Funkadelic Freestyles: 04.08

MP3: Danny! - Yoko Ono (feat. Che Grand)

Daniel (Danny!) Swain, emcee and producer

"Championship music" indeed, Mr. Grand. With our good friend Che on the first verse,"Yoko Ono" is the name of this joint, and it's gonna be included on the next release from South Carolina producer/emcee Danny!, the psuedo-soundtrack And I Love H.E.R. Obviously we see the Hard Day's Night homage in the album cover, so it's no wonder he called the track "Yoko Ono." ("Because the bitch is crazy!")

There's sure to be more on Danny! coming outta the FF blog soon. Stay tuned for the soundtrack release...tomorrow?! Here's a tracklist:

1. Intro

2. Guess Who's Back (feat. Naledge)

3. I Want H.E.R. (She's So Heavy) (feat. Collette)

4. At What Price (feat. Maria)

5. Jet Set

6. The Groove

7. Not The One (feat. Kid Syc)

8. Misery (feat. Branden M. Collins)

9. Intermission (interlude)

10. Wanderland

11. Where You Goin' (feat. Maria)

12. Never Change (feat. Kid Syc and Branden M. Collins)

13. I Don't Know (feat. Von Pea and Stephanie Mae)

14. Yoko Ono (feat. Che Grand)

15. Do You

16. After The Love Has Gone (feat. Collette)

17. Keep Dreamin'

MP3: Danny! - Yoko Ono (feat. Che Grand)

IN STORES: The Roots - Rising Down

It's 4.29, therefore Rising Down is finally on the shelves.

Also in stores:

Portishead - Third

Dizzee Rascal - Maths + English

MP3: The Roots - Get Busy (feat. Dice Raw, Peedi Peedi, & DJ Jazzy Jeff)

MP3: The Roots - Rising Up (feat. Wale & Chrisette Michele)

MP3: Portishead - Machine Gun

BONUS: The Roots Live @ Sirius Satellite Radio 4.28.08 (Shouts to HV)

WATCH: The Roots & Wale on Letterman

Sigh, the Celtics are in trouble with the Hawks AGAIN and it's only the 1st quarter. Win or lose, DC's Wale is guaranteed to pick up a W tonight. I don't usually do heads up shit like this, but I've had this on my calender for a few weeks now.

Monday, April 28. 2008

Late Night With David Letterman

Featuring a performance from The Roots with Wale & Chrisette Michele

11:35pm EST

4.28.08: Al Green's Triumphant Return

Genius Loves Company

I know, Al Green released a pretty nice record in 2005 with Everything's O.K. However, it's arguable that his new record is eons ahead of Everything's O.K. AND 2003's I Can't Stop. 2008's Lay It Down is due in record stores (if they still exist) on May 27th, but the leak occurred last week.

Lay It Down was produced with the help of Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, the musical director/drummer for The Roots. The record invites guests John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Anthony Hamilton to lend their vocals to the project. Each featured track creates the perfect pairing for the relative newcomers and the reverend. Overall, the album is incredibly smooth, perfectly sequenced, and absolutely beautiful. The best collaboration? Ms. Bailey Rae on "Take Your Time," offered for free download below along with Al and John's "Stay With Me (By The Sea)."

MP3: Al Green - Take Your Time (feat. Corrine Bailey Rae)

MP3: Al Green - Stay With Me (By The Sea) (feat. John Legend)

VIDEO: Amanda Diva - Windows Over Harlem

Off the Life Experience EP, available on iTunes now.

MP3: Reef The Lost Cauze - Squeeze

New music from Philly emcee Reef The Lost Cauze. Produced by Haj of Dumhi. Shouts to Haj for that impromptu interview we had on air last week, and please, please, check Haj's Yoga at Home EP due this summer. Che Grand's gonna be on that joint and a host of others...(my mind's blanking on the rest).

Reef's got a mixtape dropping Tuesday called Long Live The Cauze Vol. II. I saw him perform with Little Brother back in December, and I can definitely say he's got an incredible amount of talent.

MP3: Reef The Lost Cauze - Squeeze (Prod. by Haj)

LIVE BLOG: Oddisee, Kev Brown, Kenn Starr @ GWU

9:32pm EST: Kev Brown and Kenn Starr walked in literally minutes ago. Oddisee absolutely killed his set. Particular highlights: "A Song for That" and that intro over the Fantasia beat. Kenn Starr and Kev are ON stage and I'm ashamed y'all aren't here. As Kev said "we had to bring Kenn Starr out the basement." Real special, right now.

9:09pm EST: Oddisee's on stage working the crowd with the intro off the Oddisee 101 Mixtape. All the cigarette smoking fam are back in the building, and we're ready to go! I forgot how talented this man is, damn!

8:57pm EST: Famous Corners killed it. Shout out to the whole fam and hope much success in the future. Oddisee is setting up, and DJ Dee Cash is playing a little Tribe on the 1s and 2s. Check the rhyme, y'all!

8:35pm EST: My man Patrice (Hardbody P) of Famous Corners is breaking dancing to Justice's D.A.N.C.E. I'm a fan because really, I still haven't gotten sick of that joint. Roblynn spit a fly freestyle (a funkadelic freestyle?), and now they're easing into another song. Oddisee and them will be down here soon...

8:23pm EST: Yours truly just announced GW's own Famous Corners, who I've never seen perform before. That does NOT mean I don't think they're gonna be dope. DJ Dee Cash is in the house with his Serato set-up and DJ Popular is holding it down for Famous Corners. Never heard these names before? Get out to the show. Shit's FREE!

CONCERT: Oddisee, Kev Brown, & Kenn Starr 4.25.08

FRIDAY 4.25.08

WRGW Radio and Program Board

present...

Oddisee

Kev Brown

Kenn Starr

Featuring GW's Famous Corners

Hosted by jben.ok

LIVE on stage at GWU's Mitchell Theater

514 19th St. NW

Washington, DC 20052

This is a FREE show.

VIDEO: The Roots - Rising Up (feat. Wale & Chrisette Michelle)

Here it is. Enjoy.

4.19.08: Nicolay & Kay Live In-Studio

Just got back from the Nicolay & Kay show at The Black Cat here in DC, and even though I'm still trying to get over this cold, it was a blast. Met a lot of new people and ran into many old friends...shout out to Aeon, KB, Raw P, Mr. Murdock, and Muhsinah.

Anyway, it's hot as fuck in my dorm room but I'm gonna try and fall asleep so I'm all rested and ish for tomorrow's in-studio interview with Nicolay & Kay. K Murdock of Panacea will be there as well, and Muhsinah, I forget to invite you, check your myspace.

LIVE IN-STUDIO:

Nicolay & Kay w/ K Murdock of Panacea

Hosted by jben.ok and Vex Blizzy

3:00pm EST

Listen LIVE @ www.gwradio.com

4.15.08: FF 013

Oddisee

I can't say much because I'm in a rush to get to the studio on time. There may be no Nyadenya tonight, which means I gotta teach Vex how to work the boards, lol. Anyway, that bearded dude above this text is coming through live tonight for an interview and who knows what else, plus I heard that your new favorite DJ is calling in to chop it up in the first hour. (In case you were keeping score at home, that's Oddisee and Statik Selektah, respectively)

Tune in because we're giving away a pair of tickets to the Nicolay & Kay, Panacea, and Muhsinah show this Friday (4/18) at The Black Cat in NW DC. Seriously though, all you gotta do is call in and list off three joints from TIME:LINE. Seriously.

FF 013

Hosted by jben.ok, Nyadenya, & Vex Blizzy

8-10pm EST
WRGW Radio
LIVE on gwradio.com

CALL IN TO 202-994-WRGW to win 2 free tickets to Nicolay & Kay at The Black Cat in DC this Friday!

(See details below)

Special Guests:

Statik Selektah

Oddisee

CONTEST: 2 Free Tickets to Nicolay & Kay w/ Panacea and Muhsinah in DC 4/18

Tune in LIVE Tuesday, April 15, 2008

STREAM LINK: http://gwradio.com

8-10pm EST

CALL-IN 202-994-WRGW

Name your 3 favorite songs from Nicolay & Kay's TIME:LINE

CONTEST: Nicolay & Kay Live in DC

The good folks at MN8 have brought another hip hop show to the District, and I'm definitely not complaining. I've been without a computer for the weekend and will continue to be without it until Friday at the least, so it's sure to be a rough week. However, this weekend is a whole 'nother story.

Nicolay & Kay, who are known from their seperate projects Foreign Exchange and The Foundation, respectively, are rolling through the Black Cat this Friday night with FF alums Panacea and Muhsinah. We were so excited about the show (uh, we've def. played TIME:LINE like 6 billion times) that we caught notice of Nicolay's management. In doing so they wanted to help you guys out by giving away a pair of tickets to the show on Friday night.

All you gotta do is call-in to the Funkadelic Freestyles radio show Tuesday night around 8:30pm EST and give us the names of your three favorite joints off Nicolay & Kay's new album, TIME:LINE. I expect you to cop the album if you haven't already, it's available on iTunes and Amazon.

And who can forget that Panacea's The Scenic Route is still in stores, while Muhsinah just dropped a suped-up version of her debut titled day.break 2.0.

CONTEST: 2 Free Tickets to Nicolay & Kay w/ Panacea and Muhsinah in DC 4/18
Tune in LIVE Tuesday, April 15, 2008
STREAM LINK: http://gwradio.com
8-10pm EST
CALL-IN 202-994-WRGW
Name your 3 favorite songs from Nicolay & Kay's TIME:LINE

VIDEO: Che Grand - The Stew Fuzz Theme (ZFTP Theatre)

Che Grand - THE STEW FUZZ THEME (ZFTP Theatre)
Uploaded by dreamchasers

Che Grand has done it again - with the help of DreamChasers - "Stew Fuzz Theme" is the Funkadelic Favorite joint of the week.

Many of you heard the Che Grand interview a few weeks back - and are still buzzing off the Zimbabwe For The Public special mix that Mr. Grand blessed us with during his visit. --- Now, Check out the DreamChasers enhanced 'Stew Fuzz Theme' video.

For more on Air-Tight Grizzy (Che Grand) - visit www.chegrand.blogspot.com

DOWNLOAD: Nhmiah Su - 16 Hours: The Mixtape

Shouts to fwmj for the artwork and the hosting.

It's 2 in the morning, but I promised myself I wouldn't forget to post this tonight. (And on top of that, I've got a paper due in approx. 7 hours!) Ever since Muhsinah entered the WRGW studios, I become enamored with her production and words. This woman is not a trained vocalist, but she manages to lace every single track she's on. (Want proof, here's the intro to Hezekiah's recent album)

Anyway, sorry if I blew your cover, girl. She's truly getting her Viktor Vaughn on by releasing this mixtape under the name Nhmiah Su (oh, and you heard Boozina did the production, right?) LOLZ, enough wordplay for tonight. Well not exactly, since I have to put a buncha words together and make them into sentences. And support my thesis, with sources......It's gonna be a long night (morning), y'all.

DOWNLOAD: Nhmiah Su - 16 Hours: The Mixtape

4.8.08: FF 012

Termanology, Reks (remember him?), & Statik Selektah

Before I say anything, I just wanna apologize for the lack of updates. This weekend you'll be bombarded with posts full of music, news, updates, whatever. I've been real busy with school and I'm also trying to support an ailing friend...it's still real!

FF 012

Hosted by jben.ok, Nyadenya, & Vex Blizzy

8-10pm EST

WRGW Radio

LIVE on gwradio.com

Special Guests:

AC (possibly)

Statik Selektah (for sure!)

New joints from Muhsinah (Nhmiah Su), 9th Wonder, LMNO & Kev Brown, and more.

Upcoming Concerts in the DC Area

Mary J. Blige & Jay-Z @ Verizon Center (4/6)
Saul Williams & Dragons of Zynth @ 9:30 club (4/7)

Gil Scott-Heron @ 930 Club (4/19)

The Roots and Friends @ The National Mall (4/20)

Atmosphere w/ Abstract Rude & DJ Rare Groove @ 930 Club (4/29)
RJD2 & Happy Chichester @ 9:30 club (5/1)
El-P & Busdriver @ 9:30 club (5/8)
Kanye West & Rihanna, N.E.R.D. and Lupe Fiasco @ Nissan Pavilion (5/10)

Erykah Badu @ DAR Constitution Hall (5/14)

Erykah Badu & The Roots @ DAR Constitution Hall (5/15)
Yo Majesty @ DC9 (5/18)

VIDEO: Muhsinah - Construction

Construction from Rxlngr on Vimeo.

Just a hunch, but I think FF alum Muhsinah, is gonna be a star. Peep the (old) video!

LIVE VIDEO: The Roots @ AT&T Block Party 10pm EST

The hardest working band in hip hop is live from San Antonio tonight, supposedly to kick off the 2008 NCAA Final Four. (In case you don't know, I'm rooting for Kansas). Check the live webcast around 10pm EST for The Roots performance. And who the fuck is Ludo?

LIVE VIDEO: The Roots in San Antonio Webcast (Starts at 10pm EST)

VIDEO: Oh No & The Alchemist Are Gangrene

Self explanatory, I guess. But what the fuck is going on in the video?

MP3: The Roots - Con Safo (Mars Volta Live Cover)

The Mars Volta, Photographed in 2007 by Ross Halfin

In case you didn't read the FULL title, this isn't another leak off of Rising Down. Instead, here's a gem for all my indie rock fans out there (and I know you're out there). At a recent Ottawa tour date, The Roots, with fantastic new bassist Owen Biddle (we still miss you though, Hub), covered the song "Con Safo" off The Mars Volta's Frances the Mute album. Recorded by a loyal fan over at the Comatorium message boards, here's a pretty good quality copy off that very song live from that very tour date.

MP3: The Roots - Con Safo (Live in Ottawa)

4.2.08: Life's (Che) Grand

Alright, so this isn't the first Che Grand post nor will it be the last. Because truly and honestly, this dude makes GOOD hip hop. No dick-riding, no favors, nothing like that. I had this discussion with Nyadenya and Vex last night about GOOD hip hop and going out to support it. Present the music, and the people will come. (Okay, so this discussion was had purely on the topic of GWU, but still.)

Anyway, Che was on FF back on March 7th mixing another ZFTP comp and getting interviewed by myself. You can listen to the interview on Che's blog, and now you can DOWNLOAD the ZFTP FF mix here.

AND...Che's coming out with an album in June. It's called Everything's Good Ugly and if you know someone up at a major, make sure they hear this new cut. Featuring Nicky of HEAVy and produced by Aeon, it's streaming up at ZFTP. (Man, even I wish I could download this one).

DOWNLOAD: Che Grand - ZFTP FF Mix 3.7.08