Midwest Broadcast

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Get Cryphy Four Year Anniversary Mix

In addition to helping some of the most prominent local rappers rock shows all over the country, The Get Cryphy team (Plain Ole Bill, Jimmy2Times, Last Word and Fundo) have been hosting parties around the Twin Cities for four years now. In celebration of that occasion, they strung together 125 different tracks at a breakneck pace for an awesome 45-minute mix. Stream the mix below or download it for free, and hit the jump to view the banner for their upcoming Get Cryphy Four Year Anniversary party at First Ave.

Get Cryphy Four Year Anniversary Mix

GET CRYPHY FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY

February 24, 2012
18+ // 9:00PM doors
$5 Advance, $10 at the door
Special appearances by Brother Ali, MaLLy and more
Facebook RSVP // Tickets

4Seen Magazine put together an expansive 21-track mixtape featuring an interesting mix of popular and lesser-known artists from the Twin Cities. Some of the songs on the mixtape have been previously released as singles or featured on other projects, but the mixtape boasts a selection of undeniably quality tracks. Artists on the tape are – deep breath — Brother Ali, MaLLy, Wize Guyz, Mike Dreams, Metasota, Yakub, Mike the Martyr, Big Dylan and many more. Hit the jump to check it out.

Posting about local band Halloween, Alaska is not something I ever envisioned when I started Midwest Broadcast. The indie group writes atmospheric pop songs with lush electronic textures layered on top. Their album All Night the Calls Came In came out last year. They're a good band, just not one that Midwest Broadcast tends to cover. Ever. That is, until today when it was announced that a remix album with production by Lazerbeak would be released on February 28. Which begs the question: If Lazerbeak crafts a downtempo beat for a local indie band, is it still a Lava Banger? Stream his remix to "In Your Sleep" below and decide for yourself.

Halloween, Alaska: "In Your Sleep (Lazerbeak Remix)"

I Self Devine: "Up Aboves" (Music Video)

Check out the music video for "Up Aboves," from I Self Devine's terrific The Upliftment Struggle mixtape. The mixtape release party is later this month at the 7th St. Entry.

I Self Devine Presents: THE UPLIFTMENT STRUGGLE
7th St. Entry
Sunday, February 19
featuring I.B.E, Ill Chemistry (Desdamona & Carnage) and Maria Isa
DJs: Plain Ole Bill & Kool Akiem
8pm / 18+ / $10
Facebook RSVP // eTix

Franz Diego & J-Hard: Sense of Self

Illuminous 3 rapper Franz Diego and North Minneapolis producer J-Hard first teased their Sense of Self project with the video for the party-oriented single "Waggin On The Scene." The song caught on locally and spawned a ton of remixes — which honestly might deserve their own compilation by now — from local producers and rappers around the Twin Cities. All that buzz has served to raise the anticipation for Sense of Self, which gets its release today. Download Sense of Self below, and continue reading to check out the tracklist.

Franz Diego & J-Hard: Sense of Self

A few weeks ago I posted "We The Ones," the lead single to Mike Dreams' upcoming album Millennial. Here is the second song off that project, "In The Sky" which features vocals from Tameya Clark.

Mike Dreams: "In The Sky ft. Tameya Clark"

Monday, February 6, 2012

'The Best Love Is Free' Cypher (Video)

The Best Love Is Free is an annual event and compilation album organized by Deaf to the Static Records and Hopeful Opus Productions. The video above is a fantastic cypher recorded for The Best Love is Free, featuring several local artists. In order of appearance are: Sean Anonymous, Phillip Morris, Wize Guyz, Botzy (of Culture Cry Wolf), Lizzo, Ceewhy, St. Paul Slim, MaLLy, and Toki Wright.

The event is taking place this Saturday at the Fine Line Music Cafe in downtown Minneapolis. All attendees get the free compilation CD upon entry. You can purchase tickets online or at several different local stores. Performing are: Culture Cry Wolf, Toki Wright, Crunchy Kids, K. Flay, Wesley Opus, Ceewhy, SlipMats Ent. Details for the event are below, or hit the jump to view the digital flyer.

The Best Love Is Free
The Fine Line Music Cafe
Saturday Feb. 11th, 2012
FREE CD W/ ENTRY
8pm, 18+, $10 Pre-Sale, $12 Door

It has been a long time coming for Longshot to release his recent singles via Rhymesayers. Allow me to recap the string of events. Back in 2008, Jake One released White Van Music on Rhymesayers and held a contest where rappers recorded over Jake's instrumentals for a chance to collaborate with him. In November of that year, Longshot was announced the winner for his song "Hip-Hop...Is Still Alive." Since 2008, Longshot has moved to the Twin Cities and been involved in the scene, but there was little to no word of his Rhymesayers collaboration ever coming to fruition. That is, until last month, when Rhymesayers released "Real Thing" a Jake One-produced song featuring Psalm One.

That brings us to now, when the second song by Longshot and Jake One has been released. You can stream "Just Flow" below or download it via iTunes. I am unclear whether Longshot has a RSE project in the making or whether he plans to work with Jake One again in the future, but it's nice to see Longshot get the shine that he earned back in 2008.

Longshot: "Just Flow" (Prod. Jake One)

T.Q.D.: "Belonging" (Music Video)

Back in late January, Background Noise Crew rapper The Quiet Dude released his album Taketh Away. Despite dropping at a time when most music fans are caught up in holiday hoopla or yearly recap lists, Taketh Away managed to generate plenty of positive press, a testament to the strength of the music on the project. If you haven't listened to the album yet, check out the music video for "Belonging" above, and then hit the jump to stream/download the album.

MaLLy, DJ Snuggles, and producer/engineer JR all got together through the unifying powers of the Last Triumph crew and put together this one-off collaborative song. No hooks, just two quick verses from MaLLy, Snuggle's consistently spectacular beat-boxing, and some production flourishes from JR.

MaLLy, JR, & DJ Snuggles: "Hot Sauce"