HoustonSoReal is now AustinSurreal.com

BLACK SHEEP and NICE & SMOOTH in HOUSTON and AUSTIN!!!

2008-11-05T12:50:00.001-08:00

Next Scion Event! Black Sheep and Nice N Smooth

2008-10-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

www.scion.com/livemetro to RSVP AND GET IN FREE!

www.scion.com/livemetro to RSVP AND GET IN FREE!

MASH OUT POSSE!LIVE IN HOUSTON AND AUSTIN!FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Monday and Tuesday...

2008-10-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY IN AUSTIN AT FLAMINGO CANTINA!

MONDAY IN HOUSTON AT WAREHOUSE LIVE!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP ONLINE NOW AND GET IN FREE!!!!!!!!!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP ONLINE NOW AND GET IN FREE!!!!!!!!!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP ONLINE NOW AND GET IN FREE!!!!!!!!!

I'll be out there in Houston a couple days y'all. Lookout for the exclusive South Park Coalition Podcast in celebration of their upcoming show in Austin Saturday Oct. 25th at Ruta Maya. Me and DJ Buddha have an SPC mix for y'all and an interview with K-Rino and other members of the SPC to be posted here no later than Tuesday, probably Monday, maybe Sunday night. But it's goin' down.

And of course...

AustinSurreal Presents Bavu Blakes & the Extra Plairs, Mojoe, Black Mike & Kemistry, DJ Knoowledge, Hosted by Terel Shahid, and it's really goin' down. At the Mohawk. RSVP to austinsurreal@gmail.com for discount admission.

M.O.P. Live With Connie Price & the KeystonesFREE!Austin & Houston Oct. 19 & 20!

2008-10-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

It's goin' down once again y'all! Another FREE SCION EVENT!!!!!

Come down y'all. RSVP HERE AT THIS LINK RIGHT HERE TO GET IN FREE!

We missed y'all out there in Houston last month. Come celebrate your survival!

First in Austin... THIS MONTH AT FLAMINGO CANTINA!

Then in Houston... ALWAYS AT WAREHOUSE LIVE!

RSVP NOW! www.scion.com/livemetro

Redman Live in Houston & Austin!!!FREE Scion Shows!!!!With Connie Price & the Keystones + Cosmo Baker!!!

2008-09-06T23:28:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER 16TH - HOUSTON - Warehouse Live / SEPTEMBER 17TH - AUSTIN - The Parish

CLICK HERE TO RSVP TO GET INTO BOTH SHOWS FOR FREE!!!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP AND GET IN FREE!!!!

HOUSTON! FREE BUN B SHOW THIS WEDNESDAY AT WAREHOUSE LIVE WITH LIVE BAND!!!!

2008-08-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

BUN B LIVE WITH ORGONNE BACKING HIM UP! AT WAREHOUSE LIVE AND IT'S FREEE!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP AND GET IN FREE!!!

Then roll to Austin Friday and see the same show cuz it's really goin' down!!!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP TO BOTH SHOWS AND GET IN FREE!!!

I hope to see you at both.

The Joys Of Summer...

2008-08-08T12:28:00.001-07:00

...For me this year obviously don't include blogging.

I spent the last week upta my ma's in Erie, Pennsylvania at a cottage on Lake Erie with a good portion of my family and extended family, and remembered what this here life is supposed to be.

It's supposed to be sitting the fuck on a beach with your family and chilling the fuck out. That's what it is supposed to be. Not all this other shit. I'm serious. I don't care what they told you in school. I don't care what your father who broke his back to make sure that you had a semblance of a life, told you. I don't care what anybody says. Life truly is supposed to be about sitting on a beach with your family. Also beer.

I'll leave room for bits of work, cuz even on the beach you have to work to survive. But that's it. The endless grind is beginning to drive me nuts. I realized that on my third day with no internet or cell phone service. I found myself checking the screen on my phone, even though I knew there was no way there would be anything there.

And I don't even have a bad job. In fact I love my job. I just don't like not being on a beach with my family.

Barton Springs works too.

That being said, artistises, get on your grizzlie and get your applications in for SXSW 2009. Don't make me chase you down round about February. And definitely don't call me asking for a slot in February. Time is now. www.sxsw.com

I've already got some incredible stuff in the works.

Anyway, so tonight I head out to Concan, TX to do a lil tubing on a river and camping in a forest (Life is also about rivers and forests too). Then Sunday I'm en route to Houston for the Ozone Awards!

If you happened to read my lil review of the Ozone Awards last year, please tune in again this year to see if my bad attitude hath changed. I'm not gonna immerse myself in three days of industry shit, but I'ma be up in the house for the event itself. Which looks to be quite over the top.

Then directly after that I'm headed off to Amsterdam for the Lowlands Festival. So if yer reading me in any of those places, holler at me. Except in Concan, don't bother me and my river.

THEN AFTER AMSTERDAM! I head back to Houston for this magnanimous event!!!!

BUN B LIVE WITH ORGONNE BACKING HIM UP! AT WAREHOUSE LIVE AND IT'S FREEE!

Then two nights later see the same line up in Austin at The Parish!

DJ AYRES WILL BE LIVE IN THE MIX AND YES IT'S GOIN' DOWN!!!!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW AND GET IN FREE TO BOTH SHOWS!!!!

Anyway, also, See Devin the Dude live at the South Street Seaport in NYC on Sept. 6th for the East Village Radio 5 Year Anniversary Festival. Hosted by KRS One!

AugustSoReal it's Surreal.

ICE MIKE Has a Net Radio Show!See him LIVE in Austin This Saturday!

2008-07-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

Afta Da Heatwave!

Check out this pioneer producer of New Orleans Bounce Music!

Online and in person. CLICK HERE TO CHECK ICE MIKE'S LATEST RADIO SHOW!

And come check out Ice Mike Live in Austin, TX this Saturday night. With DJ CHILL!

Legendary Bounce Producer Ice Mike + DJ CHill in Austin July 19th!

2008-07-08T07:04:00.001-07:00

AUSTIN TEXAS It's about to go down!

July 19th!

Right after you go see Lil Boosie and Paul Wall at the Heatwave Car Show, come down to Whiskey Bar and get a taste of where the New Orleans and Houston scene's really started!

IT'S GOIN' DOWN!

GETO BOYS LIVE IN HOUSTON TONIGHT!FREE MP3!!!!Willie D featuring Scarface & LIl Wayne - Dem Boys

2008-07-04T08:55:00.001-07:00

It's the truth y'all, the four core/current members of the Geto Boys - Willie D, Scarface, Bushwick Bill & Domo - will all be on stage tonight in Houston at Warehouse Live. To see them in such a dope spot, with great sound and lights and all that shit, should be a real treat. Back in the day I thought they were one of the livest groups in hip-hop, lets see if they can still hold up to that claim.

Since they don't really hang out these days, I doubt you'll see the routines we saw back in 1989, I pretty much just expect some raw energy and realness. Nothing less though.

(Peep some of the first posts on HoustonSoReal for interviews with all the members, and a review of the last time they hit the stage together, in early 2005 I think.)

Anyway Jeff from Warehouse Live says tickets are selling briskly in advance, so I suggest you go and get yours online NOW. www.warehouselive.com

And as a bonus, to get you hyped up for tonight, here's a lil gem I dug up in the garage yesterday.

DEM BOYS - Willie D, Scarface, Lil Wayne - From Willie D's 2000 album Loved By Few, Hated By Many.

Download the song featuring Lil Wayne.

Yep, that's Lil Wayne from 8 years ago.

You heard of Lil Wayne right?

Lil Wayne is an alien.

Lil Wayne on the TV.

Lil Wayne lackadaisical rappin'.

Lil Wayne will be in Austin July 10th.

For a Lil Wayne concert.

Also, Lil Wayne.

Lil Wayne jammin'.

They say Lil Wayne is an alien.

Did I mention Lil Wayne?

Yeah, Lil Wayne, he been listening to the Geto Boys since he was like 10.

Uh, huh, he says it, Lil Wayne does, on the song.

LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE LIL WAYNE

Sorry, just trying to get some traffic on this bitch. Did I mention Lil Wayne made a video?

Also, Jay Z's rendition of Wonderwall is stuck in my head so hard. What a beautiful moment in rock and roll history.

I'm serious.

Also, Amy Winehouse and Vampire Weekend.

Also Shawty Lo.

And of course, Lil Wayne. Aka Weezy. Aka LIL WAYNE.

Red Bull Big Tune Round Up And More

2008-07-04T08:39:00.001-07:00

Well not much more. Basically this past weekend my man Mr. Cree got married so my boy Scavone and his wife Astra came to visit, and well, I just haven't found time to blog in a good week. Which isn't doing you, me, or anybody else any good. So I'ma get to it.

Last week IT WENT DOWN! The Red Bull Big Tune Producers Battle returned to Houston and it was like last year only even better. The night was just straight up magical man. Everyone brought their A Game and in the end, Houston's Sound Mob reigned supreme. I'm still pulling hard for Picnictyme, cuz the boy on another planet and shit, but man, Sound Mob is REAL!

Anyway, the night before the battle, everyone got together at the Cotton Exchange, my man KB's place for drinks and appetizers and to take photos and get the run down of how the event was about to go down.

Picnictyme and S-1 came down to represent for Dallas and pretty much killed it. I think sound issues affected S-1's early showing. And well, I think Picnic was affected by not being on the home (Houston) team. He had the crowd FLIPPING OUT, but in the end, only maybe 20 people in the crowd of 900 really knew who he was. So odds were stacked against him.
But whatever, not for nothing, every producer on that stage is making moves. I'm proud of my people in my state!

The ARE won last year. You probably know him best from his work with the K-Otix. Seen here with Cozmos, who also did beats for K-Otix, and was also maybe a little affected by early sound issues. Dude is a beast on them beats.

The Are with organizers J. Moore and Jake One. Super dudes who I have to give big thanks to for creating this event AND bringing it to Houston two years in a row.

T-Gray held it down on the tables during the pre-event.

The ladies of Red Bull. MY PEOPLE!

T-Gray was DJing outside the event on the huge Red Bull TANK of sorts, seen here greating Baby Jae of the Krackernuttz.

Cozmos and Baby Jae outside the event

Michael Watts of the Swisha House was our featured DJ, he opened up the night with nothing but new, underground Houston bangers. And Mr. Lee was our featured producer for the evening. He produced MANY Houston bangers, and more.

Picnictyme once again!

Marcus, another organizer who I gotta give it up to!
(PS Send me a new GOODS hat. I been wearing this one for 365 daze and shit)

Fiyah and freind. Fiyah did a lil beat box during Willie D's set and KILLED IT!

Where's tyhe YouTube of Willie D's set? Also, how many y'all mothafuckaz voted for Hillary Clinton? Man I bet that bitch mad than a mothafucka.

You don't have to understand that right there.

Desiac!

EQ came in second. She's off the chain as well!

Giselle and super producer MIKE DEAN!

Kay of the Foundation! I gotta hip you to this dudes skatboard he has out with Cipher. Also pick up his project he just did with Nicolay from Holland. Straight bangers.

DeeRail

DJ Domo and Willie D. Y'all gonna see the Geto Boys at Warehouse Live Friday or what?

LIZ and YVONNE! WHUT IT DEW!

G-DASH!!!!!!

Lil Young is the newest signee to the Swisha House. RECOGNIZE!

BIG WATTS!

Legendary K-O!

Kiara

Super Producers in the hizzy - Domo and Mr. Lee

Willie D and them folks!

B-Boy!

Mic of K-Otix and his lovely wife

Mr. Lee and my bro Lil J da Mex Connect!

GANGSTA RAP LEGENDS! Mr. Mike and E-Rock of the 5th Ward Boyz. If this was a baseball card in a set it'd be #0001

Nelson!

Perseph1 and Kam are MY PEOPLE! Kam is the best in the street promo game out there. Holler if you need someone in the streets of the H and I'll hook you up.

I don't be cuffin'.

T. Piper!

Prodigy!

Ricky Baby held it down for Mr. Lee during his segment making sure everyone in the house knew exactly who they were hearing.

Smoo-G got the footage!

Anyway it was a magnanimous event. Youtube links after these:

WORD TO CHRIS AND ANNABELL EDWARDS! Finally tied the know. I have known Chris, aka Crop Diggy aka Mr. Cree since Andre Walker introduced us in 1991. He was in a group called Sociopath Left, and early Austin institution. Wild, underground, avant garde, weird, boom bap hip hop from early 90's Texas! We ended up living together in Brooklyn for most of 1994, where we met Scavone...

Seen between us in this pic right here. Was nice to all reunite.

Anyway, it's official; now. Check out some of the videos from the BIG TUNE big night, and if anyone has video of Willie D's set I NEEEEEEEEED IT!

PEACE!

Red Bull Big Tune Competitors Just Announced!

2008-06-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

Here's the list of 12 finalists! Who will win???

I ain't gonna play favorites

(but my money is on Picnic)

.

Drewski
Lab Ox
S1
Sound Mob
Chinky P
Picnic
T Ward
Anwar Mack
Neon Collars
EQ
Desiac
Mr. Rogers

See y'all tomorrow at VENUE! Flyer below.

Red Bull Big Tune Is Uppppoooonnn Us!

2008-06-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

I'ts 'bout to go down in that H-Town this week, knowmtalmbout?

First off check out this video. Local Austin band SPIN ALLEY covering UGK's "One Day" at Momo's in tribute to Pimp C.

What's dope about this to me, is this video shows you just how far and wide Pimp C and Bun B and UGK as a musical entity and a movement touched so many people. Their impact is immeasurable man. Seriously, if you know like I know, you know that UGK was one of the most important groups in rap for reasons deeper than them just making some dope rap songs.

Anyway, enjoy that.

And Tuesday afternoon if yer in Houston be sure and come by Urban Zone in Sharpstown Mall for THIS!

And then Wednesday Night You already know!

Texas Producers Should Get In On This!!!RED BULL BIG TUNE PART 2 IN HOUSTON NEXT WEEK!!!!!

2008-06-17T12:31:00.001-07:00

RED BULL BIG TUNE HITS HOUSTON
--Houston Music Producers Battle for Red Bull Big Tune Title --

WHO: Battle-ready producers, beatsmiths, and sound-architects from Houston who have original music, talent and desire to take their passion to the next level. Featured producer Mr. Lee and featured emcee Willie D of the Geto Boys and special guest DJ Michael Watts of Swisha House will get the evening started.

WHAT: The city will be bouncing to fresh beats when the premiere music producer battle known as Red Bull Big Tune hits Houston this month with a beatsmith battle royale. Houston marks the third stop in a series of eight regional beat competitions designed to find the most talented U.S. producer with the next big tune. Twelve beatsmiths will be called to battle at each regional qualifier. Other regional battles will be hosted in Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, Calif. The top 2 producers from each city will square-off in December 2008 at the Red Bull Big Tune National Championships in New York City.

The winner of the finals receives custom studio equipment and an opportunity to collaborate with a recording artist of his/her choice in the prestigious Red Bull Studios/ Santa Monica, Calif. Last year’s Red Bull Big Tune winner opted to work with Young Buck. Other artists available for collaboration were Redman and Talib Kweli.

HOW: Red Bull Big Tune is open to emerging and established music producers regardless of genre. Interested producers can apply online at www.redbullbigtune.com. Check website for deadlines, updates and videos from last year.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, doors at 8:30 PM.

WHERE: Venue, 719 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002

ADMISSION: RSVP at www.redbullbigtune.com

WHY: Big Tune began as the brainchild of DJ/producer/emcee—Vitamin D and Hip Hop visionary/event producer –Jonathan Moore, in 2004 with the purpose of bringing emerging and established talent to the forefront. After three years of hosting thriving local battles in Seattle, they forged a creative partnership with Red Bull and the event evolved beyond a beat battle into a dynamic national producer program.

EDUCATION: TUESDAY June 24, 2008
3 pm - 5 pm, The Urban Zone (Sharpstown Center), 7500 Bellaire, Ste 922, 2nd Fl. Houston, TX 77036

The Red Bull Big Tune team will be conducting a musical education outreach program to educate future beat makers on the business and creation of music.

Ready Red and Johnny C in NYC!

2008-06-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

Man it REALLY went down this past week in NYC! Firstly I went out there last Friday with my wife Melissa and we mostly walked around and drank and shopped for the kids and sat on Astra's roof (more on said roof in a sec) drinking. It was pretty much what we neeeeeeded. For real.

Then Sunday I went to Jersey for Hot 97 Summer Jam but they were trippin' on my camera so I just kind of milled around the area talking with "industry peeps" and such. Working on SXSW '09 already and such. It's bout to go down.

Anyway, seen here is DJ Ready Red, myself and Prince Johnny C. Crazy thing is, this is the "best" photo we took together. Oh well, my camera is quite complicated. And such.

For those who don't know. Johnny C and Ready Red both moved to Houston from New Jersey and worked with Rap-A-Lot Records when it was just starting out. The two of them along with a few other folks became the original Ghetto Boys, and if you know your history you know that the Ghetto (nee Geto) Boys were pretty much put together like a boy band from the hood. Only instead of being some slick, polished pretty boys, these fools broke boundaries and changed the whole rap game. Especially the independent rap industry.

Anyway, there were a lot of "Ghetto/Geto Boys" to be real with you. But check the album Making Trouble and the early 12"'s and you'll see these dudes. Johnny C even put out a highly slept on solo record on Rap-A-Lot. I moved to Houston full time in 1989 and pretty much after a month or two of hearing extremely hype commercials on the radio for big rap shows and clubs in neighborhoods people wouldn't go with me to, I started setting off on my own to see groups like the Ghetto Boys, Too Much Trouble, King Tee, Monie Love, Redhead Kingpin, Too Short, Spice One, um Brand Nubian up in that Palladium, um, Shabba Ranks, a whole lot of folks were coming thru the hood clubs in Houston back then. Even my "black friends" (not that I had many friends of any race at that point) would not go with me to these shows, they'd tell me I was trippin'. But fuck that, I went all the time. Sometimes I'd go for an early punk rock show at the Axiom and head out to the north side to see some rap. The um, "urban" clubs back then - like today - never started their shows before 2 a.m. So it was generally not a problem. I'd go to all this shit by myself, and would generally just stand around and see if I could talk to one of the artists or DJ's or whatever and assault them with a barrage of nerdy questions like all good 17 year old boys who like music too much tend to do.

Anyway, my point is, I used to see the Ghetto Boys all the time. Like 20 times. And I met them on a few occasions. This was post Johnny C Ghetto Boys, but I saw his solo shows and whenever I'd see Ready Red or Johnny C someplace I'd say hello to them and they'd always be cordial and stop to talk to the lil white nerd in an army jacket. Or bad shorts.

Anyway, Face and Willie D would just look at me funny, and Bushwick Bill would say hello and be nice about 40% of the time. But Red and Johnny C were always real cool. So imagine how excited I was to see that Ready Red was back in Trenton and willing to not only come to my party at Sway (first one in over a year!) and not solo, but with Johnny C. That shit had me AMPED!

Red has two broken fingers so he didn't get on the decks, but he will sometime later this summer when he is healed and he and Johnny C promise to unleash some new music on the people! This is all very important.

Anyway here is Astra on her roof.

Where we spent quite a lot of time.

Queen Majesty joined us on said roof for an hour or so Sunday.

Then I left the roof Monday night and met said Queen at her East Village Radio Show. Every Monday night from 6 - 8 p.m.

Anyhow, the party went the fuck down. Great turn out, lots of good peeps, and well, we are gonna have to do this again.

DJ READY RED AND PRINCE JOHNNY C!

J-Zone came out to show some respect to the legends and get some autographs.

Rapid Ric of course killed it, as did Kunal M!

I fuckin' killed it too. I mean them bowling pin shaped Budwesiers is what I killed.

Ready Red and Peter Beste.

Scavone needs help. Help him.

My boy Seth and his duuuuudes.

Super Promoter Roxy Cottontail and First Lady of Sabbath in the Park MAGGI HORN!

Crystal Lee's aunt died so she had to come to NYC for the funeral. Quite somber and such, not the normal C-Lee. Anyway was good to have you thurr Crystal. RIP to yo aunt. Also please don't punch anyone at anymore of my events (she hit two people, oops).

LIN YEE!

Me and recent Houston to NYC transplant Spring.

Alex Richter and Josh Brockhausen

Tierney aka Beerney just moved to NYC on Monday! Somebody give her a job. I co-sign her on all accounts and such.

Crystal Lee and Lance Walker

Peter Beste

Sometimes I think I'm a good photographer, mostly when I am drunk and looking out a window. But I'm not, I'm just drunk and out of focus, which can be fun, but isn't gonna make me any monies. But whatever, I got love for that New York City Town.

Shit actually I thought I took more of these. Well here's one more, sort of, featuring my boy Mark Lowyns of Frank 151 and such. Up in Casa de Scavone.

O.K. So that was NYC. I'm now back in Austin, gonna head to Houston a couple times this month and possibly the DFW urrea. Come out June 25th for the next Red Bull Big Tune Producers Battle. More info to come but here's the flyers.

Deadline for producers to enter is Wednesday June 18. DO IT! Last year was off the fuckin' chain. Producers can enter and YOU can RSVP for FREE admission at www.redbullbigtune.com.

Also it's Holy Hip Hop Awards Time Again! Always a wonderful event. Turn yourself on to some new music you probably haven't heard yet cuz commercial radio hates God.

Anyway, what's next?

Big Week for Rappers Who's Names Start with "B!"First AustinSurreal Party in NYC THIS MONDAY!With DJ Ready Red & Prince Johnny C!

2008-05-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

That's right, DJ Ready Red and Prince Johnny C of the original Ghetto Boys!!!!

More in a minute.

Firstly BIG CONGRATULATIONS To BUN B! 2 Trill debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and #1 on the Hip Hop or Urban or R&B Charts or whatever that is. Big Up's to the man. Only reason he was #2 is cuz 3 Doors Down had Walmart on Lock. FUCK WALMART THEY ARE NOT A RECORD STORE! Walmart is a tool for Satan. So fuck 'em. Bun B is #1.

He out sold them boys in Best Buy and Transworld and all that so fuck 'em in they pussy as Bun might say (though I know for a fact he wouldn't say it about them).

Also BAVU BLAKES IS FEATURED ON XXLMAG.COM! CLICK HERE TO PEEP IT OUT! Boy needs a real deal. It's time for some real representation. Anyway, I digress...

ALSO! This Monday night, we return to Screw York City and reunite with our sister Roxy Cottontail for the first AustinSurreal/Oxy Cottontail EVENT!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL SIZED VERSION OF THIS MASTERPIECE OF A FLYER!

I've been trying to get Ready Red to come out for a party for a while now, but he was living in the Bay Area. Now he's back in Jersey with his long time partner Prince Johnny C and they are working on some NEW MUSIC! Be the first to hear said new music on Monday Night and also groove to the sounds of DJ Rapid Ric, the homey Kunal M and DJ Readycee FROM HOUSTON! That's right, the man who now (and has for some time now) lives in the Bronx and does the hottest underground hip hop radio show in NYC is comin' down and comin' thru to rock for you on Monday. I used to have Readycee DJ at my spot the Hip Hop Coffee Shop. This was in 1991. Come down and check my man out.

Anyway it's going down at SWAY 305 Spring St. and I want to see you there. It's been a long time y'all.

Also here's these for reference...

Also the homies at ALLHIPHOP.COM did a wonderful piece on DJ Ready Red last week. PEEP IT OUT HERE! Hope to see all my AHH folks in NYC next week as well!

Parts 3 & 4 of our Drive through London with Dizzee Rascal!

2008-05-23T23:24:00.000-07:00

THERE IS SO MUCH TO BLOG ABOUT TONIGHT!

But I'm just gonna vlog...

Dizzee continues on his drive with us through East London...

And well...

Today Is The Day!BUN B DAY! Go Get 2 Trill RIGHT NOW!

2008-05-20T06:57:00.001-07:00

(cuz it could possibly be our only hope...)

MAYNE HOLD UP! Today is the day!

BUN B'S 2 TRILL IN STORES NOW!

I generally say support the independent retailer, and still say that and will always say that, but um, if you didn't know, Target has it for $9.98 today and I am pretty sure that the Target edition comes with a DVD that you can't get anywhere else. So I'ma go get me the disc there this morning, and possibly some slacks FOR THE EVENT TONIGHT!

HOUSTON ITS GOIN' DOWN!

Bar Rio - 6400 Richmond Ave. - BUN B'S TRILLIONAIRE RELEASE PARTY!

HOSTED BY LIL WAYNE!

Then tomorrow night WEDNESDAY MAY 21ST IN AUSTIN!!!!

BUN B LIVE AT EMO'S!

I gotta get on the road, go get that album and leave a comment here telling me what you think. I think it's the first rap album I have listened to more than 10 times in the past 3 years (yeah, yeah, yeah, I did what you did too. But I'ma buy it. For real. I'm 'bout to right now. Don't judge.)

BUN B LIVE IN AUSTIN WEDNESDAY2 Trill in Stores TuesdayThe AMPS Remix of "That's Gangsta!"I'll Post Houston Release Party Flyer Later

2008-05-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Well the time hath come. It's here, it's leaked, though I'd recommend not downloading it and waiting for the full retail version, and it's about to take over the rap game.

Bun B's 2 TRILL!

I already told you "Get Cha Issue" is the best track. :If It Was Up To Me" is a close second, with "Keep It 100" rounding off the holy triumverate of jams. Pick it up Tuesday then AUSTIN come out Wednesday to meet the man at Music Mania, and see him live in concert at EMO'S!

Bun B at Emo's? YES EMO'S. On the main stage. 1,000 capacity. If you missed him at SXSW, you should not have this problem this time.

Ande check this out, my first jam with big name, national features:

DOWNLOAD "MATTSOREAL FEATURING BUN B, DJ KHALED AND RAPID RIC - REAL TALK PLAYAZ AND BALLAZ IN THE ATX JAM" NOW!

But seriously folks, THIS is what you need. An exclusive Remix of "That's Gangsta" by The Amps, to keep you jammin' till Tuesday. These boys are really on another level.

DOWNLOAD THE AMPS REMIX OF "THAT'S GANGSTA" HERE!

ARABIC RAP IS THE NEW JUMP OFF!

2008-05-11T16:04:00.000-07:00

MAYNE IT WENT DOWN! We also just moved into our Austin house, and are in the process of moving in and such, so I can't write now. Must sort things and sit in my new garage and wonder why I have so many cdrs with one rap song on them and somehow they followed me, they wouldn't just stay behind, or leave, or throw themselves out, no they ended up in boxes in my garage, along with every magazine I have read in the past ten years, also not sure why they made it. Also records. And VHS tapes. And such.

So yeah, full review forthcoming but suffice it to say, ARABIC RAP IS THE NEW JUMP OFF! At least the way Dam and Mohammad Al Farra do it. Word to them.

You don't understand the realness of the situation at hand.

Dred Skott are very important. Austin, get ready for the revolution.

Like I said, I PROMISE to write more.

Southbound is also the TRUTH! Very important to the Austin landscape and such.

Mohammad Al Farra live in Austin!

Joined on stage by Tamer of DAM to do a song about "Smoking Hookah." Which I am all in favor of.

Me doing the host thang thang. Photo courtesy of D tha Sandman

These boys WRECK!

Flows for days. You don't have to understand it, but you gotta respect it.

DJ RHYME!

Also courtesy of D tha Sandman. BUSTED!

Melissa and Richard Henry

D and James Dean

DRED SKOTT!

DRED SKOTT!

Rapid Ric wreckin'...

Richard Henry Drinking

Southbound and Dred Skott are the future.

On to Houston

Savvi of HISD hath crafted something wonderful in this HISD thang thang.

Equality is one of the best MC's in Houston. And I don't even know if he'd call himself an MC. He's the poet laureate of the whole region. Keep your eyes and ears opened and such. Mind too. All that.

BOY WRECKIN'!

I should have taken more pics of the ladies in the place at both events. But I was working and such. But Dam attracts an attractive crowd. There is no doubt about that shit right thurr real talk know'm sayin'.

WRECKIN'!

Trish aka Crooked Cricket done went and got the HD Footage. IMPORTANT!

BOYS KILLED IT TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW!

You really need to see these dudes.

Especially if you are a rapper. They can teach you a thing or two about flows, showmanship, respect, many things.

Me and my cousin Kassandra

Tish getting footage too! SEND ME PLEASE!

Monique and Friends

Hadeeel was the brains behind this entire operation! THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE A PART OF THIS HADEEL!

KB DA KIDNAPPA THE LEGEND PLUS THE PALESTINIAN LEGENDS! OMG OMG OMG!

I get real geeked out. Excuse me. But here's Jackie Salloum and Hadeel. Jackie made the film Slingshot Hip Hop which is also EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!

Wrecked.

The end of the night dance and such. Also very important.

IMPORTANT PEOPLE!

Serious I will write more later, must prepare house. IT'S GOIN' DOWN! Thanks to all who supported and more to come.

DAM on Radio in Houston NOW!

2008-05-07T13:50:00.001-07:00

Check it y'all, it's about to go down. The boys from DAM and PR have made it through customs and they are currently in Houston on the way to KPFT to do an interview on SOS Radio with ZIN (Original Damage Control).

Tune into www.kpft.org NOW to hear them between 4 and 5 p.m. Sometime. They will also be on Damage Control TONIGHT! So tune in there as well.

Then tomorrow night AUSTIN May 8th COME DOWN TO THE SCOOT INN on 4th and Navasota to see them Live!

Show will end at 11 p.m. and the party will move inside with DJ's Rapid Ric and Rhyme till 2 a.m. It's only $10 and you will see something you have never seen before in your life. Arabic hip hop from Palestine along with Austin's own Southbound and Dred Scott!

Please come down and tune into KPFT NOW!

Also read this interview with Mohammad Al-Farar of PR HERE

LIVE HIP HOP IN HOUSTON AND AUSTIN!FROM PALESTINE!!!!

2008-05-04T10:17:00.001-07:00

And it's serious. Check out these videos, and seriously, I don't normally beg people to come out to my shows, but this one means a lot to me. I need each one to teach one and spread the word about this magnanimous event. Austin on Thursday and Houston on Friday.

People keep talking about the resurgence of "conscious" hip hop, well, come get conscious. Party, learn something, support these brilliant artists / activists / humanitarians.

Show begins promptly at 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage at The Scoot Inn and goes till 11 p.m. After 11 p.m. DJ Rhyme and Rapid Ric will spin inside the Scoot Inn for an after party / meet and greet with the artists from Palestine.

Those of y'all who want to see Z-Ro on Thursday night can easily see both shows. You already know Z-Ro won't be on stage before 1 a.m. (I assume) soooooooo, you could presumably see two of the greatest rap shows you'll see all year, in one night, in one city. Seriously, if you are reading this and are in Austin or Houston or maybe within driving distance of either city, I really need you to come out and support.

Free Palestine: Born Here

Slingshot Hip Hop Trailer

Who's The Terrorist?

Han Bennink and Peter Brotzmann in Houston This Weekend!

2008-04-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

(I posted all this and more at AustinSurreal.com. Don't mean to neglect HoustonSoReal, but I haven't gone back in like 6 weeks now soooo, things happen. But I'll be in the big, big city this Sunday and Monday so come down to Diverseworks and check out one of the true greats - Han Bennink and another great - Peter Brotzmann - and lets kick it on down. Enjoy the videos.)

...See, I am a lil obsessed with this Dutch drummer named Han Bennink so I'm gonna check him out on Saturday in Austin at the Victory Grill and on Sunday in Houston at Diverseworks with Peter Brotzmann. Two improvisers who wreck fucking shop real talk noam talm bout?

Anyway, I wrote about Han on HoustonSoReal before and posted some pics I took of the Instant Composers Pool when they played Diverseworks a couple years back. I'll have a full report and photos next week. For now check out some of this YouTube footage and get familiar with what you just might see should you heed my advice and come out to one or both of the shows.

Like I said, I'm pretty obssessed. Han Bennink is my favorite musician. No lie.

Peter Brotzmann & Han Bennink (2006) - I bet they are even better now! Ha.

Solo at North Sea Jazz Festival

Solo live in Jimma, Ethiopia

Terrie Ex and Han Bennink Duo

"Solo"

The Ex in Ethipoia 2004

Misha Mengelberg & Han Bennink Duo - Improvisation

Here he plays blocks of cheese. Ah the Dutch!

Part Twee

Here he proves that he is an unparalleled master of rhythm. PEEP THE CLOGS! Ah the Dutch.

ICP Orchestra - 'Criss Cross' (Monk)

Anyway get on his level, I will see you there.

Peter Brötzmann / Han Bennink Duo

Legendary free music duo in a rare Texas appearance.

When:
Saturday Apr 26, 2008
at 8:00 PM

Where::

Victory Grill
1104 E. 11th St.
Austin, Texas 78702

$15 Advance tickets available now @ End of An Ear and Waterloo Records.
$18 @ door

(512) 462-6008 for ticket info
--------------------------------------
When: Sunday, April 27, 2008
8 pm

Where: DiverseWorks (map)
1117 E. Freeway, Houston, Texas 77002

Tickets: $13 general admission / $10 for students; everyone under 18 gets in for free

Peter Brotzmann (Germany) - saxophones, clarinets
Han Bennink (Holland) - drums, percussion

Big Pimpin' In Houston!

2008-04-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Might bring a tear to your eyes, but do not sleep on this.

Oh what a feeling.

DAM! Hip Hop From Palestine Coming to Houston and Austin!May 8 & 9

2008-04-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all,

Sorry for the mass email but I need to reach out to ALL of you with the quickness. I have a huge and very special event coming to Austin and Houston May 8th and 9th and I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP GETTING THE WORD OUT! I wouldn't stress if I were just doing a normal rap show, but this is some crazy shit.

I, in association with Hadeel Assali and the good folks at the Palestinian Film Festival, am bringing the PALESTINIAN HIP HOP GROUP - DAM - for their first shows ever in Texas. I know they were at Sundance for the premier of SLINGSHOT HIP HOP - an incredible film about hip-hop in Palestine (and much more!) - but I don't know if they performed. I know M1 of dead prez and Chamillionaire met up with them, and I also know that they are amazing, outspoken, radical and extremely important.

Anyway, if you can't think of an angle for a story about these dudes coming to your town for the first time, holler at me, lets brainstorm, but I need FEATURES! And you know I normally don't get pushy with my events, but everyone who is receiving this is a friend of mine in the media or in music and I need y'all to help get the word out (flights from Palestine to Texas AIN'T CHEAP!). We are taking a huge risk with this one.

Anyway here's the details:

Thursday May 8th - Austin, TX
Venue - The Scoot Inn (aka the new Liberty Lunch fuck what a hater say)
Doors at 7 p.m.
Show at 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. outside stage
DAM from PALESTINE, Southbound from Austin, TX, DJ Rhythm and MORE TBA!
11 p.m. - 2 a.m. - After Party Meet and Greet with DAM - DJ Rapid Ric and DJ Rhythm on the tables.

Friday May 9th - Houston, TX - In Association with the Palestinian Film Festival
Venue - Warehouse Live Studio
Doors at 10:30 p.m. Show at 11:00 p.m. (There's an event earlier in the night)
DAM from PALESTINE, DJ Rhythm and special surprise guests TBA

Then they head off to San Francisco, New York and Toronto - BUT TEXAS GETS THEM FIRST!

Seriously, this event means a lot to me. I wouldn't do it if it didn't. I REALLY need your help in the press, we need radio interviews if possible in advance on the phone. I need you to forward this email to people you may think be interested in this. I need to build a buzz cuz time is running out and well, I can't bring all these cats from Palestine to an empty house!

Any artists who could lend their time to maybe host, or possibly mention this show in some sort of interview would be very much appreciated as well. I personally feel as though it's very important that the kids in the streets over here start to learn about the kids in the streets in places like Palestine. I'm on a mission here to widen the scope of some of these young hip hoppers. And that is real.

Here's some info and links on the group, plus a photo you can use.

Website:
http://www.dampalestine.com

Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2390787321

Myspace page:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=25392149

The song that put them on the map:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqbDiN2uYcQ&mode=related&search=

PEACE and THANKS IN ADVANCE!

ALSO BE SURE AND SEE THE FILM SLINGSHOT HIP HOP! I MAY SHOW IT AGAIN BEFORE THE SHOW IN AUSTIN AND IT IS PLAYING AT THE PALESTINIAN FILM FEST IN HOUSTON!