The D-Madness Project - Victory Grill - September 30, 2006

Thanks to Paradox for lettin' us know about The D-Madness Project this Saturday, Sept. 30th at Victory Grill at 9pm. It'll be a good show...

OK back to work for me...

Oh yeah... Happy Birthday Buulinh!

The Gathering - Emo's Lounge - September 28, 2006

Check the flyer... sorry... but too much work.

Mojoe - KVRX - October 1, 2006

Mojoe... they're a couple of smooth operators. I'm really diggin' these cats. Check out some of their music. Very mellow... very chill. Too bad their not having a show... but they'll be on 91.7 KVRX the UT student radio on Oct. 1st at 8pm for an interview and performance. Gotta check them out!

So my coworker's wife has this saying... "Make great things happen!"... well... I just had a green tea latte and it's not really agreeing with me... so I'm about to make a great thing happen... I'll let you know how it goes! Woohoo... Game Boy time!

More info:

Easy Lee (Charles Peters) and Tre (Treson Scipio) are MOJOE, a duo that has often described itself as The Roots meet OutKast over dinner with Marvin Gaye at DAngelos house. Thats a party that anyone in their right mind would want to attend, a free-form jam with only the tastiest beats, rhymes, and harmonies, not to mention words and emotions that truly echo the barometer of urban life. MOJOE channels that spirit with Classic.Ghetto.Soul., a timeless showcase of its sumptuous blend of worldwise poetry, sweet soul melodies and harmonies, reverent blues and jazz, and Dirty South hip-hop.

8 Million Stories - Houlihan's - September 29, 2006

Hot! Stretched out on a red couch... doesn't get any better than that. Tameca... I've got a nice couch you can lounge on... ;) 8 Million Stories are gonna be at Houlihan's on Sept 29th at 9pm. Never been there... someone wanna be my date? ;)

OK... I'm finally gonna come out with it... I play video games on the porcelain throne... currently I'm playing Castlevania on the Game Boy Advance... I'm kinda stuck at the lava/fire stage... anyone got any tips... lemme know...

hmm... the game records how many hours you've played... I bet I could tell you how many hours I've been on the toilet... ;)

More info:

There are eight million stories in the city, this is one of them...

Actually there are ten stories on 8 million stories first full-length release. The band's self-titled CD mixes great songwriting and musicianship with grooving dance music.

Classifying 8 million stories sound is difficult. Currently they hold the ..1 un-signed band in the Neo-Soul genre on the multi-million member phenomenon that is Myspace.

That moniker in no way encompasses the music. Gathering from the musicians roots in rock, hip-hop, soul, jazz, and even country, their love for pop music has helped them offer up some very original ear candy.

Lead vocalist, Tameca Jones, has been compared to Erykah Badu, Nikka Costa, Joss Stone, and Billie Holiday, but she has definitely left her own mark. Her lyrics are literary prizes by themselves, offering rich imagery and uplifting energy. Tameca Jones is one gifted entertainer. Not only will her vocals give you chill bumps, her banter will laugh you out of your seat.

Bavu Blakes - Emo's Lounge - October 8, 2006

Looks like another good show at Emo's Lounge anointed by me as the hip hop hot spot... Mr. Blakes, DJ Curly Q, Zeale 32, Poetic Asylum, D.O.S., and SHSM (who is this?!?) on Oct. 8th. That's a tight line up right?!?

So going to Spain, Madrid and Barcelona, in a couple weeks... with a stop in Amsterdam... hell f*ckin yeah... so anyone have tips on where to go, what to do, what hostels to stay in? Lemme know...

Zeale 32 - Firehouse Lounge - September 28, 2006

Fresh show at Firehouse Lounge with Zeale 32 and Phranchyze 1 on Thursday, September 28th. It better be fresh... what with being sponsored by Axe and all... blah... sorry that was lame...

Man... no desire to write... I think I've got ACL withdrawals... blah...



More info:

After winning a freestyle battle during Babygrandes showcase at the South by Southwest music festival, undecided sophomore Valin Zamarron signed a single deal with the record label.

In the world of underground hip-hop, beats and rhymes are not just sequenced rhythms they are a way of life.

Subscribing to the philosophy that rap is something you do, hip-hop is something you live, emcees do not define hip-hop strictly as a form of music; rather, it is a form of expression that defines them.

National freestyle champion, emcee and Texas State undecided sophomore, Valin J. Zamarron, aka Zeale 32, believes that hip-hop lives and breathes with the people.

Wyclef Jean - Southwestern University - September 21, 2006

Ebun... you're a pimp! Thanks again for another great find. Alright pimps and hos... Wyclef Jean coming to Southwestern University on Sept. 21st at 8pm. Tix are $15... get them here. Awesome of him to make a stop on his way to Shakira show the following day in San Antonio.

More info:

Nelust Wyclef Jean (IPA pronunciation: [ˈʍaɪ.klɛf dʒɑn]) (born October 17, 1972, in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti) is an American rapper, reggae artist, producer, and member of the superstar hip hop trio The Fugees, known now for a series of high-profile hit singles in the 1990s.

Jean moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was nine, then to Northern New Jersey, where he began playing the guitar and studying jazz in his mostly-black high school. In 1987, Jean, his friend (so close they told people they were cousins growing up) Prakazrel Michel (Pras) and his classmate, Lauryn Hill, formed a group called the Tranzlator Crew before becoming The Fugees. Wyclef worked as a cabdriver.

ChickenManner - Plush - September 23, 2006

Whoa... what a crazy most magnificent weekend! But let's take care of party matters first... ChickenManners... Table Manners Crew remixing the regular Saturday nights at Plush with a little Chicken soup. Sure to be a poppin' show.

So back to this weekend... all I can say is whoa... so Thursday night Ellen (I love you grrl), Judy and Javed roll in... and we check out Plush and Beauty Bar... meeting up with Anjali and Jamie (Happy 21st man)... that was the first time I'd been back to Plush since being hit on by a mother of an 18 yr old daughter who tried to drug me with valium... not good...

then Friday night was the bomb... ACL fest was insane... Gnarls Barkley and Thievery Corporation just rocked it... and the night we added in Jimmy, Sarah (you're a bundle of giggles), and Mike... and we hit up Tats at the Whiskey Bar... definitely the most fun in a long time... and running into Romeo and the B-Boys is always a pleasure...

Saturday at ACL we caught The Secret Machines (awesome)... The Shins (eh...)... The Raconteurs (tore that shit up)... Explosions in the Sky (wow... feels like your rollin)... and Massive Attack (Pavan... you made it on the jumbo tron)... then back to the Beauty Bar... for some more fun... oh so tired...

Sunday came and we were spent... no ACL for me... but still made it to the Damian Marley Move Tour... what a show! I just gotta say B-Girls are hot!

Good time... actually... Great times...

Damian Marley - Move Tour - September 17, 2006

BUMP: For Romeo, Santos, and the Austin B-Boys and B-Girls... oh yeah... and Ernie... take care buddy.

UPDATE: Here's the cool flyer... so the party's gonna be at Bourbon Rocks... and check the flyer for more info!















Feelin' pretty proud of myself right now... until someone knocks me down... which is sure to happen. ;)

So ya'll remember Romeo mentioning at the Planet Rock Party that B-Boy City was throwin' another party next month with Damian Marley!?! So I did some diggin' around and found out that Damian Marley is part of the Move Tour which is a nationwide dance competition (so if you think you got some moves... then sign up)... the show'll be Sept 17th somewhere... more details as I get it... this is the same day that Damian will be here for ACL Fest (I can't wait).

Now there are 2 places that confirm this data here (the Google cache that I dug up) and here.

Get ready to Jamrock!

Check out the promotional video... it's sick!



More info:

July 21, 1978 in Kingston, Jamaica), is a Grammy-winning reggae artist and is the youngest male child (or 'veteran', as stated in the song "Me Name Jr. Gong") of reggae legend Bob Marley, and the only child born to Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1976. Damian's nickname is Junior Gong which is derived from his father's nickname of Tuff Gong. Damian has been performing since the age of 13. He shares with most of the Marley family a full-time career in music. Unlike his brothers and sisters, however, his musical specialty is "DJing", the Jamaican style of "rapping".

Tupac Shakur - R.I.P. - September 13, 1996

More info:

Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rap artist, actor, and poet. He was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling rap/hip-hop artist ever, having sold over 73 million albums worldwide[2], including over 44.5 million sales in the United States alone[3]. Most of Shakur's songs are about growing up around violence and hardship in ghettos, racism, and sometimes his feuds with fellow rappers. Tupac is known for the political, economic, and racial equality messages in a lot of his work. He has been ranked by many fans, critics, and industry insiders as the greatest rapper ever.

Meltdown - Austin Music Hall - October 19, 2006

Alright... Alright... I know you're like Natalie?!? WTF?!? Let me explain... one... she's from my hometown... Clear Lake... two... she's hot... and three... I couldn't pass up the chance to post a Final Fantasy video. ;)

Hot 93.3 Meltdown featuring Dem Franchize Boyz, Chamillionaire, Chingo Bling, and Natalie. at Austin Music Hall on Oct. 19th.

Big dinner... feelin' full... time to hit the restroom... "I feel a little poke comin' throoooogh... on youuuuu"... ;)


More info:

Natalie's parents, Joe and Belinda, are both of Mexican descent. She has two sisters, Jackie and Melinda, and one brother, Josh. She found her big break through rapping, being discovered by a talent director at a club. She was previously a cheerleader for the Houston Rockets NBA team and also danced backup for artists Frankie J and Baby Bash.

Natalie made her debut as a singer with her hit 2005 single "Goin' Crazy"; the song reached #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Her self-titled debut album Natalie was released in May 2005 and reached #16 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. Her second single from the album, "Energy" (featuring Baby Bash), peaked at #36. Natalie has also collaborated with Baby Bash on the songs "Bubbalicious" and "Throwed Off" from his 2005 album Super Saucy. She joined the Latium World Tour with Baby Bash and Frankie J in 2005. She also has appeared on Chamillionaire's The Sound of Revenge in the song "Think I'm Crazy". Natalie is currently working on her new album, "Everything New". It is expected to be released on September 19, 2006. Along with a new album, she has a new hair color; it is now blonde. The first single of "Everything New" is "What You Gonna Do" with the latter featuring Bun B. The second single is "Love You So."

Zion I & The Grouch - Emo's Lounge - November 1, 2006

Ooooo... now you cats are gonna like this one! No doubt rollin' through town to promote their upcoming album "Heroes in the City of Dope." Zion I & The Grouch are comin' to Emo's Lounge on Nov. 1st! Same day as P.O.S. Sorry, but I think I'll be hittin' this show. ;) Get your tix here.

Ya'll peeps gettin' excited about ACL Fest?!? So it looks like it might rain this weekend... so I'm hopin' all the grrrls will be wearing white tees... or nothin' at all... OK Anjali! ;)


More info:

The duo's musical roots stem back to early childhood. Amp Live began reassembling his family's radios at a young age, and soon began to play musical instruments like the drums and piano. He started crafting beats in his high school years, finding inspiration in a number of musical genres. Zion became fascinated by Hip Hop in its early stages, songs like "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow and "Rock Box" by Run-D.M.C. got him hooked on the budding culture. He has said that Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest gave him lyrical inspiration, originally feeling that his unique vocal tone and style wouldn't be accepted. Zion wrote his first rhyme around 1990 during one of his Social Studies classes in High School. After continuing his writing, he gained the confidence to start rapping in local ciphers and began learning about critical aspects of rapping, like breath control, cadences and rhyme patterns. In 1991, Zion and Amp joined up with two other MC's to form a group called Metufour, and signed a deal with Tommy Boy Records. Their independent musical style wasn't what the label was looking for, causing the two to leave the group and the label.

P.O.S. - Emo's - November 1, 2006

Thanks Crystal for letting us know what's up at Emo's on Nov. 1st! P.O.S. hittin' the stage! Show starts at 10pm... cop your tix here.

She swears he was the greatest performer at SXSW.

Depression setting in... come back Vince...



More info:

P.O.S. (born Stefon Alexander), is a rapper signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment and a founding member of Doomtree.

P.O.S. began as a punk rock musician. In high school, Alexander and his friends played punk shows in a band called "Om," in which he first came to be referred to as "Pissed Off Stef." The abbreviation has taken on various and indefinite meanings since, including "Product Of Society", "Promise Of Stress", "Promise Of Skill" and "Piece Of Shit".

At first hostile to hip-hop, as many of his fellow rock musicians were, Alexander soon realized that rap was an alternative, valid method of expression. He began creating music that was increasingly influenced by the genre, despite having very little respect for mainstream rap.

Sqratch Karnival 10 - Austin Music Lab - September 15, 2006

Think you can mix it up on the ones and twos? Wanna show off your skillz? or just watch some peeps scratch something other than their nuttz... It's been awhile but... Sqratch Karnival X is coming Sept. 15th at the Austin Music Lab. A lot of competition that weekend with ACL Fest and all but definitely check it out if you can.

Weeks been rough yo... lab issues like crazy... first our lab's power blows up... literally... no joke... and whatever happened killed our switches... network issues for like two days now... insane.

Remember the DJ Q-bert show way back when...



More info:

Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique originated by Grand Wizard Theodore, an early hip hop DJ from New York (AMG). Theodore developed scratching from DJ Grandmaster Flash, who describes scratching as, "nothing but the back-cueing that you hear in your ear before you push it [the recorded sound] out to the crowd." (Toop, 1991) Kool Herc was also an important early figure. The technique is designed to accentuate the work of the DJ by creating an assortment of sounds through the rhythmical manipulation of a vinyl record, and has spread from hip hop culture to a number of other musical forms. Within hip hop culture, scratching is still of great importance in determining the skill of a DJ, and a number of competitions are held across the globe in which DJs battle one another in displays of great virtuosity.

Lady Sovereign - The Parish - November 23, 2006

Some one get this grrrl a real f**kin' booking agent!!! I mean come on... Thanksgiving Thursday!?! For real! I've been trying for a while to catch her show... and now this? Anyways... Lady Sovereign so impressed Jay-Z that he signed her to his label... now that's some sh*t. Gotta wonder what the new sound will be from their collabo.

I will no doubt be in Houston visiting the fam... but if you're in town, definitely try to check out Lady Sovereign at The Parish on Nov. 23rd.

More info:

Lady Sovereign was raised primarily on the Chalkhill Estate (a council housing estate in North-West London) and though she dropped out of school with no qualifications, she has become one of the UK's very few white female MCs, often cited as part of the rising British grime scene. Lady Sovereign cites Ms. Dynamite as an influence and has supported The Streets, Obie Trice, Dizzee Rascal and Basement Jaxx on tour.

She signed to Island Def Jam Music Group in 2005, after impressing Def Jam Recordings president and CEO, Jay-Z and The Island Def Jam Music Group chairman Antonio L.A. Reid. She is expected to release a studio album on October 3, 2006.

Jedi Mind Tricks - Emo's Lounge - October 19, 2006

Jedi Mind Tricks definitely goes under the "I've heard of them, but never really got into them." Mainly because I didn't take the time to know them (so bittorrent here I come... j/k Austin Hip-Hop Scene advocates supporting your artists ;) ... but I'm still goin' to the show if I can!

Jedi Mind Tricks comin' to Emo's Lounge on Oct. 19th. At the show will also be R.A. the Rugged Man, Outerspace, and our very own Dubb Sicks.

Still recovering from the weekend... hope ya'll had a good one!



More info:

Jedi Mind Tricks (JMT) are an underground hip-hop duo from Philadelphia. The duo is composed of high school friends Vinnie Paz (born Vincenzo Luvineri, formerly known as Ikon the Verbal Hologram) as rapper and Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind (born Kevin Baldwin) as producer and DJ. The group is known for Stoupe's unique production and Vinnie's edgy — though often blatantly offensive — lyrics, as well a long list of collaborations with both regional underground peers and rap veterans, including Kool G Rap, Heltah Skeltah, Ras Kass, Canibus, Killah Priest, and GZA.
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D-Madness - Ruta Maya - September 21, 2006

What a bomb ass weekend! We'll get to that a little later... but First things first, I poppa... Austin's Legends D-Madness, World Trade (Bavu and Element7d), and DJ Phyfteen will be celebrating Nookie Coltrane's birthday on Sept 21st at Ruta Maya's.

Also, don't forget to check out D-Madness at the Rockin' Tomato Pizza Company on South Lamar this Wednesday, Sept. 6th. Now if we could only get those "special" pizza toppings. ;)

So back to the weekend... so it all started with the Rakim show... definitely the best show of the year! Ebun... better watch it tryin' to get down with that stash in your pants. ;) Then the RJD2 show last night which I heard was larger than the Cut Chemist show. The visuals were just trippy... but what was up with that encore performance?!? That was just weird.

More info:

Lorenzo Dwayne Jackson’s lifelong mission to bring the noise began at the tender age of three. He marched into a church choir rehearsal in his living room, sat himself down at the drum kit and insisted he be allowed to play. His father surrendered a pair of drum sticks, young D refused to put them down, and so it began. By age five D had earned a spot in the drummers’ rotation at Full Gospel Holy Temple Church in Dallas, Texas. When Dwayne relocated to Austin at age eight to attend the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, his early talent was recognized and he was accelerated into a music program with older children. Soon D was playing violin in orchestra, baritone and trombone in marching band, bass in jazz band and keyboards on the side.

Southside Sunday - Antone's - September 17, 2006

Update: It's not James Dean that throwing the shows... but in fact, Dat Boy Mikee.

Now this is interesting... checked out our venerable Antone's today and guess what I saw? Two shows called Southside Sunday on consecutive Sundays... Sept 17th and Sept 24th. I can only guess who might be behind this... let's put the clues together... Hip Hop Sunday (clue 1) and Houston rappers (clue 2)... all in conjunction with the closing of The Back Room. Could this be the triumphant comeback of James Dean?!? Inquiring minds want to know... so Dean hit us up!

• Sept 17th: E.S.G. and Big D
  
  
• Sept 24th: Lil' Keke, Billy Cook, Big D
  

More info:

E.S.G. (born Cedric Hill) is a rapper from Houston, Texas (though he was born in Louisiana and moved to Houston later in life) who trailblazed through the late-'90s movement and helped popularize the "Screwed and Chopped" which was created by DJ Screw and a style associated with his onetime home, Wreckshop Records. The "Everyday Street Gangsta" made his first major move in 1995 when Perrion Entertainment released "Ocean of Funk", which featured his breakthrough single, "Swangin' and Bangin'" and its accompanying "Chopped and Screwed" mix. The mix became just as popular as the song itself, if not more so.