Video: raekwon ft. Beanie Sigel & Blue Raspberry - Have Mercy

If your in the mood for a real, no frills, hardcore, grimey Hip-Hop vid than Rae and Beans got you...

For the official vid to "Have Mercy" Rae Rae and company get into some street shit, with the help of the Street Heat video team and Directors Littles (yes, that Littles) and WillC.

As the pain stoked vocals of longtime Wu songstress Blue Raspberry cascade across this modern masterpiece, the visuals harken back to better times when virtually every vid The Wu was making came out with that unforgettable 90's hardcore flavor and looked as if it was filmed by the guy that lived in the apartment upstairs rather than a legit director. Back then Rae wasn't really giving a flying duck whether or not the critics was feeling his vids, he did em' for his core audience and always won out that way.

"Have Mercy" doesn't stray too far from those original formula's that made the early Wu video's so memorable and that's the main reason I like it so much. Bump what is selling, and bump what's supposed to be "in", do it for the people. Rae's done just that here and Beans continues his streak of dope video performances as well with this cameo...

-BIG D O

Lifeofvillians.com Presents Blue Sky Black Death - J(A)Y(Z)

The highly praised and equally deserving production duo from San Fran hits us off with some new remix madness just in time for the fall and winter...

"J(A)Y(Z)", the new remix project from Young God and Kingston that highlights some excellently re-worked Jiggman and AZ classics eclipses most remix efforts of 09' handily and showcases once again that the BSBD boys cinematic and intricately hardcore sound claves are second to none. Seriously, sleepin' on their skills at this point is unforgivable. The pair flawlessly redo joints from AZ like the opening track "AWOL" and give them an all new and even IMO, a better sound than the original....I think I was more partial to the AZ remixes. This is mainly due to the fact that last year had to of set some sort of record for Jay-Z remix projects.

Teaming up with the Lifeofvillians clothing site (which I think is their own line, but I'm not sure) to release this gem not only is smart marketing, but also will expose you to some pretty dope clothing [insert shameless plug for free gear here]....

-BIG D O











http://rapidshare.com/files/284011366/BSBD_J_A_Y_Z_.zip

DJ Eclipse - The Halftime Show Roc Raida Tribute

While many of us are still reeling from his shocking and untimely passing, DJ Eclipse and the good folks over at The Halftime radio show properly paid their respects to the DJing legend Roc Raida.

Eclipse runs through a bunch of tracks Raida produced/scratched on and opens up the phone lines to let a grip of Hip-Hop royalty call in and big up their friend one last time...classy tribute from Eclipse and company....

-BIG D O




Eclipse's official statement:

On Sunday night I threw together a short Roc Raida tribute set at the beginning of my Sirius show. On Monday night Premier and I held our monthly “Like They Used To Say” party at APT which we dedicated to Roc Raida and were able to raise over $4,000 for his family. On Wednesday night I wanted to do a proper tribute show so I contemplated on what to do. As I compiled every song I could that Raida was featured on (production or scratches) I thought it would be better to reach out to his friends and get their take on what the man meant to them. What started out as a dozen or so people that I intended to talk to snowballed into phone call after phone call of friends wanting to share stories. Please forgive me if I left out someone’s name (or misspelled) in this email, but following is a list of who called or showed up at station (no particular order).

Boogie Blind, Daddy Dog, Roli Rho, Kuttin Kandi, Riz, JS-1, Jab, Sugar Cuts, Neil Armstrong, Fat Fingaz, Q-Bert, Mixmaster Mike, A-Trak, J-Rocc, Babu, Rhettmatic, Scratch, Revolution, Rahzel, Bobbito, A.G., Lord Finesse, Dr. Butcher, Vin Roc, DJ Grouch, Freestyle, Spictakular, Shortkut, Supreme and Tame One.

We ended up going an hour longer then we should have. In between calls I found some old cassette tapes of radio show appearances by the X-Men. I hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as I did. Thanks to the whole Halftime crew for making this run smooth; Skizz, Petey Cologne and Marz One. To everyone that showed up or called in….I love you all.

R.I.P. Grand Master Roc Raida. We’re going to miss you.

Eclipse

Part 1
http://www.zshare.net/audio/6609950743e88465/

Part 2
http://www.zshare.net/audio/66100639f5fb67af/

Part 3
http://www.zshare.net/audio/661015788f61b835/

Single: William Cooper ft. Killah Priest - Cocaine Israelites

For all of us radical and militant minded folks we got a brand new single from one of the members of the Black Market Militia camp, William Cooper AKA Booth, who drops "Cocaine Israelites" with fellow Black Market cohort Killah Priest.

Spewing the commentary that the Black Hebrew Israelites (of which Priest is apart of) are becoming more and more known for, tales of religious lore bond with conspiracy theory name drops, hieroglyphs, weed smoke and distrust of Barack Obama...It's pretty explosive stuff, even for a 2 minute rap song.

While most will find the information and rhetoric in "Cocaine Israelites" to be a bit much, I happen to find it entertaining and take it at face value. Much like the real William "Bill" Cooper, I think most of this Cooper's social references and allegory should be taken in knowing that he is after all out to make a buck and in this business the more outlandish your claims, the more noise you make...He'll grab a few ears off the fact that he's saying some wild shit, but whether the Bloomfield, NJ native can actually sustain those ears with actual skills is on him....Hip-Hop fans ain't stupid and we don't like it when people try to sell us snake oil.

I like Booth's style and he'e recruited a strong list of guests for his debut. Ill Bill, Hell Razah, 9th Prince, Kool G Rap and Nature?? Oh I think I can deal with some of the wild conjecture for a minute in order to hear some new ish' from those names. Not to say that everything Cooper does is conspiracy related or that he's piggy backing, but come on, Kool G Rap and Nature? I rarely hear those bruthas these days anyway, but the fact that they'll probably be trying to "out crazy" Booth with some paranoid conspiracy driven rhymes of their own is another bonus.

I'mmma go ahead and take a sip of the purple Kool-Aid that Cooper is selling...

The new album "Behold The Pale Horse" drops October 20th.

-BIG D O











http://usershare.net/87hnuhxu1unq

Singles: NBA Live 10 Soundtrack (Pete Rock, De La Soul, Snoop, Murs, Kurupt & Jay Rock)

If the trend of dropping superior music via video games is really starting to take off then I might have to ditch the PC chess and Mah Jong for an Xbox 360....

My gamer friends are always telling me stories about there being some ill music on a lot of video games these days, but I usually brush off their comments. I would never really get the chance to know anyway, aside from playing a casual couple of games of Madden over a friends crib every once in a blue moon, my gaming days are pretty much behind me. I never was too deep into that. I grew up playing cards, dominoes and real sports man, lol, you know, like actually on the team and whatnot. I ain't tryin' to sit up in front of my TV for hours on end tryin to beat a particular "level"...nah, by the time broads was gettin' cleavage (which around my way was 3rd and 4th grade) my interests was shifting greatly and I had to be outside runnin' around and all that. I gravitated toward the sports games when I did play and I been messin' with Madden and NBA Live since they was on Super Nintendo. NBA Live was my first and only video game obsession. Back then Live was released with the rosters as they were the month before the season started, maybe even sooner, but I would go in and make all the necessary trades and get the rosters lookin up to date. I was fanatical...compulsive even...It actually was a way that I gained a considerable amount of my Basketball knowledge...I watched the NBA games on Saturday like everyone else back then, but I'd be frontin' if I said that lookin at all those rosters on the game didn't sort of subconsciously teach me who was who to a greater extent.

Back then if there would have been any way to marry my other love of Hip-Hop to my Live sessions I woulda been geeked no doubt. Alas I was livin' in the times of a 16 bit console and not much memory...Kids nowadays freakin' get to play against other people 5000 miles away and upload their own music onto their gaming system, SMH...Just ain't fair, lol...

Anyway....

Today I got a chance to peep out a few joints off the upcoming NBA Live 10 soundtrack and I gotta say that they all bang...Wow, what is it about the world of video gaming that can get good stuff like this outta Hip-Hop artists that the regular realm of the industry can't? Perhaps it's the fact that they get paid well and still get their creative control. I can imagine some geek from EA Sports tossing someone like Snoop a fat check and asking him something like "can you give us something a lil' more old school sounding?". Snoop obliged the people at EA mightily. Mightily I say! That lil' freestyle is the most listenable track he's done in years man. Really enjoyed The De La and PR tracks too. It's stuff I would expect to be on their new albums not a video game soundtrack, but hey, it's just more proof that artist's ain't stupid-they're gonna give their best to whoever is paying top dollar, and right now the music biz just ain't where they're gonna get paid....sad stuff really, especially for artists like Pete and De La who always are so creative and skilled with theirs...Just prepare yourself for the day when you hear an ill ass Common song in a refrigerator commercial (if you haven't already, lol).

Be sure to go out and cop that NBA Live 10, it drops on Oct. 6th, I'm sure it's nuts, been the best NBA/basketball game since 95' baby! And yes, the soundtrack will be bangin'. Included along with the songs I've posted there will also be joints from Afrika Bambaataa, Talib Kweli & Mos Def, Grand Puba, Kidz In The Hall, Wale, Zion I, Xzibit, Colin Monroe, 88 Keys, Dead Prez, Wyclef, Matt & Kim and The Beastie Boys among others...

-BIG D O












Pete Rock - When I Need It:
http://usershare.net/z1pk0n1iw4h7


De La Soul - La La La:
http://usershare.net/n2k9iosfsset


Murs ft. Kurupt & Jay Rock - We Ballin':
http://usershare.net/nvbf3mlnmg7n


Snoop - Lodi Dodi:
http://usershare.net/kfg601udwh0r

Single: The Undergods (Keith Murray & Canibus) ft. Crooked I - Die Big Time

The Undergods new EP drops on the 29th ya'll and if you grew up in the 90's you know just how big a deal it possibly could be...

All career mis-steps aside, Bis' and Keith Murray are still thoroughly regarded as two of Hip-Hop's most slept on lyric men that probably should of had better careers. When I heard they were doing a record together, I was really amp'd despite perhaps a somewhat shotty past 10 years from both of em'. I know it'll be a far cry from their releases in the 90's that I was a big fan of, however, I'm still hopeful...

"Die Big Time" is one reason we all can sort of get excited. I mean the verses are solid, the production is snazzy enough and Crooked did an okay job with his guest spot. There is, I don't know, this sort of innate feeling about this though...like that it'll be kind of forgettable. Still, it's a look from some 90's luminaries and I always give those fellas a shot, what I ain't exactly jumping up and down over might strike someone else differently. Perhaps the actual EP as a whole will suit my tastes better. I'll have to check on the 29th....

-BIG D O










http://usershare.net/t6ddue2pmskj

Video: Black Dynamite Trailer

As a self-confessed huge fan of such blaxploitation classics as "Hell Up In Harlem", "Foxy Brown", "Across 110th Street", "Super Fly", and my all-time favorite "Black Caesar", I gotta say I'm mad excited about this new flick "Black Dynamite". The film is a spoof aimed at sort of making fun of the genre, in the same way that "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka did, but a lil' more true to life, and actually paying homage in spots lol. No doubt, there's gonna be some cool shit in it, producer Jon Steingart and Director Scott Sanders captured the feel and look of that era really well and it looks hella funny. Good to see that man Michael Jai White gettin' out there again too, he stars in and contributed the screenplay to "Black Dynamite", which has taken home a handfull of awards, including being an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival.

Now I realize that a lot of black folks really didn't like blaxploitation films (particularly the NAACP and the Urban League) and admittedly looking back on them, there were some seriously ig'nant stereotypes and dialogue that got thrown around kinda carelessly...But, the foul language and perhaps silly themes weren't really the reason why I watched em'...Rather, it was the regular-guy turned quasi super hero template that a lot of them followed that I dug. The stories of regular cats that grew up in tough situations, got their hustle on, became the man and got the girls along the way is what I found to be the real meat and potatoes. They also were authorizing in a way. I mean they gave a lot of black and sometimes even Latino actors and actresses a chance to play empowering, ultra-cool and even aggressive roles, something that wasn't exactly happening a whole lot in Hollywood til' they came along. Of course there was the soundtracks too....Some of the illest and most influential music was birthed outta blaxploitation films, not to mention that they helped introduce the world to the musical stylings of names like Willie Hutch, Gordon Parks, Roy Ayers, Isaac Hayes and Quincy Jones to name a few...

Another thing that I always thought was dope was the posters for blaxploitation films...ya know the really cool illustrations and whatnot...If "Black Dynamite" really wants to re-create the feeling, they've gotta put out a movie poster like that yo!! In all seriousness, I put this trailer up to remind folks that the flick drops on Oct. 16th, and they should def. go peep it out...The movies and time period that it makes fun of were a huge influence to Hip-Hop and many of your favorite MC's have referenced those jawns to death.

I'mma leave ya'll with a few of my favorite blaxploitation movie posters of all time....

-BIG D O








EDIT:

Looks like there are some pretty righteous posters for "Black Dynamite after all...peep em' here:

http://www.blackdynamitemovie.com/media/posters

Single: Kida - Can't Fight The Feeling (prod. by 9th Wonder)

Inglewood MC Kida has risen up from the hectic streets of southern Cali and the numerous pitfalls that accompany them to harness his inner artist and collaborate with some of the biggest names in the world of Hip-Hop.

Currently Kida (pronounced /kee dah/) is readying his debut street album that is set to drop in two weeks and we have one of the joints that will be included on it, "Can't Fight The Feeling", produced by none other than 9th Wonder.

The beat is definitely one of 9th's stock pieces,(I've heard it before, can't remember where though) but Kida gets down to it like it was exclusively crafted for him alone. His expressive and capable technique is instantly noticeable and one can definitely see why producer's the likes of Focus, 9th Wonder, Jake One, Illmind, DJ Khalil and Don Cannon would be willing to work on his upcoming release. Supposedly even the great one himself, DJ Premier, has been seeking to work with him also.

I can't wait for this brutha's new street album and after you bump this you'll fully understand why....The skill is just there....no other way to put it.

-BIG D O












http://limelinx.com/files/8c3dd4f2f04f41d529ee53039112edb4

Sene - Maltas & Music Mixtape

In conjunction with 2dopeboys blog, Brooklyn lyricist Sene presents his brand new mixtape "Maltas & Music"....

Utilizing affective producers who specialize in hazy and jazzy boom bap experimentation's that come complete with neo-soul warbled hooks, Sene creates a unique vibe that has touches of 90's nostalgia, but is something new all in itself...

Picking up from his last mixtape, "Elevator Music" the brash Brooklynite jumps into this 14 track stroll with confidence and impresses with his thoughtful material and ear for dope production. At first he seems like just your average gifted pothead spitting witty, yet random thoughts. Then, he morphs into a very listenable, round' the way poet with plenty of cool stories bout "back in the day", that knows a thing or two about how to rock a mic. Both personalities equally acceptable to me...

Sene is a promising new name with the skills to back up his buzz and we'll all be anxiously awaiting his new album "ADayLate&ADollarShort" that will drop on October 13th and will be produced entirely by Blu...

-BIG D O










http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KWAMF7RN

News: Grandmaster Roc Raida Has Passed Away

It is with a heavy heart that I report the tremendously sad news of the passing of a true Hip-Hop and DJ legend.

Earlier today word broke that Anthony Williams AKA Grandmaster Roc Raida, one of the most innovative and compelling DJ's in the world, who along with his crew the X-Ecutioners forged new ground in the genre of Turntablism, died as a result of complications to a prior injury.

Roc recently had suffered a serious spinal injury practicing Mixed Martial Arts, something he's done for years now. After the injury he had a couple of operations to correct the problem and was doing okay for a time in an outpatient care program, but then today, unexpectedly experienced some complications and ended up passing on...

Raida, the loving father and always affable friend leaves behind a wife, a mother and three daughters. My heart goes out to his grieving family and they are in my thoughts and those of thousands of people who were influenced by Raida's considerable contributions to the culture and touched by his one of a kind talent. Rest In Peace....

Grandmaster Roc Raida was 37 years old....

-BIG D O

News: Del The Funky Homosapien Hit By Drunk Driver In Colorado

Word from Westwood Backbeat blog is that on Thursday while driving on I-25 from Colorado Springs to Denver for a show at the Larimer lounge, Del The Funy Homosapien and members of his crew were struck by a drunk driver in an Escalade. Luckily, everyone in the car walked away with only minor injuries. Del, who was sleeping at the time of impact did suffer a good bit of whiplash however and was forced to cancel the show in Denver.

Del has already planned a date to re-do the show in November....best wishes to him...

-BIG D O

News: Nino Bless Calls It Quits....

The man who was instrumental in the formation of Slaughterhouse and whom I've written about as one of the strongest rising young talents in the game, Nino Bless, announced yesterday via his Myspace page that he would be calling it quits from the rap game and walking away to pursue other things.

In a letter to his fans and friends Bless outlines the foreshadowing that led him up to this point, detailing how he has quickly become disillusioned with an industry steeped in disingenuous behavior and that is rapidly evolving into something that he no longer cares for musically.

Looks like the current horrid state of Hip-Hop has claimed yet another promising young career....SMH...I don't like it, but I wish him the best in whatever he chooses to do in the future.

-BIG D O




Nino Bless::

Peace to all of you. I don’t know if this will be my last blog, but this will explain to all of you why I will be leaving the Rap game prematurely. I am leaving with my head up high and accomplishing in such a short time more than I ever thought I would. In a short time, I managed to captivate some of my favorite MC’s of all time with my own words. Artists such as Kool G Rap, Ras Kass & Chino XL managed to acknowledge my skills.

Kool G Rap told me in conversation “right now I feel as though you can hang with ANYONE on the mic, whether they have a bigger name than you or not you on that level right now.” G told me this not too long ago and seriously I got chills just getting that respect from him. If anybody knows G Rap, he doesn’t say shit just to say it. Pharoahe Monch hit me on Myspace out of no where. I never spoke to the dude 1 time in my life, and he hit me with a Myspace message after I leaked the Bone Thugs Tribute and said “yo dog that Bone Tribute is fire and I peeped the rest of your shit on Myspace and you the sickest new artist to me.” Pun and Biggie could come back and tell me that, and it wouldn’t mean more to me than that. (Real Talk). Monch is literally my idol as an MC along, with Scarface, G Rap and Andre 3000.

I never got into Rap to make millions of dollars. Call me stupid, but that wasn’t my goal. Fame wasn’t my goal either. I love the art of putting words together. I’m fortunate to have certain gift’s other MC’s don’t have, which makes me a minority. I was blessed (no pun intended) with a ability to put words together in a way that mostly other rappers who sat and tried to do what I do could appreciate. Very few understood what I was doing with each multi-syllable rhyme scheme. The one’s that did appreciated it. The one’s that didn’t moved on ’cause it didn’t catch what they were looking for. Frankly, I’m a differently breed than some of these people in my realm. I hate the lights, cameras, and etc. That is not my shit. I do shit for the art and that is something that is slowly been taken away. This industry is way too over-saturated, and at the same has shifted into another direction where everything is more important than the music. I hate to sound like a old head here and be all cliche, but that’s not how I got to fall in love with this – not to mention everything that goes with the music like interviews, marketing, networking, and etc is not my shit either. This Rap shit ain’t me, to say the least. I love rapping, but I don’t like everything else that comes with it.

To some, I may sound bitter. If a major label offered me a million dollars tomorrow, I don’t know if I’d be happy, to be honest. If Jay-Z called me and told me he wanted to sign me, I don’t know if my life would be going where I want it to go, ’cause honestly this shit just ain’t in me like that. Everyone measures success in different ways. I don’t use fame, money, accolades, or any of that to measure success. I measure success with self-satisfaction. Are you happy with yourself? I’m happy, then I’m successful. That sounds emo, but it’s the real deal. What the fuck is 40 mil in your bank account worth if you aren’t happy? You’ll run out of things to buy eventually. I wake up everyday and see my peers and those around me stuck in this black hole where they have to do whatever they can for exposure. They have to do things they don’t want to do to, thinking they are fulfilling a dream. But who’s dream is it? Even a better question; what is that dream?

I intend of having a family one day. A father should not be out to 5am on a Wednesday and it be okay. That shit is not reality. Let me explain to you further of what this is black hole is. This is a place where most of the celebrated folks in this don’t miss shows, interviews, or studio sessions with other artist but can’t name you three of their kid’s friends in school. I know there’s some good dudes in this, so I’m not generalizing, but I’ve seen this more often than not. This is a place where if you beat a dude up you are now much realler than him and hold more credibility than the other person, regardless of what that person has done. So let’s say you are a great father, husband, brother and you are the most dependable person anybody could know if you lose that fight, throw all of that out the window. This guy who beat you up could have choked a female out, never gave two shits about his kid, but that doesn’t matter. He beats you, therefore he is now praised and regarded as “realler” person than you. Oh yeah, if you hold down a famous rapper in the streets and bust your gun and/or have been to jail you are too have some credibility. It doesn’t matter what else you do in life, often, you are praised in this black hole as well. Success is measured by how much sales or how much superficial material you have here as well. If you have money, you are doing well; if you don’t, well then you are not a success. I like to think every individual can determine their own level of success with their own goals. Not all of young goals require making a few million dollars. If that was my goal, I’d rap in a completely different tone. My goal is to motivate the young cats coming today the same way Rakim, G Rap, Pun, and Nas motivated me. There’s not much here today I feel is a good representation of what I like, so it’s a thrill for me to get a message on Myspace telling me I’ve inspired someone to write.

In closing, I want every one who’s infactuated with this black hole to know this shit is not reality. This lifestyle isn’t for everybody, nor is it as appealing as you think. There’s a lot of ignorance trapped in this bullshit and for whatever reason, will still be glorifed for years and years to come. Rappers are not heroes. They aren’t special omnipotent human beings who know everything and can school the youth. Unfortunately, they help guide the youth, but somebody needs to stand up and tell you the other side. Rapper’s don’t do 90% of what they say on records. They aren’t outside dealing, still in the streets, shooting, saving ghettos, treating women like queens, involved in their kids’ lives the way they should be and etc. for the MOST part. This shit is an act. Tupac was a rapper – a man blessed with charisma and putting words together. No different from most of these dudes now. There’s nothing to praise from these folks other than they can make good music. There are certain reasons to be appealed by how an MC may think or what he may say but I hate to break it to you most of the times its just for “show.” This entire shit is a farce and frankly the deep aspects of this game will turn you into a cornball before you know it. So for you youngin’s who want in, let me tell you, be careful or you will become just like some of the lames you idololized. A man who puts the “game” in front of his family and true values in life. I won’t and can’t allow that to happen to me. This is my reason and if you don’t agree with it then I feel sorry for you ignorance. Reality is this shit ain’t reality. Its a joke in which I don’t find amusing anymore. Take care, y’all

Video: BK-One - Tema Do Canibal

Dropping a new vid via Rhymesayers, DJ BK-One and producer Benzilla get funky and get down with Chicago based 9-piece brass band the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble for "Tema Do Canibal". This massive joint is the second single that's been dropped for the new BK-One album "Rádio do Canibal" and while kinda short, make no mistake this lil' tease is what you need to make ya move! Powered by some dope percussion and some horny ass horns you got no choice but to get up outta yo' seat and boogie!

The video itself is cool, utilizes some psychedelic color shifting over what appears to be some Brazilian settings and dance clubs. Pure righteousness in a heavy dose right here....makes me wanna strut down the street with some mutton chop sideburns in a brim and bell bottoms sayin' stuff like "right on" and "I can dig it" to everyone I see...

Get ready for BK-One's "Rádio do Canibal" on Oct. 6th....

-BIG D O

Interest Piece: Brett Ratner And The Time He Let Ghostface Stay At His House...

As a child of the 90's (raised in, not born) I am a complete sucker for all things Wu-Tang related and I always check out everything I can that sheds light on their past or some of their hilarious, unbelievable and downright crazy escapades....So you can probably imagine the delight it was to read this excerpt from Complex.com where director Brett Ratner talks about how Ghostface had to crash at his pad for a week after being kicked out of several (eleven, lol) hotels, and the hilarity that ensued. LOL, this is one of those classic views on the Wu from the perspective of someone in the mainstream world who's path they happened to cross....Seems like everyone has a story about em' and it's always borderline nuts, lol. Now Rattner offically adds his name to the list...

Have a couple of laughs as Brett fondly recalls a few experiences with the Wu-Tang Clan as he just finished filming their breakout video hit "Triumph" in 1997...

-BIG D O




Brett Ratner:

“It was the first million dollar rap video. When Steve Rifkind asked me, I said, ‘Are you sure about this record? There’s no chorus!’ He says “Trust me, its gonna be the biggest record of the year. Only Wu-Tang could pull this off.’ So, I set up the video—Joseph Kahn was my cinematographer. I hear that they want eleven Suburbans—they each want their own. They each also want $50,000 worth of gear, and they told me all their designers. So first day, these guys are walking in one at a time, and each guy walks into the dressing room, and walks out with plastic bags filled with all the clothes. I called Steve like, ‘They’re stealing all the clothes!’ He’s like, ‘Don’t worry, let them have it.’”

“It’s a five day shoot, and it’s crazy. The greatest fuckin’ experience, they’re eating mushrooms the whole time. Ol’ Dirty never shows up. I was like, Oh my god, this is fucking insane! The most fun I ever had. After shooting ends, they all leave to go on tour in Europe, but Ghost never would travel, because he had diabetes. So he checks into a hotel, and they said, ‘Yo Ghost, you watch Brett, and watch over that edit, man. White devil could fuck it up!” So, we’re in the edit room, and we call the group on speakerphone. And it’s the funniest thing, this is embedded in my memory. They’re all on the phone like, ‘White muthafuckin’ devil, man, tryin’ to rob us motherfucker!’ And Ghost is looking at me while on speakerphone, just winking at me like, I love you man! [laughs].”

“So three days into the edit, I get a call that Ghost had had been kicked out of like eleven hotels, and I’m like, ‘Why were you kicked out?’ He’s like, ‘I don’t know man, I got fucked up, and I just start breaking shit. Can you come get me? I got no place to stay.’ So I let him stay at my house. Suddenly my phone rings, and it’s Steve Rifkind, ‘Whats going on?’ I go, ‘Nothing, I’m just bringing Ghost over my house ’cause he got kicked out of the hotel.’ Then there’s silence on the other end of the phone. I say, ‘Whats wrong?’ He goes, ‘I gotta call you back.’ Five days later, he calls me up and goes, ‘Are you okay? Oh my God, you scared the shit outta me, man. How can you let this guy stay at your house? I don’t even let these guys know where I live!’ I go, ‘What do you mean? He’s the nicest guy in the world.’ He goes, ‘You don’t know what Ghostface has? He hallucinates, he hears voices like kill your mom, kill your mom. He has to be medicated because he has homicidal thoughts.’ So a month goes by, and I would edit all day, and Ghost would just chill at my house until we finished. A month later, I’m with my girlfriend in the backyard, and the cat starts going fucking crazy and starts digging into the dirt. We dig up a bucket of fried chicken. Ghost buried a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken in the backyard. How fuckin’ freaky is that?”

Video: Fashawn ft. J. Mitchell - Life As A Shorty

Really cool new vid from Fashawn about among other things his childhood and adolescence....

Produced by Exile and off his highly anticipated debut album "Boy Meets World", Fash dives into some pretty candid facts from a childhood that seemed a lil' mis-spent and a lil', well, "rough"...Speaking on his multiple "dads", not having tons of money and even a first love long gone, this tale will ring all too familiar to a lot of us, but hopefully the spirit with which Fash took his lumps also is a commonality for folks who identify with "Life As A Shorty"....

October 20th "Boy Meets World" meets the world....go get that....

-BIG D O

Single: O.C. & A.G. - Think About It

Here we have yet another leak from the new "Oasis" record from two of our favorite D.I.T.C. members, and truthfully the best leak IMO....

Pairing O.C. and A.G.'s hardcore talents with a beat that compliments them nicely, we have a joint that actually sounds like an official Diggin' In The Crates crew banger. Going back and forth effortlessly flipping braggadocio rhymes, Andre The Giant and Omar show you why their two of the most respected ever to come up outta NYC and why D.I.T.C. though somewhat splintered, is still one of the best groups in the big apple as well.

"Oasis" will feature production from Lord Finesse, Showbiz, E.Blaze and others and is set to drop this fall, on Nature Sounds.

-BIG D O













http://usershare.net/izbr7sg8yamx

Single: AKIR ft. J-Ro - Let's Work It Out

New banger from Viper Records 2nd in command AKIR, off his upcoming mixtape "The Secret" that's being hosted by Statik Selektah. Coming complete with a spirited assist from J-Ro of the Liks this look is just what you need this Thursday afternoon to shake off purchasing that new Jay-Z earlier this week.

If you not familiar with AKIR, then lemme give you the skinny. Duke has been hard on his grind for years now on the underground circuit giving people the best in socially conscious and skilled MCing, making him a perfect choice to be apart of the NYC based Viper Records label, which is also home to Immortal Technique.

The one-time Massachusetts on air radio personality and grandson of American Olympian, engineer and physicist Merideth Gourdine has clawed his way to the forefront of viable new talent in NYC and has released two albums, both of which have garnered high praise....

Enjoy this as you await more good music from AKIR in his new mixtape due out this fall and in 2010 when he is scheduled to release his third album titled "The Plan".

-BIG D O













http://www.zshare.net/audio/657031878e56908f/

News: Lil' Fame Not A Beat Jacker After All?

Following up the report that I had put up a day or so ago about a young Philly producer accusing Lil' Fame of jackin one of his beats for the new M.O.P. album it seems we have yet another twist in the story, but this time it's far more positive.

Apparently the track's producer Rahaman Kilpatrick got scrubbed out of his just credits in the album's liner notes because M.O.P.'s manager Laz-E-Laze was rushing to turn them in and spaced his name. Also, that supposed quote from Fame in the first report for all intents and purposes is false and the real Fame gave Kilpatrick a call and squared things up....

This swift resolution comes as a relief to me, an admitted big time M.O.P. fan, although I do gotta say the placement of this comes at a mighty convienent time......I'll go head' and give Fame the benefit of the doubt and believe that he did this cause' that's just how he rolls and not because a grip of blogs were running the story and he had to do some damage control. Either way, I'm happy Kilpatrick might get a lil' somethin' outta the whole thing. He deserves it.

-BIG D O

Video: Saigon - Free Tru-Life

Sai Giddy sends out a kite to his recently incarcerated friend Tru-Life in the form of an artistic and touching video....

Teaming with Director Derek Pike, Saigon, who himself knows a thing or two about prison, drops a heartwarming appeal pleading in his rhymes to have his friend and peer Tru-Life set free. As he's shown toiling in a studio mixed in with stock footage of the two street MC's in happier times, I definitely caught a sad feeling and almost instantly wished Tru woulda taken the time to think about things more in depth before he chose to take those actions....allegedly.

If I remember correctly, that's Sai's actual studio, his MPC 2000 (great choice Sai) and his equipment/records. Pretty cool to get to see an artist's setup considering most big names don't know jack squat about any of that and just pay people to do it for them. Over a bubbly loop Sai shows he still has a heart and tries to provide a lil' bit of positive speech for a friend that probably needs it badly. Hopefully, Tru gets to see this somehow....

"Warning Shots 2" drops October 6th.

-BIG D O

Single: Don Notz ft. Torae & Ali Vegas - Lost (prod. by Don Notz)

New banger from Queens based DJ and production wiz Don Notz featuring his fellow Queens Hip-Hopper Ali Vegas and Brooklynite Torae.

On "Lost", Notz's eerie and head nodding beat pads the heavyweight lyrical blows that one time child rhyme prodigy Ali Vegas and Coney Island bulldozer Torae sling effortlessly. Many might of thought that Vegas was too far gone to check for again, but proving his critics wrong, the cat that spends a lot of his days in the Pacific Time Zone now, amply displays that he still can flex those old northeast moves.

This is an exciting joint that is meant to prepare you for what I'm sure will be an equally exciting project from Notz in his debut album that is brimming with a host of Hip-Hop's most celebrated names from the mid 90's and appropriately titled "Lead By Example". Set to feature Smif-N-Wessun, Havoc of Mobb Deep, Sean Price, Torae, Ali Vegas, Skyzoo, Nino Bless, Grafh, Big Lou, Capone of CNN, Ras Kass, Wais P of Da Ranjahz, Jaz-O, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Mic Geronimo, JoJo Pellegrino, and more you betta remember to check in when it drops later this year.

-BIG D O











http://usershare.net/fo6e6rhkbck6