Rappy Easter!

This might be the worst rap song I've ever heard but it's done by a rabbit so I still gotta give him credit.

God bless, y'all.

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Supreme "Raekwon's Acura"

"Bay Area emcee, Supreme [@SupremeThang] gives an ode to one of the greatest rappers of all-time, Raekwon." From his forthcoming album, "Designer Drugs."

Dude's pretty cool but the production is really what does it for me. Check it out. I'm interested to hear more from him.

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Ambition "Man of the Year"

How can a project with a cover like this NOT be good? Plus dude's voice is cool, too. I'm not too familiar with Ambition but I'm definitely going back to check previous projects.

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Chicago Bulls x Bugs Bunny "The Post Up" SNAPBACK

You read right, y'alls. This is the closest thing to Space Jam I've seen in a minute. Hare Jordan rocking the Red&Black on this new New Era snapback.

Shout out to the good folks @CraniumFitteds for always coming through with the goods.

Order your team colors, "Chicago Bulls The Post Up Snapback" here.

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Fluid Outrage: Back For The First Time

I met these guys in Nashville this past weekend at the Southern Entertainment Awards in Nashville. First on Friday night as a judge at the artist showcase where they performed and later again at the conference and award show (I should've just said the whole weekend lol).

* Side note (Almost looks like dude's rocking the Chicago Bulls hat for the Jordan 3 jokers. lol

I'm back home in the snow now back to work and listening to this fat stack of CDs I was handed as I finished speaking on the panel. The homie, Capo of Concrete Magazine made sure they handed this to me personally and vouched for it and WOW, this is ill. Forreal. Essince co-sign all day. The laid back, southern smooth vibes from this had me play it all the way through...I can't tell you how RARELY I let a CD run through, especially something I'm given after speaking at a music conference.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

Check out some of Nashville's finest in Fluid Outrage's "Back for the First Time".

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Chicago Bulls Snapback For The Jordan 3 Jokers

I just got back in town last night from a crazy awesome trip to Nashville for the Southern Entertainment Awards. Unfortunately, I was not able to completey post as I wanted to so I apologize for that.

I'm making it up to you by helping you coordinate your headwear with your collection of Js.

This Chicago Bulls Snapback is basically MADE for the Jordan 3 Jokers. Cop it here

(word to @CraniumFitteds)

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Nashville

I'm in Nashville right now at the 10th anniversary of the Southern Entertainment Awards. I'm speaking at the music conference as an "expert" on Marketing. I'm honored to be a part of this and love teaching the game to people.

So to celebrate, I'm sharing a few of my favorite Nashville videos.
Obviously this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg that is TN talent but it's something to nibble on.

Enjoy, y'all.

Young Buck


Haystak


Jelly Roll

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’6FT-6IN’ Jordan Lamp | Grotesk

Big up to BK's own, Grotesk for designing this ill 6'6" Jordan Lamp, named after his height.

* Essince Fun Fact: That's also my height...+ 1/2" *

The hand-painted wooden legs fit into the wooden Js they wear.



Sadly the lamp is NOT 6'6" and instead a mere 30" but still pretty dope.

Contact Case Studyo for info on purchase.

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Luigi Sardo x Toronto Loves Kicks Sneaker Design Project

Big up to Luigi Sardo [@LuigiSardoFeet] doing the darn thing up in the T-Dot.

Footwear company, Luigi Sardo teamed up with Toronto Loves Kicks for this 2nd installment of the Sneaker Design Project at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto. The artists had 20 minutes to draw on a pair of Sardo Classic White Canvas Gum Sole Mid’s . Watch the video recap above and check a few the designs (which are on display) here.

If y'all make these in 15s holler at me, Luigi! lol I'd rock these all day.

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Yelawolf "Trunk Muzik Returns"

Catfish Billy is back with a new release in "Trunk Muzik Returns". This is pretty ill and I'm REALLY jammin' this track with Paul Wall. Paul snapped on this. There aren't too many features and the ones there ARE are nice.

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Essince interview: DAMIZZA

I've had some great interviews [Paul Wall, B.O.B., Chuck D, Bone Thugs, Naughty By Nature, work on the "Ghost Ride the Whip" DVD etc] but as far as the wisdom shared in combination with the honest fluidity of the conversation I think might be my favorite. I'd known the name Damizza from production of tracks like Shade Shiest's "Where I Wanna Be" but honestly I didn't know too much more about him....until I read his book. I had no idea how deep into the shaping of current hip-hop music Damizza was.

He tells his story honestly (complete with ups and downs) from humble beginnings as a kid interning at a local radio station to becoming the youngest program director at Power 106 in LA to working with Dr. Dre and being asked to help Break Eminem to becoming best friends with Mariah Carey and all the hiccups that life brings. Shoot HE REUINTED DRE AND SNOOP! lol

We were able to discuss returning to the business through his new radio venture, returning to "normal life", having to teach "what a sample is" to the songwriter for Frank Sinatra and strategies on dealing with haters. I uploaded our conversation because I wanted him to tell it in HIS voice.

Enjoy.

Listen to Ree-Invented Radio & Baby Ree, and Read his Book!!

Check this track from some of the new artists he's working with, Defiant and Lil Bams below.

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TreaZon "Day One" MV

Cleveland's own, TreaZon has been doing his thing for a minute. He just released his new video for his song "Day One". Check it out.

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Charlotte Hornets: The Obtuse snapback

I've always been a Hornets fan...since the days of NBA Jam with Mugsy Bogues, Larry "Grandmama" Johnson, Alonzo Mourning.. I can't tell you how many times I must've drawn the hornet in my notebooks in school.

Digging the accent colors and patterns on this. This might be another to add to your spring wardrobe, y'all.

Get this New Era 5950 Charlotte Hornets: The Obtuse Snapback here.

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Chicago Blackhawks Strapback

You read correctly, friends, "Strap" back. I had a few as a kid and they ever really caught on the way some other trends did but I've seen a lot of companies coming out with them lately. Honestly, the are a lot more adjustable than snapbacks. I'm still on my gray fix and this Chicago Blackhawks design is pretty clean.

S/O to the good folks @CraniumFitteds and check the Chicago Blackhawks Team Colors The NE Strapback

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SOSy "Undiscovered"

I saw a friend post this video on Facebook last night and I checked it out and fell in love. I love their chemistry, their voices and harmonizing, looks...everything. THIS is the thing I was looking for when I lived in STL.

They have a very eclectic sound....mix R&B (with a dash of 90s) with Hip-Hop (seasoned with S-T-L) and you'll start to get a feeling of their vibe. Watch the video and check their album below.

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Essince Throwback: "One for the Money" Horace Brown

Ahhhh.....1996. Back when R&B was still awesome. I wish I knew more about Horace Brown or that I appreciated this back when I was a youngster but I sure to jam this now.

One for the Money!

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Problem x Iamsu!

Compton meets the Bay in this collaborative effort by Problem & Iamsu! with "Million Dollar Afro."

With features from Too $hort, Juvenile, Short Dawg, Omarion, Wiz and more this is a pretty nice project.

West up.

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Araab Muzik "The Prince is Coming" MV

A while back I posted the Aarab Muzik album, "For Promotional Use Only" stating my homegirl (and former radio co-host), DJ Kachina did make up for and appeared IN the video, which was partially shot in Cleveland.

Well, here it is, y'alls.

The video was directed/edited by Tilla of the illustrious Kickdrums/LiveMixtapes. Check it out.

[For those who must know she's next to the throne left side of the screen at the beginning. I see you, Kachina!]

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The Cyrillic Gore Sunglasses [Mishka]

Despite the temperature outside, sunglasses are cool year-round. I was so glad when I made the transition from frames to contacts so I could rock all the sunglasses I'd reluctantly neglected my teenage years. MISHKA comes correct with the Crillic Gore model. They come in white but since I'm not a surfer or Miami coke-dealer I'm good in black (or maybe you can pull it off better than me).

But check these Cryllic Gore Sunglasses by Mishka at Karmaloop (and save yourself some duckets by entering rep code "Essince" at checkout).

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Started From the Border

Chout out to Chingo Bling y Lil Moco for this "Started from the Botttom" remix lol.

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The ASVP Girl Tee - ASAP Rocky

Not sure what else I can say. Check out this black T of a dude grabbing some girls hooters. ASAP.

Enter rep code "Essince" on your KarmaLoop orders to save 20%

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Julian Stephen "Booty Call hrs" MV

Good raps. Smooth beat. Adventure Time and twerking....

Respect, Julian Stephen.
Respect to the Booty Call Hours. (speaking of which...it's 4AM right now...where's my phone at...)

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Drake "5AM in Toronto" *new*

Dude snapped on this. That beat is NASTY, too. Forreal....this is nice.

But the award for my favorite response to the new Drake track goes tooooOOOO....

This new Drake song is so good, I’ve almost forgotten that last night he brought money to a strip club in a cardboard box like a creep.
— Jensen Karp (@JensenClan88) March 7, 2013

(he's referring to this)

Download here. let me know what you think of "5AM in Toronto" by Drake.

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Essince Interview: REVERIE

I first saw Reverie in a battle and I'm not sure what it was about her but I wanted to see more; mostly hear more, as in the songs she wrote. The LA-raised, Mexi-doran MC(Mexican/Ecuadoran...kinda flows, right?) has been doing her thing from the Paid Dues stage to west coast tours, MURS co-signs and everything in between.

I once read a comment from a fan on her facebook saying she doesn't like to be complimented on her looks...I'm not sure if that's true and honestly I really don't care because she's gorgeous and I'm gonna say it. (And what woman doesn't like hearing that every once in a while?)

She's intelligent, confident, raps, has tattoos, does graffiti, and she's sexy...seriously, what's not to like?
I caught up with her between shows in LA and Seattle. Check it out....


ESSINCE: How did you decide on the name Reverie?
REVERIE: One day I was doing my honors English homework in the 10th grade, which was looking up definitions, and I happened to come across it. I used to always get stuck for hours reading the dictionary whenever had to do assignments like that. I was actually looking for a new tagging name & when I found that word it just felt right.

ESSINCE: Haha I used to do that, too. So how did you get into rapping? I know you have other creative outlets from the graffiti and poetry but when did you start making music?
REVERIE: I got into rapping just from the love of it. I have listened to rap music since I was a very small child. As far back as I can remember, I've been bumping hip hop. When I was in kindergarten I remember walking around the school yard with my best friends singing along to Tupac & Biggie Smalls. It's just always been a huge part of my life.

I have been writing poems pretty much since I learned how to spell & then in the 7th grade they turned into raps. I always freestyled, too since I was small. I used to stutter & be nervous back in the day but now I'll flow any time, anywhere.

I actually recorded my first verse when I was 17. I used to hit up this studio in Chino Hills & they would record me there. They showed me hella love but it was so far & back then I didn't have a car so my access to it was very limited. I did a few collabos with them and probably about 5 solo tracks at that studio between 17-18. I remember the first time I recorded, they wanted me on a verse on their song just to try me out. I wrote it real quick, busted it & then recorded. They were blown away. My first verse even started with, "first time flowing on a track, ain't tryna come with nothing wack.." I love that verse. After that day they invited me to be a part of their label, "Section 8" so that I could record for free with them so I joined ! I was so excited to finally have a studio to drop songs on. Much love to Roger, J Peso & all them, mad respect.

ESSINCE: I remember seeing you say once that you kinda missed the days when people didn't know who you were so you could vent and they wouldn't hear about it. How has the growth in exposure/popularity been for you?
REVERIE: Well.. at first it was all cool & don't get me wrong, I love interacting with my fans & supporters; however, sometimes it can be tremendously overwhelming/ annoying.

Sometimes when I post things on my Facebook or if I say something in a song people accuse me of saying something to "be cool" or because I "think I am cool" or tell me that I am "misusing my 'popularity'." I think it's extremely annoying when people say things like that because the statements or opinions of mine are always factual. Just because I have a bunch of followers looking at what I am saying, it doesn't mean that I should be subjected to hushing my opinions or censoring my reality.  To "be cool" is the least of my concerns or else I would not be putting my insecurities & flaws out there for everyone to use against me when the opportunity arises.

People expect too much sometimes. They idolize me & look at me like I am trying to put myself out there to be this role model that I am not. I make music & I want to help people but I am definitely not a role model. I think people use the word "role model" wrong when they talk about me. Jesus Christ is a role model. I am a normal person with a lot of problems.

On the other hand, the exposure has been great for my rap career. It is very overwhelming though. I get recognized pretty much every time I leave my house now in Southern California so I kinda always gotta watch what I am doing & be ready for a picture. It's cool but you know when you have those days when you just wanna be invisible ? I get those a lot & most days I can't hide.

So far as the venting goes.. well, I just wanna talk hella shit sometimes online haha. Like on twitter sometimes i wanna tweet something about someone or something but I can't because I know 5,000 people are gonna read it. If just my close friends read it, it would be cool but when 5,000 people read it, it might not be. So it stays bottled up in me. I gotta watch everything I say because people will use it against me. It sucks to live like that but fuck it. It is what it is right ? I love this hip hop shit.

ESSINCE: Do you still battle? I'd only seen the one battle with you and Jen Johnson (which is actually how I found you).
REVERIE: Yeah I still battle. I only do freestyle battles though. I have always battled since I was in high school. It is something I like to do & am pretty good at actually. That battle with Jen was actually a pre written battle & was also my first recorded pre written battle. I fucked up cuz I wrote it that day, that's why I forgot it. I freestyled the second & third rounds but I started fucking up cuz I was hella nervous & mad. I was ready to box that bitch when she called me out in the second round but she didn't want it after she knew it was really bout to go down.

Everyone tells me to do more & I might but in all reality, right now I don't have time. My career is taking off hard right now & battle rap doesn't really take you too far.

I get a lot of shit for that battle but it just makes me that much doper that I can pull some shit like that & still have the fan base that I do. I definitely learned something from that experience.. practice !!

ESSINCE: What is your relationship to MURS like?
REVERIE: Murs ! That is the big homie right there, man. Hands down, my favorite rapper since like 7th grade. He is actually the first "underground" rapper I ever listened to. I have always been a big fan & then when I was 19 I met him in Seattle at his show with Tech N9ne & we just clicked right off the bat. He knew my music & we just chopped it up & were real cool since then. He has helped me so much throughout my career, from reposting my videos & links, to featuring on his album, to putting me on paid dues last year. More importantly than that he has given me essential advice about the rap game & about life in general that I have utilized & grown a lot from. Murs is one of my role models. I really look up to everything he does & will always be a fan. Much love to Murs, Kate & Baby Bishop !

ESSINCE: I used to be really into lucid dreaming and studying alternate states of consciousness, are you still into dreams?
REVERIE: Yes. dreams fascinate me. My dreams are so interesting & complicated & always feel so real. I always trip out on them. I often wonder if people's dreams are as tripped out as mine. Sometimes I experiment with my dreams & the way I fall asleep. I get a lot of night terrors but they fascinate me just as much as the regular dreams. Another thing I wish I had more time for !

ESSINCE: That being said what are your "dreams" [goals] with your music now?
REVERIE: Damn.. people always ask me this question & I never really have a definitive answer because I really don't know yet. For the time being, my dreams are just to help people get through shit they thought they couldn't. People tell me that my music has saved them get through depressive states, break ups, deaths, even prevented some people from committing suicide. To me, to hear that I saved someone's life, that is so moving & life changing to me. I tear up & get short of breath when I hear things like that. It means the world to me. I understand people. I don't judge people because I have been judged & looked down on my life so I guess that's why I connect with people.

I wanna start doing volunteer work with kids after my tour is done. I really wanna help the youth, that's a big goal of mine for sure.

I wanna travel around the world but that will come later. As of now, I am completely content with the connections I am making with people around the world. It's amazing.

ESSINCE: How has the response been to your newest project, "The Transition"?
REVERIE: It has been great ! I haven't released a project for a whole year ! Since last Christmas. My fans were patient & when I dropped it, they loved it. Everyone is talking/ blogging about it & I am getting lots of feedback from it. I am very proud of it. Big ups to Louden for recording, mixing & mastering the whole thing for me. Much love & appreciation to Louden, Spok Beats, Juliano, Eztayla, Figub Brazlevič & J Dilla RIP for the beautiful beats on this project & big ups to hide&Seekzoo for being the only rap feature on my project. Thank you guys. download it for free at www.loudenbeats.com

ESSINCE: Do you plan to expand your tour more national in 2013?
REVERIE: Definitely. we hit Vegas in December but this year we will hit AZ, WA, OR, MI, NV again & hopefully a few others ! The tour has been so fun & fulfilling. Much love to my Stepping Stones crew, Vel, Inzom, Endz, The Locally Grown Collective, Dave Allen, DeejaeBee, Fourth Beats & DJ Nothyself !

ESSINCE: Where can we find your work online? How can fans keep in touch with you?
REVERIE: Download my songs for free at www.loudenbeats.com

get my shirts & autographed cd's at www.reveriepug.bigcartel.com
Facebook/ReveriePUG
Twitter: @ReverieLove
Tumblr/ReverieLove
Youtube/Reverypugk
RapGenius.com/reverielove

ESSINCE: Any final shout outs?
REVERIE: Shout outs to Louden because without him, I would be nothing. He is the man behind the curtain, my right hand man, dr. Frankenstein. Thank you, little brother for everything you have done for me over the years, the music & beyond the music, I love you. Shout outs to all my other brothers & sister, I love you guys with all my heart, Ryan, Brandon, Mikey, Noah, Hudson & Erin, you guys mean the world to me. Mom, papa, Robin, Josephine, Grandmas, both of you & all of my fucked up ass family, I love you all. Shout outs to my pin up girls, my girls, I love you guys, my sisters from other misters, my roll dogs, the only friends I need in this world.

Shout outs to Los Angeles & Seattle & the whole world.

Shout outs to my fans, I love you guys, you saved me.

Shout outs to your mom, tell her I'll be home tonight but not to wait up.

I'll let her know.
Love and respect.

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Notorious B.E.A.R. tank

Rook is back with this ill black Biggie Bear tank.

Apparently I'd signed up for a KarmaLoop code like...real talk 2.5 years ago and forgot all about it. lol

So if you want to save some chee$e enter "essince" at check out and get 20% off when you order The Biggie Bear V3 Tank in Black.

Or when you order anything else from karmaLoop.

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Eddie Huang

If you aren't familiar with restauranteur Eddie Huang allow me to get you hip. Check this quick interview with him about the success of his book, "Fresh Off the Boat" which in turn morphed into a hit web reality series on Vice with the same name.

Dude represents the proverbial American Dream the way I feel I try to, too right down to immigration status.

Respect.

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Essince Throwback?? S.A.S. "We Built This City"

I was talking to my girl in London about what music is popular in our countries from each other's countries and I asked her about S.A.S., which some of you may remember made a cameo in the State Property movie and were supposedly banned from Harlem by Cam'ron...which obviously didn't do/mean anything but gave them exposure lol.

She wasn't familiar with S.A.S. so I sent her this video which is one of my favorite tracks and they flipped and MURDERED this Starship sample.

I don't know if 3.5 years counts as a "throwback" or not but check this out.

Streets All Salute.

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