I had an AZ CD back in middle school and I thought he was going to really blow up. He came up in that golden '90s era of hip hop that I so miss. I rarely hear hip hop that I like anymore so that is why I get excited when I come across things online like this.If you like what you hear in this video, pick up his 1996 classic album, Doe Or Die.Will someone please bring AZ to Austin? I'm looking at you Transmission Entertainment and Knuckle Rumbler.
Talib is one of my favorite MCs. I don't talk about too much hip hop these days, but Kweli is always worth talking about and checking out live in concert. Tonight he will be at The Scoot Inn over on the Eastside. I hope he does his old Black Star verses. It is one of my all time favorite albums, any genre. Check out Kweli with Mos Def from back in the day.
I follow Cypress Hill's B-Real on twitter, which is where I saw this music video by Ahmad Ali Lewis. As I do with all of B-Real's tweets, I check the links to see what he's posting or talking about. He posted this music video so I gave it a look and listen. I'm so glad I did.
Besides being one of the best hip hop songs I've heard lately, I learned Ahmad Ali Lewis is the same Ahmad that created one of my favorite hip hop songs of all time back int he '90s, "Back In The Day." Ahmad sounds way different now, but that's to be understood as the dude is older now. He's still lyrically on point and a great story teller. That's the kind of hip hop I always loved, not this bullshit you hear today. I'm now eagerly awaiting for Ahmad's album which drops in August according to his twitter. If he puts it out on vinyl, I'll trip.
To celebrate their tenth anniversary, one of my favorite hip hop groups, Dead Prez, is giving away their newest mixtape away for free on their website. Titled Revolutionary Gangsta Grillz, the duo spit fire over some popular Drake beats. I'm enjoying it already and real hip hop fans will too. Check out this cool teaser video I saw on YouTube. "All the bullshit hop hop they sellin' is going to start a rebellion in the real world".
I'm still waiting for time travel to be invented so I can show my junior high self this picture and interview I did with Sen Dog from Cypress Hill. I sat down with Sen Dog when they came through Austin and we had a good talk about everything from his personal health, his yard sale and their new album, Rise Up. Not much more can be said that hasn't been said about Cypress Hill already, but this was definitely one of my favorite interviews I've ever done. He was open, honest and even funny at times. Check out the interview online at Austin Vida here:
My favorite hip hop group of all time, Cypress Hill, swings by Austin Thursday night for a big concert at Stubb's. Nothing, other than a At The Drive In or Rage Against The Machine reunion, can make me happier. They are touring to support their new album, Rise Up, which includes the summer anthem "Armada Latina". This is their best radio single in years, maybe ever. When you get Pitbull and Marc Anthony on the same track with you, backed by Eric Bobo's percussion and such, you have a smash single. I have already heard a bunch kids with "Armada Latina" as their ring tone.
It is truly a new Austin now in comparison to when I moved here in 1995. There is even more traffic on I-35, ridiculous noise ordinances imposed on the Live Music Capital's best street, legendary venues gone the wayside and now one of Austin's music staples is playing his last show. Yes, Ten Time Austin Music Award Winner M.C. Overlord is playing his last show this Saturday. It is just another sign that the times, they are a changin'.
Originally from St. Louis, he moved to Austin in 1987. M.C. Overlord is known to his family and friends as Don Robinson. He once told me at a show sometime in the '90s when I was in high school that his name comes from a cartoon show called "Blackstar". Around that same time I remember buying his CD, House Funk, from him at that same show. The CD was not as good as his live show, particularly because he was one of the only local MCs at the time using a live band to back him instead of just a DJ. He wasn't going to be a superstar, this I knew even then. He was talented enough to give a good show and his magnetic stage personality was what made him exceptional. Everyone always had a good time at his shows.
The single most impressive thing to me about M.C. Overlord was not his sack of Austin Music Awards (10 strong) but rather what he did for local hip hop in a time where Austin, whether it wants to admit it or not, didn't exactly embrace local hip hop. He somehow played venues where only the white crowds would go see shows, like Steamboat and the club that used to be Bob Popular before it was Bob Popular. (If anyone knows the name, email me. I'm kicking myself for not remembering something I should know. I never went because I wasn't old enough, but lots of people used to talk about it back then.)
Recently, Overlord was part of "The Incomparable Boombox" who played every Tuesday at Lucky Lounge. I remember reading something about him leaving, but never followed up on it. I am just not interested in gossip like that. Even more recently, I saw flyers for him playing at The Dirty Dog Bar on 6th. Just the other day I heard him on 101X with Toby Ryan. Now I guess he's hanging it up. That's too bad, but it isn't like he didn't leave his mark on this town before "retiring". Austin and especially local hip hop artists owe him tons for the doors he helped open. For those who don't know or want a quick trip down Austin's memory lane, check out this video for M.C. Overlord's song "Remember". It is only fit.
Joining M.C. Overlord on Saturday will be St. Louis rapper, Nite Owl. According to Overlord's Myspace blog, fans who attend his last show will receive a free EP never before released material from the Austin M.C.There is no cover charge for the show. One2One Bar is located on 5th and Brazos St. Be sure and vote for it here on Do512.
I recently fulfilled a childhood dream of mine when I not only met the legendary B-Real, but also interviewed him for Austin Vida. He was here in Austin touring with Bizzy Bone from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. B-Real was supporting his solo album, Smoke N Mirrors.
That day was also a special day because it was my good friend Ajay's birthday. I never had a birthday with a hip hop legend, but I was glad for him. We even did birthday shots with B-Real, Sick Jacken (Psycho Realm) and their crew. I never do shots or drink anything not marked "Lone Star", but it was a special occasion. If only someone would hurry up and invent time travel. I'd go back to visit 8th grade me in Cincinnati (where I lived at the time) and tell me about that night.
I hate to sound like such a fan boy, but Cypress Hill turned my world upside when I was a kid. When I first got my own adult stereo, CD player and all, I owned only three CDs. Those three were 1) Pearl Jam's Ten 2) The Red Hot Chili Peppers classic Blood Sugar Sex Magic and 3) Cypress Hill's self titled debut. "Latin Lingo" was the song that I used to play on repeat, now that I had that ability to do so without rewinding a cassette tape. Remember....it was the early '90s.
To check out the greatness that is B-Real, check out this montage Ajay filmed and edited from his show at The Mohawk. B-Real does some Cypress Hill hits along with some tracks off of Smoke N Mirrors.
This Thursday, June 18th, I get to go back in time to when Hip Hop was good. Two MCs from two of my favorite groups of all time take the mic at Mohawk for the "Unite The Mic Tour". B Real from Cypress Hill (Insane In The Brain, Hand of The Pump, Latin Lingo, etc) and Bizzy Bone from Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony (Crossroads, 1st of Tha Month, etc) are now promoting new solo projects. Here is the info for the show:
Ian is a graduate of Round Rock High School and attended St Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. In 2008 he joined the team at Double Stereo (formerly CD Fuse) as their Blog editor where he reviewed concerts, albums, and did interviews for the popular music site.In January 2009, he became the Editor in Chief for Austin Vida. In 2010, with the help of some of his most talented friends, he launched Red River Noise. "Ian's Music Blog" is also one of the few blogs selected to be a Do512 All-Star.
On any given night of the week he can be found in downtown Austin on 6th Street and the Red River live music district.
