RSE: “In 1995, some of the most talented artists in the Twin Cities Hip Hop scene merged to form the Headshots Crew; The Abstract Pack, Phull Surkle, Black Hohl, Urban Atmosphere, and Beyond. Here’s a look into how the crew came to be. When we return for the next episode, we’ll explore the history of the infamous Headshots Tapes! R.I.P Sess of The Abstract Pack (May 19th, 1975 – Oct. 10th 1996)”

Rhymesayers: “This video touches on the high school years, and the time right after, for pivotal members of the Rhymesayers Family; Brent “Siddiq” Sayers (CEO, Rhymesayers Entertainment), Musab “Beyond” Saad, and Anthony “ANT” Davis & Sean “Slug” Daley of Atmosphere. These are the stories whose seeds would eventually grow into Headshots.

This video also includes clips from the infamous Microphone Check Showcase events from 1995, featuring The Abstract Pack and The Urban Mind Dwellers (which featured Xilam Balam who would eventually become a member of The Native Ones aka Los Nativos)!”

Minnesota Public Radio serves up the official full-length album stream for P.O.S. new Rhymesayers LP, We Don’t Even Live Here, dropping October 22nd. You can pre-order the album in various packages via RSE’s Fifth Element shop.

Minneapolis-bred rapper, producer, hardcore musician, punk philosopher and co-founder of the hip hop collective Doomtree, P.O.S. is gearing up to release his upcoming full length We Don’t Even Live Here on Rhymesayers October 23rd. The LP, which comes three years after his well received LP, Never Better, finds the rapper with one foot still firmly planted in his punk heritage (he grew up listening to Minor Threat and Refused and has been in punk and hardcore bands since the late ’90s) and another boldly striding into unconventional songmanship. It’s a tight, bombastic record that builds on P.O.S.’s penchant for grinding beats and radical-leaning lyrics while incorporating futuristic synth that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Berlin nightclub. We Don’t Even Live Here is influenced by P.O.S.’s work with Gayngs and Marijuana Death Squad as well as musings into enlightened anarchist ideology. The album is literally and metaphorically centered on doing things differently. Fueled by anti-establishment fury, which has always been part of P.O.S’s outlook, the release acknowledges that the boat for social change has already set sail and this is the music for those already having fun aboard. P.O.S. has tapped collaborators including German DJ’s Boyz Noise & Housemeister, Gayngs’ Ryan Olson, Innerpartysystem’s Patric Russe, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon (who lends his shapeshifting vocals to the heartfelt bear-hug of an anthem “Where We Land”) and P.O.S.’ trusted Doomtree co-conspirators Lazerbeak, Cecil Otter, Mike Mictlan and Sims. Andrew Dawson (Kanye West, Jay Z and Lil Wayne) provides stellar production work throughout. The raw vigor and resistance to categorization of this album positions itself to make a great impact on artists and listeners across genre lines and stand as a landmark recording for the future. POS raises the roof while razing the temple.

Tracklist:
1. Bumper
2. Fuck Your Stuff
3. Where We Land
4. Wanted Wasted
5. They Can’t Come
6. Lockpicks, Knives, Bricks and Bats
7. Arrow to the Action – Fire In The Hole
8. Get Down
9. All of It
10. We Don’t Even Live Here (Weird Friends)
11. Piano Hits

Iconic New York-born, San Francisco-based rapper and producer, Aesop Rock, is joining forces with indie-rap powerhouse Rhymesayers Entertainment to release his sixth studio album, Skelethon, on July 10th 2012. Since the release of None Shall Pass in 2007, we’ve seen Aesop Rock touring the world, launching online arts outlet, 900bats.com, and collaborating on LPs with Felt, Hail Mary Mallon, the Uncluded and more. Skelethon not only sees the rapper back waxing poetically on his own but also marks his first wholly self-produced effort. While the sounds are familiar, we see Aesop venturing in some exciting new directions with guest appearances from indie rock archetype, Kimya Dawson, as well as Allyson Baker of Dirty Ghosts, Hanni El Khatib, Nicky Fleming-Yaryan, Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz and the Grimace Federation. Aesop’s new album follows in the wake of several deep personal losses and highlights subject matter that deals with the sometimes-futile ways people try to cope with serious issues. The cover art comes from Barcelona-based painter Aryz. Skelethon is set to be both a showpiece for his illustrious career and a serious payoff for his droves of ever-patient loyal fans.

1. Leisureforce
2. ZZZ Top
3. Cycles To Gehenna
4. Zero Dark Thirty
5. Fryerstarter
6. Ruby ’81
7. Crows 1
8. Crows 2
9. Racing Stripes
10. 1,000 O’Clock
11. Homemade Mummy
12. Grace
13. Saturn Missiles
14. Tetra
15. Gopher Guts

From October 2011 to January 2012 a music video was collaboratively made for the song “Became” by Atmosphere. The goal was to create an engaging educational experience with students as the focal point. The result, a collaboration story with The Minnesota School of Business, MTS Digital Media Academy, Rhymesayers Entertainment, Visumm Media, Alex Horner Pictures, Hickey Photography, Hanson Creative Group, Justin Staggs, Jeremy Wanek, Tom Okins, Nick Mihalevich, and Cinequipt.

It’s almost time ya’ll. A Rhymesayers is hosting their annual SoundSet Festival in Minneapolis on Sunday, May 29, 2011.

Confirmed artists for Soundset 2011 include: Atmosphere, Big Boi, De La Soul, Slaughterhouse (Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Royce da 5’9″, Crooked I), Brother Ali, Doomtree (P.O.S, Dessa, Sims, Cecil Otter, Mike Mictlan, Lazerbeak, Papertiger), Evidence x Rakaa-Iriscience x DJ Babu, Mac Miller, Curren$y, Blueprint, Grieves & Budo, Zion I & The Grouch, Sab The Artist, DJ Abilities, Face Candy, Edan with special guest Paten Locke, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Looptroop Rockers, Rubberoom, Soulcrate Music, 2Mex, Mr. Gene Poole, Qwazaar, Longshot, Mally, Desdamona, Duenday, Midwest Konnect, Rocky Diamonds, Stage One, Shortkut, Noam The Drummer, Exile, Maseo, Skeme Richards, Kid Cut Up and Espada.

Hosted by Toki Wright, Carnage and Kevin Beacham. Buy Tickets at http://tktwb.tw/ss11tix or at Fifth Element (2411 Hennepin Ave. S., MPLS, MN).

Longtime Rhymesayers duo return with this free MP3 for V-Day.

RSE revealed the cover art, tracklist, and synopsis for Atmosphere’s seventh studio LP, The Family Sign, due April 12th. Here’s what we know:

Atmosphere returns with their 7th official studio album and the newest addition to their unparalleled body of work. The Family Sign comes from a place well refined and firmly planted, from a universal perspective. It’s about being okay with losing friends and strengthening your bonds with others, celebrating the person who’s been the most positive in your life, your kids, your homies, leaving the people you need to behind, and bringing the ones you love with you. It’s about your family, your time and the time you have with them. It’s about living and dying. It’s the truth about family, that it comes from loyalty as much as biology. It’s about breaking down your perceptions of family and really appreciating the people who’ve made you who you are and continue doing so.

The Family Sign is Atmosphere’s most personal and intimate album yet; it involves and engages the listener like never before. Slug’s signature voice weaves in and out of Ant’s ASR-born production, Nate Collis’ bluesy guitar riffs and the sound of Erick Anderson’s unmistakable keys giving The Family Sign a fresh, unique edge without sacrificing Atmosphere’s signature sound. Join the Family April 12th, 2011.

1. My Key
2. The Last to Say
3. Became
4. Just For Show
5. She’s Enough
6. Bad Bad Daddy
7. Millenium Dodo
8. Who I’ll Never Be
9. I Don’t Need Brighter Days
10. Ain’t Nobody
11. Your Name Here
12. If You Can Save Me Now
13. Something So
14. My Notes

Printmatic releases the second single / video from Adventures In Counter Culture, due April 5th, inspired by the ATCQ’s Midnight Marauders sketch. Shot, edited, & directed by Optical Alchemists. The single is available now via ITunes.

UGHH got the drop on the first look at photographer Dan Monick’s Seven Years With Atmosphere & Rhymesayers photo book, which ships November 16th. There will be two editions – regular and a signed and numbered limited to 1500 copies package including an RSE compilation CD and Atmosphere 10″ vinyl which is set to include “never heard before tracks”. The description for the item is as follows:

The Minneapolis-based record label Rhymesayers and its groundbreaking group Atmosphere have become one of the most powerful forces in independent hip hop today.

Photographer Dan Monick has traveled with the musicians and rappers from Rhymesayers and Atmosphere on and off for the better part of a decade. He’s documented a wide swath of territory from the fans to the shows and illuminated behind-the-scenes photos of the artists being themselves. Monick likens the Rhymesayers work ethic to the DIY punk rock approach that he experienced playing in bands.

Atmosphere leader, Sean (Slug) is a charismatic driving force behind the Rhymesayers and features prominently in the story of the label and within the pages of the book.

Rhymesayer fans from Japan to Australia, Europe and all of North America who have witnessed the energy in concert will enjoy feasting on the pages, and those who have never been will be brought up to speed.

New video for “Cloud Man” off of the recently re-issued Rhymesayers album “88 Keys & Counting”. Video directed by Jesse Brown & Christian Hansen.

Toki Wright has a new EP up for download from the Rhymesayers site. You may have seen him touring with Brother Ali or other labelmates from the label in the past year. He is the Worldwide Wes of Minnesota hiphop, he knows everybody and appears at nearly every hiphop event in the Twin Cities. There is also an option to donate in exchange for the album, all proceeds will go to Haitian Aid.

Toki Wright – “Black Male” EP