9/2 FREE DOWNLOADS & MIXES

+FE Music proudly presents “Maybe She’ll Dream Of Me”, the first single taken from The Foreign Exchange‘s upcoming third album, Authenticity. LISTEN | DOWNLOAD

Produced by Nicolay and Phonte for The Foreign Exchange Music, LLC

Vocals by Phonte | Piano by Zo! | All Instruments by Nicolay

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson‘s ensemble featuring Flying Lotus and a track from J Dilla

DOWNLOAD TRACK

VIDEO:

Joe Kollege’s AfroSoul Vol. 5 Mixtape

Kanye West: Monster (feat. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj)

Drop The Lime: Sex Sax (Blu Jemz Remix)

9th Wonder Presents…. Actual Proof – The Free EP – THE GENIUS EDITION

Michael Jackson vs Fela Kuti Remix Set

Production: Michael Jackson | Fela Kuti | The Marksmen Guerrilla Production Network | Rich Medina

ROCKY DAWUNI storms Europe + FREE LA live date & KCRW Performance

Ghana’s international Reggae star, ROCKY DAWUNI, has been turning up the heat with his blazing new album “Hymns for The Rebel Soul.” Since its US release in late May 2010 on AQUARIAN Records, the album has enjoyed rave reviews across various media with virtually all of the tracks on the album enjoying extensive airplay and charting on various radio stations across the USA. The album is  currently #11 on the CMJ World Charts that monitors airplay across the over 200 radio stations that report to these charts.

LISTEN & DOWNLOAD the album

Dawuni launched a West coast tour in the US in early July 2010 with show stopping performances at The Waterfront Theatre in Marina Del Rey and headlining the esteemed Esalen World Music in Big Sur, CA and the WorldOne Festival in Berkeley, CA before launching his current European tour. The European leg of the concerts have met very enthusiastic crowds from Germany to Austria to Finland including his unbelievable headlining performance at the massive Africa Tage Festival in Vienna Austria on August 15th. He is currently in Liverpool, England for an acoustic performance on August 23 for their “Slavery Remembrance Day” celebrations followed by a performance at the reknown Limetree Music & Arts Festival on August 29!

Rocky Dawuni will be back in the US in early September for a string of radio and live shows including a September 4 in studio interview with Derrick Ashong on OprahRadio.com at 11am. This will be followed by a large scale free show at Levitt Pavilion in Macarthur Park in Los Angeles on September 5^th! On September 8, 2010 Rocky will perform live with his full band on the very influential “Morning Becomes Eclectic” with DJ Jason Bentley on KCRW 89.9FM

“Hymns from the Rebels Soul” is currently available on ITunes and in other fine stores in the US. His amazing remixes from the album by the likes of DJ J-Boogie, DJ Obah, DJ Jeremy Sole & DJ Drez and are gaining momentum worldwide in the clubs and on radio.  Rocky is also featured on the brand new Putumayo release “Tribute to a Reggae Legend” with his genre bending rendition of Bob Marley’s “Sun is Shining.”

Please check out Rocky’s new videos for “African Reggae Fever” and “Walls Tumblin Down” which are making huge waves around the world!

Check out the brand new J-Boogie “Walls Tumblin Down” Remix!!

LISTEN & DOWNLOAD the album

For a complete press kit including biography, press clippings,  streaming audio, hi-res images and much more please go to:
www.rockpaperscissors.biz/go/rocky
www.rockydawuni.com/index.php/site/photos
www.giantstep.net/releases/2551

Please help spread the word on this amazing artist!
Press / Booking Inquiries:
Cary Sullivan
AQUARIAN Records
aquarianrecords@hotmail.com
www.rockydawuni.com
www.facebook.com/rockydawuni
www.myspace.com/rockydawunimusic
www.twitter.com/rockydawuni

Rock The Bells NYC (Rock The Rich)

All Photos by Cochrane | Cochraneimage.com

By Dashaun Simmons

At first glance the idea of shelling out a minimum of 100+ tax dollars on a hip-hop concert in a recession seems more than a little out of the question. However on August 38th scores of hip hop fans showed up on Governors Island in NY to collectively throw their hands in the air. Who amongst the working public could resist seeing A Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang Clan and Snoop Dogg all performing their universally accepted (ask Lupe Fiasco) classics? The early arrivals were treated to golden age veterans Slick Rick and Boogie Down Productions (KRS – ONE). These two acts recreated their landmark albums The Adventures of Slick Rick and Criminal Minded respectively to a new audience. KRS-ONE tested these ticket holders a few times to see if they knew the lyrics to the many classic songs on his first album. Unfortunately concert goers able to afford this concert in this economy, weren’t necessarily the target audience for early BDP. To their credit they did appreciate the guest appearance of Buckshot, and Freddy Foxx playing the role of hype man.

Following BDP the question mark act of the tour Ms. Lauryn Hill took the stage with her band opening with Lost Ones. Since the beginning of the Rock The Bells tour folks have been skeptical of her return to the stage and looking for her to fail. Unfortunately this performance did little to shut up her naysayers. Backed by a somewhat loose band arrangement Lauryn flew frantically through her classic songs over unrecognizable rockish backdrops. The audience would get hype at the opening lines classics like Ex-Factor and Fu-Gee-La, but by the end find themselves lost in the unfamiliar territory. The sound during this set was terrible which didn’t help. The most memorable point of Lauryn’s set was when a barrage of star power emerged from backstage. Ms. Hill pulled everyone from Chris Rock (who was like a little kid on stage taking pics with his phone) to power couples Jay Z and Beyonce along with their counterparts Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz. However it must be noted Lauryn exhibited the energy of a true emcee on that stage. With a little work and maybe more preparation she could command the stage as she once did.

As the day moved on next up on the main stage was A Tribe Called Quest. For a group who broke up over a decade ago they haven’t lost a single step. Once Tribe emerged on stage you knew you were in the presence of showmen. These were gentlemen who take the art of performing seriously and entertain. They moved through their mid 90s classic Midnight Marauders flawlessly, although not exactly in song order. Phife and Q-Tip played off each other so much, it seemed as if this group with once strained relations had forgiven all and were back to their days of asking “Can I Kick It”. Even the sometimes y of the group Jarobi was on deck. With the assistance of the mighty infamous Busta Rhymes and a true school graduate Large Professor this Queens crew held it down.

Wu-Tang quickly followed the Queens team and swarmed the stage with all living members of the group. The only new addition was O.D.B’s eldest son Boy Jones who looks and acts like his father. If you’ve seen one Wu show you’ve seen them all. The legions of fans throwing their Ws in the air showing who they came to see. You could make a game of counting how many fans had Wu-Tang tattoos on their bodies. If someone doubts the influence of possibly the greatest rap group ever, take them to a Wu-Tang show.

The headliner for the day Snoop Dogg, brought the old Death Row team to do his debut DoggyStyle. Snoop, another performer who’s learned a thing or two about entertaining the crowd made it worth the wait for his midnight performance. From the multiple 40 ounces displayed on the stage to the interlude videos starring Snoop and his Dogg Pound crew, if you were a fan you were in heaven. All in all the NY fans were treated to a well organized show and got a proper bang for their buck.

8/30: Music Monday – Rocky Dawuni, Exile, Madlib + more…

	Stay up to date! Receive the latest releases each week in your mailbox by signing up to our Music Monday blast.

8/26 FREE DOWNLOADS, MIXES & PODCASTS

DJ SET: Mayer Hawthorne at The Do-Over

FREE DOWNLOAD: Lupe Fiasco – Go To Sleep

FREE DOWNLOAD: Spillout Series v.4 – Progress Report (D.Allie &
Eddie Logix) Limited time advance album FREEload | Available on iTunes 08/24

MIX: DJ Drewbyrd – Run to the Sun

DOWNLOAD

SOUNDCLOUD LINK

Metal Tiger by The Milky Way

Señor Kaos – Brand New Single “Bad Bad Man” Feat. Stat Quo & Ekundayo

J.Period + Spike Lee Present “Man or the Music (40 Acres Edition)”

This Limited Edition mixtape pays tribute to the music of Michael Jackson
with classic hits, rare demos and interview clips, in honor of Spike Lee’s 2nd Annual “Brooklyn Loves MJ” event this Sunday, August 29, 2010, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Over 25K fans are expected to attend the all-day celebration, and a select few will take home a copy of this exclusive J.Period mixtape!

Available for FREE DOWNLOAD on 8/29 at: http://www.jperiod.com/mj/

NeverTongueInCheek (Fade-Out Version/Unreleased) – DâM-FunK

DOWNLOAD: Coultrain – God Must Be A Boogie Man

Rock The Bells – Fusicology.TV Review Pre-Roll & more Videos & Photos

VIDEO: Rock The Bells 2010 Los Angeles:
Fusicology.TV Review Pre-Roll with Host Maya Jupiter

MORE VIDEOS:

Rakim addresses Nas situation, talks new Stephen Marley collaboration

9th Wonder talks Drake, J Dilla and calls Nottz best beat maker right now

c/o HardKnock.TV

PHOTOS:

Rock The Bells San Francisco Bay Area

Fusicology Radio presents Spasmodic Movements Radio #14

The ever consistent and amazing Spasmodic Movements Radio returns for the last podcast for the month of August. We are forever greatful for their support for Fusicology Radio. Check out the latest podcast and download from iTunes or stream it right here in your browser.

Wyclef Jean – President – Welcome to Haiti
Senor Kaos – Bad Bad Man (Ft Stat Quo & Ekundayo) – Bad Bad Man- Single
Mandrill – Lord of the Golden Bamboo –
Shuggie Otis – Strawberry Letter 23 – Inspiration Information
Sade – The Moon in the Sky (Timmy Regisford Shelter Remix )

Zero 7 – Happiness (Ashley Beedle’s West Coast Mix) – Another Late Night
Shannon Harris – Don’t Let Go of Your Dreams (ft Jube) – Audio Urbanology
Wax Poetic – Homme performed Brazillian Girls (Naked Mix) – Nublu Sessions
Radiohead – Everything In It’s Right Place (Osunlade Remix)
Stevie Wonder – Jesus Children (feat. BeBe & Marlon Winans)
Jazzonova – So Far From Home (feat. Phonte) – Of All The Things

5 Summer Must Have Albums:
Zo – Sunstorm
Avery Sunshine – Avery Sunshine
The Roots – How I Got Over
Yahzarah – The Ballad of Purple St. James
Robert Glasper – Double Booked

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

9th Annual Hip Hop Congress + Jay Electronica Detroit Debut

DETROIT: a history of firsts and lasts. .:. The End is the Beginning…

More from the Delta to Detroit…

National non-profit organization, the Hip Hop Congress (HHC), took its annual all-chapters conversation to the music mecca that is Detroit this year June 26-28 in order to join the broader movement happening this summer where other self-organizing “un-conferences” like the Allied Media Conference (AMC) and the U.S. Social Forum (USSF) were also converging upon Ground Zero of the fall of the American Industrial Era. Detroit was selected not just because the Hip Hop Congress mission is to “provide the Hip Hop Generation with the tools, resources and opportunities to make social, economic and political change on a local, national and international level” in a city that has been the poster child for “need” of late, but because real Hip Hop heads know exactly what the Motor City is to Hip Hop.

And who can blame them with the rapid fire raining out of the D over the past year or more? Doubt we need to even argue here about the lengths artists, producers, labels and journalists the world over will go to (and usually on the low) to find the Detroit basements where innumerable morsels of the next level in Hip Hop, and music in general, are fresh baked daily. So what does, or can, Detroit Hip Hop mean for the “new” Detroit? The Hip Hop Congress thinks Detroiters have several unique stories to tell about survival on many levels, both in the music industry and in the new economy in general.

Apparently a slew of who’s who thought so too as the University of Michigan’s Detroit Center saw speakers like Hip Hop State of Mind‘s Rosa Clemente and Detroit entertainment attorney Greg Reed speak on topics from civil disobedience, Hip Hop’s role in politics and the forthcoming publication of the unreleased final 3 chapters of the Autobiography of Malcolm X (and its accompanying Hip Hop soundtrack), among many other international socio-economic movements where Hip Hop is deeply entrenched.

(c) Khalid el-Hakim

HHC Conference Photos x Khalid el-Hakim

The ReadNex Poetry Squad from NYC presented a unique, interactive session on rhyme-writing used often in alternative education circles for at-risk youth, setting off several mental light bulbs. Meanwhile, an intensely engaging discussion about the similarities, links and new era building “isms” between New Orleans and Detroit ran overtime. The panel of Detroit and New Orleans artists, authors, activists and filmmakers including Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey and the J Dilla Foundation, Detroit mixing engineer Mike “Chav” Chavarria, New Orleans “Delta to Detroit“ marcher and HHC leader Shamako Noble, Detroit rapper Mu (who’s father was recently murdered in an FBI raid), Left Turn and Floodlines New Orleans’ author Jordan Flaherty, among other Detroit artists and marketing pioneers, inspired the entire room to start highlighting links between Hip Hop culture and the community-building activism that we are finding is working to improve and protect otherwise dangerous and underprivileged neighborhoods at the “bottom” of American society. What came to light was sometimes surprising – quite the opposite of the popular media version of the connection between Hip Hop and the ‘Hood.

We’re not going to pretend, however, that the climax of the weekend was not a live show. What happened at the legendary Detroit Hip Hop venue, St. Andrew’s Hall, Saturday night was nothing short of historical. Beyond renegade Hip Hop’s man of the hour, Jay Electronica making his debut Detroit performance in the city where all but one of this elusive tracks have been recorded and/or mastered (another influential Detroit – New Orleans connection), it may have very well been the first and last time we would witness nearly the entirety if Detroit’s Hip Hop royalty on one stage in one night.

Photos x Kevin Randolph and Adrienne Williams

The night was full of its ups and downs. Mainly ups, but the rumors circulating that this might be Slum Village‘s last show together, at least in Detroit outside of some already-scheduled “Villa Manifesto” tour dates, alongside questions raised about why DJ DEZ wasn’t DJing for SV that night, though he was there at the show, without a doubt put a dampering twist on an otherwise simply epic show. Illa J’s cameo with SV seemed to confirm other rumors of T3′s intentions to replace Elzhi with Illa J after “Villa Manifesto,” if not sooner.

Photos x Khalid el-Hakim

This, coupled with the profound conversations underway during the day about Detroit Hip Hop artists like Slum Village and what they mean for Detroit’s story on a global scale, was both confusing and disheartening for many to say the least, especially for young fans seeing them live for the first time. Nonetheless, floss-less raw talent sweated out the spot on E. Congress St. where heads sacrificed air conditioning for 4 hours of classic beats and lyrical heat without intermission, courtesy of Shameless Plug Entertainment, Hip Hop Congress and Fusicology. Jay Elec even ran out of breath come “Exhibit C” time after his classic crowd-diving, leaving the people to finish verses in unison. 6 Mile. 7 Mile. Hartwell. Gratiot. Just wow.

Photos x Piper Carter

Hosted by Detroit’s First Lady of Hip Hop, Miz Korona with DJ House Shoes on the 1′s and 2′s, this bill’s roster included the self-made One Be Lo, who introduced his new live, all-female band DoubleLO7 (sheer hotness – these ladies ain’t playin) and “(Detroit) Renaissance State of Mind” superstars Ro Spit & Monica Blaire, as well as a re-introduction to long-lost Detroit Hip Hop Shop originals, 5 ELA aka 5 Elementz (Big Proof’s original group – the “other” foundational Detroit Hip Hop collective). Guilty Simpson threatened any aspiring, or successful, rapper’s skill with his seemingly effortless flow. His and Slum’s sets, full of guests from Illa J to Black Milk, had the house shoulder-to-shoulder, all eyes forward, singing along like they were at bootcamp. Ma Dukes’ blessing of the stage made you darn sure Dilla’s spirit was going to fly out from backstage, while moments of praise for the fallen trinity of Dilla, Proof and Baatin sent the crowd into an uproar.

Photos x Carleton Gholz

We will be sore if any of the Slum rumors prove to be true, but at least those that were at St. Andrew’s on this epic Detroit summer night can say we experienced one last session of the roots of Detroit Hip Hop. And Jay Electronica can say he got the co-sign any real Hip Hop artist can hope for – the Detroit nod. Grace the St. Andrew’s stage with the Detroit cadre like this, and keep up? You know you got that swing.

*Big shouts to 6 Minutes TV for capturing the entire night on video.

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | *Fusicology Exclusive!*

*Special thanks to Kevin Randolph, Khalid el-Hakim, Piper Carter and Carleton Gholz for the timeless photos.

+ Real Detroit Weekly‘s cover story + exclusive interview with Jay Electronica and Mike Chav

— By Jocelyne Ninneman for Fusicology.com

> Follow her on Twitter @JMoneyRed

Top 25 Ways You Can $upport New Orleans on Katrina Commemoration Week

If you truly love music – good music, real music – then you have to love New Orleans.

This week marks exactly 5 years since Hurricane Katrina and the breach of the New Orleans Industrial Canal levee just short of leveled quite possibly America’s most valuable cultural gem. While we begin to welcome home combat troops from the Middle East from a now decade-old war and countless 9/11 commemorations spring up in mass media, we cannot help but be inspired by the sheer magic that seems to have bled out of the Crescent City’s very soul and taken over its streets, literally, to not only revive the living, breathing marvel that is The Big Easy into the stable and resilient place it is today, but to now be the model for New America on many levels, despite being slammed with the BP oil spill this year. To us, we just always thanked New Orleans for its invaluable musical contributions (and of course its anything-goes scene), but now, well now, NoLa is just plain making us all step up our people game! If New Orleanians can accomplish what they have in 5 years, and still be kicking out the baddest music on the continent while doing so, what’s your excuse?

Here are 25 ways you can enjoy, $upport, and learn about New Orleans this week:

Participate in the 5th Annual Katrina Commemoration March & Second-Line Parade

Visit Levees.org to learn some valuable information or attend their 5-Year Progress Update

Attend the 9th Annual Ponderosa Stomp

Catch p.II of Spike Lee‘s HBO documentary series on New Orleans, “If God Is Willing And Da Creek Don’t Rise”

Find a screening of Harry Shearer‘s documentary, “The Big Uneasy”

Score a copy of the Fats Domino story, “”Blue Monday” and learn how Rock n Roll was made

Grace your coffee table with Lee Barkley & Christopher Porche West‘s “”NEW ORLEANS: What Can’t Be Lost” collection

Grab a copy of Jordan Flaherty‘s “FLOODLINES: Community and Resistance from Katrina to the Jena 6″

Get Season 1 of the hit HBO series, “Treme” on DVD

Donate to Brad Pitt’s Make It Right 9 Foundation

Donate to the Gris Gris Lab

Donate to CultualEconomy.org

Donate to The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation

Donate to the Tipitina’s Music Foundation + Instruments-A-Comin’

Cop yourself some dope Dirty Coast merchandise from Humid Beings

Help Defend NoLa

Purchase “It Ain’t My Fault” x Preservation Hall All-Stars ft. Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def & Trombone Shorty (proceeds benefit GulfAid.org)

King Britt pays tribute to Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “St. James Infirmary” with the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Get Trombone Shorty‘s Verve Records debut album “Backatown”

Get Truth Universal‘s latest project, “Guerrilla Business”

Pick up the Fall 2010 issue of Next American City Magazine all about New Orleans & Detroit

Attend TEDxNOLA

Say Happy Birthday to DJ Soul Sister

Peek into Traffic Boutique

Get some Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band or Hot 8 Brass Band in your life!

Harass Mos Def at his new house in NoLa at… (just kidding! we wouldn’t do that)

— Complied by Jocelyne Ninneman for Fusicology.com
> Follow her on Twitter @JMoneyRed

8/23 Music Monday – Blu, Free Downloads, iTunes, Amazon + more…

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