• via Cantorious •

This early 00’s treasure comes from Scarub of
the Living Legends. With the fan favorite “Saavy Traveler”,
Scarub details his literal and figurative travels from
the perspective of an open minded voyager
and “path inhabiter”. Enjoy.

∆

Peep – Raashan Ahmad TV

give thanks –

crown city rockers –

Murs once fulminated “hip-hop hippies” as being self-righteous, claiming that they made idealist claims that were seldom backed up. He summed up the tirade, saying “Master P has done more for the community then your punk-ass will ever do.” That being said (and agreed with), it’s encouraging to see that each stop on the Grouch’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas Tour, is going to to have bins for Toys-For-Tots.
Altruism aside, the tour looks pretty solid with Grouch (who’s one of the best hip-hop songwriters), the phenom-esque Fashawn with Exile in tow and Mistah Fab keeping in Gully.

Dec. 7 – San Diego, CA @ Belly Up
Dec. 8 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones
Dec. 9 – San Luis Opispo, CA @ Downtown Brew
Dec. 10 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
Dec. 11 – San Jose, CA @ Avalon
Dec. 12 – Sacramento, CA @ Empire Events Center
Dec. 13 – Arcata, CA @ Humbrew
Dec. 14 – Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall
Dec. 15 – Portland, OR @ Backspace
Dec. 16 – Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge
Dec. 18 – Reno, NV @ The Underground
Dec. 19 – South Lake Tahoe @ Bar 24

8 grudnia nakładem Legendary Music, swój solowy album wyda członek Living Legends – The Grouch. Do współpracy nad albumem zaprosił DJ Fresh’a, który wyprodukował wszystkie tracki zawarte na cd. Wśród gości na albumie tylko Rankin Scroo i Marty James. Całość jest promowana przez kawałek “Whatever I Say”

Tracklista:
01.Intro
02.Daddy’s Home (feat. Rankin Scroo)
03.Whatever I Say
04.I Love This Game
05.The Dangers of Online Dating
06.Make ‘Em Think (feat. Marty James)
07.Allieverwantedwas
08.Weight of The World
09.I’m Dreamin

Aus der albernen Tourbuswette, wer wohl zuerst die Schauspielerin Christina Ricci aufgrund seiner Wortgewandtheit in die Kiste bekommt, entstand 2002 das spontane Albumprojekt Felt: A Tribute To Christina Ricci. Murs aus dem Kreis der Living Legends und Slug von Atmosphere waren die beiden Akteure, die sich dieser Herausforderung stellten – zu Gesicht bekam Christina am Ende jedoch keiner. Auf ging es also mit dem nächsten Wortgefecht um die Gunst eines Hollywood-Starlets: Felt 2 und das Tribut an Lenny Kravitz’ Ex, Lisa Bonet, war geboren. Mit einer Hommage an Rosie Perez geht die Kultserie nun in die dritte Runde. Diesmal hat sich kein Geringerer als Aesop Rock vom Definitive Jux Label den Produktionen angenommen. Nachdem mit dem Opener Protagonists besonders DJ Big Wiz durch erquickende Cuts auf sich aufmerksam macht, treibt Rock die zwei reimenden Wettstreiter anschließend mit seinem komplexen Bassmonstrum Felt Chewed Up zu ersten Höchstleistungen an. Abstrakt, verschachtelt oder einfach nur grotesk, lässt sich ein Zugang zu Aesop Rocks vielschichtigen Beats meist erst nach mehrfachen Hörgängen erschließen. Like You, bei dem Aesop die Hookline gleich selbst einrappt, schmiegt sich mit sehr eingängigem Thema hingegen direkt ins Ohr. Anders als die Vorgängeralben, die Ant und The Grouch produziert haben, trägt die Rosie Perez Widmung eine weitaus finsterere Handschrift, wie die düster komponierten Tracks Permanent Standby oder Ghost Dance Deluxe verdeutlichen. Mit brachialen Bässen sorgt Aes für mächtig viel Druck und ergänzt das bestens miteinander eingestimmte Felt-Team perfekt. Im Back-to-back sorgen Murs und Slug für ein ausgewogenes Zusammenspiel an Rapzeilen und überzeugen einmal mehr mit Wortwitz und ausgefeilten Lyrics. Neben ihrem Faible für weibliche B-Promis der amerikanischen Filmlandschaft, zollt das Independent-Rap-Duo auch Respekt an seine musikalischen Wegbereiter wie EPMD oder Run DMC. So liefern sie mit We Have You Surrounded einen postmodernen Ansatz einer Neuinterpretation des Klassikers Sucker MC’s. Murs und Slug in bestechender Form, unergründliche Beats von Aesop Rock und jede Menge Scratcheinlagen von Big Wiz machen Felt 3 zu einem innovativem Gesamtkunstwerk. Für den Fall, dass es diesmal mit Rosie wieder nicht klappen sollte, hat Slug vorsorglich einen vierten Teil von Felt angekündigt, bei dem bereits das in Hollywood-Kreisen umtriebige Callgirl Heidi Fleiss in der engeren Auswahl steht.

Andreas Margara (18. November 2009)

//Adam Dumper, aka Dumperfoo
For Booking NOVACANCYBOOKING. COM
is a community leader in the Arizona Hip Hop, Art, and Social scene. Having been involved in promotions in Arizona since 1990, beginning at the Grind Night Club. Dumper began as an after-hours DJ and Mural artist there. For a few years Dumper did freelance graphics and logo work for such artists Vanilla Ice, Sugar Ray, Everlast, The Headquarters, Zulu Nation, Hip Step Massive, XIS, and many more from punk rock to hip hop.

Concentrating on his graphic and live painting Dumper hit the Music circuit hard performing and promoting at numerous events from Raves to Concerts in the mid to late 90’s.

In 2002 Dumper teamed up with Keith Nichols, Emerg McVay, Hyder, Catalyst and friends to start his new venture, The Blunt Club. For the past years the Blunt Club has been Arizona’s Hip Hop church, hosting nearly every local live painter, poet, mc, dj, fashion designer, and beyond, supporting the artistic community in a multidimensional format.  The Blunt Club has since been named one of the top “101 hot spots in the U.S” by Spin magazine, as well as AZ’s “Best Hip Hop Night 2003-2006″ by Phoenix New Times and 944 magazine.

In 2003 Dumper founded with Baron Gordon, the Alpha Monster Art Collective, consisting of over 20 members globally. The collective’s goals are to advance each artist, business wise and ethically, give back to the community.Currently Dumper and the Alpha Monster’s perform all over the USA traveling and doing gallery events, to hip hop shows & Festivals , every final Friday at Club 909, First Friday’s downtown at the UM Gallery , and every Thursday at the Blunt Club In Tempe AZ . In 2003 Dumper joined forces becoming a resident artist with the So Cal collective, theAbstract Workshop. In 2005, Dumperfoo has since become a resident artist traveling out to paint live once a month at Abstract Workshop’s major events.

Recently Dumper joined the Pacific Art Collective, and doing gallery shows from San Jose, to Seattle, back to L.A. You can catch Dumper live every Thursday at The Blunt Club in Mesa, AZ or you might just see his paintings hanging in a studio or home near you. You can also check him out at
www.myspace.com/dumperfoo.

More On Dumperfoo:
I’ve painted onstage with at one time or several times..
HAIKU DE TAT, ABSTRACT WORKSHOP COLLECTIVE , TALIB KWELI , SCRATCH , AESOP ROCK & LIF , CROWN CITY ROCKERS , MF DOOM , AFRICA BAMBAATAA , HIERO , SOULS OF MISCHIEF , SAGE FRANCIS , ATMOSPHERE , MR. DIBBS , GRAYSKULL , SCRIBBLE JAM , J.BOOGIE , ANTEDOTE, JOSH MARTINEZ , SLEEP, 2MEX, SHAPESHIFTERS, DULOK, EYERIS ONE, GRIFFIN ONE, STACKS MALONE, BUKUE, UNIFIED SCHOOL DIST, DJ QUEST, Z-MAN, SACRED HOOP, TREK-LIFE, ONE SELF, DJ SAMMY B (JUNGLE BROTHERS), DJ DREZ, Z-TRIP, RADAR, ELEMENT, SANTOS, SCOTTY COATS, DJ COCOE, REBIRTH, DEEP ROOTED, ANTEDOTE, DIGABLE PLANETS, LIVING LEGENDS, HEIRO, ZION I, SCARUB, DJ NEIL ARMSTRONG, ROB SWIFT, ILL INSANITY, SNOOP DOGG, PUBLIC ENEMY, WILDCHILD, PSYCHO REALM, MISTH FAB, ZION I, edIT, BASSNECTAR, PERCEE P, KIDZ IN THE HALL, B.DOLAN, XCLAN, MEDUSA, CUT CHEMIST, BLACK SHAKESPEAR, DJ SHORTKUT, CHICHARONES, & Many , Many , More

FESTIVALS : ROCK THE BELLS (San Bernadino CA. & Concord CA, UM Booth) SCRIBBLE JAM (Um Booth) COMIC CON INT. after parties 2001-2009 (San Diego) , GOOD TIMES FESTIVAL 2007, 2009, EASTER MOON, GEM & JAM, SPEAK YOUR MIND INVASION.

Gallery

….and of course I have my own Dumperfoo piece !!!

HHHTaipei Bound,

I’m on my way back to the land of Stinky Tofu and Beetlenut!

Yes, the past 8 months here in Toronto have been phenomenal both personally and professionally (‘09 has been the SHEEEEEIIIIT!)  but, it’s starting to get cold and I’ve quickly realized that I’m not built like that anymore.  Plus, I miss the shit outta my Taiwanese counterparts.  So, I’m gettin my hibernation on and goin to the island to throw parties with the best of the best and enjoy life.

However, as those of you who’ve flown overseas before know, I’m gonna be on a plane for like 2 months rendering this blog inactive for a little bit.  So today’s post is gonna be completely loaded with goodies to tide you over until I get back to some land.

So without further ado…

THE PROFESSIONAL

If there was ever someone you called a ‘professional emcee’, Black Thought should be the first person you think of.  At very least second.

Well, this unreleased goodie aptly titled ‘The Professional’ has just surfaced and it proves my point 300 times over.

BLACK THOUGHT – THE PROFESSIONAL

DOPE MAN

If you read this blog regularly, then you know I love Slum Village.

I don’t know what it is, but there are few, if any, albums that ever beat out Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 2 on my playlist.  I still listen to that ish like it dropped last Tuesday, and I don’t foresee any slowing up.  Sure my favorite reincarnation of them is still the original trio, but Elzhi’s contribution to the group should never be downplayed.  He’s an absolute monster.    Anyway, since today’s blog is LONG, I’ma keep this short (as possible). With one of Baatin’s last recordings before he passed, off the upcoming Villa Manifesto, I give you…

SLUM VILLAGE – DOPE MAN

**BONUS**

MICHAEL JACKSON – BUTTERFLIES (Dilla’s Players Remix)

R.I.P. Dilla & Baatin.

TIL IT DROPS

New Clipse!

I’m starting to get amped up…

CENTER EDGE TERRITORY

So I’m not sure if you’ve heard or not but HHHT faves Mos Def, Jay Electronica and current Hip-Hop blog darling, Curren$y (pictured below) have formed a new group called Center Edge Territory and have apparently already finished 6 songs?

Yeah.  Didn’t see that one coming, especially since Curren$y used to roll with Lil Weezy and that match up just seems odd to me.  However, homie can rap, so as long as there’s that, I’m cool.  Anyway, although nothing has leaked yet, here goes a little something from each member of this new underground powerhouse.

Jay Electronica, along with Ta’raach jump on this intergalactic dopeness from another HHHT favorite Sa-Ra Creative Partners.

SA-RA CREATIVE PARTNERS – LOVE CZARS II ft. JAY ELECTRONICA & TA’RAACH

And Curren$y does his thing over a Mos Def original.

CURREN$Y – BREAKFAST IN & OUT (Produced by Mos Def)

A LIVING LEGEND

Scarub, Luckyiam, Sunspot Jonz, Eligh, Bicasso, Aesop, Murs & The Grouch, or better known as West Coast’s current underground torchbearers, The Living Legends are the definition of paid dues.  Having completely built themselves up independently from scratch, there are few hip-hop artists who can rival what they’ve done in the underground and truthfully, there are few hip-hop artists, underground or mainstream that can generate the revenue they do because of the work they’ve put in and the independent route they’ve taken.  Now, at approximately a gazillion total releases, one of the Legends standouts, the Grouch returns with his latest effort ‘Eyes off the time’ and so far it sounds extra ill. Check the promo vid and DL below:

THE GROUCH – WHATEVER I SAY

MORE BLAKROC

And finally, I give you all the newest updates from the BlakRoc project.  Out in 6 DAYS!

BLAKROC EPISODE #9 – Feat. PHAROAHE MONCH

**BONUS** BLAKROC – DOLLAZ & SENSE ft. PHAROAHE MONCH & RZA

BLAKROC EPISODE #10 – Feat. NIKKI WRAY

BLAKROC – AIN’T NOTHIN LIKE YOU (HOOCHIE COO) Feat. MOS DEF & JIM JONES

That’s it for now folk.

Enjoy life…I’ll see you in a few.

Triple.
www.ppfhouse.com

Sareem Brings the heat with his latest effort "Black and Read All Over"

Sharlock Poems, Sharlok Poems, Poems, Sareem Poems whatever you wanna call him (I prefer Sharlok Poems), the guy can rhyme. The former L.A Symphony member has become a solid solo artist, releasing three albums in the past (The Movement, Left and the most recent Blooming Sounds). This time around the emcee goes by the name of Sareem Poems and has teamed with Scribbling Idiots member Theory Hazit and Oddisee to handle the production on the album. What do you get when combine these in one album?

Now as most of you know guests are really big for me when picking up an album (no it’s not the only thing). Looking at the tracklisting you see there are guests from everywhere and some that we haven’t heard from in a while. LMNO (from the Visionaries) Scarub (Living Legends) Pigeon John (L.A Symphony) and many others assist Sharlok with the lyrics on this record.

From the start of the album your ears a blessed with the intro track “Enter” which sets the tone for the entire album, it’s bangin’. The introduction to the track is followed by the track “Come Get It” which features one of the producers of the album Theory Hazit. It’s a track that pretty much says we’re two of the best emcees around and you’re crew is garbage. It’s sets the tone for this album very well and should get the listener psyched to hear the rest of the album.

“Hard Labor” continues the trend of banging tracks with features by LMNO and Scarub. The production on the track can only make you move your head up and down; I personally replay this track over and over while I’m jogging because it gets me pumped. Each emcee covers a different topic but I think the overall topic of the song is life is hard work, but we must push on regardless.

Like I said earlier the big difference between Sharlok’s last album Blooming Sounds and this one is the guests on the tracks. Most Christian Hip Hop tracks have the serious vibe to it, but if you need an emcee to spice up your tracks you call Pigeon John and he’ll give you a verse and background vocals you’ll never forget and that’s exactly what “Lower the Boom” is. A song that you play at parties to get the people to the dance floor, this song is energetic and you get a guest verse Akil from Jurassic 5.

“Shake It Up” is another track where Theory destroys the beat and Sharlok kills the rhymes. One gripe I kind of had with the album is that hooks aren’t really that creative, which I suppose isn’t that big of a deal, but I wasn’t feeling most of them. I think Sharlok kind of mixes up verse topics on this one which has him hitting you with numerous messages in one song.

One of my favorite songs on this record is “Impossible” for numerous reasons, first it features Stro the 89^th Key who we haven’t seen or heard from in a while, second we get another gest appearance from Othello from Lightheaded and last the topic of the song is amazing. It’s pretty much that nothing is impossible in life even though life can get rough and we might feel like we’re going to quit. Othello’s verse I think stands out the most on this.

“I can’t. Won’t stop nah. Push it forward, gotta crawl.

If I can’t stand tall, I’m a still make it all,

the way to where I gotta be.”

Now Theory Hazit handled most of the production on this album, but Oddisee of Diamond District handled the production on two tracks. “Tell It” and another favorite of mine “She’s So So”. I think everyone can relate to this song, basically it’s the whole boy meets girl, is too nervous to talk to girl, contemplates talking to her and then finally does realizes she was feeling him too. This is one of those tracks that just flow and have a nice vibe to them.

While I have only listened to 2 of Sharlok’s albums, Black and Read All Over improves on what Blooming Sounds sort of lacked. The production is superb on all levels, Theory Hazit and Oddisee did work on this one and it shows. Every guest on this album from Propaganda to Othello, from Georgia Anne Muldrow to Ragen Fykes all of them brought the heat on their performance. And to top it off Sharlok complimented the beats to perfection, with the exception of a few tracks where Sharlok seems to get lost in the beat (in other words the beat overpowered the lyrics if that makes any sense).

Sharlok is honestly on a roll right now with this release and with him and Dust releasing an album sometime before the world explodes it should be a great year for the former L.A Symphony member. A couple words of advice to the reader first go check out Sharlok and Dust’s myspace page for a music video a four tracks that duo has done together (trust me they’re all awesome). Second if you have not picked up the album yet; wait until the deluxe edition comes out on December 1^st because you get the album that I just reviewed here, the instrumentals to the entire album and some remixes. I know I will asking for the Deluxe Edition for my birthday. So pick it up!!!!!

Good

Beats are banging

Guests!!! (LMNO, Ohmega Watts, Othello, Stro, Ragen Fykes, Theory Hazit, Propaganda, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Pigeon John and more)

Sharlok brings the rhymes to compliment the beats

Bad

The beats sometimes overpower Sharlok’s lyrics causing the lyrics to be overlooked.

Rating: 4.5/5 (Get this Album Or You’re Missing Out)

If You Can’t Buy The Album Download These Songs

1. Hard Labor feat. LMNO and Scarub

2. Unless You Do

3. She So So

4. Impossible feat. Stro and Othello

5. Shake it Up

01 Intro
02 Daddy’s Home ft. Rankin Scroo
03 Whatever I Say
04 I Love This Game
05 The Dangers of Online Dating
06 Make ‘Em Think ft. Marty James
07 Allieverwantedwas
08 Weight of The World
09 I’m Dreamin

Drops December 8th

Produced by DJ Fresh. Check more from Fresh HERE

• via ejones732 •

Murs & 9th Wonder are recording a 4th LP
together entitled Fornever, and “Fornever The Movie”
chronicles the recording process. Murs featured some of
the sessions on ustream and this one is shaping up
to be their best. Keep your eyes and
ears open for this one.

∆

• via Cantorious •

I haven’t seen this video in at least 8 years.
This was on the Living Legends Stop, Look & Listen
VHS tape, which came out in 2000.
If anyone remembers that Beats and Lyrics
compilation, this song was on there.
The video itself was filmed in the infamous Outhouse,
the Living Legends’ compound during their
dirt hustlin’ 4-track days. Classic ish.

∆

Wenn man an Menschen hinter den Kulissen denkt, denen man einfach mal Respekt zollen sollte, dann fallen einem irgendwann auch Ivca und Ice aus Bayreuth ein. “Living Legends” und “Aus Liebe zur Musik” sind nur zwei aktuelle Projekte des Veranstalterteams bestehend aus Ivica Trgovic, 33, und Daniel Eismann, 29. Unterstützt werden die beiden von unzähligen Freunden und vor allem durch Heike Fauser, die sich für die PR der Veranstaltungen verantwortlich zeichnet.

1996 begannen Ivica und Ice unabhängig voneinander mit ersten Veranstaltungen wie zum Beispiel dem “Good Fellers Club” oder spielten Support Gigs für die ehemalige Diskothek A9. Damals lief die Werbung noch rein von Mund zu Mund und da sowieso jeder in der Clique DJ war, musste nur noch ein Veranstaltungssaal gefunden werden. Neben dem “La Paz” diente auch das Bayreuther “Zentrum” als Spielwiese der umtriebigen Veranstalter. Neben national bekannten Künstlern wie unter anderem Samy Deluxe, Kool Savas oder Afrob wurden stets auch lokale Künstler für die Veranstaltungen gebucht.

Das erste gemeinsame Projekt wurde 2006 ins Leben gerufen, für ein halbes Jahr wählten die beiden regelmäßig die Bayreuther “Wara Lounge” als Veranstaltungsort. Dancehall Vibez mit den Soundselectors, DJ-Partys mit RPM, “Christmas Warm Up” und vieles mehr wurde geboten. Heute kennt man die beiden durch bereits genannte Veranstaltungsreihen wie “Living Legends” oder “Aus Liebe zur Musik”.

Welche Beweggründe hattet ihr damals, was motiviert euch in der heutigen Zeit, HipHop-Partys zu veranstalten?

Ivica und Ice: Früher ging es nur darum, dass überhaupt was in Bayreuth passiert. Wir wollten eine Alternative schaffen zu den damaligen “0815-Partys”, bei denen nur der langweilige “Disco-HipHop” gespielt wurde. Heute geht es auch darum, uns Wünsche und Träume zu erfüllen. Wir laden Spax oder Torch ein und können mit unseren Idolen von damals zu Abend essen, solche Geschichten eben. Es dreht sich natürlich auch um die HipHop-Kultur an sich, um die wiederbeleben zu können, muss man ja zuerst die Künstler wiederbeleben! Main Concept kennen ja viele schon gar nicht mehr, oder Torch. Das ganze “Jam Ding” von früher funktioniert heute nicht mehr, die Leute nehmen das leider nicht mehr an. Wir freuen uns schon, wenn spontan ein Breakdance-Kreis entsteht und der MC darauf einsteigt, so geschehen als wir Spax ins “Zentrum” geholt haben.

Wie entdeckt ihr denn die in Vergessenheit geratenen Künstler?

Man muss Augen und Ohren offen halten und klar, man versucht erst mal die Künstler anzufragen, die wir auch selber unterstützen. Früher war das auch einfacher, man hat fast jeden aktiven Rapper oder DJ in Franken persönlich gekannt. Es bestand ein Netzwerk, das es so heute nicht mehr gibt. Alle nahmen im gleichen Studio bei einem Kollegen auf, der kannte dann wen und so kam man eben zusammen. Auf Myspace oder durch andere Netzwerke kann man heute zwar auch wirkliche gute Künstler für zukünftige Veranstaltungen finden, aber das ist eher die Ausnahme.

Was plant ihr noch für die Zukunft? Blumentopf kommt ja im November!

Ja, definitiv, am 20. November kommt Blumentopf zum ersten Mal überhaupt nach Bayreuth, dieses Mal findet die Veranstaltung auch wieder im “Zentrum” statt. Bei den Jungs ist jedes Konzert anders, denn ihre Tour steht völlig im Zeichen des Freestyle-Rap. Die Freestyle-Sessions von Blumentopf sind legendär, da dürfen gerne Wörter vom Publikum eingeworfen werden und vieles mehr. Seid gespannt! Danach müssen wir erst mal sehen was kommt, momentan scheitern die meisten Bookings daran, dass zu viel Gage seitens der Künstler gefordert wird. Da möchten wir zu diesem Zeitpunkt noch keine verbindlichen Aussagen treffen, nur so viel, wir möchten das “Living Legends”-Konzept nächstes Jahr ausweiten. Vielleicht mal eine Party ohne live Shows, nur mit DJ wie zum Beispiel DJ Stylewarz oder mal in die Reggae-Richtung gehen. “Aus Liebe zur Musik” im Bayreuther “Sophie’s” wird natürlich weitergehen und in Zusammenarbeit mit der “Wara Lounge” wird es eine Club Tour geben.

Mehr Informationen unter www.aus-liebe-zur-musik.org

holg

erschienen in: Frankenpost – Die Junge Seite

http://www.frankenpost.de/nachrichten/jugend/fpdiejungeseite/art2451,1121710

If I look back into this history of this event it has to stretch over a decade of Smokeouts. I remember doing my first booth at the first one. I sometimes cant believe how old I am and still doing these shows. This time around I had mixed emotions going into this because of my situation and position I couldn’t pull thru to get a booth this year. Fortunately when your in the business you know others so you can somewhat run game still. So I resorted back to my jar hustle to put a little something in my pocket. Although I did have fun but it does get old fast especially for 2 days. There was also acts like Goodie Mob, Geto Boys, Meth & Red.. I was suppose to film but just got plain lazy from all the parlaying. But here’s pics and footage I did manage to get……Big ups to GU for consistency in providing the masses with good shows!!

Devin the Dude

Chronic Candy was raffling off 3-ft Zongs...

Alow x Jeremy x Fowl

The sun sets in the WEST........!!

Produced By Aesop Rock, no guest appearances. Straight up, 21 fresh new tracks by Slug of Atmosphere & Murs of Living Legends.
1. Protagonists
2. Felt Chewed Up
3. Get Cake
4. Bass For Your Truck
5. Like You
6. Permanent Standby
7. Kevin Spacey
8. Ghost Dance Deluxe
9. Revisiting the Styleetron
10. Whaleface
11. Glory Burning
12. Henrietta Longbottom
13. She Sonnet
14. Felt Good
15. Deathmurdermayhem
16. The Prize
17. G.I. Josephine
18. The Clap
19. We Have You Surrounded
20. Give It Up
21. Paul Reubens

Scarub of the world famous Living Legends & Very of Us Pros, release the full-length follow-up the the Classic EP, entitled Classic Rock. 12 tracks deep with production from Eligh, Fat Jack, Scarub, Style Misia and more, this record features top notch lyricism, rapid fire deliveries and bangin’ beats!

They’re currently on the road for a west coast tour, and will wrap up with the final show October 22nd in San Francisco @ Atmosphere, with supporting acts The Understudies w/ DJ MRC & special guest Elijah the Poet w/ Bicasso (Living Legends)

On Sunday night, I had the privilege of seeing a music legend play.

Riley B. King, known to the world as B.B.

I was excited about this concert, because I never would have expected a genuine legend to play at Virginia Tech. King’s career stretches back to the early 50’s before the Beatles were popular. So this would only be topped if the Beatles themselves came back from the dead and decided to play in Blacksburg, Virginia, of all places.

My familiarity with blues is limited to whatever Pierce played in the summer apartment or what we heard at the Cellar on Blues nights. It’s good chilling music. Card-playing music, board-game playing music. But I didn’t have a strong enough appreciation of it to listen to it for most of my activities.

Even as a blues novice, I was able to thoroughly enjoy B.B.’s performance.

This is King’s farewell tour, which I believe has been going on for over two years. The man turned 84 on September 16, so I wasn’t sure how much performance to expect. Actually, I’m ashamed to admit, I didn’t expect him to be able to walk. All pictures I’ve seen of recent performances are him sitting down.

Imagine my surprise when he not only walks on stage but dances. It was a shimmy and a jig and it was completely unexpected for a octogenarian blues singer.

Before he came in, his band played an extended introduction. The B.B. King Band has another guitarist, a bassist, a drummer, and a keyboardist, but the real treat is the brass section. Three guys play a variety of brass instruments and put some kick into the blues.

I still haven’t trained my ear to distinguish between different types of blues songs. To me, each song is just a catchy, toe-tapping pleasure. B.B. is also a fan of improvisation, coming up with riffs on his guitar, Lucille, while the band jams. He did play “You Are My Sunshine” as a tribute to the ladies. He then played an ode to Viagra as a tribute to the men.

B.B. King is surprisingly raunchy. For a man who doesn’t curse, he sure did work in some questionable content. One of his song-speeches included instructions on how to surreptitiously liquor up a young woman you’re interested in. He also commented on blues singers’ inability to “hold down a woman.” He blames it on his “roving eyes.”

But you can’t get mad at B.B. King for his slightly condescending attitude toward the fairer sex. The man is 84. It’s like that grandpa who will occasionally say something somewhat racist or sexist, though he’s well-meaning. He is a symbol of another time and it’s not like we’re immune from sexism or misogyny today. For all his jokes, King still made it clear that he disapproves of the attitude toward women in today’s hip-hop culture. “All ladies are beautiful,” King asserted. “And most of them are pretty. They’re smart. They can do most things better than us men can.”

What would you rather have, ladies? B.B. King’s mischievous penchant for admiring younger womens’ physiques? Or Lil’ Wayne’s demands for a bitch to lick his lollipop? Yeah. Kind of sheds light on why lots of women still find the grandfatherly figure attractive today.

The King acknowledged his tendency to talk a lot. He said he’d try to keep it to a minimum, as he knew he had a time limit. When a zealous Hokie shouted “IGNORE IT!” King laughed and replied, “Thank you for being kind, but I’ve got a job. Do you?”

Another highlight included a reference to Michael Phelps. “It’s hard to confuse me and Michael Phelps…I don’t smoke!” But just in case, you thought he was a bit self-righteous about marijuana use, he added. “Hey, if a man can swim faster than I can walk…He can smoke anything he wants!” Amen.

There’s always the curiosity of seeing how an acclaimed blues guitarist plays after getting on in years and fighting diabetes. Well, it seems that his playing is simpler, briefer, more concise. 84-year-old B.B. King probably couldn’t beat John Mayer in a straight-up guitar shennanigans contest.

BUT the experience of watching him play isn’t about hearing out-of-this-world guitar anymore. The performance is in the attitude. And that attitude is funky, fun-loving, and classic. B.B. King the player may be visibly aging, but B.B. King the entertainer was there in full force, as far as I’m concerned. He elicited more belly laughs, chuckles, coos of admiration from the girls, and applause than most modern performers deserve. But Mr. King deserved every bit.

Leave it to B.B. King to embark on a worldwide farewell tour that lasts several years. But, unfortunately, he will have to play his last performance, a fact that he doesn’t shy away from in his on-stage stories. Leading into a “new” tune apparently written for him by someone else, he comments how his children don’t like it. It’s a song about dying and keeping a nice grave. He says he tells them, “Haven’t you heard ’bout reincarnation? You should lay some hay on my grave, I might come back as a horse!”

Like many of his jokes, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher, but his infectious laughter makes the message clear: Just because you’re listening to blues doesn’t mean it has to be a somber time. And in a world where problems are becoming increasingly visible and stress is piled on us relentlessly, B.B. King is doing his part to make the world a happier place.

If you’ve got a chance to see him (tickets sold at colleges seem to be extremely affordable), don’t do yourself the disservice of missing it. Living legends are hard to come by.

Thanks for playing, Mr. King.

For many that are familiar with Legends and Scarubs music, without hesitation you will adhere to this 2nd released album from my bredrens . Word was it took about 2 years to muster it all together. With all said and done, Very and Scarub bust deadly verbally and the show is a sho shot. Be sure to check out their Classic Rock Tour coming to a town near you!! Big ups to them working with the Team and helping us out!! Flyers look good….and I even fixed the url. Damn I should’ve known…..LegendaryMusic.net!!

BK One & Benzilla team up for Radio Do Canibal due 10-06-09 on Rhymesayers Ent.  The duo enlist Phonte, The Grouch and Brother Ali for Here I Am one of the many dope collaborations from the upcoming album, also featuring Scarface, Raekwon, Black Thought, Slug, Murs, Toki Wright & Self Divine .Here I Am – BK One & Benzilla Feat. Phonte, Brother Ali & The Grouch

• via thelivinglegends •

Sunspot and Himself are SpotHymn
and this song is extremely relaxing.
Take It Light And Enjoy Yourself.
Easy.

∆

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’ve been a member of The Mash Up team for like two months. Last weekend, I got to go to my first event with them as a team member and they hosted a fundraiser to save the 28 & B Skatepark in Sacramento. I was in charge of taking pictures of the event and I got a few pictures of some of the neighborhood kids skating, the attendees and the headlining performer, Del The Funky Homosapien.

I finally got my Oh Dang Magazines.

The keychain Va$htie gave her, she loves it.

Before I knew he was a rapper…

Neighborhood kids.

All ages.

They kept the crowd entertained.

‘Kue loves the kids.

He skates too.

He’s not mean. See?

Making beats on the job, eh?

Setting up the camera to film the show, will be posted on Del’s new site. (I’m in the video for almost the entire performance, didn’t know until it was too late…)

Nice view, nice crowd.

Show’s over. 5 minutes before Del’s interview with The Mash Up. (Coming Soon)

It’s a wrap.

***Bonus***

I think Rose took this picture. I was in the middle of changing facial expressions. I look weird.

You can find more pics of this event at The Mash Up

The Mash Up will have its own blog launch party soon, so if you’re reading this, and in Sacramento, then you should be there.