So much for getting "back up in that azz" 2 weeks ago

More than 2 weeks ago I came up on here on the ol AustinSurreal to say that I was back. After a full on summer of as much internet avoidance as I could muster up, I was ready to start back to blogging. Doing what I do best as they say. But alas and alak, shortly after posting that Geto Boys video I got a call from my dear friend Lynda to tell me that the head of SXSW Music, Brent Grulke, had passed away in a tragic scenario while undergoing oral surgery. That not only threw my, and about a thousand other lives into chaos, it sent me into a bit of a tailspin/depression and honestly I stopped thinking about blogging and everything else for a minute. Probably pretty common when someone close to you is taken suddenly and way too soon. I hope he is resting in peace and I pray for his family.

Then one week later I got news that one of my closest friends from my just post high school days, Aaron Ruark passed away in his sleep. I still don't know what happened. All I know is I lost my dude, 38 years old, with a beautiful young daughter AND he was about to be married the following Saturday to a wonderful woman named Nicki I had just met two weeks prior when I was in Cleveland for the League of Extraordinary G'z show with our mutual best friend Mike. I was so bummed that I wasn't going to be able to make it to the wedding, money is tight as always, and he was on my mind a lot in the days leading up to his untimely passing. Dude, he was 38, I don't know wtf happened, I just know that it's got me and a lot of good people all fucked up.

I truly hope he is resting in peace, but really I just wish he was still here. Words can't even describe it.

But I guess I'm back. Big announcement coming soon, when I decide what indeed the decision behind that announcement will be. Stay tuned.
Rest in Peace My Brother Aaron Ruark...

Back Up In That Ass Its The RessurectionGeto Boys Live at Gathering of the Juggalos

It's been a minute y'all. A lil more than a month to be exact since I done blogged anything. Well you know, maybe a man needed a break. But I'm back and live and in fool effect. What better way to come back than to post this video of the Geto Boys come back at the Gathering of the Juggalos this past weekend? Interning at the studio when the Geto Boys recorded We Can't Be Stopped is what got me into the Houston scene and I haven't turned back since. Texas mayne, here's the legends, back killing it LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE!

I saw a review that said the show was "hit and miss." Um, outside of the first 30 seconds or so, looks pretty hittin' to me! THE GETO BOYS ARE BACK! (I hope...)

It's Up! The Entire #AWREADY! Houston Hip-Hop Conference Footage!

MAYNE HOLD UP THIS IS SO HUGE! For everyone who missed AWREADY - The Houston Hip-Hop Conference at University of Houston this past March, you can watch all of the panels on YouTube. Big thanks to Julie Grob and the University of Houston, this day was not only historic but much needed.

Julie didn't just go and get some flavor of the month folks for this shit, she went DEEP and had folks like Steve Fournier, Ricky Royal, Willie D and the REAL LEGENDS who formed Houston Hip Hop. OK, don't start trippin', yes of course there were others who could have been on panels, I know, but whatever, she got some legendary kingpins of Houston rap who really went and built EVERYTHING WE LIVE FOR / OFF OF.

If it wasn't for some of these people, I have no idea what Houston Hip Hop would be. Seriously. I have been around. I saw it, and I have to say that this particular day was extremely impressive. I'll even admit, walking in to the room at UH that day I thought to myself "Damn, do I really want to hear some of these folks talking shit all day? Are they gonna keep it real?"

The answer ended up being yes, I sure as hell did want to sit there all day. Every panel was compelling and informative and NO ONE (which is hard to believe in Houston real talk) abused their time or went off topic into some self promoting bullshit (my number one fear, don't forget, I been around, I have seen all this shit). Everyone came out and spoke REAL about the HISTORY and everything that surrounded it.

Again, don't think that I don't know that there's some Houston pioneers who think they should have been on this and maybe should have. There's only so much space on these things and Julie did an impeccable job getting some incredibly potent voices on these panels. If you missed it, do yourself a favor and watch the videos below. This shit was SoReal, and being real is what has always made Houston a great city for hip-hop.

I moderated the last panel and that's the video below. Watch it first because I am a megalomaniac Houston dude real talk I no ya fill dat lo lmafo etc.

After the jump you can see the whole thing. Watch all this shit if you care about this shit. Its SoReal. Then head over to the University of Houston and see their Houston Hip-Hop Archive/Exhibit.

League of Extraordinary Gz & Rittz Hit Road this weekend

And my man Worldwide will be on part of the tour. DAAAAAMN! Gonna be dope. I will be at the Austin and the Cleveland shows for sure. Will there be an Erie show? I'ma work on it. Forgive me if all the above is Greek to you, I am just excited for MY PEOPLE!





This is one you just can't miss. Trust me, if you see my boys are in your town, go see them and say hello. Maybe buy an exxxclusive LOEGz Shot Glass. RIP ESBE!

VIDEO: My man 4th Pyramid from TorontoFeel It In My Bones

I know it's not from Texas but this is my bro from Toronto 4th Pyramid. If you listened to the AustinSurreal Show this past Sunday then you heard us live from his crib in the T-Dot presenting some dope Canadian hip-hop to the masses. Dude is dope, enjoy this trip across the border.

STREAM: Third Root's "Stand For Something"

I've been in Texas a long time, and have supported Texas hip-hop for a long time. So believe me when I say 2012 is going to be a huge year for Texas hip-hop. Specifically for San Antonio, a city that has always had some dope groups for sure, but at the moment is overflowing with dope talent, it's insane.

Leading the way in many ways are two legends of the scene, Easy Lee (MOJOE) and Mexican Stepgrandfather. Together known as Third Root. I have had the pleasure of jamming this record for the past couple weeks and have played the singles on both Brunch With An L and The AustinSurreal Show many times. This is a CLASSIC real talk and it's one of those records for the mind and the soul that I crave so much. Give it a listen and make that purchase on June 19th real talk.

(click flyer to see it full size)


CLICK HERE TO STREAM THIRD ROOT'S "STAND FOR SOMETHING" HERE

B L A C K I E - "0 Time 4 Fear"

Um. This is a little too real. This is the official bio for B L A C K I E (All Caps With Spaces). If I had to name this one I'd call it "0 Time 4 Fear (Houston Anthem)" Also this is a real message conscious rap song also a battle song also a diss track also a Houston Anthem also the story of B L A C K I E. Total Freedom No Fear. See you in Canada brother.

Austin Chronicle Suspends its Coverage of Bruce Springsteen to Pay Tribute to Octavis Berry and the LOEGz

OK all jokes aside, I love the Austin Chronicle. Its one of the best alt-weeklies in the nation and one of the only independent ones left. You can debate that all day if you want, but not with me, its just a fact. I still feel the anger/pain of the bullshit they pulled during SXSW with (was it three or) FOUR Springsteen covers. Anyway whatever that's water under the bridge and this sort of makes up for it.


Big, big extreme ups to Chase Hoffberger on this one. No one is gonna pee on this issue on YouTube and that is for sure, lest they wanna feel the wrath of me and 8+ of the realest rapping dudes I have ever known, the League of Extraordinary G'z. These dudes are exactly what I have been waiting for in (bigger than) Austin rap. They not only come real lyrically and have amazing beats (Reggie Coby is pretty much one of the best, most soulful producers in hip-hop today), they actually get out there on the road and tour and really, really put some muscle behind their art. This is their year for sure and I am choking up as I type this thinking of how much realer it'd be if Esbe da 6th Street Bully were still here to be a part of it.

His death is a real tragedy, read the article and find out why. No, he was not murdered. Well, he was kind of murdered, by America and the way America turns its back on the uninsured. I don't know why Obamasurance wasn't there to help this dude, but it wasn't. And isn't for so many of our good citizens who don't happen to have Wall Street or Congress level jobs.

Seriously, this shit has to change. Its really embarrassing to live in the only "civilized" nation in the world without a real health care system. For profit health care has got to go. Call me a socialist, fuck you I don't care about you. I care about the real people, who make this country great. Not the 1% and those who strive to be the 1% and those wahoos who think its ok to carry the 1% on their backs. Read a book or something. And fuck you.

Rest in Peace to my brother Esbe and prayers for him and everyone he left behind on this dirty rock.

B L A C K I E - "Home Town Blues"Live in Orleans FrancePro-shot video from the GEN LP

This is pretty fuckin' real. "Home Town Blues" by B L A C K I E from the GEN LP out soon on TOOTH RECORDS.

Rittz & The League of Extraordinary Gz US Tour Announced!

Click Image to see it full size but yeeehaw its really goin' down! I'ma be at the Austin and Cleveland shows for sure and I THINK I'ma have a NYC show announcement for you real soon. This is damn exciting to see my League of Extraordinary G'z brothers out there for a tour this extensive!
Click flyer to see it full size


Do not miss this tour if it comes to a city near you. These dudes are the future. Word is Worldwide will be out on the road for some of these dates. That's my man right there. Check out this new song featuring Worldwide and Rittz "Waddup." Courtesy of ThaFixx.com

Click here to stream/dl Worldwide ft. Rittz - Waddup

Blowfly aka Clarence Reid Returns to Austin Saturday Night at the Scoot Inn!

Favorite club, and one of my favorite legendary artists. Alongside one of Austin's finest, D-Madness, and the lyrical giants Subkulture Patriots. This will be the most fun you will have at a show for a long time. Don't miss this.



I've booked Blowfly a few times, most notably at SXSW in I think 2006 at The Backroom with Devin the Dude, Jean Grae, The Chicharones, and more. It was quite a night and blew more than a few minds. Dude is raw. He IS the original rapper. His song "Rap Dirty" was hands down the first rap song, made before the concept of hip-hop was even a thing.

Blowfly is the alter-ego of Clarence Reid, one of the great American songwriters. Google him, he's a legend and he's coming to Austin for one show, and one show only. And its partially sponsored by Fleshlight, so come down and see if they are doing any give-a-ways. A man can dream.

Peep some videos of the man Clarence Reid aka Blowfly after the jump, and if you ever see Devin the Dude ask him whatever happened to the two songs he recorded with Blowfly some years ago that have yet to see the light of day!

It's finally Here: ZZ Top's version of "25 Lighters"

Entitled "I Gotsta Get Paid." Discuss.

Kids in France LOVE B L A C K I E

As evidenced by this video...

Austin's Phranchyze to compete in the Red Bull Emsee US Final tonight!

It's been a long rhyme coming but tonight it's really goin' down in Atlanta! Red Bull Emsee US Finals, and once again our Austin homey Phranchyze is in the running. And will probably win. #bias



Everyone at the Houston battle went hard, but alas, Phranchyze is kind of untouchable. He's a battle MC Monster and everyone knows it. I think tonight he should do pretty well, no hate towards anyone else, but Phran is a serious MC and about to do some big things. I think his confidence levels at the moment should be through the roof and its really about to go down. Press release info on the event is below. I wish this was gonna be shown online I wanna see how this goes down!

Other Competing MCs include: Mic Stewart (Philadelphia), D’Meitz (Washington D.C.), Jonny Storm (Miami), Hostyle (Detroit), Phranchyze (Austin), Dirtbag Dan (Los Angeles), Bishop I (Seattle) and Pat G (Boston)

What: Red Bull EmSee National Finals
When: Tuesday, May 29th
Where: The Masquerade (695 North Ave, Atlanta)
Doors: 8pm, Show: 9:30pm | Admission is FREE; Must Be 18+
Who: Judges - David Banner, Big K.R.I.T and DJ Premier | Special performance by David Banner | Hosted by Phonte | Sounds by 9th Wonder
Doors: 8pm
Official Website: www.Redbullusa.com/emsee

FREESTYLE MCs FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY HEAD TO ATLANTA TO BATTLE FOR THE RED BULL EMSEE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT MASQUERADE ON MAY 29, 2012

Hosted by Phonte with special performances by David Banner, Big K.R.I.T. & DJ Premier And 9th Wonder on the decks Red Bull EmSee is an invitation-only battle series designed to find the best freestyle rappers in the country and give them a national platform to show their skills and earn acclaim. The nine-city tour makes its final stop Atlanta for the Red Bull EmSee National Finals on May 29th at Masquerade with Phonte playing master of ceremonies. Winners of the regional qualifiers hosted in Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, Houston, Boston, Washington D.C., Detroit and Miami will face off for the national title in front of a judging panel of hip-hop heavyweights, including the dynamic David Banner, Island Def Jam’s Big K.R.I.T and Gang Starr’s DJ Premier; while Grammy-award winning producer/DJ 9th Wonder commands the turntables throughout the competition.

Red Bull EmSee’s innovative battle format challenges MCs to bring the true freestyle spirit back by adding a twist to the conventional head-to-head clash. During the competition, MCs are posed with a variety of challenges designed to showcase their technique, creativity and dexterity. In addition to spitting flows over beats and a cappella, MCs are challenged to come up with hard-hitting verses straight off the dome based on visual cues and words submitted by fans.

“The format of the challenge forces you to stick to the true essence of freestyling, which I think gives it freshness and definite authenticity,” said reigning Red Bull EmSee National Champion, Fowl.

When it’s all said and done, the national champion will earn a trip to Los Angeles to record at Red Bull Studio with a headlining producer of his choice. For more information on Red Bull EmSee, please visit www.redbullusa.com/emsee.

WHERE: Masquerade – 695 North Ave. Atlanta, GA 30308
Doors: 8pm, Show: 9:30pm | Admission is FREE; Must Be 18+

Yala al Amar (Yala to the Moon)

Shout out to my brother Suhel Nafar from DAM & Jacqueline Reem Salloum from the film Slingshot Hip-Hop! This family friendly short film is super dope.

Peddling cds on the streets of the West Bank, Aseel uses her imagination to magically remake the world around her.



Directed by: Suhel Nafar & Jacqueline Reem Salloum

Starring: Asil Kadura, Nizar Ablasee, Karim Nafar, Tamer Nafar, Hiba Natour, Ibrahim Sakallah, Nada Nafar

Camera: Sari Bisharat, Ayed Fadel, Suhel Nafar

Written by: Suhel Nafar, Jacqueline Reem Salloum, Tamer Nafar

Edited by: Jacqueline Reem Salloum and George Cox

Graphics and Animation: Suhel Nafar

Art Director and Stylist: Nada Nafar

Music: Bassam Beroumi, DAM, Rami Saleh, Nabil Nafar YouTube - Videos from this email

B L A C K I E Live in France!

Sorry friends, didn't mean to slack once again, but I been in Europe, and preparing to be in Europe and well its been 80 degrees and like a good European I have been outside, with the people, as opposed to tethered to the internet soooooo no posts, till now!

VIDEO of B L A C K I E live in Metz France. Played outside in this crazy courtyard, super old beautiful building, vibes were super right. He killlleed it today in Paris. Video coming soon, but for now check this out. Its really goin' down out here.

Did you hear the Austin Red Bull Thre3style Preview Special on Raido KAOS?

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OR STREAM THE RADIO KAOS - BRUNCH WITH AN L RED BULL AUSTIN THRE3STYLE SPECIAL!

Interviews with Kid Slyce, Bird Peterson and Abe the Assassin. We also give it up to Chuck Brown, Rest IN Peace.

Austin Red Bull Thre3style Competitors Ready To Take It National!

OMG OMG OMG OMGGGGGGGGG Its really goin' down tomorrow night at the Beauty Ballroom (8:30 p.m., 2015 Riverside Dr., 18+). The Red Bull Thre3style Austin Qualifier is finally here. Eight of our finest DJs will lay it all on the line tomorrow night in hopes of reaching the Thre3style National Finals later this year. Austin already has PHRANCHYZE in the Emsee Battle, set to happen May 29th in Atlanta, so its only right that one of our DJs make it to the end of the road with Thre3style.

RSVP at Do512 NOW to get in FREE (offer ends Friday end of day)

or

Txt ATX3STYLE to 72855 and it's all good.

DJ Klever headlines, Big Once opens the night! CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL RED BULL THRE3STYLE SITE AND MORE INFO!

We here at AustinSurreal are obviously pretty psyched about it, so we wrangled all 8 of the participating DJ's to give you a look at what you can expect this Saturday night. But don't get too confident, Thre3style is all about the element of surprise. Weaving multiple styles into one coherent, party rocking set.

ABE THE ASSASSIN * DJQD * DJ ORION * DJ CHORIZO FUNK * KID SLYCE * DJ PROTEGE * DJ MIKE SWING * BIRD PETERSON

Fellas, are you ready?
Click through to learn more about what these dudes bring to the table.

TXPowerhouseTV Footage From Pachanga Fest After Party

Featuring Sertified, J. Goods and Snow tha Product!

Pachanga Fest 2012 Wrap Up!

Feel the funky real! It really went down this past weekend in the ATX! It was Pachanga Fest time once again and man, what a weekend. This, as I have stated a couple years in a row right here on this blog, is one of my favorite festivals year in year out! Latin music from all over the musical spectrum, in one place at one time, and its just gorgeous. Also the weather was more gorgeous on these two days than it may have ever been before in this here city, ever. At least in the past year. Hands down, Saturday was the NICEST day we have seen in Austin, TX in at least one full year. Just look at the smiles on Rich Garza (founder and el presidente of Pachanga, Inc) and Alex right here.

Suffice it to say, IT WENT DOWN. And for the first time I have inserted a jump break. MORE PICS AND FOOL REPORT AFTER THE JUMP!