I’ve got a short piece up at SmokingSection.Net. It’s funny, my distaste in writing is rooted in laboring over a piece for hours and in the end feeling like I put to much thought in and over-wrote the whole thing. This one I knocked out in 5 minutes and I really like how it came out. I need to start caring and thinking less…

New interview up with Detroit rapper Finale. His album A Pipe Dream And A Promise is out now. At first listen I was ehh with it, but it really grew on me and now it’s on steady rotation.

This was supposed to be for SmokingSection but it didn’t quite work out the way I planned. I put a lot of work editing this piece down into three parts. Below is my  introduction that was supposed to lead into the video.

” During the mid to late 90’s in the Bay Area there was a underground renaissance fueled by the independent spirit of groups like the Hieroglyphics, Living Legends. With the aforementioned holding it down on the Oakland side of the bridge, Bored Stiff  was their San Francisco equivalent. Arising from the Lower Haight district, Bored Stiff boasted six MC’s and two producers  each with a different style and approach to their art. From scholastic to street scholars, the culturally diverse collective was young at heart but mentally years beyond their time, filling their music with insight and foresight void of pretentiousness. And like all great Rap music the beats knocked; unpolished and dusty, melodic and hypnotic.
Since their debut Explainin dropped in 1995 Bored Stiff has put out a handful of albums and EP’s, but picked up the momentum in 2007 with their release From The Ground Up. Ever since it’s been music as usual, following through with the The Sad Truth, arguably their best album in an extensive discography (this coming from a long time fan). Members have come and gone throughout the years, but the essence of the group remains. With the core members Equipto, Mint Rock and White MIC carrying the torch Bored Stiff is back and working as hard as ever expanding on their legacy, building and creating music for all to enjoy.
It was only fitting to link up with the Stiff in the dark, musty, milk crate insulated concrete basement studio where the group sharpened their chops and still refine their skills today. In this three part video interview Equipto, Mint and MIC scrape the surface of the groups history and where they are at today, coincidentally while working on a song called “Hard Work.” They’re not your everyday blog fodder, but if you ask me that’s all bullshit. Dope music is the key to longevity, and Bored Stiff has just that.”

The blog has been laggin, with the exception of my past two posts about drummers, but I’ve been doing everything but that.

Much like I wished, writing has slowly faded out to strictly a  hobby, and just as that happened a new door opened. As of Saturday I can now officially claim to be a publicist. A few posts back you’ll see the post with Stres of the Federation (now solo under the guise 1st Place Muzic), and unbeknownst to me that would be the first step in a new direction. Long story short, that song was added by a Rock radio station and syndicated over 65 stations across the US. One thing lead to another and after many converstaions, Stres and I agreed to terms and signed a contract to really put things in motion. I’m real pumped for the oppurtunity and anxious to see where things go. Things will really kick off next week, with a couple song leaks, pictures and videos so stay tuned. I have a lot of ideas, which is never my problem, but implementing them and seeing them through will be the challenge. I’m ready though and confident that by the end of summer 1st Place Muzic won’t be a mystery.

I’m a little late on posting this, and if the story interests you you’ve probably already read it, but nonetheless here it is. In short, legendary drummer Max Roachs’ drum kit has been missing for decades until now in a somewhat Scooby Doo ending.

…goes and throws on Brilliant Corners

I knew I had to check Karriem Riggins on his two day stay at Yoshi’s in Oakland. For weeks I procrastinated and pretended I couldn’t swing it, but made a decision late yesterday it absolutely had to go down. It was the best decision I have made in a minute.

I have never seen a more technically flawless and down right funky drummer like Karriem. The patterns and syncopation dude was laying out combined everything I love about Jazz and Hip-Hop drumming from 3/4 rhythms to syrupy neck snappers.

As the Karriem Riggins’ Virtuoso Experience (backed by piano/Rhodes, vibes and bass) he led the ensemble though numbers from cats like Elvin Jones and Burt Bacharach and then later collaborated with DJ Dummy for an equally amazing Dilla set.  Considering the events of the day it was only fitting for a Michael tribute, and Oakland’s own Goapele helped out with a chilling rendition of “I Can’t Help It.”

It was an all around amazing performance. The Mochilla crew was in the building filming the whole thing so hopefully the rest of the world can witness the magic that took place.

The homie Stresmatic hit me up the other week about his new solo project 1st Place. We’ve got the first leaked track over at the SmokingSection, and will be leaking a new song every other week. Peep the Myspace page for more or just wait for the unveiling.

It’s been a minute but the crates have only gotten fatter since then.

DJ STEF put ya boy and for that I am thankful.

Mentioned this one a while back, but the video is finally done and out. The track is off the Sick Wid It Umbrella: The Machine album.

…see if you can find the girls I went to High School with.

My first interview in minute. We’ve got a regular Q&A and a bonus video of Exile reading the Charles Bukowski poem “A Radio With Guts.”

Follow My Links.

If you haven’t cop Exile’s new album Radio on iTunes. It’s amazing.