Tag: KRS One

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RAKAA (OF DILATED PEOPLES) ANNOUNCES DEBUT SOLO ALBUM CROWN OF THORNS TO BE RELEASED ON DECON PRODUCED BY EVIDENCE, DJ BABU, THE ALCHEMIST & MORE APPEARANCES BY CHALI 2NA, KRS-ONE, ALOE BLACC, TIGER JK, TASHA (AKA YOON MI RAE) & MORE

RAKAA (OF DILATED PEOPLES) ANNOUNCES DEBUT SOLO ALBUM CROWN OF THORNS TO BE RELEASED ON DECON PRODUCED BY EVIDENCE, DJ BABU, THE ALCHEMIST & MORE APPEARANCES BY CHALI 2NA, KRS-ONE, ALOE BLACC, TIGER JK, TASHA (AKA YOON MI RAE) & MORE

Rakaa Iriscience, one third of world-renowned hip-hop crew Dilated Peoples is releasing Crown of Thorns, his debut solo album after four albums with his group and numerous guest spots, on July 20, 2010 via Decon Records. Produced by fellow members Evidence and DJ Babu with guest production by The Alchemist, El-P, !llmind, Exile, Sid Roams, King Jahzzy, and Eric Bobo & DJ Rhettmatic, Crown of Thorns is the sonic prism that has absorbed the myriad cultures taken in by the travelling emcee and reflected them back in the form of a groundbreaking debut.

The record features a stripped down aesthetic that carries through the duration of the debut, a refreshing minimalism that manifests itself as a unique soundscape. Rakaa’s newfound unlimited lyrical license allows him to fully expand on his heavily conscious ideas about socio-political issues, relationships, family and culture. It’s not an overstatement to say that Rakaa’s whole life has, consciously or not, gone into the production of this album. “This record is my opportunity to give context so people understand more what I’m trying to do,” says the emcee. “It’s the first time I’m really making a conscious decision to sit down and let somebody come into my house, and after all of this time, I’m welcoming all guests.”Some of those guests include, Defari, Chali 2na, Fashawn, Aloe Blacc, and the legendary KRS-ONE.

Rakaa builds bridges with the international scene on the dj honda produced track entitled “Ambassador Slang”. The song features some of the top Asian-Pacific Islander artists in the world, including Roscoe Umali and Korean lyrical heavyweights Tasha (aka Yoon Mi Rae), Tiger JK (Drunken Tiger), and Tablo and Mithra Jin (both of Epik High). On the title track “Crown Of Thorns” Rakaa traces his musical history and looks toward hip hop’s future, commenting “Ev told me I could be more Emo / Then I just laughed and said, ‘Fuck that we need more Premo!'”, while Aloe Blacc’s soulful singing carries the hook.

Rakaa’s music career started soon after joining the New York based hip-hop collective Rock Steady Crew as a graffiti artist and MC. He helped found their L.A. chapter and subsequently joined the Universal Zulu Nation. After a series of educational label experiences, Rakaa and partner-in-rhyme Evidence released 1997’s underground classic single “Third Degree” before adding Babu to the ranks. Since then, the team known as Dilated Peoples have put out a series of critically acclaimed albums and developed an international reputation for live performances. Rakaa stays busy traveling around the world hosting events such as the Red Bull BC One (in Johannesburg and Paris) and the R16 (in Incheon, Korea), destroying a variety of studio booths, “chipping away at [his] black belt” in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and attending school as a full-time advertising student.

Crown of Thorns proves that Rakaa can stand alone in the spotlight and deliver his fans the music they’ve been waiting for.

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GRAMMY AWARD WINNING PRODUCER DOC ISH TO RELEASE THE FIRST TREATMENT THE FIRST TREATMENT WILL BE RELASED ON MAY 11th, 2010

GRAMMY AWARD WINNING PRODUCER DOC ISH TO RELEASE THE FIRST TREATMENT THE FIRST TREATMENT WILL BE RELASED ON MAY 11th, 2010

Star-Studded LP Features Appearances From Jay Electronica, Joe Budden, Crooked I, Sean Price, Joell Ortiz, Talib Kweli, Bun B, Max B, Saigon, Nipsey Hussle, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Buckshot, Bizarre and many more

A bit of a transient, Doc Ish is from a little bit of everywhere. Born in Dallas, TX, then onto places such as Virginia, and Brooklyn NY and everywhere in between, it has been Hartford, CN that Doc has always returned to and calls home. Doc signed his first deal as a senior in High-School and soon thereafter moved to NY where he was introduced to a slew of industry talents and had the opportunity to work with artists such Heavy D, Kurupt and Foxy Brown to name a few.

Since then, Doc has lost a lot of time, “years,” in regards to his music career. For years, he was jumping from doctor to doctor, hospital to hospital, trying to figure out why his health would take such dramatic shifts and leave him in an almost debilitating state. Lying in hospital beds, with nothing but time on his hands while his various health problems were both diagnosed and treated, Doc’s health eventually got better and when it did, so did his hunger for making music. When Doc re-entered the scene in 2008, he did so with a renewed vigor and his networking lead to meetings with various artists, one of which, D-12’s Bizarre, would eventually change his world as he then knew it upside down. After recording sessions with Bizarre, Doc received a call from him that a certain Detroit superstar heard one of his tracks and immediately gravitated to it. That track was what you know as “We Made You” the lead-single from Eminem’s Grammy award winning LP Relapse, which has since gone 2X Platinum and re-vaulted Eminem back into the national spotlight after a five-year hiatus.

Despite the overwhelming changes that have occurred since “We Made You” hit the masses, Doc Ish has remained humble and hungry throughout the process and is determined to capitalize on the opportunity and use it as a stepping-stone. The timing and subsequent spotlight that has been affixed to Doc’s back ever since was ideal for the forthcoming release of Doc Ish Presents: The First Treatment which will be released on 5-11-2010.

The First Treatment includes a collection of iconic and legendary emcees that would make a major label blush, let alone one of an Independent nature. While “Cut My Throat” f/Saigon, INS Deck, Ransom and Quan has already made an immediate impact on the urban blogosphere, fans are already salivating over the LP’s assortment of talent and eagerly awaiting to hear tracks such as the dream-team pairings of Jay Electronica, Crooked I & Sean Price (“She Did It Again”) and Bun B, Joe Budden and Talib Kweli on “Is It A Dream.”

Doc Ish believes that music is cathartic and creating this project proves as much and The First Treatment is the next step in curing Hip-Hop’s ailments.

Tracklisting and credits for Doc Ish Presents: The First Treatment:

1.) “Hi Kids” f/ Joell Ortiz
2.) “No Goodbye’s” f/ Apollo Swyf & Burroughs
3.) “Animal Grammar” f/ KRS-One & Burroughs
4.) “She Did It Again” f/ Crooked I, Sean Price, Jay Electronica & Novel
5.) “These Streets” f/ Max B, Red Cafe, Quan
6.) “Cut My Throat ” f/ Ransom, Quan, Saigon & INS Deck
7.) “Who You Are” f/ AZ & Charmange
8.) “Is It A Dream” f/ Joe Budden, Talib Kweli & Bun B
9.) “Open Your Eyez” f/ Termanalogy & Hectic
10.) “Stalker” feat. Bizarre (of D-12)
11.) “Make Movez” f/ Buckshot, Rock (Heltah Skeltah) & Colloso
12.) “Untitled” feat. Nipsey Hussle & Mya
13.) “War Outside” feat. King Gordy, Kool G Rap & Billy Danze (M.O.P.)
14.) “Skys Are Grey” feat. Quan, Oddisee & Nature
15.) “You Make Me Stronger” Kool G Rap & Ma Barker
16.) “Mo Money” Uncle Murder
17.) “FOH” ” f/ The Abnormals
18.) “Freestyle” f/ Supernatural

***All Tracks Produced By Doc Ish

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CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED GRAFFITI ART DOCUMENTARY BOMB IT LAUNCHES ON BABELGUM.COM APPEARING ON BABELGUM’S METROPOLIS CHANNEL, DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SHEPARD FAIREY, KRS-ONE, REVOK AND MORE

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED GRAFFITI ART DOCUMENTARY BOMB IT LAUNCHES ON BABELGUM.COM APPEARING ON BABELGUM’S METROPOLIS CHANNEL, DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SHEPARD FAIREY, KRS-ONE, REVOK AND MORE

Watch FULL movie here: http://www.babelgum.com/4002581/bomb-the-movie.html

New York / London – Independent web and mobile video content platform Babelgum (http://www.babelgum.com) will offer director John Reiss’ film documentary about the history of the international graffiti scene, BOMB IT, free-to-view online exclusively on Babelgum’s site (http://www.babelgum.com/bombit). The full-length documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and has screened at over 20 other festivals including Full Frame Doc Fest, will be available to watch on Babelgum’s Metropolis Channel, which is dedicated to showcasing videos about art, urban culture and trends.

Named one of Daily Variety’s “Ten Digital Directors To Watch” John Reiss’s BOMB IT tells the story of graffiti through interviews and guerilla footage of graffiti writers in action following the movement as it paints the globe from Paris to Sao Paolo and Los Angeles to Cape Town. Featuring old school legends and current favorites such as Taki 183, Cornbread, Stay High 149, T-Kid, Cope 2, Zephyr, Revs, Os Gemeos, KET, Chino, Shepard Fairey, Revok, and Mear One. This cutting edge documentary tracks down today’s most innovative and pervasive street artists as they battle for control over the urban visual landscape.

In addition to premiering the full-length documentary film online, Babelgum is debuting exclusive shorts produced for Babelgum by director John Reiss. The pieces spotlight renowned graffiti artists both new and as seen in the film available to view now (http://www.balbegum.com/bombit).

Director Is Available For Interviews.

About Babelgum (www.babelgum.com)
Babelgum is an integrated web and mobile video content platform free for users and supported by advertising available on-demand to a global audience. Babelgum Mobile is an original application currently available in the United States, UK, Italy, Germany, France and Spain which brings regionally tailored programming to smart phones – at present iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, Google Android G-Phones 1 and 2, Nokia (N96, N95 and 6210) – via 3G and WiFi.
Positioned between user generated video hubs and network TV-oriented destinations, Babelgum focuses on the third part of the ecosystem: innovative, professionally produced content on very specific passions – music, comedy, film, urban culture, nature and the environment – curated by experts in their fields. Babelgum’s programming is comprised of exclusive original productions as well as independent and mainstream titles. Babelgum’s content partners include, among others, EMI, Sony BMG, the New York Times, PBS, BBC, VBS, Lonely Planet, Coolhunting, National Geographic, Funny or Die, T5M, Shine Limited, Cinetic Rights Management, Content Republic, Gong Anime, The Workbook Project, Cinelan, Power to the Pixel and Off the Fence as well as the Encounters, Los Angeles, and Hamptons film festivals.
The company has also set up a series of online contests to nurture independent film, music and art talent: the Babelgum Online Film Festival, the Babelgum Music Video Awards and the Babelgum Metropolis Art Prize chaired respectively by Spike Lee, Michel Gondry and Isabella Rossellini. Babelgum is an independent and privately held company with offices in the United States, UK, Ireland, France and Italy.

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KRS ONE, DJ Premier. Tickets available at Fat Beats New York

KRS ONE, DJ Premier. Tickets available at Fat Beats New York

The headliners of the Main Performance Day of the 2008 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival have finally been announced. Legendary MC KRS ONE and DJ Premier will be leading the charge this year on July 12th along with Brooklyn’s own Buckshot.

KRS ONE is widely recognized as one of the greatest MC’s of all time with a career spanning over two decades. From ‘Criminal Minded’ to ‘Edutainment’ to ‘Return Of The Boom Bap’ KRS has delivered hit after genre defining hit. Also known as ‘The Teacha’ KRS has served as Hip-Hop’s conscious and intellectual barometer while earning respect from every corner of the Hip-Hop Nation. This summer KRS will be re-launching the Stop The Violence Movement, his initiative to combat inner city violence. Brooklyn Bodega and The Brooklyn Hip- Hop Festival will also be working with the Stop The Violence Movement on their Summer calendar.

DJ Premier is one of the most celebrated and accomplished DJ’s and producers in Hip-Hop. From Gangstarr to Nas to Jay Z to Janet Jackson to MOP to Dilated Peoples Premier has been a cornerstone of the culture. He has influenced a generation of beat makers with his trademark style and staying power. Premier’s ability to make hits for pop stars, rap stars, trap stars and backpackers has made him one of the most sought after names in the business.

“I have always maintained that KRS ONE is the greatest MC of all time. Content, lyricism, cultural impact, longevity. There is no one better. KRS’s views on metaphysics and philosophy which birthed the once controversial statement, ‘I am Hip-Hop’ shaped my view of the culture and my place within it. It was Kris who told us that one day there would be a Hip- Hop president and here we are with Barack Obama who is a fan of [Jay Z’s] ‘American Gangster.’ The addition of Kris and Primo to this year’s lineup is a great honor and a personal pleasure,” Wes Jackson, BHF Executive Director.

Mr. Jackson also went on to say that the remaining lineup and details on additional events on July 11th and the official after party on July 12th will be released next week.

Tickets for July 12th are available online at www.brooklyn bodega.com as well as Fat Beats
406 Ave Of The Americas (6th Ave between 8th and 9th Streets) in Manhattan.
More official BHF retailers will be announced next week on June 2nd.

Tickets for July 10th at the Masonic Lodge with Bilal and Ladybug Mecca are also available at www.masonicboom.com

The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival 2008 calendar:

July 10th at the Masonic Lodge in Fort Greene, Brooklyn
July 11th in DUMBO, venue and talent TBA
July 12th Main Day including Brooklyn Hip-Hop Family Day
July 12th Official after party

KRS-One’s son commits suicide

Randy Hubbard Parker, the 23-year-old stepson of KRS-One, was found dead in his Atlanta apartment this past weekend. The Fulton Country Medical Examiner’s office said he died on Friday of a gunshot wound to the head in an apparent act of suicide. According to his mother, Simone G. Parker, Randy suffered from “severe depression.”

A private memorial will be held on July 18th, on what would have been his 24th birthday.

RIP