I love documentaries like this. Props to Okayplayer.

Gifted Films Inc presents a Okayplayer OG Brian ‘B.Kyle’ Atkins project, J. Dilla: Still Shining. The comprehensive remembrance piece on the late great James ‘J. Dilla’ Yancey will be available February 7th @ TheJDillaProject.com.

The doc will feature unseen personal photos, and rare concert performance footage. Along with all of that, the project also will feature exclusive testimonials from friends and frequent collaborators like Erykah Badu, Dwele, Pete Rock, Bilal, ?uestlove, Busta Rhymes, Phat Kat, Common, Q-Tip, Houseshoes, and more.

After giving fans Live From The MPC-60 only a few months back, producer Ayatollah is gearing up for his next instrumental release entitled Fingertips. The album is set to be released digitally on February 1st, and will also be released on limited edition vinyl on February 21st. Ayatollah explains the reasoning behind releasing so many instrumental albums:

I get peace of mind from doing instrumental albums. There’s no words to lead you in any one direction. Plus, I don’t have to wait on rappers to finish the creations. I like the freedom of it.

You can pre-order the limited edition vinyl of Fingertips here.

Featuring legendary producer Malcolm McLaren and Godfather of Hip Hop Clive Campbell aka DJ Kool Herc speaking on the early days of Hip Hop.  Recover soon Kool Herc!

For the ones who don’t know, Kool Herc was recently hospitalized and doesn’t have health insurance to cover the medical costs. If you would like to help donate, you can send money to:

Kool Herc Productions
PO Box 20472
Huntington Station, NY 11746

Update: If you would like to donate via Paypal, please send money to: cindycampbell@aol.com

Killa Kyleon joins up with DJ Rapid Ric to bring you a brand new mixtape to hold you over until the release of Natural Born Killa 2. Run it! Read the rest of this entry »

Double-O chops it up with Nodfactor about progressing as a producer throughout the years, and why he chose to stay away from sampling on the Kidz In The Hall album, The Land of Make Believe. Props to Nah Right for the heads up.

DJ Simon Sez and DJ Set It Off pump some life into the blend game with this brand new mixtape featuring T.I. vocals over Diplomats instrumentals. Lets keep the creativity going in the 2011, mixtape DJ’s. Download after the break. Read the rest of this entry »

Off Thristin Howl The 3rd’s forthcoming album, Natural Born Skiller. Track produced by Will Tell.

Update: Added the music video for the track.

In part 2 of the Chris Jasper interview, Jasper explains what lead to the break-up of the group of Isley-Jasper-Isley and why it may have been due to Ron Isley’s wanting the younger brothers in the group. Jasper hints that there was likely an underlying competition between both groups. On the note of overrated artists, Jasper admits he’s not a Justin Bieber fan and that he’s franky a “okay” artist. He also ends with his thoughts on rap and being a Jay-Z fan due to his melodies.

Chris Jasper of the Isley Brothers talks about his time in the group as well as the spinoff of Isley-Jasper – Isley. He opens up about their flamboyant lifestyle and the competition between the other groups at the time. Jasper explains how the song Between the Sheets came about and reveals that Ron Isley was hesitant about making the record. Jasper explains that Ron wasn’t as confident as the Mr. Big people see today. Finally Jasper talks about the tension in the group and what essentially broke the Isley Brothers up. He ends with the current relationship of the group members and why it’s up to Ron Isley to reach out.

Questlove stops be Amoeba Hollywood and shows off what he purchased while visiting the shop. The Jackson 5 and Grace Jones pick ups are sure winners.