I can admit that I have never really learned about Fela Kuti. Now in my early 30s, I am barely catching on to this man’s movement and music. Thank God for Questlove, he’s put me on to some much music beyond my realm via his blogs, twitter, and random interviews. Educate yourself by watching this and for anyone out there that knows about Fela, please comment with links and knowledge. Thanks! (Via NR).
1 Comment : Posted by DJ Franchise a/k/a Stringer Fell
Posted on March 2nd, 2010
When was Jay was in town a few weeks ago, he had Mos Def open for him. BMUSE caught some footage of the two doing Exhibit C. In typical Jay Elect fashion, he goes acapella to make sure you really hear what he is saying. Can’t blame the man!
Comment : Posted by DJ Franchise a/k/a Stringer Fell
Posted on February 16th, 2010
So I heard that Talib and Rhettmatic surprised the LA crowd at Boombox a few Saturdays ago by bringing out these heavyweights (minus J. Cole) on stage to perform some new Reflection Eternal. This is monstrous. 2010 is gonna a great year for music. Feeling re-inspired. Thanks Dukes for the heads up! And if you don’t know Dukes, he not only represents BK but dated Natalie Portman.
1 Comment : Posted by DJ Franchise a/k/a Stringer Fell
Posted on December 17th, 2009
Cold Rock Da Spot posted earlier this year but unfortunately I missed it. My fail. But I finally got it and wanted to share it with you. The updated the zip file they made has a live version of “potholes” and “Stakes Is High” w/ a unreleased promo remix. As an avid De La fan, I thought I should share this find. By the way, I know you may think I’m crazy but I think Grind Date was their best album. Yeah, I said it. Tracklisting after the jump.
Its seeing a video like this that I have to agree with Combat Jack that Mos Def Sucks. Black Thought are caught behind the scenes at the BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher shoots, reciting famous lines from the Roots’ “&5 Bars”. Why can’t Mos be like this a majority of the time versus his wanna-be jazz scant alter ego. New Danger > Ecstatic. Via TRU.
Comment : Posted by DJ Franchise a/k/a Stringer Fell
Posted on November 4th, 2009
Gotta tell ya, Dame Dash may not be the best business man and kind of an a**hole but you can never say that he is NOT a hustler. I think this venture is worth the watch. You’ll be impressed. Thanks to High Heels and High Tops for the reminder. I was sleeping on this. Late pass.
Comment : Posted by DJ Franchise a/k/a Stringer Fell
Posted on November 2nd, 2009
Last night, the BET awards was on. I didn’t watch but I was anticipating the freestyle segments after everybody tweeted about them a few weeks ago. The hype around Nikki Minaj and Joe Buddens freestyle was just that – hype. After looking at all the videos, I might have to say that I think its tie between Mos and Eminem. And I am not even big fans of thiers. Dre at NR hooked up an mp3 of all the freestyles. So thank him later (c) Drake.
While Twitter was talking about how lame SummerJam in NY was this past weekend, I think the real hip-hop festival was at The Roots Picnic in Philly. With Public Enemy, The Roots, Mos Def, Asher Roth, Kid Cudi and many others performing, its where I would want to be if I was on the East Coast. Fellow Cali native and hip-hop head, BMUSE was invited to cover The Roots Picnic (JEALOUS!) for those of us that couldn’t be there. Check out his pics and videos.
Comment : Posted by DJ Franchise a/k/a Stringer Fell
Posted on June 9th, 2009
Khal let me know the other day that Slick Rick is on the new Mos Def album so I was excited to hear it. Not an out-of-the-box banger but def worth playing and having in your collection. To all my blogger homies, I missed the boat on the Ecstatic leak. Can anyone hook up a Chicano DJ up? OK, I am going to catch up on some Rosenberg/Cipha shows now.
Fellow hip-hop aficionado, KTL reader, and blog contributor, the man MZ wrote a great write-up at TSS on Mos Def’s cover of Kanye’s 2nd best song on 808 & Heartbreaks – “Say You Will“. With a live band and the interpolation of his only good song off of True Magic, “U R The One” – I think this is a classic live hip-hop moment. I know I kinda hated on Mos earlier but I am giving him props for this joint.
