Pastor Troy-"These N*ggas Ain't Gangsta No Mo"

Straight fie. I don't know what NFL player Troy was talking about on that second verse but it was fie. This Crown Royal mixtape is straight fie so far.

Dominick Brady presents Headland and Delowe: ATL Hip Hop from ‘79- ‘til

The homie Dominick Brady just posted the first part of an in-depth audio documentary about Atlanta Hip Hop. What makes this documentary unique is that he is starting the story pre-LaFace. There is a common misconception that Babyface and LA just appeared in Atlanta one day and brought the gift of music with them, exposing us savages to melody and words with sounds attached.

I'm really looking forward to hearing the rest of this as it comes out.

LISTEN: Headland and Delowe

www.MAURICEGARLAND.com presents Yelawolf vs Mike Bigga in the Hip Hop Beer Chug Challenge

The homie Will from SMC invited me Tree Sound to sit in on the process of listening and picking records for Killer Mike aka Mike Bigga's Pledge 3 album last night. Fell through and the spot was pretty packed, a little bit of everybody was up in the building last night. Kyle Lucas of Vonnegut, Kyle of Jagged Edge, Sugar Tongue Slim and the homies Yelawolf and DJ Burn One were putting in some work with Nashville vets Jelly Roll and $truggle, that boy Rittz fell through too.

Since everybody was down the hall from each other, we was all pretty much just popping in and out the rooms hollering at each other. One of the times Mike fell through 'Wolf's session somebody offered him a beer...and then some straight comedy ensued...

I had the camera so I figured I'd catch some of the classic randomness that happens during late-night/early-morning studio sessions. Hip Hop truly does bring different races and cultures together, haha.

Freddie Gibbs-"National Anthem (F*ck the World)" video

I don't think I've seen this type of imagery in a rap video since...Public Enemy's "Can't Truss It"? (internet sticklers, feel welcome to offer your 2 cents). That's damn near 20 years.

This $10-$15 is burning a hole in pocket waiting for Str8 Killa No Filla to drop next month.

Art, Beats + Lyrics Returns to Atlanta This Friday

One of my favorite events is making its homecoming to Atlanta this Friday. From day one Art, Beats and Lyrics has been one of the more unique Art Exhibitions in Atlanta if not the country period. On top of all of that, its free Gentleman Jack all night long. Be warned though, the lines can get pretty long, so you might as well get double fisted when you get your drink from the bar.

Anyways, its free admission but you have to register at GentlemanJackABL.com. Once you do that you will get a PDF ticket that you have to print out and present. Its good for you and a guest. Again, get there earlier than later because the city really comes out for these.

Art, Beats + Lyrics
Friday July 30, 2010
7pm-2am

The Compound
1008 Brady Ave
Atlanta, GA

Nesby Phips-B Side

The homie Nesby Phips just dropped his latest project entitled B Side. He invited me over the crib last month to hear the unfinished version of it over a six pack and a Black. Sounded good on the computer speakers so it should sound even better finished and in the car. Matter of fact, Phips told me he was going to master it on an actual cassette so that it can sound like it has that old tape hiss on it. I haven't listened yet, so I don't know if he did it or now.

When he performed some of these joints at the Big K.R.I.T. show a couple weeks ago, people seemed to really mess with them...so check it out for yourself. Hope you enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Nesby Phips-B Side

Pics and Re-Cap: Bun B Trill O.G. Listening Party at Patchwerk

Last night Bun B played his new album Trill O.G. (get it? as in trilogy?) at Patchwerk Studios for a host of media folks, music folks and just cool folks in general. The album was bumping in the studio but of course you have to test it out at the crib and car before you can just label anything. But I will say this, its some music for the Slab. Every track had some knock to it. I didn't hear any just mind blowing lyricism ala "Murder," but it had plenty of attitude to it. Its a listen that is full of moments, both good...and awkward.

Aleon Craft-"Strange" video

The title says it all. This will be appearing on Craft's Stargazing Sountrack set to drop next month.

City of Ink is getting to be quite the video spot these days.

Davinci-"Concrete Jungle Juice"

"Hi-hat homicide...baseline battery...snare drum slaying...kickdrum casualty"

Newest video and single from Davinci's The Day The Turf Stood Still. Dude got some strong ass thumbs if he popping tops of Coronas.

SL Jones feat. Pill and Killer Mike-"Grind 100 Hustler"

The Grind Time trio remixes Roc-A-Fella's 2001 classic...




...that borrowed from Convicts and Geto Boys' 1991 gem

Random Jam: Heltah Skeltah-"Therapy" (1996)

I was reading Noz's "25 Greatest Boot Camp Clik Songs" list over at Complex and got reminded of this song. Man, this has got to be one of the illest concepts ever. On it Rock and Ruck (now known as Sean Price) rap like a doctor and patient during a therapy session. My favorite part is probably when Ruck accuses Rock of being high and when Rock denies it and ask how he can tell, Ruck rhymes "because you acting funny, like when Blacks get money."

Hell yeah, that first Heltah Skeltah album Nocturnal was pretty hard, hell, I enjoyed the Magnum Force album too. I might've done a Random Jam on that song they did with Dogg Pound before, I don't remember.

I don't care man, Hip Hop at large is missing out on the East Coast not putting out jammin ass music right now. Notice I said jammin...I ain't saying they just need to be here for the sake of being here. But Hip Hop was at its best when cats from everywhere was all doing their thing and doing it well and at the end of the day knowing that the priority was to be tight. Granted, we didn't get to see UGK and 8Ball & MJG on Rap City as much as Smif & Wessun and Heltah Skeltah but that was moreso BET stupid ass fault...I never believed it to be because one was just better than the other. Matter of fact there is a video on the net somewhere where a former BET employee admitted that he played all New York shit on Rap City when he was in charge and didnt really start playing anything else until the video director we would later know as Dr. Teeth started working there and diversifying things.

But yeah...I'm rambling. Enjoy the song. While I'm talking I need to go find my Nervous Hip Hop CD, I swear I just saw it somewhere.

Khujo Goodie Released From Henry County Jail Today

photo by Maurice G. Garland, September 2009

Everybody's been asking what's been up with this whole ordeal, but hell...I was about in the dark as the rest of ya'll were. Same way ya'll was getting all the info from Ceelo and Big Boi's twitter...so was I and the rest of us. But the homie Rodney Carmichael at Creative Loafing was able to get in contact with Khujo's lawyer to break down exactly whats been going on and what's about to happen...

From CL:

After originally being sentenced to serve two years of a five year sentence, Willie Knighton Jr., aka Khujo Goodie, was freed today after a Henry County judge determined that one of his indictments was legally void. Big Boi and Goodie Mob members Cee-Lo and Big Gipp were all in attendance at today's hearing, and Big Boi testified on Khujo's behalf.

Turns out that Twitter has been the leading source of breaking news on this case, which had most Goodie Mob fans wondering what Khujo had done to provoke the long arm of the law in the first place.

In an effort to fill in the blanks, Creative Loafing called Knighton's lawyer Daniel Kane shortly after the news hit Twitter today.

According to Kane, Knighton had been serving time in a Henry County jail (located in the southeastern suburbs of metro Atlanta) since June 9, after being convicted of three counts of felony possession of a firearm and one count of violation of the Ga. Controlled Substance Act for having marijuana in his possession — charges he'd received in 2009 and 2010.

Khujo was originally sentenced to two years because Henry County had determined that he was already a convicted felon, due to a firearms violation dating back to 1990. But today in court, Kane proved that Khujo's previous charge was legally void.

"He had a case in 1990 when he was a teenager that was disposed of under the First Offender Act," Kane explained. "If you enter a plea under the First Offender Act you are not formally adjudicated guilty.

"The mistake was that they thought he was a convicted felon because they thought he was convicted in 1990," he continued. "So I went back into the archives and got the 1990 case, researched it, pulled the records and presented them to the district attorney and the judge in Henry County and said he could never be a felon in possession of a firearm — there were three counts — because he was never a convicted felon. It was a first offender case, and the court agreed."

Of course, a two-year sentence would have put a serious dent in the reunited Goodie Mob's plans for a new album. But the case isn't totally behind him — a new sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 3. When asked to speculate on the final outcome, Khujo's lawyer preferred not to comment on the ongoing case.

He did, however, comment on Khujo's disposition after being freed today: "Well, there's great joy, great joy and happiness. And also his friends from the music industry, they were very, very happy. Big Boi and Cee-Lo, Big Gipp, they were very happy, as well as [Khujo]'s wife, and his cousin.

In the meantime, it's back to business for Khujo, who is featured on the hook he penned for the song "Tangerine," (featuring T.I.), which, according to Kane, will be the next single from Big Boi's new album Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Return of Chico Dusty.

"It'll be a smash; I know the song well," said Kane, who says Khujo will be touring with Big Boi in support of the album. "It'll get released somewhere down the road as a single after [the current single] "Shutterbugg" runs its course. So we're looking for great success. [Khujo]'s going to go out and tour with Big."

Khujo's lawyer expressed equal excitement for the return of Goodie Mob.

"We're all very happy for Khujo and we wish him tremendous success, because the Goodie Mob is reunited and they're touring" said Kane, who, besides serving as long-time legal counsel for Khujo and other Dungeon Family members, also considers himself a fan. "We love Khujo. My son Trevor and Quinn just said, 'Dad, do anything you can to get him out."

So there you have it. Looks like Big Boi sicked that "tough team of attorney's" on the case and got 'Jo on up out of there.

www.MAURICEGARLAND.com Featured on Usher's Vh1 Behind the Music

Last night Vh1 televised the season finale of their Behind the Music series which featured Usher. As usual the show was well put together, they were able to add a lot to a story that a lot of us probably thought we knew already. They talked about his father, talked to his mom, spoke with Chili and of course sat down with L.A. Reid, Jermaine Dupri and close friends and family. They also talked to a handful of music journalist and I was included in that bunch...

This was my first time doing something like this and I was too nervous to watch it myself. Plus, the closer to the show date, I wasn't all the way sure if they were going to use me or not. Granted, they interviewed me for an hour...but still, never know.

I didn't really tell anybody I was supposed to be on there or to go watch the show...I didn't want to mess around and be embarrassed like DeAngelo Collins on MTV True Life. Ya'll know...buddy who swore he was better than Amare Stoudemire, skipped high school and declared for the NBA Draft, had MTV following him around, had cameras post up in his crib with his family on draft night...but went undrafted in front of the whole world? Yeah...didn't want to be embarrassed like that.

So I didn't even watch it myself. I went and ran and worked out instead. I figured if I made the cut, somebody would call me and let me know. Sho'nuff, when I got back to my phone folks was hitting me saying they saw me...all three seconds of me, hahhaah.

But yeah, much thanks to folks at Vh1 for reaching out to me and allowing me to be a part of the show. It was pretty fun to do. Hopefully it won't be the last time.

Nesby Phips-"Word To These Bo Jacksons"

"Is it Deja Vu? Or is that everything I say, I do?"


Nesby Phips-"Word To These Bo Jacksons"

New music from the homie Nesby Phips. He let me hear what he's been working on lately and it sounded pretty cool. I don't think this was one of the song he let me hear. He's been up in NYC a lot lately with Curren$y and taking full advantage of the facilities up at Dame Dash's spot.

Laws' "Overtime" freestyles

The Night Before

These joints had actually been coming out over the last couple of weeks, but I wanted to wait until they all came out so you could really appreciate the story telling. Laws is dropping a new mixtape today entitled Overtime, to symbolize that he no longer has to work a 9 to 5 since he has a record deal (his first mixtape was called 4:57 to symbolize the last time he clocked out). Matter of fact, I think I might've interviewed buddy on his last day on the job...

Random Jam: Raphael Saadiq-"Skyy, Can You Feel Me" (2002)

Mr. Saadiq sent out a tweet of a live performance he did of this song in some park in New York recently and it made want to go back and listen to this classic. Its the last song on his Instant Vintage album and is considered the "slept on" jam on the album. I heard he teases people at his shows with this song by ending the show...and then coming back out to perform this on some "oh, yall thought I forgot this song" ish.

L.E.$-"Story To Tell" video

A video for one of my many favorites off of The Beautiful Struggle. Don't forget to go back and check out that Settle 4 Le$ too.

Big K.R.I.T. feat. Yelawolf-"Hometown Hero" (remix)

Heard about this joint a while back but didn't really feel like driving all the way out to China to hear it. Above is a video of random Krit stuff including him playing some new music and his performance in Atlanta last week. My red Hawks hat makes a cameo.


Big K.R.I.T. feat. Yelawolf-"Hometown Hero" (remix)

Cutty Cartell-"Glenwood Road"

The homie Jeron from Royal Flush just shot me over some fly on the wall footage of Cutty Cartel going over his song "Glenwood Road" at Stankonia. I'm telling you now, everything I've heard off this project is dope ass hell. If you miss that vibe that Jim Crow's albums used to give you, its alive and kicking on Cutty's project.

LE$ The Beautiful Struggle

This is the latest offering from LE$ who is one the artists I've been listening to a lot lately. Everybody I've put up on his music has appreciated it. Dude is on some player shit and don't be talking all crazy. This is perfect music for riding and chilling. So if you hitting the highway out of town or chilling out on the patio with ya'potnas this weekend make sure you got this playing. Includes features from Big K.R.I.T. and Slim Thug, 98% of produced by DSF.

DOWNLOAD: LE$ The Beautiful Struggle

Chris Webber = Darko Milicic???

Oh my god shawty. Shoutout to NBA.com and the homie Lang over at Slam Magazine for posting this. I was afraid I was the only person that saw this last night.

I've been getting my basketball fix courtesy of NBA TV showing Summer League games. But last night's game between the Timberwolves and Kings (Demarcus Cousins beasted by the way) was priceless, but not because of the game itself. It was because of of the in-game conversation between Chris Webber and Wolves GM David Khan.

I don't know if CWebb was doing it on purpose but he really exposed how clueless this dude is. You trade your best player for peanuts, sign an unproven player and insist that a better team breakfast will make this squad better. I mean, breakfast is important, but c'mon dude, hahaha. All these other teams stacking up on free-agents and the T-Wolves have...breakfast.

But the best part of the clip is at the 3:35 point. Hilarity.

"Good luuck"

Davinci feat. San Quinn-"Clean Ass Whip" x "The Beginning" feat. Big K.R.I.T.

Davinci feat. San Quinn-"Clean Ass Whip"

Thought I saw this Davinci song with San Quinn floating around on twitter but just never got around to posting and sharing it. Shit is riding as expected. Perfect Cali music for the ride in the summer months.

But in trying to find a picture to put up with the post, I messed around and stumbled across this joint "The Beginning" with him, K.R.I.T. and these cats named Webbz and J.Rockwell rapping on it too. I'm not sure if its supposed to be out because I saw that the zshare and rapidshare links were dead now. But I found a working link, so fugg it man.


Davinci, Big K.R.I.T., Webbz and J.Rockwell-"The Beginning"

Killer Mike aka Mike Bigga Previews "Burn"

I caught up with Killer Mike aka Mike Bigga a couple nights ago. He insisted that I fall through the studio (a studio that is FAR AS HELL by the way) to hear this song he made called "Burn." When I got there he played a few other cuts from the album he's working on that were all pretty good. He's staying on the more balanced route that he achieved on Pledge 2.

But he was very excited about this song "Burn." Yesterday I tweeted how I felt about the song, mainly because of what he's saying in the last verse. Unfortunately, you're not going to hear the last verse until the album comes out (gotta have something to look forward to right?). But you do get to hear the first two verses, including the one where he touches on the recent Oscar Grant ruling. Mike said he freestyled it. Seeing as how I've seen him do that in the booth before, I believe him.

But yeah, I don't want to talk your ears off or type your eyes off, so check out the video. And like he said leave him some feedback. I myself think this song can be a hit. I mean, the hook is simple enough.

Shoutsout to Ricardo and Kuzi of Sweatbox Productions on the beat. I think I got all these cats in contact with each other a while back. Glad something came out of it.

DJ Drama Interviews Pill on Gangsta Grillz radio

After working together on 1140: The Overdose, DJ Drama and Pill sat down for an interview on Gangsta Grillz radio recently. They speak on Pill's choice (and circumstance) to go out and build a fan base via travel and the internet over going the usual routes of Atlanta. The conversation was similar to what I spoke on in the Creative Loafing story I did on Pill a few months ago where Drama is quoted in as well.

Oh yeah, here is a new Pill freestyle over that Drake and Jay-Z:

ALIen + Crucial Conflict "Hay"

ALIen aka Travis Darker (I made that shit up, not his real alias), rocks out over one of my favorite songs of all time. Check his website to see where you can catch his next performance.

Greedmont Park Interviews Bilal

Corey Davis and Greedmont Park caught up with Bilal up in NYC and sat down with him for a talk in the park. If you've been to a Bilal show...know that he pretty much talks the same way he performs, slightly calmer though. Cool stuff, part two is below and part three is supposed to be out soon. Make sure ya'll go get Bilal's new album Air Tight's Revenge on September 14th.



Update: Here is the third and final part of the interview where he talks about the Catch 22 behind Love For Sale being bootlegged and never coming out.

MARTA Cracking Down on "Enterprising Lawbreakers"

AJC is reporting that MARTA will be cracking down on "Enterprising lawbreakers." Whatever, they got these working-class gate jumpers sounding like they run a multi-million dollar company that has a monopoly in a major city but still insists on raising the price for their service every few years without showing any real improvements in said service. Only to turn and make drastic cutbacks on said service with more plans to raise price.

BS aside though, I did find this video to be entertaining. I can honestly say that I've only jumped the fare gate once or twice my entire life. I was always too scared to do it because I don't like going to jail. Plus, I got accused of doing it way too many times when I actually paid. For real, MARTA police would run up on me talking about "we got you on camera jumping the gate...we seen a young Black male in a Braves had and t-shirt...you fit the description." As if I'm the ONLY person with that outfit on. So I never even bothered taking the risk unless I was extremely desperate. And I ain't even gonna lie, I've elbowed and kicked a couple folks trying to sneak in behind me. Ain't nothing cheap these days, and after a long day...you don't really have any compassion for somebody trying to come up off of YOUR $2.

Plus, with this footage, they make it obvious that they know who is doing what and when. Seems like they just pick and choose who they want to go after.

www.MAURICEGARLAND.com Interviews Big K.R.I.T.

This past Saturday I fell through the 4th Spring Center to catch Big K.R.I.T.'s first performance in Atlanta since Krit Wuz Here dropped. He rocked it. Like I said in the video, it felt like I was at a 8Ball & MJG or UGK show. I never doubted that he had a fan base, but I was wondering about the energy they would bring. I was pleasantly surprised to see all these folks knowing the words to all of his songs.

Which was a shock because when DJ Dibiase was setting the mood for K.R.I.T. to come on stage, he played 20-30 minutes straight of old classic Suave House, No Limit, UGK, Rap-A-Lot shit...and these hipster ass folks was staring at the ceiling like they never heard these songs before. So they liked K.R.I.T. but don' know "Pocket Full of Stones?" Weird. But hey, alot those folks probably got put onto rap music 3 years ago via the internet, so yeah.

But back to Krit, dude did his thang for real man. I must have been causing quite a stir because when I checked the twitter timeline later that night all I saw were remarks about me going crazy.

Me and Krit go back a few years so we chopped it up after the show right quick, nothing crazy, the man looked as if he was still trying to catch his breath.

If you missed this show, please don't miss the next one. Also, you can peep some of the photos I took for Ozone HERE.

Random Jam: Rashad Morgan feat T.I. and Young Dro -"Tell'Em What They Wanna Hear" (2006)

This video randomly appeared on the internet today. The song came out four years ago, but for some reason they never released the video for it. This song was jamming to me. "Tell'em What They Wanna Hear" is something that all dudes can relate to. I know I've said plenty of the stuff in this song to either get out of a sticky situation....or get into one (*rimshot*).

Un-Fun Fact about this video: Young Dro hasn't came out with an official album since

Rick Ross feat. Curren$y and Wiz Khalfia-"Super High" (remix)

I was actually at City of Ink where the shot most of this video. Not much difference between the video and what was going on when the cameras were off. Smoking and chilling. Shoutout to the homie Tuki Carter of City of Ink and Hollyweerd for his brief cameo. He is a truly gifted tattoo artist if he was able to find open space on Ross and Wiz bodies.

Oh yeah, be on the lookout for this cat named Weed who appears throughout the video. He doesn't have a verse on the song, but he still made his presence felt.

Creative Loafing Finds Cody ChesnuTT

I swear every few months I randomly ask myself "where is Cody ChesnuTT?" I rarely get an answer. And when I do get an answer it's usually from another musician who says something along the lines of "that nigga crazy, he out somewhere."

Well, a new Cody ChesnuTT song popped up on the web recently...



...and Creative Loafing caught up with him for an interview too. In it he talks a little bit about where he's been, what he's been up to, his new outlook on life and why he won't be performing two of my favorite songs anymore. Not mad at him, but dang.

READ: Cody ChesnuTT's rejuvenated soul

FKi-"Red Cup"

Every time I've seen these cats a party has followed behind them. Looked like they had a ball shooting this. But yeah, this is probably one of the names you're going to be hearing alot from in the near future. Don't get it twisted though, FKi is great at making party music but these dudes can really spit. And I suggest you follow Raye Rich on twitter if you need a laugh.

I'm trying to be on some "music can coexist" shit nowadays so I'ma hold off on comparisons for a while and just let ya'll draw your own conclusions.

L.E.$.-"Reign"

More ridin' ass music from L.E.$.

Rocko-"Maybe"

I saw this on MTV Jams last night and it reminded me that I actually like this song. Hell, I like alot of Rocko's music actually. I was fooling myself into thinking that it was guilty pleasure, but nah, I like dude music. That Swag Season mixtape had some dope shit on it. And from what I remember his Self Made album had some cool joints too. Haven't quite got around to checking out Wild Life yet, might make some time this weekend to check it out.

BLVDST.com Interview With Rittz

I'm actually kinda salty that I missed most of Rittz performance at the 529 show I hosted on Tuesday. Quite a bit was going on. But Burn One capture some footage and a brief interview with him too.

Random Jam: Ides of March-"Vehicle" (1970)

Shawty...

This came on in the workout room this morning and I damn near cut my workout short just so I can run in the crib and google this song. When it came on over the speakers I thought it was Tom Jones because of the voice. Then I thought it might be a Jimi Hendrix or Santana song I never heard. But I still couldn't tell. So I listened hard as hell to try and catch the words in the chorus so I can go back and google them and hope a song name popped up. Fortunately it did. I never heard of this group before but this song is jammin like a mahfuggah shawty.

I looked the group up and apparently they were a big deal for a hot minute. They toured with Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin. The lead singer of the group was also a member of Survivor and wrote "Eye of the Tiger."

This song is jammin...gonna have to look up more of their stuff.

Big Boi feat. Vonnegutt-"Follow Us"

This was my personal favorite from Sir Luscious Leftfoot when Big let me hear it and it still is. Can't wait to buy this album on Tuesday.

Playboy Tre feat. Joell Ortiz-"Work"

Playboy Tre feat Joell Ortiz-"Work"

Tre told me about this song a few months ago, said it might've been the only time he ever worked with somebody and was like "damn...he mighta got me." This will be on his upcoming project The Last Call.

Oh yeah, whats up with other folks beats all winding up on Rick Ross' Albert Anastasia mixtape? First Pill, now Tre...what gives?