Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire at Southpaw 2/9 (via)

Action Bronson at Southpaw 2/9 (via)

Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire and Action Bronson shared a bill at Southpaw last night (2/9) with support from Soul Kahn and Kyle Rapps, and included special guest Illustrate. They were joined on stage by El-P, Despot, and Kool AD & Heems of Das Racist, who are all featured on eXquire's "Huzzah" remix (where was Danny Brown?!). Action Bronson has a show tonight in Austin, where he will return in March for SXSW.

Last night's show was one of the last at Southpaw, which is closing this month. Their website lists shows happening through February 19, including M.A.K.U. Soundsystem and I Jah Bones TONIGHT (2/10). Tickets for tonight' show are available. There's also a huge show presented by iHeart Dilla taking place on February 15, billed as "One Song: A Forever Fresh Farewell to Southpaw," with Nitty Scott, Illustrate (who was a guest at last night's show), Warren Britt, Jesse Abraham, Top $ Raz, MC Eleven, Tanya Morgan, and many others. The flier for this show with all the performers listed is below.

Continue reading "El-P & others joined Exquire & Action Bronson @ Southpaw (which is closing in 10 days)"

by BBG

Curren$y

Tons of hip hop shows on the way, from the classic to the new! First up, Curren$y will headline Irving Plaza on June 6th as part of a string of US dates that he has scheduled in May & June (dates are below). Tickets are currently on Live Nation presale, and go on regular sale at 10AM tomorrow (4/6). Curren$y is currently preparing to release his new and entirely Alchemist-produced EP Covert Coup on April 20th and for FREE.

As previously mentioned, Big K.R.I.T. & Freddie Gibbs are on tour and hitting Southpaw later this month.

Raekwon will headline BB King's on April 17th, alongside Ultramagnetic MC's (billed as an exclusive reunion show, I assume that means that Kool Keith is on board much like at ATP New Jersey), MC Eiht, Bushwick Bill (Geto Boys), Chip Fu (Fu-Schnickens), Da Bushbabees, Tanya Morgan, Tony Touch, and many many more including "special invited VIP surprise guests" and the host D-Stroy (Arsonists). Tickets are on sale. The show takes place just four days before Raekwon will team with The Lox, EPMD, Brand Nubian, and Nice and Smooth as part of a Salute to Hip Hop at Best Buy Theater on April 13th. Tickets are still available.

Tanya Morgan has another NYC date too, TONIGHT (4/5) at Southpaw, as the hip hop crew will pair with DJ Neil Armstrong (Jay-Z's touring DJ) for a free, 21+ event.

Speaking of Jay-Z, have you checked out his new "Life and Times" blog? One of his first posts is on Little Dragon.

Keith Murray will similarly team with a gang of 90's hip hop stars at Santos on April 14th. He'll be joined by Lords of the Underground, Group Home, Real Live, Nine, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and DJs Evil D, Eclipse, Kon & Amir, Ralph McDaniels, and many others. Tickets are still available.

Two of the most extreme MCs in hip hop, M.O.P., will hit Southpaw on April 7th with Top $ Raz, Sleepwalkas, and others. Tickets are still available.

Del Thee Funkee Homosapien will hit BB King's on May 1st as part of a round of US dates for the Hiero lynch pin. Tickets are still available. Del will release his new LP Golden Age on April 11th.

Slick Rick is returning to BB King's, as he'll play the venue on May 29th. Tickets are still available.

Talib Kweli will play a FREE show in Red Hook Park on June 21st as part of the City Parks Foundation's Summerstage series. Tons more Summerstage events (and undoubtedly a large number of hip hop ones) are also slated to be announced, we'll keep you informed. Kweli recently played SXSW and released Gutter Rainbows earlier this year.

And last but certainly not least, 9th Wonder and Phonte (aka 2/3 of Little Brother) will join Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg at 92Y Tribeca Wednesday (4/6) night as part of the Noisemakers series, where Rosenberg interviews his guests. Tickets are on sale.

All tour dates and some video is below.

Continue reading "Curren$y dates, Raekwon shows, Talib Kweli in a park, Ultramagnetic MC's, Jay-Z's blog & other hip hop news"

by BBG

Wyatt Cenac & Donwill of Tanya Morgan @ Southpaw (more by Paul Birman)

After some time away so that Von Pea and Don Will could focus on solo ventures, Tanya Morgan have regrouped and are currently on a short tour with Big Pooh (ex-Little Brother, who have called it quits) and affiliates of his Hall of Justus stable. In addition to Tanya Morgan & Rapper Big Pooh, Chaundon, Joe Scudda, Jozeemo, Soul Khan, and MH The Verb will all be on board Wednesday (12/8), when the tour comes hits Public Assembly. $10 gets you in.

They will also still hit Boston, and are giving away a copy of the NBA2k11 video game at each show.

Donwill's Don Cusack in High Fidelity hit earlier this year, and Von Pea dropped his solo EP Pea's Gotta Have It! in late October. Pick up a copy via iTunes, and stream the whole thing, with some videos and all dates below....

Continue reading "Tanya Morgan on tour w/ Big Pooh (NYC Wednesday)"

"After announcing the closing of their New York and Los Angeles locations, Fat Beats is excited to present a send-off worthy of their hip-hop legacy. A week-long series of in-store performances and music industry panels at both stores will allow the music community to not only learn about the history of Fat Beats and what the future of the music industry holds, but to also celebrate the legacy of one of the strongest music brands in the company of their favorite artists. These week-long in-stores are sure to go down in hip-hop and New York history. Everyone is welcome to come and all events are free.

Today marks the official start of the week-long in-stores for the New York location. This location will host artist performances every day this week from 4-9pm until it closes its doors for the final time on Saturday, September 4th, 2010. Additionally, both locations will be selling limited edition commemorative t-shirts, as well as discounted music and merchandise"

Continue reading "free in-stores all week @ Fat Beats (leading up to closing)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Donwill - "Laura's Song" EDIT (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Donwill - "I See You" Unmastered (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kooley High - "Solitude" feat. Median (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kooley High - "My Shadow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kooley High - Kooley Is High Mixtape (Zipped MP3)

Tanya Morgan at Audible Treats CMJ 2009 (more by Paul Birman)

Tanya Morgan will hit the road for the High Fidelity tour, a string of east coast dates with North Cackalacka's Kooley High which will include SOB's in NYC on 2/22 with P.So and YC The Cynic. Git yer tix. Full tour dates for that trek is below.

Though Tanya Morgan (as a collective) don't have any new material on deck, Donwill of Tanya Morgan does in the form of Don Cusack in High Fidelity due on March 23rd via Interdependent Media. Donwill's new LP is inspired by the Jon Cusack film High Fidelity (which in itself is an adaptation of the great Nick Hornby novel), and takes the concept all the way by employing performances from Opio (of Souls of Mischief) and Che Grand as Ian and Barry from the film respectively. (For those who don't remember the movie, Ian was "the new boyfriend" played by Tim Robbins and Barry is the wisecracking record store clerk played by Jack Black.) In the meantime, pick up the new Laura's Tape mixtape (starring Donwill as Don Cusack, Mixed by DJ Kingmost starring as DJ Rob Gordon) at BandCamp.com. Two tracks from the upcoming LP are above.

Kooley High recently dropped a few songs for free download including the great "Solitude" featuring Median of Justus League (donwload that above) and "My Shadow". Get them both above, as well as their 2009 mix hosted by K-Salaam entitled Kooley Is High.

Full Tanya Morgan/Kooley High dates, the track listing (which reads somewhat like the High Fidelity DVD chapter listing) and a few videos are below...

Continue reading "Tanya Morgan touring (dates), Donwill releasing 'High Fidelity' concept album ++ free mixtape, MP3s & more"

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"

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 Black Bubblegum

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)

Tanya Morgan at BHHF (more here)

If it wasn't evident by their mixtape of the same name, then let it be known that Tanya Morgan Is A Rap Group. The conscious Cincy-Brooklyn trio, made up of MCs Donwill and Ilyas as well as MC/Producer Von Pea, recently dropped their concept album Brooklynatti on Interdependent Media (a bunch of samples above, get it here) and are hitting the road for a few select dates in the wake of their appearance at the Brooklyn Hip Hop festival. The first of those dates blasts off on Wed, July 8th, when the trio teams up with Torae & Marco Polo, Che Grand & The Brown Bag Allstars to tear down Southpaw. Tickets are still available, full tour dates are below.

Tanya Morgan recently completed a video for "So Damn Down". Check that out, as well as a live vid from BHHF, as well as their full tour shed, below...

Continue reading "Tanya Morgan (is a rap group) - MP3's, video & tour dates "