by Andrew Sacher

Pusha T

Pusha T is playing in NYC TONIGHT (12/22) at Gramercy Theatre with NinjaSonik, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Gilbere Forte, Emilio Rojas, and Jasmine Solano. Tickets are still available.

Earlier this week, Pusha dropped a freestyle over Common's "Sweet" off of his new LP, The Dreamer/The Believer, which came out on Tuesday. The Smoking Section reports that the track is a diss at Drake (who is touring in 2012 with Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky). Stream it below.

Common played Highline Ballroom on Monday (12/19). Nas joined him at the show. You can stream the whole show below, and also check out a video of Nas joining in on "Ghetto Dreams" below.

Pusha T collaborator Wale also plays a show in NYC TONIGHT (12/22). HIs is at Webster Hall and tickets are still available. More dates, including one at Irving Plaza, are listed below.

Speaking of Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire and Emilio Rojas, they both just played S.O.B.'s with Kendrick Lamar on Monday (12/19). Talib Kweli saw the show, and tweeted, "The ASAP crew did a 20 min walk thru during the set. Classic Harlem lol." Check out a video from the show below.

Maybe Talib should give Diplo a heads up about Kendrick. Diplo recently tweeted "Kendrick lamar sounds like somebody that played for the supersonics in the 90s. Didn't know he was a rapper. What's his best tune?" (Hey Diplo, check out "The Spiteful Chant").

In other news, Kendrick told XXLMag that he and J. Cole are planning a joint album. "We're still trying to formulate it and sit down in a neutral zone, where either one of us is moving and doing shows, interviews and press all the time," he said. Kendrick told HipHopDx that he's lined up Just Blaze and Pete Rock for his next LP.

Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire will play NYC again when he opens for Action Bronson at Highline Ballroom on December 27. Tickets are still available. eXquire and Bronson both made Heems' list of favorite albums released in 2011.

Speaking of Talib Kweli, his group Idle Warship played Southpaw on 12/9. Some videos from that show are below. They'll do it again on January 4 at S.O.B.'s. Tickets are still available.

Dates, videos and stream below...

Continue reading "Pusha T & Wale play shows tonight (and other dates); Kendrick Lamar & Common & guests played recently (videos)"

Fool's Gold Day Off is returning to the City Winery Backyard on September 5 (aka Labor Day) with Juicy J, Danny Brown, AraabMUZIK, Just Blaze, Brothers Macklovitch (A-Trak & Dave1), Cubic Zirconia, and more. The all ages event runs from 2-8 PM and admission is free.

Juicy J aka 1/2 of Three 6 Mafia also has other dates coming up, all of which are listed below.

As previously mentioned, AraabMUZIK also tours with and opens for SBTRKT at Bowery Ballroom (10/31). SBTRKT's show the next night (11/1) at MHOW in Brooklyn didn't have an opener, but now it does and it's Cubic Zirconia. Tickets for both of those shows are still on sale.

Danny Brown tours with Das Racist in September.

A show flier and a video from last year's Day Off and stuff, below...

Continue reading "Fool's Gold Day Off coming (free outdoor NYC show w/ Juicy J & more), Cubic Zirconia also opening for SBTRKT"

Kanye West & Big Sean @ Irving Plaza Tuesday (Joshua Laboy)

Maybe it was all the excitement of summer finally arriving, but for whatever reason, NYC shows have been pretty heavy on the special guests lately. Here's a few we know about.

Reggie Watts was the secret guest that joined Glenn Kotche and Buke & Gass during 'Wilco weekend' at NYU for the Jab Abumrad's Radiolab Concert on Saturday (6/18). Reggie was a secret because of the two Summerstage shows he's playing this week including the one in Red Hook Park TONIGHT (6/24).

Reptar was a secret guest at the Thee Oh Sees Brooklyn Bowl show on Saturday (Reptar played Governors Ball earlier that day). And as predicted, Thee Oh Sees themselves were the secret headliner at Death by Audio the previous night (6/17).

Reptar, who also opened for Art Brut at Music Hall last night, will open for Foster the People at Terminal 5 on September 27th. The only mystery here is how Foster the People are big enough to headline Terminal 5 already! Tickets are on sale.

Ted Leo showed up as a special guest at the Eleanor Friedberger show at Europa during Northside. Bradford Cox was in the Audience. Catch Ted again at the free South Street Seaport kickoff party for the 4Knots Festival that Eleanor plays at the South Street Seaport a week later. It was just announced that Eleanor will also open for Deerhunter at their Webster Hall shows in August. (Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox must have really liked her set) Tickets for both Deerhunter shows are still available.

As also recently mentioned both Clams Casino and Neon Indian (DJ) were added as last minute surprises guests to the Northside show at Cameo on Sunday (6/19). The show was one day after Neon Indian played Governors Ball. Monday night Cameo hosted semi-secret DJ sets by YACHT, The Miracles Club & Midnight Magic, all who played MHOW on Sunday.

Kanye West showed up at Big Sean's Irving Plaza show on Tuesday (6/21), the same night Big Sean appeared on the Bon Iver episode of Fallon. Despite two of Kanye's friends being on Fallon on the same night however, Kanye did not make an appearance on the show (not even backstage). Videos from Irving Plaza below.

Justin Vernon did not show up at the S. Carey/David Bazan show at Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday (6/22), as we hoped he would. S. Carey is a member of Bon Iver's band and played with Justin the two days previous on both Fallon and Colbert.

Speaking of Fallon, Bob Mould (who DJs his Blowoff party at Highline Ballroom tonight) showed up and surprised people by playing a Sugar song backed by the Roots on the show. Mould recently performed live with the Foo Fighters during their set at Sasquatch. Video of that special guest appearance is below.

Lenny Kravtiz's daughter Zoë Kravitz and her band Elevator Fight played Southpaw with J*Davey on Tuesday (6/21). Lenny showed up to watch his daughter, but he wasn't the only crowd member blowing up Twitter. Drake was also in the audience to catch the show. FADER grabbed him outside the Park Slope venue for a quick video interview which you can watch below.

Flying Lotus & Just Blaze @ Music Hall (via the Comedian)

Flying Lotus headlined two Brainfeeder showcases (his label) this week. The first was at Bowery Ballroom on Monday (6/20) and the second at MHOW on Wednesday (6/22). Apparently trippy instrumentals aren't the only thing FlyLo digs when it comes to hip hop producers, because Just Blaze (Jay-Z, T.I.) showed up to play with him at the MHOW show. Flying Lotus also surprised NYC by playing a free late show at Le Poisson Rouge too.

Following in FlyLo's footsteps, Ivan & Alyosha gave NYC a gift in the form of a last-minute free late show at Mercury Lounge.

Crowded House frontman Neil Finn played with Eddie Vedder at Beacon Theatre on his tour with Glen Hansard.

And while opener Glen Hansard (Swell Season, the Frames) helped Vedder recreate "Sleepless Nights," the tender duet the pair shared on "Ukulele Songs," and the crowd found their voices and their feet for several of he night's tunes -- "Porch," "Unthought Known" -- the biggest roar erupted when Vedder invited Crowded House/Split Enz frontman Neil Finn to the stage for an impromptu collaboration Vedder jokingly called an "unrehearsed collision." With longtime friend Finn on organ, the twosome blended delicate harmonies on Hunters And Collectors' "Throw Your Arms Around Me." Finn took up a guitar and sat down next to Vedder to trade verses on Finn's Split Enz hit "I Got You," which found Finn playfully calling out chords to Vedder during the bridge. "It turns out we play that song differently," Vedder quipped, "But since he wrote it, he's right."

Decked out in a trio of long white lab coats, Finn (organ) and Hansard (guitar) returned with Vedder for the second encore, the rousing "Big Hard Sun" from "Into The Wild." [Billboard]

As you know, Stephen Colbert was the special guest with The Black Belles on his own show last night (6/23). He performed with the band and also recorded a single with them which is now on sale via Third Man Records. Jack White actually also appeared on the show this time for his third and final appearance during StePhest Colbchella '011 and then appeared with Colbert again today (6/24) at The Lot at the High Line. Jack and the Black Belles were also spotted last night (6/23) bowling at Brooklyn Bowl. According to Questlove (who was DJing the venue), he "has bowling game."

Tonight (6/24) is the another Doveman show at LPR. Lisa Hannigan (who played 3 sold out NYC-area shows this week) and Mike Doughty are billed as openers, but according to Doveman, some secret special guests will be showing up as well (as usual).

Last but not least, as hinted, and confirmed earlier today, Fucked Up are the special guest at 285 Kent Saturday (6/26) with JEFF the Brotherhood and Iceage. Tickets are on sale at Record Grouch. Iceage also played a secret show at 538 Johnson while they were in town for Northside.

Any special appearances we left out?

Videos below...

Continue reading "This Week in Special Guests (Kanye West, Reggie Watts, Reptar, Neil Finn, Drake, Just Blaze, Doveman & more)"

photos by Brook Bobbins

Fool's Gold held a holiday party at the new Tammany Hall (ex-The Annex) on the LES on Friday night (12/17). DJ sets came from Mannie Fresh, Just Blaze, The Brothers Macklovitch (A-Trak & Dave1), Sammy Bananas, and special guest Drake. More pictures from the event, below...

Continue reading "Fool's Gold had a holiday party @ the new Tammany Hall -- pics (A-Trak, Dave 1, Drake, Just Blaze & more)"

"After announcing the closing of their New York and Los Angeles locations, Fat Beats is excited to present a send-off worthy of their hip-hop legacy. A week-long series of in-store performances and music industry panels at both stores will allow the music community to not only learn about the history of Fat Beats and what the future of the music industry holds, but to also celebrate the legacy of one of the strongest music brands in the company of their favorite artists. These week-long in-stores are sure to go down in hip-hop and New York history. Everyone is welcome to come and all events are free.

Today marks the official start of the week-long in-stores for the New York location. This location will host artist performances every day this week from 4-9pm until it closes its doors for the final time on Saturday, September 4th, 2010. Additionally, both locations will be selling limited edition commemorative t-shirts, as well as discounted music and merchandise"

Continue reading "free in-stores all week @ Fat Beats (leading up to closing)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: M.I.A. - Boyz Remix featuring Wale (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: M.I.A. - Boyz Remix featuring Jay-Z (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Rhymefest - Man In The Mirror Mixtape (ZIP)

Ronson, Merriweather & Wale

Allido Records, named after one of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs, is the label co-owned by Mr. EVR aka potential Lohan In-Law Mark Ronson (sorry for getting all Perez-y). Mark Ronson will rep Allido when he appears as house DJ during the Allido CMJ showcase at SOB's on Oct 21st. Tickets are on sale.

The Allido Showcase will be headlined by Wale (pronounced wah-lay), who has appeared in NYC with Ronson before, and who recently hopped on a new remix of M.I.A.'s "Boyz" that some say is better than the Jay-Z remix that was released at the same time. Both are available for download above... you be the judge. Wale doesn't have an actual album to his name yet (he's a mixtape dude), but look for his debut to drop in Spring 2009 and feature Travis Barker (recently released from an LA burn center), Mark Ronson (no doy), 9th Wonder, Just Blaze, and Pharrell.

On January 25, 2008, Wale and Mark Ronson, on Ronson's East Village Radio show, hinted that Wale was in the process of signing with Jimmy Iovine at Interscope Records and On March 12, he announced on 93.9 WKYS that he had signed with Interscope. [Wikipedia]

Rhymefest of I-co-wrote-Kanye-West's-"Jesus Walks"-fame will also be in the (SOB's) house (check out the free Jacko-themed mixtape from earlier this year available above), as well as The Rumble Strips and Daniel Merriweather (not to be confused with Dan The Automator aka Nathaniel Merriweather of Handsome Boy Modeling School fame). Daniel was also at that Webster Hall show Ronson played in October last year.

In other semi-related news, Perez Hilton is announcing his full CMJ lineup on Monday, Pharell and M.I.A. recently got together, Jay-Z inspired a bunch of kids to search out Daptone's Menehan Street Band, and the BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase, happening the same night as Ronson's, is getting close to being sold out. Also that night: The Cool Kids & The Carps.

Wale videos and tour dates below...

Continue reading "Wale, MP3s, Mark Ronson's Allido CMJ showcase, other dates "

Q-Tip

KRS-One

Common

* Todd Barry on Conan
* last Invite Them Up EVER
* Henry Rollins is speaking at Warsaw
* Big Head Todd & The Monsters is playing Bowery Ballroom
* Liam Finn is playing w/ Pela & Apollo Sunshine @ Music Hall
* The Acorn is playing w/ Bowerbirds & Phosphorescent @ Union Hall
* Marc Ribot, Sean Lennon & Yuka Honda are playing Knitting Factory

Q-Tip, KRS-One, Common and Furious Five played that private Smirnoff event which was in NYC last night. That's where the three photos above are from (courtesy of Ryan Muir/Metromix).

Human Giant (who recently cancelled some shows) released a new video from their upcoming season 2 on MTV. That's below. What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday? "

...or so says the press release....

Continue reading "KRS-One & DJ Premier is like a glass of Smirnoff Raspberry flavored vodka and pineapple juice...."