Vid of the Day 5/10/08

J Dilla/ Illa J- "Won't Do" from the shining



Some nice cameos in there as well.

New Forum

Forum<-----
With the lack of quality Hip-Hop forums around the net, I decided to add a forum to DHHM. It's hard to find a forum these days without the 12 year-old Souljah Boy fans, so I'm hoping this develops into something good.

The forums is blank right now, so it's up to you guys to start some topics and get the thing going, so don't expect to come into a fully developed forum. I'll be here taking suggestions, adding sub-categories as needed, and giving the people what they want. If it gets big enough I'm sure I'll add moderators, but it's not going to be some strict forum, it'll pretty much be you guys saying what you please. I'm not going to try to play some god.

Links are at the top and bottom of the post, and I put one below the subscribe links that will permanently be on the right. Enjoy, and don't shy away from registering.
(the register link is on the top left below the banner)

Forum <-----

Immortal Brutality

HipHopDX wrote
The outbreak of criticism in response to the acquittal of several New York City police officers in the shooting death of 23-year-old Sean Bell has prompted rapper/activist Immortal Technique to compile a list of stories showing the pervasiveness of police brutality across the United States.

“Police State Chronicles” will be a collection of experiences of real people from different ethnicities and socio-economic statuses—including Technique himself—across the country detailing police misconduct.

After the stories are compiling, Technique intends to distribute “Police State Chronicles” to the media, Congress, the Department of Justice and even the United Nations.

“The violation of people’s fundamental human rights, is not just a race issue, or an inner city issue, this is a national issue,” Technique said via statement. “The state is taking people's most precious belongings, their lives, without any sort of due process.”

“Historically, the police in this country have been kept separate from the military so as to protect people’s civil rights, but as this police state becomes more militarized and its abuses grow, it is a harbinger of the fragmentation of our democracy.”

Technique also made an appeal to all readers and fans that have had an experience with police brutality to contribute.

“We would genuinely appreciate people's participation in sharing their stories,” he said. “Please do not think your story is too small or too insignificant to share.”

People interested should include their name, location and permission for Immortal Technique to use the name/story in the packet. E-mail stories to policestatechronicles@yahoo.com.

The Myspace blog, from Immortal Technique, can be found by clicking here.

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Anyone have a personal story to tell involving police? What's your take on the boys in blue? Personally I'm a little disgruntled by them, sometimes I feel like they're doing the job intended, other times I feel like slapping them.

Theme Song (You guessed it)- N.W.A. "Fuck the Police"

Obama and Hip Hop?

Recently I've noticed random artists popping up with songs for presidential candidate Barack Obama. A couple months ago I came across two songs endorsing Obama, and with his recent brushing off of his shoulders during a speech, I wondered to myself what affect it would have on the race.

The first I saw, "Yes We Can" (also joined by a follow-up) is by Will.i.am, isn't exactly a "song," but more of a recital of one of his speeches by celebrities with guitar and piano in the back. Not a bad lineup of people on it, John Legend, Common, and Kareem Abdul-Jabar are my personal favorites, the rest are pretty much random.


Will's story behind the song

"I was sitting in my recording studio watching the debates...
Torn between the candidates
I was never really big on politics...
and actually I'm still not big on politics...
but 4 years ago, me and the black eyed peas supported Kerry...
And we supported Kerry with all our might...
We performed and performed and performed for the DNC...
doing all we could do to get the youth involved...

The outcome of the last 2 elections has saddened me...
on how unfair, backwards, upside down, unbalanced, untruthful,
corrupt, and just simply, how wrong the world and "politics" are...

So this year i wanted to get involved and do all i could early...

And i found myself torn...
because this time it's not that simple...
our choices aren't as clear as the last elections ...
last time it was so obvious...
Bush and war vs. no bush and no war...

But this time it's not that simple...
and there are a lot of people that are torn just like i am...
So for awhile I put it off and i was going to wait until it was decided for me...

And then came New Hampshire...
And i was captivated...
Inspired..."

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So a couple days after I come along this story of Kidz In the Hall making another tribute to Obama here here.

"What many fail to realize is that one person can control his or her own destiny, it just requires due diligence and the ability to fight adversity,” says Kidz In The Hall’s emcee, Naledge. “I happen to think that Barack Obama embodies everything that is promising for the future of our nation and represents the hope I sought to speak on in the song."

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I have to say I definitely give Kidz anthem my vote over Will.i.am's. I may be a bit biased, but this is something I could actually listen to and think of as a good song, whereas Will's is a bit like a speech with fill-ins.

What I wonder is, first off has Obama even heard these? Will they have any, even a minor effect on the race? Would you vote for Obama just because he's favored in the Hip Hop community? and lastly, why does our community favor him? Is it because of the color of his skin? Or do they actual agree with his political views?

Personally I am an Obama supporter, so I'm with it.

Grand Theft Auto IV

The fourth go-round for Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto dropped yesterday, pushing the boundaries of sex, violence, and sales. The game is estimated to break the record currently held by Halo 3, according to industry insiders, it's poised to make Halo 3 look like a small-time crook. Analysts expect the free-roaming crime drama to generate over $400 million in its opening week alone.

How big is that exactly? When it comes to video games, it's unrivaled, about a hundred million more than Halo 3 and closing in on the top film opening ever, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. It pulled in a bulky $401 million in it's first week.

As far as ratings go, It's pretty much A+'s, 10/10's, and 5/5's all around. I Wouldn't expect less for a game that's been itching to have this kind of quality available to it. The franchise has been waiting for consoles to catch up to it's visions, and I think this time it probably has.

Of course with any GTA release, we have the "old folks" trying to drop it from stores. Claims that violent games cause children to act violent, (of course movies rarely get these claims) but unless there's another hidden sex game it won't happen. Although there has been some interesting happenings at the stores so far.

"Prior to the release of Grand Theft Auto IV, there have been reports in the United Kingdom of violence perpetrated against people waiting to buy the game. One man was stabbed while waiting in line to buy the game in Croydon on 29 April 2008. Some bystanders said that they initially thought the attack was a stunt pulled to whip-up yet more excitement for the eagerly anticipated title. In Leyland, Lancashire an 18-year-old man was mugged later the same day by two thieves who punched the victim to the ground and then kicked him, shattering his nose and jaw, before snatching the game and running away." According to the Wiki

Since this is a Hip Hop blog, the game also features some nice radio stations. Of course they have their talk radios, hard rock, and techno stations. But, in addition they have an Old School Hip Hop station with DJ Premier as the host. Oh, and some new crap station with newer radio "Hip Hop" songs. Station Guide (first two)

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I've been a fan of the franchise since it began, and I'll have to patiently wait this one out. Might play it at a friends or Best Buy for a quick minute, but seeing as I have no next-gen console, it's a nice wait until it comes to PC for me.

Rock the Bells 08

Tour dates and Artists just announced, the lineup features:

Main Performers:

• A Tribe Called Quest
• Nas
• Mos Def
• With special guest The Pharcyde

Select Dates/Smaller Acts:

• De La Soul
• Rakim
• Method Man & Redman
• Raekwon
• Ghostface
• Immortal Technique
• Dead Prez
• Murs
• Spankrock
• Kid Sister
• Spantogold
• The Cool Kids
• Jay Electronica
• Wale
• B.O.B.
• Kidz In The Hall
• Amanda Blank
• Flosstradamus

Hosted By:

• B-Real
• Supernatural
• Scratch

With possible lineup changes and possibly more to be announced.

Tour Dates:

• Sat 7/19 - Chicago, IL
• Sun 7/20 - Toronto, ON
• Sat 7/26 - Boston, MA
• Sun 7/27 - New York, NY
• Sat 8/2 - Miami, FL
• Sun 8/3 - Philadelphia, PA
• Sat 8/9 - Los Angeles, CA
• Sat 8/16 - San Francisco, CA
• Sat 8/23 - Denver, CO
• Sat 8/30 - Vancouver, BC

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Pretty good lineup this year, the only real disappointment for me is that De La won't be in my city.

Click the banner at the top for the official site.

Dizzee Rascal? HUH?

So I heard of some cat named Dizzee Rascal a while back, don't remember how but I was blown away by how weird the song I heard was. It was called "I Luv U" (scroll to the bottom of the post to play it.) I hoped that maybe I just heard the most terrible thing he ever put on wax. So, I asked a couple people that listened to him if they liked that song and sure enough they thought it was some hot shit.

Maybe I don't get it because I'm not from the U.K.? Maybe I can't get over the British accent to even give it a chance? Not trying to step on your toes about how you guys speak, just not used to hearing it in Hip-Hop. I feel like I'm alone here because he seems to be getting popular, but in my opinion the beat was shit, and his rapping was shit, couldn't even find a thing I liked.

So if anyone is feeling the same was as me, or can explain what makes him good, maybe point me in the direction of his good stuff, please leave a comment. I included the song, and the video for it if anyone doesn't know who he is, or hasn't heard it.

C.R.A.C. - The Piece Talks

Genres are sooo played out. There was a time when artists were designated to these restrictive little boxes that label execs and consumers constructed for them and in most cases artists stayed in the lane ascribed to them. But as these boundaries break down and more musicians take to the indie route—free of pressure to crank out a hit—these classifications have become obsolete. Enter Blu and Ta’Raach collectively known as C.R.A.C. (pronounced crass not crack) who on their debut The Piece Talks pretty much flip genre classifications on their head then, point and laugh at them.

“Buy Me Lunch” and “Love Don’t” are both perfect examples of the genre-bending music I alluded to above. Not one bar is rapped on the high tempo, syrupy “Buy Me Lunch” which brings to mind thoughts of Andre 3000’s “Hey Ya.” While rapper Blu can be found crooning the chorus on “Love Don’t.” Not to worry though he maintains his rep as a word-flipping fool. On “Buy Me Lunch” Blu also lays down a tightly woven introspective verse with the following: “trying to slow it down/trying to handle biz/really it’s a blessing that I ain’t got kids/but I got 11 siblings so it’s like I got kids/and really if I did in the last few years/I wasn’t handling my biz/kind of like Nas when he dropped Illmatic/and MC Serch walked away with his masters.” Partner Ta’Raach takes the abstract route rhyming freely hopping from topic to topic.

Just when you settle into the groove created thus far, The Piece Talks morphs into something different using comedic skits to bridge the transitions between moods. “Pop Dem Boyz” has Ta’Raach and Blu aggressively attacking Ta’Raach’s (who handles all of the production on this album) looped sample and light drum work. Some memorable quotables are delivered by Ta’Raach who rhymes “Rock/Raach city is a crew full of weed and pistols/turning over trash/I didn’t mean to diss you/but if the Air Force 1 fits then it’s you.” Half-way through, the album hits a steady stride with the high point of the album, “Mr. Big Fizz.” It’s an ode to those big willies who pop big shit but live the opposite. Both emcees take turns using slick wordplay to describe “pop ass, jive ass big wigs.” “Mr. Big Fizz’s” is complemented well by the lounge-like feel of “Chill” which then flows seamlessly into “Hello?!” From here, the album cruises until its conclusion.

The Piece Talks definitely provides you with an assortment of moods and sounds which is good in that you get mad variety. But that also means if you latch on to one particular sound you’ll be disappointed by the end since this musical journey hardly visits one destination more than once. Regardless, The Piece Talks is the type of humorous, fun record that’s missing from Hip Hop right now reminiscent of the feel you’d get on a De La Soul record. The album is a drastic departure from both emcees’ solo work so if you’re looking for the next Below the Heavens exit left but if you’re looking for something dope that’s in total contrast to what you’ll find on the pop charts The Piece Talks is definitely worth checking out.

Check it out here

Personal Favorite Tracks:
"Respect" is a nice track with a dope beat.
"Love Don't" is a nice cross-genre mix.
"Pop Dem Boyz" creative up-tempo song.
"Activate as Well" is a mellow Dilla sounding beat.

4/16 Vids of the Day "Free Speech- Everything is Different Now/LTRYT"

A couple years ago I somehow stumbled upon a producer by the name of RoBlvd's Myspace (if I remember correctly) and he had this video on there. I fell in love with the song, and decided to dl a Free album that he and others had just released. It was called "Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth" and it featured the two videos below. The album can still be dled at http://www.ourteamisfresh.com/home.htm (downloads,then scroll down a bit). Be sure to check out the artists and whatnot while you're there.

Free Speech- "Everything is Different Now" Produced by RoBlvd.



Free Speech- "Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth Intro" Produced by RoBlvd.


Hopefully they get some exposure soon, because I've been wanting them to catch on for a while.

Atmosphere's When Life Gives You Lemons...

On April 22, Slug & Ant drop their newest creation "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold." Personally I can't wait, I loved You Can't Imagine and the EP's in-between kept me somewhat satisfied. This being their 6th album (first since '05) puts them in the lasting category for me.

The duo has been doing a series of videos to promote the album entitled "Atmosphere's Paint it Gold (1-7)" which can be seen here. Pretty interesting Q&A with the two, and Slug's entertaining personality keeps it lively. Along with that a song off the album called "Guarantees" has a video as well (look below). Although the song has no percussion, something about it really hits me. If this is the attitude, and mood the album's going to have then life will be handing us gold, no painting required.



The album Tour is already set, but seems a bit on the short side, so hopefully a leg will be added. Dates are as follows:
April 2008
22, 23 - Chicago, IL - The Metro
24 - Toronto, Ontario - Opera House
26 - Boston, MA - The Roxy
27 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
29 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

May 2008
2, 3 - Austin, TX - Emo's
5 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theater
6, 7 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
8, 9 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency
12 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
13 - Seattle, WA - Showbox
14 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
16 - Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue
17, 18 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre

There are two versions of the album which can be pre-ordered as of now, one with no gimmicks, and one Deluxe (25,000 made) with a 40-page hard cover children's book written by Slug as well as a DVD.

Here's the tracklist:
1. Like the Rest of Us
2. Puppets
3. The Skinny
4. Dreamer
5. Shoulda Known
6. You
7. Painting
8. Your Glasshouse
9. Yesterday
10. Guarantees
11. Mesmorized (B Rock Remix)
12. Wild Wild Horses
13. Can't Break
14. The Waitress
15. In Her Music Box

and the link to Pre-order from Undergroundhiphop.com


Atmosphere (Slug + Ant) - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (DELUXE EDITION) (CD + DVD + BOOK)