Donny Goines chops it up in a video interview with Powerplayed. Donny Goines talks about the goal of an underground hip hop artist, and how nobody wants to remain underground forever. Donny Goines speaks on refusing to wear skinny jeans and making up a dance. He also discusses Maino and supporting New York hip hop artists. The Breakfast Club is out and available for free download!
Buckshot got up with iHipHop.com backstage during the Rock The Bells tour for a video interview. In the video interview, Buckshot talks about going the independent route in hip hop music, and of course, his new album with KRS-One, which is entitled Survival Skills.
Torae and Craig G check in with Illa Ghee for the first episode of Illa Ghee TV. This first episode was shot at Southpaw where Torae performed.
Drake sat down for an interview with MTV recently. During the interview, Drake discusses the lack of method to his madness, and that he raps or sings depending on how the beat makes him feel. In discussing the combination of singing and rapping on So Far Gone, Drake stated, ‚ÄúI mean, I don‚Äôt really have a formula for that. I don‚Äôt say, like, ‚ÄòOK, I can only sing this hook or I want to rap this.‚Äô I just really hear a beat, and it‚Äôs like, ‚ÄòIf I can write to it on a hip-hop level, if I can pen some raps to it, then that will work.‚Äô And then maybe after I do that, I‚Äôll get in the booth and sing a little part of the verse.”
Drake mentions that an official hip hop video for Successful is being discussed, and a video for Digital Girl with Jamie Foxx is already in the works.
KRS-One and Buckshot announce Survival Skills, which will be in stores September 15, 2009. The album Survival Skills will feature Mary J. Blige, Atmosphere, Immortal Technique, Talib Kweli, and more.
KRS-One and Buckshot, two of hip hop music’s most prolific MCs have linked up on a collaborative album entitled Survival Skills. Survival Skills will be released on Duck Down Records on September 15, 2009, and the duo will be featured on the Rock The Bells tour this summer. Survival Skills features guests ranging from Mary J. Blige, Slug Of Atmosphere, K‚ÄôNAAN, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, Melanie Fiona, Naledge of Kidz In The Hall, Sean Price, Geo of Blue Scholars, Smif N Wessun and Rock of Heltah Skeltah. Survival Skills represents a diverse range of topics, all while maintaining a consistent sound. The album has production from Havoc of Mobb Deep, 9th Wonder, Black Milk, ILL MIND, Coptic, Moss, Nottz, Marco Polo, and KHRYSIS.
On the surface the album is a testament to the resiliency of two lyrical titans, but at its root Survival Skills is a blueprint for life. For instance on the infectious head-nodder “Robot,” which was released 6 weeks prior to Jay Z’s “The Death Of Auto Tune” track, and already available World Wide at Digital Retail Shops, such as iTunes, the duo speak-out against the recent overuse of the Auto-Tune vocal effect in urban music, but under the surface the message is much deeper. “I don’t want people to get the averaged clichéd version and thinking that we’re dissing people,’” Buckshot clarifies. “What we’re calling out here is the biters, the people that feel like because this guy sold X amount of records doing this, that I’m going to turn around and do it as well,” KRS says of the array of artists who have followed in the creative footsteps of Roger Troutman, Afrikka Bambatta, Teddy Riley and T-Pain. Despite its heavy message, sonically the track, produced by Mobb Deep’s Havoc, is as inviting as anything on the radio today. The video for “ROBOT,” directed by Todd Angkaswan, has been added into rotation at MTV & BET. The track has also been included in the sound track for Activision’s upcoming Tony Hawk skate game in stores this Fall.
Coincidently, ROBOT is not the first example of where Jay Z has released similar material and concepts from KRS-ONE & BUCKSHOT. In 2003, Buckshot’s group Black Moon recorded a song called “Stay Real,” which was, again, released 6 weeks prior to Jay Z’s “Public Service Announcement‚Äù track, that ironically contained the same sample as Black Moon‚Äôs “Stay Real.” A couple years prior to this Jay Z released “THE BLUEPRINT,” which was the same title used by KRS-ONE in his classic album, Boogie Down Productions “Ghetto Music: The BLUEPRINT of Hip Hop.”
Gritty tracks like Clean Up, featuring Rock of Heltah Skeltah, and the politically minded Running Away, featuring Immortal Technique, make Survival Skills a Hip-Hop fan’s dream, catering to those that love lyrics and the boom-bap. Equally as rich is the album’s Black Milk-produced track, The Way I Live, featuring the Queen of hip-hop soul, Mary J. Blige. Together they create a triumphant anthem for all those on the grind trying to conquer their dreams. The song’s summery feel and soothing melodies make it an instant hit.
KRS-ONE & BUCKSHOT Upcoming Tour Dates: Rock The Bells
Washington, DC – Sunday July 12th
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Boston, MA – Saturday July 18th
Comcast Center
New York, NY – Sunday July 19th
Jones Beach Theater
Vancouver, BC, CAN – Saturday August 1st
Deer Lake Park
Calgary, AB, CAN – Sunday August 2nd
Shaw Millennium Park
Denver, CO – Thursday August 6th
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Los Angeles, CA – Saturday August 8th
San Manuel Amphitheatre
San Francisco, CA – Sunday August 9th
Shoreline Amphitheatre
Joe Budden addresses the diss record from Inspectah Deck. He speaks on already reconciling with Raekwon, and not understanding why he came out with the diss track when everything was seemingly deaded with the Wu. Joe Budden questions how close Inspectah Deck still is with the Wu Tang Clan, and makes it clear that he did not cause trouble with Inspectah Deck. Joe Budden clearly states that he respects his elders, but that Inspectah Deck has basically fallen off. Sounds like Joe Budden may not respond. Rumor has it that Deck has another joint in the wings against Joe Budden, and other artists are ready to go against Joe Budden. Why? I’m not sure. All I know is that Joe Budden stays having a target on his back.
Drake sits down with DJ Whoo Kid at Sirius Studios to discuss a wide range of topics. Drake speaks on his deal with Young Money, the concept behind the hip hop video for Best I Ever Had, representing Toronto, his debut album Thank Me Later, and of course, working with the likes of Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, and Mary J. Blige. Drake also discusses his relationship with Kanye West, the prospects of a possible reality show, how he copes with fame and money, and just who are his favorite rappers. Press play.
