Premiered via Mass Appeal, “Play to Win” is the world’s first listen at what’s to come on October 14th with Shabaam Sahdeeq, Edo. G and producer Fokis’ collaborative Recognize Your Power EP. This is basically text book definition of contemporary boom-bap. It almost feels wrong to use the word contemporary, as the single embodies every spec of the traditional recipe from the yesteryears that we love dearly, but it’s here in 2016 and it sounds glorious. Do you mind if we take a moment and cherish hip-hop royalty? Good, because we are anyway. Two heavyweight, seasoned microphone chemists coming together at a time when the questionable is questioned. At a time when your average 30-something year old has turned their attention off to the current state of hip-hop. A time when we need collaborations like this the most. Aesthetics aside, the mere fact of a collaborative effort from any veteran emcees is applaudable and saluted to a high degree.

The single invites Coney Island’s finest Torae for a brolic guest appearance, reminding listeners that he will body a good portion of rappers pound for pound. For assurance, visit his recent ‘Entitled’ LP and report back – it’s up there in hip-hop releases this year. The tip of the four minute iceberg is Dj Eclipse lacing the cuts/hook. Does he ever upset? Nah. The four of them on record makes perfect sense. Aside from the artists here, the EP welcomes the likes of Oh No, Ras Kass, Planet Asia and more. It’s a heavy list.

Boston’s Edo. G needs no introduction. However, if you’re young or were never properly introduced, I’d recommend starting at Edo G & the Bulldogs’ Life of a Kid in the Ghetto and their 1993 Roxbury 02119 record for an early brush up. Fast forwarding to the current, Edo. has been busy. Him and Paris’ production duo Street Wyze (Dj Tren & G.G.) released their Afterwords full length last summer – a sure shot that your collection needs if you haven’t. Also a generous amount of invited guest verses, Reks’ “Plane Gang” being the latest that I caught.

The two humbly remain grounded and quite simply just do what they know best. In the eyes of people who matter they’re giants. Shabaam Sahdeeq actually doesn’t stop creating. Aside from rhyming and staying planted in music, it’s no secret that he’s a progressive fine artist. Maybe it is a secret if you didn’t know before reading this. His artwork ranges in subject matter, size and medium. It’s bold. Complementary to his music career, his pieces have landed on display throughout different states as well as continue to sell. I’ve had a good relationship with Shabaam through music for the past few years, but since building on the visual art side of the fence my respect for him has grown ever further. He’s a true polymath, remaining teachable and not limited to one craft. It’s something that is lacking in today’s overall rap scene.

We wanted to have some fun with the feature of the single and include a special conversation with Shabaam, mixing in some talk surrounding the EP and studio artwork. We hope you enjoy! Peace and love.

Always good to catch up with you. So the new single and the announced EP with Edo. G. Tell us how the collaboration came to life and how the layers unfolded. It’s a hell of a surprise that we’re excited for.

I’ve known Edo for a while. We always talked about doing a song together, but Fokis really put it together and made it a reality. I did the first 3 songs and left the open verses and Edo laid verses on those. Then Edo laid verses on the next 3 and I followed his lead. For the one where we go back and forth he laid parts and I filled in the blanks. Then the hooks we did after all the verses were laid.

I don’t know much about producer Fokis other than a single or two. His keys are ridiculous and his drums are thick. How did you and Edo end up deciding on his work to canvas the entire release?

Fokis really put this together. He’s known for working with Sadat X, Skyzoo and Torae, amongst other things – engineering, producing and rapping. We didn’t pick him, he picked us actually and made it come together right before I went to Europe on tour. By the time I came back most of the mixes were done.

Hip-Hop needs a collaboration to this degree right now more than ever – two seasoned emcees who’ve quite honestly seen it all. It’s good to see you two in good spirits, healthy and creating music together.

Indeed. Edo is on Tour now after the project is completed and ready to drop and I was on tour before it was finished and was still in the creative stages . So its safe to say we are all working.

Let’s talk art. You’re a machine. We’re convinced you don’t sleep (laughing). How long have you been creating studio art and how long have you been taking studio art seriously?

The post Edo. G & Shabaam Sahdeeq’s Collaborative EP Is Around The Corner (interview) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Dropping off a new fly scripture for the one six, seasoned veteran Shabaam Sahdeeq gentlemanly reminds new [and old] listeners that his strides are far from over. Perhaps he’s just getting started? The catalogue is lengthy and the stripes are slowly but surely still very much accumulating. If you’re just now tuning into Shabaam, feel free to re-visit our conversation with the vet and brush up.

Gearing up for his forthcoming ‘Timeless: of the Collection‘ full length, this was released to “keep the skillet hot” and give you all a taste of what the new LP has to offer. The New York City native is positioned to deliver for years to come and doesn’t plan on stopping (all the while consistently working on other creative ventures) – though packing his bags as we speak for his overseas New Beginning Tour. All of the information is listed below if you wish to catch him while on the road.

That’s enough out of us. Enjoy “Fly Script” and do be prepared for the full length coming this year – as it may be his best body of work yet. Peace and love.

GMR Video + Interview (RESPECT. Magazine)

Shabaam Sahdeeq on iTunes

‘Keepers of the Lost Art’ Physicals (Below System Records)

The post Shabaam Sahdeeq Leaks “Fly Script” Off Forthcoming ‘Timeless: of the Collection’ LP appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Artwork by Dread Solo

“This is grown man rap”

Refreshing would be an understatement. Not just the music itself, but Shabaam Sahdeeq himself in 2016. In the midst of over-saturation, female clothing, and delusional trap lords, SS is a pure testament to remaining thorough as a recording artist. Remaining  humble. Remaining raw. You don’t need to sell your soul or ride the “in” wave to be respected.

The New York City native has a list of commendable stripes. You can read more about that below in our interview with him if you didn’t know. If not, do your research.

Today we present the video premiere for Shabaam Sahdeeq and J57‘s latest “GMR” single (directed by Rhugid Lee for Rhugid Productions – cuts by Dj Eclipse). It’s pointless to break down the video in writing form if you can just click and watch it about four inches below. But do know it’s the perfect creative overload – finding himself doing live painting on the busy streets of NYC. On that note, rest in peace Sean Price. Forever.

‘Timeless: of the Collection‘, a new full length LP from SS and company, is coming very soon. You can read more about that below also. Peace and love:

RESPECT: Before we get into it we want to thank you for your time. If you were to just gain a new fan of your music today, what would you want them to know about Shabaam Sahdeeq?

Shabaam Sahdeeq: I want them to know that I’m a forever-growing and learning embodiment of the hip-hop culture. I’m a father, husband, artist and black man. A very humble and cool individual, but don’t ever take my kindness for weakness. I was told in Africa that “paintings are frozen music“. So, I feel that I’m right in my lane. I’m an emcee, painter and a barber.

R:You’re ranked as a veteran emcee with multiple stripes. What is one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned over the years as a recording artist?

SS: The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to never lose your love or passion for your music or whatever you do. Some people get so caught up in chasing money that they lose site of what made them love to create and express themselves with the arts in the first place.

R: Aside from recording music, you are a talented visual artist. Can you tell us a little bit about your artwork and how the two crafts echo one another?

SS: Well to start with – emcee’ing and graffiti are two of the four hip-hop elements. So me being a hip-hop head, it’s only right that I fell in love with those two. My visual art sometimes says things my words can’t articulate or vice versa. I think they go hand in hand well. My art work is urban, abstract, and experimental mixed media. I think a lot of music artists have the gift of being artistic in more ways than one. It’s up to them to embrace it and run with all of them.

You have a new record coming real soon titled Timeless: of the Collection and mentioned you were very proud of this body of work. Do you mind telling us a little bit about the project?

SS: Timeless: of the Collection is a four-part series of albums. Each will have a different beginning title but all of them are from the collection. And every single will have a piece of art that goes with it that I hand painted. The cover of each album will be from an artist that I respect or collaborate with like yourself (Dread Solo).

R: Its apparent that family is very important to you. You’re open about it on social media and in your records. What has it been like trying to balance the family man and the recording artist positions over the years?

SS: My family is very important to me. The balance is not hard because my family knows what my passion is. The music is therapy for whatever I’m going through. I work a day job that’s flexible for me to travel and do tours. I spend time with my kids. I go out with my wife. If your hear me talking about streets it’s from my time running them in the past. I spend most of my time these days in my man cave with my music equipment and art supplies – when I’m not at work or at shows. My family is my first priority over everything.

R: Can you give us a little background on the new “GMR” visual? It looks like it was a fun time.

SS: It’s a special video. I shot it right after Sean Price died, and right before I moved out of New York City to Atlanta with my family. It was a bitter sweet time. It was shot by my boy Rhugid Lee that I ran into in Manhattan years after being in prison together. We always said when we get out that we are going to pursue our dreams in different areas – his being film and mine being music and art. We combined the two and did something real special. I told him about the concept my manager Big P came up with to be painting as I moved through the city – even in the middle of traffic and Lee helped me pull it off. I was doing a Sean Price memorial painting that I finished by the end of the video – which was later gifted to Sean Price’s wife Bernadette. It’s probably not the illest one she received, but it came from the heart.

Thank you for the interview. One love!

Official Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Artwork

The post Video Premiere: Shabaam Sahdeeq – “GMR” + Interview appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

If you’re just now getting familiar with The I V League, welcome. Those of you who keep up with the scene most likely have that one dream-team of artists that you would love to see join forces. This is where the League comes in, specifically stamped and served as an “international fraternity of extraordinary emcee’s, producers and deejays”.

Veteran emcees Ras Kass, Shabaam Sahdeeq and El Da Sensei have been in the mix for quite some time now, but still publicly unfold their craft every year offering something refreshing and equally satisfying. These gentlemen and their abilities do not age. So what happens when you get them in the studio with some of hip-hop’s more recently promising talent? Well, it’s the perfect mesh. That isn’t always the case, but with The I V League it sure is. New York wordsmith El Gant offers his expected, unapologetically piercing lyrics throughout the album. Sam Solo, 4rAx and thekeenone step up to the plate and necessarily deliver in the same playing field as the vets.

After a handful of released singles under The I V League’s umbrella and a busy year for each artist, the full length album is here. It’s versatile. It covers quite a few sounds – for you easily bored folk. It’s blunt. And it’s raw. Today it is not uncommon to hear your average social media surfer complaining that there are no good hip-hop albums out anymore. The League is here with a solution to that frequent complaint with an 11 track solution.

Snowgoons, Jake Palumbo, Poetiq Beetz and P Original are a few names handling the soundscapes throughout the album. The production is carefully selected to best suit the artists blessing the canvases. It would take hours to break down each artists current moves and what they’ve accomplished in 2015 alone. The League has quite the busy roster of recording artists. We hope you enjoy the project! Peace and love.

Official Site | Facebook | BandCamp 

The post The I V League Releases Their Debut LP (Full Album Stream) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

New York’s El Gant returns with “Raw”, off his forthcoming Spray Music EP. The record finds El Gant delivering one of his most rapid fire, technically sharpened darts of his career. Chi-town’s 42 Keez laid the groundwork here for Gant to brutalize, providing a rather “in” sound – suitable for the 2015 ears. Don’t let that fool you though. Gant is in the lab with Ras Kass, Shabaam Sahdeeq, El Da Sensei and other veteran emcees/new school staples – alongside his IV League camp. He keeps the hip-hop heads fed. Enjoy the track and keep your eyes peeled for the official release date of the upcoming EP. Peace and love.

The post New Music: El Gant – “Raw” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Shabaam Sahdeeq drops off the first single from his upcoming Keepers of the Lost Art album. The DJ Skizz-produced banger samples Nas‘ “Street Dreams” and finds all three rappers spitting some grimey and raw verses. Stream below.

The post New Music: Shabaam Sahdeeq feat. Wais P & Sha Stimuli – “That Dope” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Harry Fraud has been producing some extreme heat lately and this track from Shabaam Sahdeeq and Eddie B continues the trend. “Born to Win”  is featured on their upcoming LP The Wolves dropping September 5th. Brooklyn’s Maffew Raggazino comes through with an assist on this track spitting his usual, impressive lyrics.

The post New Music: Shabaam Sahdeeq & Eddie B feat. Maffew Raggazino — “Born to Win” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.