words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Tim Griffin and Chris La Putt

Organized Konfusion @ APW

"Hip-hop gets odd treatment at festivals like All Points West, where most of the lineup leans toward indie-rock. The rock acts, beyond the name-brand headliners, are current: darlings of the club and college circuit and the blogs that support it. But the hip-hop is retro: representatives of past eras alongside younger acts who have chosen old-school styles." [NY Times]

Now that APW and it's associated parties are in the rear view, we're beginning to get a picture of hip hop this fall as those artists lay out shows of their own!

"Forget about whether Brooklyn was in the house; "Where all my trigonometry majors at?" Pharoahe Monch asked the audience. O.C., a rapper associated on and off with Organized Konfusion, also showed up during the [APW] set. Prince Po took pains to deny Internet reports of dissension between group members. And true to the luck that ran through Organized Konfusion's career, the set took place during the afternoon's rain squall; there were only a handful of listeners." [NY Times]

First up, Organized Konfusion, with APW behind them, is back on the train having scheduled a new date in NYC at BB King's on 9/25 with Poor Righteous Teachers. Rock dis funky joint! Tickets are on sale.

Secondly, The Wallabee Champ was recently in NYC to kick off APW at Nokia Theatre with Red & Meth. Video from the Michael Jackson tribute portion of the night below. And Ghostface will be in the building AGAIN on 11/11, as he gets set to tear down BB King's! Tickets are on sale.

Ghostface's partner in rhyme, Raekwon is FINALLY going to release Only Built For Cuban Linx II (9/8!!!) and the cover features Tony Starks, much like the first Cuban Linx. Dig on that below too.

Also coming up at BB King's is the previously mentioned Slum Village show with Reflection Eternal on 8/28. After the shocking passing of Slum Village's Baatin settled in, I wondered if the crew would carry on? Slum Village (which also counted J Dilla as a member) was T3 and Elzhi until Baatin recently rejoined the crew, and now it looks more and more like that is how they will be again:

Slum Village will remain on the bill despite the July 31 death of group member Titus "Baatin" Glover.... A cause of death has not been determined pending the results of toxicology reports, according to local authorities.

"Baatin will be missed," Slum Village's T3 said in a press statement. "I'm glad we got a chance to work together before he passed. We lost another Slum soldier, a dear friend and a brother. He touched many lives." [livedaily]

Slum Village 2009, now exactly the same as Slum Village 2007. Tickets are still available for BB Kings, and more dates have been announced (below).

Full Raekwon, Ghostface, and Reflection Eternal tour details, cover art, videos, and all pictures of Organized Konfusion at All Points West (including some that weren't posted before), below...

Continue reading "Organized Konfusion (apw pics), Ghostface, Slum Village (Baatin RIP) & Reflection Eternal (dates) playing BB King's"

Sad news to report from the Detroit hip hop scene....

Titus (Baatin) Glover, the Detroit rapper who co-founded the much-acclaimed Slum Village, has died.

The circumstances of his death remain unknown, [but] ...Baatin's body was found [Saturday] morning in the 14000 block of Anglin Street, said family friend Ty Townson, who was at the scene as Baatin's body was taken to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.

Glover's mother, Alberta Glover, said she didn't know anything about how her son died. She said she's waiting for the medical examiner to tell the family something either Sunday or Monday.... Funeral arrangements are not yet set.

Baatin, who turned 35 in March, left Slum Village in 2002, later telling the Free Press he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He continued to record and play occasional solo dates before returning to the Slum fold for the group's upcoming album, Villa Manifesto, due Sept. 22. -[Detroit Free Press]

Baatin recently performed with Slum Village in NY at Rock The Bells and was scheduled to perform at BB Kings with the reunited Reflection Eternal.

A memorial tribute was held Sunday night at 5 Elements Gallery in Detroit.

Videos below...

Continue reading "Baatin of Slum Village (recently reunited), RIP "