Category : Music

Damn this is dope… intimate J*Davey performance at the Red Bull session studios. Queen of Wonderland is off J*Davey’s upcoming album New Designer Drug. On a video production tip the muted colors and flares are killing this video… courtesy of Pinboard Blog.

Honor Roll Crew and Trackademicks is back at it in this latest edition of “liner notes”… A behind the scenes look at the making of the song “Check” off of Trackademicks “State of the Arts” album. In this episode Track and Josie Stingray also talk about defining your “fresh”…. you know how to get your personal style just right. My man said “double dribble”… ballin on a budget.. that’s my steez right there.

We had a good time with this show. Nemiss called in some help for this show and Daru and Boo Boo answered the call… it’s always a blessings when you can share the stage with talented musicians… it jus takes the show to another level. Nemiss is at her best in this clip… just really comfortable and in control on stage. This show also helped us put the finishing touches on a new song for Nemiss “Stay Beautiful”… that I’m mixing right after I finish writing this… thanks to Boo Boo Cousins!!!!! Stay Tuned…

Nemiss- Vocals
Daru Jone- Sonic Drums
Boo Boo Cousins- Lead Guitar

Okay I may be posting this kinda late…. but I been bumpin this mixtape for the past month. FResh Coastin just puts you in that nice, Çali, laid back vibe… (we need that here on the east coast). The stand out track here is Chill featuring Phonte (Foreign Exchange), he goes in on his verse too.. Just do yourself a favor and getup on this.. Trackademicks free joints… killing a lot of projects asking for your hard earned dollars.

Download: Trackademicks- Fresh Coastin

Tracademicks- Chill feat Phonte, Freddie Gibbs, 1-O.A.K.

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Tracademicks- Dream feat Whiz

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“Ko-Lition does not want to be on the same belt. We strive to be something higher in the Hip Hop Game.”

That is the one of the main goals of the new Electro, Hip Hop Jazz group Ko-Lition. Though they have been around for years blessing Brooklyn with their positive, love, real life hip hop songs, KO-Lition is new to some hip hop ears. The duo consists of Karl KO Briggs and Delorean DeLo Briggs. Both are native New Yorkers raised in the heart of Brooklyn. The brother duo were surrounded by music from an early age and found inspiration from the streets of Brooklyn to their own living room. The new album Love Jazz Robotz takes you into a glimpse of two male point of views from opposite sides of relationships.I had the pleasure of interviewing them recently and they opened up about love, their upcoming album and inspirations.

Din Bonny:  Lets first start with the title of the album: LoveJazzRobotz. What inspired the title and what does it mean to you?

LOVE:

DeLo: when we first came out with the idea we wanted to bring back the importance of love in the music again.  Music has become very commercial. Everyone is pretty much after a hit record. We both feel that music lost the love and we want to bring it back.  In the words of Stevie Wonder ” Love is in need of Love today” .

Jazz:

DeLo: The title Jazz came from the inspiration of the Afrocentric Jazz artists we grew up listening to, Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets etc

K.Briggs :We would be asleep and we would wake up to our mother listening to a lot of jazz artists like Kenny G and Anita Baker. Those people became an inspiration.

Robotz:

The title Robotz came from the whole concept of the industry being robots. It feels like every hip hop artist is doing what everyone else is doing.  It has become like an assembly line.  For example it is like building the same cars, same belt.  Kolition does not want to be on same belt. We strive to be  something different.

Din Bonny: Growing up with an older brother in the music business, how did that prepare you for the hip hop business? Did he give you any advise on how to handle going into it?

K.Briggs: Our brother was a huge influence on the concept.  We loved watching his deliverance and performance.  We would watch him as he sat in the living room and wrote lyrics to tracks.  We would be in the background dancing to the songs. We always thought his songs and concepts were really awesome. Really unique and different.

DeLo: He also taught us to know who you are and know your worth.

K.Briggs: Another important advise I always remember is he taught us to never force a song. Let it come to you natural.  I used to come to him and say I don’t know how to get this song out. He would always tell me; You can’t push wind. Can’t force something if its not natural. Never knew what that meant until now.

Din Bonny: Listening to some of the songs off of the upcoming album, it seems to be inspired by relationships. Are there any truth to the songs?

K.Briggs: Inspired by experience and living.

DeLo: Its all inspired by what we been through. Part of a story of our life. We only write about what  we know and have seen. Worse thing an artist can do is tell a story that isn’t true.

Din Bonny: Who are some of the people you admire?

K.Briggs: Inspired by Tribe Called Quest,The Roots, Jayz , Kanye West , Tupac Shaker, Sade, Kings of Leon, Kenny G.

Din Bonny: And why? :

Ko-Lition: Lyrics, Good Storytellers.

Din Bonny: Where do you see yourself in the hip hop world?

DeLo: Be the best hip hop artist out there. Better than OutKast, Tribe Called Quest.

K.Briggs: Leave a mark. We want to be inspired by everyone and inspire people.

Din Bonny: Besides being a duo what other goals do you have?

K.Briggs: Become good business artist. We are working on our label coming together.  We are trying to bring music to another level.  We feel like everybody is doing the same thing. We are trying to push the envelope. Come up with new ideas. Believe that no one can stop you but you.

Din Bonny: How do you feel about the women stereotypes in the hip hop industry?

DeLo: Women are beautiful and we want to  glorify them. We try not to focus on one race but on all women. We are trying to focus on how we can bring everybody together.  Our music comes from a womens’ stand point and a male’s stand point, old and new. Thats our focus. We want to brake all stereotypes.

Din Bonny: So next year you guys will be traveling to France. What do you guys plan to gain from the over seas trip.

Ko-Lition: We would like to attain a new audience.

DeLo: This will be a new experience. A totally different place, different environment.  Sometimes as artists and people we get caught up in NY life. I want to experience every thing thats out there.

Din Bonny: You have started your new business: See Music Live. What do you want to build with this new business?

DeLo:  We want to make it an empire. Be like the next Def Jam. They brought out the Beastie boys, DMX,etc. Def Jam is a brand. Break down more barriers. Break those down. The new shit.

Din Bonny: When can we expect the new album?

Ko-Lition: New album out in October.

If you’ve been following this 10 vinyl series by The Do Over you know that it’s been really good. Just some exclusive bangers from some of LA’s finsest producers. On this latest project you get a double A side with the brothers from SA-RA… Shafiq and Om’Mas. Here we have Shafiq’s DNA (Splice Mix), that sounds like it could have been on his Jank Random vs. Earl Leone Project. As always enjoy the mp3, but do yourself a favor and pick up the vinyl.

Shafiq Husayn- DNA

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I saw caught this on my man Frei’s facebook page the other day. it’s one of my favorite new joints, just a dope track with a little influence from the JB’s. The call and response, storyteller vibe on this joint brings it home. Look out for FreeLikeFrei’s upcoming project The Grey Era.

Shabazz Palaces is the latest creation from former Digable Planets front man Ishmael Butler. On first listen you get this spaced out feel to the music…. vocals coming in and out…. complete switch up in the middle of the songs… just a different vibe. But I must say it’s engaging… like watching a cult sci fi movie waiting to see what’s going to happen next. Black Up was released this week on Sub Pop Records. I say give it a good listen (at least 2-3 times) and see where it takes you.

Shabazz Palaces- Swerve… the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)

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Shabazz Palaces- An echo from the hosts that profess infinitum

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Giles Peterson is one of the greatest taste makers… so I always have my ear on what he’s playing and putting out on his label Brownswood Recordings. Here on his Brownswood Electr*c project Gilles brings you his worldview on electronic music. Here’s a banger from producer Ta-Ku available on the Vinyl only…. yes Vinyl only!!! go pick it up!!!!!

Ta-Ku – Hey Kids

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