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Vibe, You Suck

Anthony David - Smoke One

So I was thumbing through the pages of Vibe on the bus to day and I came across a very familiar face on the NEXT section. Seems like the dudes at up in NY are only just now profiling my boy Anthony David, and that’s probably just because he’s opening up for India.Arie.

Well, I just want to let y’all know that we interviewed Anthony David on the Podcast a year ago.

The Couch Sessions 1
Vibe 0

Who’s on the cutting edge of the industry now? Yeah, I thought so. Bring it fools!

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Hip-Hop, New Music

AZ Is Better Than Your Favorite Rapper

AZ - The Format (Clean)
AZ - Show Me What You Got Freestyle (via Nah Right)

I’m sorry, the truth has to be told. Too many people have slept on A.W.O.L. and its a shame, because we all know that A.Z. can out rap most anyone in the so-called “game.” Hopefully he’ll get some more support when The Format drops, but I doubt it.

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Eses and Infomercials…

This is about the creative process, not about getting shout outs:

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Hip-Hop

Jay-Z - Show Me What You Got Video

Damn, Jay-Z can pretty much do anything that he wants right now. Make a video with Dale Earnhart and Danica Patrick in Monaco? Sure….he’s muthaf**kin’ Jay-Z.You would think at this point that fast cars, fast women, and exotic locaitons would be played out by now, but somehow they make this video seem fresh. I don’t care much for NASCAR or Indy, but damn, do I love cars. And Jay is one of the few dudes who could actually buy the cars that he has in his video. Also the Pagani Zonda is my whip of choice on Gran Turismo 4 so I have some sentimental value in that.

All in all, it’s not a bad vid. I actually dig the song too, and I’m sure it will be played to death on your local Clear Channel radio station soon if it hasn’t already. I don’t think that Kingdom Come will be anything groundbreaking in terms of rap albums, but this dude does have the rap-pop formula down and has for years now. (Props to Concrete Loop)

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Hip-Hop, New Music, R&B

Review: J Dilla - The Shining

One day, Karriem Riggins got a call from his friend James Yancey. The call was short, but it ended with a prophetic message. “I want you to help me finish this album,” Dilla said.

The album that Yancey was talking about was The Shining, a massive body of work of off-kilter, soulful beats, old school samples, and old school lyricists. Legend has it that Dilla produced a majority of this album on his hospital bed, it was 75% complete (but unmastered) before he died.

In his second posthumous release J Dilla reminds us of what he brought the hip-hop industry The disc features such backpacker all stars as Common, Pharoe Monch, MED, Madlib, and Black Thought. Not to mention Busta Rhymes and Dwele. What results is a collection of solid lyrics, soulful samples, and off-kilter beats.

From the start, Busta Rhymes goes off on his classic “I have ADD” tangent. The beat though, a play off of Rise of the Bumblebee is fire though. But good lawd Busta, you need to turn it down a notch. After the first track wakes you up, the rest of the album calms down. Common shines of E=MC2, making it one of the best song that I’ve heard from him in a long time. Common, bests that notion with his rhymes on “So Far To Go,” a rework of his previous single “Go,” and manages to entice D’Angelo out of hiding. (On a side note…Dude, when is the next album coming out?

The middle hump of the disc is filled with the somewhat disposable “Jungle Love” featuring MED, and Detroit rapper Guilty Simpson filling in for Dilla. Next is one of the flyest instrumentals of the year in “Over the Top.” “Body Movin” is a percussion based instrumental, while “classic” Dwele reemerges on the remix of Dime Piece.

But in grand fashion, the best is saved for last. J Dilla himself rhymes on “Won’t Do,” reminding everyone that he’s not just a great producer, but the dude can rhyme as well.

All in all, The Shining is an amazing album that will hopefully keep the legend of J Dilla alive and inspire future generations to get behind the boards instead of behind the bling.

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Random Ish: Working for the Man Edition

I’m not white, but nerdy….maybe.

Apologies for the lack of updates. I have a confession to make…

I wish I could say that I’m some aspiring hip-hop journalist from New York, Chicago or the Bay. That I have some connects in the industry or what not. Most people think I am. But alas, I do have a day job. I’m a lowly computer programmer in this hicktown that we call DC. I know it’s not “gangsta” enough for some of ya’ll, but it pays the bills and will probably put my kids through college.

Anyway, things should get back to normal sometime next week. If you contacted me during the week via email, I’ll try to get back to you this weekend.

On to random ish…

I’m glad that people are discussing the sudden rise of coonery in black music. I don’t really mind the Chicken Noodle Soup thing, but the Ms. Peachez thing just took us back about 60 years.

Amerie working with Gnarls Barkley? What?

And I’m pissed that I missed the Saul Williams DJ event at Liv last Sunday. I was outta town and didn’t get back home until 1. It’s okay though, I had my fun Did anybody go?

Oh, and speaking of DJ’s………PLEASE DON’T play some booty music right after a slow song. That ish ruins the mood.

As for the Foley thing, here’s my opinion. What Foley did was messed up, but what is more scandalous is the fact that all the Rethugs knew about this dude years ago and did nothing about it. If they can cover up this, then who knows what those fools are up to.

Oh, and while I’m at it……here is a rundown of the fall TV shows I’ve seen so far:

Ugly Betty: It’s cute, but I can’t really get into it because I’m not a 15 year old girl.

Lost: The writers are dropping the ball on this one. Word is that that they’re dumbing down the show to appeal to “casual fans.” How sad it that?

Friday Night Lights: Easily the best new drama on TV right now. I’m surprised that no one is watching it. It’s Texas and Football. Nothing is more American than that.

Studio 60: I’m trying to give this show a chance, but it’s become a waste of my time. That’s sad, becaue DL Hughley needs the work.

30 Rock: Who knew Tracy Morgan could be funny?

More reviews to come after I clear up my Tivo. And I promise to have some reviews and contests for yall next week. There’s a whole stack of CDs on my coffee table that are dying to get some airplay.

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Where In Washington D.C…..

So I’ve lived in D.C. for 3 years now, and while I have been to the hoodest of hoods for work and the preppies/squarest/fake hipsterest spots to kick it, I’m still in search of many things that are unique to D.C. Therefore Couch Sessions readers speak on it:

Where is the best grocery store?

Where/Who is the best butcher?

Where is the best theater?

Where is the best mexican food?

More questions after the jump…
Read the rest of this entry »

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Through The Fire

Rememebr when I posted the Trackademicks mixtape and said it’s the flyest thing goin’? Well, now the dude’s studio is gone.

From the MySpace:

So I leave the studio last night around 12:45am after doing some music with Bike Maker, go home and go to sleep. I wake up around 9am to go to work and I get a call from Tap.10 like “What street is your studio on?” I tell him and he tells me there was a fire in the carpet store right next door, so I rush over there…

Everything.
Gone.
Keyboards.
Computers.
Turntables.
CDs.
Vinyl.

Damn.
You lost.

It’s a sad day. Hope he has insurance. I know that any DJ/Producer would be feelin’ his pain right now. If you enjoyed the Trackademicks mixtape please hit him up if you want to make a donation.

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????????

File this under: WTF? Photoshop it to your hearts delight.

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Random Ish Radio 015 - NEW Camo Lo, Mos Def, Kardinal

B-Boys at the Crafty Bastards Art Fair in Adams Morgan (Credit Dcist, Night Heron)

MP3 Download: The Couch Sessions Podcast - Random Ish Podcast

So yes, the Couch Sessions Podcast is now called Random Ish Radio. No, it dosen’t have anything to do with Apple possibly trademarking the term Podcast. Its just that after a year of doing this thing, I felt it was time for a name change. More detailed information is contained in the show. So if you’re curious….LISTEN TO THE PODCAST.

Unfortunately, I’m working some crazy hours at the moment, so I can’t get into an in depth explanation of what songs I picked and why, but it’s another chill sessions for some reason. Don’t ask me why, because I do get crunk on occasion.

Tracklisting as follows:

1. Slick And Rose - Life Today aka The Nicolay Joint
2. Basic Vocab - Likeness

3. Kardinal Offishall - Amen
4. Camp Lo - Ganja Lounge
5. Sway - Little Derek
6. **INTERLUDE**
7. Junk Science - Do It Easy
8. Sleepy Brown - Dressup
9. Mos Def - Sun Moon Stars

Good look to Slick and Rose and Junk Science for sending MP3’s my way. If you want your MP3 on Random Ish Radio email me at articleonline [at] gmail [dot] com. If it’s good, I’ll play it. If you talk about driving Escalades and pimpin’ hos (when we all know that you drive a Civic) then I won’t.

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