Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Event Announcement: Boom Bap Village 2011

I'd like to announce Boom Bap Village 2011, a Hmong hip-hop event here in Saint Paul. It will be taking place on July 1 and 2. There will be a b-boy competition and the debut screening of two films, "Among BBoys" and "Travel in Spirals." Below is the press release describing those documentaries. If you have some free time this weekend and can attend this event, you should check it out.

Screening of “Among B-Boys” and “Travel in Sprials”
Saturday, July 2nd · 6 p.m. · FREE ADMISSION

Buetow Music Auditorium
Concordia University
275 Syndicate St. N.
St. Paul, MN 55104

Concordia University will be providing screenings of the following documentaries: “Among B-Boys” and “Travel in Spirals.”

Among B-boys” was initially created as a short film. Director, Christopher Woon, has since turned this into an hour long feature documentary focusing on two main story lines, that of B-Boy Sukie and the Velocity/Soul Rivals and twin brothers, Bboys Mpact and Villn of Underground Flow. The documentary takes us geographically from Merced, Fresno and Sacramento in the California Central Valley, to Long Beach, California to as far as Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s a multigenerational view of the impact B-Boying has had on the Hmong American community, the contributions made by these B-Boys, and the identities they are seeking to forge. For additional information, please visit the following webpage at: http://www.amongbboys.com/.

“Travel in Spirals” tells the story of Hmong hip-hop MC, spoken word poet, and
community organizer Tou SaiKo Lee and his journey back to his birthplace of Thailand. Born on the Nongkhai refugee camp, his parents fled Laos after the Vietnam War and came to America when Tou was two months old. Taking its title from the spirals in Hmong paj ntaub, Travel in Spirals documents Tou’s journey to the source of himself and his heritage almost 30 years after he left. For additional information, please visit the following weblink: http://www.travelinspirals.blogspot.com.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Atmosphere: "Until The Nipples Gone" + "The Last To Say" (Live at Bonnaroo)



Here's some video of Atmosphere performing at Bonnaroo couple weeks ago. Atmosphere often gets mid-to-late afternoon time slots at big music festivals, but seem to always draw a huge crowd. I had a friend who went to Bonnaroo this year and he told me that Atmosphere tore it down. Hit this link to view a few more videos from their set. Atmosphere is on the road right now and you can also catch them in a festival setting at Lollapalooza in August.

Fifth Element Presents: Midwest Konnect's 'The Trailer' (Video)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Illuminous 3: Illuminous Free, Vol. 1 (Mixtape)


If you read Midwest Broadcast with any regularity, you should be familiar with local trio Illuminous 3's Illuminous Free series. The group has been linking up with one local producer to release a free song each month for quite some time now, and the group has just compiled their first 12 songs in mixtape form for you to download. The tape features production from the likes of Gmo, Greg Grease, Medium Zach, The Sundance Kid, Mike Frey, hell, basically all the dopest young producers in the Twin Cities. It even features one bonus song, from their 17th episode of the series with P.O.S. Download it below.

Illuminous 3: Illuminous Free, Vol. 1 (Mixtape)



Illuminous 3: "No Kings ft. P.O.S." (Prod. P.O.S.)


Even after posting their Illuminous Free, Vol. 1 mixtape, I think this deserves its own post.

Illuminous 3: "No Kings ft. P.O.S." (Prod. P.O.S.)

The Cool Kids: "Swimsuits ft. Mayer Hawthorne"

Here's another single from Chicago retro-rap duo The Cool Kids. "Swimsuits" features crooner Mayer Hawthorne on the chorus, and will be featured on The Cool Kids' upcoming album, When Fish Ride Bicycles. Stream only, but the single can be purchased on iTunes.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Freddie Gibbs: 'Cold Day in Hell' (Trailer)


Freddie Gibbs' Cold Day in Hell is dropping next month and it should be a good one. Here's a trailer detailing what to expect. Video via Fake Shore Drive.

Lipset: "A Toast To Us"

Here is the next release in the Level Heads Project, courtesy of Lipset and producer Lokes. This one is a break up song, "written before the break up." Stream it below or hit Bandcamp for the download link.

Lipset: "A Toast To Us"

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Concert Announcement: Heiruspecs to 'Rap the Aster' Tonight

11th hour awesome concert announcement: Heiruspecs are performing TONIGHT at 10pm at the Aster Cafe in Minneapolis. It will be a special show, the band is debuting two new songs from their upcoming album (working title: We are the Future and We Know It). They are also performing some throwback gems, as well as reworked versions of the usual classics we have known to expect and love at Heiruspecs shows. If you can make it to this show, you should go.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Mike Dreams: "Champion" (Music Video)



Mike Dreams recorded this song over an instrumental from some UK rapper named Chipmunk. The video was recorded by Zeke, who may or may not still be a "Freak." Download the mp3 below if you like what you hear.

Mike Dreams: "Champion" (Music Video)