Hypnotic Brass Ensemble to Host Gorillaz Chicago After Party
Chicago's own Hypnotic Brass Ensemble will return to their hometown of the Windy City on Saturday as the live band for The Gorillaz. Following the Gorillaz concert, the band will celebrate their homecoming with an exclusive engagement at the House of Blues Foundation Room. The night will feature an intimate performance by the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, as well as sets by some of Chicago's top DJs such as DJ RTC of RubyHornet, Hollywood Holt, and DJ Broadway Streetz. Special invited guests include The Gorillaz, De La Soul, Mos Def, Raekwon and more. The event goes from 9PM-2AM, with a red carpet from 10:30PM-12:30AM. The full flyer is below.
BBU Takes it to the Streets
BBU doesn't just rap about activism and problems we face today. They themselves are true activists who make the effort to make a difference. Takin' it to the Streets is an HIV Prevention Initiative that Epic has been leading on the West side of Chicago. The purpose is to educate and promote good health. In past years HIV testing was offered, but this year they added diabetes and blood pressure screening. Fly Kite Media was on the scene and got some footage of Epic's performance as well as some of his thoughts on the initiative. Check it out below.
cap D: "Respect"
Everything's about respect. cap D's makes a strong case for why he deserves his as he goes in with confidence over the !llMind produced track. Cop the track below.
Esso: "Someday" ft. El Prez Video from A3C
Esso and El Prez performed this single off of Esso's upcoming EP, Californiacation, at A3C last weekend. The festival's lineup was stacked and this is just one of the many solid performances. Californiacation is set to drop next month and if this track is indicative of what to expect, the album should be pretty dope. Watch the video after the jump.
Wiz Khalifa: "Know Your Name"
Wiz takes this track in a bit of a different direction than a lot of his other material. He reflects on what he's done and what it's gotten him, be it fame, women, more green, or more green (that was intentional). However, Wiz isn't saying all of this in a bragging way that a lot of rappers would. Instead, the track feels like a bit of introspection from one of the kings of kush. The song is appropriately mellow and it definitely has a bit of a pop feel to it, especially with the chorus.
Aleon Craft: "On the Verge" Freestyle Video
Stankonia Studios is preparing an Inside the Music "On the Verge" Edition that will feature the likes of Laws, Sean Falyon, FKi, Grip Plyaz, Young Lyxx and of course Aleon Craft. This video, directed by Jeron Ward, was released as a bit of a teaser. It features a slow-paced but impressive freestyle by Aleon Craft from inside the studio. Check it out below.
Outasight: "Never Say Never" Acoustic Video
Outasight's Never Say Never has some incredible material and Ray Ban must have liked what they heard because they picked up Outasight for their Rare Print Ad Campaign. Outasight performs the mixtapes lead track on a rooftop and it sounds pretty good (wish it was a bit louder). I'd definitely like to see more footage of Outasight live and if I do, you'll be the first to know. Make the jump to watch the video. Props to Complex magazine.
Mickey Factz: "Kitchen Sessions"
3 Little Digs impresses again. And don't forget Mickey Factz. I can't remember the last time I saw somebody perform with this much energy. Mickey goes off at Tree Sound. If the video footage is this entertaining, I can only imagine what Mickey Factz would be like live. Check out the video below.