So Fresh and So Green | Madam Toussaint on Going Green, Art, Hip Hop, and Politics

Amazing! News of 2 rappers going back to school in the same week.

First up, Queensbridge emcee Nas had this to say at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s annual National Keystone Conference.

The reality of it is, you need to keep educating yourself, and I wish I had stayed in school.” ~Nas

He now intends to get his high school diploma and encourage others to do the same. With 19 years in the game, nine LPs, four #1 albums and the respect of most in Hip Hop for being one of the best that ever did it, Nas still wants a diploma. Hopefully his ex wife won’t try to take half of it. (more…)

If you’re like me you’ve seen the commercials and wondered “What is the theme song from the FX show Justified?

FX’s new drama Justified is being billed as the ultimate “modern day western” and features the song “On The Run” by Gangstagrass. Hard to get it out of your head I know.

Who are these guys anyway and where do they get off making infectious music like this? Gangstagrass is producer Rench featuring the rapper T.O.N.E-Z. Gangstagrass mashes up Hip Hop and bluegrass.

This song has been floating around for a while but the Justified trailer has generated a lot of interest in it. Download below the jump. (more…)

Photo Credit: “Green Equipment Still Life” by Gigi Bio

“We’re doing a tribute so we can send some of this warm energy towards his well being” ~DJ3D

“It would be good to finally do a tribute to someone who is doing well hopefully instead of someone that’s passed.” ~DJ C-Reality

Recently Guru, half of the legendary Hip Hop group Gang Starr, suffered a heart attack and was in a coma due to “controlled medications” according to hiphopdx.com.

Not only was there sorrow and warm wishes in the Hip Hop community there were a lot of questions regarding the emcee’s status, whether his family was being allowed to see him or even know about Guru’s illness.

Download below the jump (more…)

Photo Credit: Gigi Bio “2 Turntables”

Black History month is now over but the Black History will continue on sofreshandsogreen.com as well as the Black future.

Valentine’s Day is also over so I wanted to put this up for you guys to commemorate the month of love ending too…because I care! And what’s greener than giving?

Once again house DJ for WBAI’s The Underground Railroad DJ3D along with Jersey’s own DJ C-Reality did their own sets recently on WBAI.

This time DJ C-Reality switched it up with some throwback Valentine’s surprises in his set that are sure to please – not too smushy and with a lot of heart as always.

DJ3D brought us up to date with a more current set that’s not your average and some Dilla to remember the late musician.

R.I.P. to the MCs we remember in February like Big Pun and Big L.

These 2 DJs are real pros and work so well together. It’s all about coordination! That’s why the pic above is so symbolic.

For bookings Contact: Premiere Artists Group at premiereartistsgroup.com
Questions or comments: dj3dnyc@me.com
AND
To contact DJ C-Reality email him at info@djc-reality.com.

Here’s a free download of 2 hour mix on Underground Railroad with Jay Smooth, the longest running Hip-Hop radio show.

The show delivers the finest in Hip-Hop music and culture on WBAI 99.5 FM if you live in the tri-state area or Live streaming on the net at stream.wbai.org from 12-2 AM EST on Saturday nights.

Why a free download? Because giving is green! And I can give this download for free because WBAI is a Non-commercial, listener sponsored radio station. Kind of like PBS or Channel Thirteen occasionally they ask for donations. The station is currently in fund raising mode. If you like what they do, if you like this mix, if you want to support the Underground Railroad with Jay Smooth donate to them HERE

Learn more about WBAI at wbai.org

They’ve done it again! House DJ for WBAI’s The Underground Railroad DJ3D along with Jersey’s own DJ C-Reality did their own sets recently on WBAI.

Here’s a free download of C-Reality cutting it up first with some breakbeats on the rare side while Brooklyn’s own DJ3D got more current for the second set. The whole thing lasted 2 hours long on Underground Railroad with Jay Smooth, the longest running Hip-Hop radio show.

For bookings Contact: Premiere Artists Group at premiereartistsgroup.com
Questions or comments: dj3dnyc@me.com
AND
To contact DJ C-Reality email him at info@djc-reality.com.

The show delivers the finest in Hip-Hop music and culture on WBAI 99.5 FM if you live in the tri-state area or Live streaming on the net at stream.wbai.org from 12-2 AM EST on Saturday nights.

Why a free download? Because giving is green! And I can give this download for free because WBAI is a Non-commercial, listener sponsored radio station. Kind of like PBS or Channel Thirteen occasionally they ask for donations. The station is currently in fund raising mode. If you like what they do, if you like this mix, if you want to support the Underground Railroad with Jay Smooth donate to them HERE

Learn more about WBAI at wbai.org

To download click on Underground Railroad DJ 3D and C-Reality Mix

Both DJ’s should be proud of this one. And you won’t be sorry. These are not your average cuts and breakbeats!

Stay tuned for sofreshandsogreen.com’s Black History Month coverage and quotes including Jay Smooth Quotes Week. You won’t be sorry about that one either!

In the meantime you can check him out at hiphopmusic.com or illdoctrine.com

One of Hip Hop’s latest golden boys, no not Drake, Raekwon the Chef released a mixtape this month. Ok, so many he would be more like a golden man, but this guy has managed to beat back the ravages of “old age” and the ageism in rap that goes with it.

One of my favorite tracks off his Coke Up In Da Dollar Bill mixtape is “The Set Up” which features our leading man in the midst of a sexual encounter first interrupted by DJ Scream? then later on by 3 dudes with guns. Hey, it’s on a mixtape called Coke Up In Da Dollar Bill Mixtape from a track called “The Set Up”, what did you expect?

Anyway, Rae smoothed it out on that one. Take notes, it’s all about the consonants and don’t forget the vowels! So I got to thinking why do cats like Fabolous get so much burn when it’s time to “do something for the ladies” when we have a perfectly good Raekwon here? And he cooks!

I was asked once by my man my mellow Carlito Roc of the tckonbroadway.com what was the best pick up line I ever heard and my first thought was “Yo, what fabric is that?/ It’s only wool and rayon”. RIP Teddy Pendergrass who is sampled for this Ghostface joint. (more…)

p l a t o o n [#1] by Jesse Wright

As a kid I remember reading about WWII battles during Christmas and thinking how awful that was. “Those soldiers would have been happier at home for Christmas. It sucks the people in charge couldn’t give them a day off.”

Like I said I was a kid and knew nothing of how Christmas came to be December 25th for so many or what wars would and would not stop for.

This year it pains me that the U.S. is at war again and it still bothers me just a little more during the holidays.

Singer songwriter Brett Dennen wrote the song “The Holidays Are Here (and We’re Still at War)”. The song was likely written during the Bush administration when it seemed people were more disgusted with war, probably the Iraq war to be specific.

All this time later the war in Afghanistan is the war in the forefront, which it seems many Americans were more comfortable with. Our new escalation in troops brought to us by a young president who campaigned on being anti war in Iraq further commits this country to even more holidays at war.

“The Holidays Are Here (and We’re Still at War)” is impressive in its scope with lyrics that talk about everyone from shoppers to soldiers to bankers to Hurricane Katrina in a non preachy way. How did he manage to include so much and make a good song with so many words? Check out the song or video below.

{LYRICS}

Listen for the slight reggae influence…brettdennen.net

Here’s a track off Emilio Rojas’ new mixtape DJ Green Lantern Presents Emilio Rojas -The Natural, which dropped yesterday. “Piano Bounce” was produced by Green Lantern.

I appreciate this track. Emilio and “Piano Bounce” have everything people say they want from rap: autobiographical/personal lyrics, skill, relevant thoughts on current events/politics, humor, wit…

I wouldn’t be condescending typical Hip Hop blogger about it and call him a “conscious rapper”. Anyway at best Emilio Rojas sounds maybe half “conscious” at times on this track.

He’s collaborated with Donny Goines and Torae. He’s from Rochester, New York but now lives in Brooklyn, NY. He’s Venezuelan and uses what at least sounds like his real name (see Donny Goines). Damnit it’s just crazy enough to work.

I’m looking forward to hearing what Emilio has to offer on The Natural and in the future.

The tracklisting and artwork after the jump. (more…)