Rawkus vs. Stones Throw | 9.20.10

Arguably 2 of the most respected, successful and talented independent Hip-Hop record labels since the beginning of the 90's are Stones Throw Records (Madlib, Oh No, J Dilla, MadVillian, MED) and Rawkus Records (Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Company Flow, Hi-Tek, Pharoah Monch). So on this episode of Ill Street we put the music to the test....which one is the best!?! DJ's RBI & 2-Tone Jones trade off throughout the entire show with classic and lesser known selections from both labels. Tune in right here and give us your verdict in the comment section.

Tracklisting:
If U can Huh, U Can Hear ][ Mos Def (RAWKUS)
America's Most Blunted ][ MadVillain (MF Doom & Madlib) (STONES THROW)
The Umph ][ Last Emperor feat. Cocoa Brovas (RAWKUS)
Champion Sound ][ Jaylib (J Dilla & Madlib) (STONES THROW)
Universal Magnetic ][ Mos Def (RAWKUS)
Something Kind Of Wonderful ][ Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek (Reflection Eternal) (RAWKUS)
Watch Your Step ][ Percee P feat. Guilty Simpson & Vinnie Paz (STONES THROW)
Mayor ][ Pharoahe Monch (RAWKUS)
The Ride ][ Oh No (STONES THROW)
What You In It For ][ MED (STONES THROW)
The Fire in Which You Burn ][ Company Flow feat. J-Treds & Breezely Brewin' (RAWKUS)
Fortified Live ][ Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) feat. Mos Def & Mr Khalil (RAWKUS)
Come Here My Dear ][ Dudley Perkins (STONES THROW)
Move ][ Oh No feat. J Dilla & Roc C (STONES THROW)
Put It On The Line ][ Percee P (STONES THROW)
Down For The Count (instrumental) ][ Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) (RAWKUS)
Definition ][ Blackstar (RAWKUS)
Come On Feet (Remix) ][ Quasimoto (STONES THROW)
Simon Says ][ Pharoahe Monch (RAWKUS)
Miss Fat Booty 2 ][ Mos Def feat. Ghostface Killah (RAWKUS)
Can't Hold On ][ MED (STONES THROW)
Train Of Thought ][ Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) (RAWKUS)
1, 2 Theory ][ Skillz (RAWKUS)
Lootpack - The Lost Art (instrumental) (STONES THROW)
The Express ][ Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) (RAWKUS)
7XL ][ Sir Menelik feat. Grand Puba & Sadat X (RAWKUS)
Play This ][ J Rocc (STONES THROW)
Fourty Days ][ Yesterday's New Quintet (STONES THROW)
Mama ][ Dudley Perkins (STONES THROW)
Pillz ][ Jaylib (STONES THROW)
A Tree Never Grows ][ Hip Hop For Respect (RAWKUS)

For the Socially Minded... | 9.13.10

Things that make you go....hmmmmm. The ISG team was joined by 3-Time Apollo Champ, Messiah, who blessed us with both his gift and presence in the studio. Plus, the founder of the Black L.U.V. Festival and our brother, Kymone Papi Freeman, stopped by to discuss why this year's festival will be the last and how that reflects the current state of the Black community. And as always, RBI and 2-Tone Jones were holding down the wheels of steel with a mix of socially conscious hip-hop music. Check it all out right here!

Tracklisting:
U.N.I.T.Y. (remix instrumental) ][ Queen Latifah
Arrest the President ][ Intelligent Hoodlum (a.k.a. Tradgedy Khadafi)
Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside) ][ Ice Cube feat. Public Enemy
Radio Freq ][ Dead Prez
Hell Yeah ][ Dead Prez
Cop Shot ][ Dead Prez
Black Cop ][ KRS One
Word to Mother(Land) ][ Big Daddy Kane
We're All in the Same Gang ][ West Coast All-Stars
These Are The Times (Novus Ordo Seclorum) ][ Dead Prez
White Man'z World ][ 2Pac
Robin Hood Theory ][ Gang Starr

Labor & Love | 9.6.10

After a weekend of cookouts, cooling out and no work, the Ill Street team finishes off the extended Labor Day weekend with plate of full new joints featuring Roc Marciano, Skyzoo & Illmind, Malkovich, De La Soul and more. The grillmasters as always were DJ 2-Tone Jones & DJ RBI, along with the rest of the crew serving up exactly what the people need to get ready for the work week ahead. Check it out right here!

Tracklisting:
Riding Around ][ Roc Marciano
Hot Woman/Bad Rappers ][ Malkovich feat. Chris Clarke & Sumkid
Speakers on Blast ][ Skyzoo & Illmind
Frisbees ][ Skyzoo & Illmind
24 ][ Little Brother feat. Torae
Return of DST ][ De La Soul
Get Dough ][ Vandalyzm
Innerview ][ Malkovich
Backstage ][ Shawn Jackson
Mic Destruction ][ Facemann
Share ][ Drake
Read My Lips ][ Tha Alkaholics
- Freestyle -

Tribute to MJ: Beyond the Hits | 8.30.10

No other artist in the history of mankind has touched the heart of people worldwide and influenced music (across genres) like Micheal Joseph Jackson. On this episode of Ill Street Grooves we paid tribute to the King of Pop by going beyond the hits and playing a variety of his unreleased songs, live versions and collaborations. Plus, the Grammy-nominated DC native, Kokayi, chimed in to talk about his upcoming single release party, new album and memories growing up listening to the magic of MJ.


Tracklisting:
That's what You Got ][ Jackson 5
Coming Home ][ Jackson 5
We're Almost There (DJ Spinna remix) ][ Jackson 5
Buttercup (prod. by Stevie Wonder) ][ Jackson 5
Darling Dear ][ Jackson 5
Breezy ][ Jackson 5
Enjoy Yourself ][ Jackson 5
Lookin' Through the Windows ][ Jackson 5
On the Wall ][ Taken from the Jacksons TV Show
Centipede ][ Rebbie Jackson feat. Micheal Jackson
Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' ][ Jermaine Jackson feat. Micheal Jackson
Burn This Disco Down ][ Micheal Jackson
Things I Do for You ][ Jackson 5

Special Q | 8.16.10

There's never a dull night on Ill Street Grooves. Not only was Supa Kool DJ Uncle Q in the spot rockin' the 1's and 2's, but Hip-Hop legend Special Ed dropped us a line to speak about his current venture and more! Plus, we had a number of friends, family and regulars up in the spot keeping us company. Check it all out right here!

Born I Music | 7.26.10

Just when you think someone has departed the game and allowed the water to still, they splash back on the scene harder than ever. This is exemplified by DC's own, Born Infinite, who came by the station to rap with us about his new mixtape, new single (Conga Drum) and same direction...upward. Plus, Tri-State area MC, Silent Knight, slid thru to talk about his upcoming performance in the District opening up for Canibus, and his new band, Fuse.

Check it all out right here.

Tracklising:
Golden Terror of Rap ][ Canibus
Nas is Like ][ Nas
Elevator Music ][ Unspoken Heard
We Got the Jazz (re-edit) ][ A Tribe Called Quest
We Got the Jazz (DJ 2-Tone remix) ][ A Tribe Called Quest & Waajeed
Welcome ][ Black Milk
Shine ][ Pharoah Monch
Older & Wiser ][ Clan Destined
Conga Drum ][ Born Infinite
Toast Up ][ Born Infinite
High Noon ][ SPP Waxworks ft. Kev Brown
KaBoom ][ DJ K.O. ft. East, Silent Knight and Kaze

DC x South Africa | 7.19.10

South African Hip-Hop Artist/Activist/B-Boy, Emile XY?, makes his return to Ill Street along with DJ Thee Angelo and the good peoples of Nomadic Wax. They sat in to speak about their list of performances and Hip-Hop youth development exchange work they're in the country for (take a glance at their schedule below the tracklisting), breakdown the many similarities in Hip-Hop and Economics between South Africa and the US, and bless us with a couple verses (while switching between different languages)! Plus, Cali O.G. MC's, Myka 9 and Medusa, dropped us a line to rap about their upcoming performance in DC.

And as always....DJ RBI and DJ 2-Tone Jones were in the mix. Check it all out right here!

Tracklisting:
To the Max ][ Stezo
Get Bizzy ][ Big Daddy Kane
Intro (La Familia) ][ Jay-Z
From My Porch (remix) ][ Kev Brown ft. Sean Born
Come Clean ][ Jeru Da Damaja
Get It Together ][ Beastie Boys ft. Q-Tip
Blue Funk ][ Heavy D. & The Boyz
Shine ][ Jadakiss ft. Snoop Dogg and DJ Quik
Me and My Brother ][ Redman ft. K-Solo
Headbanger ][ EPMD ft. Redman and K-Solo
2 Dope Boyz ][ Outkast
A King and Queen Creation ][ Queen Latifah ft. The 45 King