Note: Site may look funky for a while. I'm working on some upgrades (new look, better layout, etc...) Read More!

I've dropped some information on this over the past few weeks but today is the day the official first single drops. For those who are unfamiliar with what I'm talking about a while back rapper Skool Boy (previously of the 90's Kids) and myself decided we'd collaborate on an EP. On the EP Skool Boy is handling all the rapping & rhyming and I did all the beats. The EP is set to drop October 31, 2009 (free download) and will be titled Back To Skool. Click THE LEAK to grab the first official track available from this project. Track is 320kbps high quality mp3.

THE LEAK Read More!

Shaped like the familiar Israeli Uzi gun, the flash drive isn’t your typical storage device. Instead, it’s a medium for Los Angeles-based rap group Get Busy Committee to release its upcoming album “Uzi Does It” on October 27.

http://getbusycommittee.com/ Read More!

Shooter Jennings - Outlaw You (SINGLE REVIEW)
Wes Blak - Stolen Crowns And False Idols
Thurzday - LA Riot
The Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles
The Dynasty - The Dynasty
All Time Low - Dirty Work
Hollywood Holt - The Show (SINGLE REVIEW)
Senses Fail - The Fire
Good Charlotte - Cardiology
Rival Summers - Blankets & Sheets
You, Me, And Everyone We Know - Some Things Just Don't Wash Out
Ben Jorgenson - There Is Nowhere Left To Go
Abel - Lesser Men
Fences - Fences
DOOMbird - DOOMbird
I Am Alpha And Omega - The Roar And The Whisper
The Pack - Wolfpack Party
Hey Monday - Beneath It All
The Secret Handshake - Night And Day
Alexander Spit - Until Next Summer
Mike Posner - 31 Minutes To Takeoff
Black Label Society - Order Of The Black
Charles Hamilton - Segahamilton.blogspot.com
Secondhand Serenade - Hear Me Now
Rufio - Anybody Out There
Bradley Hathaway - A Thousand Angry Panthers
Wavves - King Of The Beach
The Maine - Black And White
Best Coast - Crazy For You
A Plea For Purging - The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell
The Cool Kids - Tacklebox
Leslie Mosier - Single Moment
Adrian Grey - The Hippity Hoppity Doo Dance
Young L & Lil B - Present SS Mixtape Volume 2
Fashawn - Boy Meets World

Reviews can also be found in Sound In The Signals Magazine. Read it for free digitally here:

Sound In The Signals Magazine Read More!

(CLICK THE NAME TO BE REDIRECTED TO THE INTERVIEW)

***Note any interview listed that has not been updated with a hyperlink can be found in Sound In The Signals Magazine.

DNEZ (December 2011)
Bleached (October 2011)
Jack Mushroom (October 2011)
Boy Set Sail (Track By Track) (October 2011)
I Am The Avalanche (October 2011)
Don't Mess With Winkie (Track By Track (October 2011)
Into/It Clothing - Thomas Nassiff (October 2011)
A Loss For Words (September 2011)
FistFam - Panama (Track By Track) (September 2011)
Man Overboard (September 2011)
Sleepyhead (September 2011)
The City Calls - A Spark To Ignite (Track By Track) (August 2011)
Wes Blak - Interview 2 (August 2011)
Marcuss Hall - Hymns Of Failure Album Track By Track (August 2011)
Last Call (August 2011)
Shooter Jennings & Adam Sheets (July 2011)
Why They Came (May 2011)
Thurzday (May 2011)
Sing Sing 76 (May 2011)
Nobody Really Knows (NRK) (May 2011)
Rockwell Powers & ILL Pill (May 2011)
Christie DuPree EP Track By Track (May 2011)
A Sequence Of Ghosts (May 2011)
GDP (May 2011)
Honky Tonk Hustlas (May 2011)
Jocephus & The George Jonestown Massacre (May 2011)
Little Lisa Dixie (May 2011)
Marcuss Hall - Interview 2 (May 2011)
Weatherbox (April 2011)
Leslie Mosier - Interview 2 (April 2011)
Penguins Kill Polar Bears (April 2011)
Love Automatic (April 2011)
All Around The Dinner Table (April 2011)
Big Soda (April 2011)
Big Eyes (April 2011)
Candy Hearts (April 2011)
DJ Teenwolf (April 2011)
Elevate: I Am (April 2011)
Forever Came Calling (April 2011)
Last False Hope (April 2011)
PJ Bond (April 2011)
Twon Don (April 2011)
Wailin' Storms (April 2011)
Warm Brew (April 2011)
Water And Bodies (April 2011)
Muddy Roots Music Festival (March 2011)
Trackademicks (February 2011)
Rachel Brooke (January 2011)
Shooter Jennings (January 2011)
Bob Wayne (January 2011)
Le Grand Cru (Clothing Line) (January 2011)
Space Ghost (December 2010)
Messick (December 2010)
Easter Eggs (December 2010)
Destry (December 2010)
The 87 Stick Up Kids (December 2010)
FistFam (December 2010)
Main Attrakionz (December 2010)
Melo-X (December 2010)
Monster Mike (December 2010)
Chuuwee (December 2010)
Drea Smith (Formerly Of He Say/She Say) (December 2010)
Pianos Become The Teeth (December 2010)
Mad Rad (December 2010)
Reign Major (December 2010)
State Of The Artist (SOTA) (December 2010)
We're All Just Passing Through (December 2010)
DOOMbird (November 2010)
Brett Detar (November 2010)
Bird By Bird (November 2010)
Brian Bonz (November 2010)
Drift Division (November 2010)
Hayes Peebles (November 2010)
John Kallen (Loft Session Records) (November 2010)
Saddles (November 2010)
Team Goldie (November 2010)
Two Sheds (November 2010)
Yes Alexander (November 2010)
Jamie Ketchum - Cadence PR (Formerly KTC Publicity) (November 2010)
Bankie Travolta (October 2010)
Christie Dupree (Five Favorite Shows Of All Time) (October 2010)
Don't Mess With Winkie (October 2010)
Matt Finney (October 2010)
The Republic Of Wolves - Interview 2 (October 2010)
Tarek (September 2010)
Micah Aza (September 2010)
Al Lover (September 2010)
Sam RUBIK (September 2010)
Alter The Press (September 2010)
The Royal Heist (June 2010)
Steven Smith (Steven's Untitled Rock Show/FUSE) (June 2010)
The Republic Of Wolves (April 2010)
Ultimate Fakebook/Bill McShane (April 2010)
Drew Beringer (Absolutepunk.net Staff Member) (March 2010)
Frankie Rose (March 2010)
Leslie Mosier (February 2010)
Best Coast (February 2010)
Jeff Kummer (November 2009)
Alexander Spit (October 2009)
The 87 Stick Up Kids (October 2009)
P Smoov (Mad Rad/Fresh Espresso) (October 2009)
Slik D (October 2009)
The Riverwinds (October 2009)
Young L (The Pack) (September 2009)
Charlyne Yi (August 2009)
Jake Ryan (Queens Club/The Chariot) (July 2009)
Boris Mischief (Clothing Designer) (July 2009)
Christie Dupree (July 2009)
Marcuss Hall (July 2009)


Read Issues Of The Magazine (FREE DIGITAL VERSION) (CLICK ISSUE NUMBER TO BE REDIRECTED TO THE ISSUE)

Issue 13 Featuring Last False Hope & Pyyramids On The Cover
Issue 12 Featuring I Am The Avalanche On The Cover
Issue 11 Featuring Wes Blak On The Cover
Issue 10 Featuring Mixtapes On The Cover
Issue 9 Featuring Thurzday On The Cover
Issue 8 Featuring Little Lisa Dixie & Marcuss Hall On The Cover(s)
Issue 7 Featuring Warm Brew On The Cover
Issue 6 Featuring Shooter Jennings & Rachel Brooke On The Cover(s)
Issue 5 Featuring FistFam & DOOMbird On The Cover(s)
Issue 4 Feautring Brett Detar On The Cover
Issue 3 Featuring Drift Division, Bird By Bird, Hayes Peebles On Cover(s)
Issue 2 Featuring The Republic Of Wolves On The Cover
Issue 1 Featuring DNEZ On The Cover



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Swollen Members have debuted the new track "Kyla" online at www.MySpace.com/SwollenMembers. The track appears on the group’s sixth studio album, "Armed To The Teeth", which lands in stores October 27th, 2009 through Suburban Noize records and Battle Axe Records.
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I recently did an interview with P Smoov. Smoov is a Seattle Producer/Rapper who is in the groups Mad Rad and Fresh Espresso. Both groups are part of the buzz that is building in Seattle right now. Click Read More to check out the interview.

You are part of the Seattle hip hop scene that people are really starting to take notice of. What do you think is sparking so much interest about artists in you area as of lately? What do you think is unique about Seattle hip hop?

I think that the hip hop being produced in Seattle right now has a sound unlike anywhere else on the planet.It doesn’t sound like hip hop that has been created before. Some of these bands are pushing the boundries of what hip hop can be in a time when everyone else is cloning sounds that we have all heard before. I think this defiance of mainstream is what stirs up such extreme reactions from our listeners (weather good or bad).

You are in Mad Rad & Fresh Espresso (I’ll cover Mad Rad first). You guys released your first album last year White Gold and it has really lit up the scene in Seattle. Can you tell me a little about how all you guys got together and what the group is setting out to accomplish?

I met Terry Radjaw at one of his shows roughly 3 years ago. He was performing a solo act at that time and Buffalo Madonna was his backup dancer. Buffalo was rockin’ booty shorts and hightop rebooks at a backpacker show. Radjaw was rappin about throat babies and pussy when everyone else was preaching about some bullshit they didn’t really believe in. I hated “conscience rap”. I write energetic, fun, danceable music. So, I invited them over to my studio (the Robot Room) and as we began putting together tunes. We quickly realized that when we collaborated creatively, amazing things happened. We were composing songs for our album White Gold, and didn’t even know it yet. All we knew was that these songs sounded like nothing any of us had heard before. We weren’t setting out to accomplish anything in particular, but as the project grew so did our faith in our music and we started planning our first shows and debut album release.


Now I read somewhere that your company Out For Stardom plans to release a new album every 9 months. With Fresh Espresso out does that mean the next project is the new Mad Rad album. If so can you tell me a little about the recording process and where your heads will be at for this next record?

The next record has roughly 7 songs so far. It is very different from White Gold. We have seen a lot of things in the time between recording White Gold, and this new album. Our new album reflects the changes we have all experienced in our lives. I would describe it as a much more mature and melodic record with slightly less of a hip hop influence. I am listening to a lot of dance music lately (especially French/uk/east coast electro). It’s a pretty sexy record so far, with lots of climactic moments and crescendos. Lots of beat changes and grimey breakdowns on the record. I want the listener to be as entertained by what is going on in the beats as with the lyrics, and vice versa.

Also, Darwin (our dj) doesn’t write for Mad Rad (in the studio), but the tunes he plays me all the time are a HUGE influence on my new production and on the record as a whole.


Mad Rad has had some troubles in Seattle. I’ve read some issues about live shows that are too wild and posters on buildings. Are you guys past all that now or are you still having trouble with area?
Drama is like the tide. The troubles will come and go. Everyone in our group have big personalities and our live show could defiantly be described as “WILD”. Some clubs embrace this with open arms, some clubs don’t. We are going to just keep doing what we do, sharing our art, and packing out clubs.


Your other project is doing really well, on CD baby as well as internet buzz, and it’s called Fresh Espresso. Can you tell me a little about how that group came together and what sets you apart from Mad Rad?

Strangely enough, I met Rik via MySpace.com. I heard his tunes and loved his voice and lyrical style. I sent him some beats via email and he returned me verses. I was living in L.A. and he was living in Seattle. I randomly ended up moving to Seattle a year later and he and I met sometime within the first week of me being here.


I think Fresh Espresso’s sound is very different from Mad Rad’s even though I compose the beats for both groups. I really enjoy collaborating with Rik Rude because he brings something entirely different to the equation than any other artist I work with. Harnessing Rik Rude’s insane lyricism and raw emotion into a composition as complex as he is, is exciting and challenging and inspiring. The same could be said about Buffalo Madonna and Terry Radjaw, but it takes a different style of production to make the two different products shine their hardest. I think that is what separates the two bands into two very different entities.


I’ve read some interesting things in interviews about why the album is titled Glamour, but can you let our readers know how you came up with the title and why?

One of the re-occurring themes on the record is grime vs. glamour. When we were composing this album Rik and I were both well below the poverty line. I was homeless and Rik was unemployed. We definitely fit the “Starving Artist” mold. It was fun making music about how our grimey, poverteous lives were somehow glamorous. With the addition of Rabid Child Images super clean photography it seemed to sum up the whole project under one word; “glamour”.


On top of producing and being in two groups you are also working on a solo project. Do you know when that will be out and what will that project be like?

The initial idea for the record is a collaborative project with a lot of mc’s I respect and enjoy. Weather or not it will be that way when it is released, or if it will ever come out in either of our lifetimes, is the question of the hour.

I know you went to school for engineering and paid your dues in the studio. Can you tell me how you got into producing and when you really felt like your beats were starting to stand out of the crowd?

I set up my first studio when I was 14 years old in my dad’s house. I charged local bands $10 a song to record them. I recorded a lot of songs at that price. I also started making beats during this time. They sucked, but making music made me feel so good, and so energized that I couldn’t stop. After a while they sucked a little less, and a little less, until one day they stopped sucking. I just did it in every free minute I had, everyday, until I stopped sucking. I think they stopped sucking about 3 or 4 years ago… so I am still pretty new at this. Haha.

Outside of producing and performing you also are a talented artists you go under the name Ten Hundred with your art. What inspires you as an artist and do you plan to release more shirts with the designs (like the Mad Rad one) or do more custom sneakers?

Art is how I relax. I have always done it to release energy I can’t get out through music or whatever. When I do t shirts and art shows and stuff it kinda takes the relaxation out of it… so I have been taking a little bit of a break from art. But the winter is coming, and I am ready to lock myself inside and geek out on some paintings.

Also give me the scoop on the Beard Off that happened between Terry Radjaw and Sir Thomas Grey was that one of the craziest events Seattle’s has had in a while?

Um… it was a basketball game and the looser had to shave their beard. Thomas won. Radjaw shaved. There’s some videos out there you can peep.

I gotta ask because when talking about Seattle hip hop Capitol Hill comes up everywhere. Can you tell me a little about that scene and why it is so important?
It’s party mountain. It has lots of nightlife and debauchery. Us Seattle kids love us a good party.

Lastly, being from a place that is starting to get some major buzz nation wide what are some of your favorite artists from the area that are either breaking out now or you think will break out?

They Live, Champagne Champagne, and VS… and us. Read More!

King of Paper Chasin' from East Coast Digital Radio on Vimeo.

Guru "Lost And Found" from East Coast Digital Radio on Vimeo.

I just did a new interview with The Riverwinds. Their new self-titled album is a really great release and these guys are taking the DIY route so make sure to pick up the album and support them. Click read more to check out the interview.

-First off thanks for the interview

No, thank you! Thank you very much.

-You guys just released your new self-titled album. I had the chance to check it out and I really like the style. It almost feels like a feel good record with kind of an alt-country-alt-rock feel. Can you tell me a little about the recording of the album (where was it done at, with you, and where were your heads while making the album)?

Well, we tracked the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar at Shorefire Studios in West Long Branch, NJ. Then we did all the overdubs at our producer, Jeff Plate's apartment. We had a small budget and we got more then our moneys worth. As far as our heads go, we were just concerned with making the best possible record we could with the material we had.

-Now I read at this point you guys are an unsigned band. About 5-8 years ago that would seem like a bad thing but more recently the indie/DIY approach is almost the way to go versus a 360 record deal. What made you guys decide to go this route and do you guys want to sign to a label? If so what kind and what kind of deal would you like to get?

Well, being an unsigned band does sometime have its perks but we didn't exactly decide to take this route we just started the band and kept rolling along. We never have been too concerned with getting signed but rather we've been more focused on making the best of what we have and working as hard as possible. If we were to sign a record deal it would be with a label who we think truly believes in us and the music.


-As a promotional item you have your first EP up for free download on your site as well as a bonus single. Why did you guys decide to give the EP out for free and what differs from the EP to the album as far as recording and sound?

We decided to put the EP up for free download because we want people to have an opportunity to listen to our music. Selling CD's is extremely difficult these days and we would rather have people listen to the CD then to not listen at all. As far as the difference between the EP and the LP goes, we took a totally different approach this time around for the LP and even brought a producer (Jeff Plate) on board. Rather than recording track by track, we did this album mostly live with some overdubs. We think the difference in sound from the two records is that the LP has a more mature feel to it.

-The artwork for the new album is really impressive and kind of captures the vibe of the album. Who did the artwork and did you have to choose a few or did it just work out first time around?

Our good friends Greg and Kyle helped us out with the artwork. We just got stoned one night and were brain storming ideas for the layout and Greg came up with the idea. We wanted something that portrayed the music on the album. We made a 4 x 4 frame and took a bunch of magazine clippings and before we knew it we had a really awesome layout.
-To anyone who hasn’t checked Riverwinds out yet what do you think sets your band and your music out and makes it unique from other artists/bands?

We're a young band in the year 2009 that still plays good old American Rock 'N Roll. What more could you want?
-With 2009 in the latter part of the year what plans do you have for the last quarter of the year (tours, music video, etc.)?
We plan on playing regionally mostly and maybe a small DIY east coast winter tour. We're also working on new material.

-You guys released the album independently. Can you give the readers all the info on where they can pick up the new album and how they can help the band out?

You can pick the new album up at a show, Itunes, Amazon, or through our website. As far as helping us out goes come see us live, burn our CD, and tell all your friends. Read More!

I just did a new interview with Slik D. Click read more to check it out. Also be sure to download the "Summer Vibes" EP for free.

I came across your EP Summer Vibes and I’ve kept it in heavy rotation. What all went into recording the EP and did you initially set out to make an EP with a summer vibe or did it just kind of work out that way?
Thanks man. That’s my goal. To answer both of those answers, the EP was first called “Sounds Like California”. But due to me getting grounded, I wasn’t able to finish it for a hella long time. So long that I ended passing the release date that I wanted for it. So I had tracks just chillin there with no cause now. I wanted to do an EP all summer but had an different approach on the tape. I was gonna call it “Summer Radio”. But then I thought about it. I already dropped “Good Vibes”, why not just continue that and call it Summer Vibes. And that’s when I got the old tracks from Sounds like California and some new ones I was workin on during summer and bam.

The EP is out for free download, so many artists are releasing free promos, albums, mixtapes these days. What have been some of the biggest advantages of releasing your EP for free?
Well seeing that everyone is broke. The word free is an eye catcher. But its all good because I’m broke to and wanna blow up first then charge a couple of bucks for my stuff. As for now, take advantage of the free ish and spread the hell out of it so we can all get this money and make history.

The EP is out and has been getting a really good response. When do you plan to release the album? Have you started working on it yet?
If I come out with an album it’s gonna be the best ish you’ve ever herd. For real. Im gonna put my all in each and every song to the point you gotta replay that back. And I realize for that to happen I need to pay for things. I’m hella broke right now. Haha. But it’s all good because I know how to manage my money to get what I want. It’s gonna take some time. That’s why I need that support you know.

When listening to your EP one group comes in mind both with the vibe and feel of the music and you have a reminiscent flow. The group is A Tribe Called Quest and the flow is Q-Tip. Are they an influence on you? And have you ever heard the comparison before?
When I first started making music people said I had that Tribe/Q-Tip sound. Now they say i sound like Lupe, but I’m just doin what sounds nice to me at the time. While keeping it OG, but don’t get me wrong I like listening to the tribe.

Any chance we’ll see a video for any tracks off of Summer Vibes?
Yea man. Matter of fact. The homie EP made a little vh1 behind the scenes thing. Here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DFnqHvJPbE.

You are an up and coming artists that some people may have not heard of. Can you tell me how long you’ve been into hip hop, rapping, and I guess what Slik D is all about in the hip hop game?
I’ve been in it for a good 3 years seriously. I don’t know if that’s a long or short time but I’m still learning. And I’m just here to spread good vibes to peoples lives. If your just chillin at a BBQ or rollin a bleezy with a breezy. Haha or homies, it doesn’t matter. I just wanna do that because I love doing it.

You are also part of a younger crop of MC’s that has been surfacing along with artists like Nero, Casey Veggies etc. What do you think the young crop of MC’s has to offer and where do you see hip hop going?
I don’t know what we have to offer. We all have potential but haven’t made it yet. Once I see one of them make it then ill know. Ey, it could be me. It could be Casey, like carter said off that legal trap trap “As long as we winnin/I aint even trippin lets get it”. And once that happens hip hop is going our way.

I guess that about wraps it up man, any closing comments you’d like to make?
www.myspace.com/SLikdizzle is my myspace. haha. And if you feel what I’m sayin please let people know about this. Common or important, it’s all good. Thanks yall. Peace it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DFnqHvJPbE
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247HH MTV2 Wild Tour Stories: DJ A-Trak Extended Cut from MCM on Vimeo.

Donnis has signed with Fools Gold. They will release his debut single "Gone" soon. Click Read Press Release to check out the press release.

Read Press Release Read More!

Skool Boy will release his After Skool Vol. 2 mixtape on November 29. Don't sleep on this guy. Read More!

New U-N-I video just dropped. Video is for "Pulp Fiction Part 1" featuring Fashawn. The track is off U-N-I's album A Love Supreme. Read More!

Track just popped into my inbox. It's Big Wayde's new single "Road To Success." Click Check It to check the track out. This is the second leak of his upcoming EP When The Rain Stopped.

Check It Read More!

This video just hit my inbox, It's Masta Ace & Edo G's "Little Young" video. Read More!

Here's a new track by the 87 Stick Up Kids. These dudes are doing hip hop some good. You may remember these guys from the Bake Wear mixtape we released a while back or maybe you've heard about them from all the internet hype.

I talked to Deacon of the group today and they are going to be doing an interview for Sound In The Signals. Should be posted soon. Until then check out their new track "Lights, camera..." produced by DJ Troublemaker.

The 87 Stick Up Kids - Lights, Camera... (produced by Troublemaker) by voges Read More!

Fashawn is going to be releasing his new album this month. I have a feeling this is going to be a good one. Exile produced the entire thing. Exile is the producer that teamed up with Blu for Below The Heaves (People are calling that one a classic). Make sure to check this dude out, don't sleep. You can check out some tracks from the album on his myspace.

Fashawn Myspace Read More!

Slik D released a free EP a while back called Summer Vibes. This is another one I've been listening to a lot lately. Slik D will be doing an interview for Sound In The Signals soon. So check this out in the meantime and make sure to read up when the interview goes live.

Get Slik D Summer Vibes EP Read More!

I'm currently working with Skool Boy on a new EP. The EP will have all his raps and have my production. The beats are finished and Skool Boy is putting his finishing touches on the project now. He is set to wrap-up recording by this Friday (October 9). A release date will be announced for Mid-Late October.

To anyone who grabbed my first DJ project: Outlander-FDFK a while back when it dropped the beat making for this is a different beast. Expect this to be out befor the end of October. This will be a free EP and download links will be up in various places.

Follow Skool Boy On Twitter
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Rockwell Powers & DJ Ill Pill released a free album called Kids In The Back not too long ago. Rockwell Powers handles the raps and Ill Pill handles beat making/production on this one. This album has been in heavy rotation since I got it. Make sure to download it for free off their site, you can also pick it up via iTunes to support the group. Ill Pill will be doing an interview with me soon for this very site so check it out and make sure to read up when the interview goes live.

Get the album Read More!

Shawn Chrystopher released his free album A City With No Seasons a while back. This is a great free hip hop album. I'd recommend it for fans of Kid Cudi, or Kanye West (808's Kanye that is). Grab the album for free off Shawn's site.

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A few years ago The Pack were a huge buzz group in hip hop with their hit song "vans." The group is set to release WolfPack Party 2010 soon. In the off time Lil B wrote a book about the based lifestyle The Pack created a few years ago.. Could be interesting. You can pre-oder it on his site now.

Pre-Order Read More!