J-Zone's Give The Drummer Some: Questlove (audio)

J-Zone and Questlove at RedBull Music Academy
Photo credit: Charles Ludeke

Last night (Feb. 5th) Red Bull Radio debuted their new show "Give The Drummer Some" with host J-Zone. The series kicked off with arguably the most well known drummer working today; Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. 

The show is basically a hub for some of the greatest drummers to come through and tell stories, techniques and maybe some unknown secrets along the way.

This episode didn't disappoint with Questlove talking about his own band The Roots' nod to drum 'n' bass from their time based in London, working with D'Angelo on Voodoo and off beat drum patterns from the J-Dilla era, among other topics. A really enjoyable talk.

The show is available for the next month. Check the Red Bull page here with tracklist or click on the stream below. There's also an archival Soundcloud link that J-Zone recently added. Enjoy below.

For The Record with Ice Cube (Video)

Ice Cube

Genius continue their excellent interview series, "For The Record", with host Rob Markman and latest guest Ice Cube. 

Not many more superlatives can be used when talking about Cube, his body of work and his influence on Hip-Hop for the last three decades. Looming large on the West Coast after his exit from the legendary NWA, Cube went on to release four solo albums in consecutive years, including Death Certificate and Lethal Injection. 

Starring, writing and directing films also started around the same time he dropped his albums with his breakout role as Doughboy in Boyz N The Hood. He went on to become a regular face on the silver screen following the massive success of his movie Friday, which he co-wrote.

In this interview, Rob Markman talks to Cube about his new album Everythang's Corrupt, as well as his favourite diss tracks and the inspiration for his movie Friday. Check the interview below and listen/buy his new album on your preferred app.

Jay Smooth on Shock Radio, Salford (Audio)

Jay Smooth

Hip Hop radio personality Jay Smooth spoke to Shock Radio's Benedict Jones ahead of his recent talk at Salford University called Hip Hop, Race and Politics: The Way We Talk About Things.

Listen to the short interview below and be sure to check Jay's video blog at Ill Doctrine.

Follow Jay Smooth @jsmooth995

Follow Benedict Jones @benedictjones94

Follow Shock Radio @ShockrRadio

Ka - Red Bull Music Academy Lecture

Ka with Jeff Mao

The modest, unassuming and hugely talented Ka sat with Jeff Mao for an hour long discussion of his work and upbringing for the Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal.

Speaking on his rise in Brownsville, the various crews he was a part of and his current situation in life and music, Ka brings a very poignant and enjoyable story to this particular lecture.

Watch the hour plus interview below and be sure to check out Ka's work on the usual platforms, including his latest album "Honor Killed The Samurai".

J Dilla's Vinyl Collection - Crate Diggers

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of J Dilla. 

Not much else can be said about the impact that he had on music, his family, friends and fans. A few years ago, as part of their Crate Diggers series, Fuse TV put together an episode looking at his personal collection of vinyl. In his absence, numerous close friends and collaborators talk about the man and his music.

RIP Jay Dee.

Kendrick Lamar Interviews N.W.A. (Video Interview)

Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, MC Ren & DJ Yella (Photo: Billboard)

Kendrick Lamar recently had the chance to interview the four remeaining members of N.W.A. for Billboard magazine. DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and MC Ren were all present to talk about all things N.W.A.

They talk about the start of the group, the artists they listen to nowadays, Eazy-E, the group's legacy and the bond they have to this day.

Watch the full interview below.

Bodega Brovas on Sway In The Morning (Video)

Headkrack, Keynote and Travii

Sway

Finally, after the disappointment of not all the group making the show a few months back, the Bodega Brovas made their first appearance on Shade 45's Sway In The Morning. All three members were present to discuss how they balance their work in radio along with a music career and also talked about their live shows. Having seen them perform a few years back, I can agree with Sway when I say they are impressive.

Headkrack, Keynote and Travii also performed a live version of "In The Sky". You can also get a free download (for a limited time) of "Rising" here which was premiered on the show.

Watch the interview and performance below. Also, look for the new LP "L.G.A." coming in September. #BelieveInBodega

Revolutions On Air: The Golden Era of New York Radio 1980-1988 (Mini-Documentary)

"New York City Radio during the 1980's featured the most dynamic and influential soundtrack the city had ever heard."

Red Bull Music takes a look back at radio in New York City in the 1980's with DJs such as DJ Red Alert, Stretch Armstrong, Marley Mal and DJ Spinna sharing their memories. Everyone on here was influenced in one way or another and they all reminisce about their personal connection to the music.

Unfortunately, this is desperately short considering the scope of music released back then but still very enjoyable.

Watch the video below.

The Beat Bang Theory: Episode 1 with Lord Finesse (Video)

Legendary producer, DJ, emcee and core member of D.I.T.C., Lord Finesse is the first guest on Dubspot's "The Beat Bang Theory". Finesse talks to Dubspot instuctor Shareef Islam about sampling vinyl, his preferred equipment to build his music with and also demonstrates with Ableton briefly.

Kobe Bryant - The Interview (Video)

Whether you love him or hate him, there's no denying the giant impression Kobe Bryant has left on the world of basketball. Ahmad Rashad sat down with the multiple championship and award winning player in his most candid interview for years.

Props to Yardie for the upload.

KBTI by YardieGoals

Magnum Opus: The Making of LL Cool J's Rock The Bells (Video)

Complex return with a new episode of their series "Magnum Opus". This time they look at the making of LL Cool J's classic record "Rock The Bells". Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, DMC and others share their memories as well as LL Cool J himself.

Watch the video below.

Slum Village, Ski Beatz, M-1 and Camp Lo Remember J Dilla (Video)

This past weekend in Miami where Dilla Day was being held, WatchLOUD caught up with a few artists and asked for their first impressions of Jay Dee. M-1 of dead prez, Ski Beatz, Camp Lo and Slum Village shared their memories.

Magnum Opus: The Making of Common's The Light (Video)

Complex continue their fantastic web series "Magnum Opus" with the making of Common's classic Jay Dee produced track "The Light". As well as Common himself, they talk to the song's inspiration Erykah Badu, fellow Soulquarian James Poyser, Detroit's Frank Nitt and even Bobby Caldwell, whose own song was sampled for the record. 

They also talk about the creation of the video with its director. Erykah Badu, who appears in the visual, even addresses the joke that any man she's involved with ends up in crocheted pants!

If the video isn't showing below, please click the link that takes you to the Complex page directly.

DJ Babu on Rhythm Roulette (Video)

DJ Babu of The Beat Junkies and Dilated Peoples shows his production skills on the latest episode of "Rhythm Roulette".

Dilated Peoples' new album "Directors Of Photography" is available everywhere now on Rhymesayers.

Timeless Truth - Out Of The Loop (Video)

The RL Polo enthusiasts Timeless Truth of Corona, Queens drop the official video for the track "Out Of The Loop" which originally surfaced a few months back on their "Dominican Diner" EP. Check the video below as well as a short interview they did for Stashed.

Magnum Opus: The Making of Mike Jones' Still Tippin' with Slim Thug & Paul Wall (Video)

Almost a decade after the initial release, Complex take a look at the making of the seminal Texan record "Still Tippin'" by Mike Jones, Slim Thug and Paul Wall.

We hear from all involved in the record including the producer Silah who made the classic beat, the co-founder of Swishahouse Records Michael "5000" Watts as well as other Houston representatives. 

I wasn't aware that there was an original version of this without Mike Jones on it or the subsequent rift it left between Paul Wall and Chamillionaire. A great watch.

Check the doc below and also the video for the song by Dr. Teeth after that.

Cormega - Industry (Video), This Is 50 Interview, Sway Interview & Industry (Juice Crew Remix)(Audio)

After hearing about the upcoming album from Cormega at his show in Manchester in late 2012, it was definitely the news everyone that was there wanted to hear. The fact it was to be produced entirely by his co-headliner that night, Large Professor, was just the icing on the cake.

Last week "Mega Philosophy" finally arrived and it doesn't disappoint.

Mega has been busy promoting the album with appearances on various radio shows and dropped a video for the first single "Industry". Today, Respect premiered a Juice Crew remix featuring verses from Masta Ace, Craig G and Kool G Rap!

Below I've included the video for "Industry", video interviews with Sway Calloway and Young Jack Thriller for ThisIs50 and the audio for the "Industry (Juice Crew Remix)". Enjoy and if you haven't already got the album, you know what to do. It's on iTunes for a start.

  

  

Apollo Brown on Rhythm Roulette (Video)

Mass Appeal head to Detroit to see Apollo Brown construct a beat with random records for the latest episode of "Rhythm Roulette".

Magnum Opus: The Making Of Puff Daddy's Can't Nobody Hold Me Down (Video)

Love him or hate him, no one can deny that Puff Daddy has more than a few hit records under his belt. The majority of these came from his production with the likes of Mary J Blige, Biggie Smalls and 112 to name a few artists. These are tracks that are still heard to this day.

Complex turn to his breakout hit as an artist with his 1997 single "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" featuring Mase and go behind the making of this important record in Puffy's career. As well as talking to Puffy, Complex also get comments from Mase, Nasheim Myrick (co-producer) and Dante Ross. They discuss the creation, the impact of the record and the questions that arose from using an already popularised sample.

Watch the episode of "Magnum Opus" below. The full video for "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" featuring Mase is also included beneath.

Nardwuar vs. Wu-Tang

An extended edition of one of Nardwuar's many interviews. This time with a handful of the Wu-Tang Clan. They talk about some of the movies they've sampled, the older records they did (including The Genius' first pop track) and Raekwon bugs out at Nardwuar's attire.