by BBG

Ghostface Killah at Rock The Bells (more by Andrew St. Clair)

CMJ is almost here, and as usual hip hop is well represented with appearances from the greats as well as those on the upswing. Ghostdini (aka Ghostface Killah) obviously is one of the former, and he'll headline BB Kings on 10/22 with Sheek Louch (of D-Block), and Frank Dukes. Tickets are on sale, or you can get in with your CMJ badge.

Audible Treats have announced their 2010 showcase at Sullivan Hall in NYC, and once again it's chock full of interesting indie hip hop. Veterans Black Sheep will join Nottz, Diamond District, Big Pooh (ex-Little Brother), Chip Fu (of Fu-Schnickens), Rah Digga, Von Pea, Moe Green, DaVinci, and The Left (Apollo Brown, DJSoko, Journalist103). The show goes down on 10/21 and tickets are on sale.

Von Pea of Tanya Morgan will play two shows at SOBs in the coming months, with the first happening on 9/29 when he supports Pac Div along with STS and Beyond Belief (tickets). Then less than two weeks later, Von Pea will play the venue again with J-Live in tow to celebrate the release of his new record Pea's Gotta Have It. Tickets are on sale.

And while we're on the subject of former members of Little Brother, Foreign Exchange (aka ex-Little Brother member Phonte and producer Nicolay) will play a CMJ how at BB King's on 10/23 with Darien Brockington, Zo! and a live band in tow. Tickets are on sale. Darien Brockington, who also contributes to Foriegn Exchange, will also be at SOBs in the coming weeks as part of a collaborative show with R&B singer Yahzarah on 10/14. Tickets are on sale.

Duck Down will team up with Blacksmith Music (Kweli's label) for the Duck Down vs Blacksmith CMJ Showcase with appearances from Jean Grae, Pete Rock, Strong Arm Steady, Pharoahe Monch, Skyzoo & !llmind, Marco Polo with Torae & Ruste Juxx, Team Facelift and Boot Camp Clik (Sean Price, Buckshot, Smif N Wessun, Heltah Skeltah & 9th Wonder). Sounds amazing. Tickets are on sale for the 10/19 show at LPR.

The Duck Down CMJ show is part of a "15 Year Anniversary" tour for the label. All dates below.

And for those of you planning next week, keep in mind that Talib Kweli will play Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday (9/28) with Res and K-Salaam. Tickets are on sale.

And speaking of Pete Rock, BB King's will host a night curated by the year 1992, as Pete Rock & CL Smooth will team with Brand Nubian and Das EFX for a show at BB King's on 10/20. Tickets are on sale. Pete Rock & CL Smooth reunited at Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest earlier this year.

Eric and Parrish are making more dollars at Knitting Factory on November 19th, as the duo known as EPMD will team up to tear down the joint with D-Money. Tickets are on sale.

Joell Ortiz of recent Slaughterhouse fame will play SOBs on 11/9. Tickets are on sale.

Pittsburgh weed kingpin Wiz Khalifa will play the Best Buy Theater on November 13th as part of a huge US tour dubbed the Waken Baken Tour. Tickets are on sale. All dates below.

Statik Selektah & Termanology's new collaborative LP, 1982, gets an album release party on October 25th at SOBs. Tickets are on sale for the show, which will feature support from REKS & more special guests TBA. Dig on the recent video by 1982 featuring Bun B & Masspike Miles, "You Should Go Home", below.

Some videos and tour dates below...

Continue reading "upcoming hip hop shows & tours -- CMJ, Duck Down & more "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Nappy Roots - Nappy University Mixtape (Zipped MP3s)

Buckshot and General Steele at Red 7 (more by Samantha Marble)

Memorial day weekend begins with two turntables and a mic. Billed as the "IT'S OK TO WEAR WHITE AGAIN" Party, Duck Down Records will gather up Buckshot with Sean Price, Sabzi of Blue Scholars, Team Facelift (Fat Jew, Fonda, Machine & DJ Tommy Mas), Kick Drums, Jasmine Solano and DJ Nire for a show at Le Poisson Rouge on May 27th. Tickets are on sale. The show is about a month and a half before Duck Down celebrates their 15th anniversary at BB King's. Tickets for that show on July 13th are still on sale.

Buckshot will also join Evil Dee, Smif-N-Wessun, De La Soul and others at the Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest in July.

In other hip hop show news, Nappy Roots are welcoming The Pursuit of Nappyness on June 15th, and will the the road for a string of US dates that include Mercury Lounge on July 23rd. Tickets go on sale Friday, 5/21 at noon. More dates below.

Chris Palko (aka Cage) will play BB King's on June 18th as part of a tour kick-off that'll take the MC out on a US tour through mid-July. Tickets are on sale. All dates below.

Keith Murray will play Southpaw on June 3rd with a backing band and the great CL Smooth as support. Tickets are on sale.

Murs plays Highline Ballroom tonight (5/19).

All Cage and Nappy Roots dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Duck Down, Nappy Roots, Cage & more upcoming hip hop"

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"

SXSWeek 2010: March 12-21
Interactive: March 12-16
Film: March 12-20
Music: March 17-21

Continue reading "SXSW 2010 - dates & initial band lineup "

Fischerspooner @ Performa 09 kick-off at MoMA (more by Ryan Muir)

Performa 09, a visual/performance art fest in its third year, kicked off on November 1st with a performance by Fischerspooner at the MoMA. But there are still plenty of events left in the three-week fest, which runs through November 22nd.

Music-related highlights include Lee Ranaldo and Text of Light performing a live score to "Berlin: Symphony of a Great City" in High Line Park (which is sold out, though there is a wait list).

For another piece of the fest, Mike Kelley of Destroy All Monsters is putting on a two-day experimental noise mini-fest, "A Fantastic World Superimposed on Reality: A Select History of Experimental Music," on November 20th and 21th at Gramercy Theater. The work of "John Cage, Fred Frith, Fluxus, Bruce Nauman and Max Neuhaus" will be featured with performances by Airway, Joan La Barbara, Tony Conrad, Jad Fair & Lumberob, Arto Lindsay, Genesis Breyer P.Orridge & Thee Majesty, z'ev, and John Zorn. Tickets are on sale. More details are below. A full calendar of out-there (and some free) events can be found HERE.

You'll have a non-Performa chance to see Fischerspooner this Thursday (11/12) when they DJ at Santos for their single release show/Cloak and Dagger party. The single in question is called "Supply & Demand" and it comes out November 17th on Dim Mak. A remix is available on RCRDLBL. Rounding out the lineup for the party (according to the flyer) will be Junior Sanchez, Ninjasonik, Hot Pink Delorean, Team Facelift, Staccato, Michna, Loose Cannons and "special secret guests." Tickets (with a limited number of reduced admission tix) are on sale. A flyer is below.

A few clips from the fest's growing YouTube channel (including Fischerspooner at MoMA and a symphony for ping pong balls) are also posted below...

Continue reading "Performa 09 continues (w/ Destroy All Monsters, Lee Ranaldo, Genesis P-Orridge, John Zorn, more) ++ Ficherspooner DJing Cloak & Dagger @ Santos"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Skyzoo - "Popularity" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: KRS-One & Buckshot - "Survival Skills" (MP3)

Buckshot at Nokia Theater (more by Tim Griffin)

With Buckshot and KRS-One's collaborative LP Survival Skills still making some noise, Duck Down Records have announced their CMJ Showcase at Gramercy on 10/24 featuring 9th Wonder, Buckshot, Smif 'n Wessun, Skyzoo, kidz in the hall, Sean Price, Marco Polo & Torae, Team Facelift, Da Beatminerz, Ruste Juxx, and Blue Scholars. Tickets are on sale, or you can try and get in with your CMJ badge if you have one.

Skyzoo & 9th Wonder played Santos Party House on Tuesday (9/29) as part of an album release party for Skyzoo's The Salvation.

"Skyzoo had a real dope performance with Dujeous as his live band and 9th Wonder on the 1's and 2's. Daru opened up with his amazing drum solo and J hatch was the host. Rule4080 was in the building peep the flicks and yes that is 9th Wonder in red lol" [Rule480]

Continue reading "Duck Down doing CMJ (tix), Skyzoo record out now (MP3)"