Vodpod videos no longer available.
This is another guy that needs absolutely no introduction. 9th Wonder has been making some of the most infectious beats in R&B and Hip-Hop for the last 5-6 years. In this video he talks about his two record labels (The Academy & JamLa), and how he came up with the name for the labels. He talks about what it used to be like when everything he loved was considered “backpack”. 9th ends up making a pretty damn good point about the underground vs. overground (he’s got Grammys and platinum plaques on his walls). 9th Wonder’s feeling about the Hip-Hop game in the aspect of producers and emcees is like one big fraternity, it’s pretty crazy but that’s an accurate metaphor (I love the Masta Ace name drop). This is a good interview on a guy who is always making foot prints in the industry (that a lot of people don’t realize). Make sure you stay tuned to Mind Inversion for more news on the year “2009th Wonder”.
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The Year 2009th Wonder
Posted in Video with tags 9th Wonder, Hip-Hop on Sunday, March 1, 2009 by Tim AlthausThe Second Supper Issue 151, Cabin Fever
Posted in Culture with tags Cabin Fever, La Crosse, Second Supper Issue 151 on Friday, February 27, 2009 by Tim Althaus
Sorry that my posts on the Second Supper are tardy folks, things on the blog as well as in my life have been crazy as of late. Needless to say I am back with a post about last week’s issue (issue 151), Cabin Fever. This issue holds especially true to all of us here at Mind Inversion because naturally we are all from the Midwest. All of us here know what it’s like to be cooped up in doors during the entirety of winter, and not being able to rejoice until March. All of the articles in the paper have to do with snow and winter activities.
Sadly after the Cabin Fever issue we will no longer read the great words of Maria Pint. This is her last issue, and I highly suggest you check out her goodbye, it’s very good. Ben Clark writes up an interesting article on the always interesting sport of Broomball. He also discusses the league for Broomball that we have in La Crosse. Amber Miller writes about her favorite activity in the winter (Tai Chi) and what she does to get out of the house. Briana Rupel writes up an article on her bowling league (which by the way has the best title ever, (Fuck it, Dude, Let’s Go Bowling) and her experiences in it. Last but not least Emily Faeth has an article about the Polar Plunge in La Crosse. She also provides a nice amount of insight and history on the event that raises a lot of money for a good reason every year.
All in all this is a great issue. It makes me feel good that spring is right around the corner (knock on wood), and the folks at the Second Supper can sympathize with what I’ve been going through. As I said we are going to be saying goodbye to Maria Pint (You will be missed), and we here at Mind Inversion wish her the best of luck in all of her future endeavours. Make sure you get over to the Second Supper website to check out the new issue.
Clipse & Rick Rubin “Cooking Up” Classics
Posted in Music News with tags Clipse, Hip-Hop, pitchfork, Rick Rubin, Til the Casket Drops on Thursday, February 26, 2009 by Tim Althaus
It looks as though your favorite Cocaine Cowboys and one of the most legendary music makers of our time are “cooking up” some classic material. Clipse & Rick Rubin have been in the studio recording material for Clipse’s new album Til the Casket Drops which is due out sometime in the summer. According to the article that I read on Pitchfork, they have finished one track and they will be recording one or two more tracks together in the studio. I can’t even imagine what the outcome of this collaboration is going to be, both Rubin & Clipse are at the top of their game.
The first single off Til the Casket Drops, “Kinda Like a Big Deal”, will be dropping on March 9th and it features Kanye West and DJ Khalil (who did one of the best beats on the Weatherman LP, “All Said and Done“). Til the Casket Drops, like many other albums, is going to be one of the highlights this year. Make sure you stay tuned to Mind Inversion for updates on the album.
Thank You, Michael Cera
Posted in Culture with tags Arrested Development, Michael Cera, The Bluth Family on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 by Tim Althaus
Well it looks like the movie gods are shining down on me (and all of you Arrested Development fans) today. I went to my nifty Digg RSS feed, and saw the article titled “Michael Cera Says Yes To Arrested Develpoment Movie!!! Finally!” and yes, all of the exclamation points are a total necessity. There was a period of time where Michael Cera was saying that he didn’t want to do an Arrested Development movie at all. He was quoted as saying “I don’t think I would want to see a movie of the series if I was a fan, anyway. And I don’t really see a need for it if you can get the three seasons on DVD.” I don’t have a direct quote from an article because I can’t find one that old, but I read that exact quote numerous times.
All I can tell you is that this might have been the most joyous moment I’ve experienced in the last few years. I’ve been missing the Bluth family like crazy – Continue reading
Reflection Eternal is Hitting Up Your “Internet Connection”
Posted in Downloads with tags Bootsy Collins, Hi-Tek, Hip-Hop, Reflection Eternal, Talib Kweli on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 by Tim Althaus
Oh, blessed is the day! Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek released a new track on the internet called “Internet Connection” and it features legend Bootsy Collins. To be honest this track didn’t hit me like previous Reflection tracks, but to be honest it’s still damn good. Kweli & Tek haven’t skipped a beat and I’m hopin this track is just one in a line of many that we get to hear in the following months. Hi-Tek’s production skill on this track is on point (as it always is), and Kweli’s lyrics tear through the track like paper. Kweli said he is hoping that the new Reflection will be out by the end of the year; God I hope so. You can be sure that I will be keeping you up to date every step of the way with the new Reflection Eternal album.
Spotted at OKP
Download: “Internet Connection”
Talib Rocks the Bells with Mos Def and Blacksmith TV
Posted in Video with tags Black Star, Hip-Hop, Mos Def, Rock the Bells, Talib Kweli on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 by Tim AlthausVodpod videos no longer available.
The first part of this video that I posted was the events leading up to when Talib Kweli performed at Rock the Bells last year. This video shows all of the chaos that ensued after Talib actually made it to the Rock the Bells festival. It’s funny because in the beginning they are telling him that he only has 5 minutes to perform, but Kwe being the guy that he is goes on and does a 23 minute set. He also does some Black Star material with Mos Def at the end of Mos Def’s set. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to see Talib live, let alone Black Star in the same concert. Mos and Kweli give each other so much energy to feed off of, and their live show looks nothing short of spectacular.
Suite For Ma Dukes (Finale & Encore)
Posted in Video with tags J Dilla, Suite For Ma Dukes on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 by Tim AlthausI seriously can’t tell you how much I wish I could have been in L.A. for this. It was pretty much the one thing that I wanted to see this year. As you will notice, De La Soul came out to perform some tracks as well as Talib Kweli. I haven’t had the chance to listen to this EP yet, but I can’t wait until I actually do.
Chali 2na teaches Freestyle 101 to G4
Posted in Video with tags Chali 2na, Freestyle, G4 TV, Hip-Hop, Jurassic 5 on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 by Tim AlthausVodpod videos no longer available.
This man is one of the best in my opinion. The “syllable killa/verbal gorilla” Chali 2na has a voice that is unparalleled by anyone else. When you hear that deep voice start on the track you know the beat is going to get decimated. In this video for G4 TV, Chali 2na spits a pretty ridculous freestyle (it starts off slow, but once he gets into it he lights it up) and talks about his introduction to the art of freestyle, both in the neighborhood and professionally. Chali is one of those guys that you have to listen to because everything he does is just that ill. Make sure you go out and get the Jurassic 5 EP re-issue right away.
Spotted at OKP
A Half-Life Movie? Part 1?
Posted in Culture, Video with tags Gordon Freeman, Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Valve on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 by Tim AlthausI initially thought that this was a trailer for a new game, and was totally stoked when I saw that the graphics looked life like. I then realized that this was part of a movie series for Half-Life: Escape From City-17. Half-Life 2 is one of my favorite video games of all time. Watching this movie took me back to playing as good ole’ Gordon Freeman trying to save the world from zombies. If any of you have played any of the Half-Life games you know exactly what I am talking about. My guess is that these videos are just going to come in parts online, but hey that is definitely good enough for me. Keep the Gordon Freeman, ass kicking & blood bursting saga coming.Valve looks like they’ve truly put together something that’s going to be nice to watch.
Editor’s Note: Keep in mind that this was all done on a five hundred dollar budget.
Album Review: Knonam, Loud.com EP + Download
Posted in Downloads, Music Reviews with tags Brother Ali, Eyedea, Knonam, Loud.com EP, MPLS Hip-Hop, Rhymesayers, Royce Da 5'9" on Monday, February 23, 2009 by Tim Althaus
I don’t think I talk enough about how happy Minneapolis Hip-Hop makes me. For the last 15 years there has been Hip-Hop pouring out of the great city of Minneapolis from the Rhymesayers team. Ever since I was in 10th grade I’ve had the great pleasure of finding out about it all, or so I thought. A lot of people don’t know that there are still a lot of other great emcees in the Twin Cities, and Knonam (pronounced No Name) is a great testament to my previous statement. I found this gem on the internet a little while ago, to be honest I can’t remember where I found it, but I wish I did so I could give them the props they deserve.
This EP is only technically seven tracks long (Brother Ali does the intro), and it features some of the biggest names in the midwest on guest appearances (Brother ali, Eyedea & Royce Da 5’9″). This EP also has stellar production from behind the boards courtesy of Knonam and Jake One. Knonam is one of those guys that fires off rhymes like a machine gun, all while making it seem so effortless. Every track on this EP is quality, I don’t think there is one track I would skip if I was listening to this album. Knonam’s production is very heavily influenced by 80’s music and it’s very easy to tell on tracks like “1988” & “Ransom” . The track “Hold It” featuring Brother Ali is pretty close to as perfect as you are going to get. In the first verse Knonam spits: ” The day I retreat to ya’ I’ll spit without clips/watch me swallow a Rubik’s Cube and shit it out fixed”, and Brother Ali spits: “We come to your town umpteen deep, and wipe your legacy out in one clean sweep!”. That’s the common theme of this album, dope ass rhymes with punchlines on every track.
Knonam actually dropped a debut album last year called Length of the Blade which you can purchase here. I am going to make sure I get myself a copy of that album, and everything else this guy does. It’s always really refreshing to me to be able to find out about such great talent so close to home. This is probably the most refreshing EP I’ve heard besides The LAyover EP in years, Knonam really brings the heat. I’m telling you, don’t sleep on this, you will truly regret it.
10/10
Guess what? You can download this EP for free! HERE!
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