(Press Release)
Royce Da 5’9 ‘s unwavering passion for music and hunger for the game keeps him in the studio day and night. For further proof, look no further then the amount of music he will be releasing over the course of the next three months, which will undeniably validate Royce’s place in the pantheon of Hip-Hop’s elite lyricists.

While Royce preps the release of his highly-anticipated “Street Hop” LP, (which will be released on 9-22-09) which is executive-produced by DJ Premier and has already generated overwhelming critical accolades alone with the release of street-singles “Shake This” and “Part Of Me” and the forthcoming self-titled debut LP from the buzz worthy Bi-Coastal conglomerate Slaughterhouse (Royce Da 5’9, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz & Crooked I) on this summer.

On the heels of both releases, Royce will first be releasing a Digital only four song EP entitled “The Revival.” “The Revival” will be released on 7-7-09 and it will include new tracks from Royce’s “Street Hop” LP along with a new Slaughterhouse track and will be available at all major digital retailers. Royce will also be debuting a new single and video for “The Revival” in the very immediate future.

The Revival EP Tracklisting
1. Gun Harmonizing 3:16
2. Count For Nothing 3:37
3. Warriors 5:10
4. Street Hop 2010 2:53

Anticipation for Amerie’s new album reached a fever pitch when “Why R U” debuted May 11th on her MySpace website, http://www.myspace.com/ameriemimarie. New York City Hot 97 radio dj Funk Master Flex caught the buzz when he played “Why R U” for 15 minutes straight. The track officially goes to all radio formats on June 15th as the first single from IN LOVE & WAR. The video for “Why R U,” which premieres June 8th on BET, was directed by Ray Kay (whose credits include fellow Def Jam artist The-Dream’s “Shawty Is a 10” featuring Fabolous, Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” and more).

“Why R U” was produced by the Buchanans, who were among the roster of producers that worked with Amerie on her last two albums, Touch (2005) and Because I Love It (2007), as well as on album tracks with Jay-Z (The Black Album), Beyoncé (Dangerously in Love), Black Rob, and Lupe Fiasco. In addition to the Buchanans, other producers who worked on the Atlanta, LA, and Miami sessions for IN LOVE & WAR include Teddy Riley (“Tell Me You Love Me”), Sean Garrett & Eric Hudson (“Heard ’Em All”), and Jim Johnson & Rico Love (“Swagback”), Brian Michael Cox (”Red Eye”).

Bonus: Behind The Scenes vid for Amerie’s new single Why R U

Despite the factors stacked up against it, Buzz a collaborative effort from underrated Los Angeles rappers Intuition and VerBS, is far from a quick download and delete. The protagonists shine with a distinctly ‘underground’ style of heavily multi-syllabic flows, which is balanced with easily accessible subject matter spanning day to day life, relationships and so on. The production provided by an equally underrated cast of Los Angeles beatmakers, reflects the eager breakthrough performance from Intuition and VerBS.

While it is just a one-off free download release, the idea that the Buzz EP begins and ends with six excellent tracks is shortsighted. Intuition, fresh from a voice-altering medical procedure, is enjoying better vocal clarity and an improvement on his already excellent lyrical ability. VerBS, who I was unfortunately unaware of prior to the release, is a name I’m now officially checking for. The production from Alpha MC, Fud, Aspect 1, Equalibrium and Dibiase suggests bigger things in the future for all. With this talented lineup, Buzz sounds like the kind of release that will become a reference point in 5 years time.

For now though, Buzz sounds dope in my car, which is at the simplest elements, what hip hop is all about. Rummaging through a pile of CD’s searching for a new release free of autotune and clichés, this is a release I was glad to find.

Intuition & Verbs

(Press Release)

Intuition and VerBS have joined forces and collaborated to create a six song EP called “Buzz.”  The “Buzz” EP is an raucous upbeat romp through their daily lives filled with humor, emotion, passion, and desire for something more.  With an outstanding production lineup (featuring Dibiase, Equalibrum, Alpha MC, Aspect 1 and Fudd Burton), and two razor sharp emcees at the helm, this EP is bound to turn some heads and, dare we say, create a buzz.

Intuition is a rapper, raised in North Pole, AK but now residing in West Los Angeles.  A veteran emcee who has been paying dues for years, Intuition created a few waves with his 2007 debut “Stories About Nothing.”  He has shared the stage with the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Method Man, Murs and countless others.  Chances are if you have been to a show in LA in the last five years, you have probably seen him around.  This EP will leave you enamored with his scathing wit, and attention to detail while writing songs.  His sophomore effort, “Girls Like Me,” will be released later this summer and it will be sure to garner some attention.  Learn more at www.myspace.com/intuition.

VerBS is a rapper raised in Culver City, CA.  A fresh new voice in the West LA hip hop scene, he is one of the co-founders of the ever-growing monthly event “The Spliff.”  Having toured with Murs (and opening up at the mega hip hop festival Paid Dues) and collaborating with the likes of Murs, Big Pooh, and Knawledge (of Kidz in the Hall) this young up-and-comer is sure to impress you with his extreme creativity.  His style is so unique and stream of consciousness you would swear that most of it was created spontaneously in the booth.  His first effort, “The Progress EP,” is an ever growing collection of songs he’s worked on with various collaborators.  The presentation of the EP (hand drawn, comic book style liner notes and original 4×6 photographs attached to each copy) is one of the most original things the LA indie rap scene has seen in many years.  Learn more at www.myspace.com/verbsisthehomie.

Together the two sound like a team that has been working with each other for years, though they only started this project a few months ago.  Please enjoy the EP, available for free download in the link provided below:

Intuition & Verbs - Buzz (FREE DOWNLOAD LINK)

Track listing:

1.  Hip No Ties (produced by Alpha MC)
2.  Touch the Moon (produced by Fudd Burton)
3.  What You Make It (produced by Aspect 1)
4.  See Us (produced by Equalibrum)
5.  Really (produced by Dibiase)
6.  Live Write (produced by Alpha MC, featuring Dj MurjOne)

Intuition & VerBS Buzz EP cover

LAX TOUR 2009
Wednesday August 5th - Perth, Metro City
Thursday August 6th – Adelaide, HQ Club
Friday August 7th - Melbourne, Festival Hall
Saturday August 8th - SYDNEY, Big Top Luna Park
Monday August 10th – Gold Coast, Convention Centre

Tickets on sale June 11th 2009.

I was really hoping this would offer more information about Detox, or at the very least, a Guns N Roses-style ‘If Detox ever drops, everyone gets a can of Dr Pepper’, but no. It’s just an ad for Dr Pepper. However, seeing as my love for Dr Pepper is exceeded only by my love of Dr Dre, this gets posted.

Most times when I’m feeling down, I can always say to myself ‘well, at least I’m not Charles Hamilton’ and I end up feeling a whole lot better about myself. That goes double today, as video of the corny kid getting socked in his grill by a girl have surfaced. Enjoy.

So I gave y’all the heads up about Intuition’s upcoming Buzz EP with DJ Verbs One. It’s only right then that I should also put this video interview on blast. This one is from The Urban Decadence, which is a cool blog mainly focusing on independent LA artists.

Loso/IFandCo chain

Holy crap. This is unbelievable. Los Angeles jeweler Ben Baller has showcased his latest work; a ‘Loso’ chain for Fabolous, on the eve of Fab’s new album release.

The chain is vintage Fab: “You know me, I mix one white with one yellow”. Held together by a classic Cuban link chain with one side yellow gold and the other in white gold, the chain is also double-sided in the same two tones.

Fab’s new Loso chain comprises over 3,700 diamonds, and over 55 carats total in diamonds, weighing over half a kilogram.

Check Ben Baller’s IFandCo website for more information on the chain, and piece by piece photos showing the assembly of the piece.