(Video) Boogz Boogetz [ @BoogzBoogetz ] - John Freestyle

Follow @BoogzBoogetz.

(Video) Pete Rock & Smif N Wessun ft. Sean Price & Styles P - ''That's Hard''

Via Nahright.com.

Pete Rock & Smif N Wessun latest visual for "That's Hard" featuring Sean Price and Styles P. Directed By Court Dunn, in association with Restless Films x Nah Right's 'One Shot' Series.

'Monumental' album is out now at major retailers (Best Buy, FYE), Independent, Mom & Pop stores, and more.
Purchase via Amazon Digital: http://amzn.to/lBhPiX
Purchase via iTunes: http://bit.ly/ju7o4Y

Fans in the New York Tri-State, join Smif N Wessun for a FREE album release party, performance & photography exhibition TONIGHT at Tammany Hall located at 152 Orchard Street btwn Rivington & Stanton. Doors at 7PM. Music by Da Beatminerz (DJ Evil Dee, Mr. Walt, DJ Goldfinger, DJ Wayne Ski. Hosted by DJ Bazarro. For more info visit: http://bit.ly/l5gKN6

(Audio) TROY AVE [ @TroyAve ] ft. Prodigy [ @PRODIGYMOBBDEEP ] - ''Dirty Martini''

Beat is tough. Troy Ave's Bricks In My Backpack 2: Powder To The People coming in July. Illuminati P? lol....

 

Download via: www.freeOnSMASH.com

http://hulkshare.com/jlqrzf0575vk

(Video) J-Love [ @JLOVETHEKING ] ft. Large Professor [ @PLargePro ] - ''Trust Fund Children''

Solid joint right here.

PURCHASE J-LOVE MUSIC AT http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/j-love/id268972159

DIRECTED, FILMED & EDITED BY
TOM GOULD & ALEXANDER RICHTER
http://tomgouldshoots.com/
http://www.alexanderrichterphoto.com/

FROM THAT J-LOVE EGOTISTICAL MANIAC LP
J-LOVE FEAT LARGE PROFESSOR - TRUST FUND CHILDREN
PRODUCED BY J-LOVE

(Video) Rhyme Addicts (XP & ILLwerd) - ''Sidewalk Swagg'' (IM3 WEST)

Lets take it over to the West Coast. Shouts to my dudes RA whattup!!

Directed by Richard J. Martinez
Music produced by State of the Art beats
Exec. Producers: Vantage Music Group, LLC
www.analigitalLA.com

(Artist Spotlight/Audio) Flukey [ @ItsFlukeyBaby ] - ''Karma''

Flu got some shit to get off his chest. Be sure to check out his previous video.

  Flukey - Karma by Oceanz 13

Previously....
(Artist Spotlight/Video) Flukey [ @ItsFlukeyBaby ] - ''We are F#CKING Angry''

(Producer Spotlight/Video) Large Professor [ @PLargePro ] - Mini-Documentary/Interview (Beat Life Edition)

Shouts to Out Da Box TV again. Out Da Box caught up with Large at a recent studio session, where he touched on a number of topics including how he got his name, facing early industry obstacles, wanting to work with 2 Pac, and how his hustle has changed in the music biz. He even speaks on one of his greatest memories of recording "Illmatic". Out Da Box were also able to talk with some fellow artists who have shared successful relationships with Large, including Neek The Exotic, J Love, Lord Finesse and Cormega. Classic interview right here.

Part 1

Part 2

(Video) Cormega [ @realcormega ] speaks on what's the best way to reach the youth

In this insightful video, QB veteran "Cormega" speaks on how we can best reach our youth, who are sometimes headed towards a path of trouble in the streets. We hope this video inspires both young and old to take responsibility and make leadership decisions to help build a better society. Shouts to Out Da Box TV.

(Video) Action Bronson [ @ActionBronson ] - ''Brunch''

Action Bronson cheffin' shit up in the kitchen Dr. Lector style.

Action Bronson - 'Brunch' from the album 'Dr. Lecter' produced by Tommy Mas.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dr-lecter/id426146065?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Video directed, shot and edited by Tom Gould & Alexander Richter.
http://www.tomgouldshoots.com/
http://www.alexanderrichterphoto.com/

(Audio) @HYNIEFSG, @JIMJONESCAPO & @PRODIGYMOBBDEEP - ''Upset'' ( Pd. by @iamRogerDat )

One of Juelz Santana's artists links up with Capo & P.

(Video) @TheRealNashawn tells us his story on how he met @Nas

Shouts to Gully TV.

(Video) Mike Deloreon talks about @ProdigyMobbDeep & @Nas situations

After having some more time to reflect upon the whole book situation Mike gives us his thoughts.

(Video) @TonyYayo doesn't agree with some things in @ProdigyMobbDeep 's book + talks G-Unit

Via ThisIs50.com. DJ Premier also talks about LL v. Canibus & model Sophia Rosado.

(Video) Ferg Brim [ @InfamousDoeBoys ] (Mobb Deep), Bro Charles & Cash Billz - ''The Light''

Let there be light.

(Video) Lord Nez [ @LordNez ] - ''Keep It Cool''

Here's a new Lord Nez video entitled "Keep It Cool'' off his Rhyme & Reason project.

(Video) Prodigy [ @ProdigyMobbDeep ] ''My Infamous Life'' book signing @ Bay Plaza Barnes & Noble

Prodigy speaks on excerpts from his book, how his beef with 2pac started, life growing up, his influences, how he came up with the idea to write a book, and much more. Via: @p4pdvdent. "My Infamous Life" in stores now.

(Video) Soul Assassins Present: A Day In The Life Of The Alchemist [ @AlanTheChemist ]

Alchemist discusses what Soul Assassins means to him and gives a sneak peek of the new Fall 2011 Soul Assassins line. Products will be available in stores and online mid-August 2011. www.soulassassins.com.

(Artist Spotlight/Video) LandLord [ @LandLordMusic ] - ''Angel'' (Dir. by @Shatek )

#Shadyville #Queens.

(Audio) Onyx [ Sticky Fingaz & @DroStarr1 ] - ''I'm So 90's''

Fredro Starr....Sticky Fingaz.....ONYX....

(Video) Cuban Link, Peedi Crakk, Poerilla, Tony Sunshine talk about Joell Ortiz jumpin on ''Big Pun's Back''

Interesting....Via: NewMello.com.

(Video) Ed Lover [ @MrEdLover ] Presents - ''C'Mon Son!'' Episode 24

Still going strong.....

(Video) @G4BOYZ X @BoogzBoogetz - ''Stuntin' Hard''

Boogz Boogz Boogetz....

Directed by: @FUCKZENTIL

Video produced by: @STRANGEARMAND of @STRANGECUSTOMS

Edit: Sean Pheanis

Follow: @G4Boyz @BoogzBoogetz

(Video) Meyhem Lauren [ @MeyhemLauren ] - ''Lost Souls''

#Outdoorsmen.

DOWNLOAD MUSIC BY MEYHEM LAUREN ON ITUNES:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/self-induced-illness/id419161195
Artist: Meyhem Lauren
Track: "Lost Souls"
Album: Self Induced Illness
Track Produced by: Jewels Polaar
Video Edited by: Erik Altano
Check out more music and videos at: http://www.meyhemlauren.com

(Video) S.A.S (Eurogang) @MegaSAS & @MayhemSAS ft. Chipmunk & Eric Bellinger - ''Ready'' (In Studio Performance)

Filmed & edited by Kritikal.

(Video) Mysonne [ @Mysonne ] - ''Ready Or Not'' [Dir: by @RalphRandom ]

Real spit....pay attention kids....

Download Link: http://hulkshare.com/ve60dcn2gisc
Directed by Ralph Random
www.mysonnenygeneral.com
FOLLOW: @Mysonne & @RalphRandom

(Video) Ty Nitty - [ @TYNITTYMOBB ] - ''Street Life''

Joint is tough.

TY NITTY - "STREET LIFE"
PRODUCED BY DJ KHALIL
EDITED BY :JUST WATCH
FILMED BY : LOVE & LOYALTY FILMS
LOVE & LOYALTY FILMS / JUST WATCH VIDS

(Video) Ty Nitty - [ @TYNITTYMOBB ] responds to so-called Mobb Deep [ @ProdigyMobbDeep & @TheRealHavoc ] ''Goon'' video

Yesterday Thisis50.com posted a video of a masked goon making death threats towards Prodigy of Mobb Deep. Ty Nitty drops his thoughts on the video in this interview here. "My Infamous Life" in stores now.

(Video) If you got beef with @ProdigyMobbDeep get in line.

"My Infamous Life" in stores now.

(Video) Prodigy [ @ProdigyMobbDeep ] confirms record with Rick Ross [ @rickyrozay ]

Via http://www.mtv.com. MTV caught up with Prodigy backstage during Hot 97's 2011 Summer Jam.

Tags: MTV Shows

(Video) J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League talk about working with Mobb Deep [ @ProdigyMobbDeep & @TheRealHavoc ]

I definitely expect some quality material out of this collaboration. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League talk about working with Mobb Deep & also talk about their upcoming projects.

(Video) Mobb Deep [ @ProdigyMobbDeep & @TheRealHavoc ] Preview J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League Record

Via 57thave.com.

(Video) @DJDooWop, @SNAGGAPUSSs & @SireCastro (Bounce Squad) - ''The Rap Repo Man''

DOO WOP, SNAGGAPUSS, SIRE CASTRO, SKI BEATZ, REPOS, JAMALL HALL, BOUNCE SQUAD....

Download the mixtape HERE.

(Producer Spotlight/Audio) Labor Department 2011 Beat Sampler #2 [ @diggstrumentals @RodDaBlizz @labordeptmusic ]

Emcees...in need of professional production? Log on to http://labordeptmusic.blogspot.com.

Previously....
(Producer Spotlight/Audio) Labor Department 2011 Beat Sampler #1 [ @diggstrumentals @RodDaBlizz @labordeptmusic ]

(Video) ILLA GHEE [ @ILLAGHEE2K ] ft. SEAN PRICE [ @SeanMandela ] - ''PRICE TO BE ILLA''

This shit is hardbody!!! Spotted on RebelBible.

(Video) Killah Priest - ''Tonight We Ride''

Directed by: Danny "Zodiak" Laughlin & Rusty Rayburn. Director of Photography: Rusty Rayburn for http://www.viralvisuals.com/. Edited by: Scott O'Malley for http://guerillapress.net/.

"Tonight We Ride," from Killah Priest's forthcoming double CD "The Psychic Mind of Walter Reed."

(Video) Shabazz the Disciple [ @shabazzdisciple ] & Zodiak - ''Cage vs. Cons''

Edited by Scott O'Malley for www.guerillapress.net. Footage courtesy Rusty Rayburn, Erick Tran, and Uri Ruffin.

(Video) Nas [ @Nas ] gets Malcolm X tattoo w/ AK-47

Some throwback footage of Nas getting a Malcolm X tattoo back before his break up with Kelis.

(News) InfamousMinded.com Interviews Un Pacino's Mother regarding his incarceration.

Via http://infamousminded.com.

INFAMOUS MINDED EXCLUSIVE interview with Un Pacino's mother.

InfamousMinded: Thanks for doing this interview..I wanna start off by saying FREE UN PAC!!

InfamousMinded: What happened to Un Pacino?

Joyce Scott-Brayboy: He was arrested on October 22, 2010 in Queens, NY and charged with home invasion and co defendant with 3 others for armed robbery, in Rye, NY.

InfamousMinded: How many years is he facing?

Joyce Scott-Brayboy: Currently being offered 7 years @ conference. Facing 5-25 years for armed robbery

InfamousMinded: When can we expect some new music ?

Joyce Scott-Brayboy: No answer

InfamousMinded: How are the proceedings going as of right now? Is the lawyer helping at all? How long until trial?

Joyce Scott-Brayboy: Not good, legal aid lawyer trying to work with prosecution d.a. and says he has never won a trial like this in Westchester County. Basically saying he doesn't have a chance on beating the case. No indictment since arrest on October 22, 2010.

InfamousMinded: Whats the address for fans to wirte Un Pac?

Joyce Scott-Brayboy: Jamal Brayboy, 18-18 Hazen /st. (AMKC) East Elmhurst, NY 11370, #8951001396

InfamousMinded: How can people send donations to help Un Pacino with a new defense lawyer?

Joyce Scott-Brayboy: Paypal >Joyce Scott-Brayboy

InfamousMinded: Thanks for you time in this difficult time.. FREE UN!

For more Infamous related news check out http://infamousminded.com.

(Video) Cormega [ @realcormega ] speaks on his new deal with Sony/Red for his single “I Made a Difference”

Via http://antisellout.com.

(Video) Brutal Music Presents: Blaq Poet [ @Blaq_Poet ] - "Mortuary Music" [ Pd. by @EricVanderslice ]

Warning NSFW!! “Blaq Poet Society” drops June 21st.

(Video) Freck Billionaire [ @WestPhillyFreck ] Released From Prison

Freck Billionaire was released from prison on 4/7/11.

(Video) Freck Billionaire [ @WestPhillyFreck ] – ''Homecoming King'' (For The Paper)

West Philly Freck is home. Starring Fabolous.

(Video) Mobb Deep [ @ProdigyMobbDeep & @TheRealHavoc ] Interview With OkayplayerTV

OkayplayerTV catches up with the infamous Mobb Deep at their concert at the Best Buy theater in Times Square along side Ghostface, Raekwon, Cappadonna, and the Money Making Jam Boyz.

Shot and edited by Deep End Productions for Okayplayer.

(Video) Nas [ @Nas ] talks about his new album which is entitled: ''Life Is Good''

Nas talks to DJ Envy on MTV 2's Sucker Free show & gives us some details about his new album & why he chose to call it "Life Is Good". He also hits us with the title to the first single which is entitled "Nasty".

(Video) Capone [ @CaponeQB ] - ''Jackin For Beatz'' Freestyle. Via: @forbezdvd

Capone - "Jackin For Beatz" Freestyle. Directed By Doggie Diamonds & M.Reck. Edited By RH Bless. Call 646-397-7095 If you need a video directed.

(Video) Grafh [ @Grafh ] - ''U Know How I Do It''

You know.... http://www.grafhonline.com.

(Video) S.A.S (Eurogang) @MegaSAS & @MayhemSAS tell us their story. Via: @GrimeDaily

Via http://www.grimedaily.com - Never knew these dudes had such a crazy history. S.A.S. sit down with Grime Daily and tell their story about their time in Staten Island as young youths, from Mayhem being shot in High School to Kanye West wanting to sign them. - A MUST WATCH!

(Video) @SadatX & @WillTellNYC 's - "True Wine Connoisseurs" Ep. 13 Season 3 ft. DMC

This is a special T.W.C. episode dedicated to the FELIX organization. Everybody support DMC and this great cause. Shouts to Winebow Imports.

[INTERVIEW] Rench from "Gangstagrass"

 For more content from our guest contributor Gary Anderson, check out his website at Searching For Chet Baker.

NOTE: This is an interview I did this week with Rench, a member of the bluegrass/hip hop group "Gangstagrass". They are most known for their theme song to the FX series "Justified".

SFCB: Growing up, what types of music did you listen to?

RENCH:  There was a lot of honky tonk around the house when I was little. My dad would play Willie Nelson and George Jones records, also Gram Parsons stuff. But also some more far out material like Frank Zappa and Screamin Jay Hawkins. But I grew up in Southern Cali, and in 3rd grade I would breakdance during recess. The first record I owned myself was Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit” single. The rest of grade school was all about Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys.

SFCB: At what point did you think, after growing up listening to both bluegrass and country music, along with hip hop music, that you might be able to combine the two and that it could actually work together?

RENCH:  I rejected country music for a while, it was the music of my folks and that’s not cool for a teenager to listen to. Plus mainstream country really sucked starting in the 80s. It wasn’t until after college I got back in touch with that sound and started listening to Hank and Willie and Johnny. It was the late 90’s and I was producing hip-hop and trip-hop and I started thinking it would be great to work in some samples of pedal steel guitar licks.

Pedal steel is such a beautiful sound. So it started off as the idea of using country samples in hip-hop tracks, and then evolved over several years into doing actual country songs with beats and rhymes. Some of the insight into how to bring about the fusion in the right way came from a whole incident in the desert with some rattlesnake bites and a garbage bag full of Mr. Bubble. But that is a whole other story.

SFCB: Often when you have multi-genre offerings, no matter what the genres are, there will always be a small amount of purists on each side that kind of dismiss it as being bastardizations or "not REAL (insert genre of music here)."  How do you react to that, and is there really any way to bring them into the fold?

RENCH:  I love it when people are outraged, it gives me reassurance that I am doing something at least a little groundbreaking. Mostly it comes from bluegrass purists who think it is morally wrong to mix it with hip-hop. They actually use phrases like “against the laws of nature.”

But that is just the purists and I am not concerned with winning them over. They are a small fraction of listeners. A lot of bluegrass fans love it, and there are a lot of people out there who already listen to country or bluegrass and hip-hop, who have Bill Monroe and Outkast on their mp3 player.

SFCB: Your song "Long Hard Times To Come" is the theme song to the FX series "Justified".  Who approached you about the idea of doing the theme song?

RENCH:  The show producers asked for a new track after they heard a Gangstagrass track used in a commercial for the show, so the connection actually came initially from the promotions department finding me and licensing the track for a commercial (thanks Ethan!).

SFCB: Legendary crime novelist Elmore Leonard has sung your praises in the press for the show, and has expressed his love for your music.  How did that feel getting accolades from one of the greatest living writers of our time?

RENCH:  That was ridiculously great. I am still excited about that. I got to meet Elmore when he came to New York last year and that is one cool dude. He came to Bushwick with me and we went tagging some buildings with a graffiti crew.

SFCB: Your song was nominated for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme at the 2010 Emmys.  Where were you when you found out, and how did that feel to receive that recognition?

RENCH:  I found out by checking online that morning when nominations came out. Then I called T.O.N.E-z and told him we were nominated. Calls and gift baskets from the network came later. It is cool that I call always tag my name with “Emmy nominated” from here on, and it was a very strange experience to do the red carpet. Hollywood is pretty weird. But we didn’t win, and I’m back in my basement studio doing this whole thing independently and that is how it is going to be. At the end of the day it is actually more exciting when I hear a new track taking shape and I realize that I am creating something really cool.

SFCB: One of the things I like about Gangstagrass, is that it's not a couple tracks that use elements of bluegrass in it, or elements of hip hop in it.  It's actual live instruments, it's a living breathing collaboration between two musical worlds, and it fits together very well, I think.  Too often you have artists that kind of dip their toe in, so to speak, and do a little bit, but only a little bit.  Bubba Sparxxx's album Deliverance is one of my favorite albums and it used some country/bluegrass music on a few of the tracks, but overall it was more of a hip hop type thing.  And while I was never a big fan of country music, those tracks were the ones I liked the most.   I kind of felt like he would have liked to have done a whole album like "Deliverance" and "She Tried" and "Coming Round", but didn't think that the hip hop audience would buy it.

RENCH:  I had the same experience, always liking it when people did country hip-hop mixes and getting disappointed that they only did it for one song. With Bubba Sparxxx, with Spearhead’s “Wayfaring Strangers” and Morcheeba’s “The Process” etc. So yeah, I’m making something where the country-hip-hop sound is the permanent sound of the band, not a one track thing.  The lineup of the band is geard to make that sound – dobro player, banjo player, fiddle player. We are the experts, the professionals, the Seal Team 6 of bluegrass hip-hop.

SFCB: I've always liked producers who incorporate different genres into their music.  While I was never a huge fan of Sean "Diddy" Combs, I DID like how he wasn't afraid to take a chance and sample some really out of left field records for his music.   Likewise, probably my favorite producer, Dan "The Automator" Nakamura (Gorillaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Lovage, Dr. Octagonycologist) has pretty much done every type of music.  Who are your favorite producers, in any genre?

RENCH:  Dan The Automator is definitely an inspiration. He takes hip-hop production into interesting new places. When I heard his Deltron 3030 album my mind was blown, and then again with Lovage. Outkast did that as well, and Missy Elliott did with SupaDupaFly – they show how hip-hop can be creative and original and I like that. I think creative beats are really important. Producers can give something an interesting sound so that it transcends genre and just sounds exciting. Gotta give it up to T. Bone Burnett on what he has done with country, roots, and blues music.

SFCB: It seems that every five to ten years there's a cycle in hip hop where people start calling the demise of the artform.  It seems anytime some passing fad comes through, or a commercial artist comes along to set the charts on fire, there are those who proclaim hip hop is dead, and it's over, and done with.  Yet, I think that if you really think about it, hip hop has always had the various types of hip hop music.  I mean back in the day you had the politically conscious type artists such as Public Enemy/KRS-1, you had the party/feel good hip hop like Kid N' Play & Jazzy Jeff/Fresh Prince, you had the hardcore gangsta stuff like NWA, and then you had the raunchy sex rap like Too Short and Two Live Crew,

So when I see some young rapper come along who's message really isn't about anything more than having fun, I don't necessarily think it's time to hit the panic button and declare the death of hip hop.  We still have solid serious and important artists out there speaking truth to power such as Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Immortel Technique and many others. 

How do you view the hip hop landscape at the moment, and do you think there's anything to really worry about?

RENCH:  Worrying about hip-hop is pointless. Hip-hop will take care of itself, and there will always be people that come along and make great tracks – and there is room for all different styles in hip-hop. It is true though that mainstream, top-selling hip-hop won’t necessarily reflect the potential of the genre – what gets play may be more of a lowest common denominator kind of thing, and the quality stuff might not be at the top of the charts, but it will still get made.

SFCB: On the flip side, there are also a lot of people who are down on today's era of Country music.  While I am certainly not as knowledgeble as a lot of others when it comes to Country music, I've heard many people lament the fall of so-called "Real" Country music.   I suppose it's along the lines of hip hop where many feel that the original meaning behind the artform is just not there, and everything is just watered down and lacking in the realness, for lack of a better word, that was there in the beginning.

Share your thoughts on that as well, if you could.

RENCH:  Yeah country has some parallels with hip-hop in that respect. The mainstream stuff at the top of the charts is watered down and doesn’t have the grit that made the genre great initially. I’ve had experiences where people tell me they don’t like country music but when I ask them if they like Hank Williams they say yeah they love Hank Williams and Johnny Cash etc., and other times people have told me they don’t like hip-hop but if I ask about Outkast or The Pharcyde or Cypress Hill they are like “Oh, well I like that!” so both genres have gotten to the point where the label represents something else to people.

But not all of the good stuff is in the past, it is just that the good stuff getting made in hip-hop and in country music isn’t put on the charts or the radio or whatever. You have to search it out. Some of my favorite country and favorite hip-hop music getting made now is completely independent and off the radar. Like honky-tonk singer Lana Rebel, or The Lonesome Sisters, or T.O.N.E-z.

SFCB: What other albums have you been listening to lately?

RENCH:  “Boogaloosa Boogie Man” - a honky-tonk album from the 70’s by Clarence Gatemouth Brown, who generally recorded as a blues singer and guitarist but busted out fiddling and doing great country stuff for a couple albums. I like to listen to old blues sometimes, from the time when blues and country weren’t so separate – Lonnie Johnson, Pink Anderson, Blind Willie McTell. I like Sade’s last album and Lupe Fiasco’s last album. I’m producing an EP for Brooklyn honky-tonk band The Weal And Woe, so I’m listening to the rough mixes of that too.

SFCB : Back in 2008 you helped protest with the SEIU to help unionize the Security Guards at the Empire State Building, and it led to you being arrested. Talk about how that all went down, and how you got involved in that.

RENCH:  I’m a supporter of unions. A union is just strength in unity for working people so they have power together not to get exploited by their employers. Yeah, there have been corrupt unions at times but my experiences with them have been that they are the way that people come together to make their lives better and get some control back, and fight for our rights. I’m living off music now, but I have worked for unions before and I still try to keep in touch and help with the fight.

I believe in trying to solve our problems not just as individuals - we can help each other and lean on each other and recognize that we are in this together and if we have each other’s backs we will rise together. Forget that out-for-yourself stuff – in the end it leaves you stranded. You don’t get out of the desert with three rattlesnake bites and a garbage bag full of Mr. Bubble on your own. You need the strength of people having your back. America, we need to get better at having each others’ backs right now.

SFCB: Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions, Rench, it is much appreciated.   Before you go, what is on the horizon for yourself and for Gangstagrass?   Any tourdates coming up, or new music?

RENCH:  There are some new tracks cooking in the studio, and a few live dates still being worked out. On the horizon for me and Gangstagrass is solid gold banjos, robotic stage dancers, and an underwater live performance while riding on manatees. Probably some colonization of Saturn for a new Rench studio.
Below is a track that Rench did with female rapper Tomasia, a concept based off the Elmore Leonard novel "Djibouti".

(Video) Prodigy [ @ProdigyMobbDeep ] in the studio working on more heat!!!

A behind the scenes look @ Prodigy in the lab puttin' in work.

(Video) Prodigy [ @ProdigyMobbDeep ] before and after prison.

Prodigy seems pretty prophetic in his pre-prison interviews as we are all now seeing everything he talked about come to fruition.

[REVIEW] Farnell Newton "Class is Now in Session"

For more content from our guest contributor Gary Anderson log on to his site http://www.searchingforchetbaker.com

RATING: 4 CHET BAKERS

Over the last decade or so there have been an influx of a newer form of Jazz that incorporated elements of hip hop and R&B.  Hidden Beach Unwrapped might be one of the more well known entries into this style with their "Unwrapped" series.  Other releases include Branford Marsalis' group "Buckshot Lefonque" and their release "Music Evolution", and Brooklyn Funk Essential's "Cool and Steady and Easy". 

I've always been a fan of music that combines elements of various genres to create their own style.  Whether it's hip hop and rock or whatever, that's always been something I like.   And now Farnell Newton's debut release "Class Is Now In Session" is another successful entry into this genre mixing category.

Farnell Newton's debut album, is simply put, good music.  A hip cool amalgamation of hip hop, jazz, funk and soul.  With several features on here such as singer Toni Hill, and production by Dookie Green, this is a lively foot tapping, head nodding affair.

"Baby Names"  is a very smooth entry, and Hill's voice can best be summed up in four words, coincidentally the first four words of her verse, "Candy Apple Sugar Sweet".  Her voice is very sweet and sounds perfect accompanying Newton's trumpet.  "The Bluest Eyes Revisited" has Newton providing an update to an earlier song of his "The Bluest Eyes, and it's a nice way of sort of crossing the bridge from traditional jazz to the more hip hop influenced jazz as it begins with his original version, only to give in to the scratching of a record and then the new updated version begins playing signaling a new direction.

I've known Newton for awhile, having met him on an internet forum years back.  I've followed his career as he became Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Portland State University, and as two of his five children were born, and now with his album.   So knowing these things about him, when I first got the review copy and saw the track listing, I kind of smiled.   Because several of these songs absolutely came from his life.

Beautiful songs like "Daddy's Little Girls" and "A Child Not Yet Born" no doubt are drawn from his personal experiences, which is what any serious musician does: Draws from life experience. Whether you are John Coltrane, Miles David, Chet Baker or any of the legends, or you're an up and coming musician, the best music is music from the heart.   Music that means something to you, so that when you play, and you really get into it, the audience knows.  They sense that this is a personal thing.   That you're not simply going through the motions.

It's liking hearing Mary J. Blige singing No More Drama.  You know the meaning of that song, you know the emotions embedded into the fabric of those lyrics, and how they relate to her life, and so when you see her singing that, and you watch that video and see the tears going down her face, you know it's real.  That's not manufactured, that's not faked.  You can't fake that real raw emotion.

Which is why when you hear this album, you can tell there are songs on here that are personal to Newton, and it adds that extra level to an already stellar debut offering.

If you're a fan of jazz music with that hip hop/funk edge to it, then you definitely need Farnell Newton's "Class is Now in Session" in your life.

HIGHLIGHTS:  Baby Names feat. Toni Hill, Love Games feat. Michael Whitmore, The Bluest Eyes Revisited, Bump.

(Video) Big Twins - ''Sexy Thing'' Freestyle

That Brugal is brutal!!!! Lol...shouts to all my Dominicans tho. Produced by Rio Murray. THE INFAMOUS QB DOUBLE CD + DVD coming soon featuring more than 30 artists from QB.

(Audio) Ferg Brim @InfamousDoeBoys ft. @LordNez - ''Peace Almighty'' ( Pd. by @TheRealHavoc )

Shouts to the homie Lord Nez.

(Video) FERG BRIM @InfamousDoeBoys & @NYCEDAFUTURENYC - ''Devil In A Red Dress'' Freestyle (Dir. by @CARTELFILMCEO )

Directed by Cartel Films.

(Video) Ferg Brim @InfamousDoeBoys (Mobb Deep) responds to @CaponeQB & Mike Deloreon

Ferg Brim addresses questions live on Ustream from the INFAMOUS STUDIOS.

(Video) N.O.R.E. [ @Noreaga ] - ''I Understand''

Nore drops the visuals for one of my favorite joints off the N.O.R.Easter EP/Mixtape.

Previously....
(Video) N.O.R.E. [ @Noreaga ] - ''Nore Shot Somebody'' (Pd. by @SCRAMJONES )
(Download) N.O.R.E. [ @Noreaga ] - ''NORE'easter'' EP/Mixtape

(Video) Havoc [ @TheRealHavoc ] talks about new Mobb Deep album

Via HardKnock.tv. Almost 20 years since their debut, Mobb Deep is still showing New York how to be innovative with their recording process.