June 2007 Archives

Detroit up and coming emcees Finale and Marvwon are a couple of the 10 finalists of Scion's The Prospect: The Rise Of An Unsigned Emcee competition. The contest is described as followed: "The winner will work with super producer Hi-Tek to develop their song and shoot a video produced by Scion. The artist, music video, and song will be promoted and launched online and in the press through an innovative marketing program designed to increase the artist’s exposure." For more information on the contest, visit www.scionprospect.com.

SCION PROSPECTS | FINALE (MYSPACE) | MARVWON (MYSPACE)

Last year, on June 30th of 2006, was one of the most amazing nights in Detroit hip-hop history as the likes of Common, Karriem Riggins, House Shoes, and many others rocked the first official J. Dilla benefit shows held at 5th Avenue Downtown. On July 5th The J Dilla Project, in partnership with Fusicology & Next Level Entertainment present the next installment, coined Round 2 For Ma Dukes, to be held at Grand Central Lounge.

The goals of the benefit shows is to raise money to pay for the massive medical costs incurred during the final days of J. Dilla's life while fighting the complications of having Lupus, along with the court and legal fees from legal music issues. The project set up in J. Dilla's memory is also working on raising awareness of Lupus along with help set up music education for today's youth.

For this show, guest performers include Dwele, Monica Blaire, Phat Kat, 5 Ela, DJ Sicari, Tanya Morgan, with special guests Sparrow & TDot and members of the Gorilla Funk Mob and Silent Riot. Doors open at 10pm and show runs from 11pm-3am. Tickets are $5 for students with ID, $10 before midnight, and $15 after midnight, and this is an 18+ event. Grand Central Lounge is located at 311 E. Grand River Ave. in Detroit. For continuous information, stayed tuned here or hit up www.fusicology.com.|http://rensoul.com/news/data/upimages/news-06262007-dilla1.jpg

Available July 3rd (available now in Japan) via Fat City Recordings is the newest project from the Bling 47 camp with Waajeed Presents The War LP. The album, featuring the likes of Invincible and Tiombe Lockhart, is described as "being proactive, supporting what you believe in and fighting to ensure that those beliefs remain in existence." Visit www.bling47.com now to pre-order the CD version or the vinyl EP version of "The War LP".



In celebration, the official Los Angeles release/listening party goes down at Fat Beats (7600 Melrose (at Curson)) on July 3rd from 8pm-11pm and its absolutely free. DJs House Shoes and Rhettmatic will be rockin' the decks along with some very special guests.

BLING47.COM | WAAJEED'S MYSPACE

Now available through A-Side Worldwide is the re-release of the debut solo album "Pure" by Buff1 of Athletic Mic League. The album features appearances from Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw), Elzhi (Slum Village), Invincible (Platinum Pied Pipers), One.Be.Lo (Fat Beats), Athletic Mic League, NowOn, Monica Blaire, Miz Korona and more, along with production from The Lab Techs, Mr. Porter (D12) and Waajeed (Platinum Pied Pipers). The new edition is an enhanced CD which includes a download link for a free Buff1 mixtape. For more information and to purchase "Pure": www.myspace.com/buff1der.

Now available is the deluxe reissue 2CD of Champion Sound, the J. Dilla and Madlib collaboration known as Jaylib originally release in 2003. The deluxe treatment includes previously unreleased mixes, new remixes, and instrumentals. For more information, visit www.stonesthrow.com

JAYLIB @ STONESTHROW.COM | MP3: "The Mission (Stringed Out Remix)"

VIDEO: Dilla in 2003 discussing meeting and working with Madlib, and how Jaylib came to be.


VIDEO: Jaylib "McNasty Filth"

(photo credit: Vanessa Miller) Frankie Bank$ from first Sunglasses At Night

On Saturday, June 30th at The Buzz Bar (546 E Larned St), Detroit's newest dancefloor murderer Frankie Bank$ hosts the second installment of his Sunglasses At Night dance party. The first one, thrown Memorial Day weekend at Northern Lights Lounge, featured Baltimore's Tittsworth and Chicago's E6 and Matt Roan. This time around yours truly K-Fresh rocks downstairs along with Frankie Bank$ while John Arnold and Jeremy Ellis perform live with special 80s set. Complete information and photos from the first party are below. Make sure you wear your sunglasses!

Also, check out Frankie Bank$ new joint "Drip" on his MySpace page www.myspace.com/levagood

Photos from Sunglasses At Night Pt.1: VANESSA MILLER | FUZZYTEK



Sunglasses At Night Pt. 2
Saturday June 30th
The Buzz Bar
546 E Larned St
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 962-1800

Upstairs: John Arnold & Jeremy Ellis (live 80s set)
Downstairs: Frankie Bank$ , K-Fresh

21+ | $5 | 10pm-2am

After a long stay at the CAID, the uber-packed monthly Funk Night party will be moving to the Bohemian National Home (3009 Tillman) in Detroit. The first night at the new home will be on June 29th, with DJs Frank Raines and Brad Hales showing off their amazing collection of funk 45s during this party that pretty runs all night long.

As the first in a series of single track podcasts over at www.stonesthrow.com, a J. Dilla produced track from Guilty Simpson recorded in late 2003 is available for download for free.

GUILTY SIMPSON | DOWNLOAD FROM ITUNES (free) | SUBSCRIBE TO STONES THROW PODCASTS

Now available for download at www.stonesthrow.com is the newest Stones Throw podcast. The show features a short set from Peanut Butter Wolf on Garth Trinidad's Chocolate City radio show on KCRW along with an interview with Guilty Simpson.

STONES THROW JUKEBOX

Dates have been announced for the Ann Arbor-based funk/jazz band NOMO for their US tour. The dates are as followed:

FRI 06/08 - Detroit, MI @ Detroit Festival of the Arts
Midtown University Cultural Center
www.detroitfestival.com

FRI 06/15 - Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn's Pub
www.mickeyfinnspub.com

SAT 06/16 - Ann Arbor, MI @ Top Of The Park Festival
E Washington & Fletcher St.
www.annarborsummerfestival.com

SUN 06/17 - Grand Rapids, MI @ The DAAC
www.thedaac.org

MON 06/18 - Iowa City, IA @ The Picador
330 East Washington
Iowa City, IA 52240
www.thepicador.com

TUE 06/19 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
6212 Maple Street
www.waitingroomlounge.com

THU 06/21 - Denver, CO @ The Marquis Theater

FRI 06/22 - Aspen, CO @ Aspen Jazz Festival
www.jazzaspen.com

TUE 06/24 - Los Angeles, CA TBA

WED 06/25 - Los Angeles, CA TBA

TUE 06/26 - Ann Arbor, MI @ Bottom of The Hill
1233 17th St.
San Francisco, CA. 94107
www.bottomofthehill.com

THU 06/28 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
830 E Burnside Street
Portland, OR. 97214
www.dougfirlounge.com

FRI 06/29 - Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
5213 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA. 98107
www.tractortavern.citysearch.com

MON 07/02 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Ave South
Minneaplolis, MN. 55404
www.triplerocksocialclub.com

THU 07/05 - Hamilton, ONT @ Pepper Jack Cafe
38 King William St.
Hamilton, ONT L8N
www.pepperjackcafe.com

FRI 07/06 - Toronto, ONT @ El Mocambo
494 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON M5R
www.elmocambo.com

SAT 07/07 - Montreal, QC @ Montreal Jazz Fest
www.montrealjazzfest.com

SUN 07/08 - Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East Upstairs
480 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA. 02139
www.mideastclub.com

MON 07/09 - New York, NY @ Joe's Pub
425 Lafayette St.
New York, NY 10003
www.joespub.com

WED 07/11 - Washington DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
1353 H Street NE
Washington DC 20002
www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

THU 07/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Shadow Lounge
5972 Baum Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA. 15206
www.7thmomement.net/shadow_lounge

FRI 07/13 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom Tavern
15711 Waterloo Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44140
www.beachlandballroom.com

SUN 07/15 - Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
1501 West Randolph
Chicago, IL. 60607
www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com

SAT 09/22 - Albion, MI @ Festival of the Forks
Hannah St @ Veteran's Way
Albion, MI. 49224
www.festivaloftheforks.org

Out now via Look Records is Phat Kat's new album Carte Blanche. The album features guest appearances from Elzhi, T3, Black Milk, Truth Hurts, Melanie Rutherford, Loe Louis, Guilty Simpson, and Fat Ray, along with production from J. Dilla, Black Milk, Nick Speed, and Young RJ. The album is available on CD right at most music outlets and via iTunes.

"Cold Steel" (featuring Elzhi; production by J. Dilla) [WINDOWS MEDIA]
"Nast Ain't It?" (production by J. Dilla) [WINDOWS MEDIA]



Phat Kat's MySpace | Look Records

We finally have photos taken by Kenneth Williams (Instinctive Movement) up for viewing from this past April's sixth year anniversary bash from Northern Lights Lounge of John Arnold & Jeremy Ellis special J. Dilla tribute set with special guests DJ Dez, Slum Village, and Phat Kat. View the gallery by clicking here or the link on the home page.