KevinNottingham.com » The Show

Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q: Blunt After Blunt [Live at Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA]

Carsten — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:00:29 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T76VCuGAs5E

Here’s some dope footage of Danny Brown (who is joined by Schoolboy Q) closing his show with “Blunt After Blut” at Echoplex in Los Angeles. Looks like it was an insane show!

Locksmith Performs with Vado, Ski Beatz & Murs

Kevin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:08:59 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U0DO_-ZO5o

Catch a glimpse of Locksmith’s performances while on the East Coast leg of the Hip Hop & Love Tour with Murs, Ski Beatz And Vado.

Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch The Throne [Video Re-Cap]

Kevin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:35:55 +0000

Monday night, I had the chance to witness two of hip-hop’s greatest, Jay-Z & Kanye West, as they took their Watch The Throne Tour to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The show was nothing short of amazing… and while I may have blasted their new album when it dropped back in August, I now have a new found respect for it and can honestly say it’s an excellent album. With that said, most may know that I’m probably one of the biggest Jay-stans… and this was my first time seeing him live (first time seeing Kanye as well). They put on an excellent show and if you are a fan, you’ll definitely want to check it out when they come to your town.

I was able to catch some video footage while there. Though the audio is not the greatest, it’s still watchable. Check it out.

Gotta Have It

Gold Chain Military: It’s The Chain [Live at Rock The Bells 2011]

Carsten — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:00:23 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F94S4NyAsMg

Here’s some dope HD footage of the Gold Chain Military performing “It’s The Chain” at this years Rock The Bells. The video was shot and edited by Greg Lazcano for WoodWorks Media. Enjoy!

The Bodega Brovas: We Got It [Live]

Carsten — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:00:07 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRlhSkr7CSA

While Arasia, Justin and Kev already havin’ their fun in ATL, I wanna highlight The Bodega Brothers. Another act, we are exited about to have at our KN showcase today! I haven’t been able to see Travii the 7th, Keynote and Headkrack live but the crew proofed their performance-skills worldwide, so I’m sure they gonna rock the stage! More live footage after the jump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g19KRDnj46I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0O7S_iUMfU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePV2dzRSzaE

A3C Throwback: The Away Team – The Shining x Cheers x The Blah Blah [Live at Fat Beats, NYC]

Carsten — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:00:55 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnHaAXZGnRM

Are you ready for A3C yet? To get y’all hyped up for the Away Team performance at our KN showcase this thursday, here’s some footage from their in-store performance at Fat Beats, NYC (R.I.P.) last year. Be on the lookout for a dope reintroduction to The Away Team later today. More footage after the jump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFulvMOrbf0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u09leg8WOqw

Ricky Shabazz + KN at The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival

Kevin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:00:13 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSTTd5HCzes

Before we get ready for A3C, the last big hip hop festival that occurred this year was the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival back in July. KN teamed up with Ricky Shabazz to cover the event and though the footage is just now coming to light, it’s dope. Check the above, courtesy of Travis Libin, featuring Q-Tip, Kanye West and Busta Rhymes. Special thanks to Nick Heller!

ArtOfficial: Bags Packed [Live @ Rock the Bells]

Kevin — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:49:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Srz8vecOiU

ArtOfficial previewed a new track down here in Miami at Rock The Bells the other night. Their new album, Vitamins & Minerals, will be dropping in November.

Jose James: It’s All Over Your Body & Trouble [Live at AllSaints Basement Sessions]

Duane Powell — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:00:33 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGtHvy_3W4Q

Check out these two videos of Jose James performing new songs from his upcoming album at the Basement Sessions for the UK clothing company ALL SAINTS. The jazzy funky soul is in other with his super velvety tones. Can’t wait until 2012 arrives to hear the full project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gz2kqOupCI

Audio Perm Block Party with Toki Wright & Pac Div

Jeremiah — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:00:24 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R8GaOfxZ_8

The parking lot of Shuga Records in Minneapolis, Minnesota was place to be on Saturday August 27. Minneapolis Hip Hop trio Audio Perm and Shuga Records put together the Audio Perm Block Party, which included performances by longtime Minneapolis Hip Hop staples, Kanser, Rhymesayers/Soul Tools’ Toki Wright, and I Self Devine. As well as and some newer cats making some serious noise in the Twin Cities Hip Hop circles like Illuminious3, Bobby Raps, and Tribe & The Big Cats to name a few. Throw in hosts Franz Diego & Greg Grease then add the SoCal crew Pac Div to headline the event and you have an event that should be repeated every year.

Sway Heavy and KevinNottingham.com attended the Audio Perm Block Party and were able to get some fresh footage of Toki Wright’s high-energy performance that ended up moving from the stage to the roof of the Shuga Records building. We were also able to get some ill tape of Pac Div giving the fans exactly what they wanted and more bringing some little fans on stage to rock with them. Peep the footage and if you are ever in Minneapolis, make sure you check out how nice it really is.

Elzhi: Elmatic Concert [Recap]

Arasia Magnetic — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:00:06 +0000

The stage was set.

Dark, absorbing background as the band’s silhouette decorated the scene. The crowd’s breathing strengthened and their chatter increased as they anticipated his arrival. One side was debating if the album was good while the other questioned his right to redo such a classic. Then, that infamous subway train raided the speakers as Hector and Zoro spoke. And the game changing verse from ”Live At The BBQ” drifted off into the backdrop…

You might have expected Nas to burst onto the stage but a medley of his songs got the crowd revved up for no other than Detroit’s son, Elzhi. He was in “The Go” last Saturday promoting ELmatic, which is, by far, one of the best albums of the year.

Those Chicagoans and fans from the D (who specifically drove down to see El), that were smart enough to purchase tickets to see him perform ELmatic in its entirety got their moneys worth and more. Elzhi put on a remarkable performance that reminded us of why we are still grown ass people attending Hip Hop concerts.

Elzhi broke into polished and scintillating performances of “Represent” as well as “Halftime” and “Memory Lane” after the Nas medley. Annihilating these tracks with ease, the crowd rocked on rhyming alongside El before he went into “The World Is Yours (which included the mind-boggling extended breakdown)” and “One Love” as he screamed, “Throw your L’s in the air!” As if he were ready for lyrically warfare, he blazed through each verse in full control of his crowd like a true MC.

Although his performance of every single track was astonishing, “Life’s A Bitch” and “It Aint Hard To Tell” were the highlights of the show. His fervor was felt throughout the crowd as they matched his momentum lyric by lyric.

Although Will Sessions, the original band on the album, wasn’t able to attend, Chicago’s own Verzatile stepped in naturally. Their instant chemistry with Elzhi, musicianship, and ability to recreate the magic that Will Sessions captured was nothing less than amazing giving the tracks an energy that could only be felt through live instrumentation.

Throughout the night, Elzhi also paid homage to his fallen brethren from Slum Village – J Dilla and Baatin. “Words can’t express how dope those dudes were…we do it for them,” he shared. He continued about the late Proof, “If it weren’t for Proof, I wouldn’t be here,” before shouting out Phat Kat, Royce Da 5’9”, Xzibit, and several other Detroit emcees. He also shared his appreciation for T3 and his fans as he thanked them for supporting ELmatic.

As the night closed, El exited the stage before returning for an encore at the request of his fans. He performed “Deep”, “Detroit State of Mind” and a few other tracks before kicking off a freestyle leaving the crowd in awe. He thanked his Detroit family again while sharing his love for hip hop and Chicago before he exited the stage one last time. His fans continued to chant for more and he eventually returned, but this time he came into the crowd and mingled amongst his people before closing out the night.

Those that had the opportunity to catch El but didn’t should kick themselves repeatedly because they missed one of the best MC’s in the game in his prime. El’s agenda was to give his fans a performance of a lifetime, in which he did. Some left with lingering thoughts of Illmatic, but El birthed new memories with ELmatic that are as close to 94’ as you can get which is not an easy thing to do but he did, effortlessly. So if El stops through your city, cop a ticket and relive some moments from that golden year before creating new ones with an artist that mastered his ceremony.

Baton Rouge Hops Festival (August 12-14)

Justin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:00:38 +0000

If you’re in the Baton Rouge area this weekend, make sure you stop by The Manship Theatre for the Baton Rouge Hops Festival which begins tonight at 6pm. The 3 day event will include live performances, DJ battles, breakdancing, graffiti exhibits, workshops & much more. Dee-1 will headline the closing show on Sunday night while other KN.com favorites such as Truth Universal, Marcel P. Black, Luke St. John, Ronny My & D-Lain will perform on Saturday. This will be a great celebration of all elements of hip hop (and all the outdoor events are free), so you don’t wanna miss this if you’re in southern Louisiana! For more information, visit the BR Hops website and check out the full lineup for each day after the jump.

8/12

8/13

8/14

WORD BECOMES FLESH with: Youth Speaks The Living Word Project

7:00PM @ THE MANSHIP CENTER

A fluid evening-length choreopoem written in the form of a narrative verse play. Presented as a series of performed letters to his unborn son, the piece uses poetry, dance and live music to document nine months of pregnancy from a young father’s perspective.

RUNNING TIMES: 8/12, 8/13, & 8/14 @ 7:00PM.

What the media has to say about Word Becomes Flesh:

“Word Becomes Flesh is Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s introspective through music, dance, and spoken word. Marc captured the rites of passage from a black male perspective, artfully capturing viable, vulnerable and viral underlying principles that shape the scope of the male psyche.” (WRNB Philly)

More info about this show: www.livingwordproject.com

8/12

8/13

PAIGE IN FULL with: Paige Hernandez & Nick the 1Da

7:30PM @ HARTLEY VEY STUDIO THEATRE

Paige in Full is a visual mix-tape that blends poetry, dance, visual arts and live music to tell the tale of a multicultural girl growing up in Baltimore, MD.. The production explores how a young woman’s identity is shaped by her ethnicity and popular culture, telling a personal, yet universal, story through the lens of hip-hop.

RUNNING TIMES: 8/12, 8/13 @ 7:30PM

What the media has to say about Paige in Full:

“In one sequence, through a beautiful blend of movement and theatrical expression, she shows the early courtship of her young parents, their reactions to first love, the unexpected pregnancy, and her birth in a never ending flow. It’s stunning.” (DC Theatre Scene)

More info about this show: www.paigeinfull.com

8/13/11

Outdoor Concert Series & DJ Battle

10:00am-5:00pm & 5:00-7:30PM @ THE SHAW CENTER

All day Concert Series, Break Dance Battle & DJ Battle

Hosted by Howard Hall

DAYTIME SERIES 10:00am-5:00pm

FEATURING:

DJ UNTOUCHABLE, DJ FATMAN, TRUTH UNIVERSAL, THE EDGE BREAK CREW, D-LAIN, DRE CHAPMAN, NEB JONES

EVENING SERIES 5:00pm-7:30pm

FEATURING:

RONNy MY, DONNEY ROSE, LUKE ST. JOHN, MARCEL P. BLACK

LAH LIVE! (Headliner)

During this constant entertainment you can take a trip to “PLANET ROCK” (Children’s Art Corner) and witness LIVE BODY PAINT.

Be ready to participate and engage all your senses!

8/14/11

Outdoor Concert Series & DJ Battle II

12:00PM-5:00PM & 5:30pm- 7:30pm @ THE SHAW CENTER

All day Concert Series, Youth Poetry Showcase, Break Dance Battle, & DJ Battle

Hosted by Howard Hall

Daytime Series 12:00pm-5:00pm

FEATURING:

DJ MARQUIS, YOUTH POETRY SHOWCASE, TAJH SPIKES, JAMES JACKSON, SHOELACE, DJ Ya Boy Earl

HIP HOP DOC (Mid Day Feature)

Evening Series 5:30pm-7:30pm

FEATURING:

KENNEDI RAYNE, J.B. AUGUST, THE BROTHERHOOD MUSIC, PHIL MIC

DEE-1 (Headliner)

During this constant entertainment you can take a trip to “PLANET ROCK” (Children’s Art Corner) and witness LIVE BODY PAINT STATUES.

Be ready to participate and engage all your senses!

Jazz Spastiks: Mode 7 Launch Event [Live Stream]

Kevin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:55:44 +0000

Watch live video from jazzspastiks on www.justin.tv

To celebrate the launch of their new album with junclassic Mode 7 (out now on HiPNOTT Records), Jazz Spastiks will be playing a special mix of dope hip hop live from the studio while artist Rob McGuire (who designed the Mode 7 artwork) will be painting a large version of the front cover art behind them.

The show will be starting in a few minute (at 7pm eastern time / midnight UK time).

If you’re in the NYC area, come on out to Panda Bar tonight to see Junclassic perform tracks from the album live at the official album release party. Doors open at 9pm. Other performances include Verbal, K-SISE andBrown Bag AllStars. There will be drink specials all night! Check the flyer below for full details.

2011 Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival [Recap]

Alex Edelstein — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:00:59 +0000

The 7th annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival began slowly, with a late start and temperatures pushing 90 degrees. By sundown, however, the festival transformed into a veritable who’s who of hip hop, with headliner Q-Tip running out some pretty famous friends during his two-hour set. Along the way, practitioners of real hip hop, new and classic alike, took their talents to the main stage, succeeding one another in hyping up the frenzied crowd.

I’ve always felt like I’ve been the luckiest guy in my group of friends because I get to experience historic music moments and document them for others. This year’s Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival can most assuredly be filed away as one of those events that makes me love what I do. Forget about Kanye West, Black Thought and Busta Rhymes for a second, we’ll get to that. This day (and really the entire festival week) was all about what good hip hop should look, sound and feel like, with everyone from the artists to the crowd to the event staff doing their part.

Consider the breadth of artists that graced the stage: from fast-rising upstarts like Kendrick Lamar to underground legends like M.O.P. — from recently established Detroit-Brooklyn trio Random Axe to the effusive, outspoken Queens native Homeboy Sandman. Combining incredibly energizing sets with quality, diverse music, each of these artists showcased what hip hop is all about. Homeboy Sandman put it best, in a short interview I conducted with him after his set, when he explained, “Every event like this is a triumph. Every event like this is an undeniable triumph. People are here, and they say, ‘I may not have known who this cat was before I got here, but this cat is rocking like I ain’t seen cats rock.’”

While some of the young stalwarts may have been relative unknowns (groups like Gods’Illa or individuals like Shad and Nitty Scott, MC), there were plenty of veteran artists to help old school fans reminisce. Among the elder statesmen in attendance were the aforementioned Mash Out Posse (M.O.P.), Ali Shaheed Mohammed with a DJ set, and of course, Q-Tip and his fantastic friends. Let’s be real for a second though – finding out about new talent is great (Kendrick Lamar, get ready to take the torch for the West Coast) and seeing veterans do their thing is fun (M.O.P. still has it), but this night was all about Tip and his expansive rolodex.

The Tribe frontman started slow, performing some solo joints backed by a live band. As the night wore on, the pace picked up, with The Abstract trotting out a consistent run of former collaborators and veteran emcees, including Native Tongues member Monie Love and Flatbush native Sean Penn. Following these short cameos, perennially underrated emcee of The Roots, Black Thought, joined Tip on stage to help out with the classics “Bonita Applebaum”, “Electric Relaxation” and “Act Too (Love of My Life).”

Up next was frequent Tribe co-conspirator, Busta Rhymes, joining Q-Tip for the end of their collaborative track, “Scenario.” After demolishing his infamous verse from “Look At Me Now”, culminating in Busta triumphantly tossing his mike into the air, the two rejoined to share verses on “Oh My God.” Proving that hip hop is all about brotherhood and respect for one another, Tip and Busta took a moment to shower each other with love, as Busta remarked that he’s still living large off of “Scenario” royalties.

And finally, the surprise of the evening, the entrance of Mr. West. Yeezy made his grand entrance to the titular track from his most recent release, “Dark Fantasy”, to a chorus of cheers from the stunned crowd. Taking us back a couple albums to Graduation, Kanye and Tip jammed out to “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”, and my personal highlight, an exaggerated rendition of “Award Tour” that saw the two luminaries bouncing around the stage like it was their first rodeo. It felt good to see Kanye relaxed on stage, free to exhibit the charisma and flow that made us fans way back when he was rapping ‘through the wire’. Maybe it was the lack of black tie clothing or the outdoor setting, but he looked like a different artist in his snapback and tank top, a far cry from the stuffy tuxedo we’ve become accustomed to in recent years.

After a brief encore performance of “Vibrant Thing”, Tip thanked the Brooklyn Bodega and the fans, and called it a night. It left everyone with a much needed moment to reflect on what just happened, considering the undeniably historic performances that had just occurred; this particular writer is still looking back and reflecting, trying to soak in this slice of hip hop history.

Gods’Illa: Sal’s Pizzeria (Live At The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival)

Justin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:35:41 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lWLZRDOj0c

Gods’Illa passed along some footage of their performance of ”Sal’s Pizzeria” at the recent Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival. The song will appear on the DMV trio’s highly anticipated CPR Blendtape hosted by DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown (aka Erykah Badu).

Q-Tip & Kanye West at Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival ’11

Kevin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 01:00:16 +0000

Since KN was an official media partner for this year’s Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, we’ve got some exclusive HD video footage of one of the highlights for the event. Look out for more coverage coming very soon!

Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival – Salute The DJ [Recap]

Alex Edelstein — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 13:30:32 +0000

This past Thursday’s Salute the DJ event, put on by the Brooklyn Bodega as part of the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, served a reminder as to why hip hop is an art that goes beyond lyrics and beats. Acknowledging the prevailing criticisms of the current hip hop climate, watching these hip hop pioneers spin, scratch and dance their way through 30-plus years of music and culture helped reacquaint me with what I initially loved about hip hop – the endless musical possibilities. Alongside a supportive but not always energized Music Hall of Williamsburg audience, the Salute the DJ lineup brought together legends from across the DJ universe, from soul and funk specialists like Twilite Tone and Chairman Mao, to turntablist veterans Roli Rho and Grand Wizzard Theodore, and of course, the main event, the legendary Marley Marl.

The first portion of the night demonstrated how the DJ can act as narrator, retelling music history by blending together seemingly incongruous genres and eras. Twilite Tone and Chairman Mao both gave their interpretations of hip hop history, pulling from every corner of their respective eclectic collections. Chicago native Tone kept the bass particularly heavy, presenting his unique blend of house and hip-hop. Chairman Mao provided the soul and funk, selecting some classic old soul tracks seamlessly mixed together. Throughout both Tone and Mao’s sets, one bold crew of B-Girls kept the crowd moving, showcasing a nice set of breaking skills.

As the evening progressed, the crowd filled out and the energy level began to rapidly rise. It was just in time too, as the inventor of scratch, Grand Wizzard Theodore, took to the stage. Filling his set with some instantly recognizable classic hip hop, including M.O.P. and Gang Starr, the Wizzard displayed just why he is regarded as the father of scratching. Following his set was X-Ecutioners affiliate Mista Sinista, who treated the turntables like a basketball, scratching behind the back, under the leg, and pulling 360s. He fed off the crowd so intensely that, by the end of his set, there was fear of him passing out from exhaustion. Next to the tables were duo Roli Rho and DJ Getlive, who immediately began hyping up the crowd with an almost jock-jams-like mix, including Bell Biv Devoe’s “Poison.” The two took turns mixing and inciting the crowd until the conclusion of their set, where they shared one table, rotating around each other like a carousel of scratching.

Finally, around 1 a.m, DJ legend Marley Marl took over. In a tribute to the late, great radio pioneer Mr. Magic, Marl hosted a “Rap Attack Live” showcase, featuring several of his classic hip hop cohorts. Among the featured artists were veteran rappers Craig G, Roxanne Shante and Keith Murray, R&B specialists Force MDs, and hip hop pioneers, the Cold Crush Brothers. Among the showcase’s highlights were the Cold Crush Brothers on one knee, warning fake rappers everywhere while claiming hip hop for the real MCs, the Masters of Ceremony.

Throughout the night, I kept being reminded of how, in different ways, each of these figures represented what hip hop is all about. Whether it was the expert track selection from Tone and Mao educating the crowd on hip hop’s roots, the masterful scratching from inventor, the Grand Wizzard, or the historical presence of Marley Marl and company, each performer had a unique niche carved out within hip hop’s culture and community. After more than five hours of experiencing some of hip hop’s finest, I walked away remembering how much hip hop music has to offer everyone, regardless of music their preferences.

Raven Sorvino @ Common Ground

Kevin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 23:38:34 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKUBt5YSmpo

Check out Raven Sorvino break it down at Common Ground in Riverside, CA.

Random: LALP Episode 1

DJ Grain — Fri, 20 May 2011 10:55:13 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRA-Is-BroE

It’s been a hot min since I have been able to post but I had to hit you all with a new mini series from the homie Random aka Mega Ran. The new series follows Random as he transitions from the life of being an educator and rapper to being a full time artist. Random is doing what all dj’s, producers, and emcee’s would like to do which is doing music full time and still being able to pay the bills. Check it out, there is much more to come.

Bavu Blakes: Austin Music People [Live Performance]

Justin — Mon, 09 May 2011 20:38:01 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=188Pb1nqpc8

Here’s some highlights of Bavu Blakes’ recent performance at the Austin Music People launch party. Bavu is scheduled to release his sophomore LP later this year.

KevinNottingham.com » The Show

Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q: Blunt After Blunt [Live at Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA]

Locksmith Performs with Vado, Ski Beatz & Murs

Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch The Throne [Video Re-Cap]

Gotta Have It

Flashing Lights

Diamonds (Remix) / Public Service Announcement

New Day

Dirt Off Your Shoulders / I Just Wanna Love You / That’s My Bitch

All of The Lights / Big Pimpin’

Gold Chain Military: It’s The Chain [Live at Rock The Bells 2011]

The Bodega Brovas: We Got It [Live]

A3C Throwback: The Away Team – The Shining x Cheers x The Blah Blah [Live at Fat Beats, NYC]

Ricky Shabazz + KN at The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival

ArtOfficial: Bags Packed [Live @ Rock the Bells]

Jose James: It’s All Over Your Body & Trouble [Live at AllSaints Basement Sessions]

Audio Perm Block Party with Toki Wright & Pac Div

Elzhi: Elmatic Concert [Recap]

Baton Rouge Hops Festival (August 12-14)

Jazz Spastiks: Mode 7 Launch Event [Live Stream]

2011 Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival [Recap]

Gods’Illa: Sal’s Pizzeria (Live At The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival)

Q-Tip & Kanye West at Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival ’11

Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival – Salute The DJ [Recap]

Raven Sorvino @ Common Ground

Random: LALP Episode 1

Bavu Blakes: Austin Music People [Live Performance]