Single: Sole - No Presidents

No matter what side "you dress on", Arizona rapper Sole One's new track "No Presidents" should prove highly stirring... Raw truth often is. Don't let the resemblance to Zach Galifanakis fool you, this man ain't about no jokes.. he has somethin to say, and says it well...

Take a listen, his description of the goings on during this freestyle over Nasir's classic cut is below...

No Presidents” is an anti ode to electoral politics, the justice system, class war, direct democracy, and war criminals. I took one of my favorite songs, “Dead Presidents” by Jay Z and fucked it all up. The simulation of “civic duty” is no substitute for taking action, so fuck the police state, “real politics is in the streets…” This is a track from nuclear winter 3… which so far is 90′s themed… 

My New album “A Ruthless Criticism Of Everything Existing” is dropping in October and is currently being funded through kickstarter. Click here for more info. I have been releasing a free song for every thousand dollars raised, the downloads are exclusive to people who are backing it via kickstarter… the latest track is an unreleased gem with MPC legend, EGADZ.

Video: DJ Muggs & Bambu - Pow Wow Drums

Don't think that b/c I've been busy that I've forgotten bout what's going on in Arizona....Nope! I'm still appalled by that SB1070 bill and I still love seeing when artists share my perspective on what's wrong with it...which is pretty much everything...

Here, L.A. resident and probably the greatest Filipino MC of all time, Bambu links w/ DJ Muggs for another one of their promo vids for their upcoming mixtape "Los Angeles Philippines"...

Muggs is a busy man these days and few DJ/producers are matching not only his output, but also the aesthetcally heady substance of what and who he's working with as well..."Pow Wow Drums" is another example of that.

-BIG D O

Video: Willy Northpole - Back To Mexico

Okay, It's gettin serious!

In times prior to this release I probably would've been reticent to big up Mr. Northpole's music on account of the fact I've never heard much of it and judging by his stage name I doubt it'd be quite in my lane...

However, after viewing this uber-truthful new song/vid he's done that directly criticizes the recent fuckery that is the new Arizona immigration law and subsequent moves in "education reform" that are equally hate filled, I must say Willy done stepped up and said a whole hell of a lot more on this subject than some of the emcee's I hold in the highest regard who remain silent....

If I don't know where you stand, then chances are you don't either...

I know Willy got our back though....

-BIG D O

Video: Toki Wright - By The Time I Get To Arizona 2010

Awhile back I brought you freedom fighter emcee Toki Wright's re-make of Chuck D's classic song that deplores the insanely racist and xenophobic new Arizona Immigration bill, today I'm catching up to the video Toki did up for the joint...

Just goes to show you Toki ain't no arm chair Quarterback...he's out there marching and showing solidarity his damn self...Chuck would be proud man...I know I am...

SOLIDARITY!!

-BIG D O

Single: Talib Kweli - Papers Please

Damn...Is this some real speak or is this some real speak?...

Although this is a highly affecting freestyle, I can't help but wish that Kweli woulda had somethin like this in store for us on that new and somewhat lackluster "Revolutions Per Minute" album.

In any case..."Papers Please" touches on many a factual truth regarding the recent passing of that abhorrent Immigration law in Arizona that has basically made it feasible for hundreds of thousands of Latinos to be profiled and harassed by law enforcement based simply on their appearance...and the kicker? If said Latinos can't produce their "papers"; which is just old school Latin lingo for a green card, temporary work visa or whatever draconian document this country was using at the time to discriminate against us, they are rounded up like cattle and taken to a detention center or held in custody. SMH, all this while we built their cities and waited on them hand and foot for peanuts...

It truly does my heart well to see Talib, and really every Hip-Hop artist that has, stand up for their Hispanic cousins. We need more of this unity ppl...MAS!

This joint and the Hollyweerd jumpoff are gonna share the single of the weekend honor...doubles baby!

-BIG D O


Talib Kweli - Papers Please

Single: Chuck D - Tear Down This Wall (prod. by Divided Souls Ent)

Straight up heat coming from a TRUE legend in this game...

Chuck D, the booming projected voice of PE that has served as Hip-Hop's mind of consciousness for over 20 years returns to the scene with a heady new effort titled "Tear Down This Wall"...

It's fitting that I put up this joint today; Cinco De Mayo, because Chuck is coming directly to the aide of the people that celebrate it in a time when they're being unfairly treated thanks to an egregious new law in Arizona that makes it legal for them to be profiled based on their appearance. The "wall" that Chuck calls into question is the US-Mexico border fence and while he lambasts that atrocity pretty well he also is sure to take to task the many stigmas that face Latino immigrants and Latinos in general. Dispelling the use of slurs like "wetback", lamenting Hip-Hop's connection to sweat shops and referencing the fact that many of these "day laborors" are direct descendants of civilizations that constructed wondrous and complicated pyramids all over Central and South America, no single I've ever posted has even come close to tackling real issues like this...

Only one man could come this correct. Never doubt a legend, Now listen up and indeed TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!!

-BIG D O


Chuck D - Tear Down This Wall (prod. by Divided Souls Ent)

Single: Toki Wright - By The Time I Get To Arizona 2010

The new Arizona Immigration law is heinous...

No way around it, the thing simply is just a regression back to a time in America when blatant racism was socially instituted/acceptable and people of Latin descent were badly mis-treated in the southwest...It's shameful that all of this madness comes in a month when champion and pioneer of civil rights Dorothy Height passed away...

So far I haven't heard too many MC's chime in about the new law, but today one very good one did step up. Toki Wright; the thoughtful twin cities/Rhymesayers MC that I've praised on here before very heavily for his conscious and thoughtful music took the old Public Enemy classic and re-worked it to perfection.

Channeling his inner Chuck D, Toki gives us the best and most important single we'll hear all week, taking to task this whole part of the country and it's obviously biased ways/beliefs...Listen up and when you get the chance speak out against this law...

and BTW, the PE legend himself made sure to give hs commentary on this awhile back as well...peep the article here

-BIG D O


Toki Wright - By The Time I Get To Arizona 2010