My man Trek Life is not playing.  This is the Year of the Trek, and with his latest album, Everything Changed Nothing, there is no questions about that.  I heard So Supreme from ESPN, and a few other tracks here and there.  The day the album hit stores Trek’s in-store at Fat Beats, I bought the album right then and there.  On Everything Changed Nothing  Trek teamed up with super producer Oddisee to bring you this heavy hitting, west coast inspired album.  I’ve had it in heavy rotation since.  To me, Everything Changed Nothing is an uplifting, inspiring, and a motivating album.  Due West, Wow, & So LA will make you get up and move.  Trust me, you’ll have it in heavy rotation soon enough.  Buy Trek Life – Everything Changed Nothing at Fat Beats or your local record store.  BIG thanks Trek Life & Oddisee for making a great album, and BIG shout to DJ Buddy and J. Bizness.

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Trek Life – What It Is (Cuts By DJ Buddy & Prod. Hudson Mohawke)

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Trek Life – So Supreme (Prod. Oddisee)

It’s that time of year again…RECORD STORE DAY!  Last year I went to all my usual spots to check out what was going on.  It was nothing but good times.  Each store had something different going on… and the discounts!  To Beats+Crates Record Store Day is a celebration of independent record stores not being run off by big corporations, and an appreciation to the artists that make the music.  It’s also a good way to meet the artists and other fans.  Check out the background on how Record Store Day got started and find a participating store near you.  Support Local Businesses and go buy a record.  BIG thanks to all the independent stores, artists, DJs, producers, bloggers, music fans, and all those cats still on the grind.

For more details and participating stores check these links: Record Store Day

B+C’s route: Poohba > Penny Lane > Origami Vinyl > Amoeba Music > Fatbeats > Turntable Lab

I’M NOT PLAYING…BUY THIS SH*T NOW! Ok, I’d heard the buzz about Strong Arm Steady’s (Krondon, Phil Da Agony, & Mitchy Slick) In Search Of Stoney Jackson, but it was the midnight release and in-store performance at Fat Beats that pushed me over the edge. (If you haven’t seen it, google that sh*t. I would have paid for that show.) Earlier that day a Strong Arm Steady podcast mixed by House Shoes and J. Rocc was dropped with all the extras. I bought the album that night and bumped it all the way home. Even took the long way. I can’t say anything bad about In Search Of Stoney Jackson; every track is a banger. Funky beats by Madlib, hard-hitting lyricism by Strong Arm Steady, and guest appearances by Phonte, Planet Asia, Tri-State, Fashawn, Talib Kweli, Oh On, Evidence, & more mean there’s no way this could be a bad album. Stop what you’re doing and go buy In Search Of Stoney Jackson! I got mine at Fat Beats. BIG thanks to Strong Arm Steady and Madlib for making great music. You cats set the bar high.

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Strong Arm Steady – New Love ft. Planet Asia & Tri-State

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Strong Arm Steady – Two Pistols ft. Mitchy Slick

I was at Fat Beats talking to House Shoes, and he pulls a record off the rack and says “You should get this”.  It was Dynas – The Apartment and at first I was like ” who’s this cat?”  House Shoes put it on the turntable and started going through the tracks.  ”And this is why you should check it out”.  I mean with tracks like The Future featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff and Family Jewels with Slick Rick you can’t go wrong.  Dynas The Apartment is in heavy heavy rotation on the ipod.  To sum it up when House Shoes talks music…TAKE NOTES. Go buy Dynas – The Apartment at Fat Beats, Amoeba Music, or ask for it at your local record store.  BIG thanks House Shoes for the heads up.

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Dynas – Crown Royal

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Dynas – The Apartment

I went to Fatbeats for Fashawn and Exile’s in-store and picked up the album Boy Meets World (dope, must have). I talked to Houseshoes and he was like, “If you want some dope sh*t, check this.” and handed me Kev Brown Random Joints. When Houseshoes talks music, you listen! I bought that too. I got in my car, put Random Joints in, and rocked it back to back. I even drove the long way home. You can buy Random Joints online, but with a physical copy you get 2 additional tracks and an instrumental track! Another reason to grab a physical copy Random Joints is self distributed, meaning  Kev Brown / Low Budget shipped it or dropped it off himself. That’s tight. Either way, go buy Kev Brown’s Random Joints. You’ll be glad you did. Catch up with Kev Brow on Twitter. BIG thanks to Houseshoes for the recommendation and Low Budget for putting out dope stuff. Can’t wait to see what else Low Budget drops.

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Kev Brown – Listen

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Kev Brown – The Marvelous Joint ft. Yu

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Kev Brown – Bonus Track

Vimeo video version click here.

For most of y’all I don’t have to tell you who Houseshoes is, but for those of you sleeping under a rock he is Hip Hop! To the point, laid back, real, Detroit, and all around good dude are just a few ways I would describe Houseshoes. From killing it DJing to making ill beats this is the guy to know. A while back I got this track called Castles by Houseshoes. Since then I’ve been keeping an eye out for whatever he drops, even podcast. Unlike other podcast, Houseshoes’ reads more like a resume and list of his friends. I’m amazed of all the projects and the people he’s worked with. Be sure to check out The Makings and keep your eyes and ears open for his LP, and look for him at Shoes House (Blue Monkey Lounge) in Hollywood. BIG thanks to Houseshoes for taking the time.

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Houseshoes – Castles

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Houseshoes – Dorothy’s Look

Check out:

Houseshoes on MySpace & Twitter

Houseshoes’ podcasts

A-Side Worldwide

Fat Beats “BUY A RECORD”

Starship 27 took off with no delay on Saturday. The listening party was held at Fatbeats (LA) and hosted by Houseshoes. There were performances by Snowman Jack, F.A.M.E. (Teeko, Max Kane, & Ivan), and Dibia$e. The party didn’t stop there. On to BOOMBOX!!! Boombox is coordinated by the one and only Inka One. Oddisee hosted the event for the evening with special guest with flows Trek Life. There were DJ sets by J1 aka The DEER, HouseShoes, Inka One, One Man Jazz, DJ Sean O, & GroWeyez. With all that talent you think it would be enough, nope. They also had beat sets by F.A.M.E. & Dibia$e. And you know Dam Funk did a little of everything. It was dope. Everyone stayed until Grand Star was closed. It was a great night. Just watch the videos!

If you haven’t copped the DJ friendly version with the extra track GET IT HERE. BIG Thanks to J1 aka The DEER and GroWeyez.

THIS IS THE EVENT TO BE AT!!!! For reals. Mark September 5th on your calendars now. The main event is going to be kicked off at Fatbeats to rock the compilation Starship 27. There will be featured DJ sets by J1 aka The DEER & Houseshoes. Live beat set by Dibia$e & Snowman Jack (Devonwho hope you can make it), and another DJ set by Teeko & Max Kane. They are giving out free Starship 27 copies to the first 50 people! And of course free beer and lots of Fatbeats merchandise to check out.  It’s going to be a packed house, but the party don’t stop there.

BOOMBOX is hosting the Starship 27 album release party. Boombox usually throws banging events anyways, but they are making this extra special with the lineup they got. Dam Funk, Houseshoes, J1, and hosted by Oddisee! Can you say off the HOOK?! Just check the flyer for the rest of the dope cats. To top it off they are going to have some crazy visuals by my man Moonsatellite. Not much else to  say but GO! September 5th is going down in LA history as the day Starship 27 blasted off, so hop on because it’s going to be a great ride! BIG thanks to GroWeyez for making things happen behind the scene.

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FAT BEATS 6pm – 8pm
7600 Melrose Ave. Ste. J 2nd Flr

Los Angeles, Ca

tel: 323-655-8997

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BOOMBOX - Grand Star 9:30pm – 2am

943 Sun Mun Way (N. Broadway)

Los Angeles, Ca

tel: 213-626-2285

open: 9:30 PM – 2:00 AM, age: 21+

cover: $5  before 10:30PM & $10 after

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

Lets talk about one of the best producers out there, Black Milk. This cat can’t make a bad beat. But it’s this video that is refreshing. Rap videos turned every video into a “show and tell.” You know what I mean- “I got this and that, and to top it off I’m going to tell you twice.”  This video is shot in an empty warehouse with just 2 cats rapping about what’s happening in the D.  Now that’s hip hop! Check out more of Black Milk’s videos on his MySpace page, or head over to FatBeats and pick up a Black Milk album.