Cyphers come few and far between in hip-hop … at least from what is recorded. The only time we can be sure to see some cyphers is on the BET Awards. Sway always holds down the fort to make sure that no element of hip-hop is too far away from grasp. He managed to get Dead Prez, Fashawn and Chris Webby to freestyle over Ski Beatz instrumentals. Murs was also in attendance, but didn’t touch the mic. Towards the end, Ski talks about his upcoming projects and where he’s headed.

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Ghostwriting is a vague term, but it continues to be used in the controversy brewing around Nas‘ alleged use of ghostwriters. During an interview on “Sway In The Morning,” Dead Prez brought some nuance to the discussion. In their words they “worked” with Nas and “collaborated” with him, but there was no ghostwriting in the sense that they actually penned something for Mr. Jones. The only ghostwriting they do is for themselves. Watch more from the interview below.

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Way back in 2000, legendary hip-hop duo dead prez declared that “It’s bigger than hip-hop” on their group-defining track “Hip-Hop.” Old heads and new heads alike flocked to the track and regarded it as a staple of classic hip-hop. The duo had been together for a while, but it wasn’t until this record dropped that their music started gaining some widespread attention.

Last month, dead prez headed back to Tallahassee where they first met in 1990. They played a 4/20 show for FAMU students and linked up with an up-and-coming Florida crew, Nefa Zoo. The duo recorded a new track with one of Nefa Zoo’s members, Trx. This was the first song they recorded in Tallahassee since the 90’s. The collaboration resulted in “Time Travel,” a spaced-out track unlike anything dead prez has been a part of before.

stic.man and M-1 sound right at home on this one. stic.man spits a hot 16 about his new love — running and M-1 raps about traveling through time. Trx provides the hook, and all together, the three sound right at home on this track. “Time Travel” is the first single off of Trx’s new mixtape dropping this summer, Free The Animals.

Be sure to follow Trx on Twitter and the rest of Nefa Zoo to stay updated.

The post Exclusive New Music: Trx feat. dead prez — “Time Travel” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Yasiin, Dead Prez and Mike Flo come together to make a tribute to Trayvon Martin. When we see artists go out their way to address an issue and take time out to speak on it without the media urging them to, we must respect that. The track sounds powerful and we’ll keep you posted on when the full track is released. Read the transcript of what Yasiin had to say about hip-hop’s role in speaking out.

“What is it really about at the end of the day? Particularly – if you come from poor communities, or you come from black communities in this country and you see a casual systemic indifference to black life…you have to respond. It’s in your own self-interest. It’s not even outstanding or courageous. It’s a survival issue. Either we’re gonna fix this or we’re gonna just agree to be slaves. And that don’t honor nothing that we’ve ever been about. It don’t honor the legacy of everybody that came before us.

I know when it’s to promote an project or album, or to stunt or to have a photo op moment, cats is there in their best and brightest and they’re early. They not tardy with it. It’s a priority. So if this not a priority, then what is?”

The post Video Trailer: Yasiin Bey, Dead Prez & Mike Flo – “Trayvon Martin Tribute” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Transform America is hosting a benefit concert for the social justice community of New York City featuring Lupe Fiasco on Monday, November 7^th at Terminal 5 located on 610 W 56^th Street in Manhattan. The Transform America Moving Minds Benefit Concert will raise awareness and funds for the organization’s Moving Minds Mentorship and Youth Council programs.  The show will feature internationally renowned Grammy award winning hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco, the revolutionary but gangsta Dead Prez and independent acts including Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Maya Azucena and Brooklyn-bred singer, poet and lyricist Shanelle Gabriel who will also double as host.

All these performers are committed to and recognize the importance of social justice, giving back and community engagement. Through their talents Transform America intends to attract, inspire, entertain, motivate and engage members of the community and encourage them to give back, get involved and share what “moves their minds.”

Tickets are $50 for general admission and $100 for VIP passes. VIP Passes offer the best seats in the house and include swag bags of free merchandise. Tickets are now available for purchase at http://www.transformamerica.org/tickets

Tickets: http://www.transformamerica.org/tickets

The post Concert: Lupe Fiasco Headlines Transform America Benefit Concert appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

New Jersey’s Kyle Rapps, an up-and-comer with some impressive co-signs, having recorded with KRS-One and Joell Ortiz and opened for Wyclef Jean and Dead Prez, has some new fire for you. Working with yet another established collaborator, Talib Kweli, “Universe Traveler” is definitely a worthy introduction to his body of work. Spitting over a beat adapted from a sample from French electronic group Air, both MCs bring a relaxed flow that fits the song perfectly. Rapps should be dropping the rest of his mixtape, On Air, in the coming days; if the rest of the tracks live up to this standard, it’ll be in heavy summer listening rotation.

Via NahRight

The post New Music: Kyle Rapps x Talib Kweli “Universe Traveler” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

If the release of Lil B‘s “Im Gay (Im Happy)” leaves you as starved for true lyricism as I am, then Dead Prez have the antidote with their new track, “Dead Man’s Shoes“. Bringing their typical politically charged flow (“they tried to trade me Marcus Garvey for a Ferrari”) to a ferocious Stephen Marley sample, and the results are as dope as you would expect.

Listen to the track HERE

The post New Music: Dead Prez “Dead Man’s Shoes” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.