Brand New Ol’ Dirty Bastard featuring Method Man “Live On The Air Pt 2″

“Message To The Other Side: Osirus Pt 1″ In Stores Tomorrow (11/17/09)

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – “Live On The Air Pt 2” featuring Method Man

Ol’ Dirty Bastard
Message To The Other Side (Osirus Part 1) – November 17, 2009
Money Maker Entertainment

More music from “Message To The Other Side (Osirus Part 1):

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – “Say NO” MP3

‘Message To The Other Side’ Tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. Reunited
3. Live On The Air Part 1
4. Dirty
5. Child Seek Em Ft: Pleaz
6. Skrilla Ft: Rza
7. Wanna Bees Ft: Pleaz
8. Black Mamba Ft: Rza & Masta Killa
9. One Shot, Two Shot Ft: Thirstin Howl The 3rd
10. Got Love For You Ft: J-Love & Meyhem Lauren
11. Interlude
12. Say NO
13. Live On The Air Part 2 Ft: Method Man
14. All Coast
15. Stomp Ft: Rza
16. Live On The Air Part 3 Ft: Rza
17. Bam Bam
18. Osirus
19. Hot Sauce FT: Timbo King
20. Fort Green Projects Ft: FreeMurder, The Rza & Shacrone
21. Destiny Ft: Lesk One

About Ol’ Dirty Bastard

Russell Tyrone Jones aka Ol’ Dirty Bastard simultaneously brought a measure of humor and a touch of the absurd to the Wu-Tang Clan. Often noted for his unusual microphone technique, Jones’ stage name came from a 1980 kung fu fi lm entitled Ol’ Dirty & The Bastard, the relevance of which was articulated by Method Man’s assertion that there was “no father” to Jones’ style. After establishing the Wu-Tang Clan, Ol’ Dirty Bastard went on to a successful solo career. However, his professional success was hampered by his erratic personal behavior and frequent legal troubles, including incarceration He died in late 2004 of an accidental drug overdose only two days before his 36th birthday.

ODB’s solo career began in 1995, making him the third member of the Wu-Tang Clan to release a solo album, following GZA’s 1991 debut, Words from the Genius, and Method Man’s 1994 effort Tical. Released in 1995,
Return to Chambers: The Dirty Version spawned the hit singles “Brooklyn Zoo” and “Shimmy Shimmy Ya”, which helped propel the album to gold status. The album’s sound was as raw and gritty as 36 Chambers, producer RZA creating beats even more minimalist and stripped-down than on the group’s debut. When ODB died in 2004 he left behind a growing fan base and a legacy as the most talented and unique of the entire Wu-Tang Clan. This record recently uncovered deep in the vaults of the Wu-Tang chambers is a record that will satisfy his fans and is an offi cial ODB album and not a tribute album. This is ODB’s music raw and to the point.

“Message to the Other Side – Osiris Part 1” has 21 tracks. Executive produced by Allah and featuring Wu Tang Clan’s ODB, The RZA and affiliates 4th Disciple, Brooklyn Zu, Allah, Masta Killah, Free Murder and others. This record has Dirty’s family and the entire Wu-Tang Clan behind him. A bonus to this package is a DVD a 20 minute excerpt of the soon to be released film “Dirty,” a Rapumentary about ODB.

SOULSTICE SELECTED TO CONTRIBUTE SONG FOR “THE BLIND SIDE” SOUNDTRACK

“The Blind Side” Is In Theaters 11-20-09

After releasing North By Northwest (2005) and Dead Letter Perfect in 2007 (which have led to features on SoulStice in XXL Magazine, The Source, Urb, various other key urban publications and websites), SoulStice returned in 2009 with Beyond Borders, an “international concept album” featuring beats crafted by Belgian producer SBe and vocal collaborations with G.L.C., Kev Brown, Zap Mama, Oddisee and Supastition and included blog favorites “Chi Worldwide Remix” f/G.L.C. & Naledge (Kidz In The Hall) and the controversial “Strange Kind of Love.”

With the promotion of the upcoming Warner Brothers biopic “The Blind Side” in full-gear, SoulStice has been chosen for inclusion on the soundtrack with his new song “That Thang,” a track crafted by SoulStice and producer Mighty Wyte specifically for the movie.

“The Blind Side” is the uplifting true story of Michael Oher, a homeless youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle at the University of Mississippi and earlier this year he became a 1st round draft pick of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.

“The Blind Side” stars Sandra Bullock (she’s already getting early Oscar buzz for her performance in the movie), Tim McGraw and Oscar winner Kathy Bates. For an indie artist to be selected to create a track for a major Hollywood studio picture is a weighty endorsement and one that forced SoulStice out of his creative comfort zone, giving him a chance to demonstrate his versatility as an artist. The opportunity and honor was not lost on SoulStice as he states “As an independent artist, placing a song in a Major Motion picture is a big deal. It’s a co-sign from a major Hollywood studio – a sign that we’re doing something right. This particular song is an artistic achievement for me because I’m portraying a character with a lifestyle that’s not necessarily my own. That’s nothing new for hip-hop, unfortunately, but it is new for me. I’m glad I was able to help give the movie what it needed.”

DL Link to SoulStice “That Thang” (produced by Mighty Wyte)

SHARAM GETS “WILD” FOR U.S. DJ TOUR THIS NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER Famed DJ and Producer Brings Extended Set to NYC, Miami, Chicago and DC

New York, NY – Known to many as one-half of the now-on-hiatus Grammy® Award-winning duo DEEP DISH, revered electronic music trendsetter SHARAM has been making a bold musical statement this year exploring the Wild West with his debut double disc Get Wild (Ultra Records). Now he’s ready to bring his innovative, eclectic musical creations – which feature superstar collaborations with Kid Cudi and Daniel Bedingfield – to audiences across the United States this fall in his GET WILD TOUR. This is a well-awaited return for SHARAM to many of these markets, which include New York City, Miami, Chicago, and Washington, DC, with more dates to be announced.

For his upcoming extended DJ sets, DC’s own SHARAM will be incorporating material from Get Wild in with his own latest remixes/productions, as well as cutting edge, mind-warping music by other artists. In an exciting twist, the DJ/producer will also “spin” on Pioneer DVJ 1000 players at most shows, allowing him to manipulate customized visuals created especially for songs on Get Wild in synch with each record he drops.
“I’m very excited to man the booth for extended DJ sets on this tour,” SHARAM commented. “I feel like I can express myself better when I play longer sets. I have four hours or more to tell my full story musically speaking, so fasten your seatbelts, this should be a helluva ride.”
Get Wild’s landmark single “She Came Along,” which meshes elements of Patsy Cline’s legendary country song “Strange” with vocals by hip-hop sensation Kid Cudi, has been hailed as one of the year’s most uniquely infectious genre-bending songs by publications like Mixmag and Vibe and by many top producers like Kanye West. Of the masterpiece, Kid Cudi himself said, “This is really, really innovative. I haven’t heard anything like it.”
The Director’s Cut version of the “She Came Along” music video garnered over half million hits in its first week on YouTube, and continues to attract attention from major blogs and portals such as Yahoo! Music, AOL Spinner, and many others.

To watch the music video, click here

SHARAM’s debut set also includes “Don’t Say a Word” and “Be The Change” with Anousheh Khalili, long-time Deep Dish collaborator Morel on “I Love The Way (That You’re Breaking My Heart),” the one-and-only Diddy on “PATT,” and “The One” featuring vocals by Daniel Bedingfield, recently heard in an episode of The CW Network’s Melrose Place.
Get Wild is available now on Ultra Records in store and online, wherever music is sold. A new version of the album will be released digitally this December with fresh artwork, new edits of the songs, and the bonus music video “She Came Along (Director’s Cut).” =

Tour Dates (More To Be Announced)

Thursday, November 26
GLOW 4Play @ Ultrabar
911 F St., NW
Washington, DC
Ages: 18+ & Over / 21+ to Drink w/ID
Doors:10 p.m.
$20 general admission
DVJ/VISUAL SET

Friday, November 27
Soundbar (Release Fridays)
226 W. Ontario
Chicago, IL
Ages: 21+
Doors: 10 p.m.
$20 general admission
DVJ/VISUAL SET

Thursday, December 3
LOVE
179 MacDougal Street
New York City
Ages: 21+
Doors: 10 p.m.
$20 advance
DJ SET

Saturday, December 5
Mansion
1235 Washington Ave.
Miami, FL
Ages: 21+
Doors: 11 p.m.
$20 advance
DVJ/VISUAL SET

GUCCI MANE’S ALBUM STILL PLANNED FOR A DECEMBER 8 RELEASE DATE

Radric Davis, better known to his fans as Gucci Mane, was sentenced to 12 months in Fulton County Jail in Georgia due to a probation violation. Gucci was informed by the courts that he is eligible for release in 6 months or less. Gucci has given the following statement in regards to his legal troubles:

“I have accepted full responsibility for my actions and I am ready to deal with what is in front of me right now. Thankfully, my label is still moving forward with my album release so I will have plenty to look forward to when I get out. I am remaining positive and want my fans to know that I am grateful for their loyalty and continued support. I will get through this.”

Gucci Mane’s attorney, Dwight Thomas, added the following:

“In court, Mr. Davis was extremely articulate and he was remorseful for his conduct. He was able to convince the courts that he was not deserving of the 2 year prison sentence he was facing.”

In spite of Gucci’s recent incarceration, Asylum/Warner Bros. Records have decided to continue forward with the release of Gucci’s first major album, The State vs Radric Davis, on December 8. The album includes features by Keyshia Cole, Lil Wayne’, Soulja Boy, Keri Hilson and Usher among many others.

THE PRAIRIE CARTEL “WHERE DID ALL MY PEOPLE GO” RELEASED TODAY

On Long Nights, Impossible Odds

with distribution by Burnside & Ioda

Check out the Giorgio Moroder meets Modern Lovers groove of The Prairie Cartel’s “Cracktown” revisited by Hey Champ! On this mighty slick digitized visual delight.

Every so often a debut comes your way, and it’s possible to let it pass you by. Don’t let this one be one of those mistakes.

“Let it be said that I came dangerously close to not even playing this album. Somehow it made it into my car stereo – and I got into this album in a big way over the past few weeks.
Where Did All My People Go, has elements of The Prodigy (the good shit – the back half of Music For The Jilted Generation), LCD Soundsystem and moments of Kasabian and other recent UK Britpop acts. The Prairie Cartel have found a way to marry sublime vocals over interesting loops and beats in a way nobody else I’ve heard in the past few years has been able to.” -Fazer Magazine

“A mix between CSS and the Prodigy with the ubiquitous New Order influence present. From the get-go the band lets the listener know that its party time. “Keep Everybody Warm” has a bit of a Chemical Brothers vibe to it. The mood continues with “Homicide” which has all the panache LCD Soundsystem’s “Daft Punk is Playing at My House” and “Jump Like Chemicals” which sounds like a techno remix of Black Sabbath’s “Crazy Train”. -Surviving The Golden Age

“A Dirty freakout that bounces grimy guitar, throbbing beats and distant screeches off each other until your body can barely stand it.” -Chicago Tribune

Since today is record release day, this Chicago outfit are offering you some tasty disco biscuits from their sonically diverse, and slow-burning addictive debut Where Did All My People Go. First up, is our free mp3 download that truly captures the anarchy and spirit of a mid-western band giddy to wrap their electronics with the necks of their guitars.

Rearranged, and tweaked into near perfection this remix is courtesy of Chicago newcommers Bright Lights. Cheeky and fun crank this one up, grab it here and feel free to post!

DOWNLOAD NO LIGHT ESCPAES (BRIGHT LIGHTS REMIX) HERE

Another sizzling offering comes from the highly sought after Chicago duo Santiago and Bushido’s who’s tech house remix of Beautiful Shadow has been slammed in the local clubs and already a favorite from those who discovered it on the blogs. While Sensory overload says “For us they sound like the lead singer of The National fronting The Klaxons.” We think it’s David Gahan’s Personal Jesus roped in with some mighty fine tech-tinged house beats and laced with acid synths. There’s an undeniably organic sonic quality to their remix which pays tribute to the original version when the elements expand into spacier regions, but its core always remains punchy and solid.

What the Press Have been saying about The Prairie Cartel:

“Booming guitars freak out! A project both surprisingly accessible and disarmingly melodic. It’s about time!” -The Onion

“Raw, buzzsaw guitars grind against digital squeals and shouted choruses on “Suitcase Pimp” while tension builds in the hyper-local “Cracktown,” as it name-checks the grimy streets of Uptown. Elsewhere, the band flirts with melody over fuzz-laden riffs on “No Light Escapes Here” while pseudo-Primal Scream cover “Fuck Yeah That Wide” builds into a spastic, psychedelic freakout.” -Illinois Entertainer

“What sets The Prairie Cartel apart is an infusion of what we can only describe as the Midwestern work ethic into their tunes. The songs are solid, burly, and imposing in their approach. The members of The Prairie Cartel already have a long history crafting incredible rock and/or roll guitar hooks, so they meld that with their honest appreciation and manipulation of the dance genre to create a sonically monstrous hybrid. This flexibility, and intensity, mixed with the confident delivery of men certain of their pursuits, that makes Where Did All My People Go hold our attention for its duration, and it’s those things that send up to the turntable as the needle scratches towards the label, turn the record over, and play it all over again.” -Chicagoist

“The Prairie Cartel invokes what was great about the late 90s—industrial dance rock could top the charts, video games were gods, and we’d go anywhere as long as it meant we were out on Friday night. Gritty, tongue-in-cheek dancescapes. Sounds like: early NIN, The Faint, LCD Soundsystem.” -RCRD LBL

“An intelligent (and frankly quite talented) blend of high-energy electronic, dirty rock and unapologetic funk helps to create the soul of “Suitcase Pimp.” Lyrically, Chicago’s The Prairie Cartel seem to enjoy a lot of the same subject matter as fellow North-westerners, Electric Six. The music, however, is more pulse quickening. And while they’re not afraid to wear their dj roots on their sleeves; The Prairie Cartel uses it’s collective rock band past to create a danceable rock band future.” -The Daily Thread

The Prairie Cartel started as an excuse for Scott Lucas (Local H), Blake Smith and Mike Willison (both ex-Caviar) to do this in Mike’s basement while playing their favorite records. Albums on DFA, Matador, Wax Trax, Modular and Creation were all in heavy rotation during those dark months except when the whisky came out and it went all Ummagumma on them.

Where Did All My People Go is set for release on November 17th

Dada Life’s new single “Let’s Get Bleeped Tonight” featuring remixes by Tiesto, Don Rimini, Albin Meyers, Moguai, Mustard Pimp & Phatzoo is out today!

Buy their album Just Do The Dada at Insound and iTunes.

Download Simian Mobile Disco’s “Audacity of Huge” (Dada Life Remix) Here.

Dada Life is currently supporting Tiësto in North America
November 20 – Saltair – Salt Lake City, UT
?November 21 – Cow Palace – San Francisco, CA?
November 22 – Marquee Theater – Phoenix, AZ
?November 25 – Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA
November 27 – Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA
November 28 – Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA

“If you’re looking for something unconventional, off the beaten path, and very atypical for the mainstream scene, look no further than the gritty and dark electro sound of Dada Life”
Dance Music.About

“Most Underrated DJs” – Tiësto and Laidback Luke
DJ MAG

“Swedish DJ duo behind Dada Life bring a lot to the table”
URB

“Stutteringly implacable”
XLR8R

“Creates an overwhelming desire in the listener to hit the club dance floors”
Big Shot Magazine

“Balls out maximalist electronic music”
RCRD LBL

Toro Y Moi reveals details of debut full-length, Causers of This, due Feb. 2010

MP3: “Blessa”

Loney Dear
TORO Y MOI

Toro Y Moi (a.k.a. Columbia, South Carolina’s Chaz Bundick) is the sound the world has been waiting for. This multi-cultural juggernaut gathers up the best musical elements from around the globe- R&B, Indie Rock, Electronic Dance and Psychedelica -and creates something-freaking-else! Over the course of his first groundbreaking full length Causers Of This, Toro Y Moi turns the aforementioned musics upside-down with his breathtakingly innovative approach. The incendiary power of Toro Y Moi’s funky synth and guitar play, pumping digital rhythms and gorgeously bright vocal harmonies makes for a formidable combination. A soon to be masterpiece of a currently unnamed genre.

Bio:
Toro Y Moi is 23 year old Columbia, South Carolina native and resident Chaz Bundick. After earning a BFA in Graphic Design at The University of South Carolina, Chaz decided to push his music further now that he has more time on his hands. His mom came from the Phillipines to the United States, where she met her future husband (who’s African American) in college. They lived in New York City taking in all the wonderful cultural influences the city’s rising underground scene had to offer at the time (late 70s/early 80s). Deciding to slow down and be closer to family, they moved to Columbia, South Carolina where they had their first child…

Chaz Bundick’s methods are constantly changing and evolving. Heavily influenced by his parent’s vinyl and tape collection, he also possesses great admiration for contemporary influences like Animal Collective, Sonic Youth, J Dilla, and Daft Punk. Like most prepubescent teens, he had his punk band and once that died out, the “side project” soon became the main focus.

Toro y Moi started in 2001 as a bedroom project but quickly grew into the live performance realm. The songs are born from a plethora of different genres, from freak-folk to R&B to French House.

Before any full length album has been released, Toro Y Moi has already received praise from music websites like Pitchfork and Gorilla Vs. Bear as well as print features in the NME and Dazed and Confused.

TORO Y MOI

11/20 – Athens, GA 40 Watt *
11/25 – Charleston, SC Andolini’s Pizza #

* = w/ Washed Out
# = w/ Future Islands

tym
Toro Y Moi
Causers of This
(Carpark)
Street Date: Feb. 23, 2010

1. Blessa
2. Minors
3. Imprint After
4. Lissoms
5. Fax Shadow
6. Thanks Vision
7. Freak Love
8. Talamak
9. You Hid
10. Low Shoulders
11. Causers Of This

Best Buy Teams With Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre(TM) to Launch Club Beats(TM) November 19 New York City In-Store Experience Unveiled at Best Buy Union Square Beginning at 4pm, appearances from: Dr Dre, Jimmy Iovine, will.i.am, Major Lazer ft. Diplo, and David Guetta

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) today announced the introduction of Club Beats(TM), a new in-store destination created in partnership with Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre(TM), founded by legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records. As people continue to evolve their ways of consuming music, Club Beats provides a destination for consumers to learn how to create and individualize their listening experience. Launching in Best Buy stores nationwide, Club Beats provides customers with a backstage pass to the latest and greatest in entertainment technology, exclusive events, and access to today’s hottest music artists.

“Entertainment has long been the heart and soul of Best Buy. Our customers have always looked to us as a resource for music in a variety of formats,” said Brian Dunn, Best Buy’s CEO. “With Club Beats, the latest in sound quality and music technology will be available to all of our customers who want to bring music to life in a fresh way and unleash their inner DJ.”

Existing in concert with many Best Buy Musical Instrument stores, Club Beats offers a full service entertainment experience that encourages interaction with the latest and greatest in music, audio, entertainment and technology products including DJ equipment, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and in some locations, the newly introduced HP Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition laptop. Club Beats will be staffed by Best Buy’s Blue Shirt employees, who share a passion for music and are equipped with the tools and knowledge to help customers listen and create music in new ways.

Since launching the Beats by Dr. Dre headphone line in partnership with Monster, Dre and Iovine have set out to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. The Club Beats experience falls right in line with this mission by inviting customers into a unique environment to hear first-hand what they’ve been missing in music.

“Dre and I feel that Best Buy and Brian Dunn’s commitment to the quality of sound in music, along with their aggressive promotion and marketing of popular culture, makes this the perfect place to launch Club Beats,” said Iovine.

Head Monster Noel Lee noted: “At Monster, we’re fanatical about great sound and we’re committed to creating products that help people experience the best possible audio and get more enjoyment out of their music. We say ’sound really matters,’ because we believe that music really matters. Club Beats is a very exciting proposition, because it will allow people to explore the world of high-performance audio while at the same time discovering ways to get closer to the music and artists they love.”

Best Buy is kicking off the Club Beats experience by hosting several celebrations across the country with today’s top music talent, including:

November 13 – Miami Local DJs; major artist TBD
November 16 – Minneapolis LMFAO
November 17 – Houston Keri Hilson
November 19 – New York City Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, Will.i.am, David Guetta, Major Lazer and DJ Diplo
November 21 – Las Vegas Robin Thicke
November 23 – Los Angeles Lady Gaga

To learn more and obtain access to these and additional events, go to www.bestbuy.com/clubbeats
ABOUT BEST BUY CO., INC.

With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China and Mexico, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $45 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, The Carphone Warehouse, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star,Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, Pacific Sales, The Phone House, and Speakeasy. Approximately 155,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in its communities. Community partnership is central to the way business is done at Best Buy. In fiscal 2009, Best Buy donated a combined $33.4 million to improve the vitality of the communities where its employees and customers live and work.

WIZ KHALIFA DROPS NEW SINGLE “GOODBYE” OFF OF “DEAL OR NO DEAL” IN STORES NOV. 24TH
ANGELA YEE & COMBAT JACK TO HOST NYC RELEASE PARTY, TROUBLE ANDREW & NINJASONIK ADDED TO BILL

As Wiz khalifa prepares for the Nov. 24th street date of his new album “Deal Or No Deal” on Rostrum Records, FrankRadio and iHipHop Distribution, the buzz surrounding his music continues to build. Check out the new single “Goodbye,” produced by Juliano. The track hits hard, and carries the stamp of Wiz’s signature sound:

Listen Here

Be sure to Pre-Order “Deal Or No Deal” below on iTunes and support real hip-hop. Also, if you’re going to be in New York, buy tickets now for the “Deal Or No Deal” Release Party at the Highline Ballroom on November 24th. With Angela Yee (Sirius XM) and Combat Jack (XXL) to host, and Trouble Andrew and Ninjasonik added to the bill, the event promises to be truly one-of-a-kind.

Visionary, Hyper-Creative iLL-Literacy Crew Prepared To Change The Way You Listen To Music iLL-Literacy Releases First Chapter Of Three-Part iB4the1

Short on attention span but long in ultra-creative, psychedelic rhymes, Oakland trio iLL-Literacy has some ambitious plans for the next few months. iLL-Lit is aiming to reshape not only the way that music is made but the way it’s distributed. Emcees Drizzleton, Dahlak, and N.I.C. are proud to release the first part of three “chapters” for their new album iB4the1 (pronounced I Before The 1). Confused? Don’t be. It’s just the future.

iLL-Literacy will be releasing iB4the1 in three chapters. The first, Chapter 1 (iB4the1.1), is available today. Because iLL-Literacy believes that traditional means of marketing and distribution have become obsolete, they are releasing all three chapters for free on their website (www.ill-literacy.com). In an effort to further obliterate the mold, iLL-Lit has partnered with street fashion legend C+ Jewelry to create USBiLL (pronounced “Us Be iLL”), a line of custom limited edition flash drives. A convenient and reusable alternative to CDs, USBiLL will be the primary physical form of the complete iB4the1 trilogy of releases.

iB4the1 may be their debut “album,” but the members of iLL-Literacy have known each other since birth and it shines through on their tracks. They boast a fully formed vision and aesthetic that few groups, especially young groups, can match. When asked about iB4the1.1, Drizzleton described it as an epic. He postulates that the ideal listening context for Chapter 1 would be on “either a short car drive… or upon the back of a spiny-toothed wombat in Africa, while watching Planet Earth on mute.”

In case you were somehow still worried that the iLL-Literate trio was lacking in ambition, allow Dahlak to describe Chapter 1: “Despite its brevity, .1 is grand in its effort to bridge sampled voice and original instrumentation, experimental music, and hip-hop narrative. The sound of iLL-Literacy draws character from an unusual blend of influences, spanning funk, afro beat, alternative, soul, and of course hip-hop. This is iLL-Literacy before the start. The prequel to the saga. iLL-Lit before the One. Take that how you want.”

Download iLL-Literacy’s iB4the1.1 here

The Background:

For musicians today, a record deal can be like a used car; it might get you from point A to point B, but most likely the salesman took your money and poured sawdust in the transmission. Fortunately, while the industry is gridlocked in filesharing, the members of iLL-Literacy can teleport. And by teleport, they mean “make music that would inspire passionate love with a Silverback gorilla… if it was socially acceptable.” Enter the world of digitiLL funk – an ever-expanding sonic universe piecemealed together by the ever-shrinking attention span of Oakland trio iLL-Literacy. Members Dahlak, Drizzletron, and N.I.C have known each other since birth, and since then have been mutating words and sounds, invading concert halls, off-Broadway stages, and college arenas throughout North America and Europe and infiltrating networks from HBO, MTV and beyond. Toggling between daydream and full-blown hallucination, the result is iLL-Literacy’s first record, iB4the1 (”I Before The One”). Colliding influences from afrobeat and hip-hop as much as Plato and X-Men, their freshman effort plays more like the soundtrack for a never-ending shroom-trip than a standard rap album. It pays homage to a wide range of inspirations, while constantly reaching for the new. From a record that is political in scope but never heavy-handed to an intersecting live show that can boast life-size Lego-men, iLL-Literacy is both a product of its time, and a defining feature. The first chapter of the forthcoming album, IB4the1, IB4the1.1 is available now.