Metal Lungies

News segment of the year?

Hopefully he doesn’t miss too much of GTA IV, I hear it’s fantastic. In all seriousness, I don’t if I should laugh or cry, he’s trying to be “hard” but yet he still such a kid too.

So Soulja Boy attends the Wizards game acting as a lucky charm for the sole win in 4 games. Well, Jay-Z comes back with a hyphy flavored diss, that uhh pretty much ends the whole thing because there is no way Soulja can muster any thing that resembles a comeback…maybe DeShawn has a contingency plan where another rapper can be worked into this somehow.

Mp3: Jay-Z-Blow The Whistle via Eskay.

Straight out of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, emcee Black ELement contacted me about a feature. I’m picky about the unsigned cats we put on here but this guy filled all the prerequisites for my submission policy. Black sent me “I Can’t Call It”, the first single from his upcoming LP, A Major Minority. Produced by Ryan Durkin, the song sees BE flexing some supreme lyrical ability over knocking drums. I was impressed enough to immediately look the kid up. You can listen to some older tracks at his label’s site, Empire Records.

Download: Black ELement – Can’t Call It (prod. Ryan Durkin)

Here’s the bio from his MySpace:

Labelling has become common in Hip Hop, audiences classify MCs after one song and place them in one of two categories: mainstream or underground. Black Element can only be described as otherground; something refreshingly melodic, and just as much entertaining as he is innovative.

In the age of the mailman and the guy at McDonalds claiming to be rappers, the MC is no longer taken as seriously as he used to. Black Element is an MC who is the true definition of what an MC should be. Someone who cannot be defined in a couple of tracks, someone who desires more from his listeners in order to fully grasp his mission. Black Element is not afraid to use all the different colors on his palette to paint on his canvas. He is not afraid to take his music in any direction, and feels that Hip Hop has to grow as an art form by taking chances.

Growing up in middle class America in New Jersey, Element found Hip Hop through his older brother who introduced him to the likes of Nas, The Roots, and A Tribe Called Quest just to name a few. Black Element then relocated to the suburbs of Boston for the remainder of his adolescence where he focused on perfecting his craft.

In 2002, he met Talib Kweli who left him with the simple message “Do whatever you feel, don’t worry about what everyone else is doing”. Ever since then, Black Element has been living by the credo “Do You” and has not looked back. Now he looks forward to change Hip Hop one listener at a time.

DX reports that female MC Jean Grae is done with this rap thang. I’d be disappointed if it’s for real. That chorus on Soda & Soap is as fresh as they come. More importantly, the joint with 9th is so god damn fiery I strap on a jimmy hat just to listen to it. And knowing that little tidbit I’m sure Jean can now retire in peace. Job well done.

Masta Ace feat. Jean Grae-Soda & Soap

Jean Grae & 9th Wonder-Love Thirst (Clean)

The legendary Brooklyn producer Easy Mo Bee, whose production credits most notably include a series of classics with The Notorious B.I.G. and the rest of the old Bad Boy Records camp, gives a great interview where he touches on moments from his long and storied career and talks about rap music today.

A wise and humble master of his craft, Mo Bee always makes for a great interview. His deep, friendly voice is the kind that makes you want to curl up with the last of your matzah and listen to him tell stories for half an hour. And the giant gap in his teeth makes him all the more charming.

Some highlights:

• Bought his first turntable and mixer off the $62.51 he made every week from working at a health food store
• Got his start producing for Big Daddy Kane on It’s a Big Daddy Thing
• Diddy was “like a slave driver”, calling him at two in the morning when working on Ready to Die
• Went to NYC Tech for one year and quit after getting a job at Con Edison; to this day he wishes he had gotten at least an associate’s degree: “College never ever hurts”
• Almost went to Kingsborough Community College to train to become a radio announcer
• Made Flava In Ya Ear in his underwear
• Says there’s less emphasis on the DJ today
• Has a Razr
• Misses being in the studio with artists as opposed to emailing tracks; interaction in the studio means better records
• Greatest strength is in God, greatest weakness is women
• Biggest achievement is working with Miles Davis
• Current state of hip hop: “It’s OK”
• Interview takes place in Unique Studios, where Biggie and Tupac recorded Runnin’ (From tha Police) together; ever since they died, it hasn’t been the same
• Currently: “You could say I’m going the independent route”

You can hear Old Man Easy tell more stories in the Notorious B.I.G. Bigger Than Life documentary. He recently co-produced the best song by far on 8 Diagrams.

Download: Wu-Tang Clan – Take it Back

via Crate Kings

Seeing as how Nigerian music has been getting mad love over the last few months, it was only fitting for Mike Love to put together this Fela mashup.  If you haven’t explored Fela Kuti now is as good as time as any.  The guy is the papa bear of an African music scene that is painfully underexposed.  

And speaking of bears (what a transition!), Grizzly Bear has been running shit in indie world.  I posted on a project they were working on a while back, and there will undoubtedly be posts dedicated to them in the future.  Meanwhile, this song is just amazing.  

Jay-Z feat. Fela Kuti: Nigerian Gangster 

Grizzly Bear-While You Wait for the Others (Live on Morning Becomes Eclectic)

So all it takes to take Kim Kardashian home is to grab her arm and say “Come Here Girl!”. I am so trying this next time I’m in Hollywood.

The Roots album, “Rising Down,” is set to release April 29th.  Video directed by Rik Cordero.  

Plus a dope freestyle with The Roots and Tribe after jump.  

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Nothing says “successful album!” like when you get an under the radar release in Australia, while a US date is still in limbo, you know kinda like Raekwon, Bishop Lamont, Stat Quo and Detox.

Tracklisting:

1. Aint No Stoppin Me
2. All Night Long
3. Cash Flow
4. Fantasy
5. Get That Money
6. Guess Who’s Single
7. Here I Am
8. Give It To You
9. Step Back
10. Tambourine
11. Turn Me On
12. We Belong Together

If you are a hardcore Eve fan go ahead and order it here. If you do, you better let ML know what you think.

UK Fans can pick it up May 5th.

My main beef with Hip-Hop is its exclusivist nature (we get it…your shit is the real shit…no one cares).  So I am always happy to share a rapper that exposes himself to different influences.  Atmosphere has always been hit or miss for me, but this performance is worth checking out.  

Atmosphere performs at Current Studios 

In the same vein, Thao Nguyen recently opened for the Ying Yang Twins.  Thao talks about how the fans weren’t feeling it.  But I bet one of the poor souls who came to see the “rap” show was moved to check out Nguyen.  One can only hope.  

(thanks to lhb for the links)