Welcome to MN Tour (First Ave, 2/22/12)

The image above is one of the two lackluster iPhone photos I took at last night's Atmosphere/Kill the Vultures/Big Quarters/MaLLy/BK-One show for the second annual Welcome to Minnesota tour. I did it to at least have something to share in this write up, but in all honesty that lineup was way too stacked for me to have been doing anything but enjoying the entire night. I made it to First Ave about 10 minutes before MaLLy's opening set, found an open spot on the floor next to the sound/lighting booth, and didn't leave for the rest of the night. Hit the jump to read my thoughts on the show.

BK-One: "Tema Do Canibal" (Music Video)

Here's some a dope music video featuring BK-One and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble performing "Tema Do Canibal" live. BK-One's Tema Do Canibal EP will be out soon. Preorder it via Fifth Element.

BK-One: Tema Do Canibal EP + Mega-Mix

In addition to dropping exclusive demos and unreleased cuts from the Radio Do Canibal studio sessions, BK-One is coming out with the Tema Do Canibal EP, read the full press release below.

Minneapolis DJ/producer BK-One has announced the follow up to his Brazilian inspired opus, 2009's Rádio Do Canibal. The forthcoming EP, dropping on Rhymesayers Entertainment August 30th, is comprised of remixes of the album cut "Tema Do Canibal". With contributions from the legendary MF Doom, Brazilian maestro Arthur Verocai, West Coast producer Exile, Chicago's Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, famed São Paulo percussionist Helcio Milito and many more, BK has assembled a worldly collection of talent to reinterpret his music.

Available exclusively through iTunes and on hand-numbered, transparent green vinyl, the EP starts by introducing the listener to BK's multi-layered tropical aesthetic by way of the "Tema Do Canibal Video Edit" featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. Things quickly change pace with Exile's expert chopping of the original horns and Doom's expectedly bizarre verse on the "Mind The Gap Remix". Among Brazil's most notable DJs and record collectors, DJ Nuts flexes his expert knowledge by contributing the "Tamba Remix" which features Helcio Milito on the tamba, a percussion instrument he invented in the early '60s. Further Brazilian influence comes from the oft-sampled Arthur Verocai who writes, arranges, conducts, and produces an entirely new version of BK's "Tema Do Canibal". The B-side is rounded out by two outstanding interpretations intended to light up the dancefloor. Mike 2600 amps up the tempo in his "Journey Into Sound Remix" and replaces the original's thick horn lines with squiggly keyboards, while Tom Noble's "Disco Ginga Remix" drenches those horns in reverb and adds disco-inspired batucada drums.

Between BK-One's groundbreaking collaboration with the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and the five wildly different reinterpretations made by such a talented and diverse group of artists, this EP is not to be missed.

Preorder the Tema Do Canibal EP via Fifth Element, and listen to the Mega-Mix below.

BK-One: 'Rádio Do Canibal' Extras

BK-One and Benzilla collaborated to create Rádio Do Canibal back in 2009, one of the year's most creative and brilliant hip-hop albums. It remains one of my top-5 Rhymesayers-released albums in recent memory. Now it's 2011, and BK-One has decided to gradually release some extras from the original Rádio Do Canibal studio sessions. Included are instrumentals that didn't make the cut, and original or demo versions of album tracks. BK-One is releasing these songs via his Soundcloud page, and who knows how many more he'll let loose, so I strongly recommend subscribing so you don't miss any exclusive releases. I'll link below to his entire page, where (so far) you can find Slug's original demo of "Gittit," two unreleaed instrumentals, the demo of "Love Like That," and the original version of "Here I Am." I'll try to keep up and post the new additions to the playlist.

BK-One: Rádio Do Canibal Extras

Brother Ali & Fashawn: "Breakin' Dawn Boys" (Video)

Brother Ali & Fashawn: "Breakin' Dawn Boys" (Prod. BK-One & Brother Ali)

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.

Brother Ali & Fashawn: "Breakin' Dawn Boys" (Prod. BK-One & Brother Ali)

Brother Ali & Grieves Actin' A Fool In France (Video)

The title pretty much explains everything. Good thing they're having fun over there.

Justin Timberlake Beatboxing for Brother Ali (Video)

So just a few minutes ago I saw Brother Ali post a funny story on Twitter. Last night he and BK-One put on the first ever hip-hop show at a historic bar in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. During the set, Justin Timberlake jumped on stage and started beatboxing. Ali didn't recognize him at first, but BK pointed out who he was, and Ali freestyled to JT's beatboxing for a while. The video below captured the moment, but with very poor audio quality. However, Jake at Rhymesayers announced that better footage will be available soon (the guy is even more on top of his YouTube searching than me! Props).

Fresh Air Tour Vlog, Episode 3 (Video)

The tour hits Madison tomorrow night, and this video couldn't have gotten me more hyped about it.

BK-One: 'Radio do Canibal' Interview

BK's (and Zilla's) album is in stores right now. So go snatch that up at Fifth Element.

Brother Ali, Evidence & Toki Wright: "The Freshest Kids" (Video + Download)

The official anthem for Ali, Toki, Evidence, and BK-One's tour has officially arrived! Ali and BK-One produced this banger together, and everyone brings the heat lyrically. Fresh is right. Here's some footage of them rocking it live, and the studio quality download is at the bottom of the post.



Brother Ali, Evidence & Toki Wright: "The Freshest Kids" (Download)

BK-One: Interview with Mr. Peter Parker (Video)

Another interview Peter Parker did at Brother Ali's Us release party. Radio Do Canibal coming soon, it looks pretty amazing.

BK-One: "Tema Do Canibal" (Video)

Rhymesayers wins. BK-One and Zilla are crafting what looks to be one of the freshest releases of the year with Radio de Canibal. Preorder it at Fifth Element.

The second track, "Tema do Canibal" off of BK-One's upcoming album Rádio do Canibal. The song features the Chicago based nine piece horn and drum group the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble who have worked with the likes of Mos Def and Erykah Badu. The track was produced by BK-One & Benzilla.

Toki Wright, Brother Ali, & BK-One: Creating "The Freshest Kids" (Video)

The theme song to The Fresh Air Tour, featuring Ali, Toki, BK, and Evidence.

BK-One: "Here I Am ft. Phonte, Brother Ali, & The Grouch"

Hey! A non P.O.S. or A.R.M. post, what do you know? Courtesy of Rhymesayers Entertainment. BK-One's Radio de Canibal will be released on October 6, and can be preordered right now at Fifth Element.

Better known as Brother Ali's DJ, BK-One takes his years of experience as a DJ and puts on his producer hat joining forces with up and coming Twin Cities beatsmith Benzilla to craft a Brazilian musical bed for some of Hip Hop's most engaging MC's. Rádio Do Canibal features appearances by Scarface, Slug (Atmosphere), Black Thought (The Roots), Brother Ali, Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan), Murs (Living Legends), Phonte (Little Brother), Haiku D' Etat (Aceyalone, Myka 9 & Abstract Rude), Blueprint, P.O.S. (Doomtree), The Grouch (Living Legends), I Self Devine, Toki Wright, Aby Wolf and The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

When not touring the globe with Brother Ali, BK-One has traveled extensively throughout Central and South America... these travels would become the inspiration for Rádio Do Canibal. The title Rádio Do Canibal refers to the Brazilian poet Oswald de Andrade's "Cannibal Manifesto". Written in 1928, the poem described Brazil as drawing its power from the absorption of other cultures. Decades later, Brazilians were creating wildly inventive music that drew inspiration from a wide range of sources. From the Brazilian sounds of bossa nova, Bahian folk, and samba, to international styles like psychedelic pop, reggae, Portuguese fado, and the soul, jazz, and funk music of the U.S., nothing was off limits. Rádio Do Canibal is a humble attempt to capture the spirit of that Brazilian music, creating something new and exciting.

BK-One: "Here I Am ft. Phonte, Brother Ali, & The Grouch"

Fresh Air Tour Promo Video

Ali, Evidence, Toki, and BK-One spinning records. What more could you ask for? I'll be at the Madison stop.

Benzilla & BK-One Announce Upcoming Album 'Radio de Canibal' (Video)

Minneapolis DJs Benzilla (who produced a handful of tracks on Toki Wright's A Different Mirror) and BK-One will be coming out with their album Radio de Canibal sometime this fall. Very interesting concept — all Brazillian samples, guerilla style crate digging, etc. Plus what appears to be tons of amazing guests, from Black Thought to Raekwon to I Self Devine. It looks like we might have 2009's White Van Music upon us. Zilla and BK-One will be at Last of the Record Buyers on August 20 to discuss the album.

BK-One: Live SXSW Set (Download)

Rhymesayers just released a recording of BK-One's live set at the Rhymesayers Showcase at SXSW.

BK-One: Live SXSW Set

Rhymesayers Announces SXSW Lineup

Rhymesayers just posted the lineup for the SXSW label showcase:

3/19/2009 — Rhymesayers Label Showcase
Venue: Habana Bar Patio / Backyard
Address: 708 East 6th Street
City: Austin
State: TX
Doors: 8:00PM
Ages: All Ages
Cost: SXSW Wristband

8:00 - 9:00 - Plain Ole Bill
9:00 - 9:30 - Toki Wright
9:30 - 10:00 - I Self Devine
10:00 - 10:30 - Abstract Rude
10:30 - 11:15 - Eyedea & Abilities
11:15 - 12:00 - P.O.S
12:00 - 12:45 - Brother Ali
12:45 - 1:30 - Freeway & Jake One
1:30 - 2:00 - BK One

Brother Ali: Interview w/ M.anifest & "Good Lord" (Video)

The homie M.anifest recently posted this up at his blog site, The Birds & The Beats. It's a little video that M.anifest shot after a Brother Ali performance in what presumably is a high school gymnasium. Shout out to Rhymesayers! Still performing those really local shows, haha. But the interview is simply copmrised of Ali & BK-One chopping it up, and Ali giving his cosign to M.anifest's lyrical talents (Word!). Then, there is also some special footage of Ali performing one of his newer songs, "Good Lord." It should be coming on in relatively early 2009 on his The Truth Is Here EP. I'll keep you posted with any other updates.




Bonus: I wanted to hit you all with a download for "Good Lord," but I haven't yet been able to find any links. I'll definitely get that up for you once I find one. Meanwhile, here's a Youtube video featuring the song, as was first released during an appearance Brother Ali made on Radio K. I usually won't post these kind of YouTube clips, but it's Ali, man! I have to.