Video: Jake One/Rhymesayers Single Contest

Jake One explains all in the video above.

Reminder: Jennifer O' Connor Contest

Download: Jennifer O'Connor - "Today"

Hey there readers -

Just wanted to issue a quick reminder that our Jennifer O'Connor contest is still going on, and that you have until Wednesday to leave a comment, with your name and contact information (an email will suffice) on the J'OC post we did earlier last week. Or, if you'd like, you can leave your name and info in this post. Either way works fine. Deadline is tomorrow! Hop to it.

(Jonathan Graef)

MFR Contest: Win a Pair of Tickets to Thursday's RJD2 Show at First Ave

Download: RJD2 - "Beyond The Beyond"
Download: RJD2 - "Get It"

With last year's The Third Hand, Philadelphia-based hip-hop instrumentalist RJD2 made a radical change in his style. D2's first two records were largely sample-based affairs, but this third, and most recent, one finds the DJ--who may know through his work with Rhymesayers act Blueprint as Soul Position--both singing and playing live instruments on almost every track.

Whether that new style holds up in a live setting remains to be seen, but those who are curious can find out for themselves when RJD2 plays tomorrow night at First Avenue. MFR plans to help those musical adventurers out by giving away a free pair of tickets to the show!

What do you have to do in order to win these tickets? The answer is simple. By 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, you have to write to jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com and tell us what's your favorite record this year so far (on a local or national level) and why. Let's set the word maximum at 250. The best one gets to go, with a guest, to the RJD2 tomorrow.

So, just to review: 1. Write to jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com and tell us what your favorite record of the year is. 2. Do so before 10 a.m. tomorrow. 3. If yours is the best, you'll be going to see RJD2 tomorrow for absolutely free.

Sounds good? Of course it does.

Listen to two RJD2 tracks at the top of the post.

RJD2 MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Freestyle to Atmosphere, Then Have It Aired on MTV2 (Rhymesayers/Sucker Free Contest)

Download: Atmosphere - "Shoulda Known"

Sucker Free has announced a contest involving MPLS rap duo Atmosphere, their label Rhymesayers and MTV2. The contest involves you, the reader, or in this case, viewer, download the instrumental version of Atmosphere's song "Shoulda Known." Then, you upload the video of your own version, complete with freestyle, to the MTV2 website. The winner of the contest will have their video played on the "Sucker Free" show.

Read more about the contest here

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is out April 22nd.

Atmosphere MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

More Cowbell Gives Away Tickets To Friday St. Vincent Show

Download: St. Vincent - "Now Now"

St. Vincent's Marry Me is still a stunner of a debut record, so it's no surprise that Annie Clark and her band of merry men are unwaveringly touring behind it. That tour includes a stop at the Cedar Cultural Center on Friday, the 22nd. Tickets are still available for the show, both online and at the venue, but those of you who think that you're lucky, punk, can get tickets for free.

More Cowbell is giving away tickets to the show in question. All you have to do is email Paul@Howwastheshow.com for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the concert. Pretty simple, but also pretty awesome. You have until tomorrow, Thursday, at noon to enter. Winners will be chosen at random so, if you lose, don't take it personally. It's an all-ages show and doors open at 8. Foreign Born open.

Once again, the email is paul@howwastheshow.com. Good luck!

Marry Me is out now.

St. Vincent MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)