Meyhem Lauren's 'Mandatory Brunch Meetings'

Meyhem Lauren is back with the new Mandatory Brunch Meetings LP, out now via Mishka for free and streaming in full below. Look for appearances from Action Bronson (who has his own new release with....), Alchemist, J-Love, , Maffew Ragazino, Carrie Wilds and many others.

Continue reading "Meyhem Lauren welcomes 'Mandatory Brunch Meetings' (stream/download it)"

The old '80s new wavey NMS logo / Reks

It's beginning to feel like this summer is just one never ending music festival. In addition to the Northside Festival, which begins in Brooklyn tonight, NYC will get another multi-venue festival next week with the recently revived New Music Seminar which runs from June 17-20 this year. Some of you out there may have lived (and gone to see shows) long enough in New York City to remember the fest's original incarnation which existed for a week every summer from 1980 to 1995. It was a little like CMJ, but more focused on live music, though there were industry panel discussions and the like too.

For the new version (which actually existed last year too in a very small form), badgeholders will have access to a number of industry talks and also a selection of live shows. Those shows include a free show at Tammany Hall on Tuesday (6/19), presented by eMusic, with Anamanaguchi, Hooray for Earth and Yellow Dogs. They also include the previously discussed Deer Tracks show at Pianos on Wednesday (6/20) with Mon Khmer, Nouela, and Crux.

Another notable one is REKS, Soul Khan, Maffew Ragazino, and The Doppelgangaz at Public Assembly on Tuesday (6/19). REKS released an album this year called Straight No Chaser, which was produced by Statik Selektah and features guest appearances from Action Bronson, Termanology, Slaine, and others. You can stream the whole thing below via spotify along with a video for album track, "Chasin'."

Continue reading "New Music Seminar is back (Anamanaguchi, REKS & many other shows & panels included)"

Idle Warship at Culture Shock 2012 (more by Kellyann Petry)

Summerstage which, as in previous years, includes more than just Central Park, will be hosting free shows this summer at Herbert Von King Park. One of those goes down this Sunday (6/10), and though billed as Talib Kweli (with Band), based on the event page's URL and Idle Warship's tour dates, we're pretty sure that means it's an Idle Warship show (aka Talib, Res, and a full live band). The show will be presented in conjunction with a screening of Brooklyn Boheme. Check out the full schedule of shows in Herbert Von King Park HERE.

In related news, Talib Kweli collaborator Jean Grae, who is gearing up to release her new full length, Cake or Death, will be playing Public Assembly on Thursday (6/7). The Brooklyn venue is hosting two solid shows that day: 'Brooklyn Live' in the back room with Jean, Skyzoo & !llmind, DJ IS1, Scram Jones, and Fresh Vetz, and 'Popular Demand' in the front room with Fool's Gold artists Party Supplies and Nick Catchdubs, along with Maffew Ragazino Sr., Nitty Scott MC, and more. Tickets to the front room show and the back room show are available. Check out the video trailer for Jean Grae's Cake or Death below, along with fliers for both Public Assembly shows.

Continue reading "Herbert Von King Park hosting free shows this summer; Idle Warship this weekend; Jean Grae playing Public Assembly"

Smif N Wessun at Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest 2010 (more by Brook Bobbins)

Sean Price will team with his Duck Down associates Smif-N-Wessun, as well as Maffew Ragazino and Phony Ppl for a show at Highline Ballroom TONIGHT (1/18). Tickets are still available.

Phony Ppl recently made their new LP Phonyland available for free download. Get a copy at Mediafire. As previously mentioned, you can also catch them opening for Theophilus London at Webster Hall.

In related news, Skyzoo (of Duck Down Records) recently released his new video for "Could've Struck the Lotto" from his recent The Great Debater mixtape (downloadable here). Check that out below, alongside some other videos including a video trailer for tonight.

Continue reading "a Sean Price & Smif N Wessun show tonight (and related stuff)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Maffew Ragazino - Rhyme Pays (Mediafire Link)

Hip Hop DX: Why is your name spelled so unconventionally with the two F's?

Maffew: A lot of people think I'm ignorant for spelling my name with two F's--it's M-A-F-F-E-W as opposed to the biblical way. But there's a reason for the two F's, and there's a meaning behind the name. My name [is an acronym that] stands for Money And Fame Fuels Everyone's World, and it's a real self-explanatory statement. It means everything, and that's the reason we're here right now. We're on the grind because there's a lot at stake. There's a lot that can be gained from these opportunities that we're taking advantage of. Money And Fame Fuels Everyone's World. If it doesn't fuel your world, then you need off this world.

As you can see above, Maffew Ragazino is the correct spelling of his name, so no flaming about poor spellcheck in this post (well, about that anyway). The MC proudly reps Brownsville, home of MCs like Masta Ace, MOP, and Sean Price (Ragazino's uncle), and he'll rep it even harder TONIGHT at The Studio at Webster Hall (10/6) when he celebrates the release of his new LP Rhyme Pays with DJ Zeke. Tickets are still available.

Maffew Ragazino's Rhyme Pays is out NOW for free download. Get a copy of it above and stream it in full below. Reccomended for fans of the era of NYC hip hop when guys like Just Blaze and The Alchemist ruled the streets.

Continue reading "Maffew Ragazino giving away new LP, playing NYC tonight"

Speaking of the Morgan, Jelly's "Rock Yard" continues this Saturday (8/20) at The Morgan (25 Bogart entrace). The lineup includes Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Maffew Ragazino (who's collaborated with Action Bronson), Delicate Steve, and others. Admission is free and doors are at 2 PM. A flier for this show is below. Delicate Steve meanwhile play another free show TONIGHT (8/18).

Loud mouthed rapper Danny Brown released a new mixtape, XXX, earlier this week via Fool's Gold. You can download the entire thing for free at Fool's Gold and stream it below. The album features production by Squadda B, Brandun Deshay, and DJ HouseShoes, and guest vocals by Dopehead and Chip$. Danny also contributed to the new Das Racist album and will go on a tour with them and Despot that kicks off with a record release show at Bowery Ballroom on September 12. Tickets for that show are still on sale.

In other hip hop news, NYC indie hip hop label QN5's annual QN5 Megashow is coming to Highline Ballroom on Friday (8/19) and Kreayshawn plays Highline Ballroom tonight (8/18). Tonight's show is sold out but limited tickets will be available at doors, which open at 8 PM. The bill also includes Smoke DZA, Phony PPL, Roach Gigz, and Moe Green.

You can also catch Smoke DZA on the Smokers Club Tour this fall with Big K.R.I.T., Method Man, Curren$y, and others.

All dates, stream, and flier below...

Continue reading "Danny Brown released a mixtape, playing Rock Yard w/ Action Bronson before Das Racist tour (dates)"