J. Cole Performs At 'NBA Elite' NYC Launch Party

via XXL

Basketball season is right around the corner, and that means a new set of NBA video games are gearing up to hit stores. Last night (September 23), in honor of the release of NBA Elite 11, the newest title from EA Sports, the gaming company, with the help of Project 2050, threw a launch party in New York City.

Guests in the house for the event, which was held near Herald Square, included J. Cole, Trae Tha Truth and 9th Wonder, all of whom performed. 9th held it down on the 1s and 2s for much of the night, while Trae and Cole both took to the stage to perform. Trae, who yesterday premiered on XXLMag.com a brand new track, “The Radio Won’t Play This,” from his upcoming album, treated the crowd to a performance of “Swang.” Shortly after, XXL Freshman Class of 2010 member J. Cole rocked a short set which included performances of “All I Want Is You,” “Who Dat,” “Star Is Born” and “Higher”

9th Wonder and J. Cole each contributed to the original soundtrack for the game, with the 9th handling the bulk of the tracks while his fellow North Carolina native crafted the game’s theme, “The Plan,” which hit the Internet earlier this week.

Photo link:
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J. Cole Shockhound Feature Interview

J. Cole & Freeway Perform Live At Heineken Inspire Philadelphia

Last night's Heineken Inspire event in Philly, it was an all-star line-up of the best in R&B and Hip Hop with Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius, J. Cole, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Musiq Soulchild were all in the house for this one of a kind concert.

History was made when Roc Nation's J. Cole surprised everyone by bringing hometown Roc-A-Fella favorite Freeway for an impromtu set that made the fans go wild.

Photo links:
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Anmlhse

(video courtesy of elektrik788)

Little Brother Perform Live In DC

Little Brother performed live at the Black Cat in Washington DC on their Farewell Tour Friday May 14 promoting Leftback.

Little Brother Farewell Tour Dates:
Wed May 19 - Chicago, IL at the Double Door
Wed May 26 - San Diego, CA at 4th And B
Thu May 27 - West Hollywood, CA at the Key Club
Fri May 28 - San Francisco, CA at The Independent

Little Brother Left Back on Hall of Justus in stores and online now!

(video courtesy of S-Roc)

J.Cole Interview With The Source

Recorded at RutgersFest this past May.

J.Cole Cole World on Roc Nation/Columbia coming soon!

Little Brother - 'Curtain Call' Video Trailer

Little Brother Leftback on Hall of Justus arrives in-stores tomorrow.

Pre order your copy at:
iTunes
Amazon
or your local retailer.

Little Brother Launches New Website

Little Brother launches their new website. Keep track of Big Pooh, Phonte and Little Brother's latest activities on their new website here:
Little Brother website

Little Brother Leftback on Hall of Justus arrives April 20.

J. Cole Performance & Interview At SXSW 2010 Austin, TX

via Billboard

Kam Moye - 'Splitting Image' ft. Neenah (video)

Kam Noye - Splitting Image the full length album is available on iTunes, Amazon and at your local retailer.

Little Brother 'LeftBack' Advance Album Preview

via Planet Ill

Revenge

A well flipped usage of James Brown’s “Big Payback” buffered by ambient chants and ill rhymes. Standard fare, but executed well.

So Cold Featuring Chaundon Prod. by King Karnov

Bottom heavy beat with the crooner on the hook doign their best D’Angelo impression (not sure if it’s Phonte singing). Phonte runs the middle leg of this track with malice intended; crisp delivery and lines that make yourburrow your eyebrows and bob your head. Guest emcee Chaundon brings a flare to the cleanup slot with a bit less laser sharpness but much more energy. The bridge is well places and while synths give the beat rhythm, the bottom heavy bass rules here.

Second Chances Feat. Bilal & Darien Brockington (Prod. By Denaun Porter)

Dithering keys and a slithering bassline allow Bilal to bring his trademarked neurosis to full tilt. The music on this song is beautifully arranged and Bilal takes it to the bridge and jumps off. The interplay between the rapped verses and the sang chorus on the last stanza weave in and out like red and blue Tron cycles racing each other. Flawlessly finished.

Go Off Go On

The chorus on this is very weak but the track is notable because Big Pooh really spazzes out on it. It’s a bit too similar to the previous song in tone but pales in quality.

What We Are Feat. Quiana

A relationship song (one of many). It’s not syrupy by any means and is well put together. the song deals with what happens when you hook up but you realize the relationship isn’t going anywhere.

After The Party

Piano key opening and a semi comedic internal monologue from Phonte showcases his range, humor, and personality. The track runs on a well balanced thump, with beat and rhyme fusing nicely.

2 Step Blues

Picks up the pace of the album with lively vocals. It’s really “Just Got Paid” 2.0 in function. Nice horn solo and piano keys close the song out nicely.

Get Enough

Towering aggressive drums push the momentum of this song. Phonte comes out swinging on all sucker emcees but Big Pooh steals the show on this Khrysis-produced banger.

24 Feat Torae

Torae muscles this high-powered song from inception, changing the energy/pace of the entire album. Everyone in the room looks up as soon as this track begins. His aggression immediately stands out and forces Pooh and Phonte to raise their energy level above what they have shown on the rest of the album. This song would have done better in the middle of the album, serving to break up the monotony of a few too any similar in feel songs.

This album has a strange energy to it. There are some extremely high musical highs, in particular ‘24″ and “Second Chances,” which surpass much if not most of their previous material. However there are a few too many songs that remind you of each other, in either spirit or theme, without really placing an overall theme or narrative on the album. Arrangement wise, most of these songs are places together. It’s not their worst overall work, but as a unit it doesn’t surpass The Listening or The Chitlin Circuit 1.5. What it does do is make you wish they could have toughed it out for a really focused album with the best elements showcased on Left Back. These are two talented rappers who are as good as their production and focus allow them to be.

Little Brother - 'LeftBack' Artwork & Track Listing Revealed

Little Brother - 'LeftBack' Official Track Listing:

01. Curtain Call (prod. by Khrysis)
02. Table For Two ft. Jozeemo & Yahzarah (prod. by Khrysis)
03. Tigallo For Dolo (prod. By Khrysis)
04. Revenge ft. Truck North & Median (prod. by Khrysis)
05. So Cold ft. Chaundon (prod. by King Karnov)
06. Second Chances ft. Bilal & Darien Brockington
(prod. by Denaun Porter)
07. Go Off Go On (prod. by Khrysis)
08. What We Are ft. Quiana (prod. by Young R.J.)
09. After The Party ft. Carlitta Durand
(S1 and Caleb’s Who Shot JR Ewing Remix) (prod. by S1 and Caleb)
10. Two Step Blues ft. Darien Brockington
(Zo’s Purple Suit With The Matching Gators Remix) (prod. by Zo!)
11. Get Enough Pt. 2 ft. Khrysis (prod. by Khrysis)
12. Before The Night Is Over (prod. by J.Bizness)
13. 24 ft. Torae (prod. by Khrysis)

Little Brother - 'LeftBack' on Hall of Justus arrives in-stores April 20.

Kam Moye - 'Forever Fresh' (Video)

North Carolina's own, Kam Moye aka Supastition, teams up with up and coming Bay Area director, Charles Barcelona (Homegrown Outfitters/Right Lane Ent) for the Marco Polo-produced banger, "Forever Fresh." The video is done documentary-style and showcases Kam in various behind-the-scenes clips, past videos, and show footage from performances in the U.S. and abroad. The rest of the video was shot on location in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The song itself is reminiscent of the former Supastition sound with Kam spitting rapid fire, while still dropping jewels like "I'm what happens when a child prodigy grows up." Marco Polo's head nodding production shines brilliantly throughout the track triumphant horn stabs and classic boom bap drums leave the perfect backdrop for Kam's ferocity. "Forever Fresh" is the b-side to Kam Moye's official second single and album title track, "Splitting Image."

Kam Moye's latest album 'Splitting Image' on RBC Records/MYX Music in-stores now!

Little Brother To Release Final Album 'Leftback' April 20

via A.V. Club

If you're like me, North Carolina's Little Brother is one of your all-time favorite hip hop groups. The group has experienced all sorts of highs, lows and creamy middles since its classic 2003 debut The Listening was championed by the likes of ?uestlove and Pete Rock. The trio was signed to major label Atlantic and then abruptly dropped after its second album, The Minstrel Show flopped.

Super-producer 9th Wonder left the group after landing a beat on The Black Album and becoming one of hip hop's most in-demand beatsmiths. Most recently, frontman Phonte was nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative performance Involving Black People with soulful side project Foreign Exchange.

Alas, the long, strange, often glorious story of Little Brother appears to be coming to an end. The duo of Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh has announced that their forthcoming CD, Leftback (on the duo's boutique label Hall of Justus), will be its last. The album will be released on April 20th and feature production from Khrysis, Denaun Porter, Zo! and others. Back in my video store days I used to play a long-form Abba video that featured an interview with a fan who was asked, "If you could say one thing to Abba, what would it be?" The fan's answer gave the video (and box set and hardcover book) its name: Thank You For the Music. With that in mind, goodbye, Little Brother and thank you for the music.

Sean Garrett Runs Through The Hits On Power 98 Radio Interview Charlotte, NC

Sean Garrett's new website:
I Am The Pen

Sean Garrett's MySpace:
Sean Garrett's My Space

Sean Garrett on Wikipedia:
Sean Garrett Wikipedia

Related:
Sean Garrett And Bangladesh In The Studio

Juelz Santana Performance At Johnson C. Smith University Charlotte, NC

Dipset invades North Carolina, as the Juelz Santana & Skull Gang show came to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC. The concert took place Friday, October 16 at the University gym.

Performing a new song "Mixing Up The Medicine' at the 8:30 mark on clip #2.

Check out the photos from the show:
Ozone Mag - Juelz Santana Concert

(video courtesy of Malikcopafeel from Ozone Mag)

Beastie Boys: Asheville, North Carolina front row footage

More performance footage, this time in a short bite sized kinda way with segments re-capping the live show in its entirety.