You Can Bounce to This!

So I've stumbled up on SoulBounce. It's a webbie w/a focus on music. Not just hip hop, but it's all good because good music is just that. What's not to like about a website that has a picture of Richard Roundtree aka Shaft in the banner... oh, and Foxy Brown too?

There are some music reviews as well as some music and mixtapes that you can listen to and/or download. Very cool. I listened to one mixtape of Amerie. I don't know why I gravitated in that direction because I am not a super duper fan of Amerie, but I don't dislike her either. Anyway, it was okay. Not fabulous or awesome, just okay.

But the one thing I'm diggin on time and time again is SoulBounce Blended & Beat vol. 3. I did not think this one would be my speed. Meaning I thought that it would be a slow to mid-tempo joint. But surprise me why dontcha ... there was some mid-tempo, but they kicked up a notch as well. Got me all anxious for the next round.

I do likes the SoulBounce Sniff Test too : take four artists, provide a lil background and a track to see who passes the sniff test. If all else fails, you get put on to an artist you were otherwise unfamiliar with ... that was the case for me. Sort of took notice of Colin Munroe "Piano Lessons"; produced by Black Milk.

I could go on, but you need to check it for yourself. Just sharing the love hip hoppers. kfox.

M.I.A. Oscar Nomination for "Slumdog Millionaire" Song

I've seen "Slumdog Millionaire" and it's a nice movie (check out my review of "Slumdog Millionaire" and I'll probably see it again soon. But what stood out for me in the movie was the music. It really drives the movie and the music is mostly upbeat throughout the movie. That Indian vibe is killer. Love that.

So the Academy took note of the music in "Slumdog Millionaire" as well. The movie got a nod for best score. But I was hyped to know that M.I.A. got a nomination for "O Saya". It's a song driven by drums and chanting and then M.I.A. lays it down. Awesome. "O Saya" is up against another track from "Slumdog Millionaire" as well as song from "Wall-E".

O... Saya - M.I.A.

Now hip hoppers, I don't expect you to sit through the entire Oscar ceremony on Sunday, February 22, 2009, but at least check back to see if M.I.A. gets the guy. kfox.

For Your Listening Pleasure :: 2

So I think I will make this a regular feature - For Your Listening Pleasure. It's a work in progress, but I am thinking of highlighting one or two artists. We'll see how it goes.

Check out Konshens. Found out about him via AndreaHGal on Twitter. I saw that Tabi Bonney was doing a show and Konshens was also on the bill. Had to be a nice show.

• Here's Konshens music.

Next up is Purple Monkey Sircus. I am smitten w/the name of the group. Very cool. Oh and they are reppin the Northcoast (that would be Cleveland for those not in the know).

• Here's a link to a Purple Monkey Sircus Mixtape hosted by Mick Boogie. Just click on the red text to download the mixtape.

Get Your Party On :: A Tribute to the Notorious B.I.G.

DJ K-Nyce is at it again and when he spins at a party, no one sits down - ever. Like you don't sit down until you make it back to your car! Yeah, sets like that only come around so often.

But K-Nyce is doin it up w/a strong posse: djs G-Spot, Fresh and O-Sharp

The event is

"It Was All a Dream" :: A Tribute to the Notorious B.I.G.

This Friday, January 16, 2009
@ Touch Supper Club
2710 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland
Starts @ 10 p.m.
The damage is only $5

Check this party promo vid:

It Was All A Dream Trailer from dj knyce on Vimeo.

So the Friday sked is a done deal, what else is on tap for the weekend hip hoppers? kfox

Termanology

Pj over on Imeem put me on to Termanology. I loves an awesome lyricist and that's Termanology. He's got beats, but not much time lapses when he's not droppin a line. Yeah, you just try to go strong like that for nearly five minutes and you'll appreciate what he does even more.

Circulate (100 Bars) - Termanology

Now, I'm not talking candy coated rhymes here. He covers so many topics: the streets, the music industry along w/some boasting. It's not as typical as it may seem.

Grab some of his tracks:

• Termanology merchant page

Just continuing to guide you to the good stuff hip hoppers, kfox.

For Your Listening Pleasure

So, I've been getting lots of requests to review music. But my time is strapped right now and will be for the next two weeks or so.

I've decided to share a couple of the links w/you all.

PJ on Imeen:
pj is constantly uploading new tracks to Imeem; some compilations including lots of indie artists

Third World Records:
fellas out of Cincinnati. I did not listen to all of the tracks, though it did not stand out for me

Hip hoppers, what's in your rotation for the start of '09? kfox

The Mighty Underdogs "Droppin Science Fiction"

If your New Year's resolution is to listen to more good music, then you should have The Mighty Underdogs on your list.

They're being billed as a hip hop supergroup. And no wonder since the three front men all have stellar reps as individuals: The Gift of Gab from Blackalicious, Lateef the Truth Speaker of Latyrx and Headnodic from Crown City Rockers. And if this trifecta don't gain your interest then you will marvel at the guest spots: MF Doom, Lyrics Born, Julian and Damien Marley, DJ Shadow and more.

There is so much fun to be had while listening to this project. Definitely upbeat and the beats are bangin - I expect that. Same for the lyrics, you know that they are going to come w/their 'A' game. And they do. But The Mighty Underdogs are on the Definitive Jux label and that's how they do it. All good.

I wanted to single out a fav on the disk, but they don't make it easy. After about 30 minutes, I just let the tracks segue and enjoy.

There's some good news for you here. I am definitely advocating that you cop this one because it's one for the history books, but in this economy you can't do it all ...right? So check out The Mighty Underdogs on Imeem.

Other resources:

• The Mighty Underdogs interview on KPFA
• Other The Might Underdogs goodies on Imeem
• Video for "Gunfight" f/MF Doom
  

So hip hoppers, let's hope that The Mighty Underdogs revive their tour sked in '09. kfox.

My Best of 2008 List :: Hip Hop

Every year I, like you, troll through tons of music. So much so, that by the end of the year I've sort of forgotten about what was hot and happenin in, say, January or February. That is pretty much the case for the list that I've assembled here. Most of the releases are from the later part of 2008.

I was late on The Mighty Underdogs, so don't you sleep on them. I hope to get around to posting about "Droppin Science Fiction" in the next week or so. As the old schoolers used to say "it is dope".

Best artists and cds:

• Illa J :: "Yancey Boys"
• Roots Manuva :: "Slime & Reason"
• The Knux :: "Remind Me in 3 Days"
• The Roots :: "Rising Down"
• Black Milk :: "Tronic"
• The Mighty Underdogs :: "Droppin Science Fiction"

This short list is taken from my larger list of the Best of 2008.

So hip hoppers, let's toast to a hearty and musically fulfilling 2009! kfox.

Indy Hip Hop World :: Top 10 Hip Hop Blog on Blogs.com

Sometimes you can wait for the accolades and other times you just have to big-up yourself!

In this case, big-ups to Indy Hip Hop World for making the "10 Popular Hip Hop Blogs" on Blogs.com. Nothing like knowing that folks are checking this thing out and likin it.

I was scrolling through my blog stats and noticed that some traffic came from Blogs.com. So I went to check out the reference. I don't check the stats too often, but a nice surprise indeed. Good stuff.

Okay, as you were hip hoppers. kfox.

It's a New Year - Let's Get Funky

Happy New Year! Welcome 2009! I am lovin it already.

The first thing I'm going to do in this new year is to point you to We Funk Radio - again. I've blogged about them in the past, but what they do can never be championed enough. I have been diggin these guys for years. They are very cool, indeed. This is where I get my hip hop fix infused w/rare soul and old school jams. I'm talking Johnny Guitar Watson, Sly Stone, James Brown, George Duke and many more unknowns.

Here's what's to like about listening to We Funk Radio. They are out of CKUT in Montreal. But their webbie is incredible. Not only can you listen to the steam, but you can check out their deep archives. My fav We Funk Radio show is one where they kick down some JB to start the show off and then they wrap it up w/some Johnny Guitar Watson and Rick James. Of course, there's new and old hip hop all up in there too.

They even go a step further in the archives, by providing track listings. Now that is a big deal to me because nearly every time I listen to a show, I say to myself "Who is that?". But there is even another level to the track listings. Professor Groove and dj Static have created a Learn&Own section and all you have to do is click on the artists name for more information. Very cool, indeed.

Just know that CKUT is a community radio station and they will kindly accept your donations (especially bandwidth donations).

Check out this section of their webbie for all the basic info:

• About We Funk Radio

Okay hip hoppers, you can now start the New Year off right! kfox.