“I can't tell you how excited I am to offer a new album to the world. Each of my projects are the result of the pain, growth and eventual healing that I experience. Articulating the pain and navigating the healing allows those of you who really feel my music to travel with me. It's not only that we hurt together, we heal together as well. Ant produced the entire project and it might be our best work.” -Brother Ali
Director/DP: Dave Wilson
Camera/Lighting Crew: Shaun Hamilton, Gregary Evans, Wes Engelbach
Produced By: Dave Wilson, Gregary Evans, Shaun Hamilton
Brother Ali: I’m honored to present "Own Light", the theme song of my new album "All The Beauty In This Whole Life”.
Healthy hearts house the light that animates all that we are, and everything we do. The light in our hearts is what allows us to hear, heal and be whole.
No matter how they repackage their dreary fearfulness, they'll never plant that flag over here. I'm using my heart for, what hearts are for.
"You're not using your heart for
What hearts are for
They've been trying to shut us down our whole life
I thank God for healing
You ain't got to get me lit I got my own light
Thank God for listening
Listen you've been trying to build me up my whole life
I thank God for building
You ain't got to get me lit I got my own light
I thank God I'm living
Sometime I feel like a stranger
Maybe I ain't from here
World going crazy
How could that be unclear
Know that I'm a soldier
Hearts are my battle ground
Sword in the holster
Had to come back around
I ain't tryna hide away
I just had to meditate
I ain't got a lot to say
But the ancestors may
Speaking to the whole globe
Numbers don't occur to me
You can listen solo
Cause you're the whole world to me
I jump in with both feet
Nothing low key
You can find me where I'm supposed be
Where my folks be
If you listen very closely
You know who chose me
Nothing that I own owns me
And so I'm so free
I remember being hungry
Needing groceries
Night time getting no sleep
Till my nose bleed
Got a message to the police...
You're not using your heart for
What hearts are for
They've been trying to shut us down our whole life
I thank God for healing
You ain't got to get me lit I got my own light
Thank God for listening
Listen you've been trying to build me up my whole life
I thank God for building
You ain't got to get me lit I got my own light
I thank God I'm living
Not for one second I believe
What you're telling me
I know you invent the disease
And sell the remedy
Universe is sending me
Centuries of memories
So the very breath that I breathe
Is all I'll ever need
I got that Muhammad Ali
Up in my pedigree
Yes I'll be speaking my peace
Up in my seventies
Ain't worried about you threatening me
I'm just being honest
I ain't buying fear
Just because that's all you got left
We just wanna make love
Till we wake up
I believe whoever made us
Envisioned greatness
And you know they wanna paint us
With the same brush
Wanna entertain us
Till we fill our grave up
Alright OK but
When it's all said and it's all done
And I look back at the trophies I've won
I will only count one...
I'm using my heart for
What hearts are for
They've been trying to shut us down our whole life
I thank God for healing
You ain't got to get me lit I got my own light
Thank God for listening
Listen you've been trying to build me up my whole life
I thank God for building
You ain't got to get me lit I got my own light
I thank God I'm living
And I know who I am
I know whose I am
On your wings I fly
In your shoes I stand
I'm animated by love
I don't move by chance
Any stage I touch
Or any place I stand
There y'all land
Living in the world as it is
Cracked vessel I am
No more and no less than a man
Any possessions that I have are just in my hand
I balance them the best that I can
I'm not making no claims but...
I'm using my heart for
What hearts are for
All the beauty in this whole life
I thank God for healing
You ain't got to get me lit I got my own light
I thank God for listening
Listen you've been trying to build me up my whole life
I thank God for building
You ain't got to get me lit I got my own light
I thank God I'm living
Just reflecting all the beauty in this whole life"
Mass Appeal links up with Thelonious Martin on this episode of Rhythm Roulette.
In this week’s edition of Rhythm Roulette we met up with Thelonious Martin at A1 Records on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Hot off the heels of last week’s release of Molotov, his joint album with Brooklyn’s very own Saga, Martin took us to Virtue and Vice Studios in Williamsburg to show us how one of Chicago’s finest producers chops up a sound he doesn’t usually work with.
“I’ve been on record saying, I’m not a fan of disco….unfortunately”, Martin told the crew at Mass Appeal.
2/28 Brooklyn at Knitting Factory Brooklyn
3/1 Allston, MA at Great Scott
3/2 Philadelphia at MilkBoy
3/3 Baltimore at Metro Gallery
3/4 Virginia Beach at Shaka's Live
3/5 Chapel Hill, NC at @Local 506
3/7 Nashville, TN at Rocketown
3/8 Atlanta GA at 529
3/9 Tampa FL at Crowbar
3/10 Orlando at BACKBOOTH
3/11 Gainesville at HIGH DIVE (Gainesville, FL)
3/12 Baton Rouge at Spanish Moon
3/13 Dallas at The Curtain Club
3/14 Houston at The Secret Group
3/18 SXSW, Austin
3/21 El Paso at The Lowbrow Palace
3/22 Phoenix at Last Exit Live
3/23 Los Angeles at Hi Hat
3/24 San Francisco at Bottom of the Hill Bar and Grill
3/25 San Jose at AFKgg Gamer Lounge
Saba stops by the P&P Update to talk about Chicago hip-hop, where he's from, and some of the misconceptions about rappers from his city. His album 'Bucket List Project' is out now, and his first headlining tour starts in March.
A group of guys from different regions of South Carolina who make efforts to link up to stay true, skate, having some casuals, and everything else in between! From Greenville to Columbia to Charleston, South Carolina.
Larry Upchuch
Justin Elliot
Luke Monical
Broc Pulley
Ed Peck
Otis
Will Gaskins
Zayne Williamson
Robby McCauley
Ben Bertauski
Dylan Church
Tre Greenlee
Clay Kreiner
Devin Sweat
Jerry Harris
Roc Marciano presents a triple feature video. This is the official first compilation video for his album Rosebudd's Revenge. It features these songs: "Rosebudd's Revenge," "Move Dope," and "Here I Am." Get Rosebudd's Revenge on RocMarci.com now.
Roc Marciano | Rosebudd's Revenge Part 1 | Official Music Video
Hawklyfe Records Artist Conway Da Creature starts his 2017 campaign off with the first single from the upcoming EP "Open-Faced" produced entirely by TruColors/Team BackPack Producer ILL Brown. This track was an ILL Brown style dedication to the career and life of the Famed Sean Price of Heltah Skeltah, who died in August 2015. Seeing that Price was one of Conway's biggest influences, in his eyes it was his duty to stamp his imprint......
HawkLyfe Records & Conway Da Creature present "Ruck-Us"
For this episode of Rhythm Roulette, Mass Appeal caught up with Buda and Grandz.
In this week’s edition of Rhythm Roulette we take it to the Bronx with Buda and Grandz who’ve produced hits for the likes of Dave East, JadaKiss, Wyclef, Talib KweLi, and The Game to name just a few.
You know the drill by now. We took the production duo to local a record shop, blindfolded them, and had them select three records. Then Buda and Grandz got right to it, blending together a medley of soulful samples with some tightly packed drums.
It’s safe to say that the duo chose to save their best for last, hitting us with a sultry saxophone number that is just massive.
‘Molotov’ represents the best elements of its creators, Brooklyn rapper, Saga and Chicago producer, Thelonious Martin. The rhymes are potent and powerful, taking down everyone from cynics to haters, wack emcees, and inner demons. And the instrumentals serve to bring those words to life by way of head-nodding percussion, and slick sample flips.
Because it was crafted by one rapper and one producer, ‘Molotov’ is especially effective, and have made it clear why their approach works so well, especially as a duo. The 12 tracks move in and out of each other seamlessly, while tackling a variety of sounds and subject matter, all with an effective supporting cast of notable features. Like the one-two punch of the straight-up banger “Karma,” which features a fired-up Freddie Gibbs, and the Fashawn-assisted lead single, “Yesterday.”
“With Molotov, it was about maintaining the level of quality I'm known for,” the producer says, noting that it all started with the two sending tracks back and forth. “As the project was coming along, we started building the proper chemistry to make this special.”
Saga agreed, calling the project’s conception “organic." It was that unrestrained vibe that he says “allowed me to be free with my thought process, and write for the moment.” As a result, he was able to explore new and intriguing ideas, like how “chaos is the end result of a long process of inner discontent within our own lives.” And you can hear him eloquently rhyme about this subject on "Misunderstood," his favorite cut on the 12 track LP.
And the music doesn’t stop with ‘Molotov’’s release in February. The album will also be available on vinyl in April, courtesy of Coalmine Records. This falls prior to the duo’s departure for Europe, where they will embark on a multi-city tour in promotion for the LP, in late May/early June.
‘Molotov’ is now available through all major digital retailers and streaming outlets, via Saga 718/EMPIRE.
Buy-Lnks:
• iTunes: bit.ly/iTunesMolotov
• Google Play: bit.ly/GooglePlayMolotov
• Amazon: bit.ly/AmazonMolotov
Tracklist:
01. Intro
02. Mongolian Cashmere
03. Yesterday (feat. Fashawn)
04. Misunderstood
05. Karma (feat. Freddie Gibbs)
06. Where We Live (Brooklyn)
07. Out There
08. Never Mind (feat. The Mind)
09. Not Today
10. All I Know (feat. Rapper Big Pooh)
11. They Don’t Know
12. Outro
This is the intro to an upcoming album called "De Este Lado Tambien Hay Sueños"
Song produced by Custom and Serious
The picture is my father (on far left) with his friends working in farms in the US in the 70s. He came in search of a dream. Hoping to make a life for his wife (my mother) and his daughters (my sisters) back in Mexico. He eventually returned because he couldn't do it without them and they all came back as a family. I was born and raised in Chicago. I've been given countless opportunities because of the sacrifices my parents made. I will forever be grateful. Thank you to all the immigrants in our beautiful country that make it run every day. - Skeme
69Beats, the 2016 Red Bull Thre3style Poland Champion, stars in DJcityTV's first "Tone Play" episode in nearly three years. The 28-year-old is known for well-executed tone play routines, which helped him win the Poland championship.
ODDISEE’S ‘THE ICEBERG’ OUT FEBRUARY 24 ON MELLO MUSIC GROUP
LISTEN TO LEAD SINGLE “THINGS” VIA NPR MUSIC: LINK
2017 INTERNATIONAL TOUR ANNOUNCED
The prolific MC, producer and musician Oddisee’s new album ‘The Iceberg’ is a plea for humanity to dig deeper in search of understanding and common ground. His third release in just 12 months, ‘The Iceberg’ is a distillation of stereotypical tropes in hip-hop and beyond, 12 tracks about money, sex, politics, race and religion that appear superficial until his multi-dimensional lyrics unfurl to expose the complexities of individuality and identity: how we see ourselves and how others see us. Deeply soulful, and shot through with jazz, Go-go, gospel, thick r&b and hard beats, the album is a timely, poetic statement. ‘The Iceberg’ is out February 24 on Mello Music Group.
Lead single “Things” acts as a mission statement for the album, a deep dance groove with lightning-quick lyrics about “things” he’s going through. Says Oddisee, “"We all go through the trials & tribulations of life. Why is it we feel the need to individualize our shared experiences? If only we could see our concerns as others do, maybe they wouldn't be so serious."
‘The Iceberg’ was recorded and produced by Oddisee at his own studio in Brooklyn, made with live instrumentation performed by Oddisee and members of his band, Good Compny.
Oddisee has released two studio albums, several EPs mixtapes and instrumental albums, and has over 23 million plays on Spotify. He’s been profiled by NPR, the Washington Post, praised by Pitchfork and Stereogum, performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk, Red Bull Sound Select and at festivals including Glastonbury and Sasquatch. ‘The Iceberg’ follows two releases in 2016, the ‘Alwasta EP’ and the instrumentals album ‘The Odd Tape.’ His 2015 full-length ‘The Good Fight’ was a Top 10 album on the iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap chart and he won the iTunes Music award for Best Hip-Hop Album of 2012.
Oddisee’s 2017 international tour with Good Compny starts March 2 in Paris and includes dates across the U.S. in April and May. Full list of dates below with more to be added.
Oddisee World Tour
March 2 – Paris, France – La Place
March 3 – Lyon, France – Bizarre!
March 4 – Nantes, France – Stereolux
March 6 – Bristol, UK – The Lantern
March 8 – Manchester, UK – Gorilla
March 9 – Dublin, Ireland, The Sugar Bluc
March 11 – London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall
March 13 – Munich, Germany – Ampere
March 14 – Erfurt, Germany – Franz Melhose
March 15 – Berlin, Germany – Gretchen
March 16 – Hamburg, Germany – Mojo Club
March 17 – Cologne, Germany – Gloria
March 18 – Stuttgart, Germany – Im Wizemann
March 19 – Frankfurt, Germany – Zoom
March 22 – Nijmegen, Netherlands – Doornroosje
March 24 – Rotterdam, Netherlands – Bird
March 25 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
March 26 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
March 30 - Milan, Italy - Biko Club
April 7 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Sofia Live Club
April 8 - Bucharest, Romania - Arenele Romane
April 10 – Vienna, Austria – Grelle Forelle
April 11 – Warsaw, Poland – Stodola
April 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of Living Arts
April 20 – Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club
April 21 – Raleigh, NC – King’s Barcade
April 23 – Atlanta, GA – The Loft
April 26 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
April 27 – Dallas, TX – Dada Dallas
April 28 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room
May 1 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
May 5 – San Diego, CA – Music Box
May 7 – San Francisco, CA – The Regency
May 9 – Eugene, OR – WoW Hall
May 10 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
May 11 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
May 12 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
May 13 – Spokane, WA – The Big Dipper
May 14 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
May 17 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
May 18 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
May 19 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
May 20 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
May 21 – Indianapolis, IN – The HiFi
May 26 – Detroit, MI – Arab American National Museum
May 27 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
May 30 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
May 31 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
The political climate in the US already makes many people wonder if we’re living in an alternate universe. Someone better check the alignment of the planets, because Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 5 show was an intimate affair that started relatively on time (at least by fashion standards, which generally adds a 15-20 minute grace period).
ODDISEE’S ‘THE ICEBERG’ OUT FEBRUARY 24 ON MELLO MUSIC GROUP
LISTEN TO LEAD SINGLE “THINGS” VIA NPR MUSIC: LINK
2017 INTERNATIONAL TOUR ANNOUNCED
The prolific MC, producer and musician Oddisee’s new album ‘The Iceberg’ is a plea for humanity to dig deeper in search of understanding and common ground. His third release in just 12 months, ‘The Iceberg’ is a distillation of stereotypical tropes in hip-hop and beyond, 12 tracks about money, sex, politics, race and religion that appear superficial until his multi-dimensional lyrics unfurl to expose the complexities of individuality and identity: how we see ourselves and how others see us. Deeply soulful, and shot through with jazz, Go-go, gospel, thick r&b and hard beats, the album is a timely, poetic statement. ‘The Iceberg’ is out February 24 on Mello Music Group.
Lead single “Things” acts as a mission statement for the album, a deep dance groove with lightning-quick lyrics about “things” he’s going through. Says Oddisee, “"We all go through the trials & tribulations of life. Why is it we feel the need to individualize our shared experiences? If only we could see our concerns as others do, maybe they wouldn't be so serious."
‘The Iceberg’ was recorded and produced by Oddisee at his own studio in Brooklyn, made with live instrumentation performed by Oddisee and members of his band, Good Compny.
Oddisee has released two studio albums, several EPs mixtapes and instrumental albums, and has over 23 million plays on Spotify. He’s been profiled by NPR, the Washington Post, praised by Pitchfork and Stereogum, performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk, Red Bull Sound Select and at festivals including Glastonbury and Sasquatch. ‘The Iceberg’ follows two releases in 2016, the ‘Alwasta EP’ and the instrumentals album ‘The Odd Tape.’ His 2015 full-length ‘The Good Fight’ was a Top 10 album on the iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap chart and he won the iTunes Music award for Best Hip-Hop Album of 2012.
Oddisee’s 2017 international tour with Good Compny starts March 2 in Paris and includes dates across the U.S. in April and May. Full list of dates below with more to be added.
Oddisee World Tour
March 2 – Paris, France – La Place
March 3 – Lyon, France – Bizarre!
March 4 – Nantes, France – Stereolux
March 6 – Bristol, UK – The Lantern
March 8 – Manchester, UK – Gorilla
March 9 – Dublin, Ireland, The Sugar Bluc
March 11 – London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall
March 13 – Munich, Germany – Ampere
March 14 – Erfurt, Germany – Franz Melhose
March 15 – Berlin, Germany – Gretchen
March 16 – Hamburg, Germany – Mojo Club
March 17 – Cologne, Germany – Gloria
March 18 – Stuttgart, Germany – Im Wizemann
March 19 – Frankfurt, Germany – Zoom
March 22 – Nijmegen, Netherlands – Doornroosje
March 24 – Rotterdam, Netherlands – Bird
March 25 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
March 26 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
March 30 - Milan, Italy - Biko Club
April 7 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Sofia Live Club
April 8 - Bucharest, Romania - Arenele Romane
April 10 – Vienna, Austria – Grelle Forelle
April 11 – Warsaw, Poland – Stodola
April 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of Living Arts
April 20 – Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club
April 21 – Raleigh, NC – King’s Barcade
April 23 – Atlanta, GA – The Loft
April 26 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
April 27 – Dallas, TX – Dada Dallas
April 28 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room
May 1 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
May 5 – San Diego, CA – Music Box
May 7 – San Francisco, CA – The Regency
May 9 – Eugene, OR – WoW Hall
May 10 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
May 11 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
May 12 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
May 13 – Spokane, WA – The Big Dipper
May 14 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
May 17 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
May 18 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
May 19 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
May 20 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
May 21 – Indianapolis, IN – The HiFi
May 26 – Detroit, MI – Arab American National Museum
May 27 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
May 30 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
May 31 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
Geechi Suede of Camp Lo releases the official music video for "Gallery 77", off his new project "0.9 NyteLife FM". Entirely produced by SaL GuoD 'n' ReXxX of NyteLife, "0.9 NyteLife FM" is now available at all digital outlets.
**New Show Alert** Funk Flex presents "5 Minutes of Funk". Every week, Funk Flex will invite an elite DJ to scratch, blend and show some of their skill set. Don't forget to tune in every week and to press the subscribe button as well. Oh, and don't play yourself and press the play button.
Emma Short-E from School of Scratch shares her "Scratch Combo of the Month" for February. Post a video of yourself performing it with hashtag #DJcitySoS and we might share it.
Taken off Ill Camille's album "Heirloom" dropping on the 3rd of march. We're gonna be releasing it outside of North America and we are very much looking forward to that.
"A retrospective and reflective track. This one of the many instrumentals Georgia sent me that I cldn't ignore it, Damani Nkosi understood my vision for it and blessed me with a verse. Felt like I needed to talk about my progression and eagerness to leave my home all while realizing home (truly) is where the heart is" - Ill Camille
New on Jakarta: Ill Camille | Home ft. Damani Nkosi | Prod. by Georgia Anne Muldrow
ill Camille•
@illcamille
Damani Nkosi•
@DamaniNkosi
Georgia Anne Muldrow•
@JahJahMuldrow
Director: Dana Washington
(A Film By Black Daughters)
@DanaWashington_