The Physics droppin that new ish

Christmas came early in the form of a 10 track LP from The Physics titled "Digital Wildlife."  Usually the group's releases parallel The Town's warmer months and the music reflects that mood.  But... although The Physics pseudo "Cali breeze chillin' and cold beer sippin" music is on heavy rotation in the summer, we're not know for year round sunshine.  THIS LP reflects that.  Sonically it's colder, grayer and carries it's emotion on it's sleeves. 

The group has also grown on the effort.  Thig Nat has always been a very honest artist, but he seems more personal on this project than on prior releases.  And as he's expanding his horizons and being more vulnerable on the mic, Justo's production gets more and more polished with each release. (layers & soundscapes)  This album is simply mature and reflects how the group has matured.

With "Digital Wildlife" The Physics have now been able to make a catalog that can be played all year long.  So... fresh.

Dawhud Interview Pt. 2 (The Gear)

This is the second installment in the video interview I did about making beats, diggin' emceeing, DJing etc.  This one focuses on the gear that I mostly use. 

Shout out to the Casio Rapman.

Oh... It's On

I know it's been a while since I've put anything out. Once "Revisionist History Vol. 2" was put on hold, it seemed like that was it. In the interim since the Vintage Dope track, "V-Dope Biz," wrapped up "Revisionist History Vol. 1, I've been in the midst of plotting my next project, networking, trying to come up with a follow up to "Battle Anybody", producing the Heretic & S.O.S LP and a bit of a creative block.

Although I was in a little bit of a slump, I continued to work through it. So here we are and potentially, there will be a GLUT of music within the next year.

So... what's on deck?

Double EPs or is it an LP?

If you remember, the 1st LP was "Basement Sessions" and the mixtape within that storyline was "Dub Styles: Walkman Redemption". With "Basement Sessions" as the umbrella concept I'm going to be expanding the "session" and "diggin" portion of the project as two EPs that SHOULD also work together as an LP in itself when slapped together as an A & B side. The working titles for the two EPs will be "Poetry Motion" and "Motion Poetry". The extended portion of the "sessions" EP, "Poetry Motion", will be a mix of reworked tracks from "Basement Sessions" along with new guest heavy/cipher cuts. The extended portion of the "diggin" EP will be a project with beatmakers and DJs doing guest spots. (rhymes/cuts) Basically one EP will be focusing on emcees and the other on producers/beatmakers/DJs. I'm honestly really excited for this project and think it will be a dope addition to the "Basement Sessions" concept and seal the deal.

Dawhud mixtape

I've collab'd with a few artists and also have a handfull of unreleased joints. I decided to compile them together and make a mixtape. And when I mean mixtape, I mean mixtape. I will mix these joints together and may press it up on cassette.

Heretic & S.o.S. EP/LP

Starting in the summer I began working with the two emcees on a couple tracks and it started snowballing into a full project. I'm not sure if I'll be on the mic at all, but I will be on the production and decks.

Finally...

Vintage Dope

It's been too long and we just need to do a couple cuts for the EP. But please believe that this project SHOULD be out the following Spring/Summer.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth TROY live

Got to witness one of the most EPIC hip hop shows in my life.  Camp Lo, Pete Rock & CL Smooth... bonkers.

Dawhud Interview Pt. 1 (The Collection)

This is the first part in a series of clips from an interview I did about diggin', making beats, emceeing, DJing, my collection etc.  The 1st portion is about my music collection, how I file it and getting in on some nerd ish. 

This is Dawhud and you're not really watching "Crate Diggers", but it's pretty damn close.

On the real, I've been filing my CDs and tapes like this since I was 11 or 12 years old. 

Shout out to Bobo with the cameo.

Damn Son...

Crickets.  Yeah, been a little quite here.  A lot of stuff going on at the moment.  Projects, life etc.

Working on a few things and I'll have a couple announcements to make shortly.

Till then...

Heretic & S.O.S. - Summer Time Cookout

As we finish up the summer, here's a rough version of a track I did with Heretic & S.O.S.  Still tweaking the joint... adding cuts etc.  Heretic wanted to throw this joint out before the sun officially set on BBQ season.

We're cooking up some ish for this project, so stay tuned.  Sounding F-R-E-S-H.

Free Electronic Press Kits template from ReverbNation.com

Heretic & S.O.S. - Weak Ass Rappers

Recently had Heretic the Heathen and his homie S.O.S. drop some bars over this beat I made.  Some classic ish.  More to come...

Free embed music player from ReverbNation.com

V-Dope Biz

Vintage Dope has been the side project that's been bubbling for a minute.  We dropped a snippet tape, "Cratebangin" and the remix for the 1st "Revisionist History" installment.  Here we are at the beginning of summer and we need something that will reflect the change in season.  For instance... when it gets warmer, I bust out my "Hellified Gangsta Sh!t" playlist for the car.  To quote Luvva-J, "I had to do it baby!" 

This was actually the song I was wanting to drop last month, but scheduling got in the way.  Good things come to those who wait and here we are.  I'm not going to lie, I think this is one of the hardest songs I have EVER heard about crate diggin', DJing, etc.and that's GOOD.  I honestly think if you're going to do a side project it better be different from what you're normally putting out.  It defeats the purpose of doing something different if it doesn't sound different.  And that's what Vintage Dope is.  When I try to explain it to a lot of people, they don't seem to understand it, but once they hear it, they're on board. (hop on the train homie)

And although "Cratebangin" was already released, I truly think this track is more of a introduction into the vibe and group.  Simply put, this track is "V-Dope Biz." 
Let's set the summer off with some ILL V-Dope ISH!!!  Get on down baby!

Battle Anybody featured on "The Realness Vol. 4"

Wizdom "The Next Step" Kickstarter

The homie Wizdom is working on a new LP and has started a Kickstarter to help fund the project.




I'm sure you all know we just recently dropped "The Return".  It's kind of fitting with the title that Wiz is remerging on The Town to work on what may be his swan song.

Do yourself a favor and support a great artist and a great cause. 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1312572654/wizdom-the-next-step?ref=recently_launched

Fleeta Partee - This Is Hip Hop (video) (Dawhud cameo)

This is the video for Fleeta Partee's track "This Is Hip Hop" featuring John Crown, Yirim Seck, Jarrard Anthony and produced by Jake One.  About two months ago I was an extra for the filming and spent the majority of the day on a bus going through Renton, Rainer Beach, The Central District and SoDo. 

Side notes: all the old cell phones are props I brought and I wore a pair of deadstock British Knights that they did some shots of, but it didn't make the cut.  Also, the day they shot this video was the same day I also went to shoot the cover art for "The Return/Battle Anybody" 12".  (notice the clothes)

No Delayin' (Stop Watch mix)

Best laid plans.  Originally there was a different track planned for the June release, but things just didn't pan out.  Instead I found myself remixing a track that I haven't even released yet.  And oddly without me even thinking about it, the track fit SO well with what it's paying homage to.  I even made a reference to O.C.'s classic in the rhymes when I did the original.  (even if it was NEVER intended that way)

This song I originally wrote when I first moved from Seattle to Indy.  I had just finished principal recording of "Basement Sessions" and was in this in-between phase of what my next move was going to be.  I was kind of bored with just working on post production for "Basement Sessions" and at the time didn't have access to my gear, records etc.  I just had my laptop and a removable harddrive with drums.  From that short period I created the original version of this song and the redux version of "Lyrics & Beats".  Maybe the original version will see the light of day, but for now it's getting the remix treatment.

I'm just going to keep it simple... the name, the flip... BOOM! 

Return Youtubie

Battle Anybody dropped on DJ Premier's Live At HeadQCourtez 5/10

DJ Premier dropped "Battle Anybody" once again on the Live At HeadQCourtez show.  Check the joint at the 56:30 mark.

BOOM!

Live From HeadQCourterz (05/10/2013) by Dj Premier Blog Radio on Mixcloud

The Return/Battle Anybody Digi 12"

These two cuts have been long in the making.  They've also been finished and "in the can" for a good portion of a year.  I was originally thinking about waiting till I had an EP or Full Length finished before I released them, but as May was getting closer and closer I realized that the concept of "The Return" was almost 2 years old.  (returning from Indy to the PNW)  Although the topic would be relevant regardless of when it was released, I thought that because I've been here long enough, it needed to be released.  (along with "Battle Anybody" from the other recording session)

Despite the urge to release them than wait for a full project, these two songs continued to get pushed back as I didn't want them to get lost in the shuffle amongst the "Revisionist History" and Vintage Dope projects.  It wasn't until almost divine intervention in the form of DJ Premier and DJ Eclipse playing "Battle Anybody" that I realized this double A-side needed to JUST... BE... DROPPED.

Both of these beats were made for beat battles back when I was in Indy.  "Battle Anybody" was made when I competed in Skribble Jam.  (2008?)  I was in both the producer and emcee battles and eliminated in the 1st round.  A.C.E.-One was actually doing some of the hosting for the event and I remember after I played my beats, I went out into the crowd to mingle and watch the other performers.  A.C.E. jumped off the stage as they went into a break or another round and came up to me, dropped me a pound and said the beat was dope.  An idea was born that instant, but it would lay dormant for a long time.  (I don't even know if A.C.E. remembers that at all.)

Eventually as A.C.E. and I would cross paths from time to time in the Indy scene, I finally mentioned the beat and the concept I had.  I wanted to do something that was like "Meth vs. Chef" from Method Man's solo debut.  The camaraderie and competition together over a face melting beat was the perfect chemistry to ride a track like that.  He was down, but with our two schedules and as I started planning my return to Washington, the only vocals we were able to record were for "Watchin' My Style".  (I think both of our verses were actually written BEFORE I even moved)

More time passed and I think I was either going to just write a 2nd verse or offer it up to someone else when I contacted A.C.E.  He quickly responded because he thought he already dropped his verse for the track.  Regardless, he didn't want to be left out of being on that cut.  After talking with him, I sent Joe Harvey the inst. version and the two worked on recording his portion.

In many ways you could say that if it wasn't for a Sonics umbrella I got at the Key Arena, "The Return" or "Battle Anybody" wouldn't have happened.  After I moved to Indy, Wiz and I would email each other back and forth.  It mainly started from the postings on the 206proof board and the social media that was bubbling.  I was going through my garage and came across this sealed Sonics umbrella from a game I went to.  By this time the Sonics had left to OKC and Seattle was in the early stages of separation.  I knew Wiz was a HUGE Sonics fan and I reached out to him to see if he wanted it.  Without even hesitating he said yes, but despite that, I never got around to shipping it.  (just forgot to I guess)  

Time passed, I'm back in Washington and started networking to get back into the scene here.  When my wife and I got our place and we started pulling all of our stuff out of storage, I found the umbrella.  When I saw it, I took a pic, sent it to Wiz and asked if he still wanted it.  That re-connection/moment is what got the ball rolling for that song.  I don't remember how or what, but somehow I came across the beat for "The Return" and asked if he wanted to do something.  We exchanged ideas and I came up with the idea of me moving back, talking about how it's changed, but at the same time being a love letter to the city. 

Like the beat for "Battle Anybody," this was made for a competition back in Indy.  It was for a battle that happened during the Broad Ripple Music Fest and after the battle I was focused on "Dub Styles" so it lay dormant along with the other beat.  And even after contacting Wiz, sharing ideas, writing and recording a rough demo of my verse, it would sit for months before we would officially record the song.  (July 2012)

I met up with Wiz at Undercaste Studios because that's where he does a lot of his recording and I didn't want him to drive all the way down to Oly to drop his verse.  It wasn't the first time I had recorded in a studio, but I wasn't prepared mentally.  Take after take after take... I was getting tired, frustrated and left the session rather beaten/disappointed.  Not with the song, but with myself.  Randy, the engineer, also wasn't happy with the mix due to time constraints and wanted me to come back for another session to give the track a proper mix.  He suggested working on another song for the next session, but finish the mix of "The Return" before recording the other track.  (Now looking back, although I felt like I went through the ringer, it was that struggle that made such a great song.)

After that session and letting the song digest, I was trying to think of a track to piggy back on while Randy finished the mix of "The Return".  I'm not sure exactly when, but I got A.C.E.'s vocal tracks from Joe Harvey and had an "ah-ha" moment.  I made a rough mix, scheduled the session with Randy at Undercaste and hit record in October 2012.

That studio session had a total different energy.  Ryan Fresh came along to hang out in the studio and after just a couple bumpy takes, the song was laid down nicely.

But, even after I walked out of the studio with Ryan Fresh that night, that was all that happened with them.  (they just sat)  Close friends heard the tracks, but that was it.  I finally got the idea I mentioned earlier to let them loose in the Spring, but here we are pushing June and they're finally being released.  These cuts may be featured on an upcoming Dawhud EP/LP, but I'm not sure.  For the moment, enjoy this digi 12".  Hopefully in the near future there will be an actual vinyl pressing.  Till then...

And yes, Wizdom finally got that umbrella.

Fleeta Partee - This is Hip-Hop

A little over a month ago I was a extra in a music video.  It hasn't come out, but the track just dropped the other day.  Fleeta Partee - "This is Hip-Hop" featuring Jarrard Anthony, Yirim Seck and John Crown produced by Jake One. 

Check the joint and when the video drops, you'll probably see my British Knights and old cell phones/pagers as props.

The Return & Battle Anybody 5/21

The highly anticipated double A-side single from Dawhud will be released on 5/21.  The digital single features the "Battle Anybody" track played by DJ Premier & DJ Eclipse on the "Live at HeadQCourterz" & "Rap Is Outta Control" shows.

The Return (Like This) feat. Wizdom
Battle Anybody feat. A.C.E.-One

Battle Anybody feat A.C.E.-One (DJ Premier leak version)

Here's the version of the "Battle Anybody" single from DJ Premier's "Live From HeadQCourterz" 4/26 show. 

The single will be dropping shortly.

Keep it LOCKED!!!!

DJ Premier leaks Battle Anybody on Live From HeadQCourterz Radio

Dawhud & A.C.E.-One Leaked Primo Style

Big up to Big Fletch hipping me to this because I had NO idea this happened.  This song has been long in the making.  It will be released shortly as the b-side for an upcoming digi 12" And if ANYBODY is going to leak it, DJ Premier can do it.

Check the whole show, but if you want to hear the NEW joint with my homie A.C.E.-One fwd to 22:36ish mark.

Live From HeadQCourterz (04/26/2013)

"Battle Anybody" will officially be dropping shortly!
@ACE_ONE_

Live From HeadQCourterz (04/26/2013) by Dj Premier Blog Radio on Mixcloud

Watchin' My Style

A.C.E. One, Pacewon, Luvva-J - "Watchin' My Style"

This track, like some of the other "Revisionist History" cuts, has had a LONG story.  And HONESTLY, it's only recently been finished.  For years this track sat with just one verse, then a hook and then finally a second verse, but still only 2/3 finished.  I then moved back from Indy and the PC with the session files sat in storage for the good part of a year.  The project was basically shelved and then through inspiration via DJ Ian Head, the project was resurrected.  There's been a long list of homies and emcees that were slated for this song and as projects, schedules and life got in the way, this track sat on the sideline. 


Like many of the beats I made for this project I wanted to nod to classic hip hop tracks and create something new.  Sometimes this ended up in using material that was reference to a few classics all in one.  This cut is a complete example of that.  Kool G Rap, ODB, Rob Bass... heck CB4 (via Kool G Rap) 

I originally contacted Pacewon to drop a verse and was talking with a few people I knew about finishing it.  In these phone conversations and emails I basically came up with the hook as an homage to what ODB did on Wu-Tang's "Shame On a Nuh" and got Pacewon to drop it.

Then it sat... budget... emcees... life... etc. 

It was a few months before I was going to head back to Seattle and I was talking with A.C.E.-One about working on a completely different track.  He rolled through to work on something and missed my house/got lost.  (which most people did 1st time coming to my place in Indy)  I gave him directions once I found out where he was and then about 15-20 minutes after he didn't show up I looked out the front door to see this 80s style truck that was broke down.  It was A.C.E.  I walked out front and helped him get his truck to the side of the street so he could call to get it towed.  As he was getting his rhyme book, keys and other things out of his truck I remember a .22 falling off the bench seat and he quickly picked it up and put it in his pants.  HAHAHA  We got inside, he made a call, I got him a beer and was ready to work on a different song.  I don't remember how, but he heard this track and was like, "YO, I WANNA DO THIS!"  We did a couple takes to warm up and then A.C.E. decided he wanted to go with this back and forth style, 1 bar on one take and then answer it on the other take.  Just back and forth... it was ill.  Such energy... that's why A.C.E. is one of the illest emcees out of Naptow.  (period) 

So, here we are, 2/3 of the track is finished and the "Revisionist History" project is back in full swing.  It's been too long to sit on it and there's no reason to not finish it.  (Enter Luvva-J)  Picked him up, he sat down, wrote his verse and in two takes was done.  BOOM!!!  That's how V-Dope gets down. 

It may have taken forever to finish this song, but it was worth it and the song came out dope because it wasn't rushed. 



 

Late Night Marauders - Cheese Burger Deluxe (summer 98)

This was the episode where we played the "Cheeseburger Deluxe - Grand Buffet" skit/song for the 1st time.  (including the John Forte record skip) 

Ben Shabazz - What... JUST... HAPPENED?! 

Dawhud - HOE DOWN JUST HAPPENED!!!


Also, as the new joint is posted on the soundcloud the prior one will be taken down due to space.  HOWEVER, the other episodes will be available to download using the following link.

Late Night Marauders Archive

Late Night Marauders - Nardo Crunk (December 98)

From 98 to 2000, Mr. Carlos, Ben Shabazz, Aaron Cansler and myself had a radio show on KAOS 89.3 called "Late Night Marauders".  It was the peak of the Rawkus era and the emergence of electronica.   The skits from my "Basement Sessions" LP really were an accurate snapshot of the show.  (the goofing around etc.)

A couple years ago, Mr. Carlos hit me with a box of tapes he had of the show and I'm finally starting to rip them from the cassettes.  

I will slowly be ripping the shows and find the best way to host them for people to hear and download.  Till then, check out the "Nardo Crunk" episode from December 98.

UPDATE:  As the new episode is posted, the prior one will be deleted from the Soundcloud page and put in the archive.  Use the following link to hear and DL other episodes.

Late Night Marauders Archive

Prince Po, Moka-Only, Dawhud - "Don't Front (We Gotcha')"

This is probably one of the high points of all the tracks I've worked on.  As a kid growing up, the thought of actually working with people you have pictures of on your wall or binder is just some crazy ish.  There are a LOT of stories behind this song... who was involved, how it went down, what it could have been, but it probably couldn't have come out any other way AND it's classic the way it IS.  

The short story and the one that matters...

1st heard this jam, Mr. Carlos Walkman/
On the bus rollin home with a Source in my hand/
Last page, Sure Shot, as the cassette drops/
Baby a$$, so smooth ride till the wheel stops/
Had the poster, torn from the magazine/
Binder gloss framed like a backpacker vaccine/
Front on a classic, other legends with the sickness/
Man I'm out 5,000, back to the crate business/

That's how I first heard Black Moon's - "I Gotch' Opin (remix)".  This was one of those pivotal moments in my journey through 90s hip hop.  That song was one of the cuts that made me pretty much quit listening to west coast rap music and jump on almost anything east coast related.  I already was into Tribe, Gangstarr, Diamond D and Wu, but this kind of sealed the deal. 



That being said, I HAD to flip this cut and pay my respects to one of my favorite tracks of all time! And what better way to do it than to have some of the emcees you've looked up to for SO long on the track.  (Prince Po and Moka Only)

Don't Front...

Ryan Fresh - Vinyls mixtape

At long last Ryan Fresh has dropped his "Vinyls" mixtape.  Vintage Dope in the building.

Ish is bubbling, homie!

Cut Camp "What!"

Cut Camp dropping another track from their collective, "What!"  If you don't know Cut Camp (www.bringingdowntheband.com) is like a who's who of Indy emcees and artists.  This track alone features Grittz, Skittz, Joe Harvey, Black Eddie, Scott Dubbs, Ace One, & Longevity passing the mic down the line.  Naptown has some of the dopest hip hop artists I've come across, so do yourself a favor and check the homies.



www.bringingdowntheband.com
"Check Indianapolis / Naptown’s CUT CAMP with their second collective crew video. The video was shot at the Sabbatical (http://www.twitter.com/SabbaticalIndy) in Broad Ripple. Shouts to them, No Bad Ideas (https://twitter.com/No_Bad_Ideas) for letting us invade their party for this shoot, and BDTB (https://twitter.com/bdtb) for featuring the video, the penguin, and everybody that came out and had a good time with us!

Directed by Skittz
Shot & Edited by TR (http://www.twitter.com/TomRobots)
Song Produced by LONEgevity
Cuts by DJ Spoolz (http://www.twitter.com/djspoolz)

Order of Emcee’s:
Gritts @itsgritts
Skittz @skittzformpro
Joe Harvey @ProFormJoe
Black Eddie @BlackEddie7
Scoot Dubbs @ScootDubbs
ACE ONE @Ace_One_
LONEgevity @Lonegevity

Cut Camp also includes DJ Jay Diff & Commander Pop’N'Fresh.

FIND Cut Camp @
Website: http://cutcamp.com
Twitter: @CutCamp
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CutCamp"

Vintage Dope - Cratebangin'

The warm months are coming and Vintage Dope is going to get our ish in gear for some West Coast classic joints.  Stay tuned and stay #cratebangin in those crates.  

RA Scion & Todd Sykes - Guttersnipe Bridge (video)

RA Scion & Todd Sykes dropped the video for the lead single off of "Adding to the Extra" that will be dropping on 3/19.

Simply fresh.

RA Scion & Todd Sykes - "Adding to the Extra"

I drive a lot. My daily commute is at least 2 hours of my day.  I have a lot of time to think, plot and listen to my collection.  I've done things like listen to the Wu-Tang discography in chronological order. (36 Chambers, Tical, Return to the 36, OB4CL etc.)  Yeah... it can get nerdy, but I've discovered and rediscovered albums that I either brushed off when they were released or just forgot how much I liked them.  (Example: PMD's records were pretty dope, but post EPMD break up it was all about Def Squad at the time.)

Recently RA Scion let me hear a preview version of the new LP he's releasing with Todd Sykes, "Adding to the Extra." In this "Disposable Art" era we live in, I did the initial skim through the LP over shitty laptop speakers, gave it the thumbs up and kept moving.  BUT, a record like this deserved a closer look, so I added "Extra" to my next day's commute for a solid listen. I burned the tracks and decided to just throw in "Beg, Borrow, Steal" at the end.  As the LP finished and rolled into the EP he released last year, I discovered something that I'm not sure if it was intentional or not.  The next day I decided to take all of the RA/Common Market projects I had and listen to them in reverse order.  ("Adding to the Extra", "Beg, Borrow, Steal", "Victor Shade", "Tobacco Road", "Black Patch War", etc.)  SONICALLY... "Beg, Borrow, Steal" is the perfect bridge from "Victor Shade" to "Adding to the Extra."  In those three tracks, the production shifts from MTK's signature style to Todd Sykes rainy day boom bap.  (the other projects seem to connect the dots as well, but not as dramatic and on point as this) 

The LP starts off without an intro and just dives in with "Guttersnipe Bridge".  As I hopped in the whip at 4:00am to head up to work, the horns blasted as I took a sip of my sexy beast and rolled off in the early morning darkness. 



RA Scion & Todd Sykes set the tone for the whole LP without the rolling start of an intro to kick the listener down the album's path.  "Adding to the Extra" is like that, it bucks the trend of what is common place, formulaic and cliche with many hip hop records now.  Although artists like Joey Bada$$ are bringing a resurgence of 90s boom bap, "Extra" flows like it is FROM that era and not an aftereffect or reinterpretation.  At the same time it's relevant and not dated from its production style or suffering from "keep it realness." Guests are not to outshine the artist or as a way to sell the album to people that wouldn't normally check for it, instead they compliment RA Scion's sharp rhymes and help move the LP along like AZ's debut verse on Nas' "Illmatic."
 


As the LP glides through its' 12 tracks, including two instrumental/interludes, it's an easy listen that doesn't make any missteps along the way.  The production is slick and RA honestly sounds MORE comfortable on this project than prior efforts.  Not that his previous releases sound forced by any means, but "Extra" flows as if it was just something that poured out naturally.   

It kind of makes me think of a conversation I had with my friend Corey (Just Be) while seeing Camp Lo recently.  We were talking about the various hip hop artists from Seattle and when we started talking about RA he said, "A lot of people change their sound, their style and shift with what's changing in the scene.   But RA... he just does his thing and it's dope.  It's like people are out there and he's like, 'go ahead and do your ish, I'll chill over here.'  It's dope and I respect him for it and he makes good music because of it."

The rotation of my music selections is constant as I'm building the soundtrack to my daily commute, but I've found myself coming back to this LP over and over again in the last couple weeks.  And every time I listen to it, it's just as refreshing as it was the first time I listened to it.  It's early in the year, but I can easily say this will be on my top 5 for 2013. 

(On March 19th, RA Scion & Todd Sykes will be releasing "Adding to the Extra".)   

@RAscion
@toddsykes
www.rascion.com

True Lies - Verbal Math (Dolla Bin), Fash-1, Wildchild (Lootpack)

One of the 1st beats made and recorded for this project was "True Lies".  It was basically the blueprint for what "Revisionist History" was originally going to be.  (a classic break and some dope emcees)  I had just gotten my feet planted in Indy, "Basement Sessions" was in the process of final mixes and while I was figuring out my next move, this project started building steam.  I've told bits and pieces of this story in other postings, but the only thing that's important is that despite the long road this project's here. 

Rakim... what can I say that you haven't heard from a million other people.  He's simply one of the illest to ever touch the mic.  That being said, there was no way I couldn't flip something from Rakim's catalog for this project.

(enter "True Lies") 

"Microphone Fiend" is one of my favorite Rakim cuts and I wanted to capture the feel of some dope cats just droppin' some rap ish on the mic.  Long story short, some how was able to connect with Wildchild.  (probably through Myspace... yes this track has that much of a history)  I let him listen to a handful of beats and this was the joint that he wanted to rock to.  In many ways he came up with the concept of the track.  Everything else was after the fact.  I think I wrote my verse, then Verb from Dolla Bin dropped the hook and after about a year or more Fash-1 was able to drop his. 

As time passed and the project was kind of put up on the shelf, I had a rough version of this track out there, but it was kind of left at that.  Now here we are... FINALLY!!!  This track is honestly one of the high points of the music I've worked on and really embodies what this project is all about. 

The MC Type - Space Needle featuring Seattle

Good guy I've know since I did my first show at Chop Suey, The MC Type.  We've crossed paths quite a few times and while I was out in Indy he stayed at the crib when he was on tour.  Cool cat, funny as sh!t. 

A couple months ago he sent out word that he wanted to do a track with every rapper in Seattle.  The concept was simple, everybody spits 2 bars and they have to say Space Needle in it.  I was down from the jump and by the time I heard a version where I laid down my vocals there was already a significant amount of rappers on the track. 

About every few weeks he'd send the latest version and an update of it's progress.  He finally decided to call it good after 50 MCs.  (bonkers)  Later he stated that he's going to file Guinness for a world record for most guest appearances on a track. 



Check the track, hear me drop my 2 bars and support the homie and his "Good Tattoo" project that's dropping soon.

The Fall (Slow Jam remix)

This month I'm dropping a bonus cut for the "Revisionist History" project in the form of a remix of "The Fall."  I honestly had NO intentions of remixing this joint, but I was just riding in my car on the way to work and this just hit me.  Got home, laid it out and BLAM!  The original was already knocking, but this is on some Slow Jam with the ladies ish.  (just in time for Valentines Day) 



Also, the "Revisionist History" project is now up on the soundcloud joint. 

J Dilla Collection Sale



If you haven't been aware, a large amount of records that were owned by the late J Dilla are now being sold to the public by the J Dilla Foundation.  I was able to get my hands on this record and will seriously cherish it. 

"THE J DILLA RECORD COLLECTION SALE
J-DILLA.COM JANUARY 22, 2013
Years ago J Dilla moved a large collection of records, personal test presses and audio master tapes into a storage until after his Detroit basement studio flooded. Shortly thereafter he moved to Los Angeles.

The storage unit was left by Dilla and taken care of by his mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, but attention and priorities soon shifted: Dilla became seriously ill and hospitalized, and with his mother at his side in Los Angeles during a planned two-week visited that turned into years, the unit was lost.

In Spring of 2012, the entire collection was finally recovered. The back payments and fees were paid – Ma Dukes was reunited with the contents she last saw just before leaving to L.A. to take care of Dilla.

Maureen Yancey is now selling a portion of the record collection in the first of a series of weekly sales taking place on eBay.

EBAY.COM DILLA RECORD COLLECTION
Buyers receive an LP from the collection of J Dilla, with a signed, numbered certificate from Maureen Yancey stating that the record is from this personal collection.

The certificates are numbered with the plan of an online registry for Dilla fans to list their Dilla Collection LP. Buyers are welcomes to include the artist, title, and whether any tracks on the LP are known to have been sampled by Dilla. This registry is dependent on the sales of the limited amount of the collection and response from the fans"

The Fall

Sometimes when I write, it takes forever... other times, it flows like water.  This track was one of those joints that just came together quickly.  In many ways, this project is forcing me to do that.  BUT...  in some ways the source material for this track started in February 2002, when I met my wife, so it's had time to build and develop.

At the start of the New Year I had no idea what to do for the upcoming month's installment.  I was working on a couple things and listening to a lot of music, as I do during my long commutes everyday.  I suddenly thought about taking on one of my favorite Slum Village tracks.  But, instead of just sampling, chopping etc. I decided to replay it on my Fender Rhodes.  "Fall In Love", in my opinion, is one of J. Dilla/Slum Village's most iconic songs.  Being February and the anniversary of Dilla's birthday/death I decided to do the closest thing to a tribute that I could.  These days, J. Dilla mixes and tributes are kind of a dime a dozen as he's become the underground 2pac, but I wanted to do something special that wasn't just the token ish you see on boards and blogs. 



So... with the help of many artists I know and look up to, the song took shape.  I'd ask their opinion, let them hear demos, ideas ets.  I wanted to know if they thought I was on to something of if I was out of my mind because there's a thin line between paying homage and just looking like a buster.  And with this dialog the 2nd half/verse came to be.  I almost thought it was TOO crazy, but I thought the themes of the tracks and the vibe would work well together.  In my opinion I think they do.  (enter Common's classic "I Used To Love H.E.R.")




I could probably go on and on about the behind the scenes with this track or talk about what it could have been/become, but I honestly think the best thing to do is to just let it play. 

Po'Safe Beats - Carefully Avoiding These

Po' Safe Beats just dropped a beat tape/inst. LP titled "Carefully Avoiding These".  As usual, Po' Safe lays down some slick production and paints a canvas in the vein of MF Doom's "Special Herbs" series. 

Emcees, DJs and beatheads should not avoid these. 

"Carefully Avoiding These" is a collection of work from Po' Safe Beats. If interested in full versions of any of these tracks or exclusive beats, contact via email at posafebeats@gmail.com or twitter @PoSafeTweets. (any and all support is most definitely appreciated, but alternative download available @ www.mediafire.com?v8xu1xnefcybm5x)

RA Scion - Guttersnipe Bridge

RA Scion is another emcee that I respect and was honored to collab with.  (see Steal)  He posted a track from his upcoming project with Todd Sykes called "Guttersnipe Bridge".  Simply dope hip hop.  RA doing what he does and Todd Sykes doing some serious dope ish on the beats. 

Check it.

Rusty Redenbacher - Ultra Somethin'

Starting off a new year with another joint from the "Revisionist History" project.  This track was one of the 1st songs that was laid down and some of you may have heard it, but here it is FINALLY and officially released.  There's a LOT of back story behind this song and it's honestly one of the dopest recording experiences I've had.  

When I first was thinking about this project and planting seeds, I was in the process of leaving Seatown, finishing "Basement Sessions" and trying to network with artists in Indy.  (preemptive strike before I got there)  I heard of The Mudkids, but didn't know they were from Naptown.  When I discovered they were from Indy, I started a dialog with Rusty about the scene, what I did, what I was working on etc.  I mentioned the "Revisionist History" project and he said he did a couple tracks along those lines in the past, one being a flip of Ultramagnetic MC's "Ego Trippin".  He sent me the track and it was ON. 

After hearing the track that Rusty did, I asked him if he would be down to do a pseudo sequel or a continuation of that song.  He was down and I got to work on the SP.  Meanwhile... a friend of mine from Seattle also did a flip of "Ego Trippin" and the Melvin Bliss/Substitution break.  I asked Ced, who was the DJ for Likeminded, if he wanted to collab on this track.  (Two beatmakers/DJs flipping the same break making two beats and one emcee ripping the track.)  Ced was down and sent me the session files.

The version I did was some classic break beat boom bap and Ced's joint was more updated with a nod to the past.  I thought the two together would seriously be a dope mixing of the two styles.  The files, however, didn't translate well in my DAW.  (and now looking back, I now know how I could have fixed the problem)  Alas, I did the best I could and honestly I thought the two together were pretty dope.  BUT, in order to get them to work I had to do a lot of cutting, pasting, splicing, chopping etc.  Ced's original beat was becoming more and more a remix of his beat than his original.  We went along with recording it as it was, but after I had a rough mix of the track with Rusty's vocals, Ced decided he wasn't liking it and wanted his portion to be taken out.  In the long run he was right because it ended up becoming a better song.

I went back to the SP1200 and made another beat.  I could have kept the same beat and kept it rocking through the whole track, but the idea of what Ced and I were doing was to keep it moving and changing up to keep the listener engaged.  The foundation was the same with the Melvin Bliss break, but I wanted something else.  On a couple of the other beats I made for the project I was not only flipping classic hip hop records, but kind of doing a mash up of different OG source samples.  (Example: the main beat you'd hear would be the Tom Scott/T.R.O.Y. sample, but I'd chop "Impeach the President" to sound like the drum pattern to "Top Billin.")  Having that concept in mind, I wanted to do the same with this song, but have it continuously progress and change on some DJ and emcee ish.  The final product is a mix of Ultramagnetic, BDP, The Beatnuts, Public Enemy, Gangstarr and more. 



As for recording the vocals...  I already knew Rusty could rock a show.  He truly is an emcee and a master of ceremony.  I originally thought he was just going to do a redux version of the track he originally did, but I was in for a surprise.  Rusty came through, walked into my studio, chopped it up for a few minutes about records and then got to work.  I threw on the beat and he just sat down, pulled out his comp book and started writing.  In what seemed like only 20 minutes or so, he had his rhymes done and was like, "Let's do this!"  Not only had he come up with new lyrics on the spot, but it was some party rocking rhymes that were about him rollin' up to the spot, the dog barking at him, sitting down working on the song and what the "Revisionist History" project was.  We hit record and within just a couple takes we were done.  I honestly have only worked with a handful of people that have been able to do something like this and it was so dope to witness it in action.

Straight hip hop.

So without further delay, check this month's "Revisionist History" track "Ultra Somethin" and cop my man Rusy Redenbacher's new project "Lower." 

Evolve One - Less Is More

Evolve One dropped another inst hip hop project to start off the new year.  14 chilled out cuts to vibe out to.  Less... is... more. 

"Peace

Hope this New Year finds everyone in good spirits.  Just wanted to let you know that I just put out a new project called "Less Is More"

http://evolveone.bandcamp.com/album/less-is-more

Tried to keep everything simple and to the basics.  I would love it if you took a listen and help spread the word.  It's free and only about 35 mins long. Throw it on while you clean the house."

Mr. Carlos In The House

Rusty Redenbacher - Lower B-side (Rightaboutthere)

My man Rusty didn't waste any time.  On the heels of his "Tinkerer" LP, he's already back with another project, "Lower." 

Slim... is... getting... funky.

Check out his latest project available now on iTunes and cop this b-side from the project.

"#LOWER sessions. ‘Roundabouthere (Rightaboutnow)’ LISTEN HERE. #ATFU

Peace peace…
Recorded for ‘LOWER’, definitely fun, kinda the companion piece to ‘Shake’ from ‘The Tinkerer’. Just a dirty, techno fonkin, poppin, lockin ass shaker…Twerk fummy. 
Anyway, up until about 10 days ago, it was the second track on the album…now, it’s a bonus track or sumn. I dig it, personally, but had to accept that within the concept of the ALBUM I was trying to make, it didn’t work as well as I wanted it to. 
I moved it around in the sequence, I remixed it, I rethought it…just couldn’t find a way to make it work for ‘LOWER’ when it was all said and done…
…still want y’all to hear it tho…
There it is.
Twerk fummy.
#ATFU

RR"