Known as one of the hardest working women in show biz, Sy Smith has been on the move! Her third studio album, Conflict, which was released in 2008, is simply one of the many accomplishments in her roll of credentials. The beautiful, talented soul singer has since managed to shoot and release six videos, played in a number of cities alongside Chris Botti, performed as a soloist, and is currently the Secretary for the Los Angeles Chapter of The Recording Academy while working as a backing vocalist in this season’s American Idol. She does it, and she does it well!

I had a chance to catch up with Sy and get the goods on everything from her latest project to her love life! Check it out…

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Earlier in the month we showed you a sneak peak video clip from Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Series, a 3 DVD Box Set concert series created by Mochilla to pay homage to arrangers and composers who have greatly contributed to hip hop music.

The Timeless DVD Box Set, which is currently available for pre-order, contains live performances by Ethiopian jazz musician Mulatu Astake, Brazilian jazz artist Arthur Verocai and a 60 piece orchestra composed and arranged by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson showcasing an assortment of J. Dilla’s music.

I was able to get an exclusive interview with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on the making of Suite for Ma Dukes, the second installation of Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Series. Check it out here!

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The League of Young Voters Education Fund have dropped a new promotional video for the 2010 Census campaign, “Numbers Don’t Lie”. DJ Willie Shakes of 99problems.org hit up Texas’ South by Southwest film and music festival and spoke with some of the industry’s top entertainers about this year’s Census.

Rapper Murs, along with Hip Hop producer The Alchemist, Kurupt, Quincy Jones III (QD3) and U-N-I are just some of the names that have been supporting LYVEF in their efforts to promote awareness to the Hip Hop generation across the country.

Currently, the League of Young  Voters Education Fund is running 2010 Census field campaigns in Florida, Nevada, Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania. For more information about the organization and the Census campaign near you visit http://youngvoter.org or follow TheLeague99 on Twitter.

Check out “Numbers Don’t Lie” – SXSW RESPECT THE WEST

http://www.vimeo.com/10379649

Today I found out from my friend and writer Starrene Rhett of BET’s Stay Tuned blog that the legendary Japanese hip hop producer Nujabes has been confirmed dead from a car accident. The fatal crash, which occurred on February 26, was reported via Hydeout Productions website on March 17. It is still unknown as to why news of his death had not been reported for almost a month.

Seba Jun, whose name spelled backwards is his alias, was at best, a musical extraordinaire. He’s worked with many notable artists from CL Smooth to Dwele, showcasing his electronica jazz hop beats arranged and composed with a Japanese musical style. Ambitious, Nujabes was the owner of the Shibuya record stores and multiple record labels including the independent label Hydeout Productions which he founded in 2003.

Forever a fan, Nujabes will be remembered across the world through his soulful melodies which touched the lives of many. R.I.P.

To purchase the music of Nujabes click here.

In January Little Brother announced that the upcoming LP, Leftback, will be their final album. I was too salty when I found out! Anyone that knows me knows that I have always been the biggest Little Brother supporter. The North Carolina duo had me at The Listening with songs like “Speed”, “Whatever You Say” and “The Get-Up”. To this day Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh (and even 9th Wonder who exited) remain one of my favorite groups in Hip Hop… ever.

I was able to catch up with Phonte and talk about Little Brother’s retirement, get the truth about why 9th Wonder bounced, and find out what’s next for the Grammy nominated Foreign Exchange. Read the rest of this entry »

The music of legendary Ethiopian jazz musician Mulatu Astake is being celebrated in Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Series, a 3 DVD Box Set concert series created by Mochilla to pay homage to arrangers and composers who have greatly contributed to hip hop music.

Mulatu Astake’s live performance dates back to February 1, 2009 when he performed at the sold-out Luckman Fine Arts Complex in Los Angeles alongside jazz veterans Bennie Maupin, Azar Lawrence and Phil Ranelin.

On March 30, 2010, fans will be able to experience his greatness from that evening with the upcoming Timeless DVD Box Set release which also contains live performances by Brazilian jazz artist Arthur Verocai and a 60 piece orchestra composed and arranged by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson showcasing an assortment of J. Dilla’s music.

Tomorrow, check out our exclusive interview with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on the making of Suite for Ma Dukes, the second installation of Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Series.

In the meantime, click here for a sneak peak video clip from Timeless and Mp3 download of one of Mulatu Astake’s most commemorated pieces titled “Yekermo Sew”.

Hailing from Los Angeles by way of Atlanta, rapper Ayomari, is stepping his foot into the game, sharing stages with other artists like Pac Div, U-N-I, and Blu. With a self proclaimed style of the “Midwest’s lyricalness, a pinch of Dungeon Family’s boundary pushing, a tinge of southern twang, and a smidge of indie melancholy melody”, this new, young artist is trying to show labels that he can turn heads before “letting the ink hit any papers”. If you like what you see, head over to www.thecafeterialine.com and download The PB&J Solution, a title which describes his “solution for being a starving artist”.

http://www.vimeo.com/9440127

Hip Hop collective LiveSoul has been taking over the west coast one mixtape at a time. The trio, currently based in Las Vegas, is combined of two emcees from southern California and a lyricist slash deejay straight from Detroit. As a group, Akili, Tariq Star, and Khaaliq Asil, also known as DJ Slimm, have opened up for artists like Little Brother and Lupe Fiasco, and performed alongside musicians such as Goapele and Dead Prez. If you don’t know by now, you betta’ ask somebody! I had a chance to catch up with the guys and get down to the nitty gritty. Check it out!

KRYSTEN HUGHES: What new projects are you working on?

TARIQ STAR: We are currently working on a new album which features production from myself, Akili, our newest member Khaaliq Asil, and N.R.

KHAALIQ ASIL: I have a solo album coming in the spring with a mixtape out now [click here]. I also have a new project called Runaway Slaves coming soon.

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Census Day 2010 is right around the corner and the League of Young Voters Education Fund wants you to get involved! DJ Willie Shakes of 99Problems.org hit the streets, touring across America to talk to young people about the Census as part of the LYVEF campaign, “Numbers Don’t Lie”.

Remember, the Census forms will be in your mailbox by mid March and it only takes 10 minutes to answer the 10 questions, and mail it back in with the included prepaid postage envelope.

Check out DJ Shakes On A Plane: Numbers Don’t Lie – Census Web PSA Promo.

http://www.vimeo.com/9737268

Last week on our Sub Centric blog, we brought to you part one and part two of the Dilla Day Documentary put together by Stussy clothing brand to celebrate the life of the late, great, Hip Hop producer, James Dewitt Yancey, better known as J Dilla, or Jay Dee.

In addition to the three part documentary, Stussy released a limited edition tee shirt produced in conjunction with Stones Throw and the Dilla Estate. I was able to attend one of the release parties coined “Dilla Day” at the Stussy store in Las Vegas when the tee shirt was first presented (pictured below).

DJ Phoreyz (pictured below) was on the ones and twos all night, spinning classic Dilla joints as the hipster west coast crowd piled inside Stussy. Other in-store locations where the “Dilla Day” release event went down included Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Vancouver and Toronto.