Gucci Mane at the last (?) Pool Party (more by Chris Doss)

Rapper Gucci Mane has been ordered to undergo psychiatric tests, following an Atlanta court appearance on a charge he violated terms of his probation. Radric Davis, the rapper's real name, appeared before Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger on Monday. Davis' attorney, Michael Holmes, filed a special plea of mental incompetency on behalf of Davis, who has battled drug problems in the past. The rapper was sent to Anchor Hospital, a 111-bed psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment facility in Atlanta. Records show Davis has been in the Fulton County Jail at least five times since 2005 on drug, aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges. His court appearance stemmed from a November altercation. [AP]

It also hasn't been the greatest of days for Gucci Mane's protege Wacka Flocka Flame, who surrendered to the police in connection with drugs and weapons charges. Wacka Flocka Flame's "No Hands" currently sits at #4 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Chart.

As previously mentioned, Questlove never rests, and in addition to all of his upcoming DJ gigs we just posted, you can also catch him this Friday, 1/7, at BB King's with special guest Rakim.

Also coming up at BB King's: Ice Cube.

SOB's hosts Joe Budden on on January 23rd.

Those on the West Coast can catch Joe, along with Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5'9" on Saturday, April 2, 2011, as Slaughterhouse have been added to the the sixth annual Paid Dues Festival along with Black Star, Immortal Technique and Murs. Slaughterhouse will drop a six song EP on E1 next month.

And last but not least, two humourous Kanye West-related videos are making the rounds, and you can watch both of them, below...

Continue reading "Rakim @ BB King's, Gucci Mane @ a treatment facility, Kanye vs muppets, Slaughterhouse @ Paid Dues & other hip hop news"

photos by Chris Doss

DOWNLOAD: Dominique Young Unique - Show My Ass (MP3)

"Jelly pool party was historic/epic. DMC + Andrew WK + Les Savy Fav+Doug E Fresh : unforgettable. Gucci mane is the gertrude stein of hip hop" -erikhinton

Gucci Mane @ Williamsburg Waterfront Sunday

When they said "surprise" they meant it, though as rumored (and here), Gucci Mane was on the lineup of the final Jelly Pool Party on Sunday, August 29th, at Williamsburg Waterfront. Andrew WK hinted at his participation the night before, but for the most part, the lineup remained a rumor until the artists hit the stage. Featuring DJ sets by The Rub and Smalltown DJs, Sunday's Pool Party-that-almost-didn't-happen featured performances from DMC (of Run DMC), Andrew WK (and Cherie Lilly), Doug E Fresh, Doug's son's group, Big Freedia (and dancer), The Cool Kids, Tim Harrington (of Les Savy Fav), and Atlanta MC Gucci Mane in addition to the previously announced Dominique Young Unique and Delorean.

Unlike Run, Andrew WK and Tim Harrington helped DMC perform "It's Tricky" and "Walk this Way". Delorean, already headlining multiple nights at 600+ capacity venues in NYC, played 2nd on the bill after an opening set by Dominique Young Unique who was busting out of her top as she played songs like "Show My Ass" (download that song above).

Dominique Young Unique

But Dominique's outfit was nothing compared to the stage show of New Orleans's Big Freedia who brought "Ass Everywhere" to a NYC crowd for the third time in two days (Freedia also performed at PS1 on Saturday and at Coco66 later that night) (Dominique also played again later Sunday night at Brooklyn Bowl).

So was it the final pool party ever?

...Series' co-founder, Sarah Hooper, has said that she "hates" what the beloved Pool Parties have become: lame concerts with muted speakers, too many security guards and too much oversight from the state and its patron, Open Space Alliance. She even hinted that Jelly's current side-project, a six-show free series called "Rock Yard" on Wythe Avenue, could replace the Pool Parties (so named because they began at the McCarren Park pool).

Hooper didn't fork over any of the juicy details when she took the stage on Sunday to give a crammed park its final farewell.

"Thank you so much, we love being in Brooklyn," she said to a roaring crowd. "Don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't be yourself." -[Brooklyn Paper]

By the way, Chuck Schumer was there again too. Until next year?

More pictures and some videos from the whole day, below...

Continue reading "Gucci Mane, Doug E Fresh, Dominique Young Unique & the Cool Kids played the final Pool Party too (pics) "

Big Boi's solo debut album, out July 6th via Def Jam/Purple Ribbon, is streaming now at MySpace (which means occasionally it will pause until you figure out which window/tab you have it open in and click the annoying ad). Full tracklist with list of guests below...

Continue reading "Big Boi's Sir Lucious Left Foot out soon, streaming in full "

DOWNLOAD: Silent League - Yours Truly, 2095 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Silent League - Yours Truly, 2095 (Memory Tapes Version) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Memory Tapes - Bicycle (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gucci Mane - Excuse Me (Memory Tapes Remix) (MP3)

Memory Tapes

We previously reported that Memory Tapes, NJ's Dayve Hawk, would be at Noise Pop 2010, with a forthcoming tour (his first ever) that includes a February 3rd show at the Bell House opening up for Atlas Sound. Tickets for that are sold out, but more MT tour dates have been announced, including SXSW (TBA details) and a show at NYC's Tribeca Grand on February 20th (will be free w/ RSVP).

Since releasing Seek Magic in 2009 (which is being re-released), Memory Tapes has been busy remixing other artists, including Silent League, Gucci Mane (as part of the new Diplo organized mixtape) and most recently Tanlines' new single "Real Life". The first two of those are above. The Silent League song is an ELO cover that'll be on Silent League's new, third album, but you've always been the caretaker, coming out January 26th on Something in Construction Records.

Silent League's new album comes with a bonus disc that also includes some instrumental tracks, covers, live version and a remix by Neon Indian who also has a NYC show coming up with Atlas Sound. Full tracklist below.

Silent League plays a record release show for that album Saturday, 1/16, at New York's Gramercy Theatre with Elefant and the Subjects. Tickets are on sale. They also play a free show on January 28th at Bruar Falls with New Numbers, Ludlow Lions, and Youngman Grand.

All tour dates, and tracklist and artwork for the new Silent League album, are below...

Continue reading "Memory Tapes touring (2 NY dates), remixing (including Silent League who have a new album & shows too)"