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 2001. 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.

Bushwick Bill Facing Deportation, Has Been Detained In Atlanta Since May

This week's Creative Loafing has a feature on Bushwick Bill that explains his current situation that may lead to him being deported back to Jamaica (but may actually end up in Canada or England). This has been on the hearts and minds of a lot of people since Willie D and J Prince revealed the news at the Vh1 Hip Hop Honors when asked why Bill wasn't there.

I knew Bill had be living here but had no idea that he'd been sitting in jail downtown since May. He actually popped up at the Ozone office when I was working there one night. Didn't really want anything, he was just stopping by to chat.

The story also talks about Bill was trying to get his life together and go the spiritual route with his new music. That may explain why he lectured me at the 2008 Ozone Awards when I greeted him "aw man, Bushwick! wassup gah'damn!" He pulled me to the side (well, side and down actually) and said that I shouldn't use such language and queried "why should God be damned?" When I told him I'm moreso saying "got damn" he didn't really buy it.

But yeah, peep the story out...

READ: Bushwick Bill Teeters on the Brink of Deportation

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.

Willie Hen-"In The Hood" (video)

I mean...

"In The Hood" is my favorite song off one of my favorite albums. But yeah, as a fan I'm kinda perplexed. The song is four years old now and the clip itself doesn't really do the song as much justice as it could have, in my opinion. But, Hen's words on this track are so potent and he paints the picture so well verbally that it makes up for it.

The other side of me is happy to see this cat Willie Hen is still being active in a music capacity, because I'd really like to hear some new stuff from him. A birdie whispered in my ear that we could see another The Product album in the future. Whether that future is near or far, I don't know.

But yeah, enjoy this for the time being.

Riot !n Paris-"Attack of the 5ft Hipster" (cool ass video)

Just got this in my email. This group called Riot !n Paris probably has the coolest video out right now. It's an interactive joint where you pick how the video continues and ends.

Remember those Booty Call games on Romp.com from the early 2000's? Well, its kinda like those, except here its actual real people, not cartoons. If you have a few minutes to burn, play with this for a while. It's pretty entertaining.

As for the song itself...eh. Not my cup of tea.

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.

Bilal Breaks Down Airtight's Revenge

Over the weekend I got a chance to catch up with Bilal. Apparently he came right back to Atlanta after his show with Erykah Badu from last Saturday. I was really looking forward to doing this interview after riding around to his new album Airtight's Revenge for the last couple of weeks.

With the current press run he is on right now, Bilal has a gang of (video) interviews on the web right now. But all of them pretty much focus on his past and "how do you feel about Love For Sale." Luckily, I was able to ask him about specific songs from the album after hearing them. Especially "Flying" and my personal favorite, "All Matter" (a more personalized rendition of the song he recorded for Robert Glasper's last album).

I didn't get as much time as I would've liked but I think it still came out pretty cool. I have an extended version of this interview with stuff about him growing up in Philadelphia, growing up as a Jazz guy in a Hip Hop generation and how his early days as a songwriter almost had him ready to jump off a cliff...but its kinda lengthy and we all know folks don't have the longest attention span on the internet. If ya'll want me to post it later, I will.

But yeah, check this clip out and let me know what you think. Airtight's Revenge in stores September 14th.

Oh yeah...today is dude's birthday, so wish him a happy one.

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...



From AUC:

On Friday, August 20th, Lil’ B of the California rap group, The Pack (“Vans”), performed a live concert at the Loft in Atlanta. For weeks, the show, which was opened by anti-hipster, Gripplyaz and FKi Music, had been tirelessly promoted and the Internet was flooded with the news of the upcoming arrival of the “Based God.”

For Lil’ B to be such an online phenom (he’s already garnered attention from Rolling Stone, The New York Times and The Village Voice) you would think that his more of his fans would’ve braved the rainy elements to attend the show; however, the crowd was underwhelming. Still, the skinny jean wearing, colored Vans sporting, “cookin” dancing teenagers made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in numbers. And Lil’ B didn’t disappoint, immediately adding to the weirded-out vibe of the evening with his zany antics.

Case in point: when the 21 year-old sauntered onto the small stage donning a cream t-shirt and dark glasses, he had a silk scarf veiling his face and cryptically announced, “Ya’ll know I don’t show my face.” Then he laughed, and the crowd laughed too.

Thankfully, after a few songs, he withdrew his announcement and went ahead and discarded the scarf. As he rolled through his “catalogue” (which basically consists of viral videos and song leaks) the crowd’s excitement reached a fever pitch.
He breathlessly sped through the almost comical “Pretty B-tch,” “Suck My D-ck Ho” and “Violate That B-tch,” showcasing that there are apparently an infinite number of ways to rap about receiving oral sex.

Regardless, he was able to strike an honest rapport with his fans, thanking one for the snapback hat he was rocking, before fittingly asking, “Who all in here be Tweeting me?”

He also took the time between songs to vehemently deny the online whispers of him being “a Down South music biter,” stating that he was merely influenced by the South. The audience gave hoots of approval. He went on to deny the gay rumors as well—which were initially sparked by his constant references to himself as a being a “princess” and a “pretty b-tch.”

Then he performed his most outrageous track, “Look Like Jesus.” Of course, this song came after he’d already again referred to himself as a “pretty bitch” and strangely declared that he looked like 80’s TV icon, Matlock. The crowd, however, ate it up, singing along with unbridled enthusiasm as he bounced across the stage like he was on a sugar rush. Panting every few bars, he wore himself out by the song’s end.

No doubt, the internet-bred celebrity of Lil’ B, is extreme, even a sign of the times—an era when kids looking to declare themselves as “different” latch onto anything that seems weird, even if it makes no sense, and journalist clamor to be the first to find the next Internet phenom, no matter how bizarre the act is.
But, even with that said, Lil’ B has definitely created a movement. He has stage presence and is obviously smarter than his outlandish lyrics suggests. Like it or not, Lil’ B has made the machine work for him, and you can’t help but respect that.

Show Grade: C

From Creative Loafing:

The young crowd waiting to get into the Loft for Friday’s Lil’ B Live in Atlanta presented by Fadia Kader/Broke & Boujee show were a part of Atlanta’s rising hood-hipster hybrid. The Internet-fed fans of Berkeley, Calif.-based Pack member, Lil’ B, exemplified the power of social media to advance the careers of rising rappers and wannabes — who become virtually indistinguishable with each new YouTube video.

Like the explicit content advisory stickers of the past, an endorsement from the infamous Soulja Boy should also serve as a warning. It’s like saying, “this motherfucker is a gimmick.” Lil’ B’s loyal followers, however, remained undeterred. It may be the sense of belonging he gives them through shout outs via Twitter and Facebook. Or maybe it’s his uncanny ability to sound sincere with every profane utterance, such as “Y’all inspire the fuck outta me.”

Regardless, some couldn’t wait to see him.

As a result, the opening acts got lukewarm love. Especially Grip Plyaz, who was practically booed, as if his biggest song, “Fuck Dat Hipster Shit,” was a personal attack against those in attendance. Retro Sushi got some bounce from a version of “Black Boy, White Boy Swag,” built on the sound of Soulja's “Pretty Boy Swag.” Honestly, FKI was the highlight of the evening with their rendition of Gucci Mane’s “I Think I Love Her,” where their guitarist, Ricky, strummed on the strings behind his head.

Fortunately, the show moved quickly, so by the time Lil’ B came onstage, his face covered with a T-shirt, the excitement level was still high. He finally revealed himself and launched into “Pretty Bitch” and several other mindless tirades that make up the most recent of his approximately 1,500 songs on the web.

By the time he got to his “hit,” “Look like Jesus,” the scene was sick, but not in the good way. The “BasedGod” is baseless. Some left the show early, but a scant few stayed, hanging on his every word.

At that point, I wondered if the force of social media was really enough to propel his career into legitimacy. Who knows. I, like many others at the show, had enough.

A friend and I joked that if we took a shot every time he Lil B said the word "dick," we would have had alcohol poisoning.

Here are some other choice quotes:
"I was in church, but I don't give a fuck about shit."
"I look fruity, but I like girls."
"Suck my dick ho" — this was just shouted randomly throughout the performance, not necessarily as part of a song.
"If you can't fit Magnums, that's o.k., just wear Trojans."

So, there you have it. Did any of you go to the show? Feel free to leave your thoughts. I've heard everything from "he has great personality" to "he is the Black Male version of Lady Gaga."

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

New York Times: Rescuing a Lost Era of Jazz History

I came across this video earlier this morning and found it interesting so I figured I'd share it with ya'll. It reminded me of when I used to tape songs, freestyles and interviews off the radio and when I used to record videos from off Rap City and Yo! MTV Raps. Obviously I wasn't the only one doing that because you look up just about anything on YouTube now.

But it seems our elders from the Jazz generation are still catching up to technology...or finally deciding to share some of their hidden treasures.

It also reminded me of one of my favorite posts from StuffWhitePeopleLike.com: "Black Music That Black People Don't Don't Listen To Anymore." I'm not saying that Black folks don't listen to Jazz at all anymore...but I sure as hell can count on my hand the ones that do.

As you can see the video, our White brothers still seem to be enthralled by the discovery of old jazz music. Hell it was a White cat that recorded all of this stuff. Over the last few years I've been starting to adopt the idea that Black folks don't record/preserve/protect as much of their own musical or cultural history because they are too busy living it or creating something new.

Which is a catch 22 because it leaves it up to folks from other backgrounds to record it and then ultimately control it and control how it is promoted and presented. Which usually leads to people feeling a certain way about "our" songs being copied, critiqued, ridiculed or used in paper towel commercials.

But yeah. Beyond all of that, I thought this was a cool clip. I know these recordings will be put in the museum when completed, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens after that.

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.

Universal Music Group Cuts Ties With MTV Networks, Will Show Videos Exclusively On VEVO

Not sure if MTV's online network was your preferred source for music videos and clips in the first place, but if your looking for content from Universal Music Group artists specifically, you're going to have to look elsewhere.

From Wall Street Journal:

Universal Music Group pulled its music videos from MTV’s websites starting earlier this week, the two companies said Friday, as talks over new licensing terms broke down.

While many details of the breakdown weren’t disclosed, MTV Networks has been in negotiations with Vevo, the Hulu-esque video service owned by Universal , Google and Sony Music. MTV previously licensed music videos directly from record labels for use on MTV.com, VH1.com and CMT.com. Now Universal, Sony and EMI want websites to let Vevo “syndicate” its videos through their sites. Under that arrangement, which is already in place on YouTube and several other sites, Vevo sells its own ads and delivers its members’ videos through a branded player. Website owners like MTV parent Viacom Inc. get a cut of the advertising revenue.

In a statement, Universal said: “MTVN has been unwilling to negotiate a fair syndication deal with Vevo to carry our artists’ videos and consequently our videos will not be shown on their online properties. We believe that using Vevo as our online music video syndication platform is the best way to maximize revenue for our artists, our songwriters and ourselves.”

The dispute doesn’t affect the ability of MTV’s cable channels to air videos from Universal artists.

While it’s not clear what the sticking point was, it probably relates to the attempted insertion of a new entity in the value chain between consumer eyeball and content owner. In other words, it’s not hard to imagine that MTV balked at the possibility of making less money so that a new company controlled by the record labels could get cut into the deal. Representatives of MTV and Universal declined to comment on financial details.

In a statement of its own, MTV Networks said: “we continue to seek out new and innovative ways to connect artists with their fans that are mutually beneficial to everyone. However, during our recent discussions with Vevo, we were unable to reach a fair and equitable agreement for rights to stream UMG artists’ music video content.” The company added that it was “disappointed” by Universal’s decision.

Also notable: MTV recently entered a partnership with Warner Music Group, the other major-label group, that represents an alternate—and competing—approach to selling ads that run with online music videos.

For now, the impasse applies only to Universal videos, because that company’s previous licensing deal with MTV expired last month. But Sony’s deal comes up for renewal in the fall, and if no deal is in place by then, Sony’s clips good be next to go dark at MTV.com.

Just in case you skimmed through and didn't read, no, this doesn't mean that MTV won't be showing music videos from UMG artists (do they still show videos?). It means that they won't be showing them online, nor will they be showing performance clips to coincide with interviews and other content.

VEVO is owned by Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group, hosts its videos through YouTube while Google and Vevo share the advertising revenue. Sony's deal with MTV Networks is up for renewal in the fall.

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

www.MAURICEGARLAND.com In XXLMag.com's AIM and FIRE Discussion

Yesterday XXLMag.com invited me to take part in their Aim & Fire online chat discussion. The way it works is they invite a bunch of journalist, bloggers, tastemakers, etc into a AIM chat room to talk about the hot rap topic of the day.

Yesterday's topic was this brewing "beef" between Rick Ross and Young Jeezy. The timing for it was perfect since Ross dropped his "diss" called "Summer's Mine" and Jeezy dropped his 1000 Grams mixtape earlier that day.

Other people in on the conversation included Bossip editor Janee Bolden, Gyant, Wendy Day, BET.com's Carl Cherry and XXL's Jesse Gissen. I didn't really say as much as the others...doesn't seem like anybody pay attention either. But I was there...calling stuff like this gay and lame like I usually do. When you get a second, peep it for yourself.

READ: XXLMag.com AIM & FIRE

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.