International party starter and the man behind the highly influential independent record label Dim Mak,Steve Aoki is gearing up to release his highly anticipated debut artist album Wonderland this winter on leading dance label Ultra Music (with whom he has forged a worldwide deal). Leading the charge of what’s to come is “Earthquakey People.”
HBO teamed up with Kid Cudi, DJ Green Lantern, Mick Boogie and Broke Mogul (DECON) to create “How to Make it In America: The Mixtape.” The Compilation is hosted by Cudi, featuring chime ins throughout the tape discussing the cast, show and Cudi’s acting aspirations.
The mixtape features a variety of music including Dan Black Symphonies remix with Cudi, Jadakiss, Johnny Ploygon, Phoenix, Lupe Fiasco and more. Listen to the mixtape after the jump.
British post-punkers Arctic Monkeys managed to play a partial set to a drenched yet committed crowd after the first of two huge storms shut down outside stages on Day 3 of Lollapalooza 2011. The band delivered their catchy hits including, “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” and other recognizable tunes from their first two explosive albums in an energetic yet hurried set.
Later, Foo Fighters performed a torrential two-hour finale of old and new songs on another main stage in the rain – sounding and looking stellar as always (even drenched). Lead singer/guitarist, Dave Grohl, yet again steers the Foo Fighters into becoming the most seminal American rock band of this musical era with hit after hit song and consistently brilliant headlining live performances like this one. Hence, it was fitting Foo Fighters should close this historical 20th year of Lollapalooza. As they say, it will go down in history.
Before he was throwing temper tantrums at the MTV VMAs and being labeled the biggest jerk in the history of hip hop, and before he released his critically acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West was producing some of the dopest beats the game has ever heard.
Kanye’s career as a rap artist didn’t exactly take off like a Gulfstream en route to the south of France. Prior to reaching superstar status as a rap artist, many labels were reluctant to sign Kanye West “the producer” to a record deal.
It took a 2003 car accident to inspire Kanye to write and produce “Through the Wire”, a track he recorded with his jaw wired shut. With critical acclaim, his career as a respected rap artist and eventual superstar was launched. For Mr. West, there was no looking back.
Luckily for you, we enjoyed history class in high school. So much so that we decided to take a look back and list our favorite pre-superstar Kanye-produced tracks:
At first I thought it was just me who felt as though this week was taking it sweet time and Friday would never get here, but after talking to a few people, the general consensus was that there were indeed multiple Wednesdays. But alas, Friday is (finally) here, Christmas is just around the corner and for the first time in my life, I’ve actually got all of my Christmas shopping done before December 24. WIN! So, what better way to end this ludicrously long week and kick off the weekend then with some magical music news from yours truly?!
OK Go released their latest video, this time for their song “Back From Kathmandu;” yet again these boys do not disappoint – time and time again they put out such interesting, unique and often hilarious visuals. Per OK Go’s press release, “The video documents the 8.5-mile parade we took through Los Angeles using Range Rover’s ‘Pulse of the City’ app to checkin’ and spell out the word’s ‘OK GO’ with the route. Make your own journey around your city, and be featured in a similar documentation video we’ll make in 2011.” Details here and “Back From Kathmandu” below.
Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Pusha T, RZA and CyHi Da Prynce all repeatedly chant, “It’s like that sometimes, I mean ridiculous / It’s like that sometimes, the shit is ridiculous” over the track, So Appalled, debuted on Ye’s fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. And that’s exactly what the whole entire album is, ridiculous. Ridiculously good.
This week has been ridiculously busy but seriously awesome: Halloween weekend plus kicking it at the famed MSR Studios every night this week with The Roots, Miniature Tigers and Shiny Toy Guns as they rehearse for Red Bull’s Soundclashes taking place later this month in Atlanta and Phoenix. Hard to believe sometimes that this is my job. Pretty incredible. That being said, I’m most happy it’s the weekend and am looking forward to cheering my friend Tess on as she runs the New York City Marathon on Sunday!!
So speaking of The Roots (all of whom are amongst the nicest guys I’ve ever met, such wonderful and immensely talented men), check out their performance of “Maniac” (which I wrote about the other week) with St. Vincent, Kid Cudi and Cage on Jimmy Fallon.
Today’s bloggin’ best…
- Hear SNL’s Kristin Wiig joins Lightspeed Champion on MacGruber soundtrack. Prefix
- O.M.G! You can stream Rusko’s new album, O.M.G. Fader
- Check out the first track from A-Trak’s Dirty South Dance 2. Ruby Hornet
- Alice In Chains, Deftones and Mastadon bring the heavy together on tour. SPIN
- Darude, Josh Wink and Wolfgang Gartner are added to DJ Hero. HipHopDX
- Betty White remembers when they invented sliced bread. Thinks Jay-Z is just as good. SOHH
- Europe might be bankrupt, but at least Aphex Twin is touring there. Resident Advisor
- Interpol has a new song, and less facial hair. The Tripwire
- Courtney Love claims an affair with Gwen Steffani’s husband. We kinda don’t believe her. Huffington Post
- Kid Cudi likes Freddie Kruger on shrooms. Kid Cudi Blog
Today’s bloggin best…
- Kid Cudi released a new video. DatNewCudi
- The new Glitch Mob single is free (and mellow?) LA Times
- Is Prince stealing from fans to pay his tax bill? Village Voice
- Is Le Tigre reforming just to record with XTina? LA Weekly
- If Pavement added an LA gig, does that mean Coachella is sold out? LA Times
- Beck cover of INXS is finally online for real. Beck.com
- There is no way the Duff McKagan book will be as good as Slash’s book. Village Voice
- The Juan Maclean is giving away an empeefree. DJ-Kicks