Hip Hop Fatigue

Occasionally I get hip hop fatigue. It happens about once a year. I just find that I am not feeling anything new coming out so I go looking for something different, something not hip hop. Sometimes that involves looking for something completely new or just going back and listening to some old tunes. This time around it has been a bit of both. On the weekend I went out and bought 3 CDs all of which I already had in mp3s.

Beirut's Gulag Orchestra is an album I have had for a long while before I realised how good it is. In just 8 days I will be going to see the 8 piece Beirut band. If you have not already check out http://www.flyingclubcup.com there is an awesome video section with live recordings of each song from the newest album.

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis recently did the soundtrack for the Jesse James movie but before that they did the soundtrack for the Australian move The Proposition. I picked up the soundtrack for The Proposition in a CD bargain bin. After listening to the soundtrack again I realised it was about time I saw the movie, so I did. Great soundtrack to a great movie.

I also downloaded the new Silver Mt Zion album 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons which reminded me how much I enjoyed their previous album Horses In The Sky so I went an bought it as well. These guys are certainly not for everyone but personally I can't get enough of their music at the moment.

Man in the Mirror

Rhymefest (the guy that knocked Eminem out of Scribble Jam) has a Michael Jackson dedication mixtape with music mixed by Mark Ronson. After hearing this, SickWillyP of the Strange Famous message boards says, "i kinda sorta like mark ronson". If that is not a glowing review then nothing will sway you. You can go grab it over .... here

Graff lives

The most active graffiti artist in Pittsburgh Daniel Montano has been arrested and charged with causing $700,000 in damages. This happened just days before his work was to be displayed in an art exhibition.

I recently took some photos of some legal street art at May's Lane and along King Street in Newtown, Sydney. The graffiti arts culture is still active on streets of the world. It's beautiful to see.

This is me (this is free!)

Nobs of the Fingerprint crew has a free EP available. I am yet to listen but I have heard it's the cats pajamas. Go get it at last.fm or from his myspace

Free music from Atmosphere

That's right as well as relasing 3 Sad Clown EPs this year Slug & Ant have put together a free album for us as well. You can grab it at over at Rhymesayers

Love the Christmas Love!

Doooooom

MF Doom is notorious for lip syncing and generally just putting on bad shows. What do you expect from a villain in a mask? Earlier this year a lot of people were upset when they paid to see the super villain only to get a show from a hype man and some impostor wearing Dooms mask.

People did not learn to be wary of the villain so he has come back and done the same thing again. This time he has also apparently stolen all the money that was taken on the door. Obviously upset the club owner has sent an email out telling this story and offering up Dooms phone number so all us hip hop geeks can call him up and tell him what we think. Hit me up if you want the number!

I am loving this story it's great see some controversy in hip hop that is not about explicit lyrics. Here's hoping that the mad villain gives me more stories like this next year. Remember kids, never trust a villain!

On a more positive doom note one of my favourite hip hop crews Doomtree have just dropped their debut posse album. Taking a different route to the likes of Wu Tang each of the MC's have released an EP (all titled False Hopes) first before releasing the full crew album False Hopes

Some of you may be familiar with POS who had his album release on Rhymesayers. The crew is 11 deep and as well as POS includes MCs Sims, Dessa and Cecil Otter DJ/producers include MK Larada and Lazerbeak.

Dessa has quickly become my favourite female MCs. Her False Hopes EP earned many listens this year. Have a listen to Mineshaft and 551 from her myspace and tell me I am wrong.

Dancehall Hip Hop

Its been a quiet year for Oldominion but they have come through at the end of the year with Sleep and Zelly Rocks album Combination Locked. Blending dance hall beats from producer Smoke with rasta chants from Zelly and super fast raps from Sleep this album is a winner.

Sorry no free downloads this time but check out Zellys myspace page to witness some white man rasta chants.