Whoa, is it almost here...?

I'm not totally sure of the amount of time that has elapsed since Brainstorm (of Dyme Def) announced his solo project The Celestine Prophecy, I just know that it was a long ass time ago. Shit feels like it has been pushed back as much as Lasers, Rebirth, and Sir Lucious Left Foot combined. As they say though, good things come to those who wait...and wait...and continue to wait. Brain dropped a little video yesterday for the the track Shadowboxing, check it out below. Honestly it's been a long time since I heard Brain bring it this hard. If this is what I get for waiting for The Celestine Prophecy, then fuck it keep me waiting.



The Celesting Prophecy coming soon to mollywhop your eardrums...pricks.

Making Doubters Over Think

Keeping with the video theme, we got a new one from our Beantown homies M-Dot & DJ Jean Maron. Tap Out is the 5th radio single off of their acclaimed “RUN-MPC” LP which was released at the end of August, you can buy it here. It’s got all the ingredients for a great video. Good song, check. Featuring an artist like Big Shug, check. A proven Director like Steve Tapia (shot Edo G & Masta Ace's "Little Young""), check. Put em all together and what do you get? A video ready for the top ten on MTV, too bad they don’t play videos anymore. Peep it!

Fresh off being named 2010 Boston Music Awards "Hip-Hop Artist of The Year” M-dot, and his partner in crime DJ Jean Maron, rode the wave of fame straight onto to an episode of Cribs! Check it out!

In case that isn’t enough for you, you’re in luck. M-Dot, @MDotBoston, recently released the Making Doubters Over Think Mixtape, you can cop it here, I highly recommend it. You should also check out his YouTube channel here, it’s loaded with enough vids to keep you busy for a while. And finally, a big shout out to @RevOfEMS, @MayhemofEMS, and the rest of the EMS crew, keep em comin Fam!

Definitely Feelin' "Faded"

Man…the video game up here in the great Upper Left is ridiculous right now.  From Dr. Z, to Mr. Gray, and now the dude so nice, they named him twice, the production quality (and quantity) is hard to believe.  As for the latter, Jon Jon has been wrecking shop since his entry to the scene – and his new video is probably my favorite of a quickly growing catalogue.  I love the way he incorporated  the body-mount cam into the storytelling process (see my favorite scene from 1:50 – 2:00)…THAT, is fucking good planning and execution my friends.  Bravo.  Peep:

Oh, and don’t think I didn’t notice how DOPE this Eighty4 Fly track is!  Or the fact that just about every rapper you might know from Seattle makes a cameo (Brain is ready for his close-up Mr. De Mille).  I just got distracted…as I tend to do.

Dyme Def - The Break Up Song

Everything you ever wanted to say to that soon to be ex-girlfriend but didn't have the cojones...Dyme Def has done it for you. The Break Up Song (produced by Brainstorm) is a special holiday addition to their Pay Day Series. Enjoy.

Dyme Def - The Break Up Song (prod. by Dyme Def)

Larue - Not Like Me video

So we hit up the homeboy Larue's going away party last night at Chop Suey. It was dope, I feel sorry for you if you missed it. Anyway, he debuted the video for Not Like Me. Shot here in the Town, directed by Terrance Creighton and features himself with cameos from Marcus D, Rising Son, and John Crown...check it out.

Kanye West - All Of The Lights video

Ooooh Ri Ri, please excuse me while I get some paper towels...

The Tao of The Cube.

Hi, I’m back. First off, I must publicly apologize to Benny and Catch for not posting in a while. The thing is, I’ve been working on a screenplay. It’s kind of like Lord of The Rings meets Menace 2 Society, but with way more chimpanzees….and midgets. Don’t try to understand. It’s beyond you.

I’ve been stealing from Ice Cube all my life. Most recently a poster from a co-worker’s house. He deserved it. Dude was playing World of Warcraft. Sometimes you gotta draw a line in the sand, and a motherfucker that plays W.O.W. should not be allowed to have a poster of Ice Cube in his house. Dig?

I recently attended a free outdoor street concert that was part of the Dew Tour. This glorious event was located in beautiful downtown Ogden, Utah….yeah, I don’t expect anyone to know where that is. Just know that the Dew Tour comes here every year because the snow is the best in the country (suck it, Colorado), and because every snowboarder needs to be able to say he banged a Mormon chick (they are ALL hot, trust me).

I’ve talked a lot of shit about Ice Cube over the last few years…. *cough* are we there yet? *cough*. I have become a bitter, disappointed, cranky old bastard. Besides Cube, I feel that a lot of my childhood heroes have fallen from grace. Listening to an album from a favorite artist that just doesn’t measure up is like going to buy a used car and finding that your salesman is Charles Barkley. It’s just a “what the FUCK, Chuck!?!?!” moment.

“Yeah, yeah, BrainSlice, what the fuck are you babbling about?!” *exhales forcefully, coughs* Damn, it’s good to be back in Utah (solid tweeds). My point is, I was prepared to be disappointed, but I wasn’t. I mean, how can Ice FUCKING Cube not put on a good show? The shit was fucking apocalyptic. There were moments when I thought I was in Egypt with bread strapped around my head getting fucking rocks thrown at me. When the dude starts his set with “Check Yo’ Self” how can you go wrong? *takes another hit* It was surreal. The crowd was composed of trailer-trash mullet-heads, Ogden Trece, wannabe MMA fighters with faux-hawks (what the fuck is it with Utah?), and skanky snowboarder groupies. I think there may have even been a few black people there. Ice Cube didn’t give a fuck. That’s the thing. It got me thinking. He never has. *exhales, coughs*

If you don’t know the history of O’Shea Jackson, get the fuck outta here. No, seriously, I think you should GET THE FUCK out of here if you are reading this and don’t already know about Ice Cube. Still here? OK asshole, listen up.

He is not just a rapper. He is an artist, a lyricist, a writer, a businessman, and a he’s smarter than you, asshole. He created NWA, wrote all of Dre and Eazy’s lyrics on one of the most influential, groundbreaking, and controversial Hip Hop albums of all time: “Straight Outta Compton”. When he realized he was being ass-raped by his manager, he gave Jerry Heller the finger and moved on. He then proceeded to create another monumental gangsta rap masterpiece by teaming up with Public Enemy’s East Coast production team: The Bomb Squad. The list goes on: crossing over to acting and delivering a painfully convincing performance as Doughboy in John Singleton’s “Boyz ‘n Tha Hood”, writing screenplays (with Singleton’s encouragement) for “Friday” and its sequels, etc. I ain’t gonna be your personal Wikipedia, so go look the rest up yourself. Just know that is the tip of the iceberg. All these things were done by him, knowing that others didn’t think he could do it. So, for that, I tip my fitted to the man.

Even though I may not like his recent projects as much as the classic shit, I still consider him one of my heroes. So now, my second apology of this post. Sorry Cube. Sorry for stealing almost every one of your cassette tapes from the local record store when I was a kid, sorry for talking shit about TBS, and sorry for thinking that your concert might suck. You are not to be fucked with. Peace.

P.S. Catch loves cunts. He told me that earlier.

So it continues....

Like I said earlier, there are a few things I was looking forward to today...this was one of them. The Badassyellowboyz (BAYB) of Cloud Nice fame dropped their debut mixtape, "Ziploc Hip-Hop". The trio of Jarv Dee, Nacho Picasso, and P Steez have dropped a couple joints introducing themselves but have otherwise kept us waiting until now. Hit the link below to download and then hit the links above and let them know what you think. I could help you...compose a Tweet if you'd like.

BAYB - Ziploc Hip-Hop Mixtape

The Good Sin - Late

So sleep is pretty much out of the question right now...who knows why but eff it, there are bigger things to look forward to today. Beginning my day with the first, of what should be 3-4 projects that I have been looking forward to. I just spent the last 45 minutes or so listening to The Good Sin's (@TheGoodSin) just released project "Late", which is produced entirely by 10.4 Rog. Color me impressed. I dug Sin's "Ready or Not" mixtape and most of what I have heard up until now, but this was nice. Sin's deep, heavy voice easily glides along Rog's jazzy, funky beats laced with strings, kicks, and piano. Such a nice way to begin a restless morning.

The Good Sin x 10.4 Rog - Late.

Dyme Def - Time Flies

Alright ladies, it's that time again, the 15th otherwise known as PayDay. So break out those EBT cards and lets get it poppin!! Mr. Yuk was up and at em early this morning and dropped off Dyme Def's latested in their PayDay series, Time Flies. I gotta say, this stuff these dudes been puttin out lately is straight fire. Check it out.

Dyme Def - Time Flies (Prod. by BeanOne)

Dyme Def - Timeless (Video)

We got the teaser in early December, now we get the entire video, as Dyme Def (@DymeDef) dropped the video for Timeless today. I dig this song and the visuals are dope. Shot, directed, and edited by Vinnie Hobbs (@VinnieHobbs) and Niko P. Check out the video...



I will say this though...Dyme Def, 800lb, and T.I.T.S. are never at a loss for sexy women in their videos either...see Brooklyn Murphy.

It's a party babe...

And a party it was last night at Capitol Club for the regularly scheduled Monday night party, Jet Set. In case you've had your head in the sand, Jet Set is a weekly party put on by Members Only that features resident DJ's 100Proof and Swervewon and usually a performance by some local artists or guest DJ. In my experience these parties are usually live...and this Monday was no different. Last night was the album release party for Hi-Life Soundsystem (@HilifeSound). The HLS trio is made up of rappers Khingz, B-Flat, and producer Crispy. HLS have released a couple tracks (Death Of The Party, Bounce) but other than that the remainder has been kept well under wraps until last night. The party got started as usual with DJ 100proof starting things off and then giving way to Swervewon. Shortly after that Khingzand B-Flat took the "stage" as people crowded around. As ironic as it sounds, the party really got started when the duo let loose with Death Of The Party...and continued throughout the night. They invited guests Helladope, Mikey Nice, and State Of The Artist to the "stage" to perform their feature tracks. Hi-Life bowed out gracefully after a few songs as DJ Vitamin D took over on the wheels for his J Dilla inspired set. It's safe to say that Hi-Life turned the party out. The best part for those of you who are monetarily challenged...the album is FREE. I couldn't believe it either...I even brought cash to buy it, but who am I to argue with the dude Khingz giving away free albums during his birthweek. Hit the link below to download the album, and check out Jet Set every Monday at Capitol Club.

Hi-Life Soundsystem - Hi-Life Soundsystem

Off Base-d?

Let me start by saying this: I’m nobody. And I know it. I’m just a dude who’s had a love affair with hip-hop for over 25 years now…damn, I’m old. Maybe that’s the reason I just don’t get Brandon McCartney. Every time I hear a song/see yet another self-directed video/read a writer-who-I-respect’s decree of why I should be paying attention to Lil B, I’m left shaking my head like an old man watching some bad ass kids misbehaving.

I’ve also never had the opportunity to bask in the glow of the Based God. Because of that, I don’t claim to have any specific insight into his thinking, or lack thereof. However, after first seeing “Wonton Soup” included in Complex Magazine’s top 25 songs of 2010, and then reading the well-crafted, well-researched article by Andrew Noz on the NPR blog, I just had to get my thoughts out on Mr. Degeneres.

Back in the day, Cocaine Blunts was the first blog I ever latched onto, so with a full dose of appreciation and respect, I promised myself I’d read his article with an open mind – which I did. To say I was impressed with the examples Mr. Noz posted would be an understatement. Many of those songs, I had not heard, and they showed a side I hadn’t seen. Needless to say, these examples threw some of my pre-conceived notions into a moderate tailspin; is Lil B really the second coming of Tupac Shakur, or a second cousin of Eli Porter? I’m still leaning toward the latter.

The contradiction in B’s subject matter implies more of an air of ignorance than complexity to me - mostly because of the absolute extremes of that contradiction; I understand sarcasm and irony, I just don’t know Lil B deserves that much credit. I mean, the “’Cooking Dance’ How-To Video” is hilarious – and the occasional smirk would seem to indicate he’s clownin’. But, there are a million minions out there trying to become “Master Chefs,” and they ain’t all playin’ with a full set of spatulas.

That’s one of the things that is truly befuddling to me: He has a rabid following…then again, so did Charles Manson. I’m not trying to say that the Young Based God is Manson – or even needs to be a role model, for that matter – but the love and dedication these “Chefs” show the self-proclaimed “princess” is staggering to me. I mean, what’s the real draw? What is it that has propelled Lil B to cult icon status?

I appreciate the counter-culture movement…used to take pride in that myself. That Reading Rainbow t-shirt? Fucking. Awesome. I also respect the way he’s harnessed the power of the internet – nobody uses it to his advantage like B does. From a large Twitter following, to the “ten million YouTube,” this “artist” – unsigned, no less – has really carved quite a niche for himself; he’s made, what I would deem, the mostly irrelevant, relevant…all by himself. For that, I tip my fitted.

But why is Based considered to be so cool? Why reward something so…lazy? Half the time it’s just bad freestyling that isn’t even worth remembering – as evidenced by the way the Based God himself can barely remember his own lines in most of the videos he directs (even the fucking chorus in many cases). And going off beat can work for added emphasis…on occasion. Consistently ignoring your beat for the sake of ignoring it just doesn’t work for me, though.

It’s also possible that I’m just not meant to understand some of the esoteric, monotonous, rambling-flow Lil B brandishes. Maybe I’m just not the target audience. That’s cool. Not everybody has to like everything out there. Case in point: “Like a G6”…although I can’t figure out why ANYBODY likes that piece of shit (and yes, it still gets play on the radio around here…fml).

Then again, maybe I am the target audience. If the Based God is really trying to rebel against the old guard of hip-hop, if his intent is to give the finger to the ideas and ideals of the culture that the golden era – and those before it – created, then right now I’m getting the bird.

Look, I’m not hating. I don’t think Lil B is anything like the Far East Movement. It’s just crazy to me how many people in-the-know seem to think he’s such an important figure, likening him to some of the greatest. And I realize that Noz was only using Tupac as a reference point; I think it was a comparison for the sake of argument more than anything. In reality, for every “Age of Information” (which is his best cut IMO), there’s at least fifteen “Wonton Soup”’s. However, for every “I Get Around”, there’s twenty “Dear Momma”’s and “Brenda’s Got a Baby”’s – I think we can all agree that the comparison really begins and ends at each thumbing their nose at society’s stereotypes; one with more purpose than the other, of course.

Maybe I’m just not approaching Lil B’s vast catalogue correctly. Maybe I’m supposed to be laughing. Maybe that’s why he did “Hoes On My Dick” with Andy Milonakis. But for every slight snicker I get from shit like that, there’s a sneer right behind it, caused by blatantly bad lyrics…lazy delivery…”directing” himself to rap to his shadow on a wall in a video…insisting on signing his name on every tweet (we know who it is, dog)…the list goes on.

Of course, the simple fact that I spent all of this time researching, listening, and writing this column lends credence to those that continually claim Lil B’s relevance cannot be overlooked. For that, kudos to them. However, while I’m always willing to give credit where credit is due, I won’t give it where I don’t feel it’s deserved. Thanks, but no thanks, Based God - I’m just not ready to put my 25-year history of love for this culture (however inconsequential) in your corner…no matter how much I dig that “Reading Rainbow” shirt.

–catch91 (in case you didn’t know)

It's PayDay again bitches...

well not for me but for all of you. Next up in the Dyme Def (@DymeDef) PayDay series...Know That produced by that dude Brainstorm. All this new DD stuff is taking me back to the Space Music days. I can dig it... Head on over to their spot and and check out more.

Dyme Def - Know That