New music courtesy of (the newly desinged) Mudkids.com

Download: Mudkids – ‘FREE MONEY’ EP

Rusty (Mudkid numero dos) says:

‘FREE MONEY!’ is a collection of demos we put together for you to peruse while we finish ‘We Are Dynamic And People Like Us’. It’s kinda our way of saying ‘thank you’ for the response to ‘MKEP’. Six demos deep, just a little EP put together from some home-recordings. I truly hope you enjoy it. Tyler and I write a lotta songs; sometimes we’re not sure where everything should go, but it looks like we’re gonna find a home for lotsa stuff!

The flyer speaks for itself.  I imagine it’s gonna be a night for the ages.  “I’m talking incontrovertible, structural damage, human injury…. real mayhem, basically.”  Ok, maybe not that crazy.  But butts will be moving, and drinks will be flowing. 

As a bonus to the Cleptoz show in Bloomington tonight, I thought I’d share a new track from Dizzy Yung’s solo project The Becoming (due early 2010), which features the likes of Rusty Redenbacher, Son One, Mr. Kinetik (production credit for ‘Heart In Pain’), alpha.live, and others.

DOWNLOAD: Dizzy Yung ft. alpha.live – ‘… I Do It’

In today’s irony report, Seanie Mic, the man whose parody videos have piles up 100’s of 1,000’s of 1,000,000’s of views, seems to always be present with his camera for local shows.

Thankfully he was on hand to capture Naledge (Kidz In The Hall) wearing a DOPE Couture shirt on stage with a wig-wearing Double-O?  There’s also footage of U-N-I doing my favorite song of theirs, ‘Beautiful Day,’ and Warren G running through This DJ & Regulators.  The bass was heavy on some of the songs, so sound quality is low.  Hopefully someone over at Heavy Gun has footage of Grey Granite opening up.  Thanks again to Sean for the video.

U-N-I – Beautiful Day:

Kidz In The Hall:

Warren G – Regulators:

If you’re in the Bloomington area tonight, make sure to check out the Cleptoz at Jake’s.  This trio has been rocking mic’s in Indiana and beyond since ‘02, and their live show is always packed with energy.  It’s been a while since they’ve “stolen a show” (Cleptoz.. get it?.. nevermind), so it’s pretty much guaranteed to be a party.

Previously: DJ Orion Presents… Tighty Whities, The Mixtape

My beautifully wonderful Twitter-buddy, KJ, pointed out the new Tanya Morgan iPhone App commercial features got SOLE?, Indy’s premier sneaker/streetwear boutique.  Mike & his wife are two of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and they put in the long hours to keep Indianapolis (and the world) looking fresh.

Check out Donwill at the bus stop, wearing a got SOLE? New Era fitted, followed by Von Pea & Ilyas spitting verses.  If I was a rapper, I might even go download the Freestyle App…. looks kinda dope.

Previously: Video: Tanya Morgan at Bentley’s, 7/17/09

(Jimmy the cab driver, circa 1993)

When I first saw the new NBA commercials featuring Rainn Wilson (Dwight from The Office) as a crazy cab driver with different NBA players in the back, I thought they were hilarious.  Then I realized it reminded me of a similar ad campaign from the 90’s… which I automatically assumed was from the NBA, and they had just re-worked it.

WRONG.

Thanks to The Google, my memory became more accurate.  The ads weren’t from the NBA, they were from MTV.  The character of ‘Jimmy the cab driver’ was a household name and commercial in the 1990’s, played by actor Donal Logue.  Classic commercials that everyone born before ‘84 should remember.

So, what is it….. a blatant rip-off, or a clever homage to a childhood hero, Jimmy the cab driver?

Original MTV ad:

NBA’s current ad:

I first heard Zo! on the project Zo! and Tigallo Love The 80’s, and then saw him live with the Foreign Exchange a few months ago.  The guy oozes musical talent, and this EP is another showcase of his skills.  He enlists Foreign Exchange family members Darien Brockington, Yazarah, Carlitta Durand & Phonte to help create this collection of cover songs.  My favorite track is the cover of Bobby Caldwell’s ‘Flame’, which I admittedly only knew from being sampled on Biggie’s ‘Sky’s The Limit’… but hey, that’s how you learn.

Download: ZO! – …just visiting too

See what ?uestlove, 14KT (of Athletic Mic League & Mayer Hawthorne affiliation), & Mick Boogie have to say:

The new project from Fitts and Tilla has arrived, and it’s sure to be a banger.  Thanks to URB.

Tracklist
1. Revelation In Slow Motion
2. Walking Dream
3. Robot Rage
4. Wath For White Noise
5. Merry Go Round
6. Somewhere A Mountain Is Moving
7. Killing Yourself To Live

DOWNLOAD: The Kickdrums – There Might Be Blood EP

Previously:
The Kickdrums – Waking Dream
Video Preview: The Kickdrums – Things Work Out
The Kickdrums – Just A Game EP

Jay Smooth writes:

Working my way back to hip-hop topics, and LJ is down with the ROC so this gets me halfway there. The target of his tweet epithets (twepithets? ok maybe not) posted quite a thoughtful response on his blog, which I might come back to later. 

Lupe shed the fat at FNF, and then started rapping his ass off over other people’s beats. This time he picks apart the Timbaland-produced Drake song, ‘Say Something’.

“Eye up in the sky like helicopter cams
And you down there in the traffic jam
From here, I’ve seen a bunch of fake shit like avid wrastling fans”

Download: Lupe Fiasco – Say Something

The general consensus is that without this cypher and the Goodie Mob reunion, the _._._. Hip Hop Awards would have just been a Gucci Mane showcase.  I know I’m not alone in imagining this trio of MC’s on a track together for years upon years. Prayers were answered with an Em, Mos & Thought cypher with DJ Premier on the decks.  Even better.

Again, early consensus says Em > Mos > Thought (and Tariq is one of my favorite MC’s, so this says a lot)

I’m excited for Mixtape’s Weezy’s return, which came earlier than expected today.  But no one should be allowed to listen to that, until they listen to fellow New Orleans native, Jay Electronica.  If you’ve never heard him, this song is a good one to start with… produced by Just Blaze.

“I’m bringing Ancient Mathematics back to modern man/
My Momma told me never throw a stone and hide your hand/
I got a lot of family, and you got a lot of fans/
That’s why the people got my back like the Verizon man/
I play the back, and fade to black, and then devise a plan/
out in London, smoking, vibin, while I ride the tram…”
(full lyrics at RappersIKnow)

Download: Jay Electronica – Exhibit C (radio rip)

Since I first posted about the Just A Game EP prior to listening, it has become one of my all-time favorite albums.  Matt Tilla creates soundscapes no one earth-dweller can deny, and Alex Fitts knows how to pen a song that will stay imprinted on your brain for weeks. Plus, they used to get it in Ohio…. © Killa!

Here’s the first song from the highly anticipated There Will Be Blood EP, out 10/29/09.

Download: The Kickdrums – ‘Walking Dream’

Watch the trailer (with hidden tracklist throughout):

There. Is. No. Greater. Love….. than to hear new Blu & Exile tracks performed live.  Exile is a monster on the MPC. I sometimes don’t give enough credit to his craft because I’m so caught on Blu’s wordplay & imagery.

Here is 49 minutes of live awesomeness from CMJ 2009 in NYC last week. It’s starts with a nice verse from Pharaoh Monch, who is also hosting.  Blu & Ex only rock for 10 min or so.  The rest is Large Professor spinning some classic NY records, Dilla, and other heat you’d expect from a legend like Large Pro.

Right click and save to Download: Can I Get You High Podcast (CMJ 2009)

Big thanks to VTECH for the link.