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ISSUE85 JANUARY 16 th , 2019
MANCE MAKALL SUFF DADDY al.divino Amaka Queenette 25 Nights for Nujabes
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CONTENTS
1. Grand Opus talks Streaming, Musical Influences, & ... 2. Stream & Purchase "Vacant" EP by Amaka Queenette (... 3. al.divino Is Remaking Boom-Bap According to His Ow...
4. Stream & Purchase "Baker's Dozen" instrumental Hip... 5. Stream & Purchase "25 Nights for Nujabes" instrume... 6. Listen to "Surf's Up" song by GRAND OPUS (((AUDIO)... 7. Watch "TRIBORO" music video by Innocent? & Nutso f... 8. Read "Diamond In The Mud" MANCE MAKALL (album revi...
Supporting thawilsonblock IS supporting Local Artists!
COVER STORY Mistah Wilson: Yo, Grand Opus! I can't begin to express how much of an honor it is to have you here with us for this exclusive inter view with thawilsonblock magazine! What's the latest & greatest? Centric: It's all good man, we appreciate you! Ever ything is lovely. Our second album is out and making noise , so lately we have been busy with promo and inter views. You know how is goes. We are just blessed to experience it all. Mistah Wilson: For our audience reading this, who is Grand Opus and what led you guys to join forces? Joc Scholar: Grand Opus is Joc Scholar, the emcee and Centric , the producer. We came together to basically make dope hip hop music from our own minds and on our own terms. Mistah Wilson: No stranger to the music scene, the consistency of Grand Opus demands a respect that even haters must acknowledge. What are some current and upcoming projects you guys have in the works? Centric: Word up! Appreciate that man. I would have to agree. Currently we just released our second album titled "High Power." It's a dope project with incredible features such as Buckshot, Skyzoo, ect. The release is still fresh, so we are going to let it marinate and work the album as best as we can until the idea of a 3rd album presents itself.
READ FULL INTERVIEW
THURSDAY January 10th, 2018
"Diamond In The Mud" MANCE MAKALL album review by Jhantu Randall roughly 30 minutes outside of Montgomery. Now when it comes to Alabama, hip -hop isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind but its due to this that allows artists that are from there, room to truly shine!
When someone brings up southern hip-hop, what immediately comes to mind? Beyond name recognition, what subject matters flash in your mind? Is it cars, jewelry, colorful clothes and syrup induced bars that sound like run on sentences? Or is it a unique sound that finds a way to hit the very essence of your soul while the rappers lyrics paint a picture of life in this region? I hope it ’s the latter, because hard hitting lyrics and potent stories are just a few things that come to mind when describing Mance Makall. Born Mance McCall on December 22, 1984, in the small town of Hayneville, Alabama, which is
Away from the glitz and the glamour of the bigger markets in the region, Alabama has a more down trodden feel to it which in turn gives the artist the ability to truly connect with the feeling of needing to succeed. It ’s this message that I feel resonates with people of every demographic as we’ve all known what its like to feel as if we had nothing left. It ’s this concept which fuels Mance Makall to deliver his words with a clarity that cuts through even the biggest cynic. The bluesy sound that accompanies a heavy bass that gives the South its recognition is present here, but it ’s Makall’s storytelling and honesty that keeps the listeners attention. A prime example of this would be Po Boy Sack (Beano Talk). With the sound of keys starting out the track, the music builds until Mance’s energy hits with force. Within his verses your hear the motivation thats drawn from a sense of desperation that this has to work! Explaining that regardless of loose lips and untrustworthy figures, he has to continue to get the bag so he can build his pathway to the next level of this journey.
READ FULL REVIEW
FRIDAY January 11th, 2018
Watch "TRIBORO" music video by Innocent? & Nutso feat. Ricky Bats & Cortez
"TRIBORO" is an awesome lyrical collaboration of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx featuring Ricky Bats, Nutso, Cortez and Innocent? delivering incredible bars over the intense stabs and dramatic drums of Stan Da Man. This is the 2nd single released off of the long awaited, "Borough 2 Borough" project from Innocent? & Nutso, fully produced by Stan Da Man .
SATURDAY January 12th, 2018
Listen to Happy New Year! Joc Scholar [MC] & Centric
"Surf's Up"
[Producer] are... Grand Opus, the Fresno/Oakland, CA duo continue riding the 2018 "High Power" wave into 2019 with the forth release from their sophomore album,
song by
"Surf's Up" is an absolute bar -fest featuring an assist from one of the most consistent, hard working lyricists you'll find anywhere,
GRAND OPUS
Brooklynite Skyzoo. If you didn't hear "High Power" on Dec 7, it's available now via iTunes. 46 minutes of uninterrupted, true school Hip-Hop which includes
(((AUDIO)))
collaborations with Skyzoo, Buckshot, Prolific and others.
• Written & Performed by Joc Scholar & Skyzoo • Produced by Centric • Artwork by Joc Scholar
@GrandOpusCA @JocScholar
@WhoIsCentric @Skyzoo
SUNDAY January 13th, 2018
Stream & Purchase "25
Nights for Nujabes" instrumental Hip Hop album by Ta-ku (((AUDIO)))
A beat a night for 25 nights in dedication to Seba Jun. His music was so full of emotion and beauty. Rest in peace.
Teaming up with Jakarta Records on the 823 joint label venture, Ta -ku is sharing his now classic ’25 Nights For Nujabes’ project as a digital/vinyl release alongside two completely new Bonus Tracks - both featuring Toronto based producer Matt McWaters. For the first time as an official release.
MONDAY January 14th, 2018
Stream & Purchase "Baker's Dozen" instrumental Hip Hop album by
Suff Daddy (((AUDIO)))
When I finished school in 1999 I didn’t really know what to do with my life. I had just bought my first computer and was killing time by playing games and smoking weed. One day an old friend came by and brought a cracked version of Sonic Foundr y Acid. He said: ‘You can make music with this software!’ Of course back then I didn’t realize it, but this was a life changing moment for me. I used this music program for many many years - 17 years to be exact. It became the tool that enabled me to express myself creatively and to do what I love the most: making beats. Both my setup and my creative process have changed a bit since then, but basically it’s the same procedure as back in the day. It usually star ts with a few chords, a nice rhythmic loop and some drum bits. The rest happens by itself. I remember visiting the Fat Beats store in New York City in 2004. I was a massive fan. To finally enter the holy halls was a huge deal for me. I was soaking up the atmosphere dreaming about a future as a producer. Who would have thought that I would ever put out a record with these guys! I feel honored to be par t of the Bakers Dozen series and its outstanding list of producers.
TUESDAY January 15th, 2018
al.divino Is Remaking Boom-Bap According to His Own Surrealistic Vision
Article by Jordan Commandeur
Hip-hop is in a time of transition. The music —and culture as a whole—are divided, and the schism isn’t just between the new generation and the old one; there’s also a divide among the youth. Trap may be ruling the charts, but a small, vehement contingent are valiantly upholding the traditions of the genre’s Golden Era. Boom -bap strongholds like New York, Philadelphia,
and Boston have reinvigorated scenes and produced a wealth of captivating new artists, with the latter in particular experiencing something of a renaissance . READ FULL ARTICLE
WEDNESDAY January 16th, 2018
Stream & Purchase "Vacant" EP by Amaka Queenette (((AUDIO)))
released August 11, 2018 Production and Music: Joshua Stanberry Written by: Amaka Queenette