DOWNLOAD The Gift of Gab - Way of the Light (feat VURSATYL of Lifesavas) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Guru ft Common - Clarity (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Atmosphere - Sunshine (MP3)

The Atmosphere song is from the latest installment in their limited edition "Sad Clown" series: "Sad Clown Bad Summer Accompanied by Piano". Common's new Finding Forever is an interesting album. It's getting really mixed reviews from really great, to mediocre, to worst album of his career. What do you think?

KRS-One (CRED)

Tonight (Aug 3) the legendary KRS-ONE with Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets, Blitz & Turntable Anihilists will be performing as part of Lyricist Lounge @ Prospect Park Bandshell, 7.30pm - FOR FREE!!

Tomorrow (Aug 4): Brand Nubian, Cham, MIMS, Joell Ortiz, Clipse & Large Professor will be performing at "Live at the BBQ", 3-10pm. RSVP here -- FREE.

Gift of Gab and Z-Trip are playing Highline Ballroom on Sunday (Aug 5, 2007). To win a pair of tickets, email us at BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Gift Of Gab). Include your first and last name for guestlist. One winner will be picked at random, and notified by Saturday morning.

NEWS

• No new Eminem album coming for a while. Maybe he's too busy suing Apple for copyright infringement.
• AboutRap lists their 10 Most Underrated MCs.
• TSC continues to provide excellent articles like this great write up on Gang Starr's Moment Of Truth. While BGDBoom looks back on 2Pac's Me Against The World.
• I mentioned Cause last week and offered up some MP3s. This week he performed at Pianos during Cross-Pollination.
• El-P and Aesop Rock will perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live Friday August 10th.
• NY Magazing reviews El-P's Urban Outfitters show, as does Entertainment Weekly. Never thought I'd even say that.
• Disco D passed away a year ago. The Voice looks back.
• Ghostface will be making an acting appearance in the.....Iron Man movie.
• Raekwon shares his thoughts on the recent Ghostface ghostwriting rumors, the new Wu album, and more.
• The Lox are allegedly moving to Def Jam.
• Metal Lungies interviews Royce 5'9".
• Industry legend Steve Rifkin reassures us that Pharoah Monche will not be dropped.

Continue reading "Wes' Weekly Hip Hop News Roundup (August 3, 2007)"

DOWNLOAD Grayskul - Dope (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Cause - More Than Music (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Cause - Click Clack (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Ivan Ives - Honor (feat. Capadonna) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Ivan Ives - Victory (feat. Vast Aire) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Strong Arm Steady - One Step (ft Talib Kweli) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Strong Arm Steady - The Movement (ft Planet Asia) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Gabriel Teodros - Third World Wide (MP3)

Strong Arm Steady played Rock The Bells in NYC this past weekend, and are preparing a new full length. Gabriel Teodros just visited NYC. Cause is one of my personal favorite new discoveries of late, and so I invited him to play a show this Tuesday (July 31, 2007) at Pianos (Upstairs Lounge) in NYC as part of the weekly Cross-Pollination concert series I co-founded. It's free, starts at 8pm, and pairs Cause up with electro-singer/songwriter Elijah B. Torn.

In what Eskay calls the Hip Hop Jam Session of the Year Talib Kweli, Kanye, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Swizz Beats, Queen Latifah and Common gathered at SOBs for an impromptu surprise performance, to everyone including themselves (July 18, 2007). Check out a bunch of videos and pictures. More videos here and here.

Mos Def & Talib Kweli @ SOB's - July 18, 2007

Mos Def & Talib Kweli @ Rock the Bells - July 28, 2007 (CRED)

A few days after the SOB's show, Kanye surfaced again at the Lil' Wayne show up at Beacon Theatre. A few days after that Kanye became the talk of the Internet thanks to the video he posted starring comedian Zach Galifinakis and indie musician (and sometimes-comedian) Bonnie Prince Billy (also known as Will Oldham).

if you missed Mos Def & Talib Kweli perform together at SOB's, and then again this past weekend @ Rock the Bells, you now have one more NYC chance this summer - on stage @ Nokia Theatre on August 26th. More Rock the Bells coverage coming in a separate upcoming post.

More HH news, pics, videos, tour dates, and stuff, below.....

Continue reading "Wes' Weekly Hip Hop News Roundup (July 30, 2007)"