Xzibit & Family Lose Newborn Son

From X's Myspace:

AS you all know, I shared with you the announcment of my newborn son Xavier Kingston Joiner on may 15th and also informed you that he was born prematurly. well this week was extremly difficult for him because his lungs were not strong enough to handle regular oxygen on his own. Xavier passed away this morning at 3:30am and I must tell you this, It is unatural for a parent to bury a child. I am telling you this because of the same reason I tell you when im having great times, life is too short to be fake. Hold on to your kids if you have them, protect them and show them you love them everyday you wake up and see them, dont take a second you get to hug them teach them and care for them for granted. You can have all the material wealth in the universe but it is NOTHING compared to having your family. I am thankful for all of my blessings and im not one to question God's perfect plan, so I leave you with great love and thanks for the love that was sent earlier on my pervious blog to my son. Of course I need to take some time and handle my loss, STAY FOCUSED PEOPLE. Its not promised to any of us.

R.I.P Xavier May 15th 2008- May 26th 2008

DL The New Seattle Suicide Riots EP For FREE

From SSR's Rob Castro:

so hyena and i just finished up our new 6 song ep...originally we had just meant to smash this out for the fans, but we liked it so much we obsessed and tweaked on it for months...i think this is much more cohesive than "the deadstock sessions" not to malign that album...hyena i are just more comfortable indulging each others artistic idiosynchroses, so we took our painfully sweet time...you will have to let me know if it was worth the wait...

all six songs from the ep "the rush before you die" are up and available for free download on our myspace music player...go add ssr..hyena of oldominion and rob castro (aka el topo) of grayskul...also check the link to download the first ssr album as well......

Learn more about Seattle Suicide Riots here.

Flashing Lights Part Deux

For those that didn't like the first video:



I fawks wit it, but Rita G. MURKED the first one.

Sasquatch!

How great is this picture? The guys on stage appear confused or preoccupied, somehow not noticing Brainstorm has just become King of the World.



Dyme Def photo by Sean Pecknold, nicked from Line Out.

Oh, and Megan Seling hearts Cancer Rising.

Check out Larry "vibing with his peoples".



I am beyond pissed that I didn't go to this stupid festival. Hey, Folklife is tight, right?

Blu- "Dancing In The Rain" LIVE From Chop Suey 5/25

Spotted on The Proof, thanks SecondComing.

Camu Tao Rest In Piece

Today we're saddened by the news that Tero Smith aka Camu Tao (MHz Crew/Central Services/S.A. Smash/Nighthawks/Def Jux) passed today from lung cancer.

The man who brought you the incredible anthems, "Hold The Floor" (produced by DJ PRzm, R.I.P.) and "Plot For A Little" was an energetic, creative and inspiring personality. His music obviously reflected that.

Please acquaint yourself with the man's work if you haven't already. You'll be happy you did.

Peace and blessings to Camu and his loved ones.

I sincerely feel shortchanged on all the music he had left to make.

Beats, Rhymes & Life

This is the album that got me into hiphop in a different way than the gangsta rap pop radio of my elementary school years. At the tail end of junior high, my bowl cut was NOT crackin, and I was starting to realize that dumping Sun-In on my hair was not turning me into Kurdt Cobain. Everyone was bumping MA$E and the Fugees. The Source was doing articles on Wu-Tang and Craig Mack. Rap music, for the first time in my life, became my focus.

This was when I was like 14-15 years old. The time where you have to commit to seriously liking music or just go along with the crowd.

I had no idea who Mr. Yancey was, but now I know BR&L is so amazing mostly because of Dilla's involvement. At the time, I thought it was because of Consequence. For some reason, he struck me as a very ill MC. Now I think he's fine and root for him like an underdog; he's still got that mushy rap thing dialed in.

I SRSLY love every song on this album, but this one is great for Tip's all-time classic musing that hiphop is not "a way of life: it doesn't teach you how to raise a child or treat a wife". Take THAT, KRS-One!



I loved hearing Q-Tip say that, especially because I knew a lot of people thought he WAS hiphop. I buy hiphop as a culture and its elements as occupations, but it was hella refreshing in 96-97 (the run-up to Soundbombing's giant suburban splash) to hear a pillar of "the movement" put things in perspective and keep distance from the ideological bankruptcy that would eventually overrun "THE CNSCS VNGRD".

Al Sharpton Is A Hoe Ass Nigga

...but you already knew that

In an interview with HipHopDX.com, Bruce Williams (Former Dr. Dre right-hand man for 2 decades) discusses the revelation in his tell all book (go cop it) that in wake of the 50 Cent/Game beef that resulted in the shooting at Hot 97, Al Sharpton demanded money in order to prevent protests by his coalition:

"He said if we didn’t have a million, we marching. It’s that easy. Look at C. Delores Tucker back in the day. They was sitting up there talking all that bullshit when behind closed doors they was trying to start their own label. But that isn’t what they were telling motherfuckers in the street! We got a lot of black leaders that don’t do shit to me. I don’t see what they do. In the [Game vs. 50 Cent] situation, you are going to come and say, "We need ‘X’ amount of money,” whether you are going to give it to charity or not. Why don’t you come and say, “Hey, let’s all of us sit down and figure this out;” don’t come and say, “Give me a half a million dollars or we marching!” That didn’t even get the situation resolved. You seen it. They didn’t even look like they squashed anything."

Of course, he's gone on record and denied the whole situation.

These are our leaders huh?

Wale/Justice

Wale using a Justice track is like Kanye using a Daft Punk track. Hiphop is supposed to mix musics together, right?

The other message this track sends? Hey "traditional hiphop" producers: YOUR BEATS ARE BORING.



I like Wale a lot, too.

Snoop's West Fest 6/18 @ Showbox

You heard it here first, true believers:

Wednesday June 18th
Showbox SoDo - 1700 1st Avenue South
Showbox presents
SNOOP DOGG'S WEST FEST
featuring
SNOOP DOGG
WARREN G
THA DOGG POUND (DAZ & KURUPT)
WESTERN UNION
WARZONE
MISTAH F.A.B.
$35.00 ADV / $40.00 DOS at Ticketmaster
Doors at 8:30pm - All Ages
TICKETS ON SALE TUESDAY MAY 27TH AT NOON!

I Wish It WAS "Blue Cheese"

Peep the new Common single off of Invincible Summer. It's called "UMC" and all but I'll be damned if it's half as good as those guys. The Neps beat is clearly goin for this Afrika Bambataa & Soulsonic Force thing- and I'm so not mad at that- but Common's half-slop style does NOT sound good on this to me. It needs somebody a little cleaner, I could hear a lot of other people ripping this. What do you think of this joint?

Common f/ Pharrell (prod. by Neptunes) - UMC(Universal Mind Control)

H/T to my dude Thig for the link!

DJ Mr. Supreme- Free 45 Funk Mix!

Flea Market Funk brings you the 2nd in their series of fly guest mixes(the first being by COOP)- this edition is curated by none other than Seattle/Worldwide legend DJ Mr. Supreme AKA Supreme La Rock. Scoop it here.

Flea Market Funk Strictly 7″ Live Mix Track List

1. Dust A Soundboy - Super Beagle
2. Zambezi - Fun Co.
3. I Got Some - Sugar Billy Garner
4. The Next Message - Mighty Mo
5. Girls - The Moments
6. The Burg - Larry McGee Revolution
7. Feelin’ Loose - Jonah’s Whale
8. Everybody Disco - Ike Noble
9. Do On My Feet - Dewey Terry
10. Branch In Out - Forest Terry
11. Time - JB Green
12. 90% Of Me Is You - Vanessa Kendrick
13. Spring Fever - Reggie & Percy Thomas
14. She’s A Lady - Great Pride
15. If I Could - The Teques

The Saturday Knights on Stereogum- Download "Dog Park" For FREE

Yeah Buddy!
Get ready for Mingle Fever!

You Gotta Believe It!

Finally...here's the full version of "Believe It". This shit is off the fucking chain if you ask me. Fucking epic. Peep for yourself. Just Bleezy on the talkbox/autotune.

Saigon- You Gotta Believe It

Just Blaze also speaks on Saigon's situation over at Atlantic Records. Apparently, Saigon is now off the label (by his choosing) with ownership of his masters so hopefully the album drops somehow, somewhere soon.

Read more here.