Zebra Katz @ BV-SXSW 2013 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Zebra fucking Katz, about to spend some serious time in Europe, dropped a mixtape yesterday and you should stream that bitch. With dates below...

Continue reading "Zebra Katz touring Europe, releases mixtape (listen!)"

Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli has been working on his new album, Prisoner of Conscious since before the release of 2011's Gutter Rainbows, and after continuously delaying it, he's finally set to release it for real this time. It comes out next week (5/7). The record features contributions from some pretty hot of-the-moment guests, including Miguel ("Come Here") and Kendrick Lamar & Curren$y ("Push Thru"). It's also got a track produced by Harry Fraud ("Upper Echelon"), one produced by RZA with a verse from Busta Rhymes ("Rocket Ships"), and a handful of tracks produced by Oh No. You can stream/watch videos for "Come Here," "Push Thru," "Upper Echelon," "Rocket Ships" and two other cuts from the album below, along with the full tracklist. That's the artwork above.

Talib's next hometown gig is this weekend on Sunday (5/5) at Union Hall, where he'll be providing "music and monologues" followed by improv comedy from Coal, Swag, and Sandino, which will be inspired by Talib's set. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

All dates are listed, along with song streams and the album tracklist, below...

Continue reading "Talib Kweli finally releasing 'Prisoner of Conscious' (Kendrick, Miguel, Curren$y, Busta, RZA & more included), playing shows"

Cee Lo at Lollapalooza 2011 (more by David Andrako)

Cee Lo Green will be heading to Brooklyn this spring to headline the "Electric Soul Circus," which goes down on May 31 at Barclays Center. In addition to headlining, he'll also be performing with his rap group, Goodie Mob, and Busta Rhymes is on the bill too. Other acts performing include Sklyar Grey, Wordspit & the Illest, Lauriana Mae & the Pains, and Alexandra & the Starlight Band. Tickets for the show go on sale today (4/19) at noon.

Last summer, we mentioned that Goodie Mob are planning a new album called Age Against the Machine, and it's recently been announced that that album will be released on June 18. You can stream Goodie Mob's reunion single, "FIght to Win," along with a video of Cee Lo's performance on Ellen from Wednesday night (4/17), below.

Continue reading "Cee Lo, Goodie Mob, Busta Rhymes & more playing 'Electric Soul Circus' at Barclays Center"

As rumored, rivals Fat Joe and 50 Cent came together to honor Chris Lighty at the BET Hip Hop Awards last night. Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Diggy Simmons, Phife Dawg, LL Cool J and Funkmaster Flex took part of the 10 minute segment too. Watch it below...

Continue reading "VIDEO: watch Chris Lighty tribute @ BET Hip Hop Awards (A Tribe Called Quest, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, Fat Joe & more)"

Rick Ross at Fader Fort, Austin 2012 (more by Angelina Castillo)

Tension exploded between Rick Ross' MMG crew, Young Jeezy's camp and G-unit in Atlanta this weekend.

During Saturday's (September 29) taping for BET's 2012 Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, Rozay and the Snowman reportedly got into a shoving match backstage before the scuffle spilled outside into the parking lot. Shots were fired and at least one man was said to be arrested.

That's not all. Multiple sources who witnessed the fray confirmed to MTV News that Ross' protégé Gunplay was also involved in fisticuffs with members of 50 Cent's G-Unit camp. Gun was seen with visible wounds and a witness told us that the Miami MC was put into handcuffs and detained, but a separate source close to Gunplay told us that he was not arrested. -[MTV News]

In related news, Rick Ross and his Maybach Music associates Wale and Meek Mill have announced a fall tour, and those dates are also listed below...

Continue reading "Rick Ross & Young Jeezy tussle backstage at the BET Awards (video); Maybach Music announce tour (dates)"

Busta Ryhmes @ Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest

Busta Rhymes headlined the closing night of the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival on Saturday (7/14) with a set which saw him reunited with Leaders of the New School -- the group which launched his career -- marking the first time Busta's performed with them since the mid-'90s (despite the group reuniting without him back in 2010). Though it had been hinted at, Raekwon and Rakim did not appear as guests at the show, but A Tribe Called Quest members Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, among others, did show up.

HipHopDX was at the show, and here's what they had to say about it:

With Spliff Star by his side, Bussa Bus rattled through a gaggle of hits from his illustrious, 20-plus year career - including anthems "Woo Ha!," "Pass The Courvoisier," "Party Goin' On Over Here," "Look At Me Now," "Everybody Rise," and others. The Brooklyn-native also brought Lil Fame and Slick Rick to the stage for performances of "Ante Up Remix" and "Children's Story," respectively, as well as Reek Da Villain, and BHF regulars, Buckshot and Smif-N-Wessun of Boot Camp Clik. In a classy display of skill, Busta Rhymes continued leading the audience in his rendition of "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" even after the sound was cut because the show went past the park's 8PM curfew. Those in attendance loved it, waving their hands to Rhymes impromptu, pantomime performance, leaving on an upbeat note despite a day of noticeable challenges.

Speaking of turning off mics, and as a lot of the internet is reporting, the same thing happened to Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and Tom Morello in London this weekend.

"Bruce Springsteen had been waiting for this moment for a long time. "I gotta tell you," he said to the 76,000-strong crowd, "I've been trying to do this for 50 years." For the finale of his headline slot in London's Hyde Park on Saturday, he'd arranged a very special treat: An onstage collaboration with Beatles legend Paul McCartney. But the rock megastar hadn't banked on the local London council deciding to show him who was boss." [CNN]

You can catch Q-Tip again this Friday (7/20) at Irving Plaza where he'll be djing the second edition of his "Offline" party, but note: "There will be a strict door policy. No single guys will be admitted unless there are ladies in your group. Dress To Impress. We love style and we know you do too, so please dress smart. Management reserves the right to refuse admission." Sounds fun.

Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest and Springsteen/McCartney videos below...

Continue reading "Busta Rhymes reunited Leaders of the New School @ Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest, got his mic cut off (like Paul McCartney & Bruce Springsteen) -- videos"

Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest 2011 (more by Brook Bobbins)

The 2012 Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival runs from Monday, 7/9 (tonight) through Saturday (7/14). As mentioned, Busta Rhymes is headlining, but since we last spoke, more artists have been announced. The fest kicks off tonight at Brooklyn Bowl with a stacked lineup of Freeway, Young Guru, Evitan, 1982 (Statik Selektah & Termanology), REKS, and more. Tickets for that show are still available. Festival passes will only be accepted between 8 PM - 10 PM.

On Thursday (7/12), Public Assembly will host "Salute the DJ," with sets from DJ Chuck Chillout, DJ Sucio Smash, Ralph McDaniels, M. Will, KJ, and DP One. Tickets for that are available.

The final day, July 14, includes 'Family Day' at Pier 3 at Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the Busta-headlined show at the Brooklyn waterfront with Ka, Clear Soul Forces, Chuuwee, Fat Tony and more TBA. There's also an after party at the Knitting Factory with an early show by Ana Tijoux, Rebel Diaz, and Javiera Mena (tickets) and a late show by Jasmine Solano, Melo-X, CSC Funk Band, DJ Evil Dee, and "special invited guests." (tickets).

There will also be film screenings, symposiums, and more. Check out the full schedule.

A video of Busta talking about his plans for this year's BHF is below...

Continue reading "2012 Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival begins tonight (schedule)"

Busta Rhymes at BHHF 2011 (more by Brook Bobbins)

Microphone check one two: we've got some details regarding the 2012 edition of the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival which happens July 9 - 14 at locales all over the borough and features everything from MC and DJ battles, to tributes, industry talks and films. You can check out a the full schedule of events below.

The week-long celebration will culminate with "Busta & Friends" on July 14th at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The full lineup has yet to be announced, but will include a tribute to Adam Yauch and lots of Busta Rhymes "friends" (last year Kanye showed up). Tickets are on sale now, both to individual shows or week-long passes.

Continue reading "Busta Rhymes headlining 2012 Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival"

Talib Kweli @ SXSW 2011 (more by BBG)

Speaking of Blue Note, Blue Note alumnus Talib Kweli, though not part of the just-announced festival this year (Mos Def is though), has shows of his own scheduled.

As part of "The Prisoner of Conscious Tour", he'll headline Le Poisson Rouge in NYC on May 28th with guests J. Pinder and Bajah and The Dry Eye Crew. Tickets for the show are on sale. All currently announced dates, including Black Star at Bonnaroo (where Kenny Rogers is also playing), are listed below, along with a video for a song from Talib's new album...

"Slated for a Summer 2012 release, Kweli's new album, Prisoner of Conscious (Blacksmith/EMI), features appearances from RZA, Busta Rhymes, Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar, Melanie Fiona and more. The video for the album's lead single, the Oh No-produced "Distractions", can be seen below."

Kweli, who played a show in Chicago last night, has had a great week so far. His Idle Warship (with Res) project recently released a new video for "Driving Me Insane" and Kweli was profiled by NY1.

Watch the Idle Warship video, the Talib video, and a trailer for a documentary about Res, with all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Talib Kweli prepping new LP, announces dates & stuff"

Continuing 6 years after Hip-Hop visionary J Dilla's death, the annual Donuts Are Forever tribute benefit is slated for this Sunday at Brooklyn Bowl (2/19). The concert includes DJ sets by TARA, Brina Payne, Ill Digitz, GETLIVE!, and returning act Parler, with producer Prince Paul and DJ Neil Armstrong headlining. Rap trio Tanya Morgan will share hosting responsibilities for the evening, following a performance Wednesday night (2/15) in iHeartDilla's "One Song" lineup at Southpaw. Tickets for the Brooklyn Bowl show are still available. Flyer below.

While "Donuts Are Forever" further solidifies itself as a tradition each year, new odes to the late maestro are still taking form. Questlove recently DJed an hour-long set for Hot 97 devised soley of J Dilla tunes, which is available for download here. The drummer also wrote an essay for XXL rhapsodizing J Dilla's singular talent, explaining his influence on Hip-Hop and his own work:

"The day after he recorded "Think Twice," for Welcome to Detroit, I look at the drum set, and I was like, "Wait, you recorded that on this?" And it was the most dingiest, dirtiest, not even second-hand. [It] looked like the Fat Albert junkyard gang drum set. Screws were missing; some of the heads were broken. Matter of fact, he didn't even use real drumsticks on "Think Twice." He used a vibraphone mallet, and he had a broken drumstick that he got some toilet paper from the bathroom, and some rubber bands. I was like, "You would rather go through this MacGuyver shit than buy new drumsticks?" He's like, "I didn't know where to get 'em this late at night; I had to make due." I was like, "Well, why did you hit the drums with the mallet?" He was like, "I didn't want the dynamic to be too aggressive. I wanted to sound muted, so I decided to play the drums with the soft cotton mallet." It looked like putting a marshmallow at the end of a toothpick [Laughs]. Next thing I know, I'm now flying to Philadelphia--I think the next week, [to work on] The Roots' Phrenology record [and] I tracked both "Quills" and "Pussy Galore" the same way. I went and got some orchestra mallets, and then I too started, just 'cause I seen how he got that sound."

In Detroit, J Dilla's mother, Maureen Yancey, organzied a "Dilla Day" concert and community celebration in the producer's hometown this past weekend (2/10-2/11). Performers for the Friday night show included Danny Brown, Busta Rhymes,, Jay Electronica, and A Tribe Called Quest's Phife Dawg (who has a NYC show coming up), while Saturday's free event included "hands-on beat-making exhibits for children" and a preview of a short-form documentary "Rebirth in Detroit," which followed J Dilla and other local musicians and is to be released later this year. Above photos of the Fillmore marquee via jmackhh.

Aside from his tribute duties, Prince Paul is reuniting with his erstwhile collaborators De La Soul for a new album. While the group's latest creative incarnation First Serve is still underway, two new videos were uploaded to their Youtube channel last weekend teasing new material. Check out "Life is Great" and "Mr. Big Mouph II" below...

Continue reading "Prince Paul & De La Soul working on LP; Questlove made a Dilla mix; 'Donuts are Forever' event is this Sunday"

photos by Brook Bobbins

Ali-Shaheed Mohammed will return to the tables this weekend at Dekalb Market after spinning at Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest last weekend, along with (former?) bandmate Q-Tip and tons of suprise guests (like Busta Rhymes & Kanye West). You saw the videos. Here are the pics. More of them below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest pics"

Kanye rhymes from the crowd

When New York rhymer Q-Tip and his A Tribe Called Quest dropped their classic hip-hop set Midnight Marauders in 1993, Kanye West-an avid fan of the trio-was 19.

So you can imagine the joy he felt last Saturday when his teen idol brought him, now a full-on star himself, up on stage as a surprise guest at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival to perform Marauders' standout single "Award Tour."

A Chicago native, West looked right at home on the outdoor NY stage. In his retro chic tank top and snapback cap, Kanye didn't just rock with Tip, but also hopped off the stage and into the crowd to perform the title track from his last album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. -[EW]

Continue reading "Kanye West & others played w/ Q-Tip @ Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest (videos)"

My only complaint about the December 18th Prince show at Madison Square Garden was how short it felt. It was under two hours. I would have gladly taken three. I thought for sure we'd get a nice chunk of extra songs in the 2nd encore, but instead we only got a nice chunk of extra celebrities. Not that watching Sherri Sheppard of the View, Whoopi Goldberg (also on the View), opener Sinbad, Spike Lee, Spike Lee's son, Jamie Foxx, Naomi Campbell, Alicia Keys, Professor Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, opener Larry Graham (who also had his bass), Questlove (who also drummed) (and whose afro and tweeting were unmissable from where I was sitting before he left his seat to get on stage), Busta Rhymes, John Leguizamo (who I also saw on the will call line when I walked in), Sheila E (who was already up there performing), Prince's amazing band and backup singers and others dancing around on the love symbol-shaped stage wasn't fun, but I would have gladly traded it for a few more songs.

And speaking of Larry Graham whose band Graham Central Station opened, he was very worth getting there early for. Graham was the bass player for Sly & the Family Stone, and he paid that band tribute with a five-song medly that Prince himself came out to play on. For an opener, the energy in the half-packed room was huge.

Sheila E's appearance during Prince's set, especially her performance of her hit song The Glamorous Life was another serious highlight, though unlike as advertised, it wasn't the only show on the "tour" she showed up for. She didn't play at the 12/15 Izod Center show, but she did play during the second of three encores (yes, they got three) at the 12/17 Izod show, and it has been announced she will play with Prince again at MSG tonight (12/29). The full lineup for tonight's show is: 7:30 - Mint Condition, 8:15 - Janelle Monae, 9:00 - PRINCE (w/ Sheila E). UPDATE: She didn't actually play with Prince on 12/29.

If you miss tonight's show, you still have one more chance on 1/18. Tickets are still on sale for that one (no openers have been announced yet though, that I know of). Janelle Monae and Prince were both spotted at Lauryn Hill last night, and will probably collaborate on stage tonight.

A few more mostly-encore pictures from the 12/18 MSG show, and some videos and the setlists from the last 2 shows, below...

Continue reading "Prince played Izod Center & MSG w/ lots of friends, plays MSG again tonight (pics, setlists & stuff)"

Busta Rhymes at Knitting Factory in 2008, a venue he WON'T be performing at this week (more by Zach Stern)

Busta Rhymes has announced that he will join Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz for a show at SOB's on Thursday, 12/23. Tickets are still available. Whether intentional or not, the show is in direct competition with a show that he-probably-could-but-is-not-making-an-appearance-at, Leaders of The New School at Knitting Factory. Tickets are still available for that too. As you may know, Busta Rhymes was a member of Leaders of the New School before splitting to release his own solo material. - BBG

A flyer for the Knitting Factory show is below...

Continue reading "Busta Rhymes confirms appearance at a different 12/23 show"

by BBG

GZA at ATP (more by Abbey Braden)

I already ran through some of the upcoming hip hop shows, many of them for CMJ (Ghostface, Audible Treats, Blacksmith & Duck Down included). Here are some more.

GZA will headline the Frankradio x Babygrande x iHipHop Distribution CMJ Showcase at Le Poisson Rouge alongside appearances from DJ Premier, Tabi Bonney, Trademark da Skydiver, Marz Lovejoy , Polyester the Saint, Lavish, Rocky Business, Christian Rich and as well as DJ Jasmine Solano. The show, which goes down Thursday 10/21 kicks off at 11PM and tickets are on sale (or use your CMJ badge).

Meanwhile, DJ Premier recently released a classic freestyle from the Stretch & Bobbito Show which features 10 minutes of Big L and Jay-Z. If you are a fan of either, it's a must (stream/DL it below). Listen closely though, as you can hear Jay-Z scheming to steal the line "all I got for chicks is hard dick & bubblegum" for his song "A Million & One Questions" (which came out two years after this freestyle).

Speaking of the late/great Big L, Return of the Devil's Son is the posthumous MC's new album which will feature "21 unreleased songs" and see release on 11/23 via Distrolord/SMC Recordings. Check out a reworking of the Big L classic "Danger Zone" called "Zone of Danger" stream/downloadable below courtesy RCRD LBL. Full tracklisting is below too.

And last but certainly not least, Knitting Factory will host the return of Leaders Of The New School on 12/23 with Son of Bazerk (who recently came back at Central Park), and DJ sets from Johnny Juice (Public Enemy) and J-Zone. Tickets are on sale. For the unaware, LONS was Busta Rhymes' first project before going solo with the monster hit "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check". LONS also is featured in the A Tribe Called Quest classic "Scenario".

UPDATE: grandgood reports that: "ccording to DJ Johnny Juice, Busta Rhymes is not part of this show. Only Dinco D, Charlie Brown and Cut Monitor Milo will be performing along with Son Of Bazerk. Still sounds like a dope show."

Those Big L tracks, the LP tracklisting and a bunch of videos are below. Big L, Rest in Peace!

Continue reading "GZA's CMJ show, new Big L, Leaders Of The New School back together & other upcoming hip hop dates & stuff"

photos by Eric Townsend, words by BBG

"Can't NOBODY FUCK WITH A TRIBE CALLED QUEST LIVE! ROCK THE BELLS NYC WAS MAGIC!" -Carringtonworld

"#np tribe called quest-steve biko(stir it up)....what yall know about #RocktheBells 2010 live from nyc huh? -"NotoriousDIZZ"

"Some of my rap top 10 will be live on stage: slick rick, lauryn hill, wu tang, rakim, krs one, tribe called quest. nYc represent, represent" -LeRoyLive

A Tribe Called Quest on Governors Island Saturday

Linden boulevard represent, represent
Tribe called quest represent, represent
When the mic is in my hand, I'm never hesitant
My favourite jam back in the day was "Eric B. is President"
-[A Tribe Called Quest - "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)"]

More pictures (and video) from the show are HERE and below (, and one more set still on the way)...

Continue reading "Rock the Bells @ Governors Island - pics & video (part 1) (A Tribe Called Quest, Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, Rakim & more) "

by BBG

Common at Terminal Five (more by Eric Townsend)

Its a doubleheader for the hip hop fan in you! Common will play Highline Ballroom THIS SATURDAY for an early show at 8PM (tickets are on sale for $50), with Busta Rhymes headlining a separate show at the same venue at 11PM. Tickets for Busta are $20 on the day of the show, and you can RSVP to info@4kent.com.

Speaking of big bang MCs (no pun intended) at Highline Ballroom, Nas will team up with Damian Marley for a show on May 17th. Tickets go on sale at noon FRIDAY/TOMORROW (5/7). The duo's new album, Distant Relatives, is due on May 18th and they are schedukled to play the Williamsburg Waterfront on 7/31,

Catch Clipse at Highline Ballroom tonight (5/6).

Full Common and Nas/Damian Marley tour dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Damian Marley & Nas add Highline show, Common & Busta too"

Raekwon @ Irving Plaza (SANCHO PANZAA)

Backed only by DJ Symphony on turntables and Raekwon's brother Don P on vocals, the set could have used the energy of the other rappers who invade the album. Raekwon's set ran to 90 minutes, but it felt here and gone. It included the appearance of a huge cake in the shape of a purple cassette -- the original "Cuban Linx" album, from 1995, is commonly called the Purple Tape -- and an assortment of friends and business associates, either texting or appearing to smoke weed onstage. Two notable things happened, neither musical.

The songs came fast, one after another, without stagecraft or pacing. The set went back to early tracks by his old collective, the Wu-Tang Clan, touched on "Cuban Linx" Part 1 and settled in for stretches of the new album, including the scabrous, seedy "Gihad" and the imagistic, violent "Surgical Gloves."

There weren't as many Wu-Tang Clan cameos as might have been expected, aside from Cappadonna, who rapped verses on "Ice Cream." But halfway through, another member of the extended Wu family appeared: Cherry Jones, the mother of the Wu-Tang rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004. She and Raekwon hugged, without speaking, for nearly a minute. Raekwon praised Dirty and his mother and then performed "Ason Jones," a tribute to Dirty on the new CD, with some emotional difficulty, his movements creaky, as if he needed oil. (He stopped the song at one point, shaking his head in sorrow, swearing and then collecting himself.)

Near the end -- after the duo Capone-N-Noreaga briefly hijacked the set -- Busta Rhymes, a longtime Raekwon booster, came onstage to congratulate his friend. Busta Rhymes likes to talk. Ten minutes later he was still there, praising Raekwon's rhymes and metaphors. Raekwon slumped against the opposite wall, looking humble, grateful and worn out. [NY Times]

Mos Def was supposed to play Highline Ballroom last night (12/20), but the show was cancelled due to the weather and rescheduled for January 17th. Tickets are on sale.

Speaking of Highline Ballroom, Clipse has been added an opener for for the previously-mentioned Jadakiss and Melanie Fiona show happening at the venue on Tuesday (12/22) ("Concert starts @ 10PM"). Tickets are on sale.

Also Tuesday (12/22), is a show at Southpaw in Brooklyn:

Masta Ace & Edo. G "A&E" Album Release Party
**SPECIAL SURPRISE GUEST!!** / Sadat X / Jean Grae / Doitall (Lords of the Underground) / Torae w/ DJ E. Holla / Sha Stimuli
doors 8PM DOORS / 9PM SHOW 21+ with ID
$12 advance / $15 day of show

Wednesday (12/23) is the previously mentioned (and again) Method Man / Ghostface / EPMD Hip Hop Legends show. Tickets are still on sale.

A video from Raekwon's show (including the CNN appearance) below...

Continue reading "Raekwon played Irving Plaza (video), Mos Def didn't play Highline (rescheduled) ++ Clipse & other upcoming shows"

"I am sorry 2 say that on this day at 2:05 Sept 19th we lost another incredible life...Dj Roc Raida died 2day my personal Dj is gone..." -Busta Rhymes

"I feel fortunate to have been able to catch this great man on the tables many times. He is one of a select few who defined the term 'turntablism'" - Black Bubblegum

RIP DJ Roc Raida
(X-ceutioners/X-Men)

he passed today. Was a NYC staple for countless years. He'll be seriously missed. Was a very good guy and always put together great events throughout the city. [Thanksgiving Brown]

..a representative for the DJ, [said] "Family and friends will miss him dearly. Please give the family their privacy."

The source refused to give details of his illness or injury, or even the cause of Roc Raida's death, but did state that previous reports of an injury during karate class or a car accident were inaccurate.

The rep confirmed that Roc Raida was hospitalized last week, but would only state that the DJ's death was totally "unexpected."

"Raida was recently in an mixed martial arts accident, something that he has been practicing for several years," a statement from his family read. "Although he had under gone two surgeries with great success, he was released to an inpatient physical therapy facility and was in great spirits the past few days. This morning he started to have complications and passed. The family asks for privacy at this time."

One of his recent NYC performances took place July 23rd in Crotona Park in the Bronx. In August he toured Canada with Busta Rhymes. Video from the show they played at the Metropolis in Montreal, and more, below...

Continue reading "DJ Roc Raida, RIP"

On September 9, Raekwon The Chef of the Wu-Tang Clan is dropping the much-awaited sequel to his 1995 classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... a triumph of storytelling, technically proficient rhymes and gritty Shaolin-style production. Granted, he has kept to this formula since his debut with the Clan, but Part II will be his greatest triumph of the decade, with production by RZA as well as Dr. Dre, J. Dilla, Pete Rock, Marly Marl, Necro, The Alchemist and Allah Mathematics, with rhymes contributed by Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes, The Lox. Ghostface Killah will reprise his role as the secondary rapper on the album, and there will be also be multiple appearances by Wu-Tang stalwarts Method Man, GZA and Inspectah Deck.

At 8pm on the release date, Santos Party House will be holding the concert and celebration, which promises to be flat out the best real hip-hop event the city has seen in a long time.

Two nights later, S.O.B.'s hosts its own Raekwon release show with Raekwon & Ghostface Killah. If there will be more special guests at that show too, they aren't announced. Tickets for the September 10th show are on sale.

Ghostface's own new record, The Wizard of Poetry, is due on September 29th on Def Jam. He's got his own show coming up at BB King's in November. "Baby," the first video from that new disc, is posted below.

Raekwon appeared on the bill of this year's Rock the Bells tour. Videos from his Boston and Jones Beach appearances are below...

Continue reading "Raekwon celebrating new album w/ 2 NYC shows - guests include Ghostface, Talib, Beanie Sigel, Slick Rick, more..."

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Busta Rhymes & Superstar Jay - Feeding The Streets (Zipped MP3, Sharebee)
DOWNLOAD: Busta Rhymes - I Bullshit You Not (Zipped MP3, Sendspace)

Busta & life partner Spliff Starr on their BS (more by Zach Stern)

Please say the following line at the top of your lungs, and with a pinched nose: "CYPHA, DON'T GET GASSED!"

Although DJ Cypha Sounds is a world famous DJ in his own right, there is a possibility he won't be so gassed on Monday, May 18th. Why? that's when the owner of that strained and nasal voice, DJ Funkmaster Flex, will be credited with the assist when Busta Rhymes "rarr-raars-like-a-dungeon-dragon" during a FREE show at Santos Party House with DJ Diamond Kuts. Entrance is FREE, doors are at 8PM.

The show, billed as "Myspace Music Release show", is in celebration of Buss-a-buss's new album Back On my BS, due in record stores on May 19th. Busta recently dropped two mixtapes, both of which are downloadable above, and an explicit video for "Respect my Conglomerate" with Lil Wayne & Jadakiss which they respectfully deny us to embed.

Busta Rhymes will Rock The Bells this summer with RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Nas, MOP, Common and others. Tickets are still available. All dates and the Santos flyer below...

Continue reading "Busta Rhymes - free mixtapes, free NYC album-release show"

by Black Bubblegum

Busta Rhymes enjoying a smoke at Knitting Factory (more by Zach Stern)

You know what they say... you gotta spend money to make it. With that in mind, I guess it makes alot of sense that Rock The Bells is spendin' "Arab Money" to add a pair of big guns (Busta Rhymes and The GZA) to their previously announced lineup of Nas & Damien Marley, Common, The Roots, RZA, Raekwon, and others. In addition, Rock The Bells has also laid out the routing for their summer jammy jam, hitting 10 cities in 2 1/2 months including New York at Jones Beach Ampitheatre on July 19th. Tickets go on sale to gen pop on May 2nd, but are on presale NOW, with the password TROJANS for the NY, Detroit, Boston, Toronto, DC, and Chicago dates.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Rock The Bells adds acts & names venues ++ tix on pre-sale"

That 2nd Thievery Corporation show at Terminal 5 (Feb 26) is now on presale (password=thieveryretaliation).

Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra are playing two shows at Southpaw in Brooklyn this month. Tickets are on sale for January 30th and 31st.

Busta Rhymes is playing BB King's on March 10th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are still on sale for the Ida Maria show happening at Mercury Lounge. Union Hall is sold out.

Tickets are on sale for the Thermals show at The Bell House. The access code is "SALTY", but I'm not sure it's necessary or does anything.

Telepathe are opening for M83 at Irving Plaza. Tickets are still on sale.

Tickets are still on sale for both Cat Power shows happening at the Apollo.

Tickets are on sale for the Frightened Rabbit show happening at Le Poisson Rouge.

Tickets are on sale for the Lady Sovereign show happening at Pianos.

Comedian Marc Maron is performing at Union Hall in Brooklyn on January 15th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are still on sale for the John Doe & Exene of X show happening at MHOW on Saturday. One day later they also play Joe's Pub.

Tickets are still on sale for the Great Lake Swimmers and A Hawk & A Hacksaw show happening at Mercury Lounge on Saturday.

Brooklyn Qawwali Party was added to GlobalFEST. Femi Kuti was taken away. It's this Sunday at Webster Hall and tickets are still on sale.

Note that ALL the NYC-area Morrissey shows are going on sale at 11AM on Friday (not noon).

Have you listened to Jaydiohead yet?

Radiohead think Max Silvestri is funny... his Internet Thing anyway. Video below...

Continue reading "the Thermals, Antibalas, Busta Rhymes, Thievery Corporation, Marc Maron, other tickets & stuff"

Photos by Zach Stern

Busta Rhymes played a free show at Knitting Factory last week. Q-Tip played a free show at the same venue a few weeks earlier. Busta showed up at Tip's show and Tip returned the favor at this one. Pacific Division opened the night. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Busta Rhymes (& Q-Tip) @ Knitting Factory, NYC - pics, video"

by Black Bubblegum

getting a kiss from Busta (more by Eric M. Townsend)

Busta Rhymes is playing a very-recently announced surprise show TONIGHT (10/29) at the Knitting Factory with Pacific Division. Tickets are FREE, like they were for Q-Tip at the same venue, if you RSVP by texting BUSTA or PACDIV to 66937. "Space is VERY limited, so arrive early... no guaranteed admission".

And, Q-Tip is busy tonight too. You can catch him crooning the crowd at Madison Square Garden, but it's not a concert...

The New York Knicks will be joined by pop-culture icon, Q-Tip, for the season opener at Madison Square Garden, where the Grammy award-winning artist will unveil his remix of the classic Knicks anthem, "Go NY Go."On Wednesday, October 29th, Q-Tip will perform the new hip-hop version of the song pregame, accompanied by the Knicks City Dancers. Knicks fans will have the first opportunity to hear "Go NY Go," which will also become available on nyknicks.com following the game.

Busta Rhymes previewed his new single "Arab Money" at Q-Tip's surprise show at the Knitting Factory. Check out the video for that below....

Continue reading "Busta Rhymes for free, Q-Tip w/ The Knicks, tonight in NYC"