Roc Raida is one of the most influential DJs in hip hop, having come up through the ranks with a foundational power crew of DJs The X-Ecutioners & X-Men his mark is indelible. Recently both crews got together to celebrate Roc Raida’s 40th, with an album and series of vignettes.

I’ll let Rob Swift Tell it:

This May 17th marks what would have been Roc Raida’s 40th birthday. Unfortunately Raida isn’t here to rejoice with us but it doesn’t mean we can’t. Thus, I ask you, Raida’s fans, not to mourn his death on the 17th of May. For birthdays are about celebrating life.

Although Raida only lived to be 37, he accomplished more in those 37 years than some people do in a lifetime. The odds were stacked against Raida from childhood. The odds say a young man who drops out of school will never make it out of the projects. But Raida not only left Harlem’s Foster Projects as an adult, he left New York and made a home for his wife and kids in Maryland. The odds say an aspiring DJ without turntables will never be able to perfect his skills. But Raida initially developed his style by going to other people’s homes and practicing on sets that didn’t belong to him. The odds say once you retire from battling you’ve given up your chance to win a world DJ title. But Raida came out of a 3 year retirement and won the 1995 World DMC Title. The odds say once you die, the world moves on without you. But through the support of many of YOU for my mixtape “Roc For Raida”, the memory of Anthony Williams aka Grandmaster Roc Raida continues to live on. The odds have always been stacked against Raida and even in death, he continues to defy those odds.

So for those of you who’ve purchased “Roc For Raida”, on behalf of Tyeasha Williams (Raida’s wife) and their 3 kids, Tia, Nyra and Asia, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. To those who haven’t bought a copy of “Roc For Raida” I urge you to please support. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to Tye and the kids. But If that isn’t enough incentive, I hope my latest “Roc For Raida” video trailer will move you to Roc For Raida!

Peace

Rob Swift

A Current favorite of mine is the duo @ShadowsOnStars. They put together a nice touch of pop and tossed into the blender with a number of different influences to make their current sound. They first came to my attention with the track “Punk Kids” and have stayed not too far away in my rotation.

If its any indication, given the album is a free download, that they do what they want, then just listen and its clear they are having fun and not at our expense of any kind (Download).

And damn if the video for “Out Of My Head” doesn’t tell you too.

I will go on record as saying that cloudeater have been one of my favorite bands of the past year.  The two EPs they’ve released in their time together have been in constant rotation for me since I picked them up.  So of course I was pleasently surprised that a band that makes electronic rock as diverse and skilled as they still are on a largely independent get-down; I believe its only a matter of time til that changes. (A few have already taken notice)

@Social8gency / @BJones21: You guys have cultivated a sound that doesn’t have a sound quite yet it seems; is that intentional or more of just you guys as a young band going through creative growth?

@cloudeatermusic: It’s intentional. As a band, we have a very diverse range of styles and influences. This comes out when we start writing new music. We have ideas about the big picture and where we want the music to go. Each of us have a different way of developing these ideas. As a whole, we are trying to make something interesting. We want cloudeater to be an experience, not just well written songs. -Nolan [synth/fx]

@Social8gency / @BJones21: You guys for a while seemed to keep a rather mysterious image about you, I point to this image in particular; purposeful?

@cloudeatermusic: We are fully aware that the cloudeater sound is something different. Its uncharted territory. The mystery inspires people to dig deeper. -Nolan [synth/fx]

@Social8gency: When I first heard Sun & Sidearm EP, I was very struck by the difference between it and your previous effort, was that an intentional step? Sun & Sidearm had a very ethereal tone to it and felt like a journey of sorts where as Greatest Tragedy came rather straight forward about the conflicts inherent in love (artistic love or romantic).

@cloudeatermusic: Greatest Tragedy was an attempt to address aspects of love usually overlooked in popular music. Anxiety and despair that accompanies the excitement and warmth therein. The second ep was more of an early-release b-side to Sun and Sidearm. We stated in a teaser released earlier this year that the album serves to “document a process of thought with no perceivable end”. It is an attempt to answer the universal personal queries that fill our minds daily. -Sam [vox]

@Social8gency: Was there a point where concept clashed with what you wanted your identity to be as a band?

@cloudeatermusic: Because off the way the band started off, we didn’t have a concept to begin with, just music. Since the beginning we’ve been working towards uniting identity and concept. With the most recent music we’ve been writing its getting closer but it’ll always be a process. -Chris [drums]

@Social8gency: How did you guys come together as I understand it you all are from the south with a Chicago transplant in there for spice?

@cloudeatermusic: I (Nolan) used to DJ and make mixtapes. At the time, I was just getting to into audio engineering. I was looking for more people to collaborate with and decided that djing open mic nights was an easy way to meet new artists in Atlanta. One night a rock band came in without their lead singer. They asked Sam, one of the baristas (this event was at a coffee shop) to sing a cover song with them. His vocal delivery was impressive, so I introduced myself. We ran into each other at a few events around town after that. Sam heard some live remixing that I was doing at a show and asked me to come to one of his band practices. “We wanted it to feel like a man alone with his thoughts, when all else has proven fleeting.”

This band was the 11 piece group that I mentioned previously. I later found out that they needed a new guitar player. Dan, a friend of mine since elementary school, had recently moved back to Atlanta. When we decided to leave the cover band, a drummer was needed. Dan suggested Chris, who he met in his high school jazz band. None of us had ever really worked on music together before. Without these circumstances, most of us wouldn’t have even met each other. -Nolan [synth/fx]

@Social8gency: What does 2012 have in store for Cloudeater? Releases, tour dates, etc?

@cloudeatermusic: 2012 is going to be a big year for [e. Were planning shows outside of Atlanta. Since recording Sun and Sidearm we have been stockpiling demos for new material. We hope to start releasing some of these before the end of the year. -Nolan [synth/fx]

@Social8gency: Tracks like Hardly Wait, Love Don’t Live Here, Vampire, Decade, & The Dive feel very commercially viable and perfect for media consumption via tv/movie/ commercial, is that sort of recognition something you shy away form or are looking to embrace?

@cloudeatermusic: We’re certainly interested in these kinds of opportunities. It couldn’t be for just anything though. It would have to be for something we’re comfortable with. I don’t know if we’d want our music associated with dog food for example. -Dan [gtr]

@Social8gency: Do those considerations come into play during your writing process?

@cloudeatermusic: No, never. -Dan [gtr]

@Social8gency: Have you been approached in that capacity up until this point?

@cloudeatermusic: We have, but nothing I can mention at this time. -Dan [gtr]

@Social8gency: Has there been label interest in your music?

@cloudeatermusic: There has been, but again nothing I can mention at this time. -Dan [gtr]

@Social8gency: My favorite track has to be a Sun & Sidearm which I always characterized as the inner monologue of some lone gunman or samurai? What was the song about for you guys?

@cloudeatermusic: For us there is no literal gunman. There is no samurai or sidearm. We used them as tools to give these thoughts voice. This was the first song written on the album and contained the strongest imagery of what we chose to release. We wanted it to feel like a man alone with his thoughts, when all else has proven fleeting. -Sam [vox]

My man Dave Edwards just put down his latest remix; this time to Louis La Roche‘s “Untrue” and its available for FREE download.

Keep an eye and ear out for Dave Edwards, already with an accomplished track record spinning at New York clubs, he’s steadily been releasing top notch remix and original work, culminating the release of his debut EP The World Is Ours (ITunes).

Dave Edwards remember the name. Tumblr / SoundCloud / Facebook / Twitter

“From The Inbox” is the submissions portion of Social8gency, whether you sent it via email / Soundcloud / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr - we try to listen to everything. Keep Creatin’!

Proe dropped through the inbox a few days ago, being as I received a good number of submissions in a matter of days, I hadn’t gotten around to listening to all of them yet.  Sitting down this morning to go through them. I must say I waited too long to check out Proe.

A dusty style and sound that in some ways can be described as reminiscent of Homeboy Sandman, Grieves, & Atmosphere; fans of Rhymesayers and rap with a bit rock awareness will feel right at home with Proe.  In my opinion he’s got a style and passion that comes through with every word he utters.  Also there is a sick break in “She’s a Cutter”.

Be Brave, Gladiator  @Social8gency Recommendations:

“All Day”

“Cuss By Candlelight”

“Be Brave, Gladiator”

“She’s A Cutter”

“The Worst”

I don’t want to say too much more, I’ll let you decide whether you’re feeling it or not.  Check out the embed of his latest Be Brave, Gladiator below and look out for Proe -> @proemusic / Facebook / Official / Bandcamp

Chester French make now qualms about making it known they prefer the darker berries in the bowl and that’s the way it should be.  With the video for “Black Girls” coming from their upcoming album, they let it be known in a beautifully shot black and white video by fashion photog Francesco Carrozzini.  BTW if you need to know the stunning women who bring the video to life they are Rie Rasmussen and Jodie Smith;  I’ll give you a minute to Google that before heading to the video below.

One of the most interesting cats in music right now is Thundercat; I guess like the name may imply, he’s an agile force of nature seamlessly moving from rocking bass for Erykah Badu, to Suicidal Tendencies, to lacing FlyLo, and ultimately keeping a bit of virtuosity to himself on his solo debut Brainfeeder debut The Golden Age of Apocolypse.  Needless to say I’m a fan and now the album has some visuals to bring you around to the sound . . . well sort of.   Look out for cameos from LA’s finest as well as hilarity for those that follow FlyLo, ‘Cat, and Japanese cartoon – absolutely hilarious.

I’ve said it before Sugar Tongue Slim has a lane and I hope more people get out on the road. Dude’s got energetic style for days; He just dropped the visuals for “Comeback Kid” form his GOLDRush series, sampling and flipping Sleigh Bells’ “Come Back Kid”. Not much happening in the video except for a lot of fun.

Look for him at his official and @STSisGOLD

You’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re not checking out The Lions. They are a recent signee to the strong and recognized LA staple Stones Throw Records and a group of superstars that you just don’t know about. Members of The Lions have played & written for top artists in the industry for years meanwhile cultivating and maintaining their own distinct style of roots reggae & funk that allows you to dance, relax, and groove all at the same time.

From StonesThrow.com :

Members of the legendary ska band Hepcat, Deston Berry and Alex Désert, form half of the vocal team, and the latter also has a successful career on screen, including roles in the films Swingers and High Fidelity. The other half is the sweet falsetto of Malik Moore and DJ stylings of Black Shakespeare, the charismatic cousin of Robbie Shakespeare (of Sly & Robbie fame) and co-runner of the i&i Sound System, a customised ice cream van bringing bass to the streets of the west coast and featured on the cover of both Saul Williams’ self-titled album and an issue of XLR8R Magazine.

Other members include guitarist Dan Ubick, formerly of Breakestra, Macy Gray co-writer and collaborator Dave Wilder on bass, plus musicians who have played with the likes of De La Soul, Barrington Levy, Beck, Raphael Saadiq, Big Daddy Kane and Black Eyed Peas.

My man Malik The FreQ is that sweet falsetto you hear on the track. Definitely look out for more from The Lions as they prep their release and Malik The FreQ over the coming year.

Scion’s “Music-less Music Conference” drops in on LA & electro funk luminary Dam Funk at his studio in Ladera Heights. Two things to notice; how damn chill is Dam and he keeps a pretty straight forward process and setup while showing off and dropping a few gems on how he makes his tracks standout. Enjoy.

Can’t wait to see what else Nardwuar has in the hard-drives from SXSW 2012. He’s already released on the masses his interviews with A$AP Rocky & the A$AP Mob and Action Bronson; today he drops his interview with one of the most creative & potentially crazy young MCs doing it right now in Danny Brown.

Nardwuar stays undefeated.