Broad Street Records

Wye the Oak not.

2011-06-28T15:44:00.004-04:00

Wye Oak hailing from Baltimore, Maryland. The band name is a reference to the tree of their home state. They are a two piece band with Jenn Wasner on guitar and vocals and Andy Stack on keys, drums, and backup vocal. This is the title track off their album, Civilian.

I see you, bass line in the guitar part. APPROVE. That voice gives me chills.

Where can you record?

2011-06-26T10:05:00.002-04:00

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/06/26/137394444/in-through-the-out-door-turning-abandoned-buildings-into-recording-studios?sc=fb&cc=fp

Whether it be in an abandoned school building, your computer, or the secret lair of a recording studio in Case Library, you have options.

This summer some of the Broad Street Records' members are creating and finishing up EPs. Recording in a frat house near a BU construction site isn't so bad! If we can do it, anyone can.

To all, please have a musical summer.

Serenadgrams '11

2011-03-05T19:04:00.003-05:00

Broad Street Records Annual Serenadagrams!

Ah, that lovely time of year where Colgate artists offer up a serenade in places such as Frank Dining Hall... spreading love and embarrassment for all to enjoy.

Local Natives

2011-03-01T16:26:00.004-05:00

They have been my obsession since the fall and I think it is time to share them with you:

LOCAL NATIVES.

The band is based out of Los Angeles. I would consider them indie rock, folk. Ah, yes.

Gorilla Manor is one of the most complete albums I've listened to this year. Every song is tantalizing and oh, those harmonies. It just sounds great, catchy. Not much of a critique, or explanation. You'll just have to listen for yourself.

Music Video for Wide Eyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVt-DZdkOzw

I could tell you to listen to Sun Hands, Airplanes, Cubism Dream.. but I do not want to be bossy or anything of the sort...

GATESTOCK

2010-10-04T00:23:00.006-04:00

For those of you who missed out, Gatestock 2010 Part 2: The Redemption was a smashing success. The weather in the morning was 70 degrees and no clouds in the sky; by 11, it had progressed to mid-60s and cloudy. However, there was NO RAIN. That was the best part. Our best estimates place the number of students who attended between 600 and 800 people. This represents at least 20 percent of Colgate students, which is pretty impressive considering the high attendance of Colgate students at the Syracuse football game. The music was great: we had two stages going at the same time, although one was a bit small.

However, the performers at the small "stage" fought the odds, and still attracted a fairly heavy audience. The food was great, including Holy Smokes BBQ, who came back after they had left earlier, with the leftovers from the Syracuse game. Highlights of the music were Andrew Wylie, who serenaded us with his own acoustic music, Textbook Granfalloonery, who came out of nowhere and left us all in awe of their pure rock skills, and the Bloody Nips, who, for those of us still remaining, scared us a bit, but also made us laugh.

Overall, it was a great day. A bit exhausting, for those who were there the whole day, but a lot of fun. We're already working on how we can make Gatestock Part 3 even better, and we're open to suggestions. Hope everyone who was there had a great time!

Welcome back Colgate!

2010-09-14T13:04:00.004-04:00

Our blog may have fallen off a bit, but hopefully we'll be able to start back up again this year. Broad Street has a lot of new stuff going on this year, and it's all very exciting.

First of all, our new officers are:

Andy Peng, President

Max Miller (me), Business Director

David Case, Executive Producer

Caitlin Grossjung, Secretary

We lost a lot of good men in graduation last year, but hopefully we'll be able to gain some new talent in the activity fair coming up, this Wednesday from 4-6 PM on the Quad. The new freshman class is over 100 people more than usual, and I'm sure there is a lot of new untapped musicianship out there.

Secondly, and what I'm most excited about: Gatestock 2010 Part 2, The Redemption.

Although last year didn't work out as well as we planned, it was still a success (in my opinion). We braved the 40 degree temperature, freezing rain, and hail (in mid-April), and estimates were as high as 400 people throughout the day. And now we're back with a vengeance. This year, September 25th from 12 PM to 6 PM is Gatestock Part 2. With more free food, more free T-shirts, and even better awesome music. Hopefully this Gatestock will be huge, and the administration will finally give us some credit.

Right now all of our attention is being held by Gatestock, but afterwards we're thinking of a few other cool events. Our distribution CD is still in the works, and we're hoping it will be ready within a few weeks. We're hoping to have some kind of winter concert in February or so, which would be basically whoever wanted to play would play. Ideally, this would be in the chapel. We're also looking to follow K'naan and Wale with an equally amazing musical act sometime in early spring.

Well that's it for now. Hope to see everyone at Gatestock!

K'naan Changing the World, One Step at a Time

2010-04-13T18:28:00.004-04:00

K'naan's hit song, "Wavin' Flag" sung by some of your favorites to benefit Haiti.

Come see K'naan with Wale THURSDAY APRIL 15th at the HOP!!!

Aloe Blacc - "I Need A Dollar" video

2010-04-05T16:44:00.005-04:00

Check out the new music video for the song "I Need A Dollar" by Aloe Blacc. The song is the theme for the new HBO series "How to Make it in America." Sounds old and funky, but it's actually new and funky. Brilliant.

K'naan Talks about his Tour with Wale

2010-03-30T20:14:00.005-04:00

As most of you know, on Thursday April 15th, K'naan will be performing with Wale, John Forte and Tabi Bonney at the Hall of Presidents. Doors open at 8PM! This performance at Colgate will mark the last one of their joint 2010 US Tour.

K'naan talks about the tour:

At 4PM on that same day, K'naan will be giving a lecture to faculty and students at Love Auditorium. We are still awaiting details on the title of that lecture.

CLICK FOR FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

Strong Arm Steady featuring Phonte - "Best of Times" video

2010-03-30T16:47:00.006-04:00

Jake and I have been plugging Strong Arm Steady on our radio show for an endless succession of months now, and if you're STILL not convinced these guys are the real deal, take a look/listen at this music video off their classic, seriously slept on album In Search of Stoney Jackson...

Guilty Simpson + Madlib = OJ Simpson

2010-03-30T16:27:00.006-04:00

For those of you out there into that raw hip hop, be sure to mark the days off your calendar for May 18th, the release date for the much anticipated OJ Simpson collaboration album with Detroit MC Guilty Simpson and super producer Madlib. From what I've heard so far this album will be chock full of bangers. It just became available this week as an advanced digital release on the stones throw website, and if you're a true hip hop head you can opt to cop it ***HERE*** if you just can't wait for it any longer (I'm going to let my antipation build and wait to cop it on vinyl in May, but that's just me).

Anyway, here's a video clip of him performing the album's title track live with the Will Sessions Big Band. Raw stuff. Haters are throwing rocks at tanks.

GUILTY SIMPSON LIVE w/ WILL SESSONS BIG BAND from JEREMYDEPUTAT.COM on Vimeo.

Also,a FREE download of the J Dilla tribute track "Cali Hills" ***HERE***

"Manmercial"

2010-03-25T10:45:00.005-04:00

This is not your ordinary commercial because most commercials that change setting are not made in one take.

And this is, you ask? Filmmaking is continually innovative.

and yes, the entirety of this hilarious video was made in one take.

From a bathroom to a boat to a horse. now isn't that something.

It took over 80 takes. .

Snob Scrilla Courtesy of David Clark

2010-03-23T08:23:00.000-04:00

Snob Scrilla Music Video. Clark thought it would be good for the blog.

New Songs from Earthman Embassy--Free Download

2010-03-07T12:27:00.003-05:00

Earthman Embassy has just released two new songs that will be on the upcoming "Backbone EP." The songs are "Backbone" and "Yesterday's Feeling" and were recorded at a studio near Syracuse, NY. The songs can be downloaded at the following location FOR FREE!

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=c066c844b10352bbd39ae58173e57a927d392a481ddfe77c6aab8f27f97f3d90

Stay tuned for more songs coming soon as the band will return to the studio in early April to record more tracks.

On a lighter note, we're front page news baby

2010-02-28T22:24:00.009-05:00

Just thought I'd make it blog-official. Good work boys, and a special shoutout to my boy PJ Fabros who made a brief appearance in the article:

Broad Street Records Plans ’Gatestock: Campus-Wide Fest Planned for April

Really Jackie, Really?

2010-02-28T21:47:00.011-05:00

Case In Point:

Jackie Chan: The man, the legend... the movie whore. Thank God Bruce Lee isn't around today to see kung fu cinema get pissed on like this. Jackie Chan, how do you sleep at night? And why are you smiling? By the way, try to read the taglines on the last two posters without getting engulfed by the urge to throw somebody out of a window.

Why Jackie Chan, Why??? (A Rant In Response to Jake's Previous Post)

2010-02-28T21:44:00.001-05:00

Dearest Jake,

You are both my respected colleague and beloved friend, but unfortunately I'm going to have to vehemently disagree with you on this one. This movie looks about as entertaining as two elderly sea turtles trying to get it on (actually come to think of it, that would probably be a lot more hilarious and entertaining than this guaranteed $10 down the porcelain throne). The sad truth is, Jackie Chan hasn't been in a respectable or marginally entertaining movie since Rush Hour 2* (Exhibit A. The Forbidden Kingdom: Jet Li + Jackie Chan + In the same movie = theoretically awesome, but turned out to be one of the worst disappointments since MJ's basketball comeback with the Wizards... both of which lead me to ask the question of whether or not there is actually a God, but that's another BSR Blogpost for another time). Also a crapton of people wrote off Jackie Chan for being racist against Chinese people a while back (I think he said something about Chinese people having to be controlled by their governments). He's a few derogatory slurs short of a Kramer, but Jackie Chan has sadly become nothing more than another past-his-prime movie whore willing to take any script thrown his way so long as he can take out a few uncoordinated henchmen with an assortment of random household objects (I wonder what he'll use this time... a Chip-Clip?) and speak in a patronizingly foreign accent. Come on, The Spy Next Door (2010)? I haven't seen a once-respectable human being get owned like this since Vin Diesel was in The Pacifier. Godamm action movie whores with limited theatrical abilities... will somebody please just make Shanghai Noon 3: Culturally Opposite Individuals Promote Diversity In Cowboy Outfits?

Sorry about the tangential blogpost, but Jackie Chan has royally pissed this disgruntled Asian BSR intern off,

Emperor Peng

*I forgot that Jackie Chan actually had two lines as Monkey in Kung Fu Panda... great movie, my bad guys.

The Karate Kid 2010

2010-02-27T18:00:00.002-05:00

This one might even come close to rivaling the upcoming Caitlin-produced Broad Street Records Documentary... (*Which is going to be insane!)

Taking place in Beijing, China, Jayden Smith's character (yea, thats Will's son) meets a Mr. Miyagi janitor type Kung-Fu master played by the one and only Jackie Chan. As someone who grew up on the original Karate Kid trilogy, I almost felt guilty for being so pumped for this. However, after about 3 minutes I completely got over it. This looks too awesome.

A Studio Montage...

2010-02-27T00:35:00.005-05:00

mostly bloopers & music.

This is my attempt to give a preview of the documentary I plan to make about the recording process for the Broad Street Records distribution cd. Hopefully I will be able to hang out with several other artists at Colgate to catch their 'best' moments in the studio. bahaha.

And did I mention Gatestock? April 17, 2010. A festival of epic proportions is likely to unfold.

Stay tuned.

[p.s. You are better off clicking on the video to get linked to youtube. It seems to get cut off a bit on here.]

Whose Cousin?

2010-02-17T14:51:00.005-05:00

Sometimes I find myself wondering.. where is the originality in music videos today? Mostly because I find that I am not entertained within a minute of a video. It's called the entertainment industry, is it not?

Let me introduce you to a video off the new Vampire Weekend album, Contra. These Columbia graduates make a single street worth watching. My fuzzy hat's off to you Vampire Weekend, I am thoroughly entertained.

Cousins- Vampire Weekend

K'naan announces tour with Wale: Press Release

2010-02-16T16:26:00.006-05:00

K’NAAN ANNOUNCES CO-HEADLINING U.S. TOUR WITH WALE

East Coast Tour Kicks Off March 31in New York City

New York, February 16, 2010 – Acclaimed hip-hop artist K’NAAN returns to the U.S. to tour this spring in support his 2009 album Troubadour for a co-headlining tour with Wale. The 11-date, east coast trek kicks off at New York City’s The Fillmore at Irving Plaza on March 31. In their “Best of 2009” list, the Los Angeles Times said of K’NAAN: “this Somali-born, Toronto-based hip-hop bard took the streets global and made one of the year's sweetest, most powerful albums.” On the road, this potent hip-hop duo will be joined by John Forté. Full dates below.

Also this spring, K’NAAN’s voice will be heard across the globe as his song, “Wavin’ Flag,” becomes the soundtrack for Coca-Cola’s promotional coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The Wall Street Journal recently said of “Wavin’ Flag”: “the upbeat anthem about freedom has a good chance of becoming one of the most ubiquitous new songs of the year.” The track is an upbeat, empowering remix, from Troubadour. K’NAAN reworked the song specifically for the Coca-Cola campaign as an outlet for football fans worldwide to express their passion for their countries and their favorite sport.

Born in Somalia and raised in Toronto, K’NAAN has always been on the move. Over the past four years, K’NAAN has played concerts and festivals across five continents, with artists such as Jason Mraz, Stephen Marley, Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def, Damian Marley, Youssou N’Dour, Amadou and Miriam and many more. He also performed at the Rock The Bells festival in 2009. Most recently, he completed an 18 date “Trophy Tour” across Africa, with stops in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa and traveling alongside the actual FIFA World Cup™ Trophy. In March he will take the Trophy throughout Mexico, as well as Eastern and Western Europe.

Do not miss your chance to see him for yourself!

Confirmed East Coast Dates:

*denotes co-headlining date with Wale.

3/31 New York, NY @ The Fillmore at Irving Plaza*

4/01 Boston, MA @ House of Blues*

4/02 New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place*

4/03 Baltimore, MD @ Ram's Head Live*

4/04 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club*

4/06 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero*

4/08 Atlanta, GA@ Center Stage*

4/09 Williamsburg, VA @ College of William & Mary

4/11 Chicago, IL @ Metro

4/13 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues*

4/14 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall*

*K'naan and Wale will be coming to Colgate University on Thursday, April 15th. Due to the exclusive nature of this concert (it will only be advertised to Colgate Students) it has not been announced on this press release. The two artists will perform at 8PM at the Hall of Presidents, and K'naan is expected to give a lecture to students and faculty at 4PM. He plans to focus on current events and the socio-political situation in his home country of Somalia. This concert will be the final one of the recently announced K'naan/Wale Tour.

K'naan's Official Website

Wale's Official Website

A Rachel Harmon Jam

2010-02-14T17:58:00.002-05:00

Junior Rachel Harmon does a sweet acoustic cover of this Ke$ha jam. Enjoy!

R.I.P. Jay Dilla

2010-02-11T19:23:00.007-05:00

Four years ago yesterday, on February 10th, 2006, producer J Dilla died from a rare blood disease. This happened just three days after his thirty-second birthday, as well as the release of his final album, Donuts, which he created while in the hospital. He is nearly universally acclaimed by many of the best artists out there, including Pete Rock, Madlib, Pharrell, MF Doom, Common, J. Rocc, and Kanye West. He hailed from Detroit and started out in the group Slum Village in the mid 1990's. During that time and afterwards he branched out and produced tracks and albums for a number of prominent rap solo artists and groups, as well as releasing his own instrumental albums. Any of his work is much more than worth listening to. Let's hear what Common has to say:

Also, here is a video from his posthumous album entitled The Shining. Dilla is handling the production, the MC is his younger brother Illa J, and you can spot a number of other recognizable hip-hop artists in it as well.

Wyclef Jean wins SGA Poll

2010-02-10T18:18:00.007-05:00

In the recent poll given through the Colgate University Portal, Wyclef Jean received 733 votes (38%), decisively winning over the six other potential artists. He was followed by Pitbull, then Gym Class Heroes who came in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Members of CAB music are currently pursuing Wyclef to bring him to Hamilton for the April 24th Spring Party Weekend Show.

Wyclef is joined by a few friends in this live version of his classic Pink Floyd cover "Wish You Were Here" from his album The Ecleftic.

Wyclef Jean is mostly known for his former role in the legendary hip-hop group, The Fugees. He has proven time and time again to be an incredible MC, even though English is not his first language. Since the unfortunate break-up of the influential group, he has had a flourishing solo career, collaborating with artists such as Paul Simon, Norah Jones, Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, Scarface, Lil Kim, Lauryn Hill (another Fugee), Lil Wayne, T.I... and many more.

An accomplished rapper, singer, guitar player and pianist, Wyclef is simply, the man. His recent initiative to help the Haiti earthquake relief effort has been an inspiration to millions, and the positive message in his music is truly refreshing in today's corporate dominated and sometimes valueless record industry.

The mere prospect of his visit to Colgate University is very exciting, as his reputation for live performances is beyond stellar. If all goes according to plan, we could be seeing one of the best Spring Party Weekend performances in years.

Maroon News - Listen to the Music: Big Things for Broad Street Records

2010-02-05T11:28:00.002-05:00

Check out this great write-up in the Maroon-News! Keep spreading the word!!

Maroon News - Listen to the Music: Big Things for Broad Street Records

The "Hope for Haiti" Telethon, and What I Realized About the Last Decade in Popular Music

2010-02-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

The Haiti earthquake has hit a delicate nerve in many of us. Like Hurricane Katrina over four years ago, it has struck our innermost fears of what happens when an unprepared urban area is hit by a natural disaster. We have also gasped in shock as the sheer desperation and consistently harrowing plight of a nation, located just down the road from our own, has suddenly unfolded before our eyes. With all the troubles we are currently facing here in the United States, it is heartwarming to realize that we are still capable of putting aside our sociopolitical differences in order to help those in more dire need than us.

The dozen or so artists who performed during the Hope for Haiti telethon two weeks ago were a clear representation of this American sentiment. From Mary J. Blige's booming "Hard Times Come Again No More," to Stevie Wonder's soaring, gospel-infused take on "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the night was filled with powerful performances. This century's artists did not disappoint either. Jennifer Hudson, Shakira, Taylor Swift and others each turned in emotionally-charged performances that showcased their unique musical talents.

As the performances went on, however, as much as I wanted to bask in the still-awe-inspiring collective of American musicianship on display, I couldn't help but shake my head in disappointment. This had nothing to do with the actual performances themselves, mind you, but was due to a pent-up peeve that has been slowly building inside me for a long time. It just seems, to me at least, that over the last decade there hasn't been much of a parallel between the talent of this generation's artists and their overall creative output. I mean, how is it that Stevie Wonder released Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness's First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life over a five-year period, while John Legend, with all his ability, has only put out three better-than-average albums in six?

Much of the blame for the decline of the record industry has been placed on the overall laziness of industry executives and consumers alike. We are no longer willing to pay much, if anything, for our music, which has made it difficult for companies to figure out what we like as money becomes increasingly obsolete as a measure of popularity. On the other hand, industry heads have done next to nothing to find innovative ways of building new artists and extending the careers of established veterans. The greatest changes brought about recently in the distribution of music (the iPod, MySpace, etc.) have come from people who do not work in the industry itself.

And as this lackadaisical attitude has spread from bottom to top, those in the middle, the actual artists themselves, have gotten used to taking the same route. So many pop songs nowadays are based on the same chord progressions that I lost count a long time ago*. And to make matters worse, most productions, even from former greats like Timbaland and Kanye West, are literally phoned in, substituting real instruments** for crappy keyboard imitations.

The following is a list of gen-now artists who performed during the telethon, with accompanying videos. From what I saw that night, and from what I've seen/heard in a few songs and performances from years past, I can't help but believe that given their collective talent, many of our most popular musicians working today can do much, much more.

Justin Timberlake

Beyonce

Alicia Keys

Coldplay

Christina Aguilera

I have some advice for each of you, which I hope you will take into account as you pursue your future musical endeavors.

Justin Timberlake

Okay, so you're from the 90s if one counts your days with N'SYNC. But I'll let you off the hook, because not only were you able to break away from that stigma in the 00s (unlike any other former boy band member), but you did it by proving to the world that you were a unique talent on your own. Unfortunately, after you brought sexy back, you decided to focus on honing your acting and producing skills. No offense, but as far as I can tell, that has led to a supporting role in "The Love Guru,"*** and musically, every song you have produced since "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around" has been a carbon copy of, well, "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around." (need proof? Listen to "Dead and Gone" and "Rehab.") Judging by your first two solo albums, you have a knack for working with producers who are just hitting their pop stride (The Neptunes for Justified, Timbaland for FS/LS) -- may I suggest crafting your next album with Mark Ronson? He's worked primarily with females (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen), but both of you have a Neo-Soul/Hip-Hop/Pop style that might work great if your minds are in the right place at the right time.

Beyonce

Ditto with J.T. regarding your non-solo past (a la Destiny's Child). Beginning with "Crazy In Love" (one of the best pop songs ever), you have emerged as one of the world's most bankable music stars. Whenever it seems like your airtime is waning, you always whack us over the head with another killer single. You're an electrifying live performer, dancing in high heels (mad respect) while belting out your already-difficult-to-sing songs -- at your best you are a live cross between Etta James and Tina Turner (I must admit, I dig the all-female band too). You have also established yourself as a phenomenal I-can-portray-singers-from-the-1950s-and-60s actress (Dreamgirls, Cadillac Records), so with all of this at your back it's safe to say that you're an all-around cultural juggernaut. But I would like to see some more albums, not just a new #1 every four months. Your three sporadic singles collections (I'm sorry, but that's what they are) thus far have not represented your fullest potential. I recommend replicating the blueprint for your musical success so far, albeit more frequently. This means putting out at least one album each year, not every two or three. The more time you spend in the studio, the more you'll get your creative juices flowing, and if all goes well you will have an entire album full of "Deja Vu"'s. I think it'll happen eventually.****

Alicia Keys

You've got the quadri-fecta, my friend: you can sing, play, write, and produce. So stop half-assing everything! A bagillion people loved "No One," which lyrically and vocally is understandable -- but the fact that you couldn't even take the time to use real drums instead of an 808***** really pisses me off. Also, the melody is a blatant rip-off of "Where is the Love?," which in and of itself is a slowed-down version of "Don't Stop Believin'." Excuse me if I'm sounding particularly harsh -- on the plus side, your cross-generational appeal means that of all the artists mentioned here, you'll probably be the one sticking around the longest. If anything, this gives you more reason not to rush your product -- I know that a five-star classic will come from you eventually, even if it's at 92, so long as you put the effort into it. People got hooked on you like you were phonics because you entered the scene as someone with raw talent and original ideas. Like Beyonce, you should spend more time in the studio, and I think it would be of great help for you to have your live band back you up. But don't take my word for it.

Coldplay

There is a large group of musical elitists (whom I often consider myself to be a part of) out there that likes...loves to hate on you guys a lot. Just to let you know, they're only doing it because they're jealous. Jealous because, a) y'all said you wanted to be the biggest band in the world (when U2 isn't touring, of course) and then actually did it; and b) y'all did it through making some fine, stadium-worthy tunes (as much as it disappoints me, I can't place my bets on Iron & Wine playing the Garden anytime soon). So really, from a musical standpoint you're in a position where you guys can do what thou wilt, and still be huge. So do just that! Experiment with hip-hop! Write a bagpipe-infused, Afro-beat rock opera!!! Record an entire album of feedback for all I care!!! (Actually, on second thought don't try the last one -- probably the only time I wouldn't recommend taking a page from Lou Reed.******) Just try something different, if only because you have more than proven yourselves within your current realm.

Christina Aguilera

Oh, Christina. Where do I even begin? It was love at first sight when the braces-laden yours truly saw you in the "Genie in a Bottle" video...although I can't say I remember how the song went. In your near twelve years as a popular recording/performing artist, you have only released three albums (not counting a Spanish-language one). Unacceptable. I say this because you might just be the best singer on the planet. Seriously -- you would probably win World Idol if there was one. Ever since I heard your track on Herbie Hancock's Possibilities album, I knew that you had an amazing voice and a solid range of influences. I am saddened that you are maybe the most naturally gifted of all the musicians on this list, and yet you have next to nothing to show for it. I've been reading extensively on your new album, for which M.I.A., Santigold, Goldfrapp, and others are rumored to have contributed to. This is great news if it turns out to be something special, but until I hear the whole thing I worry that there'll be too much production in the way of your voice. If you team up with Rick Rubin, sit in a room with a piano, a bass, a saxophone and a drum set, and record an album of jazz standards, I will be in heaven. Please don't spend any more time putting your abilities to waste. Thank you.

If you are still reading this, I commend you. Music is among our most natural and beautiful attributes, and for those who are most capable of wowing us all to let their skills hang in the balance is disconcerting to me. Hopefully, we can expect better things from our most cherished musical artists in the coming years. For their own sakes, they better start moving fast -- Lady Gaga is on pace to leave them all in the dust.*******

* Listen to "Apologize," "Bleeding Love," "I'm Yours," "Move Along," "The Scientist," "Love in this Club," etc.

** Yes, real instruments, the one constant in popular music for the last, I don't know...three million years or so.

*** Mr. Timberlake will next be starring in The Social Network, written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac, etc.), and scheduled for release later this year. If it's good, I will personally absorb all offense taken.

**** While you are busy improving upon your musical portfolio, if you could also make the time to grace another Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, I will be eternally grateful.

***** Don't get me wrong, I adore 808 drum machines. Without them, hip-hop would not be possible. I just hate it when artists hastily tack them onto songs that would be better off with more percussion.

****** The Lou Reed album I'm referring to is called Metal Machine Music. Unless you truly care about how industrial rock (Nine Inch Nails, etc.) arguably got it's start, you will be doing your ears, brain, and whoever else happens to be near you a favor by not listening to it.

*******

SNOOP DOGG CANCELLED

2010-02-03T18:14:00.009-05:00

To the disappointment of many Snoop fans on campus, the administration has forbidden this show from happening for SPW 2010. Due to issues with Snoop's lyrics, some have expressed serious concern about having him perform at Colgate. Some feel that his lyrics perpetuate racist and misogynistic stereotypes that would be inappropriate at Colgate University considering the recent results of the Colgate Campus Life Survey. Students have also joined in the protest. Check out this maroon news article in which one student outlines why she believes bringing Snoop Dogg to Colgate would be irresponsible: "Drop it Like its Offensive".

Other concerns relate to the security issues that would arise with a Snoop Dogg concert. His status as an international pop and hip-hop icon has worried the administration. Concerns have been brought forward suggesting that too many non-Hamilton residents might make the trip for the show. Please refer to the recent maroon news article for more information: "Maroon News- Snoop Cancelled"

A student committee has been formed including members of Broad Street Records, SCOPE, WRCU, WeFunk, CAB, Protoculture, The SPW Taskforce and SA Sound to find a replacement act. The committee is in the process of finalizing a list of 3-5 available acts. Once the list is finalized, a SGA survey will be e-mailed to the entire student body, where students will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite options. The artist with the most votes will be pursued by the committee for the show on Saturday April 24th.

Grammy Winners 2010!

2010-02-03T10:33:00.002-05:00

For all of you who missed the show on Sunday night, or who don't spend much time on these internets, here is a list of the major Grammy Award winners for this year.

A special note: In order to gain a greater understanding of how the Grammys work, insert "Most Commercially Successful" before each category. Here it is:

Record of the Year: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon

Album of the Year: "Fearless," Taylor Swift

Song of the Year: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," Beyonce Knowles

New Artist: Zac Brown Band

Pop Vocal Album: "The E.N.D," The Black Eyed Peas

Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Halo," Beyonce Knowles

Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Make It Mine," Jason Mraz

Rock Album: "21st Century Breakdown," Green Day

Rock Song: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon

R&B Album: "BLACKsummers'night," Maxwell

R&B Song: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," Beyonce Knowles

Rap Album: "Relapse," Eminem

Rap Song: "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Country Album: "Fearless," Taylor Swift

Female Country Vocal Performance: "White Horse," Taylor Swift

Male Country Vocal Performance: "Sweet Thing," Keith Urban

Latin Pop Album: "Sin Frenos," La Quinta Estacion

Contemporary Jazz Album: "75," Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate

Classical Album: "Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio from Symphony No. 10"

Traditional Gospel Album: "Oh Happy Day," various artists

Dance Recording: " Poker Face," Lady Gaga

Electronic Dance Album: "The Fame," Lady Gaga

Alternative Music Album: "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix," Phoenix

Spoken Word Album: "Always Looking Up," Michael J. Fox

Comedy Album: "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!" Stephen Colbert

*Courtesy of CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/01/entertainment/main6161396.shtml

Children's Television Nowadays Just Doesn't Cut It...

2010-02-03T10:10:00.004-05:00

...and here's why.

Take that, Dora.

Scope Presents: The Soft Pack w/Earthman Embassy. Saturday, February 6th, 2010

2010-02-02T22:06:00.003-05:00

This Saturday at Colgate's Donovan's Pub there will be a rock show. The headlining act is "The Soft Pack"; a San Diego band formerly known as "The Muslims." They play an insanely catchy blend of upbeat tunes with pop, punk, rock, and surf influences. Opening the show will be Colgate's own "Earthman Embassy." Earthman have undergone some changes in their lineup of late and in doing so have written a lot of new material that they will be revealing live for the first time. The show starts at 8:30 sharp. The cash bar will be open, so rally up your friends and come listen to some fresh sounds.

Rockin' off the Rubble

2010-02-02T19:01:00.008-05:00

Here's something I'd like to spread.. and it seems to be a bit contagious.. CRRABS. The Haiti Benefit Concert, in which the group participated in, took place in the Chapel this past Saturday and was an epic success. Over $5,000 was raised in support of recovery from the earthquakes that wrought the territory.

With their renditions of Pink Floyd & Third Eye Blind they shook the rubble off the Haitians and relieved their misery with the sounds of melodic cover songs. Until next time.. spread the crrabs.

Beautiful Rendition of Hallelujah to Benefit Haiti

2010-02-01T00:48:00.004-05:00

Jeff Buckley's / Leonard Cohen's / Rufus Wainright's song "Hallelujah," has long been considered a classic among music heads, but Justin Timberlake's recent rendition gives the song a passion I haven't heard in the other versions. Performed at Wyclef's recent Hope For Haiti Timberlake's "Hallelujah," can be downloaded on Itunes, with the proceeds going to aid the embattled country.

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K'naan, Wale and Snoop Dogg to Perform at Colgate

2010-01-28T16:34:00.009-05:00

To say that April 2010 will be legendary is an extreme understatement. This past semester, the SGA's budget allocating committee received the most requests for concert money in the history of the committee's existence. Forced to make tough choices regarding Spring Party Weekend and various concerts throughout the Spring Semester, decisions have been made, and it is looking awesome.

Spring Party Weekend this year will be more like "Spring Party Two Weeks" as the festivities will start well before April 23rd.

On April 15th, the up and coming Somali hip-hop artist and poet K'naan will be joined by mainstream phenom Wale to perform a concert at the Hall of Presidents. The last minute addition of Wale solidifies the college tour that the two stars will be doing together at the beginning of April. Do NOT miss this show if you possess any fondness at all for quality hip-hop music. The show is brought to you by SCOPE, Broad Street Records, WRCU, ALANA, the Africana and Latin Studies Department and the International Student Community.

On Saturday, April 17th, Broad Street Records plans to host Gatestock on Whitnall Field. A celebration of Colgate Culture, Arts and Music, Colgate's student bands, acapella and dance groups will perform on two stages for the all-day festival. Various student cultural organizations are planning to set up tents with special cuisine and information about their groups. Plans are still being finalized, but we will continue to update you here on the Broad Street Records Blog.

Senior members of CAB have confirmed that after months of negotiations, Snoop Dogg WILL be performing for Colgate's Spring Party Weekend 2010. Snoop has been an international icon in hip-hop and mainstream pop music since his days as a young man working with Dr. Dre and Tupac at Death Row Records. Due to enormous security concerns and the paranoia of local residents, the concert will be held at Cotterell Court rather than the traditional SPW venue on Whitnall Field. Much of this stems from the fact that the school has recommended 30 State Troopers to be present at this historic event. The show will be free for all Colgate students, although non-Colgate students will be expected to pay $20 for tickets (tentative price).

Arguably the Greatest Fake Musician of our Time

2010-01-28T01:39:00.002-05:00

Eli don't got jack on this guy.

BROAD STREET RECORDS -- NOW ON YOUTUBE!!!

2010-01-27T00:09:00.005-05:00

BEFORE EVERYONE KILLS ME.....

http://www.youtube.com/user/broadstreetrecordco

Done.

BROAD STREET RECORDS -- NOW ON MAROON-NEWS.COM!!!

2010-01-26T21:56:00.003-05:00

Before my fingers fall off...

BSR is now officially on the Colgate Maroon-News Website! Hit up maroon-news.com, scroll over "Links" on the right-hand side, and then click on us.

Keep spreading the word!

NEWWWW RAAAAAADIOOHEEEAAADDDDD OMGOMGOM GOM GOMG OMG OMGGGG

2010-01-26T20:45:00.003-05:00

From last Friday...

BROAD STREET RECORDS -- NOW ON FACEBOOK!!!

2010-01-26T20:30:00.008-05:00

'Sup sup sup y'all...

Broad Street Records now has an official Facbook fan page! Become a fan and you'll be able to link to new posts on here, and also get steady updates on what we're up to around campus.

Ch-ch-ch-check it out...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Broad-Street-Records/264976501737?ref=ts

Jango Radley: Not Your Average "Ango Radley"

2010-01-23T16:36:00.007-05:00

"Far and away, bar none, absolutely, positively the best band that I would have seen." - Billy Mays

Fresh off a successful fall which included a myriad of appearances around campus, Jango Radley is set to take to the stratosphere this semester, both on stage and in the studio. The group formed in early September, with the goal of bringing something to Colgate that has been missing for eons: some much-needed, rump-shaking, body-rocking, pure, unadulterated, fist-pumping funk (also rock, pop, jazz, hip-hop...funk fit best with the sentence).

Comprised of Liz Barnett (The Entrepeneurs, Cabaret) on the vox, Paul Bremer (The Entrepeneurs, Concert Jazz Ensemble) on the trumpet, Dan Lasker (Concert Choir, formerly "Dan Lasker") on the axe, Jake Musiker (Student Government Association, Philosophy Club, 2009 CJU Hanukkah Ball) on da bass, and Eli Raffeld (The Sonic Symposium, and pretty much everything else), the members of Jango Radley have been hard at work honing their craft, seemingly coming up with new songs by the minute as they play. So far, the roof has merely been nudged. Soon, it will be completely obliterated.

Stay tuned to this blog, and check out the band's Facebook page*, for updates on when and where JR will be rocking out in the coming months. And be sure to check out the first performance of the semester, at HOPE FOR HAITI, THIS SATURDAY (1/30) AT THE CHAPEL. Jango will be but one of many student bands performing from 6 to 11pm. Tickets are only $5, and all proceeds will be donated to various Haiti relief funds. Come for the cause, and for the music too!

*http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jango-Radley/175316879356?ref=t

Madlib Medicine Show Vinyl Screenings

2010-01-20T21:37:00.005-05:00

The staggeringly prolific Madlib has released the first volume of the Madlib Medicine Show, entitled "Before the Verdict." The Medicine Show is a new twelve CD series where one volume is released each month. For those of you who have never heard of Madlib, he is a producer/rapper/instrumentalist signed to Stones Throw whose work spans across many genres, from hip-hop to jazz to West London broken beat. He has also released music under a variety of pseudonyms and alter egos, including Quasimoto, Yesterday's New Quintet, DJ Rels, etc. Any of his releases are more than worth checking out.

This in particular is a hip-hop album, with many of the tracks featuring Detroit rapper Guilty Simpson, whose full collaboration album with Madlib is due out in a few months. The video showcases an event that is happening tonight in Los Angeles, where VINYL copies of "Before the Verdict" are being hand pressed by members of the Hit and Run team of artists based on demand. If I were anywhere near the west coast at this moment I would drop everything I had and flock to LA ASAP.

CRRABS: The Bright Future of Colgate Music

2010-01-20T11:42:00.002-05:00

CRRABS, aka, the "Colgate Rock and Roll Association for Brothers and Sisters," was started by various members of the class of 2012. Originally created to provide an outlet for musicians to jam together after class, CRRABS has evolved into a series of kick-ass rock bands. CRRABS has taken Colgate by storm over the past year, performing at Battle of the Bands 2009, SCOPE's Bandfest and opening for a number of various concerts on campus. Starting out as a cover-band, CRRABS has grown in popularity and have been recently working on a series of original songs. Take it from a BSR insider, that ish will be banannas. We are all anxiously awaiting a few new recorded tracks.

"The Resistance," (A Caitlin Grossjung Original Track), Up Til' Dawn 2009

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" Mash-up, Battle of the Bands 2009

Earthman Embassy

2010-01-19T22:43:00.002-05:00

Colgate band Earthman Embassy have undergone some changes in their lineup but are looking forward to recording new songs and continuing to play gigs in Hamilton and around NY. Here's a video of one of their newer songs "Mister Mystery Men" performed live at the Barge in Hamilton.

Amazing Mash Up by DJ Earworm

2010-01-19T17:28:00.004-05:00

I don't know if you guys have heard this, but DJ Earworm's year end mash up consists of the top 25 songs from 2009. He made some pretty big changes for the vocal parts on some of the samples, but all in all I think this song is phenomenal. Check it out.

Esperanza Spalding: The Beautiful Bassist

2010-01-18T19:01:00.003-05:00

If you don't already know this name, you will soon. Esperanza Spalding (b.1984) is the future of creative, interpretive, modern jazz. Her skills on the bass have been brewed in a diverse mix of culture. Spalding's mother is hispanic, welsh and native american, while her father is black. Spaliding is able to sing in spanish and portuguese, giving a flavor unlike any other. In 2005, after graduating from Berklee School of Music in Boston, Spalding was immediately hired by Berklee, becoming the youngest instructor in the school's history. Spalding was recently recognized by President Barack Obama when he selected her to perform at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo. Give her a listen and it will be tough not to smile.

Spring 2010: Welcome Back Track- D.A.N.C.E. Remix with Mos Def

2010-01-16T17:23:00.008-05:00

On behalf of the Broad Street Records WebCrew, welcome back to sunny Hamilton! We have a lot to look forward to this semester, with loads of musical acts in the process of being organized.

Broad Street Records is working on Gatestock, a music festival featuring all Colgate musicians from rock bands to hip-hop crews to acapella groups. The Somali singer/poet/rapper K'naan is currently finalizing plans to come to Colgate for a lecture and concert double-header in April. We will continually update you on Gatestock and Spring Party Weekend acts here at the Broad Street Records Blog...

For now, check out this fresh remixed Justice track. Mos Def and Spank Rock add a hip-hop feel to this party classic. Next time you are craving some Justice at your party, throw on this track and I guarantee that people will enjoy.

Reflection Eternal - "Back Again"

2010-01-11T12:33:00.012-05:00

Rapper Talib Kweli and producer Hi-Tek teamed up in 2000 as Reflection Eternal for their collaboration album entitled Train of Thought. If you haven't heard it already, cop it now, because it's excellent. Hi-Tek's beats complement with Talib's intricate and intelligent rhyming style seamlessly and consistently throughout the entire record. Hi-Tek also produced a number of tracks on Talib's classic debut collaboration album with Mos Def entitled Black Star, which you definitely should have heard and enjoyed already. If not, cop that as well.

Anyway, Talib and Hi-Tek have teamed up again for a new Reflection Eternal album due out this year, entitled Revolutions Per Minute. In order for you all to become as excited for this as I am, I am including a link for a FREE download of their new mixtape, entitled The RE:Union, mixed by Statik Selektah, an exceptional DJ whose work you should also check out if you're truly into that raw uncut hip-hop. Also included is that video for the album's first single, entitled "Back Again." If you pay attention, you can see that the entire video was done in one take. You can say that again.

Video:

Talib Kweli + Hi Tek-Reflection Eternal -Back Again-Vid Premiere

Reflection Eternal | MySpace Music Videos

***Get the RE:Union mixtape HERE***

April Smith and the Great Picture Show

2010-01-08T21:49:00.010-05:00

Known for their "retro-pop" sound, April Smith and the Great Picture Show successfully incorporates fun, bouncy melodies with April's stunning, soulful voice. Having recently performed at Lollapolooza in Chicago, April and her band have been growing in popularity and have even been featured on rollingstone.com. With a unique funky, ragtime sound, April Smith and the Great Picture Show are making some moves.

Check out this video of the band performing. April's talent is clearly displayed in her powerful voice and skillful guitar strumming. Pay attention to the end of the video, where April rocks the mouth trumpet while simultaneously perpetuating the melody on her guitar.

Up and Coming Hip Hop Group: Strong Arm Steady

2010-01-07T15:49:00.005-05:00

Featured consistently on the WRCU weekly show, "Hip Hop Heads," Strong Arm Steady is arguably the most talented new hip hop group today. They are currently signed to Talib Kweli's independent record label, BlackSmith (along with female lyrical genius, Jean Grae).

The westcoast based group is fully utilizing the BlackStar veteran's connections in the hip hop world. Their mixtape, "Clinton Sparks and Talib Kweli Present: Gang Mentality," has led to thousands of fans anxiously awaiting the arrival of their upcoming album, "In Search of Stoney Jackson."

"Sunny C.A." (Gang Mentality Mixtape)

Rising out of the underground westcoast hip hop scene, the group is making a name for themselves on a national platform. Starting out with little to no publicity, the originally 8-person group used Xzibit as a front man in order to get exposure. As the years passed, and members went their separate ways, the group centered on the three current members: Mitchy Slick, Phil Da Agony and Krondon.

Recognizing the each member's talent, Kweli wasted no time signing the group to his label. The three members' flow, delivery and lyrics leave no room for debate. SAS is the next big thing in underground hip hop. Check out the music videos of their two singles, "Can't Let it Go" and "One Step."

"Can't Let it Go" Video (Can't Let it Go- EP)

"One Step" Video ft. Talib Kweli (One Step/The Movement- EP)

2010 Must See Movies

2010-01-04T13:30:00.003-05:00

2010 is showing amazing potential in the world of film. These two long-awaited trailers give us a little preview into the new year. Enjoy!

Robin Hood

Featuring Russel Crowe, Universal Pictures, Directed by Ridley Scott

Alice In Wonderland

Featuring Johnny Depp, Walt Disney Studios, Directed by Tim Burton

Jay Electronica - Exhibit A

2009-12-27T14:01:00.005-05:00

Check out this single from Jay Electronica, produced by Just Blaze. Jay has been collaborating with the likes of Talib Kweli and Mos Def. This is Exhibit A, the first of three (Exhibit C was just recently released). You might not guess it from his style but he's a New Orleans rapper. Needless to say the bar has been raised.

Super Mash Brothers- 12/6 at the Palace

2009-11-28T17:00:00.005-05:00

On Friday Night December 6th, the Super Mash Brothers will be playing a concert at the Palace. This is event is sponsored by WeFunk and CAB Music. Similar to Girl Talk, the Super Mash Bros are known for their mash-ups of all types of popular music. Great for a late night dance party! The show is called for 11, so it is safe to say they won't go on until midnight.

I would suggest getting there closer to eleven, as over 700 people are expected at a venue that barely holds 300. Godspeed to all those who attend. Pregame appropriately.

Rhymesayers Entertainment Does Work

2009-11-28T12:14:00.003-05:00

Brother Ali, Toki Wright and Evidence casual rap session over BK-One beats. Just another day at the office.

Second Hand Sureshots

2009-11-21T15:36:00.002-05:00

The trailer basically explains the general nature of the project. All four of these DJ's are top notch and for them to come together to make this is incredible. The actual product is a vinyl and DVD set, only for the real cratediggers out there.

dublab presents...SECONDHAND SURESHOTS (preview) from dublab on Vimeo.

Miles Brown aka Baby Boogaloo

2009-11-12T18:47:00.003-05:00

Wildchild is a west coast underground rapper who was one of the lead emcees in the Lootpack, a group with Madlib and DJ Romes. He is signed to stonesthrow records and his 4 YEAR OLD SON HAS GOT SOME MOVES!!! not to mention a wicked fro.

Titus Andronicus- Friday 11/20

2009-11-11T17:12:00.006-05:00

SCOPE is proud to present a special Friday night concert featuring up and coming punk-rock band, Titus Andronicus. The show will be Friday night, November 20th, and it will be held at Donovan's Pub. There will be cash bar for students 21 and over... Doors open at 8PM

With their debut album, The Airing of Grievances, Titus Andronicus has gained international recognition as the album was named one of the top 25 of 2008 by Pitchfork Media. They have shared the stage with bands such as Yo La Tengo, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, No Age, Matt and Kim, Times New Viking, and Los Campesinos.

Come to Donovan's Pub on Friday November 20th, and pregame to some awesome rock music!

Who's Bad- Michael Jackson Tribute Band

2009-11-08T14:16:00.005-05:00

On Wednesday November 18th, Who's Bad, a Michael Jackson tribute band will be playing a concert at the Hall of Presidents.

The event is bought to you by The Blue Diamond Society, The Colgate Jewish Union and Broad Street Records. BSR's own Jango Radley and CRRABS will start the event off at 845PM, followed by Who's Bad at 10PM.

Those who attended Bandfest on Saturday November 7th witnessed stellar performances by each of these two up and coming crews. CRRABS did an array of covers ranging from Dispatch to Rage Against the Machine, delighting the crowd throughout their 30-minute set. Jango Radley played for the first time with their full band including lead singer Liz Barnett, adding some more soul to the already soulful group. At one point, they broke out into a jam, leading into a funky cover of "Party in the USA." Other highlights were "Supernatural Creatures," a Dan Lasker original, and their reggae cover of "Remix to Ignition."

*For the few people who were their from the beginning, these lucky ones had the privilege of seeing the Sophomore hip hop artist Velle Phyre. Rapping over familiar beats like "Run This Town" and "NY State of Mind," VP had the crowd rocking out to a very impressive hip hop performance. His flow and wit were proven in what seemed to be one of his most resonating tracks. Explaining to his Chicago peers who have never heard of Colgate, Velle rips a chorus of, "Fuck you bitch, I go to Colgate." His unique lyrics and sick timing certainly impressed this BSR correspondent.

BANDFEST- Concert Announcement

2009-11-02T18:21:00.006-05:00

Broad Street Records is proud to announce BANDFEST on Saturday, November 7th. This fall's Bandfest will be held at the Creative Arts House on Broad Street and it will go from 2-7PM. Free wings, subs, and pizza will be available to all attendees. S.C.O.P.E. (The Student Committee on Providing Entertainment) arranged this event and got some of Colgate's most respected and revered musical acts to participate.

The setlist is as follows:

2:00PM- Velle Phyre (The Sophomore Hip Hop Sensation)

3:20PM- The Testostertones

4:00PM- EPT (Big Joel, Electronica/DJ phenom)

4:40PM- Aquapod

5:20PM- CRRABS (A select group chosen by the Colgate Rock and Roll Association for Brother and Sisters)

6:00PM- Jango Radley (Featuring elite members of The Festers, Sonic Symposium and The Entrepreneurs)

Do not miss this once-in-a-semester event/opportunity!

Oh No (feat. J Dilla & Roc C) - "Move"

2009-11-01T22:58:00.003-05:00

"Gangrene, as sick as possible. On some, mufuckin, drinking water out of a rusty metal cup. Just raw. Shit’ll get you sick."

No Age Play MoMA

2009-11-01T17:05:00.001-05:00

Every Artist Needs A Tragedy: No Age [Part 1 of 3] from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Every Artist Needs A Tragedy: No Age [Part 2 of 3] from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Every Artist Needs A Tragedy: No Age [Part 3 of 3] from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Saigon- These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

2009-10-26T20:27:00.003-05:00

Saigon Covers The Sound of Music.

Aries Spears- Freestyle Rapping in some Familiar Voices

2009-10-25T09:47:00.003-05:00

Aries Spears doing his L.L. Cool J, DMX, Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z freestyle rap impressions.

Mike Posner Video

2009-10-16T23:37:00.009-04:00

For those of you who don't know Mike Posner i've attached a cool youtube video of his live show last year at Duke's version of Spring Party Weekend. Notice in the end of the video the PA system shuts off his mic, and he literally a capella's the rest of the track!

I've also attached the link to download his first mixtape, "Just in Time," for free. For those of you unfamiliar with Datpiff you can download the mixtape for free by cicking on the tab below his album.

http://www.datpiff.com/Don_Cannon_DJ_Benzi_Mike_Posner_the_Brain_Trust.m35914.html

Concert Preview- Mike Posner and Mt. Eerie- October 29th

2009-10-15T21:02:00.009-04:00

Colgate University can expect a great night of music on October 29th, 2009. At 7PM, SCOPE will be presenting a concert featuring Mt. Eerie with openers TJO and No Kids. The event will take place at Donavans Pub, where the bar will actually be open. Come by, have a drink and enjoy some chill acoustic music to dewind after a long week of midterms and craziness.

If you are looking to party afterwards, make your way over to Beta for a concert from Mike Posner. The show is sponsored by WRCU and CAB Music. Posner will most likely go on stage around 11PM. Known for collaborations with Big Sean, Posner is a a full-time student at Duke University and continues to tour while completing his rigorous studies. His name is growing in the Hip Hop community as one of the next great producer/DJs.. He has been recruited by the likes of Kanye West and has worked with some of the biggest names in the business.

Notorious B.I.G. + Miley Cyrus = Greatness

2009-10-14T19:11:00.001-04:00

Check out this Biggie Mash-Up with Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA." In my opinion, the real song is a guilty pleasure in and of itself. But this just puts it over the top.

Oh yeah, and another thing...

2009-10-13T18:48:00.011-04:00

If the last link didn't get you hooked, here's the FREE DOWNLOAD of the Classixx Remix of the Green Eyed Love track courtesy of Stonesthrow.com: Mayer Hawthorne - Green Eyed Love (Classixx Remix) MP3

AND...2 MORE VIDS

The lead single off the album which came in a pink heart-shaped LP (which I find to be the polar opposite of lame)

Keep an eye out for the Rob Drydek cameo (along with plenty of hot SoCal chicas)

I think I have pretty damn good taste, but do y'all think I'm hyping this man to a larger extent than he deserves?? DISCUSS!!!

Mayer Hawthorne - Green Eyed Love

2009-10-13T18:15:00.004-04:00

Mayer Hawthorne is the thirty-year old currently stirring up a great amount of buzz worldwide. He is currently signed to the top-notch west coast independent label Stones Throw Records (Madlib, J Dilla, Oh No, Percee P, Guilty Simpson, James Pants, Dam-Funk, Dudley Perkins, etc. etc.) His debut album entitled A Strange Arrangement was released on 9.9.09. Hawthorne is currently wrapping up a tour on the west coast with the one and only Ghostface Killah, who just so happens to be an avid fan of Hawthorne's old school throwback Motown vibe. After that he will begin an extensive tour across Europe. Hawthorne's list of influences include the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Barry White, and Smokey Robinson. Quite an intriguing list for a white boy from Michigan. Hawthorne also performs Hip-Hop music under the stage name Haircut and occasionally as part of the groups Now On and Athletic Mic League.

The following video was just released on the web today. It is the closing track off of his new album. The single of the track is being released with a few remixes and instrumental versions. The vinyl edition will be colored neon green. Pretty sweet.

Broad Street Records Now an Official Colgate Organization

2009-10-12T19:02:00.003-04:00

As of last tuesday night Broad Street Records is now an SGA recognized group at Colgate. The organization is meant to serve as a conduit between student groups and on-campus artists and bands, both to help groups find musicians for their events and to help bands find performance opportunities. The label is currently reaching out to student bands and artists to help them record and produce their own material, through the talents of producer Garrington Spence and engineer Will Plaehn. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for news from on-campus artists, as we will be posting some of their material on this blog soon!

Fourte Music Video

2009-10-06T21:46:00.002-04:00

Check out this Fourte Video, recorded in full at Colgate University.

Concert Review- Reel Big Fish

2009-09-29T14:18:00.006-04:00

The majority of students missed the epic opener of Earthman Embassy on the big theta chi stage. Led by the vocal stylings of Mr. Ben Taylor, those present in the crowd were wooed by his British accent and nasty guitar skills. Will Plaehn supplied the beats on drums, keeping the crowd dancing and captivated throughout the set. George Zeitler provided some magic on the keys, while Jeremy Padow grooved on the base. The boys certainly utilized the big-stage set-up, playing a few covers and a few originals. The most notable cover was an Outkast cover of Hey Ya, putting a large smile on the faces of many students..

Reel Big Fish came out in full ska-glory. Rocking their hipster gear and party-starting mentality, the band got right into it, starting an hour and a half set that would make about seven hundred Colgate students extremely amped. Whether it was the fun music, enthusiastic performance or the sheer drunkenness of the Saturday night Colgate crowd, nobody seemed to notice the continuous downpour that lasted throughout the set. Hundreds left the show satisfied and thoroughly drenched, to go to the official after-party over at DU. A long day of tailgating (The Raiders moved to 4-0) and quality music provided the atmosphere for an excellent Saturday for all here in Hamilton, NY.

2009-09-22T18:49:00.002-04:00

NO MORE after this. I swear I'm done.

The Legendary Black Thought.

THE OLD SCHOOL MEETS THE NEW SCHOOL: ADDENDUM

2009-09-22T18:42:00.004-04:00

While I'm at it...

Mr. Talib Kweli.

THE OLD SCHOOL MEETS THE NEW SCHOOL

2009-09-22T18:38:00.004-04:00

Simply amazing. Legendary Motown artist, Smokey Robinson, showing everyone how it's done.

Concert Announcement- Reel Big Fish

2009-09-20T23:52:00.004-04:00

Reel Big Fish will be performing an evening concert in the Theta Chi backyard on Saturday September 26th...

The Colgate-based rock band Earthman Embassy will be starting the show at 8PM, followed by ska-rock band Reel Big Fish. The concert is free for all students, but a $5 donation is requested to support local food pantries.

The last time Reel Big Fish was here, they killed it on Colgate University's Whitnall Field for Spring Party Weekend 2004.

Link to the facebook event page.

Must see beatbox, no frills

2009-09-18T12:27:00.001-04:00

Not just another lame beat-boxing video. Just made with voice and a computer mic. Check it out.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Dirt Nasty at Colgate!

2009-09-18T00:19:00.013-04:00

It has been announced that Dirt Nasty, the known associate of Mickey Avalon and Andre Legacy, will be performing at Colgate University on Friday night October 9th.

The show will be from Midnight to 2AM and will be in downtown Hamilton, at the infamous Palace Theatre.

The miraculous approval of this show by the administration baffles the minds of many music fans on campus. Our hats go off to the class councils who managed to pull this off. His raw and questionable lyrics often refer to hard drugs, sex and alcohol, making this perhaps the most low-brow, sensational concert to ever take place at Colgate University.

The rapper known as Dirty Nasty will undoubtedly satisfy the party-crazed Colgate student body and show us all a genuine, good-old night of debauchery.

Check out the video of his hit single 1980. Parental Supervision is advised.

REVIEW: Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3

2009-09-14T15:17:00.012-04:00

*** (out of 5)

I don't run New York no more / I run the map.

This is how the story goes for just about every mainstream MC: burst onto the scene with a phenomenal debut, go pop, lose your street cred, and eventually lose your record contract. The first phase of Sean Carter's career was just that. Reasonable Doubt was released in 1996 to limited commercial success but glowing praise, immediately drawing comparisons to Nas's Illmatic and firmly establishing Jay as a contender for New York's hip-hop throne, which had been vacated following Biggie's passing. Over the next several years, subsequent albums such as In My Lifetime and The Life and Times of S. Carter turned Jay-Z into a superstar. Featuring production from the likes of Puff Daddy and the Neptunes, these albums had a much more polished pop sound that created some of the decade's biggest hits ("Big Pimpin," et al). For hip-hop heads, however, this music was a far cry from the Jay-Z they had adored earlier on. At the turn of the millenium, Jay-Z had risen to the top of the rap game, but left many wondering if true hip-hop still had any place left in his mind.

Headed towards has-been status? Not at all. In 2001 (9/11 to be exact), Jay-Z pulled off a first in popular hip-hop history -- he went back to his roots. The result -- after just two days of writing and two weeks of recording -- was The Blueprint, an absolute masterpiece of an album that, true to its title, helped set the standard for modern hip-hop. Boasting hard-hitting social commentary, and a unique soul-meets-gangster production style thanks largely in part to a relatively unknown beatmaker named Kanye West*, the album catapulted Jay-Z into rap's stratosphere, and he has not relinquished his status since.

Now of course, in the world of hip-hop there have been superior MC's, both in terms of lyricism and commercial appeal. What The Blueprint did was establish Jay-Z as hip-hop's greatest crossover, one who has mastered the delicate balance between the streets and the clubs, and who as a result has continued to prosper as others have only temporarily triumphed.

This position has had its ups and downs, no question about it. From a pure celebrity standpoint, Jay-Z is a global icon. He sells out soccer stadiums in Europe, tours Africa as a UN ambassador, and meets Bill Gates for lunch. Really, the only people left to do battle with are Mick Jagger and Bono. Artistically, however, Jay is at a point where he can say whatever he wants and remain atop the charts regardless. This has led to a decidedly mixed repertoire post-Blueprint, ranging from The Black Album (classic) to Kingdom Come ($5 bin at WalMart), with the overstuffed Blueprint 2 and cool-but-slow American Gangster lying somewhere in between.

All of this leads to last week's release of The Blueprint 3, which, musically, is an accurate portrayal of where Jay-Z is at right now. As mentioned before, this often leads to mixed results, but thankfully, when you have this man on the mic, you're far more likely to be entertained than disappointed. The first half of the album ranks with his best work, with each track guaranteed to fill the airwaves for the next year. He seems truly hungry for the first time since his "retirement" six years ago, as evidenced by his call to arms in "D.O.A. (Death of AutoTune) and the lyrical prowess of opener "What We Talkin' About" ("Grown men want me to sit 'em on my lap / But I don't have a beard and Santa Clause ain't black"). The album's standout has to be the Kanye-produced "Empire State of Mind," an ode to the Big Apple with another one of New York's finest, Miss Alicia Keys, anchoring the chorus. It's amazing that these two have never collaborated together before -- the combination is perfect.

The last bars of "On to the Next One" ("MJ of SummerJam / Obama on the text...) close out what would have been a fantastic seven-track EP...if only the album didn't drop off so steeply during the second half. The three Timbaland tracks are undercooked, with "Off That" the only one that can make heads nod a bit. "A Star Is Born" is meant to be a shout-out to all of the other MC's doing their thing nowadays, but given that Jay spends every song beforehand bashing all of them, in context it makes absolutely no sense. And two more Kanye productions, "Haters" and "Young Forever," should have been left out completely.

So there you have it. The album's first handful of songs is Jay-Z the rock star showcasing why he became one in the first place, and as for the rest...well, to paraphrase the Jigga man himself, "What more can I say?" The Blueprint 3: inconsistent. Jay-Z: still on top.

SPECIAL NOTE: When the official numbers are in tomorrow, The Blueprint 3 will debut at #1 on the Billboard charts, giving Jay-Z his 11th chart-topper. He will then be trailing only the Beatles as the artist with the most #1 albums of all time, and will gain sole possession of the record for a solo act. That's right. As of tomorrow, Jay-Z will have more #1 albums than Elvis. Unbelievable.

*http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/435995/taylor-swift-wins-best-female-video.jhtml#id=1620605

Tony Royster Jr.

2009-09-13T21:14:00.001-04:00

This is why the beats on American Gangster were so gangster.

Brother Ali brings Minnesota to the Unprepared Gate

2009-09-13T20:40:00.009-04:00

Scope's first show of the academic calender featured the minneapolis sensation, Brother Ali. As an MC Brother Ali mixes cutting witticism and clever pun, in a funk-filled delight cooked up by his all-star DJ, BK-One. Ali's appearance on the music scene in hamilton NY, took many of the automatons on this campus off guard. A white guy, who is in fact an albino, why do I want to hear him rap? Well fool, the man could lyrically scalp you and the other main-stream hip-hop, might I say RAP artists you listen to.

The show as a whole was a success. The opening act, the Swagged up Squad, featured their original dance moves and hard hitting beats. An entertainment for all, whether you slide and glide, or not. Following up the swagger, Fourte performed. The quartet featured the hypnotizing beats of G Spence, soulful sounds of Uzi, the Mayer-esque vocal stylings of Colin McLoughlin, and the tight flow of Ty. Although the set was not well lit (literally, no lights) Fourte managed to move the crowd and bring it to full bounce with their smash single, "Hit the Floor."

Brother Ali and DJ BK One, watched the openers from their merchandise table in the back corner of the Hop. Taking the stage, the Cold-gate audience was surprised by Ali's appearance. Many left the show not knowing the knowledge that they were about to miss. Ali's performance was nothing short of perfection. His unique flow and cadence enraptured the die-hard hip-hop heads that crashed the front of the stage. A much anticipated "Forest Whitiker" produced a chorus of outburst in the crowd, and "Take Me Home" was met with dance steps and vigor by the receptive audience. This school has much to learn, about recognizing truth, talent and not letting its cookie-cutter white-bread soul get in the way of developing a new and greater musical consciousness. I thank all the true supporters for making this show a success, and giving a king like Brother Ali the appropriate reception and applause he deserved.

Waving Flag Acoustic

2009-09-07T21:23:00.004-04:00

Check Out this Acoustic version of Waving Flag by K'naan

Voted the official song of the 2010 World Cup

The Bad Rabbits Kicked Ass... Again

2009-09-07T19:23:00.007-04:00

It was 830 PM on a beautiful, clear evening in Hamilton, NY and the backyard of the Beta Theta Pi house was unrecognizable. What was once grass was now sand, and the large Chiddy Bang Crew flocked to the stage to cheer on their DJ, Xaphoon Jones..

18 year old Xaphoon Jones played some sweet homemade mashups and beats to start the party off right, leading up to another epic opener from the Bad Rabbits. Performing an array of Michael Jackson covers, the Bad Rabbits had a thousand Colgate students jumping and grinding in the crowd for the entire duration of their set.

Unlimited amounts of Coors Light Kegs and a crazy fun party atmosphere made this one of the best Beta Beaches in recent memory. As most people there were indeed hammered, a strong consensus emerged about the awesomeness of the party.

Chiddy Bang followed the Bad Rabbits with an opening solo performance from the dude, Xaphoon Jones. Xaphoon rocked out with a purple hoodless sweatshirt and white addidas, making the show feel more like a DJed NYC club than the backyard of Beta. Xaphoon continued to rock it until the rappers of Chiddy Bang finally started to rap... The young DJs beats never tired, but this hip hop head was truly disappointed by a crunk-wannabe performance from the seven or so rappers in Chiddy Bang.

Everyone enjoyed the show and Chiddy Bang absolutely served the purpose of the evening. Drunk music for drunk people. Xaphoon Jones and the Bad Rabbits seemed to come out on top, rocking Beta Beach 2009.

Guru - should check this hot shit out

2009-08-21T21:32:00.005-04:00

From his album Lost and Found - Guru resurrects hip-hop

Beta Beach 2009- Chiddy Bang

2009-08-20T20:25:00.016-04:00

It has been announced that the annual concert fiesta known as “Beta Beach” will be taking place on Saturday evening September 5th. This year, the main event will be the party starting rap group known as Chiddy Bang. The Bad Rabbits (aka Eclectic Collective) will be the opener, the same group that opened for Slick Rick in 2007 and Wiz Khalifa in 2008.

I have some very fond memories from Beta Beach 2007, when we were stunned to see an amazing performance by the unknown Eclectic Collective, who at the time was Slick Rick’s house band... Hip hop fans were awed when Slick Rick came out and did a brilliant rendition of his epic classic, “Lodi Dodi.” The only thing missing in my opinion was the sound of Doug E. Fresh beat-boxing in the background. Rocking his gold chains and pimped-out eye patch, Slick Rick brought us back to the 1980s and the dawn of Hip-hop’s golden age.

I was definitely not as impressed by a lackluster performance from sir Wiz Khalifa in 2008, following a sweet opener from the Bad Rabbits. Playing Fugees, Biggie, and Damian Marley covers in addition to a few original songs, Mr. Khalifa was out-performed by the seemingly underrated Rabbit crew.

Always known for being one of the biggest parties of the year, seniors will be happy to know that drinks are free all night long with 21+ identification. Even if Chiddy Bang is absolutely miserable, the presence of the Colgate classic Bad Rabbits and unlimited alcohol make this an event not to be missed.

So hit up the Beta backyard on September 5th for the first big concert of the fall 2009 semester... Plenty of good times to be had.

Welcome Back Week- Brother Ali

2009-08-17T20:41:00.006-04:00

Rhymesayers Entertainment recording artist Brother Ali will be performing at Colgate University on Wednesday September 9th, 2009. A must-see for all underground hip hop fans. Featuring opening performances by Colgate’s own Fourte and Swagged Up Squad.

21st - the saga

2009-08-16T20:30:00.007-04:00

Although this may seem off the topic of music or Colgate culture, I have decided that because I am a musician and a vital member of the Colgate community that this story that I am about to recall is necessary to all who enjoy momentous birthdays and being severely fucked up. For those of you who are not always bothered by facebook birthday announcements, the weekend before last was my 21st birthday. This post is not to get more birthday wishes, cards or money, rather it is to share my day/night of shenanigans and relay what I have peiced together from second hand reports of my blacked out night in Beantown.

The day began with a tail-gate at Gillette Stadium, 52 beers consumed by five in an hour and a half. Walking into the stadium chanting with the mexican "la barra" discount group, my tally was at 10 drinks, 5:30pm. Watching the revolution get worked over by the galaxy, Beckham sucks, killed three more beers, leaving the stadium at 13 drinks for the day. Before returning to my house for dinner, stopped off at the liqour store and grabbed the biggest bottle of Belvedere alive. By the time I made it to the bar on Newbury street, I was at 17 drinks. I remember up to the point in the story. It was around this time that the citizens of the bar got wind that it was my 21st, the drinks started rolling in. Next thing I new I passed 21 drinks, with a tequilla shot for lucky 22. Then I woke up in my buddy's bed at 8:30 in the am, he was two inches away from me sleeping on top of a pillow that shielded him from my stomach juices.

The next morning, the night from 12:00am-4:30am was recapped for me by my four cohorts, while sitting around my kitchen table. First, I was alerted that I was kicked out of the bar after my 25th drink, for calling some girl a "dirty whore." Supposedly her boyfriend got pissed, and wanted to start shit. My boys had my blacked out back. For sake of keeping identities anonymous, my good friend M executed the greatest diffusing of a situation of this century. In response to the boyfriend saying "he called my girlfriend a dirty whore, she's not a dirty whore!" M replied, "HAVE SOME SELF-CONFIDENCE MAN" the boyfriend wailed back "I have self confidence." After being escorted out of the bar, my buddy and I proceeded to get back in line, trying to get back into the same bar.

The Cop at the door told us "Take the FAHKIN PAAATY ELSE WHEERE." Falling over each other we start walking intent on finding another bar. I reach in my pocket for my phone and drop it on the ground. A thirty year old balding man, picks up my phone, puts it in his pocket, and starts to run. I start screaming at the top of my lungs, "Give me my phone back you mother fucker, give my muther-fuckin phone back." While chasing the thief, I catch up to him and slug him in the right side of the head. I was told I followed him ten blocks, all the way to the prudential center, through the doors, up an escalator, hitting him roughly forty times. The blood shed of the night occurred when I went to throw a haymaker and missed horrible spinning down to the sidewalk cutting my hand open. After my assault on a middle aged bandit, I got my phone back, and was trouble free for five minutes until the pigs got me.

I believe it was for drunk and disorderly, but none of us can recall the reason for me being suppressed. Out of nowhere, one cop swiftly took me down and put me in an arm submission hold, shortly three cops cars pulled up to the scene. I was being held by two cops and surrounded by ten others. My drunk friends were trying to negotiate my release, "It's his twenty first, let him go, he's not hurting anybody." This may have helped my case, but the whole time I was yelling, "give my phone back you fucking cops, fuck you, you fucking cops !(again this is not conscious me saying these absurd things). Some how, some way, thanks to my friends pleading I was released from the circle of po-po and ushered into a cab.

This would have been great, if either one of the two of us in the cab had any cash, and if I wasn't hurling behind the seat of the cabbie. To conclude this very long story, I used an ATM, blacked out at 4:00 am, to pay the cab. Had to walk back from the ATM to my friends house, 15 min walk, bleeding all the way on his white t. The next morning at the recap and comedy session, we realized that everyone had my blood on their shirts, accept me. All that shows is that when you drink 25 drinks in one day, you gotta had some friends to bleed on and get bailed out by. Without them you end up getting beat up for calling a girl and dirty whore, arrested for drunk and disorderly, and kicked out of a cab for booting on the plexi-glass.

I wanted to share this story, for a couple reasons, first I know the enjoyment most of you will get from reading this, but secondly to post something so outrageous that it would be impossible for this blog not to be a success. Let the banter begin. Beers on me.

Sick Video, shot in one take

2009-08-16T15:42:00.005-04:00

NYU Music student Nyle prooves that real hip-hop still exists. Weezy, get your notepad out.

Welcome to Broad Street Records!

2009-08-15T14:52:00.014-04:00

The Broad Street Records blog is intended mainly for Colgate University related material, focusing on music and pop-culture. Articles about the Colgate Music Scene, reviews about Colgate concerts, parties and/or events are all welcome.

Any particular piece of news, album, film or novel that might spark the general population’s interest is worthy of a post. Short stories, video clips and music tracks are also encouraged.

Broad Street Records is dedicated to enhancing the music scene on Campus.

Promoting legitimate talent, specifically the talent of Colgate-based bands and artists is our mission.