Mixtape: Lady A - The Great Debate

So I'm definitely late with this heat! You better get this!!

DOWNLOAD:

Lady A - The Great Debate

Video: Kid Cudi - Day N Nite (Crookers Remix)

'cause day n nite, the lonely stoner seems to free his mind at night

iLL Vibes Exclusive: Q-Tip at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC (11/30/08)

I'm still in awe of how hip hop legend Q-Tip tore it DOWN at the 9:30 Club on Sunday night. It was unbelievable, take in mind I saw A Tribe Called Quest this summer at Rock the Bells and Tip was not this hype. The Midnight Marauder got on stage at around 10:30 after Pacific Division, The Knux, and the Cool Kids tore it down and justifiably, midnight was the time where the concert got the most live!

The Cool Kids were an amazing opening act.

It was when Tip bumped the bass on "Award Tour" (o:11) after the soft intro of that track. If you don't know what I'm talking about, refresh yourself with the video below and put the volume up. I mean the crowd was jumping up and down just vibing when the bass dropped. "Check the Rhime" also had the crowd Buggin' Out. Trust me, it was live...my scuffed of white 89' Nike Air Flights are direct evidence of how wild it was. Q-Tip at one moment was like a stand-up comedian crackin jokes on this one fan to try to get him to calm down cause he was too hype pushing and cursing all night.



It was crazy how Q-Tip guy went back and forth flipping his classics with bangers off his new album, The Renaissance. For example, check out the footage I got of how he mixed in "Let's Ride" (a track that is epitome of chill music) into "We Fight/Love" (a smooth track off his new album featuring Raphael Saadiq).



One of the most impressive songs of the night besides his epic Tribe tracks, was his performance of "You" which is the most mellow song off his new album. He was so into the lyrics and you could see the passion in his voice, eyes, and hand movement as he rapped every word of the poetic, romantic gem.



He kept the crowd captivated all night from the deep tracks to the booty shaking tracks like "Vivrant Thing." The dude left everything on the stage yelling, dancing, screaming, and jumping so hard with sweat all over his forehead as he had to take a couple minutes to Breathe and Stop in between tracks.


The Abstract had lyrics to go all night and I was hoping to get my chance to at least dap him up. The time came at the end of the end, when he bumped the hip hop tribute song "Life is Better" featuring Norah Jones as he went into the crowd. It was a Love Movement as he was smothered by fans and out of nowhere he popped up right in front of me and I dapped him as he passed the mic to me to finish the chorus as I yelled, "Life is Beeeetter, now that I found you." Indeed, I found hip hop that night and I was in love with the music. One Love. Rest in Peace J Dilla.



Please listen to the lyrics of Q-Tip 2:20 he is really spitting about love for Hip Hop and its history.

Video Dedication: RIP Sean Taylor

Great cast, great concept, all for a great person: # 21

DMV STAND UP!!!

B.o.B.'s Auto-Tune

B.o.B. went straight silly with this video.... hahaahaha

MP3: Drake - Say Whats Real

Damn, Drake got on one of the deepest and darkest beats off Kanye's last album and
I'm loving the results.
No hook on this one, just rhymes....listen up
Drake is def in my top 5 at the moment.


"I've always been something that these labels can't buy
Especially if they are trying to take a piece of my soul..."

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD:

Say Whats Real

Interview: Colin Munroe

WHO IS THIS UNSUNG HERO? To say that he's multi-talented is an understatement; in fact, to throw any adjective will hardly reach anywhere close to what he brings to the table. After emerging on the scenes with his Flashing Lights Remix ("I Want Those Flashing Lights"), this guy not only got the blogs and DJs buzzin', but even the man himself - Kanye West - couldn't help but to co-sign this Canadian singer. What was simply a "creative urge" suddenly landed him with Dallas Austin, world-renowned songwriter, producer, and musician, and a label deal with Universal Motown Records.

Let's just say Colin was destined to be a great musician; born on Paul McCartney's birthday and in the same year as John Lennon's death, Colin taught himself how to play a variety of instruments from the beginning: drums, keys, guitar, bass, glockenspiel, you name it.

But to get a true picture of Colin, you need only to listen to his music to determine his influences. Easily extractable from his production and lyrics is his love for Dilla and Dr. Dre, as well as for Van Morrison, U2 and Tin Pan Alley. Now Colin has emerged once again to provide his own version of a mixtape before the much-anticipated release of his album "Don't Think Less of Me". Features from Wale, Joel Ortiz, Mickey Factz, Drake, Saukrates, Blaqstarr, Dallas Austin, Izza Kizza Black Milk, and Novel make his latest project ("Colin Munroe is the Unsung Hero") a highly-decorative combination of various genres and an incredible collaboration of variety and ingenuity.

I WANT THOSE FLASHING LIGHTS

IV: What's going on Colin? How you been? So, to the few people who have not heard about you, introduce yourself. Who is Colin Munroe?

CM: I'm sure there are more than a few! I'm that kid who you never really paid much attention to in High School but had a secret superpower he was waiting to unleash!

IV: Please describe your musical influences – from day one to present day.

CM: I grew up on my parents' records. Van Morrison, Rye Cooder and other names from the 60s and 70s. They didn't really want me listening to popular music when I grew up so I had to be real clever and find ways to sneak the radio on late at night and flip through the dials. I would hear music but never really knew who made it. Those were my influences for many years. To this day I'll come across something that I would hear during those years and now I get to find out who it was.

After I moved to Toronto I got deeper into different kinds of music. I discovered Dilla who became a big influence and Brazilian music which I love.


IV: Yeah, Dilla's a favorite over here at iLLVibes. REST IN PEACE!! So out of anybody in the industry, who'd you want to work with the most?

CM: That's always a tough question cause I usually work by myself. I still think Brandy has something special and would love to work with her. Guilty Simpson is another one I'd love to work with somehow.


IV: Yeah, what Brandy's been pushing out has been going strong lately. We truly respect what you're doing and everything you bring to the table. While you are best known for your remake of Flashing Lights, you are willing to cross over boundaries to produce all types of music, beyond more than one genre. What other types of genre, if any, do you plan to incorporate into your musical palate?

CM: I haven't made any plans to incorporate any particular genres. I just do what feels natural. I think I'm part of the first generation that is truly without genre barriers. It use to be that kids were rock kids, hiphop kids, punk kids etc. But these days everyone's playlists have everything on them and we are able to understand and move comfortably between genres without it seeming fake or forced.


IV: Hmm, that's a really interesting take on music nowadays. We really appreciate the fact that you play so many instruments. For us, that not only garners more respect from the fans (especially when you write your own lyrics), but also makes for a better live show. How'd you get into playing so many instruments?

CM: I had to. I didn't really have anyone around me that I could play with. I wasn't into bands and that whole thing but I had all these instruments at my disposal. It just worked out that way. I'm not particularly great at playing any of them, I just do what I need to do to get the sound out.


IV: To us, that's the beauty behind music – not necessarily the final product. What fans take for granted is the process in making the music, which most do not see. That is why I love the fact that you have YouTube videos of your practicing your songs and making music – very similar to the way Ryan Leslie shoots behind-the-scenes footage of his making new beats/songs. But, seriously, we're amazed by your abilities, the abilities to play (and correct me if I'm wrong) four instruments at once. How did you even decide to make that set and figure out you could handle all of them?

CM: Again, that was just out of necessity. I didn't really have money for a full band so I figured I'd just try to do it myself. Initially I thought I'd just do a thing with two guitars, but then I thought I'd try to add a kick drum and then a snare drum and then it just snowballed from there! I wouldn't want to do this forever though. It's really hard and everything hangs together by threads. I'm gonna find a way to expand it but keep it unique.



IV: Describe your experience in the industry – your behind-the-scenes work until now, including your decision to flip "Flashing Lights".

CM: The industry has been both kind and cruel to me. I don't really fit into any particular mold so there have been a lot of doors slammed in my face because people don't think I have a place. But then at the same time, I've had some really great people become my champions and help to keep going. I would never have found this great situation at Motown if it weren't for my manager, our friend Folayan Knight and Dallas Austin.

The decision to flip "Flashing Lights" was a simple creative urge. I thought I could make something fun out of it. I never really thought it would get the attention it did.


IV: Yeah man, it definitely swept the industry and especially the blogs. I mean, you received such a huge response from every blog, not to mention a co-sign from the man himself, Kanye West. I'm pretty sure everyone's been asking: did you even expect such a huge response, let alone a shoutout from Kanye?

CM: The nod from him meant the most to me cause I was initially concerned when it started to blow up that people would take it the wrong way. The rest of the support from bloggers and websites and djs is a huge part of my story.


IV: Tell us about the new mixtape you plan to drop. Is it still in the works? And when do you plan to drop it?

CM: I almost don't like calling it a mixtape 'cause it's not like most mixtapes. It's obviously not hip hop and I don't do the usual mixtape things on it. I guess it's what you get when you're a white kid from Canada and you try to make a mixtape! Some of the people that have jumped on it have blown me away with their willingness to get on tracks that were maybe different from what they usually do. It will be available in November.


IV: What about your new LP? How far along are you on it? What can we expect from the album – conceptually, musically, etc.?

CM: The LP has been finished for a few months now and ready to go. It's the record I've been working on for the past 4 years so it's come a long way since then. I started it in my Grandfather's attic and I finished it in Dallas Austin's studio. The album is kind of a chronicle of the period of time when I was leaving home and moving to the big city and really jumping into life for the first time. You'll hear some naivety, some optimism, some depression. I do everything on the record except for one track that I did with Dallas.



IV: We really enjoy your latest single, "Will I Stay", and to me, it's an interesting take from a male's perspective. What persuaded you to create this record? Tell us the story behind.

CM: That song just happened. I didn't mean to write about any particular situation at the time, but looking back i was in that exact scenario in real life. I think I just wrote it and didn't pay attention to where it came from.


IV: We're truly even more excited to hear the remix with Wale. Wale's a DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) native who's been holding it down for years, and like you, he's an upcoming artist who recently signed with a label. And, believe me, if you see him live, as I've had several times, it's just a breathe of fresh air – from his passion to his lyrics and his live band. What attracted you to Wale, and what is it like working with the guy?

CM: He is part of this new generation of emcees that are emerging right now that are also members of the genre-less generation that I was talking about earlier. They are comfortable and clever at coming up with flows over unconventional tempos and tracks. He is just as passionate in person and loves to be productive. I really respect that combination because you don't always find it in an artist.


IV: Wale's going to be a major problem in 2009, and we are looking forward to what he has to offer. What other collaborations can we expect from you, whether in your new album or your mixtape or any other drop?

CM: I did a track for Black Milk that is on his Tronic album that was just released. He is also on the mixtape as well. He is part of the next generation.

IV: Yes! We're really digging his latest cut "Give The Drummer Sum". So you've got to feel confident about hooking up with Dallas Austin. I mean, the man is a legend throughout the music industry. How'd that go down? What is it like working with the man?

CM: He was given my music by a mutual friend from NYC. She manages some great writers and producers and was trying to help me out at the time. Dallas heard my solo record and flew me down for a few days to hang out. He is like me, a bit of a lone wolf who doesn't belong in any particular genre. I think maybe he just understood the path I was on and was cool enough to help me walk it.


WILL I STAY

IV: What are your long-term goals in music? What do you want to be known for?

CM: I want to make other people feel what I felt listening to that radio late at night when I was a kid, or when I discovered Dilla for the first time, or fell in love with the Beatles. I want to add to the collective cultural fabric of the music of our time, whether that is a whole different piece or maybe just a few new threads.

IV: Let the fans know anything else you'd like them to hear that maybe didn't come across from the rest of this interview.

CM: No i'd have to say that was pretty thorough!

IV: Well, Colin, we appreciate everything and thank you for taking the time out with us to speak to us about what's going on so far. We wish you nothing but the best and hope to hear from you soon!

FOR COLIN'S MIXTAPE, GO THE POSTING. My favs are definitely Will I Stay (remix), Cannon Ball, and Brick in the Wall. Oh yeah, probably one of the illest intros!!

MUSIC VIDEO: Wale - Nike Boots

Wow...what more can I say about this song. Epic. Classic. DMV on the map....

Video goes hard



Big Ups to Wale...


None like us...so none like us.

XV - "The Making of the Kid with the Green Backpack" Episode VI

Ah man, the music for this album is sounding amazing I really can't wait for this shit to come out. Check out what the guys got going in Episode 4!!!

Video: Asher Goes to College

This guy is just silly!!! He got straight tea-bagged!!!!! hahahaha

Mixtape: Clipse - Road to Til the Casket Drops

What can I say?! One of my fav duos, and it doesn't even matter that they rep the 2 up, 2 down!

DOWNLOAD:

Clipse - Road to Til the Casket Drops (Mixtape)

Gowhere Hip Hop Interview: Chamillionaire

So Gowhere recently hit us up about their interview with Chamillionaire... that's right, the Mixtape Messiah! It's a really interesting read, as he goes into details about his upcoming projects (his new mixtape and new album), some interesting stories, and his thoughts on Barack Obama. Definitely check out the interview and leave your comments!

Here are a few snippets of what he had to say:

"I plan to actually drop another Mixtape Messiah before Venom even drops."

"I have an unreleased Pimp C song on my album. He actually produced it too. That is really jammin'. And I have a song with Good Charlotte, which.. will be pretty big, pretty big. Everyone who's heard that has been like, "Yeah! It's one of those records!" [chuckles]."

"I'm at the plate and I gotta hit a home run. I know it. So I'm tellin' my fans they better get up and support this 'cause I'm givin' them the music that they want. And if it doesn't work out man, I can't say that I'ma keep on battin' at it."

"And that's not sayin' that to diss him [Lupe Fiasco]. I like him. I'm a fan of his music. I think he's a very smart and intelligent guy."

"Honestly, when I watched his [Barack Obama] speech, I was standin' up the whole time watchin' it. I felt it was one of my proudest moments. I felt better when I was watchin' that then when I did when I won my Grammy! I needed that, you know?"

- Chamillionaire

FOR THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Mixtape: Colin Munroe is the Unsung Hero

No he's not a rapper, but dude has been putting in work! He now presents us his mixtape before he drops his much-worked-on album soon. Be sure to enjoy this project, and also later on today we'll be posting our interview with Colin, so be on the lookout for that!

DOWNLOAD:

Colin Munroe is the Unsung Hero (Mixtape)

Video: 'In Living Color'

So...I was sittin' back today watching my "In Living Color" box set, and I could not stop laughing. This used to be one of my favorite shows and sadly I forgot how funny it was. If you have some time to kill and need a good laugh, check out some of the clips below of some of my favorite skits:

Homey D. Clown






Anton Jackson


The Original "Yo Mama"


"Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money"


Oswald Bates




Hey Mon






ahhh...that's enough...haha....Enjoy!

Mixtape: DJ Tony Touch "Power Cypha 1,2,3"

So...my iTunes was on shuffle today and then out of nowhere, the Busta Rhymes freestyle from Power Cypha Vol.1 came on. I have not listened to this tape in a minute and it felt so damn good to hear these MCs rippin' the mic again. Of course I had to listen to all three volumes after I got a taste..haha. After listening to the first two volumes, it killed me how many lines other rappers bit off this series. DJ Tony Touch's Power Cypha series is hands down one of the best hip hop mixtape series off all time. People used to go CRAZY over these joints, and rightfully so. These tapes are timeless and with that in mind, I decided to post it for all those who don't have it. You can also get an autographed box set of the series (I am definitely gonna scoop one) via DJ Tony Touch by clicking here.

Volume 1: Download

Volume 2: Download

Volume 3: Download

Video: Skillz "For Real" (Directed by Rik Cordero)

Dope video and song by Skillz, off his new album Million Dollar Backpack. I can't even express how happy I am that Skillz put out another album. I was bumping "From Where???" hard a few days ago and I definitely like his new project. "From Where???" was truly a slept on classic. If you have not listened to it, PLEASE cop it. VA stand up! I can't wait for the 2008 Wrap -Up. Anyway, check out the video below:

Throwback: "The Nod Factor"



Throwback: "Move Ya Body"

"I got to keep it tight like seams ain't no fiends comin' in between me and my dreams"

EPMD Album and Charity Events

If you're a true fan of hip hop, you know who EPMD is. Even if you don't, your favorite artist has most likely sampled their music (e.g., Nas's Nastradamus and Jay-Z's "Ain't No *****") or has been influenced by Erick Sermon or Parrish Smith. In any case, to put it shortly, these cats have been around since mid-1980s and are still going strong, much like Q-Tip and KRS-One. They have long been regarded as pioneers in hip hop, especially with the use of sampling of funk and rock elements in their music. From "Strictly Business" and "Unfinished Business" to their new album dropping on December 9th, "We Mean Business", these timeless artists have been dropping classics day in and day out and appear not to have any limits. Further, they are in large part responsible for bringing out artists like Redman, Keith Murray, and Das EFX.


One of my favorite joints, "You Gots to Chill"

As mentioned, these fellas are putting out "We Mean Business" (drops Dec. 9th), and along with this project, they have teamed up several artists who have been inspired by EPMD and who have painted on various canvasses, with proceeds from this project to support the Brooklyn New York-based charity Groundswell Community Mural Project. For more information on this project, check the press release below:

Los Angeles, CA. (November, 2008) — Los Angeles based A.K.L.A Productions announced today the unveiling of “The EPMD Art Project”, a collection of premiere international artists creating works inspired by EPMD. Works from each artist will be presented on canvases and prints and auctioned off at a record release event and a listening party. In Los Angeles, EPMD will team with Zune at their Zune L.A. space, offering guests the first opportunity to hear the new album and bid on the exclusive artwork. A main event will follow in New York at Santos Party House, which will include performances by EPMD and friends, as well as the next opportunity to bid on the artwork.

Proceeds earned from each event will go to benefit Brooklyn New York-based charity Groundswell Community Mural Project. This is a unique opportunity for renowned urban artists to pay homage to, and collaborate with, one of the most legendary Hip Hop Recording groups of all time. Originally created by Eric Haze for Sleeping Bag Records, EPMD’s logo is one of the most recognized in the world of hip hop. Haze’s original Logo for EPMD will remain the true symbol for the group. These pieces are one-off interpretations, specifically created for this project.

“This is a celebration of hard work and an amazing new record. We feel blessed to have the support of all this talent and are happy to be able to use our good fortune to give back to the Groundswell organization and the kids they support,” states Parish Smith of EPMD. “The feedback has been incredible, this record reflects how far we have and come. To be able to collaborate with our fans to give back to a charity makes it even more special,” says Erick Sermon. EPMD’s new album “We Mean Business” will be in stores on December 9th.

ABOUT EPMD
Parish Smith and Erick Sermon are EPMD, the first rap group whose members excelled as both rappers and producers during their long lasting career. They one of the most sampled rap acts of all times. They introduced funk-styled production to rap. They are among the best talent scouts in the business, having introduced the likes of Redman, Keith Murray and Das EFX. They broke up and reunited. EPMD are undisputed legends in the rap game.


ABOUT GROUNDSWELL MURAL PROJECTS
Groundswell Community Mural Project is a Brooklyn-based non-profit organization founded in 1996. Groundswell brings together professional artists, grassroots organizations and communities to create high quality murals in under-represented neighborhoods. The organization strives to inspire youth, communities and artists to take active ownership of their future and equip them with the tools necessary for social change. Work is done citywide with a special focus on Brooklyn. Groundswell teaches communities to use murals as a means to increase civic participation and encourages individuals to speak for themselves in a large-scale venue.

A.K.L.A Productions
A.K.L.A is a Los Angeles based production company founded in 2007. The company has an extensive background in the music and art scenes, and produces media events in New York and LA.

Design: The "Honda FC Sport"

Check on Honda's new hydrogen-powered FC sport. Honda just unveiled the design for this bad boy at an auto show in LA a couple weeks ago. Although I am not the biggest car fanatic, so don't come to me for specs or anything like that, I cannot deny that this is a SICK design. The US automakers definitely need to step their game up if they plan to stay afloat when companies like Honda and Toyota are making more fuel efficient cars that look dope like this. For the full scoop and the specs, which I chose not to copy verbatim, click here.

PS. I love the suspenseful moment at the very beginning of video. LOL @ "it's not production ready, it will never be built, in fact the only purpose is to look cool".


Spotted at: Inhabitat

Design: The "Boombench"

This might be the dopest thing I have seen in a long time. The "Boombench", designed by NL architects, is a sleek park bench equipped with two huge speakers on either side. The bench allows people to play music via the bluetooth on their mobile phone or mp3 player. This would be too crucial for those summer time outings or occasional pick up basketball games. Peep the pics and the video below.

Spotted at: Dezeen

Classic Video: Foxy Brown ft. Blackstreet "Get Me Home"

I used to love this track. Again, WTF happened to Blackstreet? Let it Marinate...

Let's dig in the crates: