acapella

I’ve been posting very sporadically as of late and that’s been because of a summer course I’ve been taking (music composition…I’ve been doing it for a while now but any new experience is a good one). The only thing that matters here though is that I have some catching up to do so let’s get down to it. This post is essentially the one-stop shop for all things Kanye-related that happened in roughly the last 24 hours. That might not seem like much but within a day, he previewed verses off of his new album at a Facebook conference and a Twitter conference and they’re big ones. Even though they were previewed acapella, they still sound fiery, especially the verse he spit from “Chain Heavy” (in the video above). Mr. West also got himself a Twitter account – a future source of many intriguing comments no doubt – and promptly announced that Good Ass Job as a title was no more. So all in all, some great news from the source of G.O.O.D. Music. Remainder of the videos after the jump.

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What better way to get people to go to a show then to post up a video of a past performance. “Just To Get By” was performed at his Sullivan Hall show in September and I am late to put it up. My friend Julius got some great footage from it and sent some of it to me and I thought this was a great one to share for everyone. The acapella performance forces you to listen to his lyrics and message and shows that even without the beat it is still solid, the mark of a good song. If you are around NYC tonight come on out to Webster Hall to see CAUSE, Lyriciss and others perform, get all the info on the flyer after the break.

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Yep, more DD for that ass, which I rated my number two album of the year last night.

Celebrating their recent release, the members of DMV’s luminary hip-hop trio Diamond District take fans back to their birth, re-introducing the track “Gully” off of emcee/producer Oddisee’s album Foot in the Door. This percussive, up-tempo track marks the first time that Oddissee, YU, and X.O. ever came together to create the signature sound that now defines this dynamic threesome. Oddissee’s grooving drum track and dragging, behind-the-beat melody underlie the three emcees as they take turns spitting their respective verses, creating the effortless chemistry that now is Diamond District. This track, released in 2006, was the beginning; the cornerstone to this group’s development. YU’s lyric says it all. “In a cocoon like a butterfly, before the wings, never thinking like a peasant, I was born a king.”

In addition to “Gully,” Diamond District recently recorded a video with all three showing their lyrical dexterity a cappella style, like true emcees do. XO and YU set off the cipher with strong deliveries and tongue twisting punch lines while Oddisee ends the session off with a scorcher, “I doubt they’ll ever cross over to the rap game so they rootin’ for me yellin’ cuz get a plaque mang, done and I don’t even want the rap fame, it’s a by-product when you always give a track flames, One.”

Grab the download and video below the break.

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