Video: Rhymefest Explains Charles Hamilton Beef

(part one)


(part two)

Rhymefest explains his diss records against hipster-rapper Charles Hamilton. Video courtesy of Fake Shore Drive

Rhymefest MySpace Page

New Rhymefest - "Exodus 5.1"

Download: Rhymefest - "Exodus 5.1"

As with all things Chicago hip-hop, this hot new Rhymefest track comes courtesy of Fake Shore Drive, which was recently chronicled in the Reader. The song is called "Exodus 5.1" and its taken from the upcoming mixtapes FSD Presents: The Chicagorilla Ape Tape Vol. 1, which is Fake Shore's first tape, and The Manual, which is one of many laid down by Fest. Check it out at the top. (via, spotted at).

Rhymefest MySpace Page

Video: Rhymefest interview w/Loud.com Part Two

Spotted at Fake Shore/Nah Right

Video: Rhymefest interview w/Loud.com

(via/via)

Rhymefest MySpace Page

Additionally, read Miles Raymer's excellent breakdown of the Rhymefest/Charles Hamilton beef here.

Rhymefest and Rahzel @ CMJ

Spotted at Fake Shore Drive.

Video: Rhymefest - "Thriller" (Live at the Hideout Block Party)

Kanye West and Rhymefest Ink Comedy Central Deal For Puppet Show

via the Hollywood Reporter:

Comedy Central has teamed with Kanye West for a project described as hip-hop meets the Muppets.

A half-hour pilot has been shot for the project, tentatively titled "Alligator Boots." It's from Jackhole Prods., the production company founded by Jimmy Kimmel, Daniel Kellison and Adam Carolla that also was behind Comedy Central's puppet-centric "Crank Yankers."

The project, which is under consideration for 2009, would feature music produced and performed by West and fellow rapper Rhymefest, both of whom are serving as executive producers on the pilot alongside Kellison.

If I told them once, I've told them a thousand times. Kanye West, then puppet show!

Seriously though, who wouldn't want a program where a Kermit stand-in drops some sick rhymes over a beat produced by Miss Piggy? How could that lose!?

(Jonathan Graef)

Rhymefest - "No Sunshine" (Live at African Fest)

Spotted at Fake Shore. Apparently, a re-tooled version of this song is going to be the first single from El Che. This makes me even more excited for Rhymefest's appearance at the Hideout Block Party. Should be awesome.

Watch more here.

Rhymefest MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

New Rhymefest Video - "Stolen"

Throughout Man in the Mirror, Rhymefest's unique Michael Jackson tribute album, the Chicago rapper keeps insisting that El Che, his ravenously anticipated sophomore album, is coming. Alas, there's still no word about an official release date for El Che, but activity surrounding the Chicago rapper has greatly increased (though it may have been at the result of some heinous circumstances). First, Rhymefest officially dropped two new tracks, "In Between" and "Forces of Nature". Next is a video for track "Stolen", which you can see at the top of the post. It's a poignant blend of animation and live-action concerning the lost of innocence during genocide.

Rhymefest MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

New Rhymefest - "Bring It Back" and "Real Nigga Quotes"

Download: Rhymefest - "Real Nigga Quotes"
Download: Rhymefest - "Bring it Back" (both via Fake Shore Drive

Two new tracks from Chicago-based rapper's Rhymefest's long-in-the-making El Che have come to light, in rather sordid fashion. Fake Shore has all the details, but here's a summary: dude stole Rhymefest iPod, and, because of his supposed lack of prolific output(where was he for this?), he's going to release a track every week until he gets some answers, or at least a single/video. Yikes. Read the manifesto-of-sorts here.

Despite the not-so-cool way these tracks were obtained, the tracks themselves are absolutely stellar. "Bring It Back" coasts on by on a breezy beat produced by DJ Jazzy Jeff. The song itself is a reflective look at a time when hip-hop was supposedly more substantial. The vibe of the track itself is not unlike Jazzy Jeff's "Summertime", or a vintage Tribe Called Quest jam. Oddly enough, the waxing nostalgic is not unlike fellow Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco's "Hip-Hop Saved My Life". The second track, however, is furious. "Real Nigga Quotes" is, simply put, a track that confirms that Public Enemy's legacy is still alive and well. Using famous quotes from throughout history (everyone from Malcolm X to Dave Chappelle), 'Fest spits some serious truth about today's political landscape, even casting Barack Obama in a harsh light. (Does this mean 'Fest still supports him?"). If these tracks are any indication of what El Che is like, then this record is the Nevermind to Blue Collar's Bleach. That's saying something.

Listen to the two songs at the top of the post. Thanks again to Fake Shore Drive.

Rhymefest MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

This post was originally published on Minneapolis Fucking Rocks