((Southsiders)) by Atmosphere / 1Track@aTime 7.12.2014

1Track@aTime 7.12.2014
((Southsiders))

Until the return of the Fresh Produce show I'd like to highlight the last 1Track@aTime rotation this summer back on July 12th which we designated for Atmosphere's latest off the Rhymesayers Entertainment label, Southsiders.  The track, same title as the album, ((Southsiders)) was the focus with another rotation ((Mrs. Interpret)).  Enjoyed the record, shout to the Co-Sign Collective.  Below included some info quoted from the MC, Slug on the promotional file... 

"I'm starting to think, what is a post family man?  What am I supposed to rap about now?  I'm sticking to my roots, rapping about what I'm doing, why I think about.  This record is - much like the other ones - a very detailed look at my life."  

This one's for Dune's 22nd mixlr show of the year. 

Keywords + Tag = Atmosphere | Slug | Rhymesayers | Rhymesayers Entertainment | Co-sign Collective | Southsiders | Mrs. Interpret | The Fresh Produce Show | Fresh Produce | Dune | 1Track@aTime | 1 Track @ a Time | Hip Hop | Underground | Ant | Anthony Davis | Sean Daley | eighth | album | 2014 | summer | May 6, 2014

((Get Hip)) by PUTS / 1Track@aTime 7.5.2014

1Track@aTime 7.5.2014
((Get Hip))

PUTS.  People Under the Stairs.  This duo consist of Thes One and Double K.  I first heard of this group during our early years on KRUX from co-host and college radio DJs like Justin aka Kooch and the 12s people brought into the booth.  This group, PUTS... man.  One of the all time greatest.  The best.  They're a duo to reference anytime we're talking about HH legends, especially out of the state of California.  During the early part of the millennium right around 9-11, I started learning about a bunch of groups from out West, like Cali Agents, a lot of the Good Life artist, Madlib and the Lootpack... everything off Stones Throw including my favorite from Declaime AndSoItIsSaid... Emanon, the BLX crew, 4th Avenue Jones, one of my all time favorite MCs ever...OMNI (from BLX), of course J-5, Aceyalone, all the Heiro crew, Zion I, and the list goes on and on and on... radio rotation of music like this was well represented on 91.5 FM at the time.  

When it comes to People Under the Stairs... man... With 12 Step Program, this is their 9th record and I can't think of any disappointing PUTS albums...  It's not like some artist that experience sophomore slumps, or break up records, make up records, or those records that were caught in the creative lockdown of the "powers that try to be, but will never be" Hip Hop... PUTS music is simply dope.  When we talk about consistency... and the concept of creating from the core...that's what I hear when I'm listening to PUTS.  And if you've never heard of PUTS, you've got 9 albums to work with... so get familiar (doesn't count solo works/collabs, etc. when you start doing your research). 

You can hear rotation from the new record that ogsv brother Dune dropped on the Fresh Produce mixlr online radio program ((click here to listen)) ...peep the latest program Show#21 which broadcasted live July 6th.  You'll hear our 1Track@aTime rotation of ((Get Hip)) and what is the first single off the record ((1 Up Til Sun Up))...you can check out the video for the PUTS single on YouTube.

1Track@aTime's focus on PUTS was right on time for Dune to promote the upcoming event further North in Albuquerque, NM that will include PUTS, Lyrics Born, Afro Classics, and Scarub of the Living Legends... July 26, 2014 at Sister. 

Aside from that make sure to search the net, learn about PUTS through Google, YouTube the videos, interviews, and check the history...especially the PL70.net website to learn more about their mission and their approach to true independence from the corrupted music industry.  No other music has called to be independent from the traps of the music business like Hip Hop and I hope there is more to learn from Thes One's vision and artist that are connected to that mission.  I hope it lasts just as long as they have and that common fans out there come around to supporting these movements whether its through purchasing the music (whether hardcopy or digital), buying the merchandise, passing the word, checking for events, working the music into rotation somehow, TALKING about groups like PUTS and PL70.net, creating content around these ideas, etc.).

Set PUTS at no. 1 for the LHHS Charts this summer... the first time this has changed since Asheru dropped Sleepless in Soweto.

Peace.

Keywords + Tag = PUTS | People Under the Stairs | Thes One | Double K | California | Get Hip | 1 Up Til Sun Up | 12 Step Program | Michael Turner | Christopher Portugal | PeiceLock70 | PL70.net | Fresh Produce | B.Dune | Fresh Produce Show | Las Cruces | New Mexico | 1Track@aTime | classic Hip Hop | Los Angeles | eMusic | independent Hip Hop 

'The Good King' by Chris Rivers / 1Track@aTime 6.28.2014

1Track@aTime 6.28.2014
((Ain't Hard to Tell))

I signed up for DatPiff mixtapes last year to download the Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip, The Abstract & the Dragon mixtape.  I heard about DatPiff a while ago and most recently downloaded the app to my cell phone.  The app provides access to the audios that are available for download online (free) to stream through the phone which I've connected into an auxilary cable to the car stereo.  The app's first page opens with "Highlighted Mixtapes" and has other categories such as "Hot this Week", "Hot this Month", "Upcoming", and "All Stars".  For someone that spends at least 2 to 3 hours in their vehicle throughout the work week each day, its slowly becoming one of my first options when I'm looking for something to listen to either through Pandora, TuneIn Radio, Soundcloud, Slacker Radio, or The Combat Jack Show.

I've been listening to Chris Rivers' latest mixtape since mid-month June through the DatPiff app.  I accessed Wonderland of Misery last year after learning about Pun's son through one of the Hip Hop site's out there.  I learned of Big Pun's son through a clip on YouTube but these projects are my first introduction to the lyricism to the bloodline of a microphone master, Big Pun.   When I heard about the second installment I was looking forward to seeing what it was all about.  The first left a lasting impression... several tracks played like sparring match freestyles with a few tracks that demonstrated potential of the MC once referred to as Baby Pun.  Wonderland of Misery 2 has more structure, more depth, with several features from Chris River's camp, including feature by Hip Hop veteran MC  the Ghost, Styles P. 

Listening to Chris River's on tracks like ((My Ghetto)) and ((Toe 2 Toe)) with his partners and rhyme take me back to the lyrical exchange I recall from the early years of Terror Squad... just thinking back to the chemistry they had and getting the chance to hear the brilliance and power of a camp that was comprised of latinos & 100% Hip Hop.

In between the first mixtape and the second installment of the Wonderland of Misery, I started checking Chris River's on YouTube and the interviews to see what was next.  These two projects definitely set off what will hopefully produce an album, but as much as I've enjoyed these two mixtapes, I wouldn't mind a part 3, 4, and up.  As I mentioned to my brother B.Dune from the Fresh Produce Show, listening to Chris Rivers, one can only imagine the significance of being the child of someone as respected as Big Pun, and to be in a position where he can shape his own legacy for years to come.  In many ways, sons are an extension of what their fathers left behind, and with the way the music business is today, it's dope to listen to Chris Rivers as he continues to grow and create his own platform for himself, his team, and I would say what we remember about his father through the music.  I think he's the only one capable of carrying that from anyone else that was ever been affiliated with Big Pun.

For the 28th, for the first time on The Fresh Produce radio program through mixlr, I decided to submit a mixtape track.  From the Wonderland of Misery 2 we focused on my personal favorite ((Ain't Hard to Tell)) and added rotation of the mixtape's outro ((I Feel You)).  You can download the Wonderland of Misery 2 for free as well as his debut Wonderland of Misery.  I've included the download links below. 

Til' the next track, I want to leave you all with my all time favorite from Big Pun.  ((BOOMERANG))

Would be dope to hear Chris Rivers and Immortal Technique on the same track. 

Wonderland of Misery Download: click here

Wonderland of Misery 2 Download: click here

Keywords + Tag = Chris Rivers | Big Pun's son | The Good King | DatPiff | Piff | The Abstract & the Dragon | Highlighted Mixtapes | Styles P | Ghost | project | mixtape | New York |  Wonderland of Misery 2 | DatPiff exclusive | Big Pun | Capital Punishment | Wonderland of Misery | Ain't Hard to Tell | Boomerang | Terror Squad | Latino Hip Hop | Latin Hip Hop | Hip Hop | microphone checker | MC | mixtape | The Fresh Produce show | mixlr | My Ghetto | Bronx | Baby Pun | The Good King | official mixtape

((My People)) by J Rawls / 1Track@aTime 6.21.2014

1Track@aTime 6.21.2014
((My People))

For June, the main record to check out on my list above all others was The Legacy by J Rawls which I heard about after stumbling across the ((Bills)) track featuring Masta Ace on AllHipHop.com.  J Rawls, along with artist like Madlib, ID4Windz, Oddisee, Fat Jon, Hi-Tek, 9th Wonder, Damu the Fudgemunk, Tariq L, of course Jay Dilla, MF Doom, Algorithms, Kev Brown, DJ Spinna, Thes One, Alchemist and so many others were amongst beat makers I listened to post millennium after a hall of fame sound of the 90s that shaped the soundtrack of our lives.  My favorites at that time included producers like the RZA, Premier, Pete Rock, Havoc, Jay Dilla, the Large Professor, Organized Noize, E-Swift, Dr. Dre, Ski, Questlove, Muggs, Q-Tip, and other legends I'd learn about later from other collections such as DITC camp's Lord Finesse, Buckwild, Diamond D, and many others.

Amongst the producers of the 21st century, my listening collection of J Rawls was constant.  Each week at NMSU's KRUX 91.5 fm you could catch Rawls on Repshow rotation, either through a new vinyl single from 3582, the Lone Catalysts work, his solo/collaborative efforts, such as the classic Essence of J Rawls, and other projects through Shaman Work, side projects with MCs from West to East, and the list goes on.  Though I was a huge fan of Black Star, producer Hi-Tek, I identified the heart of Ohio's sound with J Rawls collecting both song + instrumental versions of what online retailers like Sandbox, UGHH, Turntable Lab, or Dusty Groove had on stock.  And as the use of digital sharing increased, it's how I got access to Histories Greatest Battles, Campaigns, & Topics, and other soul-focused projects such as the Essence of Soul. 

To this day, I'm amazed at the lineup of MCs/vocalist I discovered through Rawls productions, especially microphone front gunner J Sands, who represents Pittsburgh and is one of the dopest MC/poets you either know or don't know.  It's why when I decided to focus on J Rawls this month for the 1Track@aTime segment, I had to include rotation with his partner in rhyme.  In many ways, celebrating Rawls, we also get the chance to celebrate the best of so many other MCs/producers that are regarded as Hip Hop's alumni.  

For June 21st, 1Track@aTime on the Fresh Produce show focused on ((My People)) featuring production by Rashad, who prepared a beat supported by one of my favorite songs by Eddie Kendricks ((My People))... (listen here).  In addition, to ((My People)) from The Legacy album (you can hear it above through Soundcloud or click on links), host B.Dune also followed up with rotation from the Hotel Beats Vol. 1, tracks ((Casina)) and ((Standown)).  The online mixlr program then closed with ((La, La, La)) featuring Donte from Mood, Piahkahn and of course lead Lone Catalysts MC J Sands off the Good Music record from 2005.

The purpose of this 1Track@aTime for June was also to make sure we don't let the month pass without getting our copy of The Legacy, which you can purchase by visiting polarentllc.com.  Make sure you to see the About Us to understand the importance of the company for Ohio, and its connection of course to fans of J Rawls that want to stay up to date on new projects and purchase the latest from Rawls, The Legacy.

Once I've heard the entire record we'll return to discuss its place on the LHHS charts which you can view on the left side of the Tape Decks blog.  Currently includes Asheru's Sleepless in Soweto at the top of the list.  Best record I've heard so far this year!

You can peep the show reel for the June 21st Fresh Produce mixlr radio program with host B.Dune by visiting the following link: Fresh Produce mixlr Show#19.


Keywords + Tag =  J Rawls | Lone Catalysts | J Sands | 1Track@aTime | The Legacy | Fresh Produce | mixlr | Asheru | Rashad | Donte | Mood | Piakhan | Good Music | My People | Eddie Kendricks | Cincinnati | Pittsburgh | Essence of J Rawls | Hip Hop Alumni | Histories Greatest Battles Campaigns and Topics | Hip Hop producer | PhD | Bills | Masta Ace | ID4Windz | Lord Finesse | Diamond D | Fat Jon | 3582 | Hotel Beats | Hotel Beats Volume 1 | Hotel Beats Volume 2 | Pete Rock | DJ Premier | Madlib | Questlove | Ski | Buckwild | DITC | Oddissee | Polar Entertainment LLC | Casina | Standown | Fresh Produce | Dune | Deasy | The Radio Shack

((The Dark Trinity)) by The Roots / 1Track@aTime 6.14.2014

1Track@aTime 6.14.2014
((The Dark Trinity))

Back in March I got a $25 dollar b-day gift card from the folks I work with and I decided to save it for the next trip to my favorite music shop in El Paso, All That Music.  I had been holding off a trip to All That Music until I was able to make a copy of a mixtape I was working on for them... wanted to pass the owner George a copy of the Lee Jun-fan Tape, Tao 1 (click here for more info).  A couple years back after stalling on getting the mixtape together it was George who led me to a section in the store where I found the Xavier Cugat Viva Cugat record to start off the project.  I was waiting on a very specific sound and the Cugat LP was it.

With a  copy of the mixtape in hand, I made my way out to All That Music for a lunch break dig.  After greeting George at the counter I went straight over to the vinyl Jazz section to look for some Weather Report.  Found a piece from 72' and flipped through the discount LPs and found some Flip Wilson, Aretha Franklin, and a few other dollar records I set to the side.

One of my missions was also to pick up the new Roots album ...and then you shoot your cousin.  Though I know CDs are cheaper at a spot like Best Buy, I didn't feel like risking the chance of not finding a CD copy in the two disorganized skeleton racks they've got over there.  It's something I experienced when I thought they'd have the Kweli record.  I bet soon, on stock will mean the handful of CDs underneath the candy rack as you make your way out through the check out line.  If you gotta walk past refrigerators to get to the music section... then yeah, we're definitely in what theorist and financial people have been predicting would be the end of the CD purchase as we know it.

This past week I've been listening to the new CD from The Roots.  A fan going back to Do You Want More?!!!??!... I'm more than 20 years in listening to Hip Hop's longest running band and one of, if not the only band that can speak for a level of consistency that you just don't find amongst bands, not only in Hip Hop but any music for that matter.  Every Roots project is deep and connected to each other by this running track list that ends with track 181 on their latest effort.  Even back when records like Phrenology were catching flack from critics, it was experiencing the record live that helped me understand its value outside of how people were responding initially.   With their latest effort, The Roots challenge listeners, including fans like myself who may have had certain expectations.  And as consumers of music culture who doesn't have expectations?  Especially for fans who's expectations in many ways have been trained either by corporate marketing, region bias, or even the artist themselves who attempt to commit to the success they feel got them to where they are.

With ...and then you shoot your cousin, before I knew it the record was over.  It's short and my first rotation through I wasn't sure what track to pass on to the Fresh Produce show.  What I did know was I wanted to listen to it again and would need to give this record some time.  After viewing some the visuals below I liked what Questlove says about the record and its exciting to see a group like The Roots in a position where they could challenge expectations and give fans a work of art that is not defined by what other groups or artist in their position are doing to quote on quote, stay relevant.  The expectations with ...and then you shoot your cousin provoke thought in a time when it may not be expected from the channels we consider popular or commercial.  Especially for products we identify as commodities which has been the case with many artist that don't last.  And as a fan of The Roots, this record is a musical statement moving forward and it gives listeners the impression (and artist the option) that even at that level, there are choices that can be made for the sake of art and music is no exception.  Especially Hip Hop.

For June 14th on the Fresh Produce show, we focused on track no. 179 of more than two decades of The Roots.  It's called ((The Dark Trinity)) featuring Dice Raw, Greg Porn and of course Roots front lyrical gunner Black Thought...the all time greatest MC in my book.

You can hear a recording of the Fresh Produce show on the mixlr showreel and can peep other selections from around the globe at the Soundcloud archive show No. 18.

Here are several videos to check out for ...and then you shoot your cousin.

The Roots ...and then you shoot your cousin added to the LHHS Charts 6/15/2014.


Keywords + Tags: The Roots, Jimmy Fallon, ...and then you shoot your cousin, Black Thought, Ahmir Thompson, drums, Questlove, Tarik Trotter, Kirk Douglas, Captain Kirk, Kamal Gray, keyboards, James Poyser, keyboards, Frank Walker, percussion, Frankie Knuckles, Damon Bryson, Tuba Gooding Jr., sousaphone, Mark Kelly, bass, the legendary Roots crew, The Dark Trinity, Greg Porn, Dice Raw, All That Music, George Reynosa, Do You Want More?!!!?!, Fresh Produce, The Fresh Produce Show, B.Dune, repshowhost, repshowdigital, LHHS Charts, Hip Hop, hip hop, bands, hip hop bands, 1Track@aTime, 1 track at a time, mixlr, soundcloud, longevity

((Can't Stop, Won't Stop)) by Blu feat. The Step Brothers (Alchemist & Evidence), Tristate & Planet Asia of the Du Rag Dynasty, Donel Smokes, Chace Infinite of Self Scientific & Krondon from Strong Arm Steady / 1Track@aTime 6.7.2014

1Track@aTime 6.7.2014
((Can't Stop, Won't Stop/Summer Time))

The artwork for the single ((The West)) is what caught my attention... popped up on Amazon.com's recommended list... big fan of Blu's work since Below the Heavens... Been missing out since the Piece Talks and the Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them project with Exile.  I was first introduced to Blu's music through the Exile produced ((Narrow Path)) 12' promo B-side ((Party of Two)). 

There was something about the announcement of Good to Be Home being a double disc, along with the artwork, that really put this project at the top of my listening priorities for the summer.  Being my intro to Bombay's production, I spent a few days on the first side... windows down sun up driving around.  Rides to and from are listening sessions for me so I gave Side B its time deciding on the pacific storm of ((Can't Stop, Won't Stop)) for the 1Track@aTime segment.  It features everyone listed on the subject title of this post.  Also rotated ((Summer Time)) from Side A featuring Arima Ederra.

With one of the dopest album art concepts of the year (credited to Joseph Martinez), this record is one to ride through track for track... the \/\/est was my first introduction to Hip Hop as I defined it after NWA's time and into the life's work of its immediate members Cube, Dre, & Eazy.  Their sound is embedded in how we remember certain experiences and through Blu's Good to Be Home, listeners hear that influence... Good to Be Home is a timeless record, creative and one to ride to. Its a concept worth packaging on vinyl, cassette, and the little bit of life left on CD.    I'll be returning to Good to Be Home in the future as a reminder of how much I enjoyed listening to the CDs the first time.

Peace to B.Dune for featuring the track on the Fresh Produce mixlr radio show... you can hear the 2-hour program at Fresh Produce/mxlr.  For a snapshot of other rotations check out the Soundcloud.

2014's the number, another summer...

Good to Be Home added to LHHS charts 6/15/2014*


Keywords + Tags: Blu, Good to Be Home, Bombay, Azulito's Birthday Cake, Joseph Martinez, Stop the Violence, Can't Stop Won't Stop, The Step Brothers, Alchemist, Evidence, Tristate, Planet Asia, Du Rang Dynasty, Donel Smokes, Chace Infinite of Self Scientific, Krondon, Strong Arm Steady, The West, Fresh Produce, Exile, Below the Heavens, 1Track@aTime, repshowhost, Pacific Ocean, Fresh Produce, The Fresh Produce Show, Summer Time, Arima Ederra, Bombay 

((Inner Monologue)) by Talib Kweli / 1Track@aTime 5.31.2014

1Track@aTime 5.31.2014
((Inner Monologue))

My intro to Kweli's discography began with Black Star, one of my all time favorite records, followed by Train of Thought.  Around the time of Quality and Beautiful Struggle I had the records but couldn't remember them like I could the Black Star debut and Train of Thought.  With exception to one of Kweli's biggest songs, ((Get By)).  In between Beautiful Struggle and Liberation record with Madlib our university was blessed with a free live show by Kweli which turned up my interests for the upcoming Eardrum record and the Reflection Eternal project that I gotta return to someday, Revolutions Per Minute with Hi-Tek.  Big fan of Hi-Tek's sound and the Teknology installments.  Similar to what happened between Quality and Beautiful Struggle, there's not a lot that stands out to me from Gutter Rainbows to Prisoner of Conscious. I need to backtrack and listen to Gutter Rainbows again. 

After listening to Gravitas, I'd like to get back to Gutter Rainbows.  Gravitas is a cool record.  For the 1Track@aTime, I decided to focus on my favorite track, the intro, ((Inner Monologue)).  One of the qualities I liked most about Gravitas was how it was packaged and the liner notes in the booklet.  Inspires more time and interest with the CD.  I learned the speech on the ((Inner Monologue)) track is from Neil Gaiman.  Kweli mentioned a speech he heard from Neil Gaiman at the University of Arts and how it inspired what he envisioned for Gravitas.  I also dug the production from NC's Khrysis of the Justus League on ((Inner Monologue))... overall an ill introduction to an independent release.

What drew me closer to checking for this record prior was the interview on the Combat Jack Show with Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey, James "JDilla" Yancey's mother and Kweli... Also it was ill to see Kweli on the Arsenio Hall show which was cancelled most recently.  Gravitas sounded incredible on TV and it was cool getting the chance to see Kweli on a mainline platform representing for an independent project.  It was also his introduction on Maurice Mobetta's project that pressed me to track Gravitas down.  It was available nowhere locally so I checked it out through Amazon.  If you're not sure about Amazon Prime and are shopping a lot online I'd definitely recommend it.  Overall savings with the free shipping and almost next day delivery options (2 days free).  It reminds me of a music store in Los Alamos when I was working there a few years ago during the summer...they had a store in town connected to a sandwich shop called Gordons.  Anything that popped up on the catalogue (which was just about everything from Lone Catalysts to Common's Like Water for Chocolate) would arrive within two days.  On stock, their collection was light but orders arrived quickly. When it comes to the disposable life of  retail, the CD is on life support today.  There are options if you still collect though.

Listed Gravitas on the charts (see to the right).  One for your collection or as a gateway to tapping into Kweli's past releases.  The hardcopy is worth the investment.  Cover art is dope... interested in knowing who did it.  Also Kendra Ross on the vocals.  If you don't know click here.  This one is going out to the old Soulshine radio show from back when... Make a note to check for her debut New Voice.

Since ((2000 Seasons)) for me.  Talib Kweli.

Check out the Sway in the Morning show, Kweli talking about the business of streaming and "extending the life of a record..."... Also below, the Rare Portraits video!

Keywords: Talib Kweli, Kweli, Inner Monologues, Neil Gaiman, Gravitas, Khrysis, Justus League, 9th Wonder, Javotti Media, Combat Jack Show, Maurice Mobetta, J Dilla, James Yancey, Brookly, Ma Dukes, Reflection Eternal, Black Star, Hip Hop, lyricism, Kendra Ross, Fresh Produce Show, mixlr rotation, Rare Portraits, Sway, Sway in the Morning, streaming music

((Industry)) by Cormega & Large Professor / 1Track@aTime 5.24.2014

1Track@aTime 5.24.2014
((Industry))

Again, this week's track comes by way of Cos-sign Collective from an email that was sent out on the new single release from the highly anticipated Mega Philosophy record by Cormega produced by Large Professor.  It's set to be released this summer 2014!  According to the iTunes page the expected release date is July 22, 2014.  Not sure if that's just for iTunes or if that includes the physical copy as well. The cover art for the "Industry" single is designed by Ibrahim Sincere and depicts legends that have passed on in a "last supper" scene.

In the ride I must've replayed the Soundcloud audio over a dozen times.  Its no problem waiting on a new Mega project considering the high standard of album's released prior with records like Born & Raised, The Testament, The True Meaning, The Realness, and compilation projects and features in between.  The solo records especially hold serious replay value... so for future projects the wait is worth it especially after listening to ((Industry)) and being aware of the ((Sugar Ray & Hearns)) history between Mega & Large Pro.  I think of tracks like ((Journey)) I heard years prior with the Large Pro verse and then again on the Born & Raised record w/ Mega only and a number of other collaborative efforts from years passed such as ((The Come Up)) and also Mega's feature on Large Pro's last album Professor @ Large.  The history is there even beyond those projects for both Hip Hop alumni Mega and Extra P... so it's a record I encourage you all to make note of this summer amongst several other producer/MC projects that have been released this year (and that are set to come out) including the Good Morning Vietnam III record that I'm also looking forward to from the collaborative force of MF Grimm and Drasar Monumental.  

So with that said, I'll leave you all with a few notes & links on the upcoming Mega Philosophy record, including an article which Mega shares a record execs response to him playing ((Industry)) for them.  I hope you all take the time to look up Ibrahim Sincere and support the this record!  Til' the next update...

Peace to B.Dune and the Fresh Produce rotation live on mixlr for rotating the ((Industry)) single as part of the 1Track@aTime segment on FP Show No. 15!

AllHipHop.com / Cormega Returns w/ New Single "Industry" Produced by Large Professor: click here

You can hear the Mega Philosophy single ((Industry)) at the Soundcloud linked here. 

Here goes an album cover I saw on the iTunes page.  There are a couple other covers I noticed promoting the record.

 

((Fly By Night)) by Maurice Mobetta, Kweli, Sermons / 1Track@aTime 5.17.2014

1Track@aTime 5.17.2014
((Fly By Night))

One from the Co-sign Collective catalog and the focus of the third Fresh Produce program in May.  B.Dune rotated the intro track featuring Talib Kweli ((Fly By Night)) also featuring Saunders Sermons, record titled Maurice vs. Mobetta off Brown Records.  This one influenced my purchase of Gravitas!  For more info on Maurice Brown here's the site: mauricebrown.net.  Had me thinking about the Spike Lee Joint Mo Betta Blues... in addition I want to direct your attention to the outro track featuring Jean Grae.  Excellent close to a record I enjoyed.

((Supreme)) by Zion I / 1Track@aTime 5.10.2014

1Track@aTime 5.10.2014
((Supreme))

Took a few days off the week of finals to wrap up grading but before locking in decided to send through the latest rotation from Zion I, a long time favorite duo of mine, featuring MC Zumbi and producer AmpLive.  This is off the Masters of Ceremony EP, shout out to Jess at Co-sign Collective for servicing the digital.  It took me back to days of ((Boom Bip)) when our radio show started to fill in rotation with all kinds of Cali heavy hitters we would discover through radio promotional, downloads, and the campus community.  The Masters of Ceremony was a perfect outro for the graduating class of 2014, especially the rotation of ((Supreme)).  The entire EP is one for the summer! 

Fresh Produce rotation also included the follow up track ((Masters of Ceremony)).  Be sure to check out the videos below to both ((Supreme)) and ((Masters of Ceremony)).  If its me, I'm transition from Masters of Ceremony into something off the Rise Up record from Zeph and Azeem!

((No Love)) by Little Dragon / 1Track@aTime 5.3.2014

1Track@aTime 5.3.2014
((No Love))

The transition from Spring to Summer changed rotation for our good friend B.Dune as he began searching for a new platform to host the Fresh Produce radio show.  We all love KRUX but at some point it doesn't last forever.  Or sometimes its going through its own changes that requires disc jockeys to be out of commission.  Whether its because of summer break, technical issues, upgrades at the station, winter break, or post graduation.  Sometimes, it's our own situations that either relocate us away from the University or in Dunes' case brings new responsibilities such as fatherhood! 

I recall a few years ago as an undergrad always throwing my name in to get on the winter schedule.  During the summer's I was away for internship but stayed on campus a couple of times and got the chance to continue rotation throughout the week, sometimes shifting to an earlier time slot or extending the time slot past two hours.  

With the semester coming to a close I wasn't sure whether the Fresh Produce would still broadcast.  I also learned that the station was making plans to upgrade the automation system throughout the summer and possibly the rest of the year. 

Backtrack a couple of months before this and I was reading Issue 56 of Waxpoetics.  I've been subscribed since the earliest issues but have probably had time to make it past 20% of the content, often times the magazine is still in the plastic cover that it arrives in through the mail.  So I start with a random issue sometimes and work my way through the articles, referencing artists so that I can hear what I'm reading about. 

On Issue 56 I got the copy with the "Loop Digga & Jazz Futurist" Madlib on one side and "Disc Jockey & Breaks Godfather" Kool Herc on the other.  This is my all time favorite magazine, so I try not to skip articles.  Even if its to get something I may want to read about right away.  In working through the first few pages I got to the piece by Allen Thayer w/ cool photos by Chris Saunders.  On an alternate issue, Little Dragon is on the cover.  The story introduced to me the background of Little Dragon, their studio/homebase of Gothenburg, Sweden, and members, Erik Bodin, Hakan Wirenstrand, Fredrik Wallin, and Yukimi Nagano.  Below is a quote from the article that describes a sound and singer I just had to hear...

"Lyrically, Yukimi crafts subtle, yet infectious, vocal hooks delivered with New Jack sass, offering glimpses of intimacy shrouded in synth washes, crisp drums, and bass throbs.  She aims for the heartstrings, recognizing that it's not about what you sing, but that it sounds way better when you sing it with soul.  "You can have a poem that's beautiful, but to sing it might sound wack, because of the syllables, stuff like that," she explains.  "You can have a melody that's beautiful, but [the words] can actually not make sense at all, and people will [still] feel so touched.  And then you can have something on a piece of paper and it would sound amazing, but it wouldn't mean anything in a musical context, if its not right.  I think that some lyrics can be so simple and can make so much sense musically bu t be like the worst poem ever."

Scanning through a few videos it was the 'Little Man (Yours Truly)' YouTube that sold me on checking them out... starting with their debut record.  Most copies were ridiculously priced, except for one I found through Barnes & Nobles online.  I wasn't sure what to expect but also wasn't surprised by how good it was considering the write up... it was great to discover a band with its own character, and what felt like it's own unique sound.  It would also be the first time I'd talk about a soulful band from Sweden.  I thought about the obscure CD cover and what their sound said about where they're from or who they were inspired by.

Unsure if Dune was doing a show or not, I decided to shoot him a note about the Little Dragon debut.  Though 1Track@aTime is usually focused on new tracks, I thought about mixing it up every so often with tracks from debut records of artist we've just learned about.  Once I sent the track through, Dune mentioned he'd still be broadcasting throughout the summer (and permanently) straight from the comfort of his home through an online broadcast application called Mixlr.

We focused on ((No Love)) which I felt complimented the rotation on Fresh Produce, especially with its focus on producers from all over the globe.  In addition to ((No Love)) we also fit in rotation from a YouTube instrumental identified as ((Twice)). 

This marks the beginning of the Fresh Produce show on MixLR which you can visit by clicking here.

You can peep the Little Dragon rotation on the Fresh Produce Show No. 12, click here.

((Out of Nothing)) by i.deals / 1Track@aTime 4.25.2014

1Track@aTime 4.25.2014
((Out of Nothing))

Closing out the semester for the summer break the final 1Track@aTime on KRUX 91.5 fm for Spring 14' was dedicated to the sophomore release produced by IV the Polymath featuring Jondis on the mic (i.deals), i.deology.  This was a follow up to the single rotation back in March of ((Due To)).  A dope project from the creative duo ... they go by i.deals and if you've never heard their material I highly recommend going back and working your way up to i.deology.  It begins with the i.deals EP and the Spill record and several other tracks including one of my all time favorite, ((1,2)) off IV's Drum Machines Have No Soul project.  I've been keeping up with IV since the No Sleep days, several of his projects including the latest i.deology have been released as cassette tapes... a throwback to the portable players from back when...the mode, direction, play, and stop days!  The track we featured is titled ((Out of Nothing))... a dope concept that makes me think of Hip Hop, starting from scratch, independent thought, and as it relates to music... creating new ideas.  In so far as how it relates to IV, I think about his approach to production as a musician.

We also featured an instrumental from IV titled ((Proceed)).  This track was dedicated to the birth of two baby girls, one being our Brother Dune's baby girl Lil' Aria out in Las Cruces, New Mexico and the other our Brother Gravity's neice, Lil' Gia in New Jersey.  Both arrived to the world on the same day and I called it!  Hahahaha.  I felt ((Proceed)) captured that sound and just a whole new step forward for the families in our lives.  This program's definitely dedicated to them and B.Dune's taking the time this week as a father to represent for the listeners.

In addition to labeling this record under the 1Track@aTime category for the blog, we're also labeling it under LHHS charts, No. 2 effective May 2014 which you can view to the right.

p.s. to purchase a copy of the i.deology digitally or as cassette click on the album cover above! 

((More Wins)) by Alchemist & Evidence / 1Track@aTime 4.18.2014

1Track@aTime 4.18.2014
((More Wins))

This week's digital highlight is Step Brothers...I'd recommend the LP which I understand has the velvet feel, text raised in gold color.  Lord Steppington consists of Alchemist & Evidence, both on the production & rhymes with several features including Styles P, Rakaa Iriscience, Blu, and many more MCs.

For tonight's program we focused on two tracks from this record, the intro ((More Wins)) along with rotation of one of my favorites ((Tomorrow)).  Been tuned to Alchemist production since ((The Realest)) and beat projects such as the Chemistry Files which were amongst the first instrumental LPs I started to pick up around 2000.  To reflect back we threw on ((The Basics)) from the instrumental series LP by Al.  Evidence's catalog is just as deep with solo work and as member of Dilated Peoples, including several of his own beat projects such as the most recent Green Tape. 

For soundcloud rotation of B.Dune's selections for April 18th's Fresh Produce Show click here. 

((Manipulated)) by Mindsone & Kev Brown / 1Track@aTime 4.11.2014

1Track@aTime 4.11.2014
((Manipulated))

I been tuned into Kev Brown's soulful sound for a good while... since before I realized we were locked into Brown's sounds on the DJ Jazzy Jeff Magnificent project which was also around the time I learned of Oddisee.  So when I noticed something new was out featuring Kev Brown with Mindsone, Pillars... without hesitation I decided to zone in on this record for the week.  Pulled the record from eMusic which also included the instrumentals.  It was my introduction to the North Carolina group and overall the project is one I highly recommend, especially if you looking for something new and haven't heard of Kev Brown or the dope lyricism of Mindsone.  Give this one your ear and time... For this week we focused on the track ((Manipulated)), a banger I had dedicated to the producers of Fresh Produce and Dune also dropped an instrumental from the record titled ((Nightstalkers)).  Look out for this record right here.  One for the charts most definitely, and you can't go wrong with a record that includes the instrumentals!

And how about that cover?!  Vinyl forever.

((Sleepless in Soweto)) by Asheru / 1Track@aTime 4.4.2014

1Track@aTime 4.4.2014
((Sleepless in Soweto))

The 4th of April was a special time and a return for myself and fellow OGSV family to the KRUX 91.5 fm booth.  It was a reunion of sorts and nostalgic to watch Dune que the tracks, prep for mic time, and to see all our brothers laughing, cracking jokes, and taking in the sounds from the Fresh Produce playlists.  Dune didn't have access to the tracks I had sent through email for the segment so we got set to que up directly from the cell phone for April 4th's 1Track@aTime which was focused on the latest from Asheru, Sleepless in Soweto.  First of all, this is one of the dopest albums I've heard in a long while... in the category with how I felt about Akbar's Planet X which I had up on the top of my charts for well over a year.  On the night of the 4th, we connected directly from the KRUX dashboard to my HTC and rotated not one but several tracks from Sleepless in Soweto.  Those tracks included the intro, ((Simphiwe's Theme)), ((Funky DC)) feat. Ark & Sitali, and one of my favorite ((Clay Davis)) which afterward I realized was in reference of Senator Clayton of The Wire played by the actor Isiah Whitlock, Jr, also featured in one of my favorite Spike Lee Joints the 25th Hour.  I also put on a set of headphones and got the chance to speak on it shouting out the Co-sign Collective & Jess who during my tenure on KRUX from 2000 to 2008 was known as Spectre.  They service some of the best music a college radio station can ask for, which is where I got the Asheru record from.  Check them out at co-sign.com.

Sleepless in Soweto right now is at the top of my list.  And this is with a deep selection of dope albums I've had the chance to check out throughout '14 so far (scroll down and peep the list to the right side of the page).  For this post I also included a couple of photos from the KRUX session.  You can peep more photographs over at our Hip Hop Alumni blogspot: click here.  Of the evening highlights on April 4th was a poem our brother Ronin put down on the air after blocking everybody out to pen a piece on the spot.  Also what was crazy is that after all these years, my brother Jus aka Gravity who was visiting all the way down from Buffalo, NY peeked in the Archives room and found my old 'Archives Manager' nameplate which is more than a decade old.  Still after all these years it was there!  Check the photograph below.  

For more information on Asheru, who afterwards I also remembered is the MC behind one of my favorite shows, the intro to Boondocks, you need to visit his sites at Asheru Worldwide / sleeplessinsoweto.org (Asheru is currently touring in South Africa).  Also, I just learned about this navigating the site, but he's also leading a Hip Hop Educational Leadership Program which you can visit at www.edlyrics.com.  I first heard of Asheru years ago on the Unspoken Heard projects having rotated his material back then on the very same dial, 91.5 fm.  So in a lot of ways we returned to a lot of memories through this program, both as a crew and through the music.

Shout out to the OGSV family and Dune for holding us down on our area's only platform for unscripted and uncontrolled rotation, KRUX 91.5 fm. 

B.Dune (left) + Lee (straight ahead in the background, that's me)*

((The World is Yours)) by Will Sessions / 1Track@aTime 03.21.2014

1Track@aTime 03.21.2014
((The World is Yours))

I consider Illmatic one of the most important records of my lifetime.  In the Nas video ((The World is Yours)), beat produced by Pete Rock, I compare myself at the time to the kid in the video watching the video.  I grew up on YO! MTV Raps beginnings to end, and BET's Rap City program with Big Lez & Joe Clair... One of the videos that hit me most early on other than Pete Rock & CL Smooth's ((T.R.O.Y.)), the Q-Tips produced Mobb Deep ((Give Up the Goods)), and countless others was the Illmatic videos.  Tracks like ((The World is Yours)), ((One Love)), ((It Ain't Hard to Tell))... I fell in love with those videos.  Especially the Large Professor produced ((It Ain't Hard to Tell)) considering the Michael Jackson sample who during my born days and upbringing as a child of the 80s I considered the music I called my own.  The Thriller LP is day 1 for me.  And so hearing MJ manifest itself into the ((It Ain't Hard to Tell)) track just took it there for me and by the time the 90s came around Hip Hop took over the space between my headphones.  

So for this week's 1Track@aTime broadcasting on KRUX 91.5 FM through the Fresh Produce show hosted by B.Dune, we stepped into the conversation about the 20th Anniversary of Nas's debut Illmatic and wanted to highlight what I feel is one of the best records to pay homeage to the classic by Elzhi and the Will Sessions band out of Detroit titled Elmatic.  As our brother Dune's show is all instrumental based, we wanted to focus on the instrumentals by Will Sessions.  Below, however, is the first video I checked out by Elzhi at the time this dropped.  It's ((It Ain't Hard to Tell)).  Before that I had heard the project was in the works but it wasn't til' the videos started poppin' up on YouTube that I knew it was time.

((Opponent)) by Kentyah, M1, Brian Jackson & The New Midnight Band / 1Track@aTime 03.14.2014

1Track@aTime 03.14.2014
((Opponent))

Thought I'd never get into the whole tweet thing til' my good friend mentioned getting the HHA site back on social media after quitting on what seemed like a useless Facebook.  Twitter's been cool and most recently was scrolling through the follows when I noticed a Chuck D tweet about the record above.  The cover of Evolutionary Minded took me back to the covers of Gil and Brian Jackson's Midnight Band First Minute of a New Day LP.  Was especially glad to see the names featured including the likes of my all time favorite duo dead prez, Martin Luther, Gregory Porter, Bobby Seale, Killah Priest, and many others including Chuck D...  And then of course it being an ode to the legendary and always on time Gil Scott-Heron plus the headline involvement of none other than Brian Jackson and what's being referred to as The New Midnight Band.  Had listened to the record a number of times before deciding on the track ((Opponent)) featuring dead prez for rotation.  Sending that one out to the families with close ones incarcerated, to the youth of the Voices Behind Walls program, and to the most recent release of Herman Wallace + Marshall Eddie Conway.  It's also important to note the name at the top of the list musician Kentyah Fraser as this is his debut to the world.  One for the collections and definitely one to further on the legacy of Gil Scott-Heron.  Make sure to check this record out.

Also the CD comes with a dope vinyl-cover-sized poster for the wall.  Got mine up at work!  I ordered a copy through Amazon.com.  Included below is Kentyah's link for more information on the project.

www.kentyah.com

Also motema.com

In addition to the ((Opponent)) track we also included rotation from one of my favorite producers out now and of all times... Damu the Fudgemunk and a track called "New Generation" from the Spare Time Re-inspired project. 

((Due To)) by i.deals / 1Track@aTime 03.07.2014

1Track@aTime 03.07.2014
((Due To))

Jumping off of the week's prior focus on IV the Polymath's production, for the first week of March we featured the latest from i.deals, a duo compromised if musician IV the Polymath and MC Jondis.  This is the first single for the new album titled i.deology that's set to drop in March off Polymath Records & digduyDIY.  One of the dopest current day HH collaborations, this is their follow up to their debut record Spill, which you could check out on Bandcamp click here.

Interesting how the cover for "Due To" fixes in with the radio show's name Fresh Produce.  Shout out to the radio DJ of the show B.Dune for working in the tracks and be sure to supports ideals by checking out the link above and putting their march release of i.deology on your radar for albums to purchase.  

For a rundown of other tracks rotated on March 7th by B.Dune and the Fresh Produce camp you can visit this Soundcloud page by clicking here.

1Track@aTime on 02.27.2014 featured the sounds of Aydee the Great, A.D. Carson the Term One Mixtape, track ((Yes, Today))... goin' out to Ali and the Writing the Wrongs program in Illinois!  More info on A.D Carson, visit blogs.aydeethegreat.com ...Much respect to Dune for also rotating the classic sounds of Madlib's Unseen Instrumentals!

((Watching the Clouds)) by K-Def / 1Track@aTime 02.20.2014

1Track@aTime 02.20.2014
((Watching the Clouds))

Rotation for February 20th's 1Track@aTime on KRUX 91.5 fm... "Watching the Clouds" dedicated to the memory of DJ Spanish Aztec.  I first met DJ SA during a phone call at the radio station when he called in to see about a spot on the rotation roster.  Shortly after, we met up and started the Tables & Crates show.  Heard of this K-Def record through Damu the Fudgemunk and the Redefinition Record label.  But I heard of Damu through SA back in the day who had gotten access to a Y Society album at the time, Travel at Your Own Pace.  Felt the return to KRUX needed a shout to our good brother, Troy Calendaria also known as SA, acronym for Spanish Aztec, aka "Still Alive" and other names.

Peep the video below on K-Def if you don't know and be sure to check out the One Man Band record.  It's an exceptional project and hopefully one of many future projects through the Redefinition Record label.  For more information peep redefinitionrecords.com

Music Is my Character by Gasface

In addition to the K-Def track for the 20th, we also prelude'd the track of the week with a track by IV the Polymath titled "Unique Individual" off the Mono EP.  A real dope track from one of our all time favorite producers.  The Mono EP is a dope project amongst others if you've yet to hear IV's production, which you can check out at Polymath Records ivthepolymath.com.  What's so dope about the Mono EP is IV's approach to its packaging having hand crafted the project into black C46 cassettes... His approach is reminiscent of the tape deck era that lives on as not only a collectible for today's Hip Hop, but something to rotate over and over again one side to the next.  To check out the project digitally you can visit IV's bandcamp by clicking here: Mono.    

To check out other artists featured on Dune's rotation for the 20th, be sure to check out the Soundcloud playlist by clicking here.  Peace to B.Dune and the Fresh Produce camp.

((Falling)) by MC Melodee / 1Track@aTime 02.14.2014

1Track@aTime 02.14.2014
((Falling)) by MC Melodee

B.Dune debut his return to KRUX 91.5 fm, New Mexico State University on Valentines this year with the Fresh Produce program which will be broadcasting each Friday from 10PM to midnite.

91.5 FM is the only call letter in this region where nothing comes between a radio DJ and their playlist.  So when I heard our brother B.Dune would be back on the mic rotating the sounds, it brought that interest back to want to listen.  And nowhere else has the variety that defines Hip Hop been represented best in our area than on KRUX 91.5 fm.  There's no other dial in southern NM where you'll hear beats by producers from all all parts of the world, or where the rotation will make room for someone like MC Melodee. From 2000 to 2008 I got the chance to meet a lot of cool people at KRUX, got the chance to rotate a lot of the music I liked listening to, and every once in a while was able to interview artists I was learning about through my own collecting or promotional material we received at the station. 

B.Dune welcomed the idea of letting me send in a track each week for the Fresh Produce program for a segment called 1Track@aTime.  I spend a lot of time listening to music in the car or through mobile audio with the iPod, so often times I'll have something new to share.  On the 14th we set things off with one of MC Melodee's latest tracks off a project from Hot16 that's inspired by the time and sound of the 80s.  It's an ill track, especially as a gesture of love and the holiday broadcast for Fresh Produce radio on 91.5 fm February 14th. 

Much respect to B.Dune for the chance to share music again live through the Fresh Produce show.  To listen in each week you can live stream the show from kruxradio.com. If you're local the dial is 91.5 fm, if you're online, droids can listen through Tune in Radio, or laptop/CPU check out the KRUX main page. Fore more info on MC Melodee and to download the "Falling" track, click on the link below.  Let the Soundcloud tracks play on for more music from MC Melodee, including her work with producer INT through La Melodia.  Below is a download for the 1Track@aTime feature on the 14th of February. 

Peace to B.Dune and crew.  

Download ((Falling)) by MC Melodee feat. Hot 16 on the production: click here

02/14/2014 Playlist: click here to listen to the music!