by Andrew Sacher

Action Bronson @ Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest 2011 (more by Brook Bobbins)

If you're looking for good hip hop shows this weekend, there are quite a few options. You can start Saturday (7/23) early with Theophilus London at 4 PM in Weeksville Garden Center with Phony PPL.

At night (7/23), as mentioned, G-Side, who just played Pitchfork Fest, will stop by NYC at Tammany Hall as part of their short tour.

If you don't end up there, underground Queens rapper Action Bronson will play Saturday (7/23) at Gramercy Theatre. Tickets are available. Action Bronson recently dropped his debut Dr. Lecter, which you can purchase at his website. His style is pretty much lifted from 90s boom bap, but Action can get away with that, especially since 90s heroes Wu-Tang Clan have him featured on their upcoming compilation Legendary Weapons, which will be released on Tuesday (7/26) via E1 Music. Check out the track with him, Ghostface Killah, and Termanology below. Also check out a video of the Dr. Lecter track "Get Off My P.P."

On Sunday (7/24), noise rapper Death Grips, who just played the Gang Gang Dance afterparty at Santos, will play a Jelly RockBeach show with Bass Drum of Death, The Miracles Club, and Night Manager. As commenters have discussed, Death Grips played the Santos show with Zach Hill on drums. Hopefully we can count on Zach sticking around for the Rock Beach show (Death Grips also play a secret show LATE Friday night, Saturday morning, somewhere in Brooklyn).

The extraordinarily prolific Tech N9ne will stop by Starland Ballroom on Sunday (7/24) in Sayreville, NJ as part of his tour. The tour includes other artists on Tech's own Strange Music label including Krizz Kaliko, Big Scoob, Kutt Calhoun, Jay Rock, ¡Mayday!, and others. Tickets for the NJ show are on sale now. The tour is in support of Tech's recently released LP All 6's and 7's, which you can purchase at the Strange Music webstore.

All tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Action Bronson, Tech N9ne, Death Grips & other upcoming hip hop shows"

photos by Chris La Putt

Indie darlings Matt & Kim kicked off the show -- which celebrates the year's best music as determined by MTVu's college-centric audience -- with an energetic performance of their breakout single "Lessons Learned." Later, the duo returned to accept their Best Video Woodie award.

"We've had one heck of a year," said Matt Johnson, before counterpart Kim Schifino leapt into the crowd.

Additional performers included veteran alt-rockers Death Cab for Cutie, who rocked the audience with its "New Moon" soundtrack single "Meet Me on the Equinox," as well as Passion Pit, the Dead Weather and Clipse, who were joined onstage by fellow rappers Cam'ron and Rick Ross.

Presenter highlights came from Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz and pop prankserts 3OH!3. Wentz rolled onto the stage holding a red Solo cup, while 3OH!3 gave a nod to Lady Gaga by dressing in her various VMA outfits. Asher Roth, will.i.am, and surprise guest Cyndi Lauper also presented awards. [Billboard]

Cyndi presented an award with Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester who also recently made an appearance at the Weezer (and Matt & Kim) show on Halloween that was sponsored by RXP aka the Matt Pinfield station. Matt was also at the Woodies as was Diplo who was DJing and David Cross, Zooey Deschanel, Janelle Monae, Dave 1 from Chromeo, and Mary Louise Parker. Matt and Kim didn't get naked like they do in their winning video (their second MTV win for that video), but their backup singers did strip down to their underwear.

The Dead Weather also played a show one day before the Woodies in Brooklyn. The Woodies air December 4th at 10pm. More pictures from the event (11/18 at Roseland Ballroom in NYC), below...

Continue reading "2009 mtvU Woodie Awards @ Roseland - pics (Passion Pit, Dead Weather, Matt & Kim, Clipse, Death Cab, more) "

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"