It's NOT an eclipse, is it?

Well, well, well ... I have waited patiently for packages to arrive that might include some new and highly anticipated releases and ... I remain waiting; why is that?

I am eager to get my hands on the new joints from:

• Talib Kweli
• Mos Def
• Nas (December 19th release date)

But while I salivated through a nice pile of music mail today, I was pleasantly surprised to get a copy of the new joint from the Clipse - and a clean copy to boot ... Apparently, this duo has been experiencing some record label woes - the situation has been chronicled in Vibe, CMJ and many others (so someone's working the publicity angle ...).

Most folks remember the Clipse from "Grindin" a while back; four years ago, I believe. Well, the Virginia Beach crew is back in the spotlight and I do mean the Virginia Beach crew - the Clipse has hooked up w/their high profile homies, the Neptunes.

I am all about the Clipse's "Hell Hath No Fury"; and I'd like to fill in the blank on that cliche ... I've only checked out the first four tracks, but track one has a really nasty beat, real funky (I can just see the folks doin some A-T-L style dance to it up in the club); it is sort of Neptune like, but somewhat of a departure from the Neptune's more commercial clientele.

Brothers Malice and Pusha have a real grimey delivery; they definitely have an edge and probably good reason too ... They don't pack the disk w/too many guests (except for the Diddy-like Pharrell) because they get the job done. Their mixtape cred is all over this project - at least what I've heard so far.

I'd love to go on and on, but I'm on a mission to get my hands on the aforementioned goodies .... and to seek out some mistletoe, schmooches hip hoppers ... kfox

A Roots Tour Update ...

This is sooooo crazy. ?uesto has been blogging the Roots' European Tour and right about now, I think my boyz are ready to return to familiar turf.

Is anyone else super surprised that some of the guys were in an all out brawl; an old school fisticuffs? I saw the wounded - and you can too.

You can also catch the ongoing video log on Okayplayer and here.

More about my obssesion w/the Roots: I let a former student borrow my "Game Theory" disk last week. It was a random act of kindness (I let him borrow my Dave Chappelle's Block Party cd as well - I know, I know, what was I thinking...?). So a day went by, then two and then I sent him a nice and tidy email that he should return it, and soon - maybe I gently worded that I would track him down and physically harm him if he did not return it within 12 hours ... However, I did not think he would get it back to me prior to my holiday road trip ... but he did. Whewwww, that was close. Why didn't I just offer to burn him a copy myself ...? Next time - lesson learned.

Prayers for the Roots to get healthy and be safe ... kfox

Get Hyped!

This week's BFF!

Oooooohh, how delighted am I to report to you, this week's BFF? It was the single treat in my music box this past Monday.

Funny thing is, he doesn't even know that he is my best friend - forever (at least until the next best thing comes by...).

Enough of the suspense, huh? It is Lyrics Born! Aaaahhh. His latest project, "Overnight Encore: Lyrics Born Live!" is spectacular! Nothing short of that. Now, I love beats and rhymes and good music. LB does all of that. Oh, and did I mention that an incredibily energetic LIVE show is like a meal to me - satisfaction to the fullest? Well, as the title of the disk boldly states, LB does the LIVE set and does it well.

I love his band! They know how to get down wit the get down. Reminds me of some true old school funk a la George Clinton, Bootsy and the Funkadelic relics.

But LB's lyricism is so fun and upbeat and on point, it's easy to get involved - or at least want to jump up and scream along with the other Aussie's (the project was recorded LIVE in Sydney, Australia).

Oh, and peep this, on the disk LB thanks a good amount of folk, but his first props went out to God - gotta love a God fearing man or maybe it's just me...

And this from the liner notes:

• "When I was coming up as an aspiring young rapper, the artists I admired performed live. Period. We have entered into an era where the live performance has become a mere afterthought, a formality for all too many recording artists of ALL genres. With my first live album, and (God willing) the many that will follow, let history show that I never wanted to be considered anything other than a TRUE arist, an aftist that held performing live to be just as important as creating the studio recordings, in hopes that I may one day be seen in the same light as my hereos. And besides that, I like to tear shit up. Enjoy. -LB"

So now you have to do the right thing, you need to witness for yourself, firsthand what I am trying to tell you. You get that disk and you too can call LB your BFF!

Ride dat pony hip hoppers, ride dat damn pony! kfox

Little or no advice

...hey hip hoppers, it seems that you are on your own in terms of what music you might spend your hard earned bennies on. This day, I can only tell you what is available for purchase. I know that you are sad-faced and heavy hearted with that information, but I aim to boost you up in the near future.

Here is what I am diggin:

• Rhymefest "Blue Collar" - ChiTown is reppin
• Loer Velocity "Ready for a Renaissance" - this one is a must have!
• X:144 & SPS "m.e." - ooooh la la
• Dan the Automator "presents 2k7" - I love hoops!

Now, here is what is new to my four sets of eyes:

• Lady Sovereign "Public Warning" - foul mouth, but fun
• JRK "JRK" - crazy beats and rhymes
• Hi-Tek "Hi-Teknology2" - Ohio reppin
• Jazzy Jeff "Hip Hop Forever III" - everything that's old is new again
• Fat Jon & Styrofoam "The Same Channel" - Cincy meets Berlin
• The Green Brothers "Everybody's Green" - fun and funky
• K-Os "Atlantis - Hymns for Disco" - not all hip hop, but original and organic

I'm exhausted from what my students call "election day hangover", but from the looks of this list, it is indeed a hip hop hangover.

Lovin you, lovin you and lovin you some more ... kfox

Hip Hop is all thada that that!

This is it! In case you haven't quite figured me out yet, here's a bit more insight into the mind of Radiogirl. It is full of beats and rhymes and well produced tracks by some popular, but mostly off-the-pop-culture radar artists. It's male dominated and certainly PG-13. It gives me much pleasure to welcome you to a 'nugget' of my hip hop world.