Guilty Simpson: "Stress" (prod. by Dilla)
Stones Throw let some joints go earlier today, including this never before released cut by Detroit's Guilty Simpson. This was going to be on Guilty's album, but did not make the final tracklist because of sample issues with Dilla's beat. Find it below.
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Danger Mouse + Sparklehorse: "Daddy's Little Girl" featuring Julian Casablancas of The Strokes
So, Danger Mouse and Sparkle Horse put this album together with David Lynch. The LP features canvases set up by DM and Sparklehorse being decorated by other artists such as Iggy Pop, the lead singer of The Flaming Lips, members of The Shins, Pixies, Strokes and more. The album was set to be released legitimately, but due to clearance issues, Danger Mouse and co are releasing the artwork on May 29th that will come with free blank CD. The music will "appear" online and those with the blank disc and artwork can "do whatever they want" with it. Well, after searching for the LP for a minute, I've only come across songs here and there. If you want to just hear the full album, you can go to NPR.org (yeah for public radio). If you want to buy the artwork you can go here. And if you want to grab "Daddy's Little Girl" featuring Julian Casablancas of the Strokes just hit the jump.
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Esser: "I Love You" Prince Paul Remix
Esser is a 23 year old artist from the UK. Chocolate Industries is a Chicago-minded record label. Prince Paul played Chicago last week Friday. "I Love You" is Esser's lead single from the upcoming re-release of his debut LP, Braveface. Prince Paul remixed the record. RubyHornet is a Chicago based outfit with the world music scene in mind. We like Prince Paul. We like Esser. We like the combination of the two, and put the track below for you to enjoy as well.
Cage: "I Never Knew You" Video
Cage goes a little bit Oasis in "I Never Knew You" (I don't know why I wrote that), which was directed by Shia Lebouf, who is playing Cage in an upcoming biopic. Cage's forthcoming album, is well, forthcoming and titled Depart From Me. Quite different than "The Left Hand Path".
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Sasha Grey On The Meaning of Life/Girlfriend Experience
Not to be on a Sasha Grey overkill, but the post last week of her leaked pics from the upcoming film, "The Girlfriend Experience" got a lot of hits in a short time, and had more than a few RH readers hitting me up about the post...So, back by popular demand is some more info on the very interesting Sasha Grey. Check out the video interview below with National Lampoon's comic interviewer in which Grey says that simple names for adult films is insulting to the audience, how she tries to bring dignity and authenticity to her dialogue, and of course, what we all want to know, what is her meaning of life...You can also click here to read a brand spankin' new interview with Comingsoon.net in which she breaks down her role as Chelsea, a woman trying to balance her real life relationship and a budding career as a high end escort in Manhattan.
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NEXUSVII x Porter S/S 09 Messenger Bags
I've been looking for a new bag to carry my laptop in, and I think I finally found it. I didn't want to go the Hypebeast route of a LV or Gucci bag, I wanted something that was mature but yet can be rocked with a fresh fit. Leave it up to the collaboration of NEXUSVII x Porter to bring you the dopest messenger bag I've seen so far this year. The NEXUSVII® x Porter S/S '09 Messenger Bag is a good step up if you're still rocking the Timbuk 2 bag. Both brands took a classic approach to the bags featuring cotton and leather uppers, with metal (I think) accents. As more info drops on these I will deinitely keep you posted.
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Drake Shuts Down House of Blues...Literally (Thanks A lot, Drake)
I want to give a big shout out to Drake for shutting down the House of Blues on Friday night/Saturday morning. The sold out show definitely set a precedent for Hip Hop concerts in Chicago, and effectively "ruined it" for Hip Hop artists seeking a relationship with one of Chicago's premier music venues. In all honesty, we were even in the works of setting something up with HOB, and have been told that they're reconsidering booking Hip Hop acts. In all fairness, it's not really Drake's fault. I mean, the Canadian upstart actor/turned Hip Hop star must have been somewhat shocked, surprised, or even just in awe of the whole situation. It's almost unheard for an artist without a proper album, record deal, large scale promotion, or any combination of the three to headline a show at the House of Blues, much less sell it out, and then much much less not take the stage until after 3AM. But that's what happened thanks in part to bad artist/venue management, and an unfulfilled equipment rider that left the show's promoters scrambling for studio equipment.
I was not at the Drake concert, as I had a gig at Sub-T, but I heard about it. And I didn't just hear about it, I heard about it a lot. While the details varied, three things were consistent: The opening acts, except for Mikkey Halsted, got booed, Drake went on hella late and used the crowd as effective vocalists, and the night ended in fights by the bar, and a shooting outside. It's an interesting turn of events for an artist that one Chicago emcee describes as a "pop version of Lil' Wayne". A year ago very few people knew who Drake was, and now they are showing up in droves to see what the hype is about. It's sad, and almost predictable that Drake's show ended in disappointment and almost tragedy. The concert promoters weren't prepared to handle the crowd or artists, and Drake is showing that while he's a very talented rapper/singer/song writer, he's stage show is just not yet ready for the headline. Drake's rise to the marquee is the fastest of the "fast Internet Rapper rises" and it appears that the promoters of the show mirrored Drake's rise in their thrown together attempt to host his first official Chicago concert. I hope they made a lot of money, cause Drake won't be back at HOB for a while, and neither will Mikkey Halsted, Phil G, Rhymefest, or any other Chicago Hip Hop artists as the HOB reconsiders who they do business with, and now we all have to share in the burden of bettering live Hip Hop music's image.
On that note, come to the Leg Room on Wednesday for A Night of Celebration For Chicago Picasso, hosted by Naledge of Kidz In The Hall and featuring new music from the album, and music by DJ Sapphire, DJ Izzo, and me, DJ RTC. We might not have Drake, but we can promise you won't get shot...
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Beastie Boys: "So Whatcha Want" (All The Way Live Freestyle Mix)
Back on my Beastie Boys' Bootleg B.S. Today I bring forth The All The Way Live Freestyle remix of their infamous 1992 hit, "So Whatcha Want", from 1998 release, Rare Not Nasty. Download it below.