Franz Diego: "Turnt Up"

The monthly Turnt Up parties at Honey just celebrated their 2-year anniversary (which was documented by Greg Grease via the above video) and Franz Diego released a song to celebrate that milestone.

Franz Diego: "Turnt Up"




BONUS! Here is Noam the Drummer's August 2012 Turnt Up mix:

Franz Diego: "Waggin on the Scene" (Lazerbeak Remix)

"Waggin on the Scene" was a bit of a stylistic change for Franz Diego, yet it made considerable noise on the local scene. The song more or less became the de facto anthem of the Wag movement, got plenty of spin at local shows (BK-One played the track at First Avenue during the Welcome to MN tour), and then spawned a ton of remixes. Those had all slowly faded away, until yesterday when Franz shared a remix done by Lazerbeak, who is a brand new father (congrats!). Lazerbeak's take on the track is supremely chilled-out. Stream it below. The original music video for "Waggin on the Scene" is above for comparison's sake.

Franz Diego: "Waggin on the Scene" (Lazerbeak Remix)

Tek & Franz Diego: "Shots Paul & Wag Town"

St. Paul's Tek and Minneapolis' Franz Diego came together to create an anthem for the Twin Cities that will definitely be getting many plays during the coming weeks and summer months. Download the song, which was produced by Bobby Raps and Jesse James, below or hit the jump for a YouTube stream.

Tek & Franz Diego: "Shots Paul & Wag Town"

WagOutParty.com Presents: Wag Out! The Mixtape

To say Minneapolis' Wag movement is starting to reach any sort of niche cultural significance would be selling it short. Franz Diego is hosting multiple parties per month at Minneapolis venues. The term is reliably blowing up on my Twitter timeline. And now, WagOutParty.com is releasing a free mixtape featuring music from all sorts of artists associated with the Wag scene: Illuminous 3, Greg Grease, The Usual SuspectS, P.O.S., Mike Mictlan, Spyder Baybie Raw Dog, Lizzo, Yakub, Audio Perm, Mike Frey and more. Hit the jump to see the entire tracklist and download the free mixtape.

Sound of the City 8 (Compilation Mixtape)

Another month, another Sound of the City mixtape, courtesy of 4Seen Magazine and Big Ten Entertainment. This one features contributions from Franz Diego, Metasota, I Self Devine, Akrite, Mike Dreams, MaLLy, Ceewhy, Greg Grease, Mike the Martyr and more. Stream or download it after the jump.

Franz Diego & J-Hard: "Bike Song" (Music Video)

Franz Diego and J-Hard really held it down for Southside Minneapolis with their recent release Sense of Self. Check out the Greg Grease-directed video for "Bike Song" above. The visuals fit the laid back spirit of the song wonderfully.

Sound of the City 7 (Compilation Mixtape)

Last month I shared the Sound of the City 6 compilation mixtape. This month, 4Seen Magazine is back to present another collection of recent Minnesota-made hip-hop. Included in this mix are Metasota, Bobby Raps, Brother Ali, Franz Diego, Mike Dreams, Mike the Martyr, the Tribe & Big Cats!, MaLLy, and more. Stream/download the project after the jump.

Audio Perm Remixes Franz Diego's "Waggin On The Scene"

I haven't been doing a thorough job of documenting this, but Franz Diego's "Waggin On The Scene" has been remixed by several prominent local rappers and producers. Each member of Audio Perm recently threw their hat in the ring as well. Given their penchant for getting heads nodding, I figured I'd post their contribution to the growing collection of WOTS remixes. For a more complete compilation of the remixes, I suggest visiting Be Scene Mpls.

Audio Perm Remixes of Franz Diego's "Waggin On The Scene"

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

Franz Diego: "Waggin On The Scene"

Franz Diego just released the music video for his new song "Waggin On The Scene," produced by J-Hard. I've got a feeling this is going to quickly become a Twin Cities house party anthem. The boisterous track will be featured on their Sense of Self album that will be available for free download on February 7 at the Illuminous 3 website. The song itself is available for download below, as is a DJ/Remix kit with a radio edit and acapella version for the producers out there.

Franz Diego: "Waggin On The Scene"
Franz Diego: "Waggin On The Scene" (DJ/Remix Kit)

TR0N D1AZ 8510 (aka Franz Diego): FUTUR3 PAST TR0NICLES

Franz Diego sent this through my way. I'm sure if you've hit up one of the parties he's hosted this will make a lot more sense to you. You can stream the track "Can't Fuck M3" below, or download the entire project.

Over the past year Franz Diego has continued to host and throw his high energy rap dance parties all over the city and through doing this he has developed his own entity based in the world of the party. That entity is TR0N D1AZ 8510. Much of this music has already been played by DJs throughout the Minneapolis and now these songs are available to you!

For this project Franz teamed up with 2% Muck to provide vocal effects, manipulation, editing and mixing of vocals over industry instrumentals, the outcome is an instant party.

TR0N D1AZ 8510: "Can't Fuck M3"

TR0N D1AZ 8510: FUTUR3 PAST TR0NICLES

Yakub, Franz Diego, Bobby Richardson & Big Dylan: "Bodhisattva" (Prod. Taylor Madrigal)

This song is the second installment of Audio Perm's weekly series “Permed Out Wednesdays”. Catch the first song in the series, along with Audio Perm beat tapes and other free music right here.

In case you're wondering about the song title "Bodhisattva", do some research.

Yakub, Franz Diego, Bobby Richardson & Big Dylan: "Bodhisattva" (Prod. Taylor Madrigal)

Franz Diego: Catch A Case Mondays (Video)

Funny story: I was getting a late-morning breakfast with my homie at the Sunny Side Up Cafe on Lyndale last week, when all of a sudden I see Franz Diego cruise by no handed on his bike, listening to music in his headphones. Apparently Franz does, in fact, bike all over the metro area.

On another note, it probably would have been helpful for me to post this yesterday, or last weekend, but I'm late. There's always next Monday!

Franz Diego: "I Wanna Rock Freestyle"

Franz was a little late to the party, but still did his thing over Snoop Dogg's infectious instrumental. He also informed me that we should be expecting a new mixtape in around a month. Word up, Franz!

Franz Diego: "I Wanna Rock Freestyle"

Freez: "The Ritual"+ Franz Diego: "Breakup (Remix)"

Two of the members of Illuminous 3 just sent these new tracks through, so I'm consolidating them into one post. First up is Freez, whose track "The Ritual" was produced by Greg Grease of Usual Suspects.

Freez: "The Ritual" (Prod. Greg Grease)

Franz, meanwhile, took a different approach and rapped over the instrumental to Mario and Gucci Mane's song "Break Up." I have never heard the original, and quite honestly, am not terribly interested in listening to it anytime soon. Franz's version should suffice.

Franz Diego: "Break Up (Remix)"

Get To Know Franz Diego (Video)

2BrokeBoyz got to spend some quality time with Franz at one of his favorite thrift stores. Unless you never check this site, you probably already know who Franz Diego is, but this video gives us the opportunity to learn more in depth about his worldview, style, and personal background.

Franz Diego: "Hammer Bros."

Franz just hit my inbox with a little Christmas present. He raps during the outro of The Cool Kids' "Hammer Bros." Consider the track thoroughly bludgeoned.

Franz Diego: "Hammer Bros"

Franz Diego: Album Promo Video + "Sunrise"

I posted this track, "Sunrise," a while back, but it's the lead single to Franz's upcoming solo album, so I'll throw it up again. Download link below the album promo video. Here's a little press release, too.

On September 12th Franz Diego of Illuminous 3 will be celebrating the release of his debut self-titled album entitled "Franz Diego" at the Uptown Bar. This will be Franz's third release this year following the release of his EP in January and his mixtape in May which can both be downloaded for free at http://www.franzdiego.com. Franz Diego has been a well known fixture in Twin Cities hip hop for the past 5 years, performing and releasing projects with his group Illuminous 3, Co-organizing the Twin Cities Celebration of Hip Hop, Hosting Radio K's hip hop programming on "The Beat Box" and co-creating and hosting the local podcast Listen To MPLS.

The production on this album presents a very diverse and strong taste of what producers in the Twin Cities have to offer with all the mixing and recording done by Medium Zach of Big Quarters and beats from Benzilla, Brandon Allday, PC, Eyecue, Noam The Drummer, Fire Like Water and even a track by DJ King Otto. The reception of Franz as a solo artist has gone over very well with much praise through blogosphere and local DJ's.

Franz Diego: "Sunrise"

Franz Diego: "Good Feelin' ft. Alissa Paris"

Franz Diego has been putting out a slew of mixtapes and various other tracks lately, and it all leads up to his self-titled solo album, scheduled for an early September release. In the meantime, here's a breezy, smooth summertime jam for you to vibe with (if only it would stop raining here in Madison). Shouts to Jon Jon for the debut.

Franz Diego: "Good Feelin' ft. Alissa Paris"

Franz Diego: The Quick and Dirty Mixtape (Free Download)

Minneapolis' own Franz Diego just hit me with his second mixtape of 2009 (well, the FranzDiego.com EP was an EP)! Damn, homie! I'll let him sum it all up:

In support of the 2nd season of the Minneapolis based, hip hop influenced weekly podcast-ListenToMPLS.com is releasing a free mixtape entitled "The Quick & Dirty Mixtape" which technically is a FranzDiego.com release but also features the talents of his co-hosts' and creators' of the show DJ Noam The Drummer and Alicia Steele. The mixtape functions as both promotion for the podcast and promotion for FranzDiego.com's album release this summer. Also featured on the tape is production by PC of Creative Sorts Collective, Mavin MC and Freez of Illuminous 3, Alissa Paris and Greg Grease of The Usual Suspects and Grips of Syrup.

For those unfamiliar with the Listen To MPLS podcast, it is a weekly talk show focused mainly on Twin Cities urban music and culture featuring weekly guests and no censorship. The cast is well versed in the scene, politics and culture of Minneapolis hip hop and youth culture featuring DJ Noam The Drummer of Radio K's The Beat Box Radio Show and member of the all-star beat-collective Fam Feud. Alicia Steele who is a local youth worker, organizer, artist and blogger and FranzDiego who is a member of the South Minneapolis based rap group Illuminous 3, past radio DJ, organizer, youth worker, blogger and all around renaissance man.

Some of the past interviews featured on the site include: P.O.S., Mike Mictlan, Big Zach of Kanser, Medium Zach of Big Quarters, Mux Mool, DJ Mike 2600, local poets, organizers, producers, directors, painters, personalities, etc. Which give a new and often undocumented view of what the Twin Cities really have to offer. Listen to it while you fix your breakfast or passing time at work, just make sure the boss or kids aren't around for them to here the effects of uncensored hip hop folk.

DOWNLOAD - Franz Diego: The Quick and Dirty Mixtape