For Lady Daisey, the hits just keep on coming. If you remember right, we've been previewing the songs for her first single, "Magical," from her upcoming album, In My Pocket. The digital single features the original and four remixes from her friends, DJ Vadim, Supa Dave West, Paten Locke and Batsauce. Today, we have not only the Supa Dave West remix for the masses, but we also have a (key the music) WORLD-WORLD-WORLD-WORLD P-P-Premiere, with Paten Locke's remix. Did I mention, it's the first time heard anywhere?
You may remember Supa Dave West from his De La Soul fame. He did some production for artists such as De La Soul and Phife. It's good to see him add his twist to the creation of the single. It's a rather dope beat that fits well.
Lady Daisey - Magical "Supa Dave West Remix"
The second is probably my favorite so far and of course it's from Paten Locke. Paten just takes the original concept and adds on to it. I'm not sure if it's better than the original, but it's just as enjoyable.
Lady Daisey - Magical "Wow Mix" by Paten Locke
http://soundcloud.com/ladydaisey/lady-daisey-magical-wow-mix-by-paten-locke
Showing posts with label Paten Locke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paten Locke. Show all posts
4/09/2010
Lady Daisey - Magical Remixes
4/03/2010
Paten Locke - Ventilation (Video)
Paten Locke's video for one of my favorite songs on my favorite album from 2009, Ventilation. I think this is Paten's debut video as well. Not it matters, dope video, check it out....
2/11/2010
Yo WYDU Raps
A sneak peak.....
Paten Locke - Ventilation
My man Paten Locke is set to release his second single, "Ventilation," which happens to be my favorite joint from the album. He shot the video while out in L.A. toward the end of last year. Here is just a little behind the scenes love before the video, which is P. Locke's first video.
Dillon & Paten Locke - Stay Relative
Speaking of Paten Locke, he brought along a friend. Dillon Mauer and Paten Locke dropped a great album in The Studies In Hunger, it just happened to come during the whole year end crap and kinda got lost in the mess. But I've made up for it as I've played the shit out of it over the month of January. The beat is nothing short of special as Paten Locke crafts the perfect soundtrack for Dillon to drop that realness. No, I'm not talking about poppin' shots, I'm talking about family. Dillon brings out his family tree, literally. The video is well crafted and it's perfect to bring home the meaning of the song.
NoCanDo - Exploits & Glitches
Alright, so I've been sleeping on this Project Blowed graduate. I got the wake up call earlier this week when NoCanDo's Jimmy The Lock, he's latest album got passed to me and I've been playing fairly non stop since then. It's got noise, I love noise. Loud drums too. The video is creative as hell, which just adds to the song. This is how you do it...
Mike Schpitz aka LoveJones - The Rain
In some ways I almost prefer Mike Schpitz aka LoveJones over the Phys Ed beats, but I can't argue with the beat he borrowed from 9th Wonder neither. The video has some cool shots and holds the interest, but should have been shot during a rainy day, or a hurricane, Mike's choice....
Zerostar - Intro (Everybody)
We featured Zerostar in the past, this Ohio MC is part of the Weightless crew and is currently working on a full length that (I believe) is supposed to be produced by Blueprint. We'll find out for sure when we talk to him in the next week or so. He dropped his free EP Are We There Yet last summer, which you can pick up......now
Download the EP
The video is dope enough, produced by Shankar, it's the typical day-n-the-life, around the city, black and white video, but it's done professionally. Very sharp actually.
Kam Moye - Forever Fresh
North Carolina's own, Kam Moye aka Supastition, teams up with up and coming Bay Area director, Charles Barcelona (Homegrown Outfitters/Right Lane Ent) for the Marco Polo-produced banger, "Forever Fresh." The video is done documentary-style and showcases Kam in various behind-the-scenes clips, past videos, and show footage from performances in the U.S. and abroad. The rest of the video was shot on location in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The song itself is reminiscent of the former Supastition sound with Kam spitting rapid fire, while still dropping jewels like "I'm what happens when a child prodigy grows up." Marco Polo's head nodding production shines brilliantly throughout the track triumphant horn stabs and classic boom bap drums leave the perfect backdrop for Kam's ferocity. "Forever Fresh" is the b-side to Kam Moye's official second single and album title track, "Splitting Image." - Press
Ali Vegas feat Eyes Low - Strugglin' Artist
The video isn't anything special, it's got all your typcial hip hop subjects. I like the track a lot though, the production is on some smooth string shit.
Download track Here.
Children of the Night - Rumpus
RUMPUS, Children of the Night from Jon Wasserman on Vimeo.
I'm not sure where I stand on this video/track. The video is kinda boring in the sense I'm just watching a dude rap, with some other clips mixed in. The image they are portraying almost feels like that hipster stuff which I'm rather sick of. The beat sounds like something that came off of Kanye's 808 & Heartbreaks debacle. I had a love/hate relationship with the beats on that album, just like I do with this track. The emcees are nice though with theirs, which is where my confusion on whether to like this track or not lies. I don't think the video helps it all, but I'm still debating on the actual song.
Fat Rat Da Czar - Something Ain't Right
As far as videos go, this video from Fat Rat Da Czar might be the best one of the week. It might read a little too much like an after school special for some people, but I found the "mini movie" to be rather powerful. It follows along with the song, so it's basically a visual of what is going on in the song, and it follows it beautifully. The song itself is powerful in it's message, but not drawn out or dull, thanks to a beat that gives the song the needed character to be a moving song.
Jern Eye - Get Down
Jern Eye's new video for "Get Down" is anything but a "vision all helter skelter." Jam-packed with beautiful girls, special effects, and an energetic front man, the video for "Get Down," the official first single from Jern's sophomore album, Vision, is something provides the perfect visuals for the upbeat party-vibe. "Since the song is very high energy, we decided to make it visually dynamic in the post editing," says Jern. "A lot of cool affects were used on the set as well, like having projection transposed during some of the performance shots." As the infectious drumbeat takes hold, explosive special effects and colors pop at all the right moments, the result being a visually stunning viewing experience. Director Jon Santos took a very simple shoot, added the many facets of Jern Eye's personality, and created a unique and exciting experience perfect as the backdrop of a funky dance club. Although not apparent on first watch, Jern Eye's album cover for Vision is inserted into the video numerous times as well as a visual reminder of the song's name, "Get Down." The video also highlights the instruments that make the song so powerful with shots of the synthesizer playing its catchy lick and drummer pushing the beat. Jern Eye's sophomore album, Vision, is now available via MYX Music Label.
Buy the album here http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=332417227&s=143441
Richie Cunning - Richie Cunning's Day Off
RoutineFly and Richie Cunning are proud to present the official video for “Richie Cunning’s Day Off”, shot and directed by Trevor Traynor (www.trevortraynor.com / www.ishooteverything.com). The video is filmed in a grip of locations including but not limited to; someone else’s limo, a matinee showing of “More Than A Game”, and a cave. The song itself is available on Richie Cunning’s “Late Night Special” mixtape as well as Rec-League’s “Season Two” compilation, both released in December of 2009. Richie Cunning’s debut album “Night Train“ is available now on Routinefly.com as well as iTunes, Amazon and other fine internet music retailers.
11/10/2009
Paten Locke - Super Ramen Rocketship
A couple of days ago I had the chance to meet up with Paten Locke and talk to him briefly about his upcoming shows and newest album release "Super Ramen Rocketship."
Im based in Southern California and always willing to link up and do some interviews or shoot some random footage, if your interested drop me a line.
O-Snaps
10/20/2009
Paten Locke - Super Ramen Rocketship
It's Tuesday and you know what that means. Well, then again, maybe you don't. Back in the old days (when we were walking uphill to school in the snow....both ways), albums were released on Tuesdays. We would go to the store and pick up the latest album that dropped. It was a big thing. In these days of internet leaks, we hear everything at least a week before it drops. It's unfortunate, but these are the days we live in.
Today is a pretty good day as far as releases go. Cormega's "Born & Raised", Royce's "Street Hop", and even the Fashawn album, "Boy Meets World," has gotten rave reviews from some people I tend to listen to. All these are more than likely going to be good albums, but there is one album that drops today that I KNOW is worth your hard earned money. What album is that you ask? Paten Locke's "Super Ramen Rocketship".
Yes, I've pushed Paten aka Therapy quite often on WYDU over the years, either with his two groups, The ABs or the Smile Rays or pushing his solo work most of this summer. That doesn't take away from the greatness that is "Super Ramen...", which is nothing but pure unadulterated hip hop. No guest appearances, no guest producers, no guest DJs, it's all done by Paten, the lyrics, the scratches, the production. As you can imagine it makes for one incredibly cohesive project. But don't let the word "cohesive" fool you and making you think that it's one of those albums that you can't distinguish one track from another. It doesn't have that problem, with a wide variety of sounds and topics. "Auto Reverse", a track about P's love for cassette tapes, sounds nothing like the whirly strings and dreamy like lyrics found on "Ventilation, " one of my favorite tracks on "Super Ramen Rocketship".
Everything is correct on this Tres release. Very few MC's posses Paten's energy on the mic. He's simply ferocious at time, taking control of the mic and just spitting hard. Other times he's full of one liners that give the listener a chuckle or two. It's refreshing to hear someone love to do what he is doing as much as Paten. There is fast tracks ("Ash On Em"), slow tracks ("Til Dawn"), old school tracks ("Funky Hit Record") and new school tracks ("Wadup"). There is humor ("Just Me") and there is seriousness ("After You"). He talks about Obama, his ex-wife, his new woman, and his daughter. He name drops Captain Lou Albino (RIP), Mike The Mouth Matisaw. You get the whole array of Paten Locke after listening to the fourteen tracks. Short, sweet and to the point.
To be completely honest, I hate doing reviews, and I don't want this to come off as a review than more of a recommendation. I've played this album non stop since I acquired my promo copy almost two months ago. Not many albums can capture my attention as much as this album. If you find yourself usually liking the same music that I like, then P Locke's "Super Ramen Rocketship" is a MUST have. You can get it on iTunes, your favorite physical product purchase place (with vinyl coming VERY soon).
7/02/2009
WYDU Interview with Paten Locke: PART TWO
W: You said you did everything over in Germany, so that means it's done right? The album is recorded and ready to go?
PL: Super Ramen Rocketship, and yes, it's done. It has a date of Sept 22nd, ummmm, I think. I'm confused about it, because we are just figuring out dates. It'll be in September. It's fourteen tracks, well actually thirteen tracks and a bonus track. If anything the bonus track might be the one that might change. We'll see....
W: How is this going to be different than say a Smile Rays album, or an Alias Brothers albums?
PL: Oh well.....
W: Besides the obvious....
PL: Well one thing about this album is that it has something that not many hip hop albums have anymore and that there isn't any guest appearances. None, in any form. No one else made a beat, no one else rapped, no one else wrote a song, no one else did a cut. It was all me. Ever record you get anymore seems to have something, a feature or a beat. Even Kanye had some outside production. This record has no one else on it. That's just so I can sink or swim by myself. That's the main difference.....wait, that's technically not true (silence, then he yells) FUCK!....Well, technically, that's not true. Daisey is doing background vocals on it. No leads, every time she is singing, I'm singing as well. Ehhhhhhh, I'm still going to go with the no guest appearance thing. Shout outs to Lady Daisey though, BIIIIIIIG shout outs to Lady Daisey (laughing).....
On top of that, aesthetically and musically, it's definitely not like a Smile Rays record. When there is more than one person in the group, it compromises your ideas. They are not just YOUR ideas. You have to collaborate. This album is a single person's vision. I didn't have to consult with anyone else, it's all on me.
Sonically, the Asamov record is a true hip hop record, it's true school hip hop. The Smile Rays, is a funky old school sort of thing going on, with the break beats and all of that. My shit is definitely not like either one of those. It's a little less throw-backish. Don't get me wrong, it's not the kind of beats that Drake or Kanye is using today, it's not like that. I think it sounds different. The Smile Rays is a one of a kind sound, so I can't compare it to that. It's not overly upbeat or positive, nor is a hip hop oriented as say the Asamov record. I'm talking about myself on a lot of it and my situations, stuff that people can relate to. And since I did all the beats, it's different that way. It's my sound, it's how I sound.
W: When you started off doing this, was that the goal, you wanted it to be all you. Or was that just kind of the way it ended up happening?
PL: That is something that just kind of came up through making it and how I wanted to present my music to the world. I've been making music for a while. I think it just kind of happen that I made a lot of friends through tours and I've talked to a lot of people. It was possible to get someone like Slug on the record, you know, someone kinda of big. Even Mr. Lif or Ak, who are real good friends of mine. Then I started thinking, I could get this person, I could get that person. The problem I thought with that is it's not even my record. So I started backtracking from that and going the opposite way. I just wanted to make my record. I make as many beats a day as anyone I know and I rhyme as much as anyone I know, I might as well do this my way. It was a challenge and a statement about the collaborations and the trends in hip hop music. It's cool, and I like seeing that, but I remember seeing records that had no guest appearances on them. I just wanted to take it back to something that is "different".
W: One MC and one producer, you don't see that at all anymore...
PL: Yeah, I mean you see a producer who is an MC as well, but usually he is going to have at least a bunch of other guests appear on the record. Anything I can do to be different that I actually agree with, I have to do....
W: How come it's taken so long for this solo release? You've been around the scene since the early part of the decade, but it's just now coming to fruition eight years or so...
PL: Yeah, something like that. It was just never my primary focus. The focus was always on whatever group effort I was doing, whether it was The ABs or The Smile Rays. The thing about both of those groups is that they are comprised of individuals that can do their own thing and they are doing their own thing right now, so it only made sense that I did mine. Willie E(vans Jr.) put out his solo record. The whole idea behind the Smile Rays was to see Daisey blast off and do her own thing. That was something I thought about happening just as much as I thought about my own record, was seeing her hit the big time.
Tres came to me and said, "Do it." I guess I was just waiting for someone to say, "Do it." Anyone could have suggested it years ago and I would have done it. Tres is actually someone that puts out records, so that made it even better. Even now I'm always collaborating with other people, it's something I'm kind of known for. That's another reason I wanted this record to have no guests. I'm tired of getting on the stage and someone says, "I love that Willie E beat", and I have to say, "I PRODUCED THAT!!!!" (laughing)....
W: What do you hope to accomplish with this record. Are you looking for platinum sales or do you just want it to be well received by the true hip hop fans? What is your ideal outcome for this record?
PL: I really would like this record to be well received. I would love for people to book me for shows and say, "We'd love to hear you rap." I just want to take the next step with this, it's my introduction in a true sense. It's really the first time for a lot of people hearing me, so I'd love for people to say, "We really liked the record," or to even say, "We really don't like the record." It's weird, I've never really gone through this particular emotion before, "hmmmm, I wonder...?" I'm not going to let it hurt my feelings if it flops and I'm not going to let it blow my head up if it does good. If people generally just say, "Whatever," I'm probably still make another record. If the reception is great, I'll make another record (Trav is laughing hard by this time). Either way it's something I'm proud of and it's something that is necessary in my walk through life. It's perfect time, this is how it's supposed to happen.
At this time, just a few of my good friends have heard the record. I really didn't want to play it for a lot of people, since I don't know for sure when it's coming out. I've gotten a good response out of it. I just want it to be well received. I'm not looking for anything other than people liking it and translating into me being able to do more shows and move in an upward fashion. I'm cool with whatever rate as long as its upward.
W: Cool, cool. Are all three of those songs on the 12 inch on the album as well?
PL: Yes, they are. You know what's funny with that? I think Tres wanted me to give them a song that wasn't going to be on the record, but I didn't know what was going to be on the record when I did the single. It just happened all three of them ended up being on the record. They all hold down different points in the equation. I got "Just Me", which is the Mike Matasow reference, "Break Thru" is the single, it's just an introduction, letting people know how I get down, "I'm not a Christian, I'm not a Muslim, and I'm not a Jew". The other, "Funky Hit Record", which is actually my favorite, it's just a little more funkier. Those are all three going to be on the record.
W: Did you record a lot of material for this album? Did you have a lot of different songs to pick from?
PL: I recorded way more than what was on the album, but that was because of the idea of working with this European label. I was just recording mad shit, also just because I was with Bat, I wanted to take the three months to record as much shit as possible. Bat would be like, "Wait a minute, is this for the album?" And I'd be like, "No, let's just record this and see what happens." His agreement was to record my album, but he ended up recording my album and then half of this EP that I'm going to put out and a few songs for whatever this next record is going to be. The whole time he was like, "Man, we should do some Smile Rays songs," and I'd be like, "MAN I'M STRESSED, I NEED TO GET MY ALBUM DONE!!! DON'T BOTHER ME WITH THAT!" (laughs)
I'm going to put out this EP, I did this old record where it's just me bugging out and not being so serious. I recorded some stuff for that, it'll be out locally and at shows and probably digitally to promote the Tres record. I recorded a bunch of shit that isn't going to be on the album and it'll turn up someway. Also I have a bunch of collaborations in the works and shit I'm doing with other cats, and that stuff will be used to promote the record as well.
W: So when you went to Germany, did you have the concepts done already and just knock a bunch of stuff out there.
PL: I had all but two of my beats done before I left. I went over there with just folders of my beats. A month before I left, I just locked myself down and made as many beats as I could. I took about a 100 new beats that I just made and just started writing ideas for songs. Some old, some new, you know, that kind of thing. I just started putting everything together on a daily basis. When I got there Bat was like, "You got everything written, you got everything ready to go...," and I was, "Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaah..., I just need to write mad rhymes." And as I said, there are even two beats that are on the record that I made while I was over there. I brought all the tools I thought I needed to make a record. All the beats, the foundations for a bunch of rhymes to build off of. Then daily I just kind of moved forward. I'd go into Bat's studio/bedroom and just take it from there. I tried to go there as prepared as much as possible, because I knew time was going to be important. I spent a lot of time arranging like how the album should go.
W: Is there a concept to this album then?
PL: The concept is actually the title of the album, Super Ramen Rocketship. It means a bunch of stuff, but specifically what I've been announcing at shows as a guest artist for Lif. Basically Super Ramen Rocketship, in these tough economic times, "Super Ramen" is basically a metaphor for making something from nothing. People have to scale back down to Ramen Noodles, but people figure out shit to put in that to make it worth while. They figure out how to make something "Super" out of the bullshit times we are in. The idea is making something from nothing then taking that to higher heights. Taking the Ramen, making it super, then blasting off in your rocket ship.
It's funny, because I eat a lot of Ramen. I probably eat more Ramen than the average muthafucka. I just like it, I eat it when I have other shit I could be eating. I also like it because it sounds like "rhyming". It's like "Super Rhyming Rocketship", which I like and is intentional as well. I had another title for the album. I told it to Bat about halfway through recording it and he looked at me and said, "What else you got?" So I had to think of something more clever. When I came up with Super Ramen Rocketship, he said he was down with it. I have a super rhymin' rocketship in my backyard that I'm building. I AM a Super Rhyming Rocketship, anybody who makes something out of nothing is a Super Ramen Rocketship.
This all ties into what hip hop is to me. It's making something out of nothing. It's certainly the foundation and the essence of what hip hop came from, making something out of nothing. Afrika Baambaataa coming out of the Bronx gangs, there was nothing was going on for him, but he was self propelled with the idea of the Zulu Nation. That was a cat that was working with a Ramen budget, the whole Bronx was working on a Ramen budget, and they made something out of nothing. Flash, using a light switch for a fader, something out of nothing. That's what it is, that's what we do. Sampling, not that it comes out of nothing, but it's a bunch of raw materials, but it's recreating and making something out of it and throwing a bunch of rhymes on it. All of that, it just really stands for hip hop, Super Ramen Rocketship.
W: Deep, I'm digging it.....
PL: Aaaaaand, the lead singer from the 80's (and early to mid 90's).....did I tell you this already?
W: I think so....
PL: Yeah, a lot of people hear the title and think it's pretty good, but she was like, "That's the best title ever and I'll never forget it." I feel real good about this one. I felt horrible about titles at first, because I came up with one and Bat shot me down so fast, it was something terrible. But he made me come up with something, so it worked out.
W: The album is coming out on vinyl too, right?
PL: That's right. I tell you, I want to put all this shit out on vinyl. I'm definitely going to do a 45, I want to put out an instrumental album. Lots of vinyl. You gotta get on they vinyl list...
(We break into a conversation about vinyl, what we purchased, my parents rock collection that I've come into possession and the old rock group Sugarloaf and other vinyl/music related subjects)
W: (Back to the interview) After the album, what do you have planned in the future?
PL: I guess the same thing I was doing before the album, which is trying to push the album. I've also for the longest time wanted something that I could really go all out on, in terms of pushing it. My idea is to run with it. I actually have a reason to show up to the clubs by myself, or anywhere I show up. I could be at the grocery store and someone can say, "Hey, you have that album out!"
Besides that, I'll continue to work with Asamov (The ABs), I'll continue to work with The Smile Rays and see where the next places I put out different projects are. Just more of the same man. I don't see much changing. I just want to be heard.
W: You did that little thing with Willie and Mr. Lif's album, Dumbatron.....
PL: Oh yeah, we are definitely working on that, the Dumbatron record with Willie. We did that at a couple shows. Willie has been opening up for Lif and I've guest appeared at a couple of shows and we'd also do the song from Lif's album live on his set. After awhile after fucking around with it, people started to come up to us about it. We want to do it completely sample free I think. We have some more ideas for it. The original idea was just me and Willie freestyling. Not pre written rhymes, not reading from a blackberry or something, just Willie and I freestyling off of each other. He kicks a rhyme, then I kick a rhyme. We got back and forth then just tweak it. So it does take a bit of actual face time.
There also a cat here named Tough Junkie that I've been working with forever. I'm sure we'll have something thrown out in the future. I'm fucking with Cool Calm Pete, Baje One and a gang of other cats. Oh, my man Dillon's record, I produced that entirely....
W: I was going to ask about that next....
PL: Yeah, there are a lot of things going on. I want to concentrate on my record, but technically I have a whole another record with Dillon and the Dumbatron thing coming up. I'm talking to this cat Fluence from Uncut Raw, ever heard of them?
W: Yeah...
PL: Fuckin' phenomenal producer. I'm a fan of his shit and he was saying that he is a fan of my shit. I really really want to find the time to do something with him. I don't know what will be, but I would love just having him send me beats all the time. All type of shit.
Dillon's shit though, I know he is inclined to put the shit out himself, but he wouldn't mind putting it out himself. It's a really good record. I produced it entirely, but it's a completely different record from mine. My beats on my are all over the place, but he's beats are differently different from my choices and he raps way different. It's a really good record though, I really liked the direction he took it. I'm looking for him to truly do something with that.
W: Yeah, I'm excited to hear that too.
PL: This is news to me. I was with Lif in the UK a couple weekends ago, and Lif was telling me that his next album is going to be 90% produced by me. You know how that goes, but it was exciting to hear. We'll see if Lif is blowing smoke up the proverbal bootay or not. We'll see. Then he proceeded to play me a bunch of songs of my beats that he had rapped over. Like a whole albums worth, so I was like, "Ok!" It sounds pretty good, a whole album with Lif would be dope. I got to send some beats to Ak, for what ever he is doing.
W: So you are busy....
PL: Yeah man, I could really go on and on. I try not to get too excited about some of these other projects so I can save some energy for myself. I got a gang of shit going on. I got an instrumental project. I trying to get an instrumental project for you, something exclusively through Wake Your Daughter Up.
W: I'm always down for that.
PL: I got some shit man, Bat ain't the only one with beats, I got some beats.
W: So anything you gotta say before we finish this?
PL: Ummmmm, eh, naahhhhh. Actually, any graphic artists out there that like my music, get at me. I'm trying to work with graphic artists right now. I just want to build a relationship with people, get ideas for logos and the such. Right now I'm just trying to build my team. I'm really stocked up with rappers and producers, but some graphic artists and people that have t-shirt companies. I'm hoping Willie blows up still, like he should and he is recognized for the musical genius that he is.
W: We are still playing tag back and forth actually...
PL: That's good, once again, I beat him to the punch. It's all good with me. That's about it. I want people to listen to Super Ramen Rocketship, and talk about it. The next record I do will probably be completely differernt, that mellow shit that I've been talking about.
7/01/2009
WYDU Interview with Paten Locke: PART ONE
My first two time interview steps to the plate, and who better for it to be than my man Paten Locke, aka P. Locke, aka Therapy of the Alias Brothers aka Asamov and The Smile Rays. The man does it all, rhyming, scratching, producing, and I'm sure he could throw up his tag while breaking into the funky worm. Meaning the dude is maaad talented. I've long championed the greatness that I say is The Smile Rays. They are one of my favorite groups to come out of this decade, so when I heard Paten was going solo (no fears, the Smile Rays and ABs still are) I got kind of excited about the possibilities. After hearing the first single, I have to say the sky is the limit for his debut solo album, Super Ramen Rocketship.
P has been busy leading up to this album. He signed a deal with Tres records, went to Germany to record his album and geared up for the release of his single, "Break Thru". Once again, Paten and I caught up to kick it. Even though he had the pressure of living up to what I call the funniest and most fun interview to date. A turkey sandwich might have taken him down a notch, but it was still a good time had by all....PART TWO tomorrow...
Break ThruWYDU: So what's been going down since the last time we talked? I know you spent some time over in Germany, how was that.
Paten Locke: Last time we talked, that was a minute ago. Yeah, went to Germany, spent three months with Bat and Daisey. Did some shows, mostly was there just to record my upcoming solo album.
W: So you did most the recording for it over there?
PL: I did the entire album over there. I recorded every last bit over there. Wait, I take that back. I did some cuts for it over here and the skits, if we put them on, were done here. All the songs though were completely recorded over there.
W: Right on, right on. How was Europe? They always get labeled as hip hop purists and true junkies compared to us over here anymore, did you see that why you were over there?
PL: I've been there a few times now. Before I had been over there, I heard they just love hip hop so much more over there and they were more into the classical sound. And they are. While I was over there, there was even a show that had Beatnuts, Paris, Lords of the Underground, Jeru and someone else mad classic that I can't think of. That show happened while I was over there and kind of solidified that they were more hip hop heads in the sense of the word.
But you know, I don't know man.... There are a lot of hipsters there, not that there is anything wrong with that. It's just different. A show like that with Beatnuts, Lords, and the rest would probably more well attended than over here. I actually had an interview over there where they asked how that show would do in the states, I told them I wasn't sure, but you don't see it as much in the states
W: True, very true. So did you do any record shopping while you were over there?
PL: I didn't purchase any vinyl while I was there. I came home with some, but didn't buy any. I went to a few shops, but I was just there to record and financially things were tight. I already made the beats for the record, so I wasn't needing anything. That's something I usually do more of when I'm tour. Hopefully this year I'll get back to making more beats and get back to producing and stuff.
W: Didn't you sign with a label over there while you were there?
PL: Definitely not, but I did get offered with a situation with a label over there. I do have some things we'd like to work on together in the future, but right now I'm just seeing how this Tres thing works out.
This label over there, it's affiliated with HipHopVinyl.de network. They said they were interested releasing a solo record with me. So I was like, "Well shit, let's see what Tres does, see how everything goes." Right now, I'm having a great relationship with Tres. Then again, I might take the opportunity to do something with them in the future. I'm also hoping to get Tres and them to work together more as two institutes, through the fact that they both dig my shit and hope to build a stronger hip hop network. The label over in Europe actually put a song of mine out on a compilation. The compilation is called Silent In Truth.
I'll definitely be working with them in the future. The guy that runs the label, he is an artist, he is a professionally graphic artist and he did my 12 inch cover for the Tres single coming out. That was my first attempt at bringing the two labels together. They are completely aware of each other, yet they haven't done anything together. Yeah, Gordon is a good friend of mine and really cool. He is a good guy to know in Germany if you are hip hop.
W: I've noticed you are using your given name on this album, P. Locke, and moving away from the Therapy moniker that you have used in the past. Any reason for that?
PL: Maaaaaan, ya know, ya know....You know Trav, it's like whatever. The reason for that....the REAL reason for that was I just felt like I ran with Therapy for a long time and I love the name. I just felt like there was a little bit of a ceiling on it. Maybe because of dealing with the ABs/Asamov situation, I just wanted to go with something I wouldn't have any issues with. This is also my first solo outing, so I didn't think it would be much of an issue. Not that there is a bunch of Therapy records out there. There is Therapy in the ABs and there is Therapy in the Smile Rays, I just figured this is the start of my fan base really right now, so I could come out with whatever I really wanted.Tres is down with it, I asked them what they thought, because they approached me as Therapy. I was like, "I'm thinking of putting this out as Paten Locke, what do you think about that!?" (a little bravado found in his tone). I figured they would not really be feeling it, but they were like, "Whatever you are going to do, just do it," so I figured that was it.I figured I'd go with P. Locke, because I've never had luck with people pronouncing my name right.....(as I found out when I called him by his first name incorrectly. It's pronounced with a long "A", Paaaaten)
W: Yeah, sorry about that....
PL: Yeah, it's just so crazy. Really I'll be up there as Paten Locke as well, at shows I'll be, "I'm Paten Locke," which is a little bit strange to me, but I like the strangeness so far. It's a new name to go into a new era. It's just another thing to deal with and to make me laugh.
W: You've already mentioned that you signed with Tres, who did that come about and how are you liking it so far?
PL: Real good so far. They are real attentive, the listen to all my cookie ideas. They are a blue collar label, so I'm not looking for a Def Jam type promotion, but so far so good. I had met them, the guy that runs the label is also in the group Giant Panda. I met him at a musical festival, and we clicked on some artist type shit. I wasn't even aware they had the label, I didn't understand all the dynamics of that. I was out in L.A. one time with Lif and Ak, and they came out to the show and we started talking. He was like, "I got this label, it's called Tres," and I was like, "Oh shit, I know Tres."
Oh wait, you know what?! I forgot, between meeting Giant Panda and running into them at L.A., I was talking to someone who told me that they had met the dude in Giant Panda that runs Tres, and I was like, "Oh shit, I like Tres, Tres is one of my top labels I'd like to record for. I was thinking Stones Throw, Tres and Nature Sounds, or some shit like that.
Somewhere I figured that out and I was hitting it pretty hard with The Smile Rays right about that time, so I hit him up about the Smile Rays and maybe putting out the AB's second record. He expressed interest in wanting to work a project from the ground up. He suggested I do a solo record, which I had always thought about, but I was really rolling with the Smile Rays situation, but I was like, "Yeah I'll do it." I was hell...I almost said hella and I've never lived in California...but yeah, I was excited about it and the trip to L.A. pretty much solidified it.
I thought it was mad official to put out my solo album, and I'm still excited because they've handled everything right. They done everything they've said they were going to do, I'm loving it. We'll see how it continues when the record comes out. We'll see if I do the artist thing and the day after my record comes out I be like, "I HATE MY LABEL! Clowns over there, they be on some shit!!!" I don't think it'll like that though (laughing). It's a good situation.
W: I didn't know that the dude that was in Giant Panda was running Tres....
PL: Yeah, yeah! I don't even know if I'm blowing his cover by saying that or if he wanted to keep that separated, but yeah, that's what it is. They put out some good stuff as well. Just recently, it was the Johnson & Jonson and the Shawn Jackson, which are two really good records. So on the heels of those I was like, "fuck yeah, I'm wit it!" I'm definitely happy with the relationship so far. Hopefully I can do something for them, like they are doing something for me.
W: It's a good look for sure. Let's talk about the new single. Which song is the actual single, because I know you got like three on the 12 inch that you releasing....
PL: The single is "Break Thru", it's coming out June 30th or something like that, I'm pretty sure that's the final date. I gotta say something Trav, I feel like the interview we did before, after we did it, you were like, "This dude is mad funny, it was like the funniest interview I've ever done...," or whatever. And I shouldn't be saying "whatever", it should be a direct quote, because that meant a lot to me. I just want to be funny, everything is secondary. I just feel like...........this one is so much more bland.........It's all my fault, hopefully we'll get this rolling. I mean, I was like, "My man Trav said I was the funniest dude he's ever interviewed and he just interviewed MILK D!!!" (laughing is definitely going on now....)
W: It's all good man. That was an awesome interview though, I had a good time with that one. We'll get this rolling though.....
PL: Aight, back on track again....what was the question again? (laughing)
W: The new single, "Break Thru", which I've had in my head all damn day today too......
PL: Yeeeeeeaaaahhh! The original situation was that Tres wanted to put out a 12 inch, and I wasn't going for that. If I was going to do anything, it was going to be an album. Pretty much right when we decided to put an album, they wanted to put a single out before it. They hadn't heard shit yet, they hadn't even heard a single yet. Ultimately, I needed a single, and by the time the deadline came around, I had made a few songs and "Break Thru" was one of them. Bat and I both felt good about it after we did it. I had recorded a few songs, and Bat was there for the whole thing, he recorded everything for me. Bat liked it and I didn't have the whole record yet, just needed a single. Now that the whole record is done, I might not have chosen that for the single, but I still feel good about it.
Does that mean that you like it, because it was in your head? I mean, Soulja Boy songs stick in your head, but that's not always a good thing...
W: Nah, man, nothing like that. I've just been playing it a lot the last couple days. I've had the beat playing over and over in my head...
PL: No doubt man. I think every record on the album sounds different, and that one sounds different from everything else. When I do it live, it gets a good response....
(sounds of barking dogs once again, read the Louis Dorely interview for the infamous WYDU dogs, and sirens)
W: Sorry about that, sitting on the patio and fire engine just went by
PL: Yeeeeeaaah, canine ferocity going on over there. Sounds like some pitbulls or something.
W: Nah, harmless, unless your a rat, then they'll go for the kill......
(we break into a dog conversation for awhile....)
W: Not too many people are putting out the 12 inch vinyls right now. I know Tres is kind of a vinyl oriented label, but why go with the vinyl? Why not just say, "Here internet, here is the single, have fun with it", what's the reasoning for releasing the vinyl.
PL: You know I'm a vinyl dude, I love vinyl. It was a plus to me that they are a vinyl label and they care about it. Tres puts out vinyl, that's their thing. From what I've heard now, CDs and vinyl are close in sales because of the downloads taking over the market. On top of that, vinyl is a better medium for keeping, it will last longer than a CD and keep its sound that much longer. I'm excited about it, especially since so people don't have it. I've had releases where I haven't had it when people came up to me looking for it. I'm even trying to put out a cassette tape and some other little nifty things. I'm hoping the vinyl does as well for them than the CDs do. Of course everything is going to be on Amazon, iTunes, the whole digital scope. I'm sure it'll be up on every bodies, or nobodies blog for free as well.
Lots of people just put out a digital record, and that's cool. You can totally run with that anymore and just be yourself. If you are going to mess with a label though, you want them to do promotion and that type of thing. You want them put out physical product and put out vinyl and hopefully standout. It's the medium that the culture goes to. Plus, I'm excited that now I have two copies of my OWN record that I can go to. It just makes it "official" to me. I've made it because it's on vinyl now. It goes back to wanting to have a "record" out. I'm a vinyl head, so it just works. It will work just as well as the CDs, we'll see....vinyl rules.
W: I do have to say, there was a line on one song from the 12 inch single, that caught me off guard. You mentioned Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, who is a professional poker player. You don't hear too many professional poker references being spit in a rhyme. It just caught me off guard, like, "damn, P knows his poker players."
PL: (laughing) I roll with poker players, but I don't know play, you know what I'm saying? I don't have TV anymore, but when I did, they always showed poker on there late at night. My friends, namely Basic of the AB's, he's damn near a professional poker player. That's all he does. Every time I talk to him, he is holding lots of money he made off of playing. I don't play. I gotta keep it real, I don't play. But by watching the shows and being around all my friends, I know enough. I know the big wigs. Mike The Mouth Matusow, he's an ill character. He's mad antagonistic and fun to watch. If Mike Matusow listens to underground hip hop, hit me off with some of those stacks buddy!!! Obscure references, but that one might not be as obscure. Just some late night television. I'm just happy I got it to rhyme.
6/17/2009
Trav Speaks......Reviews, Spins and whatever else
Wow, I've been a lazy bastard with this blog lately. Obviously I've hit the wall after almost four years of blogging. Not saying I'm quitting, but the quality posts that I expect from myself might be lagging a bit over this summer as I either re-energize my creative batteries or call it a day. I'd hate to end it, but I have a certain level of quality I expect out of myself and lately that just isn't happening. I have other things that I'd rather be doing than coming home and "blogging" for four or five hours I guess. Call me crazy...haha
None the less, I still haven't lost the love I have for the music. I'm still a fan, and will always be. Which is why I need to pump up a couple albums that recently dropped that people should be aware of.
Tha Connection - Love Royale
Let me start off by saying I HATE doing reviews. For one, even the worse MCs and producers can make music better than I can, so who am I to tell someone they are not doing it right or that their music sucks. Now if I got paid for it, it might be different...I kid I kid. But I guess I just don't feel comfortable ripping someones artistic creation when they've (hopefully) worked real hard on it. That usually leads me to reviewing music I like, which isn't always the most interesting thing. None the less, I do like to push music I like, and I have to say I like the new album from Tha Connection.
If you follow WYDU much, you've seen the crew on here. If you read other sites like When They Reminisce (Eric was the first to alert me to these cats) and I've seen them slowly start increasing their presence on the web as well. For a group that drops a project every six months or so, if you hear a song from Tha Connection, you know it's them right off the bat. That's a good thing, sort of in the same way you knew a Black Moon song, or a Gang Starr song, they just have this sound. Their newest creation, Love Roayle takes that sound and builds on it, making it more precise and on point. Although they will not go down as the greatest lyricists to bless the mic and they use multiple producers, they create a very cohesive, yet entertaining album. From the album's start on the track, "Royale," you know exactly what to expect from the album. Laid back rhymes and beats. I don't usually do a lot of smoking (lately is another story), but I can see this be one of those lay back and smoke an L to type of albums. "Fool In Love" is one of those songs with the simplistic keys and bouncy bass line that you can just kick back and nod your head lazily to the beat. "Dum Dum Dum," takes a popular sample and speeds things up, if only a tad. It's enough though to add that variety to switch things up. The ever popular (and I dare say best song they've ever done) "Take It Higher" shows up on the album again after being on some of the past projects. It's all good in my book as this song is just that good.
Some the songs will incorporate familiar samples, such as "Nights" and "Dum Dum Dum," but it's this familiarity that makes the album what it is. It's like an old friend that you just feel comfortable with lounging. I've had Love Royale since March, and it's one of my favorite albums of the year. Hus and SmooVth bring to the table good quality hip hop that will gain fans across the country as a group that is consistent with theirs and Love Royale should do nothing but help them build on their ever growing fan base.
Tha Connection - Dum Dum Dum
http://www.zshare.net/audio/61477446284c9835/
You can purchase the DELUXE CD from their website http://thaconnection.blogspot.com/
and even though I hate dropping reviews, another crew that I whole heartedly support just had two memebers dropped a very good album (came out yesterday).....
Venture Capitalists - Rate of Exchange
We have another crew that should be at least partially familiar to long time readers. The Understudies Crew has blessed WYDU often over the past year or so. The Venture Capitalists are Welsed and Self Advocate, who is probably my favorite out of the whole Understudies crew. Hailing out of the Bay Area, they contain that indie sound that reminds me somthing along of the likes of Grouch and Eligh, hell they whole Living Legends crew. I've mentioned in the past that I'm not always the biggest fan of the Living Legends crew, but what the Venture Capitalists bring to the table is building on what makes Living Legends and the west coast underground scene interesting.To start things off, the production on Rate of Exchange is some top notch music. While I don't have a lot of the specifics (read credits) I'm assuming Self Advocate did the bulk of the production on the album. "Delve In" is probably the strongest beat to be found on the album. With it's crescendo piano keys found on the chorus and the whirling keys that dance around the drum track the rest of the time, this track is one of the best produced songs I've heard this year. Not to be out done is "Hit The Road", which flips a sample of "Hit The Road Jack", an old 50'sish rock song. I'm not usually a big fan taking old rock songs from the 50's and incorporating them into a hip hop song, but this song is on the cusp of being amazing. The hard banging drums and guitar sample give it that rawer than a piece of freshly slaughtered cow. The MC's delivery matches the track perfectly. This is bound to be a top 25 song of they year for me. The track for "Black Monday," is another track with it's somber guitar sample over snapping drums that induced the listener into a somber mood. It's really mood making music, but that's the great thing about Rate of Exchange. Past Understudies projects are straight up hip hop in your face. They have been about spitting, spitting hard and spitting often. Rate of Exchange has several different themes and moods going on during it's run time. That's always important in creating a well rounded album, and the Venture Capitalists do just that.
There are a few minor missteps on the album that keep it from reaching it's true potential (some weak choruses and some MC deliveries that is more of a personal dislike than anything else), but all in all, this is probably the best project to come out of the Understudies crew yet. Every album keeps getting stronger and stronger, and with Self Advocate making a name for himself as being one of the best Bay Area underground producers in going (Grouch needs to call these cats), the album is worth supporting.....
Venture Capitalists - Hit The Road
http://www.zshare.net/audio/61477210bccce987/
Purchase here....
http://theunderstudies.bandcamp.com/
http://theunderstudies.bandcamp.com/album/venture-capitalists-rate-of-exchange-mp3-album-4-99
Trav's Spins Lately
Five Albums Been Bumping....
1. J Dilla - Jay Stay Paid
Do I dare say that this album is everything I was hoping for and more? I think that is a safe quote to come out of my mouth. Once again, we are reminded by the greatness that was Jay Dee (I'm still old school and use that name more than any of his other ones). Full of beats that make you go, "Ohhhhh shit!", not many albums do that for me anymore. To hear Lil Fame of MOP fame get loose on a Dilla track was nothing short of mind blowing, and one that I hit rewind on four or five times the first time I heard it. This album is bound to be among my favorites at the end of the year.
2. Mr. SOS - How I Stopped Worrying And Love The Bomb
I have to admit, the first time I heard this album, I said to myself, "What the fuck was that shit?" It's a little different from the Mr. SOS stuff you heard on Cunninglynguists back in the day and even his own mixtapes that foreshadowed this project that was originally called Dr. Strangelove. Since that initial listen, it's grown on me. It's not your traditional hip hop album. It sounds very different, in a way that focuses on creativity and it actually works. I'm still not sure whether I'll be proclaiming this as one of the best albums of the year or not, but for now it's piqued my interests enough to keep going back to it.
3. Tanya Morgan - Brooklynati
Being a Tanya Moran fan and having their last LP, Moonlighting, in my top five albums of 2006, and having to go through one of the better pre-album build up that I've seen on the interneet, it wouldn't be a surprise if Brooklynati was a let down, but it was far from a let down. Everything you liked about Moonlighting was here, but even better.
4. Poorly Drawn People - Motion Not Emotion
In a way, I'm somewhat pissed that this album hasn't taken off as much as it should. This is one of the most cohesive and enjoyable hip hop albums I've heard in a long time. The beats are all on point and the lyrics are filled with battle raps, sense of humor and straight up rewinders (what we used to do to hear a dope line on a tape back in the day). Tracks like "Stress Filled Days", "Might Blow Up", "Ain't Hard To Make A Million Dollars", "Stealers Wheel" and "Sawbucks & Finns" is straight up hip hop with a nice musical ambience to the tracks. I don't know what to say other than go listen to this album and tell me you ain't at least feeling some of this EP.
http://www.poorlydrawnpeople.com/
http://www.myspace.com/motionnotemotion
01- Stress Filled Days [04:11]
02- Might Blow Up [03:50]
03- Aint Hard To Make a Million Dollars [04:25]
04- A Quarter Milli [00:38]
05- Sawbucks and Fins Ft ESH [04:33]
06- Stealers Wheel [03:30]
07- Elmer’s Lament Ft Labeless Illteligence [04:03]
08- Celebrity Rehab [03:39]
09- Way With Words [04:36]
10- Better Off Dead [03:42]
11- Static [04:20]
12- Motion Not Emotion [05:56]
5. LoveJones & Phys Edison - Sunday Drive, Problemaddicts - The Guest List, Lonegevity - Sessions
I include all three of these since I honestly couldn't make up my mind. The only group that I had heard of before hearing these albums was Problemaddicts who dropped the incredibly ill "The Darkside of Oz" last year. The funny thing is, the Problemaddicts joint is more of a compilation. All good as it contains some underground legends and some up and comers (Blacastan anyone?). The LoveJones and Lonegevity both kinda came out of nowhere. LoveJones and Phys Edison only was downloaded because of the incredibly goofy looking album cover. It turned out to be some great chill music with some great beats to boot. Lonegivity got downloaded by me, although I don't remember doing it. It resided on my iPod for lord knows how long without being played until my man Jaz told me to check it out. Jaz was responisible for pointing out Dagha's "The Divorce" out to me last year, which ended up being one of my favorite albums. Jaz didn't miss this time either as the Lonegevity is dope from front to back.
LoveJones and Phys Edison's debut album, Sunday Drive.
Sunday Drive Download Link
http://www.zshare.net/download/60344851b10cd088/
Official Track list
1. Sunday Morning(Still Thinking About Saturday Night)
2. Sunday Drive
3. New World
4. Downtime
5. Phys Edison's Brunch
6. Sit on the Moon
7. The One(My SV Shit)
8. Sunday Drive Midnight Mix
9. Had a Dream
10. B.I.G. Dreams
Bonus Tracks
11. The Get Up
12. They Gon Hate
13. Sucka MCs
14. Roll Call(Top City)
Five Tracks You Will Hear Me Bumping This Week....
1. (TIE) Paten Locke - Break Thru & Funky Hit Record
Break Thru
http://www.zshare.net/audio/61479971c307ad98/
Funky Hit Record
http://www.zshare.net/audio/61480087fd282e99/
Am I biased? Yeah, of course I am. Paten Locke aka P. Locke, aka Therapy (of Smile Rays and AB's aka Asamov fame) is my man and one of my favorite artists I've ever had to deal with. But even if I didn't know the dude, I would still be cranking both of these joints non stop like I've been doing the past two weeks. For those of you not in the know (and you soon will be), Paten has his debut solo album dropping this summer AND his first single is "Break Thru", along with "Funky Hit Record" and another song, "Just Me," which is dope as well. It will be avialable on vinyl later this month from Tres Records. Produced by P Locke himself, both beats, although completely different from each other are incredible. "Funky Hit Record" is just that, a funky joint. "Break Thru" packs the incredible energy Paten posses on the mic over a bouncy, airy beat, that is almost like a dream sequence or even a movie soundtrack. If this is what we have to look forward to, we could be looking at a contender for album of the year. Be on the look out for Super Ramen Rocketship
2. Thaione Davis - Inside Your Mind
Inside Your Mind
http://www.zshare.net/audio/61480087fd282e99/
My man E from When You Reminisce came through once again with a "must hear" album as he occasionly tells me in a text. As usual, he was right, but I had a problem getting pass the second song of the album. Not because the album wasn't good, but because the second track, "Inside Your Mind," was just that good. Produced by underground favorite Rashid Hadee, this silent storm type beat is a soothing track yet hard enough to get the head noddin'
3. Nite People - Stage Fright
Stage Fright
http://www.zshare.net/audio/61480368e6c7c82a/
Nite People are another group that is set to drop an album here in the near future (again, more on that in the very near future). Their 2007 Daily Livin one of my favorite albums that was submitted to me that year. Speaking as someone who has heard the new album, I can safely say it's even better. DJ Manipulator hooked up an ill ass horn sample, something that I'm a sucka for anyway.
4. Lonegevity - If You're Down
If You're Down
http://www.zshare.net/audio/614805356144d5e4/
I won't say what I've been doing a lot of lately to be listening to a lot of these chilled and laid back groove tracks, but I think you have a good idea. "If You're Down" is quite a simple song, but I think it's the mood the track paints is what hooks me more than anything. It's hard to describe, but somehow it speaks to me in a way a lot of songs don't. It's not neccessarly the lyrics, although they are nice. I guess it's the beat Exile hooked up on this, it just gets to me along with the well placed vocal sample used for the hook.
5. Marco Polo & Torae feat Masta Ace & Sean Price - Hold Up
To new Masta Ace guest apperances in the past month (the other is on the Problemaddicts album)? Are you crazy? Hell yeah! I'm still getting my bearings with the Torae and Polo album and have a few issues with it, but it's starting to grow on me. Despite that, this track is what attracted to me to hip hop in the first place, banging beat, dope lyrics and attitude. It's all here and it's all good.
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