From Vote To Hope To Hate

This is a photo I took of an Obama poster on Georgia avenue in Washington, DC some time ago. Notice it says vote & not hope. This poster has been here since before our president was elected. I"ve driven passed it often over the years and I can't help but notice it's gradual decay. For every inch of this poster torn down by time and the elements, America reveals it's true self. The TEA PARTY is in town for a march and speech at the Lincoln memorial. The same place Martin Luther King spoke, at the same time. This week marks the anniversary of his famous I have a dream speech. I drove past this poster today and President Obama's face isn't even noticeable anymore. Left me with allot on my mind about the social & racial state of the country.

Please have a look at the TEA PARTIES followers & messages---> TEA PARTY

Efficacy Interview

Shout out to Fiona Bloom for allowing me to join the Efficacy club! Here's a little Q & A time in the dinning room son! You can check it out at Thisisrealmusic.com

To Clear My Head

Every once in a while, my creative juice for music runs dry. I've learned that the creativity is still there, it just needs to flow down another channel. That auxiliary channel for me is photography. Photography has become something I like to do simply for the sake of doing it. After a few hours of shooting, I'm always ready to make music again. Works for me, maybe it will work for you.

Video: Shad "Yaa I Get It" [Oddisee Remix]

I remixed this track for Canadian MC, "Shad K". My remix has now been put over top of the original video. More on Shad, Our collaboration and a link to download the remix below.

Click here---> Previous Blog Entry

Peace Fat Beats

As you may or may not know, Fat Beats LA & Fat Beats NY closed their doors today. I'm not going to waste time listing the reasons for their closure. Times are changing and the formats in which we receive & listen to music are as well. What will stay the same is this, the importance of a venue that allows artists & fans alike to meet. Fat Beats was more than just a record store to me, it was a place where music came to life. Getting my art work approved before manufacturing meant the record was coming out. Seeing a .jpg of my album on iTunes & blogs meant it was available. Seeing my record on the shelf of a Fat Beats store with my name written in magic marker on a white sheet of paper meant it was real.
Coming out for the numerous in stores to perform, meet fans, answer questions and network meant the album reached people, people in the real world. Can we create a place in today's world where artist can congregate, fans come to hear new Hip Hop coupled with an intimate performance that give us more incentive to support the music we love? I think so and I intend to focus on that. Hip Hop is alive & well, respect the past, now lets embrace the future.

Here's a few photographs I took in Fat Beats LA & NY. Some videos as well. Thank you Fat Beats

"Yaa I Get It" Oddisee Remix

While on a beach in Petrcane, Croatia I received an email from Decon records. (Yes I was still checking my email) They hit me up on behalf of Canadian super MC, Shad K. His album "TSOL" is making it's American debut and they thought a remix by moi would be a great addition. Of course the remix had to be done in two days. I did two versions, they picked the second one, I sent the session and went back to the beach. All in a days work!
A little more on Shad, our collaboration and a link to my remix on Okayplayer.com below.

Back in April, Canadian emcee, Shad, dropped the hard hitting first video off his upcoming LP, TSOL. The video was for "Yaa I Get It," a song which immediately grabs your attention with a serious head-nod inducing bassline. Today, we get a new take on the song with the premiere of the Oddisee remix. With the toned down and more relaxed beat you can really focus on Shad's witty wordplay. "So many sold their souls, my sole ambition is to hold solid, soul calm and bright as the solar system." TSOL will be dropping stateside via Black Box/Decon on October 5th. You can catch Shad on tour with k-os in October - check after the jump for the dates.

Click Here To Listen/Download---> Okayplayer.com

Trek Lifes "Everything Changed Nothing" Out Now

Trek Life's new album "Everything Changed Nothing" is officially out. Please give it a listen & if the spirit moves you, make a purchase!

BUY LINKS FOR "Everything Changed Nothing"

Stores:

Fat Beats LA (Map)

Fat Beats NY (Map)

UGHH Boston (Map)

Amoeba LA (Map)

Amoeba SF (Map)

Amoeba Berkley (Map)

FYE Nationwide (Store List)

Online retailers:

fatbeats.com (CD on sale for $8.99)
ughh.com (get instrumentals with CD purchase)
bestbuy.com
amazon.com

Digital Retailers:
iTunes
eMusic
Amazon

West Coast Dates

I'm heading to LA from August 12th to the 17th

You can catch Trek Life & myself at these upcoming events! Everything Changed Nothing along with Trek Life's past products will be available at all shows.

08/12 - Chief Rocka in San Diego (Map) (info)

08/13 - Fat Beats LA (Map) (info)

08/14 - Acrylick Instore (Map) (info)

Take A Look It's In A Book

Truer words have never been spoken

Trek Life's First Visit To Washington DC

Last weekend Trek Life made his first visit to Washington DC. He came out for his release party and guest appearance at the Diamond District show. I think it's safe to say he had a great time!

Now That's A Fan

Trek Life DC Release Party & Diamond District Show

This Saturday, July 31, 2010 will be a great day for Hip Hop in Washington DC. Trek Life will be coming to DC for the first time to celebrate the release of his new album "Everything Changed Nothing". Trek will also be DJ'ing and premiering songs from my next three releases. details below

Venue: Policy

Address: 1904 14th St NW
Washington DC 20009

Time: 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Free admission, open to the public



Later on that evening just down the road from Trek's release party, there will be an all star DC hip hop line up performing at the Black Cat. Featuring Diamond District, DTMD, Cornell West Theory, Damu The Fudgemunk & DJ Underdog hosted by Grap Luva. Set Times & details below.

Set order:

DTMD: 9:30-9:45

Damu The Fudgemunk: 10:00-10:30
Cornell West Theory: 10:45-11:30
Diamond District: 11:45-12:30

Venue: The Black Cat
Address: 1811 14th st. NW
Washington DC
20009
Doors at 9:00pm
18+
Tickets $12.00

Both events are taking place this Saturday July 31st, 2010

Diablog: Help Me Get My Girl Back

Got this email yesterday, Homie wants to rap over a Diamond District Instrumental to get his girl back. Good Luck! read below.

------Original Message------
From: J T
To: @gmail.com
Subject: Diamond District--First Time--
Sent: Jul 27, 2010 10:17 AM

Yo,

my name is J and I'm from Germany. I'm writing you because I need your help. I want to rap a song for my girl to get her back. And the beat of your song First Time is perfect for my rap. Therefore I need your help to get the instrumental of that song. I'm a normal student in Germany of a technical university and i don't want to make money with that song. I just want to get my girl back by my own rhyme on your track. Please...Oddisee I'm talking to you as a brother from east-africa (Eritrea).I really need ya help

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

from	Amir Mohamed
to		@gmail.com
date		Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 12:00 PM
subject		Re: District--First Time--
mailed-by		gmail.com

Hello J,

Here you go, I hope it helps brother.

Good luck,
Amir

New Free Beat-Tape: West Coast Beats -Hosted By Trek Life

In preparation for Trek Life's new album "Everything Changed Nothing" available July 27th, I put together a "West Coast" beat-tape.
Coming from the city of Go-Go, I've always loved production inspired by funk. when it comes to funk inspired hip hop, no body does it like the west. While I was on the west producing Trek Life's album that inspiration went further than being a fan. I don't know if it was the palm trees, beaches, or burgers but this is what I was making in LA. Listen, Download, Enjoy & purchase "Everything Changed Nothing"

De La Soul Are Diamond District Fans

Diamond District recently performed at the Brooklyn Hip Hop festival. The headliners of the event we De La Soul. BrooklynBodega caught up with the legendary group after their performance. Here's what they had to say about Diamond District

BB: You have so many fans all over the place. You just mentioned that you’ll listen to Mos‘ album and think you have to step your game up. Are there any new artists that you’re feeling? Are there any younger cats that you like and how do you feel about the way Hip-Hop is right now?

Pos: Overall, creativity is definitely lacking. But there’s always good groups, man. There’s always new things that I can hear. There’s new things that I hear from the South. It can be a rhyme that Jeezy said [and I’m like] “Whoa!”. There are things that Lil Wayne says, there’s always things that I hear that I think sounds dope. One of the groups that I’ve been stuck on for a minute — I’ve known Oddisee for the longest — but his project Diamond District, I’m stuck on them n*****. I love Diamond District. I play that shit every day…

BB: You missed them. They rocked earlier today.

Pos: I know. Religiously, I rock with them. I mess with them.

Visit BrooklynBodega.com for the entire interview

Graph Artist "Askew" uses "The Blooming" off "Odd Spring" To Score Video

RIME x MYLA x ASKEW x DABS x REVOK from Askew One on Vimeo.

Taken from CONOPERATIVE

From Askew:
This is the first of my videos about my stay in Los Angeles with Rime and Revok. This is a wall we painted in Hollywood with LA based/Australian artists Dabs & Myla. These guys are doing some incredible paintings for an upcoming show – was totally blown away by their canvas work.Rime did this piece in memory of his friend Semz.

Additional camera duties were taken on by Jersey Joe aka the Coach aka Joseph-Style.

The music is Oddisee – Bloom off the “Odd Spring” album which is available for free download here.