DJ A-Trak talks personal motivational practices and music selection tendencies with his Fool’s Gold label.

On the go gamers have not been ignored in the rush to release DJ inspired video game titles.   Although not exactly hip-hop, the game’s emphasis is on Electronic music, DJ Star promises live scratching, mixing, track creation, and even autograph signing for virtual fans.

Armed with a Vestax Handy Trax portable turntable, I Self Divine gives his thoughts on digging and dusty fingers in a promo for the Last of The Record Buyers open beats/producer event.

Last of The Record Buyers
July 16 @ 9pm
5th Element
Minneapolis, MN.

Visit Last of The Record Buyers for more info.

Joe Biel takes us on a tour  through Nashville’s United Record Pressing plant beginning with an explanation of basic vinyl sound theory and continuing with the process of vinyl melting, pressing, packaging, and recycling.

Why wear a traditional yellow 45 adaptor around your neck when you could easily rock one made from a genuine vinyl record. 

Alarm Industries puts all of those junk promos to good use with their line of Vling jewelry, which features shapes such as cassette tapes, headphones, phonographs, and more.

Check out Vling for more info.

LUSSW Magazine drops an in-studio interview with DJ Premier as he talks about the evolution of hip-hop from a music of young people to a mix of both older and younger participants, reveals his all-time favorite equipment (Akai MPC 60, 60II, and S950), and gives his opinion about new and emerging technologies involved in music creation.

Notable Quotes:
"I noticed that once you learn it, you have have to make the machine do what you want it to do.  It’s like you program your own language into it.  The machine is useless without the person’s mind."

"As long as you’re applying the elements of making good music come out of those speakers… do what you do."

During his latest segment of "Inside The Craft", Rik Cordero interviews Illmind at the Harlem Children’s Zone, a non-profit community organization, as the producer talks about the importance of offering guidance and giving back to younger generations.

[via Illmind]

Respect due to Seattle based producers KDcuts and Tryfe for teaming up and offering this collection of Bollywood inspired beats entitled Bombs Over Baghdad (B.O.B.).  Although each instrumental was individually created, the 13 track beat tape delivers a high powered, yet cohesive sound throughout the entire project.

Download: Bombs Over Baghdad (B.O.B) by KDCuts & Tryfe

Visit Tryfe and KDCutz for more info.

Rear cover + track list after the break! (more…)

Soul Culture drops an excellent interview with Oddisse during his recent trip to London.

Here the Diamond District producer talks about his first Casio keyboard, discovering production during his senior year of high school, the influence of his multicultural heritage, and looking to other genres of music for inspiration.

The real meat of the interview takes place during the second half as Oddisee discusses new media strategies, adjusting to changes within the music industry, and future business goals.

Notable Quote:
"Hip hop is bootlegged more than anything else.  If you go about putting it out the old way, you’re gonna be destroyed by leaking and bootlegging."