Posted: May 16th, 2011 | Author: fred | Filed under: Track of the Day | No Comments »
This is the intro to Donnis’ 2009 mixtape Diary of an ATL Brave. The mix has a few hot tracks, but I love the production and rhymes on this. Signed to Atlantic in 2010, it’ll be interested to see where Donnis’ career goes. On one hand he came up in Atlanta, opened for guys like T.I. and a more recent mixtape was hosted by Clinton Sparks; on the other, Donnis toured with Bruno Mars in 2k10 and makes a reference at the beginning of this 2k9 track to being annoyed at hipster labels.
Donnis: Beginnings
Posted: May 12th, 2011 | Author: fred | Filed under: Track of the Day | No Comments »
The Roots are most definitely the hardest working band in the rap music business. Not to mention one of the only actual bands. “Next Movement,” from the killer Things Fall Apart, is heavy duty. Possibly the first Roots songs to feature scratches — via fellow Philly native DJ Jazzy Jeff (one of my favorite DJs) — the song bangs hard. Black Thought kills it. Listen hard and listen often.
The Roots: Next Movement
Posted: April 28th, 2011 | Author: fred | Filed under: Track of the Day | No Comments »
I’ve got a half-ass story about this song and a Mumia protest in Philly maybe 12 years ago. It involves broken glasses, 45/48 hrs on a bus, freestyling in a truck stop parking lot, and an unfortunate turn of events at an Iron Skillet because of said broken glasses and a friend who was on a brief hunger strike. But that’s not the point. Mumia Abu-Jamal, has had a small bit of good luck and/or justice. Listen to the song. Get the full news at the always excellent Democracy Now: Court Rules Mumia Abu-Jamal’s Death Sentence is Unconstitutional, Grants New Sentencing Hearing. A better move would’ve been releasing him, granting a full pardon, and paying a huge chunk of money in restitution for what was probably wrongful imprisonment for 27 years. But this is something.
KRS-One ft. Channel Live: Free Mumia
