photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin, words by BBG

Lauryn / Erykah

Last year Rock the Bells, the touring hip-hop bonanza, picked up on the voguish festival concept in which an artist performs an old record from beginning to end. It went well, and this year's edition bought in twice as hard. On Saturday on Governors Island, amid other, more ordinary sets, 11 albums were performed in their entirety.

What a gorging! What an obligation! It seemed to weigh on the crowd. It meant that listeners weren't in the here and now, where they might be fratty or selfish or mean spirited. They were deep in the been and gone. They weren't just listening to hits, or to sustained works of art, but to their own pasts. The exercise cooled them out. Saturday's audience was truly racially mixed, with a heavy representation of the 30-to-45 age bracket, grown-up New Yorkers at their casual and courteous best. Many of them high, but still. -[New York Times]

In true hip hop fashion, guests abounded. Nas capped the day off with a performance of Illmatic, and he didn't hide the men/women behind the curtain of his first LP; MC Serch, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor (of Main Source), Akinyele, Fatal, AZ and many others who either blessed the LP or were instrumental in his come-up all made appearances (yes, they performed the Main Source classic "Live at the BBQ" featuring Nas's first recorded appearance). Pras of The Fugees joined Lauryn Hill for "Ready of Not", Big Noyd joined Mobb Deep for "Give Up the Goods (Just Step)" and other tracks, and Black Moon brought a full band.

More pictures from the whole day, below...

Continue reading "pics from Rock the Bells 2011 @ Governors Island (Nas, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Raekwon, Ghostface, Mobb Deep, more)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Blu - "Amnesia" (MP3)

Blu

Jazzy West Coast rapper Blu plays Public Assembly on September 23 with Ari Why & The Invisible College and Voli. Blu released the Amnesia EP earlier this year, which included the track of the same name. You can download that track above and watch the video below. He is set to release his major label debut LP, NoYork! at some point this year, though no official date has been set yet. The album features production by frequent collaborator Exile, Flying Lotus, Samiyam, Madlib, and Daedelus and guest vocals by J*Davey, Edan, and others. Blu & Exile also play Rock the Bells in NYC this weekend with Fashawn.

Sean Price will also play the Brooklyn venue on September 30 with Natural Elements, Maffew Ragazino, Rasheed Chappell, Johnny 3 Rounds, Stark the Dutch, Zeps, and Ugly Brains. The flier for this show is below. Sean Price will also be at Rock the Bells this weekend as part of the supergroup Random Axe with Black Milk and Guilty Simpson.

Video and show flier below...

Continue reading "Blu & Sean Price playing Rock the Bells & Public Assembly (dates, MP3 & video)"

Lauryn Hill reacts to reviews from her Saturday appearance
at Rock The Bells in Mountain View (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Any music event that pins its hopes on Lauryn Hill -- one of the most maddeningly disappointing performers of recent years -- is fighting an uphill battle right from the very start.

Fortunately, the 2011 Rock the Bells festival tour, which stopped Saturday (8/27) at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, has so many other things going for it -- so many, in fact, that it's a shame to have to even bring up the headliner. But organizers made their bed, by picking Ms. Hill for the prime time slot, and now they have to sleep in it.

What's ironic, however, is that this was arguably the best performance locals have seen from Hill in many a moon. And it still sent thousands scurrying for the exits, with some complaining loudly about the 36-year-old soul singer's poor outing, midway through the set.

That's how low Hill has set the bar -- basically at ground level -- and anything greater than a complete train wreck will clear it. That fans weren't demanding refunds, like they had when Hill performed a 2007 show at Oakland's Paramount Theatre, can be seen as a kind of victory for this troubled performer.

Still, it was disappointing, especially for those die-hard fans hoping against all reason that Hill can someday return to the heights she reached in the '90s. And it was the only disappointment during an otherwise splendid day of hip-hop, which ran some 12 hours.
-[Mercury News]

"DOOM will no longer perform on the remaining scheduled festival dates. He extends his apologizes to fans for not being able to make the US shows but looks forward to performing on Rock The Bells soon."

Check out some videos/interviews from California below...

Continue reading "Rock The Bells (controversial Lauryn Hill included) hit California, coming to NYC this weekend (sans Doom)"

Curren$y never made it to the San Francisco Rock The Bells stop over the weekend due to an injury sustained at the LA version of the fest one week earlier. Video documentation below...

Continue reading "watch Curren$y break his foot @ Rock The Bells LA (video)"

Mobb Deep at Best Buy Theater (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Rock The Bells have announced their set times for Boston, LA, San Francisco, and for their NYC date on 9/3 at Governors Island. Divided amongst four stages (Rock The Bells, Paid Dues, 36 Chambers, and Grindtime), the NYC w kicks off at 1PM with a performance from Roc Marciano before closing for the night with Ms. Lauryn Hill. Full NYC set times are below, which include some brutal conflicts (Queensbridge vs Queensbridge! GZA vs Erykah Badu vs Big K.R.I.T.?).

Tickets for Rock The Bells NYC are still available. Set times for the show below.

Continue reading "Rock the Bells set times posted"

by BBG

Evidence of Dilated Peoples. One of the illest rollercoaster MCs of all time

Evidence is prepping his second solo disc away from Dilated Peoples. Cats & Dogs will be released via Rhymesayers on 9/27. The LP will see him team with names like Slug of Atmosphere, Raekwon, Aloe Blacc (who plays NYC soon), Prodigy, Aesop Rock, Roc Marciano, and others, and features "To Be Continued..." which appears in (awesome) video form below. That's a still of it above, shot almost entirely DIY on a rollercoaster. Evidence will also hit the road for a string of US dates, hitting Rock The Bells in NYC on September 3rd. Tickets are still available. All dates are below.

Check out a new Roc Marciano track with Oh No (aka Gangrene) and Alchemist called "Jet Luggage" below. Roc Marciano will also appear at Rock The Bells 2011.

After many long years in label limbo, it was starting to seem like Saigon would be best known as "that rapper from Entourage". The MC's long-shelved LP The Greatest Story Never Told was a step away from being a fairy tale with the almost incredulous guests and producers reportedly making appearances. After four years of anticipation and frankly almost as much doubt that the project would ever come out, The Greatest Story Never Told FINALLY dropped earlier this year with appearances from Jay-Z, Q-Tip, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Bun B and others, and production from Just Blaze, Kanye West, or Buckwild on virtually every track. FreeOnSmash will release his follow-up this month, War Music. Stream a track from that below.

Catch Saigon on August 5th at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, tickets are on sale.

Knitting Factory will also host Slum Village on July 21st. Tickets are on sale. Slum Village are down to one original member, T3, who released the 3ILLER EP yesterday (7/5). Stream a sampler from that EP below.

D12 is scheduled to play BB King's on July 19th, and though the bio/and picture shows the contrary, I am guessing that Proof won't be on hand for the show. No word on if Eminem will make an appearance either. Tickets are on sale for the show which includes appearances fron King Gordy and Lethillweapon.

Pharoahe Monch has multiple appearances coming up over the next week. He was recently spotted backstage at Best Buy Theater's Salute to Hip Hop. Pictures from that HERE.

All streams/videos and Evidence tour dates are below. While you're there, check out a video of Michael Rapaport and Peanut Butter Wolf shopping at Amoeba.

Continue reading "Evidence, Saigon, Slum Village, D12 & other hip hop news"

by BBG

Havoc of Mobb Deep @ the kick-off in LA (more by Graeme Flegenheimer)

In addition to initially announced Rock The Bells lineup (Nas playing Illmatic? Mobb Deep on The Infamous detail? wow), the festival has made some interesting additions like Erykah Badu performing all of Baduism (on select dates), Common performing all of Be (on select dates), Killah Priest performing all of Heavy Mental, Slaughterhouse, and DOOM. More lineup details are below.

The NYC show on 9/3 at Governor's Island gets the Erykah Badu appearance, and tickets are on presale, password is "ILLMATIC". General sale begins Saturday, 6/11, at 10:00 AM.

LA and San Francisco are on sale now, and the only other date, Boston, still doesn't even have a venue announced yet.

DOOM of course is not to be confused with the crust band who just played MDF and Chaos in Tejas.

In other Hip Hop festival news, Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest's lineup has expanded too adding MOP (!), Torae, Random Axe (Sean Price + Black Milk + Guilty Simpson), eLZhi, Marley Marl, Roli Rho (5th Platoon), Grand Wizzard Theodore and Twilite Tone. Tickets are on sale for all Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival events, including an after-party at Southpaw on July 16th which proclaims to have "special guests invited including the entire BHF '11 lineup".

Full Rock The Bells details, alongside some videos, below...

Continue reading "Rock the Bells expands lineup, NYC tix on presale now"

photos by Graeme Flegenheimer

Cypress Hill @ House of Blues - Sunset Strip - 5/24/2011

The line-up for the ROCK THE BELLS 2011 FESTIVAL SERIES--presented by Boost Mobile in association with GUERILLA UNION and powered by BlackBerry--will feature an array of seminal and up-and-coming hip-hop artists on three stages. Headliners include Ms. Lauryn Hill, Nas,Erykah Baduand Cypress Hill. See the current line-up below and look for more performers to be announced soon.

This year's festival will head to four major North American markets. Kicking off in the Los Angeles-area on August 20 at the San Manuel Amphitheater, ROCK THE BELLS will then head to San Francisco on August 27 at Shoreline Amphitheatre. The festival moves to the east coast for a show in New York on September 3 at Governor's Island (co-promoted with Bowery Presents, Highline, Mad Dog Presents) before wrapping in [a TBA venue in] Boston on September 10.

ROCK THE BELLS featured a number of headliners performing their most influential albums in their entirety for the first time in the history of hip-hop entertainment last summer. The tradition continues this year with Ms. Lauryn Hill performing her landmark, multi-platinum selling, multi-GRAMMY winning album The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill and Nas performing his breakthrough debut album Illmatic with special guests AZ, Pete Rock and DJ Premier. Nas says about performing Illmatic this summer, "For years people have been asking me to do Illmatic in so many ways, from stage plays to movies to books, but the time wasn't right. Where music is going now, the time is right. This will be my biggest production and it only makes sense to do it on the best rap tour which also happens to be a brand I've built and am a partner in. Can't wait to kill it with my comrades AZ, Premo & Pete Rock!"

Full album sets can also be expected from: Cypress Hill performing their 1993 multi-platinum album Black Sunday, featuring modern rock radio mainstay "Insane In The Membrane"; Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star performing their 1998 self-titled debut album; Raekwon & Ghostface teaming up for critically acclaimed, platinum selling Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and more.

"I am excited that this year's Rock The Bells will continue its rich history and tradition by presenting the best and most ambitious festival programming in Hip Hop," says festival co-founder and Guerilla Union head Chang Weisberg. "The bar has been set high and this year's line-up will certainly stake its claim. With ten of the biggest records in the history of the genre and the freshest new talent bubbling from the underground, this summer's Rock The Bells is another dream come true."

ROCK THE BELLS will feature three main stages this year. The two returning stages are the ROCK THE BELLS STAGE and the PAID DUES STAGE, which will feature independent hip-hop acts that performed at the Paid Dues Festival this past April in San Bernardino and new artists-on-the-rise. Paid Dues Festival creator Murs says, "I am excited that I once again have the privilege of hosting the Paid Dues Stage. We will have the honor of showcasing some of the best talent in independent hip hop as part of the worlds largest and longest running hip hop festival... the Paid Dues stage is gonna be the one to watch this year."

The 36 CHAMBERS STAGE is a new addition to the festival and will primarily feature members of the Wu-Tang Clan as well as artists selected by stage curator and Wu-Tang Clan mainstay RZA. A fourth stage that will also be added to most markets is the GRINDTIME NOW STAGE, which will feature battle-style performances.

The lineup was announced last night at a show at House of Blues in LA. Mobb Deep, Souls of Mischief and Cypress Hill all played and pictures to prove it are in this post. More of them below.

The full lineup is also below...

Continue reading "Rock the Bells 2011 dates & lineups announced, Mobb Deep & Souls of Mischief & Cypress Hills played the kickoff (pics)"

Clipse photos by Brook Bobbins

Nas & Damian Marley at Williamsburg Waterfront (more by Samantha Marble)

Distant Relatives Nas & Damian Marley will team up for a summer show in NYC this year just like last. They'll hit Central Park Summerstage on August 11th. Tickets go on web presale at 10AM on Thursday (5/19) with regular sale hitting Friday. One difference from from last year though, they're calling this one their "grand finale," so don't sleep if you've been wanting to catch the pair together. THAT SAID, they were also just announced on the lineup of ACL which is happening a month later.

Wiz Khalifa also has a Summerstage show coming up.

In other hip hop news, Q-Tip will DJ The Fort Greene Festival kick off party on May 28th at Sanders Studio (525 Waverly Avenue in Brooklyn), a benefit to raise money for the forthcoming annual event. Tickets are $10 or $15 at the door.

As previously mentioned, Q-Tip will perform at the annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival on July 16th where he'll be joined by new additions Homeboy Sandman, Eternia, Shad, Nitty Scott and Kid Glyde. Get your tickets.

Rock the Bells is going to announce some news from a "launch party" at House of Blues in LA on May 24th.

Talib Kweli will link back up with his side project Idle Warship to play BB Kings on June 10th. Tickets are on sale. And don't forget Kweli will also play a free show in Red Hook Park on 6/21.

Edan plays Southpaw on May 25th.

Clipse @ Terminal 5 in April

Clipse made a NYC appearance at Terminal 5 on April 30th. They opened for A-Trak, and pictures from their set are in this post. More of them below.

Ghostface & Raekwon supported Mobb Deep at recent show at Best Buy Theater. Pictures from that show are HERE. Some upcoming UK Wu-Tang dates are below.

The previously announced "Salute to Hip Hop" show that was supposed to take place at Best Buy Theater in Times Square in April has been rescheduled. You can now catch The Lox, EPMD, and Brand Nubian at the NYC venue on June 30th. Tickets are on sale.

The previously announced Curren$y show happening at Irving Plaza in June is still happening, but now so are many more tour dates around it including the Pitchfork Festival. They are listed below.

And finally, Beastie Boys have no tour dates in support of their Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 yet, but you can catch Ad-Rock hosting/DJing as part of a day long Children's Museum of Art benefit. Tickets for both events at Webster Hall on 5/22 are on sale. Meanwhle check out "The Greatest Beastie Boys Lyrical References To New York, In Order."

A recent video by Nas & Damian Marley for "Nah Mean," those Clipse pics, and tour dates, below.

Continue reading "Nas & Damien Marley shows, BK Hip Hop Fest, Curren$y, Rock the Bells, Q-Tip, Clipse pics, Ad-Rock & other hip hop news"

photos by Brook Bobbins

Okay, so everyone advertised did perform. But it sure was a nail-biter. Lauryn Hill, the eccentric erstwhile Fugee who has mostly stayed out of sight since her lone solo album, 1998's still-scintillating R&B masterpiece "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," was clearly the lineup's chief curiosity. When it comes to her behavior over the past decade there's been no rumor too bizarre to believe. Sunday's rumor was a doozy, and it was true -- she really was three hours late to the stage because she was getting a manicure-pedicure. Suddenly, the attempt by her former band mate Wyclef Jean to become president of Haiti doesn't seem quite so self-centered.

As her 4:30 start time approached, the elaborate stage plot was ready to go. And then . . . nothing. A 10-minute wait became a half-hour, which became a full hour. Scattered heckles became heavy boos as the stage was broken down at 5:30... Her toenails apparently dry, Lauryn Hill [finally performed later], but she probably shouldn't have bothered. The performance was a messy rush through highlights from "Miseducation," but they were hardly recognizable due to her hoarse voice, speedy delivery and clunky, overstuffed arrangements. Hill wasn't lacking for energy, just focus. The feedback on her microphone was ear-splitting; special guest Nas came out for a 45-second cameo, and his microphone wasn't working for half of it. After 20 minutes she departed to an equal mix of cheers and boos, seemingly oblivious as to why anyone might be upset.

...As headliner Snoop Dogg's stage props were assembled -- that would be a large video screen and a park bench covered in 40s in brown paper bags -- and the clock began ticking toward the venue's 11 p.m. curfew, the chatter started again. As a general rule of thumb, chatter at hip-hop shows is not a good thing. Where's Snoop? He was in New York performing at a Michael Jackson tribute show earlier in the day and at 10:45 p.m. was nowhere to be seen. Boos, again.

He did finally emerge, wearing what seemed to be your grandmother's old kitchen tablecloth and performed a truncated version of his iconic gangsta rap album "Doggystyle."... He mostly stayed true to character, never smiling -- maybe he was too focused reading his lyrics off teleprompters -- but his listless performance gave off the vibe that he'd rather be somewhere else. Like, New York. Snoop drawled over the atomic G-funk of "What's My Name?" as the house lights went on -- the venue's not-so-subtle way of saying, "It's time for you to go now." It's hard to think Snoop minded too much. -[Washington Post]

Pictures from Rock the Bells NYC HERE, HERE, and a third set continued (we don't have pictures from DC), below...

Continue reading "Rock the Bells DC didn't go so smooth ++ more pics from NYC"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Raekwon shows potential groupies his current relationship status

What kind of oldies concert draws a huge audience in its 20s? Rock the Bells, the daylong hip-hop festival that came to Governors Island on Saturday. This year's Rock the Bells borrowed an idea from the indie-rock festival All Tomorrow's Parties, booking groups to perform watershed albums in their entirety.

Two headliners, Snoop Dogg and Wu-Tang Clan, largely complied with the assignment. Snoop Dogg brought along most of the guests from his 1993 album, "Doggystyle," made back when he was Snoop Doggy Dogg. The others - A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One, Rakim and Slick Rick - went "veering off," as Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest put it, to play additional hits (which no one minded) or to plug more recent projects.

And then there was the wild card: Lauryn Hill, the singer and rapper formerly of the Fugees, appearing half an hour late. She hasn't released a studio album since "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" in 1998, and she has recorded and toured only sporadically since then while raising five children. "I miss you," she told the crowd repeatedly. Partway through the set she pulled guests out of the V.I.P. section and onstage: Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, John Legend. They missed her too.
-[New York Times]

Continue reading "Rock the Bells @ Governors Island - pics (part 2) (Wu-Tang, Street Sweeper Social Club, Yelawolf, Slick Rick & more) "

photos by Eric Townsend, words by BBG

"Can't NOBODY FUCK WITH A TRIBE CALLED QUEST LIVE! ROCK THE BELLS NYC WAS MAGIC!" -Carringtonworld

"#np tribe called quest-steve biko(stir it up)....what yall know about #RocktheBells 2010 live from nyc huh? -"NotoriousDIZZ"

"Some of my rap top 10 will be live on stage: slick rick, lauryn hill, wu tang, rakim, krs one, tribe called quest. nYc represent, represent" -LeRoyLive

A Tribe Called Quest on Governors Island Saturday

Linden boulevard represent, represent
Tribe called quest represent, represent
When the mic is in my hand, I'm never hesitant
My favourite jam back in the day was "Eric B. is President"
-[A Tribe Called Quest - "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)"]

More pictures (and video) from the show are HERE and below (, and one more set still on the way)...

Continue reading "Rock the Bells @ Governors Island - pics & video (part 1) (A Tribe Called Quest, Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, Rakim & more) "

Wu-Tang Clan @ Hammerstein 2008 (more by Zach Dilgard)

today in NYC
* Tesco Vee @ Generation Records
* 2nd Annual McKibbin Street Fair
* Rock the Bells @ Governors Island
* J&R Music Fest w/ Eli Paperboy Reed
* Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island
* Out in the Street Fest @ Brooklyn Fire Proof
* Charlie Parker Jazz Festival @ Marcus Garvey Park
* Zaza, Motel Motel, Sport of Kings, the Stationary Set @ Rock Yard
* Big Freedia, Rusty Lazer (DJ set), DJ Rashad (DJ set), Venus X and Brenmar (DJ set) (Warm Up) @ P.S.1

The above list of stuff is starting in the daytime. Some of it goes late. The full list of tonight's shows coming shortly IS HERE. Check out This Week in Indie for some of it now (note that tonight's Bruar Falls show has moved to Dead Herring) (also note that the first 100 people to the merch table at tonight's Bowery Ballroom show get a free limited edition tape and CD-R).

This is the same day as Rock the Bells...

Rock the Bells full lineup and set times HERE.

If you miss Big Freedia at PS1 today, there's always Coco66 tonight.

If you miss Tesco Vee at Generation Records today, there's always Santos Party House tonight.

Sunday is Michael Jackson's birthday party in Prospect Park.

Sunday is also the reinstated final Pool Party with a secret (Gucci Mane?) lineup.

What else?

Rock the Bells invades Governors Island in NYC on Saturday (tickets), and Merriweather Pavillion in DC the next day. Full lineup and set times for each show below...

Continue reading "Rock the Bells this weekend (set times) "

Tickets are on sale at 9am for the Arcade Fire/Spoon show at Madison Square Garden.

Tickets are on sale at 10am for the ZZ Top show at Beacon Theatre.

Tickets are on sale at 10am for Rock the Bells at Governors Island.

The Dan Band are playing Irving Plaza on November 6th. Tickets go on sale at 10am.

Check out what other tickets are now on sale.

Tickets are now on presale for Rock the Bells at Governors Island (password = CLASSIC)

Tickets are on sale now for a show John Legend and The Roots are playing at Brooklyn Bowl on June 17th (6 days from now). They'll be performing songs from their upcoming album Wake Up!.

Tickets are still on sale for the show The Roots are playing at Highline Ballroom on June 15th (June 21st is sold out).

John Legend was one of the performers at the World Cup kickoff concert.

A whole bunch of other tickets went on sale today too.

by BBG

A Tribe Called Quest at Knit (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

With these new additions, Rock The Bells 2010 has upped the ante on an already great festival:

JUST ADDED TO THE EPIC ROCK THE BELLS LINEUP:
SNOOP DOGG performing Doggystyle
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST performing Midnight Marauders
DJ PREMIER performing a Tribute to Gang Starr
& VERY SPECIAL GUEST: MS. LAURYN HILL

Los Angeles is the only date so far that will NOT get Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle treatment, which also means a no-go to the classic Chronic era crew who will appear at the other dates with Snoop. That includes Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Lady of Rage and RBX, but oddly no Nate Dogg?

No word on what kind of set Hill will have (acoustic probably?) or exactly what "a unique tribute to Gang Starr" means, but hopefully the latter will be more than just the man spinning (poorly, I might add) his classics whilst shouting over them (like he did at Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival 2009). Fingers crossed for Jeru The Damaja, Group Home, Nice & Smooth, and the extended Gang Starr fam.

Tickets go on presale for the LA and NYC dates on Friday (6/11) from 10AM to 10PM via Ticketfly, the presale code is CLASSIC. Tickets go on regular sale the next day at 10AM.

Dates and confirmed lineup and ticket info by date is below, along with a few videos....

Continue reading "A Tribe Called Quest & Snoop Dogg added to & performing albums @ Rock the Bells, Lauryn Hill & more confirmed too"

by BBG

Rock The Bells 2010? Um, awesome.

For the first time in the history of hip-hop entertainment, ROCK THE BELLS is slated to have headliners perform their most influential albums in their entirety. East-coast legends Wu-Tang Clan will perform Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers from beginning to end. Released in 1993, the group's debut album revived the New York rap scene and is widely-regarded as one of the greatest albums in hip-hop history. Considered one of the greatest MC's of all time, Rakim is set to perform 1987's, Paid In Full, his first full-length album with Eric B. Fellow Golden age, east coast rapper, Slick Rick will conquer The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. Released in 1989, this debut album became a certified-platinum classic topping the Billboard's Top R&B/ Hip Hop Albums charts. Highly regarded as the "THE TEACHER", KRS-One is a hip hop culture advocate, music producer, MC and published author. Hailed as one of the best live performers, KRS-One will perform [the Boogie Down Productions classic LP] Criminal Minded. The 1987 trend-setting album sampled music from various genres including rock, reggae and funk.

So far only four festival dates have been released, LA (8/21), San Fran (8/22), NYC at Governors Island (8/28), and DC (8/29). Ticket info is forthcoming.

Sad news to report from the Detroit hip hop scene....

Titus (Baatin) Glover, the Detroit rapper who co-founded the much-acclaimed Slum Village, has died.

The circumstances of his death remain unknown, [but] ...Baatin's body was found [Saturday] morning in the 14000 block of Anglin Street, said family friend Ty Townson, who was at the scene as Baatin's body was taken to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.

Glover's mother, Alberta Glover, said she didn't know anything about how her son died. She said she's waiting for the medical examiner to tell the family something either Sunday or Monday.... Funeral arrangements are not yet set.

Baatin, who turned 35 in March, left Slum Village in 2002, later telling the Free Press he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He continued to record and play occasional solo dates before returning to the Slum fold for the group's upcoming album, Villa Manifesto, due Sept. 22. -[Detroit Free Press]

A memorial tribute was held Sunday night at 5 Elements Gallery in Detroit.

Videos below...

Continue reading "Baatin of Slum Village (recently reunited), RIP "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Guilty Simpson & Madlib - "Coroner's Music" (MP3)

'Coroner's Music' off O.J. Simpson

Before we go any further, no, Mr. Bloody Glove has not released a solo record. Yet. (More on that below). BUT, Jedi Mind Tricks frontman Vinnie Paz is prepping his. Vinnie Paz recently dropped the early-Wu-tastic single "Drag You To Hell" which is currently streamable here and available via iTunes here. The track comes from his upcoming solo LP The Assassin's Creed, which features appearances from Beanie Sigel, Clipse, and Freeway as well as production by Madlib, Lil Fame (M.O.P.), Da Beatminerz, and 4th Disciple (Wu-Tang) among others.

Jedi Mind Tricks will hit the road in mid August for a west-midwest-east tour with Esoteric (of 7L & Esoteric) and Reef the Lost Cauze that includes an NYC show at Highline Ballroom on 9/13 and a show on L.I. at Crazy Donkey the night before. Tickets for Highline are on sale.

Speaking of Madlib, the Beat Konducta has announced his collaboration with Guilty Simpson for an album named, er, OJ Simpson (Madlib's real name is Otis Jackson). The new track "Coroner's Music" (available above) comes from an LP due on the mighty Stones Throw this fall (and a 12" that is out now), and features Strong Arm Steady, Elzhi (of the recently reunited Slum Village who played Rock the Bells at Jones Beach on July 19th), as well as cuts from the great J.Rocc.

Speaking of Rock the Bells (and Wu-Tang),

Between the end of Wu's set and the beginning of Slaughterhouse's, Method Man and Joe Budden were seen walking together in the parking lot. The two took their time quashing the beef.

When Slaughterhouse, which also includes Royce da 5'9", Joell Ortiz and Crooked I, took the stage, they publicly announced the end of the short-term feud.

"It will never be a beef with Wu-Tang clan," Royce said. He then revealed the convo between Meth and Budden, saying the situation was "squashed." [MTV]

Annnnnd while we're on the subject, Evidence (who performed At Jones Beach with The Alchemist as Step Brothers) will hit the road this coming fall with Brother Ali, BK One and Toki Wright for a US tour in celebration of Brother Ali's new LP on Rhymesayers, US. Evidence recently signed with Rhymesayers, and will release Cats & Dogs via the label in 2010. The Alchemist's new album, Chemical Warfare, is out NOW and features appearances from Kool G Rap, Eminem, Prodigy (of Mobb Deep - recorded before he hit the lock-up I'm assuming) and many others.

The NYC Brother Ali date is November 7th at Irving Plaza. Tickets for the whole tour are now on presale. All dates below.

Founders of the Rhymesayers crew, Atmosphere are on tour, and hit Webster Hall in NYC TONIGHT (7/27).

Stones Throw badass Peanut Butter Wolf is scheduled to perform at All Points West this weekend (July 31 - Aug 2). Jay-Z, KOOL Keith, Q-Tip, Pharcyde, Organized Konfusion, The Cool Kids and others will also be part of the Jersey City festivities.

Esoteric of 7L & Esoteric will release his solo debut Saving Seamus Ryan on 9/22 featuring appearances by Masta Ace and DJ Premier.

Video of Step Brothers @ Rock The Bells, as well as all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "OJ Simpson (Madlib+Guilty), Jedi Mind Tricks, Brother Ali, Atmosphere & other hip hop news (with tour dates) "

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)"

photos by Tim Griffin

Philadelphia's City Hall just announced that the Roots are playing the Fourth of July! The hometown band has been added to the bill with Sheryl Crow for the city's massive free concert on the Ben Franklin Parkway, Saturday, July 4th, beginning 8:30 p.m. It's the largest free concert in the country. The Roots play first; then Sheryl Crow for Philadelphia's "Life, Liberty & You" concert. A huge fireworks show will follow the concert.

The Roots opened the entire concert with a mini-set. How sick are these dudes that they even open up for... THEMSELVES?!?

The Roots picnic is a tremendous bellwether for so many things. Asher Roth, Kid Cudi, and Santigold are that next-next shit. I think all three of them will be in the business of making music for a good long time.

The Roots picnic also gave me a chance to see Philadelphia again in a new and different light. That city is once again rebuilding itself with a signature sound played by musicians who have dedicated their lives to their craft. [XXL]

More pictures from the Roots Picnic & all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Roots - free 4th of July show in Philly, more Highline shows, Rock the Bells (all dates) & the Roots Picnic (pics) "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Busta Rhymes & Superstar Jay - Feeding The Streets (Zipped MP3, Sharebee)
DOWNLOAD: Busta Rhymes - I Bullshit You Not (Zipped MP3, Sendspace)

Busta & life partner Spliff Starr on their BS (more by Zach Stern)

Please say the following line at the top of your lungs, and with a pinched nose: "CYPHA, DON'T GET GASSED!"

Although DJ Cypha Sounds is a world famous DJ in his own right, there is a possibility he won't be so gassed on Monday, May 18th. Why? that's when the owner of that strained and nasal voice, DJ Funkmaster Flex, will be credited with the assist when Busta Rhymes "rarr-raars-like-a-dungeon-dragon" during a FREE show at Santos Party House with DJ Diamond Kuts. Entrance is FREE, doors are at 8PM.

The show, billed as "Myspace Music Release show", is in celebration of Buss-a-buss's new album Back On my BS, due in record stores on May 19th. Busta recently dropped two mixtapes, both of which are downloadable above, and an explicit video for "Respect my Conglomerate" with Lil Wayne & Jadakiss which they respectfully deny us to embed.

Busta Rhymes will Rock The Bells this summer with RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Nas, MOP, Common and others. Tickets are still available. All dates and the Santos flyer below...

Continue reading "Busta Rhymes - free mixtapes, free NYC album-release show"

by Black Bubblegum

Busta Rhymes enjoying a smoke at Knitting Factory (more by Zach Stern)

You know what they say... you gotta spend money to make it. With that in mind, I guess it makes alot of sense that Rock The Bells is spendin' "Arab Money" to add a pair of big guns (Busta Rhymes and The GZA) to their previously announced lineup of Nas & Damien Marley, Common, The Roots, RZA, Raekwon, and others. In addition, Rock The Bells has also laid out the routing for their summer jammy jam, hitting 10 cities in 2 1/2 months including New York at Jones Beach Ampitheatre on July 19th. Tickets go on sale to gen pop on May 2nd, but are on presale NOW, with the password TROJANS for the NY, Detroit, Boston, Toronto, DC, and Chicago dates.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Rock The Bells adds acts & names venues ++ tix on pre-sale"

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"