Mos Def Drop New Album in February, Rumored Production by Madlib, J Dilla, Kanye West; Will He “Go Rogue” on Slick Rick Track?
By J.E. Williams on 10-31-2008
For now, 2009 seems to be looking up for hip-hop heads. The man himself, mighty Mos Def, is set to release his fourth studio LP, The Ecstatic, February 10 via Downtown Records. The Brooklyn-based rapper’s last album, 2006’s Tru3 Magic (TMT Review), was a critical success, but a commercial failure, only selling 93,000 copies. (This was partly due to poor promotion by his previous label, Geffen Records.)
If the hype is right, The Ecstatic is set to be a hip-hop heavyweight, perhaps close to the success of Def’s first solo album, 1999’s Black on Both Sides (TMT Review), or his collaboration with rap champion Talib Kweli, 1998’s Black Star? The Ecstatic will reportedly feature collaborations with Kweli and Slick Rick, as well as production from Madlib, the late J Dilla, Kanye West, and Chad Hugo from The Neptunes.
If you’re like me and just can’t wait, be sure to lookout for the album’s first single, “Life in Marvelous Times,” as an iTunes exclusive on November 4. And if that’s not enough -- and you’re feeling really ambitious -- you can catch Mos Def on the European half of the Rock the Bells tour with Nas and The Pharcyde (TMT News).
Hey Everybody, It’s National Ironic Beard Day! What Better Way To Celebrate Than Watch the Premiere of Tim Harrington’s Show Beardo on Pitchfork TV!
By Tiffani Harcrow on 10-31-2008
Did you know that, sometimes, musicians can be just as funny as real comedians? It’s true! Sammy Davis Jr., David Lee Roth... Bono? Anyway, it seems as though the Sammy Davis Jr. of our generation is none other than Les Savy Fav frontman Tim Harrington; just check out the premiere episode of his new Pitchfork.tv show, Beardo, for example.
Assisted by Daily Show/Flight of the Conchords comedian Kristen Schaal, Harrington describes his new show as "Sometimes we'll have music stuff in it, sometimes not. It's always supposed to be funny. It always wants to be. Celebrities, musical guest stars, minor music celebrities. Major music celebrities, in my mind.”
Possible music stuff and guaranteed beards; count me in!
High Places Tour to Explore Places of Varying Altitudes
By Scott Lauer on 10-31-2008
High Places (warning: MySpace may induce seizures) have certainly had a strong 2008. But why stop when the year ends? Might as well keep the momentum going, right? According to their label Thrill Jockey, High Places will be embarking on a very, very long international tour beginning right after Election Day in Belgium and ending early April 2009 in Denmark. Hell, after a pretty solid collection of demos and an acclaimed self-titled album (TMT Review), the band has plenty of reason to proudly strut their stuff on stage throughout the world.
