Slum Village “Reunion Part 2″ Video

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Mike Schpitz

Before I get to my full post today, I wanted to share a new video from one of my favorite groups, Slum Village. They are getting ready to drop their last album as a group, Village Manifesto and recently released a video for their track, Reunion Part 2 featuring Illa J. I’m not sure if Slum Village is officially breaking up but apparently there was some issues with Elzhi and word on Twitter is that Village Manifesto will be their last album. It’s kind of painful that both Little Brother and Slum Village announced their last albums in the same year. I know all parties will keep making music though so, it’s not totally devastating. Stay tuned for more updates about Village Manifesto. I also wanted to include Reunion Part I which was featured on Slum Village’s Detroi Deli album. J Dilla blesses the track with a verse over the Black Milk produced banger. RIP J Dilla and Baatin.

eLZhi “Deep” Video

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Mike Schpitz

Here is another ill ass video that dropped this week. I saw the teaser for eLZhi’s video Deep last week so, naturally I was pretty excited to see the whole thing. Deep is featured on eLZhi’s unmixedtape, The Leftovers. If you haven’t already downloaded that, do so now. In the meantime, check out the video for Deep. I am looking forward to a lot more of eLHzi this year.

Here is a link to download The Leftovers Unmixedtape as well.

eLZhi-The Leftovers Unmixedtape

Da Night

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

While doing my little one, two, I stumbled across a new Slum Village video/promo for Village Manifesto. It’s a real short video that show T3 kicking his verse from their track Da Night. Elzhi’s verse on this joint is CRAZY as well. I wonder if they are gonna drop the full video. Enjoy

more about “Slum Village – Da Night“, posted with vodpod

Village Manifesto

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

Despite the miserable snow making my travel plans difficult, today I bumping the newest project from one of my favorite groups of all time, Slum Village’s Village Manifesto EP. It has been a few years since Slum Village released a group project and since, Baatin has passed away and J Dilla’s younger brother, Illa J has been added to the group. Village Manifesto is a very short project that features 6 tracks with Baatin dropping verses just prior to his passing. I got the chance to listen to the EP on SV’s myspace page a few weeks ago and now I finally got a copy for the ride. Although, Slum’s last few projects have yet to compare to the first 3(if you count Fanstatic Volume 1), they have some gems on all of them. This project is a tight 6 songs. At this point, as long as Elzhi spits, the song is worthy of a listen and a rewind. However, T3 sounds good, Baatin even sounds like he is stepping up his pen game. The rhymes are definitely on point and the beats are pretty dope as well. I’m not a big fan of the Money Right hook but the song still gets burn. Village Manifesto is definitely a solid project to round out 2009 and hopefully we will be getting a full length next year. Check out the joint Dope Man featured on the EP and make sure you check out the rest of the EP as well. Happy Holidays too all.

RIP Baatin and J Dilla.

Leftovers

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

It’s going to be a short work week but hopefully a LONG holiday season for everyone to finish out 2009. I couldn’t imagine starting the week any better than with a new mixtape from one of the nicest dudes to ever bless a mike, eLZhi. My man Vanysh sent me a link to Elzhi’s mixtape, The Leftovers Unmixedtape on Friday and pretty much made the rest of my year. I can’t believe that I wasn’t already on to this mixtape but shout out to Vanysh for blessing me with some more heat by Elzhi. The mixtape features unreleased tracks as well as features and joints from other people’s projects. As if I need to say anything, the mixtape is incredible. Elzhi has had an incredible last two years with Europass, The Preface and now another classic. It’s hard to really pick a favorite because I am still digesting it all but I love Deep, Glow and of course Colors Remix from DJ Spinna’s album. Everyone should go over to Elzhi.com immediately and download the tape. I got more brand new heat tomorrow to bring everyone as well. Happy Monday.

Check out the Jake One album version of Glow featuring Royce Da 5’9″

Slum Village Actin’ Normal

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

Photo by Kinga

First off, RIP J Dilla and RIP Baatin. This video just leaked today as an introduction to Slum Village’s new album, Village Manifesto. Baatin was a part of the album and plays a leading role in this video. I’m sure more videos and work will surface after Tin’s death but this is the first new Slum Village stuff I have seen/heard since Baatin passed away. The video is directed by Dwele and features many cameos including a few of my ex girl friends. Once again, RIP Baatin and RIP J Dilla. Slum Village forever!!!!!!

more about “Slum Village – Actin’ Normal (Video)“, posted with vodpod

Baatin Passes Away

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

Photo by Kinga

Today is a very sad day in hip hop. One of my favorite groups of all time, Slum Village, lost another one of its members today, Baatin. If you are not familiar with Slum Village, Baatin is an original member of SV along with the late J Dilla and T3. After J Dilla’s departure, SV added Elzhi. Baatin left after putting out Detroit Deli. Baatin was one of hip hop’s most unique personalities. He added a whole other element to Slum’s music. His voice could be recognized immediately and his spiritual lyrics and personality gave Slum a one of a kind sound. The cause of Baatin’s death is unknown at the time. He was 35 years old. Baatin will be missed but his music and his legacy will live on forever. Here are a few of my favorite Slum Village songs from Fantastic Volume 2 and Trinity. RIP Baatin. My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.

Sonic Smash

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you. Sorry for the late morning/early afternoon post for my song of the day. I had some bizness to attend too. As promised, I checked out DJ Spinna’s album Sonic Smash and enjoyed some of it. The beats are definitely on point. Only 3 or 4 four joints really stood out to me and 2 of those were incredible. I heard the More Colors joint featuring Elzhi a few days ago but really got a chance to listen to it again. Elzhi does it again. He manages to recreate his classic joint Colors from his album, The Preface and keep it original and fresh. He even uses portions of his verses from the original and just expands on them. It is amazing to see how well dude writes and how clever and original he keeps it ever time. Any verse/song that I have heard from Elzhi, he says shit that I have never heard or says things in a way that I have never heard. Very few emcees can do that. I can’t wait for the new Slum Village project and Elzhi’s new solo. The next joint that really grabbed me was Guaranteed featuring the ever-so-ill Phonte from Little Brother and Yazarah. It’s a very dope song about some relationship stuff. Both tracks are worth checking out the album in its entirety. Get On Down is also a dope track with features verses from Fresh Daily, P. CASSO and Homeboy Sandman. I’m not too familiar with any of these cats music but they all do a nice job on that track. I have personally uploaded More Colors and Guaranteed for your listening and downloading pleasure. What better way to celebrate hump day? Make sure you check out the whole album, Sonic Smash as well.

DJ Spinna featuring Elzhi-More Colors

DJ Spinna featuring Phonte and Yazarah-Guaranteed

Bang Bang

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

“My baby shot me down”

Is it REALLY Monday already????????? It is hard to believe how quickly these weeks are flying by. This weekend was busy and productive on my end. Friday night, we finished filming for the Sucka MCs video. Tori and Jackie killed their acting debuts and of course, Mr. Roger’s was in full effect. The pictures from the shoot shall be up very soon. We spent several hours shooting the video and the footage turned out crazy. Sucka MCs will be here very soon so stay tuned. Saturday night was my first show in several months. I performed with SLOT-A at Joes on Weed Street in Chicago and absolutely killed it. Even though the set got cut short, we still managed to rock the crowd and get a nice work out in. Sunday was really lowkey, I watched a couple movies including Jackie Chan’s The Myth which was a little disappointing especially after loving Shinjuku Incident. I wrote a couple new songs for my new album with Phys Ed that are going to be crazy. Last night, I got my hands on a copy of DJ Spinna’s new album, Sonic Smash which features artists like Phonte, Elzhi and Torae among many others. I listened to a little over half of it today but didn’t fall in love with any of the songs quite yet. However, I listened to one of my favorite mixtapes of all time, Kill Bloodclott Bill from Kardinal Offishall all damn weekend. It was hard for me to even take it out this morning to listen to something new. One of my favorite joints on Kill Bloodclott Bill is the first song(second track) Bang Bang. It features the sample from Nancy Sinatra’s Bang Bang. I have heard this sample reworked a couple times but I think Kardinal was the first to do it and definitely the illest. I would give out the whole mixtape but there are several other songs that will be my theme song at a later date. So happy Monday to all. Another new week is upon us and what better way to start it with than some Kardinal Offishall. Here is Bang Bang from Kardi as well as the original from Nancy Sinatra. I will give my full report on DJ Spinna’s album tomorrow. So far the beats are pretty ill. I didn’t realize it but Nancy Sinatra was kind of fine. DAMN!!!!!!

The New Generation

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Mike Schpitz

Drake rocking Fakes??????

After writing my post this morning about J. Cole, I was having another discussion with some people about Drake and the same points always come up about this new generation of emcees/rappers. Why are these average cats getting love and shine like they are the greatest things since the snuggie? Wait bad comparison. How about since honey mustard sauce from Chik-Fil-A. Yea much better. Maybe I am just getting older and losing touch with a lot of what’s going on now but the newest wave of emcees, minus a few, are so average that it hurts. I would almost listen to Soulja Boy because at least everyone knows that he sucks. It seems like just because hip hop is worse than it is ever been, people are getting passes for being halfway decent. Cats are standing out in the worst time period for hip hop. I just get confused because blogs, DJs and fans are acting like these cats are bringing hip hop back. I get confused because it seems like everyone has just forgotten what DOPE music really is. Does anyone listen to cats like Royce, Elzhi, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, The Roots????? I mean REALLY listen. Think back to the late 80′s and 90′s about how many classic albums came out and compare that to that last 8 years. The trend is obvious. I’m not sure if emcees/rappers nowadays compare their music to the times are compare their music to the classics but maybe that is the problem. Artist’s just catering to the times. I know when I think about music or write music or record music, I compare my music to the classic. As an artist who truly loves every aspect of creating music, I want my music to stand the test of time and not an artist who just stood out during his time. It just feels like these artists nowadays just want to stand out during their time, which nowadays, to a real emcee should be an insult. I don’t a lot of these cats are terrible but they are so average that it hurts. They are celerated for obvious punchlines, lazy concepts and decent hooks. Just because someone is rocking a decent beat with decent lyrics, although more thought provoking than “do that stanky leg” doesn’t make it a great song. I like what a lot of these cats stand for and their approach to music “appears” to be in the right place but the music simply does not support the hype. Maybe being objective and open to new music is a bad thing especially when it means that anyone with a microphone and a love for hip hop is considered to be a real emcee. Maybe we as fans of hip hop need to step our game up and set some standards because honestly, I’m sick of seeing decent rappers getting pegged as GREAT. Ya’ll as fans are falling off too. This new generation will be know as the “getting by’ers.” I’m gonna go listen to some more Pharoahe Monch because “ain’t no such things as halfway nice.”

Pharoahe Monch-What It Is

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