[Video] Muve Music Sessions: J. Cole
J. Cole sits down with Muve Music to provide commentary on his debut album, Cole World: Sideline Story. Exclusively with Muve, J. Cole released a commentary version of his debut album that is available now. All month, Muve will be dropping videos of J. providing the story behind the songs. Check out the first video in which J. Cole talks about "Can't Get Enough" and "In The Morning".
[Music] ¡MAYDAY!: "Sinister Kid (The Black Keys Freestyle)"
In honor of the The Black Keys' release of El Camino, iMAYDAY took "Sinister Kid" off of the Ohio-based duo's 2010 album, Brothers, and made it their own. Other than stripping the majority of the original vocals and Plex Luthor's brief guitar solo at the end, the track is left pretty much untouched for the emcees. iMAYDAY! seems right in their element since they already throw in mildly distorted guitar on their own tracks. Maybe we'll see a Black Keys x iMAYDAY! collabo on a future BlakRoc project... Make the jump for the download.
[RH Premiere] Astonish: "Fill Up The Room"
For Astonish his future success may arise in a manner he never truly expected, but will not be surprised by. "My engineer was like why don't you do it, because it sounds appropriate with you on it in the first place. On "Fill Up The Room" I didn't have the intention to sing on the whole track, it just came out that way and I had to leave it alone." Reiterates Astonish, an MC who is not be labeled as a singer/rapper despite his previous statement. Having also wanted to express his feelings through song, it is no surprise that the talented musician, stumbled into creating "Fill Up The Room", a new look track for Astonish that will definitely gain him a new type of listener and hopefully national acclaim as well. Tomorrow the Molemen representer will drop the AstonishinglyODD Project, another quality release from Chicago's local independent scene adding to recent drops from Scheme, GLC, Sir Michael Rocks, Jamal Science + more. Hit the jump to hear and learn more about Astonish's newest single, as well as understanding the immense potential the track holds.
RubyHornet: When did you record “Fill Up the room” and what was the scene like during this time in your life?
Astonish: I think I recorded it in like May, April or May. I remember I heard the beat and I was listening to it and I thought it was so dope of a beat, but I didn't know what I could do with it. I was running through my mind, like what am I going to do with this? And then I got the hook. When I layed down the hook, I was like 'damn that's some fly shit'. But I still didn't know what I would rap on it. I had no idea what to do. And then I was like maybe if I sing the first part, rap the second part, or whatever... I did the first verse and I was like 'I like the little bridge". So I thought that was dope, and it made it harder for me to figure out what I was going to rap to that song.
RubyHornet: But you kept going at it...
Astonish: I think as an artist, if you're capable of singing and you're a rapper, it still intimidates many to 'do'. A little known fact about me is I wanted to be a R&B singer before I wanted to be a rapper. When I was younger, I wanted to sing. But I never excelled at singing. I know what I'm capable of, but I don't the same range as some of these people. I just knew how to rap.
RubyHornet: So is this when you really started to hone those skills, right then around the time "Fill up The Room" was recorded?
Astonish: Yeah. Yeah. Actually this whole project, I was tackling a lot of that myself. But originally, I had in mind I was just going to lay down vocals for someone else to sing. But I couldn't find anyone with the voice I wanted to use for the song. My engineer was like 'why don't you do it because it sounds appropriate with you on it in the first place.' On "Fill Up The Room" I didn't have the intention to sing on the whole track, it just came out that way and I had to leave it alone.
RubyHornet: Word, that's how it is supposed to be, mad organic. What does this song mean in Astonish's career thus-far and where do u see its significance in 2 years?
Astonish: Man the crazy thing about this song is, I thought I... First of all, I don't make music for anybody else's interest. I make music to fit my interest, so when I made that song, I thought it was cool to me. I didn't think that anyone else would really f*ck with it like that. I didn't know. I was like man this is just going to hit or miss, and everybody that I showed it to, they love that song! I don't know, hopefully, hopefully, it can do very well. I think it is catchy, and I think it is something that your can play in the club. I don't even do club music. That's not my format of music. But I think it can definitely be something that is remixed. I'm actually going to drop the accapella's for it, and let people create their own versions for it, do whatever they feel. Hopefully it goes far I have great expectations for it, I'm going to shoot a video for that song, and I wish it the most success.
Banksy's Back
Just in time for the holidays, Banksy returns with a new piece meant to make us realize the fragility of things and the broken promises made to a generation still trying to find themselves. Well played, Banksy. Well, played.
LDRS1354 Creates Custom Adidas Originals
LDRS1354 has linked up with adidas for a custom adidas Forum Moccasin Mid. The new shoe comes in red and black, and also coincides with the street wear store's 10th anniversary. They explain the design, "Our 10 year anniversary is approaching next year, so we went with the concept of us being the first street wear store in Chicago. The first permanent settlers in Chicago were the Potawatomi, so we took the Forum and mixed in a Native American theme with it. With that theme comes a few new twists to the Forum: moccasin fringe on the heel (that’s also removable), zig zag stitches, and premium leather laces. I’d also like to add that this leather is TOP NOTCH, it’s not just the crisp photos. These will be available Saturday Dec. 17th in store and our webstore."
Congrats to everyone at LDRS. Hit the jump for a short preview video.
[Video] Mayer Hawthorne: "Dreamin'"
I'd bet that everyone over 25 dreamed at least once of supplying music for the band at Show Biz Pizza. Well, Show Biz may be no more, but that doesn't stop Mayer Hawthorne by making those dreams a reality in his new video for "Dreamin'". He even starts it off with pizza and two beautiful women. Well executed Mayer, well executed.
[Music] Why Would Canibus Diss J. Cole?
I was surprised reading Twitter yesterday during the Bearsgame and seeing that Canibus released "J. Clone", a diss record aimed at one of Hip Hop's most promising talents. It was surprising to me because I'd never known J. Cole to diss Canibus, and prior to the release of Cole World, J was regarded heavily as one of the few new cats that sought the lyricism and Hip Hop cultural roots that Canibus hailed from as well. I hit play on "J. Clone", and more or less it was what I expected. The song is a somewhat tired diss, a combination of past performances, and maybe a couple witty lines from Canibus who has made a career out of calling out other artists for various reasons.
What's the reason for this diss of J. Cole? Well, you see, J. Cole has dropped Canibus' name in several interviews. Cole cites Canibus as one of his favorite rappers, specifically drawing back to Canibus' earliest works. The problem in Canibus' eyes is that those works were 12 albums ago, and nobody talks about his new s**t. Where ever he goes people want him to drop "Second Round K.O" and his verse on the "4, 3, 2, 1" record. While Wyclef took the blame for f**king up his career the first time, at this point, there is no one to point a finger at, and Canibus is now dissing those artists that aren't paying him the proper respect (in his eyes).
"Currently, new artists such as J. Cole have continuously mentioned me as their favorite artist, shouted me out in articles, magazine/online interviews, and even gone as far as starting off show sets by playing some of my earlier material to warm up the audience and give off the impression that he is real hip hop and loves real lyricism," Canibus writes. "Cole might say he does this to pay homage, but in reality, by him playing my older material owned by my former label dating back to 1998, subsequently overlooking my current works and contributions which directly benefit me now, he is treating me less like an artist that has, and continues to contribute, influence, and inspire an even younger generation of MC’s coming up, and more like an artist that has physically passed on already (i.e. Tupac, B.I.G., Big L, Heavy D, Eyeda): you get the point I'm trying to make."
I certainly do see your point. When artists cite your old works as some of their influences, the attention goes back to records that are almost 15 years old. Cats think that's all you have, and it's doing nothing to spark sales/booking/feature requests surrounding your new material. It's a tough pill to swallow, but one that is swallowed time and time again by artists around the globe that still make loot off one hit they had in 1997. It is kind of a raw deal. I see that. And I give Canibus credit for bringing something up that hasn't been brought up that much. But it's not J. Cole's fault, and what will dissing him do beyond getting him to not mention your name anymore, and influence other artists to also leave your name out of their music and interviews? I can't fault Canibus for feeling the way he does. But if you're gonna make a song about it, do a better job. Maybe that record could take the place of that hit you had about LL Cool J.
[Video] Curren$y: "1st Place" featuring Jet Life
Curren$y shows off his Jet Life posse in this new video for "1st Place". Jet Life goes the house party route, which is both economical and enjoyable. Watch the new clip below.