“Rap” (Used 17 times)

Alaclair Ensemble is a postrigodon hip-hop ensemble from Montreal, Quebec, Bas-Canada. The group specifically claims allegiance to the free republic envisioned by Robert Nelson, leader of the late 1830s' Lower Canada Rebellion.

Postrigodon is a new folk style original to Bas-Canada. Invented in 2013, it may have something to do with Rigodoon folk dance. I'm not sure. To my ears, it sounds like the kind of abstract rap that fans of Shabazz Palaces will appreciate, like a French-language take on the Wu Tang Clan with members delivering distinctly-voiced lines like jazz solos atop post-Dilla production and the best elements of new bass music. The collective sports a range of styles thanks to contributors from Montreal's vibrant underground hip hop community, including KenLo Craqnuques, Vlooper, Maybe Watson... and YOU!

You're invited to join in on Dans L'South du Bas, a new release with three songs + three a'capellas all released under a remix-friendly Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. Two of these tracks, "Les Insectes" and "Moulin Ben Sec," are below.

To participate in the remix contest, send a 256k+ mp3 of your remix to exposeaural"@"gmail.com by March 25th. More info here where you can also snag the lossless a'capellas. The remix contest was a surprise bonus to accompany the anticipated release of a full LP, America, that is heavy on the Vlooper production and Maybe Watson MC contributions.

If you think two releases on one day is prolific, then check out the triple LP from a few months back, really showcasing the group's range from future hip-hop sound of "Gun gus gus" (off Le roé c'est moé), to the "postrigodon" bass music of Un PIOU PIOU parmi tant d'autres, to the electro-folk / chamber pop collage album Touladis (hear two selections, "Entre Nous" and "Des âmes qui jasent" below).

The controversial rappess Dyke B has kicked out Amy Le Fleur for the 11/11 gig at Colchester Arts Centre UK as la merde a frappé le ventilateur in the Hedge Studios last week. With new Dyke B mixes of Hot Tea her own Dykedub tracks on the FMA Modluv album Kristoff Lefevre and Pierre Durant are shifting gear for the start of the Sans Blanc Colchester tour. 

51% is a super group of rappers and producers that started working together during 2005, they joined forces while working nights at J.C.M studios, on separate projects. 51% are: Taboo+, Jozeph, Shai Fishman, Avi Ashkenazi & Avi Golzman. After a year and a half of intense working the album was done. The band itself creates everything revolves the project, from the music to the graphics, clips, shows and publicity. In 51% everyone do what he does best and that's the corner stone that leads us forward. Till now we put out 2 albums. The debut album called “51 Percent” and the second one called “Zehu” (which is “That’s It” in hebrew).

Our manifest is "music should be free" that's the reason we give the album free in our shows. We believe that giving the album for free gives us more crowd and more intense relationship with the crowd. In order to keep close with our audience we also release songs to the internet every few months, and we let people download them for free. There is also a Collection of songs called “Songs From The Boidem” the include 24 songs of us in “Megatron” 51% form and also as solo artists (we do that once in a while).

In our shows we created an interactive system that helps up to communicate better with the crowd. In that system people can record themselves to a web cam & a microphone and then the system create a bit from them. Atop this crowd-generated beat, we are rapping. This concept is called “The Song With The Crowd”. Off course that’s not the only interactive thing we do in the show but in order to find out more you can just jump over and observe a show. You can also check out youtube channel for videos from the show (http://www.youtube.com/aviashkenazi)

This is a special FMA Springtime shoutout for those who have come through a very tough Winter and an unpredictable March.  From blizzard conditions to torrential rains, gale force winds, uprooted trees, down electrical wires, and flooding of biblical proportions, we could all use some sunshine right now.  And as the temperatures flirt with 70 degrees in the Northeast, let's turn our focus to the warm production and skillful lyricism of Harlem's own Cvees.

Consisting of Probe DMS, Ike P, and Swave Sevah, this hip-hop trio has been grinding within the underground for at least a decade now, earning special guest spots on one of J-Live's earlier albums as well as seeing their own work released independently on labels like Sub-Verse and DMS Country Recordings.  Probe is somewhat of a triple threat as an MC, DJ, and producer.  His collaboration with pianist Jon Solo as Spymusic resulted in "Cloak," one of the most hypnotic singles of 2004.  They quickly followed up with an album that combined hip-hop, jazz, soul, and house music that proved impossible to ignore.

Here's Probe alongside Ike and Swave trading verses while sampling liberally from a Take 6 classic.  With the weather getting warmer, this seems like as good a time as any to "Spread Love To Ya."

I just found some awesome hip-hop by midwestern rapper Coolzey here on the FMA. WFMU's own Billy Jam has dropped quite a few Coolzey tracks on his excellent hip-hop show "Put the Needle on the Record," and even interviewed my new favorite Iowan rapper on the radio last week (archive here).

Check out Coolzey's 2007 EP "The He Did," a great listen through and through. Good humor, good beats. I'm a fan of "French Fries and Ice Cream," partially for the subject matter, and partially because it sounds like Coolzey rapped the whole song with a stuffed up nose.

The rapping Iowan heads to Texas and Wisconsin late Feb-late March, and I recommend checking out some of his music videos, from the low-fi "He Did" to the newer cut for "Look" (a song off of his new album, The Honey, released on Public School Records).