Features

Jedi Mind Tricks and Babygrande Records are pleased to announce an unprecedented rapid fire 2008 release schedule guaranteed to satisfy even the most hardcore JMT/AOTP fans:

• The summer release of the first ever Jedi Mind Tricks DVD: “Divine Fire: The Story of Jedi Mind Tricks”
• The July 22nd release of Jedi Mind Tricks Presents: Doap Nixon “Sour Diesel”
• The August 5th release of Jedi Mind Tricks Presents: King Syze “The Labor Union”
• The September 30th release of Jedi Mind Tricks Presents: Outerspace “God’s Fury”
• The October 14th release of Jedi Mind Tricks’ sixth album “A History of Violence”

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Lawrence, Mass. (June 2, 2008) Veteran in the Boston Hip-Hop Scene, rapper REKS teamed up with DJ Statik Selektah to produce his highly anticipated sophomore album Grey Hairs. With production from the legendary DJ Premier and Large Professor, Grey Hairs is guaranteed to be a modern-day classic!

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Opio, member of the classic hip-hop group Souls of Mischief, has released details of his sophomore solo album, Vulture’s Wisdom, Volume 1. The album will include a bonus DVD with music videos as well as animated shorts and features artwork by renowned pop artist David Flores. The album will be released in August on Hiero Imperium Records as the first chapter of a forthcoming trilogy.

Vulture’s Wisdom, Volume 1 is a challenge to bloated hip-hop. With production solely from Oakland-based The Architect, whose production credits include early Stones Throw releases, Coolio, Planet Asia, and Encore, the album has a deliberate focus on Opio’s rhyming and artistry. With fourteen songs under 39 minutes, the album is a short and sweet collaboration of golden-era rap polished to a 2008 sheen. While current artists such as Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West have been appropriating the classic mid 90’s sound, Opio says, “People are trying to tap into that energy, whereas I am that energy.” This is no braggadocio. In fact, it is an honest self- assessment of what Opio represents in the world of hip-hop; he is a living legend that has been recording and touring consistently for more than fifteen years.

The idea for Vulture’s Wisdom came about in conversations between The Architect and Opio after they met while sharing neighborhood studio spaces. The conversations sparked a flood of creativity from Opio, and as fast as The Architect could supply beats, Opio was penning lyrics. “We embody the energy that people are trying so desperately to recapture or reconnect with. We never fell prey to all the trappings of materialism. Our music has stayed true to the art form and this album is a tribute to that.” The album includes a bonus DVD with 7 music videos as well as animated shorts. Pop artist David Flores (XLARGE, Stussy, Deluxe, Shorty’s) provided the album artwork.

As a teen, Opio hooked up with local rappers Tajai and A-Plus, whom he met through Casual, another emcee who was Opio’s classmate and neighbor. The three instantly clicked and began recording together, soon adding fourth emcee Phesto Dee, to form the group Souls of Mischief. Together with Del the Funky Homosapien, Casual, Domino, and Pep Love, the legendary crew Hieroglyphics was born. Opio has always done double duty for Hiero as both an emcee and producer. Opio’s recent production credits include the track “Naked Fonk” from Del’s recent 11th Hour. Opio’s first solo effort, 2005’s Triangulation Station, moved over 20,000 units. Vulture’s Wisdom, Volume 1 will be released in August on Hiero Imperium records.

Opio will be touring this summer and fall in support of the album with Hieroglyphics. Dates available here.

After a long bout with lung cancer, emcee and producer Camu Tao passed away early Sunday afternoon. Of course, family and friends are the ones most capable to paint a picture of who that person was, so, rather than focusing solely on this tragedy by myself, I have chosen to include the words of one of Camu’s closest friends and musical collaborators, El-P, to properly portray the impact and importance the life of Camu Tao has had on those who surrounded him. In El-P’s Myspace blog, he writes:

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Just when you think free newspapers have already seen their worst days, journalist Chris Faraone of the Boston Phoenix drops the gem “In with the In Crowd: LA’s Time Machine Lose the Zeros.” Never before have I read a piece of work like this. Honestly, if I ever submitted anything that remotely resembled the ridiculousness of “In with the In Crowd,” I would expect to get reprimanded or at least ridiculed for producing such a poorly executed article with a Masters Degree in Journalism. Initially, the objective of Faraone’s article may have been to congratulate hip-hop group Time Machine for the attention and anticipation received from their sophomore LP, Life Is Expensive. However, Faraone appears to get a little sidetracked, revolving the majority of the article around his contradictory opinions of Time Machine’s music and his judgmental assumptions on their increasing fan base.

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If you were in attendance at the AS220 on Saturday I’m sure you’d agree that Immortal Technique SMASHED Providence that night!

Immortal Technique embodies Hip Hop to the core. You may know him as a Graff Artist but you should know him as a Political Activist and Emcee. Immortal Technique has a raw, passionate sound. He promotes activism and revolution with an undeniable message. What I love most and find so engaging about Immortal Technique is his ability to command such attention and respect all the while spitting about real issues. He will never bow down to what the industry believes Hip Hop to be, and to me, THAT [he] is Hip Hop. Immortal Technique speaks about things that matter. He is influencing individuals to get involved, to rally together, to take a stand, to be proud, to make an impact.

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Wayne Frost AKA Frosty Freeze 12/08/63~04/03/08

My head is hung deepened with sadness as we say goodbye to a pioneer in this hip hop culture. Wayne Frost aka Frosty Freeze passed away April 3, and days later the thoughts of him not being on the scene still resonate with me.

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Attention producers! Do you have a love / hate relationship with the grind? Looking for another avenue to shop your ish? This entry may provide another avenue to generate both income and exposure. I had the privilege to talk with super producer of the advertising industry Wendell Hanes aka “Mr. Grinch”. Grinch’s client list stretch from GMC to Certs and everything in between (My fave is the Heineken “Birth of Scratching”). He recently finished writing a book that walks you through the process of selling your music to advertising. He took some time off the grind to chop it up with me about his new book “THE 30-30 CAREER: Making 30 Grand in 30 Seconds” (available May 1st on authorhouse.com). Enjoy! Oh yeah at the end of the interview check out the video by Jinx da Juvy called “Strong Enough” Music Prod. by Mr. Grinch

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You ever hear a Hip-Hop group/artist and wonder, “damn, these Kats are really def – am I the only one that know of them?” That thought does come across, yes; there is plenty of Hip-Hop that never gets an opportunity to see the bright sunshine. Why is that? I’ve learned to disregard that act of pondering and focus on “what can I do?” [Read the full story]