Bloggerhouse Hip Hop

Hip hop is more than just a hobby or music for me. I love the music and I’m a strong believer in keeping the culture alive. I see hip hop as bringing people together, supplying hope and teaching those that need to be taught. A lot of that has been lost over the years with the commercialization of the art form. I’m not going to blame the mainstream for ruling hip hop, there is a reason for everything. But it’s good to hear artists such as today’s spotlight artist, ScholarMan, kick some knowledge and offer food for thought.

Those of you unfamiliar with ScholarMan and our fans of positive and progressive hip hop, will appreciate where he is coming from. He labels himself a “hip hop activist”, a term that he does not take lightly. With his Soganic label, he has dropped 2 critically acclaimed albums (Candy Medicine and Soul Purpose) and is gearing up for this third studio album, Gameshift: The Movement. He has also dropped a couple free EP’s, in which he shows homage to those that have come before him with new twists and old classics. We sat down and talked to ScholarMan, in what is one of my favorite Spotlights that we’ve done…..

The Pull Forward EP Vol. 2 now available!!

The Pull Forward Series pays tribute to hip-hop music made famous during the early to mid-1990’s. On Vol.2, songs by Outkast, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Wu-Tang, The Pharcyde, Biggie and Gangstarr are honored. Volume 2 features Maryland emcees K-Mynez, Chainge, Kahli, ScholarMan and vocalist J. Hill. Check us out on MySpace.

Download

1. Intro ft. Doug E. Fresh (circa 1986)

2. We Reminisce (T.R.O.Y 2008) ft. Kahli

3. Passin’ Me By 2008

4. Cash Rules (C.R.E.A.M. 2008) ft. K-Mynez

5. Warning 2008

6. Playas Ball 2008 ft. Chainge & J. Hill

7. Everyday Real (Moment of Truth 2008)

The Pull Forward EP Vol. 1

Release Date: 2/19/2008

The Pull Forward Series pays tribute to hip-hop music made famous during the early to mid-1990’s. On Vol.1, songs by A Tribe Called Quest, Mobb Deep, Fat Joe, Nas and LL Cool J are honored.

Download

1. Quick Words (Intro)
2. Lyrics To Go 2008
3. Shook Ones 2008 ft. K-Mynez
4. Strife We See (Success 2008)
5. Pull Forward: The Concept ft. Nathaniel Long
6. Reflect I (Life’s A Bitch 2008) ft. Makeshift Deluxe
7. Sensual Ride (Electric Relaxation 2008)
8. No Questions Asked (Pink Cookies 2008) rmx ft. TrueBless

www.scholarman.com
http://myspace.com/scholarmantheofficial

WYDU: Hey, what’s good? Can you give the readers that might not be familiar with your name and music a little background?

ScholarMan: Maintaining Trav. What’s good WYDU fam? My name is ScholarMan, rap activist and producer from the Maryland area. Ive been in the game for a minute but the public eye only recently noticed me with my ’07 release of Candy Medicine, my ’08 release Soul Purpose and The Pull Forward Series. I’ve been producing for over 5 years and been rhyming even longer. I represent Soganic Music, my recently re-established record label. My label mates are TrueBless and recently K-Mynez, both in Maryland as well. We release socially conscious hip-hop music, music that inspires that many can relate to; all while keeping the essence of hip-hop alive.

W: Your music is among some of the more positive and thought provoking music I’ve ran across in a short while, why is it important to you to offer the listener more than the average “bling, bitch, gat” rhymes that run so prevalent in the mainstream realm?

ScholarMan: Thanks, appreciate that homie. I simply want positive change in our world man, there is enough negative things in reach compared to the positive, especially in hip-hop. I’ve experienced the street life and much of what influences “gangsta rhymes;” many of us have, but there comes a time when you must mature and realize that these things arent helping you, your people or your community grow
. Simply upward movement man.

WYDU: You dropped a very intelligent and insightful writing about how the majority of African Americans do not support “real” hip hop, can you deluge into that statement some, and what is your definition of “real” hip hop?

ScholarMan: Appreciate it, cool. I get criticized sometimes about using the term real hip-hop; the whole aspect of “what isn’t real to you may be real to me.” I dig that to some degree. So..let me be clear, real hip-hop to me is soulful hip-hop, music with substance, music that not only is fun, but intelligent, vibrant and organic; music with heart. Trav, you used “bling, bitch, gat” music in the previous question, real hip-hop is the opposite of that, music that doesn’t praise the negative, but addresses it and searches for a solution.

WYDU: As an artist, you seem to still carry a genuine love for the culture and music, something that we don’t always see. Do you think it’s important as an artist to still be a fan of the music? Why or why not?

ScholarMan: Hell yeah homie. I love this music and I think every hip-hop artist should have some level of love and respect (beyond residuals) for it if they are going to say “i am hip-hop.” I think that is a big part of why “underground” cats cant surface, they don’t want to show love to another artist making moves but yet expect that same artist to ride.. – well you get my drift. So many of these artists walk with a chip. I strive to support good music, period. Like Common said, “just because I don’t like it doesn’t meant that I am hating. “

WYDU: Your label, Soganic, and yourself have been releasing the Pull Forward EP’s. What are they exactly and what do you hope to accomplish with them?

ScholarMan: The Pull Forward Series is simply a counter to the term “throwback,” I never really understood/agreed with this term and decided to create my own, “pull forward.” When we reflect, we are pulling previous memories forward to our thoughts of today, so that is what the point of the series is. To look back at classic hip-hop music over the years and create new music using those tracks as inspiration.

WYDU: The first two volumes of the series have been tributes of sorts to the past artists and songs, who were some of the cats you look up to from the “golden ages”? Do you have an all-time favorite album?

ScholarMan: The artists that we paid tribute to on these volumes are some of my favorites. A Tribe Called Quest, Biggie, Outkast and others I have yet to honor, Common, The Roots and some others. An all-time favorite album…man, thats hard homie. There are so many I love equally. I need to get back on that one.

WYDU: They have been available for free on your site and you’ve also hit up various blogs about posting them, why did you decide to release them as a free download?

ScholarMan: Outside of honoring these artists with new remakes, I wanted something free to recruit new fans and followers. The Pull Forward Series is pretty much me saying “thank you hip-hop,” “thank you” to my current fans and “hello, nice to meet you” to newcomers.

WYDU: What is your take on the internet in general and it’s roll in marketing and releasing music?

ScholarMan: The internet can be a double-edged sword; it can be a great tool to boost your career and at the same time could be killing your career. Bootlegging is now digital and its easy to lose money as soon as your album drops, if not before. The best protection is knowledge, studying the game, learn techniques on marking and promoting and keep a handy team of spys to report piracy when they find it.

WYDU: You have a new album dropping in January, what should we expect from it? Why should someone who has never checked your music, check for this one?

ScholarMan: Yeah homie, cant wait for you to hear it. What you can expect on my new joint is a beautiful mix of innovative beats and rhymes, but this time a bit more political than my others. Since I am dropping “GameShift: The Movement” right after the new president is elected, I thought I would I get more in the trenches with my lyrics on this one. Conspiracy theories, world politics, racism, hood life and of course a love for life and hip-hop is on this one.

WYDU: Anything else you and Soganic have on the agenda in the near future?

ScholarMan: Yeah man, my new album “GameShift: The Movement” as stated, new K-Mynez joint next year, another Pull Forward release and much of what you have seen in the past and then some to come as well.

WYDU: Do you have any last words for the readers out there?

ScholarMan: Appreciate the time and attention and thank you for listening. Big ups to WYDU!!!

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Take it from me, one of the better (if not my favorite) albums of 2008. Pick it up today HERE.  In the meantime, peep the VIMBY spotlight on the talented trio below and enjoy the M-Phazes remix of “Weight Up” (which appeared on Now On’s debut album “Eye Level”)

Peep the VIMBY spotlight HERE.

Here at WYDU, you now I’m a big fan of the NC group, Kooley High. The love for the music has transformed itself into a WYDU & ZillaSays collaboration…..an Exclusive mixtape brought to you by the two power houses…..

In the not to distant past two bloggers got to talking; as bloggers are apt to do. As they were sharing stories and bouncing ideas off of each other, they found that they had a lot in common but one thing in particular…..an infatuation with a new hip hop collective called Kooley High.

Bloggers are leading the way in this new era of hip hop music. They are an important means of introducing new music to the public and thereby the gatekeepers/taste makers of the game. In their efforts to use their voice to take part in the culture they love, sometimes in becoming a gatekeeper you quit being a fan. Sharing the same sentiment, these two bloggers agreed that Kooley High were one of the few new acts that were making music that gave them the feeling of a fan again. So with this mixtape they decided to use their websites not only to introduce fans to the great music from Kooley High but also to show gratitude to they group as genuine fans of the music.

Zillz (of Zillasays.com) and Travis (of wydublog.com) went hard. Swiping tracks from myspace pages, contacting friends of friends, and requesting the services of an N.C. representative by the name of Ace Jones to make it happen. “Burn After Listening” is a compilation of exclusive and unreleased content from Kooley High. Apart from the 6 group members, the tape features artists such as; Median, Chaundon, & Edgar Allen Floe. With production from 9th Wonder and others. Enjoy! And make sure to check out the websites Kooley High, Zilla Says, WYDU
1. Marching
2. There You Go
3. Burning feat Chaundon & Halo
4. Today
5. Capital Kindred feat Median, Halo, & Lazurus
6. As For You
7. Eye of the Storm feat Halo & Rapsody
8. Closer (Remix)
9. Get It On The Low feat Halo
10. Water feat Lazurus & Edgar Allen Floe

LINK

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After a two week hiatus, we bring back “This or That”. I’ll warn you guys right now that I’m tired, unmotivated and basically all around not feeling very creative right now, so hopefully this will be at least a half way decent read. Two weeks ago, we had the Bay Area legend, Too Short on “This Or That”. To me, it was surprising that Life Is…Too Short won, but I was surprised at the closeness found between the other three albums, which had Born to Mack with 14 votes, Shorty the Pimp with 13 and Short Dog’s In The House with 12. Interesting indeed.

This Week

This week, we talk about probably one of the more underrated MC’s, in Jeru The Damaja. His debut album, The Sun Rises in the East was released during the magical year of 1994, and packed Primo beats with the lyrical musings of Jeru The Damaja, which made for an excellent album filled with quality hip hop. Two years later, The Damaja would reappear with Wrath of the Math in ’96. On the album, he took on the blossoming “jiggy” phase of Puffy and his Bad Boy crew on “Ya Playin’ Yaself”, went after The Fugees on “Black Cowboys” and even had something to say to Blahzay Blahzay on “Whatever”. Backed by more insane Primo beats, his second album deserves to be mentioned up there with the classics. Which is the better effort? Which is preferred by the WYDU readers? We shall see….

The Sun Rises in the East

My introduction to Jeru The Damaja was through the lead single, “Come Clean”. I was simply in awe of the song and it still ranks as one of my top 5 favorite songs of all time. Primo created a beat that The Source accurately described as “chinese water torture”. The track mirrored some of the feelings I was having toward rap at that time. The west coast gang bang was starting to dominate the sounds, which I quickly grew tired of, so when Jeru ripped off the first verse, the beat wasn’t the only thing that caught my attention:

You wanna front what?
Jump up and get bucked
If you’re feeling lucky duck
Then press your luck
I snatch fake gangsta MC’s and make em faggot flambe
Your nine spray my mind spray
Malignant mist steadily pumps the funk
The results you’re a gang stuffed in a car trunk
You couldn’t come to the jungles of the
East poppin that game
You won’t survive get live catchin wreck is our thing
I don’t gang bang or shoot out bang bang
The relentless lyrics the only dope
I slang I’m a true master you can check my credentials
Cuz I choose to use my infinite potentials
Got a freaky, freaky, freaky-freaky flow
Control the mic like fidel castro locked cuba
So deep that you can scuba dive/my jive
Origin is unknown like the Jubas
I’ve accumulated honies all across the map
Cuz I’d rather bust a nut then bust a cap
in Ya back in fact my rap snaps ya sacroilliac
I’m the mack so i don’t need to tote a Mac
My attack is purely mental and its nature’s not hate
It’s meant to wake ya up out of ya brainwashed state
Stagnate nonsense but if you persist
You’ll get ya snotbox bust you press up on this
I flip hoes dip none of the real niggas slip
You don’t know enough math to count the mics that I ripped
Keep the Dirty Rotten Scoundrel as his verbal weapons spit

I was pretty amped for the release of the album, and I can’t say I was disappointed when it dropped in the summer of ’94. It was a up there with the other classics that were dropping at the time. The lead-off track and soon to be second single, “D. Original” was a great jump off into the mind of Jeru. Primo’s hard drums filled your ear drums and with chaotic piano keys lacing the track, it was something made of pure hardness.

The album was blessed with classic New York hip hop from track to track. His “Prophet” saga was launched on The Sun Rises In The East, with Jeru playing a super hero character fighting some deadly sins, such as Ignorance. “Da Bitchez” is a classic track that Primo just murders. The horns come out sounding so lovely, it’s all you can do not to nod your head to it. All in all a quality album, that came out during the pinacle of hip hop.

Wrath of the Math
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Apparently, Jeru was a little peeved at some people when he started writing Wrath of the Math. The Fugees, Blahzay Blahzay and even Biggie caught some of Jeru’s wrath. Jeru and Primo took the beat from Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Player’s Anthem”, flipped it and turned it into their own track, “Ya Playin’ Yaself”. It’s true that people pissing you off sometimes brings out the best in you (I’m sure there is a more poetic way to say it, but I’ll just cut to the chase) and Jeru proves that by dropping some quality tracks.

The most obvious “check ya self before ya wreck ya self” moment comes in the form of “Ya Playin Yaself”, which sees Jeru give the Bad Boy label in general the bronx raspberry. Jackin’ the beat from JM’s “Player’s Anthem,” Jeru goes for delf and takes a big dump on a movement that would plague late 90′s hip hop.

Now I don’t push a Lex
Others had their turn to flex,
Jeru is up next
All, these so called players up in the rap game
Got brothers on the corner selling cooked cocaine
It used to be LaToya and, jim hats
But now it’s uzis macs and, g-packs of cracks
Everybody’s psycho or some type of goodfellow
But me I keep it real that’s all swine like jello
Don’t drink Cristal, and I can’t stand Mo
Never received currency for moving a kilo
Or an ounce, make em bounce to this fake-pimp free flow
I never knew hustlers, confessed in stereo
Or on video get caught you’ll know who turned State’s Evidence, murder weapon, confession and fingerprints
Mama always said watch what comes out your mouth
Tight case for the DA from here to down South
Knowledge wisdom understanding like
King Solomon’s wealth
You’re a player but only because you be playin yourself

While from the outside, it might seem like a twist on the “Come Clean” subject matter, that was the beauty of Jeru, is that he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind on subjects such as the Big Willie-isms of the day or anything else he thought was played out.

He tackled the Fugees on “Black Cowboys”. I’m not even sure how this little war of words started. Wyclef mentioned a “false prophet” on The Score LP, which was a jab at Jeru. Jeru answered back when he kicks the song off with “I heard some MC’s wanna bring it/But a female is one of their strongest men/When I step to you don’t seek refuge..”

The Verdict

The production on both albums are top quality and Jeru is one point on the mic with both projects as well. Jeru’s debut album is a somewhat darker album, but Wrath of the Math is a more venomous LP. Putting the two albums together side by side and it’s very difficult to pick one over the other. Personally myself, I’ve always been more of a fan of The Sun Rises in the East, but I wouldn’t debate anyone picking his second album.

Verdict: The Sun Rises in the East

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Once again, WYDU is turning into the domain of Zilla Rocca. My man Zilla dropped an ill lil’ mixgtape this week, Bring Me The Head of Zilla Rocca. Armed with dope samples, hard beats (as well as soulful) and the character that is Zilla Rocca, Bring The Head is a sure shot to be in the running for best mixtapes of the year. We had a chance to sit down and talk to Zilla, and I must admit, talking to him or Nico is always fun. We talked about the new mixtape, the future of Beat Garden more as a collective than a label, and of course, alcohol. Good times had by all….

Zilla Rocca – Bring Me The Head of Zilla Rocca
http://www.sendspace.com/file/i1eypb

http://clapcowards.com/
http://www.myspace.com/zillarocca
http://www.myspace.com/beatgardenent

WYDU: What’s good Mr. Rocca, for those readers out there that don’t spend 2 plus hours a day reading the variety of blogs out there, can you tell them who you are and some of your background?

Zilla Rocca: Sure! I’m a disease-free male from South Philadelphia raised on the Beatles, Catholic School, and baseball. I rap, produce, engineer, podcast, blog, and follow sports almost psychotically. I’m one-half of the group Clean Guns and the president and co-founder of Beat Garden Entertainment. I have alot of artsty-fartsy friends who like to work on music, or write about me on their websites, or book me for shows. I used to be a self-serving, spoiled bastard but I’ve grown up a bit. And I like to have fun. Like my homie Distant Starr of MAGr said, “We artists. We have fun, man.” That idea changed my life.

W: Since you are trying to get your Russell Simmons on, what exactly is Beat Garden Entertainment? I’ve also wondered myself what exactly is Yadibox and how does it fit into the equation?

ZR: I’ve actually scaled back recently from the Russell Simmons career path because it was draining me as an artist. I had to realize that I’m not cut-out to be a suit–I like listening to music, beating up my Netflix, and working on songs moreso than I do updating 7 MySpace pages a day, handing out business cards, and dealing with rotten people who really “won’t be around next year,” word to Craig Mack.

Beat Garden Enertainment is now just a tool, a collective resource for myself, Nico the Beast, Clean Guns Big O, Triple Nickels, Alex Wood, Noochman, and our very close fam-a-lams 2ew Gunn Ciz, ASK? and MAGr. We all bring something to the table and combine resources to make things happen. It’s been quite a learning experience since we started in May ’06–people have come, people have gone. But the founders of Beat Garden will never change–Nico the Beast, Big O, and myself. We are best friends first, we share the same dream second, and we handle all of our business third.

Yadibox.com is a medium for Philly-based artists to be heard. We work closely with them–it’s the brain child of Randy Watson and M.O.G. and DAME of Triple Nickels/Rowdee Black Giants. Whether it’s video clips of live shows, interviews, podcasts, or live streaming radio, Yadibox is vital for Philly hip hop–our radio stations here suck just as much as yours. So if you want to be heard WORLDWIDE, and they have over 4 million hits with NO ADVERTISTING, get at ‘em!

W: So no more label? What can we expect from Beat Garden collective in the future and who do you plan on working with?

ZR: At this point, we’re falling back from being a “label.” The Beat Garden logo on a CD now is moreso a branding of quality Philly hip hop. We realized that being “a record label” was never our dream and we are not really equipped to do it justice while at the same time juggling day jobs, families, wives, kids, mortgages, recording, performing, promoting, etc. It’s just too many hats to wear, and we go crazy stressing ourselves out while trying to be a suit, something none of us have desired to be. We like to be in control of all the major aspects of making music, our image and artwork, etc but official business matters should be handled by people who, you know, LIKE doing that kind of stuff.

Right now we have a couple offers from labels, one indie and one kinda-major. I can’t really speak on them ’cause nothing is certain yet, but I will tell you this–the next Clean Guns LP will have a label behind it.

W: So let’s talk about your mixtape, Bring Me The Head of Zilla Rocca, were you the victim of a psycho stalker chick or something? You are just asking for stalkers man, take it from me, being a pseudo famous blogger, its hard enough to keep the crazies away, but being a blogger and a rapper, you are asking for a bunny rabbit in the pot of hot water treatment….

ZR: Ha ha! *actual laughter, not just typing in junk* I try to avoid the Fatal Attraction scene by being honest and authentic–unlike some people who frequent the internet, how I am on a blog or a messageboard is actually how I am in real life. I don’t have my “rap persona” on one side, my “blogging persona” on another, and then my “digital gangster” badge with Wi-Fi pistols cocked
and aimed. Honestly, I’m just sick of people who act like Tarzan on the internet, and then when I see them in person, they’re Jane. We call them Liptons ’cause that’s what they are–noodles!!! A noodle’s gonna be a noodle no matter what kind of laptop they own. Peace to Jeff Weiss and Fresh from 33jones from being great dudes in person and great writers on the web as well. (PS Jeff really smokes alot of weed. And actually gets hot women.)

W: I want to grow up to be like Jeff, that dude is my blogging hero. All stalker talk aside and my public service duties done…You drop comparisons to some classic albums in the press release of the mixtape, which I’m totally taking out of context right now, but what were you striving for in the creative process of this album?

ZR: Well I started working on solo stuff at the behest of Nico the Beast last spring. Most of it became my debut LP Fall Back Friday which is finished. But at the same time I had this idea for a mixtape titled Bring Me the Head of Zilla Rocca! It just sounded funny and would entice me if I was a listener to give it a chance.

I had a clear idea of what the LP was, but I had to figure out what the mixtape would be about, so I just kept making songs, stockpiling weird pieces of audio, doing collaborations with talented people. And I realized since I wouldn’t have a DJ to host and blend everything together, I had to figure out a way to make it cohesive. I learned alot from putting together the mixtapes for Clean Guns Living in Harmony and The Yadibox.com Mixtape, namely that they didn’t flow as well as I would’ve liked in terms of song sequencing, transitions, collaborations–it was a bit too forced and choppy.

After listening to and becoming totally enamored with Wale’s The Mixtape About Nothing and Nas’s The N*gger Tape, I felt like my mixtape should be more than just cast-offs from the LP mixed with some random freestyles. It’s my first introduction to people outside of Clean Guns or the blogosphere, so I wanted to come correct. After it was done is when I realized it had the same spirit of Redman and Beastie Boys and Ghost in that those guys mainly make the listener feel like they’re just having fun in the studio with them, rapping over whatever the hell they want, including funny voicemails from their friends. I’m lucky the mixtape evolved into that. I’m really really proud of it because I stressed out so much over the sequencing and transitions, so I’m glad people are enjoying that aspect of it!!

W: The album has some dope samples, from the Blue Oyster Cult to Marvin Gaye, and some I’m sure I’m totally missing so far, how do you choose a sample? Is is something you go searching for, or do they just kind of slap you in the face?

ZR: Sometimes with samples, you just come across something and it inspires you to rhyme where you don’t have to think about it too much. That happened with the Marvin Gaye break for “Cup Runneth” and the Dorothy Ashby sample on “All Feast, No Famine.” With the Blue Oyster Cult sample on “Flow God Zilla,” Nico and his brother Noochman heard it on Guitar Hero and called me all crazy like “YO! YOU NEED TO SAMPLE THIS!!” When I produce for other artists, I usually search for specific sounds or vibes to match their style. Most of the beats I produced on the mixtape are either 1-2 years old and got passed over by other people or I made them specifically to fill a hole on the tape.

W: Maybe it’s just me, but it seemed like you had more of the soulful type songs on this than I’ve seen from your crew in the past (which you killed), was that something you aimed for?

ZR: Most definitely! I didn’t want me nor Beat Garden to be pigeonhole to any one idea or sound. And honestly, the past year or so, I’ve been on a loose, funky kick and it comes out in my beat selection. I’ve been listening to alot of the Daptones Records catalogue, Stax Records catalog, Rotary Connection, Spanish funk shit, old and new Dilla projects. I wanted to do more than just write battle raps over movie score beats–I wanted to talk about women ’cause I love women! I wanted to tell funny stories because my friends and I have funny things happen to us! Other times I wanted to straight spit, and I did that on “Pepsi with Ice” and “State of Grace Freestyle.” It’s all about versatility–me and my peoples can really get on ANY type of track and make it pop. No one just listens to one type of rap and feels one kind of way all of the time, and if their music reflects that one vibe or sound, that’s cool for them, but it feels like I’d be lying to myself if I stuck to that.

W: Judging from your samples and the sound that Clean Guns, Nico and you, I’m guessing you are a fan of a wide variety of music, how important is that to you, listen to more than just hip hop?

ZR: To me, the beauty of hip hop is that you can’t really make it good UNLESS it’s taking a piece of another genre. It’s amazing–there’s no rules! You can make ANYTHING hip hop–polka, prog rock, speed metal, gospel as long as it sounds dope. I go through phases where all I want to listen to is hip hop, then I’ll only listen to street shit, then I’ll only listen to my friends music, then I’ll only want to hear rock. This week I only felt like listening to MAGr, Blu’s new album Johnson & Johnson, and the Black Keys. Next week it’ll probably be Heltah Skeltah and like…I don’t know…Albert Hammond and Koushik or something.

W: This is leading up to the album, what can the unassuming public expect to be blind sided by on the album?

ZR: The album Fall Back Friday is done–it’s the soundtrack to driving down to Atlantic City on a Friday night. It’s obviously all original production in the vein of The College Dropout, Uptown Saturday Night, A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Maybe I’ll drop it January/February–who knows. I guess when the mixtape becomes irrelevant and people move onto the next autotune classic, I’ll appear from the mountain tops and drop it on the heads. It’s more personal without being emo and whiny, but it’s still fun. It’s more like the biopic whereas the mixtape is the gross-out college comedy.

W: You were many hats, MC, producer, used to run a label, and a blogger…which is the hardest to do?

ZR: The hardest to do was run a label, and that’s why I stopped. It wasn’t fun, it was draining, it poisoned alot of valu
able relationships. Blogging is just fun–I honestly can’t believe people read it everyday. Who the hell am I? I just needed a place to empty out all the random things that pop into my head everyday. So to everyone who checks out Clap Cowards, thank you, for real.

The MC/producer thing comes in waves. Sometimes I won’t write a rhyme for 2 months and I’ll be killing it with the beats. Other times, I’ll be in such a rhyme zone that I’ll record 4-5 songs in a day. I don’t try to control it or coax it–it happens when it happens. And if it’s not there, I do other stuff–jog, read a book, watch weird ass movies from Netflix, get drunk with my friends, whatever.

W: What does Zilla Rocca drink on a night out the town? What’s your take on the energy drinks mixed with your favorite flavor of hard alcohol?

ZR: Ha ha! These are the kind of questions I like! Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a big advocate of Seven & Seven’s–it’s my signature. I like doing about 1-2 Yaegar bombs, but I sip those bad boys–I just like the taste of them oddly enough, though Yaegar is gross by itself and Red Bull tastes like shitty baseball card chewing gum.

Me and Dom P of Public Axis/MAGr’s manager get it in with Soco and lime shots (so does Mrs. Beast–don’t front!). On the beer tip, I’m drinking some Yuengling, some Hoeegarden, Corona, Red Striple, dark Belgian ales, Strongbow–anything but “football beers” (Coors, Bud, Miller, etc). I like Mojito’s too, but only during the daytime. I’m not a big drinker and I definitely know my limits, but I just enjoy alot of different kinds of alcohol.

Nico sticks to a strict diet of 40s of Old E, so does Big O because he gets it in with Grey Goose or cranberry and vodka. We just enjoy ourselves, man!

I can’t lie–a couple weekends ago I bought some Sparks! I was extremely tired but wanted to stay up all night and have fun. Otherwise, I don’t get down with the energy drinks mixed with alcohol. For the most part, they don’t keep me up like that.

W: Ever woke up in a strange place, miles away from where the night began and have no clue how you got there?

ZR: See I have fun but I’m not reckless. I’m not Bobby Brown or anything! Usually I’m the designated driver–my friends are the ones screaming at people and throwing potatoes at skeezers at 3am. I’ll tell you what though–last weekend was my birthday and these older ladies kept giving me free shots of Tequila along with the free drinks my homies were handing me—wowsers!!! I woke up where I was supposed to be waking up, but a large chunk of the evening was a blank.

W: So what else do you personally have set for the future?

Get a deal and quit my dayjob. Start working on the next Clean Guns album and have a dope label put it out. Go on tour. Do as many live shows as possible while getting better as a live performer. Sell a shit load of t-shirts! Do projects with 2ew Gunn Ciz and MAGr. Help tighten up the Triple Nickels album and get it out. Release the 5 O’Clock Shadowboxers project with Douglas Martin (it’s 99% finished–I been slacking!). License music for TV, movies, porn–whatever it takes to get my publishing money stacked!

As a person, just keep learning and pursuing what interests me. See the Bears win another Super Bowl, the Sixers win another title, the Dodgers get another World Series all in person with my dad. Meet Tom Waits. Fix the dent on my car. Live with my mom as long as possible–she’s my financial advisor, relationship coach, business mentor. Buy a switchblade like my friend Greg. Move to LA.

W: Any last words for the Zilla Rocca fan club out there?

ZR: Umm…live smart. Dress sharp. Eat “healthy” food. Read 1 book a month. Drink something because it tastes good not because it’ll get you drunk for $2.50. Fellas, own one gray suit. Ladies, own one pair of black knee high boots. And please, for the love all things holy, don’t post 19 bulletins a day on MySpace!

Once again, the Movement Fam invades WYDU. You might remember Cee&Bekah, the Aussies from the land down under were featured a couple weeks ago on here. Today we have Cee-Four’s little brother, Notion, gracing the site with his “fierce rhyme animal” delivery and on point lyrics. He is one of the core members of the Movement Fam, with Cee, Bekah, and Tommy Gunz. He is currently in the U.S., getting down with some other WYDU favorites in Citizen and his Understudies crew (more on them, coming soon) in San Fran, then hitting up Seattle for the world famous DJ Hyphen show. The last time I talked to them earlier this week, they were in Atlanta, getting rowdy, dirty south style. Notion is a humble cat, but a fun dude, which is evident by his music and the words he spoke when we sat down and talked for this little write-up.

Notion of the Movement Fam Presents World Domi-Notion
http://rapidshare.com/files/148498067/NoTiOn_-_World_Domi-Notion_The_Mixtape__Mixed_By_DJ_Crusador_.rar.html

WYDU: What’s good mighty N-O, how’s life treating you out on the road in the U.S. of A?

Notion: G’day Trav, what it do? Everything’s good right now mate, it’s my first time in the U.S. and I’m lovin’ it! So far we’ve been back and forth between San Fran and Seattle, jettin’ to ATL in the morning. As I’m writing this, I’m in our hotel room after spending the day recording in Oakland with The UnderStudies! Havin’ a ball!

W: Let’s fill in the readers of your history, how did you get started in the game, what made you say “hot damn, I wanna be an MC?”

Notion: Aight, well it all started from freestyling from about 14 years old. I was able to memorize lyrics fairly easily, and I just kept rapping after they finished! Simple as that. My brother Cee basically showed me how to structure a verse, then I hit the ground runnin’ from there! I constantly analyzed how my favourite songs were structured, how long they went for etc, and how other types of joints are mapped out really, and made up my own full songs from there. I’m still perfecting the art of the perfect track to this day. After getting reactions from my homies with my freestyles and written raps, it really hit home that I could do something with it, and best of all, it felt so right man! I’m hooked!!

W: What were some of you early influences? Who are some artists, music, themes that get your creative juices flowing now?

N: My ears were blessed with the sounds of Nas, Wu-Tang, Snoop, Dre, Dogg Pound, Rakim and cats like that at the early age of 7 or 8. My bro Cee and another homie were the only dudes I knew who were really into it. So along came the “homie” branding and the hate with it. Nobody in Australia was into Hip Hop back in the day. Fast forward about 18 years, and today and I’m bumpin’ and re-bumpin’ dudes like Nas (some things don’t change!) Jay, Ghostface, Little Brother, Elzhi, Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West, Skyzoo, and Mos Def to name a few. Its amazing because lately I’ve been getting my inspiration form producers, like 9th Wonder, Oddisee, Black Milk, etc. R&B and also Soul music, movies, the most random stuff! It’s amazing where an idea for a track, a line or concept for a project can come from. It’s super dope because I get really inspired by the cats that I work with the most. Movement Fam, what up!!

W: If you had to choose, which would it be? Bling, cars, fine woman? Or being known as one of the greatest MC’s to ever grace the mic?

N: Hands down Trav, the greatest emcee to grace the mic! I hope to one day even be considered in the same breath as my idols. Man I got into this for the pure excitement, and I can’t describe the joy it brings me to pen something heart felt and true. Material shit just don’t compare!

W: You have a new mixtape out, World Domi-NoTiOn, what can a new listener expect to hear on the project?

N: Yes indeedy, World Domi-NoTiOn is a good look at where I’m headed for my debut album next year. I included a few original joints on Domi-NoTiOn, for example “Enter My World” (Prod. By Da-Phai) and “The Come Up” (Prod. By Durban Poison), because I wanted to show the fans a sneak peek of what they can expect on my album. But with the mixtapes, I’ll continue to display my diversity with all sorts a beats and song types. I even get my sing on on a couple joints too! Hah!

W: Damn, we got the next Justin Timberlake in the house! haha..You have a particular jam on the new mixtape that would be the best example of what you are about on the mic?

N: “Set Me Free” featuring Bekah for sure. Although it’s a short track, it sums up my feelings towards Hip Hop and how it filled a void in my life. It’s the shit! You be the judge. I also wrote the hook Bekah sings. If you listen hard enough you will here me slightly in the background haha.

W: What’s up with the Movement Fam? How does the family element affect the crew dynamics?

N: Everything’s up with the Movement Fam, we definitely in full effect now!! Basically consisting of Cee-For, Bekah, Tommy Gunnz, and myself, we are a dynamic group which can all bring completely separate sounds and vibes, yet we all compliment each other’s sound, direction and we most importantly we all on the same page.

W: Alright man, just between us and the readers, who’s the better MC, you or big bro? haha

N: Hahahha ohh dude, cheers for throwin’ that one in. Umm as far as fan response, peeps seem to love us both, but prefer my so
und a bit more for some reason. (That’s probably a bias view tho haha) But when it comes down to it, I’m definitely better off the dome, Cee doesn’t like to get down on the free tip, but rips a written any day of the year. I mean we both have our areas we are doper in, it’s honestly hard to compare. It comes down to opinion. Now lets turn the tables… What do YOU think Trav? Haha!

W: Who’s interviewing who here? I say its a…..tie….yeah, cop out. What does the future hold for Notion? Are their any particular artists or producers you would like to work with in the future?

N: The future is bright for ya boy Notion baby! Well so far I’ve already accomplished a huge goal and recorded a track with an idol of mine, I’ll keep that in the vaults for now. I’ve got the next 2 years pretty much planned out with releases, both mine and Movement Fam projects. Next on the plate is “On The Corner Of Notion & 9th Mixtape” which will be available by the end of the year, late December its looking like at the moment. I’d love to work with 9th Wonder (obviously!), Oddisee, Ken Starr, Elzhi, pretty much anyone on my influences list I mentioned before! I can only hope, yo!

W: Hmmm, just did an interview with Elzhi this week…..Any last words for the American women out there while you are out on the prowl in the US and Canada?

N: Wassssuuuuuup ladies!! Hopefully I can get to meet some of the lovely women of America in the respective states we visiting, and bring a piece home with me. haha

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It’s time again for THE longest running series on WYDU. It doesn’t have the most posts, since we are only on part four, but it’s been going since April of 2006. For those of you who might have missed the first three, take a dip back in time:

Part One: Kwame
Part Two: Redhead Kingpin
Part Three: Bobby Jimmy & The Critters

This is what I wrote way back on that April day about the whole subject and I still stand by my observation of the artists that will be covered in this series:

“Have you ever heard a song that first time you heard it, it sounded corny as shit, but there is just something about it……..something that makes you want to sing along with it. You know you shouldn’t like it, you shouldn’t play it, but sooner or later you find yourself sneaking around your boys, playing a certain song, or a CD that you know you would get clowned on if anyone ever found out. Hip hop is very into peer pressure. In a sense, there are too many sheep and not enough wolves. If something is corny, at least in the “old days”, it usually was talking about things not typically found in hip hop. Stuff like Kid N Play, or DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. The subject matter wasn’t about how “hard on the boulevard” you are, or bustin’ yo gat. It was about other things that fell into the realm of “corniness”. If just given a chance, it wasn’t all that bad. Some of the music was actually pretty good. I’m not saying all corny music can be good. There is alot of corny music out there that is horrible no matter how you look at it. But there is some that people look down on for one reason or another. It’s this music that I’m going to kind of spotlight from time to time. There were alot of artists from the late 80′s to the mid 90′s that fell into that “corny” category. You have been “trained” that you probably shouldn’t like it, but dammit, some of it isn’t all that bad. True, some people will see some of the music I’m going to highlight and laugh their asses off. I don’t care, I’m comfortable enough to say “hey, I like this!” Some of it, yes, I did hide from my friends back in the day. Some of it has been forgotten, some of it still wears the “corny badge” to this day. Well, I’m bringing the fiber with some healthy corny choices.”

Today’s artist is somewhat different in that it’s not the actual artist, but more like his first two projects. I’m sure a lot of you are going to say “WHAT THE FUCK IS HE THINKING?!?!”, when I declare MC Hammer as being anywhere close to good. Before you get out the tar and feathers and forever banish me from the hip hop kingdom, just hear me out. And before we go any further, I’m COMPLETELY SOBER, no wacky weed, no alcoholic beverages have been consumed when writing this……

MC Hammer wasn’t a great MC, far from it actually. I wouldn’t even call him an MC, but we’ll avoid that argument for the time being. His delivery was basically wack, his flow was non existent, his rhyme structure was basic and amateurish at best. So why in the hell do I enjoy his independently released debut Feel My Power (Oaktown Records)? Well…….The man was a showman, but unfortunately for him, that didn’t translate into talent as an MC. But the energy he possessed that we saw during his stage show in those days, did come out in his music.

Top 10 Reasons To Like MC Hammer

1. The fool could DANCE! He made his closest nemesis, Vanilla Ice, look like he was having an epileptic seizure. And as much as I liked Serch, dude couldn’t dance.

2. His stage show was a SHOW, there was shit going on all over that stage, more than a Macey’s on the day after Thanksgiving

3. His glasses were cooler than MC Serch’s

4. He introduced the world to the 2 Bigg MC AND Oaktown’s 357, what’s not to like about them?

5. Did you really want Gerardo to sell 10 million copies?

6. The Hammer Dolls were much better for kids than the perverted Pee Wee Herman dolls.

7. He inspired Dres and Mista Lawnge to make “H.A.A. (Here’s Another Asshole)“, which is possibly the most underrated dis track in the history of hip hop.

8. If he was “In the Same Gang” with NWA, Cube, DU, and the rest of the West Coast All-Stars, shouldn’t he be cool enough to bump at a party?

9. He took his name after the TRUE all-time home run leader, Hammerin’ Hank Aaron.

10. Who else would artists from the 90′s have to take cheap shots at back in the day?

<
br />Hammer got his start in the Bay Area, recording Feel My Power in the 86-87 and dropping the album independently. It would move a reported 60K on the independent route. Radio stations would play “Let’s Get It Started”, in which he declared he was, “…..second to none” and named LL, Run DMC and Doug E Fresh, a clear swipe to the east coast giants of the time. The track became a local hit and caught the attention of several major labels. It would be Capitol that would win the services of Hammer. He would then turn around and repackage Feel My Power and add a few new songs to it and release as his major label debut as Let’s Get It Started. The album did pretty well, and honestly, at least out here in the west, wasn’t really seen as part of the mainstream music that was starting to become prevalent in those days (ie Tone Loc, Young MC). The video for “Turn This Mutha Out” got constant Yo! MTV Raps Play at the time.

In today’s atmosphere, everyone is to damn scared to dance, to have a good time. The days of the hip hop dancer are looooong gone, but this shit will get you up out of your chair and tear a rug up. The man’s energy was incredible on those first two projects. You need to look no further than the track “Feel My Power”, to feel the vibe I’m speaking on. Yes, he almost kills it when he says “You’re nothing but a fish, a smelt, and not a trout”, which is…wow…horrible, I won’t argue that, but I’ve heard better MC’s that lacked any kind of energy on the mic, and it just doesn’t grab. “Ring ‘Em” was another jam that got the party started. The beats of course are nothing mind blowing, with the hand claps, and the chicky background vocals, but the shit gets ya going. On “Let’s Get it Started”, hammer becomes even more brave with the video for “Pump It Up” as his disses Run DMC. While Run DMC had started their fall in 1988, they were still ballsy targets to tackle. “Turn This Mutha Out”, is truly an ill song, with its hard beat and Hammer acting like a badass, but once again, it’s a perfect example of why these first two albums are so ill.

Anyone has the video version of “Turn This Mutha Out” (the album version is missing the last verse or two), hit me up, I’ve been looking for that for awhile.

Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s my shitty taste in hip hop…. nah, couldn’t be that. I’m not saying that either album are unheralded classics, because there are way too many things wrong with them. They are definitely a “mood” albums, they are something you play when you are in a particular mood. You want to get your dance on, this here shit will get ya movin’. Feel My Power and Let’s Get it Started are both decent albums that only get shit on because of what Hammer would become. If there was no 10 Jillion Bazillion “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em”, I doubt a lot of you cats would be getting ready to email for the contact info of my drug dealer that I got these wonderful drugs to write such a piece. Without his later career, I think both pieces of work would be respected albums.

Feel My Power
http://sharebee.com/a9939407

1. That’s What I Said
2. Ring ‘Em
3. Get It Started
4. Feel My Power
5. The Thrill Is Gone
6. Mix It Toss It & Bust It
7. Son Of The King
8. Brother Versus Brother
9. I Can Make It Better

For all those that like frisbees (CD’s), the time has come. The J-Zone & Chief Chinchilla album (Live @ The Liqua Sto) is officially (itunes/digitally) out September 30, but the CD’s are shipping now so everybody gets it at the same time. As we all know CD’s don’t sell like they used to, so with that being said…THE CD RELEASE OF THIS ALBUM HAS BEEN LIMITED TO 500 UNITS. There was an overrun of a handful of units, but there will be no represses. Like my moms used to say…”Get it fast, get it slow, but once they gone aint no mo!”. The CD also has instrumentals for all of the commercials as a bonus feature (instrumentals aren’t available on the digital release). It comes in a slimline case but the CD’s are legit. The CD can be ordered in any of 3 places for now

1. Paypal me $13 here or via myspace (free worldwide shipping and Chief Chinchilla autograph included!)

2. WWW.UGHH.COM

3. www.sandboxautomatic.com

I’m working on getting it on my own damn site (zonesite.net) but the paypal code is fuckin up. I’m useless. Stay tuned for that. Hold tight for digital release next week (9/30).

And here is part 2 of the 4 part youtube video trailer for Live @ The Liqua Sto. It’s not as funny and outlandish as Part 1 (check it out here if you haven’t and stop copying my workout routine and diet without my permission), but it gives you some type of insight to what this album is about.

I’m out like rotten trout

J-Zone

–
http://www.myspace.com/jzoneoldmaid

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The name Zilla Rocca should be familiar to the hard core blog readers, as he has taken his Beat Garden Entertainment label, his group Clean Guns, and his own witty as hell writing on his own blog, and turned himself into a sensation of sorts. I’ve been a fan of Zilla & Nico’s brand of hard edged, guitar twinged beats for the longest time. It reminds me of something I would make if I had an once of musical talent. It’s noise in the utmost purest of forms. Zilla does it again, ala Britney, and brought back the sound, on his new mixtape Bring Me The Head of Zilla Rocca. I even dare say that he has a few sultry soulful ditties as well mixed in. His new mixtape is a self described tribute of sorts to Paul’s Boutique, and is so jam packed with cut and pasted tasty samples that there is no way they could clear them. So what did the Zilla one do? He released it as a free mixtape. Something that y’all should pay attention to and check it out. It’s been getting play from me the past two days. Now, if someone could just get the head of Zilla Rocca, life would be good again. Be on the look out for more from Zilla and Beat Garden in the very near future on WYDU

From Beat Garden….

Beat Garden Entertainment is proud to present the first solo offering from Official Joey Fatone impersonator ZILLA ROCCA! Today marks the release of his mixtape Bring Me The Head of Zilla Rocca, a 22-track rap excursion into the mind of the MC/Producer/Blogger who loves rhymin’, women, and sneakers he can’t afford.

With production handled mostly by Zilla and Beat Garden in-house producer extraordinaire Alex Wood, Bring Me the Head is essential listening for fans of Redman’s Whut? Thee Album, Beastie Boy’s Paul’s Boutique, and Ghostface’s Pretty Toney Album–a loose, funky hodgepodge of battle raps, musings on strip clubs, falling for older women, and reflections on the city of Philadelphia.

Crafting the mixtape like a full length album with samples we could never clear, Zilla went bonkers with it–check the classic Marvin Gaye Trouble Man break on “Cup Runneth Remix” featuring Nex Millen chopping the beat live on the turntables. “All Feast, No Famine” featuring ASK? and MAGr is a breezy ride over Dorothy Ashby’s “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.” And the straight up beat jacking of mixtapes past is present here with Zilla unleashing hell on tracks by DJ Premier, RZA, DJ Babu, Kanye West and J Dilla.

Guests on production include Griff (RhymeCity Records), Evolve One (“The Prelude” from No Beast So Fierce) and Nex Millen (Nuthouse, Respect the Culture), who also did cuts on 5 tracks. On the mic, you’ll hear Zilla putting it down with Beat Gardeners Nico the Beast, Triple Nickels, and ASK? with help from Reef the Lost Cauze (Army of the Pharoahes), 2ew Gunn Ciz (YBME/iStandard), Slim DSM, MAGr (Break Bread Projects/All City Dublin), SUP, and Mally from the 612.

Zilla Rocca – Bring Me The Head of Zilla Rocca
http://www.sendspace.com/file/i1eypb

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Another great autumn day, love this shit. Anyway, more Nubian Crackers to appease the masses. And an EP tossed in as well….enjoy!

Cracker Beats Vol 7
A1 Down Home Funk
A2 Toe Jam
A3 Beat From Hell
A4 Mulatu
A5 Sweet Thang
B1 The Funky Punani Break Part 3
B2 British Soul
B3 Get Out Of My Life, Hoe
B4 Mixed Up Funk
B5 Hip Hop Rhapsody

Cracker Beats Vol 8
A1 Playah Soul
A2 Step Up Front
A3 Pump Me Up
A4 At The Hip Hop
A5 Chicken Head
B1 Old School Girl Crush
B2 Methical Blow
B3 Just One Of Those Things
B4 N.C. Express
B5 Down-Low

Cracker Beats Vol 9

A1 October
A2 Mims
A3 Nubian Penguin
A4 Big Cracker Beat
A5 Super Session
B1 Supa Sperm
B2 Looking Out My Window
B3 Nubian Dazz
B4 Bill Cracker
B5 I’m Your Cracker

The Best of Cracker Beats Vol 1
No Track Listing

The Chocoloate Bam Boo EP

1. Test The Rocket Launcha Remix
2. Clap 2 Da Remix
3. What’s That Riddim
4. Say Hoe
5. X Rated
6. Here Dissa Jamma

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