It’s finally here. The Beatz & Lyrics 2 Go project was recorded during the 7th annual A3C Hip Hop Festival (Oct 2011). The project was recorded between the on-site Unique Squared mobile tour bus as well as Salem Psalms studio. The process is the same every year. Emcees are sought after, they come through the lab in their downtime, you listen to beats (which you don’t know who the producer is) and you select one based on what you hear. You may end up choosing a production from someone you know, or you could end up working with a producer you’ve never heard of.

The project involves 35 MCs, 17 producers, 13 visual artists, four DJs, four videographers, three sound engineers, two executive producers, and a photographer. Besides the actual mixtape, they’ve produced accompanying artwork, an interactive photo flipbook (below), and an eventual documentary of the making of Beatz & Lyrics 2 Go: Vol. 2.

What’s also really FRESH, is that every song on the project was given the single treatment with it’s own artwork, clean, dirty, and instrumental. You can check me out on the song “Like You” along with 4-Ize and Headkrack. The track is produced by Illastrate.

Grammy-winning singer Cee-Lo teams up with Allstate for their Fan Fest Concert in New Orleans as he takes fans behind the scenes in his preparation and rehearsals for his show. Aside from talking about his artistry and his anticipation for the show, he also talks about his fan base and how they are quite representative of his sound and style too. For 2012, he hopes to have a successful year and chase after something that’s unexpected, so keep a look out for him.

Until then, check out his 30-minute set as he performs a bunch of his old and new hits, from “Crazy” to “F— You”!

Spotted at SingersRoom

Shouts to Southwest Atlanta’s Own Cee Lo Green. From the Grammy’s to the Superbowl, always great to see him doing BIG things and doing with great music!

The Red Bull Music Academy has toured the world for the past 15 years hitting spots like Rome, Seattle, Toronto, Melbourne, London, Barcelona, Madrid, etc. This year the Red Bull Music Academy will be bringing it back to the U.S. to be hosted in New York City this fall.

The Red Bull Music Academy is open to artists of all genres, musicians, producers, instrumentalists, engineers, DJ’s, etc. Every year 60 people are chosen from around the world to attend the academy. The goal is find musicians who are working to change the musical landscape of today as well as the future. It’s totally FREE to apply, all you have to do is download, print, and fill out the application.

… Why are you still reading this? GO now.. head over to RedBullMusicAcademy.com to find out more today. Don’t say we didn’t tell you about it!

DAMN! I must say I was in total SHOCK this morning when I woke up hearing the news that Soul Train founder and one of the coolest brothers on earth Mr. Don Cornelius was no longer with us. I was even more Shocked to hear that he took his own life. A 75 year old rich black man committing suicide? Doesn’t really sound right too me.

I hope Don is resting in peace, and we’ll send prayers to all his friends and fam. I’m honored to be a young brotha who got the chance to catch Soul Train while Don Cornelius was still hosting in the late 80′s/early 90′s. Check out this clip of Don putting the moves on Mary Wilson and then hitting the Soul Train line.

Last we spoke I told you I was headed to San Francisco (The Bay) for the Red Bull Music Academy 2012 meet up. This is where all the Mr/Ms X’s (Red Bull Music Academy Ambassadors) meet up, learn what’s happening for the year, network, as well as get a taste of what the Academy is like.

On my first night in Cisco, I got the chance to witness saxophonist Gary Bartz perform live at Yoshi’s. As soon as I walked into the spot I met Aloe Blacc who’s music I’ve really been enjoying lately. As I’m chilling by the bar none other than Kool Bob Love, Bobbito Garcia himself pops up.

Yoshi’s a fly sushi spot that hosts Jazz musicians in the front, but they also have an auditorium in the rear of the building. I had NO idea.

Once the show started you had Gary Bartz on the Sax and vocals. In addition, he had a Pianist who was getting BUSY, a drummer who kept it in the pocket and a bassist who kept the grooves thick as gravy. If that wasn’t enough singers Bilal and Aloe Blacc were special guests, who performed covers of some of Gary’s hits as well as Stevie Wonder covers, and some of their own material. Bilal lost a few cool points reading the lyrics to Stevie Wonder’s “You Will Know” but he made up for it later in the show. Aloe Blacc covered Gary’s “Celestial Blues” which was absolutely AMAZING! The three ended up on stage together at one point covering Coltrane’s “Love Supreme.” The show was CRAZY! I’m truly blessed to say I got a chance to witness that live.

The next day I got a chance to meet Gary Bartz and hear him speak about the history of his music, how he feels about Hip Hop artists sampling his music, as well as why he HATES the word “Jazz.” Check it out for your self. Shouts to Chairman Mao who conducted the interview.

ALSO.. In case you didn’t know the Red Bull Music Academy will be in New York City (NYC) this fall. The Red Bull Music Academy is open to ALL musicians, artists, DJ’s, producers, engineers, etc. It’s like a two week musical workshop where some of the coolest artists from around the world meet up, work on music together, network, as well as witness some amazing performances, and lectures. The applications will be available this Thursday, February 2nd. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on how you can get in where you fit in.

Make sure you check out Gary Bartz on Red Bull Music Academy Radio.