Archive for April, 2010

While Atmosphere may have been quiet the last few months they definitely haven’t been idle. They’ve been busy recording an EP to coincide with the release of long time friend and Atmosphere documentarian Dan Monick’s book. The book spans over seven years of Atmosphere history and will be available later this fall. Slug talks about the two projects on RSE Radio which you can listen to over at Rhymesayers.com/Radio. Speaking of RSE Radio you can now catch Slug every Saturday night from 9PM-11PM CST on RSE Radio as he joins Siddiq to co-host each week. Tune in to 90.3FM Minneapolis & 106.7FM St. Paul or you can listen online at KFAI.org

The band added two new members to the family recently. Slug welcomed his new son into the world and Erick the keyboard player is now the proud father of a baby girl!

Keep your eyes peeled for Slug & Ant’s most recent business venture in the Mall of America. The MC, DJ duo is embarking on a delicious journey into the world of the hamburger stand so stay tuned for more updates on that front!

While we have your attention check out some live footage of Atmosphere performing “Sunshine” from Soundset ’09.

You can catch Atmosphere headlining the main stage at Soundset Sunday, May 30th this is their first performance of the year so you won’t want to miss it!

Buy your tickets online through Ticketmaster or walk up through Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

RSVP: Facebook | Twitter

Atmosphere: Facebook | Myspace
Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace

People Under The Stairs have perfected a generation spanning sound with 80s styled lyricism, 90s vibe beats and a solid 00s generation fan-base. Consisting of Thes One (Producer, MC, Engineer) & Double K (DJ, MC, Producer) the crew’s formula still works 7 albums later and their skills are as sharp as ever.

The latest album, “Carried Away,” is filled with a range of topics; bugged out misadventures (“Creepshow” & “Teeth,”) drinking/smoking anthems (the bluntly titled tracks “Beer” & “Weed,”) throwback tracks (“Letter From The Old School” & “Hit The Top,”) party jams (“Trippin’ In The Disco,”) Summer time anthem (“Down In LA,”) and then some.

Not only do P.U.T.S make great music, they always seem to have a fun time while doing it, which is evident in their always-entertaining music videos:

They also took part in rewriting The Simpsons theme music for the final episode of the 20th season more about that here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2tlmWCGroo.

Make sure you catch them May 30th performing live at Soundset!

Buy your tickets now online through Ticketmaster or walk up through Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

RSVP: Facebook | Twitter

People Under The Stairs: PUTSonline.co.uk | Facebook | Myspace
Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Rhymesayers: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Myspace

As once stated by Twin Cities Hip Hop Legends, I.R.M, “Some DJs scratch, some DJs Mix, but he can do it all”. That quote is what immediately comes to mind when trying to describe Plain Ole Bill. Don’t let the name deceive you, he’s anything but ordinary.

He originally started touching the turntables in ’99 being inspired by DJs such as Invisibl Skratch Piklz, X-Ecutioners, Beat Junkies, DJ Premier, & DJ Scratch, as well as others as time went on. Initially, he was solely interested in the battle scene, but it was not long after that he also fell in love with the party-rocking side of things. It was at that point, as his skills began to grow, that he set a goal of being as well rounded of a DJ as possible.

With ten years experience behind his name he has achieved just that. He has a series of well-planned and executed mix cds and downloads available. He’s proven to be technically skilled as well as sonically sound for battles and showcases. He’s traveled internationally enhancing P.O.S’s live performance. Plus, he’s certainly been heard rocking many a party.

Whether it’s been live on stage, rocking radio airwaves, or behind the decks at your favorite neighborhood bar or hangout, Plain Ole Bill has done his thing and garnered the respect of the people and fellow DJs alike.

Come check him out at the Soundset DJ & B-boy/girl tent this year on May 30th!!

Plain Ole Bill is currently touring with POS, co-founded a popular Twin Cities dance night called Get Cryphy, DJs a monthly night called BOMP & DJs for RSE Radio on KFAI.

You can buy his “Student Of The Old” Mix CD from Fifth Element

Download his free mix: Aspen x Aspen

Buy your tickets now online through Ticketmaster or walk up through Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

RSVP: Facebook | Twitter

Plain Ole Bill: Twitter | Facebook | GetCryphy.com
Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Rhymesayers: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Myspace

Rhymesayers Entertainment and Rose Presents bring you the third annual Soundset Festival Sunday, May 30th 2010: the official Midwest kick-off of the summer with nine hours of the best independent Hip Hop music in one day. It all goes down at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN (rain or shine).

Confirmed artists for Soundset 2010 include: Atmosphere, Method Man & Redman, Brother Ali, Hieroglyphics featuring Del The Funky Homosapien, Souls of Mischief, Casual and Pep Love, P.O.S, Murs, Freeway & Jake One, Eyedea & Abilities, Wiz Khalifa, Cage, DJ Rob Swift, Grieves & Budo, 45 King, People Under The Stairs, BK One, DJ Revolution, Dessa, Yelawolf, Fashawn, Themselves, Busdriver, Toki Wright, Solillaquists of Sound, Prof with Rahzwell, Cecil Otter, Dark Time Sunshine, Ernest Rhodes, A.R.M (M.anifest & Krukid), Mike Dreams, I.B.E, Ice Rod, Plain Ole Bill, Mike 2600, Kid Cut Up, DJ Pratt and DJ Anton. Hosted by Peter Parker, Kevin Beacham and DJ Snuggles.

With options of two stages delivering over 40 artists performing nine hours of diverse music, an expanded B-Boy/B-Girl DJ tent, live painting exhibit, skate demo area, Slow and Low custom car show and a special Last of the Record Buyers production showcase, Soundset 2010 is guaranteed to bring the fun for the whole family!

RSVP: Facebook | Twitter

Soundset tickets available online at Ticketmaster and walk up at Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Rhymesayers: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Myspace

After the release of his last record Never Better, POS took to the road for nearly an entire year to support the album. Having toured the entire country more than two times as well as covering a large part of Europe you can’t say it hasn’t been busy year for POS. He did two headlining tours, performed at SXSW, played the entirety of Warped Tour and finished up the year on the PacSun Tour. Earlier this year he took friend and recent label mate Grieves on the road with him as well as friend and recent collaborator Astronautalis.

POS just recently returned from playing at this years Coachella music festival in California. Prior to his performance POS was named artist to watch not only by Campus Circle but also by Spin Magazine. Check out this great live 360 degree panoramic shot from his performance at Coachella from the LA Times.

POS also just recently remixed the track “Shake It Out” by Manchester Orchestra. Check it out below…

Make sure you catch him May 30th performing live at Soundset!

Buy your tickets now online through Ticketmaster or walk up through Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

RSVP: Facebook | Twitter

POS: Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Rhymesayers: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Myspace

Growing up on the south side of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mike began getting interested in hip hop music at an early age. He performed in many of Minneapolis’ community talent shows at local libraries, parks and churches. As he continued through his Jr. and Sr. High School years, he became a poetry writer, being published in national anthologies and gaining nominations for Amateur Poet of the Year on multiple occasions. After high school graduation, Mike Dreams began a serious career as a professional artist. Since 2007, he’s been releasing projects and mixtapes in the Twin Cities and online. In the spring of 2009, hip hop web magazine and blog DJBOOTH.NET ran a promotional series for Mike Dreams (then referred to as Young Son) called “Counting Sheep: Countdown To Dreamer’s Poetry” that led up to the release of a promotional mixtape by the same name in the summer of 2009 to promote the forthcoming release of his debut independent album “Dreamer’s Poetry”, that was presented by DJBOOTH.NET & 2DopeBoyz.Com the following year on February 8th, 2010 as a free digital download with option for purchase. The album contained various production from local, national and international producers, as well as singing talent from upcoming Minnesota artists.

He’s performed at notable events in the past years, serving as the headlining act at the Midwest Regional PeaceJam International celebration ceremony for 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Shirin Ebadi of Iran in March 2007 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, as well as a co-headliner along with Twin Cities rap group “Big Quarters” at the 2008 PeaceJam Celebration for Archbishop Desmond Tutu in April 2008 at the North Minneapolis Service Project. Mike Dreams is also currently on the “youthrive LIVE! Concert Series across Minnesota and the Midwest at elementary, junior and senior high schools, a traveling concert tour promoting peace through hip hop with notable Twin Cities artists including Scribble Jam 2006 Beatbox Champ “DJ Snuggles”, and Maria Isa. The tour has performed in various schools around Minnesota, the Red Wing Youth Correctional Facility, the 2008 National Youth Leadership Conference and most recently, the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America.

Mike Dreams is currently working on his second independent album titled “Just Waking Up”. It’s currently slated for a late Summer/Early Fall release in 2010. Pick up his debut album Dreamer’s Poetry from Fifth Element.

Download: Success Is…

Make sure you catch him May 30th performing live at Soundset!

Buy your tickets now online through Ticketmaster or walk up through Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

RSVP: Facebook | Twitter

Mike Dreams: MikeDreamsMusic.com | Twitter | MikeDreamsMusic
Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Rhymesayers: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Myspace

Kid Cut Up has been the one and only resident DJ for our B-boy/girl battle and this year he is back for more. On the turntables he has mastered the “Chameleon” style…he knows how to read and react to an audience. Whether rocking a packed club dance-floor, keeping heads bopping at a low-key hip hop spot, or keeping the b-boys/girl inspired in the heat of battle, Kid Cut Up always knows what to play.

“[Kid Cut Up] is easily one of the city’s most prominent and talented spinners, able to pack a room with sweaty dancers seemingly as soon as he drops his first needle. If you haven’t seen Kid Cut Up out in a Milwaukee bar, you might have heard him on WMSE as one of the co-hosts of Tuesday night’s Mad Kids hip-hop show, hands down the best regular rap showcase on Milwaukee radio.” -The Onion, Milwaukee A.V. Club (03/15/2010)

Kid Cut Up lives in Milwaukee, WI and has DJed for over 10 years. He has routinely played over 300 events a year across the Midwest and has had up to 5 weekly residencies at one time. As a recovering workaholic, Kid Cut Up now spends his time making bass heavy Discostep remixes and original production pieces, in addition to keeping a full DJ schedule. These remixes have been played by DJs such as DJ Z-Trip, DJ Yoda, and many more at both lives shows and in mixes. Kid Cut Up also runs the only all Hiphop radio show in his city, the MadKids on 91.7 WMSE, which focuses on underground and old school Hiphop and serves as a platform for the Milwaukee Hiphop community. As a co-founder of the No Request Sound System, Kid Cut Up has made an indelible mark on his local music community and soon the national one as well.

Career Highlights:
2009 – Voted Best Club DJ in 88.9 Radio Milwaukee Listener Poll
(Milwaukee, WI)
2009 – Voted Best Club DJ in Shepherd Express Reader Poll (Milwaukee,
WI)
2008 – Official promotional mix for Common’s “Universal Mind Control”
album – “Can I Borrow 99 Cents…” – Featured on over 30 blogs
including Kanye Universe City, The Smoking Section, Datpiff.com,
and 2DopeBoys.com. Had over 100,000 downloads across the
internet. (Chicago, IL / Worldwide)
2008 – Official 2008 Scribble Jam Mix CD. (Cincinnati, OH)
2006 – Vinyl Gauntlet DJ Battle Champion (Milwaukee, WI)
2006 – Scion’s “Free Up Your Mix” Regional Winner (Chicago, IL)
2005 – Best Hiphop Club for No Request Fridays in Shepherd Express
Readers Poll (Milwaukee, WI)

Download His Mixes Here at www.clubsodanoice.blogspot.com

Kid Cut Up on the tables at the Soundset ’09 B-boy Finals.

Make sure you catch him May 30th performing live at Soundset!

Buy your tickets now online through Ticketmaster or walk up through Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

RSVP: Facebook | Twitter

Kid Cut Up: Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Rhymesayers: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Myspace

After two years on a parking lot, we are officially moving Soundset onto the GRASS this year! Yes, a nice green field right next to the parking lot we rocked last year! If you want to see where exactly Canterbury Festival Field is located go to: http://is.gd/biXm1. The new field will be hippie and hip hop cypher friendly and more comforting for your feet and butt when you sit down. Oh wait, when will you have time to sit down- this is a hip hop show!

In maintaining our mission to be more earth friendly, we will continue our recycling program and make it even better this year. Last year, we recycled four of the twenty yard sized dumpsters filled with: plastic, cardboard, glass and aluminum versus sending it to a landfill. So, of our entire garbage last year, we recycled 60%. This year, we’re on a mission to improve our percentage and do even a better job! In order to improve our recycling program, part of this totally rely on you-the festival goer. Look for our recycling areas throughout the festival and please help us out by put the recyclables in their proper place. We need to get as close to 100% this year!

Also, we will have FREE tap water available on site. So, bring your sealed or empty container with you upon entrance and refill it with tap water throughout the day. This way you can help save some waste by reusing and limiting the amount of plastic bottles at Soundset 2010!

Today show some extra appreciation for Mother Earth by walking, biking, recycling, picking up trash in your neighborhood or by planting a tree. Oh and don’t forget, every day is Earth Day.

We look forward to seeing you on the grass on May 30, 2010. If you have any questions, or want to volunteer to help with recycling please email us at soundset@rhymesayers.com.

Be sure to grab your tickets from Ticketmaster or walk up through Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Rhymesayers: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Myspace

The anticipation for the A.R.M album has been building for about a year now. Each member of the crew already has a solid solo foundation and when they come together it…well, all comes together. To follow up on their steady stream of leaker tracks they are set to release an EP, “Two Africans And A Jew” on May 11th, 2010.

Despite being busy with all their projects, Krukid still found time to record a Soundset 2010 theme song, complete with a video. He definitely comes thru with the clever word play on this one. Peep it:

Learn more about the crew below (including a couple music videos, some live footage, and EP leak track!) and then come check them out on the 5th Element Stage at Soundset!

A.R.M. = M.anifest + Krukid + Budo
2009 has been quite the year for Hip Hop’s new generation of artists. Carving out their own lane among this new crop at a break neck pace is A.R.M., a musical trifecta comprising of two soul-heavy African emcees from opposite coasts of the continent and a talented Seattle producer. They clearly know the independent music hustle! Their first official video, the attention grabbing “Heaven Only Knows,” features the Underground Heavyweight Brother Ali (Rhymesayers), and has helped them amass a healthy online buzz in a short time. Hailing from Ghana and Uganda respectively, M.anifest and Krukid were individually making names for themselves in their respective new regions long before they linked up. Minneapolis based M.anifest (don’t forget the dot) garnered one accolade after the other, both here and at home in 2007, with his debut also heralded as one of “the Top 5 local albums (across genres)” of 2007 by both The Star Tribune and The City Pages and the album would go on to be re-released in Europe and Japan via Jakarta Records/Groove Attack. Meanwhile in Illinois, Krukid was blazing a trail of his own, releasing two critically acclaimed albums under CashHill Records (both were rated a 4/5 on okayplayer), one of which was AFRiCAN, released in conjunction with the famed Rawkus Records. He went on to share the stage with The Clipse, The Roots, Brother Ali and the Wu Tang Clan among others. Rounding out this formidable music posse is Seattle Production heavyweight Budo. Budo who is currently based in New York has been quietly making waves across the nation for the past several years. An unceasing touring schedule combined with extensive studio work has given this young producer production credits ranging from Music: Grieves, Brother Ali, Cunninglinguists, Macklemore, Mr Lif and many more) to television (TLC, MTV, Bravo, Animal Planet, State Farm, NBC) and even touring credits that include Al Green.

Download: Fear of the Mundane feat. Slug

Make sure you catch them May 30th performing live at Soundset!

Buy your tickets now online through Ticketmaster or walk up through Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

RSVP: Facebook | Twitter

A.R.M.: Arm4Arm.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Rhymesayers: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Myspace

This year Soundset was named “Best Festival of 2010″ by City Pages. See what they had to say below!

“All too often, summer music festivals fall into one of two major categories: the kind that takes over sprawling, grassy fields to hawk $8 light beers and host an array of clean-cut, adult-contemporary rock bands, or the kind that takes over city streets to, well, also hawk $8 beers and showcase eclectic lineups of up-and-coming local talent. And while both kinds of gatherings serve their purpose on a hot summer day, one homegrown festival has set itself apart from the rest in both format and function. Now in its third year, Rhymesayers’ Soundset festival has proven to be a unifying force for the ever-expanding local hip-hop scene, drawing more than 15,000 fans to the asphalt slabs of Canterbury Park for a daylong marathon of local and national rap acts, creating a veritable buffet of talent for the all-ages crowd to sample. Though the 2010 lineup has yet to be announced, it’s a safe bet that more than a few of the label’s major players (Atmosphere, Brother Ali, P.O.S) will attend, along with a bevy of soon-to-break-out new acts.” – City Pages

Check it out at CityPages.com

Buy your tickets now online through Ticketmaster or walk up through Fifth Element in Minneapolis!

RSVP: Facebook | Twitter

Soundset: SoundsetFestival.com | Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
Rhymesayers: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Myspace