J-Roc, E-Fav, and L.A.Z have a mostly smooth delivery throughout #REVO where Ilajide's voice is raspy and his delivery is choppy and hype like an ADHD kid off his Adderall. Reminds me of an old episode of BET's "Rap City: The Basement" where Pharoahe Monch was in the freestyle booth with Big Tig and caught an asthma attack. This is especially notable early on in #REVO on the track "Keep It Movin", later in "Ass To The Flo" and "Runnin".

"Gets No Better" is the first single from the group, for good reason, and was dropped in a dope little video. This joint may still be my favorite from the album. Maybe it's the beat (brought to you by KanKick) or maybe it's the witty punchlines like E-Fav's "...playin hookie while my paper double triple like LeBron as a rookie". It could be Ilajide's "who colder my shit is cryogenic" but then again it could also be L.A.Z's "It's only right that I get it in/got her mind open like she took the pill from Limitless". The most likely answer is all of the above all wrapped in one little 4:46 package.
E-Fav is that "old reliable" in the crew, in my opinion, always spitin smooth bars with occasional changes in cadence. When he does decide to change it up you get the opening verse to "Stack Yo Paypuh!!!" with a double time of sorts. He's the guys that you might miss but then think "damn, that was nice. Who was that?"...E-Fav.
L.A.Z can do it all, he can get hype, vary his cadence and flow, and then come back on the next track with a laid back easy verse. His verse on "The World Is Yours" is one of my favorites from him on the album when he spits "You probably try angles like an isosceles/We the reason people wakin up, the flow is coffee beans". I love the sample from Ilajide on this track...but it is killing me not to be able to place it. I know the song...but I feel like it's from a movie. Dammit, foiled again.
I can't even begin to describe "Catch Me If You Can". If it's lyrics you want/like then this joint is for you. I dig the part where L.A.Z takes shots..."Tryin to be the Mufasa of the pad penin/lyin if they sayin they lions/they Matt Millen". Anyone notice how the Lions got infinitely better after Millen was shitcanned?
Bottom line is this album is a dope debut and a good look for Clear Soul Forces. The word play is insane the beats are good...and at a "name your own price" on their Bandcamp there is no earthly reason, that I can think of anyway, why each and every one of y'all reading this should not have it bumpin through your speakers. After you pick it up, hit them at their Facebook and let them know how you feelin it.

Fly Moon Royalty - Lemonade (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (The Disco 3) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 06:35:00 +0000

Sportn' Life Records own Fly Moon Royalty dropped a video this week for "Lemonade" of their debut self titled Fly Moon Royalty. The duo of Action Jackson and Adra Boo did this one up nice. I have always like the keys in this track.

Grynch - Perspective (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (The Disco 3) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 05:56:00 +0000

Check out the dope new video for the title track "Perspective" (produced by Jake One) from Grynch's new album of the same name...thus the term "title track" dummies. This was shot at his album release party a few weeks ago at Neumos in Seattle. I was there and it was glorious. Head on over to iTunes and pick up Perspective. Peep game.

Saved By the Bells…

noreply@blogger.com (catch91) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:59:00 +0000

What upper? It’s hump day, but that ain’t how my day started. However, the second best way to start the day is a dope-ass song/video. Thanks to Tanya Morgan’s new joint, I forgot about my lack of lovin’ this morning…well, for 2:42, anyway. Peep:

Tanya Morgan's 'You & What Army' available here.

SOTA - Unfazed

noreply@blogger.com (The Disco 3) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:17:00 +0000

After the release of Thaddeus Davids solo LP and Parker Joe's project with Lace Cadence the SOTA dudes are back in the lab mixin up some new shit. "Unfazed" was produced by Seattle beat maker Aaron the King and will lead the group into their next show on April 14th at Showbox At The Market with Dom Kennedy.

SOTA - Unfazed

Attention, Attention, read all about it...

noreply@blogger.com (The Disco 3) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:02:00 +0000

DJ Phinisey has released the second single from his upcoming production album. This particular track, "Attention!", features John Crown. The beat is nice and John Crown sounds like he's comfortable on it as well.

DJ Phinisey - Attention! feat. John Crown

He's the Bread Winner...

noreply@blogger.com (The Disco 3) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:54:00 +0000

A new joint from MIKE CLASSIC featuring French Montana..."Whole Different Lane". Nice to hear some new shit from Mike. Rumor on the streets is that a new mixtape is in the near future. I certainly hope so.

MIKE CLASSIC - Whole Different Lane feat. French Montana