BBU - bell hooks

Sponsored by Mishka, put out by Mad Decent.  Bandcamp here.  Their press release:

Epic, Illekt, Jasson Perez, and DJ Esquire are the creative force behind BBU (short for Bin Laden Blowin! Up or Black, Brown, and Ugly, depending on the day), and they’re committed to making socially conscious rap that doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of fun. Pulling sounds from all over, including the rap of their childhoods and also the rich juke culture of their home city, BBU have truly created a soundtrack to their artist-activist lifestyle. From the impetus behind the title (the nom de plume of feminist writer Gloria Jean Watkins, in case you ain’t knowin’) to the poem that opens the album, BBU aren’t afraid to speak their very unique minds. But these nimble wordsmiths make sure to keep the energy sky high across all of bell hooks.

Featuring beats by Stefan Ponce, Montana Macks, The Hood Internet, and more, bell hooks is packed to the brim with politics and personality, whether it be on the juking fringe anthem “Outlaw Culture”, 90s music paen “Kurt De La Rocha”, or the double time dense rhymes of “Cormega.” These 17 tracks have also got guest verses from Das Racist, GLC, and the whole thing is mixed by DJ Benzi. It’s a thrillingly unique rap release that sets the bar high this early in the year.

Get Cryphy 4-Year Anniversary this Friday

Yep, it's going down this Friday!  The City Pages did a nice write-up ch'ere.

Thavius Beck - The Heavens Bleed Sunshine

Here's a chill EP full of fantastically melodic instrumentals with gorgeous nuances and thick bass lines.  The attention to detail here is impeccable.  You may not think you know him but you probably are familiar with some of his work.  He laid some groundwork for many Saul Williams albums including the fantastic Niggy Tardust and has remixed Nine Inch Nails.

Odd Future, "Rella"

Odd Future's The OF Tape Vol. 2 March 20th.

B-Rock's DJ Tools (flash pack)

I'm in a generous mood.  Here's 12 bangers edited for you DJ'ing pleasure.  Please practice good DJ'ing and drop on the one.  Download link only up for 24 hours, so git-git-gittit!

Includes:

M.I.A. - Bad Girls (B-Rock intro/outro edit)
Rihanna - Cockiness (B-rock intro edit)
T.I. Drop It feat 2 Chainz (B-Rock intro/outro/2verse edit)
Tyga - Faded feat Lil Wayne (B-Rock intro/outro edit)
Young Jeezy - I Do feat Jay-Z & Andre3000 (B-Rock 8-bar intro)
Tyga - Muthafucka Up feat Nicki Minaj (B-Rock pay homage edit)
T.I. - Piss N On Your Ego feat B.O.B. (B-Rock 2verse/intro/outro edit)
T.I. - Poppin Bottles (B-Rock intro/outro/no-Drake edit)
Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks (B-Rock drum edit)
Juicy J - She Dancin Like She Fuckin (B-Rock intro/outro edit)
Ke$ha - Sleazy feat Andre3000 (B-Rock edit)
Nicki Minaj - Y U Mad (B-Rock no-Birdman edit)

See you at OTB Tuesdays!!!

SVIIB - Ghostory stream

Album due 2/28 on Ghostly International.

B-Rock's DRE DAY Triple Threat pack (DJ Tools)

Brother Ali, "Shine On feat. Nikki Jean"

The visuals to one of the songs off the excellent and free EP, Bite Marked Heart.

Brother Ali - The Bite Marked Heart freEP

Get it here

Artwork by Minnehappiness native, Eric Inkala

Iggy Azalea, "Pu$$y"

Two bangers = new fan.

Taste the rainbow, here's my skittles

Download Iggy Azalea's Ignorant Art here

Iggy Azalea, "The Last Song"

Here's an interesting blend of a chopped-n-screwed beat, with some vintage Nicki Minaj-esque talk-rap.  Gold star to the person who can name the Jay-Z song that's sampled at the end...

Spoek Mathambo, "Let Them Talk"

First single off of Spoek Mathambo's upcoming follow-up to last year's excellent Mshini Wam.  Father Creeper is coming out on Sub Pop March 13th.

More info about the project:

Mux Mool - Planet High School

Ghostly International's introduction to Minnehappiness native Mux Mool's new project Planet High School out now.

Despite being accused as anti-human, repetitive, soulless, whatever, electronic music attracts the more devoted of idealists—the vinyl purist, the underground hero, the anonymous producer, etc. For Mux Mool, all his music connects to a certain outlook on life—basically, that the pre-established trajectory for adult life is being completely reimagined. He explains the concept behind his new album, Planet High School here and delves further into the concept in our Q & A below.
 
What high school did you go to?
I actually went to 2 different high schools. The first was Red Wing Senior High School in Red Wing, Minnesota. I went there for 9th and 10th grade. Over the summer I applied for an arts school called the Perpich Center for Arts Education (also known as Arts High) in Golden Valley, Minnesota.

How did you find your experience?
It was pretty awful for me. I had about 2-3 friends in Red Wing all together. I also started 10th grade at about 285 lbs. and had just gotten braces. I was also a weird kid who just drew pictures all the time. I would say Red Wing is not particularly known as a center for culture, and yeah, it was awkward. But 11th and 12th grade was much better. I moved to St. Paul, MN and lived with my dad and went to school with all the rejects who go to an art high school. Also, my best friend also got into the school so we got to hang out again. Arts High was a semi-open campus situation and you could call your teachers by their first names and didn’t have to ask to go to the bathroom or wander the hills. But, I hate homework, and so I never did any. Thus, I never graduated.

What music were you into?
Oh boy... uh I listened to a lot of Led Zeppelin, Beastie boys, Fatboy Slim and the soundtrack to Escape from LA, Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk. Uh, some Jimi Hendrix mixed in there, oh and also quite a bit of trance and house, but I listened to those in mixes mostly. Sasha's Xpander - loved that one.

What is Planet High School?
The Earth, as I see it.

What is the Planet High School cover all about?
It’s about showing all the things I have to do, some of the things I do for fun, how I’ve had to learn to do a lot of things and fill a lot of roles that I didn’t expect to, to be a professional musician. I just really don’t feel very one sided or one dimensional. I’m a full time musician which means that everything I do goes into that. It’s not always about just grinding and FORCING music out because you’re “hustling.” It’s about how I love the music that I do, therefore I do a lot of other things for it to make sure it’s presented properly. I guess that even for an internet savvy and internet oriented artist, I had no idea how much emailing I’d have to do. I don’t have a good mind for emailing.

If you could reform education in two ways, what would they be?
I would say that after 6th grade, kids shouldn’t have to ask to go to the bathroom. That’s just demeaning, but you don’t know any better, but really that’s weird! Also, my experience was one where I learned everything in my classes but struggled with the homework. The system itself is set up to herd the flock or designed for the majority. But I’ve known my whole entire conscious life what I wanted to do. I think if I had been allowed to work on those skills, or at LEAST not constantly get in trouble for drawing during class, not only would I have excelled in school, but I probably would have felt better throughout. Also, make school later in the day or at least mix up the schedule a bit. I have never been nor will I ever be a morning person, and I don’t even get to choose that. That’s biology. If every day is a terrible struggle just to stay awake, not only are you not learning, but you just despise what you’re doing. At least, I definitely did.

Drake, "Practice"

Practice from OctobersVeryOwn on Vimeo.

Nicki vs. this chick... Battle of the Bubble-Butts!

oOoOO feat. Butterclock, "No Way Back"

OOoOO f. Butterclock, "NoWayBack" by The FADER

First single off the upcoming Our Living Is Hurting Us EP due April 10th on Tri Angle.

Black Star performs "You Already Knew" on Fallon

Late pass (don't know HOW I missed this).  Talib Kweli and Mos Def performed on Jimmy Fallon back in early January to promote their upcoming free project to drop hopefully in March.