by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Murs & 9th Wonder - "3:16 Part 2" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: One Be Lo - "The Pigs" featuring Mike Posner (MP3)

Some great upcoming hip hop shows in the coming weeks, starting with Murs who is back with producer 9th Wonder for a new album, Murs 9th Wonder Fornever. Check out the first track from the album, "3:16 Part 2" above. Fornever is due on April 13th, and one week later, the "Bad Man" will kick off a US tour in Arizona that has him crashlanding at Highline Ballroom on May 19th. Tickets are on sale.

DJ Hi-Tek has done beats for the entire G-Unit crew, so in that light, I guess it makes sense that the thematically different Hi-Tek project (with Talib Kweli) Reflection Eternal would play the "This is 50" (Cent) event at Nokia Theater. Although for the life of me, I cant figure out why Reflection Eternal would support Lloyd Banks. Ah, nepotism. Tickets for April 29th at Nokia Theater with Banks and Reflection Eternal are on sale.

One day before the "This is 50" event, One Be Lo will step back into his old role as a member of Binary Star for a show at Knitting Factory (4/28) with DJ Abilities, Pigeon John, Donny Goines, and Nyle. Tickets are on sale. One Be Lo is scheduled to drop his new solo album B.A.B.Y. on MYX later this year, which features appearances from Royce Da 5'9, Freeway, Zion I, Phonte, Jean Grae, and more. Check out a track from the upcoming LP above.

Though Before The Casket Drops has, um, dropped, Clipse is still on the road promoting the record, laying down dates in NYC at Highline Ballroom (5/6, tickets) and Baruch College earlier that same day. Ninjasonik is on board to get the party started. Full tour dates are below.

Finally, a few hip hop greats from the 90s are scheduled to play NYC in the coming weeks. Naughty by Nature and Black Sheep will team up for a show at Brooklyn Masonic Temple on 5/21 (tickets still on sale). Cypress Hill could easily play a room much much larger than SOBs, but look for them at the venue on 4/15 (tickets still avail) and the blastmaster KRS-ONE on 4/20 (tickets). Wait... shouldn't those dates be reversed?

Tour dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Murs, Clipse, Cypress Hill & other upcoming hip hop shows"

Freddie Gibbs @ SXSW (more by Andrew Frisicano)

Roc Nation signee J. Cole's Tuesday (3/30) show at SOB's had a few special appearances (not Jay-Z).

Surprise guests Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek joined Cole on stage for "Just to Get By," but the highlight of the night was when Cole brought out Young Gunz rapper Young Chris. "We don't wear the same chain, but, I gotta give respects to those that came before me, from Beanie to Young Gunz," J. Cole told the audience before bringing out the former Roc-A-Fella artist, who was received with shouts of excitement from the throng of people. [Billboard]

Last night (3/31), K'Naan & Wale's show at Irving Plaza featured a surprise appearance by Nas and Damian Marley, who performed their album's first single "As We Enter" (Nas and K'naan did "NY State of Mind" too). Videos are below. Nas & Damian Marley's tour this summer includes a show at Williamsburg Waterfront.

At Highline Ballroom last night (3/31), Freddie Gibbs and others from XXL's Freshman Class performed. Cam'ron wasn't quite a special guest - his appearance as the headliner was announced the day before.

One of the more hyped Freshmen, thanks to his imposing style and intelligent rhyming, Indiana's Freddie Gibbs represents a bit of a stylistic change from the other performers. Everything about him--from his physical appearance to his deep, gritty vocals--commands respect. The turning point in his set came when he took his shirt off and upped his intensity (the crowd went crazy).

Donnis was probably the biggest surprise of the night. Besides his smooth, succinct Southern delivery, he brought out two surprise guests of note--Brit soul sensation Estelle and the up-and-coming Ryan Leslie. Estelle, with her scintillating vocals, came out for a quick verse on a new Donnis single, while Leslie played the keys for the track "Gone." [Time Out NY]

Doug E. Fresh also made an appearance before Cam'ron's set. A bunch of videos below...

Continue reading "J. Cole, K'naan, Freddie Gibbs, Cam'ron & others played guest-filled shows w/ Nas, Damian Marley, Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek, more"

by Black Bubblegum

Talib Kweli + Hi-Tek = Reflection Eternal

Rock The Bells 2009 is SUNDAY (7/19, tix still avail). Reflection Eternal is among those scheduled to play the NY date @ Jones Beach, and they are scheduled to make their NYC return on August 28th at BB King's with three others on the Rock The Bells bill: the reunion of Slum Village (sans J.Dilla of course), Slaughterhouse (aka Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9, Joell Ortiz & Crooked I), and freestyle kingpin Supernatural. No word on whether the show, billed as "The Rock The Bells Club Tour" is part of a larger tour (sure f'n sounds like it) or when tickets go on sale.

Reflection Eternal recently dropped a new single via iTunes, "Back Again", accompanied with a video that is viewable below. No word on the status of their new LP, tentatively titled Trainspotting, or if "Back Again" will appear on it.

Meanwhile, Rock The Bells 2009 has posted the set times for Jones Beach, with one suspicious hole slotted for "Special Guest" at 5:20 on the main stage. Hmmmm..... Set times for the show are below.

Slaughterhouse recently dropped a video for "The One" from their upcoming self-titled LP due on 8/11 via E1. Check that out below.

The other half of Black Star with Talib Kweli, aka Mos Def, has released the absolutely sick new record The Ecstatic. Mighty Mos is scheduled to play Governor's Island on 9/12. Tickets are on sale.

Videos and Rock The Bells set times below...

Continue reading "Reflection Eternal 'Back Again' - playing BB King's w/ Slum Village, and ROCK THE BELLS NY on SUNDAY (set times)"

by Black Bubblegum

Nas @ Rock The Bells 2008 in Jones Beach (more by villageslum.com)

OK, so it's not as much a big bang as last year (A Tribe Called Quest reunion) or the one before (Rage Against The Machine reunion), but Rock The Bells 2009 does have some interesting artists on the lineup. Besides a welcome reunion (Reflection Eternal) (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek), one suspect one (House of Pain) and some great repeat offenders (Nas, RZA, Raekwon, MOP, Sage Francis, Slum Village), this year's Rock The Bells also boasts an Outkast (Big Boi), a windy city fave (Common), and a true sicko (Necro). The full lineup is:

Continue reading "Rock The Bells announces 2009 hip hop fest/tour lineup"