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.

Official Motion Family SMKA Vol 2 Release Party Video

This was by far one of the crunkest events I've ever been to. Absolutely awesome. Hate to sound cliche, but Hip Hop was definitely in the building. If you consider yourself a tastemaker, influencer, shot caller or hell just a music lover period...and CHOSE not to be here...you really missed out.

The video features performances from Pill, Yelawolf, Aleon Craft, Gripplyaz & Young Scolla.

A.Leon Craft - "The Way You Do The Things You Do"

A.Leon Craft-"The Way You Do The Things You Do" (prod by 808 Blake of SMKA)

A.Leon Craft remaking a "Smokey" Robinson song is almost too appropriate. Music purist can relax...he didn't get on here rapping about weed, guns, bitches and hoes. He just re-did the song and added a little bit of him to it.

Props SMKA

"Hip-Hop Meets Classical": SMKA x Aleon Craft X Atlanta Symphony Orchestra On CNN

This story aired on CNN this afternoon. Really cool look. I remember Dr. Dre saying that he wanted to head an orchestra in an interview a while ago. Looks like SMKA and A.Leon Craft beat him to the punch.

This is a very special and unique collaboration between Hip-Hop and Classic that is truly the first of its kind. SMKA was commissioned by The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to remix a piece for their "Concerts for Young People" series. The song 808 Blake created is called "Music is My Life" produced by SMKA, and it is written and performed by Aleon Craft. Additionally, Parker Smith played the guitar and Brand Dorfman scored the peice. It has been performed 20 times since October 2009. CNN covered the collaboration last week and aired the special today. SMKA is proud to be a part of this project, and grateful for the opportunity to work with the ASO.

When A.Leon says that music is his life...he ain't lying. Dude been in music for as long as I've known him. He used to get down when he was drum major in the band in high school...so this role is fitting for him.

I'm hearing that the upcoming SMKA x A.Leon Craft project is coming along pretty damn good too. Hopefully I'll have some details to share with you soon.

The 808 Experiment Freestyle Series pt.3 w/ Senor Kaos, Jay West & Playboy TRE (Video)

More footage from the SMKA shoot that went down a couple weeks ago. Tre snapped...and Kaos is a true emcee.

The 808 Experiment: Vol 2 Release Party Photo Reel (Pt. 1 of 3)

Here's a photo reel that photographer Lee Starnes put together with images from Friday's SMKA events. If you weren't at the Star Bar for the show, you really missed out on some of the best music that Atlanta Hip Hop has to offer right now. I myself chose to chill the f*ck out and enjoy the show instead of take pics and get Flip cam footage...and it felt pretty damn good. Check out videos featuring Yelawolf, ALIen and a few others after the jump.

I'll post more stuff that I'm sure some of my peers have as I get it.


Gripplyaz' performing "Jockin" was probably one of the crunkest moments of the night as everyone from Joe Scudda to Sean Falyon jumped on stage with him. The other crunkest moments were when Pill did "Trap Goin' Ham" (folks almost got the fighting) and Hollyweerd did "So What."

SMKA Presents: Chilly-O

SMKA caught up with Atlanta renaisannce man Chilly-O for an interview where he reveals his origins and vision. He brings up his "street merchant" days...that's where I remember him from. He probably don't remember but the first time I met dude was when he tried to sell me some Jordans out his trunk infront of Hot Beatz studios...the J's were real though!

Also, make sure you fall though WISH and Star Bar (they are right next to each other) tomorrow night for the SMKA The 808 Experiment Vol.2 Listening and Release parties.

4-Ize feat. Senor Kaos-"Classic Example"

Dope video from this dynamic duo. Pretty much bringing death to all of your favorite rap sterotypes...hadn't seen a vid like this in minute.

As a bonus here's video of them freestyling about the thing that makes us all smile...they did this during some down time at the SMKA photo/videoshoot a week or so ago.

SMKA presents The 808 Experiment: Vol 2 mixtape

SMKA presents The 808 Experiment Vol 2 is finally available for download. You've seen a few leaks around this parts for the last couple of weeks and now the entire project is here. It features some of your favorite Atlanta-based artists as well a couple friends from other areas. The first volume was an unexpectedly pleasant surprise and this follow-up is expected to be dope...so check it out.

DOWNLOAD: SMKA presents The 808 Experiment Vol 2.

SMKA: The 808 Experiment: "In Your Words" (VIDEO) w/ Pill, Playboy Tre, Stanza, Aleon Craft, Grip, Senor Kaos...and more

I was actually in attendance for this get together and it was pretty cool. I got some funny footage and photos to share that I will post later...kinda been busy doing the stuff that pays my bill...ya feel me?

Promo video for the release party after the jump...

A.Leon Craft-"Botanicals"

A.Leon Craft-"Bontanicals"

New leak from SMKA's The 808 Experiment Vol. 2. I got some pics and footage from SMKA and friends videoshoot this past weekend.

Yelawolf-"Deer Mama"

New leak from SMKA's highly-anticipated The 808 Experiment pt. 2 featuring the homie Yelawolf. Track is about his mother and he snaps as usual. The track samples Issac Hayes' "Shaft" theme music quite nicely.

The 808 Experiment pt. 2 drops January 22nd.

SMKA presents The 808 Experiment: Vol 2 mixtape cover

This looks like its about to be pretty damn dope. It drops January 18th. Cover Art by Diwang Valdez of Motion Family.

LIST OF ARTISTS
Tanya Morgan
Fki
Hollyweerd ft. Aleon Craft
Proton
Outasight
Kyle Lucus
Jay West
Alexandrea Lushington
Young Scolla
Aleon Craft
Kidd Neer
Senor Kaos
Fresh Daily
Rahbi
Slimm Duddy
Brittany Street
Tom P
The Canz
Yelawolf
RE
Grip Plyaz
Stanza ft. Playboy Tre
Shawn Chrystopher
Mums FP
Joe Scudda
Pill
Nappy Roots

This Saturday December 12th: Harts 4 The Holidays at Eyedrum Gallery

Cool holiday charity event that I'm a small part of...check out the info below and after the jump

Gritty Glam Squad, Naked Eye Image, Mindzai and Esperanza present:
Harts 4the Holidays

Join Janelle Monae / Wondaland Arts Society and tap into your inner artist to make holiday cards for the kids this season! Enjoy our Arts + Crafts tables, live performances by your favorite bands/artist and shop in our pop up store with your favorite local brands! Complimentary lunch from DBA bbq and your favorite DJ's around town playing everything from Hip-Hop, Soul,Funk,Jazz,House,World and Afro-Beat! All in the name of a good cause!

ALL (100%) proceeds and donations will go to benefit the SONGS FOR KIDS Foundation
http://www.songsforkidsfoundation.org/

@ EYEDRUM Art + Music Gallery
290 Martin Luther King Jr Dr S
www.eyedrum.org

Event Time: 12pm-6pm

All Ages: family friendly event-bring the KIDS!

Arts + Crafts Gallery hosted by Janelle Monae + Wondalanda Art Society (Appearance from 2pm-5pm)

$5 donation or Toys (new in box)

Lunch with DBA bbq 12-3pm

DJ's: 12pm-6pm ---> Your favorite DJ's around town and taking it out the club and providing the soundtrack as you make your holiday cards,eat and be jolly... all in the name of love and charity!

Salah Ananse
Rasta Root
Mr.Mind
Karl Injex
Soulfinger
DJ P-nut

Performances: 3pm-6pm ---> Catch our local heroes, your favorite bands and artist perform for a good cause.
Hosted By: Dres tha Beatnik

Brittany Bosco
The Judies
Hollyweerd
Ocha La Rocha
The 54
FKi
Scar
The Mermaids
Mums FP

Pop-up Stores: 12pm-6pm--->Shop with your favorite local brands! Go Local!
Esperanza
Chilly-O
Mindzai Creative
Siditty Misses
FROME2U
Process

Special Thanks to our Sponsors and Organizers:
Mindzai
Fadia Kader
Aquaponi
Gritty Glam Squad
Comupkids.com
Esperanza
4th Ward Heroes
Whynattte
I DO MUSIC
Patchwerk Recordings
Naked Eye Image
Give Love
Fli Pelican
MEISA
DBA bbq
Strong Arm management
Process
Nomad mgmt
Wondaland Art Society
BMI
Chilly-O
Tight Bros
Dres tha Beatnik
SMKA
Vinnies Styles
The Garner Circle
City of Ink
Siditty Misses
Frome2u
White Lies Color Truth
Maurice Garland
Crew Love
Fli Pelican

SMKA & Fadia Kader present Perfect Attendance Mixtape Vol. 1-2-10

Perfect Attendance is one of the few talent showcases in Atlanta where the winner actually stands to win something worthwhile and get feedback from people aren't artists just like them...

Perfect Attendance is a monthly showcase presented by SMKA & Fadia Kader... providing you the most talented artists in the region. The first Perfect Attendance of 2010 features 9 of the most talented female Singers and MCs in the Atlanta area. The Perfect Attendance Mixtape Vol 1-2-10 presented by SMKA & Fadia Kader features 2 songs from each performer, hosted and mixed by Dub Floyd. There will be 5 MCs and 4 Singers performing for a chance to win a promotion prize package including:

Video EPK by PhiltheGod
Photo Shoot with Dustin Chambers
Consulting by Come Up Kids DVLPMT
8 Hrs of Studio Time @ S-Line Studios
Music Production & Studio Time with SMKA
Licensing Opportunity with Affix Music

As you can see this edition is featuring nothing but the ladies this go'round...can't be mad at that. This mixtape features all of the featured artists. The actual showcase goes down Saturday, January 2nd @ 529.


DOWNLOAD: Perfect Attendance Mixtape Vol. 1-2-10

Playboy Tre-"I Be On Some Other Sh*t"

This song is on the upcoming project from production unit Northe’n Lights, Cut em Or Pay Em. By now you should know what to expect from Playboy Tre.

Spotted at SMKA's spot

Hollyweerd feat. A.Leon Craft-"So What"

The fellas from Hollyweerd invited me over to the studio not to long ago to let me hear a batch of the new stuff they were cooking over there. All of it was pretty dope. Folks was comparing them to 'Kast at one point in time, but I think that was moreso because anytime someone does something odd or different in Hip Hop, 'Kast is always the closest frame of reference. But the stuff I heard over there really shows that Hollyweerd is building their own musical identity. This is one of the joints they let me hear. Its going to be on the new SMKA The 808 Experiment Vol 2 project.



Oh yeah, I'm glad I get an excuse to post this dope ass art work Corey Davis did for it. From what I see they must be using this as a theme because they used it for the "I Wanna Meet Her" track they did with Spree Wilson as well.

Spotted at GBL

A3C Kicks Off!

The next three days are about to be real crazy down around these parts. I will try my best to keep you up to speed as to what's going on with the A3C but please understand that I'm just as torn as you as to what to go to. So, I'm going to try and guage what my audience likes and will let you know what I plan on hitting up and kinda suggest what you should check out as well.



Tomorrow night October 1st, B.o.B. and Spree Wilson will be headlining the kickoff show at The 529. It starts at 9pm.



Also tomorrow night the first East Coast leg of Fadia Kader/SMKA/The Smoking Section's Perfect Attendance stage cranks up at The 5 Spot. This night Born Wit It, Siya, Fresh Daily, FKi, Truck North, Donny Goines, Pill, Skyzoo, Niki Natu, Melo-X, CurT@!n$, Diamond District, Outasight, Che Grand, Joe Scudda, Big Pooh, Tanya Morgan will be the featured artists. It starts at 8pm.

and...just like that the A3C website goes down. I guess alot of people hitting them up right now. Either way, keep your eyes peeled for more info. I'll post up more stuff when the site gets back up.

A3C Festival Hits Atlanta This Thursday!

The A3C festival is set to take over Atlanta this Thursday through Friday. This is Hip Hop to the Nth degree. I mean, really, I don't think I have enough words to even tell you what all is going on, hense the video being posted. All I'll tell you is that I went last year and had a ball. I will be posting info for the remainder of the week to keep you up to speed. For now, you can visit the A3C website to see the smorgasbord that is their schedule.

Tickets are only $33 (thats $11 a day for ten times its value) or you can hit up the homies Fadia Kader and SMKA for their discount package.

Sean Falyon-"Inside Her" video

Check out this fly new video from the homie Sean Falyon. This track "Inside Her" is the second video/single from his collaborative project Mr. Falyon meets SMKA that I put ya'll onto earlier this year (go peep that if you haven't yet).

I really dig the new age pschyadelic angle they took with the vid and the homie Sophe Nix looking kinda nice in there too. The vid was shot and edited by Diwang Valdez (1/3 of Motion Family) and a cat named Kombo Ch.

Be on the look out for Sean as he's going to be performing in NYC at the Leaders of the New Cool showcase on September 30th as well as at the A3C Festival in October in Atlanta.