From Browsing To Buying

My love for music is to blame for one of my "vices." (I use the term "vices" loosely because I'd really have it no other way). I spend so much dough on CDs! After wrapping up some online promo stuff, I figured I'd jump over to a favorite online music store of mine to check out what new music has been released here recently. That late night browsing turned into a big @ss bill because there are a rack of projects that I want to check out by way of purchase. Some of the music is from artists I'm familiar with while some of it is not. I have not checked out any snippets either. (Although now that I type that, I am reconsidering listening to some stuff AFTER I post this even though it is approaching 2am and I have to be up by 7am. Ha. I know, I know but I just love it so much.) Here is a list of what I am checking for by artist, project name and release date. Oh, and if anyone would like to buy any of these CDs for me for my birthday, thank you in advance. Haha.

Various Artists - Dillanthology 1 3/27/09
General Steele (of Smif-N-Wessun) - Bucktown 5/5/09
Oddisee - Mental Liberation 5/5/09
Phil The Agony - Think Green 5/5/09 (And may I just add that "Phil The Agony" is one of the illest hip-hop names ever!)
Rapper Big Pooh (of Little Brother) - The Delightful Bars: North American Pie Version 5/5/09
Sadat X (of Brand Nubian) - Brand New Bein' 5/5/09
Tanya Morgan - Brooklynati 5/12/09
Scratch - Loss 4 Wordz 5/19/09
Method Man & Redman - Blackout 2 5/19/09
Scienz of Life - Levian (Break The Spell) 6/9/09
Mos Def - The Ecstatic 6/9/09
Busdriver - Jhelli Beam 6/9/09
Chubb Rock & Wordsmith - Bridging The Gap 6/16/09
Cage - Depart From Me 7/7/09

I'll likely share what I think of these when I get them! Until then...

Welcome to Danjazone: The DZ Mixtape

Mix some VA emcees, a seasoned producer out of the ATL, a Virginia mixtape DJ, a budding star of a club and mixtape DJ from the UK, one the leading hip-hop graphics designers and a historical music-rooted message board/online community and this is what you get (*free download below*)...


01. PUNISH ME - SMOOTHMATIC (PROD. BY 93′P)
02. FREE AT LAST - ANTAGONIST (PROD BY 93′P)
03. IMA PIMP BITCH - VA PETE
04. DON’T WORRY - DIZZ VICIOUS
05. BACK ON MY JOB - META4CE
06. BASEMENT BOP - DEFAKTO
07. KNOTZ - QWASIAN
08. NEVA STOP - VA PETE
09. M.F. GO HOME - S.T.L.
10. FIND MY WAY HOME - ESO (PROD BY 93′P)
11. LETS GET IT - VA PETE
12. WHATS THE DEAL - MERCURY FT. SMOOTHMATIC
13. ALICE ASS N*GGAZ - SMOOTHMATIC (PROD. BY 93′P)
14. LIGHTS OUT - S.T.L.

DJ: DJ ROBB QUIK
EXECUTIVE
PRODUCED BY: MERCURY

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AF9KPGGQ

http://rapidshare.com/files/220904151/Welcome_to_the_Danjazone.rar.html

Dancing Abroad: DJ Robb Quik is Back

Recorded live in one take comes this European dance mix club demo by DJ Robb Quik. Check this out for an energizing listen (linked below)!

http://gotwhatuneed.com/djrobbquik/?p=196

The Blacker the Berry...

I'm several months into my Blackberriage (yes, I made up that noun) now after years of then sufficient but lesser phones. Now, I'm not going to water down the "L-word" more than it already has been. I mean, I love God, family, friends and I love music. But as much as I could care for any particular gadget, device or tech toy, this Blackberry is what's happening! They say Mr. President is attached to his Blackberry and I definitely understand. A few dear friends led me to the waters, but they couldn't make me drink. I'm a sucker for nice "Curves" though, so I came up and I have no intention of going back down anytime soon.

There may be pricier phones that can do more, but my Blackberry Curve does everything I need with significant convenience. You'd have to be pretty old and/or low-tech to think this thing isn't user-friendly. Everything from syncing my email accounts on down to basic call & text phone operations is taken care of. Whether I'm being a son, brother, friend, worker, artist, promoter, teammate or whatever other roles I take on, my Blackberry is a good fit. Aside from pulling out this notebook PC, my Blackberry is the next best thing for handling business on the go and it's clearly a lot more portable than the Dell (which was named after me...duh!).

So Blackberry Nation, I am one with you (at least until this contract is up) and I carry my device with the greatest of pride. Since Blackberry isn't cutting me a check though, I'll end here. Just remember...The blacker the berry...you know the rest.

ALLMANACT ALBUM RELEASE PARTY -- MAY 30, 2009

Act on your passion and support others who do!

...and get your free copy of the soulful self-titled debut album!

New music: "Basement Bop" by DeFakto

NEW MUSIC BY DEFAKTO

"BASEMENT BOP"

http://www.defakto-music.com/mp3s/Basement%20Bop.mp3

In Case You Missed It: 2008 Album of the Year

As the first quarter of 2009 comes to an end, I wanted to make a mention of this 2008 gem before it's really too late. Kay, of the Foundation, linked up with my favorite producer right now, Nicolay, to put together TIME:LINE. After getting a full listen of the project before ordering my retail copy, this release would go on to be my favorite of the year. The album is just dope, period.

Nicolay consistently captures a soulful sound in his compositions like few others seem to be able to. His production alone is enough to make me gravitate towards any project he's involved in. Coupled with that is the fresh emceeing courtesy of Kay. With an ill voice, dope rhymes, an atypical delivery and "everyday people" subject matter, it'd seem hard to guess where Kay hailed from. He's actually an obviously seasoned artist from Houston, Texas.

This is a pretty smooth project with an uptempo banger or two. It's definitely an easy listen that flows well and still manages to have variety within its cohesiveness. One will likely find great listening pleasure in TIME:LINE, with the highlight being "Tight Eyes," an incredibly groovy tune with humorous lyrics and guest vocals that'll take you away.

Support this album by way of purchase and you will not be sorry. And no need to thank me, for we should thank Nicolay & Kay for this treat. TIME:LINE by Nicolay & Kay -- my favorite album of 2008.