With a self-aggrandizing Twitter hashtag, a stilted reunion between Phonte Coleman and producer 9th Wonder, and a major-label debut by J. Cole, you’d think that North Carolina hip-hop would be the prime topic at the close of 2011. Once again, though, most of the state’s hip-hop output proved tepid, inflated and strangely beyond its expiration date. Only David Thompson—Kooley High’s sad-eyed missive about the troubles of trying to make it outside of #nchiphop—seemed rooted in the moment. Charlie Smarts and Tab-One have never before seemed so well-adjusted in their roles as foils, playing off intriguing beats from guest producers with a candor that’s both invaluable and endearing.
-BIG shout out to the INDY for selecting DT as one of the Triangle’s Top Ten albums of 2011. Means a lot….
It’s a busy week in Seattle with Monday Night Football coming to town for my day job at ESPN, Dom Kennedy performing on Capitol Hill, and the Watch The Throne tour with Kanye & Jay-Z going down as well. To that end, just the biz this week. Shout to King Britt (!!!), Tendai Maraire, Dyme Def, and Casey Carter for coming through the SNSS studio to kick it. Enjoy the music and don’t let us get in our zone.
Show #340 (12-11-11)
Black Star – “Fix Up”
Common – “Celebrate”
DTMD ft. Oddisee – “Untitled”
Slim The Mobster ft. Dr. Dre & Sly – “Back Against The Wall”
Kooley High – “Laid Off”
**INTERVIEW WITH KING BRITT & TENDAI MARAIRE**
Bruce Leroy – “To The Death” (Local Music)
Drake ft. Lil Wayne, YG, Nipsey Hussle, & Snoop Dogg – “The Motto (Remix)”
Dom Kennedy – “Dream To Me”
50 Cent – “Wait Until Tonight”
**INTERVIEW WITH DYME DEF, PT. 1**
Dyme Def – “Opportunity Knocks” (Local Music)
Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Illest Motherf*cker Alive”
**INTERVIEW WITH DYME DEF, PT. 2**
Slick Rick – “Need Some Bad”
The Roots ft. Mos Def – “Double Trouble” (Throwback of the Week)
The Roots ft Big K.R.I.T. – “Make My”
**INTERVIEW WITH CASEY CARTER, PT. 1**
John West ft. Pusha T – “Lovely”
Robin Thicke – “The New Generation”
**INTERVIEW WITH CASEY CARTER, PT. 2**
Antbeezy – “Dreams To Make It” (Local Music)
Childish Gambino – “Fire Fly”
Quelle Chris – “Symbolic (Basquiat)”
Amy Winehouse – “Half Time”