Lead single from Eminem's upcoming (skit free!) album Recovery. Judging an Eminem song is always hard for me because him half-assing it lyrically is usually better than 75% of the rappers out today; he gets held to a much higher standard than most. I will say that at least he's not doing that stupid accent and this is better than anything from his previous album. The sung chorus is iffy though, Em's not much of a harmonizer.
A.R.M. just launched their new website, so they decided to let loose a freebie that will not be featured on their upcoming Two Africans and a Jew, Vol. 1 EP (which can be pre-ordered at the website). Clap for 'em.
Toki Wright wanted to express his thoughts and feelings regarding the incredibly backwards Arizona immigration bill that was recently passed into law. Below is his story regarding the creation of the track. My admiration goes out to Toki for not worrying about the backlash accompanied with voicing your opinion on such a controversial topic. A lot of times it's worth it. This law is biased, unjust, and puts to much subjective digression in the hands of individual actors in the legal system. I encourage anyone who reads this to research the topic and follow Toki's link at the bottom of his message. Thanks, and thanks to 99Problems.org where I found most of this.Dear Family and Friends,
Yesterday at approximately 1:30pm I was having a conversation with my community organizer/poet friend Emmanuel Ortiz about the Senate Bill 1070 (SB 1070) that recently was signed into law in the state of Arizona. The bill says that “all immigrants must carry documentation verifying their immigration status. It also stipulates that police officers have the authority to ask to see the information from any individual that is deemed “suspicious” or when there is “reasonable suspicion” that the person may not be legally in the country.” This new bill signed into law in a nutshell legalizes racial profiling. If you “look like an immigrant” you can get hauled off to jail.
Emmanuel says, “somebody needs to redo By The Time I Get To Arizona” by Public Enemy. Arizona is that same state the didn’t want to recognize Martin Luther King Day when Chuck D originally wrote the song. For years I wanted to write a “By The Time I Get To Minnesota” version but never got around to it. I started doing more research on the new bill and was outraged. By 2:30 I contacted BK-One to locate the instrumental that he used elements of in Brother Ali’s old set. BK was on the road and said that I would have to piece it together from the original Mandrill and Jackson 5 songs. Not having any luck finding quality versions of either I went in a did some Frankenstein cut and paste work to the original PE version.
By 4PM I was done piecing together the beat. By 7pm I rewrote the song with updated information. I wanted to follow Chuck D’s exact cadence so I had to go back in line by line. By 8pm I was listening to a rough vocal. By 10:00pm I was in the studio with Reggie Reg. The process included going in and listening to Chuck, trying to match his scheme, and recording my version. Wash, rinse, repeat. By midnight the vocals were recorded. By 3am we added all the bells and whistles and here is the finished product.
All day I’ve been saying “hell…I’m going to get in trouble for this one.” But you know what? The truth needs to be told. Biting your tongue only makes you hungry and your mouth hurt. Hope you enjoy it. Pass it along.In Solidarity,
Toki Wright Rhymesayers/Soultools www.tokiwright.com
The group responsible for making one of my favorite albums of 2009 is back with a free download of "Hold Me Down," off one of their older Big Quarters Direct releases. To subscribe to the series and get five new songs every month for $5, hit up Big Quarters' website. Lastly, Big Quarters' third album, Party Like A Young Commie (an explanation of that title would be terrific, guys), is scheduled for a Fall 2010 release date.
While I'm introducing new artists to Midwest Broadcast, why not put a Twin Cities youngster on board? Just Wulf is an upperclassmen at Central Senior High School who has been rapping since 7th grade. He recently put out his debut album, Peace By Piece. The entire project was produced by Prime Cut Beats, and features guest spots from Big Quarters, Mike Dreams, Mac Spillz and a few others. Here's a introductory track to get you accustomed to Just Wulf's sound. Look for more from him in the future.
It would be hard to body this beat as hard as Lupe did back in 2009, but Toki approached the track in his own unique way and definitely held it down. Props to Toki for always pleasently surprising us with these free treats, definitely a sing of things to come from the talented Rhymesayers/Soultools emcee.
A few days ago I posted "I'm A Big Fuckin' Deal," off Trama's upcoming UnaTrama mixtape. He was supposed to release this on 4/20, but in respect of legendary Gang Starr emcee Guru's tragic passing, he held off for a day. This time, Trama gave the Biggie classic his own interpretation. Remember that UnaTrama will be available for free at Fifth Element on April 27 from 6-8pm.
A while ago I posted "Skills ft. Big Jess" and "That's Life," but after a bit of a delay Abstract Pack is back with their new single "Attraction." Keep in mind that their album Ear-Responsible is scheduled for a June 1 release date.
New heat from Mally, produced by Marcus Banks of Miami. This track isn't going to be featured on any upcoming project so make sure to pick it up now. It should just serve as a teaser for his upcoming album The Quality of Mind.
Here's a fresh new track from Minneapolis' versatile artist Maria Isa. This will be featured on the upcoming mixtape Sotarico Presents... Sip It! Jon Jon alerted me that Miss Isa will be performing on May 5 at Dessa's upcoming 3-day Cadence Hip-Hop Series at the Guthrie.
Trama hit me up a few days ago with this new, and Jon Jon already beat me to the punch, but here's a new track off Trama's last mixtape ever, UnaTrama. The tape is available exclusively at Fifth Element for free.99 on April 27 from 6-8pm.
Nah Right says this might not be the final version, but it's worth posting for the Lupe verse alone. The Adventures of Bobby Ray will be out April 27.
I haven't posted anything from Add-2 for a bit, but as usual the Chicago rapper is holding it down and continuing to release new music at a rapid pace. This track comes off of YNotMyDream's upcoming mixtape, 1, and was produced by Marcus Banks.
New track from Saint Paul rapper and Graff Roots Media member Orikal Uno. Featuring JL Magee of The Watchmen.
This weekend the University of Minnesota will be hosting the three-day conference, From Vices To Verses: A New Era of Hip-Hop and Action. The event should be fantastic, with intellectual seminars on feminism in hip-hop and using the genre as a tool of social action, as well as a Saturday night concert featuring Dead Prez, Toki Wright, Guante, Maria Isa, and more. Hip-hop is a transcendent cultural resource with untapped potential for social influence. I wish I could attend and partake in the conference, and am excited to hear how everything turns out. Please do attend if you're in the Twin Cities over the weekend and have some free time. Check out the following press release, and make sure to visit the Vices To Verses website: From April 9 to April 11, the University of Minnesota will be hosting “From Vices to Verses” a conference featuring workshops, performances, discussions and educational events centered on how hip hop pedagogy, activism and culture can educate, empower and transform communities.On Saturday, April 10, noted Twin Cities performers Toki Wright, Maria Isa, PosNoSys, Ill Chemistry, the Tru Ruts crew and others will take over the Cabooze for a special concert.
Organized by Voices Merging at the U of MN, along with University and community partners, the conference will focus on three central themes:
· April 9: “I Used to Love H.E.R.: Bring Back the Love,” exploring hip hop feminism and women’s roles—past, present and future—in the culture. Keynote speaker: hip hop activist and former Green Party Vice Presidential candidate Rosa Clemente.
· April 10: “Remixing Borders, Transcending Boundaries,” focusing on using hip hop as a tool to create unity and move beyond generational, national and cultural boundaries. Keynote speaker: hip hop activist and author Bakari Kitwana.
· April 11: “Us,” focusing on hip hop’s power to heal and transform individuals and communities through organizing, activism and youth engagement. Keynote speaker: educator and multidisciplinary artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph.
Other presenters include filmmaker Rachel Ramist, Chaka Mkali of the Hope Community Center, Sage Morgan Hubbard of Northwestern University, Ruth Nicole Brown of the University of Illinois, poet and activist Tish Jones, rapper/poet/writer Kyle “Guante” Myhre, photographer B-Fresh and many more.
Toki just hit me with this freestyle over the Reflection Eternal instrumental. As expected, he goes in. Toki will be touring throughout the country all summer long to promote his debut RSE/Soultools LP A Different Mirror, as well as his BlackMale EP.
Sims and Lazerbeak are working on a collaborative album, which jumps to the top of my list of anticipated albums. If this teaser track, "Here I Stand," is any indication, it should be an amazing release. Check it out below.
Lipset, who's grinding just about as hard as anyone in the Twin Cities right now, just put out a new single, "Everything." Check it out below.
Mike Dreams just sent me a new track from an upcoming compilation mixtape he's featured on. The track is titled "How To Make It In America." It's based off the HBO series of the same name. On another note, big congratulations to Mike on getting a spot on the Soundset 2010 lineup! This is a big step forward in his career.
I know this happened a while ago, but I wasn't not going to post it. Buy tickets here.
Man Mantis of Madison's Dumate crew and J. Dante of First Wave are teaming up for a collaborative EP, due out in April. Here is the first single from that project.
I'm incredibly late on this one since I was gone for Spring Break, but Ali, Fashawn, and BK-One collaborated for a theme song for their upcoming tour. Similar to how Ali threw down for their last anthem with Toki Wright and Evidence, this track to be excellent as well. I'd expect nothing less from the artists responsible for 3 of hip-hop's best albums of 2009. Peace to Pwelbs.
Mr. Physix of Madison's popular DJ crew Dirty Disco Kidz just released a couple new remixes of his, available below.
While on the topic, Paper Tiger also made his latest 20-minute mix an Ice Cube compilation, since the west coast legend was headlining Paid Dues.
