After the jump watch videos of both  Erykah Badu performing and Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito lecture at the Red Bull Music Academy.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Performing with Jamie Woon & Hudson Mohawke in Madrid –
Red Bull Music Academy 2011

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STRETCH ARMSTRONG & BOBBITO
Lecture at RBMA’s ‘New York City to SF Bay’ Series

Stretch & Bobbie talk to Chairman Mao about their “unprofessional” radio show that helped ignite Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang, Biggie, Nas, Jay-z and many more artists careers..

Live Radio Show, Pt 1
Live Radio Show, Pt 2
Live Radio Show, Pt 3

The application process for musicians to the 2012 Academy in New York City this fall is open now.

Doe Paoro has a big voice. She studies Lhamo—a powerful, unusual, and vocally acrobatic Tibetan-style opera—that she encountered while traveling alone through the Himalayas this past year. I guess her upcoming album Slow To Love was written in solitude at a cabin outside of Syracuse, New York after returning home. Whatever the case, this girl has a big voice that sounds pretty soulful for a buddhist.

The Black Keys unleash their second video off their Gold album El Camino. This video was shot at their New York release party.  I wonder what will go platinum first, El Camino or Brothers?

MP3: Wine

Chalk up another one for Oberlin.  Sam Haar and Zach Steinman aka Blondes met at the weird Ohio college.  Now living in BK,  the trippy, melodic, minimal techno/house duo sold-out the the MOMA. Today, Blondes drop their new-single Wine off their self-titled debut record out February 7 on RVNG Intl. This album will be released digitally, and on 2/CD because it has regular versions and remixes by people like JD Twitch of Optimo, Dungeon Acid, SFV Acid, John Roberts, Andy Stott, Teengirl Fantasy, Bicep, Traxx, Laurel Halo, and Rene Hell. More info soon on a European February tour, SXSW dates, and a US dates in April.

You can pre-order the 2/CD and also a 2/CD + 2×12-inch  bundle now.

from a press release:

Mary J. Blige, recently sat down with Billboard.com’s M. Tye Comer for an exclusive interview filmed in conjunction with the American Express Press Pass. The R&B queen answered a series of fan questions during the interview, went on to discuss her rap alter ego Brook Lynn, the intense connection she shares with her fans, and working with director Adam Shankman on her recent American Express Unstaged concert. She even gave some advice to her younger self.

“On the very first ‘My Life’ album, we weren’t strong at all,” Blige says, relating the differences between her 1994 sophomore album and her most recent effort, ‘My Life II: The Journey Continues,’ which was released in November 2011. “I felt like it was time for people to understand how strong we are and how far we’ve come.

“Music used to say ‘I understand. . . I know exactly what you’re going through.’ People need that. I feel like there’s a drought of that right now, and I want to consistently give that to the world.”

Blige, who answered a series of fan questions during the interview, went on to discuss her rap alter ego Brook Lynn, the intense connection she shares with her fans, and working with director Adam Shankman on her recent American Express Unstaged concert. She even gave some advice to her younger self: “I would say to my younger self, don’t be afraid, it’s gonna be alright,” she said.

To See full interview click Here

Vice Magazine Co-directed and premiered this A$ap Rocky video along with the A$ap. A$AP Rocky and VICE include elements from Rocky’s five favorite movies, namely, Scarface, Belly, Enter The Dragon, The Warriors, and, of course, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. The pretty muthafucker who is repping Harlem also has pentagrams, ferrari’s, girls getting naked and trippy visuals on this one. Wassup is off LiveLove A$ap and produced by Clams Casino.

Peep the NSFW video after the jump.

Click here to view the embedded video.

VIDEO CREDITS
Directors: A$AP Rocky + Andy Capper
Director of Photography: Jake Burghart
ExecutiveProducer: Suroosh Alvi
Track Produced by Clams Casino

Das Racist’s Heems just dropped a mixtape called Nehru Jackets. Download it here. Heems partnered with Seva NY on this tape to raise awareness about redistricting plans in Queens.

While waiting for the download listen to Heems say, “Up late at night on Twitter/I talk to Salmon Rushdie/It’s just me and him/I got dirt on you doggie like She & Him” on that MP3 link. “You Have to Ride the Wave” which also features Danny Brown, and Mr. Muthafuckin’ Exquire.

You may be fan of Brooklyn synth outfit Class Actress (frontwoman Elizabeth Harper and producers Mark Richardson and Scott Rosenthal). Perhaps you are unfamiliar. Either way,  you will love listening to this mixtape they assembled:

Tracklisting:

Doesn’t Really Matter – Janet Jackson
Un-thinkable (i’m ready) – Alicia Keys
Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – The Delfonics
The Things You Said – Depeche Mode
Only the Lonely – Roy Orbison
Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor
Gymnopedie No.1 – Erik Satie
Corcovado – Joao Gilberto and Stan Getz
Slave to Love – Bryan Ferry

Yeah?!  Steal the playlist next time you are trying to show a girl you know more about music than Wu–Tang and A$ap Rocky…. Now that Class Actress has your attention…Maybe check them out on the road. Some are headlining dates. Some dates are with Chairlift. Others are with Of Montreal.

After the jump, check out the tourdates, and the Brooklyn group’s song The Weekend which sounds like it was produced by Jelly Bean Benitez if he was trying to make a Depeche Mode song for Madonna.

Click here to view the embedded video.

MP3: The Weekend

“The Weekend” is off Class Actress’ album Rapprocher which came out on Car Park Records in October.

CLASS ACTRESS Tour Dates

Jan 12 Grand Rapids, MI – Pyramid Scheme
Jan 13 Madison WI - Frzn Festival +
Jan 14 Chicago IL - Schuba’s +
Jan 27 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
Jan 28 Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall
Feb 09 Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
Feb 10 San Diego, CA – The Casbah
Feb 11 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
Feb 16 San Francisco, CA – Noise Pop Festival
Mar 09 Denton, TX – Hailey’s
Mar 10 Norman, OK – Oklahoma Memorial Union
Mar 14 McAllen, TX - Sofie’s #

+ with Chairlift

# with Of Montreal

MP3: CHINESE MARINES FT MOBB DEEP (PROD BY SCRAM JONES)

Raekwon helps us start the New Year with a new mixtape Unexpected Victory. Mobb Deep, Fred Da Godson, Cl Smooth, Sauce Money, Vado, Jadakiss, CNN and more guest on  this early offering from The Wu-Tang Chef.
Testdrive the mixtape with the above Chinese Marines mp3, and then download the whole thing at DatPiff.com.

The Black Keys performed Lonely Boy (above) and Gold on the Ceiling (after the jump) last night on Saturday Night Live.  Steve Buscemi was the host.

The Keys will be on the Colbert Report December 6th, and Late Night With David Letterman December 7th.

If you haven’t heard through the buzz in these Ohio skreets,  the Black Keys new record  El Camino drops December 6th.

After the Jump for “Gold on the Ceiling”.

Click here to view the embedded video.