New Kilo Shawty!: Kilo Ali-"Nasty Bed"

So, I got an email from the homie Bem with a new Kilo Ali song. The subject line said "New Kilo (auto-tune warning!). Actually, that warning didn't really deter me from wanting to hear the song. The music that Kilo was making before he went to prison is actually conducive to auto-tune and probably wouldn't sound that bad with it on it. Then I saw all these other comments in the corresponding emails talking about "this is what happens when rappers get on crack and go to prison." That might be the truth, but that's not nice to say.

But yeah about the song. This is Kilo's first song since he got out of prison. I myself, don't really mind the song. It would probably be some vintage Kilo if he would've left the auto-tune off (again, he fresh out and probably didn't know any better) and tightened up some parts of the song...because towards the end, he does kind of go off on a tangent. But like I said, he just got out of prison. No rapper ever sounds good RIGHT after they get out of prison...not 2Pac, not Pimp C, and sure as hell not Shyne ("Roller Song" is growing on me though).

'Pac only sounded good to us when All Eyez On Me came out because he went to the studio with Dr. Dre and Death Row and actually worked for a few months before anything even left the studio and went to the public. If you go back and listen to some of those bootleg Makaveli's you can hear the fresh out the pen 'Pac trying to get his flow and timing back.

But yeah, I'm starting to ramble. According to this website, a new album will be dropping in March 2010. Tell me what ya'll think of the song. Personally, it kinda makes me want to dig out my neon green Braves jersey, clear bottom Reeboks and start ragtopping on ya'll ass.



UPDATE: According to Kilo's twitter this is not a new song, but actually something from 2004 that some folks put out behind his back.

Big Boi feat. Yelawolf-"Ain't No DJ" (video)

This came out pretty cool. Wasn't exactly sure what was gonna come out of them rapping in the hot ass sun all day.

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

Here it is, the video everybody has been waiting on. Shoutout to 'Lo for making an actual music video in this day and age. Kinda reminds me of "Roses." Wonder if Bryan Barber did this one too.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.