The last we heard of First Serve it was 3AM in a Parisian suburb at an out of control house party with ‘The Goon Time Mixtape’ blasting into the night.  That was just a taste of things to come from De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2 present ‘First Serve’; a dynamic hip-hop group, an album, a concept, the soundtrack to a movie that has yet to be made and a fable for our times.

‘First Serve’ is many things, but at its heart it is the story of two young boys from Queens, New York with big dreams and larger rhymes. Two friends, Deen Whitter (aka Plug 2 / Dave) and Jacob ‘Pop Life’ Barrow (aka Plug 1/ Pos), friends from seventh grade, are by their own admission, “different, but the differences seem to complement everything we do.” Their name ‘First Serve’ comes from their motto, “First come, First Serve, get what you deserve.”

We get a glimpse into their world in the form of the ‘Mrs. Whitter’ skit where we see the duo during the early days in Deen’s mother’s basement, the location of years of laying down demos and mixtapes on the hustle in the hip-hop game.  With Deen’s mother Eleanor giving them endless flack, the duo don’t get much peace and quiet to sip on a 40oz beer and smoke a joint in their hyper-colour, animated world.

Due to hit the streets in April 2012, the ‘First Serve’ album tells the story of two dreamers in a basement struggling to start their musical career, the battles they face, through to the point that they eventually release their debut single, ‘make it big’ and their hard work and persistence finally pays off. As we know that is rarely where the story ends and the story of ‘First Serve’ is no different. Taking place in an animated world that could have been imagined by Hawley Pratt on Magic Mushrooms, the high spirited and often hilarious journey is pure old school hip-hop; skits, disco, beats, funk, quips, burns and hustlin’ all included.

Kidz In The Hall: "I Swear" feat Vic Spencer from Ruby Hornet on Vimeo.

COPYWRITE SET TO RELEASE GOD SAVE THE KING

GOD SAVE THE KING WILL BE RELEASED ON FEBRUARY 28^th, 2012 & WILL FEATURE APPEARANCES FROM EVIDENCE, ROC MARCIANO, MAC LETHAL, TORAE, ROCK (of HELTAH SKELTAH) & CASUAL AND PRODUCTION FROM RJD2, !llMIND, KHRYSIS, BRONZE NAZARETH, STU BANGAS & VANDERSLICE

Heavy is the head that wears the crown! Over the course of his now decade long-career, Copywrite has been a lightning rod of controversy, engaged in numerous beefs (some of which have lived out in real time and not just on the microphone).  Yet, in life, lessons are learned, you grow and mature; and above all else life has a way of imparting upon you what’s truly important. For Copywrite, the devastation he felt from the loss of close friends and family members has heavily impacted his view of the world and his place in it. Leaders are bestowed a great deal of responsibility and they can influence those around them to do the right things, or they can lead them astray; Copywrite has chosen the former as his path.

Following the successes of his debut LP (“The High Exhaulted”) and his most recent sophomore album (“The Life and Times of Peter Nelson”), Copywrite found himself at a crossroad. He had first become popular in the underground scene for his battle raps and witty punch lines. With the release of “Life and Times of Peter Nelson” Copywrite has found critical success (XXL Magazine, Hiphopdx.com, Thewellversed.com, URB.com etc) by being more honest and candid about his life. Some fans yearned for the Copywrite who ripped other rappers to shreds; while critics and newer fans appreciated the deeper more introspective side of Copywrite. Mix all of that in along with the deaths of a few close friends and family members that have taken place since “The Life and Times of Peter Nelson” was released a year ago emboldened Copywrite to strengthen himself in his faith to change his content moving forward.  What this offers the listener is a true look into the artist, who like many of us, starts something one way, but finishes it in a different manner.

Most artists lack the dexterity to make a shift such as the one Copywrite has embarked upon, but this is not an issue for him. No matter the topic, Copy stays to true his art form and offers plenty of proof that he is still one of the great wordsmiths in the industry today. “God Save The King” is an intimately honest record filled with deep concepts like “Talk With Jesus” and the RJD2 produced “Synesthesia.”  Classic Hip-hop tracks still abound, such as “Golden State (Of Mind)” with Evidence, Roc Marciano and Casual and “White Democrats” with Mac Lethal. Copywrite broadens his horizons on collaborations with fellow Man Bites Dog Records artist Jason Rose, who produced and sang on the pop slanted “J.O.Y” featuring Torae and the Dire Straits cover song “Yo! MTV Raps! (Money for Nothing)”; both of these tracks cast a wider net than Copywrite has aimed for in the past.

With “God Save the King” Copywrite delivers another brutally honest record that reaches for new creative heights with all of the crazy punch lines, deep metaphors, true wordsmithing and all of the technical razzle dazzle anyone could ever ask for.

Man Bites Dog Records is proud to announce the release of Copywrite’s “God Save The King” which will be released on February 28^th, 2012.

Tracklisting and credits for Copywrite’s God Save The King:

1.) “Post-Apocalyptic Request Box” (produced by Jason Rose)

2.) “Love” f/ Tage Future of MHz (produced by Bronze Nazareth)

3.) “Swaggot Killaz” f/ Jakki Da Motamouth

4.) “Mouth of MHz” (produced by !llmind)

5.) “Sorrow” f/ Illogic & Don Jaga (produced by Stu Bangas)

6.) “Man Made” f/ Rockness Monstah of Heltah Skeltah (produced by Jason Rose)

7.) “J.O.Y.” f/ Jason Rose & Torae (produced by Jason Rose)

8.) “Union Rights” f/ MHz (produced by Khrysis)

9.) “Yo! MTV Raps! (Money for Nothing)” f/ Jason Rose (produced by Jason Rose)

10.) “Blue Ribbon” (produced by Bronze Nazareth)

11.) “Miracle” (produced by S.G. on the Traxxx)

12.) “G$K” (produced by Stu Bangas)

13.) “Workahol” (produced by Stu Bangas)

14.) “White Democrats” f/ Mac Lethal (produced by Jason Rose)

15.) “Golden State (Of Mind)” f/ Evidence, Roc Marciano & Casual (produced by Vanderslice)

16.) “Synesthesia” (produced by RJD2)

17.) “Got to Make It” f/ Tage Future (produced by Stu Bangas)

18.) “Talk With Jesus” (produced by Poetiq Beetz)

New Audio: Planet Asia “Golden State”

Planet Asia helped jump-start the West Coast independent hip-hop movement, releasing a slew of popular 12-inch singles on upstarts like Stones Throw and ABB Records in the late 90s that established him as one of the leaders of a crop of talent that included the likes of Dilated Peoples, Madlib, Murs, and Jurassic 5.  Now a 15-year veteran, the Cali-based MC (born in Fresno, he's spent most of his career living in Los Angeles and San Francisco) shows no signs of slowing down.  The first decade of the new millennium saw Asia briefly sign with major label Interscope, go independent again for his debut album The Grand Opening, release full-length collaborative projects with both Evidence of Dilated Peoples (The Medicine) and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill (Pain Language), form his own label (Gold Chain Music), and work with everyone from Linkin Park to Bun B to Ghostface Killah.  Now, Planet Asia is back with his first retail album in four years, the star-studded Black Belt Theatre, which hits stores everywhere via Gold Chain/Wandering Worx/Greenstreets on February 28th, 2012.

Named after a 1980s Saturday-afternoon TV show and inspired by Planet Asia's favorite films, Black Belt Theatre combines the violent precision of classic kung-fu flicks with the calculated cool of classic blaxploitation movies.  "I wanted to make the album like a movie, something you would see in a theater," says Asia.  "That's why it has so many features.  All the guests feel like different characters in the movie."  These guests include veterans like Raekwon, Talib Kweli, Paul Wall, Ras Kass, Camp Lo, and Strong Arm Steady, as well as newcomers like Fashawn, Willie The Kid, Torae, and Nio Tha Gift.  "They're basically just all people I thought were dope," says Asia.  "Both young cats I'm feeling and veterans I've always admired."  Unlike on his albums with Evidence and DJ Muggs, Asia also got to determine the sonic direction on Black Belt Theatre, resulting in a soul-heavy, blaxploitation-influenced sound.  "It was fun because I got to reach out to guys like Oh No and Khrysis for beats, find the best tracks and put together a masterpiece," explains Asia.  "It's some esoteric gangster shit…a full plate for the listener."

DL link to Planet Asia’s “Golden State” (produced by Dirtydiggs) http://nature-sounds.net/audio/goldenstate.mp3

Tracklisting and credits for Planet Asia’s “Black Belt Theatre”:

1.) “Lost And Found” (produced by Khrysis)

2.) “Grown Folks Talkin’” f/ Talib Kweli (produced by Dirtydiggs)

3.) “Tell The World” (produced by Dirtydiggs)

4.) “All Mine” f/ Paul Wall (produced by Twiz The Beat Pro)

5.) “No Apologies” f/ Raekwon (produced by Oh No)

6.) “F*ck Rapers” f/ Fashawn & Willie The Kid (produced by Dirtydiggs)

7.) “Diamond Life” f/ Camp Lo (produced by Dirtydiggs)

8.) “Furniture” (produced by Dirtydiggs)

9.) “Mach One (produced by Dirtydiggs)

10.) “Daggers And Darts” f/ Rogue Venom & Tristate (produced by Dirtydiggs)

11.) “Bruce Lee” f/ Chace Infinite & Rasco (produced by Soulprofessa)

12.) “Golden State” (produced by Dirtydiggs)

13.) “Coons” f/ Killer Ben (produced by Dirtydiggs)

14.) “The Line Of Fire” f/ Krondon, Phil Da Agony & Picaso (produced by Brisk Oner)

15.) “Big Fish” (produced by Twiz The Beat Pro)

16.) “External Motives” f/ The Jacka & Mitchy Slick (produced by Twiz The Beat Pro)

17.) “Classical” f/ Ras Kass, Torae & Jasiri X (produced by Religion)

18.) “Stay Ready” f/ Mistah Fab, Dengee & Mo The Gift (produced by Oh No)

19.) “Whirlwind Patterns” (produced by Religion)

20.) “Dogon Outro” (produced by Dirtydiggs)

Communicate with Planet Asia:

Twitter @planetasia

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/planetasia

CHICAGO,IL- Latest anticipated video ‘Struggle and Pain’ from underground Chicago Hip Hop Rapper Esohel has many cheering the underdog with a vim of a hip hop ‘Eye of the Tiger’.

‘Struggle and Pain’ incorporates the hardship and endeavors of a rapper trying to make it in the music industry while struggling to separate himself from the rest. In Esohel’s 4th video off his LP ‘Essential’ we see a young artist trying to make it on a daily grind in hopes to overcome his struggles and be able to reach his goals and become a successful artist. The videos simplicity and lyrics leaves you connected to a character that everyone can relate to.

“This song is an insight to my thoughts and questions as a rapper trying to make it in what seems to be an over saturated genre that places fluff before substance commercially.  The struggle has always been to separate myself from the rest and have that be the first impression to the public. The pain portion comes after, when my voice seems to not get heard at times creating a cycle of self doubt, which usually overcomes by the need to prove that I must be out of my mind to let doubt be my downfall.” Esohel says of the song.