Amp Live feat. Trackademicks & Mr. Micro - Gary is a Robot (OM Records)

Above is the brand new video for the latest release from super-talented Bay Area producer Amp Live, equally known these days for both his membership with Zion I and for his acclaimed Radiohead remix project Rainydayz from last year when he masterfully reworked Thom Yorke & company's In Rainbows LP. The video above is for the single "Gary Is A Robot" (which comes in four other remixed versions) on which Amp is joined by Trackademicks and Mr. Micro. The track is a taste of what is to come on Amp Live's forthcoming solo album project, Murder at the Discotek, which is scheduled to drop on Child's Play/OM in the first quarter of 2010. Stay tuned for details.

Speaking of Bay Area hip-hop talent, hard-working, versatile SF emcee and self-described "make something happen-aire" Sellassie, who last night (Thursday) put it down at the In House Bay Area Talent Showcase at Element, is tonight (Friday 13th) opening for Raekwon at the Independent. Queen YoNasDa and DJ Raw B are also on the bill tonight.  9:00 PM show. Click here for tickets and info. 

Raekwon, whose latest solo joint Only Built 4 Cuban Links Pt II on ICEAL has been popular at Amoeba and who came to fame in the nineties as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, should head over to another recommended party in that same general SF hood tonight-- the nineties themed New Jack City party at the Poleng Lounge where DJs Chicken Skratch, Myke One, and DJ Genie G are collectively throwing down a mix of all 1990's music including such genres as golden age hip-hop (the latter half at least), Miami style booty-bass, new jack swing, dancehall, hip-house, freestyle, with even some grunge thrown in at this fun monthly (2nd Fridays) Dressing up in 90's atire is strongly encouraged. 10pm to 2am. 21+ $10 or $5 before 11pm. More info.



1) Jay Z Blueprint 3 (Roc Nation/Atlantic)

2) Shwayze Let It Beat (Suretone/Geffen)

3) Fashawn Boy Meets World (Loud)

4) Low Profile Greatest Hits (DJ Aladdin Music)

5) People Under The Stairs Carried Away (OM Records) Even two plus full months after its initial release Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 continues to hold it down sales-wise at Amoeba. This week the album is back on up in the number one slot at the Hollywood Amoeba Music store. Other new hip-hop releases doing well this week at the Sunset Blvd. store include hot new Fresno emcee Fashawn's debut Boy Meets World, longtime hip-hop duo People Under The Stairs, old school West Coast duo Low Profile, and popular West Coast rapper Shwayze, whose just released second album Let It Beat is a close second place to Jay-Z on this week's Amoeba Hollywood chart. The Cisco Adler produced new album from the Cali rapper features several guest appearances from artists including Snoop Dogg, The Knux, Tabi Bonney, and both Ric Ocasek of The Cars and Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains, who play guitar and bass, respectively, on the new album track "Crazy For You." Below is the new video for the album track "Get U Home," which has also been remixed by Travis Barker.


Stones Throw artist James Pants is about to release his new LP Seven Seals. But before the album drops on December 8th, he has just released a limited edition 7" single with the two album tracks "Thin Moon" and "ID Chip." Souls of Mischief are also preparing to release their new album next month. Dropping on December 1st, the anticipated, Prince Paul-produced release will be the first official full-length from the longtime Oakland, CA based Hiero crew in ten years. A new album that I can't get off my turntable lately is Edan's Echo Party on Five Day Weekend/Traffic. For the record, the multi-talented Edan, after being granted access to the Traffic Ent. Group's back catalog of old school rap, came up with an inspired 30-minute record that effortelssly blends rap, glitch-hop, dance, punk, and even has some kazoo added into its killer mix! Expect this release to pop up on many year-end lists.

And finally, I leave you with two items: a heads up on a great free Amoeba in-store next week, and the video for a refreshing new hip-hop release that will restore your faith in the genre if you had written it off as all gangsta and macho posturing. First up is that highly recommended (and free) concert at Amoeba Music San Francisco next Wednesday (18th) at 6pm -- New Zealand seven-piece band Fat Freddy's Drop will be laying down their trademark seamless blend of soul, jazz, dub, reggae, roots, and more, all in support of their justifiably hyped new album, Dr Boondigga & The Big BW, released this past Tuesday. Below is the video by Kam Moye from his new album Splitting Image on MYX Music (charting on the Amoeba SF Hip-Hop Chart last week): his soulful track "Let's Be Honest," in which the emcee, unlike the legions of other dishonest, bragging rappers out there, tells it like it is, from talking about his hooptie of a ride to his non GQ model frame ("Hell, my belly sticks out of my belt"). Wow! Imagine for a moment if every rapper out there dropped their guard and was just totally honest like Kam Moye is here.