Aesop Rock is now back on track to resume his tour, which was postponed after he broke one of his ribs.

Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz and Busdriver will all provide support during the tour, which includes two dates at Coachella on April 12th and 19th.
 
Check out the official tour dates below:


Feb 6- Baltimore MD- Soundstage&#8232;
Feb 8- Philadelphia PA- Union Transfer&#8232;
Feb 9- NYC- Irving Plaza&#8232;
Feb 11- New Haven CT- Toad’s Place
&#8232;Feb 12- Boston MA- Paradise
&#8232;Feb 13- Pawtucket RI- the Met&#8232;
Feb 15- Burlington VT- Higher Ground
&#8232;Feb 16- North Hampton MA- Pearl Street
&#8232;Feb 18- Cleveland Heights OH- Grog Shop&#8232;
Feb 19- Columbus OH- A&R Music Bar&#8232;
Feb 20- Newport KY- Thompson House

&#8232;Mar 1-Minneapolis MN – First Avenue&#8232;
Mar 2-Fargo, ND – The Aquarium&#8232;
Mar 4-Chicago, IL- Metro&#8232;
Mar 5-Iowa City, IA – Blue Moose Tap House
&#8232;Mar 6-Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room&#8232;
Mar 8-Columbia, MO – Mojo’s
&#8232;Mar 9-Norman, OK – University of Oklahoma
&#8232;Mar 10-Dallas, TX – Granada Theater

&#8232;Apr 12 + 19- Coachella
&#8232;Apr 16-Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room&#8232;
Apr 17-Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
&#8232;Apr 22-Oakland, CA – The New Parish&#8232;
Apr 23-Ashand, OR – Ashland Armory&#8232;
Apr 24 Portland, OR- Roseland&#8232;
Apr 27-Bend, OR – Domino Room&#8232;
Apr 28-Seattle, WA – Neumo's&#8232;
Apr 30-Missoula, MT – Badlander&#8232;
May 2-Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge


Aesop Rock is now back on track to resume his tour, which was postponed after he broke one of his ribs.

Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz and Busdriver will all provide support during the tour, which includes two dates at Coachella on April 12th and 19th.
 
Check out the official tour dates below:


Feb...

Aesop Rock hitting the road for his Spring Tour 2013

THE LOCAL LOVE CORNER&#8232;
Shining Some Light on the Nation's Up and Coming Emcees


WAKE SELF of Albuquerque, New Mexico

Andy "Wake Self" Martinez has been instrumental in expanding Albuquerque's local hip-hop scene for years now. From his project with Zoology to his recent solo efforts, his concentration on the hip-hop community has been intense. His time to shine has arrived and it's no coincidence his first video off of his new upcoming album, Healing Process, is for the track, "Sunshine." The positivity he radiates is infectious and he's got the skills to prove it. Martinez took a second to talk to RAPstation about Gang Starr, the first time he heard A Tribe Called Quest and his healing process. –<em>Kyle Eustice</em>


There are so many "rappers" these days. What sets you apart from the pack?

First of all, I don't consider myself a rapper. I am an MC, I learned from the greats like Rakim, KRS ONE, Q-tip, Chuck D, Slick Rick, Myka 9, and Melle Mel etc.  I have respect for the Art, and for what I speak about when I create songs.  I believe that's missing from a lot of music now days. Even beyond emceeing I really look up to story tellers and poets like Saul Williams, the Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron and people like that. When I was younger I used to read a lot of Huey P Newton & Eldridge Cleaver books, I was really fascinated by the way they used words and explained things. To me Writing songs is an opportunity to educate, and connect with people on a deeper level. Of course there are always times when you want the music to just make people dance & not think, but that isn't the main focus when I write. I've felt things through music that have really changed my life and way of thinking for the better, and I aspire to inspire that in others. Basically we're all human beings and are the same in that since, but to understand how I'm different musically all you have to do is listen to my songs you will feel it.  I'm inspired by my love & respect for Hip Hop, For the Earth, For the Universe, for the children, for the under privileged and this what goes into my creative process. 

Tell me how the video for "Sunshine" came together. 

Well, I would credit this song to my DJ, Young Native. The beat I was really vibin' from, a lot of people don't know this but this song was done without writing any of the words down. I just went into my home studio very inspired by the beat and started recording. I mention it in the song "No pen & Pad in the Lab I’m just feelin it", was the line.  So I layed down all the vocals in what some would call an organized freestyle manner. Then I brought Native in to lay the cuts on it. I read a lot and have always been a deep thinker you might say, so it's very easy for me to tap into my creative process on the spot.  The music and the feeling, just came together it's all light from there. 

What was the video making process like?

I've made videos before with the various groups I'm apart of so it isn't foreign to me. The only thing different about this one was it was all my ideas going into it, where as before the groups would come up with ideas together.  I had a lot of fun working with my friend Gabriel Baca who filmed and edited this. I just wanted it to be a feel good video, while showcasing the city I live in and some of my favorite people who live here. We got the Zia Queenz, which is an extremely talented, all female break dance crew to be in the video, which was a blessing. We went to a lot of local spots, and had a BBQ w some friends. It was just a good day in my life put into a video. 

Tell me about the new material you're working on. 

Well, first I have to mention the groups I'm in (Wdup Guys!). Our band Zoology is slowly working to compile new songs for our sophomore project, and my original group Definition Rare, We are working on our sophomore project as well. Very excited for everybody to hear these new songs we got from both groups respectively. As for myself, I've been working on my album "The Healing Process" for about 2 years or so now. I have about 30 or so songs done, and I'm not in a rush to finish it. The Music is coming along so great, I feel like I'm at the point musically were I always though I could be. As far as making music that I love, and that I feel is quality. I have about 7-8 songs that I know are going to make the album and the rest will be filtered into the final track list once I feel comfortable doing so. I'm just enjoying making music right now, and not rushing the process to finish it by a certain date. It will be out soon, and it will be something I feel 100% percent happy about.  

Who are some of your musical inspirations? 

I don't want to make this list to long. HA. There's so much I could say here. I Listen to a lot of instrumental stuff now a days like Bonobo, Dj Krush, RJD2, Fat Jon, Visioneers and so on. I listen old soul music, The Spinners, Isleys, Al Green and I listen to Jazz like Coltrane, Miles and Sun Ra. I used to listen to Nirvana a lot, some punk and older rock once in a while.  Hip Hop I've always listened to KRS, Slick Rick, PE, Outkast, Digable, Rakim, Big Pun, BlackStar, Kane, Native Tongues, Slum Village, Nas, Roots, WU, Pete Rock & CL, Gang Starr…big Gang Starr fan just the classics, you know. There was a point when I'd listen to some Dre & Snoop, Warren G, and west cost stuff, but never really got to into it. I always liked Freestyle Fellowship when since I heard them. I listen to a lot of stuff Eyedea, Megabusive, Living Legends, 2mex & the Visionaries, Little Brother, Sage Francis, EV, Brother Ali, Homeboy Sandman, Fashawn. A lot of stuff. I would say I'm inspired by all music that makes me feel something. I've never been compared to anybody really, and I feel my style changes a lot and I don't pattern it after anyone. I just love music, and enjoy listening to different stuff. Once in a while I'll turn on the radio just hear what's out there, but usually I find myself regretting it. 

What was the first hip-hop album you heard that made you want to start rapping?

My dad was watching the video for Bonita Applebum. That was the first time I saw and heard hip-hop. I always wrote poetry, and wrote journals and stuff like that in school. I've been rhyming for about 12 years, so early 2000’s when "underground hip-hop" really started coming out a lot is when I really got into it. After hearing all the different styles, that made me think, 'hey I can do this.' There's not a particular album, just when I noticed people you would never expect to be rhyming doing it, that's when it clicked for me. You don't have to fit into any mold; you just have to write what you feel. 

What's the best part about performing live? Recording in the studio?

The best part of performing live to me is just sending out as much love and energy to the crowd as I possibly can and seeing them react to it.  The best part about recording is figuring out the perfect take. When you get that take, it's like,’yea that’s how it supposed to sound.’ That feeling of completing something is great.

What does the music you make mean to you on a personal level?

It's my healing process. It's my way of helping to change the world, it's my way of showing people they can change the world too. It's how I cope with life on a daily basis; it really is the most important thing I've been given besides family and life.


Please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9htOrNa7PDw to watch the video for Sunshine. Visit https://soundcloud.com/wakeself to download free songs by Wake Self. Become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/WakeSelf.FanPage and make sure you follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/wakeself to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from Wake Self.



THE LOCAL LOVE CORNER&#8232;
Shining Some Light on the Nation's Up and Coming Emcees


WAKE SELF of Albuquerque, New Mexico

Andy "Wake Self" Martinez has been instrumental in expanding Albuquerque's local hip-hop scene for years now. From his project with Zoology to his recent solo efforts, h...

The Local Love Corner: WAKE SELF

2013 Winter NAMM Show and Music Production's Hottest Products for the upcoming year

By Paul Cortez for RAPstation.com


The 2013 Winter NAMM Show has officially ended, but, as always, left us wanting more. Rather than just focusing on the free key chains, there are guest lectures and appearances, music education sessions, and after parties (with a particular special appearance by Stevie Wonder, who couldn't help but jump on stage and show us why we write about him on history books). This year, we have concentrated on the highlights of the show that will help you kick off the year with an eye on the upcoming products to make your music the freshest sound, whether beginner or professional. Not to mention, new toys for your studio make you feel like it's Christmas all over again.

For your newest soundwaves and effects, we have SWAGG by Bigfishaudio, "the ultimate hip-hop, R&B, and pop synth." It’s a software synthesizer with over 7GB of content and over hundreds of patches; with heavy low end beats and sounds custom crafted from sine waves. You are going to come across sounds unique to the program that you won't find anywhere else. Just plug in your midi controller and you're ready to go. It is available later this year.

Arturia couldn't help but be on our list. Although they are always coming up with amazing products, their new drum machine is something you may want to consider adding to your list. SparkLe promises to take your beat to the next level, with LED touch sensitive pads to let you know exactly what's going on every time you hit play and a 16-key/64-step sequencer to quickly shift from one beat to the next. Transform your beats with the FX pad that features 8 filter modes and 7 different slicer modes. Just play your loops and build on the spot.

Another great beat pad/drum machine is the new AKAI MPC Renaissance; a music production controller, with two midi inputs, 4 MIDI outputs, dedicated turntable input, 16 MPC pads, 16 Q-Link controls and custom software. Avid has for the first time partnered with InMusic so now you get your Pro Tools Express with select M-Audio and AKAI products without having to purchase Pro Tools Separately anymore, which is a huge saving and the perfect setup to get you making music ASAP.

Now, as great as your conventional drum pads, synths and recording software may be, we also like the not-so-conventional toys; the newest devices give you a peek at how music production in the future may look.

The first of its kind, the Alphasphere is a new MIDI controller that looks just like its name hints. It’s a sphere composed of tactical pressure sensitive pads all around to give you a 360-degree 3D experience. The sphere lights up and as your tone changes, so do the LED colors. The controller comes with its own software but connects to any DAW so you can work independently with it or add it to your established workstation. Although it’s still not available in America, the guys at Nu Desine in the United Kingdom are working hard to make this available to you within the next year.

And saving the most interesting for last, we have the new Numark Orbit, a wireless handheld MIDI DJ controller that will make you feel like you're playing with your old handheld video game. The Orbit offers 16 backlit pads, 4 selectable banks, 16 virtual knobs per bank and internal two-axis accelerometer with shoulder trigger controls. In other words, you have your beat pads that can be assigned to any midi function and a programmable control wheel that can control anything from volume to scratching effects, and just by tilting the controller you can make your beats stutter or increase or decrease pitch. Functional with most DAWs and synths, you can literally step away from the workstation and make music just with this little device in your hands. By far one of the coolest toys we have seen in a while, it makes you wonder what they will come up with next. 

The invention of new products is what has made The NAMM Show the hottest music convention, so if you are ever curious to see the evolution of music production for yourself, don't miss out on the annual Winter NAMM Show held yearly in Southern California.


2013 Winter NAMM Show and Music Production's Hottest Products for the upcoming year

By Paul Cortez for RAPstation.com


The 2013 Winter NAMM Show has officially ended, but, as always, left us wanting more. Rather than just focusing on the free key chains, there are guest lectures and appearanc...

2013 Winter NAMM Show - reviewed by Paul Cortez

Los Angeles emcee Blu's oft-delayed masterpiece has been the talk of the internet for years, but has never seen a proper retail release.  Now, the album (which includes production from Flying Lotus, Exile, Shafiq Husayn of Sa Ra, Daedalus, Dibia$e, and Samiyam) will be released in deluxe CD and vinyl editions, available on March 26th, 2013.  

CD includes 12-page booklet plus an exclusive poster, and the vinyl comes in a limited-edition four-LP set with three non-CD bonus tracks.  All pre-orders include instant free download.

Please visit https://store.nature-sounds.net/store/bluyork/ to pre-order the album and check out the official tracklist below.


1. Doin Nothin (ft. U-God) (prod. Flying Lotus)
2. Everything's OK (ft. Jack Davey) (prod. Flying Lotus)
3. Everybody Nose (ft. Sa Ra & Nola Darling) (prod. Samiyam)
4. Above Crenshaw (ft. Cashus King)
5. SLNGBNGrs (prod. Dibia$e)
6. Soupa (ft. Suzi Analogue) (prod. Samiyam)
7. Hours (prod. by Daedelus)
8. Annie Hall (ft. Chop, Brooker T, & Tiombe Lockhart) (prod. by Daedelus)
9. Tags (ft. Exile) (prod. Exile)
10. Spring Winter Summer Fall (ft. Jimetta Rose) (prod. Shafiq Husayn)
11. Down To Earth (prod. Shafiq Husayn)
12. My Sunshine (ft. Nia Andrews) (prod. Shafiq Husayn)
13. Jazmine (ft. Andy Allo) (prod. Samiyam) (Vinyl-Only Bonus)
14. Jazzmen (prod. Madlib) (Vinyl-Only Bonus)
15. Ronald Morgan (ft. Edan) (prod. Madlib) (Vinyl-Only Bonus)
16. Keep Pushinn (prod. Knxwledge)
17. Doin Somethin (ft. Pac Div, UNI, J*Davey, Tiron, & Ayomari) (prod. Flying Lotus)


Los Angeles emcee Blu's oft-delayed masterpiece has been the talk of the internet for years, but has never seen a proper retail release.  Now, the album (which includes production from Flying Lotus, Exile, Shafiq Husayn of Sa Ra, Daedalus, Dibia$e, and Samiyam) will be released in deluxe CD and viny...

BLU to release deluxe cd & vinyl edition of No York

It's been over a decade since Demigodz took the Hip-Hop world by storm with the release of there Godz Must Be Crazy EP in 2002. That EP resulted in the group being courted by a slew of major labels and would eventually result in Apathy inking a solo-deal with Atlantic Records.  While signing to Atlantic as a solo artist may have seemed like a bad deal for group, Apathy readily assures it only strengthened the Demigodz' relationship. "I know people would probably assume that's wack, but Celph and I were completely fine with it. We're like Redman and Method Man, or Ghost and Rae, we're partners no matter what. Celph was worked into the contract and was happy, because he didn't really wanna make that jump yet, but we do stuff regardless, so it was a perfect scenario," says Apathy.

In the resulting years that have passed since Demigodz first emerged, Apathy and Celph Titled have undeniably carved out their respective places as solo-artists (both as emcees and producers) as Apathy has released a slew of legendary mixtapes and LP's (including Eastern Philosophy in 2006, Wanna Snuggle in 2009 and Honkey Kong in 2011) and has worked with a virtual who's who list of artists: Mike Shinoda (Fort Minor/Linkin Park), Alchemist, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, B-Real, Xzibit, Phonte and Slaine among many.  Apathy, also joined forces with Scoop Deville and Ryu to form the Get Busy Committee in 2009.  After the release of The Godz Must Be Crazy EP, Celph Titled was enlisted to help Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda craft the blockbuster debut of Fort Minor (The Rising Tied 2005) which was released on Shinoda's Machine Shop imprint on Warner Brothers and which was also executive produced by Jay-Z. Celph then joined Fort Minor on their world tour in 2006 before releasing his debut LP, Nineteen Ninety Now, with legendary producer Buckwild in late 2011.

While Demigodz have undergone some personnel shuffling since the Godz Must Be Crazy EP was released, in November 2011 Apathy released a new, appropriately entitled Demigodz track, "Demigodz Is Back," which also served to announce the crew's intention to create new material and also highlighted the crew's new and now completely settled roster (Apathy, Celph Titled, Ryu, Esoteric, Blacastan & Motive). Now the crew's reaffirmation is complete, as Demigodz will release there first official LP, KILLmatic, on 3-5-2013 and their future is even brighter then there past "Demigodz is for true, hardcore hip-hop fans. This KILLmatic album was made to reflect that. We always try to keep it grimey, dirty, creepy, spooky and fuc*ed up. DJ Premier gave us an incredible classic. I've been in Demigodz since 1993 (20-years). If you could take a time machine back into the past, and show the 14-year old Apathy, what beats DJ Premier was gonna give me; I wouldn't have believed it, I feel truly blessed" Apathy states. 

Tracklisting and credits for Demigodz "KILLmatic" LP:


1.) "Intro" (Giants On The Earth) (produced by Apathy)
2.) "Demigodz Is Back" f/Apathy, Ryu & Celph Titled (produced by Apathy)
3.) "Dumb High" f/ Apathy, Motive, Esoteric, Celph Titled & Open Mic (produced by Apathy)
4.) "Never Take Me Out" f/ Apathy, Celph Titled & Termanology (produced by Teddy Roxpin)
5.) "Just Can't Quit" f/ Apathy, Celph Titled, Motive, Blacastan, Ryu & Scoop Deville (produced by Apathy)
6.) "Worst Nightmare" f/ Apathy, Ryu, Blacastan, Esoteric, Motive & Celph Titled (produced by DJ Premier) ***cuts by DJ Premier
7.) "Can't Fool Me" f/ Apathy, Blacastan, Esoteric, Motive, Celph Titled & Eternia (produced by Apathy)
8.) "DGZ x NYGz" f/ Apathy, Blacastan, Celph Titled & Panchi of NYG’z (produced by Chumzilla) *** additional vocals by DJ Premier
9.) "Dead In The Middle" f/ Ryu, Celph Titled & Apathy (produced by Apathy)
10.) "The Gospel According To..." f/ Celph Titled, Esoteric, Motive, Blacastan & Planetary of Outerspace (produced by Skammadix)
11.) "Raiders Cap" f/ Apathy, Ryu, Motive & Celph Titled (produced by Apathy)
12.) "The Fallen Angels" f/ Apathy, Motive & Celph Titled (produced by Apathy) ***cuts by Chumzilla
13.) "The Summer Of Sam" f/ Apathy, Blacastan, Esoteric, Motive, Ryu & Celph Titled (produced by The Snowgoons)
14.) "Tomax & Xamot" f/ Apathy & Esoteric (produced by Will C.) ***cuts by Chumzilla
15.) "Captain Caveman" f/ Apathy, Celph Titled & RA The Rugged Man (produced by Teddy Roxpin)
16.) "Audi 5000" f/ Apathy, Celph Titled, Motive, Ryu, Esoteric & Blacastan (produced by Marco Polo) ***cuts by Chumzilla

It's been over a decade since Demigodz took the Hip-Hop world by storm with the release of there Godz Must Be Crazy EP in 2002. That EP resulted in the group being courted by a slew of major labels and would eventually result in Apathy inking a solo-deal with Atlantic Records.  While signing to Atla...

Demigodz prep official debut album for March release

Brooklyn rhymesayer and GangStarr Foundation member Hannibal Stax has come together with The DJBooth to bring listeners his latest street release, The Honorable Mixtape. 

Hosted by DJ Premier and mixed by PF Cuttin, the project packs 25 tracks worth of original records and freestyles from the underground emcee. Included is previously-featured lead single "Str8 Smashin." 

The Honorable Mixtape features guest appearances from Afu Ra, H. Stax, NYG'z and Torae and the late, great Guru. In addition to production by DJ Premier, the project features beats by Marco Polo, Mike Rone, PF Cuttin and Si Spex.

Please visit http://www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/hannibal-stax-the-honorable-mixtape to download now and check out the official tracklisting below.


01. DJ Premier - The Honorable Intro
02. Str8 Smashing [prod. Marco Polo]
03. HoodTuff [Freestyle]
04. BK All Day [Freestyle]
05. Live and Let Die [prod. Marco Polo]
06. Last Dayz [Freestyle]
07. DJ Premier Interlude 2
08. Same Team, No Games - Gang Starr (ft. NYG'z and H Stax) [prod. DJ Premier]
09. Salute To The iLL Kid [prod. DJ Premier]
10. Trilogy Of Terror - Afu Ra, H Stax and Guru [prod. Mike Rone]
11. Field N*gga [prod. Marco Polo]
12. Gwap [prod. PF Cuttin]
13. DJ Premier Interlude 3
14. Warriors Drumz - H. Stax and Marco Polo (ft. Torae) [prod. Marco Polo]
15. Regardless [prod. Mike Rone]
16. DJ Premier Interlude 4
17. Itz a Set Up - Gang Starr (ft. H. Stax) [prod. DJ Premier]
18. Get Off The Ground [prod. PF Cuttin]
19. DJ Premier Interlude 5
20. Proper Dosage [prod. DJ Premier]
21. Turning Point [prod. Si Spex]
22. DJ Premier Interlude 6
23. At It Again (Regardless 2012) [prod. Marco Polo]
24. DJ Premier The Honorable Outro
25. Dirt [Freestyle] [prod. DJ Premier]



Brooklyn rhymesayer and GangStarr Foundation member Hannibal Stax has come together with The DJBooth to bring listeners his latest street release, The Honorable Mixtape. 

Hosted by DJ Premier and mixed by PF Cuttin, the project packs 25 tracks worth of original records and freestyles from the und...

Aesop Rock hitting the road for his Spring Tour 2013

The Local Love Corner: WAKE SELF

2013 Winter NAMM Show - reviewed by Paul Cortez

BLU to release deluxe cd & vinyl edition of No York

Demigodz prep official debut album for March release

Hannibal Stax releases new DJ Premier hosted mixtape

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Sound

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