Here’s some Hip-Hop music from the other side of the country – the West Coast. Bambu has a guest spot on a new Otayo Dubb song called “A Lil More”, off OD’s Cold Piece of Work. The Beatrock family collaboration is a dope upbeat track with a similar video to match. There’s something about organ sounds and Hip-Hop that seems to always work. You can DL the Maxi version of the single for free, here.
Video by Northbound Films
Director: Jordan Ching
Director of photography: Lorenzo Escalante
Cinematographer: Jerome Palencia
Assistant Director: Sharonda Grant
Actors: Angela Smead and Charles Brinton
Shot at John Colins in San Francisco
Bambu has found himself on the billing for 2012′s Soundset (an annual Hip-Hop festival) in Minnesota at the end of month (the 27th). To mark the occasion, he’s dropped “When I Get to Minnesota” as a precursor to his appearance at the independent Hip-Hop musical event, along with 40 other artists. Mid-western rap fans would be remiss to skip this one!
In celebration of my opportunity to perform at this year’s Soundset, I decided to record a little something with the help of my ace homeboy, DJ Nphared. The song speaks loosely of some of the local issues in the Twin Cities’ innercity. The socioeconomic problems in the area, though not as publicized, mirror that of most urban landscapes: gang violence, unemployment rate increases, home foreclosure, etc.
So, I’ll see y’all at Soundset this year and I promise to try and throw down… When I Get To Minnesota.
In some musical commentary regarding Trayvon Martin, Bambu steps up to the mic against some a sparse, DJ Phatrick produced beat in a piece called “Sad Life”. The entire production was done within a couple hours and really entails Bambu airing out his grievances while under some recreational influences. He was never one to back away from sharing his social/political views.
Bambu once again teams up with DJ Muggs for the latter artist’s track from the upcoming Bass For Your Face LP. The electronica/dub-step influenced track mixed it up with it’s heavy use of the classic 808 drum, and adds some flavor via the UK courtesy of Dizzee Rascal. Both the song and video are fairly bombastic, and that’s a good thing. But I gotta tell ya, I never expected Bam to jump on a project that sounds like this!
Last summer, Prometheus Brown & Bambu Walk Into a Bar, was released by said friends and frequent collaborators. Pro & Bam now have a music video for the song “Lookin’ Up”, produced by Fatgums. The two of them have proven to be an incredible team time and time again, and we’re glad to see that nothing’s changed. They def make up one of my favorite unofficial teams in Hip-Hop.
Remember that new track that dropped last week from MC Bambu and Producer Josh the Goon, “None Left“? Well the Hip-Hop song has been given a visual – a street video with a grimy, black and white, DIY style to match the feel of the track. So that means production values aren’t exactly polished but it fulfills it’s purpose of enhancing the experience of the single.
OK. One week down in 2012, and 51 one left to go! We’re continuing our 2011 countdown series with a recap of my top 10 favorite performance clips from last year. The criteria for this list came down to a mixture factors, including the actual performance, the crowd response, production values, and sheer overall entertainment. The only other restriction was that the clip had to be released in the calendar year of 2011, even if the performance is from earlier. Lastly, click through till the end for a bonus pick that didn’t quite fit in my top 10 but shouldn’t be ignored.
Ever since first discovering April Chase a couple years ago, they quickly became one of my favorite Pop/Rock bands. The group encompasses radio friendly hooks with a great rock foundation, wrapped up with Carina Valdes’ sweet but gutsy vocals. The only thing the above clip that is missing, was an audience to appreciate the unplugged rendition of “All You Need to Say” from their EP, Still Breathing. It’s always a blessing when a rock group still sounds just as fun and engaging without the benefit of studio polish.
MC/Community Organizer/Activist Bambu returns with a new track called “None Left”. Josh the Goon provides the instrumental backdrop filled with clean drums and some ominous keys. This is classic Bam, so love it or hate it you should know what to expect as the emcee takes a few minutes to air his discontent for the current political/economic/social climate. Get it for free here.
As 2011 comes to a close and 2012 makes its way in, Josh The Goon (producer/engineer for Freddie Gibbs) and I dropped this new joint called None Left over at the Dopehouse. I hope ya’ll enjoy it and it helps bring 2012 in right for y’alls iPod’s/iPhone’s. So, download it, re-Tweet it and leave a comment, because the world might end…
August gave us the release of the FreEP from Bambu x the Diamond Supply Co. featuring the production of 6 Fingers. One of the tracks, “Bang” has been given a visual treatment comprised of performance footage from the 1st half of his current stint on the road with the Blue Scholars for the Cinemetropolis tour. Not a bad way to keep tabs on the MC as he makes his way across the country.
Rapper, activist, father, etc, Bambu was recently photographed getting some work done at a Tattoo shop in Washington. If the freshly drawn insignia you see in the photo above looks familiar it’s because it should. Bam has used the art in his previous work – most recently for his Exact Change re-release this past Spring. Our apologies for the slightly out-of-focus shot but hey, we didn’t take the photo!
But this got us thinking, what other artists do you think should get their album art permanently emblazoned on their person and why?
