Photo credit: I AM PR Agency

Based in NYC but bred in D.C., The White House Band’s David E. Beats is the only original member of the group who are now making their way throughout the city. Having performed at such diverse spots as Webster Hall, Crash Mansion and The Knitting Factory, David’s sound is just as eclectic. But as far as hip hop, let the rapper and producer tell it, hip hop ain’t dead; it’s just creatively free. Here, David gives us a snapshot into his thoughts on hip-hop, “TGIF”, Justin Bieber and the future.

How did you get into hip-hop?

I was introduced to rap music thru Jay-Z. I used to paint, but never really liked it. But then a friend gave me the Blueprint album. From then on, I was hooked!

In terms of music, when I think of D.C. I think of go-go and R&B; Chuck Brown, Raheem DeVaughn, Meshell Ndegeocello. What’s the scene like there? Where can one go to rock out?

When I was living in DC we used to hit up U. St. Very artsy out there. Lots of clubs and poetry spots, plus music venues and open mics. I used to hit up Pure every Monday to watch other local rappers perform. Bohemian Caverns is a dope sauce spot as well.

In your opinion, what’s the state of hip-hop right now?

[Long pause] Artistic. And free. That’s it.

Since there’s a cluster of hip-hop acts  blending genres right now, folks like Theophilus London, Game Rebellion, Shinobi Ninja, how do you fit into that mix?

I don’t. Therefore I do. I am just me.

Good answer! So if I were to hijack your iPod right now, what artist would I be surprised to find? And it’s okay if you’re a Justin Bieber fan!

[Laughter] I really like Bieber actually. But I also like some Mansun, 30STM, Led Zepp, Mastadon, WTT, TI, many folks really!

Your track “TGIF [Thank God I’m Fly]” is a motivational type song, about confidence and all that, where’s your happy place? How do you stay positive in a business where basically anything can happen?

I don’t. When I am in a dark place I just let it happen. I wrote this song after leaving the dark place and coming back to a happier zone. It’s only natural that way.

So true…and my last question: Are you looking for a major label deal or do you want to keep it grassroots; have that creative control of being an independent artist?

My motto is that whatever happens happens. If my path leads me down that road, I must follow it!

You can follow David on Twitter @davidebeats or by visiting The White House Band’s website.

“I Wanna Be Down” by Brandy was the first single from her debut self-titled album. Written by Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones, the song went to #1 on the R&B chart and to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Featured here is the ”I Wanna Be Down” (Human Rhythm Hip Hop Mix featuring MC Lyte, Yo- Yo, and Queen Latifah) video directed by Hype Williams as a trip down memory lane. This video is a cornucopia of ’90s goodness. It has female rappers we love. Young Brandy is rockin’ her signature braids and emulating (her then idol) Whitney Houston’s vocal stylings.  Baby Ray J is trying to hang and look cool. And don’t forget Hype Williams’ signature slow motion shots featuring the artist making aggressive gestures and vying for a spot in the frame. Enjoy.

“Don’t call it a comeback… I’ve been here for years…”

“Mama Said Knock You Out” by L.L. Cool J is a song for the haters loud and clear. Just when there was buzz that L.L. may have lost his touch, he came hard with this one–the single and the album of the same name. When asked about the title of the song, L.L. said his grandmother told him to “knock out” his critics.  Produced by Marley Marl, “Mama Said Knock You Out” features samples from James Brown, The Chicago Gangsters, Sly & The Family Stone and from L.L. Cool J himself.  The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

Here are the new visuals for experimental rap group Shabazz Palace’s latest single “Are You…Can You…Were You…? (Felt).” Well, sort of.

The song is from the duo’s debut Sub Pop release Black Up (which dropped last summer), but the video features a mother and daughter speaking in their native language as the two have a typical mother-daughter exchange: disagreeing about the girl’s way of life and style of dress. The group is nowhere to be found.

Shabazz Palaces includes Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler, one-third of seminal 90′s hip-hop-jazz trio Digable Planets, who are best known for hits like  ”Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” and “Where I’m From.”

Right before the release of Black Up last year, I had the chance to interview Butler over the phone…and I have to say, he was just as evasive in conversation as this damn video is. If you haven’t heard Black Up, it is a refreshing mix of glitchy, experimental hip hop. One of my favorite albums of 2011.

Ice-T debuted his documentary The Art of Rap to audiences at the Sundance Film Festival. The documentary features some of the best rappers from the past 30 years talking about the craft.

Source: VladTV

Acclaimed Somali hip hop emcee and singer-songwriter K’NAAN returns today with his More Beautiful Than Silence EP on A&M/Octone Records. The 5ive-track EP includes cameos by Nas on lead single, “Nothing to Lose” and current single, “Is Anybody Out There” featuring Nelly Furtado.

More Beautiful is a good taste of what the artist is set to unleash, when he releases his third LP Country, God Or The Girl, later this year. Other appearances include Bono, Will.i.am and B.o.B. Peep the lyric videos below.

Track list:

1. “Is Anybody Out There?” featuring Nelly Furtado

2. “Nothing to Lose” featuring Nas

3. “More Beautiful Than Silence”

4. “Better”

5. “Coming to America”

Mixing dubstep and the darker side of R&B, “Trainwreck” comes from the mind of Brooklyn DJ and singer Silver Medallion.

According to Medallion, “Trainwreck is a saga of New York City bars, a story of people too in love with themselves to see past the whiskey glasses.“ As a resident of New York, this is an all too-familiar story in the city that never sleeps and a country of freedom and opportunity, but the visuals definitely pull you in. Nevertheless, the song features Maryland rapper and singer Dunson, with production by Heatroc & Priceless, as well as Dave Edwards.

Download the track at http://soundcloud.com/silvermedallion/silver-medallion-trainwreck-ft

“They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”, is a hip-hop classic. The combination of jazz, a great beat, a smooth flow and great story about childhood, family, love and loss was a winning recipe; not to mention a head-bobbin’ instant hit. “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” went to #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart and is one of The Source’s “100 Best Rap Singles Of All Time”.