Ground Zero

After 9/11, like a lot of Americans, O'Neal and I were left wondering what we could do to help. We contacted The Middle East (the venue, and yes, there is some irony there) about doing a benefit concert. A number of other promoters and bands had the same thought, so the venue ended up doing a string of benefits, and donated 200% of the door proceeds to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. We pulled together every known emcee we could find, and I have to say, they were all eager to get involved ---- the event was a huge sold-out success, and we ended up raising over $10,000. It was a proud moment for everyone in that room. GeeSpin was on stage forcing the rappers to empty their pockets into a hat --- everybody gave that night. Pretty sure I have some show audio around here somewhere ... but in the meantime ...

We also got together with Inebriated Rhythm to record a single that would be sold at the event. The song featured EDO.G, Reks, Alius, Akrobatik, Illin' P, Jaysaun, Shuman and T-Max over a really dope Soul Supreme beat. We never did much with the song, but I like to listen to it every now and then, to remember how Boston really pulled it all together that night.

Here is the mp3.

Akrobatik - Remind My Soul (Live) - MP3

I consider Akrbatik's Balance album to be one of the best indie hip-hop albums ever --- solid from beginning to end. We were really proud to be part of that project (even did the cover art). "Remind My Soul" was the standout single from this record (did that cover too) --- sonically and topically just a really powerful song.

Here is a live MP3 version of "Remind My Soul," recorded at the 2004 Superbowl MC Battle.

Mr. Lif Freestyle 1997

This is from waaaaaaaay back in the early days at The Western Front. Not 100% sure this is 1996, but no later than 1997. Lif was largely unknown at this time, just getting a little airplay on WERS. He used to come down every week or two and just kill it.

His dreads were tiny then too.

Here is the freestyle joint.

Def Jux Freestyle 2001

Here is a juicy mp3 from the second-to-last Co-Flow show in 2001 before El and Len split. This 5-minute session weaves in and out of freestyles and writtens, and includes El-P, Copywrite, Vast Aire and Aesop Rock. Aesop had just signed with Jux, and I remember him basically walking into the venue at midnight, fresh of the bus, and walked right on stage ... and I'm thinking, "who the hell is this guy?"

Mr. Lif & Akrobatik "Inhuman Capabilities Live"

This live performance was recorded at the 2004 NEMO Music Showcase at The Middle East. More to come from this show.

You can stream or download here.

Bazooka Tooth WFNX Promo

When Aesop Rock's Bazooka Tooth album dropped, we teamed up with Boston alternative station WFNX to do the release party at the Paradise. It was a great show, El-P was there, Perceptionsits, SA Smash (RIP Camu) and a bunch of others. Sold out with a line of people waiting. As our media sponsor, WFNX ran a radio spot to promote the show (which I have included below). We took the guys to the station to do an interview and on the way back they heard the promo in the car and bugged out because they hadn't ever heard a commercial promo like that for their shit. I have a YouTube video of this show that now has messed up audio, so I'll import some video at some point and post here.

Download the promo.

DJ Revolution "Sonar Vol 1" - 2003

In April 2003 we launched a new program called SONAR, an indie hip-hop mix CD series with Rev at the wheels. The idea was that we were going to produce 10,000-20,000 units per release and distribute through our street teams in 10 major markets on an ongoing basis - 6 CD's per year. Volume 1 was really well received, Rev murdered it, and we pushed out 10,000 units as a pilot program, but it was an expensive campaign that we couldn't keep up with.

Here is the cover with track list, and a link to the full CD is below:

For the full CD, click here.

Because They Made it That Way

We shot this video for zero dollars with Ethan Lader as the director. We did two takes, walking through Post Office Square in Boston. We had the music ramped up to play at 150% while filming so that when we slowed the video down to synch with the real track everything would be just a little slow.

DJ Fakts One had to do his DJ bit on the portable turntable and then haul-ass around the corner to get ahead of Lif again. I still think this is a dope video, and the honest response from people walking on the street was pretty funny ... mostly when people walked by like nothing was happening. There is a dreaded dude rapping like a chipmunk walking down the street ... no big deal I guess. I couldn't begin to tell you when we did this. 2000 maybe?

Here is the instrumental for that track.

Here is the video:

Company Flow Live MP3 (2001)

This is a live recording of "Population Control" from what I think was the second-to-last Company Flow show before El-P and Len split. It was recorded at The Middle East in Cambridge MA. The venue was a stinking hot sardine can, packed to the gills with a crowd that knew every word. I know this was part of a Lif/CoFlow twin bill, I think it was for the release party for Lif's "Enters" EP.

Small world, but we also booked CoFlow for a show in Boston a couple of years earlier that marked the split of Bigg Jus from the group.

Here is the mp3.

Also, if you don't own a copy of CoFlow's album Funcrusher Plus (shame on you), you can cop the re-release here.