[[  March 1, 2010  ]]

What's Upper? 

Canada Wins Hockey Gold With 3-2 Sudden-Death Victory Over U.S. The Canadian men's hockey team captured the Olympic gold medal with a thrilling 3-2 sudden-death overtime victory against Team USA on Sunday. The United States scored with under a minute remaining in regulation to force overtime, but Canada's biggest star, Sidney Crosby scored the game winner 7:40 into the extra period...
 

As of Sunday, February 28, 2010, one of Hip Hop's most influential emcees is presently in critical condition, several sources say. Guru (see photo above), one half of pioneering '80s, '90s and '00s Brooklyn-based Hip Hop group Gang Starr suffered a heart attack over the weekend, according to the emcee and producer's sister Tricia.

Born Keith Elam is presently in a coma from complications of going into cardiac arrest. Guru is best known for penning hits such as "Words I Manifest," "Discipline" and "Just To Get A Rep." Between 1986 and 2004, Guru founded Gang Starr, a duo with DJ Premier that also includes Gang Starr Foundation affiliates Big Shug, Group Home Jeru Da Damaja and Smiley Da Ghetto Child.

Born and raised in the Boston area, Guru relocated to Brooklyn in the late '80s, where Gang Starr released its first singles with 45 King as producer. By 1988, the group evolved as a duo with Premier, and released their 1989 full-length debut No More Mr. Nice Guy on Wild Pitch Records. The duo would go on to release classic albums on Chrysalis/Virgin/EMI, such as 1994's Hard To Earn and 1998's Moment Of Truth. Gang Starr's last album, 2003's The Ownerz featured Jadakiss, Fat Joe and longtime affiliate Freddie Foxxx. The platinum group toured the world and released several greatest hits collections, most notably Full Clip: A Decade Of Gang Starr in 1999. The duo announced their split in 2004, reportedly due to creative and personal differences.

As a solo artist, Guru released four volumes of Jazzmatazz, Jazz-inspired recordings with legendary genre artists such as Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers. Guru has launched two labels in his career, Ill Kid Records and 7Grand, where he and production partner Solar worked alongside artists such as Talib Kweli, Damian Marley and Jean Grae...

Bob "Chilly B" Crafton (see photo above), one of the original members of legendary early 80's electro hip-hop outfit Newcleus, died  from complications associated with a stroke. He was 47 years of age. The Brooklyn based old school group Newcleus was best known for the early eighties hit singles "Jam On It" and "Jam On It Revenge (The Wikki Wikki Song)," both punctuated by the Chipmunks-like voice contained on their tracks. The tracks were released on the Sunnyview label -- records that any hip-hop DJ back in the day had to have in their crates for dancers and breakers as well as almost a requisite for a mixtape.

"Chilly B was a gifted artist who played keyboards and bass. He laid down that famous bass line in 'Jam On It,'" said friend and fellow old school New York hip-hop artist Scratchmasta Jazzy G via email to me this afternoon. "He was a cool person too. He will be missed." As well as laying down that famous bass line on "Jam On It," Chilly B also busted out such well known lyrics on the song as "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Chilly B/ And I'm a surefire, full blooded bonafide house rockin' Jam-On Production MC/ If you want the best, put me to the test, and I'm sure you'll soon agree/ That I got no force cause I'm down by law when it comes to rockin' viciously, you see." Rest in peace to another Hip-Hop great...
 

It's that time again! Seattle's Coolout Network Television turns 19 on April 3, 2010. They will be celebrating with a historic revue-style line-up of some of the NW's finest Hip-Hop acts which includes:

Ghetto Children reunion

Xola aka Kid Sensation

D.Black f. Spaceman

Khingz

Canary Sing

Peep the new video from Khingz "Blaq Han Solo" online at: http://www.vimeo.com/8525207 . More acts will be announced every Monday up to the week prior to the event. Please let Kitty Wu know if you would like additional information or would like to interview Georgio Brown and/or the participants of Coolout 19. This is going to be a historic event!: Kitty Wu Music & Arts Administration  206.734.1415...

RAP ATTACK Conference Call RAP UP with FREEWAY by DJ JayForce:

Rapattack DJs wrapped up another solid conference call with yet another artist who understands the importance of the grass roots effort. Freeway joined the Rapattack conference call  in support of his latest collaborative project with Seattle producer "Jake One". The new album "The Stimulus Package", which is now available in stores, takes it back to the early formulas in hip hop whereas one emcee would work with one producer to create a solid if not classic album. With the changes in the industry it's becoming commonplace for artists to pair with one or two producers instead of paying thousands of dollars per track for several producers on an album. In this day & age that practice is not cost effective & it doesn't necessarily help with an album's overall cohesiveness. It's one of the primary reasons music lovers usually find only one or two good tracks on an album because there isn't a focused direction. The new album has been released through the Minneapolis based label Rhymesayers. Freeway says that unlike his time at Def Jam who were clogged with artists who may never see a release date, Rhymesayers offered excellent support & attention to the "Stimulus Package" project. In fact the packaging of the album & promotional campaign
itself has generated numerous reviews for it's creativity within industry circles & with fans alike. The album packaging is shaped like a wallet containing not only the CD & album credits, but they've also included with the wallet style packaging are Freeway & Jake One dollar bills. The album is getting the necessary positive media
attention & reviews it needs, but ironically as a former Rocafella artist some of the negative attention media from recent events is also bringing attention to the album.
It's common knowledge in the blogs & news media that there has been some turmoil amongst all of the former members of the Rocafella movement namely with Beanie Sigel's recent jabs at his former friend Jay-Z. Beanie Sigel appears on the intro to the new "Stimulus Package" album so it was a matter of time on the conference call before any of the DJs on the call asked Freeway to state clearly how he stood on these recent events. Keeping a tone that was rather business like, Freeway elected to give his opinion offering no more & no less than what everyone was interested in knowing. Freeway explained that in the beginnings of the Rocafella movement he was brought to the label by Beans upon his release from prison. Freeway said that because Beans brought him to the label he may have not had the same friendship connection with Jay-Z like Beanie Sigel had prior to him signing with Rocafella. Freeway implied that he doesn't have a ill feeling towards Jay-Z either way, because their friendship wasn't as close as that of his and Beans. If Freeway does have any ill feelings toward Jay-Z he didn't come off that way on the conference call & kept his answers very businesslike. Freeway says that Beanie Sigel is his own man & quite simply may have had a stronger relationship with Jay-Z so it may have hurt more for Beans in dealing with the loss of what he may have believed to be more than just a business relationship.

Every conference call DJ 3rd Rail asks the same question to every artist though he may present it to the subject of the conference call in a variety of ways. To some it may seem like a very intrusive question to ask, but it's an important question if you really want to find out more about the character of the artist we're dealing with.
3rd Rail's primary question always seems to inquire about how does an artist like Freeway make their money with a music industry in disarray & an equally slumping economy. It's understandable why some of the former Rocafella artists may have some ill feelings to what went down at Rocafella when you have children to feed & bills to pay but Freeway says he never felt like he needed to look back. Only Forward. In response to DJ 3rd Rail's question on income & finances as an artist, Freeway stated on the call that he's always been a hard worker & doesn't pass up opportunities. Freeway says he makes the majority of his income from aggressively getting on the road & also stated that he & Jake One will be doing some dates together in support of the new album. Although Freeway made it clear that he'll take advantage of opportunities, he did strongly state that when he & Jake One got together for this new album it was not to make a commercial
sounding album but an album for the fans of that real hip hop we've become accustomed too especially for DJs on college & non-commercial radio. The majority of Freeway's catalog have never been commercially contrived albums so that should tell us plenty about what type of artist Freeway is continuing to be. Freeway also briefly spoke about his trips to Mecca & how difficult it can be as a muslim artist when its typically frowned upon to be student of islam while doing music.

Before Freeway concluded the call the overall collective impression is that Freeway will be around for a long time because not only is he a hard worker but he can adjust to change good or bad. Having been estranged from his primary producer Just Blaze on his debut album Philadelphia Freeway, they recently reconnected with each other through twitter. Songs from Freeway's debut album like "What We Do" & "Flipside" produced by Just Blaze still get heavy rotation in the clubs. It'll be interesting to see if these guys can do it again at a later time, but its clear that as previous doors close other doors opens. As an artist Freeway has proven that if you work hard & put out good music, you won't have to wait on any one else to give you a Stimulus Package. You just will have to go & create your own......this time with Jake One...

Peepout online the interview with one of the dopest Filipino-American emcee, Bambu on the NYC based DadWagon.com. The URL for the interview is at: http://www.dadwagon.com/2010/02/17/qa-bambu-the-filipino-mos-def/ ...

The 'net's longest running Hip-Hop website - the one that practically set off the whole movement - HipHopSite.Com - is back. They've completely reinvented the site from the ground up, relaunched with a whole new design, including all of the classic content dating back to 1996. All of your favorite sections are here - In The Deck, Interviews, I Ain't Havin' That, New Joints, Best & Worst Lists - plus several new, never-seen-before sections - all of which will be updated on a daily basis. There's no store this time around - physical or digital - just loads of free, exclusive content for your consumption. Check them out now at www.hiphopsite.com ...
 

GUARDIAN ANGELS CELEBRATES 31 YEARS by: DJ 3rd Rail ( 21 year active member )

February 13th 1979 Curtis Sliwa formed the Magnificent 13 who later become the Guardian Angels 31 years ago. I want to thank those past, present and future members and supporters. We have much more work in front of us. I have sent you several links to videos. Some of you have already seen some of these and some of you have not. They include a slide show of the history of New York City from 1979 day one till about 1993 which is part 1. Then you have a history of the Chicago Chapter from 1981-2010.

Then I included the reality special we did for the A&E BIO channel that aired in September of 2009. The first link is the complete show on the Vimeo account. The next 3 links will be off our youtube page. Since you only get 10 minute time limit on youtube, I was forced to separate it into 3 different videos. Please view them if you want, and forward the ones you like to anyone who might enjoy them.
 

NYC HISTORY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhSpwTvtIeY  YOUTUBE
http://vimeo.com/9162456  VIMEO

CHICAGO HISTORY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaMLUEXQA14&feature=related  YOUTUBE
http://vimeo.com/8365622  VIMEO

FULL REALITY SHOW FROM VIMEO
http://vimeo.com/9232899

REALITY SHOW ON YOUTUBE 3 DIFFERENT VIDEOS. PART 1-3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA6kVXXzpkw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nbJHbiR03M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5r9WkFPKI8

We've now got a new contact for EMI/Priority Records. Put this in your files:

Angelo Scrobe

EMI Music North America

323-871-5158 Office

718-308-5531 Cell

EMAIL:  angelo.scrobe@emicap.com

This is what's about to drop on Priority...

PRIORITY RECORDS CELEBRATES 25^TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2010 WITH CREATIVE CHAIRMAN SNOOP DOGG AT THE HELM

 Snoop Dogg Presents: The West Coast Blueprint (CD, digital)

1.  Introduction to The West Coast Blueprint

2.  Eazy-E - Eazy-Duz-It  

3.  King Tee - Act A Fool  

4.  The D.O.C. - No One Can Do It Better 

5.  Low Profile - Pay Ya Dues

6.  Kid Frost - La Raza 

7.  Interlude

8.  N.W.A - Alwayz Into Somethin' 

9.  Yo-Yo featuring Ice Cube - You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo 

10. Ice Cube featuring Das EFX - Check Yo Self   [Album Version]

11. Rappin' 4-Tay - Playaz Club

12. Interlude

13. Mack 10 - Foe Life 

14. Luniz - I Got 5 On It

15. Ras Kass - The Evil That Men Do

16. Westside Connection - Gangstas Make The World Go Round  

17. Ant Banks featuring Too $hort, 2Pac & MC Breed - 4 Tha Hustlas  

18. Mack 10 featuring Tha Dogg Pound - Nothin’ But The Cavi Hit 

19. Snoop Dogg featuring Sylk E. Fine & Suga Free - Trust Me

20. Check Yo Self Interlude

21. Snoop Dogg featuring The Hustle Boyz - Check Yo Self (Snoop Dogg G-Mix) [NEW RECORDING]

WELCOME OUR NEW 2010 RAP ATTACK REPORTERS

RADIO:

DJ Luvva-J aka Jose S. Gutierrez Jr - KAOS 

EMAIL: jose@devastatorgroup.com 

Olympia, WA

Silver Shadow-D - KBCS 

EMAIL: admin@shadowmuzik.com  

Bellevue, WA

Savvy - KDON  

EMAIL: savvy408@gmail.com  

Salinas, CA

Darnell “KIZ-ONE” Williams - KKFI  

EMAIL: Kizone@gmail.com   

Kansas City, MO

Dj D'Lemma aka  Warren Van Patten  KMIH   

EMAIL: djdlemma@gmail.com 

Mercer Island, WA

Jeep Ward (DJ HALO) WPKN/WPKM 

EMAIL: jeepdjhalo203@yahoo.com 

Bridgeport, CT

DJ Eclipse   WNYU  

EMAIL: itsdjeclipse@gmail.com  

New York, NY

Kerri Hughes       WRFM

EMAIL: badteccy@hotmail.com  

Blue Bell, PA

INTERNET:

Commando - IUMMMUSIC.COM -Program Director  

EMAIL: stepincommand@gmail.com

DJ LoKash - AllHipHop.com   

EMAIL: djlokash@gmail.com

MIXTAPE:

DJ FRRESH (Chicago, IL)

Nesto Acosta (Culpeper/Norfolk, VA)

Rap Attack takes a "WHAT'S UPPER" look this week with:

DJ Resident (WKNC-NC): I wanted to pass along to you that I have departed from WKNC-FM in Raleigh, NC (the radio station for NCSU). My last show was on 02/24/2010 after almost 15 years of holding it down. My reason for leaving is that I am moving from Raleigh to Philadelphia for a job. I’ve been dragging my feet on giving folks the heads up since it’s been sort of emotional for me to depart from not only a great station, but to leave the airwaves after such a long run, for the delay I apologize. My commitment is to continue delivering the same raw, indy flavor on my personal venue at djresident.org. Over the past year and some change I have made the efforts to post all of my radio shows for streaming (for free just like the airwaves baby). I intend on providing continual content of the same format and style that I brought to my radio show to my internet only version. My hopes are that after I get settled into my job that I can tap into the radio resources in Philly and get back on the air (any contacts or help you can pass along is greatly appreciated), but I see no issues with me keeping the djresident.org rocking and rolling. Next week I’ll be sending out my new contact info and a notice about my new circumstances to all my radio contacts. 

It will take me a couple of weeks (no longer than 4 weeks) to get my equipment up to Philly and set back up such that I can record content on a regular basis, and I just wanted to see if not only can I continue reporting to you as djresident.org but also get a pass on the charts for a couple of weeks while I get moved and settled in. I’m heading out to Philly Friday morning (02/26/2010) with only my Jeep packed up, and much of the other stuff will come the next weekend. 

Nes, it’s been a wonderful and lifelong memory to be at WKNC and on the RapAttack panel, it’s both sad and happy that I depart, but I would very much love to keep on being a part of the movement. Please let me know if we can get things bumping with the new venue"...

Chill Will (WCBN-MI): "What's up people? Been a busy week already which is always good. Got to rock the Wiz Khalifa, U-God (Wu Tang) show with Jasmine Solano at the Blind Pig last night. Strange show, cause most of the people there knew who Wiz was than U-God. WOW!!!! But Wiz did his thing and the place was packed. Big shout to Buff 1 and DJ Ell who were in the building. Gotta also give props to everyone who came out in the bad weather, to check me out at Rush Street last night. For more information about me DJ Chill Will go to www.myspace.com/djchillwill734...

DJ Sage (CFRO-Vancouver, BC): "Unfortunately our radio show was preempted last week however, it was for a good cause as Co-op held a 24hr Radio-Thon dedicated to Homelessness and increasing its awareness. We will be back on the air this week, but in the meantime you can peep the some of our archived
podcasts at: http://urpradio.podomatic.com and Go Canada Go!"...
 

Jeffrey Oakes (WMHB-ME): "Got the word today that Big Boi will be coming up to perform at my school this April, a big fan of OutKast I cant wait for this show, speaking of shows I was watching ESPN the other day and they were talking about the US win over Canada in ice hockey, although it wasnt a medal game it was the first time we had won in 60 years...if that doesnt bolster some red white and blue pride I dont know what will. Anyways this is not the first time I have remarked about Canada and I wish them the best of luck in the rest of the Olympics"...

DJ Luicidal (KSJS-San Jose): "Hello everyone! Been a busy couple weeks in San Jose as of late. Seems like a lot of people have the cold bug. Plenty of local shows continue to flourish in the San Jose Hip-Hop scene. Shouts out to the Sharkstyliens, Sean Blak, and Soapbox Melodics for last week. Playa Rae and 408inc bring back some legends with the Frisko Legends show on Thursday featuring Rappin 4 Tay, Totally Insane, 11/5, and Total Devestation. Also, Cadalack Ron has a show this Friday with San Jose's Megabusive and Rey Resurreccion. This weekend is filled with ill emcees, spoken word, graf artists, and dope djs. The scene here is strong! Major concerts are going down as well, Jay-Z and Snoop are coming to town! The current buzz on the San Jose streets is the Cinequest film festival, which will be going on for the next 2 weeks. I attended the opening night last night and it was amazing, I'm happy to be apart of it.

This week, my hot pick is a record I'm breaking from Wordsmith "As The Art Fades Away" google this one, Nas was very fond of this record in the past and put out a song that has a striking resemblance. Wordsmith's album the "Vintage Experience" drops March 30th 2010.

As always you can catch my radio show on 90.5FM KSJS and streaming at KSJS.org every Friday night 6pm-10pm PST. Also add us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/KSJS-HIP-HOP/160147101212?ref=ts  

I'm back on my J.O., so get at me for inquires, submissions, tracking, and all that good stuff"...

Nate Abney (WKDU-Philly): "As one storm leaves it seems another is getting ready to hit. The snow from the last storm is still on the ground and now some more. I'm hitting you all early before I get stuck at whatever 3 day holding place this storm puts me in. A couple of pretty good shows came through Philly and while De La was referred to as "these underground dudes" by some girl who couldn't have been no more than 20, I just have to remember not everyone was alive for Potholes In My Lawn.

On a sad note you may or may not have heard that the legendary Philadelphia International studios was damaged in what is being said was an act of arson. Now why anyone would want to do this to such an important piece of Philadelphia history is beyond me. Fortunately most of those songs Gamble and Huff made famous are stored off site( thank goodness). Just goes to show the lack of respect people just have for anyone or anything. I hope those responsible are punished for their actions. With the recent deaths of MJ and Teddy P why would anyone want to damage the studios they recorded some classics in. I ask everyone to pray for the city of Philadelphia please.

Villanova slumped a little, AI is putting his priorities with his family first and can you believe there are morons in this city saying he is using it to get out of playing
basketball( please see the last sentence of the first paragraph). Any parent I know would find these comments against AI downright disgusting. Eagles said goodbye to Brian Westbrook this week the end of an era for sure. The Phils in Clearwater can't wait remember Yankees fan we got Roy and all the pitchers have been
trying to copy him with starting at 5:30 in the morning even pretty boy Cole. The title is on loan for 365 days nuff said.

If you are in the Philly area this week check out Soul Survivors III a benefit for cancer awareness featuring performances by: Figures Of Speech( JJ Brown, The1shanti, Flight Brothers( R-Son& Ad-Liberal))
Traum Diggs
Lyrispect
Gameface

The location is 2737 Cambridge St. Phila, PA ( Sanctuary Wholistic Arts Center) Doors open at 8. Open mic list closes at 8:45
Check out Soul Survivors on Facebook"...

Vernassa Fields (SpynCycal): "I have switched my e-mail address from nattyhead99@yahoo.com to spyncycal@aol.com. Please be sure to update your Address Book. Thank You!"...
 

DJ Kazzeo (KHDC-CA): "Had a chance to check out Shutter Island over the weekend. The first 20 or so minutes are kind of slow but man oh man does that movie get intense. And a huge plot twist at the end. Really solid movie. Props to DiCaprio & Kingsley for the great acting.

Favorite album right now has to be Rakim "The Seventh Seal". A real solid effort if you ask me. Not that you did but I'm just sayin'.

Shout out to Angelo @ EMI/Priority Records & Nasty Nes for coordinating the cd giveaways for the Rap Attack DJ's.

Happy belated birthday to my mellow my man Jason D. Word has it that Jason played like Ice T, meaning he "cracked a 40 and laughed". LOL. I wonder if anyone under the age of 35 can even name the song that lyric came from? Hmmm"...
 

Jayforce (WRFG-Atlanta): "Check out the video I Directed by Arablak ( www.Arablak.com )  "The Deed": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E_9VZIa5Ic  ...
 

DJ Luvva-J (KAOS-WA): "DJ Drastic is the 2-Time DJ of The Year for The 25360 (Tacoma/Olympia joint area codes - and we represent the rest of The 360 from Vancouver to Bellingham, but mainly Tac and OLY) and of course this year we were honored by  The Nasty Nes DJ of The Year award to DJ Drastic. Drastic is a native of Georgia and moved to The Olympia area some years ago. He is known for rockin' parties in a real way and DJs from Seattle to Portland, calling Olympia home. Check him at myspace.com/djdrastic24 and he is on Facebook as Damien (Laronte) Carthon"....
 

Mel Boogie (CKLN-Toronto): " Lookout for Theo3, with production from Anonymous Twist. His whole album is pretty dope actually - feel free to check it out http://music.theology3.com...

Kevin Sakoda (KSPC-CA): "Hope everyone's doing well. If you're not in the LA-area, you can catch the show live (via iTunes) every Saturday, 5-7PM (west-coast time): http://www.kspc.org/popup.html   You can also find archived playlists and download links 24/7: http://blogs.myspace.com/kevsakoda   Enjoy!

Here is our address for 2010 to send material for review, etc (vinyl, dvd's & cd's)!

 RapAttackLives.com

4750 Kester Avenue, Ste. 11

Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Attn: Nasty-Nes

 (FOR MP3's): nastynes818@gmail.com 

Attn MySpace heads! If you haven't joined our exclusive RAP ATTACK page on MySpace, log on NOW & join at: http://www.myspace.com/rapattacklives...

SHOUT OUT TIZIME: Happy Birthday this week to  Mike Nardone formerly of KXLU-LA, celebrating on Monday, March 1st & to DJ Kiz-One outta KKFI in Kansas City celebrating thius Tuesday, March 2nd... Thanks to Def Jam's Mazzi for the Justin Bieber hook up. Yes I said, "Justin Bieber!!!:...

PEACE, LOVE & HIP-HOP UNITY (God Bless & Isa Mahal),

Nasty-Nes

http://www.myspace.com/nastynes

http://www.myspace.com/rapattacklives 

(Pinoy Pride4Life / John 3:16)