The way rappers blatantly swagger-jack each other and recycle beats like tin cans, its hard to believe that "biting" was once unacceptable in Hip-Hop. Whether duping another artist's graffiti or swiping someone's slang, it was never a good look to be labeled a "biter." It was during this creatively-fertile era that Raekwon The Chef, a respected street disciple and founding member of the storied Wu-Tang Clan, dropped Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... a trend-setting album regarded as one of the best in rap history. With phenomenal beats by the RZA and his trusty wingman Ghostface [...]
Back in the day when I managed my college rock radio station, not only did I go to CMJ, but I planned the trip every year from Ohio to New York. I rented the 15 passenger vans, I booked the college-kid-priced hostel, I gathered everyone's hard earned money for our badges, and we all piled [...]
I'm not sure if I've been under a rock on this one, but I've never heard of N.A.S.A. (the DJ duo, not the space agency). Luckily for them, they were obviously on the radars of more important people - their debut album, The Spirit of Apollo , features a veritable who's who of indie-rock, rap and DJ legends, including David Byrne , Tom Waits , M.I.A. , Kanye West , the Yeah Yeah Yeahs , Scarface , the Wu-Tang Clan , Chuck D and [...]
I'm not sure if I've been under a rock on this one, but I've never heard of N.A.S.A. (the DJ duo, not the space agency). Luckily for them, they were obviously on the radars of more important people - their debut album, The Spirit of Apollo , features a veritable who's who of indie-rock, rap and DJ legends, including David Byrne , Tom Waits , M.I.A. , Kanye West , the Yeah Yeah Yeahs , Scarface , the Wu-Tang Clan , Chuck D and [...]
A while back, the good folks over at Metal Lungies flashed the Wu sign in the air and asked for contributions to their next post in their Beat Drop series. I missed out on the J Dilla one, but there's no way I could pass up the RZA Beat Drop. Head over to Metal Lungies right now and see what I, along with some of the dopest bloggers, writers and producers had to say about their favorite RZA
Wu Tang Clan mastermind RZA released a video straight from Shaolin headquarters this month announcing that Wu Music Group is going digital. Thirteen classic Wu fam albums are already teed up to hit digital stores for the first time on September 23rd, including Wu Chronicles, The Swarm, The World According to RZA, and releases from Killarmy, [...]
ques Download: GZA 'Paper Plate' (from Pro Tools out now on Baby Grande) Long talk with GZA on L.A. RECORD today . Wasn't quite as heavy as the talk with RZA , which is probably one of the realest interviews I have ever done—though rivaled by Moris Tepper, who was just a page away in the same issue—but it happened [...]
One reason that I always give people for staying in Boston (as opposed to moving back home to New York) after college is the deranged number of hip-hop shows and DJ nights around the Bean and Cambridge. Sure, technically only Los Angeles' rap scene can truly compare with New York's; those are the only two guaranteed tour and promo destinations for every major label artist and worthwhile underground cat. But Boston seems to filter out the trash; it's a music town in the fullest sense, with an indie rock ethos that bleeds into the rap community. For [...]
Over the years, countless Wu-Tang affiliated producers, emcees and collectives have emulated the blueprint laid by the Shaolin progenitors, however very few have achieved both the critical and commercial success of producer/emcee Bronze Nazareth. Now, with the "Thought For Food" 2 CD collection, Bronze further solidifies his widespread reputation as the front running successor to the "new-Wu." Serving as the creative bedrock for multiple solo and group releases (including The Wisemen and the supergroup Almighty), Bronze is primarily renowned for his contributions to legendary albums from the RZA, GZA/Genius, Killah Priest, [...]
![The RZA Delivers Some Of The Most Astute Political Commentary Of The Season [Run-d.n.c.]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1221099_lg.jpg)
Unsurprisingly, the number of concerts and musically enhanced protest rallies surrounding the DNC in Denver this week has brought forth a more-than-equal number of blog posts covering them. You'd expect a site called Pop + Politics to be inside the events, and they've recently posted two good write-ups of Wyclef Jean's performance and his call for Latino communities to get behind Obama. But the showstopper is this video interview with the RZA , in which the Wu-Tang Clan CEO explains how "Obama went platinum" (and citing numbers), talking about how his priors prevent [...]
dewd. this was in the bedroom. may wanna take a u.v. light to that place before you move in. RZA "Booby Trap"
DOWNLOAD // RZA - Afro Samurai Resurrection Audio Preview LINK // Afro Samurai Resurrection via the BOOM .
Kevin Nottingham's This is Hip Hop has a running series called "Who Flipped It Better?" that we're hijacking to get your thoughts on an epic flow battle - Rza vs. Nas vs. Mos Def. The original: Message From A Black Man Composed by Barrett Strong-Norman Whitfield Performed by The Temptations Souled On Music says "The Temptations released the track in 1969 on their Puzzle People LP. Although [...]
A couple of bumping new hip-hop releases over the past few weeks. Everyone should listen to hip hop occasionally, good for the soul. The first track is from local Aussie boys Bliss n Eso, who have recently released their third LP entitled Flying Colours. Definitely worth your hard earned this one. Take this taste track that samples Angus & Julia Stones folk anthem Paper Aeroplane. The MCing is tight and i've always thought the Aussie/US mix of MCs has worked well. Bliss N Eso - Eye of the Storm [...]
(the invitation to my first solo photo show, full version here ) I am happy to announce that I will be having my first solo exhibition of photography this month. Slow Dancing To Slayer will open at Cinders Gallery on July 17th, and will run until August 9th (by appointment only after that). Preparing the work for it is currently kicking my ass because I was a bit irresponsible and ran off on the F*** Yeah Fest Tour when I should have been here focusing [...]
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L.A. RECORD
ZCONTROLS
JumpTheTurnstyle
Free Hiphop Now Syndicate
Idolator
death from below
Bang The Box
Butter Team
rock the dub
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SUCKA PANTS
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Disc Jockey Nappy XXX Danny Brown - The RefiXXX
33.12 - Tripping
Awkward and Awesome Vintage Dance School Photos
