by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Central Services - Forever Frozen In Television Time EP (Zip file of MP3s)
DOWNLOAD: El-P - "Whores: The Movie" (Mediafire link)
DOWNLOAD: El-P - ""Meanstreak" (In 3 Parts) (Mediafire link)
DOWNLOAD: El-P - "Instrumental 6" (Zip file of MP3s)
DOWNLOAD: El-P - "East River Float" (Zip file of MP3s)

Camu Tao (born Tero Smith, June 6, 1977 - May 25, 2008) was an American rapper and producer who was signed to the Definitive Jux label. He was a part of the duo S.A. Smash with fellow rapper Metro, a part of the rap group Weathermen, and the Central Services production team with El-P. Smith was also a member of the music collective Cardboard City... He was also part of Columbus, Ohio's MHz crew with Copywrite, RJD2, Jakki Tha MotaMouth & Tage Proto, and with Cage, half of The Nighthawks...

Smith died on May 25, 2008, after a two-year battle with lung cancer. At the time of his death, he was working on a song he produced for Cage's I Never Knew You EP as well as his first solo album for Definitive Jux.

Camu Tao's debut LP King of Hearts will see the light of day via DefJux/Fat Possum Records on August 17th (preorder it), and in celebration, Def Jux is offering a 2005 EP from Central Services (aka El-P + Camu) for FREE Download (get it above).

El-P has a new release of his own as well, the instrumental Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3 LP out on August 3rd. If you're a fan of El-P's signature blend of hip hop, IDM, and futurism, its a must. Pick up a copy of the LP via Gold Dust and snag copies of the first two volumes of Weareallgoingtoburninhell (previously tour only) for free. Check out the tracks "Whores: The Movie" and "Meanstreak" (In 3 Parts) from Vol 3 and a pair of tracks from previous volumes above.

Dig on more preview material from Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3 video trailer, as well as tons of other great vids below...

Continue reading "Def Jux releasing Camu Tao's posthumous debut, giving away EPs & new El-P tracks too"

Def Jux's Camu Tao (RIP)

Dear Inter-web, fans, friends and JUX family,

People keep asking me what's up with JUX. There's been some talk, there have been some rumors. Some half true, some way off. Reports of our demise have been mildly exaggerated. Here's what it really all boils down to:

El-P's letter continued below...

Continue reading "El-P gives the official word on DEF JUX ("hiatus")"

by BBG

Is Def Jux waving goodbye? (more by Ryan Muir)

Is one of the great and pioneering labels in hip hop hanging up their shell toes? According to numerous tweets by artists and reports around the interwebs, Def Jux Records may be folding. The story originated with Shabooty, who aggregated the info and asked honcho El-P for comment. An official statement is on the way.

Over the years Def Jux has been resposible for incredible releases from the likes of El-P, Cannibal Ox, Aesop Rock, RJD2, MURS, Cage, and many many others.

UPDATE: El-P tells what's up.

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Blockhead - "Which One Of You Jerks Drank My Arnold Palmer" (MP3)

Blockhead (left) with Aesop Rock

Blockhead (born Anthony "Tony" Simon) is an American Hip hop producer based in Manhattan, New York. Aside from his solo efforts released on the Ninja Tune label, he is most associated with producing for Aesop Rock, a rapper for the Definitive Jux independent hip hop label. He has also previously worked with rappers Mac Lethal, S.A. Smash, Slug, and Murs, and is also a member of the hip hop/comedy group Party Fun Action Committee.

Along with RJD2 and Mr El-Producto himself (aka El-P), Blockhead has long been one of my favorite producers out of the extra thick Def Jux stable. More than just Aesop Rock's go-to, the NYC beathead has produced a few LPs of his own as well, including the recently released The Music Scene out NOW on Ninja Tune Recordings. Cop it, and cop one of the songs from the LP above.

Blockhead is scheduled to play a show a NYC in the coming week at Mercury Lounge on Friday, 2/5 with DJ Signify. Tickets are on sale.

Blockhead recently posted some of his earliest recordings for free download.

Ex-Ninja Tune artist Antipop Consortium plays BAM with Rain Machine on Saturday night (1/30).

Former Def Jux-er RJD2 is scheduled to play NYC on 3/7 with Break Science and Chichester. Tickets are still available.

Def Jux's Cage plays Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday night (1/30)...

Opening for Cubic Zerconia Album release. I will be playing with F Sean,Daryl Palumbo,Jarvis Holden and Nick Hook. 45 minutes. Come Hang w/ us SPECIAL GUESTS DONT MISS OUT - Cage

Flyer below...

Continue reading "Blockhead - new album out now (MP3), NYC show soon"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Tone Tank - The King of Surf Guitar Rap EP
DOWNLOAD: Junk Science - "Fire Drill" EP

Where's la bouef? Ah! There's Labouef and Palko!

Chris Palko aka Cage, who's new album Depart From Me hits stores on July 7th via Definitive Jux, is prepping to take his show on the road after tagging Yak Ballz for support. Joining Palko on stage as part of the "Cage band" will be producer of a large portion of Depart From Me and ex-Hatebreed guitarist F.Sean (aka Sean Martin), as well as DJ Chauncey of XO Skeletons. The tour includes an album release party of sorts during a two night stay at Southpaw (July 2nd tix here and 3rd tix here) where Palko will sign posters and copies of his new album. Additional support for July 2nd is TBA, but Junk Science & "The King of Surf Guitar Rap" Tone Tank are on board for night two.

Cage recently dropped the I Never Knew You EP, which is currently available for "pay what you want" download at the Def Jux site. The EP accompanies the video (viewable below) that was directed by partner-in-crime and star of the upcoming Michael Bay explosion-fest Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, Shia LaBouef. No word on where Shia is with the reported Cage biopic.

Yak Ballz and House of Blow (aka F.Sean and Daryl Palumbo of Glassjaw, Head Automatica fame) are currently collaborating on some tracks, with one to appear on an upcoming Def Jux compilation. Yak Skywalker also recently posted his thoughts on one of his favorite hip hop songs ever, Camp Lo's "Luchini" (I have to agree) as well as dropped details on an exclusive series of shirts with fellow Weathermen El-P, Cage & Aesop Rock. More in a recent blog post here.

Video and dates below...

Continue reading "Cage & Yak Ballz - 2009 Tour Dates, videos & stuff "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Cage - "Nothing Left To Say" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Cage - "Shoot Frank" (MP3)

Cage announced a new LP AND a new EP, both due in the first half of 2009. First up, Chris Palko aka the artist formerly known as Cage Kennylz will drop a "seven song mega-single/EP of exclusive bonus material entitled the I Never Knew You EP" for FREE via AdultSwim/Definitive Jux. Details to come, but look for it "sometime within next two months".

Cage's new LP, his first since 2005's critically acclaimed Hell's Winter, is due on June 30th via Definitive Jux. It's called Depart From Me and is executive produced by Sean Martin, recently ex-Hatebreed who also produced 9 of 14 total tracks with the rest of the production handled by El-P, Aesop Rock, and the late great Camu Tao. Check out the El-P produced "Nothing Left To Say" available for download above.

In other Chris Palko news, Cage recently shot a video for "I Never Knew You" in LA, directed by "close personal friend" and fellow Cardboard City member Shia LaBeouf, his directorial debut. Mr Transformers and Cage are also working on a "full-length feature film based on the rapper's young life starring Labeouf":

Palko was born in Würzburg, Germany... [and] lived there until the age of four when [his father Bill] Murray was dishonorably discharged for selling and using heroin... Murray would often force Palko to pull homemade tourniquets around his arm as he injected heroin. At the age of eight, Palko's father was arrested during a standoff with state troopers after threatening his family with a shotgun. Palko was kicked out of high school, [and] began using LSD, mescaline, cannabis and alcohol...

Palko was arrested several times for drug possession and fighting in the streets. When he faced jail time for violating probation, his mother convinced the judge that he was mentally unstable, and he was sent to the Stony Lodge psychiatric hospital for a two week evaluation. He eventually ended up staying in the hospital for eighteen months, where he was a part of a small group used to test fluoxetine. After being misdiagnosed and placed on the drug, he became suicidal and made several attempts to kill himself, including hanging himself with his shoelaces and saving his lithium dose for a month before ingesting all of them at once. -[Wiki]

Yikes. And that's BEFORE he got signed by Columbia, got dropped, was one of Fondle 'Em's first artists, beefed with Eminem, dropped his debut album, joined The Weathermen, and signed with Definitive Jux.

Cage is scheduled to play SXSW at the Biz3 showcase at Club DeVille on March 20th with These Are Powers, Kid Sister, Lady Sovereign, Chin Chin, Hollywood Holt, Thunderheist, Asher Roth, and Amanda Blank. No other dates at the moment.

Cage, Chauncey, Shia LaBeouf, glue and the late Camu Tao eating breakfast, and other videos, below...

Continue reading "Cage - new records, MP3s, Shia LaBeouf & SXSW"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Mr Lif - "Presidential Report, Vol. 1" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mr Lif - "Presidential Report, Vol. 2" (MP3)

Mr Lif returns! The now former Def Jux representative has inked a NYC show in his calendar, Nov 4th at the Knitting Factory, with P.Casso & the A-OK Collective plus Breezy Brewin' (of indie hip hop heroes The Juggaknots). Tickets are on sale.

Mr Lif dropped Mo Mega on Def Jux in 2006, but 2009 will see the release of his new record I Heard It Today on his OWN label Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises. Due on Inauguration Day (January 20th), Lif will drop "1-2 songs every three weeks until Election Day" and one song following the election with his "post-electoral thoughts". All the songs will be collected and released with bonus unreleased material as I Heard It Today. J-Zone, Edan, and Illmind have all contributed production to I Heard It Today (you'll only be able to catch Edan perform this weekend at ATP with special guest Dagha).

Mr Lif has been commenting on the news via a series of free tracks he calls "Presidential Reports" (first two available for download above). Lif is also videoblogging on his "I Heard It Today News Network".

The Knitting Factory show will be hosted by John Robinson and WKCR's own DJ Sucio Smash, who can be found every friday from 1-5AM on 89.9 (aka 89 Tek 9) hosting Squeeze Radio (podcast here) with Timm See, spinning the latest in indie hip hop. The 1-5AM friday shift has long been a revered place on WKCR, most notably held by the now legendary The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show in the mid-nineties. Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito's show, which was named by the Source Magazine (before that whole Benzino nonsense) as "the best hip hop show of all time", also centered around indie hip hop and featured freestyles by then up and coming artists like Biggie Smalls (before he changed his name to The Notorious B.I.G.), Big L, Cam'ron & Ma$e (then known as Killa Cam & Murda Mase), Wu-Tang Clan, and sooooo many more. Stretch has posted some of those legendary freestyles for download over at his blog.

photos by Jason Bergman

One more free Sunday 'Pool Party' show to go. More pictures from this Sunday (August 17, 2008), below...

Continue reading "Aesop Rock (and El-P), Chin Chin & Panther @ McCarren Pool "

by Black Bubblegum

El-P & Aesop Rock @ Webster Hall - May 10, 2008 (jennyapplebaum )

"WHEN I SAY DEF, YOU SAY JUX! DEF!"
.....
"DEF!"
......

Okay, it wasnt THAT bad, but while fellow Cardboard City crew member Shia Labeouf (seriously) was readying his second appearance on Saturday Night Live (with My Morning Jacket), El-P was realizing he was in trouble by the first song. El-P tore into "Smithereens" with all of the frustration made apparent in the video, but when he commanded the Webster Hall crowd "Get the fuck up!" and "Jump!", he only got participation from a couple dozen.... for 30 seconds. Maybe it's all the darkness and post-apocalyptic doom and gloom, or the borderline paranoid "the government is going to get you" John McCain=Barack Obama=Hillary Clinton rants, or that a good portion of the crowd could have come to see Dizzee Rascal (though doubt it), but Saturday at Webster Hall was probably one of the most stoic crowds that I have ever seen at a hip hop show.

Continue reading "El-P, Aesop Rock & Dizzee Rascal played Webster Hall, a new blog & album, Cardboard City, Shia LaBeouf"

El-P @ NYU in April (more by Bao Nguyen)

Aesop Rock @ Coachella 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

The May 10th Webster Hall show keeps getting bigger and bigger. The lineup now reads "El-P with DJ Mr. Dibbs and The Mighty Quinn / Dizzee Rascal with special guest dj Aaron LaCrate / Busdriver / Kidz in the Hall / Special Guest Aesop Rock". Tickets are still available. All El-P tour dates below....

Continue reading "Aesop Rock added to El-P/Dizzee Rascal show, tour dates"

El-P & Del tha Funkee Homosapien, CMJ 2007 (Justin Charles)

* Dizzee Rascal & Nick Cave are playing the Plug Awards
* You can watch the Plug Awards on your computer screen
* Dizzee Rascal is also playing a show at Soutnpaw in Brooklyn
* Dizzee Rascal & El-P are playing the Def Jux showcase at SXSW
* Tickets are on sale for an El-P/Dizzee Rascal show at Webster Hall in May
* El-P, Dizzee Rascal & Busdriver are going on tour togeter. All dates Dates below....

Continue reading "El-P, Dizzee Rascal, Tour Dates, SXSW, Plug Awards stream"

DOWNLOAD: EL-P - EMG (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: EL-P - Smithereens (stop cryin) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Junk Science - Hey (feat. Scott Thorough) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mike Ladd - Trouble Shot (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hangar 18 - Feet to Feet (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hangar 18 - Baking Soda (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hangar 18 - Think Big (MP3)

WHAT: El-P free show at Studio B
WHEN: Thursday, December 6th
WHERE: Studio B - 259 Banker St. Brooklyn, NY
TIME: Doors at 9pm
Flying Lotus and Home Video will be opening, Chin Chin will play as El-P's backing band.

The show is first come, first served. And here's what El-P liked in 2007....

1. NIN Year Zero (Interscope)
2. Aesop Rock None Shall Pass (Definitive Jux)
3. Rob Sonic Sabotage Gigante (Definitive Jux)
4. QOTSA Era Vulgaris (Interscope)
5. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis The Proposition (Mute)
6. UGK Underground Kingz (Jive)
7. Camron Public Enemy Number 1 (Diplomat)
8. Gang Of Four Entertainment (remastered) (Rhino)
9. Deftones Saturday Night Wrist (Maverick)
10. Jay Z American Gangster (Island Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella)

In related news: Del The Funky Homosapien signed to Def Jux (The 11th Hour is out February 26, 2008). Shia LaBeouf is working on a Cage Biopic. Mike Ladd's new album Nostalgialator is out January 15th (MP3 above). Junk Science and Hangar 18 have new Def Jux albums out now. MP3s above. Videos below....

Continue reading "El-P playing a free show & likes NIN, a Cage biopic, Del the Funky Homosapien & other Def Jux stuff"