Now this right here is what the world needs to be hearing on the commercial radio dial coming out of ATL. F.U.P.M. aka Fuck You Pay Me aka Stat Quo and Bobby Creekwater have been in the lab working on a new project. In case you forgot, Both emcees were signed to Eminem’s Shady Records imprint but never released albums. I always supported Stat Quo and felt he had what it takes to be the next big voice to be heard coming out of ATL. The homie Bobby Creek I’ve known since high school, and always proud of his movements as well as his consistency. So I’ve really liked the few collab records I’ve heard from these guys. Can’t wait to hear as well as see how the world responds to F.U.P.M. In the meantime check out their latest video for the song “Alright, Alright.”

One of my favorite songs from Pharoahe’s last album “W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) finally gets a visual. Check out the new video for “Still Standing” featuring Mela Machinko & Jill Scott.

On “Still Standing” Pharoahe raps about his on going battle with chronic asthma since childhood. A few years ago I found out how serious Pharoahe’s condition was. I went to a show he was supposed to be performing at, but he never took the stage. The word spread around that he suffered a serious asthma attack and was going to be un-able to perform. It’s very amazing as well that Pharoahe who has incredible breath control on the mic suffers from asthma.

“Still Standing” is an inspiring message for anyone going through something tough. No matter how rough it gets, don’t ever let life knock you down, you gotta keep standing tall! Check out the new video for yourself.

If you haven’t heard Clan D’s latest LP “Self Titled” released a year ago (Jan 2011) your playing yourself. The project is absolutely amazing and a year later the duo releases their 5th video from the project. Featuring Stacy Epps on the vocal help out, here is the new video for “Scream” Directed by B Price (Late September Films).

I was on hand to witness history a few weeks ago in San Francisco. Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia reunited during a few days of Red Bull Music Academy events to highlight the Academy being in New York City this fall. As a BIG fan of the radio show, I was honored to hear stories of the show’s creation, what artist stretch & bob thought were going to be large and in charge, etc.

Check out some pics… then check out some video footage… THEN… listen to Stretch & Bob spin live at Mighty SF on Red Bull Music Academy Radio. WOW! What a way to start 2012!!! Don’t sleep on Red Bull Music Academy.

Presented for your viewing pleasure: Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia of the famed Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show – a/k/a, the greatest hip-hop radio show of all-time! – sit down with our own Chairman Mao for an entertaining and insightful hour-and-a-half interview/lecture at last week’s Red Bull Music Academy “NYC to SF Bay” program in San Francisco. Yup, long-time fans – it’s all covered here: the nervous early days when, as Stretch puts it, “at least 15 people were listening,” the classic freestyles (Big L with Jay-Z; Nas) and world premiere appearances (Wu-Tang; B.I.G.), the 4AM “Krunchtime” snap sessions – even the time a desperate listener called in seeking legal counsel from Bob after allegedly bucking someone down. Also discussed: why the show eventually ran its course (and episodes of playing records the other person wouldn’t like to piss him off), moving on from hip-hop, and how this particular broadcast with all its quirks and mystique will forever represent a classic New York City sensibility. “Eighty-nine tech-nine” 4eva! Spotted at Ego Trip Land.

If you watch towards the end you will see a cameo by yours truly Señor Kaos. I was really just trying to get an answer to a question I always wondered about.

Lecture: Stretch and Bobbito (San Francisco, 2012) from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.

After the lecture with Chairman Mao, Stretch And Bob rock the party at Mighty SF. Shouts to the homie Rubix who came thru. Dave Chapelle was in the building, a snapped a quick pic of him (Dave doesn’t really like taking pictures) on stage with Bobbito, then I danced until my clothes were sweated out and my knee was killing me! Oh What A Night... check out the audio, broken down into 3 parts below. This audio was recored by the good people at Red Bull Music Academy Radio. Bet you didn’t know Red Bull had a music academy or a radio station… doing BIG things. The station is CRAZY too. Music from various genres, mixes, live performances, interviews, a lot more diverse than the same 8 songs you hear on your local radio all day for sure, check it out.

The Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show is the best hip hop radio show of all time, period. Broadcasting out of Columbia University’s WKCR every Thursday night from 1am to 5am between 1990 and 1998, Adrian “Stretch Armstrong” Bartos and Robert “Bobbito” Garcia launched the career of countless MC’s from the East coast, including Nas, The Notorious B.I.G, Big Pun, and Busta Rhymes to name but a few. With their witty commentary, razor-sharp mixing skills and obsessive passion for unearthing the next freshest beat and rhyme in the universe, they had fans around the world on lock and inspired generations of radio hosts to come. Big L and Jay-Z freestyling back to back? Check. Dubplates cut from demo tapes at Sugar Minott’s Brooklyn studio? Check. Legendary on-air phone calls with aspiring rappers? Check. The Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show was more than a radio show. It was the epitome of 90s New York rap, the backbone of an industry (without ever being part of the industry), and still ranks as one of the greatest documents of that era. Both Stretch and Bob have long gone on to engage in other ventures, running labels, making movies and of course DJing solo around the globe. In January 2012 though, they reunited for a lecture and DJ set during the Red Bull Music Academy Session in San Francisco. Hear them tear the Mighty SF apart with an impeccable selection of tunes that inspired their show back in the 90s, as well as legendary Bay Area DJ, Shortkut of Invisbl Skratch Piklz and Beat Junkies fame, warming up and paying homage to his contemporaries from the East Coast. – RBMA Radio.

Back around Thanksgiving the homie Skyzoo was in ATL. He rocked a show at Club 529 but earlier that day I saw tweets about him being in the Stankonia Studios (Outkast/Atlanta) working with Young Lyxx on something… What is done in the studio dark… shall come to light (at least you hope it works out like that HA). Looks like the two teamed up on a track called “You Ain’t Heard.” Here’s some behind the footage of the two recording the track. Video work by Cam Kirk, although I’m not sure who produced this track.

It’s interesting to see both emcees type / spit rhymes off their mobile phones. I wonder how this has affected the sales of Mead Composition Notebooks as it seems the ways of the rhyme book are going extinct… Check it out.

I heard this record for the first time last night while I was checking out the Beatz and Lyrics show. The track is produced by King I Divine and DJ Precyse is on the cuts.

This is the first leak from the Beatz & Lyrics 2 Go Mixtape recorded during the 2011 A3C Hip Hop Festival here in ATL.

“Together” is currently available for free download. Make sure you check out the entire Beatz & Lyrics 2 Go project when it’s released on Feb. 7th.

Today is January 10th which can only mean one thing! The “Executive Suite” album is here and available for FREE download.

A few months back I was reached out to by Kareem Fort to be interviewed for his DEMO’s documentary which is about independent artists. Afterwards I was approached about jumping on this record with Chaundon which was to be featured on the Demo’s movie soundtrack. Later on me and 4-Ize knocked out another record to be featured on “Executive Suite.” The original record “All Out” with Chaundon and Skinny C, never made the soundtrack and instead was used for this project. AND… that my friends is how I ended up on the “Executive Suite” project two times.

Just thought I’d share a lil story with you… But for real 2012 is getting off to a GREAT start, and this project is definitely one you shouldn’t sleep on. Stream or Download at DJBooth.com Today!

As C.O.O. of HiPNOTT Records, Co–Founder of Cypher Lounge Radio and creator/Executive Producer of the highly anticipated documentary film DEMOS, you would think Kareem Fort wouldn’t have time for much more but, the multi-talented Reem has taken on the role of executive producer for the upcoming compilation LP, Executive Suite.

Executive Suite is available via The DJBooth with additional sponsorship from KevinNottingham and TheWellVersed. The compilation features production from long time collaborator Tony C (of Maseed Productions) and features the lyricism of Rapper Big Pooh, Donny Goines, Raven Sorvino, Senor Kaos, 4-Ize, Hawdwerk, and Punchline and more.

Tracklist:

A Day in the Life Intro (prod. Push Button Ent)
Take A Walk ft Dave East (prod. Pajozo)
All Out ft Chaundon, Senor Kaos, Skinny-C (prod. Tony C)
Dont Say Goodbye ft Rapper Big Pooh, Donny Goines, Raven Sorvino (prod Ahzel)
Here With Me Brooke Taylor feat Punchline (Tony C.)
Givin It Up ft Ultrabeast (4-Ize & Senor Kaos), Hawdwerk (prod. Tony C.)
Snapshot ft Bodega Brovas (prod Tony C, cuts by DJ Mark-1)
Grown Man Business ft Akil Nadir (prod Tony C)
Top Mistress ft Aliso Black (prod Tony C)
Do Dat Sheit ft Tomorrow Yesterday (prod Tony C)
Message from Von Pea of Tanya Morgan
Amazement ft E-Jones, Halo, Rapsody, Sundown (prod E Jones)
The Edge ft Epsilon Project (Prod Slopfunkdust)
Arson ft Noni Spitz (prod Tony C)
Dynamics ft Gods’illa (prod E Jones)
Too Deep ft Lyric Jones and Headkrack (prod. Tony C)
Come On ft Ms.She-ill (prod Floyd da Locsmif)

DOWNLOAD

This past Friday night (Jan 6th), me, 4-ize and the Bodega Brovas trooped out to Birmingham, Alabama for a live performance at the Bottle Tree Cafe. Shouts to the good folks at Lobotomix for holding us down and making sure things were straight. The Bottle Tree is a real nice venue that serves as restaurant int the day / venue at night. As far as the food goes the sweet potato french fries were jamming. As far as the venue goes the space is nice and the sound was crispy!

Me and 4-Ize performed a special Ultra Beast set which we rocked for about 40 minutes. I ran thru some of the records from “The Kaos Effect” and he ran through some joints from his latest project “Attack Of The Sea Monkeys,” before we linked later in the set to knock out collab records. Shouts to all the ladies who came out, and to the two young ladies who kept buying us shots of Jaegermeister like they were trying to get us pregnant. HA.

(Backstory): A couple songs into the set 4-Ize announced on the mic “I need somebody to bring me some Jaegermeister!” Like 3 minutes later we were being handed two shots, and I thought that was it. 5 minutes later the young ladies come back with more shots, 10 minutes go buy and more shots! HAHAHA! I told 4-ize these girls are either trying to kidnap us or get us pregnant… or both! Lol.

Haven’t seen any video footage surface from the show, but here’s a couple pics. Shouts to A.D and DJ Rahdu (BamaLoveSoul) for coming through and rocking with us.

Shouts to KevinNottingham.com for always supporting my music over the past few years. When I first saw this post, I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. In one way it’s very correct, I feel my album “The Kaos Effect” was VERY slept on by the press, blogs, etc. I’m very fortunate though for the fans who purchased it the first week it was released, were waiting on it, and had positive things to say about it. Guess I’ve reached the point where I’m tired of being “slept on,” discounted, looked over, forgot about, etc. (Sam Cooke Voice:) “I know a change gone come!”… It has too!!! Check out the write up HERE.