M.anifest: "Motion Picture" (Music Video)

If you didn't know already, M.anifest's got a new album out, Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America.  Right there is the iTunes link, and I know it's at local stores like Electric Fetus and Fifth Element. Go cop that.

Word is M.anifest is getting love from Flea, and doing some shows with Blur/Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, one of my favorites. Big props to M.anifest on that. Shout out to Sound Verite.

Dessa: "The Beekeper"

Doomtree staying busy, as always. Dessa's new album, Castor, the Twin, will be out on Tuesday. It's composed of reworked versions of her older songs, complete with full backing band for a richer sound. Should be a good one. Doomtree sophomore effort No Kings coming in November, too.

Dessa: "The Beekeper"

Orikal Uno: +1 EP

Orikal Uno came up with a neat idea for a quick-hitter EP. It's called +1, because each of the three tracks contain a single guest. Featured along with Orikal Uno on these tracks are Sab the Artist (Musab), Mac Lethal, and Prof.

Illuminous 3: Montessori

Here's the latest project from Minneapolis trio Illuminous 3, along with some words about it from Franz Diego:

Our latest project is called "Montessori" and it was made to capture the times and memories that we all shared together attending Seward Montessori Elementary school in South Minneapolis. Seward is where we all met and the Montessori style had a huge impact not only on our learning, but how we viewed the world, understood other's differences and just basically how we grew up.

Mike Swoop produced, mixed and mastered the entire project.

 Illuminous 3: Montessori

A Benefit to Celebrate the Life of Brother Mahdi

Tonight at the Varsity Theatre in Dinkytown is a benefit concert to celebrate the life of a lost member of the Twin Cities hip-hop community. Below is the press release from First Avenue:

Charles Augustus Bryant “Mahdi” (AKA D.J. Nex), beloved member of the Hip-Hop community, passed away on August 26, 2011 after a courageous battle with stomach cancer. Mahdi is survived by 4 children and many loving family members. Mahdi is Co Founder of The Nation Of Gods and Earths MN, School Of Thought, B Boy Commity, and Nexborn Inc. 

A benefit will be held September 28, 2011 at the Varsity Theater to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Twin Cities Hip Hop legend, pioneer, and cultural ambassador Brother Mahdi (AKA Dj Nex). 

ALL proceeds will be donated directly to Mahdi’s children. 

Hosted by: The GODBLAC 

Featuring: Slug, Brother Ali, Muja Messiah, Maria Isa, Desdamona, The Guardians Of Balance (St Paul Slim & Mastermind), High North, Long Doe (Tony Bones, Mike the Martyr, and Big Wiz), Trina Girl 

On the 1's and 2's Dj's: Dan Speak, Stage One, Kool Akiem, Brother Julez, IXL, Verb X

Toki Wright Performs at the Audio Perm Block Party (Video)

Here's footage of Toki tearing it down at the Audio Perm Block Party last month. The man climbed on a roof. Enough said.

Villa Rosa: "Liberation Karma" (Music Video)

Villa Rosa's new album Blue Diamond Island is available now, so go cop that.

Unknown Prophets: "New Day"

Here is the lead single to Unknown Prophets' World Premier 2. Hard to believe World Premier came out a decade ago. The World Premier 2 release party will be on 11/11/11 at the Triple Rock.

Unknown Prophets: "New Day"

Evidence: "Late For The Sky ft. Slug & Aesop Rock"

Speaking of album of the year contenders, Evidence's Cats & Dogs will be released on Tuesday. Here's a track featuring Slug and Aesop Rock.

Evidence: "Late For The Sky ft. Slug & Aesop Rock"

Fifth Element Parking Lot Sale this Saturday

You can catch me at Fifth Element this Saturday for their amazing parking lot sale. I'll be there either before or after the Badgers game, look for the guy in red.

Kanye West: "All Falls Down" (Live at a Poetry Slam)

Above is some old footage of a pre-fame Kanye West performing an altered a capella version of "All Falls Down" at a spoken word event. Mos Def, who was emceeing the event, must have peered into his crystal ball before introducing Kanye as "the future of hip-hop."

The Tribe & Big Cats!: "One Call Away ft. BJ The Chicago Kid and Greg Grease" (Music Video)

Here's another one from The Tribe & Big Cats! Make Good series. These tracks have been some of their best work to date.

Sims: "LMG" (Music Video)

It's late September and Bad Time Zoo is still an album of the year candidate.

Villa Rosa (Muja Messiah & Maria Isa): "Watch Out" (Music Video)

Muja Messiah and Maria Isa are longtime friends and have collaborated on several songs before, but now they're putting out a whole album together until the name Villa Rosa. The two are headlining the First Ave mainroom tonight, so head downtown to catch the show if you can.

Villa Rosa (Muja Messiah & Maria Isa): "Watch Out

Midwest Broadcast Posting Update

Let's cut right to the chase. The most recent post in Midwest Broadcast happened on Friday, September 2. That was over two weeks ago. That's pathetic. But instead of apologizing to those of you who still check and read this website, I think this is a good time to reassess the current state of Midwest Broadcast. 

Gone are the glory days of this blog when I was attending college and had the free time to update it multiple times throughout the day. I'm currently looking at some big turning points in my life. I'm just starting a new job, and on top of that I'm beginning to apply to graduate school. Frankly, I just don't have as much free time to work on this site as I once did. That doesn't mean I'm going to stop updating Midwest Broadcast – I still aim for it to be an important forum for Twin Cities and Midwest hip-hop. I just want to make it clear that I am not currently able to update the site as diligently as I once was. I encourage you to keep visiting the site, and in turn I'll do my best to be more prolific than I in recent weeks. 

As always, thanks for reading. Peace.

Sims: Wildlife EP (Prod. Lazerbeak)

Wildlife is an EP of songs that Sims and Lazerbeak recorded in 2009 and 2010. Sims is releasing it to thank his fans for supporting him through the release of Bad Time Zoo (still one of the year's best hip-hop albums) and his first headlining national tour. Make sure to attend one of his shows if he comes through your town; Sims and Lazerbeak together are a great live act to see. Stream the Wildlife EP below, or click through to Bandcamp to download the project.

Alex Frecon: The Hedgehog Dilemma (Free EP)

Alex Frecon is a new rapper from Minneapolis who just released his debut EP, The Hedgehod Dilemma. Stream it below, and drop a comment to share your thoughts on the project.

MaD SoN: "Wishing Well"

MaD SoN of Unknown Prophets made a remix of Lil Wayne's "Anne" to be released on his upcoming mixtape.

The Cool Kids: "Summer Jam" (Music Video)

The Cool Kids long-awaited album When Fish Ride Bicycles is available now.

Toki Wright: "Real Live ft. Yakub" (Music Video)

I'm mad late on this video but if you haven't seen it yet, here is "Real Live" featuring a guest verse from Yakub. Toki is performing tonight at the 7th Street Entry with St. Paul Slim and Kids Like Us. It's only five dollars to get in the door, so if you don't have any plans for tonight I highly recommend checking that out.