Happy 10th anniversary to Rock the Bells, who have announced their initial, rotating 2013 lineup featuring hosts Peter Rosenberg & MURS 3:16, as well as names like Bone Thugs N Harmony, Danny Brown, Black Hippy (who just played NYC), Common, E40 & Too Short, Earl Sweatshirt (ditto), Flatbush Zombies, Juicy J (who played a Fader show on Monday and Irving Plaza last night), Rakim, Wu-Tang Clan (who play Summer Jam soon), Tyler the Creator (who just announced an NYC show as part of Odd Future), Eazy E, Ol Dirty Bastard and more. Confused? Yes, I did just say Eazy E and Ol Dirty Bastard, both of which will be "virtual performances" as part of the travelling festival. AllHipHop reports:

Ol Dirty Bastard and Eazy-E's spirits will return to the stage at Rock The Bells this year, AllHipHop has learned.

The pair of Hip-Hop legends will have holograms performing this year at the 10-year anniversary of the rap festival.

Eazy-E will perform virtually with Bone Thugs-In-Harmony and ODB will rock with Wu Tang. Organizers said Eazy never blessed the Rock The Bells stage and ODB only did once.

Also, the "holograms" are approved by Eazy-E's wife Tomica Wright and Ol Dirty's mother, Cherry Jones.

Tupac's Coachella appearance inspired the new virtual performances at Rock The Bells, organizers admitted.

Initial lineup (at least 15 more artists TBA), dates and some video below.

Continue reading "Rock the Bells 2013 initial lineup (Wu-Tang, Earl Sweatshirt, Juicy J, Tyler the Creator... + hologram ODB & Eazy E)"

by Andrew Sacher

Smoke DZA - 'Ringside' EP

Riiiiiiiiight. Prolific Harlem rapper Smoke DZA has put out a number of solid releases in the last few years, and he returned last month with another free release, the Ringside EP. Ringside was produced entirely by 183rd and intentionally came out on the same day as Wrestlemania (4/8), hence its title. It's a short release (5 songs), and a solid addition to his long list of material. Stream the entire thing below and download it HERE. That's the cover art above.

DZA has some shows coming up this month and next too. First, he'll play a Scion A/V show on May 22 at Coco 66 (66 Greenpoint Ave) with Stalley and Riff Raff, which you have to enter Scion's contest to gain admission to, and right after that show, he'll head out on a West Coast tour with Big K.R.I.T., in support of KRIT's also-solid new mixtape, King Remembered In Time, which includes DZA guesting on the track "Only One." You can stream that mixtape in full below and download it for free HERE.

After the tour with KRIT, DZA will play two hometown-area shows in June. The first is a previously discussed appearance at the Summer Jam (6/2) side stage (tickets) and the second is at The Studio at Webster Hall on June 26 with Vinny Cha$e, BBA, H Squared, and Caspa Narkz. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

DZA is also heading out as a support act on the previously discussed A$AP Rocky/Wiz Khalifa co-headlining tour, which hits the NYC-area for three big shows in August: PNC Bank Arts Center on 8/2, Jones Beach on 8/6, and Comcast Theatre on 8/8. Joey Bada$$ and a bunch of others are on the tour too, and tickets for all three NYC-area shows are still available.

All dates are listed, along with those mixtape/EP streams, below...

Continue reading "Smoke DZA released a free EP, going on tour (dates & stream)"

Natureboy @ Union Pool, 9/22/2012 (more by Jessica Amaya)

Greys

today in NYC
Mike Daisey @ Joe's Pub
Soulive @ Brooklyn Bowl
Zach Pruitt @ The Stone
Travis Reuter @ The Stone
Slavic Soul Party @ Barbes
Ben Holmes Quartet @ Barbes
The Allman Brothers Band @ Beacon Theatre
The Whigs, Bad Girlfriend @ Mercury Lounge
We Are The Woods, Tom Shaner @ Mercury Lounge
Tristan Prettyman, Anya Marina @ Bowery Ballroom
Greys, Shahman, Fake Surfers, LAW$UITS @ Death By Audio
Natureboy, Magmana, Daltonians, Abandoned Lighthouse @ Cameo Gallery
Breastfist, Taurus, Nate Wood, Alan Hampton, Jeremy Current @ Pianos
Jo Kroger, Lindsay Dragon, Dollshot, Maya Caballero @ Pete's Candy Store
Dropkick Murphys, The Mahones, BarRoom Heroes, Bryan McPherson @ Terminal 5
Adrian Younge's Venice Dawn, William Hart, Taylor McFerrin, DJ Spinna, Pharoahe Monch @ Le Poisson Rouge

So...not a lot of shows. It's because everyone's in or heading to Austin for SXSW. Including most of BrooklynVegan. Follow our exploits via @BVSXSW on Twitter. If you're in Austin, come say hi at one of our many parties (most of which are free).

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
Follow @bvChicago for just Chicago stuff.
Also follow @bvAustin for just Austin stuff.

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Big K.R.I.T. prominently samples James Blake's "The Wilhelm Scream" on his new single, "R.E.M.," which you can watch the video for below.

Earl Sweatshirt is working on his new album, Doris, and as mentioned, he'd be revealing the video for its second single, "Whoa," this week. That video features Tyler, the Creator and it's out now and you can watch it below. Catch Earl at SXSW in Austin playing collaborative sets with Captain Murphy (aka Flying Lotus) like he just did in LA.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Weird Al and Bonarroo phone bank (including Mike Birbiglia and Eugene Mirman...

With help from Eugene Mirman, Chris Gethard, Mike Birbiglia, Portugal. The Man and more, Weird Al just began announcing the 2013 Bonnaroo line-up on the Bonnaroo YouTube page which happens June 13 - 16 in Manchester, TN. Weird Al just announced Pretty Lights, Wilco, A$AP Rocky, and The xx, and over the next hour, more artists will be announced. We'll update this post as more announcements come.

Other artists playing include Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, David Byrne and St. Vincent, Jim James, Big K.R.I.T., Billy Idol, Grizzly Bear, Japandroids, Foals, Wild Nothing, Deap Vally, Killer Mike, Lord Huron, Divine Fits, Nas, Beach House, The Gaslight Anthem, Local Natives, Dirty Projectors, Baroness, The National, The Vaccines, Holy Ghost, Death Grips, R. Kelly, Alt-J, Purity Ring, Cat Power, Wu-Tang Clan, Bjork, Tame Impala, Animal Collective, The Tallest Man on Earth, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Paul McCartney, Earl Sweatshirt, Four Tet, Father John Misty, Swans, A-Trak, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Cults, AraabMuzik, DIIV, Charli XCX, Matthew E. White, Frank Turner, JEFF the Brotherhood, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Calexico, Two Gallants, and more.

Tickets for the festival go on sale Saturday (2/23) at noon EST.

There's also now a video of Daniel Tosh announcing the initial lineup, which you can watch, along with the current list of announced names, below...

Continue reading "Bonnaroo 2013 lineup announcement underway"

DOWNLOAD: Joey Baa$$ - "Unorthodox" (prod. DJ Premier) (MP3)

Joey Bada$$

Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$ has announced the international "Beast Coast Tour" with fellow Beast Coast associates Flatbush Zombies and The Underachievers, which kicks off in Austin at SXSW and continues into early May. The tour hits NYC on April 20 at Gramercy Theater (note: the date has been announced as 4/21 in other places, but as you can see on Live Nation, the venue is hosting Paganfest USA that day) (UPDATE: The show has been moved to 4/18.)

Tickets for that show are not on sale yet, but you can check Ticketmaster for updates. You may remember that all three artists on the tour previously teamed up in NYC for a Red Bull Music Academy/Boiler Room show in October during Flying Lotus' NYC takeover.

Before SXSW, Joey's crew Pro Era is playing a NYC show billed as CJ Fly & Pro Era at Public Assembly on March 6 with Wordspit, Dyme-A-Duzin, and many others. Tickets for that show are on sale now. No official word on whether or not Joey will be there, but he hates when people say "Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era", so maybe the CJ Fly (another Pro Era member) billing is meant as a play on that? The flyer for this show is below.

When the tour ends, Joey has a few festival dates scheduled, including The Roots Picnic in Philly. All dates are listed below.

Joey Bada$$ has been dropping tracks and videos left and right lately. Back in January, he released his single for Mountain Dew's Green Label Sound, which was a collaboration with DJ Premier called "Unorthodox." Then he followed that with a video with Smoke DZA for "Gotham Fucking City" off DZA's K.O.N.Y. tape, a diss track aimed at Lil B (in response to Lil B's diss to him), and another video with Smoke DZA, which also features Big K.R.I.T., for "Underground Airplay" off the Ecko Unlimited mixtape of the same name. You can stream/watch all of those songs/videos below.

Meanwhile, The Underachievers just released the free Indiogism mixtape on Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label. You can download the mixtape for free at DatPiff and stream it in its entirety below.

All streams the list of all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Joey Bada$$ and The Underachievers released stuff, announce tour with Flatbush Zombies (dates, streams)"

photos by Julie Schabel

Big K.R.I.T. at the Studio at Webster Hall

On Thursday (10/18), MTV presented a show at the Studio at Webster Hall with Killer Mike, Le1f, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Big K.R.I.T., and Flatbush Zombies. Andrew was there and you can read his full recap of the show HERE. BV photographer Julie Schabel was on the scene as well and her pictures from the show are in this post.

More pics below.

Continue reading "pics from the Big K.R.I.T., Killer Mike, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Le1f, Flatbush Zombies show at the Studio at Webster Hall"

by Andrew Sacher

Killer Mike (via BV Instagram)

I spent most of my Thursday night (10/18) at the Studio at Webster Hall show for the MTV-presented show with Killer Mike, Le1f, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Big K.R.I.T., and Flatbush Zombies. The show got off to a late start but were sets were quick and so was turnover, so by the time Flatbush Zombies began their closing set, they were actually a bit ahead of schedule. Despite this great lineup in a relatively small venue, the place never filled up, but the small crowd was a pretty dedicated one, with most people sticking around for every act.

Killer Mike kicked things off, coming out with little introduction to "Big Beast," the biting opening track on his excellent 2012 LP, R.A.P. Music. Killer Mike's made a few notable guest appearances early on his career (Outkast's "The Whole World" and Bone Crusher's "Never Scared," the latter of which he played last night) and had his own hit around then with "A.D.I.D.A.S," but though Mike has continued to release albums and mixtapes since then, he's gone pretty under the radar until we were hit with the impact of R.A.P. Music. He focused much of his set on it, following "Big Beast" with "Untitled," "Go," and an a cappella version of "Reagan," which Killer Mike prefaced with a story about how he's not a political rapper, he's a social rapper, and the message of that song is for us to vote for politicians who will look out for our communities and the ones that surround us. Killer Mike's set was one of the best (if not the best) sets of the night, and he definitely set the bar too high as an opener, but he had to play early so he could head over to Irving Plaza for his show with GZA.

Le1f (via BV Instagram)

Up next was Le1f, whose set was remarkably different from the rest of the bill. While most of the other acts delivered rowdy beats and crowd-working rhymes, Le1f stayed introverted with a passive flow over slower, bass swelling tracks. He was joined by two dancers on stage, both (like Le1f) decked out in camouflage. He did have a few bangers, which, just based on the mood of the show, came off best, and in that environment it would have paid off to focus more on those. But a solid set nonetheless.

continued below...

Continue reading "Killer Mike, Big K.R.I.T., Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Flatbush Zombies & Le1f played the Studio at Webster Hall (CMJ recap)"

Flatbush Zombies at Santos - 10/17/12 (via Frankie Castillo)

Flatbush Zombies packed Santos last night for the Noisey showcase with Children of the Night, The Underachievers, Bodega Bamz, and more. The show was a mad house and the line to get in was wrapped around the block. If you were there, how was it?

Since that show happened, the hip hop crew have been revealed as the special guest at tonight's MTV showcase at The Studio at Webster Hall (10/18) with Big K.R.IT., Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Le1f, and Killer Mike. Doors are 5:30 for what is sure to be a great show and tickets are still available. You can also try to get in with your CMJ badge. Set times are below.

For Killer Mike, this is an early show that he tacked on before he heads to Irving Plaza where his tour with GZA (performing Liquid Swords), Sweet Valley (Nathan of Wavves' beat project), and Bear Hands hits tonight. Since we last posted about it, that show's lineup has been expanded to include Haleek Maul (who also played the Santos show with Flatbush Zombies last night) and The Color Film. Tickets for that show are still available, or you can try to get in with your CMJ badge, or try to win a pair from us. Contest details are below. The show starts at 7 PM.

The Studio show is the first of two shows for Big K.R.I.T. tonight, who also plays the Cinematic/Ecko/XXL showcase at SOB's later on with Joey Bada$$ & Pro Era, Smoke DZA, Fat Trel, and others.

Contest details for the Irving show and set times for the Studio show are below.

Continue reading "Flatbush Zombies played Santos, playing the Studio tonight; GZA & Killer Mike's Irving Plaza show is tonight (win tix!)"

by Andrew Sacher

Main Attrakionz at BV-SXSW 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Earlier this month, we mentioned that iPhone/Android app Mobli was throwing a CMJ party with Heems, Sasha Go Hard, Kitty Pryde, Weekend Money, SAFE, The Underachievers, and Party Supplies. That party was supposed to happen today at Delinquency but that venue has since been shut down so the whole lineup (minus The Underachievers and Party Supplies) is merging with the Young One Records showcase, which happens tonight (10/17) at 285 Kent. That showcase, in addition to including the names mentioned above, will have Main Attrakionz, Kool AD, Deniro Farrar, Supreme Cuts, Cities Aviv, Bryant Dope, Ryan Hemsworth, and CBG. SAFE and Ryan Hemsworth are DJing between sets, the rest of the acts are playing live. The show flier and set times are below.

That 285 Kent show is a pretty stacked bill for hip hop, and if you're into stacked hip hop shows like that one, you'll also probably want to check out the Mass Appeal party at Gramercy on Friday (10/19) with Asher Roth, Prodigy (of Mobb Deep), The Alchemist, Large Professor, Mr. Muthafuckin' exquire, Roc Marciano, Boldy James, Ninja Sonik, Bodega Bamz, Alexander Spit, Angel Haze and Timeless Youth. That one's free with RSVP to RSVP@massappeal.com but entry is based on capacity. The flier for this show is below.

As mentioned, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire also plays SOB's on Thursday (10/18) and an MTV Studio at Webster Hall the same day. That studio show is with Big K.R.I.T. and LE1F, and when we first mentioned it, a "special guest" was billed who has since been revealed as Killer Mike. Tickets for that one are still available.

That MTV show is an early show (5:30 doors) and after that there's a late show with Chuck Inglish (of The Cool Kids), Ninjasonik, ASAP TyY, Blvckalfred, Vault Boys, MopTop, Chase N Cashe, GDP, Vyle, and Curtains. Tickets for that one are still available.

Cities Aviv, in addition to the Young One show, has other CMJ shows, including the Flowerbooking CMJ showcase at Knitting Factory on Friday (10/19) with Unicorn Kid, Ki:Theory, Devin, Ghost Wave, and Talk Normal (tickets) and the Bond Music Group/PopGun show at Cameo Gallery on Friday (10/19) (late show) with Steven A. Clark, Lushlife, Dark Sister, and Pegasus Warning (tickets).

He also plays the free BrooklynVegan day party at Public Assembly on Saturday (10/20) with The Orwells, Eternal Summers, and the rest of the lineup coming soon!

While we're talking about good hip hop shows during CMJ, don't forget the Converse Rubber Tracks/Fool's Gold 5th anniversary show at Music Hall of WIlliamsburg on Saturday (10/20) with Ghostface Killah, A-Trak, Flosstradamus, Donnis, Nick Catchdubs, World's Fair, Troy Ave, and special guests. That one's totally free, first come, first served.

Showcase flier and set times for the Young One/Mobli show are below.

Continue reading "hip hop CMJ update: Sasha Go Hard show merges w/ Main Attrakionz show; Cities Aviv dates; Killer Mike adds show"

Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire

Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire is set to release the Power & Passion EP on November 6 via his new home at Universal Republic Records. That EP includes lead single, "Telephuck," which features El-P (who eXquire recently toured with) on the beat and Gucci Mane with a guest verse. You can stream that track below. The EP also features production by SpaceGhostPurrp, Harry Fraud, and others.

Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire will be playing some local shows during CMJ including the previously discussed Leaders of the New Cool CMJ party at SOB's on October 18 with Casey Veggies and others (tickets). That same day (10/18), he'll play an MTV-presented show at The Studio at Webster Hall with Big K.R.I.T., LE1F, and special guests. And on October 20, he'll play the Tumblr CMJ showcase at Knitting Factory with Doldrums, Troy Ave, Prince Rama, and The So So Glos. Tickets for the Studio show and the Knitting Factory show are on sale now.

eXquire also plays a free Mass Appeal party at Gramercy Theater on October 19 with The Alchemist, Prodigy, Roc Marciano, Ninjasonik, Bodega Bamz, Angel Haze, and more. You can get in with your CMJ badge or if you don't have one, just RSVP to rsvp@massappeal.com. The flier for this show is below.

As mentioned, Big K.R.I.T. also plays the Cinematic Music Group, Ecko Unltd & XXL Mag showcase at SOB's (10/18), the night of the Studio show, with Joey Bada$$ & Pro Era, Smoke DZA, Fat Trel, and others. K.R.I.T. also produced and is featured on the new Big SANT song, "Say That Shit," which you can stream below.

All lists of dates and song streams are below.

Continue reading "Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire releasing new EP, playing CMJ shows (1 w/ Big K.R.I.T.) (dates & streams)"

by Andrew Sacher

Joey Bada$$

Young Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$ put out two of the strongest rap releases of the year so far with 1999 and Rejex, both of which are highly indebted to the golden age era sound of Illmatic, Ready to Die, Reasonable Doubt, and other classics of that kind. Joey and his crew, Pro Era, have been playing locally a lot lately (like when they joined Ab-Soul at Terminal 5 when Ab-Soul was opening for Kendrick Lamar), and they'll continue to do so with a number of shows this month.

This Wednesday (10/10), Joey will join Pusha T, Biz Markie, Action Bronson (who you have plenty of other chances to see), Sicky Brett (of Past Due), plus host Sophia Urista and guest DJs and performers at the Downtown Brooklyn College Festival, which takes place in the BAM parking lot (30 Lafayette Ave). Admission is $10 for students and participating schools include NYU, LIU, Berkeley College, and Saint Francis College. Tickets for that college festival are on sale now. Joey is also scheduled to play at this year's CMJ and at SUNY Purchase Fall Fest a week later (10/27).

Regarding CMJ, as mentioned, Joey and Pro Era will play the Yours Tru.ly day party at Glasslands on October 19 with Ratking, Jim-E Stack, Isaac Delusion, Evy Jane, Night Panther, and MØ. That show is free with RSVP. Then, later that night (10/19), Joey will head to Brooklyn warehouse Villain for the official Pitchfork showcase with Death Grips, LE1F, DIIV, Holy Other, METZ, Merchandise, Daughn Gibson, Hundred Waters, and Angel Haze. That show is free to the public but 200 priority tickets will be given away at the Topman store (478 Broadway in SoHo) "on Wednesday and Thursday between 10 AM and 9 PM."

Keeping his Friday of CMJ busy, in addition to those two shows, Joey will also perform at the Self Taught Showcase at The Studio at Webster Hall (set time TBD).

Before those three parties, Joey and Pro Era will play the Cinematic Music Group/Ekco Ultd/XXL showcase at SOB's on October 18 with Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, Fat Trel, Cashius Green, Chance the Rapper, and Mookie Jone, with hosts Peter Rosenberg and Shiest Bubz. Tickets don't seem to be on sale at the moment but Ecko is running a ticket contest. The show flier is below. Both Joey Bada$$ and Big K.R.I.T. are featured on Smoke DZA's new free mixtape, K.O.N.Y..

That SOB's show runs from 6-10 PM before the Leaders of the New Cool CMJ party takes over the Manhattan venue with Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Casey Veggies, Travi$ Scott, Nemo Achida, Armstrong, Reese Two-9, Chance the Rapper, DJ Genesis and host Maurice Garland (tickets).

In related news, Joey Bada$$ is releasing a new single this fall via Green Label Sound, for which he'll be working with "someone [he] considers an icon." Stay tuned for more info on that. Meanwhile, stream some tracks from 1999 and check out a list of all dates below.

Continue reading "Joey Bada$$ releasing new single, playing Downtown Brooklyn College Festival, CMJ & other shows (dates)"

by Andrew Sacher

Big K.R.I.T. at Pitchfork Fest 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

Big K.R.I.T. released his first official album (following a number of mixtapes), Live From the Underground, earlier this year via Def Jam. It's a solid album and continues to prove that K.R.I.T. is one of the most consistent rappers (and producers) in today's game but, like his other recent mixtapes, it lacks a standout single like "Country Shit." He recently made a video for album track, "What U Mean" (featuring Ludacris), which you can watch below.

K.R.I.T. is currently on a tour supporting the album, which hits NYC on September 20 at Irving Plaza with Slim Thug. Tickets for the NYC show are on sale now.

A list of all dates and the video are below.

Continue reading "Big K.R.I.T. released LP, touring (dates & new video)"

Pictureplane in Chicago in April (more by Tyler Trykowski)

today in NYC
* ASSSSCAT 3000 @ UCB
* Les Hot Club @ Barbes
* Mike Birbiglia @ Union Hall
* Jeff Walton Quintet @ The Stone
* M'lumbo, Gary Lucas @ Joe's Pub
* Bob Jones/Jon Sholle Duo @ Barbes
* Hannibal Buress @ Knitting Factory
* Hallways, Zambri @ Ace Hotel New York
* Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ City Winery
* Sunday Salon Performances @ The Stone
* Catalpa Music Festival @ Randall's Island
* Rachel Potter, The Vanity Belles @ Joe's Pub
* Joe Cocker, Huey Lewis and The News @ Jones Beach
* Ice Balloons, Triple Hex, Two Times The Gun @ Zebulon
* Calls, Midair, Fishing The Sky, Weird Teeth @ Saint Vitus
* Grimes (DJ set), Pictureplane, Arca, Rezzie @ 285 Kent Ave
* CHURCH Comedy Variety Show, Lost Boy?, Gunfight! @ Big Snow
* Quilt, Young Magic, Secret Mountains, Murals @ Mercury Lounge
* Natural Child, Birdcloud, Respect, Hector's Pets @ Union Pool
* The Mystic Underground, The Dossier, Condo Ron @ Cameo Gallery
* Lame Drivers, The Woolen Men, I'm Turning Into @ Public Assembly
* Banned Books, Circle of Buzzards, Beasty, Tank Attack @ Cake Shop
* Dan Neustadt plays The Police's "Synchronicity" @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Death First, Grudges, Dead People Screaming, Pity Party @ The Acheron
* Golden Animals, Shining Mirrors, Divining Rod, Lead Stones @ Glasslands
* Blest Mess, Dust Angel, Gas NYC, Nihilistics, Rejuvenate, Iconicide @ Tompkins Square Park
* B. Dolan, Sage Francis, Grand Buffet, What Cheer? Brigade, Mux Mool, Vockah Redu, Wheelchair Sports Camp @ The Studio at Webster Hall

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Check out a new song off Bloc Party's upcoming album, Four, called "Day Four" below. Their tour comes to NYC next month for three sold out Terminal 5 shows with The Drums.

The stream of Arctic Monkeys covering "Come Together" at the Olympics Opening Ceremony that we told you about yesterday has been removed, but you can now watch a video of that and the band playing their own "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" at the Domino website. You can also download the Olympics Opening Ceremony soundtrack, which features a studio version of the "Come Together" cover, via iTunes.

Big K.R.I.T. made a video for his song, "What U Mean" (featuring Ludacris), which you can watch below.

Schoolboy Q made a video for his song, "There He Go," which you can watch below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

photos by Fred Pessaro // BBG

The 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival kicked off in Union Park on Friday (7/13) afternoon after heavy rain slightly delayed the opening of the gates. Rain continued to be a theme of the day, but it couldn't stop the fun. Local garage rock greats Outer Minds played the first set, and the first great set of the day, followed by Jana Hunter's Lower Dens across the park which was the first set streamed live. The webcast continues today, Sunday, with Ty Segall, Real Estate, Chavez, Vampire Weekend and more.

More recaps from the weekend coming. For now, here are the pictures from Friday. One set is on BV Chicago. Another is here on BrooklynVegan, and they continue below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork Fest 2012 pics (part 1) -- Feist, Purity Ring, Olivia Tremor Control, A$AP Rocky, Willis Earl Beal & much more"

Big K.R.I.T. at Rock the Bells 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

June is Black Music Month, and Apple is celebrating with a series of intimate live shows at Apple Stores across the country. And for the fan who wants to get closer, we'll also be hosting Meet the Musician events -- your opportunity to ask questions and speak with select artists right in our store.* Browse store locations on the right to see who's appearing in your neighborhood. To hear more from this amazing and diverse group
of artists, visit Black Music Month Live on iTunes today.

Some of the events, including tonight's show, the Beanie Sigel show, and the Big K.R.I.T. show require wristbands. "Pick up yours early on the day of the event, as space is limited and wristbands are given out on a first-come, first-served basis at the host Apple Store." The full schedule of in-stores is below.

Speaking of Big K.R.I.T., he finally released his first official album after a long onslaught of mixtapes. It's called Live From the Underground, and its out today (6/5) via Def Jam. It features guest appearances from Bun B, Devin the Dude, Big Sant, B.B. King, 2 Chainz, and others. Stream it in full at NPR.

The flyer for tonight's in-store and the entire Apple Store Black Music Month schedule are below.

Continue reading "Apple Stores hosting 'Black Music Month'; Apollo the Great, Freeway, & Sean Price in SoHo tonight"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Azealia Banks - Jumanji (MP3)

Azealia Banks at Coachella 2012 (more by David Andrako)

Azealia Banks, who recently canceled a bunch of summer shows due to "recording commitments," has now added more shows to her summer schedule. Most of those are in Europe, but she was just added to the Hot 97 Summer Jam lineup which goes down in East Rutherford, NJ at MetLife Stadium on June 3. The rest of the lineup includes Nicki MInaj, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Waka Flocka Flame, Young Jeezy, J. Cole, Wale, and more. Tickets for the fest are available. The full lineup is listed below.

UPDATE: She actually plays the Summer Jam pre-show in the parking lot with the even more impressive lineup of Pusha T, Big K.R.I.T., A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, and Fred the Godson. Your Summer Jam ticket gets you into the pre-show.

In addition to her fickle live schedule, Azealia Banks continues to move around her schedule of releases as well. As of right now, she's planning to get her delayed 1991 EP out on May 29 digitally and June 12 physically via Interscope. The cover art for that EP is below. She'll follow it with the Fantastic mixtape, which is due out on July 4, and includes her recently dropped track, "Jumanji," which was produced by Hudson Mohawke and Nick Hook. Grab that track above or stream it below. Finally, her debut full length, Broke With Expensive Taste, which is presumably the album she's been working on with Paul Epworth, is due out in September.

In other news, fresh off her feud with Iggy Azalea (who plays SOBs TONIGHT [5/17]), she's taken a stab at Lil Kim, who refused to collaborate with Azealia because Lil Kim wanted to write her own verse. Azealia had written it for her and insisted, "Everybody knows Lil Kim doesn't write her own raps." We already know that Kim's got beef with Nicki Minaj. Azealia, however, seems down with Nicki and would possibly collaborate with her, but thinks she should ditch the "ugly wigs and ugly costumes." Maybe they'll meet up when they both play Summer Jam next month. On the other hand, Azealia Banks has collaborated with Missy Elliot and Rye Rye on a remix of M.I.A.'s "Bad Girls." Look for that soon.

A list of all dates, Hot 97 Summer Jam lineup, 1991 cover art, and the "Jumanji" stream are below...

Continue reading "Azealia Banks added to Hot 97 Summer Jam lineup, prepping EP, mixtape, and LP"

The Roots on the Intrepid (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

The Roots have unveiled undun, the band's latest LP due via Island/Def Jam on Dec 6th. undun is, as described by the band, "an existential re-telling of the short life of one Redford Stephens (1974-1999) that plays in reverse, retelling the intersection of free will and prescribed destiny as it plays out on the corner." Sounds heavy, and you can check out the lead track to surface, "Make My" featuring Big K.R.I.T. which is streaming below.

You can obviously catch The Roots virtually every night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, or you can see them in person at Highline Ballroom on Nov. 29th & 30th and Dec. 5th as they celebrate undun. Ticketing info is forthcoming, but we're guessing they'll be late shows based on the currently full calendar on those dates (Corey Glover, Basya Schechter's Songs of Wonder, and Corey Taylor of Slipknot respectively). Meanwhile those with a CMJ badge (or a ticket to the sold out show) can head to Highline Ballroom to see Alice Smith & Gary Clark Jr tonight (10/18).

The Roots recently played a live show aboard the Intrepid with The Hold Steady. Questlove has since opened for Little Dragon at Terminal 5, and CMJ badgeholders can see him DJ for free at Brooklyn Bowl this Thursday (10/20).

Check out "Make My" featuring Big K.R.I.T. below.

Continue reading "The Roots announce concept album, shows at Highline Ballroom (listen to a new song ft. Big K.R.I.T.)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin, words by BBG

Lauryn / Erykah

Last year Rock the Bells, the touring hip-hop bonanza, picked up on the voguish festival concept in which an artist performs an old record from beginning to end. It went well, and this year's edition bought in twice as hard. On Saturday on Governors Island, amid other, more ordinary sets, 11 albums were performed in their entirety.

What a gorging! What an obligation! It seemed to weigh on the crowd. It meant that listeners weren't in the here and now, where they might be fratty or selfish or mean spirited. They were deep in the been and gone. They weren't just listening to hits, or to sustained works of art, but to their own pasts. The exercise cooled them out. Saturday's audience was truly racially mixed, with a heavy representation of the 30-to-45 age bracket, grown-up New Yorkers at their casual and courteous best. Many of them high, but still. -[New York Times]

In true hip hop fashion, guests abounded. Nas capped the day off with a performance of Illmatic, and he didn't hide the men/women behind the curtain of his first LP; MC Serch, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor (of Main Source), Akinyele, Fatal, AZ and many others who either blessed the LP or were instrumental in his come-up all made appearances (yes, they performed the Main Source classic "Live at the BBQ" featuring Nas's first recorded appearance). Pras of The Fugees joined Lauryn Hill for "Ready of Not", Big Noyd joined Mobb Deep for "Give Up the Goods (Just Step)" and other tracks, and Black Moon brought a full band.

More pictures from the whole day, below...

Continue reading "pics from Rock the Bells 2011 @ Governors Island (Nas, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Raekwon, Ghostface, Mobb Deep, more)"

Lauryn Hill reacts to reviews from her Saturday appearance
at Rock The Bells in Mountain View (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Any music event that pins its hopes on Lauryn Hill -- one of the most maddeningly disappointing performers of recent years -- is fighting an uphill battle right from the very start.

Fortunately, the 2011 Rock the Bells festival tour, which stopped Saturday (8/27) at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, has so many other things going for it -- so many, in fact, that it's a shame to have to even bring up the headliner. But organizers made their bed, by picking Ms. Hill for the prime time slot, and now they have to sleep in it.

What's ironic, however, is that this was arguably the best performance locals have seen from Hill in many a moon. And it still sent thousands scurrying for the exits, with some complaining loudly about the 36-year-old soul singer's poor outing, midway through the set.

That's how low Hill has set the bar -- basically at ground level -- and anything greater than a complete train wreck will clear it. That fans weren't demanding refunds, like they had when Hill performed a 2007 show at Oakland's Paramount Theatre, can be seen as a kind of victory for this troubled performer.

Still, it was disappointing, especially for those die-hard fans hoping against all reason that Hill can someday return to the heights she reached in the '90s. And it was the only disappointment during an otherwise splendid day of hip-hop, which ran some 12 hours.
-[Mercury News]

"DOOM will no longer perform on the remaining scheduled festival dates. He extends his apologizes to fans for not being able to make the US shows but looks forward to performing on Rock The Bells soon."

Check out some videos/interviews from California below...

Continue reading "Rock The Bells (controversial Lauryn Hill included) hit California, coming to NYC this weekend (sans Doom)"

Smoke DZA

"The Smokers Club" tour is returning this October and November. This year's tour is being headlined by Curren$y and Method Man with support from Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, Fiend, The Pricks, and Corner Boy P. The tour kicks off on October 12 at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT, hits House of Blues in Atlantic City, NJ the next night (10/13), NYC on October 14 at Best Buy Theater, and Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ the following night (10/15), before hotboxing venues across the US and Canada. All dates are listed below.

The NYC show includes Curren$y, Method Man, Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, and The Pricks. Tickets for the NYC show and the Starland show go on sale Friday (8/12) at noon with an AmEx pre-sale starting Wednesday (8/10) at 10 AM.

Curren$y followed his Alchemist-produced EP Covert Coup, released earlier this year, with his sixth full length album Weekend at Burnie's, which dropped at the end of June. The album was mostly produced by Monsta Beatz and features guest spots by Fiend, Trademark, and Young Roddy. Check out the video for "She Don't Want a Man" off the album below.

Big K.R.I.T. is following his incredible Return of 4Eva mixtape, released earlier this year, with the Last King 2 mixtape on August 18. You can grab lead track "Happy Birthday Hip Hop," which features fellow Southern rapper Yelawolf at K.R.I.T.'s website while you wait for the tape to drop. Album art and a video for "Dreamin'" off Return of 4Eva below.

Smoke DZA will release the follow-up to his free mixtape The Hustler's Club (THC) with his album Rolling Stoned on August 30. You can pre-order the album from iTunes now. It features guest appearances by fellow Smokers Club tourmates Big K.R.I.T., Curren$y, and Fiend, in addition to Kendrick Lamar, Dom Kennedy, Bun B, and others. Check out a stream of the track "On the Corner" with Bun B and Big K.R.I.T. below, along with the album art and tracklist. Also check out a video of "Gotta Get Paid" (feat. Big K.R.I.T.) off the THC mixtape below. DZA also recently collaborated with The Pricks, who are also on the Smokers Club tour, for their song "Ghettoblaster" with B-Real. Video for that below too.

Fiend recently released the free mixtape Cool Is In Session, which you can grab at his website. The mixtape features guest appearances from DZA and Corner Boy P. Check out a video below of "Type of Cat" feat. Big Sant and Smoke DZA off the Life Behind Limo Glass mixtape, which dropped in May.

All dates, videos, tour flier and album info below...

Continue reading "Curren$y, Method Man, Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA & friends are Smokers, going on tour (dates, videos & stuff)"

Allo Darlin @ the Rock Shop in 2010 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

today in NYC
* Internet Week
* Sketchfest @ UCB
* Big Terrific @ Cameo
* Barbara Benary @ The Stone
* Peter Murphy @ The Delancey
* Mandingo Ambassadors @ Barbes
* Hall & Oates @ PNC Bank Arts Center
* Eric Burdon & The Animals @ BB King's
* Allo Darlin', Freshkills @ Mercury Lounge
* The Postelles, The Dig @ Mercury Lounge
* Stephan Crump with Rosetta Trio @ Barbes
* The Barr Brothers, Bizi Gara @ Littlefield
* Keren Ann, Chris Garneau @ Bowery Ballroom
* Special Ed @ Betsy Head Memorial Playground
* Doug Paisley, Old Calf, Hans Chew @ The Rock Shop
* Chico Mann, Hess Is More, Tiffany Roth @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Joe Kubera (The music of Michael Byron) @ The Stone
* Tyburn Saints, The Dirty Lungs, The Above @ Union Hall
* Alina Simone & John Wesley Harding @ WORD Bookstore
* Radian, Sawyer/Yeh/Wooley Trio, Koen Holthamp @ Union Pool
* Thao and Mirah, BOBBY, Led To Sea @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Cellular Chaos, Tiger Hatchery, Mushroom Cloud, Decimus @ Death By Audio
* Sandra Bernhard w/ guests Liza Minelli, Rufus Wainwright, Justin Bond @ Town Hall
* Ken South Rock and Adam Amram, Adira Amram, Alana Amram & The Rough Gems @ Bruar Falls
* Donner Party Picnic, Just Jumps, V Ultra Lounge, Bad Credit No Credit, 2s & 4s @ Shea Stadium
* Sons of Jupiter Daughters of Venus, Kaoru Watanabe/Matt Kilmer/Tim Keiper/Chris Dingman @ Zebulon
* Asa, Clayton Mathews, Amber Rubarth, Clare Burson, Chelsea Lee, The Dirty Urchins, Maya Sharpe @ Rockwood Music Hall

Duncan Sheik and The Watson Twins @ Highline Ballroom is cancelled. Refunds available at point of purchase.

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe @ Brooklyn Bowl is cancelled.

John Grant is not playing Joe's Pub tonight.

Sketchfest begins.

Josh T. Pearson is playing Joe's Pub LATE Friday. Win a pair of tickets on our Facebook page.

Cults' show at the Box tonight is private.

Big K.R.I.T. has a video for "Country Shit" (Remix) Featuring Ludacris and Bun B. Check it out below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

today in NYC
* LAL8 @ The Stone
* Yuck @ Other Music
* Ice-T @ Barnes & Noble
* Roe Enney @ The Stone
* Slavic Soul Party @ Barbes
* Big K.R.I.T @ Santos
* Bill Frisell @ Village Vanguard
* Brazilian Quarter @ Barbes
* Tell All Your Friends @ Lolita Bar
* Femi Kuti, Nutritious @ Highline Ballroom
* Oh No Oh My, Landlady @ Santos Party House
* Emmylou Harris, Josh Ritter @ Bowery Ballroom
* David Johansen of the New York Dolls @ City Winery
* An Horse, Nik Freitas, Secret Music @ Knitting Factory
* Balkan Beat Box, Uproot Andy, Joro Boro @ Webster Hall
* Greensky Bluegrass, Spirit Family Reunion @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Martial Canterel, Automelodi, Dream Affair @ Death By Audio
* Jesse Harris, Kaki King, Thomas Bartlett & many more @ Le Poisson Rouge
* C. Spencer Yeh, Ben Hall, Jon Irabagon, Mike Pride @ Zebulon
* Millionyoung, Zambri, Beige, Rarechild, Bear In Heaven (DJ set) @ Pianos
* Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs, Smoke DZA, Jah C & The Antidote @ Southpaw
* The Submarines, Pepper Rabbit, Yellowbirds @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Toby Goodshank, John Houx, Kung Fu Crime Wave, Jenn Kelly @ Silent Barn
* Atmosphere, Blueprint, Grieves with Budo, SAB The Artist, DJ Abilities @ Terminal 5
* Wires Under Tension, Ghastly City Sleep, Mussels, Ball of Flame Shoot Fire @ Glasslands
* Extreme Animals, Publicist, DJ Dog Dick, Sewn Leather, Shams @ Monster Island Basement
* Strange: A Patsy Cline Tribute, Abby Payne, Rebecca Haviland, Building Pictures, Sophie Auster @ Pete's Candy Store
* Dred Scott Trio, Triangle Shirt Factory, Michael Daves, Shira, Christopher Paul Stelling, Terje Nordgarden, Rod Picott @ Rockwood Music Hall

Right now on the BrooklynVegan Facebook, we're giving away tickets to tonight's Pepper Rabbit, Yellowbirds, Submmarines show @ MHOW, and to tonight's Balkan Beat Box show at Webster Hall, and to the upcoming Yacht show.

If you can't get into Emmylou Harris tonight at Bowery Ballroom (now with Josh Ritter opening), there's always Summerstage.

If you missed Yuck at Webster Hall last night, check them out for free at Other Music tonight (8pm).

Atmosphere plays Terminal 5 tonight, and is on the just-announced Lollapalooza lineup as are A Horse who play Knitting Factory tonight and then Bamboozle soon just like Freddie Gibbs and Big K.R.I.T. who play Southpaw tonight.

Big K.R.I.T. also plays Santos tonight.

Get Big K.R.I.T.'s new ReturnOf4Eva for free.

What else?

Big K.R.I.T. & Freddie Gibbs

Mississippi MC Big K.R.I.T. recently dropped a new mixtape, ReturnOf4Eva, which is available for the price of your email address. K.R.I.T. is currently out on tour with Freddie Gibbs & Smoke DZA. That tour hits Brooklyn on April 26th at Southpaw. Tickets are on sale. The tour ends a few days later in NJ at Bamboozle. All dates are listed below.

Freddie Gibbs has a mixtape of his own out right now too, Str8 Killa No Filla. Download it for free via mediafire. AND:

"XLMag.com has learned that 2010 XXL Freshman, Freddie Gibbs, is on the verge of signing to Young Jeezy's CTE Record label.

Rumors broke out months ago that Gibbs was in talks with the imprint, but according to sources close to the deal, the agreement is done. All that is left is the paperwork."

Continue reading "Freddie Gibbs signing w/ Young Jeezy?, on tour w/ Big K.R.I.T. & Smoke DZA (2011 dates & mixtapes) "

Lupe Fiasco is currently in Australia as part of the Big Day Out Festival, touring with names like Iggy Pop, Deftones, Grinderman, and countless others. After returning back to the states, he'll get ready to welcome his new LP Lasers into this world, due on March 8th. The Chicago MC will celebrate the release with a date at Webster Hall the night before it hits the streets and tickets go on sale at noon today (1/28). Lupe recently released the first single from the LP, the Modest Mouse-sampling "The Show Must Go On" via iTunes.

Tickets also go on sale at noon for Rick Ross at Best Buy Theater on March 4th, and fortunately if you can't make that show you can make it out to see him support Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj at Nassau Coliseum on March 27th as part of the I Am Music II tour. Ticket info for that show hasn't been released yet. All dates below.

Those of you who want to see Lil Wayne but might prefer to see him in a much (much) different setting than the third of three hip hop acts (instead with Motley Crue, Waka Flocka Flame, Insane Clown Posse & Bruno Mars?) can catch the recently freed MC at Bamboozle 2011 in New Jersey. Tickets are still available for the festival in multi-day, and single day pass increments.

And lets say, for some godforsaken reason you felt like a double dose of Insane Clown Posse.... that can be arranged. Insane Clown Posse has taken time off of their busy wrestling schedule to shower New York City with Faygo on April 29th at Gramercy Theater. Tickets are still available all of you Juggalos and Juggalettes!

Full Bamboozle lineup and all Lil Wayne tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Lupe Fiasco adds record release show, Rick Ross playing NY before tour w/ Nicki Minaj & Lil Wayne (who plays Bamboozle w/ Insane Clown Posse) -- lineups & dates"

by BBG

Curren$y at Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest (more by Brook Bobbins)

Forecasters are predicting a "partly cloudy" Santos, as the Smoker's Club Tour will roll into town to play the NYC venue tonight (10/5). The show, which you might have caught when it kicked off at the Rock Yard in September, features an appearance by the great and highly-prolific Curren$y, and will also include appearances from buzzy MC Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, Mac Miller, and Boaz. Tickets are still on sale. All dates below.

Curren$y hits the NYC show circuit seemingly as often as he hits the mic these days which, considering his 9 mixtapes and LPs in two+ years, is pretty frequently. His latest project is his new and critically acclaimed LP Pilot Talk, out now via Roc-A-Fella.

Big K.R.I.T. is offering his latest LP K.R.I.T. Wuz Here for free download. The LP, which features the Mississippi MC on the rhymes and the beats, features tourmates Smoke DZA, and Curren$Y, as well as Wiz Khalifa and Devin the Dude.

Full tour dates and some video is below...

Continue reading "The Smoker's Club Tour passes through NYC again (dates) "