Blog: Midwest Broadcast

While on tour through Europe in 2011, Brother Ali sat down for an extended interview with German Rhymes , a hip-hop website/magazine from Germany. It's lengthy, but detailed and insightful, and covers a wide range of topics. Partially because I enjoy the writing that someone from German Rhymes provided (mainly the term "u.s. american politics"), and patially because I wrote this post late at night, I'll borrow their description of the interview. Ali always gives good interviews, and this one is definitely recommended viewing. Brother Ali, the rapper, the albino, the muslim, the father (No particular order!) [...]

In addition to helping some of the most prominent local rappers rock shows all over the country, The Get Cryphy team (Plain Ole Bill, Jimmy2Times, Last Word and Fundo) have been hosting parties around the Twin Cities for four years now. In celebration of that occasion, they strung together 125 different tracks at a breakneck pace for an awesome 45-minute mix. Stream the mix below or download it for free, and hit the jump to view the banner for their upcoming Get Cryphy Four Year Anniversary party at First Ave. Get Cryphy Four Year [...]

4Seen Magazine put together an expansive 21-track mixtape featuring an interesting mix of popular and lesser-known artists from the Twin Cities. Some of the songs on the mixtape have been previously released as singles or featured on other projects, but the mixtape boasts a selection of undeniably quality tracks. Artists on the tape are – deep breath — Brother Ali, MaLLy, Wize Guyz, Mike Dreams, Metasota, Yakub, Mike the Martyr, Big Dylan and many more. Hit the jump to check it out. Sound of the City 6 (Compilation Mixtape) [...]

Posting about local band Halloween, Alaska is not something I ever envisioned when I started Midwest Broadcast. The indie group writes atmospheric pop songs with lush electronic textures layered on top. Their album All Night the Calls Came In came out last year. They're a good band, just not one that Midwest Broadcast tends to cover. Ever. That is, until today when it was announced that a remix album with production by Lazerbeak would be released on February 28. Which begs the question: If Lazerbeak crafts a downtempo beat for [...]

Check out the music video for "Up Aboves," from I Self Devine's terrific The Upliftment Struggle mixtape. The mixtape release party is later this month at the 7th St. Entry. I Self Devine Presents: THE UPLIFTMENT STRUGGLE 7th St. Entry Sunday, February 19 featuring I.B.E, Ill Chemistry (Desdamona & Carnage) and Maria Isa DJs: Plain Ole Bill & Kool Akiem 8pm / 18+ / $10 Facebook RSVP // eTix

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 [...]

A few weeks ago I posted "We The Ones," the lead single to Mike Dreams' upcoming album Millenial . Here is the second song off that project, "In The Sky" which features vocals from Tameya Clark. Mike Dreams: "In The Sky ft. Tameya Clark"

The Best Love Is Free is an annual event and compilation album organized by Deaf to the Static Records and Hopeful Opus Productions. The video above is a fantastic cypher recorded for The Best Love is Free, featuring several local artists. In order of appearance are: Sean Anonymous, Phillip Morris, Wize Guyz, Botzy (of Culture Cry Wolf), Lizzo, Ceewhy, St. Paul Slim, MaLLy, and Toki Wright. The event is taking place this Saturday at the Fine Line Music Cafe in downtown Minneapolis. All attendees get the free compilation CD upon entry. You can purchase tickets online [...]

It has been a long time coming for Longshot to release his recent singles via Rhymesayers. Allow me to recap the string of events. Back in 2008, Jake One released White Van Music on Rhymesayers and held a contest where rappers recorded over Jake's instrumentals for a chance to collaborate with him. In November of that year, Longshot was announced the winner for his song "Hip-Hop...Is Still Alive." Since 2008, Longshot has moved to the Twin Cities and been involved in the scene, but there was little to no word of his Rhymesayers collaboration [...]

Back in late January, Background Noise Crew rapper The Quiet Dude released his album Taketh Away . Despite dropping at a time when most music fans are caught up in holiday hoopla or yearly recap lists, Taketh Away managed to generate plenty of positive press , a testament to the strength of the music on the project. If you haven't listened to the album yet, check out the music video for "Belonging" above, and then hit the jump to stream/download the album. [...]

MaLLy, DJ Snuggles, and producer/engineer JR all got together through the unifying powers of the Last Triumph crew and put together this one-off collaborative song. No hooks, just two quick verses from MaLLy, Snuggle's consistently spectacular beat-boxing, and some production flourishes from JR. MaLLy, JR, & DJ Snuggles: "Hot Sauce" <p><a href=" http://lasttriumphmusic.bandca mp.com/track/hot-sauce"&gt ;Hot Sauce by Mally, JR, & DJ Snuggles</a></p>

The first Thursday of each month is quickly becoming an occasion for celebration for fans of I Self Devine , as the Rhymesayer continues his Culture Series. This month I Self is adding another gem to his catalog. The Upliftment Struggle features production credits from many of the Twin Cities' finest beatmakers: Benzilla, Mike Swoop, Noam the Drummer, King Karnov, Nicademis. Guest rappers include Muja Messiah, M.anifest and more. Remember, the mixtape release party for The Upliftment Struggle is on February [...]

Medium Zach of Big Quarters made a remix of "See Today," the excellent cut from Soulcrate Music's Kick Rocks Collection EP . Soulcrate liked it so much that they re-cut the original video into a new version, which you can watch above. Download the "See Today" remix and instrumental below. Soulcrate Music: "See Today (Medium Zach Remix) <p><p&a mp;amp;amp;gt;&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp ;amp;amp;gt;&a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp ;amp;lt;a href=" http://soulcrate.bandcamp.com/ album/see-today-remix-package" &a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;See Today (Remix Package) by Soulcrate Music& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt ;/a&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; amp;amp;amp;gt;&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;& amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p& amp;amp;gt;</p>

Prefix just premiered a new song by MaLLy featuring Tigre of 925ve. The track was produced by Rem' , who MaLLy's been working with since his projects like The Passion . By now we should all know what to expect from a new MaLLy track: hard-hitting verses and a supremely confident delivery. "Future's Classic" has got that in spades. Stream/download it below. MaLLy: "Future's Classic ft. Tigre"

Excellent new music video from M.anifest . "Makaa Maka" was produced by Kwabena Jones and the video was directed by Isaac Offei Awuah. "Makaa Maka" translates from Twi as "If I said it I said it" or "I say it without apology."

Mike the Martyr had a busy year in 2011, producing for the likes of Slug, A.G., Termanology, and more. With the new year upon us, he's showing now signs of slowing down. Lake Street Bar, Pt. 2 is the follow up to last year's instrumental EP. Hit the jump to download the project. Mike the Martyr: Lake Street Bar, Pt. 2 (EP)

This song will be on Trama's TramDilla mixtape, due on March 1. Stream and download the song below. Trama: "One Day At A Time"

New visuals from Villa Rosa, "Chico" features a guest spot from I Self Devine. The video was directed by Greg Grease. Blue Diamond Island is available now.

Metasota is currently prepping his upcoming album, There's Something About Larry . In the meantime, check out the 9-track project H​.​I​.​P. (Happy I'm Present: 2 Week Theory) . Most songs were mixed by Mod Sun, while Cory Grindberg and Mike Frey, among others, get production credits. Stream it after the jump. Metasota: H​.​I​.​P. (Happy I'm Present: 2 Week Theory) <p><p&a mp;amp;amp;gt;&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp ;amp;amp;gt;&a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp ;amp;lt;a href=" http://happyimpresent.bandcamp .com/album/h-i-p-happy-im-pres ent-2-week-theory"&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;a mp;amp;amp;gt;H.I.P. (Happy I'm Present: 2 Week Theory) by Metasota&a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp ;lt;/a&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;g t;&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;a mp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;g t;</p&a mp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

F. Stokes is releasing a new EP titled Love, Always on March 6. Above is the music video for "My Simple", the lead single off the EP, which you can download fro iTunes below. Also, F. Stokes will be performing at the FineLine in downtown Minneapolis on February 1. F. Stokes: "My Simple"