Pharoahe Monch at Fun Fun Fun Fest in 2010 (more by BBG)

In addition to the free show at Weeksville Heritage Center, Pharoahe Monch has a few other NYC shows in July. He plays B.B. King's on July 12 with Heltah Skeltah, OGC, and Black Rob. Tickets are still on sale.

Pharoahe Monch also appears as a guest with the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson ensemble at Harlem Stage on July 9 in Annunciation Park (entrance Amsterdam Ave. and W. 134th Street). Jazz vocalist Jose James and Zap Mama will also be guests at the FREE show that Taylor McFerrin opens. J. Period is the evening's DJ. This one runs from 5-9 PM, with 4 PM gates. "In addition to the live music, concert guests enjoy food and hand-made products from local vendors, and an American Airlines raffle. Blankets only, no lawn chairs allowed."

If you haven't heard of multi instrumentalist/dj/arranger/composer/music director/producer/educator Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, you probably at least know some of his collaborators like Stevie Wonder, Outkast, Rihanna, Flying Lotus, Aloe Blacc and countless others. His ensemble performs original music, covers of unreleased J Dilla tracks, and will pay tribute to Gil Scott-Heron at the Harlem show.

A similar show happened in LA in 2010 with Flying Lotus as part of the ensemble and with special guest Aloe Blacc and Bilal. You can listen to that entire peformance, and watch some video from it, below....

Continue reading "Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble playing free Harlem show, Pharoahe Monch playing other shows too"

by BBG

Sean Price at Southpaw (more by BBG)

"I like no female rappers. Not like I don't like them personally; they don't hold my interest. Except MC Lyte," he told Vlad TV. "I haven't bought a female rap album since MC Lyte, Lyte as a Rock. That album? I haven't bought one since, straight up. I like none of 'em."

P was quick to clarify, explaining that he holds a soft spot for Digga. "Let me take that back. Rah Digga. She get busy too. But other than that, none of 'em. I'm not buying none of they albums. All of 'em. That's just me. I be fooled. You have a nice single. If the single is good, I'll buy the album. I got a fooled a few times. Who did I get fooled by? I was so pissed. Boss. Remember Boss? I was so pissed, b. I fell for a few, but I like no female rappers. None." -[Hip Hop DX]

I guess we won't expect to see any female MCs as special guests when Sean Price's not-supergroup Random Axe (with Black Milk & Guilty Simpson) supports Smif N Wessun with Maino TONIGHT at Highline Ballroom (6/21). DJ Envy will be on the wheels of steel in between/before the show with Angela Yee hosting. Tickets are still available.

Can't make it tomoight? Tomorrow (Wedneday, 6/22) Random Axe to play a ANOTHER NYC show, this time a headlining date at Southpaw with labelmates Black Moon and SkyZoo. Tickets are still available. The pair of shows are in addition to the crew's upcoming appearances at Rock The Bells and Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest. Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest's lineup recently expanded with the additions of Shad, Homeboy Sandman, Nitty Scott MC, Eternia, and Twilite Tone.

Random Axe is celebrating the release of their new and self-titled LP out NOW via Duck Down Records while Smif N Wessun will release their new collaborative LP with Pete Rock, Monumental, via the label on 6/28. Stream the entire Random Axe LP at Complex, and check out two recent Random Axe videos, "Random Call" and "The Hex", below.

And while we're on the subject of Duck Down Records, Black Moon, and Smif N Wessun, look for the two crews to join fellow Duck Down affiliates Heltah Skeltah, OGC, Pharoahe Monch, and Black Rob for a "Hip Hop Legends" night at BB King's on July 12th (Black Rob & OGC... hip hop legends?). Tickets are still available.

Reminder: Duck Down signee and collaborator Talib Kweli will play a free show at Red Hook Park TONIGHT, a day before he hits The Colbert Report.

A bunch of videos and song streams are below.

Continue reading "Random Axe released LP on Duck Down (stream it), playing shows w/ Smif N Wessun & Black Moon & more"

by Black Bubblegum

You might have seen that Boot Camp Clik members Black Moon & Smif N Wessun (aka Black Smif N Wessun) are playing the Knitting Factory and performing the classics. Fellow BCC compadres Heltah Skeltah are also playing a show of their own as part of Hot 97's Who's Next Live series (Whaaa? Heltah Skeltah is Who's NEXT? when did Nocturnal come out again?) at SOB's on Sept 3rd, hosted by the mighty Pete Rosenberg. Tickets are on sale. Check it out, and if you've never heard Pete Rosenberg's show on Hot 97 (chances are, you haven't... it's on sundays from 4-9AM), I urge you to do so or subscribe to the podcast (iTunes).

Project X featuring Rhythm X (aka Dr Dooom, aka Big Willie Smith aka Dr Octagon aka Poppa Large aka Kool Keith), Tim "Fuck Compton" Dog, and Marc Live are playing BB Kings on Oct 10th. Tickets are on sale. While I can't say that I am feeling Tim Dog's rhymes (ick) or the fake-me-out Pharrell wannabe on falsetto, Kool Keith live is an interesting prospect. Hopefully we'll get some Cenobites stuff as an encore.
Speaking of Pharrell, NERD will open for Common at Roseland Ballroom on Oct 4th. NERD dropped Seeing Sounds in June. Common's Invicible Summer is due.... this fall?

Probably the most interesting (note: interesting, NOT exciting) of all the upcoming shows, multi-platinum MC The Game scheduled a show with fellow G-Unit ex-patroit Young Buck at Irving Plaza on Aug 26th. Tickets are still available. The Game drops his new album LAX that same day. The Game recently announced that he would replace Mack 10 as a member of Westside Connection. Fellow Westside Connection-ers Ice Cube and W.C. are also playing Irving Plaza on 9/8. Tickets are still available.

We warned you about the Atmosphere shows, now we have two of em scheduled for NYC that went on sale 8/22 at noon: Music Hall of Williamsburg on Oct 13th (here) and at Irving Plaza on Oct 14th (here)

Jedi Mind Tricks are on tour in November. MURS will be around in October.

Lots and lots of old schoolers are also coming through the five boroughs.... the Ruler Slick Rick is back at Europa on Sept 18th (tickets here), Method Man & Redman at Nokia on Oct 17th (on sale here), ganja kings Cypress Hill are at Nokia on Oct 30th (tickets here), and Rob Base (no DJ EZ Rock?) is playing Sept 26th at Southpaw (tickets here).

Continue reading "Heltah Skeltah, Project X & other upcoming Hip Hop shows"