When we first announced that rapper/DJ Spoek Mathambo will release his sophomore LP, Father Crepper, on March 13 via Sub Pop, we mentioned that he had dates including SXSW and NYC. A few of those dates, including a NYC show happening on March 22 at S.O.B.'s have since been announced. Tickets for the S.O.B.'s show are on sale now.

You can pre-order his album at the Sub Pop webstore and grab the single, "Let Them Talk," HERE. The album trailer along with all dates is below...

Continue reading "Spoek Mathambo playing SOB's after SXSW (and other dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Thundercat - "Daylight" (MP3)

Flying Lotus collaborator/Suicidal Tendencies member (2002-present)/jazz bass wizard Thundercat (aka Stephen Bruner), who made his NYC debut at LPR in November, will be returning to NYC for a show happening on February 1 at S.O.B.'s with special guest Deathrow Tull. Tickets are on sale now. A flier for the show is below.

The S.O.B.'s show is Thundercat's only currently scheduled show besides a couple of announced festival appearances: Coachella and SnowBall Music Fest.

Thundercat's excellent debut LP, The Golden Age of Apocalypse, came out last year. You can buy it on eMusic and grab the track "Daylight" from the album above and stream it below. Pitchfork ranked the track "For Love (I Come Your Friend)" as the 100th best track of 2011.

All dates, flier and stream below...

Continue reading "Thundercat playing Coachella, Snowball & SOB's (dates)"

XXLMag and Hennessy are teaming up to present Kendrick Lamar at S.O.B.'s TONIGHT (12/19). The show will also a feature of showcase of artists from XXLMag's The Break, "the spot where new MCs get to show and prove their skills." The Break showcase will include Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire (who also plays Highline Ballroom with Action Bronson soon), Emilio Rojas, Phile Ade, and King Mez. Doors open at 8 PM and Hennessy is serving free drinks, You must be 21+ to enter, but you might have to be on list. Kendrick, the venue and XXL don't make that 100% clear. The show flier is below.

In February Kendrick is heading out on tour with Drake, who will meanwhile be in NYC (and on TV) on New Year's Eve (you can try to see it live via that link). As previously mentioned, ASAP Rocky was also chosen for Drake's tour (which was originally supposed to happen in the fall). All of those dates and a video of ASAP talking about Drake, Kendrick, Odd Future and other stuff, below...

Continue reading "Kendrick Lamar in NYC for Hennessy event, going on tour w/ Drake & A$AP Rocky (dates)"

by BBG

Anyone who has spent any significant amount of time in Washington, DC is familiar with the rhythmic conga/bongo cadence of the regional music phenomenon called Go-Go. One of the godfathers of the Go-Go movement is Chuck Brown.

Brown's musical career began in the 1960s playing guitar with Jerry Butler and The Earls of Rhythm, joining Los Latinos in 1965. He still performs music today and is commonly known in the Washington, DC area. Brown's early hits include "I Need Some Money" and "Bustin' Loose"... [the latter of which was] interpolated by Nelly for his 2002 number one hit "Hot in Herre." Brown also recorded go-go covers of early jazz and blues songs, such as "Go-Go Swing" Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing If Ain't Got That Swing", "Moody's Mood for Love", Johnny Mercer's "Midnight Sun", Louis Jordan's "Run Joe", and T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday"..

He has influenced other go-go bands such as Big G and The Backyard Band, Rare Essence, Experience Unlimited (EU) [yes, the E.U. responsible for doin' "Da Butt"], Little Benny and the Masters, and Trouble Funk. ..Brown is considered a local legend in Washington, D.C., and has appeared in television advertisements for the Washington Post and other area companies. -[Wiki]

Chuck Brown has a few upcoming shows scheduled and makes a stop in NYC to play two gigs on July 30th, a free Celebrate Brooklyn show in Prospect Park with Dr. John and the Lower 911 & Red Baraat, and a later show at SOB's. SOB's tickets are on sale.

All tour dates and some video below.

Continue reading "Chuck Brown is playing shows (two NYC dates included)"

Busta Rhymes at Knitting Factory in 2008, a venue he WON'T be performing at this week (more by Zach Stern)

Busta Rhymes has announced that he will join Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz for a show at SOB's on Thursday, 12/23. Tickets are still available. Whether intentional or not, the show is in direct competition with a show that he-probably-could-but-is-not-making-an-appearance-at, Leaders of The New School at Knitting Factory. Tickets are still available for that too. As you may know, Busta Rhymes was a member of Leaders of the New School before splitting to release his own solo material. - BBG

A flyer for the Knitting Factory show is below...

Continue reading "Busta Rhymes confirms appearance at a different 12/23 show"

Justice @ SXSW 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Surf City show coming up at Mercury Lounge.

As previously mentioned, there's a Haiti benefit at SOB's tonight (1/28) with Styles P, Immortal Technique, Mickey Factz, Cormega, ChinahBlac, Eprhyme, and more. Tickets are still on sale.

Speaking of SOB's, Lord Finesse is celebrating a birthday there with "The Legendary Rakim" on February 18th. Tickets are on sale.

Tanya Morgan (a hip hop group that has nobody named Tanya in it) plays SOB's on February 22nd. Tickets are on sale.

Roxy Cottontail hosts a Dim Mak-presented show at Santos on February 11th "featuring Ninjasonik, Japanther, Fashen, Team Facelift, The Auctioneers, Jonny Famous, Gina Turner & (Not So) Secret European Guests". Dim Mak band The Willowz play Pianos (with Delta Spirit) the same night, but they are from California. Tickets are on sale. Oh, also I think the guest is a DJ or DJs...

Ed Banger celebrates their 7th Anniversary at Terminal 5 on February 12th (Justice (DJ Set), Breakbot / DJ Mehdi / Busy P. / and Friends). Tickets are sold out.

Ed Banger will follow the Terminal 5 show with an afterparty at Webster Hall ("GIRLS&BOYS w/ED BANGER RECORDS AFTER PARTY , SEBASTIAN, SO-ME & More!"). Tickets are on sale. Flyer and new FAKE Justice track below...

Continue reading "Styles P, '(Not So) Secret European Guests', Ed Banger, Fake Justice, Japanther, Surf City, Tanya Morgan & other tickets"

African guitar god Diblo Dibala makes a rare appearance at SOB's in NYC tonight (12/23). Tickets are still available. Get ready to dance. Learn some moves in the videos below...

Continue reading "Diblo Dibala is here! (SOB's tonight) (check out these videos) "

DOWNLOAD: BLK JKS - Molalatladi (MP3)

BLK JKS @ Sasquatch Festival (more by Chris Graham)

When the South African four-piece rock band BLK JKS headed to the United States to record their first full-length album last January, they left the blazing Johannesburg summertime for the depths of winter in Bloomington, Indiana.

Unused to the cold but eager to record, the band borrowed sweaters and spent 10 hours a day pounding out live takes until an album materialized.

"I saw it as an exorcism," guitarist Mpumi Mcata says. "We've been growing in the five years we've been together up to this point, and recording was like trying to remember our past. We needed to get something out of us quickly."

The nine-track debut draws from a wide array of styles, from the danceable tribal chants of "Molalatladi" to the moody guitar rock of "Cursor." The album's genre-hopping is founded on an appreciation of African-influenced arrangements, a trend that recently has been highlighted by indie acts like Vampire Weekend and the Dirty Projectors.

"The way people pick up different African styles has been happening for a long time, from African church songs influencing jazz in the 1920s," drummer Tshepang Ramoba says. "It's interesting to see them now coming to the forefront a little." [Billboard]

The song "Molalatladi" off the new record is posted above. The album's currently streaming in full at JamBase, and, for a different take on the songs, check out what happened when the band recently visited Daytrotter.

Speaking of release parties happening tonight, Yo La Tengo is having one too. And so is Raekwon (who also has a show coming up at SOB's).

BLK JKS have a series of North American shows scheduled for the fall. Those dates and the album art and tracklist are below...

Continue reading "BLK JKS - CD release show (tonight), MP3 & 2009 Tour Dates "

On September 9, Raekwon The Chef of the Wu-Tang Clan is dropping the much-awaited sequel to his 1995 classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... a triumph of storytelling, technically proficient rhymes and gritty Shaolin-style production. Granted, he has kept to this formula since his debut with the Clan, but Part II will be his greatest triumph of the decade, with production by RZA as well as Dr. Dre, J. Dilla, Pete Rock, Marly Marl, Necro, The Alchemist and Allah Mathematics, with rhymes contributed by Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes, The Lox. Ghostface Killah will reprise his role as the secondary rapper on the album, and there will be also be multiple appearances by Wu-Tang stalwarts Method Man, GZA and Inspectah Deck.

At 8pm on the release date, Santos Party House will be holding the concert and celebration, which promises to be flat out the best real hip-hop event the city has seen in a long time.

Two nights later, S.O.B.'s hosts its own Raekwon release show with Raekwon & Ghostface Killah. If there will be more special guests at that show too, they aren't announced. Tickets for the September 10th show are on sale.

Ghostface's own new record, The Wizard of Poetry, is due on September 29th on Def Jam. He's got his own show coming up at BB King's in November. "Baby," the first video from that new disc, is posted below.

Raekwon appeared on the bill of this year's Rock the Bells tour. Videos from his Boston and Jones Beach appearances are below...

Continue reading "Raekwon celebrating new album w/ 2 NYC shows - guests include Ghostface, Talib, Beanie Sigel, Slick Rick, more..."

The Cool Kids @ Highline Ballroom (more by Leia Jospe)

The Cool Kids will be at APW next weekend (along with Organized Konfusion, Q-Tip (who just played Summerstage), Pharcyde, Kool Keith, and Jay-Z, but sadly NOT Beastie Boys) and they have already scheduled their NYC return.... 29 days later. They are scheduled to play SOB's on August 30, tickets are on sale. -Black Bubblegum

"Hard Fest" will bring a special summer electro-lineup to L.A. on August 8th. Tickets for that night, which features Underworld, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, Crookers and many others, are on sale now.

Some of that lineup (but not much of it) will be coming for Hard Fest NYC when the party visits Terminal 5 on Saturday, October 10th. The bill for that includes Crookers, Major Lazer (Soundsystem), Rusko, Jack Beats and Destructo. Tickets are on sale.

Other dance-themed festivals (if you can call this a festival) happening in NYC this summer include the Brooklyn Electronic Music Fest, and Electric Zoo on Randall's Island.

Major Lazer (Diplo + Switch) were just in NYC in June for a show at SOB's, which was accompanied by an in-store (to promote their debut) and a video shoot at Studio B.

A video clip from their SOB's gig, with a Hard Fest NYC flyer and the full L.A. lineup, below...

Continue reading "Hard Fest coming to LA (in August w/ Underworld) & NYC (in October @ Terminal 5 w/ Crookers, Major Lazer and more) "

DOWNLOAD: Major Lazer - Hold The Line (dj edit) w/ Santigold (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Evil Nine - Pearl Shot (Switch Remix) (MP3)

"On Saturday, June 13th Major Lazer (featuring Diplo and Switch) starts its international Tour of Duty at SOBs.

Major Lazer features legendary DJs Diplo and Switch, both renowned for their ability to get crowds dancing in high-energy and original shows. Diplo, known for his forward-thinking productions for artists such as MIA and Bonde Do Role, incorporates such disparate influences as Miami Bass and Baile Funk into his high-tech, eclectic sound. Switch is loved by critics and dancers alike, and is a leader among DJs. He recently contributed to Santigolds self-titled album to rave reviews. Together they've produced the first LP from Major Lazer, Guns Dont Kill People Lazers Do, set to drop June 16th.

Major Lazer draws from the rich dancehall tradition of Jamaica, and the futuristic dance-floor-killing aesthetic of Diplo and Switch. The sound is the result of global pop culture run through the filter of Major Lazers particular brand of 80s-inspired digital dancehall; it is at once an homage to a bygone era and a look to the future of dance music.

The story of Major Lazer is an interesting one. He has been described as a Jamaican commando who lost his arm in the secret Zombie War of 1984. He fights vampires and various monsters, parties hard, and has a rocket powered skateboard. He has enlisted the help of long-time allies and uber-producers, Diplo and Switch, to produce his first LP.

Combining the worlds best dance music to create a mix of sounds like you've never heard before, Major Lazer will surely start the tour off right on Saturday, June 13th. The set at SOBs will represent the best of many different musical influences that all share one important feature: the ability to get the dance party started."

Continue reading "Major Lazer = Diplo & Switch - 2009 tour dates, video, MP3"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Guru - "Who Got It On Lock" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Guru - "Jazzy Ways" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Guru - "State of Clarity" featuring Common (MP3)

DJ AM with the legendary DJ Premier and Stretch Armstrong

As we discussed before, this Saturday (4/18) marks the Vampire Weekend/Talib Kweli show at Columbia University. According to an email sent to alumni (thx J):

DATE: Saturday, April 18
TIME: 3:00 - 5:00PM
LOCATION: Columbia University's Low Plaza
RSVP: This is a ticketed event open to the first 300 Class of 2008 CAAL members who renew their annual CAAL membership by April 13th. Only ticket holders will be admitted through campus gates.

Speaking of DJ Premier, his (ex?) partner in Gang Starr, Guru has scheduled a show at SOB's on May 13th with Solar (not to be confused with Guru's other collaborator, MC Solaar) and The 7 Grand Players and featuring K-Born and Highpower. Tickets aren't on sale as of this posting, but are priced at $20/$22 day of the show. K-Born & Highpower is signed to Guru and Solar's label, 7 Grand Records. Guru's new album, Lost & Found, is due on May 19th.

Talib Kweli is also teaming back up with Mos Def for two Black Star shows at Nokia Theatre at the end of May. You can also catch him with Hi-Tek (Reflection Eternal) at the Rock The Bells fest this summer.

No word on the Rock Steady Crew 32nd Anniversary show thus far, but we'll keep you informed.

Continue reading "Talib Kweli playing Columbia & Fat Beats, Guru playing SOBs "

It's Sunday...

We are the Seahorses invade NYC this week

"The Forms announce a special performance at the Benefit Concert for NYC After-School Programs, Sunday January 18th at the Bell House, with all proceeds of the show going towards helping after-school programs which provide local, underprivileged kids with not only the opportunity for extra academic help, but access to great sports and arts programs as well. This benefit marks the third installment of the highly acclaimed monthly charity series Good For You's Good For Me and joining the group on stage for this show will be fellow NYC bands Frances, Ford & Fitzroy, and Arms."

"On Sunday, January 18th, S.O.B.'s celebrates Martin Luther King Day with Gil Scott-Heron. The revered musician and poet, most famous for the 1970's era-defining poem, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", returns to the legendary S.O.B.'s for his first show in 2009. A long time civil rights activist, Gil Scott-Heron is the author of a book on the history of MLK Day and returns to S.O.B.'s for two intimate shows commemorating the holiday."

And as pointed out before, We are the Seahorses is the band of the infamous Darren Mabee. They're playing NYC shows on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday...

Continue reading "Darren Mabee, a benefit @ the Bell House & Gil Scott-Heron"

photos by Chris La Putt

Menahan Street Band @ Southpaw

The Budos Band have three NYC shows coming up, one of which is tonight, Thursday November 13th, at SOB's. The second is at BAM Café on December 6th, and the third is December 19th at Mercury Lounge with their Daptone Records labelmate Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens. Naomi also performs every Friday at the Fat Cat. Mercury Lounge tickets are on sale.

In other Daptone news, Sharon Jones recently performed two non-CMJ shows during CMJ week, one of which was an Obama fundraiser, and the other for Perez Hilton. Back in September Sharon and the Dap Kings performed at Austin City Limits (ACL) (the festival), and for ACL the TV show. Look for the latter on PBS.

Last but not least, the latest Daptone/Dap Kings/Budos off-shoot, The Menahan Street Band, performed at Southpaw with the Phenomenal Handclap Band back in October (before CMJ even). They were joined on stage by special guests including Charles Bradley, but not Sharon (she stayed in the audience). More pictures from that show, and all Daptone-tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Budos Band tour dates, Menahan Band pics, Daptone stuff"

photos by Faith-Ann Young

There were models at SOB's on [last] Tuesday [October 21, 2008] night. Or, at least, reasonable facsimiles thereof.

They might have been there for the aggregated talent from Washington, D.C., who headlined this showcase of artists on Allido Records. More likely, they were there for the label's co-founder Mark Ronson: onetime celebrity DJ, resurrector of vintage soul via his work with Amy Winehouse and others, and, it should be said, sometime squirer of models.

But if Mr. Ronson likes Wale, the rapper known best for his Seinfeld-themed mixtape "The Mictape About Nothing," then why couldn't they? To help plead his case, Wale enlisted the services of the go-go band U.C.B., likely one of the most proficient groups to be playing this festival, even if they weren't technically on the bill. Go-go music makes fantastic use of space in its rhythms, and when Wale gave in to the band's impeccable playing, as he did on "Nike Boots," he seemed at ease. But sometimes, he clustered his syllables together as if he were trying to out-percuss the percussion, making songs like "Back In The Go-Go" feel cluttered. [NY Times]

"Rhymefest kicked off his set....beasting out jams...He brought along with him suprise guest Rahzel (formerly of the Roots) mid set...Got the crowd perfectly rowdy.......especially when he ended with an Obama pitch : 'When I say O, you say BAMA' .....Next up, heavily hyped Brits, The Rumble Strips, took the stage with gleeful pop rock....(think Albert Hammond Jr. meets The Kooks.....) Got the killer hook-heavy jingle, Girls and Boys in Love, but also knocked out a sizzling cover of Amy Winehouse's Back to Black. Pretty damn cute. Aussie soul singer Daniel Merriweather brought major cred to the stage with the Dap Kings backing him.... Ronson played guitar at the end of his set....

Wale ended the set waxing lyrical to go-go influenced beats. He brought with him a heavy artillery of beatboxers, DC-based rappers, and friends- most of whom sported thick shades......In fact, most of the time, he relinquished the mic to his friends......as well as Daniel Merriweather who came back on stage for a rendition of 'Stop Me,' the hit from Ronson's solo album............Overall, Wale makes DC proud- a veritable talent....bringing home-grown DC music to more mainstream.... Was a jam packed night of talent.Ronson deserves a pat on his back.."

Continue reading "Mark Ronson's Allido showcase (Wale) @ SOB's, NYC - pics"

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 "

Lupe Fiasco on MuchMusic

Lupe Fiasco is playing an 'intimate' (even more intimate than the last intimate one in NYC) at SOB's on May 14th. Tickets are on sale. Kanye West showed up last time Lupe played SOB's. Lupe & Kanye are going on tour together starting in April. The SOB's show is actually the night after they play Madision Square Garden.

Cafe Tacuba @ Central Park Summerstage, NYC - July 14, 2007 (CRED)

"Café Tacuba (often spelled Café Tacvba) is a Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award-winning musical group from Naucalpan, Mexico. They were founded in 1989, and since then have had the same musical lineup. [Wikipedia]

They played a show at Central Park Summerstage over the summer - and Lollapalooza. Their new album Sino is out today (Oct 9, 2007). Tickets are on sale for their next NYC show - November 20th @ Hammerstein Ballroom. It's a show that is part of "world music" venue S.O.B.'s 25th Anniversary celebration, that unfortunately (for some?) is the same day as one of Caetano Veloso's NYC shows, and that is part of a much larger Cafe Tacuba tour. All dates, and videos, below....

Continue reading "Cafe Tacuba - 2007 Tour Dates ++ S.O.B's is 25"

DOWNLOAD Grayskul - Dope (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Cause - More Than Music (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Cause - Click Clack (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Ivan Ives - Honor (feat. Capadonna) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Ivan Ives - Victory (feat. Vast Aire) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Strong Arm Steady - One Step (ft Talib Kweli) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Strong Arm Steady - The Movement (ft Planet Asia) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Gabriel Teodros - Third World Wide (MP3)

Strong Arm Steady played Rock The Bells in NYC this past weekend, and are preparing a new full length. Gabriel Teodros just visited NYC. Cause is one of my personal favorite new discoveries of late, and so I invited him to play a show this Tuesday (July 31, 2007) at Pianos (Upstairs Lounge) in NYC as part of the weekly Cross-Pollination concert series I co-founded. It's free, starts at 8pm, and pairs Cause up with electro-singer/songwriter Elijah B. Torn.

In what Eskay calls the Hip Hop Jam Session of the Year Talib Kweli, Kanye, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Swizz Beats, Queen Latifah and Common gathered at SOBs for an impromptu surprise performance, to everyone including themselves (July 18, 2007). Check out a bunch of videos and pictures. More videos here and here.

Mos Def & Talib Kweli @ SOB's - July 18, 2007

Mos Def & Talib Kweli @ Rock the Bells - July 28, 2007 (CRED)

A few days after the SOB's show, Kanye surfaced again at the Lil' Wayne show up at Beacon Theatre. A few days after that Kanye became the talk of the Internet thanks to the video he posted starring comedian Zach Galifinakis and indie musician (and sometimes-comedian) Bonnie Prince Billy (also known as Will Oldham).

if you missed Mos Def & Talib Kweli perform together at SOB's, and then again this past weekend @ Rock the Bells, you now have one more NYC chance this summer - on stage @ Nokia Theatre on August 26th. More Rock the Bells coverage coming in a separate upcoming post.

More HH news, pics, videos, tour dates, and stuff, below.....

Continue reading "Wes' Weekly Hip Hop News Roundup (July 30, 2007)"