RIP - Jonas Bevacqua

Jonas Bevacqua, co-founder of hip hop clothier Lifted Research Group (otherwise known as LRG), was found dead earlier today in Los Angeles. Bevacqua was 34 years of age.

Rest In Peace to Jonas Bevacqua, a true streetwear pioneer.

RIP Gil-Scott Heron

Swiped from UPR!se Blog.

The cruel irony of life is that many times our strongest voices are consumed and silenced by the very same ills they rally against. Gil Scott Heron spent his entire career giving voice to the struggles and experience of Black Americans. He fell prey to the same vices he talked of in The Bottle and Home Is Where The Hatred is. Sadder, is he seemed to have begun to outrun his demons in recent years, recording his first album (I'm New Here) in sixteen years. His influence on what has become known as modern Hip Hop cannot be under-estimated. KRS-One, Public Enemy, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Blackalicious, Lupe Fiasco... all have taken pages from Heron's book. Sad day. Let's hope more people will pick up on his message. We need more Hip Hop artists and less rappers these days.

"the message is here: inside the man / bubbling brain cells and heart-soul cells /
ax-cell-er-ating faster until understood / and used and passed on and used and
passed on and used and..."

-Gil Scott-Heron

*just Added*

Lately, the greats that have defined our cultured society with their creative craft have been dropping like flies. However, their spirits live on through tributes created by those who have an immense appreciation for their work. The production collective Cookin’ Soul did just that with the news of Gil Scott-Heron’s passing on Friday , May 27, and compiled many of his most celebrated songs into a 17 track mixtape.

With the melding of old soul and neo-hip hop grooves, Scott-Heron’s voice cuts through like a hot knife through butter, and continues to serenade with seasoned words of knowledge. The reminiscent undertones are overwhelmingly laden with raw emotion, just how Gil’s originals are remembered. Words of Gil: Who’ll pay reparations on my soul? Rest in Power, Gil Scott-Heron

Cookin' Soul has released a Gil-Scott Mix!!!

http://www.cookinsoul.com/GSHTribute.zip (right click save-as)

The Weeknd & Drake - Birthday Suit

Before everyone's favorite mystery singer The Weeknd was The Weeknd, he was part of a songwriting/production team called, The Noise which worked with Drake, so this was bound to happen... Check it out.

Bang! Sundays presents Caron Wheeler (Soul II Soul) | Avery*Sunshine (JUST ADDED)

Chicago, lets keep on moving, don't stop!

(HUGE announcement: we have just added a special musical guest to open for the Caron Wheeler show, which will be announced on Sunday nite, May 22nd @ BANG! by DJ Terry Hunter)

Caron Wheeler live!

The voice behind the Soul II Soul hits "Keep on moving", "Back to life" & more will be performing live Memorial Day
weekend on Sunday, May 29th.

Back by popular demand....Aver*Sunshine has just been added to the bill!!!

Backed by VERZATILE.

Music by DJ TERRY HUNTER.

General Admission is $15!

Bottle Service (VIP seating) is available now!!

21+

Doors open at 8pm.

Click here to buy discount tix!!!

BANG: Sunday BBQ & Bulls Game Edition (5.22.11)

On Sunday, May 22nd DJ Terry Hunter gets his Sunday nite started a little early. Come enjoy watching the Chicago Bulls beat The Miami Heat & enjoy some free BBQ.

Doors open at 7pm, game starts at 7:15pm.

Every Sunday Nite DJ Terry Hunter goes out with a BANG!

The #1 Weekly House Music Event in Chicago.

Jay Electronica in Nepal "Dimethyltryptamine" (final edit)

beat by J Dilla
Filmed in Kathmandu in fall 2008 by Decon.
Directed by Jason Goldwatch
Director of Photography Rob Gilbert
Produced by Isaiah Seret
Style by Joseph I
Roll Audio by Dantana
Executive Produced by Peter Bittenbender

Osunlade - Pyrography preview & video interview

Good news and Bad news family,

Bad news first; Osunlade's upcoming album "Pyrography" is his final album in the house music genre. Osunlade feels that he has done every thing possible in the genre, stating that there are only 13 notes in house and has made every sound possible, and that now he is at a perfect time to move on.

The good news is Osunlade's album is set to drop on Yoruba Records TODAY. The world cannot wait for “Pyrography” to drop! Braced with more vocal tracks than any of his previous endeavors it includes the recent club smash "Idiocyncracy", the infectious "Envision" and the Yoruba chat of Ser Al Santismo. Check out the video featuring artist Scott Marr who did the artwork for Pyrography, via the art of pyrography lol!

Pyrography by Osunlade

Mayer Hawthorne - Impressions (Covers EP - Free Download)

(swiped from Stones Throw)

Mayer Hawthorne has released a FREE EP of cover songs. Grab it here, and read the track by track descriptions from Mayer below.

DOWNLOAD: MAYER HAWTHORNE - IMPRESSIONS

1. Work To Do
This one features my live band, The County: Quentin Joseph on drums, Topher Mohr on guitar, Quincy McCrary on piano, and Joe Abrams on bass. It was recorded live in a radio station studio somewhere during our Winter 2010 US tour. The tapes recently surfaced, but nobody can remember exactly where we were. The song is originally by The Isley Brothers, and that’s the only version I was familiar with until we started playing it in our live shows and people would come up to us and say “hey, loved your cover of Average White Band!”.

2. Don’t Turn The Lights On
My favorite track from Chromeo’s latest LP. On the surface it’s an electro-funk, dance floor filler, but underneath is a brilliant love ballad with lyrics that reminded me of something from Tyrone Davis. Dave1 (of Chromeo) told me the song is about a guy who falls in love with a ghost, so I wanted my version to have an eerie, ghostly feel to it. Quincy McCrary played the creepy piano solo at the end.

3. You’ve Got The Makings Of A Lover
Textbook Northern Soul from a little known Dallas, Texas group called The Festivals. I was digging for records in NY with my homey DJ Kurse, and the shopkeeper played the 45 in the store. Both of us immediately ran up to the counter and said “yo! what is THAT?!”. The original version was recorded in the late 60s, and the mix isn’t very good. I wanted a version that I could bump. Quentin Joseph played the drums and we recorded them at Sam Beaubien’s studio in Detroit. That’s Sam playing the trumpet as well.

4. Fantasy Girl
This song was written and composed by an amazing man from Pasadena named Steve Salazar. He was born with a heart condition and passed away at the young age of 27. Before he died he recorded one incredible album of demos in the mid-70s with a band called Shorty’s Portion. Peanut Butter Wolf found a copy of the album and I loved it so much that he gave it to me (thanks Wolf!). The vinyl had a handwritten note tucked in the sleeve that was addressed to anyone who could help the band with management, a record deal, radio airplay, etc. I’d estimate there were less than 300 copies pressed. That’s my Dad playing pedal steel guitar and Topher Mohr shredding the guitar solo on my version.

5. Little Person
Jon Brion is not from this planet. He penned this song for the soundtrack to Charlie Kaufman’s film “Synecdoche, NY”. I didn’t get the film at all, but I really got the soundtrack. The original has only female vocal and piano, but I always heard a larger arrangement. Hubert Alexander played some of the piano and I did everything else.

6. Mr. Blue Sky
This one also features my band, The County, and was recorded live, in one take, in a tiny makeshift tent, at a festival in Dour, Belgium.

DJ MANIFEST: LES NUBIANS JOINTS MIXTAPE

Since Les Nubians will be performing live on Saturday, May 14th (click here) we have decided to break out this mix by DJ Manifest!!!

Check it out!

Download (click here)

Prodigy - Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP (FREE ALBUM)

(Swiped Complex Mag)

Since getting out of jail a few weeks back, Mobb Deep's Prodigy has been hard at work. In the past six weeks, he's lent guest verses to Curren$y and Alchemist's upcoming Covert Coup as well as Jim Jones' Capo and he popped up in the video for Raekwon's "Ferryboat Killaz." He also hooked up with his partner-in-rhyme Havoc, his buddy Alchemist, and old friend Nas for "Dogg Sh*t." Plus he even found time to sit with us for an explosive Q&A where he talked about Capone being a snitch, running into Jay-Z, and why he thought Biggie was corny.

To top it all off, P's got a brand new EP he's releasing exclusively through Complex, The Ellsworth Bumpy Jonhson EP. With production from Alchemist, Sid Roams, and King Benny, this seven song EP is more of that murda muzik Mobb Deep fans were missing while P was locked up. Peep the tracklist and download links below.
The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP Tracklist:

1. The One & Only (Produced By Alchemist)
2. Go Off (Produced By Sid Roams)
3. Black Devil (Produced By Sid Roams)
4. Twilight (Feat. Havoc) (Produced By Sid Roams)
5. For One Night Only (Produced By Alchemist)
6. Strong (Produced By King Benny)
7. Told Ya'll (Produced By Sid Roams) (Bonus)

DOWNLOAD NOW

The Influence of Fela: DJ ?uestlove

The The Influence of afrobeat legend Fela Kuti is examined as Drummer/Producer/DJ of the Legendary Roots Crew ?uestlove visit the Shrine in Chicago.

Included interview segments with Femi Kuti son of Fela

A Camovement

Video By:
Cam Be
Jamaar J

Interview By:
Jeff Baraka

Shabazz Palaces (Butterfly from Digable Planets)

DOWNLOAD BOTH EP's HERE (14 SONGS)... ITS REAL DOPE
http://www.mediafire.com/?hyehyiomzyd

Ky-Mani Marley & Sister Nancy on Friday, May 6th

Reggae royalty makes its way to The Shrine on Friday, May 6th....

Ky-Mani Marley will be performing live!

Also featuring award winning Reggae legend Sister Nancy, known for her hit BAM BAM!!!

A special live performance by AKASHA!!!!

Also featuring Papa G!!!!

http://twitter.com/theshrinechi for more info.

Special dj set by Papa G!!

Buy discount priced tickets now online (click here). Tickets will cost more at the door.

Photo Recap of Rahsaan Patterson & Avery*Sunshine

Photos from an amazing night of music featuring performances by Rahsaan Patterson & Avery*Sunshine. (4/30/2011)

For more pix click here!