To sit here and tell everyone that reads this blog that God Loves Ugly is an album that didn’t influence me, is a total lie. I’m almost certain I was in 10th grade the first time that I heard the song “Godlovesugly”, all I was thinking was “Who in the fuck is this?”. When I heard that the emcee brilliantly blessing the microphone was from Minneapolis, I simply couldn’t believe it. This album introduced me to the whole world of the Rhymesayers Crew, and if it were for that reason alone I would still never forget this album. What God Loves Ugly showed me, more than anything, is that great talent is much closer to home than you may think. Yeah Slug may rap about women a little too much, and yeah his ego might come off a little bigger than it should be… but dude has mad skills on the mic. Continue reading
Archive for minneapolis
Wild Style Wednesday Review: Atmosphere, God Loves Ugly
Posted in Music Reviews, Wildstyle Wednesdays with tags Ant, Atmosphere, God Loves Ugly, minneapolis, Rhymesayers Entertainment, Slug on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 by Tim AlthausRed Bull Big Tune in Minneapolis
Posted in Music News with tags Audio Perm, First Avenue, minneapolis, Red Bull, Red Bull Big Tune, Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle on Sunday, August 16, 2009 by Tim Althaus
That’s right, Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle is going to be coming to First Avenue on August 26th. You can expect to see Freeway performing as well. The show is 18+ and the doors open at 8PM. If you want more information you can go to Red Bull Big Tune for more details. It’s too bad this is my first day back to class, I’d love to go. I sure hope the Audio Perm crew is going to be at this one…
Spotted @ Crate Kings
Eyedea & Abilities – Burn Fetish (Live)
Posted in News with tags By The Throat, E&A, Eyedea & Abilities, minneapolis, Rhymesayers Entertainment on Saturday, July 18, 2009 by Nolan LevensonE&A perform the track “Burn Fetish” from their new album on Rhymesayers entitled By the Throat which drops on Tuesday (7/21). I just got my copy in the mail and I’m not particularly thrilled with it, but this is still a cool video. The performance was filmed at Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis.
Toki Wright Performs “A Different Mirror” Live on The Current
Posted in Media, Video with tags 89.3 the current, A Different Mirror, minneapolis, Rhymesayers Entertainment, toki wright on Monday, July 13, 2009 by Tim AlthausSpeaking of Toki Wright, here is a great video of him performing the title track off of his latest effort A Different Mirror on 89.3 The Current. As you can see in the video, this dude can flow mad tight and has a great deal of talent. Please do yourself a favor and go pick up his album, he’s reppin’ hard for the Mighty Minneapolis. Thanks to the homie Shake on this one.
Album Review: Toki Wright, A Different Mirror
Posted in Music Reviews with tags A Different Mirror, Benzilla, Brother Ali, minneapolis, Rhymesayers Entertainment, Scarub, Soundset, toki wright on Monday, July 13, 2009 by Tim Althaus
I say this all the time but, I feel so great being from Minnesota because Minneapolis is a mad music machine that keeps churning out great homeland talent. Toki Wright is a perfectly prime example of what I previously stated. I’ve seen Toki at just about every Hip-Hop event I’ve ever been to in Minneapolis, so for that reason alone he will always be a pivotal stamp in Twin Cities Hip-Hop. I got the chance to see Toki at this year’s Soundset, and I was very impressed when I saw him perform his solo material. His new album, A Different Mirror, is a great example of a hungry emcee deliberately devouring the microphone on every track. The beats on this album accent Toki’s violent and vicious flow perfectly, and Toki’s witty wordplay is highly infectious. Continue reading
Northern Outpost Double Feature: Speed’s The Name & Empires
Posted in Video with tags empires, experimental, instrumental, Metal, minneapolis, minnesota, northern outpost, owl recording studios, Rock, speed's the name on Monday, July 6, 2009 by Ryan Buege
After missing the last episode of Northern Outpost due to my summer vacation, I owe it to the NO crew and Speed’s The Name to expand my post this week to mention episode #12 alongside the headbang-inducing show that aired this week featuring the dudes in Empires (episode #13). Before diving into their own sets of mind-boggling, attention-grabbing experimental music, both Speed’s The Name and my friends in Empires discuss subjects ranging from the way they write their songs to the struggles of making a name for yourself in an oft-ignored Twin Cities music scene that seems to be filled to capacity with exceptional music artists in their respective interviews. Since there’s so much video to enjoy, I’ll keep it short this week; enjoy the double-header of local experimental rock and metal goodness!
Concert Recap: The Crinn, Zebulon Pike, The Body Beneath, Ambassador Gun @ Triple Rock Social Club
Posted in Concert Reviews with tags ambassador gun, death metal, grindcore, hardcore, Metal, minneapolis, minnesota, progressive, punk, technical, the body beneath, the crinn, triple rock social club, zebulon pike on Friday, July 3, 2009 by Ryan Buege
(The Crinn)
(Zebulon Pike)
(The Body Beneath)
(Ambassador Gun)
Our exclusive photo coverage of the The Crinn’s must see return show and their equally awesome local support continues after the jump. Enjoy! Continue reading
Concert Photo Recap: Cocaine @ the 400 Bar
Posted in Concert Reviews with tags blues, classic rock, cocaine, concert, guitar, hard rock, live, local, minneapolis, minnesota, photographs, pictures on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 by Ryan Buege
On Saturday, Minneapolis’s hardest rocking, hardest partying, and (perhaps) hardest working band Cocaine continued their streak of high energy local live performances (while they spend their off-time working on the band’s new album) with a tight show that quickly won over a crowd who never ceased to cheer them on throughout the night. Photos from the band’s set continue after the jump… Continue reading
Concert Recap: Shellac, Bear Claw @ Varsity Theater
Posted in Concert Reviews with tags bear claw, live, minneapolis, minnesota, noise rock, prog-rock, shellac, varsity theater on Monday, June 29, 2009 by Ryan Buege
Shellac, the famed noise rock outlet comprised by Steve Albini, Bob Weston, and Todd Trainer, made it to the Varsity Theater for a rare concert appearance at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis last week on the day of Michael Jackson’s passing. Despite some ill-advised humor mocking the death of MJ that got under the skin of more than a few concertgoers, the music at the center of the band’s free-flowing set of prog and noise rock was well-received by nearly everyone in attendance. Intricate, snarky, abrasive, and thick, the band has a sound that keeps you on your toes at attention, waiting to see where the rollercoast will veer to next.
For my part, I was there to see the legendary Albini (producer of most of my favorite albums from bands ranging from Neurosis, High On Fire, Mogwai, Nirvana, and many, many more) execute his music genius right in front of me. I was situated right in front of his amp on stage right, and I don’t think I could have picked a better spot. With the warm tones and complicated melodies from Steve’s guitar dominating my hearing, I watched from the perfect angle as Trainer banged away at his drums like Animal. The show left me completely impressed (I was skeptical about seeing how these studio-based legends would translate in the live seting), and I’m sure everyone would have been on board for their sarcastic humor on most other days of the year.
Bear Claw opened the show. Videos and photos from my steady shot Sony DSCW80 follow below!
VIDEO: Shellac, Live at the Varsity Theater, 6/25/09
(Shellac)
More photos of Shellac and friends are available for you after the jump. Solider on… Continue reading
MIND INVERSION 