Cutting through the hyperbole often associated with popular unpopular music.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Video: St. Paul Slim @ Artist Meets Artist (Part 2)
Slim uploaded this video of him tearing it up at the Artist Meets Artist concert with Toki Wright. To watch part one of Slim/Wright's set, along with a few highlights from some other notable MPLS hip-hop acts, click here.
To watch the rest of the set, including parts three and four, head over here
Video: St. Paul Slim and Toki Wright - Live at "Artist Meets Artist"
Slim uploaded this video of him and Toki Wright's performance at the Rhymesayers' Artist Meets Artist concert earlier this month to a MySpace bulletin late last night, and, if you watch the video, you'll know immediately that Slim and Wright absolutely tear it up. Baldheaded Samsun and A Different Mirror can't come soon enough (actually, Wright's Mirror is set to drop on June 9th via Rhymesayers). To watch another video from the concert, go here, or, check out even more videos of Atmosphere, Brother Ali, and Trauma doing their respective things below (via)
(Brother Ali - "Good Lord" - Live @ "Fine Line Music Cafe")
(Atmosphere - "God Loves Ugly" - Live @ Fine Line)
By all accounts, the Rhymesayers Artist Meets Artist concert was a smashing success. I was looking at YouTube all day yesterday, trying to find footage of Twin Cities' finest emcees doing their thing. Alas, I haven't found anything yet, but Midwest Broadcast scooped up a Vimeo video of Ghana/MPLS-based rapper M.anifest. Watch it at the top of the post. In the meantime, on to finding new videos!
If you've been over to Pitchfork this morning, then you've undoubtedly seen their sleeker, slicker website design. And, what do you know, one of the first records they've reviewed after unveiling the new design is MPLS emcee Brother Ali's The Truth is Here EP, which sees proper release tomorrow. The venerable independent artist website bestows a 7.4 on the record, not a bad score at all. Here's the lede:
If you want a striking glimpse at one MC's potential future, listen to Brother Ali's celebratory day-after reaction to Barack Obama's election on the web-released "Mr. President (You're the Man)"...Coming from a rapper who made his name on social contemplation, righteous anger, and battle-rap vengeance, Ali's joy and (guarded) hopefulness in the humbling face of history resulted in a rare but revealing moment of optimism. Question is, how much of that's going to carry into his subsequent work?
Though Ali might have conquered the likes of Pitchfork, he'll probably have an easier time meeting up with his fellow Rhymesayers labelmate Atmosphere tonight at the label's special Artist Meets Artist concert. That show promises several collaborative sets between the Twin Cities most notable hip-hop acts. Click for more details here.
However, if you're more inclined to see an artist in their own (fifth) element, then all you need to do is wait a day. Ali will be performing a free in-store over at the Fifth Element record store tomorrow to celebrate the new EP.
Watch the trailer for the EP at the top of the post.
