El-P Releases Free Internet-Only Album

Radiohead may have popularized the give-away-your-latest-album-for-free business model, but, in recent times, it's hip-hop that's taken the baton and really ran with it. Artists like Atmosphere, Rhymefest, Girl Talk and The Cool Kids have gave it away, gave it away, gave it away, now.

Add to that list El-P, who last year put out one of 2007's best records, I'll Sleep When Your Dead. On his MySpace Blog, the Producto explains why he decided to give away disc one of his formerly tour-only We're All Going To Hell Megamix tape (of which this is the second volume):

...(T)o be honest i felt kind of bad not letting fans who weren't able to go to the shows hear this stuff.Also, for those lucky 500 who bought the limited pressings I am offering to replace any of the cds that may have been blank. Unfortunately I have heard that a small portion were, which sucks dick and makes me feel like an asshole at the same time. So in a bid to quell the justified pain and borderline rage some have felt popping in a blank cd please send your blank cd to Def Jux

115 South Oxford St.Suite 556
Brooklyn NY 11217
and we will send you a replacement of the cd only, keep your packaging. love, el

Read the full statement here here. Be sure that you do, because there is some key information in there.

As for the mix itself, it's mostly instrumental, but there are a few tracks where El-P is in more emcee mode than DJ. One of those is "Krazy Kings 3", which is posted at the top. Another highlight we've posted is "Fuck The Law", which we've done so because of the crazy sample that's featured prominently. For the rest, including one track that sample the same orchestral track that Lupe Fiasco's "Intro", from his Food and Liquor CD, sampled, go here

El-P MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Tonight in Minneapolis: EL-P, Dizzee Rascal

Buy the tour-only EL-P CD, for which you see the cover of at the top of the post, when EL-P and Dizzee Rascal stroll into the Triple Rock for a 21+ show. Tickets are $20 and can be bought here.

(Jonathan Graef)

EL-P Announces May Minneapolis Date With Dizzee Rascal

(El-P)


(Dizzee Rascal)

Download: El-P - "Run The Numbers"
Download: Dizzee Rascal - "Fix Up, Look Sharp"

Pitchfork reported the news on Friday that EL_P and Dizzee Rascal, two of hip-hops most dynamic, creative and forward-thinking artists, have teamed up to do a tour together, one which will touch down in Minneapolis in the middle of May. The tour partnership is apropos of the fact that Def Jux, El-P's label, will spearheading the US release of Rascal's widely acclaimed third album Maths + English. The Pitchfork article quotes El-P as saying that "as big as (Rascal) is overseas, he's never really had as much of a chance to get out there in the U.S., so the idea of touring with him is really exciting for me. Between the two of us it should be a pretty insane experience."

Speaking of insanity, the article also states that El-P is working on a follow-up to last year's outstanding I'll Sleep When Your Dead, stating on his aforementioned MySpace blog that the new effort "will most likely be a little more than an ep, a bit less than an album, and a whole lot of fuckery."

Based on the results of his last effort, it's safe to say that the world could use more of El-P's fuckery.

Here be tour dates, courtesy of the 'Fork:

03-13 Austin, TX - The Scoot Inn (Definitive Jux SXSW showcase) *
05-08 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
05-09 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
05-10 New York, NY - Webster Hall
05-11 Boston, MA - Middle East
05-12 Ottawa, Ontario - New Capital Music Hall
05-14 Detroit, MI - Crofoot Ballroom
05-15 Chicago, IL - The Abbey
05-16 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Club
05-19 Seattle, WA - Neumos
05-20 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan
05-21 San Francisco, CA - 1015
05-22 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey

Dizzee Rascal's Maths + English will be out on Def Jux on April 22nd. El-P's I'll Sleep When You're Dead is out now.

EL-P MySpace Page
Dizzee Rascal MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)