That's Major!

I have no idea what the hell I think about this one, I think im wayyy too sober for this shit right now, but I dont doubt itll grow on me when im getting my YahDude on at a bar…

Download HERE

Shouts to Preemo for keeping it 100!

This tour looks crazy!

New York based Clockwork Music and Paris based CO2 Activity have teamed up to bring an extraordinary event to Europe. The Just Blaze & Alchemist “Soundclash Tour” is set to hit the following cities/venues in May 2010.

May 6 London, United Kingdom / East Village
May 7 Bordeaux, France / BT59
May 8 Nantes, France / Jongl’Hop
May 9 Amsterdam, Netherlands / Bitterzoet
May 11 London, United Kingdom / East Village
May 12 Zurich, Switzerland / Rote Fabrik
May 13 Milan, Italy / Tunnel
May 14 Paris, France w/ DJ Premier / Elysee Montmartre
May 15 Marseille, France / Cabaret Aleatoire
May 16 Helsinki, Finland / Virgin Oil Co.

Two of the world’s most legendary producers have joined forces to create a show like no other. With a catalogue of hits that includes the biggest and brightest names in music today, these two legendary producers are putting it down on the decks as they play off each other in a display of skills and selection in true sound clash style.

Just Blaze is one of the most creative forces in the game. Having cut his teeth in the late 90’s creating underground bangers for the likes of Buckshot, his distinctive sound soon caught the ear of the major players in the game and he soon had beats featured on albums from the likes of Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Big Pun & Jadakiss. However, it was as an in-house producer for Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records imprint where he initially became a household name, producing instant classics for Kanye West, Cam’ron, Freeway, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel; and of course the main man himself, Jay-Z, who has featured Just Blaze’s epic production on six of his last seven albums–all of which have gone platinum!

The Jersey born producer, also known as the Megatron Don, has a distinctive sound drenched in soul that still bangs so hard it rocks dance-floors across the globe while simultaneously influencing many of the biggest producers in the game. Just Blaze will undoubtedly be treating a packed house to a fantastic mix of his own productions and the influences behind them in this exclusive sound clash set.

The Alchemist, as the name would suggest, has a knack of turning things into gold, in his case samples and loops. Having got his start in the production game under the tutelage of two of the biggest names in the game (DJ Premier and DJ Muggs), this California native has made a name for himself for his trademark rough Boom Bap style hits. Through his work on albums for underground favorites Dilated Peoples & Defari he came to the attention of Mobb Deep who chose to feature his beats on their classic Murda Muzik LP; and he has has not looked back since.

With a resume that now reads like a who’s who of Hip-Hop’s elite; including work with Nas, Ghostface, Lil-Wayne, Emimem (The Alchemist serves as his tour DJ), Big Pun, Fat Joe & Raekwon to just name a few.

Just Blaze and Alchemist’s “Soundclash Tour” promises to be a legendary performance from two of the most respected names in Hip-Hop history; its also one that needs to be both seen and heard to be believed.

Guru’s passing was extra hard on Boston.  Regardless of how it upset some people how Guru repped Brooklyn for so many years.  He was still one of us and anyone who thinks he didn’t love Boston must have never met him.  Here are a collection of quotes, comments, and stories about Guru from some of Boston’s most talented artists.  His influence spread across the streets, the colleges, the younger emcees, the older and I’m sure his legacy will continue.
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Sway from sat down with Solar to get his side of the story.

Hip Hop has lost another great voice. Boston native and Hip Hop pioneer GURU aka Keith Elam passed on Monday April 19 at 43 years old. The following is a letter that was released and is purported to be written by Guru during his last days. We will be posting an editorial on the controversy around his death later.
We at Thats Major send our condolences to the family, friends and fans of Guru.

I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options.

I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.

I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.

Looks like what started on the RepDaBean forums and found its way to ThatsMajor (and then to a number of other sites… but that’s another story) has become something big… and the homie Slaine elaborated on it and did one of his best interviews to date with HipHopDX (shouts to Jake Paine)

On April 9, Slaine penned an open letter, which included his belief that newcomer rapper Sam Adams was “bad for Hip Hop” as well as claims that the college sensation was “banned from Boston.” Speaking with HipHopDX late last week, Slaine elaborated to the claims made in his letter.

The rapper, who’s affiliated with several 20-plus year veterans of Rap including La Coka Nostra partner Everlast and Special Teamz partner Edo G, explains to DX why he believes Adams may representative a racial and social impact on Hip Hop culture, as well as the logistics on what will happen if the iTunes chart-topper and Soundscan Top 200-selling emcee doesn’t acknowledge the warning Slaine has given him.

Beyond just the controversy, Slaine also updates fans on La Coka Nostra’s 2010 plans, as he checks in from Denmark while touring with the group. Additionally, reports start that Special Teamz will take the field again.

HipHopDX: How much of this stems from Sam Adams using the EP title, “Boston’s Boy”?
Slaine: All of it. I don’t really pay attention to disposable Pop music usually. But being that I am expected to be an ambassador for Boston Hip Hop music – because of the success I have had in music and film, I have to call bullshit when I see it. We have been misrepresented as a city in Hip Hop music, mainly because the venues are part of the “old boy network white establishment,” and the actual neighborhoods of Boston [such as] Roxbury, Southie, Dorchester, Roslindale, Mattapan, Hyde Park, The South End, have been shut out because these yuppie college fucks who own and run everything don’t want to deal with street music in their venues. Really, behind closed doors, I feel that they don’t want to work with “niggers” or “white trash.” You can’t tell me I’m wrong because I have seen and heard it with my own eyes and ears. That’s why you never get street artists from Boston put out on a national level. It is always softer backpacker-ish rappers, or corny, Pop shit. There is a different dynamic here that people are missing, that I’m talking about. It ain’t about Sam Adams the rapper, it’s about what he represents. On a larger level, the whole industry wants to move in that same direction. Drake, Kanye [West], Sam Adams…all soft non-threatening Hip Hop. The labels don’t want to deal with dangerous people or the under-class anymore…which is what Hip Hop is about.
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Daniel Laurent, host of Masterpiece Radio, had me back on the show again to wax poetic about a variety of pop culture topics. Goooood times. Talked about everything from love in the craziness of today’s world to how each generation get the MC’s they deserve to how Bill Gates has “Block Mentality”. Also I spent a good part of the time trying to not get caught up in DL’s wild talk. “SNATCH!!!” This guy is the KING of loose talk. HA!

We’re back at it! Someone let him out to address ANY and ALL questions asked by yours truly! I made Greg take an oath before we started to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but. Hear his views on love, Tyler Perry, Boston affairs, work ethics and MORE! If you know Greg, this is nothing new, but if you happen to take a power nap under a rock and never crossed paths, this is your introduction!

– Daniel Laurent

Masterpiece Radio – The World According To G. Valentino Ball Part 2

“The music video is on You Tube. It’s called “Gutta Town.” It shows a guy calling himself “Gutta Man” rapping from locations all over the city of Dubuque with a few other people. In some shots, they’re holding guns, and what looks like drugs. The lead singer, 23-year old David Rhone was arrested today by U.S. Marshals. The Marshals say he violated the terms of his release from a previous arrest. But Rhone’s mother says it’s all just a big misunderstanding. “The guns are not real,” said Stacey Rhone. “The drugs are not real, its television, he made a rap video. When a person turns on the television, they’re looking for a rap video, he gave them what they’re looking for.” Rhone is currently serving a three year probation. Police wouldn’t say if the other men in the music video would be arrested because of an on-going investigation. ” – 2 News

BygSev/Trick740 has been my man for years, and is always doing some interesting. Dude needs a spot on VladTV while Star and Buckwild are taking a break…