BK-One has been, and always will be, one superb DJ. Since the days I used to watch him across the mixing board at Radio K when I was just being trained in on The Beat Box, he has always been this way. Me and him were lip-syncing “Oh No” by Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch and Nate Dogg when he played the 12″ one time. Now, along with up-and-coming beatsmith Benzilla, they have put out Rádio Do Canibal, a project to show the worldwide influences of music when the funk, jazz and samba rhythms and tones of Brazil match up with Hip-Hop across different areas of the United States. I was able to get BK-One to do a track-by-track of Canibal, so without further delay, HERE WE GO!
Welcome to the weekly rundown where we (soulsupreme and Marty) provide you with our top ten headlines for the week that was.
Kanye West at the VMA’s. Probably the most overblown news story of the year. There are bigger issues in the world. Blame it on the Hennessey and keep it moving.
Pioneering DJ Grand Master Roc Raida passes away. Another hip-hop legend gone to soon in 2009. Roc Raida was battling complications from surgery. This weekend his condition worsened and he passed away. Busta Rhymes confirmed the news on Twitter. Our prayers are with his family.
Rhymesayers has always been a ridiculously stacked label. But this year, they just continue to up the ante, what with the new Brother Ali album coming soon and that excellent Toki Wright record this summer. Not to mention the fact the third volume in the Felt (Murs and Slug) series is coming this autumn with Aesop Rock behind the boards. Well for this post, we are treating you with the first cut from BK-One’s upcoming Rádio Do Canibal, which drops Oct. 6. The track, “Here I Am”, is funky-as-hell and features three solid verses from Phonte, Brother Ali, and The Grouch. Tigallo also handles the smooth hook over a killer beat crafted by Benzilla, who you know for his work with Toki Wright, Big Quarters, and others. To shout out “DOWNLOAD THIS” repeatedly would be useless, because one look at this post’s title will have you clickin’ like a madman (or woman) to hear that new shit.
Just got hit with quite a surprising email, a video and download link to A.R.M.’s latest joint featuring Brother Ali. Too be honest, Brother Ali is what attracted me to this joint, but I must tell you that M.anifest, Krukid and Budo, the members of A.R.M., truly held their own on this track, maybe even taking the prize! I am not one to compare verses on songs though, so you decide for yourself. After peeping the video, be sure to make a mental note of Uprising, the upcoming LP from this trio, which should be dropping shortly!
It was just a few days ago that we posted a preview video for Brother Ali’s new album, Us, which is set to drop Sept. 22. And now, we have an mp3 of the first leaked track, also titled “Us”. This joint is another fantastic cut from the ridiculously talented Rhymesayers emcee who seems to get better with every record he releases. By the way, if you haven’t seen Ali in concert yet, do yourself a favor and cop tickets for the Fresh Air tour with Evidence and Toki Wright, who also kills it on stage. As for right now, enjoy the track and, of course, let us know what you’re thinking.
Brother Ali just tweeted the link to this video, which is a preview of his upcoming album. Entitled Us, the Brother’s latest record is primed to drop Sept. 22 on Rhymesayers with guests including Joell Ortiz, Freeway, and Chuck D. But as we all know at this point, Ali can certainly stand alone and kill it. Those features are sure to be interesting, though… Anyway, give this video a look and get taken to church by one of the best emcees doing it today.
This may come off a tad on the personal side, but I was introduced to Toki Wright back in my radio days when he was part of a group called The C.O.R.E. His raps were socially conscious and very enjoyable to the ear. His raps tiptoe between head-nodding thoughtfully spoken joints, and the brash in your face delivery whenever he got more energetic. Finally on the heels of releasing A Different Mirror via Rhymesayers, I had the chance to speak with Toki Wright and do a track by track analysis on the album he’s put out. Read on folks!
1. FOUNDATION
Produced by Benzilla
Toki: This was one of the last pieces that we made for the album. I think I wrote it on the back of an electric bill or something. I wanted to sum up the reason why I wrote the album the way I did. There are so many mixed emotions that we have as humans where we often seem embattled with our own conscience. “Love/hate, pain/relief, life/death, contrasts of color, hunger and gluttony.” The album is organized in a way that from song to song makes these emotions look at each other in the mirror. I wanted to make a real honest album even if that meant I was the main character.
Album Review: The Gift of Gab – Escape 2 Mars (2009)
BK-One has been, and always will be, one superb DJ. Since the days I used to watch him across the mixing board at Radio K when I was just being trained in on The Beat Box, he has always been this way. Me and him were lip-syncing “Oh No” by Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch and Nate Dogg when he played the 12″ one time. Now, along with up-and-coming beatsmith Benzilla, they have put out Rádio Do Canibal, a project to show the worldwide influences of music when the funk, jazz and samba rhythms and tones of Brazil match up with Hip-Hop across different areas of the United States. I was able to get BK-One to do a track-by-track of Canibal, so without further delay, HERE WE GO!
![bk one Download: BK One Here I Am feat. Phonte, Brother Ali, & The Grouch [mp3]](http://potholesinmyblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/bk-one.jpg "bk-one")
![brotherali Download: Brother Ali Us [mp3]](http://potholesinmyblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/brotherali.jpg "brotherali")
This may come off a tad on the personal side, but I was introduced to 
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