This is a classic 2007 track from the basement studio featuring a drunken, half asleep friend (Green Byl) who has to drive his mom to the airport at 5:00 am. Gammaray and Fatgums on the beat, and perfect pitch singing by Icecream. Please enjoy and cherish this gripping display of artistry.
As the year winds down to the end, I just wanna give thanks to a Hip-Hop O.G. who passed away late this year, MC Breed. His contribution and impact were felt from coast to coast and he is widely regarded as a pioneer of the Detroit rap scene that would later produce, Eminem, J-Dilla and Black Milk. Shit, I heard of Flint Michigan years before Michael Moore put it on the map with his Roger and Me documentary because of Eric Breed!
Here's a little track called "Gotta Get Mine" featuring some dude named Tupac Shakur (I think that's what they called him!). Breed's 2nd verse truly highlights his genius and smooth flow!
Sorry Ray, I'm letting the world in on this one. This is one part of the six-part CounterPart track we're working on for the album. T-Know and I just got through laying it down a couple of days ago. Hope you all enjoy it...
Big-ups to Dave and the folks at Beatrock for having us again. Look out for the next Sights and Sounds event coming soon. We see you Flow Ethics - y'all rocked it! ET, man that shit was fun, and K9, it was an honor to be on stage with you homie! Dude has to be one of the dopest beatboxes I've seen in my life! Here are some clips from the performance:
This week's song of the week comes from Oakland's own, Mystic. This song, "Beautiful Resistance" is on her upcoming album of the same name. In it, she describes the hardships and "collective strain" of ghetto life(and life in general); drugs, no jobs, and even the cold of the night. But, by her third verse she explains for her there's "no retreat, no surrender" and through her writing she leads a "beautiful resistance" not just for herself but everyone dealing with the same issues.
For those who don't know, the Tenderloin District is in San Francisco. A neighborhood such as this is where all the grime and grit of a metropolis takes place. If you ever want to know what's crackin on Taylor Street, check out this website that streams video 24/7...
In the broad spectrum of visual arts, to me painting will always be the rawest shit. Paint applied to a surface - that has to be one of the most unadulterated forms of expression. From my own knuckleheaded perspective, painting is like making beats using strictly flea market records and an SP-12. I've been blessed to know (and be related to) some super talented painters, and I'd like to share some of their work with y'all. So here you go, the work of Mark Canto, Derek Chan, and my beloved brother Patrick Strand - some of the rawest painters out there.
Mark Canto (aka Roots): Mark's work is currently on display at Beatrock in Long Beach. Go check out the new store and pick up a Roots piece before you can't afford one!
Derek Chan: The homie Derek stays in Chicago now, but I know his heart is still in the 'Sco! We all miss you D!
Check every week as I'll be posting my pick as "Song of The Week"!
The inaugural pick is Chicago's own, All Natural and their song "It's O.K." I just recently came across my old "No Additives, No Preservatives" CD (1998) and was quickly reminded how DOPE they are! Take a listen!
All About My Fetti - by Young Lay, Ray Luv, and Mac Mall (from the New Jersey Drive Soundtrack). Remember Rickey Waters was in this shit?! That's a damn good trivia question right there.
Bounce To This - by RBL Posse (R.I.P. Mr. Cee and Hitman). Look at good ol' Sway in there. I didn't know there was an uncensored version - cover your eyes kids!
Ghetto Theme - by Mac Mall. Pac's directorial debut?
For those folks not from The Bay, CMC (California Music Channel) was the main source for Bay Area Hip Hop videos for little knuckleheads like me back in the day.Big-Ups to Chuy Gomez, Trace DOG and Franzen!
Action Figures: Blaster and Soundwave I love these, love 'em!...and find myself obsessed with getting all of their little homie cassette tapes. Don't have them all yet, but I'm getting close!
According to T-Know, the creation of the character Blaster was inspired by a letter from a young b-boy in Wilmington, California. The boy wrote that the Autobots should have their own version of Soundwave, and that instead of a Walkman, it should be a Ghetto Blaster. So thanks to young Florentino, who grew up to be a pretty good rapper, my favorite action figure was created. Thanks T! I sure hope you get some royalties one day.
Did you know they make Soundwave MP3 players in Japan?! Those crazy, crazy Japanese... -Fatgums
I know the election already passed but I just wanted to share the homie Alex "Sneaky" Ortiz's Anti-Proposition 6 video. This Proposition would have significantly and unjustly, increased our already overcrowded penal system. It also targeted our youth by allowing anyone 14 years old or older (including NON violent offenders) to be tried as ADULTS! Thankfully, the CA population realized the ridiculousness of this, and the proposition was DEFEATED! -TNO