hip-hop, video

Video: Kidz in the Hall fight in Tempe

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You might have heard that hip-hop duo Kidz in the Hall were involved in a fracas in Tempe last week.

The Arizona Republic obtained video of the fight. Embedded below.

UPDATE: A story that accompanies the video says Double O of Kidz in the Hall was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct. … Eh? Is everyone watching the same video?

From the story: “Double-O (Aguilar) did not fight back,” said Tony Hererra, 40, of Tempe. “He only tried to protect himself. He rolled around and actually had like a crab hold. Never once did he raise his hand to try to hit the bouncer. He was just trying to protect himself, and saying, like, ‘What are you doing?’ “

hip-hop, i used to love h.e.r.

I Used to Love H.E.R.: Kid Static

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Oddly enough, I first heard about Kid Static through Whiskerino, a nationwide community of beard-growers of which a couple of my friends were a part. Turns out, the Chicago-bred Kid Static is, too. He even put on a show at their annual gathering in February in Nashville.

Kid Static was kind enough to offer up the 30th installment of I Used to Love H.E.R., a series in which artists/bloggers/writers discuss their most essential or favorite hip-hop albums. Check out Kid Static’s 2008 release In the Meantime, which garnered a 7.1 from Pitchfork.

  • Kid Static | Man Up

    • Mos Def
    Black on Both Sides (Rawkus, 1999)
    I found out about Black on Both Sides in 1999, my junior year of high school, from this kid Ryan who was younger than me but had impeccable music taste. Back then, I was always head deep in some glitchy, stuttery drill n bass track or making some kind of beeping insanity on my computer. I was on my way to Coconuts to pick up Things Fall Apart from The Roots because I felt bad for burning it, and the Slim Shady LP because all my friends had it but me. Since I got back to my room and listened to it that first time, this album has permanently been in my rotation. A lot of people have mixed feelings about Mos Def, especially when he gives ad-libbed, mostly singing performances like he gave at Rock The Bells this year in Chicago. But when he’s on, he’s definitely on and this album is in my mind, his opus.

    Over the years duke has been willing to experiment and go places a lot of rappers who see themselves as rappers won’t go. Mos Def seems to see himself as a musician with more to offer than just words to music. He plays instruments on five of the tracks on the album and his vocals, return to the flavor I personally liked from the days of Black Star. Favorites on the album include Fear Not of Man, New World Water, Mathematics and Ms. Fat Booty.

general, samples

Menahan Street Band: Make the Road By Walking

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I don’t claim to know a ton when it comes to the soul/funk/jazz arena. I leave it for folks like O-Dub, Funky 16 Corners or Scholar at Souled On.

But I know when something moves me … or, more appropriately, makes me move. That’s been the case with the Menahan Street Band, whose forthcoming album, Make the Road By Walking (out Oct. 14), has captured my attention.

Like most people, my introduction came in a somewhat backward manner. The title track to the album is the loop on Jay-Z’s Roc Boys (And the Winner Is …), from the American Gangster soundtrack. Trust me, you’ve heard it. (That’s just one of hip-hop’s many fine attributes – exposing these sometimes-obscure but deserving sampled songs to the masses.)

Some back reading: Tom Brenneck, guitarist for the Dap-Kings and Budos Band, is the man behind Brooklyn’s Menahan Street Band, whose album will be released on his Dunham Records, part of the Daptone family. Also, the album was recorded entirely in analog in his bedroom.

Without getting too much into the X’s and O’s, I’d highly suggest giving this one a listen and checking out the full-length when it becomes available in October.

  • Menahan Street Band | Make the Road By Walking
hip-hop, remix, Sundays with Tribe, video

Sundays with A Tribe Called Quest: Vol. 6

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Strange things have been happening since I started this weekly Tribe routine. First, Lil Wayne is possibly coppin’ an old sample that Tribe used for a remix. Then you’ve got Tribe rehearsing for the Rock the Bells tour.

Now I suppose you’re going to tell me there’s some unreleased version of Scenario floating around out there. Oh … whuh? Really?!

The news of this for any Tribe fan is amazing, considering Scenario was really a flashpoint for the group — they performed it on Arsenio! (Can I get a little for the Dog Pound!)

Seriously, if you wanna talk posse cuts, Scenario blew my mind. A Tribe Called Quest + Leaders of the New School? The possibilities seemed endless – sorry, this was before every friggin’ rap song featured someone. It was exciting to see Tribe share verses with Leaders and vice versa. Then there’s Busta Rhymes – still his best verse ever, just after he teases us in Q-Tip’s spot (“I heard you rushed and rushed and attacked.”).

That makes four versions of the song I have now – including the original and a couple remixes – and supposedly there’s another version. Damn. (I’ve also got the “cassingle.”)

I’m really glad Phife revisited his verse from this unreleased version. “I use nouns, adjectives, pronouns, verbs.” Yeeeeeah. Although, the Koko B. Ware name drop is priceless.

Just for fun, the video (check out the wack Apple IIGS concept here):

arizona

Phoenix New Times: Local bands feel pain at pump

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In the shameless self-promotion department, I point you to a long-ish feature I wrote for the Phoenix New Times about how gas prices are affecting bands, specifically local bands who would like to hit the road.

A shout of thanks to everyone I talked to, including: Kinch, Psyko Steve, What Laura Says, the Via Maris and Charlie at Stateside Presents.

Read the story here. Listen to some of the music by bands featured in the story below.

remix, video

Amplive documents remix process

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Can’t say I’m a big follower of either Tokyo Police Club or Amplive. But I found this video (via Listening Post), in which Amplive sort of takes us inside the process of a remix, very intriguing.

He remixed the Tokyo Police Club track The Baskervilles. I’d love to see more videos like this, demonstrating the mechanics of what musicians are actually doing.

general, radio rips

Fleet Foxes: Live on World Cafe (WXPN)

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Fleet Foxes checked in for a three-song performance on WXPN’s World Cafe with David Dye. The session was produced by Steve Lillywhite, hence “The Lillywhite Session.”

Here’s a rip of the session. Be sure to listen to the whole thing, interview and all, over here.
Fleet Foxes, live on World Cafe (WXPN):

  • 1. White Winter Hymnal
  • 2. Blue Ridge Mountains
  • 3. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song

(UPDATE: Files removed by request.)

Also, witness Fleet Foxes performing English House at the Pitchfork Festival:

controversy, general

Cease and desist update: A small victory

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We appear to have reached an ending (a happy one, at that) on this matter.

After I wrote the IFPI last week, stating (among other things) that Travis singer Fran Healy, as one of the four copyright holders, gave me his blessing to post the song, J. Smith, I received this letter today via e-mail.

Dear Kevin,

IFPI was contacted by a member of the label who confirmed you were given permission to post the file on your site.

We were unaware of this agreement but now that it has been notified to us please feel free to upload the file.

Due to the volume of infringing content we find online there will be instances where legitimate files are picked up as infringing. We hope this matter shows that once we have the correct information we do not want to stop the promotion of music online.

Regards,
Notices Department

There you have it. Quite a backhanded stab at an apology, eh?

Whatever, I feel fairly vindicated in this matter and I can’t thank Travis and singer Fran Healy enough for answering my MySpace message and giving me his permission to post this song. Please visit the band’s Web site or MySpace and show some love. I already considered myself a huge Travis fan; this situation only reinforced my faith in their music/message.

Lastly, take 30 seconds to download this track, not only for the satisfaction of this small victory but also because it’s another fine addition to the Travis catalog.

Thanks.