Blog: kicks-n-jams

Just thought I'd mention that... You can still pick up 9th Wonder & MURS ' "Murray's Revenge" album so go cop it already!! Download the single " Murray's Revenge "

Another article on the state of hip hop ... This time the so-called decline of hip hop is cast as the backdrop for Kanye and 50 cent's "beef"(?) Hip hop is " doomed " if 50 sells more and is " saved " if Kanye does. As if this isn't all simply hype to sell both artist's albums. I mean come on! Pretending as if there are enormous differences between Kanye West and 50 cent is just a little like pretending that there are massive differences between Democratic politicians and Republican politicians. Sure, of course I [...]

Now here is an emcee who keeps it movin'. Not waiting to cool off and definitely not worried about a sophmore slump, Lupe Fiasco is readying his 2nd album for a November 20th release. "THE COOL," the follow-up to last year's Grammy nominated FOOD & LIQUOR, in stores November 20th! Keep an eye out for the first single 'Superstardom' coming soon. Until then check out this track and go get that album when it drops!!! Download " Dumb it Down "

In an exclusive interview with XXLMag.com, A Tribe Called Quest frontman, Q-Tip, reveals he's forming a new group with Common entitled The Standard. "Me and Common [are] getting ready to form a group," 'Tip tells XXLMag.com. "We'll probably run it through the Uni [Universal Records] joint because we're both on Universal." According to The Abstract, it was Common who suggested the two from a group. "It was more of his suggestion," he says. "He was like, "We just need to do a record." So I'm really excited about that." While the two haven't started recording together yet, The Standard will [...]

The interview is a little old but whatever. Some lyrical emcees from the south deserve a little shine. INQMND does the interview so go check it.

When it comes to Madlib these days I am constantly of two minds. He is, without question a visionary, a musical prodigy with few peers in modern music. His style is copied by and has influenced countless other artists. He has released some of my all-time favorite albums (Quasimoto "The Unseen," Lootpack "Soundpieces Da Antidote." JayLib "Champion Sound," Madvillain "Madvillainy," Declaime "Andsoitisaid") and any number of tracks and remixes that are bright spots on the work of other artists (just click here for a full discography of the guy). [...]

Hey folks! This is the first installment in what I'm currently calling the " Kicks-N-Jams Spotlight ." It'll feature an artist and cover some of what they're doin', or have done, and what they will be doin' in the near future. Hopefully you dig it and will get a little learned about some talented cats who haven't gotten all the attention their abilities so richly deserve. We might even talk shoes if at all possible haha! The first artist we're gonna spotlight is California producer & crate digger extraordinaire [...]

• Lynn Ness feat. Sach - Droppin' Jew-els
• Lynn Ness feat. Yesh - Ain't 2 Much

Kanye West has pulled out all the stops in promoting for his upcoming album. Last Sunday he made a cameo appearance on HBO's Entourage and the closing credits featured his new song "The Goodlife" featuring T-Pain. Will we see 50 cent in the opening episode of Grey's Anatomy making a play for McDreamy?? Could happen... Download " The Goodlife "

Tres Records has released DJ Alibi 's album "One Day." Consisting of eleven purely instrumental tracks and five tracks complimented by his label mate Giant Panda, Boston's Insight, Theo 3, and Alibis crew Bamboombox. Alibi is an obvious acolyte of People Under The Stair's Thes One and if you are a fan of the PUTS then this record is gonna be right up your alley. Alibi delivers well chopped samples and dusty breaks aplenty all over the album. His musical knowledge and approach bely a maturity well beyond his age [...]

On August 21st, Nonsense Records (yep, the good folks who brought us X:144 & SPS in '06) released "Autobiographicology" from Orlando, Florida emcee S.K.I.P . The album, produced entirely by Swamburger of Sol.illaquists of Sound , offers up the same wide open and eclectic sonic experience that Sol.illaquists of Sound first introduced to the world on their Anti/Epitaph debut " As If We Existed ." There is little doubt that S.K.I.P. wears his influences on his sleeve. A flow [...]

weird... yeah . Baron Zen " At The Mall: Remixes " is a project described as, "the missing link between PIL and DFA." I don't know about that but I will say that the similarities between the '89, deadpan, nihilistic, slice-of-life, observations of Baron Zen and current band All Teeth And Knuckles is striking. "From '88 to '92 DJ Sweet Steve was a one-man punk rock/disco army known as Baron Zen." The fact that we are even aware [...]

Props to Highsnobiety for finding these new releases from New Balance. The "Wood" model in this series features parts in hemp, the logo and the inner sole in cork. Also there is a tree graphic on the side of the sneaker. Colors stay in the white and brown tones with some dark green accents. The "Water" model comes in blue/white colors and features a graphic on the side that you cannot really see unless you look close. The mid sole fades from white to blue. We think the third one goes for [...]

Nike continues to tease us with their "Classic Rock" Pack. This time U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is the inspiration for what is my favorite shoe in the pack so far! And make no mistake, I am already a big fan of the "November Rain" G&R Dunk High. But this one with the crushed velvet on the heel and the gold outline on the swoosh is just a neckbreaker. Really sweet and nicely designed in my opinion. pics via SneakersBR

WOW!! I have gotta get these!! These New balance sneak peaks are awesome!! UK sneaker store Size? has just revealed their latest upcoming collaboration with New Balance. The 577 is back again in two electrifying colors. To build the hype even more, Size? has a contest goin' and a lucky winner will make off with these new sneakers. I wanna win!!!

San Francisco Bay area MC Paulie Rhyme and producer Deedot have gotten together to release " Public Radio " on Browntown Wreckords. Paulie has made a name for himself in hip hop band Finless Brown while Deedot has been producing tracks out in the Bay for a minute now. I'd been hearin' about Paulie since back in the day. He has worked with lotsa artists (oddjobs, heiruspecs, & DJ Lord Jazz to name a few), and a few months ago he blessed me with a solo EP called "The PDA," [...]

Come to the Orpheum in Tampa and dance to The Sapphires, Dobie Gray, The Contours, Mary Wells, Bob and Earl, Bob and Fred, Marvin Gaye, J.J. Barnes, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, The Olympics, TSU Tornadoes, Archie Bell and the Drells, James Brown, Etta James, Sister Sledge, Dean Courtney, Edwin Starr, The Commodores, The Jackson 5, The Bar-Kays, Soul Brothers Six, and so on...... Literally the best night of Soul! music in the southeast

North Carolina emcee, Supastition returns with the Khrysis -produced single, " Word Has It ," from his upcoming digital EP entitled " Leave of Absence (Reform School Music) ." The album is set for a September 18, release date. Production on the EP is handled by Khrysis (HOJ/Justus League), D.R. (Little Brother/The Others), Marco Polo (Masta Ace, Kool G Rap), and a few others. Guests appearances include Torae, Finale, Von Pea (Tanya Morgan), and Promise (Toronto). For those of you unfamiliar with him, [...]

So let me start by saying my man DJ Quickie Mart is one of the hardest workin - on his grind - do the damn thang DJs on the planet. Originally he was in New Orleans (before Katrina - and you mighta seen him in Urb magazine when they covered the effects of Katrina on the music commuity in the area) and currently he's out in L.A. causin' havoc on the one's and two's all over the place. I reached out to him to see what was up and suffice it to say that we [...]

DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill Fame has teamed up with Sick Jacken from Psycho Realm to release the concept album "Legend Of The Mask And The Assassin," on August 21st. They plan to deliver a story-based, thriller album with the street level elements that made Cypress Hill so popular. The tracks offer up that dark and dusty classic Muggs style production and will expose Jacken to an audience outside of the greater L.A. area. Jacken states, "A project with Muggs is going to open up doors for me as an independent artist. We have proved record [...]

Mita Sneakers have teamed up with NB Japan and Japanese label Whiz for these new P580s that have just dropped to coincide with the unveiling of Whiz's new 'Border' A/W collection. They feature a snake skin 'N' plus plenty of tartan trim, which is something of a Whiz signature. If your Japanese is up to it check the Mita website for a round table discussion on the development of the shoe. Also check the Whiz site which has just been updated with their new range. The distinctive Whiz arm-length lightning bolts have had their day, [...]