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)"

words by BBG, photos by Paul Birman

Souls of Mischief

Congratulations and sincere thanks go out to all who attended the Brooklyn Vegan sponsored Audible Treats Showcase at Southpaw on 10/22. Filled with an action-packed lineup of independent hip hop, Heiro legends Souls of Mischief headlined the show that also included the ever energetic Tanya Morgan, the all-star Trinity, aggressive spitter Kam Moye, the laid back flow of Oddisee, D-Town representer Finale, Jern Eye, and Truthlive. Southpaw was positively brimming with intelligent rhymes and equally killer beats from the artists as well as the house DJ fo the evening, Keelay of Keelay & Zaire. Hosted by Che Grand and the hilarious Wyatt Cenac (The Daily Show), there was no such thing as downtime on 10/22.

Admittedly, the crowd took a while to warm up: West Coast MCs Truthlive and Jern Eye had to work hard to get onlookers involved in their brief opening sets. Jern Eye leaned on material from his newly issued sophomore CD, Vision (just out on MYX Music), a mature, confident effort. Detroit rapper Finale -who'd arrived from Motor City shortly before his performance, and announced he'd be heading back home directly after- ripped through a fiery set previewing material from his upcoming disc, A Pipe Dream and a Promise, as strong a debut as any we've heard this year.

DJ Keelay kept the energy high between sets, and showcasing new material was a theme that extended throughout the evening: Washington, D.C.'s Oddisee... kicked off his set here with even newer material and welcomed Diamond District bandmate yU to the stage for a cameo. Then came Kam Moye, who declared he was representing for "grown-ass men," and Trinity, who presented an explosive set and flung almost as many T-shirts as syllables... Tanya Morgan was down a member -Ilyas, stuck at home in Cincinnati- but compensated with tons of attitude and energy, not to mention an oversize cadre of Lessondary cohorts. By the time Souls of Mischief took the stage with a mix of fresh tracks, deep cuts and repeated salutes to the late turntablist Roc Raida, the crowd was whipped up to an ideally receptive fever pitch. [Time Out]

More pictures and some videos from the Southpaw show, below...

Continue reading "Audible Treats @ CMJ 2009 - pics (Souls of Mischief, Tanya Morgan, Trinity, Oddisee, Finale, Jern Eye, Truthlive)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Wiz Kalifa - Flight School Mixtape (Yousendit, Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Souls of Mischief - "LaLaLa" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Souls of Mischief - "Tour Stories" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tanya Morgan - "So Damn Down" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tanya Morgan - "Bang N Boogie" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: KRS-One & Buckshot - "Survival Skills" (MP3)

Saul Williams at Afropunk 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

NYC invented HIP HOP, so CMJ would be nowhere if it didn't rep the art form to the fullest. Over five packed days, our fair city will be set ablaze by the likes of Raekwon, Saul Williams, Souls of Mischief, and a host of others, as well as smaller, buzzier names that you can look forward to name checking in the future. So with all these great events going down, we figured we'd make it easy for you with the BV Guide to Hip Hop at CMJ 2009!

Speaking of Souls of Mischief, we have A PAIR OF TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR GIVEAWAY for that Audible Treats showcase that will feature them along side Tanya Morgan, Trinity, Finale and many more. Details on how to win those at the bottom of this post.

Continue reading "the BV Guide to Hip Hop at CMJ 2009"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Souls of Mischief - "LaLaLa" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Souls of Mischief - "Tour Stories" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tanya Morgan - "So Damn Down" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tanya Morgan - "Bang N Boogie" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tanya Morgan - "Never Enough" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tanya Morgan - "So Damn Down" Keelay & Zaire Remix (MP3)

Prince Paul & Hiero, I know, they're fly bro.

We are proud to announce that BrooklynVegan is an official sponsor for the Audible Treats official CMJ Showcase featuring a killer lineup of independent hip hop including west coast Hieroglyphics greats Souls of Mischief, recent faves Tanya Morgan, Trinity, Kam Moye, Oddisee, Finale, Jern Eye, and Truthlive! DJ Keelay, half of the production team Keelay & Zaire will be on the wheels. The show goes down on 10/22 at Southpaw in Brooklyn. Tickets are only $5 in advance, or $10 on the day of the show (or you can try to get in with your CMJ badge).

The Southpaw show will be Souls of Mischief's ONLY CMJ appearance, which will be in celebration of their new LP, Montezuma's Revenge. The album, which is produced by evil genius Prince Paul, is due on Dec 2nd via the crew's label Hiero Imperium.

Trinity, a group made up of AG of Show & AG, Sadat X of Brand Nubian, and DJ Jab, will make their debut at the show. Meanwhile, a solo AG is scheduled to team up with fellow DITC-er (and part time Organized Konfusion-er) OC for a show with RA The Rugged Man at Southpaw on 10/15. Tickets are here.

Kam Moye drops his new LP, Splitting Image, on October 27 via MYX Music Label. Samples from LP by the man formerly known as Supastition are above.

Jern Eye's Vision is set for release on October 13th, but as a teaser, he dropped The Eye Exam Mixtape here.

The Southpaw show on 10/22 is now one of THREE official CMJ showcases we're involved with this year.

1. on 10/20 it's indie rock/pop/singer-songwriter @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
2. on 10/22 it's hip hop @ Southpaw (this post)
3. on 10/23 it's metal @ Fontana's

Full Souls of Mischief tour dates, a whole bunch more MP3's, a flyer and some videos are below...

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan presents the Audible Treats hip hop CMJ showcase w/ Souls of Mischief (on tour) & more @ Southpaw"

Thanksgiving Brown, Jel and Sixtoo

Due to over-whelming demand from their near sold-out [December 18th] Anticon 3rd Annual 10 Year Anniversary show, the Knitting Factory NY adds a 2nd, more intimate Anticon collective event for Wed, Dec 17th in their Tap Bar! Limited to only 200 tickets, and at an amazingly accommodating 'Recession Rate' attendees can purchase an advance ticket for only $5.00!

Anticon Presents: The Visible Ant: An Intimate Night With The Most Personal Posse in Rap...featuring Jel (live set) + a night of music, stories and more with doseone, DJ Odd Nosdam, Yoni Wolf, DJ Thanksgiving Brown, and more!

DJ Thanksgiving Brown is also the latest addition to New Years Eve at the same venue, AND he's hosting the Souls of Mischief show there on Tuesday, AND, according to his MySpace, he'll be at the last Variety Shac comedy show, and at the final KF hip hop show with Rakim.

Video of Jel playing "Sweet Cream In It" in his bedroom, below...

Continue reading "Anticon add 2nd, more intimate NYC show @ KF ++ other Thanksgiving Brown appearances"

by Black Bubblegum

DITC

Old school hip hop fans are probably fi'in to go nuts between all the great shows in the next couple months including a big one this weekend at BB King's....

Big Daddy Kane is celebrating "20 years in the game" with the Sound Providers and Connie Price & The Keystones along with special guest DJs Mister Cee (BDK's original DJ), fellow Juice Crew-er Biz Markie, Skaz Digga, and J. Period. Tickets are on sale.

Meanwhile, fellow Juice Crew affiliate Craig G will open for the underappreciated hip hop crew D.I.T.C. will (mostly) reunite on Dec 7th at The Knitting Factory. Look for Lord Finesse, Diamond D, A.G., O.C. + "special guests" to hit the main stage with The Legion. Pray that "special guests" does not mean Fat Joe. Tickets are on sale.

continued below...

Continue reading "upcoming (old school) Hip Hop shows in NYC"