New video from Invincible!

Invincible never disappoints and always changes the game. So happy to see this. Invincible will be live in Austin, Texas on Saturday October 6th, more info coming this week.

ArtPrize 2012 - Complex Movements @ SiTE:LAB (Test Performance) - 9/19/2012

First Hip-Hop The Vote EventTues. Sept. 25 - Reggae Bodega/Irie JuicesNational Voter Registration Day #HOUSTON

First event in the Hip-Hop The Vote Series in Houston happens this coming Tuesday Sept. 25th in 3rd. It's National Voter Registration Day and Texans Together is presenting a special concert/awareness event at the Reggae Bodega/Irie Juices at 4812 Almeda Dr, featuring Chingo Bling, Doughbeezy, The Niceguys and Dat Boi T.


Voting Can be Hip and Fun: Houston Hip Hop Music Concert Series Promotes Voting

(Houston, TX): The first of a series of Hip Hop the Vote music events will take place this Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 4-8 pm, at Reggae Bodega/Irie Juices at 4814 Alameda Road. Well-known Houston hip hop artists, Chingo Bling, Doughbeezy, The Niceguys, and Dat Boi T will perfom and promote non-partisan voting. At this family-friendly event, the artists will promote voting to younger, multicultural Houstonians who have low voter registration and turnout. Deputy registrars will be there to help citizens register and to answer their questions about the voting process.

What: Texans Together Education Fund dba Occupy the Vote-Houston team up with promoter Matt Sonzala to present the first in a series of Houston Hip-Hop The Vote Events!
When: Tuesday Sept. 25th - NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY- 4-8pm
Where: The Reggae Bodega/Irie Juices - 4814 Almeda Road.

AustinSurreal Show 9/16/12: Stream or DL + Playlist

It happened once again, the new music explosion that is. Forgive the lateness on the playlist and link and such, I'm in Montreal. More on that later.

CLICK HERE TO STREAM OR DOWNLOAD THE LATEST AUSTINSURREAL SHOW HOSTED BY PUSHERMANIA AKA MATT SONZALA

PLAYLIST FOR 9/16/2012

The Niceguys - Just Be Cool
Jean Grae - Kill Screen
Mr. Muthafuckin Exquire - Lost in Transition
Flatbush Zombies - Al Bundy (Darko)
Institutional Prostitution - Sonia Bitch Ass Up
Magno - Bussin At Em
LE$, Slim Thug - Buss It
Hoodstar Chantz - Clique
Alley Boy, Gunplay - I'ma Shooter
Etta Bond, Raf Riley, Lady Leshurr - Boring Bitches
Plastic Plates - More Than Love
Starslinger - Take This Up
Writer - Hot Days
Waka Flocka, Trae - I Got 'Em
Worldwide, Rittz - Waddup
Phranchyze - Exodus
DaShade Moonbeam - They Are Coming
Kydd, Max Frost - Nice & Slow
Crew54, Carter Arrington - My Life
A Tribe Called Red - Woodcarver
Iman Omari - Take Away
I/O Analog - X-Rated Movies
Kid Koala - 2 Bit Blues
T. Bird & The Breaks - Just Gettin' Started (K. Sabroso Remix)
Blunt Fang - Zen From Zans
The Culprit, K-Paul - Police Sirens
Tense - Passport
Brew & Jake of Lower Life Form - Home
The Niceguys - War Eagle

OCCUPY THE VOTE!New Project I'm Working On

Man hold up it's really goin' down in that H-Town. Over the course of the next few weeks, up until the election November 6th, I'll be going back and forth to Houston working with Texans Together Education Fund putting on events out in them streets getting people to register to vote, to pledge to vote and to increase voter awareness. All sorts of your favorite rappers have signed on to help this cause along and on National Voter Registration Day - Tuesday Sept. 25th - our first event happens in the heart of 3rd Ward!

As you can see this one is a straight up FAM event with Chingo Bling, Doughbeezy, Dat Boi T, The Niceguys, DJ Chill and Zin keeping the party moving and the message flowing. And it's happening at the FAM SPOT - The Reggae Bodega and their new cafe Irie Juices right down there on Almeda off that Southmore exit. One of my favorite blocks in the whole city. 4 - 8 pm, the event is free and open to the public and FAMILY FRIENDLY. Round up your friends who have yet to register to vote and bring them down, and bring yourself and make a pledge to vote and lets really try to make a difference in Harris County.

More events will be listed soon, big one happening in Alief, etc. Lots to talk about. Also look out for our video campaign coming soon. Anyway, it's really going down. Tuesday Sept. 25th at the Reggae Bodega/Irie Juices in the heart of Third Ward! 4814 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77004

Flyer by Tosin at Sin-ful Designs

The Tontons release "Golden" Video3 shows at Pop Montreal + Fall Tour Dates

MY PEOPLE! Come down with the WIN! Houston's own The Tonton's are killing it! Three shows at Pop Montreal next week and a whole slew of big shows this fall.



Check out the video and then scroll down and check out the entire EP on Bandcamp. So excited for The Tontons.

FALL 2012 TOUR DATES
DATE | CITY | VENUE
9/20 | Montreal, QC | Citizen Vintage | Pop Montreal
9/22 | Montreal, QC | Parc de la Petite Italie | Pop Montreal
9/22 | Montreal, QC | Les 3 Minots | Official Pop Montreal Showcase
9/29 | Houston, TX | Houston Wine Festival
10/3 | Dallas, TX | Club Dada
10/4 | Memphis, TN | Hi-Tone
10/6 | Nashville | The High Watt | Next Big Nashville's Soundland Official Afterparty
10/7 | Chattanooga, TN | TBD
10/8 | Atlanta, GA | Smith's Olde Bar
10/9 | Athens, GA | Georgia Theatre
10/11 | Durham, NC | The Garage Bar @ Motorco
10/12 | Charlottesville, VA | Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
10/18 | New York, NY | Bowery Electric | The Audio Perv and USvsTHEMinc Official CMJ Showcase
10/18 | New York, NY | Rebel NYC Bar | The Texas Takeover Official CMJ Party
10/24 | Charlotte, NC | TBD
10/26 | Jackson, MS | Ole Tavern on George St
10/27 | New Orleans, LA | One Eyed Jacks
10/28 | Beaumont, TX | Tequila Rok
10/29 | Austin, TX | W Hotel | The Sessions
11/8 | Bryan, TX | Grand Stafford Theater


Stream Golden | http://tontons.bandcamp.com
Twitter | http://twitter.com/thetontons
Facebook | http://facebook.com/thetontons

The only song I truly love

At the moment...


Stumbled across this little gem after hearing just part of it on 1xtra this weekend. I think Target's show but i am not totally sure. I have been a fan of Lady Leshurr for a minute now, but need to find out more about Etta Bond obviously, and the producer Raf Riley. Super dope stuff right here. You can download the EP for free right here and you should. Its all over the place in a good way. #intrigued

Last Nights AustinSurreal Show

It really went down last night! CLICK HERE TO STREAM OR DOWNLOAD LAST NIGHT'S AUSTINSURREAL SHOW!

Etta Bond, Raf Riley, Lady Leshurr - Boring Bitches
Collie Budz - Ganjapipe
Dominic Lord, Pusha T, Grimes - Pierce
The Orb, Lee "Scratch"Perry - Ball of Fire
Milli Mars - What the Fuck
Milli Mars - You Ain't Sayin' Nothin'
Western Tink - Live & Let Die
Western Tink - Thowed Off
Freddie Gibbs, Dana Williams - The Hard
Rittz - Questions
Roach Gigz, IAMSU! - Ain't A Thing
Heems, Fat Tony, Big Baby Ghandi - Bangles
David Byrne, St. Vincent - Who
Beacon - Feelings Gone
Swim - Ride
How To Dress Well - It Was You
A Tribe Called Red - Electric Pow Wow Drum
I/O Analog - Fast Free Times
Iman Omari - Energy
DJ Eleven, Sharina Doyle - Last Beat
Gucci Mane - Bussin Jugs
KMC - Presidential
YBM Steel - Mobbin'
Mookie Jones - Comma
Supamane - Blow My High
Zubz - Extras
ANT, Big Sant, Big Chris - Never Gon Change
T. Bird & The Breaks - Just Gettin' Started (K. Sabroso Remix)
Linus Pauling Quartet - She Did Not Know
Butcher Bear - Y Not


Real jams for real people. Not robots.

FREESTYLE! A.Dd+, Worldwide, Kydd, The Niceguys + BUN B!Red Bull Skooled Tour 2012 REVISITED!

WORD TO THE MAN FANG! And PRDC Microcinema, THIS IS SO DOPE!



Maaaaan I missed this as I was outside with the California Kid (see below) but this really went down! And the video looks so dope. A great look at what went down in Corpus Christi on the last night of the Red Bull Skooled Tour. You don't hear a lot about Corpus musically, but shit, DJ Dus and FANG! and all them down there have got it goin' on for real. The scene is dope, the downtown is dope, the people are great. I need to go to Corpus more often, and this is reminding me of that fact. Word to the House of Rock. I need to get back there ASAP!



When's the next Red Bull Skooled Tour??? HMMMM I WONDER!

Sunday Night ATX! Western Tink, Milli Mars & MORE at Club 1808!

SAY MAYNE THIS IS SOMETHING REAL! Two of the best in Texas right now hands down! Pushing envelopes and such.

Western Tink is from Austin and Milli Mars is from San Antonio. Sunday night they'll be at one of my favorite spots Club 1808, right there on 12th and Chicon with Lavish, Sam Rubik and Nouveau Riche. If you want to see the present future of Texas hip-hop in an intimate environment with cheap drinks on a good night in the city, this is where you need to be. Don't miss the bus. Real talk.





9pm it's really happening.

Now for the good news: Bavu Blakes is Back in Texas

AND HE CAME TO WRECK! Back with an unreleased jam!


Salt Dust demo

"Salt Dust" Produced By S1
Enjoy this jam and like it on the tweeter!

Rest In Peace MVGGIEStay Strong Candice

And prayers for you both, and your familes and all of us in the Texas hip-hop community who really feel this loss.

Got a text from my brother Mason on Monday morning that sent me into shock. Two of his close friends, and close friends of many in the Texas hip-hop community had gone out on Sunday night and their car ran out of gas. They pulled over onto an exit ramp, went and filled up a gas can and while they were filling the tank an SUV hit them. Maggie Wilson was killed, Candice Anderson remains in the hospital.

The two are best friends in every sense of the word, and that was evident the couple of times I was around them. I didn't know them well but we met, and had communicated over the internet at times (it's 2012) and I always knew they were the kind of people who were really real about this music. Also, real about the right kind of music. The real stuff coming out of Texas and making it just great these days. We need more people like this.

Anyway I can't lie, when I look at them I see my daughters fast forwarded 15 years or so. Super hip, smart, music heads running things in their own world. With so much to look forward to. And Candice you still have a lot to look forward to. I hope everyone stands together to help her and the families get through this. This is truly a tragic loss on so many levels.

There's a couple videos from Dallas TV after the jump... Rest in Peace MVGGIE, Get Well Soon and Stay Strong Candice. And all the rest of y'all be careful out there.

HoustonPBS UH Moment: The Chopped and Screwed History of Houston Hip Hop

This makes me so happy. UH is really putting on for Houston and this is much needed! If you haven't visited the Houston Hip Hop Archive at the UH Library, GO! What re you waiting for?

AustinSurreal Show 9/2/12 DL Link + Playlist

OK So why I don't do this every week, I don't know, but from here on out... well, I plan to.

Been doing the AustinSurreal Show on Radio KAOS for 2.5 years now. Did the Brunch With an L show twice a week for the past 7 months, but had to give that up (sadly) as I just can't do three shows a week at the moment. But if you don't know, the AustinSurreal show is my internet radio show (podcast, whatevz) that happens every Sunday night from 7-9pm CST. There's no format, I play what I like, from all over the world, with an emphasis on Texas, of course. Its an eclectic show from a hip-hop perspective. I am pretty sure there's nothing else like it. I know because I try to listen to all kinds of radio shows, like, all the time, and well this show here is the only one where you will hear gangsta rap (real shit not radio shit), Butcher Bear and Bjork on the same show.

Whatevs. I'd love it if you'd tune in every week live, and when you miss it live, go and get the archives. It's there for the taking. You can tune in on www.kaosradioaustin.org, or on KAOS RADIO AUSTIN on the TuneIn App or site, and on the exxxxclllluuuuusive free AustinSurreal app for Iphone/Ipad.

So there you have it. Tune in Tokyo and jam with me. Playlist and link to listen after the jump.

Free Download: Kydd - The RIghteous LP

Yes, I full well know how late I am on this. WEEKS, which may as well be centuries in internet time but whatever, it was the summertime.

My young bro Kydd done created a masterpiece. I actually listen to this in its entirety while driving, and get mad when it's over. The boy done did that. Features from Worldwide, Western Tink, GLC, Tank and way more great artists all over this one here. An actual album, and the production is bananas. Next level. And from ATX. Stand up.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OR STREAM THE ENTIRE RIGHTEOUS LP BY KYDD.

Friday Video Mix

I'm not really good at doing anything with any sort of regularity but I am going to try and force myself to post some new videos from Texas every Friday. New one from Dat Boi T starts things off then after the jump there's a few good ones from Trae, Z-Ro, and more (that are more than a week old, ok fine, I'm just getting started here).

Khia Rockin' the RNC?

This is the type of thing I like waking up to in the morningtime. You go girl.

A3C Straight Outta Texas Showcase Is Really Goin' Down!

Last year I attended the A3C Hip-Hop Festival in Atlanta and said to myself that I would never miss another A3C again. It really is THAT festival. It's where you go if you truly love this culture called hip-hop and want to see where it's at right here right now and right in front of your eyes. Peep the entire line up on www.a3cfestival.com and get your (cheap) tickets now! I mean seriously, this is the most economically viable hip-hop event of all time, OF ALL TIME!

Finna freak out. Check out a couple videos below of a few of the artists you will see and stay tuned for updates as they come in!

Worldwide with my favorite song of the last year:

And this one, his new single "Ending Cycle" way up there on the list as well:

Red Bull Skooled Wrap Up Featuring A.Dd+, Kydd, Worldwide and The Niceguys, all on the Straight Outta Texas Showcase at A3C!

More updates and videos and artist profiles coming soon! KILLA KYLEON! Man hold up...

From The Atlantic: Should Hip-Hop Artists Be Allowed to Release Albums From Jail?

By Tim Bella, a man who came up in Texas but now resides in New York and writes for the Atlantic. The story centers around South Park Mexican, a man who was a bonafide Latin hip-hop cultural icon for a good period of time. You may or may not know his story but I do, all too well.

If he did actually do what he was convicted of then of course, I and any other human with a functioning brain and heart feel as though he got what he deserved. But I always felt that there was way more to this case and that there were definitely things that didn't add up. SO I have mixed feelings on all of this. I am quoted in this article, and I stand by what I said, he was THE MAN back when he was at his peak. What happened later, is a whole nother story.

At any rate Tim did a great job here. And my feelings about the question at hand, Should hip-hop artists be able to release albums from jail, aren't really all that simple. I personally feel as though jail is supposed to be equally for rehabilitation purposes as they are for punishment. And making art can really help with that healing process. But I mean, all of this should be looked at on a case by case basis. I think that creative people should be creative. Its a quandary. Anyway check it out link is below.

CLICK HERE TO READ TIM BELLA'S ARTICLE ON SPM IN THE ATLANTIC

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...)