Powerful new video for Run the Jewels “Close Your Eyes” feat. Zack de la Rocha.  Directed by AG Rojas, it tackles the culture of violence between police and civilians.  The director writes:

When Run The Jewels sent me this track, I knew we had the opportunity to create a film that means something. I felt a sense of responsibility to do just that. We had to exploit the lyrics and aggression and emotion of the track, and translate that into a film that would ignite a valuable and productive conversation about racially motivated violence in this country. It’s provocative, and we all knew this, so we were tasked with making something that expressed the intensity of senseless violence without eclipsing our humanity. For me, it was important to write a story that didn’t paint a simplistic portrait of the characters of the Cop and Kid. They’re not stereotypes. They’re people – complex, real people and, as such, the power had to shift between them at certain points throughout the story. The film begins and it feels like they have been fighting for days, they’re exhausted, not a single punch is thrown, their violence is communicated through clumsy, raw emotion. They’ve already fought their ways past their judgements and learned hatred toward one another. Our goal was to highlight the futility of the violence, not celebrate it.

I am really proud of where we ended up, and I am very thankful that our actors Shea Whigham and Keith Stanfield committed to these characters 100%. They breathed complex life into two people who are usually portrayed in simplistic ways – as archetypes. I can tell you it was an emotional shoot day. It is tough to re-create moments that are so fresh and prevalent in our world today. It affected all of us in deep ways. But I believe that it is important that the way we feel when we see these events in real life has an effect on us. That we resonate with what we know to be right and we don’t numb ourselves out so those feelings can simply be swept away, we must confront them and take some action, however small, or we’ll be stuck in the same cycle of violence and hate.

Cannibal Ox’s long awaited, Blade of the Ronin.  Please support by picking up on iTunes.  (it’s officially out tomorrow).  They’re having a record release party tonight at The Studio at Webster Hall with special guests GZA, Freeway, and G-Jet.  Tickets are available here.

Rappcats just uploaded Africa Extra, which was the previously only available on the 3rd LP in the deluxe version of Madlib Medicine Show #3 Beat Konducta in Africa.  Medicine Shows & more releases from Madlib here.

Over the Valentines’ weekend, Pharoahe Monch released  “Lost In Translation”,  a collection of previously released songs from his solo albums as well as features from 2000 to 2015.   All the songs have Love as the theme.   The one new track is “Home (HGH)” featuring Phonte’ and Tamisha.

New video for 4am from Hail Mary Mallon.  Features skaters Henry Gunderson, Pete Lombardozzi, Zak DePiero, Chad Wade, Joe Barnes, Gautam Sahi & Gerald Anekwe (who also filmed & edited, with some additional filming by Pete Lombardozzi).

The Bestiary tour continues…tour dates & links for tickets.

xx

Wu’s new album was streaming on Thanksgiving, but in case you missed it, they have previewed  a few tracks on their Soundcloud.  The album drops tomorrow.  We’ve also just received the latest clothing drop from Wu-tang Brand Ltd.

We’ve been checking out the new Silk Rhodes (vocalist Sasha Desree and producer Michael Collins) album due out on Stones Throw.  They’re streaming it on Soundcloud now…

Blockhead is giving you a chance to stream his new album, Bells and Whistles, over on Soundcloud.  You can also pre-order it on Bandcamp.  The official release date is Nov 18th (don’t worry, he’s also putting it out on vinyl in early 2015).   He’s  appearing with Elaquent & Muneshine tonight at Glasslands in Brooklyn.  Tickets are still available here.

via WaxPoetics

Hail Mary Mallon’s second album, Bestiary, is out today.  We’re guessing you’ve pre-ordered it, but if you haven’t it’s available here. 3 different covers by Coro.

Aesop Rock & Rob Sonic will be hitting the road in January with Homeboy Sandman opening.  Tickets go on sale later this week.

If you want to check the album out, they’re also streaming it here:

New video from Dilated featuring Aloe Blacc. (that Beat Junkies Strata East shirt Babu is wearing, tho!)