Coffee With The Rza
The opportunity to have coffee with a genius, one of Hip Hop's greatest minds, doesn't come around too often. That very opportunity fell into my lap a couple weeks ago, on a cold and rainy October morning in the windy city. Rza was in town promoting his new film, "The Man With The Iron Fist", and sat down with me at the People's Lounge before starting a press junket at the Double Door down the street.
"The Man With The Iron Fist" is Rza's directorial debut, and a story that goes all the way back to his childhood in "Shaolin". His love for Kung-Fu flicks, a love that found its way into the very core of the Wu-Tang Clan, served as a driving force behind his new film. And it was his experience leading the Wu-Tang Clan, and his own career in Hip Hop, that prepared him to take the director's seat. He explains in the video below.
Shot and Edited by Andrew Zeiter. Read more from the interview here... Don't tell Jim Jarmusch.
[Video] Nardwuar Interviews Flying Lotus
I'm not sure how I feel about Nardwuar at this point in time. After Sean Price transformed into Seanwuar to interview Pharoahe Monch, I think I may be "wuared" out. Nonetheless, the Vancouver, BC native is still at it, this time linking with Cali producer Flying Lotus. Having recently put out another amazing LP, met with the the human serviette to discuss a range of things including his Grandmothers relationship with Motown, and a bevy of musical connections Lotus holds with artists across the industry. Hit the jump to watch it.
[Closed Sessions] Blu: "Comfy In The Truck" (prod by DJ Babu)
Our Closed Session with Blu took place in February of 2011. Blu was at work on his major label debut, NoYork!. After building a substantial underground following, releasing an undeniable underground classic, and doing whatever he wanted musically, Blu was making his first entrance into the mainstream. That seemed to be on his mind throughout his short visit to Chicago, where he performed at Digital Freshness and hit SoundScape Studio for a Closed Session. During our time with Blu, we had many talks about how the underground and the mainstream were merging, as well as the how the music was pulling him in different directions, one that may or may not upset his core fan base.
Those topics and more are explored in the new Closed Session documentary, and the last single from Closed Sessions Vol. 2. Hit the next page to see the documentary presented by MTV2 Sucker Free, and thank you to everyone that has been supporting the album. We're just getting warm.
Blu and Exile's new album, Bring Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them is in-stores now. Check out the last leak, "The Great Escape" right here.
[Closed Sessions] Sir Michael Rocks: "So Stupid" feat Vic Mensa (prod by DJ Babu)
When DJ Babu came out to Chicago last October to DJ at our "Natural High" release party, I knew we could set up a pretty ill Closed Session with some of Chicago's rising emcees. Babu left it up to me, and I asked Sir Michael Rocks of The Cool Kids and Vic Mensa of Kids These Days to take part in a session with the Dilated Junkie. Both were fans of Babu, and also wanted to work with each other, which they had previously never done. What they created is "So Stupid", the latest drop from Closed Sessions Vol. 2, which drops in full tomorrow, August 30th.
The collaboration is multifaceted, with the various angles explored in the short documentary. On one hand, you have DJ Babu trying to re-introduce himself to a new and younger audience. You also have Sir Michael Rocks entering a new stage in his career after breaking out as part of The Cool Kids in 2008. Lastly, there is Vic Mensa, who is just starting his ascent as part of Kids These Days. They all intersect here. Watch the new video and download "So Stupid" on the next page.
[Closed Sessions] CyHi The Prynce: "Good For Me" (prod by Nascent & QB)
CyHi The Prynce was close to the edge. Close to living in a car, close to finding a dead end in the music business. Then it all changed. He caught the attention of Kanye West, signed to G.O.O.D. Music, had a grand breaking out party during the B.E.T. Cypher, propelling himself to the cover of XXL as a Freshman of 2011. Not many artists can go from being virtually unknown to a feature alongside Hip Hop royalty such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, and The Rza, but CyHi did it.
CyHi had a co-sign from one of Chicago's favorite sons in Kanye West, but in November of 2010, he still had yet to ever visit the windy city. That changed when CyHi came to Chicago to perform at Digital Freshness and participate in a Closed Session at SoundScape studio. A little unsure of what was to come, CyHi setup shop at the studio and let us into his world, penning bar after bar, telling his story. The result it is "Good For Me", a song produced by Nascent and QB, that CyHi called his version of "Exhibit C", and one that will be a cornerstone of his catalog. We go into the studio with CyHi as well as follow him to WGCI for his first radio interview, and his sold out show at Digital Freshness in the latest from Closed Sessions Vol. 2.
Watch the new Closed Sessions documentary via MTV2 Sucker Free and download "Good For Me" on the next page. Closed Sessions Vol. 2 drops in full August 30th. Video by Tony Shane.
[Closed Sessions] Vonnegutt: "Fresh Like Me" feat Mic Terror
Vonnegutt were just some "down South Georgia boys" when they arrived in Chicago for Lollapalooza in late summer of 2010. The band drove from Georgia to Chicago, making the trip without any sleep, and reached SoundScape Studios on a warm Thursday night to participate in a Closed Session. Being fans of Chicago's buzzing Hip Hop scene, Vonnegutt requested to work with Mic Terror of the Treated Crew, who accepted the invitation and came through for a collaborative session that resulted in "Fresh Like Me".
The new song and documentary is the latest release from Closed Sessions Vol. 2, the new album and documentary series from Chicago's Closed Sessions label, presented by rubyhornet.com, MTV2 Sucker Free, and SoundScape Studios. The full project features previously released tracks from LEP, Raekwon, Action Bronson, and Ninjasonik as well as Mr. MFN eXquire, Sir Michael Rocks, Vic Mensa, Blu, Outasight, Freddie Gibbs, Donnis, and more.
[Closed Sessions] Ninjasonik: "How We Treat'em" feat M$M & Hollywood Holt
We recorded this session during Pitchfork 2010, during a hectic Friday afternoon. The night before we had our first Digital Freshness at Beauty Bar with Freddie Gibbs, and this sessions was actually set up around 3AM after the bar closed and craziness subsided. Ninjasonik was not playing at Pitchfork, but they had a couple after parties and were in Chicago for a few days hanging with Million $ Mano and Hollywood Holt, friends and crew members that shared a relationship that existed way beyond the music.
It was Mano that pushed to make this session happen even though I was initially hesitant because of Digital Freshness and the day's other session with Freddie Gibbs and YP, and our party the next day with Yelawolf. The grind won out, and after just a few hours of sleep, we hit SoundScape to record with Ninjasonik, Hollywood Holt, Mano, and Roofeeo, who was serving as Ninjasonik's DJ that weekend. I'm glad we did. The resulting record, "This Is How We Treat'em" is one my favorites from the project, and given everything that's happening now with the Treated Crew, Ninjasonik and Roofeeo, it serves as a foreshadowing piece of history.
"How We Treat'em" is the fourth release from Closed Sessions Vol. 2, the new album and documentary series from the independent Chicago-based Hip Hop label Closed Sessions. The album will be released as a free download later this month presented by rubyhornet, SoundScape Studios and MTV2 Sucker Free. Download the new single, and watch the documentary below.
[Video] Mike Schpitz x Slot-A: "Looking Glass"
Slot-A and Mike Schpitz have a very solid track record working together. After a few years of collaborating on music, the two are getting ready to release their own group project, Have You Seen My Stapler. Today they give us the video for the album's first single, "Looking Glass", which is rock tinged banger. The video is dope, and we also get part of another track featuring Slot-A on the mic. Grab it below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpsr7BXttFM&feature=youtu.be