And you say New York City

Duck Sauce "Barbra Streisand" from Mr Goldbar on Vimeo.

Duck Sauce, the eminent producer duo comprised of A-Trak and Armand Van Helden, are primed to drop their second official single, “Barbra Streisand” on October 12th. If 3 million YouTube views of last year’s debut “aNYway” are any indicator, the official release of “Barbra Streisand” will be met with rabid anticipation as fan-recorded bootlegs have fueled blog excitement all summer.

"Barbra Streisand" continues to perfect the Duck Sauce sound, which joyously mashes classic disco house with forward-thinking dancefloor energy and expert production. A-Trak and AVH are bona fide DJ heroes whose team-ups are fueled by anything-goes samples, an almost childlike sense of fun, and 100% NYC attitude. This approach has made Duck Sauce fans-for-life out of partygoers around the globe, and will continue to convert anyone within earshot of "Barbra"'s instantly addictive, whistling hook.

For the video, director So Me (Justice, Kid Cudi, MGMT) uses the song to soundtrack a hyperactive, ecstatic New York City travelogue. Shot over a week of long nights out with A-Trak and Armand (including live footage from the Fool's Gold "Day Off" labor day block party), the clip is a pop-art adventure starring commandeered taxis and hotdog stands, sexy strangers, and a who's-who of famous friends: rappers, producers, indie rockers, graffiti writers and nightlife icons all take turns adding their own special sauce to the song, turning "Barbra Streisand" into one of this year's must-rewind clips.

Watch the video and see just how many cameos you can catch, then pick up the "Barbra Streisand" single (featuring striking sleeve art from Fool's Gold art director Dust La Rock) on October 12th.

Mr Goldbar (Fools Gold)

For years as a teenager I was completely obsessed with everything about skateboarding, especially what was going in New York during the mid-late Nineties. You do not understand how keen I am to go check out this Coan Nichols and Rick Charnoski made documentary on skateboarding in NY from the Seventies to now.

Ill Bill on that White track

Ill Bill's long awaited The Hour of Reprisal drops in eleven days time...

The Hour of Reprisal, the highly anticipated second solo album from Brooklyn's independent hip hop kingpin ILL BILL is finally scheduled for release on the Uncle Howie/Fat Beats label on September 16th, 2008. The former Non Phixion member and current La Coka Nostra riot-starter has surgically crafted a fine masterpeice featuring guest shots from Raekwon The Chef, Immortal Technique, La Coka Nostra, B-Real, Necro, Tech N9ne, Bad Brains, DJ Muggs, Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage, Max Cavalera of Sepultura/Soulfly, DJ Premier, Vinnie Paz and More.

(courtesy of Audible Treats)


(Ill Bill breaks down The Hour Of Reprisal)

*Be sure to visit 2 Dope Boyz, who've posted video of LA's DJ Muggs (Soul Assassins) speaking on working with Bill.

Related Links: Ill Bill's space
Uncle Howie label space

We love NY

From the producers of Paris, Je t'aime, expected in cinemas early next year, unless you plan on going to this years Toronto International Film Festival....

Saint - About Time album out now

Both tracks I've heard from Saint's second full length effort "About Time" (out through Domination Records / Pro Se Recordings) are solid. The title track, featuring Dumi Right of Zimbabwe Legit is a great, swinging, jazz influenced, mellow groove, with insightful, thought provoking lyrics about the finite nature of time. Whereas Livin Phenomenons features Mr Man of Da Bush Babees and is a slightly heavier, funkier, mellow, stomping tune perfect for a laid back party or a balmy Summer afternoon cruising through the streets.

About Time is available online and in stores. Give it a listen.

Sha Stimuli - Left Lane (video)

Directed by Dallas Alexis

Related Links:
Sha Stimuli on My Space

Invizzibl Men - Jimmy Swagger (video)

Laidback, fresh, new video from Karniege and Marq Spekt's (the Invizzibl Men), whose forthcoming LP entitled "The Unveiling" is out on 19th August.

Here's the tracklisting:

1.) Introcutlery
2.) Futurama
3.) Zookeeper f/Vordul Mega
4.) HipHopPSA
5.) 52 Lashings f/billy woods
6.) Jimmy Swagger
7.) T-Rex f/C-Rayz Walz
8.) Darkroom [Red Warfare Sessions]
9.) Thin Air
10.) Mighty Broady f/Broady Champs & Vast Aire
11.) Stories of a Ghost
12.) Neon Mud
13.) Ten Years Later f/Akil NURU & Access Immortal

East Flatbush Project - A Day In A Life (Audio)

BK's the East Flatbush Project are best known for the real rap classic "Tried By 12". The EFB concept is the brainchild of producer Spencer For Hire. A Day In A Life is the third, in a series of singles and this dose of firewater over a menacing, bleak, powerful soundscape features New Jersey's Stress (pictured above).

Whose World Is This?

How many people out there ask themselves such a question?

K-Salaam and Beatnick put the query above to a range of the world's most renowned Hip Hop, Reggae and Spoken Word artists, such as Dead Prez, Capleton, Raaka, Bobbito Garcia, Talib Kweli, Sizzla, Buju Banton, Trey Songz, Black Ice, Kardinal Offishal, The Outlawz, Anthony B, Luciano, Busy Signal, Saigon, Papoose, Young Buck, Suheir Hammad.

The resulting project, due for release on July 5th (in Australia), July 29th (World Wide), is nothing short of mindblowing. Salaam and Beatnick's forthcoming album transcends cultures, genres and the multitude of lifestyles and experiences of this planets inhabitants, The purpose of "Whose World Is This" according to Salaam himself is "to inspire change for the global community. It's message is one of revolution." The quality of the music, song-writing present speaks for itself. It's inspiring. It's uncompromising. It's insightful. Dare it be said, if enough people thought along the lines of the messages all the artists involved in this project, the World may just be a better place.

However by just posing the question, Salaam, Beatnick and all the artists who appear on "Whose World Is This", have started a well overdue debate on the state of our world and what each one of us is doing (if anything) to attempt to improve the mess it has just started to become.

Here's an eye-opening, insightful, heartfelt five part video documentary series, featuring interviews with a number of the artists who collaborated with Salaam and Beatnick on the "Whose World Is This?" concept album. (Thanks to Sam at Grindin Music for an advance copy of the release and the heads up on the behind the scenes documentary on Salaam and Beatnick's new album below.)

Substance over Hype

Santogold's music is a real breath of fresh air. Her debut album is one of the most innovative, dynamic, coolest, mind-blowing records out there. Vocally she sails effortlessly over a diverse range of energetic, life-affirming, organic, electronic jilted funk embedded soundscapes. Producers Jonnie "Most" Davis, J. Hill, Disco D (R.I.P), S. White, Switch, Freq Nasty, Diplo, Sinden provide some of the most refreshing, stripped back, innovative, musical beats you're ever likely to hear. This is brilliant and comes highly recommended...

Save the Birthplace of Hip Hop

Donations can be made here.

Check out L Boogie's article "Hip Hop Might Lose It's Home" at his Democracy and Hip Hop blog.