Playboy Tre-The Last Call (mixtape)

Playboy Tre-The Last Call

Tracklisting after the jump.

Aleon Craft-"A Different World" video

A new short from Craft's The Stargazing Soundtrack, shot by Dustin Chambers.

Previously: Aleon Craft Breaks Down The Stargazing Soundtrack.

Willie Hen-"In The Hood" (video)

I mean...

"In The Hood" is my favorite song off one of my favorite albums. But yeah, as a fan I'm kinda perplexed. The song is four years old now and the clip itself doesn't really do the song as much justice as it could have, in my opinion. But, Hen's words on this track are so potent and he paints the picture so well verbally that it makes up for it.

The other side of me is happy to see this cat Willie Hen is still being active in a music capacity, because I'd really like to hear some new stuff from him. A birdie whispered in my ear that we could see another The Product album in the future. Whether that future is near or far, I don't know.

But yeah, enjoy this for the time being.

Riot !n Paris-"Attack of the 5ft Hipster" (cool ass video)

Just got this in my email. This group called Riot !n Paris probably has the coolest video out right now. It's an interactive joint where you pick how the video continues and ends.

Remember those Booty Call games on Romp.com from the early 2000's? Well, its kinda like those, except here its actual real people, not cartoons. If you have a few minutes to burn, play with this for a while. It's pretty entertaining.

As for the song itself...eh. Not my cup of tea.

This Saturday: Chip Tha Ripper's Gift Raps Tour Comes To The Loft in Atlanta

This Saturday, Cleveland's very own Chip Tha Ripper will be coming to The Loft for the next stop on his Gift Raps tour.

For what's sure to be an entertaining show, MTV Freshman 5 winner Haziq Ali, AquaForce, Grand Hustle's latest signee Wil May and a "Big" special guest will also be on the bill. And its being hosted by yours truly.

Doors open at 9pm, show starts at 10pm. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show. You can get yours at TicketAlternative.com.

Bilal Breaks Down Airtight's Revenge

Over the weekend I got a chance to catch up with Bilal. Apparently he came right back to Atlanta after his show with Erykah Badu from last Saturday. I was really looking forward to doing this interview after riding around to his new album Airtight's Revenge for the last couple of weeks.

With the current press run he is on right now, Bilal has a gang of (video) interviews on the web right now. But all of them pretty much focus on his past and "how do you feel about Love For Sale." Luckily, I was able to ask him about specific songs from the album after hearing them. Especially "Flying" and my personal favorite, "All Matter" (a more personalized rendition of the song he recorded for Robert Glasper's last album).

I didn't get as much time as I would've liked but I think it still came out pretty cool. I have an extended version of this interview with stuff about him growing up in Philadelphia, growing up as a Jazz guy in a Hip Hop generation and how his early days as a songwriter almost had him ready to jump off a cliff...but its kinda lengthy and we all know folks don't have the longest attention span on the internet. If ya'll want me to post it later, I will.

But yeah, check this clip out and let me know what you think. Airtight's Revenge in stores September 14th.

Oh yeah...today is dude's birthday, so wish him a happy one.

Video and Re-Cap: Lil B Show At The Loft In Atlanta

Besides "is it supposed to rain?" the biggest question in Atlanta this past Friday was "are you going to the Lil B show." When some people asked it, they had intentions on going and just wanted to know if they'd run into you there. When others asked it, it came off as if they were asking you "are you sure you want to eat that?"

I didn't go get "based" last Friday. Not a fan or follower of dude, so I wasn't really pressed on going. Wasn't going to be covering it for any outlet in particular, so wouldn't be "working." I "get" what's going on and what he's doing, so I really didn't need any baffling questions to get answered. Plus I had some personal obligations that night and it started raining...so yeah, didn't bend over backwards for it.

But a couple of folks did, so figured I let ya'll see what they had to say. The video above was shot by the homie Jeron Ward. The accompanying reviews were done by Nadine Graham and Shannon Barbour. Read after the jump...

Video Re-Cap: Bun B at Red Bull EmSee

In case you missed it the other night, here is some footage of the Red Bull EmSee show featuring Bun B...courtesy of the homies over at Fresh Start.

Cee-Lo Green-"F*ck You" (video)

Imagine waking up to an email with the subject "F*ck You From Cee-Lo Green." Yo...I'm not lying, I was about make some phone calls and see what was really good, I don't appreciate being talked to like that.

But it was just a new Cee-Lo song.

Sounds like 'Lo is really taking it there on this Lady Killer album. This song is kinda funny though.

Be on the look out for another version of this video (with actual people in it, I'm assuming) to drop next month. Lady Killer in stores October 4th.

Aleon Craft Breaks Down The Stargazing Soundtrack

Caught up with Aleon Craft the other day at Solar Sound Studios to get him to talk about some choice cuts from
The Stargazing Soundtrack and what this project means at this point in his career.

Previously: Aleon Craft: The Stargazing Soundtrack

Section 8 Mob: Atlantans Swarm East Point for Section 8 Applications

Grady Homes, Capital Homes, Bowen Homes, Herndon Homes, Thomasville Heights, Hollywood Courts, Bankhead Courts...all torn down over the last 5 years.

I, like so many of you, have asked, "where is the government sending these people?" Well, one of the answers is Riverdale and Clayton County, which explains the current conditions down there. The other answer came yesterday as thousands of people mobbed the complex where Central Station is located, just to get Section 8 applications...that will put them on a waiting list...to be approved.

Like the homie D said over at his site, "expect much worst."

Spotted at TEV

Lil B the Based God Animated Promo Video by Moxie Joe

Internet phenomenon Lil B is going to be in Atlanta at the Loft this Friday. I'm going to go to see what all the fuss is about. Right now the homie Noz is looking like he needs to change his name to Noztradamus for calling this early.

New York Times: Rescuing a Lost Era of Jazz History

I came across this video earlier this morning and found it interesting so I figured I'd share it with ya'll. It reminded me of when I used to tape songs, freestyles and interviews off the radio and when I used to record videos from off Rap City and Yo! MTV Raps. Obviously I wasn't the only one doing that because you look up just about anything on YouTube now.

But it seems our elders from the Jazz generation are still catching up to technology...or finally deciding to share some of their hidden treasures.

It also reminded me of one of my favorite posts from StuffWhitePeopleLike.com: "Black Music That Black People Don't Don't Listen To Anymore." I'm not saying that Black folks don't listen to Jazz at all anymore...but I sure as hell can count on my hand the ones that do.

As you can see the video, our White brothers still seem to be enthralled by the discovery of old jazz music. Hell it was a White cat that recorded all of this stuff. Over the last few years I've been starting to adopt the idea that Black folks don't record/preserve/protect as much of their own musical or cultural history because they are too busy living it or creating something new.

Which is a catch 22 because it leaves it up to folks from other backgrounds to record it and then ultimately control it and control how it is promoted and presented. Which usually leads to people feeling a certain way about "our" songs being copied, critiqued, ridiculed or used in paper towel commercials.

But yeah. Beyond all of that, I thought this was a cool clip. I know these recordings will be put in the museum when completed, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens after that.

Cee-Lo Green to Host "Lay It Down" on FUSE TV

photo by Maurice Garland, September 19, 2009

This sounds like a pretty cool idea...

From LA Times:

Cee-Lo Green wasn’t exactly looking to become a television star -- until the opportunity was handed to him.
When the cable network Fuse went to the Gnarls Barkley rapper-singer with the idea for a new music show, “Lay It Down,” he couldn’t turn away.

“It’s more than me wanting to do this, it’s someone wanted me to do it, which was very flattering and a compliment in the fact that I was asked to be a part of it,” Green said. “That was gratifying for me.”

In the interview- and performance-based show, set to premiere in October, Green will act as host -- and sometimes collaborator -- as he puts artists such as Lil Jon, Ludacris, T-Pain, N.E.R.D., Janelle Monáe and Public Enemy in the hot seat to break down their biggest hits and discuss the inspiration behind specific verses and beats. It's a setting reminiscent, says Green, of a "modernized midnight television special."

He said he hopes the show will provide fans an inside look at and artist's creative process and offer little-known details behind some of the hits. For instance, Public Enemy’s “Yo! Bum Rush the Show” was written in the back of a U-Haul truck by Flavor Flav.

“I think this was an opportunity for everyone to be intimate about their own process, approach or formula, but true art isn't exposed in its entirety. I believe it's an opportunity to express a bit and reveal a bit but still maintain some mystique,” Green said.

Sal LoCurto, senior vice president of programming at Fuse, said adding shows such as Green's to the network's programming block only further sets it apart from other music networks such as BET, VH1 and MTV -- all of which have turned their attention to reality television.

“We are the only music channel. [BET, VH1 and MTV are] past tense. They’re not really music channels,” LoCurto said. “I always say it’s kinda like rooting for the Dodgers and expecting to see Sandy Koufax pitch. It’s a bygone era.”

Jason Hervey, executive producer of the show, said Green was targeted because of his vast career, be it from his days as a member of Goodie Mob to his solo career to being one half of Gnarls Barkley.

“He can connect to the artist and the subject really on any level, and there is such a knowledge and a passion for music and his fellow performer,” Harvey said. “I think there's an admiration, you know, and there's a point of view that really is unrivaled unless you've walked in the many different shoes within the musical career that he has."

With production on the first season of the show wrapped, Green is back to focusing on his upcoming solo album, “Lady Killer,” as well as a new Goodie Mob album -- his first with the group since 1999’s “World Party.”

There's only a few artist that can have a pretty good conversation with artists from all walks of life and Cee-Lo is one of them. Oh yeah...I still have the other parts of my interview with him for ya'll I didn't forget.

Universal Music Group Cuts Ties With MTV Networks, Will Show Videos Exclusively On VEVO

Not sure if MTV's online network was your preferred source for music videos and clips in the first place, but if your looking for content from Universal Music Group artists specifically, you're going to have to look elsewhere.

From Wall Street Journal:

Universal Music Group pulled its music videos from MTV’s websites starting earlier this week, the two companies said Friday, as talks over new licensing terms broke down.

While many details of the breakdown weren’t disclosed, MTV Networks has been in negotiations with Vevo, the Hulu-esque video service owned by Universal , Google and Sony Music. MTV previously licensed music videos directly from record labels for use on MTV.com, VH1.com and CMT.com. Now Universal, Sony and EMI want websites to let Vevo “syndicate” its videos through their sites. Under that arrangement, which is already in place on YouTube and several other sites, Vevo sells its own ads and delivers its members’ videos through a branded player. Website owners like MTV parent Viacom Inc. get a cut of the advertising revenue.

In a statement, Universal said: “MTVN has been unwilling to negotiate a fair syndication deal with Vevo to carry our artists’ videos and consequently our videos will not be shown on their online properties. We believe that using Vevo as our online music video syndication platform is the best way to maximize revenue for our artists, our songwriters and ourselves.”

The dispute doesn’t affect the ability of MTV’s cable channels to air videos from Universal artists.

While it’s not clear what the sticking point was, it probably relates to the attempted insertion of a new entity in the value chain between consumer eyeball and content owner. In other words, it’s not hard to imagine that MTV balked at the possibility of making less money so that a new company controlled by the record labels could get cut into the deal. Representatives of MTV and Universal declined to comment on financial details.

In a statement of its own, MTV Networks said: “we continue to seek out new and innovative ways to connect artists with their fans that are mutually beneficial to everyone. However, during our recent discussions with Vevo, we were unable to reach a fair and equitable agreement for rights to stream UMG artists’ music video content.” The company added that it was “disappointed” by Universal’s decision.

Also notable: MTV recently entered a partnership with Warner Music Group, the other major-label group, that represents an alternate—and competing—approach to selling ads that run with online music videos.

For now, the impasse applies only to Universal videos, because that company’s previous licensing deal with MTV expired last month. But Sony’s deal comes up for renewal in the fall, and if no deal is in place by then, Sony’s clips good be next to go dark at MTV.com.

Just in case you skimmed through and didn't read, no, this doesn't mean that MTV won't be showing music videos from UMG artists (do they still show videos?). It means that they won't be showing them online, nor will they be showing performance clips to coincide with interviews and other content.

VEVO is owned by Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group, hosts its videos through YouTube while Google and Vevo share the advertising revenue. Sony's deal with MTV Networks is up for renewal in the fall.

Aleon Craft: The Stargazing Soundtrack

The homie Aleon Craft just dropped his latest project The Stargazing Soundtrack today on DJBooth.net. Just like his last few projects, SMKA handles the production.

I finally got a chance to make it to one of the dates on the Stargazing Tour at the Glenn Hotel last Friday. Craft really did his thing and it sounds like he's really coming into his own as a solo artist.

A lot of you know him from Da Backwudz while a couple of you may know him from Labratz, so he's always been a part of a group. Early on in his solo ventures, I can't lie, I heard a heavy Big Boi influence, which isn't a bad thing, but that's one of the things I felt that held Da Backwudz back...they were dope, but the sounded so much like their influences that their music sometimes got lost in the shuffle.

Since Craft has pretty much been working with SMKA exclusively, he sounds more like himself and he gets to even stretch his creativity more. The partnership seems to challenge SMKA just as much. I'm looking forward to seeing how far Craft's music goes. Its capable of appealing to a wide range of people.

But yeah, if you are a fan of George Clinton and consider yourself a Funkateer, you should enjoy this project. Stat tuned for an interview with Craft very soon.

LISTEN/DOWNLOAD: Aleon Craft The Stargazing Soundtrack

www.MAURICEGARLAND.com In XXLMag.com's AIM and FIRE Discussion

Yesterday XXLMag.com invited me to take part in their Aim & Fire online chat discussion. The way it works is they invite a bunch of journalist, bloggers, tastemakers, etc into a AIM chat room to talk about the hot rap topic of the day.

Yesterday's topic was this brewing "beef" between Rick Ross and Young Jeezy. The timing for it was perfect since Ross dropped his "diss" called "Summer's Mine" and Jeezy dropped his 1000 Grams mixtape earlier that day.

Other people in on the conversation included Bossip editor Janee Bolden, Gyant, Wendy Day, BET.com's Carl Cherry and XXL's Jesse Gissen. I didn't really say as much as the others...doesn't seem like anybody pay attention either. But I was there...calling stuff like this gay and lame like I usually do. When you get a second, peep it for yourself.

READ: XXLMag.com AIM & FIRE

Cy Hi Da Prynce Signs to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label

photo by Maurice Garland

Conrgats to shawty...

From XXL:

Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music has just added another talent to it’s already strong roster. XXLMag.com has learned that CyHi Da Prynce is the latest artist to sign with the label.

“I just affiliated with Kanye,” the September 2010 Show and Prove rapper told XXLMag.com. “It’s been a beautiful journey for me.”

That journey’s other big highlight came in February 2009, when the Atlanta-bred MC was signed to Def Jam. CyHi credits the vice president of Def Jam, Bu Thiam, as well as L.A. Reid, with helping him link up with Ye-who flew him out to Hawaii for three and a half weeks earlier this summer. While there, the two worked on roughly five songs together, says Cy, who recounts that Kanye first took notice of him on the remix to Yelawolf’s “I Wish.” “He heard my verse and loved it,” he says. “After that, he took his time out to look my name up and he liked the music that I had.”

Now with an even greater backing than what he had before, CyHi expects big things. “To me, [Kanye] is the most complete artist in hip-hop, and I feel like that’s what I want to be. To have him as a mentor is just a blessing. I’m learning.”

CyHi Da Prynce plans to release an EP, The Royal Flush, in late August or early September.

Hey, I know there's hella internet theories and rumors swirling about this. But lets put that aside to recognize dude's come up. I'm glad to see an artist like Prynce get aligned with somebody like Kanye. Prynce is a VERY creative and conceptual dude so this partnership makes all of the sense in the world. Guess the music industry has another famous Redan Raider.

Random Jam: Masta Ace "Born to Roll" x "Masta Inc Ride" x "Sittin on Chrome"

These songs popped up in my head the other day. Might've been because I was listening to Gibbs' rendition of "Born To Roll." Fully aware of Masta Ace's contributions and legacy, but really, it wasn't until "Born to Roll" that I really got into him like that. Not an excuse because I've gone back and listened and researched, but his Juice Crew stuff was coming out when I knew more about Rick Flair and Hulk Hogan than I did about rap music.

I remember seeing this video and thinking "damn! who are all these light-skinned girls!" Guess you can say Masta Ace introduced to me (and a few of you too) to fineness of our Latin sistas. I also remember seeing this video on YO! MTV Raps and hearing Ed Lover and Dr. Dre borderline hate on the song and video, talking about Masta Ace was selling out to West Coast. Matter fact, I remember hearing that quite a bit from NYC based outlets. Which is in sharp contrast to what we hear and read nowadays from the same folks saying that his Slaughtahouse album was "acclaimed."

Ace kept this sound going on his next album Sittin' On Chrome with the singles "The I.N.C. Ride" and "Sittin On Chrome." I could be wrong, but outside of a couple Dr. Dre videos, Masta Ace was probably the only cat that actually showed car culture in his videos, with the Hispanic community included in it.

The Atlanta Stargazing Tour at Star Bar in LP5 (video) x Aleon Craft-"Yoga Flame"

All summer SMKA and Whynatte have been doing the Atlanta Stargazing Tour at different spots around the city. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make it out to any yet, but here is some video from the most recent show that will make you feel like you were there. It featured performances from Aleon Craft, STS, Vonnegutt, Grip Plyaz, Sean Falyon, Stanza, Jarren Benton, Tom P and HaZiQ aLi.

The next show will be this Friday at the Glenn Hotel:


Oh yeah, the song in the background is Aleon Craft's "Yoga Flame"...its pretty jammin.

4-Ize feat. Scar-"Rollin Like A Gee"

I was in the studio with these two a few months ago and heard some of the stuff they were cooking and this seems to be the first piece they're sharing with us. Listening to 4-Ize reminds you that Hip Hop can be silly and fun. Not saying that 4-Ize is a silly guy, dude is a real MC. But, you get what I'm saying. Reminds me of Redman and early-Ludacris.

Speaking of which, there is plenty of Conjure in this video. So much, that I should probably be getting paid or broke off with a bottle just for posting it.

2010 A3C Festival's Perfect Attendance Stage Artist Line Up Announced

Just like last year, everybody and their mama will be rocking at the A3C Festival's Perfect Attendance Stage. I ain't even gonna lie, I enjoyed it last year but I was about Hip Hop'ed out by day three. But don't let that discourage you from going to your very own Hip Hop Heaven. Here is the line up for the weekend:

East: Emilio Rojas, Esso, Gilbere Forte, J The S, Jasmine Solano, Kid Daytona, Mac Miller, Mickey Factz, Phil Ade, Ra the Mc, Skotch Davis, Young Chris

West: Ayomari, Bambu, Carter, Casey Veggies, El Prez, Pac Div, Rocky Rivera, Shawn Chrystopher, Skeme, TiRon

Midwest: Big Sean, Black Spade, Fly Union, Gotta Be Karim, LEP Bogus Boys, Ro Spit, Rockie Fresh, Royal Camp, Stalley, Vandalyzm

South: Big K.R.I.T, DGoodz, Embassy Music, FKi, Hollyweerd, Hollywood Floss, Jackie Chain, Jus Nice, Kooley High, Laws, Mach Five, Merc, Nesby Phips, RE, Skewby, Tom P, Warren Jae

Unlike last year, you won't have to hop in the car and ride down the street to see it. It will be in the same building as the rest of the festivities. For you artists out there, they have 4 slots left to fill. If you think you deserve to be on this stage visit REVERBNATION.COM to be considered.

A3C Hip Hop Festival will take place 10/7-10/9
Masquerade
695 North Ave
Atlanta, GA

www.MAURICEGARLAND.com On the Scene of SL Jones, Pill and Mike Bigga-"Grind 100 Hustler"

While I was out chilling this past Sunday, SL hit me up and told me him Pill and Killer were shooting a video for the "Grind 100 Hustler" song they just made together. It wasn't out of the way and its always cool to shoot down to Sweet Auburn so I went ahead and went. The video is being shot by the homie FLX and its something that's fitting with the title of the song.

Just captured some moments from the shoot, got some words from the fellas on why they insist on using backdrops like this for their videos and SL (who is from Little Rock) wound up being the only dude on set, in the middle of Atlanta, wearing a A-hat.

This was pretty cool, this is the first time these three cats actually cut a song and video together in a hot minute. Hopefully we'll see more of this.

Shoutout to DJ Trauma who I think was there before I got there.

Previously: SL Jones feat. Pill and Killer Mike aka Mike Bigga-"Grind 100 Hustler"

Hot Heavy and Bad (Joi and Devon Lee)-"One"

This is the new video from Joi and Devon Lee's new musical partnership Hot Heavy and Bad. They debuted this at Pal's Lounge on Auburn Ave (which is also where some of this video was shot) last Thursday and the felines in the building were going ape shit over it. Joi enlisted the talents of a lot of cool people on the come up in the city for this video, so that show you just how cool she is.

Be warned though, the name of the group is Hot Heavy and Bad. Do not run up on her saying "I like YOUR new song"...she will politely check you for it.

Previously: Joi Covers Creative Loafing

Playboy Tre-"I Dont Care"

Playboy Tre-"I Don't Care"

New music from the Liquor Store Mascot with some assistance from Smokey.

Freddie Gibbs-"Do Wrong (pt 2)"

Gibbs drops another dope video. Here the visuals go right along with the song's hook "when the world don't do you right can't help but do wrong" by showing that hard times are not color blind or age biased. Produced by the homie DJ Burn One, this is probably one of my favorite Gibbs tracks.

Correction from earlier...this track isn't on anything. Gibbs recorded a new verse just for this video because Pill couldn't make to NYC to shoot his part.

Groove Chambers-"In the Bag"

Groove Chambers-"In The Bag"

If you don't know the name Groove Chambers, this is the perfect time to educate yourself. Groove is the man that produced the bulk of Nappy Roots' debut album Watermelon, Chicken and Grits (including the hit "Awnaw" and the jams "Set It Out," "Ballin On A Budget" and "Headz Up" and it was his idea to put Anthony Hamilton on "Po'Folks") and he's also the man responsible for Lil Mama's "Lip Gloss."

Outside of that, he hasn't done much as a producer...because he's been hoarding all of his beats for himself and the debut album he's been working on for years. After meeting the cat a couple times I finally got a chance to really chop it up with him last night. In that time he played what will be the first single from his debut album. I don't know if it was the studio speakers or what, but when I heard this joint blast out, I wanted to jump out of my chair. But instead, my cool ass just nodded real hard and waved my arms a little.

But yeah, "In The Bag" is a dope ass song song with, favorite parts and stuff (I know that sounds corny, but you get what I'm saying). It just gave me one of those...feelings. You know how back in the day you'd be listening to the radio at night when they'd play all the new music and something would come out and you'd be like "I don't know what this is, but I like it and this is gonna be a hit." That's how I feel about this song.

Greg Street and Green Lantern have been playing it on V103 here and there, so its on its way. The song probably isn't going to blow up until later on, but I just wanted to give ya'll a head start on it.

Joi Covers Creative Loafing

The First Lady of the Dungeon Family is gracing this weeks issue of Creative Loafing. Written by Jacinta Howard, the story talks about how timing has always seemed to be an issue in Joi's career even though she has been co-signed and supported by everyone from Madonna to Raphael Saadiq to Outkast.

Though she will always be appreciated and known as Joi to her fans, she is recreating herself as a member of Hot Heavy & Bad that includes her musical partner, guitarist, producer and Pal's Lounge owner Devon Lee (who come to find out used to be in Proton way back in the day). They debuted their new video "One" last night at Pal's Lounge and its hot stuff. Everybody that's heard the album says its dope as hell, which isn't surprising.

READ: Joi's Bad Ass Revenge

Since we here, might as well share a couple of my favorite Joi songs right quick, both of these are from her last solo album, 2005's Tennessee Slim Is the Bomb. I remember kinda getting checked by Joi at this party when I told her how dope it was. Come to find out, it wasn't supposed to be out and I had a bootleg copy. Sorry.


"Say Say Lil Fine Ass Niggah" feat. Trauma Black, Bun B and Pastor Troy

"I'm So Famous"

Is Club Crucial Being Targeted?

Last night Fox 5 reported that T.I.'s Club Crucial was facing suspension of their liquor license and a $50,000 fine for violating Chapter 10 (10-109 (a)(12) and (a)(14) to be exact) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlanta. The code states that the city has the power to revoke, suspend or refuse a liquor license to any business that fails to "adequately supervise and monitor the conduct of the employees, patrons and others" on the premises. In layman terms, the city is looking to suspend Crucial's liquor license because they feel that the club has too many fights and is a violent establishment.

Club Crucial is located on the infamous Bankhead Highway (which is now named Donald Lee Hollowell), so a stigma has always been attached to this club. But anybody that's gone there before will tell you that this is a fine establishment that just so happens to be in the middle of the 'hood.

The City of Atlanta is citing six incidents over the last year as reason for their wanting to suspend Crucial's license and ultimately, cripple their business. I have the incident reports below...

www.MAURICEGARLAND.com Behind the Scenes at Big Boi feat. Yelawolf -"You Aint No DJ" videoshoot

Heard these dudes were shooting a video today. Since I stay down the street, figured I'd pop up and see whats good. I don't really know what the video is going to look like in the end. I think they are just focusing on MCing and performing in this one. Nothing too crazy, just a couple moments on camera, that's all.

It was hot as hell outside.

360: Ice Cube x Furious Styles x "Chippy D"

By now you've heard about Laurence Fishburne's daughter Montana (aka Chippy D) entering the porn industry...which drew me into another 360 post.

Willie Joe feat. Playboy Tre and Mistah F.A.B.-"Somewhere (part 2)"

[my XXL Show and Prove on Wille Joe from December 2007]


Willie Joe feat. Playboy Tre and Mistah F.A.B.-"Somewhere (part 2)"

Willie Joe just let this song out on the web and its pretty jamming. Over the years I can say I've dug most of dudes music. And even if you didn't like a particular song, if you saw him perform it, he would win you over. Back in what I like to call the "Showcase Era" of Atlanta (2003-2007) Willie Joe became notorious for ripping stages to the point that folks didn't want to go after him. Hell, ask B.o.B (who's live show has gotten better and is now getting rave reviews) who he got some of his stuff from and he'd tell you he got alot of it from being on the road with and watching Willie Joe back when they were running together. Which explains the Playboy Tre appearance here, which may look random to those who didn't know they go back for some years.

Joe had moved to Atlanta from the Bay back around 2003 and made his presence known on the indie scene, working with Fort Knox and Strong Arm Management at the time. They wound up making a street hit with "Get Em Got Em" around 06-07. Not sure what became of that relationship but eventually WIllie's buzz and talent were recognized and he signed a deal with Shonuff around 07-08. He came out with some hard ass songs including "How We Roll." Unfortunately some mind-changing and industry red tape kept that song from blowing up.

Since that Willie moved back out to the Bay and focused on building his own company Wataboy Entertainment. He may not think so but I listen to damn near everything he tweets me, hahaha, I just don't post all of it. But this joint right here was hard to deny, the shit is jamming. So, if Willie tweets you some of his music, go'head and check it out...its worth it.

Chromeo-"Don't Turn the Lights On" (video)

TSS just posted this video from Chromeo. The homie Jabari Graham has been telling me to check out this group for some months now. Guess I will now. If you're already up on them or like me, are starting to be intrigued...they have a show in Atlanta on August 27th at the Masquerade.

Freddie Gibbs – “Born 2 Roll” Documentary

Yours Truly's cameras captured Freddie in his essence for this short documentary. Hopefully this can be sort of a ying to the yang that is Freddie's Complex Magazine interview from last week.

Dude always speaks his mind in his raps if you're listening hard enough. Hope people don't just start looking at him as some guy who just goes around calling out other rappers for the hell of it or to get attention, dude speaks on what's really going on out here in these streets and in the hearts of men.

Its kinda like how some media outlets started painting Pimp C, or hell, even 2Pac as some dudes who had nothing else to say but how they felt about somebody else...almost diminishing their contributions to music as a whole. Pac spoke on everything from community organizing to religion, but people only remember him now for calling out Biggie, Nas and Dr. Dre. Pimp was known to expose a bit of vulnerability and display his great talents as a producer on his tracks, but folks only want to remember him for the volatile interviews he gave months before his passing. Freddie is one of the few rappers out today talking about the struggle, but it seems like alot of people just now want to pay more attention to him because he poked fun at DJ Khaled, Rick Ross a couple others.

Not trying to say that Freddie is ONLY going to be looked upon to "call niggas out"...just hoping that it doesn't.

Anyways, check out the documentary...download Str8 Killa/No Filla mixtape and go out and buy the Str8 Killa EP tomorrow.

Pastor Troy x ALIen the Drummer Perform "Vice Versa" at Art, Beats and Lyrics

I couldn't let the cat out the bag but I was trying to drop hints on Twitter all day about the special surprise at Art, Beats and Lyrics last Friday. One of them was a rare performance from Cody Chesnutt and the other was Pastor Troy being backed by ALIen the Drummer.

That shit was beyond crunk. The homie Kila captured some of this riot-inducing footage.