Skrillex, in possibly a precedented result, gave ‘dubstep’ its big day by racking 3 grammys, including Best Dance Recording for ‘Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites’, Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical for ‘Benny Benassi’s ‘Cinema(Skrillex Remix)” and shockingly he overcame favourites like Deadmau5, David Guetta and Robyn to win the highly prestigious Best Dance/Electronica Album.

Many people think it quite controversial that Skrillex is filed under the dubstep genre. Starting as a singer-songwriter for post-hardcore band ‘From First To Last’, Skrillex, a.k.a Sonny Moore has been in and out and between electronic and hardcore/metal scenes, in the US and the UK. Skrillexs work can be described in a good or bad way as a mess of effects that can affect you in all sorts of ways depending on how your subconcious is inclined to react. Technically it can be considered dubstep due to the two-step beat and typical focus on bass, but the amount of tweaks and squeals added on top, it looks less like dubstep and more like an 8-bit ice cream sundae. Not that his work is bad, as it is all opinion, but for what dubstep started as even before 2000, it can pain people when such distances are reached and the mass media have no idea. Anyway, congrats Mr. Moore.

On March 10, coming up, Habitat for Humanity in the Greater Los Angeles area (HFH GLA),  Murs and Guerilla Union are teaming up with the Second Annual Paid Dues Habitat for Humanity project. The group follow a pure bred cause, offering low-income families a “hand up, not a hand out” with being able to physically take part in the opportunity to build AND own their own homes. Righteous. Volunteers for the project will be able to spend a personal day with the musicians in the build as well as being able to help people in need, and if that weren’t enough, a whole crate load of goodies are thrown in for those kind souls with the time. With the registration fee is included a VIP ticket to the up coming festival as well as a great T-shirt and poster and more. See a recap from last year’s build in Lynwood, CA here: http://youtu.be/xltcnGCiaLw

The build happens a few weeks before the festival, but if your personal betterment and sincere goodness does not drive you to sign up, the stellar line for the festival surely will. Including performances from Wu-Tang Clan, Odd Future, Living Legends, Dipset, Hieroglyphics, Kendrick Lamar and more, how can you possibly resist. For full details and to register for the build, visit: http://www.regonline.com/paiddueshabitat2012

Boston-based underground rapper Akrobatik teamed up with Stanley Cup winner Brad Marchand and Boston Sports Apparel to create “the first hockey-related hip-hop songs ever recorded.” Marchand, who refers to himself and his Boston Bruins teammates as the “Bru-Tang Clan”, is releasing his own line of gear with Boston Sports Apparel, a brand with several ties to Bostonian underground hip-hop. To help promote the line, Akrobatik will release the free EP Enter the 63 Chambers, a title that serves as homage to both Marchand’s Bruins number and Wu-Tang’s debut album. Each song on the EP is recorded over classic Wu-Tang instrumentals. Enter the 63 Chambers will be released in late February.

You can preview the EP by downloading the free track “Bru-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin’ To Puck Wit” here.

Check out the new clothing line here. 

In 2008, the state of California voted to outlaw the right for homosexuals to be joined in legal wed lock under the ominous title, Proposition 8. In the early week of February this year, a three-judge panel in San Francisco overturned the ban. As an out right violation of U.S. Constitutional Rights, two of the three judges came to the conclusion to reconsider. However, in a last stand appeal from the Proposition’s supporters, even though the ban has been technically lifted, gay marriage is still not ‘legal’. The war is still to be won, but a “legal landmark” has been reached in the eyes of the gay community in California.

Marriage in the United States does not come under federal concern, but is confronted state by state individually. Robert Tyler, general counsel for the ironically named Advocates for Faith & Freedom Group, was heard to say that marriage between one man and one woman has been the historical norm in the law of California and other U.S. states. He says activist judges are throwing out the vote of the people. If the ‘norms’ of society were stuck to from the time that the idea of ‘norms’ became accepted, slavery would still be about for one unfortunate example.

Numerous states, such as New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut all allow and conduct same sex marriage, but in 1996, U.S. Congress backed the group DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, stressing the point that states do not need to be influe nced by the decisions made by other states, in this case concerning gay marriage specifically. These are men and women afraid of the times and its change. They fear for their comfort, completely unfounded, for it is not their distress that will be focused on, but the happiness and union of two people in love. The outlaw should be for wholly unrelated people to be able to interfere in the highly sensitive and personal matters of people which really does not concern them or their well being.

Earl Sweatshirt, the prodigal son of L.A. rap collective Odd Future, made his return earlier today when his new song “Home” surfaced on Terttlefer.com, a website he linked after his twitter account (@earlxsweat) gained a requested 50 thousand followers.

Earl’s fame is ironically due in large part to his absence during the meteoric rise of Odd Future early last year. A music video on Youtube for his song EARL persuaded critics and fans alike to hail him as OF’s best rapper. Hits for the video increased along with the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

You can watch the teaser for “Home” that Earl tweeted below. Listen to the song in full here.

words by Christian Koons

Today Tech N9ne announced the “Hostile Takeover 2012″ tour. The aggressive schedule, which starts March 24th in Kansas City, Missouri, boasts 90 shows in just 99 days. According to Tech N9ne, this is will be “the longest tour in rap history.” Machine Gun Kelly, Krizz Kaliko, Mayday, Prozak, and Stevie Stone will be joining Tech N9ne on the road.

Dates for “Hostile Takeover 2012″ are listed below.

03-24-12 Kansas City MO, The Midland Theatre

03-25-12 Wichita KS – Cotillion Ballroom

03-26-12 Tulsa OK – Cains Ballroom

03-28-12 Oklahoma City OK – Diamond Ballroom

03-29-12 Dallas TX – Palladium Ballroom 

03-30-12 Little Rock AR – Juanita’s Cafe and Bar

03-31-12 Baton Rouge LA – The Varsity Theatre (18+)

04-01-12 Houston TX – House of Blues

04-03-12 Corpus Christi TX – Brewster Street Icehouse

04-04-12 TBD

04-05-12 Austin TX – Emo’s East

04-06-12 Lubbock TX – Wreckers

04-07-12 El Paso TX – Tricky Falls

04-08-12  TBD

04-10-12 Albuquerque NM – Sunshine Theater

04-11-12 Farmington NM – The Top Deck

04-12-12 Coconino AZ – Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill Park

04-13-12 Tucson AZ – The Rialto Theatre

04-14-12 Phoenix AZ – Celebrity Theatre

04-15-12 San Diego CA – House of Blues – San Diego

04-16-12 Santa Ana CA – The Observatory Orance County

04-17-12 Las Vegas NV – House of Blues

04-18-12 West Hollywood CA – House of Blues – Sunset Strip (18+)

04-19-12 Ventura CA – The Majestic Ventura Theater

04-20-12 TBD

04-21-12 Pozo CA – Pozo Saloon

04-22-12 Santa Cruz CA – The Catalyst (16+)

04-24-12 Petaluma CA – The Phoenix Theater

04-25-12 Sacramento CA – Ace of Spades

04-26-12 Modesto CA – Fat Cat Music House & Lounge (21+)

04-27-12 Chico CA – The Senator Theater

04-28-12 Arcata CA – Arcata Community Center

04-29-12 TBD

05-02-12 Eugene OR – McDonald Theatre

05-03-12 Portland OR – Roseland Theater

05-04-12 TBD

05-05-12 Seattle WA – The Showbox SoDo

05-06-12 Yakima WA – The Capitol Theatre

05-08-12 Spokane WA – Knitting Factory – Spokane

05-09-12 TBD

05-10-12 Boise ID – Knitting Factory Concert House – Boise

05-11-12 TBD

05-12-12 Magna UT – Saltair

05-13-12 Grand Junction CO – Mesa Theater & Club

05-15-12 Colorado Springs CO – The Black Sheep

05-16-12 Colorado Springs CO – The Black Sheep

05-17-12 Fort Collins CO – Aggie Theatre

05-18-12 Denver CO – The Fillmore Auditorium (16+)

05-19-12 Casper WY – The Venue

05-20-12 TBD

05-21-12 Billings MT – Al Bedoo Shrine Auditorium

05-22-12 Rapid City SD – Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

05-23-12 Minot ND – State Fair – All Season’s Arena

05-24-12 Fargo ND – Fargo Civic Center

05-25-12 Sioux Falls SD – Ramkota Exhibit Hall

05-26-12 Minneapolis MN – Cabooze Music Club

05-27-12 Omaha NE – The Omaha Civic Auditorium – Mancuso Hall

05-29-12 Clive IA – 7 Flags Event Center

05-30-12 Davenport IA – The RiverCenter

05-31-12 Madison WI – The Orpheum

06-01-12 Milwaukee WI – The Rave/Eagles Club

06-02-12 Chicago IL – House of Blues

06-03-12 Indianapolis IN – The Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre

06-04-12 Bloomington IL – The Castle Theatre

06-05-12 Fort Wayne IN – IPFW Rhinehart Auer Hall

06-06-12 Columbus OH – Newport Music Hall

06-07-12 Detroit MI – The Fillmore Detroit

06-08-12 Toledo OH – Headliners

06-09-12 Cleveland OH – The Agora

06-10-12 Belle Vernon PA – The Rostraver Ice Garden

06-11-12 Reading PA – The Silo Nightclub

06-12-12 Buffalo NY – Town Ballroom

06-13-12 Poughkeepsie NY – The Chance Theater

06-14-12 Philadelphia PA – Theatre of Living Arts

06-15-12 Worcester MA – The Worcester Palladium

06-16-12 Sayreville NJ – Starland Ballroom

06-17-12 New York NY – Highline Ballroom

06-19-12 Baltimore MD – Baltimore Soundstage

06-20-12 Norfolk VA – The NorVa

06-21-12 Charlotte NC – Tremont Music Hall

06-22-12 TBD

06-23-12 Atlanta GA – The Masquerade

06-24-12 TBD

06-26-12 Pompano Beach FL – Club Cinema (18+)

06-27-12 Tampa FL – Green Iguana Bar & Grill

06-28-12 Jacksonville FL – Plush

06-29-12 Birmingham AL – Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex

06-30-12 TBD

07-01-12 TBD

07-03-12 Nashville TN – Marathon Music Works (18+)

07-04-12 Covington KY – Madison Theater

07-05-12 Sauget IL – Pops

07-06-12 TBD

07-07-12 TBD

]]> http://beyondrace.com/tech-n9ne-announces-hostile-takeover-2012-tour/feed 0 http://beyondrace.com/enter-to-win-a-free-t-shirt-from-new-york-state-of-mind-signed-poster-from-das-racist?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=enter-to-win-a-free-t-shirt-from-new-york-state-of-mind-signed-poster-from-das-racist http://beyondrace.com/enter-to-win-a-free-t-shirt-from-new-york-state-of-mind-signed-poster-from-das-racist#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:13:56 +0000 Kyle http://beyondrace.com/?p=7649 Our latest cover story is on the mighty Das Racist, and rightfully so, we are giving away some free stuff to celebrate. For a chance to win, just tweet a link to the article and tag @beyondracemedia and @NYSMCLOTHING (something like “check out Das Racist from @beyondracemedia—http://goo.gl/Sbivm  #freetshirt from @nysmclothing). It’s that simple. Anyone who participates will [...]]]>

Our latest cover story is on the mighty Das Racist, and rightfully so, we are giving away some free stuff to celebrate. For a chance to win, just tweet a link to the article and tag @beyondracemedia and @NYSMCLOTHING (something like “check out Das Racist from @beyondracemedia—http://goo.gl/Sbivm  #freetshirt from @nysmclothing). It’s that simple.

Anyone who participates will be entered for the chance to win a blown-up, autographed poster of the Das Racist cover… but the first five people to tweet the story will automatically win a free t-shirt from New York State of Mind Clothing —samples of which can be seen below. Good Luck!

Benefit compilations have a history of provoking mixed reactions. On the one hand, you have success stories like the Red Hot Organization’s Dark Was The Night, a cohesive bundle of previously unreleased folk-rock gems produced by Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National. On the other hand there’s Songs For Japan, a collaborative project in which industry bigwigs simply repackaged previously released tracks from stylistically disparate pop icons.

We Are The Works In Progress, a project created by Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead, creates a tonal atmosphere apropos of the album’s purpose: to support the efforts of healing post-tsunami Japan. The previously unreleased collection of songs varies from the reflective, understated, and ambient, to the more urgent, tense, and upbeat.

The album’s opener is the beautifully subtle “Moma” from Four Tet, a pulsing electro-tune that sprinkles keys like raindrops and thrums with softly distorted synths. “Penny Sparkle” from Blonde Redhead is a somber, driving trek of soft chords, through which Makino “oooh”s and “aaah”s her way. In the album’s middle, Pantha Du Prince thumps through eight minutes of the atmospheric “Bird on a Wire”, a beat-heavy track that prominently features a reverberated autoharp. John Maus’ “Castles in the Grave”, the compilation’s most upbeat—and perhaps best—song, is comprised of delayed keyboard, whispered, echoing vocals, and short, screaming bursts of synthesizer. “Song Seven” by Interpol seems stylistically at odds with the rest of the album, but its position at the end of the compilation and its driving, haunting nature as an Interpol song justify its inclusion.

The album’s less accessible moments sound more or less like “study music,” and seem to have taken cues from the project’s title. Karin Dreijer Andersson’s (Fever Ray, The Knife) song “No Face” is a wordless repetitive meditation on monkish chanting that feels unfinished. Deerhunter’s “Curve” is an instrumental ambient drone that breaks into a soft rhythm in the fifth and final minute, a track that sounds borrowed from the band’s earlier, more experimental catalogue. The compilation’s longest and most unusual track, “G Song” by Terry Riley, goes back and forth between raspy vocals with organ accompaniment to theatrical, arpeggiating swirls of harp, horns, and chimes that bring to mind soundtracks from the Zelda video-game franchise.

We Are The Works In Progress is a well-constructed compilation. It doesn’t contain many stand-alone hits that are worth the purchase alone, but its mood and atmosphere are an appropriate reflection on the tragedy it aims to help heal. It may not be as financially successful as Songs For Japan, or as critically acclaimed as Dark Was The Night, but it’s a cohesive piece of sonic art that effectively serves its purpose as a reflective medium and healing agent.

words by Christian Koons

Four Tet – Moma by Four Tet

Vernon Reid's Artifical Afrika

Grammy Award-winning Vernon Reid (Living Colour) is premiering Artificial Afrika – A Tale of Lost Cities this weekend in NYC. The multi-discipline piece explores the Dark Continent merging world music, hip-hop, film and visual art. Artificial Afrika examines the idea of Africa, not only a continent with a multiplicity of cultures, languages and peoples, but also of Afrika – a country of the mind. A notional landscape, encompassing everything from Aunt Jemima to Tarzan, filled with our fear and desire and hope and despair. It’s Mother Afrika and it’s the Heart of Darkness. It’s the Darktown Strutter’s Ball, and it’s a cakewalk with automatic weapons. Artificial Afrika will begin in the Dixon Place Gallery Lounge with an exhibition that considers contemporary artistic appropriations of African visual culture through mythology, religious traditions, fetish objects d’art, and other culturally-specific practices.

“Artifical Afrika focuses on the urban environment – its effects, its mysteries, its dangers, and its possibilities. It draws comparisons from rural life in villages and the irreversible cultural effects that forced migration (caused by slavery, socio-economic and natural disasters) has had and continues to have upon native African people.” says Reid on this work.

BRM has a pair of tickets for the Friday, February 10 and Staurday, February 11^th shows. We’ll be giving them to the first person who tweets this story at @beyondracemedia and @vurnt22. This is guaranteed to be an amazingly inspirational thought-provoking show. Don’t sleep.