Chris Paul and Kendrick Lamar Interview (Video)

NBA superstar Chris Paul and TDE artist Kendrick Lamar both appear together on the January edition of ESPN The Magazine's "Music Issue". During the photo shoot they were interviewed and a short video was put together.

The NFL's Calvin Johnson and some guy called Eminem appear on an alternate cover too. A third cover with Kobe Bryant and Nicki Minaj will be available also.

Check the video below.

Otis Clapp - #ATB (Free Album)

This week saw the release of Otis Clapp's sophomore album "#ATB". If you can't tell what that stands for from the album cover, it'll become apparent after a few seconds in to the first track. Coming in at 18 tracks, this project from Otis displays his versatility over equally schizophrenic beats. That's a good thing.

Stream or download the album for free below.

Evidence & Alchemist on The Mixdown (Video)

Evidence and Alchemist join Fuse TV's Esteban Serrano to talk about their new Step Brothers album "Lord Steppington" and break down a few tracks from the set.

"Lord Steppington" is available everywhere now.

TJ Mizell & DJ Scratch - Jam Master Jay Tribute (Video)

Yesterday, on what would have been Jam Master Jay's 49th birthday, his son TJ Mizell and the turntable whisperer himself, DJ Scratch, paid tribute to Jay in appropriate fashion. A tag team turntable display in front of the JMJ memorial in Hollis, Queens.

Phife - Dear Dilla (Audio)

A couple of hours ago Okayplayer premiered the new single from A Tribe Called Quest's Phife named "#Dear Dilla". Just in time for Dilla week, the track is a fitting tribute to arguably one of the best producers we've seen (heard). The song is brilliantly put together by DJ Rasta Root and features soundbites from some of Dilla's more well known productions.

Check the audio below along with the press release and be on the look out for an upcoming solo album from Phife this year named "MUTTYMorphosis".

Thanks to Jeff of the Soul Twins for the link to the track.



Phife is set to release his new single ‘#dearDilla’ on Tuesday, January 21st. on Smokin’ Needles Records. #dearDilla is an open letter to his long time friend and producer, the legendary J Dilla (James Dewitt Yancey), who passed away on 2006 from complications from a rare blood disorder. With a soundscape created by DJ Rasta Root, Phife talks to Dilla about the current state of music and how much he and his work are missed.

“Before J Dilla passed, he and I were playing phone tag, I didn’t even know he was that sick until it was too late,” Phife said. “We didn’t realize we were both going through a lot with our health and never got to sit and talk about it together.”

I felt like this song is that conversation. “I’ve been wanting to record a dedication to J Dilla for the longest, it just seemed to finally be the right time to do it,” said Phife from his home in Oakland, CA. “It was very therapeutic for me to do this. There are a lot of people dealing with renal failure and I wanted to make this a conduit, a way for people to put their health issues out there.”

#dearDilla combines the drum loop that Dilla used for Slum Village’s “Hold Tight” layered with Dilla’s distinct ad-libs sprinkled through out the track. Rasta Root enlisted the help of the DMV’s own V.Rich for the beautiful keys that make up the song’s hypnotic melody and a warm bassline by Atl’s own “DETOXXX”.

“The song organically came together piece by piece. Originally I looped it up to just have a new way of mixing in that song. Then it snowballed in to what you hear today. I wanted fans of Dilla and Phife to feel right at home with this track. I am very proud of Phife for opening up like this and giving the world this musical gem.” said Rasta Root from his Atlanta home studio.

#dearDilla also has an amazing visual directed by Chicago’s own Konee Rok. They shot the video over three days in Chicago and Detroit. ‘This is the most heartfelt project I’ve ever been blessed to be a part of.’ said Konee. ‘and represents the return of honest Hip Hop.’ Of the song, Konee also adds, ‘This is not just another rap song, but meaningful music. Art. If this was my last video, I would die happy.’

The visual for #deardilla will have a premier in Atlanta on Feb. 6th at the Midtown Art Cinema (7:30-9:30pm) with a Q & A. Then also premiere at Dilla Day in Detroit on Feb. 7th.

Emilio Rojas in The Hot Box with DJ Enuff (Video)

Emilio Rojas is the guest this week on DJ Enuff's "The Hot Box". First Rojas starts off with his own track "Lean" and then speaks to Enuff briefly before going over 9th Wonder's beat "Threat".

Check the video below followed by his music video for "Ice Cream 2K12" which I think a lot of people missed.

Ice Cream 2K12

Killer Mike - Ghetto Gospel (Video)

Killer Mike revisits his brilliant album "R.A.P. Music" from 2012 with a video for the track "Ghetto Gospel". Mike, along with the track's producer El-P, has been busy this past year or so with the release and tour of this album along with the Run The Jewels project. We can expect a follow up Run The Jewels album this year, so we'll be seeing and hearing a lot more from Killer Mike in the near future.

Otis Clapp - Fiona feat. YC The Cynic and Devo D (Video)

Queens emcee Otic Clapp releases a video for his track "Fiona" featuring YC The Cynic and Devo D. This is taken from his upcoming album "#ATB" due on the 20th January.

Pusha T - Suicide feat. Ab Liva (Video)

Pusha T continues to release videos from his album "My Name Is My Name". This time he drops "Suicide" featuring a verse from long time collaborator Ab Liva.

Happy Birthday Aaliyah

Today would have been the 35th Birthday of Aaliyah. Still missed by so many. 

Damu The Fudgemunk on Rhythm Roulette (Video)

Mass Appeal welcome Damu The Fudgemunk as their next guest on Rhythm Roulette. This time the format is changed as Damu recreates and performs drum breaks on a drum set and explains why he won't use certain records to make beats. He also talks a little about how he got started making music.

The LOX on Sway's In-Studio Concert Series (Video)

The LOX recently appeared on Sway's In-Studio Concert Series on Shade45. They performed  tracks and talked with Sway and Heather B about their hiatus as a group and their subsequent return.

The Cut with DJ Revolution and Marco Polo (Video)

The Cut followed Marco Polo and DJ Revolution around New York as they went record digging. They also go through the process of record making while Marco plays some music from his recent album "PA2: The Director's Cut".

The Doppelgangaz - Holla x2 (Video)

Peace kehd! The Doppelgangaz today dropped the video to their first single "Holla x2". This is taken from Matter Ov Fact and EP's upcoming album "Peace Kehd" released February 18th. An album to definitely look forward to.

A Look at Hip-Hop at Harvard feat. Nas (Video)

Last year you may have heard about Harvard University's introduction of the Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship. A design firm named Ammunition have made a video showing a little insight in to what the course will actually involve and what it means for Hip-Hop at Harvard.