In the late 1970s, the “greatest city in the world” was teetering on the edge of total chaos. A failed economy, crime and en mass housing corruption gave way to a city in crisis. Yet out of the economic and social strife that held the “Big Apple” hostage, a family of homegrown cultures that would forever change the world began to emerge. Downtown Calling not only documents, in detail, the evolution of New York City’s fertile music and art subculture during this period, but how its collective output continues to play a prominent, driving role in the international fashion, art and music industries today.
Click the image to watch the trailer or click here
Looks like Dame Dash has something up his sleeves once again. "The DD172 space is an artistic epicenter where every passing instant becomes one of consequence and Creative Control is the lens that brings those glaring moments into focus. Creative Control, the brainchild of Directors Coodie and Chike and media mogul Dame Dash is an online media network bringing you original web series and music shot by the artists themselves. The series Sessions at DD172 will be an exhibition of talent caught candidly as they pass through the space curated by Dame Dash. Spotlighting artists like Mos Def, The Black Keys, Zoe Kravitz, and commencing with the release of the Black Roc Project, Creative Control will view the cross section of talent of all genres from every angle." The full project will be launching on November 27th. The Black Roc Project is the brainchild of Dame Dash and The Black Keys and features emcees Mos Def, Raekwon, Q-Tip, ODB, RZA, Ludacris, Pharoahe Monch, Ludacris, Billy Danze, and more (check the album sampler after the jump). Also after the jump are a few more creative control clips featuring Zoe Kravitz, Tash, and Om'Mas.
Here's a 48 minute Current TV Embedded series episode featuring Mos Def as he takes us on an all access 7 day tour of Japan, performs songs off of The Ecstatic in Tokyo and Osaka, hits the fashion district, attends a sumo match, and more.
"I cannot wait to go through airport security with this shit on... if I could lick this jacket I would." HAHAHAHAHAHAHA CLASSIC!!!
I'm from the land of them straight razor face beard niggas With hammers on their waist, yeah, waste rare niggas And I race scared niggas, them snake head niggas That take care of niggas who don't break bread with us Niggas make dead niggas and hate black niggas Brown niggas hide yellow niggas and them red niggas No telling when the bullet coming, be prepared niggas Cuz when it do it coming land, sea and air niggas That's everywhere niggas, Am I the muthafucking legendary? Yeah niggas, make it very clear niggas Been looking at y'all in my rearview Mirror niggas want to be a millionaire, I'm already there niggas I'm the definiere nigga, a bear taking more than my share Lookee here, yeah, I know it ain't fair nigga Neither is a bar even with a hair trigger Haystack, try and find a needle up in there nigga Leave you up in there nigga, show me the puppet That don't need a puppeteer nigga, shed another tear nigga I'm in the field with a shield and a spear nigga I'm in your girl with her heels in the air nigga I am such a fair nigga, you in a battle telling Me you not ready like you figured I'ma bear with you I don't care nigga, you now listening to the sounds Of the money making jam trillionaires nigga Gentlemen of an extraordinary league You never see me blowing on no ordinary weed What I'm smoking ain't a product of no ordinary seed Your boy is heavy treed, I'm feeling merry As a Tyler Perry scene, that monetary gang green We tried to launder the cash and never came clean So now I'm in the story with all the cats before me And smoke purgatory for doing the same thing And them niggas ain't change, them niggas can't change Their moms shake their heads saying it's such a dang shame ?? to the buck, did another dang plan My stage and my government ain't the same name I'm a rock star, love it that my wallet chain hang I'm a modern day saint; I'm a modern day king My definition I can finally explain Cold smooth like that dud Sean Connery was playing I just got to be the man, I'm the father figure and When I spit it's something like a psychology exam If you stand where I stood, you could probably understand How that mic feeling like a million dollars in my hand It's the silence of the lamb, go and cop another gram And twist with your zanny, work your set, work it down What's your net working plan? You better look alive Cuz them niggas outside looking desperate again nigga And the blunts and liquor killing our lungs and liver The asthmatic drug addict I function with it I put a rapper in a hole where the dust will sit for spitting played out patterns that once was hitting I got news for you all, let me show you how to ball See the legendary fall? I ain't heard of that Y'all niggas is off the wall like Aresnio Hall I'ma put you right back where the dirt is at 450 fahrenheit on the thermostat Somebody starving like a white girl ?? that But she not a earner yet, she couldn't put in no work, not earning that, the black microphone murder vet I'm in a class of my own, If I got beef with you, you the last one to know I arrive on time, I'm never fashionable You late, I'm already international-able I done toured to Berlin, banged in Beijing You never seen nothing can't say the same thing Tell somebody Black Thought, yeah you know the name ring So give him the game ring for bringing what them niggas can't bring My hustle is long, my muscle is strong My man put the paper in the duffle I'm gone Y'all still a light year from the level I'm on Just a pawn stepping right into the head of the storm You been warned, I will blow y'all niggas and disintegrate I'm a rebel, renegade must stay paid!!!
Ok so Mos Def's album (The Ecstatic) did drop today. Unfortunately for me I slept the day away and wasn't able to run to the store and grab it. I'm madly plagued with INSOMNIA!!! But it seems like my best work is done at the hour of the crack head LOL. So I don't fight it. Hopefully I'll be able to hop on my bike and grab it tomorrow. I'm still learning my way around Sacramento so I may get lost on my quest to find this album. The good news, for those of us who were too lazy to run to the store and get the album, is that you can listen to the entire album on Mos Def's Myspace page. You don't even have to be a member in order to listen. Or if you're a member of Imeem.com you can listen to it here and add it to your favorites playlist.
Mos Def in the streets of Japan doing what he does best. Here's a few a cappella's from his up and coming album The Ecstatic, supposedly dropping June 9th 2009. Which happens to be today!!! Keep your fingers crossed. Now I've heard/read different dates for the drop of this HIGHLY ANTICIPATED album. So I really don't know what to expect today. I guess I'll just drop by a few music stores and pray they'll have it. Or I'll just lay in the cut and acquire it by pirate means. LOL. Either way I have to have my grubby paws on this album. =)
dropping june 9th, 2009 -- the highly anticipated "the ecstatic" album from one of thIIIrd's favorite MC's Mos Def, should be amazing.
because Mos is THAT dude.
located below are three of the tracks from the upcoming LP, we highly suggest that you download these if you do not already have them, and listen to them.
This has to be the dopest dissection of an album I've heard thus far. Peep how Professor Mos dissects this album.
Yo as an MC myself I have to say it makes me proud to see one of my favorite MC's big'n up another DOPE MC. And not only does Mos big him up but he knows his rhymes line for line. I mean damn!!! This is why MC's like Mos stay dope. Because they study their craft. Unlike some rappers I know... *cough* Lil Wayne.
Peep when he's explaining the rhyme about Lil Wayne and male strippers how Lil Waynes picture pops up on the screen in the background. LMFAO!!!
"Today a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively.
There's no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves."
- Bill Hicks -
