Author Archives: Wes Flexner

R.I.P. Chris Lighty

Few men have had the longevity in Hip Hop that Chris Lighty had. Whether it was his work in the late 80’s with Russell Simmon’s & Lyor Cohen’s RUSH Management, his early 90’s work with the Native Tongues and people like Diamond D or the role his Violator Management Company played in the careers of current superstars like 50 Cent, P. Diddy, Busta Rhymes, and Soulja Boy it is shocking to me that he is dead at the age of 44 of an apparent suicide.

Read More:

Billboard.com
New York Daily News
The Source
Vibe

 

Video: MellowHype – “La Bonita”

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MellowHype’s video for La Bonita  puts inverted crosses on the Day of the Dead nuns and a random chimpanzeees.  Mellowhype’s new album Numbers drops on Odd Future Records October 2nd.

Mellowhype and the rest of Odd Future will perform at the Newport Music Hall September 12th.

Numbers cover art after the jump

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Frank Ocean to Appear on Saturday Night Live Season Opener

Credit – Nabil Elderkin

Frank Ocean will perform on Saturday Night Live’s season Opener on September 15th. Ocean’s album Orange has is quite the critical and commercial success peaking at #2 on the Billboard . Frank kicks off the 38th season of Saturday Night Live alongside host Seth MacFarlane, who is best known for creating the hit TV show “Family Guy.”

watch Frank Ocean on Jimmy Fallon after the jump.

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Listen: Skyzoo – “Theo vs J.J. (Dreams vs Reality)”

Skyzoo raps from the perspectives of Theo Huxtable and JJ Evans on his new mixtape.:

Skyzoo explains:

With this project, I wanted it to be a bridge between “The Great Debater” and “A Dream Deferred”. This mixtape literally picks up where “The Great Debater” left off and leads you directly into “A Dream Deferred.” The tape is split into 2 parts, Theo Huxtable and JJ Evans. The first half of the tape has me rhyming as if I were Theo, with the world from his point of view. Being well off, having to live up to a family’s expectations due to their success, etc. The second half is from JJ’s view, with the sound being slightly more aggressive and the stories built with an “in need of something” attitude. The tape is the idea of the vast contrasts of a life that my people and I dreamed of and aspired to as kids (Theo) versus a life that was more of our reality (J.J). This one is for US. Enjoy
 ‘Theo vs J.J.’  leads you into Skyzoo’s upcoming album, “A Dream Deferred,” out 10/02 on The Faculty/Duck Down Music. 

 

Watch: 24 Hours In NYC With Odd Future PT. 2

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Here is Pt. 2 of Noisey’s documentation of Odd Future’s NY Trip. OF freestyles at a Terry Richardson photo shoot. Tyler does a really good rendition of Early 90’s New York Onyx style of rapping. Frank Ocean delivers a sophisticated cool performance at Terminal 5. OF’s tour manager complains about OF and predicts death at the Trash Talk show that they drive to.

Odd Future will be playing at the Newport Music Hall September 12th.

Liturgy Covers Shellac’s “Prayer to God” for the AV Club

Shellac’s “Prayer to God” is Eminem level of emo=violence. “Transcendental-black metal” band Liturgy rocks the Albini murder anthem accapelle for the Onion’s AV Club here.

RZA’s “The Man With The Iron Fists” Soundtrack + Score Details Emerge

Some details just released about The Quentin Taratino presented  RZA film The Man With the Iron Fists’ soundtrack included some interesting collabs like RZA/Black Keys , Rza/Flatbush Zombies, Pusha T/RaekwonGhostface/MOP/Pharoah Monche, as well as a Kanye West solo joint.  The soundtrack will be in stores 10/23 and the movie will be in theatres 11/2.

Information about  the film’s  actual score  from the press release:

RZA recently discussed the making of the film’s unique score at Comic-Con 2012, explaining: “We went and got some of The Wu-Tang original songs…we took out a lot of stuff that was in it, and we re-orchestrated it.” “STAX also came on board to help us out, and they gave me about 10 of their famous STAX cues, songs from William Bell, from Isaac Hayes, from Mable John.” “So you’re going to have a great time listening to this movie as a soundtrack.” RZA chose to launch the soundtrack and score albums via his latest music industry venture, Soul Temple Records. Soul Temple releases will reflect independence, authenticity and artistry, engaging all elements of the creative community.

full Soundtrack  tracklisting after the jump

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Listen: Meta4ce – “Ignorant” (Produced by Elite)

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Onslaught of Columbus rap today. as META4CE delivers ignorance on “Ignorant”.  Meta4ce  proclaims in the intro that “he hates everyone” and then proceeds to sound like he means it.  He actually spells “Ignorant” in the hook between lines about “not caring about the recession because he  been broke” and adlibs about check scams. Seriously, this level of hostility coupled with an even flow has been missing in Columbus rap for sometime.

This is the best Meta4ce song I have heard in a long time.. Please listen and encourage him to keep on this direction.  10/10 and I don’t even give ratings.

MP3: Hodgie Street – “Dope” ft. Jerreau (Produced By AU)

MP3: Hodgie Street [Feat. Jerreau] – “Dope”

Columbus on Columbus on Columbus. Hodgie Street teams up with Fly. U’s Jerreau over a AU banger.

Watch: 24 Hours With Odd Future In NYC PT. 1

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Noisey did a special where they hang out with Odd Future for 24 hours. This is part 1.

Odd Future will perform in Columbus, Ohio September 12th at the Newport Music Hall.