Roosevelt Franklin: Bare Food

Sick of getting turned down by record labels who deem them "unmarketable," Roosevelt Franklin (Kimani from the Masterminds and Mr. Len from Company Flow), have set out to show up the increasingly stagnant record industry by making their latest album Bare Food available for download for free via the internet. Their aim is to get the album out to as many people as possible, and since it is not available in stores, do yourself and your ears a favor and support the duo by downloading the album now.

Download it Here

From their Myspace page:

Roosevelt Franklin is a hip-talking, jive-walking, cooler than you phenomenon connected by both the Holland tunnel and a love for the Gonzo. Although the new york/new jersey duo of Kimani Rogers and Mr Len have only been together for a couple of years they have already injected the world with an LP entitled “Somethings Gotta Give” , two singles, and an ep, as well as attaining success, fame, heavy rotation on MTV 8, and a legion of willing followers.

Selling their bottled sweat and collages of their hair trimmings has proved to be the biggest money maker so far. Plans for the future include lunch boxes, kool-aid flavored “muppet juice”, condoms, and bed sheets.

Roosevelt Franklin’s sophmore endeavor ‘bare food’ picks up exactly where Guns N Roses ‘Appetite For Destruction’ left off... that is in complete silence. Everything from that point on bears absolutely no resemblance whatsoever, save for the bands tendency to hold ‘paradise city’ sing alongs during their live shows.

The blurred lines of hip hop have been crossed and a new sound
emerges as Mr.Len and Kimani Rogers serve up their second offering
as Roosevelt Franklin. "bare food" is a genre crossing, comedic,
emotional, mind altering experience that will make you want to erase
other albums from your ipod. This is not one of those sit back and
enjoy records..no my friend, this is jump up and slap the ass of a
girl or guy around you music and laugh about it as you attempt to
sing along.

After locking themselves in a Transylvanian cave for 3 months,
surviving on only ramen noodles and old reruns of the Munsters they
emerged ready to take the world by storm. Then Kimani was diagnosed
with a rare form of alien bird flu and was forced to live in a
bubble. Len was also called into service by the recently reformed
Alliance Of The Orange and spent days on secret missions in the
midwest. Obviously filthy rich off of the multi-maple success of
there first record, they decided to "charge it to the game" as the
young people like to say nowadays on american idol. This is what it
sounds like when thugs cry.

There is no watermarking here. No hidden animal noises. Share it
with everyone. This is our gift to you. You get it first. Play it
forward. Send the link to everyone you know. Post it on your blog or
some message board. burn copies and give them to old ladies. help
spread the world, that roosevelt franklin is better than your
grandma's apple pie.

Brazil2Detroit : Sacrafice Califa

I'm posting a mix by Sacrafice Califa available for download here (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2945206bf3e92e

Sacrafice Califa aka DJ Riff Raff hails from Sacramento Cali and currently resides in the Bay area. He made his mark on the Sacramento music scene as a DJ with the Twelves Wax DJ crew and has shared the stage with the likes of Mark Farina, The Pharcyde, Digable Planents, Aceyalone and the Crown City Rockers, among many others. He also is responsible for holding down Open Sleep, the longest running hip hop show at KDVS 90.3 FM in Davis, Ca.

This new mix is an acute expression of his versatility as a DJ. I'm really digging the song selection and fluidity of the mix, especially in regard to the beat matching. If your itching to groove to bossanova, broken beat and bangin techno, this mix is for you. The Track listing is as follows:

1. Tim Hutton - Colours (Freeform Five Mix)
2. Wei Chi - Heaven
3. Joaquin Claussell & Kerri Chandler - Escarvos De Jo (Robust Horns Mix)
4. Tom & Joyce - Para Bailar
5. Kankick - Samba Prints/Mystery's Babies
6. Sakura - Think about it (Domu Mix)
7. Chaser - Life in Loisaida
8. Victor Duplaix - Lookin' for Love (bugz in the attic Mix)
9. Dj Rels - Sunrise
10. Alklimatize - El Uno
11. Q-tip and Seiji - Loose Tip (Breath and Stop)
12. Afronaught - Transend Me
13. Dj Rels - Diggin in Brownswood
14. 4 Hero - Hold it Down
15. Theo Parrish - Chunky
16. Deee Lite - Electric Shock
17. Derrick May - Rhythm is Rhythm

Tommy Guerrero - Salve

Download:
Tommy Guerrero - Salve f. Curumin
From From the Soil to the Soul [Quannum Records]: 2006

I've bought a few of Tommy Guerrero's albums over the past few years and although I like him and feel like he is a solid producer, none of his individual songs have ever made a lasting impression on me. Until now that is. For the most part his music light and simple; its the kind of stuff you might listen to while chillin in your yard on a Sunday afternoon with some friends or while you are hanging out and relaxing in your room. Generally however I don't feel like there is tons of diversity in his predominately instrumental style, which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Salve. The song (which features fellow Brazilian label mate Curumin on vocals) is the perfect cure for a dry, dreary day. The guitar intro and drumbeat which comes in about half a minute into the song are perfectly juxtaposed with Curumin's vocals, giving the song a soft, pretty edge. My only complaint with the song is that it ends too soon. Maybe the reason I like this song so much is because I find Portuguese to be such a beautiful language. Whatever the case is, Salve is on constant repeat in my CD player (yea, I still use one).

If you would like to hear more from Tommy Guerrero or Curumin, their music is available (as always) on Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/tommyguerrero
http://www.myspace.com/curumin

ps - can anyone translate for me?

Free album download from Adult Swim

Adult Swim just released a free internet album to promote their show, Warm and Scratchy. I admit, I haven't listened to it yet, but I thought I'd give everyone a heads up. The album is all indie rock, and I'm guessing its good because there are some really good bands on the album.

The tracklisting is as follows:

01. Me-I - TV On The Radio
02. Dead Sound - The Ravenettes
03. The Equestrian - Les Savy Fav
04. Crimson Red - The Rapture
05. Justine - 120 Days
06. Canada Vs. America - Broken Social Scene
07. Color of the love You Have - SOUND Team
08. The Bunting Song (acoustic version) - The Good, The Bad and The Queen
09. Half Century - The Brother Kite
10. Silver (Original Beats) - Jesu
11. Back to Flash - Amusement Parks on Fire
12. Stay Awake - Asobi Seksu
13. Winter - Fennesz
14. Sunset Rodeo - Liars

The album can be downloaded Here
http://www.adultswim.com/williams/music/warmandscratchy/

Enjoy!

Blue Scholars

First off, I'd like to thank Neshani and Sleepy Wilson for allowing me to contribute to this blog.

My most anticipated album to drop this year will be "Bayani," the third release by the Seattle-based hiphop duo, Blue Scholars. The group consists of Sabzi on the boards/keys/tables and Geologic on the mic. These two have truly redefined hiphop work ethic from the grassroots up. Geo is the main draw for me; for he has become one of the most poetic, descriptive, and non-apologetic emcees I have ever listened to. His booming voice delivers lyrics that embody an "...it's better to be critical than conscious" philosophy that seem to draw content from strong ethnic studies influences. Being a 2nd generation Filipino-American born to immigrants allows him to bring to light topics that exist in critical social studies that few emcees can touch upon effectively: "F*ck a false prophecy/promising we'll all be free/as long as we fall in line with a flawed philosophy." Sabzi provides well-produced beats that have improved steadily since their first release. Though heavily sample-based, he is also a jazz-trained pianist and provides a few soloes on select tracks. The last time I kept a hiphop artist on rotation this long was Enter the 36 Chambers on cassette tape. This album will be released on June 12th (Rawkus Records). A lot of great content to digest. Highly recommended! -Recluse

Download:
North by Northwest (Bayani 2007)
Southside Revival (The Long March 2006)
Sagaba Remix (The Long March 2006)
No Rest For The Weary (Self-Titled 2004)
No Rest For The Weary LIVE (Bayani record release party 2007)

"Where the colonizer came with the cross and the sword / I threw the first spear and said, 'I declare war!'"

Sa-Ra

Here's another incredible album for you to check out from the group Sa-Ra Creative Partners. The name of the album is "The Hollywood Recordings". The music can't be classified but when you try it comes out like ancient futuristic souled out hip hop funk porn music with a little bit of knowledge of self. The group consists of Om'Mas Keith, Taz Arnold, and Shafiq Husayn. They're is based in LA/NY, and have individually been around for a while working with everyone from Dre to Suave House and Ice T. The name Sa-Ra (pronounced Sah-Rah) is a Kemetic term meaning "the off spring of the most powerful energy in the universe", or "child of the cosmos". They signed to Kanye West's label GOOD Music sometime last year. This album however is on Babygrande, but they have the major label debut supposedly coming out this fall so look out.



"Sa-Ra is the future" -Erykah Babu

"How many people can say they can produce me?" -Dr. Dre

Download:
Sa-Ra - Hey Love
Sa-Ra - Do Me Gurl

There's a good article on Sa-Ra here:
True-skhool - Sa-Ra Article

The fight for Internet Radio moves to Congress

A new rule concerning a massive increase in fees paid by Internet radio webcasters could force thousands of independent and noncommercial Internet radio operators off the Web. The ruling will go into effect on July 15 unless we act now and urge Congress to rescue Internet radio:

Rescue Internet Radio: Take Action Now

After intense lobbying from the recording industry, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) ignored a massive public outcry and ruled to dramatically increase the rates webcasters must pay every time they stream a song.

These draconian rules will shut down many noncommercial and independent Internet radio outlets, leaving the Web with the same cookie-cutter music formats that have destroyed commercial broadcast radio.

Independent musicians, independent labels, webcasters, media reformers and thousands of Internet radio listeners have joined forces with members of Congress to reverse this bad decision. The bipartisan "Internet Radio Equality Act of 2007" has been introduced in the House by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.) and in the Senate by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.). The legislation would reverse the CRB decision in favor of a balanced structure that supports artists without putting webcasters out of business.

Rescue Internet Radio: Support the Internet Radio Equality Act

Musicians must be compensated for their work. But the new regulations would silence many outlets that play independent artists and musical genres that just can't be found on the radio dial. And nonprofit NPR, Pacifica and community radio stations would be forced to take down most of their online musical programming for fear of unmanageable royalty fees.

The bills introduced in the House and Senate would allow artists and musicians to thrive on Internet radio. Help pass the "Internet Radio Equality Act of 2007" by telling all your friends to take action now:

Tell Your Friends to Help Rescue Internet Radio

Industry-wide consolidation has destroyed musical diversity on commercial broadcast radio. We must not let this happen to the Internet.

This is really important!!!! Don't let them control what we want to listen to!!