In this first segment, Julian talks about his music industry approach with TheRevolution, a company that scouts talent and assists those artists with a variety of business endeavors including: finance, development, digital and physical distribution, promotion, and other important aspects of their careers.

Julian is also one of the first artists on the label. His new release, a four-track EP, was co-written and co-performed James Scott Cook. The title track “Lucy” is about his childhood friend that inspired his father and The Beatles to write and record “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Lucy Vodden recently died from complications of lupus. theRevolution is donating a portion of proceeds to various lupus foundations. Cook’s grandmother, also named Lucy, also died from the same illness.

(Artwork for the new release.)

As a child, Julian created a drawing of Lucy. This image was the inspiration for the classic Beatles’ song. In this interview Lennon discusses his thoughts on the industry, his motivation for theRevolution, and he speaks about Lucy. As well, he talks about forgiving his father for not playing a significant role in his upbringing. Lennon has had significant previous success of his own with releases such as “Valotte,” which the Grammy nominated “Too Late for Goodbyes” was a single from.

Despite his successes, and the fact that his father is one of the most recognized artists in the history of music, Lennon has still had a rough time as a recording artist. This is part of his motivation for starting theRevolution. The company’s slogan is “Turning the music business into the musician’s business.” It is Lennon’s desire to help artists be in business for themselves. -Israel Vasquetelle

(Julian Lennon on the Music Industry)

(Julian Lennon on forgiving his father)

If you enjoyed this, visit Insomniac Magazine’s interview with Family Man Barrett, bassist for Bob Marley’s Legendary Wailers. He speaks with Israel Vasquetelle about the music industry, his history with Bob Marley, and the meaning of authentic Reggae.

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MCA = HIP HOP

8/5/64 – 5/4/12 

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PFM & IRON ORA- POMEGRANATE SUNSET
Hoverock Records

We may be only five months into 2012 and seven months ’til the end of the world, but I’m going to say this now- Pomegranate Sunset is one of my favorite albums this year. Hip Hop is worldwide and is all about diversity. But many get it twisted; still, to this day Hip Hop has mostly been all about the newest catch-phrases and how one looks and what one owns, but ultimately what true fans still want is music with spirit; music that is from the soul and PFM & Iron Ora’s debut album is just that. PFM and Iron Ora are emcees (and producers in their own right) from the Miami Dade area, who keep it real without glorifying ignorance. They  artists who stay humble and just make tight music.

This album represents everything that’s right about Hip Hop on any level. Comprised mainly of two emcees, you get extremely gifted artists instead of one lyricist being more dominant than the other, which has been a main issue when it comes to rap duos historically. Each has a distinct style and play perfectly off one another. The only similarity is that they are equally aggressive lyrically. When listening to this album, you won’t forget the linguistic styles of the title track “Pomegranate Sunset,” the smooth jazzy vibe of “Space,” the thunderous boom bap of “Degenerate Matrix” and the upbeat, Halloween-themed “Zombies Ate My Neighbors.” 

Once in a while, an album comes along that’s an unexpected breath of fresh air and in the end, it really doesn’t matter what the genre is, as long as the vibe is dope. It’s hard to put into words what’s so nice about losing yourself in a release like “Pomegranate Sunset.” It’s the same kind of vibes I get from listening to artists like Organized Konfusion, Boot Camp Click, Mannish, Souls of Mischief or modern artists like The Heart and The Brain (of Central Florida) or the Mudkids (Indiana). Truly gifted individuals being paired with just the right music so that you can forget yourself and enjoy their verbal and audio gifts is what this art and culture sorely needs. The album stems from an inner sense of artistic bliss, the joy of expressing something that’s more than just poetry or moods. The beats are hard, crispy, bouncy, and I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to nod or blast this at home or in their mobile units.

Please support this LP and Hoverock @ http://pfmandironora.bandcamp.com/. Bless C73Eternal

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El Producto entered the music industry many years ago as part of the groundbreaking crew Company Flow. He established himself as an amazing producer, artist, A&R, and record label entrepreneur. Now he’s keeping up with the tradition of excellence on his upcoming release. Here’s some the proof:

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HOBS SPUTNIK- SATELLITE STRANGE
Paramanu Recordings

As they say, “better late than never.”  This LP was released in the middle of 2011- August 2011 to be exact- and even though I received my copies early this year, I have to admit, I just never had the time to review this dope piece of material. I also have to admit that subconsciously, I make it a point to listen to this as much as possible. It seems like everything Paramanu Recordings touches and releases turns to gold. It’s a testament to the two individuals who are running the label.

For those not aware, Hobs Sputnik is a Canadian born and bred emcee who, has been hustling in the independent Hip Hop scene for years. The name may not be familiar to mainstream hip-hop listeners, but in some sections of the underground, he is one of many innovative creators who are taking the art to new and unique areas. Although this is considered his debut release, he did release an LP a few years ago called “The Sounds of Satellites Crashing,” which was another banger. Aside from these two releases and a few cameos on other projects, Hobs has garnered a huge following in the underground Hip Hop community.

I must say, there’s not really a weak moment on this 19 track long album. The only gripe I have, and it is minor, is that it’s too cameo heavy. For whatever reason, I feel that Hobs is capable of holding his own with maybe a few guest appearances, albeit the cameos are really dope. The execution each MC has is dirty and gritty; you can tell these brothers, whether they’re vets or up and comers, are hungry. Production is shared by a number of people (Timmo80, DebMaster, Kung Lao, Th’ Mole, Sapience, etc), but they each compliment the uncontrolled power of the vocals and lyrics. Lyrically, everything is laid on the line, loads of clever metaphors but no second guessing what they’re talking about. The LP boasts emcees like Tame One, Nomar Slevik, Megabusive, Tank Wonderful, Noah 23, etc. That’s alot to digest in one sitting.

The vibe of Hobs Sputnik’s “Satellite Strange” is one of unity, not only with each of the participants, but with the rest of the world. Hobs Sputnik is very intellectual and approaches everything from a different angle, which means you have to listen very closely to understand his main aim. Still, the lyrical direction and serious production will be very clear to serious Hip Hop heads. I love having the problem of not being able to pick a few tracks as highlights, but it’s not easy when even the intro is hot. If you don’t believe me, then cop it and tell me otherwise. In all, this album is the answer to the definitive question, What’s been lacking in the Hip Hop industry lately?

Check out Hobs and support @ http://paramanurecordings.bandcamp.com/album/hobs-sputnik-satellite-strange. Bless C73Eternal

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Knotz own Dreadchild in his cinematic video for the new single The Definition.

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“Last Days Here” is an emotionally charged rock doc that tells a story of addiction, Rock and Roll, and redemption. A fan of Pentagram, a fairly unknown metal band from the early 70’s, sets on a mission to save the severely drug addicted lead singer of the band from an early death and eternal obscurity. Sean “Pellet” Pelletier’s love of music and a dedication to share his passion with the world, fuels his drive to help Bobby Liebling overcome decades of demons that have left him on what appears to be his last days.

(Note: a screener of the film was made available for this review.)

Beyond following the story of Liebling’s struggle to get clean and back on stage, the film does a great job of introducing the viewer to a hidden treasure largely ignored by the music industry. Pentagram’s sound is very much in the vein of Black Sabbath, however, they’re far from imitators, instead they’re the famous band’s undiscovered contemporaries. The song “Forever My Queen” from the group’s 1973 demo, which is showcased in the film, contains a haunting, yet severely infectious riff. As a fan in the movie does a great job of explaining, as well as having solid, hard-hitting music, Pentagram is alluring because they’re authentic heavy metal pioneers that are far from overexposed.

The documentary is a compelling look into a dark side of life and the immense power of music. Directors Don Argott and Demian Fenton have a previous foray into music as a tool of empowerment with their 2005 documentary “Rock School.” “Last Days Here” is a bit grimmer than the amazingly inspirational “The Story of Anvil,” however, it’s a gripping, satisfying and touching trip worth taking. The film is distributed by IFC and soon available on-demand.

Check out Insomniac Magazine’s interview with the stars of “The Story of Anvil.”

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A hologram of Tupac was used at the 2012 Coachella Festival to bring a virtual Makaveli performance to the stage with a real live Snoop Dogg. It’d be interesting to see if fans will soon be able to catch Tupac in concert at an arena near them in the future.

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“Our Show” interview with Iz-Real conducted by Conshus. Filmed and edited by Varras Tower.

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Check out ‘Must Be The Music’ remixed by 2&4, the producers behind the First Serve project:

Courtesy of Ed Blow- MudHutDigital

“It’s funky, it’s hip-hop, it’s disco and it’s classic.” This is De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2 present ‘First Serve’; a dynamic hip-hop group, an album, a concept, the soundtrack to a movie that has yet to be made and a fable for our times.

‘First Serve’ is many things, but at its heart it is the story of two young boys from Queens, New York with big dreams and larger rhymes. Two friends, Deen Whitter (aka Plug 2 / Dave) and Jacob ‘Pop Life’ Barrow (aka Plug 1/ Pos), friends from seventh grade, are by their own admission, “different, but the differences seem to complement everything we do.” Their name ‘First Serve’ comes from their motto, “First come, First Serve, get what you deserve.” Years on the hustle, laying down demos and mixtapes in Deen’s mother’s basement sees them eventually taken under the wing of a flamboyant reformed coke dealer Ken Du, who took the position as their manager, and shopped their blend of hip-hop around.

The first instalment of this story is the jocular single ‘Must B The Music’, released on 26th March 2012 via PIAS Recordings. An upbeat, fresh track that finds the balance of a modern sound, with an old school feel that nods to the Hip-Hop flair of the late 70′s through the mid 90′s and beyond. Adding to the single are remixes from Zed Bias, Yuksek and Mr Chop amongst others, broadening the wide musicality of this exciting album project.

This album was made with the acclaimed French production team 2 & 4 (aka Chokolate & Khalid) who themselves first met through their love of turntablism. The album concept starts with their story: to fulfil their shared dream of recording a live hip-hop record. To do this they roped in the legendary De La Soul boys who created their alter egos Deen and Jacob for their part in this alternate reality. The four of them set about putting their hip-hop fable together in Paris, putting the producers’ live beats and electro flavours to the duo’s rhymes. The end result is a high-spirited, hilarious journey of hip-hop, skits and beats, where all the action takes place in a hyper-colour, animated world.

From the ‘Opening Credits’ through to tracks like the funky euphoric ‘We Made It’, the story follows our heroes’ original success, through the darkly-hung, break-up ode of ‘Clash Symphony’ to their eventual, tender reunion on the irresistible ‘Tennis’ and the call-and-response show finale, ‘Move ‘Em In, Move ‘Em Out’ – Deen and Jacob find themselves “bound together with a handshake, not a contract.” and we can all take something from the message that threads the tale of ‘First Serve’ together.

The ‘First Serve’ album drops April 2nd via PIAS Recordings
Album preorder here:
http://www.wearefirstserve.com/#preorder

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