Ill Tactics – Mind For The Taking
Big shoutouts to the homie, Ill Tactics, on the release of his second solo project, Mind For The Taking. If you are unfamiliar with Tactics, then you must be unfamiliar with his group, The Balance. The Balance, a full fledge live hip hop band, have been tearing up the Triangle’s scene for years now. I have been doing shows with them since around 2007, and everytime I hear them, they get more creative and more dynamic. Tactics new project is much of the same. If you like boom bap hip with lyrical flavor, this project is for you. So listen to it for free here, and while you are at it, buy a song or two. F it. Buy the whole project. It’s only $5!
Production by Lava Izzo, Tha Durhamotologist, ArkItekt, and L. Jones. Mastered by J. Memory of The Shape For Memory and All I Can See, Is. Props to Dhap for original album atwork, Reginald Dawson for reworking and coloring it, and Big Hop for graphics and text on the front and back cover.
2 New Videos from Kooley High
Shoutouts to the homies Kooley High for dropping a couple new videos over the last few weeks. Visually, both of them are dope, and they are highlighting joints off their newly Fat Beats-endorsed album Eastern Standard Time. So if you are feeling these joints, make sure you go cop EST!
I am Performing Tonight in Roanoke VA…
Tonight is shaping up to be a crazy night. Besides such VA/NC artists, Poe Mack, Bo Jankans, Lazurus, and more, you have Rapper Big Pooh of the legendary, Little Brother, that will be rocking the stage. You can’t put a value on the motivation that LB has provided any true school fan, especially artists from NC. At Awful Arthur’s this evening, Pooh will be joined by HOJ teammate, Chaundon. The show starts at 10pm, sharp, and if you are under 21, you need to be there by then, to assure that you can get in. DJ Van Gundy is on the wheels, so you can expect a lot of wit on his end. Hahaha. But if you are in a 100 mile radius of the 540 tonight, you have no excuse as to where else you should be. Come rock with us, and have a great time, listening to great music…
Flyer design by me, ho…
Mallz – Service Entrance (Free Mixtape)
Major shoutouts to Mallz on the long awaited release of his new project, Service Entrance. This joint was actually recorded awhile ago, but it hadn’t seen the light of day until this week. There are no features on the project, but the list of producers who contributed beats is quite impressive. Service Entrance features production from Nick Tha 1da, Analogic, The Jake, and more. After a few listens, you will understand that Mallz is a true NC representer, in every fashion of the phrase, as he kills this project, track by track. So do yourself a favor, and download this joint for FREE here…
Artwork by me, sucka…
KO Kid x DJ Ladro – Chromeostasis (Free EP)
Shoutouts to KO Kid & DJ Ladro for coming through with this dope, new collection of songs for your listening pleasure. The cool thing about this project is that all the samples come from one of my favorite bands, favorite album, Chromeo. If you are unfamiliar with Chromeo, you desperately need to be educated. They are a 80’s sounding, dance-pop duo, who are known for their infectious tunes like Bonafide Lovin,’ among others.
Hosted by Terry Urban, this EP is something fresh. Here is some more info about it:
The idea behind this tape was really just to get something fun and easy out for people to vibe to. We’re working on our first full length album but it’s going to be a while before we’re finished so we wanted to keep people happy. We went with Chromeo because I love Chromeo and think their music is really, really dope. The idea wasn’t to make an EP that was “better” than Chromeo’s work, but rather just to add our own flavor to it. Hope everybody enjoys this!
Tanya Morgan is performing Tonight in Raleigh…
Dear Raleigh Brethren & Brethrenesses,
Please do the right thing tonight & go support a great hip hop act. Tanya Morgan is comprised of two artists, Von Pea & DonWill. They are a much heralded, underground group that has toured the globe in pursuit of musical domination. Early in their career they frequently collaborated with HOJ artists, won the Myspace unsigned artist contest, and built a buzz with their dope lyrics and golden era vibe. Tonight, thanks to AWOL at GetDownSon Entertainment, they are performing at the Berkeley Cafe with a stack of other dope artists. I saw them live the last time they were in Raleigh, and it was one of the best shows of the year. So instead of doing the same old thing, going to the same old bar, and listening to the same old music, hit up the Berkeley Cafe on Martin St. & enjoy a great show…
Artwork by me. Who else?!?
K-Hill – The Declaration of an Independent feat. Dasan Ahanu (Free Download)
Shoutouts to two NC legends, K-Hill & Dasan Ahanu, for teaming up on this new jam. If you are unfamiliar with Hill, then you are oblivious to NC Hip Hop. However, if Dasan Ahanu is a new name to you, you need to research this NC spoken word pioneer. This cat has been one of the main forces behind the triangle’s poetry scene for many moons, and his hardwork has been highly recognized. He has made several dope appearances on joints with NC artists, and this one is no different. Get enlightened, and stay tuned for the official release of K-Hill’s upcoming mixtape, Motivational Speaker. Until then, download The Declaration of an Independent here for FREE now…
Rapper Big Pooh – FreeBasin’ feat. Carlitta Durand (Free Download)
Sorry to leave you all in suspense for so long, but here is the link to the newest single from Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother. It’s called FreeBasin’, and it features the lovely Miss Carlitta Durand. This soulful joint hits hard with the lyricism and passion in which it’s delivered. Listen to it a couple times, and it’s guaranteed to set your day off right. Fat Boy Fresh Vol.1 comes out in early April, but until then you can download FreeBasin’ for free here….
Single cover by me, ho.
I’m Performing Tonight In Richmond…
Once again, Super shoutouts to Poe Mack for inviting me to perform at a couple events on the ShoeString Budget Tour. Tonight, we are performing at Alley Katz in Richmond. I have only performed in the 804 once before, so I am excited to get back. & not only do you have the excitment of seeing me rock, but Nickelus F. will be in the building. If you are unfamiliar with his movement, go to google and wikipedia his ass. You might be pleasantly surprised. Also performing tonight is Poe Mack, Bo Jankans, Jah-I-Witness, Black Liquid, and more. So get out there early and show some support for this dope ass lineup tonight. Hit me up for more info…
King Mez – Nightmares (prod. by Khrysis) – Video
Super shoutouts to King Mez for his new video, Nightmares. This joint is from his upcoming project, The King’s Khrysis, which is being produced by famed NC producer, Khrysis. They are releasing this EP this Sunday, which coincides with Mez’s appearance on MTV’s Sucka Free Sunday. You can also catch Mez in Chapel Hill’s stop of Poe Mack’s ShoeString Budget Tour(Sat. March 12). I will also be performing at the event, with a rack of dope NC artists. It’s shaping up to be a monster year for NC’s prodigy, so keep your eyes and ears open for King Mez…
Foreign Exchange – Authenticity (Video)
Shoutouts to NC alt-Soul group Foreign Exchange, for the release of one of the best conceptual videos I have seen all year. FE has been on a tear since their Grammy nomination last year, and this video further cements their place in the upper echelon of today’s R&B acts. If you missed their private show in Durham last night, then make sure you check out the video & purchase Authenticity on iTunes…
NC United Show Tonight (Greensboro)
Shoutouts to my brother Don DiGiorgio (formerly Kotix) for holding down Greensboro with the first ever NC United show tonight. Besides the Don, you can check out sets by his longtime collaborator Raw English, SkyBlew, Lazurus & S.Gold, Scottie Flippen & Kelsey Lu, AP & Seven, Celenski, & N’DngR Species. Mike Machete is holding down the DJ duties & the show starts at 10p sharp. That’s a helluva lineup, so if you are in the #336, there’s only one spot to be at tonight. & stay tuned for more NC United events & more. I got a feeling you will be seeing that a lot more in the future…
Flyer design by me.
For The Love of Music Show/Gone With The Wind (Video)
Super Shoutouts to S.Gold for throwing this NC star studded event tonight. For the Love of Music Show has been in the works for quite some time now. The plan is to shower all the ladies in the building with roses and enough hip hop flavor to kill a horse(haha, not really, but kinda). You know anytime a cast like S.Gold, Lazurus, 1100 Huntaz, Skyblew, the homie Don DiGiorgio(formerly Kotix), and others get together, it’s gonna be a crazy throw down. Well tonight is no different.
If you are in the 919, the spot to be at tonight is Southland Ballroom on West St. If you get there before 11p, you even save a couple dollars on the door charge. So get out there early, and have a blast. But before you do that, check S.Gold’s new video for “Gone With The Wind” featuring Lazurus, shot by Kent Willard of Depth of Sound…
For the Love of Music Artwork created by me, bitches!
Rapper Big Pooh – FreeBasin’ (Artwork)
Shoutouts to Pooh & Dho, as the 3 of us put our minds together to create the new artwork for Pooh’s next single. The joint is called “FreeBasin'” and it features the very talented, Carlitta Durand. As far as the cover goes, the style coincides with what we came up with for “Zone Out,” his last leak. When Pooh hit me up & told me the title to the this joint, I thought he was gonna ask for some crazy imagery, like people cooking up spoons, etc. Hahaha, but he wanted the exact opposite. He was looking to play off of the sport of Base Jumping. Right then & there, I know that with the right imagery, it was going to be a wrap. Dho found the pic, and blao! Here it is. So check back next week, as I post the link to the actual single, and stay tuned cuz I have signed on to create the artwork for Pooh’s next mixtape & official release, as well as their next tour flyer…
Upcoming Feb./March Shows
Super shoutout to Poe Mack for inviting me to participate in a few shows on his ShoeString Budget Tour. Also, shouts to GreenStar Clothing for setting up a dope event in Greenville next month. If you live anywhere near Richmond or Roanoke, VA, or Greenville, Wilmington, or Chapel, NC, you have no excuse not to show your face. Did I mention that I will be performing with such talents as Rapper Big Pooh(Little Brother), Nickelus F., King Mez, Rapsody, Poe Mack & more. Check out the dates below:
Friday February 25 – Richmond, VA – Alley Katz – with Nickelus F., Poe Mack, Bo Jankans, Jah-I-Witness, Black Liq
Saturday March 5 – Roanoke, VA – Awful Arthurs(Towers) – with Rapper Big Pooh, Chaundon, Poe Mack, Lazurus, & Bo Jankans
Thursday March 10 – Wilmington, NC – 16 Taps – with Colour Culture, Poe Mack, & Fine Artz
Saturday March 12 – Chapel Hill, NC – Jack Spratt – with King Mez, Rapsody, Poe Mack, Illpo, Lazurus, & Bo Jankans
Thursday March 31 – Greenville, NC – The Tank – with GreenStar Clothing, H2OKZ, & more
Stay tuned for my April dates, including Greensboro & Raleigh, among others. I might be popping up doing some guest appearances in between now & then, so check back to the site…
Mallz – Hands High (Free Download)
Shouts to my fellow ECU alum, Mallz, for the upcoming release of his new project, Service Entrance. Mallzini actually recorded this joint awhile back but has been sitting on it for a few. Now he is ready to unleash it on the world. The first joint he is releasing from the project is “Hands Up,” which is produced by Cartel. This joint is super fresh, so keep checking back, as I will posting links to the full project when it drops. Until then, download “Hands High” for FREE here…
Artwork by me, muhfuckas!
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