If you spend more on sneakers than rent or haven’t been to a packed out hip hop show in a long time, this is for you. Sneaker Pimps is the largest sneaker show, and this year it has a gang of headliners with House of Pain toppin it off. B-Real, Wale, 88-Keys, and Carter just to name a few of the folks showing up. If you bring someone not into kicks, don’t worry there’ll be tons of vendors and other stuff to check out. This should be a bangin show, so strap up your coolest kicks (this might not be the place for white ones) and check it out.

time: 8pm, door: $20 pre-sale, not sure at the door,

Vanguard Hollywood

6021 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles 90028

For more info check Sneaker Pimps or Vanguard websites.

I bought “White Van Music” a few weeks ago, and this is one track that I can’t stop playing. Jake One kills it all over this thing. When I did a quick search to see if there were any videos, it was like striking it rich. I was like ” There is a video and it’s directed by Rik Cordero.” I’ve posted videos by Three21 Media before and I’ll have to say it again… I really dig that rough and raw look of the video with the over staurated colors- it makes you keep looking for more. Bangin tracks, lyrics, and video. If you’re looking for more check out Jake One and Three21 Media on their sites.

I haven’t been to the Root Down in a long time. I think I’ma hit this one up. This Thursday DJ Rhettmatic & Buff 1 are going to be rockin the house. FYI starting MAY 7th the Root Down will have a new home at El Cid, so check this show fo-sho!

time: 9pm, door: got me, so bring cash, age 21+

Little Temple

4519 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles 90029

For more info check The Root Down.

Stuff to do in LA is always a good time so check this event out: The World Famous Beat Junkies and special guest Pete Rock at the Echoplex! If you’ve been living under a rock and don’t know who any of these people are, you really don’t need to go. For everyone else, this show is going to be dope. To get you all pumped about it check out the Beat Junkies and Pete Rock on MySpace, or just play an album you already own by any of these cats.

time: 10pm  door: $15  age: 18+

Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
For more info check Echoplex

I was doing my regular reading on FLWRPT.com and was rockin the new Flipped (v8.0), then I started to check the older post. I ran across the title “Sidenote: Kicks & Snares Vol.1,” read it, downloaded it, and rocked that half hour beat tape twice. Yeah not once but twice. Algorythm came with crazy beats and a smooth sound. I was feelin it so much, I got a hold of Darien at FLWRPT, and he gave me the low down on this dope producer.  They grew up together in DC and slowly but surely each made their way out to BedStuy.  Both cats’ careers are taking off like a rocket ship. Keep your eyes pealed and your ears open for Algorythm to see what’s coming next at AlgorythmMusic.com. Download Kicks & Snares Vol.1, and hear what I’m talking about. Check the fam at FLWRPT.com, BIG thanks to Darien for the heads up.

Everyone knows I love rep’n Riverside/Inland Empire when I can, but when I find an artist that’s from the I.E. it’s on! I was doing some blog reading and ran across this candy-like cover and didn’t think much of it. I’ve seen it over and over, so one day I hit the breaks and downloaded it and was like, ” that beat’s cool.” I looked this cat J. Bizness up; I didn’t have to dig far to find out more about the beat maker. It turned out that he is Red Bull’s  Los Angeles Big Tune Champion Producer. With Reason: Beats & Pieces, it allowed J. Bizness to flex his production muscles. J. Bizness has a lot of musical influnces that span from coast to coast, and you can hear his talent oozing out of your headphones. Check J. Bizness out on MySpace, and download Reason: Beats & Pieces. It’s candy fo yo ears. BIG Thanks to Pothole In My Blog for the find.

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J. Bizness – Choppy

Dom Kennedy…download it! Dom Kennedy’s clever lyrics on “25th Hour” reminded me of the Pharcyde’s Bizarre Ride II. The beats and selected tacks that DJ Qwess mixes together have a laid back feel to match Dom’s lyrical style. “Sorry Cube it was a great day. I even tack’d this chick who worked at Safeway!” and “Thinkin back to when I used my radio to make tapes…” are just a few of the lyrics that made me think about way back when. This mixtape is one I can play all day, and I just might do that. I can’t wait to see what this cat is going to bang out next. After checking out 25th Hour, head over to Dom Kennedy’s MySpace to see what he’s up to. BIG thanks to Carter for rep’n his people and lettin me know the know.  Download 25th Hour here.

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Dom Kennedy – Who Rollin Wit Me

Dub MD does a great job of getting Cy’s smooth and laid back lyrics with Madlib beats. Now I’m a little biased because I dig Madlib anyways, but Dub MD has found a good variety of Madlib produced tracks to make a kick mixtape.  Check it out for yourself and see what I’m talking about. Download Madicinal Libationz here. Check out what Cyrano is up to on MySpace, and check out Dub MD’s next production. BIG thanks to  Dub MD for giving me the heads up. Keep those cazy mixes coming.

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Dub MD & Cyrano – C.Y.I.D.I.T.C. (prod by Madlib)

StreetMedia is a banger. I took too long to write about them, and got overwhelmed with trying to get content out that I didn’t take the time to fully listen to them like I should have. These cats have smooth flows, and bangin production on the beats. SweetBreads (SWTBRDS) are coming out with a gang of artists and StreetMedia is the first round. If this is a taste of what’s to come, I can’t wait to hear what’s next. I was listening to StreetMedia on the train (giving it a real hard listen), and rocked it at my 9 to 5. StreeMedia is one of those albums you can put on anytime and enjoy it. If you’re in need of real hip hop, download StreetMedia (self titled album) at BandCamp. Check out what SWTBRDS is coming wit, and for more info on StreetMedia check them at MySpace. BIG  BIG thanks to Alex from SWTBRDS for settin me straight on this…you know what I mean man.

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StreetMedia – Push

April 18th – I was checkin out some of my favorite record labels and started seeing “Record Store Day,” and wondered what it was all about. I started doing my homework, and it lead me from FatBeats site to Record Store Day’s site. Record Store Day started out as an idea by Chris Brown and developed into a movement in 2007. I call it a movement because of the massive music store chains that put mom & pop shops outta business. This idea has grown into 700 independent record stores and tons of artists participating in the day with discounts and live performances. And these days who can’t go for a discount, or even a live performance. But it’s more then gettin a discount, it’s about telling big businesses to F@#k off, about paying artist for what they produce, and keeping the art of vinyl around. Support Local Businesses and go buy a record.

For more details check these links:

Record Store Day

FatBeats