Don’t get it twisted rap people: Roger Feder owns

At 14 y.o, Charles Misodi Njapa (not 88 yet) used to find loops for a big record vendor named John Carraro…

Some of you might know Carraro as that biker dude who -himself- used to sell loops to Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Large Pro and ‘em at the Roosevelt Hotel Record Convention in the early 90’s…
One day, during the summer of 91, young Charles saw his idol and future mentor park his silver 325i bima right in front of the shop… and this is how the story goes…

DJ Roc Raida Fundraiser @SOB’s on Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Rest In Peace DJ Roc Raida May 17, 1972 - September 19, 2009

Lord Sear To Host Grandmaster Roc Raida Hip Hop Tribute Benefit Show

Featuring -
DITC
Immortal Technique
Brand Nubian
The Beatnuts
Large Professor
DJ Boogie Blind from the X-Ecutioners

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Doors Open @ 7 p.m.
Show Starts @ 9 p.m.

Tickets – Advance – $18 / Day of Show – $22
General Admission / 21 & Over
Buy Tickets

SOB’s – Home of Universal Music
204 Varick St., Basement
New York, NY 10014
1.212.243.4940
SOB’s – Home of Universal Music

For More Information on the Grandmaster Roc Raida Hip Hop Tribute Benefit Show

DJ Roc Raida on MySpace

DJ Roc Raida on AllMusic

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the family of the late DJ Roc Raida.

schools in session: back to the basics

download: selfhelpwolf-square one

FEATURING: Average White Band, Michael Jackson, Clipse, Pete Rock & INI, Large Professor, Peanut Butter Wolf & Charizma, Slum Village, Jazz Liberatorz, Haz Solo & Dylan Thomas, Masta Ace & J Dilla, Ratatat, PPP, The Coup, N8e, Jungle Brothers, Sulaiman, Jay-Z, Sotu the Traveller

-drezilla

Afrika Bambaataa 35th Anniversary of Hip Hop Culture @ SOBs in New York, NY on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 8 p.m.

Afrika Bambaataa To Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Hip Hop Culture @ SOBs in New York on November 15, 2009

35th Anniversary Anniversary of Hip-Hop Culture
36th Anniversary of the Universal Zulu Nation

Sunday, November 15, 2009 / 11-15-2009

Tickets* – Advance: $25/ Day of Show: $30
*$10 discount with Zulu Nation or Moorish Nationality Card
Buy Tickets

Doors To Open @ 7 p.m.
Show To Start @ 8 p.m.

Performances By:

Naughty by Nature
Positive K
Grandmaster Melle Mel
Chill Rob G
Large Professor
Craig G
Shaheim
Dana Dane

DJ DP One
DJ Chuck Chillout

SOB’s – Home of Universal Music
204 Varick St., Basement
New York, NY 10014
1.212.243.4940
SOBs
@SOBs via Twitter

For More Information About the Afrika Bambaataa 35th Anniversary Show at SOBs – November 15, 2009

Event Presented Nubian Productions

There. Is. No. Greater. Love….. than to hear new Blu & Exile tracks performed live.  Exile is a monster on the MPC. I sometimes don’t give enough credit to his craft because I’m so caught on Blu’s wordplay & imagery.

Here is 49 minutes of live awesomeness from CMJ 2009 in NYC last week. It’s starts with a nice verse from Pharaoh Monch, who is also hosting.  Blu & Ex only rock for 10 min or so.  The rest is Large Professor spinning some classic NY records, Dilla, and other heat you’d expect from a legend like Large Pro.

Right click and save to Download: Can I Get You High Podcast (CMJ 2009)

Big thanks to VTECH for the link.

Idag var jag på smygreleasen för Kämpa tillsammans! nya bok Tillsammans! på antikvariat Antikvanti i centrala Malmö. Boken har jag inte hunnit läsa än, men den verkar klart lovande. Som Andrés skriver i förordet

“Som läsare av dom tidiga texterna är det värt att veta att Kämpa tillsammans! etablerade ett nytt sätt att förstå hur autonoma kunde göra politik. Texterna bröt med tidigare symbolpolitik och ett starkt fokus på den enskilda individen. Istället sattes lönearbetet som sådant i centrum och teorin blev ett sätt att utveckla verktyg för klasskamp som varken var formellt politiska eller kompromissande fackliga. Detta förde med sig en tydlig förändring av den autonoma rörelsen.”

“Vad finns det för potential för förändring i en tid då den ekonomiska krisen tenderar att göra alltmer arbete och allt större delar av arbetarklassen överflödig för kapitalet? Vilken nytta kan vi ha av den marxistiska teorin när arbetarrörelsen rasat samman och arbetarklassens autonomi tycks imploderat? Och hur kan vi begreppsliggöra kommunismen när begrepp som klass, klasskamp och motsättningar för många tycks tömda på mening?” -KT

Tycker du att dessa är intressanta och viktiga frågor är den här boken ett bra köp (60 kr).

Den riktiga releasen är först 30 oktober på India Däck i Lund. Om du vill ha tag på boken på nätet kan du beställa den via Radikal distro.

På temat Vi vill jobba så lite som möjligt och tjäna så mycket som möjligt tänkte jag posta en gammal hiphop-goding. Large Professor – Ijuswannachill. I don´t wanna ill, I just wanna chill, and keep my head around a houndreddollarbill.

Last night I was super amped to head out to my first concert since I’ve been back for a month in NYC.  The lineup included: Blu & Exile, Bilal, Shafiq Husayn, DJs: J.ROCC, DJ Spinna, Large Professor and Blu Jemz and hosted by Pharoahe Monch.  I was most excited to see Blu & Exile since it would be my first time seeing them live.    So, we arrived at Crash Mansion hyped for the show.  As  all the flyers said it would be in Crash Mansion, we waited on line for our tickets.  20 mins later at the ticket booth we discovered that it was actually next door in BLVD and we apparently waited on the wrong line.  Dangggg,  I said.    Facing quite a queue, we shuffled our feet over to BLVD’s line only to wait another 30-40 before entering…………………………………………………………………………..and learning that Blu & Exile just finished performing—WHAT A BUM BUM!!  Of course we didn’t buy tickets beforehand, which would have avoided this whole situation (being frugal/low on cash/unemployed/listening to lots of good makes the decision of buying a concert ticket a little bit harder though, ey?!)  It turns out a lot of other people made the mistake–yet another reason to always ask.  Don’t always trust the flyer.

A bit disheartened, we entered thinking at least we would get to see Neo-soul singer, Bilal, who can easily wipe away any sort of sadness the second he opens his mouth to sing.  We quickly learned however, that the show was pretty disorganized.  Pharoahe Monch was the host and definitely took the heat in trying to cover up the mess of the sound technicians’ inability to sound-check efficiently.  He came on stage to introduce Shafiq Husayn (member of LA based hip hop group Sa-Ra) and a legit-looking band.  As the band looked ready to rock out, the sound techs were still struggling to achieve quality sound.   So in an effort to distract the audience, Pharoahe asked for the help of a beat by the drummer and possibly bassist, but the musicians just couldn’t get it together to throw down a simple tempo for Pharoahe to flow to.  Eek, this was embarrassing.   A frustrated Pharoahe, he barely succeeded in spitting a few verses.  Eventually the sound guys fled and the group began to perform along with vocalists Miguel At-Wood Ferguson and Thundercat.   By the very end of their set, you could tell that the group had talent and the melodies are aight, but the terrible sound made it rough to get through.  I’ve realized that it is impossible to have a band perform in a club venue like BLVD.  The speakers and sound are just not cut out for anything more than DJ sets.

Next on the list to perform was Bilal (who is damn fine!) with a 6-piece band.  I had very little faith in what would pan out because the sound guys were still struggling—–fellas, find a new job, please!  But, Bilal actually had a bangin’ performance.  His vocals were tight and the band beautifully complimented his singing.  The guitarist ripped  apart the chords alongside a funky keyboardist while the drummer and bassist didn’t miss a beat.  At certain points, the guitarist seemed an almost backup singer for Bilal in really magnifying Bilal’s vocal octave spread. Unfortunately, at that point of the night, not so many people were left in the venue; but for those who were, I sensed ladies’ panties beginning to drop.  He performed the majority of tracks off his album, 1st Born Second, which is a highly regarded LP that he himself helped produce.  Bilal is supposedly dropping a new album sometime in the beginning of 2010.  I can’t wait to hear what he puts out.

Check out Soul Sista and listen to his voice, HOT DAYUM!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9fcNjqK5Pk

Talib Kweli was supposed to come out, but I had to leave at that point.  It was late and I was tired from all the wasted sound bouncing around that hot mess-of-a-venue.

Hot track that I wished I heard LIVE:

Blue & Exile’s Blu Collar Workers off the album, Below the Heavens, 2007:

and So(ul) Amazing:

I loveee this hip hop duo.  They are fire.  When together in one room, they create a stylistic mark in hip hop that welds together finely chopped beats with uplifting MC vocals.  This type of music is what I classify as bobble-head: music that doesn’t stop the head from bopping front-to-back, back-to-front, left-to-right or right-to-left to the beat.  Blu & Exile paddle through the underground hip-hop scene with ease and prove that hip hop’s not dead.  Well, maybe on the radio it is.   But, underground hip hop seems to maintain the true meaning of hip hop–good beats and good rhymes, simply said. Underground hip hop—the meat…well-preserved in a cold, dark atmosphere with hungry hip hop heads ready to get at it.  Dinner’s served.

Since Late Nights and Early Mournings, I’ve been following Junclassic’s career and I finally got a chance to interview him this week. This was probably one of my favorite interviews I’ve done so far, so read week #3’s interview from Junclassic after the jump.

P.S. I am “Killa”, it’s not bad…

If there was one song that describes your life right now, what would it be?

Wow thats a great Question Killa. U mean off Imaginary Enemies right? It would probably be “Arrival” blended into “I Can’t Die” if I ca freak it like that. My time is coming. People are starting to embrace my music and Im making some great connections with cats making big moves. And they respect my grind. Thats all summed up by “Arrival”. I gotta blend it with “I Can’t Die” because life is always issuing challenges that threaten to take us under. I can’t let difficult financial circumstances be the thing that stops me. Not now.

What do you consider to be your proudest accomplishment as a rapper?

Getting my nephews out the street thru music and positive influence. Well, they still dabble in the street cause they got no fear and simply ain’t having it from nobody (me neither) but the lure of doing wrong has been greatly diminished by my strides in HipHop. My scholastic achievements play a part in that positive influence to my nephews too. Im the 2nd in the fam to graduate College. 2nd in the fam to go to college.

When people hear that you’re from Jamaica, Queens, I’m sure that 50 Cent’s name would come up. Do you think that there is more to Jamaica than you and 50?

Absolutely! There’s Onyx (RIP DS), Lost Boys (RIP Freaky Tah), Grafh (who ima big fan of) and the whole Black Hand, Tribe Called Quest (bet cha didnt know they from the Southside/St. Albans), LL Cool J, Consequence, then you move over to Hollis with the Legendary Run DMC (God Bless JMJ) and it goes on and on. U also got nice parks in Queens. My homie LP just moved from Flatbush, Brooklyn to Queens and him and the fam LOVE Queens for the tree lined streets and 24 hour stores in close proximity. Queens is almost suburban till u hear them shots in the distance and see the D’s slowing down as they approach you.

On Southside’s Savior, you introduced Lejon Lewis in “Lovin Life”. Who is he and what made you give him a chance to showcase his talent?

See thats why you the Truth Killa!! Thanx for asking about Superstar Lejon Lewis! He’s actually my nephew. The only son of my deceased Brother Bobby Lewis (LOVE U BOB!!!). He’s a 15 year old prodigy Fam! Does his own production and writes all of his material. Extremely talented. Sad thing is, I compared him to Michael Jackson after he laid the hook to “Lovin’ Life”. He did this 3 months before Michael died. Once Michael passed, I didn’t wanna make the comparison cause I figured people would say Mike’s death influenced me to compare them. Not true. When Lejon hits that high note in “Lovin Life”, you tell me what u hear? Lejon also did the hook to the song “ZeeZee’s Groove”, which he sang to his little sister ZeeZee. And he’s a Lil Pretty Boy too! Ladies, hit my myspace up, Lejon is in my top friends!

It’s clear that family means a lot to you because it’s a subject that comes up in many of your songs. How does your family influence what you do?

Family keeps me going. Sometimes we argue, but we love and need each other. Every album I’ve put out has a song dedicated to a family member. In fact, I usually have more than one song dedicated to family. I did “Come Home” off my first album dedicated to my nephew going to Iraq. Also did “Never Can Say Goodbye” for my niece and nephew who moved away from me back in 2007. On my sophomore album I did “Pretty Toni”, a dedication to my niece who was proud of her choice to be a lesbian and I totally support it. I think its important to let ya family know how much you care about em. What better way than thru music? Plus I think are going thru the same things many my listeners are so perhaps hearing my family stories will inspire my listeners and/or their families.

What made you release your newest project, Imaginary Enemies, in a nondigital format?

I wanted to do something different Killa. Wanted to help my label Classified Recordings stand out. And I really wanted people to go looking for the Imaginary Enemies CD, so I decided to get some siiick artwork done, press up a limited number of CDs and number each copy to create a Limited Edition Collector’s Item release. When Kanye did that battle against 50 with Graduation, he used some ill artist from Japan for the artwork. The illest artist I know resides in Uptown NY. My man Mr. Alan Coogan-Prieto painted the front cover with oil paint on canvas. Did all the comic book-like sketchwork thruout the booklet. Do you know some “industry folks” thought my album artwork looked “suspect” to the point where they wouldn’t even listen to the cd, let alone review it for their prestigious websites/publications? Can’t please everybody no matter what u do my G.

What is the most meaningful song on Imaginary Enemies to you and why?

Definitely “ZeeZee’s Groove” without a doubt. My Brother’s family decided to move away from Southside Queens after my Brother passed. I totally agreed with the move, cause Southside ain’t nowhere to be without a Man in The House, but I became so close with ZeeZee that I felt like ‘my daughter’ was leaving me. So I wanted to leave her with an instructional on how to live her life despite facing such a deep tragedy so young. Thats why in the 3rd verse Im just talking to her about everything she went thru. Thats how I used to talk to her while driving past Baisley Park after picking her up from School. The whole song is supposed to feel like a conversation. I really talk to her like that man. “People are cruel ZeeZee. This world is a hard world. You have to be tough!” I didn’t sugarcoat stuff for her after My Brother left. I think she respected the fact that I vibed with her like that. And she dug it when she listened to “ZeeZee’s Groove” so Im happy. My whole family loves that song. First song of mine my father ever listened to.

I hear that you and Large Professor are collaborating on a song. How did you connect with him and is it possible that there can be more than a song being made between you two?

Ayyite! U doing ya research! I BEEN a fan of Large Pro since “Looking At The Front Door” and I had spoken to him briefly in 2004 when I was working for MF GRIMM. I had been hitting up his myspace telling him how Im doing my own thing and how I would love to work with him. He had this beat on his page called “Corona” and I hit him one day and told him I LOVED the track and he hit me right back for the first time ever saying, “You like that? Its yours!” Maaan I couldnt believe it!! Im working on that song now. Actually laid it down but I was sooo nervous because it was a Large Pro beat yaknow? I rushed thru the song. Tryin to flow all ill an shit. So I gotta relay it. Hoping that song will be well received. Its a concept song so who knows? In terms of doing more than one joint with Large Pro, sheeeiiiit, all I can say is that im gonna try to impress him with the one track he hit me with. If I get lucky enough to do more music with Xtra P, I’ll let cha know Fam.

Who else would you like to work with in your career?

Wow, another great one Killa. To me, Nas is the GOAT of this shit. So I’d LOVE to work with Mr. Jones on a track. Try an outdo him (yeah riiiight But Im Sooo SERIOUS!). Ima huge fan of Alchemist’s production so to work with him would be a dream come true. Also love The Neptunes beatwork. Big fan of no samples when its done right. Shawty Redd’s shit is dope!! Would love to see what I could come up with working with eL-P. I like that futuristic spacey shit sometimes yaknow? And eLZhi. Would like to do a banger with him. Evidence too. Oh, and DJ Premier! How could I forget him? And Moss too. Moss is dope! Oh, IllMind is a BEAST! Would love to do a track with Jadakiss and Styles P.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in being a rapper?

The more you can do on your own for yourself in This Game THE BETTER!!! Relying on people to make you pop is usually not a good look. So build relationships and work hard and people will respect your ability to connect with people and they will respect your work ethic. I honestly believe that Lil Wayne would not be at the top of the game if he didn’t start unleashing material like a madman in 2007. Pac still got records we ain’t heard cause of his grind in ‘95. In the End, they gotta respect Hard Work.

Another random collection of records new to the store today. Very heavy on hip-hop and BYO Records releases:

Awaken Demons – The Mirror (Colored)
Bazan, David – American Flags
Jon Cougar Concentration Camp – Melon
Jon Cougar Concentration Camp – ‘Til Niagara Falls
Jughead’s Revenge – 13 Kiddie Favorites
Jughead’s Revenge – Elimination
Jurassic 5 – Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 – Jurassic 5 Bonus Tracks
Kill Your Idols – Funeral For A Feeling
Landmines – Landmines
Large Professor – The LP
Lawrence Arms, The – Ghost Stories
Lawrence Arms, The – A Guided Tour of Chicago
Leatherface – Dog Disco
Leatherface – Horsebox
Lemuria – The First Collection
Libertines, The – The Libertines
Locust, The – Plague Soundscapes
Madball – Hold It Down
Madlib – Shades of Blue
Madvillian – Madvilliany
Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything To Nothing
Manifesto Jukebox – Remedy
Place To Bury Strangers – Exploding Head

I think along with Pete Rock, Marley Marl, Dr. Dre and DJ Premier, Large Professor makes up a quintet of hip hop’s best ever producers. Without doubt, of these 5 the Main Source man is easily the most underappreciated. Despite his incredible work on ‘Breakin Atoms’ ‘Illmatic’ and ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive’ ’Vagina Diner’ and some of rap’s best remixes for the likes of Organized Konfusion, Slick Rick and Common, Large Pro somewhat dissappeared in the mid 90s. His own personal projects after Main Source suffered from the abscence of the humour that permeated ‘Breaking Atoms’ and by the 00s his lyrics seemed to present a man weary of his unrealised success. His potential to produce a quality beat is unchecked though, and his serious stylings sit well over this plaintive track. It’s excellent stuff. Plus, check out an unusually broody Q-Tip rail against the dangers of child minds being corrupted by videogames in his guest verse!

Okay, I don’t know why but I found myself listening to a lot of Main Source. On this throwback we revisit a classic joint by the group “Looking At The Front Door”.

Uncle Pro (Large Professor) talks about Fashawn’s album Boy Meets World. Seems like he got the co-sign from Large Pro and from The Official. Definitely give the album a listen!!!

Main Source
(New York, New York/Toronto, Canada)
Breaking Atoms
Wild Pitch, 1991

Discovery: Breaking Atoms is renowned for being the album to introduce Nas, who is undoubtedly one of my favourite rappers. He is also the man responsible for creating two of not only my favourite rap albums, but my favourite albums ever, Illmatic and The Lost Tapes. Nas appears on ‘Live at the Barbecue’, which is also played in the background of Illmatic’s opener, ‘The Genesis’.

History: Although two albums have been released using the Main Source name, Breaking Atoms is the only one to feature the original line-up of turntablists K-Cut and Sir Scratch and rapper/producer Large Professor. Mikey D (who was previously signed to Arthur Russell’s Sleeping Bag Records- crazy coincidence) went on to replace Large Professor on their follow-up, Fuck What You Think, which was released in 1994 and then shelved when Main Source broke up later that year. The album was eventually re-released in 1999.

Breaking Atoms was produced using the E-mu SP-1200, a drum machine and sampler released in 1987 as a follow-up to the SP-12, which was originally made for dance music producers. It is known for its gritty texture and ability to recreate the warmth of vinyl recordings. It was widely used during the golden age of hip hop, as it allowed producers to create the bulk of a song using only one piece of equipment, thus reducing studio costs. The album is widely considered one of the greatest hip hop albums ever made, and is especially noted for its production.

Review: Large Professor isn’t big on lyrical trickery on Breaking Atoms and for the most part, he just raps about everyday situations, but he’s got a smooth flow and a great command of the mic. One of the highlights is when he gets conscious on ‘Just a Friendly Game of Baseball’, using baseball as a metaphor for police brutality, “My life is valuable and I protect it like a gem / Instead of cops shootin’ me, I’m goin’ out shootin’ them / And let ‘em cough up blood like phlegm /  It’s grim. But dead is my antonym.”

No one’s quite sure what it is K-Cut and Sir Scratch actually contributed here, seeing as Large Professor also handled the production, and that’s what really shines on this album, using the warmth of the SP-1200 and some effortless sample-warping to create some altogether unique beats. The record is heavy on funk and jazz, using samples by artists such as Ike & Tina Turner, James Brown, Miles Davis and Kool & The Gang.

Main Source were overshadowed by their East Coast peers De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest in terms of popularity and sales but you can hear their sound all over so many of the acts that followed them. There’s a completely indescribable likeability to this record — I’m on my fourth listen now and I still can’t quite pick out what it is that makes it so great.

Practical information: Check out the awesome production on ‘Vamos a Rapiar‘.

Album: Stillmatic
Year: 2001
Quality: VBR V0

The Line started forming outside of Hiro on 9th avenue at 7pm and by 8pm was around the corner with about 400 eagerly awaiting to see Ghostface perform. Also Performing K-Salaam & Beatnick (Live Production set), Jasmine Solano, and DJ dB

9th avenue

around the corner on 17th street

DJ dB of The F.EDS (Twitter.com/therealdB)

JASMINE SOLANO performing her hit single “That’s Not It” (twitter.com/JasmineSolano)

K-Salaam & Beatnick performed their Live production set

Ghostface!!!

Kid Cudi made a surprise appearance

JadaKiss

Redman

U-GOD

K. Foxx, Cipha Sounds, Peter Rosenberg and Jeremy Asgari (Socialight Ent.)

Getty Images/ Myspace Images

]]> http://selfhelpwolf.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/you-speak-your-eyes-shifting/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:02:53 +0000 drezillen http://selfhelpwolf.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/you-speak-your-eyes-shifting/

FAKIN JAX

bonus:

Don’t know who Edo G & Masta Ace are? (no)  thats cause you a little young.  It’s always dope to see unity in the game, the two veterans are dropping Arts & Entertainment later this year, the album will yield collabs with Large Professor, Doitall, DJ Spinna, Posdnuos & KRS One.  Untill then, enjoy the video for their lead single Little Young.Little Young – A&E (Masta Ace & Edo G)