Via The New York Times

Melvin Van Peebles is a pioneer in black cinema, having directed, written, produced, scored and starred in what many people consider the first blaxploitation film, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasss Song. The New York Times recently published a fantastic profile of Peebles’s attempt to turn Sweetback into a stage musical that’s essential reading, if only for passages like this:

In person Mr. Van Peebles is a throwback to the era of Afros and revolutionary rhetoric. His beard has gone ash white, but he still sports black leather vests and pants, purple-shaded glasses and vintage high-tops. He is rarely without a soggy cigar — occasionally lighted — or a bellicose zinger, like: “If somebody messes with me, it’s not a lecture they need. It’s a brick.”

Read the whole piece here.

Hip-hop fans may be more familiar with Peebles from Madlib’s prominent sampling of his music on his two Quasimoto albums; allegedly ‘Lib and Peebles were supposed to do a double album together back in ‘05, I wonder what happened to it?

Download: Quasimoto – Bad Character

Get up on a little of Peebles’ music too. Here’s “Come On Write Me” from his 1974 album, What The . . . . You Mean I Can’t Sing?!

(image source)

RZA gave an exhausting interview to the A.V. Club as part of his book tour for The Tao of Wu, his compendium of wild philosophical interconnections. If you skip all the mumbo jumbo, RZA actually talks about music and makes some surprising claims/revelations. It’s a daunting read, but c’mon, it’s The RZA.

On how he came up with the idea for Ghostface’s “R&B” album four years ago,

Ghost, I think, took my advice. I said, “Yo, we should do a love album.” I told him this four years ago, we should do a love album. I was going to produce it, he was going to rap on it, and we’d make it strictly about love. Just bring love. Everybody keeps bringing violence, let’s bring love. He wasn’t feeling it then, but now he has an R&B album where he’s bringing songs more sympathetic and shit.

On how “Gravel Pit” was originally meant for Aaliyah,

People thought that “Gravel Pit” was a bad decision. Now, I don’t think “Gravel Pit” was a bad decision, it was our first top 40 record as the Wu-Tang Clan. It was during the period where top 40 was important, and during the period that the European scene was really coming strong, and our sales were equal in Europe and America, and I wrote the song for Aaliyah, who we lost before she could do it. But it was written originally for Aaliyah, who was my favorite artist, and I felt every single she made was great.

On the possibility of an Ol’ Dirty Bastard biopic,

We have talked about it. His estate is pretty confused, like any estate is in our country. The estate is kind of confused on what to do, and all the rights and all that shit, but it’s definitely been talked about. There’s also been talk about a Wu-Tang Clan movie. So we’ll see what life brings. In my opinion, I’d rather see an ODB pic than a Wu-Tang Clan pic, because Wu-Tang is still alive, and may be active for a few more years. But an ODB pic, just to really describe his life, would be good. Right now, there is a documentary that’s done that’s pretty good. It ain’t a knock out of the park, but it’s pretty good, it gives a nice piece of him. Then you start with that, and we can build more awareness about his life, and build more interest in people seeing a movie about it.

What would be weirder, RZA x Aaliyah or Raekwon x Timbaland?

The A.V. Club via The Playlist

Bonus: RZA – You Can’t Stop Me Now (ft. Inspectah Deck)

off Digi Snacks

Skip to 8:40. Then watch Baby show off what is probably the biggest traveling collection of jewelry in rap (curated by Young Moola baby). Instead of a weed carrier like a lot of rappers, Baby has a jewels carrier. But why does he store what seems to be nearly a million worth of watches in a ziploc baggie? They do make watch cases, right?

Via Rap Radar

He cut his Jewfro and now looks uncannily like a cat I went to high school with; he’s on some business school ish! Edan talks about the possibility of live-in studio albums and an animated film with Mr. Lif. His new album comes out in November.

Via GRANDGOOD by way of Senor Kaos (who did a great job with the interview)

ODB, RZA and Meth lure women to their hotel room while promoting Wu-Tang Forever on the radio in England. A must-listen for Wu heads. Says ODB to the first caller,

You go spread the word that if I die, the CIA killed me, OK? I’m not playing, I’m serious.

We miss you, Dirty.

Download: ODB, RZA and Method Man on Radio 1 in 1997

via unkut

An Organized Konfusion reunion! Praise the Lord. Nothing revelatory here, but it’s nice to hear Po & Pharaohe together. This is off Prince Po’s new EP, The X-Files.

DOWNLOAD: Organized Konfusion – Then & Now

Via Cocaine Blunts

For good measure, here’s the second most recent OK reunion from Pharaohe’s Internal Affairs.

DOWNLOAD: Organized Konfusion – God Send

BONUS BEATS: The Sound of Young America interviews Pharoahe Monch, great interview.

Produced by Blunt. Free=only rapper who still sounds good over chipmunk soul beats. Has anyone heard Philadelphia Freeway 2 and if so, what do you think? I skimmed through a stream of it a few weeks back, but it didn’t make much of an impression on me.

DOWNLOAD: Freeway – For The Money

In other news, I’m excited about this upcoming Jake One/Freeway record, Stimulus Package? Here’s a brief interview with Jake and Free where they discuss it. I’ve got high hopes for this album.

Via 2dopeboyz

Via Live From Da Pepa Mill by way of  Spine Magazine

U.K. emcee Mystro interviews Devin the Dude, who demonstrates his impressive rolling skills. Just Tryin’ Ta Live is also easily one of the best albums of this decade and is criminally overlooked – it’s a good place to start if you’re not familiar with his music. The first part is below, part two after the jump.

[Read more]

As Knobbz can tell you, Method Man is a great interview.  Recently, Whoo Kid had a chance to talk to Meth, resulting in a really great interview. Frank Purdue better cut Meth a check for the major co-sign. Be in awe of moments like Whoo Kid asking Meth about nutrition, and Meth knowing who Tay Zonday is!!

Via Way More Fresher

Okay, I’m a day late, but still. This freestyle is nuts.

Related: An awesome vintage freestyle and interview from Red around the time of Dare Iz A Darkside (via rap, lies and videotape)