by Andrew Sacher

Sean Price

The third show in the year-long Red Bull Sound Select Series, which so far included East Village Radio's Hunters show at Bowery Electric and Afropunk's Danny Brown/Le1f show at Knitting Factory, will go down on April 16 at Glasslands. This one's being presented by Brooklyn Bodega and includes a lineup of all NYC rappers, including scene veteran Sean Price as a headliner with opening sets from some newer artists -- Children of the Night (we also just posted about their related project, World's Fair), F. Stokes and the young Bishop Nehru, who I recently saw win over crowds at Ab-Soul's SOB's show and Schoolboy Q's SOB's show. It's an all around great bill and $3 tickets are on sale now. The show's being hosted by Sucio Smash and DJ duties will be handled by Rawbeatz.

This is the third show in the 12-part Red Bull Sound Select Series and the next nine shows (including three curated by BrooklynVegan and two more by Brooklyn Bodega) will be announced in the coming months. BrooklynVegan's first RBSS show will take place this May, so stay tuned for that.

Flyer for the Glasslands show and song streams below...

Continue reading "Sean Price, Children of the Night, F Stokes, and Bishop Nehru playing Brooklyn Bodega-curated Red Bull Sound Select show"

Smif-N-Wessun at MHOW in 2012 (more)

Slick Rick is playing Brooklyn Bowl on January 11 with F. Stokes. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Big Daddy Kane is playing with a live band at BB King's on January 24. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

M.O.P., Smif-N-Wessun, and Ka are playing Highline Ballroom on February 17. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

A stacked Lo-End Theory show with Sean Price, Roc Marciano, Buckshot, Meyhem Lauren, and more is going down at Highline Ballroom on January 20. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Rockie Fresh, who hails from the fertile Chicago scene is making his way to NYC for a show at SOB's on January 23 with production great Lunice. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Freddie Gibbs is playing Santos Party House on January 30. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Trinidad James and Vinny Cha$e are playing SOB's on January 30. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Shabazz Palaces collaborators THEESatisfaction are playing SOB's on January 31 with Njena Redd Foxx (who we heard on the track "Ima Read" with Zebra Katz). Tickets for that show are on sale.

Tickets for the Talib Kweli show at SOB's are on sale now.

Tickets for the Aesop Rock show at Irving Plaza are on sale now.

As mentioned, Wale is playing Bowery Ballroom on Monday (1/7). Tickets for that show are still available and we're also giving away a pair. Details on how to enter to win are below.

Continue reading "Slick Rick, Roc Marciano, Rockie Fresh, Freddie Gibbs, THEESatisfaction, Smif-N-Wessun & more upcoming rap shows"

The crowd @ Music Hall of Williamsburg - 12/18/12

Pharoahe Monch, formerly of Organized Konfusion and a relatively recent Duck Down signing, showed the crowd how it's done. His brief but powerful set touched upon new songs (joined by the inimitable Jean Grae at one point) and classic material like "Simon Says," including a "Fuck The Police" medley somewhere in the middle. Monch is a consummate performer, but his OG Duck Down labelmates who followed him were up to the task as well. Sean Price took the stage next - the most grizzled, most rotund, and perhaps most fascinating member of the Boot Camp Clik. An animated Grinch parody video began his set. From there, Price simply ripped it, helped out at times by his Heltah Skeltah partner Rock. Price barely moves when he raps, gripping the mic in its stand - and he doesn't need jump around, his presence is engaging enough. [Illiot Gould]

Talib Kweli will play another NYC show next month/year at SOB's on January 20. Tickets for that show, which is a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King and Gil Scott Heron, are still avaialble.

More pictures below...

Continue reading "Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Buckshot, Sean Price, Flatbush Zombies & more played the Duck Down holiday party (pics)"

Curren$y

Curren$y has a few shows scheduled this January, including one in NYC happening on January 3 at SOB's. No openers for this show have been announced at the moment. Tickets are on sale now. All Curren$y dates are listed below.

Meanwhile, four days earlier, Curren$y collaborator/Smokers Club tourmate Smoke DZA will be at the same venue. You can catch DZA at SOB's on December 30 with Vinny Cha$e, Slim Dollars and Kris Kasanova. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Meanwhile, you can catch Vinny Cha$e in NYC this week when he plays Santos Party House on Thursday (12/20) with Chief Keef collaborator Lil Reese, The Underachievers, and Asaad. Meka (2DBZ) and OG Cha$e B are Djing. No advance tickets for this one but doors are at 10 PM and admission is $15.

Another (potentially more) solid hip hop show you can catch on Thursday is Sean Price, Meyhem Lauren, Dyme-A-Duzin, Spit Gemz, and Statik Selektah at Knitting Factory. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Speaking of upcoming SOB's shows, Robert Glasper & friends are playing two shows at the venue (early and late) on January 10. Tickets for both shows are on sale now.

As mentioned, Talib Kweli plays a full band show at SOB's on January 20 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King and Gil Scott Heron. Tickets for that show are still available.

In more hip hop news, Ratking are playing Mercury Lounge on February 1. Tickets for that show go on sale today at noon.

Wale is playing Bowery Ballroom on January 7. Tickets for that show go on sale today at noon.

Naughty by Nature are playing Gramercy Theatre on February 24 with Master Shortie. Tickets for that show go on Hot 97 presale today at 10 AM with a general on-sale starting Friday (12/21) at 10 AM.

Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch are playing a Sneaker Pimps NYC party at Webster Hall tonight (12/19). Tickets for tonight's show are available.

A stream of Smoke DZA and Curren$y's track, "Baleedat," off DZA's recent Rugby Thompson EP and a list of all Curren$y dates, below...

Continue reading "Curren$y, Smoke DZA, Sean Price, Meyhem Lauren, Robert Glasper, Ratking, Wale & more upcoming hip hop shows"

As mentioned, Duck Down Music is throwing a holiday party with Javotti Media in Brooklyn on December 18 at Music Hall of Williamsburg, of which BrooklynVegan is proudly one of the sponsors. When we first mentioned the show, the lineup was not announced, but as hinted, Talib Kweli will be headlining it. And the rest of the lineup is pretty great too. In addition to Talib, it's got some other NYC rap legends on there like Pharoahe Monch, plus Buckshot, Sean Price, and Smif-N-Wessun, all three of who are part of the Boot Camp Clik group. It also features some newcomers like Flatbush Zombies (who play SOB's two days later [12/20]), Skyzoo, and Dyme-A-Duzin of Phony PPL. Tickets for the show are still available. The first 50 fans inside will get a free Sean Price/Rocksmith t-shirt. That's the flyer above.

Sean Price and Buckshot recently teamed up for a show at Santos. You can watch a video from that show spliced with some footage of Buckshot and 9th Wonder on Sway's Morning Show with DJ Premier, below.

Continue reading "Duck Down holiday party lineup revealed (Talib Kweli, Sean Price, Pharoahe Monch, Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun & more)"

Legendary Long Island hip hop trio De La Soul have a lone upcoming North American live date and it happens upstate in Clifton Park, NY at the Upstate Concert Hall on November 23. The date was rescheduled after initially being booked for tonight (11/9) and all tickets will be honored. (Nas plays that venue tonight instead.) De La Soul's only other upcoming show at the moment is New Zealand festival Coromandel Gold on New Year's Eve.

As mentioned, Prince Paul, who produced the first three De La Soul albums, is DJing at Santos Party House on Saturday (11/10) and Knitting Factory on Sunday (11/11), both of which are with comedian Hannibal Buress. The Knitting Factory show happens after the BrooklynVegan-presented screening of The Comedy, which doors open for at 5 PM.

De La Soul's Plug 1 and Plug 2 created the "fictional" rap group First Serve with DJ duo Chokolate and Khalid, who put out their first album this year via Duck Down. If you've yet to hear it, you can listen to the whole thing below via Spotify.

Speaking of Duck Down, we recently mentioned the upcoming show at Santos Party House on November 13 with Sean Price, Buckshot, 9th Wonder, and Murs. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Sean Price is working on a new music video and he's looking for people in the NYC area with beards to be in the video this Monday (11/12) at 2 PM. All interested bearded folk can email mailto:todd1@duckdown.com. A couple interesting related videos. Check out Sean as "Seanwuar" (click here if you don't get it) interviewing Pharoahe Monch; and Sean also filmed a news reporter style video of himself on the scene during Hurricane Sandy on October 29, which you can watch below.

Continue reading "De La Soul playing upstate NY; Prince Paul DJing w/ Hannibal Buress; Sean Price wants bearded dudes for his new video"

by Andrew Sacher

Sean Price

NYC rapper Sean Price released his new album, Mic Tyson, on October 30 via Duck Down Records and was supposed to play a hometown record release show that day at SOB's, but Hurricane Sandy had other plans and the show never happened. Still no word on a new date for that show (or if there'll be one) but he'll play a different NYC show with fellow Duck Down labelmates/affiliates Buckshot, 9th Wonder, and Murs at Santos Party House on November 13 with opening sets from Young Guru and DJ Meka (2dopeboyz). Tickets for that show are on sale now. The flyer is below.

November 13 is also the day that 9th Wonder will release two collaborative albums: The Final Adventure with Murs via It's A Wonderful World/Traffic Entertainment/KGMG and The Solution with Buckshot via Duck Down. The cover art, tracklists, and song streams from both albums are below.

Both 9th Wonder and Buckshot contributed to Sean Price's Mic Tyson, as did The Alchemist, whose upcoming album with Action Bronson features Sean Price. Hardcore hip hop has been enjoying somewhat of a resurgence this year with great albums getting the attention they deserve (Killer Mike, Freddie Gibbs, etc) and Mic Tyson fits right in with that. You can stream it in its entirety below via spotify.

All streams, a list of all dates, and more are below.

Continue reading "Sean Price, 9th Wonder, Buckshot & Murs have new albums and playing a show together in NYC (dates, streams)"

The full list of artists confirmed for the 2012 CMJ Music Marathon so far is below...

Continue reading "CMJ 2012 initial lineup announced"

Big K.R.I.T. at Rock the Bells 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

June is Black Music Month, and Apple is celebrating with a series of intimate live shows at Apple Stores across the country. And for the fan who wants to get closer, we'll also be hosting Meet the Musician events -- your opportunity to ask questions and speak with select artists right in our store.* Browse store locations on the right to see who's appearing in your neighborhood. To hear more from this amazing and diverse group
of artists, visit Black Music Month Live on iTunes today.

Some of the events, including tonight's show, the Beanie Sigel show, and the Big K.R.I.T. show require wristbands. "Pick up yours early on the day of the event, as space is limited and wristbands are given out on a first-come, first-served basis at the host Apple Store." The full schedule of in-stores is below.

Speaking of Big K.R.I.T., he finally released his first official album after a long onslaught of mixtapes. It's called Live From the Underground, and its out today (6/5) via Def Jam. It features guest appearances from Bun B, Devin the Dude, Big Sant, B.B. King, 2 Chainz, and others. Stream it in full at NPR.

The flyer for tonight's in-store and the entire Apple Store Black Music Month schedule are below.

Continue reading "Apple Stores hosting 'Black Music Month'; Apollo the Great, Freeway, & Sean Price in SoHo tonight"

Betsy Head Park Pool

The first venue to kick off SummerStage 2012 shows is Betsy Head Park in Brooklyn. Artists include Buckshot, Smif n Wessun, and a few more. Check out the short schedule below.

Continue reading "Summerstage shows in Betsy Head Park this summer"

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 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)"

by BBG

Sean Price at Southpaw (more by BBG)

"I like no female rappers. Not like I don't like them personally; they don't hold my interest. Except MC Lyte," he told Vlad TV. "I haven't bought a female rap album since MC Lyte, Lyte as a Rock. That album? I haven't bought one since, straight up. I like none of 'em."

P was quick to clarify, explaining that he holds a soft spot for Digga. "Let me take that back. Rah Digga. She get busy too. But other than that, none of 'em. I'm not buying none of they albums. All of 'em. That's just me. I be fooled. You have a nice single. If the single is good, I'll buy the album. I got a fooled a few times. Who did I get fooled by? I was so pissed. Boss. Remember Boss? I was so pissed, b. I fell for a few, but I like no female rappers. None." -[Hip Hop DX]

Can't make it tomoight? Tomorrow (Wedneday, 6/22) Random Axe to play a ANOTHER NYC show, this time a headlining date at Southpaw with labelmates Black Moon and SkyZoo. Tickets are still available. The pair of shows are in addition to the crew's upcoming appearances at Rock The Bells and Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest. Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest's lineup recently expanded with the additions of Shad, Homeboy Sandman, Nitty Scott MC, Eternia, and Twilite Tone.

Random Axe is celebrating the release of their new and self-titled LP out NOW via Duck Down Records while Smif N Wessun will release their new collaborative LP with Pete Rock, Monumental, via the label on 6/28. Stream the entire Random Axe LP at Complex, and check out two recent Random Axe videos, "Random Call" and "The Hex", below.

And while we're on the subject of Duck Down Records, Black Moon, and Smif N Wessun, look for the two crews to join fellow Duck Down affiliates Heltah Skeltah, OGC, Pharoahe Monch, and Black Rob for a "Hip Hop Legends" night at BB King's on July 12th (Black Rob & OGC... hip hop legends?). Tickets are still available.

Reminder: Duck Down signee and collaborator Talib Kweli will play a free show at Red Hook Park TONIGHT, a day before he hits The Colbert Report.

A bunch of videos and song streams are below.

Continue reading "Random Axe released LP on Duck Down (stream it), playing shows w/ Smif N Wessun & Black Moon & more"

by BBG

Black Milk celebrated Album of The Year (stream it) with a headlining show at a packed out Southpaw on Tuesday (9/14). In addition to a Besides a bouncy and big-bang performance from Black Milk (one of the few hip hoppers that understands the art of the live show), there was a killer lineup of supporting characters that included the pure hilarity/unstoppable rhymes of Sean Price, a super energetic Elzhi, Guilty Simpson, and a surprise appearance from Roc Marciano (his first since the release of his incredible LP Marcberg on Fat Beats in April).

More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Black Milk played Southpaw, Roc Marciano stopped by (pics) "

by BBG

Black Milk at SXSW (more by Samantha Marble)

BrooklynVegan is proud to announce the release party for one of 2010's most highly anticipated underground hip hop albums, Black Milk's Album of The Year. Brooklyn's Southpaw will be the venue and September 14th is the date (also the album's release date). The show will feature appearances from the man himself along with Sean Price, Elzhi of Slum Village, and Guilty Simpson among other special guests still to be announced. Tickets are on sale.

UPDATE: DJ Spinna, who is also spinning the Michael Jackson birthday party in Prospect Park this Sunday, has been added to the Southpaw show.

Individually, Sean Price, Black Milk, and Guilty Simpson is an incredible lineup, but in addition, the threesome combine to form Random Axe. Ramdom Axe have completed an LP that, according to a recent interview, will see a release in "October/November". Keep on the look out for that one.

Elzhi is 1/2 of the current Slum Village, who recently released their new album Villa Manifesto via E1 Music, the first since the passing of Slum Village founding member Baatin and ex-SV member J.Dilla. Elzhi released his (almost entirely) Black Milk-produced solo album The Preface in 2008.

The rest of Random Axe has been busy with their own projects, as well. Sean Price released the Kimbo Price mixtape in the tail end of last year, and is prepping to release Mic Tyson on Duck Down. Guilty Simpson's new LP, um, OJ Simpson hit stores in middle May via Stones Throw. The LP features production by Madlib on all tracks.

Some video, including the recently released Black Milk clip "Deadly Medley" is below...

Continue reading "Black Milk will celebrate 'Album of the Year' at Southpaw (w/ Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, Elzhi & more) "

by BBG

De La Soul at Coachella (more by Rachel Carr)

Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest 2009 was a blast (with one notable exception) and so far 2010 is turning out to be similarly interesting with the addition of the great De La Soul to headline the shindig on July 10th alongside Buckshot, Evil Dee and Smif-N-Wessun. Tickets are on sale.

The show is part of a week long celebration:

The calendar for the 6th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival kicks off with Show & Prove on Monday, July 5th. This Hip-Hop showcase of independent and local talent is the final event of Brooklyn Bodega's three month Show & Prove competition,
Tuesday, July 6th will feature the Bodega Education Initiative, a day of panel discussions and seminars about the legendary producer, J Dilla. Speakers include Q-Tip, Ma Dukes Yancey, DJ Spinna and more.
Wednesday, July 7th is a mini Film Festival that features a variety of Hip-Hop films and a Q&A with established and burgeoning filmmakers.
Thursday, July 8th is a night dedicated to the backbone of Hip-Hop: the DJ. It will feature performances by the best DJs, from NYC to LA.
Friday, July 9th is the kick-off party to formally welcome Festival goers, past and current artists and community leaders to the 6th Annual BHF.
Saturday, July 10th is the culmination of the 2010 Festival. De La Soul, just ahead of a new album to be released this year, will headline on the DUMBO waterfront. Earlier in the day, we set it off with Family Day - a block party for families and children that celebrates the core message of Hip-Hop - social change and individual empowerment.

YO LA TENGO have worked with a huge variety of artists from different genres over the years.... In 2010, the band presents an EP of remixes of "Here To Fall," the lead track from last year's "Popular Songs," by De La Soul, RJD2 and Pete Rock.
"Here To Fall" is the most popular track from "Popular Songs," a couple having a tense conversation about the future over the background of menacing, descending chords and distorted wa-wa guitar. Each of these legendary hip hop performers has taken the track and the story and made it their own.

Buckshot, Evil Dee, and Smif N-Wessun will be celebrating 15 years of Duck Down Records at the BHHF show, a milestone they'll also celebrate at BB King's on July 13th with the addition of Sean Price and Pharoahe Monch (who headlined the Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest last year). Tickets for that NYC show are on sale.

Pharoahe Monch also plays a free show in Queensbridge Park on July 21st.

Duck Down also partied for their 15th down at SXSW, during which time Buckshot and Smif-N-Wessun both made appearances at our Attitude Adjustment party at Red 7.

While we're on the subject of classic hip hop artists playing NYC, Slick Rick has scheduled a show at Knitting Factory on June 13th. Tickets are on sale.

Tons of classic video below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest 2010 lineup w/ De La Soul, Duck Down Records celebrates there & @ BB King's w/ Pharoahe Monch"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Random Axe - "Monster Babies"

Sean Price aka Ruck of Heltah Skeltah

Congrats to the clown prince of Duck Down Records and the king of Ruck Down Records, Sean Price, who is celebrating a major milestone.... the birth of his daughter! In celebration, the Heltah Skeltah representative will play (I am not making this up) a "Performance/Baby Shower" on March 2nd at Santos Party House. No tickets, the only way to get in is to by bringing a baby gift or purchasing one on his Babies R Us registry (# 44767770) and bringing your receipt. Roffle.

Besides creating online gift registries, dropping mixtapes (like last year's Kimbo Price), preparing solo records (like his upcoming Mic Tyson), and preparing for the birth of his new daughter, Sean P is also involved in indie hip hop supergroup Random Axe. Featuring three underground illuminaries in Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, and Price, the new album is due later this year on Duck Down Records, but you can check out one of those tracks, for download above.

Sean Price, Black Milk, Buckshot, Kidz In The Hall, Oh No, B-Real, and many others contributed to the recent Duck Down mixtape Download The Right Thing. Download that for free.

Check out some videos below, including Sean Price's newest video for "Figure 4" which uses one of my favorite samples of all time... Lee Mason & His Orchestra's "Shady Blues" (also used by Lootpack and Pacewon among others). In addition, don't miss the video for Sean Price shopping in the grocery store, also below.

Continue reading "Sean Price had a daughter (everyone's invited to the shower) "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Black Milk - Music From The Color Purple (ZSHARE, ZIPPED ALBUM)
DOWNLOAD: Black Milk - "The Matrix" featuring DJ Premier, Pharoahe Monch, & Sean Price (MP3 Excerpt)
DOWNLOAD: Black Milk - "Give The Drummer Sum" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Madlib - "The Ox (805)" featuring MED and Poke (ZIPPED MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Madlib - "Go!" featuring Guilty Simpson (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Madlib - WLIB AM... Preview mixed by J-Rocc (MP3)

MC/Producer Black Milk announced a show at Southpaw on Oct 24th with U-N-I (tickets are on sale), thats four days before he drops his sophomore solo LP, Tronic, on Fat Beats featuring Pharoahe Monch, DJ Premier, Sean Price, and fellow Detroiters Dwele & Royce Da 5'9". Both "The Matrix" and "Give The Drummer Sum" are from Tronic and downloadable above. Black Milk is also encouraging the hip hop community to help "mother of the greatest producer of all time J Dilla":

This is "Death of the Muse", the first single off the upcoming Solillaquists of Sound album, No More Heroes. It's available as a download for a minimum donation of $2 with absolutely 100% of the proceeds going directly to Ms. Maureen Yancey a/k/a Ma Dukes (J Dilla's mom). You are encouraged to donate more than the minimum by upping the quantity in your shopping cart before checking out.
The track features J-Live, Chali 2na (of Jurassic 5), as well as Ma Dukes herself.

Speaking of MC/Producers, Madlib dropped his long threatened entry to the Beat Generation series, WLIB AM King Of The Wigflip, on Sept 30th. You can check out a few tracks from WLIB... streaming and we have both "The Ox" and "Go!" available for download above. Madlib joins a long lines of hip hop luminaries who have dropped heat on The Beat Generation, including Marley Marl, J. Dilla, Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, and Pete Rock.

Sean Price recently played SOB's with Heltah Skeltah. His Boot Camp Clik breathren, Black Moon & Smif N Wessun's "Tribute to The Classics" rescheduled their sold-out Knitting Factory show to November 8th due to Buckshot's emergency trip to the hospital. We're happy to hear Buckshot is now doing okay.