by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes (Dam-Funk Remix) MP3
DOWNLOAD: Dam-Funk - Toeachizown (MP3)

Stones Throw's Dam-Funk will be headlining a free show tonight (10/27) at Brooklyn Bowl presented by Fader to celebrate his new record and appearance on the cover of the mag. Also on the bill are Cubic Zirconia and DJ sets from Duane Harriott & Master Khan, Snack N Cmish and special guests. It's the first in a new monthly series, dubbed Fader Bowl, from the mag.

Dam's 2xCD Toeachizown came out earlier this week (on 10/20) through the Stones Throw label, which also has a 5 LP version of the record scheduled for a Dec-Jan release (because of production issues). You can catch the album's instrumental title track, loaded with gorgeous retro synths, above.

Brooklyn Bowl will also be hosting Talib Kweli and friends with Jean Grae, Mickey Factz and Skyzoo on November 22nd. Tickets are on sale.

In addition to his new Reflection Eternal material with DJ Hi-Tek and Black Star shows with Mos Def, Talib also guests on the new Madlib-produced record by Strong Arm Steady (ex-Death Row-ers Krondon, Phil Da Agony and Mitchy Slick) called Stoney Jackson (release date TBA on Stones Throw) (also with guest spots by Guilty Simpson, Little Brother's Phonte, Planet Asia and "a host of underground Los Angeles's emerging rap talent"). Talib gets the first verse on the first single, up for free on iTunes. Maybe that has something to with Talib's Blacksmith label set up to release Strong Arm Steady's debut Arms & Hammers in 2010. The release was delayed when Warner split with Blacksmith in '08. There's also a Dam-Funk mixtape at the iTunes link.

A flyer for the Fader show, a Dam-Funk interview, two Strong Arm Steady/Madlib tracks (definitely harder-sounding than Madlib's usual work) and a Reflection Eternal video are below...

Continue reading "Dam-Funk at Brooklyn Bowl tonight + Talib Kweli on Nov. 2 + new Madlib-produced Stoney Jackson"

photos by Tim Griffin

Their new friends Dirty Projectors didn't jam with them, but plenty of others joined the Roots at their $10 show on October 1st at Brooklyn Bowl. Pictures and video below...

Continue reading "The Roots played Brooklyn Bowl w/ Talib Kweli, Pattern is Movement, Mayer Hawthrone & special guests - pics & video "

The first of two Raekwon album release parties happened last night at a very packed Santos Party House in NYC (8/8). Not surprisingly, all advertised guests didn't show up. Talib Kweli was on the flyer, but I guess they forgot that Talib already had a scheduled gig for last night... with Mos Def... at House of Blues in Boston. Hilarity aside, Raekwon's new album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II is one of the best hip hop albums of the year, and there was craziness inside Santos last night. Some videos below...

Continue reading "Raekwon celebrated his new album w/ Ghostface, Diddy & friends @ Santos Party House last night (video) "

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..."

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

"I won't lie....never had the chance to fully listen to 88-Keys, but when he came out and spit a few bars here and there...I was impressed..... From tricking fans by saying he was bringing out Yeezy (Kanye West to newly converted hip-hop heads) and instead coming out with his shirt open, black glove and lip-syncing to his lead single, 88 battled a handful of boos, a wad of paper thrown at his story-telling assistant which came out in-between tracks and poor microphone sound problems... On a side note, he did, however, bring out Bilal...)...

...Eminem [who got a taste of Bruno's butt at the MTV Movie Awards last night] told you to "take some Big and some 'Pac, mix 'em up in a pot, sprinkle a lil' Big L on top, now what the f*ck do you got," well, let me do you one slightly better. You take some hip and some hop, pour it all in a pot, surprise fans with Mos and Talib and fo' sure they gon' pop......' (laugh) Okay, maybe I'll stick to the re-cap and news covering....but when I tell you the place exploded with energy upon the arrival of Black Star's front men.... [SOHH]

Continue reading "Mos Def & Talib Kweli were Black Star again Saturday @ Nokia Theater in NYC - pics & videos"

photos by Chris Graham

"Mos Def took the stage looking like a New Orleanean shaman.

He kept gesturing beyond the crowd to the Columbia River, saying, "The dream is real! Look around you!"

My favorite moment: Mos Def rapping over a personal favorite beat by Oxnard, CA artist called Oh No (find it on an album called "Dr. No's Oxperiment"). It's got a strong '60s/'70s Turkish psych-rock guitar line running the whole way through...I want to say the original is by an artist called Selda. Not sure. But I remember when heard the beat about two years ago, I went straight to the music store and bought the album it was sampled from. Pretty sure Selda is the correct name. I just bought a greatest hits album. I don't know a lot about Turkish/Anatolian psych-rock. Wish I knew more,

Anyhow, I'm one of those long-time Mos Def fans that loves his singing voice, but wishes he'd rap a little more. And there he was, killing one of my favorite beats, rapping like he meant it. Felt great." [Seattle Weekly]

Tonight (5/30), Mos Def reunites with Talib Kweli for two Black Star shows at NYC's Nokia Theatre. The early show (with 88 Keys and Black Violin) is sold out, but tickets still remain for the late one (with Blaqstarr).

As the NY Daily News pointed out in a feature yesterday, 88-Keys is also known as a "Kanye West protege". Special guests are definitely rumored at tonight's show.

More pictures from Sasquatch below...

Continue reading "Mos Def played Sasquatch (pics) -- Black Star reunites tonight"

After meeting his biological father for the first time, GE powerhouse Jack Donaghy discovered his dad, professor Milton Greene, needed a kidney. Not being a potential organ donor himself, Mr. Donaghy turned to some very affluent friends in the entertainment world. This partnership created the phenomenon, "Kidney Now!' -- a benefit concert featuring some of the most recognizable names in the music industry. With the help of this song, Milton Green just might find the kidney match he needs and Jack Donaghy may be granted the gift of a father he never knew.

Continue reading "30 Rock 'Kidney Now' w/ Elvis Costello, Beastie Boys, Moby, Talib Kweli, Norah Jones, Steve Earle, Rhett Miller (video) "

photos by Jacob Blickenstaff

Fresh Daily & Homeboy Sandman

Record Store Day (4/18) meant events at record stores all over the country on Saturday. Bill Callahan played Other Music in the NoHo section of Manhattan. Further west, Fat Beats had an all day line-up that ended with the Rock Steady Crew followed by DJ Premier, NYGz & Blaq Poet followed by headliner Talib Kweli (who also played Columbia University the same day). More pictures and video from some of the acts earlier in the day, below...

Continue reading "Record Store Day 2009 @ Fat Beats in NYC - pics "

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 "

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"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Mos Def - "Quiet Dog" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mos Def - "Life in Marvelous Times" (MP3)

Mos Def @ Rock The Bells 2008 in Jones Beach (more by villageslum)

The crew that proved they were "Fortified Live" and brought about a "Re:Definition" of indie hip hop are back! Talib Kweli & Mos Def will reunite to perform TWO SHOWS at Nokia Theater on May 30th. Tickets are on AMEX presale now (3/25) and go on sale to gen pop on 3/27 at noon for the early show (7PM) here and the late show (11:30 PM) here .

Mos Def is also makin' moves all by his lonesome, having recently announced a spring 2009 release of his new album The Ecstatic via a video short. Mos recently dropped a video for "Life In Marvelous Times" from that record, viewable below. Check out two MP3's, "Quiet Dog" and "Life in Marvelous Times", above.

Kweli recently reunited with Hi-Tek to breathe life back into Refection Eternal during a residency at the Blue Note in early March. Kweli has a few new dates lined up so far, including one free show at Columbia University on April 18th as part of Bacchanal '09 with, according to post at Columbia's Spectacle that has since been removed, Vampire Weekend.

All tour dates and video...

Continue reading "Black Star reunited for 2 NYC dates, new Mos Def, a free Vampire Weekend show? & other Talib Kweli news"

photos by Jacob Blickenstaff

"Since everyone can't live in New York City, OKP took our [video] camera crews into "The Roots present The Jam" @ The Highline Ballroom to bring you a virtual video taste of the new weekly jam session. The jump off [the first] week [March 5th] was a crazy first show, with Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch and John Forté Jr. trading verses side by side, along with Black Thought and Dice Raw. Later in the evening Chrisette Michele and Raheem DeVaughn graced the stage for some off-the-top crooning, scatting included. Overall it was an incredible evening. [Okayplayer]

Continue reading "The Roots (and guests) @ Highline Ballroom - pics & video"

* Talib Kweli is playing BB King Blues Club tonight
* Mos Def is playing Highline Ballroom on January 9th

by Black Bubblegum

Idle Warship

Talib Kweli will team up with Res and Graph Nobel as part of a new group called Idle Warship on Dec 22nd at BB King's in NYC. Tickets are on sale. The crew are wrapping up their debut LP Party Robot, are streaming a few songs at their myspace, and recently released a video for "Black Snake Moan". Check it out along with the show flyer, below..

Continue reading "Talib Kweli, Res & Graph Noble = Idle Warship -- NYC show "

by Black Bubblegum

Q-Tip @ Knitting Factory, Sept 29th (more by Eric Townsend)

In the past couple months, we have covered quite a few hip hop events at CMJ, but let this serve as a total guide to the madness to come... Have fun...

Continue reading "the 2008 guide to Hip Hop shows & panels @ CMJ"

Pwrfl Power @ Union Hall (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Tobacco @ Purchase
* Hot Chip @ Terminal 5
* Madonna @ the Izod Center
* Jimmy Scott @ Iridium Jazz Club
* A-Trak, Boys Noize @ Webster Hall
* Mary J Blige @ Radio City Music Hall
* Voter Registration party @ Sound Fix
* a Showpaper benefit with "Secret '579' Guest"
* Dark Meat, Vivian Girls @ Rocks Off Concert Cruises
* The Kills, Magic Wands @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Lucinda Williams, Buick 6 @ Madison Square Garden
* Vaz, Skull Defekts, Talk Normal, Lary 7 @ Death By Audio
* Stereolab, Antipop Consortium, Hospitality @ The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
* Tyvek, Blues Control, Thomas Function, Liquor Store @ Cake Shop

Talib Kweli was born on this day in 1975.

The Showpaper benefit at Alpha(Beta) (170 Greenpoint Ave) lists Fiasco side project Runtime Error on the bill, though Runtime Error says that it is actually a Runtime Error side project playing the show, so maybe Fiasco is playing it and maybe they are who the "Secret '579' Guest" is or maybe there are two secret guests or who knows (do you?)...

I posted a preview of What's Going on Saturday too.

The gang from Sulimays reviewed The Walkmen and Cold War Kids. Watch the video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

by Black Bubblegum

A crew of hip-hop notables are gathering for a worthy cause, to help "spread the word that thousands of 9/11 first responders are sick and dying and need our help". Headliner Talib Kweli will join Dead Prez, revolutionary Immortal Technique, Mr. "The Greatest Story Never Told" Coming Soon aka Saigon, beatsmiths Da Beatminerz, Chip Fu (of the Fu-Schnickens), Dub Rock All Stars (ex-Da Bush Babees - "Remember we"? ), Loer Velocity, Mr. Green of Channel Live (performing? I thought all he does is spark mad Izm?), Messiah, Tiye Phoenix, and Scanz at The Madison (27 W 24th St, between Broadway and 6th) on Friday night (9/12).

Tickets are still available. If you can't make it but would still like to help, you can help by donating to this worthy cause.

Talib Kweli is also part of the upcoming Hip Hop Live tour and recently played Rock The Bells.

Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz and Black Moon will play the classic Enta Da Stage at an upcoming show at the Knitting Factory.

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford, words by Black Bubblegum

Little Brother @ All Points West 2008

Talib Kweli will hit the road with David Banner as well as Little Brother and B.O.B. (who are splitting the dates) as part of the Hip Hop Live! Tour which will see each group flanked by the "heralded 10-Piece live band Rhythm Roots All Stars for unique versions" of their songs. The nineteen date tour closes at Nokia Theater in NYC on 10/25 with both openers. Tickets are on sale for the show which is also part of CMJ.

Little Brother's two remaning members (Phonte & Big Pooh) are both prepping solo records. Phonte, is working on the sequel to his highly successful collabo with Nicolay, Foreign Exchange. Big Pooh will drop Rapper's Delight for free download "sometime next week". Check the album art below.

Blacksmith (Kweli's label) signees Strong Arm Steady dropped their new video "Can't Let It Go" from their upcoming album Arms & Hammers. Strong Arm Steady is Krondon, Phil Da Agony (member of Likwit Crew with King Tee and the artists formerly known as The Alkaholiks), and Mitchy Slick, but also used to contain Xzibit (also Likwit).

All dates, some videos, and more pictures of Little Brother at All Points west, below...

Continue reading "Talib Kweli & David Banner - CMJ & other tour dates w/ Little Brother who played APW (pics)"

by Black Bubblegum

Q-Tip with A Tribe Called Quest at Rock The Bells, 8/3/08 (villageslum.com)

King Khan pretty much ruled, but maybe, the award for show of the day could go to Rock The Bells at Jones Beach...

"Mos Def was joined by Talib Kweli for a series of Black Star songs including "Definition," "Respiration" and "Brown Skin Lady."......with Pharoahe Monch joining former label-mates on stage for a boisterous performance of "Simon Says."

....Slick Rick joined his Def Jam proteges [ED: Method Man & Redman] briefly for a partial performance of "La Di Da Di,"....... After Raekwon, who performed earlier with Ghostface returned to the stage, EPMD followed, performing "Strictly Business" and "So What Cha Saying." Washington DC's DJ Kool entered the set, performing "Let Me Clear My Throat,"...... Upon the set closing, Keith Murray completed the Def Squad triad with a performance, without Sermon at the time, of "Rapper's Delight."

.....the largest crowd reaction came from Nas speaking to the crowd about how he needs to "breathe." Repeating the word, DJ Green Lantern played the instrumental to "Success," prompting a Yankee-cap tucked low Jay-Z to rush on the stage.... and perform his first verse..... the two then performed "Black Republicans."

.... A Tribe Called Quest headlined the night joined by luminaries such as Busta Rhymes on "Scenario" as well as Consequence.

Other guests.... included DJ Premier, M.O.P., Jeru Da Damaja, Biz Markie, Skyzoo, Mickey Factz and others. "
[HipHopDX.com]

Zaaaaam. Luckily, we have some photos (courtesy of Village Slum) and a video of that "Black Republicans" performance down below.....

Continue reading "Rock The Bells @ Jones Beach, pics & video, TONS of guests"

Influential and often controversial multiplatinum New York rapper Nas (Nasir Jones) has announced his full summer tour schedule, in support of his untitled ninth studio album. Produced by Guerilla Union (Rock the Bells, Paid Dues), THE JONES EXPERIENCE--"a big show in an intimate venue," as described by Nas--will feature him along with special guests Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica and DJ Green Lantern performing in small clubs across North America. The 21-date tour kicks off Tuesday, July 22 in Montreal and wraps up Labor Day weekend in Minneapolis. The shows will take place in between Nas' previously announced appearances on this summer's Rock The Bells 2008 International Festival Series, which will also feature Jay Electronica and DJ Green Lantern.

Continue reading "Nas & Talib Kweli - 2008 Tour Dates"

I have one pair of tickets to the previously mentioned Flavorpill event at the Museum of Natural History (flyer below). For a chance at winning them, email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: One Step Beyond). Include your first and last name. One winner will be notified.

Continue reading "Black Star playing McCarren Pool w/ NERD? + win Museum tix"

Jun 25 - The Apple Store
Jun 25 - a benefit @ BB King's

Jun 27 - One Step Beyond @ The Museum of Natural History w/ Pete Rock & Buckshot

Enjoy complimentary screenings of the Space Show Passport to the Universe -- an exhilarating flight through a virtual re-creation of our universe, into the Orion Nebula, out of our galaxy, and deep into intergalactic space. After reaching the edges of our known universe, the tour takes a "virtual shortcut" back to Earth -- in a free fall, headlong through a black hole. The Space Show runs every half hour beginning at 10:00 p.m., with the last showing at midnight.

Tickets are $20 and include a free pass to the Museum for future use.

Gnarls Barkley with the first iBook

Performances at Apple Store, SoHo include:
- Wyclef Jean, June 9th
- Gnarls Barkley, June 10th
- Mike Phillips, June 13th
- Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, June 18th
- Vaughn Anthony, June 20th
- Talib Kweli, June 25th

Wyclef is also playing Summerstage with Jill Scott.

Talib Kweli is also playing a benefit.

Blacksmith TV is a 10-part Talib Kweli documentary you can watch online.

Tickets are on sale at noon for "Talib Kweli + Special Guests: Rock To Save Darfur Benefit" at BB King's in NYC on June 25th. Talib is playing a benefit in Seattle in June too.

Check our more upcoming hip hop shows HERE (thx Hiro).