Check our archive of articles, reviews and essays about Hip Hop Kulture. We have much more on the way. Our launch for the site for the site is scheduled for May 2010.
At aTrueSchoolUniversity Sunday session, we were honored by an in-depth interview with DoItAll, member of the legendary Hip Hop group, Lords of the Underground (LOTUG). With a studio full of emcees present and female rappers A.D. and Lady J, joining us on the phone, DuKelly chopped it up with us about the state of Hip Hop, touring the world and visiting his DJ Lord Jazz in France where he 'lived' the culture and experienced Hip Hop in an international forum. Plus, we kicked it about their new independent project, House of Lords, available now.
Stand out tracks include: I Luv Hip Hop, What is an MC, Hum It Out, and Slick Talk to name a few. The album is laced with True School Hip Hop flavor, with new school/retro dance beats intermingled with Brick City Funk. Production is mostly handled by Rise with other tracks by Sedeck Jean, DJ Lord Jazz and even Marley Marl. Before he left, DoItAll, blessed us with many gems and even anchored an impromtu rhyme cypher....
LOTUG aka the Legendary Lords of the Underground represented by DJ Lord Jazz, Mr Funkman and DoItAll aka DuKelly for blazin' us wit some new Hip Hop flava on House of the Lords. The lyricism is authentic TrueSchool material. Our favorite tracks so far after the first listen are...I Luv Hip Hop, Yes We're Fresh, Hum It Out, Slick Talk and What Is An MC. Beats are newwave old school, so you will get that early 90's late 80's retro feel on some of the more danceable tracks. Its availble now so check it out, if you Love Hip Hop!
At TSU this past Sunday, while conducting a conference call with NYC's Lady J and Brooklyn native A.D. from NAN TV, we were joined in studio by our special guest of the week, DoItAll. The Brick City, NJ representative was very cordial, answering every question hurled at him by in-studio guests and participants on the phone. In fact as we parlayed, we were joined by Wiz of Crash Clik and ZAQ Coldly from the Cold Committee via telephone and voice of the Hood Brown Sugah who blessed us with some powerful thoughts during the conversation wit DuKell. One of the initial insights he laced us with was...
" We gotta understand that Hip Hop finally has a birth date which is Aug 11, 1973 on Sedgewick and Cedar in the Bronx NY (pioneered by) DJ Kool Herc which became known as Hip Hop."
During the convo we touched on many topics relating to the music industry and Hip Hop culture. While talking to ZAQ Coldly about touring Europe, DoItAll recounted living in France for a short period...
"When you travel to other cultures as an artist, we might get to go places but we don't get to live the culture...You travel from the airport, to the hotel, to the sound check, then maybe somewhere to eat then back to the venue, the hotel and the airport. So you aint get to live it. I aint understand that til I went to visit my DJ Lord Jazz, who was living (in France) for like 4 years. To me, they were like 5 to 10 years back behind us here dealing with the culture of Hip Hop. It made me feel like I was back in the 90's wit the style and whole feel for it, and how they love it and respect it. Like if they love Kurt Nice, they gonna know everything about Kurt Nice and Shades of Hip Hop, Big Haneef, Ali-Mu and whoever else you fuckin wit. They gonna know them too. If you put somethin out that they love, that's a classic, then they rockin wit you. Even if you put somethin else out ...they don't even have to hear it, cause they still rockin wit you."
Other notable quotes:
"That's how you learn your craft, you had to prove yourself as an artist."
"When you get 30 or 35 it's like 'ah it's over now' but this aint no sport where your knees go bad, it's a culture." And you live that for life!
"The most memorable thing was performing in Cinncinati wit Run DMC and JMJ. I got to rep my city on a national level cause it was on BET...(plus)I wanted to be Run when I was a kid growin up and to have him come in the dressing room later and be like 'yo yall gotta do some shows wit us' (was ill)."
Puttin in mad work behind the scenes in radio for years is your girl Lil Nat. In fact for cats like me in the so-called underground circuit heavy, Hot 97fm in NYC is a whack-ass station that plays bullshit Rap for the most part. However, certain people that work for them are mad cool and deserving of much respect because of their work ethic, persistence, and talent... people like Lil Nat. She has been puttin mad work in for name brand radio personalities, held down gigs in other markets, produced her own spots and engineered segments for others as well. Her overnight hours and schedule make her one of those work horse DJs on the come up who is being groomed for something much bigger. Still, it would be sad if the corporate machine one day destroys her sense of independence and integrity. And yet, there but for the grace of the Gods go all of us on this side of the media outlet. During the interview I had with Lil Nat at the Drahma Magazine Media Blitz affair, we kicked it about a lot of relevant topics which made for a great conversation. She has a quick and rational mind with experience she seems to be proud of rather than jaded by. Some industry cats become regretful of the 'long hard road to wherever you're at' and act like arrogant brats. Not so here. To Lil Nat, I wish you all the success you have earned. Just keep the big picture of Hip Hop Culture, and civilization for the uncivilized in mind. One Love - Kurt Nice.
A beautiful fusion of Hip Hop, Poetry and ambience laid the foundation of good vibes for the showcase put on by Shah Echelon in Brooklyn this month. Under the looming shadow of the Brooklyn brigde on Water St., Miami educated and Memphis, raised, Brooklyn resident, Tracy Smith explained the drive behind her Shah Echelon movement. As founder and CEO she recalled her reasons for starting her promotions, "I wanted to bring some positive things to the community, and enhance, educate and preserve the Hip Hop music culture. (in addition) strengthen the lyrical content and the positivity. Poetry is the foundation of Hip Hop. Today the originality and the creativty has been lost. But there are so many talented emcees out there that might not have the look or the clothes but have the sound, style and passion for the music. You don't have to be a gimmick or fit a certain record label's idea of what a rapper should be. We have a stage for you and you can perform here."
Hosting the evening's festivities for Shah Echelon was the duo of Definition and Sosoon. As writers, poets and emcees themselves, they were able to galvanize the support of the crowd for each artist that reached the stage. Performed was an eclectic mix of spoken word that ranged from raw, erupting emotion with poets like Elijah Kuan Wong, to tentative, sincerely rendered introspection from first time poets like Marcia Howard. The music crossed the spectrums of polished R&B singer/pianist G Martin providing hooks for classic-style rap artists Maintain and Kon, to acoustic guitar performed by a soul-felt female singer named Bridgette B. Special Shout Outs to Tongo, Kazu, Aisha, Naima, and Chaz Raps.
Big Up DJ Bedtyme who gave us an interview the other night at Club Rebel in NYC. Starting as the DJ for CL Smooth he travelled to Europe, explored Hip Hop music and most recently has been DJ'in for Remy Ma. At the All Is One, Faces in the Crowd showcase, put on by Chalant and Reality, Bedtyme stated that showcases like these are the most important thing to do for artists because, "it's the easiest way for you to get heard. Even if you don't perform you can pass out CDs. Sampler CDs are most important because they're more direct (verses your whole album)." About the FREE Remy Ma shirt he was rockin that night he said, "Remy is good, believe it or not given the circumstances. She has accepted that fact that shit happens and it is what it is, but don't count Remy Ma out yet. She'll be home soon." As for that night, he was reppin as the 'hype man' for SicOsyrus from Philly, who did his 1,2's on stage before a well attended audience. Shouts to everybody in the house especially Rham Robinson from Protege magazine, Ace of Spades, Sav Killz, J-Hatch, Homeboy Sandman, Drahma Magazine, No Mercy, Mix House, and Maino who blazed a quick set which included the Hi Haters joint which had the crowd wavin to all the subliminal haters. None were present at Faces in the Crowd from what I saw. It was all love. Badboy, Atlantic, Universal and Motown A$R reps were in the building to check out the hungry talent which, in the past, has included artists such as Chrisette Michelle who they helped get a recording contract. Every month it's on!
Last week we were treated to a very special event for rappers to test their skill level and endurance on the mic. It was the 2nd Annual 26 hour RapathonHipHopCultureCenter held at the in Harlem, NY. More like a marathon of rhyming, this all you can eat buffet of lyricism was dished out back to back in cyphers of 4 to 5 rappers on stage at one time who would alternate with another group of 5 for three hours straight. In between verses which included freestyles and some artists whole catalog of writtens, a consistent old-school hook would be recited, "Rock, You Don't Stop, Keep On, You Don't Stop!"
This kept the speaker pumpin with non-stop rhyming from the time we got there until we left 10 hours later. As for the emcees, only serious heads needed to apply. This was the graveyard shift. The late night replaced by the wee-hours of the morning, followed by the crack of dawn and full-on Sunday morning. To be on your A game at 3:45, 4:45 and 5:45 in the morning seemed to bring out the best in heads that night. As I spoke to the Executive Director, Curtis Sherrod of the HipHopCultureCenter in Harlem (on 124th St at the Magic Johnson Theater), I found out some interesting things...
First not only is the Center a place for the one of the only Hip Hop Rapathons in the world but it is a youth center that empowers thru Hip Hop Culture. They teach economic literacy, political awareness, Hip Hop and civil rights, diet/nutrition and home economics for young ladies and young men. Besides that on display is "the illest Hip Hop flyer collection in the world" Sherrod told us. As his flagship event, the Rapathon, he says was "one of those flashes of brillance" from someone who is "not the brightest kid but I have flashes of brillance." The decor of the spot is likely being added on to periodically. Now it includes huge posters of Kool Herc, Afrika Bambataa, Cold Crush Bros. etc. old-school flyers are displayed and original-design hand-painted converse sneakers are hanging from the ceiling like they would on a street telephone wire. The stage is in the middle with a huge video screen on the far wall playing back all the action from the stage. No doubt it was a hot event. It was a uniquely original event that any true Hip Hop fan would cherish as a fond memory.
Hasan Salaam
During that same 3am - 6am set of emcees spittin at the Rapathon we got a chance to check out Hasan Salaam in action. It was ill to see how alert everyone was at this time of morning when around the NYC cats were nestled in their beds dreaming about how dope of an mc they are. Meanwhile I peep Hasan Salaam rhymin on both sides of the stage and even from the audience. Maybe it was the Guru 100% Natural Energy drinks that helped but from the look in cats eyes it was the Hip Hop. Hasan like everyone else looked happy to be there even at 5am. Shouts out to Baron, Majesty, 5th Column, Hicoup, and DJ Static for the beat to Broke and Proud.
Rugged N Raw
At about 3am an ill set began. It featured some of the illest emceeing I had seen all night. Not that other cats weren't skillin, but for some reason my attention was drawn to the stage a bit more. When you hear RnR, you think professional; clear diction, on-point flow, witty metaphors and a mind that understands song formula. He spoke to shadesradio.com during the Hip Hop Rapathon and had this to say... "this is how Hip Hop started (with the cypher) and this determines who emcees and who's rappin. The beauty of the whole frestyle is that one minute you could be on-point and another point you could be a little shaky. But the thing is perserverance, keepin it new and really goin at it to see how quick witted you are, and just entertaining the people. It's 4:56 in the morning, and no matter when you go up there you gotta gotta be hungry cause you never know who's watching (or listening)." About the track 'Broke and Proud'RnR commented, "everybody is on these poppy beats talkin bout how rich they are and I don't live that life, so if I put that on wax, I'm not being true to myself”
MCs for Days
The thing that stood out about M-TRI was the fact that as groups of four or five emcees would alternate on and off the stage for 3 hours, M-TRI seemed to stay up there the whole time, on the same side, same place adding to the cypher every couple of verses. This dude had rhymes for days. At first Shy-U noticed it in between smoke breaks and long stints at the car, eating and drinking. Then G-Hop questioned "who's that cat on the side, he been up there mad long?" In fact, over the course of about 10 hours during our first shift we saw a never ending supply of emcees that included: D-Nasty, Fresh Aire Sekou, Baron, Jason aka Syncypha, Malik Sinclair, PPressure, Ra-Set T, Lil Crise, Chao$, MeccaVillain, Alias, Rugged N Raw, Hasan Salaam, Majesty, Just, Kiana, Sofija Sofre, Arson, Carlito, Verbal Artisan, Priest Forever, John O., Supreme Magnetic, Big Wil, Rich Kid, Kween Kash, Nicolette, Major Pain, Gypsy, Endya, Prophetic and more. Peace to everyone that attended who are too numerous to name.
Ali-Mu
During the morning and afternoon sessions Ali-Mu among many others held it down. Though by this time we were safely back in Newark at the ATF Sunday Session. After withstanding a pocket crunching setback at the start of the day, Ali-Mu gathered his rhyme skills and dove into playground of rhyming that he, like most of the other emcees, had never seen before. A group of rappers skillin is the best set-up for Ali-Mu to freestyle. Although he shines in a cypher full of whack mcs, it brings his level down. But when cats are skillin Ali-Mu's mind seems to start racin to where he can weave rhymes as easy as talkin. I've seen him do it. He told me afterward, "Its a great experience, positive energy, networking... I felt like I knew everybody there.Plus Uncle Ralph McDaniels was DJing during my set so it was an honor for me."
Grand Wizard Theodore
At the Hip Hop Culture Rapathon in Harlem we had the pleasure to reconnect with certain pioneers in Hip Hop and meet others for the first time. After being at several events with Grand Wizard Theodore, we were finally able to get a recorded interview with him for shadesradio.com. About the 25 hour marathon of rhyming GWT said, "I'm glad to be here, cause the real essence of Hip Hop is being lost. To be at the HipHopCultureCenter makes me feel good that Real Hip Hop is still here." Grand Wizard Theodore started DJing at the age of 12 and invented the scratch in 1975. wikipedia defines: "Scratching" is also a present participle of "scratch", and may also refer to a form of street art
Scratching (or "skratching") is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the 1990s, it has been used in some styles of pop and nu-metal. Within hip hop culture, scratching is one of the measures of a DJ's skills, and there are many scratching competitions. In recorded hip-hop songs, scratched hooks often use portions of different rap songs.
To talk with the person credited with inventing the scratch, an integral part of the development of modern Hip Hop music, was a great honor. Always respect the architects!
New Artists Just Added to Shadesradio.com 
