photos by Brook Bobbins

In the Stretch & Bobbito world, mainstream was a four-letter word.

...For the eight years it ran, from 1 to 5 in the early hours of Friday morning, "The Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show" gave early exposure to artists like Jay-Z, Nas and the Wu-Tang Clan, who eventually went on to mainstream stardom. But for every one who made it, there were several who remained in the underground, happily or otherwise.

Of the many guests on Thursday night [at Le Poisson Rouge, Feb 10th]-- including Raekwon and Masta Killa of the Wu-Tang Clan -- the underground stalwarts were the fiercest, and often the most visibly moved. There was the fantastically gravelly Rock, of Heltah Skeltah, who performed a bit of "Laflaur Leflah Eshkoshka," and Artifacts, who were the night's first guests, and whose "Wrong Side of da Tracks" was still sturdy, more than 15 years after it was released.

After solo sets, Masta Ace and Buckshot collaborated for an impromptu reunion of two-thirds of the Crooklyn Dodgers, the one-off group assembled for the soundtrack of the 1994 Spike Lee film, "Crooklyn." Nice & Smooth closed the night, and almost stole it, with vintage hits, a tribute to Guru of Gang Starr, who died last year, and boundless energy.-[NYTimes]

In addition to the above-mentioned artists, the Stretch & Bob reunion featured appearances from DJ Premier, The Beatnuts, Natural Elements and many many others (and is that Spike from Top Chef in one of the pics?). More pictures from the indie hip-hop star-studded event below...

Continue reading "Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito reunited w/ many special guests in the house (pics from Le Poisson Rouge)"

by BBG

L to R: Stretch Armstrong, Bobbito, and Lord Sear (via)

One of the greatest underground hip hop radio shows of all time will celebrate their 20th Anniversary with a show at Le Poisson Rouge on Feb 10, 2011. Lord Sear will join Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito at the venue "with special surprise guests" and tickets are on sale. No word on the "special surprise guests", but knowing the long list of MCs and DJs that have blessed the show over its existence (names like Jay-Z, The Notorious BIG, Junior Mafia, Artifacts, X-Men, Souls of Mischief, Diggin In The Crates, Nas, etc, etc, etc) it wouldnt be that far fetched to expect someone great. XXL recently ran a piece on Stretch & Bob's greatest freestyles - it's a must read/hear.

The news of the reunion show comes a little more than a month after the death of WKCR's "Squeeze Radio"..

Hip-Hop radio at Columbia University's WKCR is on its deathbed and... the legendary crew of Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Garcia, as well as DJ Sucio Smash, [have] broadcast their finale [on 10/21].

...Sucio Smash inherited the "Squeeze Radio" show's time slot--1am to 5am on Fridays--from the ballyhooed "Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show." Like its predecessor, "Squeeze Radio" (WKCR is 89.9 on NY's FM radio dial) provided a place for listeners to hear the latest hip-hop music while offering an alternative to the strict, and repetitive, playlists of mainstream rap radio.

"What DJ Sucio Smash and Squeeze Radio provides is an alternative for hip-hop fans who have grown tired of the politics behind commercial radio," says Rob Markman, Deputy Editor of XXL Magazine. "Since 2001 "Squeeze Radio" has cut through industry politics and given fans hip-hop in its purest form. It's a shame that rap fans are going to lose this outlet." -[MTV News]

Naturally, many have voiced their opinion on this move. Hear the final show in its entirety.

"After announcing the closing of their New York and Los Angeles locations, Fat Beats is excited to present a send-off worthy of their hip-hop legacy. A week-long series of in-store performances and music industry panels at both stores will allow the music community to not only learn about the history of Fat Beats and what the future of the music industry holds, but to also celebrate the legacy of one of the strongest music brands in the company of their favorite artists. These week-long in-stores are sure to go down in hip-hop and New York history. Everyone is welcome to come and all events are free.

Today marks the official start of the week-long in-stores for the New York location. This location will host artist performances every day this week from 4-9pm until it closes its doors for the final time on Saturday, September 4th, 2010. Additionally, both locations will be selling limited edition commemorative t-shirts, as well as discounted music and merchandise"

The schedule for the New York location is as follows:

Continue reading "free in-stores all week @ Fat Beats (leading up to closing)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Black Milk - "Welcome (Gotta Go)" (Mediafire)

Black Milk at SXSW (more here)

The new LP is called Album Of The Year. That's bold talk from the great Black Milk, but if there is one man who can get that head nodding, it's him.

The Detroit MC (and recent BV show alumnus) will welcome Album of The Year on 9/14 via Fat Beats, and the LP is chock full of Detroit luminaries like Royce Da 5' 9", Danny Brown, and Elzhi of Slum Village alongside appearances from Mr. Porter, AB, Melanie Rutherford, and Monica Blaire. Dig on the lead track "Welcome (Gotta Go)" available above.

Black Milk is scheduled to perform at the Saturday (7/10) show of the Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest alongside a host of other great mic controllers. Admittedly, as much as I am looking forward to seeing the Detroit rhyme killer, the Duck Down crew (also BV show alumni) and a good portion of the Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest support (not to mention the great De La Soul), the main event for me is reunion of the great Pete Rock & CL Smooth! The show will be their first US appearance together in 10 6 years. Reminisce no more, my friends....

Tonight's (7/8) BHHF festivities feature a salute to the DJ at Music Hall of Williamsburg with appearances by DJ Spinna, Bobbito, Rhettmatic, Rob Swift, and Wajeed (Platinum Pied Pipers). Prepare thy ass to get shooken. $10 gets you in.

Dig on a bunch of hip hop videos below...

Continue reading "Hip Hop Fest continues w/ Black Milk, a PETE ROCK & CL SMOOTH REUNION (and a salute to the DJ @ MHOW tonight)"