After teasing folks with a few names here and there -- like Run DMC most recently -- Austin's annual Fun Fun Fun Fest (Nov 2 - 4) has revealed it's full line-up, including Public Image Ltd, De La Soul, Superchunk, Santigold, Refused, X peforming Los Angeles, and lots, lots more. 3-day passes go on sale at 10AM CST.

Full FFF Fest lineup is below.

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest full lineup (De La Soul, Refused, Fucked Up, Public Image Ltd, Santigold, Sharon Van Etten, Rakim, X, Converge, Japandroids & more)"

by Andrew Sacher

Statik Selektah & Termanology (aka 1982) released their second album together this week (5/22) via Showoff/ST. Records. It's the followup to their 2010 LP, which was simply titled 1982, and this one's aptly titled 2012. The album features guest spots from Bun B, Freddie Gibbs, Havoc (of Mobb Deep), Roc Marciano, Lil Fame (of M.O.P.), and more. Statik Selektah's been on a roll with collaborative albums lately (just last year he dropped joint releases with Freddie Gibbs, Action Bronson, Freeway, and Bumpy Knuckles to name a few) and this one's no different. Termanology's conscious raps feel right at home on top of Statik Selektah's beats, which as always, are well grounded in a long history of underground hip hop with an eye on the future. Stream the entire album below, along with the brand new video for "Too Long."

Statik Selektah and Termanology will be celebrating the album with a few release shows, including one in NYC on May 29 at SOB's. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Meanwhile, Bun B (who is featured on the album) will be throwing a listening party for the album in NYC at Tammany Hall TONIGHT (5/23). The party features music by Statik Selektah and Sammy Needlz, surprise guest performances, and open vodka bar until midnight. Admission is free but RSVP (SHOWOFFRSVP@GMAIL.COM) is required. Doors are at 11 PM. The flier for this show is below.

Album stream, video, show flier, and a list of all dates below...

Continue reading "Statik Selektah & Termanology released '2012' (stream), playing shows; listening party in NYC tonight + new video"

photos by Ryan Muir, words by Andrew Sacher

"ASAP Rocky show @ Irving Plaza was CRAZY!!!" - Atiba Newsome

"ASAP ROCKY KILLED IRVING PLAZA!!!!" - Vic Damone

"Shout out to Jim e stack bun b waka flocka and da homie school boy" - AsapTwelvyy

A$AP Rocky brought the A$AP Mob tour to Irving Plaza last night (2/1). He brought out a number of guests like Bun B, Waka Flocka, and ScHoolboy Q, and Danny Brown opened the show, along with Flatbush Zombies and G-Eazy. More pictures and a video from this show are below.

One day earlier, A$AP Rocky appeared on The Angie Martinez Show on Hot 97. He was shocked when during his interview, Rakim, who Rocky's mother named him after, joined Rocky and Martinez on the show. A video of this interview is below too.

The Irving Plaza afterparty went down at The Studio at Webster Hall where a very tall Jim E Stack DJ'd in celebration of his new release. Did any of the advertised special guests show up?

ScHoolboy Q also showed up at the recent Danny Brown show in LA.

More pictures and videos from the NYC show below...

Continue reading "ASAP Rocky played Irving Plaza w/ special guests Danny Brown, Bun B, Waka Flocka & ScHoolboy Q (pics, video)"

by Andrew Sacher

Action Bronson demonstrates the size of his testicles (more by Brook Bobbins)

Action Bronson, who can you can vote for as one of the XXL freshmen of 2012, and who played at the Hip Hop Hanukah show at S.O.B.'s last Thursday, will play another show in his home city before the year ends at Highline Ballroom on December 27. The show is with Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire (who recently played a BV-presented show at Glasslands with G-Side), DyMe-A-DuZiN and The Doppelgangaz. Tickets are still available. He doesn't appear to have any other scheduled shows at the moment.

Action Bronson recently released the new collaborative LP Well Done with Statik Selektah. Get your copy at iTunes. You can also watch the video for album track "Not Enough Words," and stream another one, "Coca Butter," below.

In other news, Action Bronson recently remixed Justin Beiber's holiday jam, "Mistletoe," not long after dropping a track with Asher Roth called "Choices," both of which you can stream below. Not sure if he's joking with these collaborations, but I kinda hope he is. Plus, collabing with the Biebs is way more of a Drake thing to do, which we know Bronson's mentor Ghostface Killah would NEVER approve of, and in Ghostface's book of dont's, an Asher Roth collaboration isn't far behind.

songs and videos below...

Continue reading "Action Bronson's recent release w/ Statik Selektah, a Justin Bieber remix (???), an upcoming show w/ Exquire & stuff"

by Andrew Sacher

Kendrick Lamar

After an EP and a mixtape, Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar released his debut LP Section.80 last month via Top Dawg Entertainment. The album features contributions by fellow Black Hippy members and production by J. Cole on the epic closing track "HiiiPoWer." You can watch the video for that below.

Kendrick is also rumored to appear on Dr. Dre's Detox (if that ever actually comes out) and is on Game (formerly The Game)'s The R.E.D. Album, which after being delayed for about two years, was released today (8/23) via DGC/Interscope. He appears on the album's first full track, "The City," and absolutely kills it. Between Game's fury, Kendrick's breakneck lyrical flow, and Cool & Dre's production, the track is one of the album's highest points. Some other standout guests appear throughout the LP including Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne on "Martins vs. Goblins," Big Boi and E-40 on "Speakers on Blast", and Drake on "Good Girls Go Bad." You can stream those tracks below and order the album on Amazon.

Kendrick has a few shows coming up including one on August 31 at S.O.B.'s in NYC with Trav, Los, and Sim City. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

In related news, Smoke DZA is having an album release party for his upcoming LP Rolling Stoned on August 29 at S.O.B.'s with special guests Asap Rocky, Bun B, Va$htie and more. Tickets for the show are on sale now. You can catch DZA in NYC again when he returns as part of the Smokers Club Tour with Curren$y, Method Man, Big K.R.I.T, and others.

Speaking of J. Cole, his debut LP, Cole World: The Sideline Story is set to be released on September 27 via Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint. The video for the album's single, "Work Out," is below. He's set to kick off the 'Cole World: World Tour' on Tuesday (8/23) in Canada and continue touring internationally through mid-December. The tour hits NYC on October 25 at Best Buy Theatre. Tickets for the NYC show go on sale Friday (8/26) at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (8/24) at 10 AM and an internet presale starting Thursday (8/25) at 10 AM.

All dates and videos below...

Continue reading "Kendrick Lamar, new Game, Smoke DZA & J.Cole -- new albums, dates, videos & stuff"

by BBG

The Throne (aka Jay-Z & Kanye West) have rescheduled their original set of dates to kick off in late October. The current schedule is listed below and "more dates to be announced soon". The new set of dates include NJ's Izod Center on November 5th & 6th (instead of September 27 & 28). Tickets for both dates go on presale at 10AM with the password "WTT".

Meanwhile, much like the Jay-Z/R.Kelly tour there are reports that the partnership isn't going so swimmingly...

A battle royal has broken out behind the scenes of Jay-Z and Kanye West's new album, "Watch the Throne."

Sources say the rappers -- who call themselves The Throne and are releasing their expected blockbuster collaboration Aug. 8 on iTunes and four days later everywhere else -- are barely speaking to each other as they iron out the details of their upcoming tour...

The sources say West wants flashy concerts with "next-level production," which would cost more than $400,000 per show. Jay-Z is said to be meticulous about costs and already has a larger, long-term advance from Live Nation that he has to pay back.

"Jay-Z can't deal with Kanye," an insider told Page Six. "Jay is a stone-cold businessman. He wants to recoup all of his money from Live Nation. But Kanye wants to upstage rock stars with a blowout show. He doesn't care about costs. He has a lot less to gain from the shows."

West is expected to agree to the conditions of the tour next week, but the business brouhaha between the powerhouse artists might have affected their backstage relationship.

Industry insiders were shocked to see West and Jay-Z perform separately with Young Jeezy last Monday night at the Highline Ballroom [a private event]. "We were expecting them to come out together to perform a track from the album," a source said. "They didn't even go out together after the show."

"Jay-Z is fed up with West's antics," another source said. "He doesn't even want to be around him." However, the two are expected to perform together at a listening party tonight at The Rose Planetarium in Central Park, according to The Post's Dan Aquilante. A Live Nation rep said, "No comment." The rappers' reps didn't get back to us.-[New York Post]

Videos from that private Young Jeezy show at Highline Ballroom last week (7/25), which featured appearances from Bun B, The Lox, Fabolous and others in addition to Jay/Kanye, are below alongside all tour dates.

Continue reading "Jay-Z/Kanye West tour has new/changed dates - presale now"

The Cool Kids & giant fish man @ LP listening party (via Green Label Sound

Alternative hip hop duo The Cool Kids (aka Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks) released their first official full length album When Fish Ride Bicycles yesterday (7/12) on Mountain Dew's Green Label Sound. The majority of the album was produced in-house by Cool Kids member Chuck Inglish, and also features some production by The Neptunes and Travis Barker. Guest spots include Bun B, Ghostface Killah, Mayer Hawthorne, Pharrell, and a few others. The album is streaming at AOL and is available for download exclusively on iTunes. BBGun directed the video for the album's lead track "Bundle Up." Check that out below, along with the making-of video, and grab the track at Green Label Sound. Also check out the Mayer Hawthorne-featured "Swimsuits." below.

Green Label Sound hosted a listening party for the album in NYC on July 7 at Sweet and Vicious. The giant fish man (pictured above) made multiple appearances at the party, as did album guests Asher Roth, Maxine Ashley, and Tennille.

The Cool Kids will tour in support of the album this summer. The tour includes a stop at Lollapalooza and a NYC show on August 10 at Brooklyn Bowl. TIckets go on sale Thursday (7/14) at noon.

All tour dates, videos, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "The Cool Kids released an LP, touring (dates)"

by BBG

Bun B

Bun B will join DJ Clark Kent & DJ Greg Street for a FREE show at Good Units on May 17th in celebration of "online sneaker community Sneakerpedia". RSVP now for free entry.

I'm guessing that Bun B, who is also a co-professor of a course on Ethics & Hip Hop at Rice University, won't use the forum to speak on Religion and Hip Hop culture or a career in the music industry like he has done in recent months, but we'll let you know if that changes. Check out Bun B discussing the illuminati, ethics, and the war, with Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco and Russell Simmons at recent Rice University events, in videos below.

I wonder what Bun B thinks about Odd Future member Tyler the Creator's new album "Goblin" which is out via XL today (5/10). He might prefer the more ethical raps you can hear at the Pharoahe Monch/Jean Grae show happening at Brooklyn Bowl TONIGHT.

And speaking of Talib Kweli (who has his own free show coming up), maybe he'll be at Brooklyn Bowl to perform with Jean again, like he just did on his tour that included an April 28th show at SOB's and didn't include a May 4th show at Sonar in Baltimore. Watch a video of Talib and Jean on stage together (and covering Nina Simone) on May 3rd in DC (you can hear them advertise the not-cancelled-yet Sonar show at the even of the video), also below...

Continue reading "a free Bun B show, Hip Hop ethics, Pharoahe Monch tonight"

by BBG

The recently reunited Death from Above 1979 have posted rehearsal footage of "Little Girl" from their LP You're a Woman I'm a Machine. While that's fascinating enough, what's more fascinating is the way that video ends... an all black screen that reads "3/19/2011 1:00AM", a date and time that happens to fall right during SXSW. One question is whether they really mean 3/19 at 1am (Friday night) or actually mean 3/20 at 1am (Saturday night)? They probably mean Saturday night, especially since I doubt they're advertising the MSTRKRFT SXSW show that happens Friday night at the same time. Is DFA1979 cooking up a comeback show for Austin? No concrete answers.

Assuming it is Saturday night at SXSW, and that it is a show, then it's unfortunately at the same time that their old label Vice is having their annual late night party which this year will feature an awesome lineup of Odd Future, OFF!, and Thee Oh Sees. That is, unless it's happening at the Vice party, though nobody I asked at Vice seemed to know anything about it. Vice's party starts at 12 midnight and RSVP is currently open.

Vice's Official showcase goes down two days earlier (3/17) at Club Deville with Davila 666, OFF!, Black Lips, and a special guest headliner who I'm willing to bet is the Raveonettes (who will be in Texas and are signed to Vice). Vice is also involved in the noisey.com show featuring exclusive performances from Bun B and Ariel Pink that goes down in Austin one night later.

All DFA1979 dates, a Vice flyer and the mysterious video, below...

Continue reading "DFA1979 post mysterious video, Vice announce SXSW shows"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Redman - "Lite 1 Witcha Boi" featuring Method Man & Bun B (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ghostface Killah - "Together Baby" (MP3)

Bun B

Brooklyn Bowl will welcome Houston hip hop don and half of the much lamented UGK (Pimp C RIP) on 12/22, as Bun B will play the venue with Homeboy Sandman and K-Salaam. Tickets are on sale. Bun B released Trill OG earlier this year, and recently appeared on a Redman song from his upcoming LP Reggie. Dig on "Lite 1 Witcha Boi" featuring Bun B and Method Man above from Reggie (due 12/7) and the record's art/tracklisting below.

The Bun B show will be presented by Talib Kweli, and he'll probably make a brief appearance. But Kweli will headline Highline Ballroom proper on 12/26 (tickets) alongside Strong Arm Steady, Jean Grae, Red Cafe, Shawn Pen (aka Little Shawn), Joell Ortiz, Mickey Factz, & Naturally Amazing.

Speaking of icons from the south, I have a pair of tickets to giveaway for the upcoming Big Boi show at Terminal 5 on 12/22. Tickets are still available, or you can try your luck at winning a pair! Details on how to win are below.

In related news, Redman and Ghostface Killah were both supposed to make appearances at this weekend's Sneaker Pimps event, but cancelled prior to the show. Rick Ross and Diggy Simmons were added in their stead. Video of Rawse at Sneaker Pimps is below.

Ghostface's new LP, Apollo Kids is out in eight days (12/14) fifteen days (12/21). Dig on the new song "Together Baby" above, and check out the tracklisting and cover art below.

Continue reading "Bun B & Talib Kweli playing shows, Ghostface & Redman releasing albums ++ win Big Boi tickets & more"

SATURDAY DAYTIME STUFF
* FYF FEST in LA
* Warm Up @ PS1
* ATP NY @ Kutscher's
* hip hop @ the Rock Yard !
* Monster Island Block Party
* Electric Zoo on Randall's Island

! Bun B doesn't appear to be playing the Rock Yard anymore

Robert Plant tickets go on sale.

also see: What's Going on Friday?

What else?

by BBG

Black Milk at SXSW (more here)

Black Milk will team up with his uber-buzzy mic controller Decon label-mate Freddie Gibbs for a show at SOBs on Tuesday (August 3rd, tickets). The show will double as a record release party for Gibbs, as he readies his new EP Str8 Killa due that same day (git it) and accompanying (requisite?) mixtape, available for free download HERE. In addition, Gibbs has pounded out a new video for the lead single from Str8 Killa, "National Anthem", available below

The eight-track Gibbs EP also features a song called "Oil Money" that features guest spots by Chuck Inglish of the Cool Kids, Chip Tha Ripper, Bun B & The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. Download that track free HERE or HERE. Read more about the THREE Black Keys shows that just happened in NYC here, here, and here.

Freddie's older The Miseducation Of Freddie Gibbs Mixtape is free HERE.

Black Milk's new LP Album Of The Year is due on September 14th, and the beat god (and damn fine MC) dropped a video album trailer for that LP today. View that below along with the album's tracklisting, some other video and full Freddie Gibbs tour dates...

Continue reading "Freddie Gibbs giving away new mixtape, celebrating new EP @ SOB's w/ Black Milk -- MP3s, video, dates & the Black Keys"

So, remember those six free shows that are happening? Here they are....

Continue reading "Jelly presents Saturdays @ Rock Yard (6 free show lineups) "