Here's Andrew from MGMT jumping on bass during Tame Impala's last song at Coco66 tonight. Congratulations. (amrit singh)

Australia's Tame Impala, who are in town for shows at Pianos and Glasslands, played an invite-only (sort of) show at Coco66 last night (6/23). As you can see above, Andrew from MGMT sat in with band. If you're looking for a connection, the band's just finished a three-week tour together. All current Tame Impala dates below.

Also last night, the Rapture played a semi-secret show at Union Pool, where they debuted a pair of new songs. They play Friday in Philly and Saturday at NYC"s Milk Studios.

In Manhattan, UK singer Estelle, who performs in Miami tonight, stopped by Talib Kweli's show at S.O.B.'s and performed her single "American Boy." Estelle sings on the new Reflection Eternal (Talib and Hi-Tek) track "Midnight Hour". You can listen to that song below.

Some grainy tweet pics of both Estelle and the Rapture are also below. There's also an unrelated video of someone asking MGMT & Tame Impala for directions as an excuse to talk to them on the street before a show posted below...

Continue reading "The Rapture played Union Pool last night, Estelle joined Talib @ SOB's, Andrew MGMT helped out Tame Impala @ Coco66"

words & photos by Benjamin Lozovsky

The old Knitting Factory used to be a bastion for independent hip hop in New York City. The new incarnation just took a big step at continuing that legacy, as it hosted one of the most historic hip hop concerts in recent memory.

On Wednesday night (1/20), An astounding array of legends and rising stars rocked the stage to honor everyone's favorite five-footer, Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest. The event, Mind Body Soul, was a benefit to raise awareness for diabetes (Phife just received a kidney transplant related to his trials with the disease). And while diabetes was often on the mind and tongues of the performers, the show was really more of a demonstration of the persisting camaraderie and mutual adoration within a genre too often beleaguered with battles and conflict.

After quick opening sets by Hook, Jasmine Solano, Scotch Davis, and Monica Rush, the venue went from a displaced chill to full on engagement as Talib Kweli lead off the roster of A-listers. Having just arrived at the venue and already sent out to perform, Kweli showed his undying humility and his utmost flexibility though microphone heroics on a short notice set. Greg Nice (of obscure but beloved group Nice and Smooth) then burst out with a virulent spirit, with the mohawked, larger-than-life OG launching himself straight into the audience to parlay with the youngsters up front.

Jeru Tha Damaja was glib and full of grimy charm; he laid down classic tracks and told stories from the tombs of Brooklyn Hip Hop lore. A soft-spoken Dres (from Black Sheep) smoothly enticed with new material to go with that little ditty about train derailment you might have heard.

Compared to the illustrious resumes of many performers preceding and following him, up-and-comer Jay Electronica might have felt a bit overwhelmed. But Jay's heartfelt thanks to his peers was the most touching moment of the night, and his outrageous performance - with help from Mos Def, Hi Tek, and Kweli (all of whom recently cancelled performances at Highline Ballroom) - resonated with the youthful segments of the crowd and proved his position as the brightest star on the hip hop horizon.

Jay might have been the showstopper if he wasn't followed by hip hop ambassador (and its greatest living performer) KRS-One. Accompanied by hype man BusyBee (of the original Zulu Nation crew), KRS got metaphysical with beyond-cerebral freestyles. But still being the most humble braggadocio around, he bumped out covers of Biggie and Tribe to continue the showing of utmost respect and brotherhood that categorized the night.

There were some awkward and antagonizing moments throughout: posse upon posse swelling to the width of the stage and getting shooed away numerous times by Heavy Sound (the presenter) organizers, strange interactions between host Michael Rapaport and house turntablist DJ D-Lyfe, not to mention an off-performance by a sheepish Mr. Cheeks (of The Lost Boyz).

But it wouldn't really be a memorable hip hop conglomeration if it wasn't just the slightest bit disorganized or sporadically contentious. Even without a single piece of original vinyl brandished throughout the laptop-swapping spree behind the DJ table, the event still felt like a storied Bronx block party or an impromptu Brooklyn corner concert or a Queens Native Tongue poetry slam.

As Consequence dragged Phife on stage, followed by Ali Shaheed Muhameed and then Q-Tip to perform the final set of the night as a united Quest, on display was a vivid demonstration of the greatest hope for the future of hip hop: its ability to nurture its own existence through such reciprocal love. It might take a village to raise a child, but on this night, it only took one Tribe to raise up hip hop.

Ghostface was on the bill, but didn't show. More pictures from the night below...

Continue reading "A Tribe Called Quest got together (w/ help from Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Hi-Tek & more) @ Knitting Factory in NYC - pics "

Tonight's show at Highline Ballroom (which was reportedly close to selling out in advance) has been cancelled. Refunds available.

by Benjamin Lozovsky

Former Blackstar bandmates and continuing collaborators Talib Kweli and Mos Def are keeping up the busy pace they each set in 2009 with even more tour dates and releases to come in the new year.

After performing a spattering of shows with long-time producer Hi-Tek as a reunited Reflection Eternal last year, the much beloved pair is coming back to the New York area with a late show at Highline Ballroom on Friday, January 22nd (tickets are on sale). This date comes in the support of The Re:Union Mixtape, the fantastic new free compilation of fresh and unreleased Reflection Eternal cuts (with some classic Kweli and Hi-Tek jams throw in as well) mixed, mastered, and co-produced by Statik Selektah. If the new tracks are any indication, Kweli and Hi-Tek are poised to make a splashing return to form on their upcoming full-length LP Revolutions Per Minute, which has a tentative release date of March 2010.

Before that gig, Talib has two more scheduled local appearances. The first is this Sunday, January 17th, when he'll perform at Pyramid for an End Of The Weak party with special guest Webbafied.

The second, and definitely more eye-popping event is Mind Body Soul: A Concert Event To Raise Awareness For Diabetes. Organized by Heavy Sound and taking place at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on Wednesday, January 20th, the benefit concert will feature hosts Michael Rapaport, Okayplayer (perhaps ?uestlove), and Phife Dawg, and performances by Kweli, Ghostface Killah, Jay Electronica (whom Talib just collaborated with for killer Re:Union track 'Just Begun'), and Consequence. Tribe Called Quest member Phife, a long-time diabetic, was first diagnosed with the disease back in 1990, and is making his first appearance in the public spotlight after recently receiving a much needed kidney transplant. Other performers are promised as well (an earlier flyer for the event had Blakroc listed, although that has now vanished from the more updated version...let's hope they might be one of the special guests). Email RSVP@heavysounds.com to get in for free before 11:00pm.

Meanwhile, Mos Def will be back to perform tracks from his Grammy-nominated album The Ecstatic this Sunday, January 17th, at The Highline Ballroom. The show is a rescheduled appearance from December 20th of last year, which was canceled due to weather ($45 tickets). Later in the month, the Mighty Mos performs two more times. First it's at the Apollo Theater for IMAN Presents: Special Edition of Community Café, on Saturday, January 23rd. He'll be there along side Daily Show correspondent and comedian Aasif Mandvi as well as other guests ($20 tickets). Then you can catch Mos when he opens for DOOM at Nokia Theatre on January 30th ($40 tickets)

Event flyers below:

Continue reading "Reflection Eternal mixtape & a show (on sale) + Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Ghostface and even a Phife Dawg appearance too"

by Black Bubblegum

Talib Kweli on stage with Black Star (more by Tim Griffin)

After shows at the Blue note and with Rock The Bells earlier this year, tonight (8/28) marks the return of Reflection Eternal at BB King's , the crew that introduced the world to Talib Kweli with the Rawkus 12" single "Fortified Live" featuring then future Black Star partner Mos Def and Mr Man of Da Bush Babees. Also on board for tonight's festivities are the Paul-Wall-steez (aka they "got the internet goin nuts") of Slaughterhouse, as well as Slum Village (who recently lost a member). One of the kings of freestyle, Supernatural, will also be in attendance. Tickets are still available.

Sunday (8/30) BB King's will play host for a benefit for The Black August Hip Hop Project:

The Black August Hip Hop Project strives to promote human rights though supporting and influencing the global development of Hip Hop culture. By facilitating exchanges between international communities where Hip Hop is a vital part of youth culture, we promote awareness about the social and political issues that affect our global communities.

The show will feature appearances by Sadat X of Brand Nubian, Blitz The Ambassador, The A-Alikes, Bazaar Royale, and many others as well as DJ sets by Bobbito Garcia, Beverly Bond, and others. Tickets are still available.

Another notable show at BB Kings kicks off on 9/25 when Organized Konfusion team up with Poor Righteous Teachers. Tickets are still available, or you can try your luck at one of FIVE pairs of tickets available for giveaway! Want a pair? Details on how to win below.

Bobbito has been known to team up with the mighty DJ Spinna, who is paying tribute to MJ this weekend at Prospect Park and at Nokia Theatre with Q-Tip.

Remaining Reflection Eternal dates and a video for their classic "The Blast" is below.

Continue reading "Reflection Eternal @ BB King's tonight --- Organized Konfusion play in September (win tickets)"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Tim Griffin and Chris La Putt

Organized Konfusion @ APW

"Hip-hop gets odd treatment at festivals like All Points West, where most of the lineup leans toward indie-rock. The rock acts, beyond the name-brand headliners, are current: darlings of the club and college circuit and the blogs that support it. But the hip-hop is retro: representatives of past eras alongside younger acts who have chosen old-school styles." [NY Times]

Now that APW and it's associated parties are in the rear view, we're beginning to get a picture of hip hop this fall as those artists lay out shows of their own!

"Forget about whether Brooklyn was in the house; "Where all my trigonometry majors at?" Pharoahe Monch asked the audience. O.C., a rapper associated on and off with Organized Konfusion, also showed up during the [APW] set. Prince Po took pains to deny Internet reports of dissension between group members. And true to the luck that ran through Organized Konfusion's career, the set took place during the afternoon's rain squall; there were only a handful of listeners." [NY Times]

First up, Organized Konfusion, with APW behind them, is back on the train having scheduled a new date in NYC at BB King's on 9/25 with Poor Righteous Teachers. Rock dis funky joint! Tickets are on sale.

Secondly, The Wallabee Champ was recently in NYC to kick off APW at Nokia Theatre with Red & Meth. Video from the Michael Jackson tribute portion of the night below. And Ghostface will be in the building AGAIN on 11/11, as he gets set to tear down BB King's! Tickets are on sale.

Ghostface's partner in rhyme, Raekwon is FINALLY going to release Only Built For Cuban Linx II (9/8!!!) and the cover features Tony Starks, much like the first Cuban Linx. Dig on that below too.

Also coming up at BB King's is the previously mentioned Slum Village show with Reflection Eternal on 8/28. After the shocking passing of Slum Village's Baatin settled in, I wondered if the crew would carry on? Slum Village (which also counted J Dilla as a member) was T3 and Elzhi until Baatin recently rejoined the crew, and now it looks more and more like that is how they will be again:

Slum Village will remain on the bill despite the July 31 death of group member Titus "Baatin" Glover.... A cause of death has not been determined pending the results of toxicology reports, according to local authorities.

"Baatin will be missed," Slum Village's T3 said in a press statement. "I'm glad we got a chance to work together before he passed. We lost another Slum soldier, a dear friend and a brother. He touched many lives." [livedaily]

Slum Village 2009, now exactly the same as Slum Village 2007. Tickets are still available for BB Kings, and more dates have been announced (below).

Full Raekwon, Ghostface, and Reflection Eternal tour details, cover art, videos, and all pictures of Organized Konfusion at All Points West (including some that weren't posted before), below...

Continue reading "Organized Konfusion (apw pics), Ghostface, Slum Village (Baatin RIP) & Reflection Eternal (dates) playing BB King's"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Joseph Xu

DOWNLOAD: Pharoah Monch vs the Black Lips - "Drop I Mayor" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black Lips - Drop I Hold featuring GZA (MP3)

Pharoahe Monch @ the 2009 Pitchfork Fest

Though APW's addition of Jay-Z is rather notable (just a tad), it's the reunion of Organized Konfusion that sets the stage for a big hip hop weekend at APW. Organized Konfusion originally stepped away from the mic in 1997, flirting with a return as recently as 2004, but APW marks their first show back.

Since 1997, both Prince Po and Pharoahe Monch of Organized Konfusion have been busy as solo artists, with Monch recently logging time at the 2009 Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest (pics here) and Pitchfork Festival in Chicago. Pics from Pitchfork in this post, along with fellow hip hop luminary (who didn't send a decoy?) Doom. Chicagoist dug Monch, but Doom... not so much.

After that was Pharoahe Monch, who's hip hop set was everything Doom's Saturday set wasn't: intense, ferocious, and with a level of personality the masked wonder couldn't summon on Saturday. Drawing from the crowd, Monch gave props to those such as Rakim, Mos Def, and Michael Jackson. He was the act we knew least about going into the weekend and coming out he's left us only wanting to hear more.

Speaking of Mos Def, the routing for The Ecstatic Tour is solidifying more and more. Details are below. Tickets are still available for his show at The Beach at Governor's Island on 9/12.

Mos Def's partner in the recently reunited Black Star, Talib Kweli, is making his way back to the stage with Reflection Eternal at BB Kings on August 28th, a little more than a month after Rock The Bells. Tickets are now on sale.

Styles P, who provided direct support for Pharoahe Monch at Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest, will headline the first night of the Rock The Block Fest at Southpaw (Aug 6, tix here), with Freeway taking over for the second (Aug 7, tix here). Tickets are also available bundled together (here).

DJ STV SLV (of The Hood Internet) recently remixed Pharoah Monch's "Mayor" with The Black Lips "The Drop I Hold". Hilarity ensues. Download that above. Black Lips' collaboration with GZA is is up there too.

The previously mentioned Ghostface, Redman/Method Man jumpoff at Nokia Theater on July 30th is sold out. We're still waiting for Diesel to announce who the special guests will be at the Roots Webster Hall show happening the same night. Speaking of the Roots, their Highline Ballroom residency has now been extended through November 24th. Tickets are on sale.

In other hip hop news, Q-Tip is paying tribute to Michael Jackson at Nokia Theatre, Jedi Mind Tricks and Brother Ali have announced tours, and The Cool Kids are playing SOB's less than a month after All Points West.

More Pitchfork pics, the Rock the Block flyer, and all Mos Def tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Pharoahe Monch (and DOOM) played P4K (pics), (Organized Konfusion) playing APW ++ tix on sale, Mos Def dates & 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"