If all rappers told stories as good as GZA, then there would be a lot more interesting interviews with rappers on the internets. Also, if all interviews were made into cartoons like this? I would probably watch every single video interview ever made. Props to Pitchfork.

Rev. William Burke has been shadowing RZA for some time now, but they’re so casual about releasing music that it seems like Burke is content to remain a footnote on Wikipedia articles. On “Thank God,” Burke displays uncanny mic skills — the kind that make you want to transcribe his lyrics and try to recite them. Immaculate, dynamic brag rap with a hallowed air thanks to baleful Wu-Tang production. He’s a worthy sidekick for RZA: low-key and deceptively talented.

It’s great that G-Side’s production is only getting weirder. This beat sounds like it took a horse tranquilizer to the jugular — and it was made by G-Side’s very own Clova.

No joke, I nearly had an anxiety attack when I saw this on the Coachella stream an hour ago.

After some digging around, I’m led to believe that a company named Musion created this mind boggling “performance” of 2pac.  A bunch of “news” sources quoted Deutsche Telekom as the creator, but my guy Victor pointed out to me Deutsche Telekom is german for T-Mobile. After some more researching, DT just sponsored Musion to create a Mariah Carey concert this past Christmas, they don’t make the holographic technology. Hope that clears up some confusion. I hope some tech blog or wired can do a detailed piece on the entire thing, though.

The loudest performance in rap today comes from Waka Flocka screaming his head off for rowdy clubgoers. “Don’t Die” by Killer Mike will put the same 50,000 volt battery in your back, but instead of charging you up for a fight in the bathroom, it’ll make you want to flip over a police car. Rap hasn’t been this incendiary in decades.

via Pitchfork

Where Roc Marci walks, heat rocks follow.

Download: billy woods – Body Of Work (ft. Roc Marciano, Masai Bey)

If I was a betting man, I’d say yes. They are probably waiting for State Farm (sponsor of the stream) to discount errr cut the check. If you look at the Schedule it says 10:35pm PT, and that is the only act that hits the stage at that time on Sunday. If you recall, something similar happened with Kanye’s mind melting perfomance at Coachella last year, which got added to the stream schedule mear hours before he hit the stage (it was TBA all weekend).  Warren G let the cat out of the bag that himself, Eminem, Daz, Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa are going to join the good doctor’s set. I expect even more guests, to be honest. I also expect the Radiohead stream to be added on Saturday. Keeping all of that in mind, one other scenario that can play out is they’ll show a part of the set as ACL’s stream did with Arcade Fire’s closing set last year.

The entire stream schedule can be seen on the Coachella youtube page, which starts streaming at 3:25 PM PT today.  Also, can we talk about A$AP Rocky headlining a tent after being on the scene for like a year? Impressive.

Edit 4/15: Confirmed Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg’s set will be streaming.

It often feels like rap production is constantly breaking new ground while rhymes are recycled and refitted. But here’s one case where the rapper is just as interesting as the beat underneath him. Homeboy Sandman’s bars are sparse jeers rolled at unnamed police officers. Exile might have sent him this beat expecting him to “body” it. Instead, Sandman raps at a leisurely pace, taunting cops without epithets or soaring rhetoric. This is what you get when a normally sprightly rapper ventures into darker territory and he also happens to be boundlessly creative.

New York rap has a new mascot. Happy Pesach, everyone.

Download: Action Bronson – Blue Chips

via DJBooth.net

This is a remixed version of NoYork!, I guess? Tasteless artwork aside, I actually like this a lot more than the original because the beats are so far left. Half of them sound like they were recorded through a McDonald’s drive-through intercom, which can be grating for some, but I love it in this context: an alternate reality version of NoYork! where Blu has nothing to do with Warner Bros. and he’s still hurtling deeper down the rabbit hole after Below the Heavens. For all his ups and downs, Blu still has a unique brand of psychedelic rap that keeps getting more potent.