Wednesday, April 29, 2009

De La Soul - Big Mouf (Audio)



Yeeeah... nothing like a little De La to inspire your workout. This track is off of the new Nike-mix thing explained a few posts below. Interestingly, I tried to buy it off of iTunes and it wasn't working, apparently nobody actually has this yet. From the sounds of this cut, we have a lot to look forward to!

Dream Warriors - The Era of Stay Real (Audio)


One of my favourite tunes by the Dream Warriors circa 1996. Their later material was sadly slept on, as it was their best in my opinion.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Rascalz - Blind Wid Da Science (Video)


Can't front on old school Rascalz!

Teekay's NHL playoff predictions (round two)


Calgary is left with the 'Dead Mile' for yet another year as Chi-City won their first playoff series since beating us back in 1996 in Iginla's first NHL appearance. There may be some shakeups, but lets not dwell on the negative for now. Lets go back to my first round NHL predictions to see how I fared as a prognosticator.

WEST
Detroit over Columbus in six (Detorit won in four)
San Jose over Anaheim in five (Anaheim won in six)
Vancouver over St. Louis in seven (Vancouver won in four)
Calgary over Chicago in seven (Chicago won in six)
EAST
Boston over Montreal in six (Boston won in four)
Washington over New York Rangers in seven (Bang-on!)
Pittsburgh over Philadelphia in six (Bang-on!)
Carolina over New Jersey in seven (Bang-on!)

Six out of eight series ain't bad... and three of them I got the number of games correct. Too bad I wasn't part of an office pool this year! Onto my predictions for the semis...

WEST
Chicago over Vancouver in seven (I think this is Chi's Cinderella year)
Detroit over Anaheim in six
EAST
Washington over Pittsburgh in seven (This is Ovie's year as well)
Boston over Carolina in five

De La Soul works out some new music with Nike... (Video)


The first all new collection of De La music in five years is a continuous 45-minute mix of nine tracks for the Nike original series. They're also working on an actual album, but from what I hear in the background of this interview, a workout mix never sounded this fresh.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Beatnuts - Hit Me With That (Video)


Before they were forgetting their own catalogue, the Beatnuts were hitting you up with that hardcore for 1994.

Q-Tip shows off the "needle drop technique" to No I.D., Kanye West and Consequence (Video)


Very smooth... Q-Tip drops the "needle drop technique" in a studio session with No I.D., Kanye and Cons. Check out an mp3 of Q-Tip's tricks as a full-length instrumental here. Peace to John Book.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Mental Illness Playlist 04/26/09


Dj Shadow – Changeling
RZA – Drama
Q-Tip ft. Norah Jones – Life is Better
C.R.A.C. – Chill
J Rawls – Tribute to da Beatminerz
Exile – Your Summer Song
Cee Knowledge – I am Somebody
Damu the Fudgemunk – The Bright Side
Bored Stiff – Hope
Grouch & Eligh ft. Blu – Old Souls
Blame One ft. Aloe Blacc – Days Chasing Days
Keelay & Zaire ft. Tunji – Addicts for Real
Invincible – Taxicab Confessions
Oddisee ft. Invincible & Finale – Don’t Sleep(rmx)
yU – Almost Time
Diamond District – Streets Won’t let me Chill
Cunninlinguists ft. Hilltop Hoods & Looptroop – Nothing but Strangeness
Grand Analog ft. Shad – Electric City
Magnolius – Glorious
Theology 3 – Make it Big
The Abyss – The Abyss
Birdapres – Toothpaste
Leo37 ft. Al Buddy Black – Get Back
El Michaels Affair – C.R.E.A.M.
Meyer Hawthorne – Mabey so Mabey no
Aceyalone – Power to the People
Myka 9 – Monte Carlo
Mr Lif – Collapse the Walls
Brother Ali ft. Slug – The Believers
Doom – Supervillians
Del – And They Thought That was Hell
Lyrics Born – Funky Hit Records
J Dill ft. Black Thought – Reality Check
Madlib – Shades of Pete
KRS 1 & Buckshot – Robot
Sadat X ft. CL Smooth – Nuthin’
Nas – I Have to
Rhymefest – RNQ
K Salaam & Beatniq ft. U-N-I – Reach for the Sky
Dj Muggs ft. Sick Jacken & Evidence – Classical
Dj Spinna – Summer Madness
Big Tone ft. Blu – A Song Called Triumph
The U-N-I – Voltron
Black Milk – Give the Drummer Some
Oddisee ft. Declaime, Prince Po, yU and Dj Clear – Get Up

This is a funny write up...

Dragon Fli Empire are cooler than you. I'll bet that if they had an expensive, high-rotation music video right now, it'd feature sunny streets, expensive cars, and beautiful, well-endowed women in tasteful but revealing clothing. It's a bit ironic, since they reference Vancouver in one of their songs, and even in summer, Van isn't all that sunny, and my most vivid memory of visiting a couple years ago was when we wandered a little too far to one side of town and saw a woman trudging down the street with an open sore on her face. Picturesque! Still, if the knock-kneed, chicken-legged skinny jeans aesthetic of indie doesn't appeal to you, check out Dragon Fli Empire tonight; they have more than enough aesthetically-pleasing testosterone to make you feel okay about the world again.

Source: Aurgasmicalgary

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Digable Planets - Where I'm from Remix (Video)


Sick remix to the Digable Planets track circa 1994. These guys were masters of that "effortlessly cool" vibe.

Redefine gets a double-dip from Exclaim...


DFE has received two good reviews from Exclaim for Redefine (most likely due to the fact that it was given to two writers). Make sure to support the album by checking out the info in the right column. And just for the record since it comes up so often in these reviews, let me tell the story behind the album title.

The first title I pitched to Cosm back a couple years ago was The Definition of Smooth, which was due to the real relaxed vibe of the tracks we had done up to that point. The feedback we got from that title was that it sounded like the slogan for a jazz radio station. So, that changed to just DEFinition until we found out LL Cool J had recently released an album with the same title including the capitalization of DEF. The title track for the album (produced by The Gaff) was recorded during this period, which is why at the beginning of each verse you hear me say "The definition of..."

So we were left with a project without a name. In the title track, the first quote scratched in the chorus (of John Doe on Boogiemonsters' Whistles in the Wind saying "I redefine the definition") provided a solution. The title track's theme speaks on how I was "using creativity to turn around the energy" throughout my life to turn negative situations into positive outcomes. Thus, "Redefine". Another line in the song is "...suckas ruled me out, I started breaking their laws".

DFE is not trying to "redefine hip hop". We "redefine" by using our creativity to bust free from any boxes placed on what we can accomplish. I guess in retrospect that should have been explained in the album cover, lol. (Teekay)

...The perfect remedy for those nostalgic for the golden age of hip-hop, DFE offer it up with a fresh new spin on Redefine.
...Although the album doesn't redefine hip-hop, as the title suggests, it doesn't have to. By simply being what it is — true, well-defined, potent hip-hop — it is perfectly satiable.

Monday, April 20, 2009

yU - Before Taxes (free 99)


Wow, just a week or two after the Diamond District album dropped, member yU's solo is already here. This cat is super promising, and prolific.

Moka Only - Lemon (Audio)



Off of Moke's upcoming release "Lowdown Suite 2 - The Box", coming May 19th via Traffic Entertainment.

k-os - I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman feat. Saukrates (Audio)



Nice joint off of the new k-os album "Yes". And "yes", k-os will be invading CGY on May 4th at Mac Hall as part of his pay-what-you-want (!?!) tour.

Reflection Eternal - Back Again (Video)


Reflection Eternal - Back Again [Talib Kweli] from Radio Planet on Vimeo.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Diamond District - In The Ruff (free 99)


It's "bust your hard-drive day" over here at livefromcgy. This free 99 album (authorized leak by the group) comes complete with an 87 rating from Okayplayer and is entirely produced by super-producer Oddisee, so get your click on. Diamond District also includes D.C.-area vets X.O. & YU... enjoy!
http://www.zshare.net/download/58639724e3cf086e/

PPF Attic (free 99)


Here is the latest collection of tracks from our homies PPF House out in Toronto. Don't sleep, this stuff is heat!!

Skyzoo - The Power of Words (free 99)



Brand new mixtape from the New York heavy hitter. Features production from J Dilla, 9th Wonder, Illmind, Jake One and others. Enjoy!

http://www.zshare.net/download/587665119723ebbe/

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Hilltop Hoods - Nosebleed Section (Video)


Seeing as livefromcgy brings light to some Canadian rap that may be seen as obscure to the international hip hop community, it's kind of interesting to see what other countries have going on (besides the States). Down under, the Hilltop Hoods have emerged as a top hip hop force. This track is straight catchy.

Planit Meta - Endgame (Video)


CGY crew Planit Meta present their hilarious new video for "Endgame", directed by Wal Martian. Not bad, eh?

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Gang Starr - Code of the Streets (Video)


With Guru's recent assertion that "I AM Gang Starr", it's fairly obvious the dynamic duo he had with DJ Premier will not be reuniting anytime soon. Still, we can re-live the memories. "Code of the Streets" is what I'm feelin' today.

Buggin Out 09' by Consequence featuring KiD CuDi (Video)


Missed this video's debut in the middle of last month... awesome track from Q-Tip and J.Period's "The Abstract Best" mixtape flipping the Tribe classic.

DFE on Megacityhiphop.com's "Next Vol. One" mixtape! (free 99)


Dragon Fli Empire makes an appearance on the new free online mixtape "Next Vol. One" from our friends at MegaCityHipHop.com! Click the image above to download.

Tracklist:

1. Set2 - Everybody Know Me ft. Tona (prod. G-Nice)
2. Peter Jackson - Paper Boy ft. Royce da 5'9 (prod. Sheldon Moore)
3. The Smugglaz - He So Cool (prod. Fonz for Dramatic Tracks)
4. Syntax - Stand Up (prod. M-Phazes)
5. Mason Payne - Takeover the World (prod. Northern Profit)
6. Jak D of Cold Heat - Listen Up ft. O.C. & JS-1 (prod. Marco Polo)
7. Rich Kidd - Hypnotic ft. Junia-T (prod. Rich Kidd)
8. Theology 3 - Make It Big (prod. DJ Alibi)
9. Vandal - Toronto (prod. Wizzow)
10. Sporadic - Poetics ft. Scripts (prod. Beatwyze)
11. Skanks the Rap Martyr - King of The Streets Skanks ft. Anthony B (prod. Duddaman)
12. Poizun - Never Had A Clue (ft. Royce Da 5'9 & Bugzy Bogart) (prod. YZ)
13. Tru-Paz - Lest We Forget (prod. DJ Unknown)
14. Mic Boogie - Black T Black Fitted
15. Lone Catalysts - Make It Better (prod. Lone Catalysts)
16. Dragon Fli Empire - Redefine (prod. The Gaff)
17. Erik Flowchild - Nite Life ft. Gifty Singh (prod. McCallaman)
18. Art of Fresh - Out This World Remix ft. Saukrates (prod. Slakah)
19. StokeS - Born 2 Survive ft. Jesse Bear (prod. G Stokes)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

De La Soul - 3 Feet High & Rising EPK (Video)


It is the 20th Anniversary (wow!) of De La Soul's debut album "3 Feet High and Rising", which helped pave a lane for creative (or suburban) rap on the hip hop highway, which Dragon Fli Empire definitely benefits from. To pay respect to this hip hop masterpiece, here's the original EPK for the album from 1989, plus a couple crazy articles. The first article is from HipHop.com and features recent interviews with De La, Prince Paul and others. The second is an article by FFWD Magazine in Calgary, who interviewed DJ Cosm, Shad and Cadence Weapon on the impact of the album. Enjoy!

Teekay's NHL playoff predictions (first round)...


You know how we do it in Canada, hockey is unquestionably #1 and every Spring we all join together in hoping that the skating millionaires representing our city can beat the skating millionaires representing yours. Iginla & company have not won a playoff series since our Cinderella Cup run of 2004, so here's hoping that we can reignite the Mile in '09. Without further ado, here are my first round NHL playoff predictions. Feel free to add your own in the comments.

WEST
Detroit over Columbus in six
San Jose over Anaheim in five
Vancouver over St. Louis in seven
Calgary over Chicago in seven

EAST
Boston over Montreal in six
Washington over New York Rangers in seven
Pittsburgh over Philadelphia in six
Carolina over New Jersey in seven

Sunday, April 12, 2009

The livefromcgy.com Canuck mixtape vol. 1 (free 99)


What's good folks!?!? Here is a tasty little mix from some of finest cats representing the north side of the border. If you hear something you like, be sure to support.
Cosm

1. Grand Analog ft. Shad - Electric City
2. Tachichi & Moves - FCP theme level up 1
3. Birdapres - Toothpaste
4. Metawon - Real Original
5. Theology 3 - Make it Big
6. Prince Ali - Rhythmcism blvd
7. Dragon Fli Empire ft. Touch - Headphones (Metawon rmx)
8. First Words ft, Buck 65, Ghettosocks & Dj Cosmo - Avenue X
9. D-Sisive - Knowbody With a Notepad
10. Classified ft. D-Sisive, DL Incognito, Shad & Buck 65 - Loonie
11. Def3 & Factor ft. Cam the Wizzard & Sunspot Jonz - Leaders vs Followers
12. Azreal - Vanilla Brown Sugar
13. Anonymous Twist ft. Planet Asia - Sweet 16
14. Horn ft. Sleep - Speedknots
15. The Gumshoe Strutt - People so Cold
16. Touch - Since I was 14
17. Mindbender - Keep Hope Alive
18. Chadio - Phil Blunts

http://www.zshare.net/download/5852749449533f75/

Supernatural freestyles the Rock the Bells lineup!

Guerilla Union/Myspace: Rock The Bells 2009 Lineup Freestyle

Had to yank this from ugsmag.com's news... this is amazing. Supernat kills it for 5+ minutes with guys like KRS One, Raekwon and Large Professor there to witness.

U-N-I & Ro Blvd - A Love Supreme (free 99)


These cats keep cranking out the heat.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/szizzl

Thursday, April 9, 2009

I.N.I. - Fakin' Jax (Video)


I actually didn't know there was a video for this... enjoy another Pete Rock classic.

Two new Teekay interviews...


Teekay has been doing the rounds on the interview circuit promoting Dragon Fli Empire's new album, Redefine. Check out the text interview with TorontoMusicScene.ca and an audio interview with Vancouver's Urban Renewal Project on CFRO FM. Big ups to both for helping to give some shine to the DFE!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Rock The Bells lineup announced


Here is this year's lineup, kiddies. There are Toronto and Vancouver dates for this. Click the image to make it larger.

John Forte - Style Free (Video)


One thing to thank GWB for! John Forte is back and killin' it better than ever.

Rhymefest - The Manual (free 99)


Here is the latest free mixtape from Chicago heavyweight Rhymefest. This just happens to be the dude that ghost wrote "Jesus Walks". This is promised to be his last release before the long awaited "Che" album. I had a chance to peep him live last year in Chicago, which was nuts.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

?uestlove's celebrity stories


?uestlove of The Roots has met a lot of celebrities in his day, and many of these encounters have been posted on the forums of Okayplayer.com. One intrepid member of the forums has put together a website where you can pick through these encounters. With the author being the "king of liner notes", there is going to be many gems. Check it out at http://hypnagogics.com/questo/

Monday, April 6, 2009

2Rude feat. Saukrates & Pharoahe Monch - Innovations (Video)


Had to take it back on this one, a CanCon classic featuring the mighty Pharoahe.

Moka Only Beatmaking Contest!


Moka Only has teamed up with The Word TV for a beatmaking contest. He's put together a kit of sounds for you to freak as fresh as you can. Prizes from Mental Wealth, Urbnet, Beatstreet, and Digital Roots. For more details, head on over to http://www.getgrounded.tv/gtv/Moka.html

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Mental Illness Playlist 04/06/09


Whats good people?!? Here is the rundown of today's show. Not only did the Skyline boys stop by, but I did a very inclusive tribute set dedicated to Trenton, New Jersey's Tony D. Tony was a top notch producer and rapper who helped bring us acts including YZ, Poor Righteous Teachers, King Sun and more. Sadly, he passed away this weekend in a car accident in Trenton. The livefromcgy.com team extends our deepest condolences and would definitely not let his legacy go unnoticed. Here is some more reading on the late great Tony D:

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Tony+D
http://fatlacemagazine.uproxx.com/2008/12/trenton-rap-interview-with-tony-d
http://www.myspace.com/prttonyd
http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-16/1238904375285750.xml&coll=5

J Dilla – The $
Black Milk ft. Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price & Dj Premier – The Matrix
Big Tone ft. Breeze Brewin – Broken Logos
Del the Funky Homosapien – Go Against the Grain
Opip – Some Superfly Shit
TD Camp ft. Casual & San Quinn – 3 off the Pacific
Birdapres – Toothpaste
Grand Analog ft. Shad – Electric City
Moka Only – On and On Citizen
K’Naan – Dreamer
Blame One ft. Blu & Exile – Wonder Why
Exile – Your Summer Song
Grouch & Eligh ft. Blu – Old Souls
Afro Classics – Boom in it
Zion I – Coastin’
N.A.S.A. - Way Down
General Steele ft. Buckshot – A Toast to Brooklyn
Invincible – Taxicab Confessions
Phebus & Dirty E – Charmer
Phebus & Dirty E – Get Up
Crusaders for Hip Hop – That’s how it is
Tony D – Tony Don’t Play That
Ministers of Black – Step into my Office
King Sun – In Pursuit Uptown
YZ – When the Road is Covered in Snow
Almighty & KD Ranks – Trenton Where we Live
Tony D – Come Back to You
Scott Lark – Insight
Tony D & the Too Cool Posse – Music Makes You Move
Poor Righteous Teachers – Rock Dis Funky Joint
Blaque Spurm – Splendid
BLVD Moose – U Can’t Escape the Hypeness
Too Cool Posse – Give em’ a Sample
Poor Righteous Teachers – Time to say Peace

Redman & Method Man ft. UGK – City Lights
X-Clan ft. Bun B – Thru my Eyes
Terminology ft. Bun B – This is how we Rock

Friday, April 3, 2009

Work Turkey Bonanza! (free 99)


Calgary hip hop label Work Turkey Music has a brand new website (http://www.workturkeymusic.com/) to keep people updated on everything they got going on. Work Turkey is "...spearheaded by the massively ambitious Josh Thorp (aka Planit) and with heavy assistance from John Bailey (aka Metawon) and Tyler Jones (aka Cadilakid)". Click on the turkey to get some free music from the gang including 7 mixtapes from Metawon and selections from The Dirty Sample/Planit.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

OC - Far From Yours (Video)


I heard this joint on "Dirty Needles" a couple months ago and knew I had heard it over the years a few times but couldn't quite place who it was. I tried to hum the melody to heads more knowledgeable but that didn't help. Finally, yesterday while randomly surfing YouTube it just popped up. From OC's 1997 album "Jewelz", here's "Far From Yours".

Sounds like the 90's Vol. IV (free 99)


The fourth installment in Philaflava's "Sounds like the 90's" series features the DFE's Japanese-exclusive cut "2-Man Team". Check it out and download at The T.R.O.Y. Blog

Tracklist:

01. Raekwon - Yessir (prod. MF Doom)
02. MF Doom - Gazzillion Ear
03. Superstar Quamallah - 88 Soul
04. Danny Brown - Contra feat. Elzhi
05. Finale - Heat (prod. J Dilla)
06. Blaq Poet - Too Strong
07. Saigon - Prepare For War
08. Slaughterhouse - Wack MC's
09. Reks - Killaz On Wax
10. Wale - Word Play feat. Curren$y & Tre of UCB
11. Brother Ali - Good Lord
12. CunninLynguists - George (Remix) feat. Khujo Goodi & Killer Mike
13. Jay Electronica - Exhibit A (Transformations)
14. CunninLyngists - Don't Leave (When Winter Comes) feat. Slug
15. Abstract Rude - Rejuvenation
16. Mike Eagle - iRock
17. Dragon Fli Empire - 2-Man Team
18. Oh No - Smile A Bit feat. Posdnous
19. Joell Ortiz - They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y)
20. Focus - Homage To Pete Rock feat. Rapper Pooh, Sha Stimuli & Kurupt

Calgary Oilers vs. Edmonton Flames


In honour of April Fools Day...