Access Newsletter 5-22-08

[WesSezSo]

This week, we are a little light on major releases but I have taken
the time to showcase some lesser known groups and emcees that have
come our way and are now featured in our store. These are the people
that are underneath the underground and some of them have been
around for a long time and just haven't cracked the subterranean
surface, but they do it out of love and a passion for making music.
You might just find something you like...Read on!


We've got tickets for Urban Underground Shows here in San Diego held
every Thursday at the Static Lounge downtown! All shows 18 and up.
May 29th - $200 Beat Battle with performances by Poems & Gio of
LA Symphony, The Breax, Nomis and more!

We also have tickets for Randam Luck's May 28 show @ Winston's,
plus the 2Mex show with Tidepool at Brick by Brick on June 6!

Upcoming in-store! Drop by Saturday afternoon June 7 @ 3PM to see
Maleko, Optimus Rhymes and evs for a free performance of a lifetime!

Please come out and support these artists and shows and help keep
the hip hop scene in our city alive and kicking! Give us a call or
check our events page for details on these shows and more right here:
http://www.accesshiphop.com/events/


Have the writing bug in you? If you're registered with our forums,
you can now write your own reviews!
Guidelines: http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/review-guidelines.php
Reviews: http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?page=reviews


Order online, phone or mail, or visit our store in San Diego.
Access Music * 1537 Garnet Avenue * Pacific Beach * CA 92109
858-270-3987 * info@accesshiphop.com

Check out track listings and sound clips at www.accesshiphop.com


FREE VISIONARIES POSTER:
The large, double-sided Visionaries "We Are The Ones (We've Been
Waiting For)" poster, with the photo mosaic on the back! Free if you
BUY at least one item from Up Above Records AND your total order is
over $30 (before tax and shipping).


NEW GEAR:

Bicasso Poster
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15672
New, limited print of a painting depicting five faces in Bicasso's
unique "paintbrushfunk" style.

Bicasso T-shirts
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?artist=Bicasso&page=gear
Wearable art by Bicasso of the Living Legends!

Murs T-shirts & Hoodies
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?artist=Murs&page=gear
All-new Murs For President shirt in anticipation of his upcoming
album on Warner. This time the shirt features the official, very
elegant, Murs For President seal in metallic gold. Your choice of a
white or black t-shirt or a black hoodie. Plus the Murs Is My Best
Friend shirt in L and XL has been updated - Murs now has dreads & no
beard!


NEW DVD:

Jon Reiss - Bomb It DVD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15637
A documentary that investigates the most subversive and
controversial art form in the world. Graffiti. The film explores the
intersections of society and graffiti through the issues of public
space, advertising and humankind's urge to write on walls. Director
Jon Reiss and DP Wares traveled throughout the United States, Europe
(London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg), Africa,
Latin America and Japan to capture both the pioneers and most
prolific practitioners of this cultural phenomenon, credited as a
core element in Hip Hop's beginnings.


FEATURED ITEM OF THE WEEK:

Raashan Ahmad - The Push CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15287
Crown City Rockers MC, Raashan Ahmad unleashes his first full-length
solo album, The Push on OM Records! Garnering attention in the
underground scene back in 1999 with his group Mission and later
forming the Bay Area live hip hop group Crown City Rockers, the
album comes off as a deeply personal opus as well as a breath of
fresh air in an increasingly stagnant scene. Funky, soulful and
traditional, The Push features production from fellow CCR bandmate
Headnodic, Eligh, DJ Vadim, and Stro the 88th Key of The
Procussions, along with an appearance by Chali 2na. Comes with an
exclusive unreleased EP and a poster while supplies last!

[WesSezSo]

NEW RELEASES:

El Michels Affair - Musings To Myself 7"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15593
A funky little 45 from El Michels Affair featuring an alternate take
of "Musings To Myself" off of 2006's Sounding Out The City (which
we've just restocked on a newly mastered CD by the way) along with
the previously unreleased wah-wah heavy "Spread Your Soul." On Truth
and Soul Records...Go!

Erykah Badu - The Healer 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15086
The second single off of Erykah Badu's amazing new album New
Amerikah Part One! Featuring the Madlib produced track "The Healer"
with instrumental and the bonus club cut "Real Thang"!

Giant Panda - Electric Laser CD/Speakers Pop 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15422
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15638
Coming off the major word-of-mouth success of their last album Fly
School Reunion, People Under the Stairs proteges Newman (Alex
Newman), Maanumental (Jamaan Mclaren), and Chikaramanga (Chikara
Kurahashi) return for the forward thinking Electric Laser! Upping
the ante a bit, the production takes on a new life for this
sophomore effort, utilizing more current methods while still paying
tribute to their jazzy throw back hip hop sound. And on an
interesting note, and an increasingly growing trend, the group has
recorded the album on analog tape for a warmer, more full-bodied,
sound. Also available, the first single off of the album "Speakers
Pop" and "Speakers Funk" with the exclusive bonus (and my nominee
for one of the best songs of the year) "Smooth" plus instrumentals!

K'naan - Dusty Foot Philosopher 2xCD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15661
2006 Re-issue and a return to the daisy age of Hip Hop...or Bohemian
as some called it. Think early De la Soul or Arrested Development,
only this guy has grown up on the streets of Mogadishu in Somalia
during times of civil unrest and was relocated to Ontario as he was
becoming a teen just before the collapse of his country's
government. Learning english through hip hop, he began to write
lyrics and poetry and embarked on an incredible musical journey that
has eventually lead him to cross paths with Mos Def, Damien Marley,
Dead Prez, Pharoah Monche, The Roots and fellow Canadians Nelly
Furtado and K-OS.

Killah Priest - Behind the Stained Glass CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15550
Longtime Sunz of Man and Wu-Tang Clan affiliate, Brooklyn native
Killah Priest returns with Behind The Stained Glass, the highly
anticipated follow up to his 2007 album The Offering. Introduced to
the world through a deeply spiritual, and lyrically sharp verse on
"B.I.B.L.E." from GZA's Liquid Swords, Killah Priest's first album
is now celebrating its 10 year anniversary! Heavily regarded as
classic amongst fans, Heavy Mental was filled with intense lyrics
loaded with metaphors and religious references and philosophies and
Behind The Stained Glass is no exception! Featuring appearances from
60 Second Assassin, Allah Sun, Jeni Fujita and Victorious.
(Sold out at Access, to be restocked in a few days.)

Time Machine - Life Is Expensive CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15548
Emcees Biscuit and Jet Set Jay and DJ/Producer Mekalek have been
making a name for themselves over the last few years, playing high
profile clubs and bars in both LA and NYC and winning over fans with
their seamless set of high energy feel good party jams and comical
live performances. However, the east-coast bred, LA-based squad
knows that every night has its last call, and that much of life is
what happens before doors open the next evening. Elevating this
outlook on their new album, Time Machine balances the nocturnal good
times with a shrewd awareness of the cost of living in the world
today, day-by-day. Featuring high speed production and boasting
heavy drums with rich melodies, there is also room on here for more
sonic downtempo grooves. If the momentum of their popularity keeps up
at this pace, we'll definitely be hearing more from them on a more
mainstream platform...and with groups like this, that can be good
for the sad state of our commercial scene. (Sold out at Access, to
be restocked in a few days.)

Danger Zone - Dangerous Styles CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15601
Danger Zone is the collaborative result of a chance meeting between
emcee Bru Lei and producer Amous Famous while performing at the same
venue a couple years back. A few blunts and beat cd's later the deal
was sealed, and after dropping a short EP The Columbus, OH duo
relocated to Sacramento. Their debut full-length Dangerous Styles
takes you on a journey through big city life, serious cases of
writer's block, video games and addictions in all forms. With guest
appearances from Dove Ink label mates Illogic and Ill Poetic, the
album manages to draw comparisons to MF Doom and his many endeavors
over seventeen tracks deep inboom-bap and raw lyrics. HEAT!

[WesSezSo]

TOPR (Top Ramen) - The Marathon of Shame CD+DVD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15384
Slowly gaining a loyal cult following, Top Ramen returns to prove
that his funny-style rhymes aren't all jokes! He's a serious emcee
with serious skill, and while people may not be familiar with him
yet (his hiatus didn't help) he's got fans in underground scenes of
all indie music other than hip hop, as the Gurp City and Lords graf
crew member has attracted skaters, punks and even metal heads to sit
down and laugh at a guy who pretends not to take himself too
seriously. By refocusing his kind of stand-up-comedian rap on topics
that don't always focus on making fun of himself for change,
Marathon of Shame challenges everyday life, challenges underground
rappers and still comes out on top as a dope battle album without
feeling like it was done for the sake of making you laugh. Excellent
production and a whole new side to the sorely slept on artist.

Novelists - Bookends CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15677
The Novelists are a cross-state Californian quartet, composed of Los
Angeles MC's Ajax and Randruff, as well as San Francisco producers /
DJs, Gammaray and Fatgums. Bookends is overall a very fun driven
album with Ajax and Randruff bringing witty wordplay to the plate.
The album effortlessly seams their subject matter into one
remarkable debut. The Novelists get assistance from Otayo Dubb
(Co-Deez), Bambu (of Native Guns), DJ ET (of Mass Movement), San
Diego's very own, DJ Tanner (of Battlestar), as well as many more
other guests. Bookends is fully produced by Fatgums and Gammaray.
While known for their exquisite skills on the ones and twos, this is
their first production effort, which is further proof that DJ's tend
to become great producers.

9th Wonder - Unreleased Instros Vol. 3 LP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15633
Simply put...another batch of unreleased instrumentals from sought
after super producer 9th Wonder!

Blake 9 - Crawl Before You Walk CD EP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15687
Blake9 has unlocked the vaults and put together an EP of recordings
that were made in 2004. Two of the six tracks were recorded with
original Irish CarBomb recording artist, Pasha The eMCee. Pasha was
featured on Irish CarBomb's very first 7-inch release. His track
"Nah" was eventually remixed by and licensed to U.K. 7-inch label
Puma Strut for their first full length CD release titled "Friends in
Low Places." The other four tracks feature Bay area native Prego
3.5. While on a trip out to the west coast Blake9 and Prego linked
up for a recording session with the help of Forrest Fires Collective
DJ and Producer Edison Victrola. Then on a trip to DC, Prego stepped
into the ICB Studios to bless some more tracks. Prego has made his
rounds in the golden state as a member of the super eco-friendly
group Forest Fires Collective. He also has his own radio show
called, "The Al Dro Show" that features this MC's comical
personality and high caliber musical selections.

Sharon Jones - 100 Days, 100 Nights 7"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15583
From Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' full length of the same name,
comes this limited 45 featuring the fan fave title track and an
exclusive bluesy mid-tempo groove "Settling In" on the b-side from
unused recording sessions of 100 Days, 100 Nights.

DJ Lime Green - Random Selections v.6 CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15671
Brand new mix from DJ Lime Green and his random selections series!
Featuring tracks by Dilated Peoples, MOP, OC, Mr. Complex, Strong Arm
Steady, De La Soul, Group Home, Black Star and more!

Person People - Points of View CDR/Seven Ways CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15579
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15580
Coming out of Bend, Oregon! Jazzy, mellow and downtempo with easy
flows and thoughtful lyrics, the six man crew is composed of Mike
Fish, DJ Barisone, The Rook, Sorski, KP, A-Bomb and Mez. The Pacific
Northwest continues pour out talented collectives such as Person
People and if your a fan of groups like Sandpeople you will
definitely dig this. Seven Ways is an entire group album while
Points of View is Fish aka Mindscape's bangin' new solo album! I
personally sought this dude out and requested we have this album
after hearing it!

Anec - Density CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15552
From San Diego, Anec is not afraid to spill his guts over a track as
the beat often takes his songs in directions you didn't see coming
from producer Audible Junkies heavy sample style beats. Anec's
observational lyrics touch on the zombified daily lives of everyday
people trapped by the cubicle imprisonment of a 9-5. Philosophical
and poetic, Anec is a young talent to look out for in our local and
horribly divided scene.

Left N' Company - Dense Files CDR EP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15551
Follow up Anec's Density full length with Dense Files, a collection
of tracks from previously mentioned emcee and best friend and the
insanely dope beat boxer Generik for a quick dose of what their
newly formed label is all about. I'm actually not quite convinced
that Generik is even human!

Poems of Dead Kings - Poems of Dead Kings CDR EP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15696
Dark and experimental...Poems of Dead Kings explores the realms of
ambient soundscapes with static and vocal distortion as mastermind
Matthew Miller changes up spoken word with raps over this very moody
acid trip! If you like Clouddead or Greenthink (remember that
shit?!) than this short but sweet EP won't disappoint. And never
mind the CDR part, lest you forget the lo-fi days of some of your
favorite early Anticon or Legends recordings were only available on
cassettes way back when. So if you're into this type of stuff...or
you know me personally, then you know I ate this one up! Very
abstract Dose One-ish!

Casuno - The Last Tusken Raider CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15662
Cas_Uno is a man of many groups! Hailing from the South West states
of Arizona, New Mexico and now currently located in Texas, this
unknown emcee won't be silenced for long...as the Last Tusken Raider
(never mind the Star Wars reference) reminds me of what it was to
hear the Shapeshifters for the very first time! Beatboxing,
producing, emceeing and hustling his music at shows and on the
streets and on a recent tour stop right here at Access.

Amoeba With Sound - Studies In Vocal Anarchy CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15697
Next up from Poems of Dead Kings, another very strange and
experimental collection of exactly what the title suggests. Playing
around with the endless possibilities of the human voice, here we
are not meant to actually make out what is being said in the
background while bursts of noise and static and scattered beats
weave in and out of bizarre vocal tweaking.

Clemits - Tomorrows Friend CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15666
From the same label that brought us Booze Brothers, comes Austin, TX,
native and all around artist and emcee, Clemits, for some heartfelt
everyday life raps and feel better beats. Clemits has a voice and
flow similar to Jason the Argonaut of Disflex6 and this album is
definitely not the type of stuff people are used to hearing coming
out of the Lone Star State.

[WesSezSo]

RESTOCKS:
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/restocks.php

Lazerus Jackson - Filthy CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15494

Escape Artists - EA3 CD/Plot Against Theme CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=9329
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=4242

Xczircles - Act of Gosh CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15352

Aura (of JKC):
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?artist=Aura

Autoflo (of JKC):
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?artist=Autoflo

Cosmic & Optimus Rhymes - Relative CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=4071

Optimus Rhymes:
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?artist=Optimus+Rhymes

Common - Finding Forever LP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=13834

El Michels Affair - Sounding Out the City LP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=13756

J Rocc - Cold Heat Funk Mix 12"/Thank You Jay Dee Act 1 CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=11057
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=13772

J-Zone - To Love a Hooker CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=12385

Kanser - Kanser CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=9860

Koushik & Percee P - Cold Beats 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=11058

Lootpack - Soundpieces: Da Antidote 2LP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=1108

Marco Polo - War 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=10988

Redman - Whut!? The Album CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=14529

Shortee & Step 1 - Bikini Wax Breaks LP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=13426

Various Artists - Eastern Conf All Stars 3 CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=4164

2Pac - Acapellas v.9 12" EP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=13561

9th Wonder - Nightriders 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15631

A Tribe Called Quest - Hits, Rarities & Remixes LP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=5742

Akrobatik - The EP CD EP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=3862

Army of the Pharaohs - The Torture Papers CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=11386

Bicasso - Blacknewave CDR/House of Kolor CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=5646
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=7225

Bicasso - SOUP Musik Cassette
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=144

Biggie - Acapellas v.10 12" EP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15466

Copywrite - Beautiful Train Wreck 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15626

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing 2LP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=386

Dr. Dre - The Next Episode 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=9878

Freestyle Fellowship - Innercity Griots CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=390

GZA - Liquid Swords CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=6130

Ladybug Mecca - Dogg Starr 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=12713

Mathematics - Real Nillaz 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=10297

Mr. Modo & Ugly Mac Beer - Mo Dougly Weird Stories LP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=13741

Nujabes - D.T.F.N. 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=14437

Omega One - Body Double 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15628

Organized Konfusion - Best Of CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=9832

People Under the Stairs - Acid Raindrops 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=6689

Carlos Nino & Lil' Sci - Elevation CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15462

Rob-O (INI) - Rhyme Tighter 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15630

The Roots - Game Theory 2LP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=12121

Sean Price - Master P CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=13841

Siah & Yeshua DapoED - The Visualz Anthology CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15094

Snoop Dogg - Ain't No Fun 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=12633

Society Of Invisibles - Society Of Invisibles CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15044

Strong Arm Steady - Getcha Bars Up 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15627

Various Artists - Acapellas v.5 Uptown Ed. 12" EP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=12495

Various Artists - Brasilintime: Batucada... 2xDVD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=14026

Vordul Mega (Cannibal Ox) - Believe 12"/Spitamatic 12"
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=9937
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=8171

Broken - Message In A Bottle CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15169

DJ Lime Green - 95-97 (The Good Ol' Days) CDR/Random Selections v.5
CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15669
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15670

Geodesic - Private Armies 2xCD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=12259

Hip Hop Kclan - Kclandestine Kclasicz 1 CDR/Thomakazee CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=1623
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=3887

Longevity Crew - Everything Builds CD
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=10462

Pterradacto - Mixtape Vol. 2 CDR/Primal Rage CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=14098
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=10241

Rifleman (Ellay Khule) - Summer This Summer That CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=10541

Various Artists - The Change Up v.02 12" EP
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=13092

Various Artists - This Is The Life OST CDR
http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15305