Another great boom bap joint from J.J. Brown’s Connect the Dots, which drops November 10. Brown is performing twice on Tuesday in NYC; he has a free in-store at Best Buy on 23rd Street and an album release party at S.O.B.’s. Flyers for both after the jump.

Download: J.J. Brown – The World’s A Stage

via 2dopeboyz

(Photo by Hannah Lipman)

View the full photo set here (Thanks Hannah & Joshua)

[Ed Note: Here is the grand recap of all the on-goings that happened this past weekend in New Orleans, as seen through the eyes of ML contributor Julie. Be sure to check out Julie's twitter stream which had a bunch of nuggets from the festival. Also, if you would like to check out Eminem's performance, I got word that it will be airing on Fuse as a part of the Best of Voodoo 2009 TV Special, tonight, November 6th @ 10PM EST (check the trailer here).]

Taking place during Halloween weekend in a city known as one of the greatest places in the country to don a costume, listen to music and get drunk, The Voodoo Experience 2009 inspired a lot of expectations. We’re talking Eminem, KISS on Halloween night, P. Funk, local artists that sound like nothing you’ve heard before, funky folk artists and talented craftspeople… and overall, Voodoo brought it. This festival required a stamina that most don’t because it was interrupted by some of the wildest Halloween parties in the nation. Voodoo, however, proved worthy of every ounce of effort it required to dance through each and every show.

The festival got off to a rough start with the chilliest storm New Orleans has seen all season. Mud, rain and kicking The Knux off stage didn’t make for the most promising opening day. Yet the festies got creative, borrowing trash bags from the grounds crews to make ponchos and huddling together at Justice to keep warm. With the help of a few beers and an other-worldly dance party/light show, the crowd managed to forget the cold and have a blast. Most people who lasted that long trudged through the ankle-deep mud to at least catch the first few songs from Eminem + D12 before heading out. Eminem’s decade of fame has taught him how to really wake a crowd up, showing a gory short film of a psychotic, asylum-bound, murderous Marshall Mathers. They threw in gunshot noises between songs, keeping the audience on their toes throughout Eminem’s energetic performance. When the audience finally dispersed, most people looked pumped for the next day’s shows.

Saturday’s lineup included The Black Lips, Mates of State, a cancelled K’naan show, Mutemath, Gogol Bordello, Parliament-Funkadelic and KISS. Few people showed up without a costume, and the crowd started drinking early. The festival had a friendly, frenetic vibe, people getting more and more excited as the day wore on. Strangers took pictures of and with one another, and the festival-goers traded tips on where to spend the evening between the countless after-parties, Halloween parties and Frenchmen Street.  Security wasn’t too tight, and most shows smelled strongly of pot, contributing to the audience’s already relaxed, comfortable vibe. K’naan’s cancelled show changed the locations of many artists slotted to perform around the same time, making for a confusing afternoon. Yet things got back on schedule by Mutemath.

Gogol Bordello got the festies dancing harder than any other show all weekend, save Justice. P. Funk, on the other hand, played for a relatively small, chill crowd on a quiet stage between folk art vendors’ tents. As they got funky, the majority of the festival-goers rushed toward the KISS stage, dancing through art installments on their way. The crowd was packed, and KISS was, in a word, insane. Pyrotechnics, Gene Simmons flying across the stage, an infomercial between songs to buy their new album — it’s available at WalMart, apparently Simmons has seen it there. Teens and college kids were busy texting their dads, blown away that rock ‘n’ roll used to rock this hard. Older women in leather jackets and KISS-style face paint sang every word of the KISS classics (though, as Simmons reminded us, just because something is a classic doesn’t make it an oldie). People walked out of City Park that day high from the music and drunk from the spectacle, ready for an even wilder show: the New Orleans Halloween scene.

The entire festival crowd seemed at least a little bit hungover Sunday. Relatively few people showed up before The Flaming Lips, but the Voodoo producers seem to have anticipated this. With an emptier schedule than any other day, Sunday’s big shows included The Pogues, Widespread Panic, The Flaming Lips and Lenny Kravitz. Yes, Lenny Kravitz. It was almost as if they wanted to clear the park before the final performance. Yet those who did leave before Lenny walked away with a most beautiful ending to an exhausting weekend. The almost too-mellow show saved itself by concluding with the sound of “Do You Realize?” playing under the full moon, tens of thousands strips of confetti floating in the dark sky like psychedelic stars, and an entire audience singing together “to make the good things last.”

[Dj01 Note: ML is back at The Voodoo Experience, one of the most prominent music festivals, kicks off in New Orleans tomorrow, and we have dispatched Julie, a talented and up & coming writer to cover all the festivities. Enjoy Julie's picks below, with live coveritlive/twitter coverage to come throughout the festival, and a wrap-up & dope pictures early next week!]

The Voodoo Experience 2009 is only one day away, so  it’s time to figure out which shows you’ll hit and which ones you’ll miss. New Orleans is home to some of the best bands and the biggest parties in the states, and if you’re going to do Halloween weekend here, you better do it right. That means the checking out the Zydepunks instead of the Black Lips on Saturday, and missing the first few Flaming Lips songs to hear all of Trombone Shorty’s set on Sunday. Here are some of this year’s Voodoo essentials, and why you’d be crazy to miss them:

Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship?
3 p.m. Friday @ Bingo! Parlor
The local nine-member ensemble has more energy and more instruments than you can imagine. An accordion, a stand-up bass and a banjo make appearances in most of their songs, and the band is known around town for their bluesy, gospel-infused, funk performances at AllWays Lounge. Yet Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship? can do more than play mellow shows with haunting vocals — they can also tear it up as well as any New Orleans band. The first time I saw them was at an abandoned warehouse with no sound system but plenty of gutter-punks and beer, and I expect the band to get the Voodoo crowd moving as hard as we all did that night.

The Black Keys
5:40 p.m. Friday @Billboard.com Stage
With a blues-rock sound unlike anything else produced in the past decade, The Black Keys play live shows with the same soul as they record their music. Watching drummer Patrick Carney play like his life depends on each and every beat is not something you want to miss. Never mind Dan Auerbach’s powerful voice, the intensity of his guitar will be enough to get you hooked on The Black Keys for good. So if you hate the superficiality of the most modern rock, stop by The Black Keys show for a refreshing reminder of what rock is supposed to feel like.

The Knux
7:30 p.m. Friday @ Soco/WWOZ Stage
Also hailing from the New Orleans, The Knux are a rap duo that work so well together that could almost guess that they’re brothers. Kentrell “Krispy Kreme” and Alvin “Rah Almillio” Lindsey got discovered in Houston, where they landed after Hurricane Katrina. They moved out to the Los Angeles area, and the self-produced pair has been playing their own music ever since. While The Knux made a name for themselves touring with Common and have worked with Eminem’s producer Paul Rosenberg, their original style and musical talent ensure that they’ll do just fine on their own.

Eminem + D12
9:30 p.m. Friday @ Voodoo Stage
Ten years since his debut release, Eminem is back with as much fire as ever. Not that you really need someone to encourage you to pick his show over the second half of Ween, but in case you do: Eminem is one of the greatest rapper-MCs of all time. Relapse may not be your favorite Eminem album, but the man’s energy and talent — plus D12’s own skills — doesn’t seem to have faded, and Friday night is your chance to find out for sure.

Saturday/Sunday highlights after the jump!

Zydepunks
1:30 p.m. Saturday @ Bingo! Parlor
These energetic, frenetic New Orleans natives exemplify the city’s international heritage and culture, performing wild folk dances and singing songs in six different languages (English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish and Yiddish). The Zydepunks consider themselves “New Orleans’ favorite Cajun Irish Jewish punk band,” and their original material never strays from their international folk roots. With a fiddle, an accordion, a violin, drums, bass and a melodica backing up their untamed antics and untraditional vocals, the Zydepunks put on the kind of show that you can’t not dance to, even if you have no idea what they’re singing about.

K’naan
1:50 p.m. Saturday @ Voodoo Stage
The politically-conscious Somalian rapper fuses American Hip Hop with a Jamaican/Marley-style reggae feel, and has been slowly building a name for himself, both in Canada and the States. He’s known for his meaningful lyrics, though his shows have become more elaborate — including a badass light show, for example — as K’naan breaks into the mainstream Hip Hop world. So get ready for both political and personal lyrics, a stellar performance and a show that will rival even the more well-known Hip Hop acts at this year’s Voodoo.

The New Orleans Bingo! Show with Special Guests
2:45 p.m. Saturday @ Bingo! Parlor
The New Orleans Bingo! Show is right to call itself a show rather than a band, as the vaudevillian musical cabaret incorporates acrobatics, costumes, skits and a live, interactive bingo game. Yet they are up to par with other French-Quarter bands, using instruments that include the organ and stand-up bass to compliment their alternatively sinister and tender lyrics. If there’s anyone on the Voodoo lineup whose live show is really an “experience,” it’s The Bingo! Show. So make it to their tent and be prepared to be enthralled and entertained, both by their circus-style antics and their jazz-infused, cabaret-style songs.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
8:15 p.m. Saturday @ Soco/WWOZ Stage
George Clinton is a must-see for anyone with any interest in a funk/soul/rock band that has essentially defined the funk genre. With a career that began more than 40 years ago and landed him in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 12 years ago, you might think that Clinton can’t possibly bring it as strong as he used to, but P-Funk has barely even slowed down. Bringing as many as 30 performers on stage with him, George Clinton hasn’t lost his energy or his style, and the show promises for the kind of funky, rockin’ show you want at a New Orleans festival.

KISS
9 p.m. Saturday @ Voodoo Stage
Alright, alright, I know you don’t actually care about KISS’s lyrical voice or musical talent. But, we’re talking Halloween night with thousands of drunken middle-aged men and women with KISS face paint, plus what is still probably one of the best pyrotechnic lightshows of all time. So while it may be three decades after the band’s prime, KISS is not the kind of band that loses their energy or ability to put on a spectacular performance. Expect the kind of legendary KISS show that made them famous to begin with, and to be swimming in a crowd of Gene Simmons look-a-likes.

The Pogues
2:15 p.m. Sunday @ Billboard.com Stage
This Clash-inspired Irish/English punk-rock band has been internationally kicking ass since the early ’80s, and while they remain politically conscious, you can look at their Sunday show as your post-Halloween/KISS hangover cure. Their mandolin, banjo, accordion and host of other instruments create the kind of noisy, danceable momentum that punk Irish folk bands are famous for. Lead singer Shane MacGowan’s rough and powerful voice has an energy that rivals his band’s, and The Pogues’ show will be the early-afternoon wake up you need before the rest of Sunday’s lineup.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
5:30 p.m. Sunday @ Soco/WWOZ Stage
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, a self-declared “SupaFunkRock” group, include some of the most talented young horn players emerging from New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood today. Shorty and his band are best-loved in the city for their all-night Mardi Gras shows at Tipitina’s, during which the band from around midnight until the parades begin seven hours later. Imagine the energy and force they can bring during a show less than a third of that length. Shorty can play the trombone and the trumpet with equal power and skill, and he will make you fall in love with the New Orleans-style horn ensemble. If you were only going to check out one of the local jazz/funk/rock bands (which include Big Sam’s Funky Nation and Rebirth Brass Band, to name a couple), make it Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.

The Flaming Lips
5:45 p.m. Sunday @ Billboard.com Stage
The Flaming Lips should have you hauling ass from Shorty’s show at the Soco/WWOZ Stage to the Billboard.com Stage as soon as you can get away. The acid-bubblegum Oklahoman band is famous for some of the most elaborate modern live rock shows, which have included weird giant hands, puppets and a man-sized plastic bubble, in which lead singer Wayne Coyne rolls through the audience. Not only are their spacey, eclectic pop-rock songs undeniably likeable, but their surreal shows make a Flaming Lips appearance something you don’t want to skip. End your Voodoo Fest with a show that can be described as nothing less than the full — though bizarre — live music experience.

In case you missed the trio the last time they were in the area (like me), around the release of Brooklynati, here is your chance to catch them. This time around they will be joined by the classic group Black Sheep. Wenesday they are at The Quarter in Baltimore & Thursday at LIV in DC.

Here is the blurb my dude Alex sent:

The fast-rising rap trio, Tanya Morgan, has teamed up with hip-hop pioneers, Black Sheep, for a pair of shows in the DMV(Oct. 7 in Baltimore and Oct. 8th in DC) to promote their sophomore album, Brooklynati.Already being called one of the best albums of 2009, Brooklynati, an ode to hip-hop’s heydayin the form of a utopian city, has garnered high praise from the likes of Billboard, Spin,XXL Magazine and Okayplayer.com for its classic blend of golden-era beats and thoughtful flows, which has oftenbeen likened to the 1990’s rap crew, Native Tongues, of which Black Sheep was a part.Now, joining forces with official Native Tongue family member Black Sheep, whose iconic hits “TheChoice is Yours (This or That)” and “Similak Child” are timeless symbols of hip-hop’s golden-era,Tanya Morgan continues to push the genre forward while bridging the gap between 2 decades of hip-hop.

Bmore flyer after the jump.

NYers, get your asses to Fat Beats at 6 to meet M.O.P. and get your shit signed by Billy and Fame! And go shake the post-Yom Kippur blues next Tuesday with Skyzoo and 9th Wonder! They’re performing! For free!

Shout out to the Audible Doctor!

!!!

Today marks the Kickoff of the The Soul Tour at the Kia Collective in DC which will feature Wale, Dan Deacon, Ponytail,  and the Creepers rocking out through out the weekend in a warehouse Washington DC.

Next weekend, Kia  moves on to Philly where MGMT will be joined by The Drums, Amanda Blank, Popo, YACHT and Francis and the Lights.

All the shows are free except you need a ticket for the MGMT shows that you get by test driving a Kia at the respective Collective location Friday through Sunday from noon – 8pm.

ML will be in the building Space in DC on Friday night to catch the homie Wale, and on Sunday for MGMT.

DC Location: 3330 New York Ave, NE

Philly Location: 23rd Street Armory 22 South 23rd St

More Info at The Kia Collective site.

If you’re cool and you’re in NYC, you’re getting a piece of the action  next week when Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt II drops. There’s not one, but two release parties.

On Tuesday, Diddy and Peter Rosenberg are hosting at Santo’s and Ghostface, Method Man, Beanie Siegel, Talib Kweli, Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes and Lyfe Jennings will be in the building.

Then on Thursday, Raekwon and Rosenberg will be at S.O.B.’s with special coverage by ML*.

(*special coverage = rushing the stage to flash the Wu-Tang tattoo that covers my chest and stomach)

Mad Raekwon tracks after the jump.

Download: Raekwon – Sonny’s Missing (produced by Pete Rock)

Download: Raekwon – Surgical Gloves (produced by Alchemist)

Download: Raekwon – Broken Safety (ft. Jadakiss, Styles P) (produced by Scram Jones)

Download: Raekwon – Have Mercy (ft. Beanie Siegel, Blue Rasberry) (produced by Icewater)

Download: Raekwon – Ason Jones (produced by J Dilla)

Download: Raekwon – Catalina (ft. Lyfe Jennings) (produced by Dr. Dre)

via Xclusives Zone

(image source)

DJ Green Lantern provides great audio from Jay-Z’s 2006 concert in London.  The first link starts with Jay doing “Where I’m From” and goes to the line, “Who’s the greatest MC, Biggie Jay-Z or—” but before he says “Nas,” the man himself comes out amid a surge of excitement from the audience and launches into “Made You Look.” His entire set lasts 14 minutes.

The second link is Jay-Z and Nas performing “Dead Presidents” with Chris Martin of Coldplay on the piano. Instead of Jay’s third verse, Nas does the first verse from “The World is Yours.” And the third is “Heart of the City,” once again assisted by Chris Martin.

Listening to “Where I’m From” and “Dead Presidents” reminds me how Jay used to rip shit.

Download: Jay-Z, Nas – Where I’m From, Made You Look, If I Ruled the World, Hate Me Now (Live in London)

Download: Jay-Z, Nas – Dead Presidents (ft. Chris Martin of Coldplay) (Live in London)

Download: Jay-Z – Heart of the City (ft. Chris Martin) (Live in London)

via DJ Green Lantern