Mighty Underdogs Going On Tour

Have you been to a good show lately? Yeah me neither but that can change for all with the Mighty Underdogs going on tour in October. Who are the Mighty Underdogs you might ask? Well go do your homework, well better yet I will give you a cheat sheet. The Mighty Underdogs consist of Gift of Gab, Lateef the Truth Speaker, and Headnodic and all three are from groups (Blackalicious, Latyrx, and Crown City Rockers) laying down impressive hip-hop. I haven’t seen them live but I know it would be a treat for anyone that could go.

TOUR DATES
10/30 Los Angeles, CA Knitting Factory
10/31 Tempe, AZ Clubhouse
11/01 Flagstaff, AZ Green Room
11/02 Albuquerque, NM TBA
11/05 Austin, TX Mohawk
11/06 Dallas, TX HOB
11/07 Columbia, MO Mojo/s
11/08 Chicago , IL Abbey
11/09 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall
11/11 Denver, CO Marquis
11/12 Colorado Springs, CO Black Sheep
11/13 Durango, CO Abbey
11/14 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
11/15 Boise, ID Knitting Factory
11/17 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
11/18 Portland, OR Satyricon
11/19 Bend, OR Domino Room
11/21 Reno, NV Underground
11/22 San Francisco, CA Regency Ballroom

Damu Displaying His Skills In Washington Square

If this is not for the love of hip-hop then I don’t know what is. Damu The Fudgemunk is just making beats in Washington Square for people to hear and people should be listening.

Ecliptic Sight Review: Vordul Mega – The Revolution of Yung Havoks

Vordul Mega is on a assignment to enlighten his listeners with visible wordplay on his first solo album. The Revolution of Yung Havoks was created on a preemptive tale of young minds (or havoks) wanting change. Vordul takes his time to craft each song into a story of struggle, frustration and overwhelming stress. He doesn’t stop there and leave it as a cautionary warning for the listener to sulk in the misery of his lyrics. Instead Vordul gives us solution with songs like, “Neva Again” and “Pray” with nuggets of knowledge dropped in each verse.

Each guest emcee seems to have been brought in to compliment Vordul and his storytelling rather than taking it over. The four emcees to grace, “The Revolution of Yung Havoks” are C-Ray Walz, Karniege, Jean Grae and a Cannibal Ox duet with Vast Aire on the song, “Handle That”. Vordul has worked with each artist on their albums or through his affiliations with Atoms Family, Cannibal Ox and The Reavers.

On the song, “Megallah”, Vordul asks: “Whose Mega? Question I ask self…”, that I am sure everyone has asked themselves one way or another trying to discover who we are. He answers this question and more with the entire album by basically saying that we all endure conflicts and go through hard times but we can not let it rule our lives and make us corrupt. Vordul Megallah would rather have us uprise and accomplish The Revolution of Yung Havoks.

A F.A.T. Update From Future Ape Tapes

Do you remember Future Ape Tapes from the ESP: Future Edition (Should have called it the F.A.T. Edition maybe next time) show? Well I have been taking a hiatus on the podcast but the Future Ape Tapes have been hard at work. They have a new website at FutureApeTapes.com, where you can download there Wolf Pak album for free. Also they have a link to there new song, “Spelling Bee” that is coming from their new album DNA Superstar. There is a lot more to explore like the media gallery where you can put a face to the group. Good to see someone is working while I take a break.

Thank You Letter To The Emcee

I have scrutinized and racked my brain on how to show my appreciate for the emcee. After finally writing this out the best approach is usually the simplest by just saying thank you. Thank you to all the emcees, lyricists, rhymers, wordsmiths, rappers, poets or whatever way you chose to describe yourself for continuing to make conscious music. The purpose of this letter is not to minimize the contribution of the other elements of hip-hop (DJ/producers, b-boys and graffiti) but emcees were the first ones to draw me into the culture that I enjoy. I can remember the first time I heard an emcee on the radio and was amazed by their wordplay. How it made me analyze their lines and marvel at how effortless they made it sound. The different emotions that could be displayed with the words they chose. Being an emcee is definitely an art form that when practiced correctly can take the listener on a musical oasis.

I listen to a lot of hip-hop and would like to thank every artist individually for the time and love they put into their craft but that would take forever. Hopefully writing this will show my appreciation and my support of what they do. I also know that actions speak louder than words so I prove my support by purchasing their albums and products. Which in turn helps the emcees continue to make their music. I will even support an artist that a critic or someone with similar taste gives a negative review because I try to understand the message that they are trying to portray. Sometimes the overall song is out of the emcees’ hand and it is the production that does not fit the words or the mix down is wrong or countless other things that happen in post production once it leaves the emcee.

All this is to just say thank you and I wanted to show my admiration for your talents and vision and hope this helps all of us grow closer to this thing we call hip-hop.

Much Respect,
Saibot
Ecliptic Sight Podcast
http://www.eclipticsight.com

Ecliptic Sight Podcast: The End? Edition

Ecliptic Sight Podcast: The End? Edition was engineered to forecast the impending hiatus. Saibot and DJ headpiece747 team up and join forces to deliver the best possible show as if it was their last. Half viny, half digital, and half drunk this will be the crowning achievement with a couple of nice surprises at the end.

1. Quasimoto - Come On Feet Remix
2. Masterminds - Seven featuring J-Treds, El-P, J-Live, Mr. Complex & Shabaam Sahdeeq
3. Willie Mitchell - Groovin’
4. Nicolay & Kay - When You Die
5. Iller Than Theirs - To Be ILL
6. Willie Evans Jr. - Rock Widdit
7. Tha Liks - 40 Oz Quartet Part I
8. Cypress Hill - Rap Superstar Instrumental
9. Baron Ricks - Rags To Riches Instrumental
10. J-Live - Once Upon A Mic
11. Loer Velocity - A-Z
12. The Crest - Kill ‘Em

DJ headpiece747 mixing essentials… Disclaimer: Saibot and Ecliptic Sight Podcast are not associated with any artists or music played unless noted. All rights are reserved to the individual artist or artists. Support any songs or artists that you hear by picking up their album. Tracklisting at EclipticSight.com.

Free Music Video 14

Mission - Contagious

Hip-Hop Infused With Violin

Hip Hop Violin - Paul Dateh and inka one

A3C Brings The Juice Crew Back Together

A3C Hip-Hop Festival 2008 is an annual showcase of incredible emcees. This year is no exception with the artists set to perform read as a wet dream of any hip-hop music lover. The biggest news is that the Juice Crew has just been added for a one day performance. If you don’t realize why this is such an historical event then here is a short lesson courtesy of AC3:

From AC3 Hip-Hop Festival: “I don’t care who first or who’s last but all I know is that y’all better rock this at the drop of a dime, baby!” If you know you’re history, you’ll know that these are the opening words to one of the most prolific songs in all of Hip Hop history; The Juice Crew’s “The Symphony.” It’s been roughly 10 years since the original Juice Crew last performed together, but in a mere matter of weeks at the A3C, you’ll be able to witness history in the making as Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, Marley Marl, MC Shan, Craig G and Roxanne Shante reunite to perform some of the songs which steered the course of Hip Hop music as we know it today.

The artist lineup confirmed to perform so far:
Juice Crew (Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, Marley Marl, MC Shan, Craig G and Roxanne Shante)
Aceyalone
Akrobatik
B.o.B
Binkis Recs
Bisc 1
Blu & Ta’Raac are C.R.A.C
Clan Destined
Collective Efforts
Coolout
DJ Basic
DJ Dirty Digits
DJ Klever
DJ Mafioso
DJ Rasta Root
DJ Rob Wonder
Del Tha Funkyhomosapien
Dillon
Dj Lord of Pubilc Enemy
Gripplyaz
Guilty Simpson
Hangar 18
Holly Weerd
Insight
Jeru The Damaja
John Robinson aka Lil Sci
Kaze
Lee Harvey Oswald
Little Brother
Mojo Swaggger
Nobody Famous
Proton
Re-Up Gang
Senor Kaos
Supastition
THe Fresh
Tanya Morgan
Tha Smile Rays
The Alias Brothers (AB’s)
The Contra Verse
Wale
Willie Evans, Jr.

Shot Of The Day 25

Take it back.

RAKIM Wall by ~N4S-GFX on deviantART