Recording Artist + Youth Mentor Psalm One Needs Your Help

Fresh off her 9-city tour with the ASCAP Songwriter Residency-- a 3-day program that partners artists with America SCORES, an after school program in under served areas-- Psalm One is back in her hometown of Chicago to continue her mission of mentoring students. During the three days, the artists spend two mentoring and writing a song with students, and on the 3rd day they go to a professional studio and actually record the song! 

Psalm conducts the youth mentoring program through Charm Lab, a program she founded to help students not only find their voices, but to also allow them to understand the work it takes to succeed in the Arts.

Between her recent appearance on MTV's Made and her work with Charm Lab, Psalm One has been rewardingly busy, but now needs to finish work on her new album slated for 2012. This new project will be the anxiously awaited follow up to her 2006 The Death of Frequent Flyer.

The goal is to mix the album by the end of the year and upgrade Charm Lab's gear to be able to create high-quality videos which will allow her to reach her fans, the students she mentors and to ultimately broaden her audience.

That's where you come in! Psalm One and Charm Lab have created a project through Kickstarter to help raise $8,000 by the end of 2011. With nearly $1,200 already raised, there are only 22 days left! Kickstarter is a website that helps artists fund their projects and in return receive thank you gifts from the artist. 

Check out Charm Lab's Kickstarter project to learn more and make your contribution today.

Upcoming Shows/Appearances:

12/15 - In-store Performance at Reckless Records, Chicago, IL
12/17 - "VIP Tour Party" at a private loft space in Wicker Park, Chicago, IL

See Psalm One Mentoring an aspiring emcee on MTV's Made.

Get More: MADE, Full Episodes

Take a listen to Psalm One's latest mixtape, Get in the Van Vol. 3

About Psalm One

Psalm One is the only woman signed to the prestigious independent record label Rhymesayers Entertainment. While studying chemistry at the University of Illinois, she self-released her debut Bio:Chemistry in 2002 & signed to Rhymesayers in 2006. In 2010 she self-released a trilogy of music and recently released Get In The Van 3. She is currently working on her next RSE album with expected release in 2012. 

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Common - "Celebrate"

Celebrate is the latest single from Common's upcoming LP The Dreamer/The Believer which releases December 20th.

Listen:


See the official video for Sweet from The Dreamer/The Believer

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Freddie Gibbs x Madlib - Thuggin

Photo: Mathew Scott

 However unlikely the collaboration seems, Gangsta Gibbs meets Quasimoto is proving to be an immaculate mixture on this particular track.  The "Thuggin" EP is setting message boards and twitter timelines ablaze since its early release today. The word here is distinct...one distinct voice over a truly distinct sound. Smells like real hip-hop to me, take a whiff.

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Thuggin'

Purchase the "Thuggin'" EP from Stone's Throw here:

http://www.stonesthrow.com/news/2011/11/freddie-gibbs-madlib

 

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Dee-1 ft. Kennedi Rayne - Garden of Eden

Dee-1 flexes his storytelling skills on his latest visual offering, "Garden of Eden." Cautionary tales that end up in playground violence is nearly a rites of passage for emcees, and Dee-1 does not disappoint in his moment. Listen up, this joint is fire.

"Garden of Eden" is also available on his latest I Hope They Hear Me Vol. 2 mixtape. Download it here

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9th Wonder, Dee-1, Thurz & Rapsody - Part Of The Game

As if it wasn't enough that Jamla just shook up the entire Internet hip-hop scene with Rapsody's, For Everything. Here comes 9th Wonder right back in true blue collar fashion with a gift from the Stankonia Sessions, presented by Groveshark. This is "Part of The Game" featuring Rapsody,  Dee-1 and L.A. native King Thurz. They're kicking truth about some of the ills that come with the game. Skills on deck.

Click the link to check it out...

Part of the Game

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Sulaiman - "O' You Aint Know"

First caught wind of Sulaiman through his Sandwich video. Learned more about him through his collab with Chris Mathien, Local Nobodies. Whether he's throwing parties or throwing his weight around on a record, Chicago's Sulaiman's presence is always right and exact. "O You Aint Know" is a real-talk cautionary tale for young lads and ladies. Listen good children.

O You Ain't Know by suliforshort

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Common - Sweet (Video)

Damn. Who pissed in Common's Starbucks y'all? Well, whoever the culprit, I'd like to thank them for bringing the old Com back. The Windy City's pioneer is spitting with a rookie sized chip on his shoulder. This video was shot out in Haiti, and the grit of the island matches the sentiment of the song. There's nothing "Sweet" about this effort. Check it out.

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Rapsody - For Everything Mixtape

Today's the day people. Jamla's own fire breathing femcee, Rapsody dropped her new mixtape, For Everything via djbooth.net. And though she's proved thoroughly that she catches serious wreck all by her lonely, Rapsody calls on Freeway and Kendrick Lamar to round out the exhibition.

Label mate GQ and Bluu Suede round out the appearances. Now do yourself a favor and download it with the jump below.

You're welcome, For Everything.

Rapsody - For Everything

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Stanza - Broadcast from Georgia "Heavy"

Stanza is back with another installment from his Broadcast From Georgia series. The events covered this week are especially "Heavy" ranging from hip-hop legend Heavy D's passing to the Conrad Murray (Michael Jackson's doctor) criminal trial. There is even mention of the sexual misconduct controversy at Penn State. Take your time with this one.

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Saul Williams - "Explain My Heart"

World renowned master poet (amongst other creative titles) and previous H.A.S. magazine feature, Saul Williams further extends his artistry in sonic and visual areas with "Explain My Heart."

Raising the bar of even higher, Saul seemingly issues a challenge to critics and maybe even the machine at-large to explain the unseen (his heart).

The visuals, the words, the music are quite progressive in this offering from the Volcanic Sunlight album, released on 11-11-11.

Check it out.

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Eric Lau ft. Guilty Simpson - The Mission

The gritty motor city emcee, Guilty Simpson is back at it with a new one produced by veteran Eric Lau (Oddisee, Lupe Fiasco, Georgia Anne Muldrow). This feels like it could've been in Dilla's old treasure stash of beats. 

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New Music: Radio Galaxy - Feel Trip

From the camp that gave us H-Town's super-group H.I.S.D., we'd like to present the latest offering from the Peace Uv Mine collective -- Radio Galaxy -- blessing us with fresh visuals for their track, "Feel Trip."

This appears to be the lead track for their upcoming LP, We Come in Peace. With a core of songstress Khimmy J aka Spacebunny Jefferson, and production via King Midas and DJ Cozmos (collectively King Coz) Radio Galaxy seems poised to bring peace and then some when We Come in Peace drops.

Why don't all Mondays kick off like this?

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DJ Flash Gordon Parks (@flashgparks) - Starpoint mix download

Peaceuvmine flag bearer and turntable exhibitor DJ Flash Gordon Parks educates on the finer points of funk with a mix from the seldom celebrated 80's group Starpoint. This is some Friday boogie for that a**. Thanks Flash. 

DJ Flash Gordon Parks - Starpoint

check out more of Flash mixes here: dj-flash-gordon-parks mixes

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Ka (@brownsvilleka) - Collage

When Erykah Badu says peep it, you'd likely be doing yourself a favor by obliging. I never heard of Brownsville Ka before @fatbellybella tweeted it this morning, but I'm certainly a fan after listening to this and his Iron Works project.

"Part of the group Natural Elements' first incarnation in the early 90's, then later one half of Nightbreed, Brownsville's Ka has more recently been affiliated with some of New-York's illest lyrical chin-checkers, appearing on projects by Wu-Tang, GZA & Roc Marciano." 
-  (via thewordisbond.com)

Ka directed and shot the amazing visuals himself. The subliminal images per bar are an incredible concept. Respect.

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Neak - Sayin Something

 As Chi-City emcee Neak readies his upcoming Love Greatest//The Prequel project, he throws us a  gem to tide us over until the release. Produced by Slot-A the lush horn samples resurrect an old Com' vibe with Neak going into some patented Com scatting, "thicka tha thicka tha." Check it out, the man is definitely "Sayin Somthing."

Neak - Sayin Something

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Stanza - Broadcast From Georgia: Car-wrecks

This is the weekly installment from one of the most refreshing new emcees on my radar, Stanza. Not just throwing around compliments here, Stanza makes satire rap using the current events of the week. "Who does that?"

The icing on the cake is Stanza's approach, sending an audio file accompanied with a newsletter containing the applicable events of the week. Gotta love the strategy. On this weeks menu Kim Kardashian (...her divorce), Herman Cain's allegations of sexual harassment and a senior citizen terrorist. "Car Wrecks" was produced and mastered by Kit Lewis.

Great track. Gain access via the jump below.


Stanza - Broadcast From Georgia: Car-wrecks

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Blu "DOINNOTHIN" (prod. Flying Lotus) ft. U-God

Everyone has an opinion on Blu's NO YORK album. It's a different direction sonically, (errr...hence the title). Call me a liberal I mess with it. Even still, Blu has persisted in his development as a producer and emcee with a flurry of releases this year (B-Jesus, Open, No York), establishing himself as one of the budding lyricist/producers to be reckoned with in the game. "DOINNOTHIN" was shot by David M. Helman, though trippy it very much so fits the track. I'm not even going to ask where Blu found U-God to make this track happen. Just Enjoy.

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Oddisee "The Blooming"

Check out this trance inducing instrumental from Oddisee called "The Blooming." Its set to an equally touching video clip entertaining themes of family and time. If he keeps this up, I definitely see film scores in Oddisee's immediate future. Peep it for yourself.

the video was made by zbsstudio.com...top shelf indeed.


Oddisee - The Blooming from Mello Music Group on Vimeo.

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Rapsody "A Crush Groove"

It's been nearly a month since the Respect The Mic showcase/beat battle at Abbey's Pub on Chicago's north side. Most of the heads in the spot were there either supporting local talent or waiting for the evenings feature, 9th Wonder and Freddie Gibbs to show up. I love those two cats dearly, but that night they honestly weren't my highest priority.

Not even a month had went by since I came across and downloaded the Return of the B-Girl and Thank Me Now mixtapes, so I was in Abbey's on an entirely different mission.

I had to see Rapsody show and prove. I really hate to fall into gender specifics, but hey I'm human. I honestly have not been this excited about a female emcee since Psalm One and Jean Grae.

I always try to form my opinions of an artist when they only have 15-20 disinterested/fatigued fans in front of them. That was the scenario that night at Abbey's and true to her tutelage under rap Obi-Wan Kin-obi 9th Wonder, Rapsody still gave the zombies a hell of a show.

As a hip-hop fan that's all I needed to see. I gave her a pound and copped both mixtapes that I already downloaded online from her booth. I support all that is dope and posted this new video for the same reason. Pretty sure this is only the beginning for Rapsody. Check it out.

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R.I.P. Heavy D. 1967 - 2011

There isn't much you can say about hip-hop legend Heavy D that hasn't been said already. He made great music that was agreeable in countless circles. I remember coming to the U.S. from Ghana and having my 30-something year old mother who swore she couldn't stand hip-hop culture one bit knocking "Now That We've Found Love." If only she knew the same Heavy D also made "A Bunch of Niggas." But I've noticed the trend of great people producing great things having a way of transcending prejudices.

 In the wake of his passing, as droves of friends and family recount the deeds of his life, it becomes even more obvious that his music was an extension of his own inner joy.

If there is anything we as a culture could use right now, it is a return to our "inner Hev."


Wearing the moniker "overweight lover" with all the pride in the room, Heavy D was entirely comfortable with his size long before big men were embraced in hip-hop.

He was the tip of the spear in making a celebrated sex symbol and big man in hip-hop culture cool. I'm sure if he were alive Big would tell you the same.

But isn't it the eternal truth that happy people just garner way more positive attention anyway?

I wont disrespect his legacy by whining about hip-hop not having someone to stand in the man's shoes. His music came from a place of contentment, his own.

"His music sounded happy because he was happy."

Music aside, I do wish a similar state of peace for all us. When we are collectively stronger the art will have no choice but to follow. Just from the reaction of the people who knew him it's obvious that Hev was a strong cat.

Transitioning at 44 years of age does feel awfully young, but when all anyone can remember you for is your light and positivity there isn't a laundry list of regrets.

I extend peace and comfort to the family of Dwight Arrington Meyers aka Heavy D from the H.A.S. Magazine fam. His spirit will be sorely missed.


Black Coffee -

Now That We've Found Love -

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