Artists explore moments that have greatly influenced their lives.  Mark Hamer, who we greatly admire, is showing along with the following…

?uestlove’s special guest at Bonnaroo…D’Angelo (and damn, Jesse Johnson, Pino Palladino…it’s not like this was just any ol’ backing band either).

Questlove – drums
Kirk Douglas – guitar
James Poyser – keys
Frank Knuckles – percussion
Pino Palladino – bass
Eric Leeds – saxophone
Jesse Johnson – guitar
Kendra Foster – vocals
D’Angelo – vocals, guitar, keys

Download the full audio here.   More pics/shakier vid via okayplayer.

El Mac was just in Cuba for the Havana Biennial, and he did this amazing mural of Adis Naranjo, which he posted about here.  Just…wow.  (this comes after doing a 10 story high mural in Mexico the week before!)

Ah, we were just chopping it up with KOFIE, and if you’re in L.A., go see his exhibit @Knowngallery.  Hypebeast took some really nice photos, and there are opening night photos by Sunny Phono on the Known site.

We were bombarded with sale emails this morning, so we just wanted to refocus today onto the men & women who have given their lives in the service of this country.  We have met a lot of people serving, and most are just trying to improve their education and the lives of their families.  Our respect to those who have lost their lives and their loved ones.

They’ll be streaming the show live tonight on the DV USTREAM channel.  I’m sure it’s going to be a good show, but I really wish Imani & Bootie Brown were going to be there as well.  I was super lucky to have seen them when the album first came out,  and they had amazing, amazing chemistry together.

I am not up on my Ice Loves Coco game.  My sister just clowned me that even my mom knows about this movie because it premiered at Sundance.  Here’s a clip where Ice interviews Doug E. Fresh about his favorite rappers.

Wylie from @Dissizit just told us about this film…looks like they did a really nice job, can’t wait to see it.

Rock the Bells 2012
with Kid Cudi, Nas, Atmosphere, Mac Miller, Common, A$AP Rocky, Ice Cube, Deltron 3030, Method Man & Redman, The Hit Squad Reunion, Kendrick Lamar, Dipset, Immortal Technique, 2 Chainz, DJ Quik, Naughty By Nature, Big Daddy Kane, Salt-N-Pepa, Slick Rick, Prodigy, DJ Lance Rock & Friends, Yelawolf, Schoolboy Q, AB-Soul, Jay Rock, Murs, Fashawn, Zion-I, Grouch, Eligh, Dom Kennedy, Watsky & more to be announced!

Hosted by: RZA & Supernatural

Also featuring 20 Year Anniversary Reunion of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony performing “E. 1999 Eternal” in its entirety with a special tribute to Eazy-E
Sat, Aug 25 & Sun, Aug 26
Shoreline Amphitheatre
at Mountain View

Presale going on right now…
Presale ends: Fri, May 18 at 10pm
Use Password: drumline

The DJs alone would be worth the price of admission, but you’re getting 3 great live acts on one bill:

Plug Research & ArtDontSleep present:

Saturday May 19th, 2012

Live Performances by:

Lee Fields & The Expressions
&
Cody ChessnuTT (Live Band)
&
Naytronix

DJs:
Kenny Dope and Kon & Amir

Hosted By:
Scarub (Living Legends)

Echoplex :: 1154 Glendale Blvd :: Los Angeles, CA. 90026
8pm-2am
21 + Wiser

click flyer for tickets

Free Download: http://www.plugresearch.com/2012/05/download-the-naytonix-ep-free/

Dru says they have been trying to book each of these artists individually for 8 years…so to have them all together on one bill is crazy!