How’s the Canibus in Muncie, (IN)?

So okay, the (above) headline is a little lacking in the cutting-edge creativity y’all are accustomed to getting from your’s truly Capt. Westside. (But, hey even the best can an off day, right?) But…if you (hip-hop fan) happen to be in the Ball State University/Muncie area; about 50 miles North of Indianapolis (Mapquest that ish: here), the one-time Fugees affiliate/one-time battle-rap phenom/one-time of ‘victim’ of a L.L. Cool J lyrically beatdown will be making an appearance at Mo’s Tavern on July 18th!

I Know You Gonna Dig This cause with DJ Definition on the ‘Wheels of Steel’, the Kutthroatz (in-da-buildin’) and Lyrical Lounge alumni Merc Versus also performing, the show will most certainly be for the rhythmically inclined!

None of that ‘bumblegum rap’ rules apply at this show, so don’t sleep..

Stuck between the hard rock and the pop music worlds New York based indie band Nevereven provides plenty of hook-heavy, toe-tapping music. Not quite metal, not quite “so utterly hip that they’re tortured musicians creating rather than striving” for mainstream’s music’s stamp of approval, Nevereven is a band that seems quite comfy perching on the ledge between the rock/metal fringes and the more accessible, slightly gentler, pop rock found on today’s mainstream radio. Thankfully, Nevereven’s music tends to be slightly more sing-a-long-able and friendly than your average jam-worthy band blazing out tunes meant to dislocate your neck from all the head banging. Based on their guitar heavy riffs and catchy choruses, this NYC band is on the right track to garnering some household notoriety. 

Lead singer Gary Pickard’s voice is arresting in its earnestness while also requiring some nips and tucks here and there to rein in his vocals a bit. His voice seems to ebb in and out from a surprisingly fresh and exciting sound to a slightly off center and somewhat flat tone. It’s an odd sensation; one which I think can only be helped with the right music producer directing Pickard towards developing and embracing his many vocal strengths. The same goes for the entire band, as “indie” sadly also applies to the quality of much of the recording. Each song is professional enough to make it on to myspace, but lacking that polished, finished sound required for radio airplay. With proper guidance from an excellent producer who can help tweak Nevereven’s obvious creativity and talent there is little reason that this indie band can’t make it big in the mainstream musical world.  

Downloadable: the guitar blaring “Midnight,” the near-mainstream ready “Cloud Nine” and “Quicksilver.” 

Check out more about the band here:

www. myspace. com/nevereven
www. sonicbids. com/nevereven
www. ourstage. com/nevereven

The Bi-Coastal edition:

Sounds from the Westcoast…

DJ Muggs (of Soul Assassins fame) teams-up with fellow Californian (and cold-chain swingin’ champion) Planet Asia on a full album colabo titled Pain Language. Tentatively to hit the streets on Sept. 2, the album will undoubtedly remind listeners of Muggs and GZA’s Grandmasters 2005 masterpiece. However, yearning ears wanting to hear original flows (which Asia has in abundance) and that signature ‘murky’ Souls Assassin sound should hardly dismiss Pain Language as a retread. Peep the B-side single:  “That’s What It Is”

Sounds from the Eastcoast…

The Saint continues to “save-the-day” with MP3 freebies as: “Do You Remember” is the second single from his forthcoming album About Time. Shout-out to Pro Se/Domination Recordings for continuing to make the strong push for that ‘authentic’ hip-hop music. And make sure you check for About Time when it drops! With Saint on the rhyme, and features from DJ Cade Money, Verses, NYOIL, Eternia (and a few other true-skool favorites) the album is bonafide live!

This might be the best mash-up since they got chocolate in peanut butter.
DANZIG and SHAKIRA, for the first time!

If fate and talent has anything to say in the matter the music from the New York based indie band The Styrofoam Junkies will soon be heard on a radio station near you. With a range of songs (some great, some less so great) that actually vary in sound and scope, this engaging band offers a little bit of rocky/poppy goodness for even the most jaded music fan.

“Touch” is the standout in The Styrofoam Junkies’ musical arsenal, it’s a car-singing-worthy tune begging to be boomed over the radio (or your iPod). Beginning with a jamming guitar riff that quickly snags your attention, “Touch” soon morphs into a mellowishy-cheery tune lead by the confident multi-tiered vocals of singer Stephen Faig (who also plays the guitar). “Touch” is a top 40 hit waiting to happen.

“These Days” is another song worthy of your musical time, featuring a thoroughly catchy chorus demanding you stop and take notice; especially once the ”whoa-oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh’s” kick in towards the end. It’s a head-boppy tune meant to invoke thoughts of care-free good times with your best buddies: “grew up in parking lots/a bottle and some friends” sings Faig. Worth a listen.

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Touche with your Electric Blue, Troy. I must Ying to your Yang, my friend.

Today’s moments come to us from Australian band Icehouse. We think they named the beer after them, but we’re not sure.* At any rate, here’s their two big U.S. hits: “Crazy” and “Electric Blue”.

*Actually, we’re pretty sure they didn’t.

Today, we acknowledge Richard Marx. Though quite possibly best known these days for subscribing to the oft-repeated theory “Nobody ever went broke writing songs for chicks”, Marx did stray to the rockier side of pop-rock in his career. These days, Marx’s biggest success is as a songwriter. From the ’80s to today, the man has worked with a staggering array of talent. He actually sang back-up on Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” and Madonna’s “True Blue” album, and went on to be an in-demand writer as his solo career cooled a bit. He co-wrote (with Fee Waybill of The Tubes) Vixen’s immortal “Edge of a Broken Heart” as well. Crazy! Anyway, here’s Richard with his rockier tune, “Should’ve Known Better”, and bonus Vixen after the jump.

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STREETS OF FIRE EDITION!
This one’s for Matt Brady.

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. . . you didn’t know Diddley. A fond Rest in Peace to a master of the craft.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t knock someone who is about to be inducted into the fraternity of fatherhood, but this is Clay Aiken we’re talking here, the guy who called out his dad for being an ass the minute he got into the public eye and yet has refused to stop making an ass out of himself ever since he stepped into the spotlight.

As far as the baby is concerned, sorry about your luck, kid… on the bright side, maybe in about 20 years you too can act like you won finish second place in the national karaoke contest and call out your old man in the media too.

By the way, he made such a big deal about how he shut off his sex drive… now he’s turned it back on for a turkey baster? I guess “Solitaire” truly IS the only game in town… and was that the same hand he put over Kelly Ripa’s mouth? No wonder she was so concerned about germs…

The Summertime music explosion is right around the corner! While the hip-hop world feverishly awaits for new “ish” releases from Lil Wayne, Game, Nas and Ice Cube (oh yeah, O’Shea is promising a ‘hot’ Summer with Raw Footage); the Lyrical Lounge got you covered with these hearty appetizers:

JR Writer - Do Dat - Break-ups. First, the Fat Boy’s then N.W.A. and now The Dipset. Cam’s, Jimmy’s and Max B’s latestet falling out hasn’t stopped JR Writer’s grind! Check out “Do Dat” from the forthcoming album Politics & Bullshit. Dipset unity or not, looks as if ”the writer of rappers” is gonna continue to drop heat! (Babygrande)

Dame Grease featuring (the recently ousted Dipset member) Max B - Connecticut Kush is the first (and prob the only) single off Dame’s self-produced compilation Goon Musik! (”Light a spliff, nod your head, and zone out to “Connecticut Kush.” - Who knew the good stuff was buddin’ up in New England?)

Count Bass D - Can We Hang Out Tonight - Look up The Count’s discography and you’ll realize that dude’s got enough music in the catalog to make MF Doom envious. I doubt if even Wikipedia can keep up with him! A special shout goes out to 1320 Records for putting a focus on supporting ‘real’ music! And be sure to check for Count Bass D’s new album, tentatively titled L7 droppin’ later this year..

Almost September - Love- A rather coloful collective we have here, as the visual dynamic in the group plays out like a bag of Skittles. Hip-hop meets-chic-meets-punk ???  But what the hey, they got an industree co-sign from none other than Sleepy Brown and the Blastmaster KRS-One-on their debut single -so don’t hate on em’ to hard!! (And yes, that is MC Lyte!!)

Sup y’all, Capt. Westside gets bombarded with free swag like you would not believe! Most of it is “all-filler-no-thriller,” but this free-bee “street album” by Nino Bless definitely got my radars up!

Album features Nino ‘blessing’ the mic with fellow hip-hop luminaries such as Graph, Joe Ortiz (formerly of Aftermath), Saigon, Styles P (LOX), mix-tape king Joe Budden and the legendary Kool G Rap!

Tracklisting w/production credits: 
1.) Intro (produced by Veterano)
2.) Da Livest (produced by Yes Sur)
3.) Peep Game (Freestyle)
4.) Times Are Hard f/Joe Budden (produced by Focus)
5.) My Piano (Freestyle)
6.) Means Of Survival (produced by Scram Jones)
7.) Going In (Freestyle) f/Grafh
8.) Name Dropping (produced by Sivey)
9.) 3^rd Degree f/Saigon and Crooked I (produced by Scram Jones)
10.) When It Rains (Freestyle)
11.) Urban Legends (produced by Veterano)
12.) Ever So Subtle (produced by Gunz N Butter)
13.) Cause Of Influence (Nick’s Story) (produced by Veterano)
14.) Blame It On Hip-Hop (Freestyle)
15.) 4 In The Clip f/Joell Ortiz, Styles P & Kool G Rap (produced by Veterano)
16.) Bright Lights (Freestyle)
17.) Won’t Change (produced by Frado)
18.) Going In Pt.2 (Freestyle)
19.) My Story (produced by Blackout Movement)

Free-bee (and all legal) download here: Untold Scriptures

Hip-Hop hilarity…from the verbally quick witted trio known as Ugly Duckling! (A little dated as the vid is from 2003’s Taste The Secret album. But, a classic piece of hip-hop nonetheless, that I’m sure only a handful of people have ever seen!) Enjoy: The Drive Thru

And if you don’t know, now you know..

I must preface this by saying that the only reason I probably would ever have been interested in this song is because The Rock was in it, but after listening to it again this morning, you got to love a song that can borrow from Ricky Martin and John Denver at the same time.

The video quality isn’t so great, but enjoy… this is one of my kitschy favorites. I forgot at the end that Rock laid the smack down on the big guy.

P.S. If anybody can find me a video of Rock telling The Coach to dance the Charleston, I would love to see it. The closest video of that era that I can find on YouTube is when Rock told Coach he wasn’t praying right when he said, “What up, G?” and then Rock’s eyes got all bulgy and he literally kicked Coach’s ass out of the picture.