This is the first time I’ve blogged anything in a long ass time. The 9-to-5 life had me all but discard of this domain name, but alas, we’re still alive! I came back here to announce that we’re proud to present our next show, featuring DC’s own Fat Trel. Check the flyer out above! Crazy, right!?

I blogged about Trel pretty in-depth a little over a year ago (check that here). While bigger names Wale and Tabi Bonney have worked diligently to put DC hip-hop on the map, Trel has been too, just a little differently. Trel’s been in the trenches (read: the studio), perfecting his craft and killing open mics and murdering shows across the country when time permits. Sure, the noise hasn’t been as loud (although it did garner some attention from Cash Money CEO Bryan “Baby” Williams aka Birdman, some big magazines, and a bunch of labels), but you’re about to hear it.

You may have caught Trel at DC’s Vitamin Water Uncapped show alongside Rye Rye, Wale and X.O. earlier this year (I was in there. It was wild!). If you missed it, here’s some footage:

He’s only 20, but his talent as a musician is unparalleled by most. I wouldn’t have said that before yesterday, when the DC to BC team hit the practice site for Krank Factory, the electrifying band that will be backing Trel on stage. He told us it was his first real time rocking with a band that wasn’t a go-go band, but watching him work, you would think he’s a vet. Adding his input for when the guitar should solo on a track, communicating with the lead keyboardists to figure out how to recreate the synth sounds for the live performance. He was doing all that. They jammed out for like 6 hours straight and didn’t even seem tired. That’s an artist if I ever seen one.

I don’t need to sell you on anything else except his actual music, which is what the compilation that we’ve put together will do. It’s called The Set List, and it’s (give or take a few surprises!) the exact same set list that all 500 fans will experience on Sunday evening. We curated it and finalized it with Trel before we gave it to you guys. We hope to gain Trel some new supporters through this mix; you can download this today and know all the words by Sunday. Lol. But really though, we think this could be a cool new way of experiencing music as a new fan. The old fans already know what’s up, but it’s worth a download because it features a lot of his crazy thumpers on one compilation. The best part for both old and new? It’ll sound completely different (but equally as awesome) with a live band.

The entire point of this blog post was to give you guys an exclusive. So here it is, “Nightmare”, the introduction to his heavily anticipated mixtape Nightmare on E Street, dropping at the top of 2012. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Fat Trel – Nightmare [DC to BC EXCLUSIVE! PLEASE TURN THOSE SPEAKERS UP!]

DOWNLOAD: Fat Trel’s Nightmare Before Christmas – The Set List [Mix Compilation]

I’ll have the streaming version of The Set List shortly for those who can’t download. Gimme like 30 minutes. I gotta find some food. For those in DC, see you guys on Sunday (grab tickets here!). For those who aren’t there, we’ll definitely document that joint for you!

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve already heard me sing this album’s praises. I bought ScHoolBoy Q‘s Setbacks off iTunes, and now he’s released a free version. The free version is shorter than the iTunes joint (couple different songs, and honestly, one of them is potentially a highlight on the tape…yikes…oh well!) Since he dropped the announcement on Twitter Nation, I figured I’d let those who don’t know of him or follow him to learn about him here.

Q’s got a charisma about him, man. His voice is unique, and he kills the majority of these tracks with his somewhat unorthodox rhyme scheme. Every song is pretty intense, too, as far as subject matter. When I play this album, I paint a vivid picture of this hazy, California hellhole. Lots of drug talk, but the stressful life that he seems to lead kind of explains it all. I love pretty much every beat on the album, and the only real problem I have with the project is that he didn’t put the one song that I blogged of his a while back on the joint. I understand the decision (it doesn’t really work with the entire “setbacks” concept), but that joint bumped.

All of the features are awesome. Top Dawg teammates Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock all have appearances (Kendrick actually has two, and the one on “LigHt Years AHead” is my favorite swag verse of his since I heard “Michael Jordan”) ***WOW! This song is NOT on the free version! Sorry, guys!*** BJ The Chicago Kid murders the hook on “I’m Good”, and in a great, great way.

I hate talking about music too much. Just listen to it. Thank me later. I rock with Q the long way. This album is the best thing to drop in January as far as hip-hop is concerned (that I’ve heard, anyway). Check out this video real quick, then grab the whole project via the link below. Oh, and shout out to @daveisfree.

DOWNLOAD: ScHoolBoy Q – Setbacks [ALBUM]

An article in Atlanta’s Creative Loafing informed me that the three ATLiens that make up the alternative rap group Supreeme have disbanded and gone their separate ways. These guys were always interesting to me, as they all had completely unique flows but could come together on a track and it worked.

Word on the streets is that Sam (the white dude in the group) is going to cooking school, Negashi (middle with the tank top) moved to Oakland and is coming out with a solo album. Shaka? Well, this interview explains how things went down from his point of view, and it looks like he was all for staying together. Probably one of the saddest music industry things I’ve heard in a while.

With the announcement of the group’s end came their final album, God Bless The Child, which has some cool joints on it. Very dark album though! Just look at that album artwork. My goodness. Jam the sample below (featuring my man Fat Tony), and then download the tape by clicking the link or the artwork. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Supreeme – God Bless The Child [Album]

Why? Because I said so! The people who’ve downloaded Culdesac have encouraged me to continue to spread the gospel that is Childish Gambino aka comedian/actor/creator Donald Glover Grab his earlier tapes I Am Just A Rapper 1 & 2 below, where he rhymes effortlessly over indie rock beats (except that “Exhibit C” that for some strange reason had the world talking about it. It was cool, but I mean, come on. Don’t make me talk about that here though. That’s for an in-person discussion.).

If you have an eclectic ear, you may recognize a bunch of these joints. The tapes are also critically acclaimed. You be the judge as to which is triller; my vote’s with the first, but the second has jams too. If you’re confused as to who this guy is, then go check the post I did on him a little while ago.

DOWNLOAD: Childish Gambino – I Am Not A Rapper [Mixtape]

DOWNLOAD: Childish Gambino – I Am Not A Rapper 2 [Mixtape]

BONUS: Childish Gambino – Got This Money [Acoustic Version] shout out to Ricardo aka Internet Goon for this download link! I’ve been looking everywhere for this.

More new Wiz, this latest joint is off his forthcoming “Burn After Rollin” mixtape which drops so soon that you can taste it. It’s a remix of “Walking on a Dream” by Australian electronica group Empire of the Sun (who got some love from the hip hop community after Jay-Z reached out and decided to throw them on the BP3).

Honestly, I think if he wanted to remix any song on their album, he shoulda rocked that “Delta Bay”. I hope he reads this and decides to take on that task, because THAT is their craziest track. Nonetheless, it’s a smooth joint. I’ll include the original. My younger brother actually put me on these guys a while back, so credit him for it all. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Wiz Khalifa – The Thrill

BONUS! The original track: Empire of the Sun – Walking On A Dream

PLUS! The track I think Wiz shoulda done instead of this. I’m just saying. Empire of the Sun – Delta Bay

]]> http://DCtoBC.com/2009/10/wiz-khalifa-the-thrill-remix-of-empire-of-the-suns-walking-on-a-dream/feed/ 905 http://DCtoBC.com/2009/10/clif-soulo-forever-be-hip-hop-mixtape/ http://DCtoBC.com/2009/10/clif-soulo-forever-be-hip-hop-mixtape/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:10:48 +0000 modi http://www.DCtoBC.com/?p=7005

Clif Soulo mentioned he would be doing this Common-themed album a while back, and the final copy has final . I heard some of the early mixes, which had some quality takes on some great instrumentals used by Common. This mixtape utilizes beats from both “Finding Forever” and “Be.” Big up to our friends EddyNPizzle for providing some graphics.

I recommend y’all check this out and show Clif Soulo some love…for him pursuing his love of hip hop music. Diggin this.

Via Clif Soulo:

“I created this album called Forever Be Hip Hop. It’s my own take on instrumentals from Commons’ album’s Finding Forever and Be. I tried and hopefully was successful in creating a new album introducing myself to the world as “Clif Soulo”, but also paying homage and showing respect to Common. If you get some time, download it, listen, let me know what you think.”

Leave him some direct feedback via his twitter page @ClifSoulo!

DOWNLOAD HERE (alt. link here), and tracklisting after the drop.

Better late than never.

“The Hot Towel“

Larry exposes Christian Slater at Ted and Mary’s anniversary party; Larry’s doctor regrets giving Larry his personal phone number.

DOWNLOAD: Curb Your Enthusiasm – Season 7, Episode 4 (“The Hot Towel”)

Episode: “Give A Little Bit”

Synopsis: As Vince prepares to head to Italy to film his next movie with Frank Darabont, Turtle attemps to move on from Jamie-Lynn with the hot co-ed Brooke, but upon realizing he can’t, Turtle heads for Auckland, New Zealand in a grand gesture to get Jamie-Lynn back. Drama chooses to give up acting, only to head back in for another Melrose audition. Ari faces two obstacles in buying Terrance’s company: his wife, and an addendum to the contract. Eric’s special lunch with Sloan turns sour, resulting in a fight, but by the time it’s over, nothing will be the same between them.

I know i sh!tted on last week’s episode, but this joint was one of the best season finales I’ve ever seen in my life. No joke. It’s dynamic, everybody is involved, Matt Damon is the man, and the music was so fitting for the scenes. Let’s get it. Thanks for swearing by DC to BC each week for the episodes. I appreciate your loyalty, and hopefully you’ll continue to come back for the music, the tomfoolery, and the random articles. Thanks for everything. Enjoy the episode. Oh, and had to bring the Star Wars themed picture back.

DOWNLOAD:  Entourage – Season 6 FINALE!!! [Streaming + HD Quality]

oh, and a bonus:

This is the first exclusive I’ve had for a while. NW DC’s G5 Clive reached out and asked me to sponsor the tape, and I was all about it. The newest installment from Clive is Reign Cheque. The entire thing takes place in new age Washington. Clive says, “Following the war between the light and the right, the kings and queens (us) are rhyming/living to take our kingdom back. Its a kinda dark album, with $30 million dollars  in it. The theme is basically “royalty, and futuristic rap.”

Wow. Do I need to say much more? Oh, maybe Clive can explain the fitting title for the mixtape. “It’s called Reign Cheque because it’s a play on words, and on the themes. It’s like I’m checking on the status of our rule, our governing. Also, rain check means ‘some other time’, so I’m saying, all the wack shit can take a rain check.”

True. My hometown heroes, M1 Platoon, are featured all over the tape, so consider that a treat for those waiting for their next joint to drop. Also, the profesionally recorded tape is a first for Clive, who previously worked on his music in home studios. It’s a first of many milestones to come in the young man’s career.

In typical G5 fashion, he has a thorough lineup of crazy producers to keep the sound on some next level stuff. Like some of the best backpacker / underground / real hip hop production I’ve heard in a long time. Metaphysical, Banquo Bangs, Choc, Vaughn G (formally Arafat Yates), Crysis, Matt Cody, Johnny5, Rasneb, Napalm, Jiles, and my fellow blogger and rival private school atendee Fundamental all contributed to this project.

I know I wrote a lot, but I think everybody should hear this project. All my DC folks, you may even hear your name on the track, especially if you roll with the rest of the uptown roamers. Ha. Check the preview, and download the tape below. Trust me. Space Ship Music INDEED!!!

DOWNLOAD: G5 Clive – Reign Cheque [Mixtape]

PREVIOUSLY: Summa of ’88 [Mixtape] | The Social Class [Mixtape]

Tracklisting below, after the jump.

The artwork is a bit messed up, because it’s missing a track 11, and there are 22 songs, not 16, but I’m still throwing it up because it looks cool. Ha.

]]> http://DCtoBC.com/2009/09/g5-clive-reign-cheque-mixtape/feed/ 21 http://DCtoBC.com/2009/09/random-re-up-mike-jones-runnin-tha-game-2003-x-king-of-the-streets-2004/ http://DCtoBC.com/2009/09/random-re-up-mike-jones-runnin-tha-game-2003-x-king-of-the-streets-2004/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:42:33 +0000 modi http://www.DCtoBC.com/?p=6769

Back in 2005, Mike Jones was on the verge of being a household name at one point. A platinum album, a segment on MTV’s “Punk’d”, and the trillest ad-libs in the game (repeating his lines. What’s better than that?) Admit the first time you saw that “Still Tippin’” video, you were amused by his confidence. He was so convincing, he actually had me worried that if I turned my neck while he was around, my dame would indeed be missing.

So what happened to his buzz!? Are there any artists signed to his Ice Age label?! What’s this talk of retiring from music!? It’s ’09, and he’s no longer even mentioned in conversation anymore like he used to be. While part of me knows it’s because he wasn’t a rapper destined for longevity, another part of me is sad, and feels the need to bring the talent that he did bless us with to resurface.

Two of the many mixtapes from Houston artists that stood out to me were Mike Jones’ King of the Streets and Runnin’ Tha Game. Flows ranging from 1 to 3 minutes, a variety of hot beats, just flowing, mayne. These mixtape represents an important part of my musical maturation, as it’s when I was put on to pretty much everybody from Houston’s new school. Sure, he’s not sophisticated. But sometimes, we don’t want that. We just want to jam. I put a sample from both tapes up. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Mike Jones – Runnin’ Tha Game [2003]

DOWNLOAD: Mike Jones – King of the Streets [2004]

Shout out to @NasVegas for putting me on that H-Town movement early.