Lesser known Odd Future members Matt Martians and Hal Williams are gearing up a new release for their brand — The Jet Age Of Tomorrow — in the form of the upcoming project The JellyFish Mentality LP, which is due this Saturday (May 25th). Below is their latest single from the project….we’ve also included the tracklist to the album, which features Mac Miller, Kilo Kish, Casey Veggies, Jesse Boykins III as well as fellow Wolf Gang emcees Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Mike G, Hodgy Beats and more (noted: Syd The Kyd assists in some of the production as well).
Ray Manzarek, the founding keyboardist for the Doors, passed away this morning in Germany, according to a statement from his publicist. The cause was bile duct cancer.
As a member of the legendary rock band that formed in 1965 in Los Angeles and effectively ended with the death of frontman Jim Morrison in 1971 (though the group continued to perform and release music in other iterations for many years), Manzarek became an enduring symbol of the era — he was portrayed by Kyle McLachlan in the 1991 Oliver Stone biopic The Doors, and wrote a best-selling memoir about his experiences, Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors, in 1998.
The Doors sold more than 100 million albums worldwide on the strength of hits like ”Hello, I Love You,” “Riders on the Storm,” “Light My Fire,” and “Break On Through to the Other Side.”
Manzarek is survived by his wife Dorothy, son Pablo, and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made in Manzarek’s name to standup2cancer.org.
I admit that I expected Max B to be in the position that French Montana is now…..yet, here we are: French Montana is pretty much riding with the big dogs at the forefront of today’s Hip-Hop music scene, while Biggaveli is sitting in prison with a 75-year sentence. Now, we are on the eve of French Montana’s debut project, the slightly corny-titled Excuse My French, released as a joint deal between Diddy’s Bad Boy & Rick Ross’s MMG.
So, how is the album?
The project is literally a freight train of aggressive production, not all that far from Waka Flocka’s Flockaveli project in terms of feeling: French Montana and Co. flow seamlessly through posse cuts on the album (there are a few of them) like ‘Fuck What Happens Tonight’ (produced by Rico Love, the track features Khaled, Ace Hood, Mavado, Scarface & Snoop Dogg) and the already-well-known-so-I-shouldn’t-have-to-explain-it-to-you ‘Pop That’ (prod. Lee On The Beats). Even the smoother cuts on the album geared toward the chill crowd (read: women) have a very powerful flair (Ex. ‘Gifted’, produced by Danny Boy Styles, and ‘Drink Freely’, produced by Rico Love).
Two big questions about this project are answered:
–Can French Montana handle any songs on his own, or does he lean on collaborations?
The answer is really both: it’s no question that the features are heavy here (just look at his major singles), but I’m hear to tell you that his solo cuts hold their own just as well (Ex. the Rico Love-produced ‘Ain’t Worried Bout Nothin’ and the darker, menacing Danny Boy Styles-produced ‘When I Want);
– Is there any real influence from New York on the album, or is it just a Miami/Down South mashup?
While there are some New York influences to let you know where French is representing (the Vinylz’-produced cut ‘We Go Where Ever We Want’ — which features Raekwon — is probably the best example), the album is undoubtedly heavy into the type of sounds you’ve been hearing from We The Best and YMCMB. Anybody looking for the boom bap probably need to look elsewhere.
BOTTOM LINE: All in all, the debut album from French Montana is one that’s going to be played all through the Summer….and that’s probably the main purpose it was created for. It doesn’t try to be anything but a headbanging effort from an emcee who’s all about making money and spending it.
Bodega Bamz was recently added to the 20th anniversary of Rock The Bells, and in our latest Inside The BOX., we sit down with Bamz to speak on how he linked with the ASAP Mob & Flatbush Zombies, performing at this year’s Rock The Bells, that Pepsi money and more. You can read the full interview over the next few pages below.
Atlanta-based band Cloudeater, known for their innovative sound has announced their break-up, the same day that Wale’s latest single featuring their lead singer Sam Dew was released. Although I’ve never posted the band’s music on this site, I’ve certainly been a fan for a while and this is sad news to hear. Above is a live version of one of the songs set to be included on their last album. I’ve also included a tweet from Sam and a message from the band below.
We deeply regret to inform you that Cloudeater no longer exists as a functioning entity as of late last week. One of our founding members, whose vision and creative input are vital to the operation of this band, has decided to leave, and in doing so, we are no longer able to continue at this time. It was one person’s decision alone to leave, and although we are still trying to cope with the reality of his decision, there had been internal tensions for some time.
It is both frustrating and sad that we have arrived at this point. We are incredibly thankful to all the wonderful people who have supported us over the years and those who we’ve been able to meet in the course of playing shows together for almost 4 years.
In gratitude to our fans, who have given us so much, we will be releasing our album “Purge”, which we worked on with Prefuse73, in the coming weeks as what we consider to be our swan song and finest work.
We are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished and the music we created. Nothing will ever change that.
Yes @cloudeatermusic done. Yes I’m bummed. Yes there is one last album. No…you will never know the full story. I will never tell my side.
Areas of metropolitan Oklahoma City appeared to be in shreds Monday afternoon after a massive tornado moved through the region. “The houses are destroyed. … Completely leveled,” a helicopter pilot for CNN affiliate KFOR said. A school was apparently among the structures leveled by the twister.
A tornado struck just south of Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon, ripping apart homes and other buildings in populated areas.
The National Weather Service issued a rare tornado emergency for the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, meaning that significant and widespread damage and fatalities were likely.
Video from CNN affiliates showed a funnel cloud stretching from the sky to the ground, kicking up debris.
The tornado was estimated to be at least two miles wide at one point as it moved through Moore, Oklahoma, in the southern part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, CNN affiliate KFOR reported.
Meteorologists warned residents to go underground to survive a direct hit from the tornado.
“It’s just destroying everything. There’s so many homes in the air right now. The motion on this storm is sickening,” said storm chaser Spencer Basoco.
More than 171,000 people could have been in the path of the storm.
The severe weather comes after tornadoes and powerful storms ripped through Oklahoma and the Midwest earlier Monday and on Sunday.
Forecasters had warned that the destructive weather, which killed at least two people, wasn’t over.
“Today could be potentially as dangerous as yesterday,” CNN meteorologist Indra Petersons said Monday morning, pointing to a wide swath of the country spanning from Texas to Michigan. “We’re talking about 500,000 square miles under the gun for severe weather.”
SMACK/ URL veteran Loaded Lux linked up with Hip-Hop legends Method Man and Redman to shoot a video for Lux’s latest single “Rite”. “Rite” is the first single off of Lux’s LP dropping later this summer.
French Montana raps to Combat Jack about his homie Max B and his 75-year sentence, Excuse My French (which drops tomorrow), his hood DVD background and more.
Michelle Obama spoke at Bowie State’s Commencement this past weekend and she took a shot at everybody’s favorite rapper Jay-Z. You can watch the full commencement on the next page.
“Today, instead of walking miles every day to school, they’re sitting on couches for hours playing video games, watching TV. Instead of being a teacher or a lawyer or a business leader, they’re fantasizing about being a baller or a rapper.”
While backstage at the Billboard Music Awards, Goodie Mob member Cee-Lo spoke on his groups upcoming release date (The plan for Age Against The Machine is currently set on August 27th), returning to The Voice next season, Gnarls Barkley, an upcoming solo project and more.
Here’s the new video for Action Bronson’s latest single “Strictly 4 My Jeeps.” Taking place in Queens, New York, the video stars Riff Raff, pitbulls, big beautiful women, and a big ol’ badass jeep.
Emma Brown (The Washington Post) reported today that parents of students attending the DCPS’ Fillmore Arts Center have begun protesting massive budget cuts:
A group of D.C. parents and community activists have mounted a protest against proposed budget cuts that they say will undermine a long-standing arts program that serves thousands of city kids….
But a $300,000 cut to next year’s proposed budget has forced Principal Katherine Latterner to turn four of five full-time teaching positions into part-time, hourly jobs. Parents say those changes means experienced and beloved Fillmore teachers will leave, and the center will not be able to offer the same continuity and richness that has helped make it an arts cornerstone for kids.
More than 1,000 people have signed an online petition urging D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson to restore $300,000 in funding, and Fillmore supporters were busy gathering more signatures Friday at the center’s annual spring show.
Zaytoven produced a new track called ‘I Wonder’ for the recently imprisoned Young Scooter, which he rapped over the phone. He also penned a letter to his fans which is featured in the video (you can check out the letter on the next page as well). Street Lottery 2 comes out July 4th.
Lil’ Wayne (and I think it’s his fiancee Dhea) and Toya Wright (with her husband Memphitz) attended the graduation of daughter Reginae, who has made her jump from middle school. The day also wouldn’t have been right without Birdman in the building (Mack Maine was there as well). Check out some additional pics on the next page.
This video was filmed randomly (presumably while drunk) by Bravo Vision on Exo’s Bithday. This track will be on Don Jaga’s up coming mixtape Ghetto Blues.
