I could write a long post showcasing each of the talents performing at tomorrow nights I Love My City Show, highlighting each artist with a pic and a few tracks…but ima save my breath and go ahead and say if you DONT already know, you need to ask somebody. Any true hip hop head in Cleveland will be at this show to see the new schools heavy-hitters teaming up with some of the young up and comers. Discounted tickets at Heart & Sole. See you there

I Love My City show at The Grog Shop Nov 5th from Jon Mancinetti on Vimeo.

Seven of hip-hops most legendary and definitive minutes recently got an extension. On February 23, 1995 Big L and young Jay Z (sidenote: a young jay z is still like 35)showcased pure talent with ruthless lyricism, creating some of the most definitive lines in history.

Im so ahead of my time my parents havent met yet

The additional 3 mins dont include any new rhymes, but are equally important as they offer insight into this important moment in history. A brief look into the lifestyle of an emerging New York rapper in the mid nineties. Jay mentions his astonishment that an R&B party was recently broken up by police with shotguns drawn, with the host adding apathetically the plauge is everywhere

I mack like Goldie, go back like oldies/ but the goodie, pullin R&B bidges, wearing hoodies/

Material like this helps to give new context to a piece of art most of us have already examined multiple times. It is a rarity in any genre of music, and we as hip-hop heads are lucky to have this. Please enjoy Big L and Jay Z 10min Freestyle

and check out details Big Ls upcoming official album

My mans Twizz of KEYEL dropped a solo album yesterday by the name of Summer Stars. Im a day late, but I had to be in order to listen to the whole album front to back properly through my fat ass speakers, in the comfort of my Cleveland headquarters. MANE! Twizz really comes with it. The production, the samples, the features, the smooth feel, hard drums, structured lyrics, mad concepts, interludes, pacing, bass…everything I could ask for from a solid hip hop album in the year 2010 and nothing I wouldnt. Here is th promo vid and the link, do not get caught without this one.

Rap Graffiti from KEYEL on Vimeo.

download here

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Keyel starts off the new decade with a BANGER!

This group has decided to bless your ears with some left over crack. This whole album is ment to be repeated, played in order, out of order, it really does not matter, YOU WILL LOVE IT ALL. All the tracks are produced by keyel and friends. Mixed by DJ Eso.

DOWNLOAD HERE

1/4 of the Cleveland, OH Hip-Hop group Keyel, DJ Eso, has dropped one of the hottest mixes this month. Just in time for summer and boy this mix will make you turn the bass all the way up. DJ Eso mixes the hottest hip hop classics and contemporary bangers with the smooth style of Keyel. Do yourself a favor and do not play this mix off your laptop.

Tracklist:

1. Intro

2. Fam-Lay – Rock n Roll

3. Flying lotus – Heat Wave 2

4. Mos Def – Twilite Speedball

5. TV on the Radio – Wolf Like Me

6. Kelis ft. Andre 300 – Millionaire

7. Declaime – Whole Wide World

8. KEYEL – 6:30

9. Fatima – Do I Know You? (feat. Cohen, Cuthead & Dorian Concept)

10. Outkast – Aint No Thang

11. Muhsinah – Gogh

12. SA-RA – Powder Bump

13. Ray Cash – Bumpin My Music

14. Cali Fire Commission – CFC break

15. KEYEL – 6:30 Remix (unreleased EXTRA DIRRTY)

16. Busta Rhymes – So Hardcore

17. Tettorybad – Unite Ft. Fatima

18. aLIVE(of Muamin Collective) – Throwback

19. Erykah Badu- Turn Me Away (Get money)

20. Pease(of KEYEL) – pease81

21. Chief FT. Blu & Sene – True Love

22. Diamond District – Get In Line

23. Dabrye – Piano24. Dorian Concept – Freehanded Monkey

25. Mayor Hawthorne – Just Aint Gonna Work Out (Astronote El Camino Remix)

26. 14KT. – I Still Buy Vinyl

27. Flying Lotus – $TUNTS

28. Twizz(of KEYEL) – Greenbacks

29. Oddisee – Viva Brasil

30. D Angelo – Devils Pie

31. Bilal – hollywood

32. elZhi – Glow

33. Sonnymoon – Nursery Boy

34. E.M.S. – Get Down (Produced by 12BITMECHANIC)

35. Smokescreen ft. KEYEL – Front to Back (Prod. by Holy of KEYEL)

Today our country celebrates Independence Day and the birth of this great nation. This year I will watch fireworks over the New York skyline from a Brooklyn rooftop while a balmy breeze brushes my neck as my body shivers with the thoughts of freedom… And of those whose enslavement and genocide paved the way for our free american ideal. But despite the appalling history of my forefathers, I am thankful. I am fortunate for my friends and family… and freedom. So as I gaze at the fire that lights the sky this evening, I give thanks to the gods, the stars and planets, our earth, and all that is set before me. Thank you brothers and sisters that laid down in the wake the american ideal.

But from those that are less fortunate has sprung something beautiful and that is music. When spending the 4th in Brooklyn, there is no better soundtrack than the soulful lyrics of Mos Def and Talib Kweli laid ever so elegantly over the heart throbbing rhythms of DJ Hi-Tek. Tonight is a night to count the stars.

I bring to you Blackstar – Astronomy

photo courtesy of Sunset Park Stills Blog

Smoke Screens LP Imagination Beyond Illustration debuted May 14, 2010. The energy these guys bring to the stage is always consistent. 2010 has treated this group well. They have opened for The Clipse, Wiz Khalifa and Wale in the past few months and have received a lot of love on the UK blogs as well as Juxtapoz blog. There is a lot more to expect from Smoke Screen in the next couple months. Here are their single Melodies of A Silhouette.

]]> http://www.thecoventrykids.com/blog/2010/05/20/smoke-screen-imagination-beyond-illustration-release/feed/ 0 http://www.thecoventrykids.com/blog/2010/04/22/doxxbaby-com-launch-april-26th-2010-sneak-peek-the-new-project-let-it-be-famous/ http://www.thecoventrykids.com/blog/2010/04/22/doxxbaby-com-launch-april-26th-2010-sneak-peek-the-new-project-let-it-be-famous/#comments Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:21:17 +0000 Kyle http://www.thecoventrykids.com/blog/?p=2722

Doxx””s new mixtape, Let It Be… Famous, is a tribute to his favorite band of all time: The Beatles. This is the first re-mix project of Doxx””s career, so he wanted to make sure he did it the right way. He enlisted his partner-in-crime producer, Freeze, to help him bring his idea to life. IM KING and Pocket Full of Paper have also jumped on board to sponsor the project.

“It””s all about being tasteful,” said Doxx, “you can””t just walk all over the music of arguably the greatest band ever. That was in the back of my mind throughout the recording process.”

The fact that there have already been a number of Beatles remixes was not a deterring factor. “I””ve heard Beatles remixes before that I thought were really good, but Let It Be… Famous is unique in that I tried to keep their original sound intact. I asked myself ””what if I were the fifth Beatle?”” and wrote the songs accordingly. I tried not to change the message of the songs too much.”

“I didn””t force myself to do a minimum number of songs, which allowed the project to come together naturally. It ended up being six songs – short and sweet – which I think is perfect since I also just finished recording my album, Suck My Soul, which I hope to release not too long after the mixtape. Let It Be… Famous is the perfect lead-in.”

IN HONOR OF GURU AND 4/20

Guru has passed away yesterday morning (April 19) after a long battle with cancer.

According to Solar, Guru suffered from the malicious illness for over a year and after numerous special treatments under the supervision of medical specialists failed, the legendary MC succumbed to the disease. Guru always tried to keep this harrowing diagnosis in private but in early 2010 he had to admit himself to hospital due to serious effects caused by the disease.

Since the onset of illness, Guru tried to live a “normal” life as an influential and outstanding musician, loving father, family man, and best friend. Doctors encouraged Guru to think positive that the cancer can be arrested and that a full recovery is possible but several special treatments including hard hitting chemotherapies failed.

While in hospital with terminal cancer, Guru wrote a letter, which was provided by Solar, to his fans addressing his illness, his shining music career, his family and loved ones.

“I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options. I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting,” read the official Guru statement.

“My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.”

The statement reads on, “I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.”

Guru, born Keith Elam, rose to fame in the 80’s as the founder of the legendary rap group GangStarr. The group released the classic single Words I Manifest followed by their critically acclaimed debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989) and the classic album Step In The Arena (1991). Guru was the first artist to truly blend Hip-Hop with Live Jazz beginning in 1993, and seeing the vast influences his Jazzmatazz concept has had on the industry, it is clear that Guru’s musical contributions have been way ahead of their time. Guru has worked with such great artists as Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, Donald Byrd, Ramsey Lewis, Roy Ayers, Chaka Kahn, Branford Marsalis, David Sanborn, Bob James, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Angie Stone, Jamiroquai, Macy Gray and Damien Marley, to name a few. Despite the fact that Guru isn’t hailing from New York, he is noted as a pioneer of the New York sound and true lyrical Hip-Hop. Guru later on joined forces with hit producer Solar and formed his label 7 Grand Records with the goal to keep “real” Hip-Hop alive.

Guru’s longtime partner, Solar, issues an official statement about the lost of the legendary MC which you can read below:

“The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru! Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it but tragically this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius. For the fans that reached out with love and support, I can’t tell you how much that meant to Guru and myself. Guru prepared this letter [read above] while he was in the hospital for the fans. I hope now that Guru has moved on to a better place! Guru is a great Black American Hero and should always be remembered as such and he is much more that just a Hip-Hop icon — he has changed the world for the better. I salute my fallen brother Guru! He will be missed tremendously!” Solar stated.

We will sorely miss Guru, both from a personal and from a professional standpoint. Our warmest condolences to Guru’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.

- Posted on DJ Premier Website

:: Download Here ::

Playlist:
Loops Haunt – Dusk Mechanics
Machine Drum – Sakatak
Red – I should tell ya momma on you
Hudson Mohawke – Bopgunn V1 Instrumental
Dorian Concept & Lil Filip – I’m A Balla [Patchwork Pirates Edit]
Hudson Mohawke – Fuse
Tiago – Babelfish
Rustie – Nekoo
Starkey – Ok Luv
Hudson Mohawke – Ice Viper
Hudson Mohawke – Overnight Celebrity
Hudson Mohawke – Start of A Story
Hudson Mohawke – Are You Feeling Hot
Hudson Mohawke – Take my hand
Hudson Mohawke – Still on it
Hudson Mohawke – Pipes
Hudson Mohawke – Chorduroy
Hudson Mohawke – Photo 2
Hudson Mohawke – Waldo’s Gift
Harmonic 313 – Scar (ft. Wiley)
Princess – Say Im your number one
Markis Sage – Creature of Lagoon
Redinho – Mo Brap
Krystal Klear – Boogie Wan
Midnight Star & Usher – Touch that midas Girl
Becoming Real – Get Hype
Free School – Grey Goose (ft. Kelis)
Ludacris – How low can you go
Redhino – Banger
Hudson Mohawke – Stay Fresh
Lazersword – Trapperkeeper
Lil Wayne – I Feel like dying [Flying Lotus remix]
KGB Man – Africa
Ply Firls – I Could Give You Reasons
James Pants – Lickin”Stick
Hudson Mohawke – Twistclip Loop
Carl Cox – Let’s do it
Apple – Die Siegalizer
DJ Seduction – Imp002
Becoming Real – New Kids
Manix – Heads in the clouds
Jjak Hogan – Frequency
Machindrum – Carry the Weight
Fatima Yamaha – What’s a girl to do
Nacho Patrol – Futuriscic Abeba [Hudson Mohawke Remix)
Slum Villega - Dirty [ft. ODB)
The Pharcyde - Passin Me By [FlyAsPie Remix]
Cloud One & Madlib – Unknown Interlude Track
SciFi Stu – The Will (ft. Vast Aire)
Terror Danjah – Bipolar
Joy Orbison – J.Doe
Lone – Sharpest View of the sun
Mwëslee – Eurocame Snips Track 4
Hudson Mohawke – Monde
Mike SLott – Snow Birds
Dimilite – Cotdam [ft. Pharrell]
American Men – AM System

:: 2010 till Infinity ::