History
Music Business 101: Footage From The ‘How Can I Be Down?’ Conference Panel 1996 (Video)
I was at the How Can I Be Down Conference years ago. Â This dope footage from one of the panels featuring music executives Chris Lighty (RIP), Dame Dash, Shakim, & Steve Stoute unearthed by DJ Sandman. Great to see old footage like this; not just about the performances, but about the music business itself during that time.
Technology: Apple’s iTunes Now 10 Years Old (Video)
Feels like it’s been longer, but iTunes has only been with us for 10 years. Time flies. Apple found a way to make money off what was once taboo in the music industry – allowing people to download digital copies of music – in 2003. So far, iTunes is the ‘king of the hill’ of digital music… the video clip above acknowledges that… Then it asks, “What’s next?”
– @ojones1
DJ Tony Touch’s 50 Classic Clips: Big Pun & The Beatnuts Performing At Rock Steady’s 20th Anniversary (Video)
As we mentioned in a previous post about DJ Tony Touch’s upcoming project “The Piecemaker 3 (Return Of The 50 Emcees)” due July 9th, the legendary DJ had stated that he’ll be releasing classic never-seen-before footage everyday leading up until his new album release. In episode 5 above Tony Toca unlocks the video vault to footage of Big Pun performing “Off The Books” with The Beatnuts at Rocksteady’s 20th Anniversary show. In case you missed episode’s 1-4 featuring Onyx, Heather, B, KRS-ONE, Boot Camp Clikk, Guru, Inspectah Deck, Busta Rhymes, & a whole host of other significant cats in hip hop check out the videos & links below. CLASSIC!
TONY TOUCH’S 50 CLASSIC CLIPS: BUSTA RHYMES & ‘OL DIRTY BASTARD FREESTYLING 1994 (VIDEO)
Tony Touch’s 50 Classic Clips: Busta Rhymes & Ol Dirty Bastard Freestyling Back In 1994 (Video)
The legendary DJ Tony Touch is gearing up to release his long-awaited project “The Piecemaker 3 (Return Of The 50 Mcs)” due July 9th. People still talk about Tony Toca’s original 50 Mc’s mixtapes to this day & I’ve often overheard artists asking why Tony doesn’t start it back up again when people focused intently on who had the hottest bars. It’s great to see the Brooklyn Puerto Rock get back on it again. During the 50 days leading up to the release of the new project, Tony Touch will be dropping webisodes of classic & never seen before footage up until the July 9th which is the release date of his new project. In this first episode Tony Touch captures video of Busta Rhymes, Ol Dirty Bastard, CL Smooth, Rampage, & 8 Off The Assassin back in 1994 at the Gavin Convention in New Orleans. Classic
Dimelo! Dimelo! Dimelo!
Malcolm X: Make It Plain (Documentary)
Happy Birthday El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz! Thank you for teaching us to love ourselves. In honor of Malcolm X’s birthday today check out this 1994 PBS documentary entitled “Malcolm X: Make It Plain”
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Wisdom From Harry Belafonte at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction for Public Enemy (Video)
Icon/artist/actor/activist Harry Belafonte did the movie “Beat Street” (that’s right). A supporter of the Hip-Hop Culture from way back then! So, listen to the OG speak on PE and more in this vid. Respect!
‘In this clip, Harry Belafonte, who helped induct Public Enemy into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, shares his views on rock and rap, the growth of Hip-Hop, favorite rock artists and connecting with younger generations.’
– Backstage at the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions
Belafonte’s mission of changing the universe should be OUR mission, too!
(The 2013 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on HBO Saturday, May 18.)
Rakim Interview and Lecture on Hip Hop – His Substance, Style, Impact and More (Video)
Hip-Hop’s Golden Era icon Rakim (born William Griffin) delivers his lyrics with a smooth, effortless flow – melodic, yet undeniably intelligent. But in this full, full-length clip (approaching two hours runtime), Rakim Allah let the rhythm hit ’em in a different way – speaking and sharing in this Red Bull Music Academy Series Lecture. Spinning “Don’t Sweat the Technique”… good start to the class. Lesson 1: Emcees, get your own style (no biting allowed)! Watch and be edu-tained (as ‘the teacher’ KRS-ONE might say).
Eyes on the Stars: Ronald McNair Lived His Dream (Video)
I have been a life-long admirer of NASA Mission Specialist Dr. Ronald McNair. “Eyes on the Stars” (above) is a great PBS StoryCorps short about him; narrated by his brother Carl.
‘On January 28, 1986, NASA Challenger mission STS-51-L ended in tragedy when the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff. On board was physicist Ronald E. McNair, who was the second African American to enter space. But first, he was a kid with big dreams in Lake City, South Carolina.’
– PBS StoryCorps
A real American hero, I often shared Dr. McNair’s story during Black History Month observances at my high school. A shame we no longer have a space program to speak of in the U.S. Dreams of space travel, and astronauts like Ronald McNair who made those dreams real, are what had youngsters nationwide studying hard in math and science classes. Because you weren’t going anywhere near a shuttle if you didn’t know math and science.
A generation of kids, dreaming…filled with hope…and working hard in school. That is the legacy of Dr. McNair and all those who dared to ‘boldly go where [few] have gone before.’
R.I.P. Dr. McNair, you were an inspiration for so many (including other Black boys from the south, like me).
Footage of Dr. McNair’s final moments (aboard the doomed shuttle Challenger) – headed for the stars – after the jump. I still get choked up watching the footage.
– @ojones1
Angela Davis & Assata Shakur’s Lawyer Lennox Hinds Denounces The FBI’s Adding Of Exiled Activist To Terrorists List (Video)
It’s interesting that Assata Shakur is being called a terrorist recently after a 40-year-old case. The U.S. once called Nelson Mandela a terrorist as well back in the day too. Mandela was on the U.S. terrorism watch list up until 2008. It makes silly the whole ideal of who & what a terrorist really is by the U.S. Check out this interview with Angela Davis & Assata Shakur’s attorney Lennox Hinds (who was also Nelson Mandela’s attorney) as they speak on the case on Democracy Now.
“One day after the exiled former Black Panther Assata Shakur became the first woman named to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list, we’re joined by another legendary African-American activist, Angela Davis, as well as Shakur’s longtime attorney, Lennox Hinds. Davis, a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is the subject of the recent film, “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners.” She argues that the FBI’s latest move, much like its initial targeting of Shakur and other Black Panthers four decades ago, is politically motivated. “It seems to me that this act incorporates or reflects the very logic of terrorism,” Davis says. “I can’t help but think that it’s designed to frighten people who are involved in struggles today. Forty years ago seems like it was a long time ago. In the beginning of the 21st century, we’re still fighting around the very same issues — police violence, healthcare, education, people in prison.” A professor of criminal justice at Rutgers University, Hinds has represented Shakur since 1973. “This is a political act pushed by the state of New Jersey, by some members of Congress from Miami, and with the intent of putting pressure on the Cuban government and to inflame public opinion,” Hinds says. “There is no way to appeal someone being put on the terrorists list.”
ASSATA SHAKUR IN HER OWN WORDS (1998)
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Scarface on HardKnock TV (Video)
Scarface declares the first words are the most important in a rhyme because they set the tone of the verse. And you know he knows a thing or two about good rhyme writing. Surprisingly enough though, Scarface doesn’t like listening to his own rhymes. Above: Watch part 1 of a very dope backstage interview in which Face touches on the possibility of another Geto Boys album, some real history behind “Mind Playin Tricks On Me” and more.
Check out part 2 after the jump. Really good viewing!
‘Beat Society’ Is Back (feat. Pete Rock, !llMind, and More) [Video]
Beat Society – the Original Showcase for Beatmakers – presents this ‘7-minute look into the history, working parts and talent that make up the Original Showcase to spotlight the art of Beat making.’
Great video short. We’re talking Pete Rock, Oddisee, STS, !llmind, Blu, Statik Selektah, Hezekiah, Marco Polo, Truck North, Dice Raw, Eric G, Reef The Lost Cauze, Skyzoo, and Khrysis speaking on Beat Society, on their art and culture, and more.
Flashback 1990: The Gangstarr Video Press Kit (Video)
1990 was my first first year in radio when I was doing a hip hop show called ‘Strictly Hip Hop’ in Pennsylvania. I had also started a cable access show of the same name later that year & it wasn’t uncommon to receive dozens of new records & videos in the mail every week. Back then most of the videos we would receive from the record labels & indie promoters would arrive in the form of 3/4 inch tapes or on VHS. I need to get on my job like Tampa Bay area DJ Sandman who digitized one of Gangstarr’s old video press kits from back in the day. I know I have this same video on VHS somewhere in storage. I’m literally kicking myself to get on it because I do need to take the time to digitize many of my old shows & interviews from the 90s. In the meantime check out the video of GURU & DJ Premier’s video press kit. Rest in peace GURU! On another note….I’m definitely feeling how DJ Premier is rocking my favorite NFL team’s baseball cap. #RAIDERNATION BABY!
“This was a VHS Promo sent out by Chrysalis Records at the time the legendary Hip Hop group, Gang Starr was getting ready to release their 2nd album, “Step In The Arena” (Released 1/15/91) This video tape has been sitting in a box in my studio for years..I’ve always wanted to share it with Hip Hop fans who may have never had a chance to see it. It includes rare footage of Dj Premier & Guru in the studio working on their album and also a rare interview.” – DJ Sandman
Crate Diggers: J Dilla (Video)
“In this episode, we celebrate legendary producer J Dilla, who has worked with The Roots, Common, Erykah Badu, Janet Jackson and A Tribe Called Quest. Then we join musician friends J. Rocc, DJ Spinna, Frank Nitt and Grap Luva in Detroit to open Dilla’s storage locker, never-before-seen to the public. Crate Diggers profiles people with extraordinary vinyl record collections, with owners displaying and telling the stories behind their collections.” – Fuse TV
WATCH: PREVIOUS CRATE DIGGER EPISODES (VIDEOS)
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Countdown To 2042: Talib Kweli
By 2042 the U.S. is expected to become the most diverse it’s ever been racially speaking. The way the demographics are going, the U.S. will not have an ethnic majority. The team over at TheMMXLII interviewed Talib Kweli about growing up in the “melting pot” of Brooklyn and what diverse communities can teach us about self-identity and heritage. It’s the power of diversity
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Classic Clips: New Edition Performs ‘Candy Girl’ On Soul Train (Video)
It’s crazy to think of all the music New Edition has been involved with over the years as a group & even with their respective solo careers, spin-off groups, & artists they’ve mentored. I can remember that period well when New Edition first came out & ‘Candy Girl’ was their first big hit. Check out this classic clip from 1983 when they first appeared on Soul Train. The music was good but I did get a good laugh looking at this video of the outfits & the way they looked back then……
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Eazy-E Documentary: “Ruthless Memories” (Movie Trailer)
Due out March 26, 2013. Available for pre-order now at RuthlessMemories.com. The trailer for the documentary film on the life of seminal gangsta rapper Eric “Eazy-E” Wright. Promises to be an honest, engaging look at the life of the late Ruthless Records founder and former NWA frontman.
‘Eric (Eazy-E) Wright forever changed music and popular culture. “Ruthless Memories” is a real look into the life and personality of history’s most ground breaking, innovative gangster rapper.’
Flashback 1989: Jay-Z x Jaz-O Rapping In Unearthed Footage (Video)
Shout to the homie @BosNaud for putting me onto this video. I kinda laughed out loud when I saw this from Jay-Z’s gear to the super fast rhyming style he used at the time.
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“Dilla Day” Detroit (Video)
Fuse TV covers the celebration of life of one of Hip-Hop’s all-time greats – James “J. Dilla†Yancey. Festivities captured in the above footage are from the Detroit, at which folks like Talib Kweli, House Shoes, and J. Dilla’s mom speak on his legacy.
Remember When Chuck D Performed in Omaha? No, You Don’t (Video)
Chuck D sits down in front of an audience of superfans as part of Monie Love’s ‘Ladies First’ on SiriusXM Backspin. In the clip above, he drops a megaton bomb: about the hot show in Omaha (Nebraska, USA) where the crowd was thrilled to see PE (Public Enemy) wreck the stage. But the dude they thought was Chuck D… was NOT Chuck… it was Brother Mike (one of the S1W).
‘…and to my rescue, it was a S1W!’ Chuck D’s verse came to life that day, for real. Check it out!