Kendrick Lamar: Compton's Own Performs In New York City At S.O.B.'s

Last night, Compton's own Kendrick Lamar played New York City for the first time specifically at Sounds of Brazil aka S.O.B.'s to a packed house. Did Kendrick live up to his already well known hype? Read the reviews below to find out.

Read the Village Voice concert review HERE

Read XXL concert review HERE

See photos from the show HERE

(video courtesy of Daddy Mac Of New York City)

Freestyle Fellowship 'The Promise' Album Release Set For October 4th

Freestyle Fellowship The Promise on Decon Records arrives October 4th.

01. Introduction
02. We Are
03. The Write Here
04. Step 2 the Side
05. Ambassadors
06. Dart
07. Gimme
08. Government Lies
09. Introspective
10. Daddies
11. Candy
12. Know the Truth
13. Popular
14. Promise

Nate Dogg: LBC Hook Man Dead At 41

Reporting some very sad news in the hip hop community with the passing of Nate Dogg. An integral part of the West Coast sound, with so many memorable hooks and a voice that put the LBC on the map. We are so sorry to hear this tragic news.

via the Long Beach Press Telegram

LONG BEACH — Nathaniel D. Hale, known in the music industry as Nate Dogg, died Tuesday, his family announced.

The rap star, born and reared in Long Beach, Calif. was 41.

Cause of death is not known. However, Hale had suffered two strokes, one in 2007 and another in 2008.

Defari - 'Puro' (video)

The Defari track produced by Madlib. Video directed by Morgan Peszko.

WC 'You Know Me' Ft. Ice Cube And Maylay (video)

WC Revenge of the Barracuda on Big Swang/E1 Entertainment in stores March 8th

Roc C Discusses Upcoming Projects, His Work With J Dilla And More

Stones Throw artist Roc C just wrapped up the Value Menu Tour here on the West Coast with Tanya Morgan, Hall of Justus artist Chaundon and debuting Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother and Roc C new joint project - Young Americans. I caught up with Roc C for a post performance interview.

Beside discussing Roc C's many upcoming projects in 2011, we also had a pretty lengthy discussion about his last days working with the late J Dilla.

DJ Quik Special LA Xmas Show Announced 'QuikMas Groove' Tomorrow!

Come out and join DJ Quik at the Key Club Hollywood for a special holiday edition of Quik’s Groove. DJ Quik will have Stones Throw's Aloe Blacc and rapper Kendrick Lamar joining him for a very exclusive set. Make sure you start your holidays off right and grab some tickets to the show here!

As a special bonus, bring four (4) canned food items and receive a free DJ Quik CD.

Spice 1 - Notorious Bastards Volume 1 Mixtape

The O.G. Spice 1 shows us he has friends far and wide in the hip hop community. Along with his California hommies like Strange Music's Brotha Lynch Hung, Tystik, Giddie and the rest of the boys, Spice heats up also with rap mainstays Glasses Malone, Game, Twista even UGK's Bun B & Pimp C. Take a listen below.

Tracklist:
01. Spice 1 - 187 Proof
02. Spice 1 - Step Out Of My ft. E-Note & Giddy
03. Giddie - Club Like ft. Jazz
04. Spice 1 - Niggas Sing The Blues
05. Zigg Zigg - Stay Out The Way ft. Brotha Lynch Hung
06. Tystik - Aint Nobody Illa
07. E-Note - Swervin ft. Glasses Malone
08. Spice 1 - Dumpin Them In Digits
09. Brotha Lynch Hung - What They Want Osama For ft. Pappoose
10. Spice 1 - Trigga Gots No Heart ft. Twista & Game
11. Spice 1 - Murderman Dance ft. Pimp C & Bun B
12. Tystik - Keep Tryin ft. Spice 1
13. Spice 1 - Ready For This World
14. E-Note - Those Games
15. Tystik - Pistol In My Pocket
16. Spice 1 - Strap On The Side Of Me

Download:
Spice 1- Notorious Bastards Volume 1 Mixtape

Dr. Dre ft. Snoop & Akon - 'Kush' (video)

It's been too long, welcome back!

Joseph Kahn directed 'Kush' video. Look for a cameo by Aftermath producer DJ Khalil at the 2:06 mark and Beats by Dr. Dre and HP products placed throughout the video.

Jay Rock 'Follow Me Home' Arrives March 1st 2011

Thanks to the indie/hip hop powerhouse known as Tech N9ne, brings Jay Rock to the Strange Music label home. After receiving little attention while on Warner Bros., Jay Rock took matters into his own hands by consistently releasing mixtapes and music online, keeping his legions of fans fed and more recently finishing a successful tour with the Strange Music roster. With Tech N9ne and Jay Rock joining forces, indie hip hop will be one of the main focal points for 2011. In addition, expect to see a number of key releases in the month of March that include Young Jeezy, Raekwon, Snoop, Lupe, Fabolous, so Jay Rock will be in good company for 2011.

YG 'Toot It and Boot It' The Remix Video Shoot With Snoop Dogg And 50 Cent

Directed by Alex Nazari.
All of which were shot in L.A. (Thursday, November 18th) a day after Dr. Dre's video shoot for 'Kush' also shot in L.A.

Photo links:
PR Photos

DJ Muggs & Bambu In-Store Burbank, CA This Friday 11/5!

Help celebrate the release of DJ Muggs & Bambu Los Angeles. Philippines mixtape with a special live in-store performance.

Where: Backside Records 139 San Fernando Blvd., Burbank, CA
When: Friday, November 5th from 7-9 PM

Snoop Dogg - 'New Year's Eve' Ft. Marty James

Snoop Dogg Doggystyle 2: The Doggumentary on Doggy Style/EMI/Priority Records arrives March 8, 2011.

Snoop Dogg 'New Year's Eve' Ft. Marty James (clean version)

Snoop Dogg 'New Year's Eve' Ft. Marty James (dirty version)

Mr. Brady - 'Real Heavy' ft. Guilty Simpson & Johaz

From Mr. Brady's Labor of Love album.

Mr. Brady - 'Real Heavy' ft. Guilty Simpson & Johaz

Mr. Brady collaborates with prominent Detroit rapper Guilty Simpson and Johaz, who also happens to be a part of Brady's Deep Rooted crew. Mr. Brady considers the song a "classic joint;" a well orchestrated track of chopped up lo-fi samples pieced together with a raw lyrical vibe and a hard hitting beat. "Real Heavy" is exemplary of Mr. Brady's vision for the album: "I'ma keep it raw, soulful and give all of me with every track."

Ice Cube Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of BET At Hollywood & Highland Center

Photo links:
WENN Photo
Getty Images

Ice Cube I Am The West on Lynch Mob/EMI in-stores now!

Ice Cube - 'She Couldn’t Make It On Her Own' ft. Doughboy & OMG (video)

Ice Cube - I Am The West on Lynch Mob/EMI in-stores next week September 28th.

Icon: 2 New Tracks Posted Online

Like what you hear? you can download both tunes and more HERE

Releated:
Icon: LA Based Hip Hop Artist Schedules Upcoming Show At The Roxy

Game Rolls Through Boulder, CO With Live Performance (Concert Recap)

via the Denver Post

Game’s Colorado fans got the Westside vibe they wanted when he stopped at the Fox in Boulder on Saturday (July 31st) as part of his R.E.D Album tour, the namesake of which will be released Aug. 24.

The Crowd got an aggressive west coast rapper spreading Compton fever, complete with his crew smoking blunts and drinking Makers Mark at the back of the stage and playing sounds of gun shots between songs. The sold-out show took a lot of turns, starting with Game chugging half a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka, calling all the “ladies” up on stage and stopping songs to take a hits of a joint from the audience.



The crowd was on point with rapping along with Game during the concert, which was packed with many of his most popular songs from his previous three albums. He made it evident that Dr. Dre and 50 Cent were supporters, despite past feuds, by playing classic cuts from Dr. Dre’s albums “Xxplosive” and “2001″ and bringing out G-Unit Gear while chanting “G-Unit.”

Game performed “Big Dreams,” then “Big Money” from “The R.E.D Album” while he threw out wads of bills into the crowd. He started to do “Cali Sunshine,” saying Colorado had what California did (in regards to fine ladies and bud), but stopped because the beat was too slow for him. Throughout, the crowd seemed mesmerized by the party unfolding on stage.

Colorado- based Fresh Breath Committee and 303 Movement opened for Game, which drew much of the crowd that showed up in time to see the headliner play. The rapper the Menace started out Game’s set by performing two songs that set the scene for the Compton party that was about to get started. After the songs, “Black Wall Street” and “Chevy Sittin,” the Menace got the crowd in a round-robin of yelling “Compton” after he said “Menace.”

Game’s “R.E.D. Album,” for those who don’t know, marks his return to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label and is the result of working with Snoop and Dr. Dre in the studio as well as collaborating with artists including Justin Timberlake and Pharrell.

See the photo gallery from the show:
Game - Boulder Fox Theatre

(video courtesy of aja2489 & bkbsnow)

Ice Cube - 'Drink The Kool-Aid' (video)

Ice Cube I Am The West on Lench Mob/EMI arrives September 28th.

Mann 'Birthday Philosophy' Mixtape

Recently signed to Mercury/Def Jam, producer J.R. Rotem hand picked the Los Angeles native Mann to take the crossover hip hop world by storm.

About the project:

[July 20th, 2010] After the first two mixtapes Vintage Cutz and A Near Life Experience, then his radio single “Text” West LA, CA recording artist Mann is releasing what can only be described as a statement EP project where every person is encouraged to live every day like their birthday per Mann’s “Birthday Philosophy"

The Birthday Philosophy makes anything we can say an understatement when the music itself is the boldest statement to be made.

As Mann himself states, “"After sitting back and surveying the music scene recently I felt I had to step my game up... This EP is to say to people who aren't quite sure of who exactly I am as an artist, and why I am in the position that I'm in (i.e. Def Jam/Mercury/Beluga Heights). I'm much more than my single 'Text' showed people and I hope it comes through in this project"

The understated brilliance and cohesiveness of a project helmed by one producer/engineer in Redvision helps to answer this career balancing act of the mainstream music he has created with JR and his Hip-Hop roots that lead him to his record deal.

There comes a time when the whole of a man’s experience must be manifested in his art rather than simply a sum of all the parts he has picked up until then. A rubberband can only be stretched so far before it returns back to its original shape, and traveling around the country in support of various projects has finally brought Mann back home to the artist with the ingenuity to make it to Def Jam before this “Mann” could legally buy a pack of zig zags. An appreciator of music can listen to the final stages of an evolution of a West L.A. musician befall their very ears on Birthday Philosophy, and the best part about this, with Mann being a product of his environment in the best sense of the phrase, this is as much West L.A.’s album as it is Mann’s. Follow West L.A.’s evolution (Manns World) along with Mann’s. Treat every day like your birthday.

Download Birthday Philosophy here.