News

Rising Up Video, RTB ‘08 Line-Up, Buckshot Freestyle, Anti-Pop Unites, ‘Tay Interview, Buy C.R.A.C., Dissecting Air Yeezy’s

• To start your Wednesday off right we’ve got the World Premiere of The Roots latest single “Rising Up” featuring Wale and Chrisette Michele. The video was shot two weeks ago in NYC by Rik Cordero. Real fresh colorful video with plenty of b-boyin and b-girlin, peep the Consequence cameo in there too. Rising Down is in stores next Tuesday April 29th, and if you haven’t purchased your pre-order yet it’s not too late. While we don’t condone the bootlegery (we’ve already leaked half the damn album) holla at hiphopdx for another song off the album called “Criminal” featuring Truck North and Saigon.

• The lineup for the 2008 Rock The Bells International Festival Series has been announced. The tour kicks off July 19th in Chicago. Some of the headliners include A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, De La Soul, Mos Def, Rakim, The Pharcyde, as well as Red and Meth, Rae and Ghost, Kidz In The Hall, Jay Electronica, Wale and many more. The tour will be making international stops this year as well in Europe, Japan and Canada. They put on a pretty hot show last year, but this lineup is lookin even stronger to me, def coppin them tickets as soon as they go on sale…i suggest ya’ll do the same. Pre-sale tickets will be available May 14th - 16th via Guerilla Union, and then to the general public on May 17th.

• The BDI Thug is the latest MC to rip the booth on G4’s freestyle 101. Buckshot kills it with that grown man flow “Far from dumb I’m actually smart/While i wrap up a meeting you can rap in the park.” Buckshot and 9th Wonder’s album The Formula is in stores the 29th but is available on itunes right now.

• Last night a newly reunited Anti-Pop Consortium tested out some new material in a mom and pops record shop in NYC’s east village. Anti-Pop, consisting of Beans, M. Sayyid, and High Priest, along with Earl Blaize and M-Peg, broke up in ‘02 to pursue various solo careers, but have come back together with the an intense synergy and exciting nerd rap lyricism sure to make their next studio album worth the cop. Check for them this summer alongside Public Enemy and Kool Keith at “All Tomorrows Parties.”

• Just spotted an interview Phonte did with a childhood friend of his on the boards. Check it out and see what he’s up to and learn a little more about the ‘Tay of old.

• We forgot to mention it yesterday but the C.R.A.C. (Blu & Ta’Raach) album The Piece Talks hit sores yesterday. El Keter did a nice write up on the album in yesterdays Blogarhythms . I know this ish leaked and everything so we already know the joint is tough, so go cop it to make amends.

• We can’t talk about “where it all started” without mentioning the man behind all the original Okayplayer video content as well as the daily written updates, OKP B.Kyle. Happy birthday, sir! Look out for B as he hits the road once again with Common this summer. In the spirit of throwbacks, check out this article/interview with B and Dantana circa 2003. Last but not least, happy belated bday to Kamal, aka Maldog, who celebrated his on the 20th.

• And for you sneaker geeks, the Nike Air Yeezy’s. I couldn’t avoid speaking on these joints forever, yes they’re fire, but no I’d never wear them. Anyway here’s a nice little image showing all the different sneakers the Yeezy’s were derived from. Rumors are goin round that these kicks are not exclusively for the Glow In The Dark Tour, and that Kanye may have a deal in the works with Nike.

-shamz, gingerlynn & dantana