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Friday, 30 October 2015

October Link Assortment

Upcoming meetings and events: Wordplay in Toronto is November 7. There will be talks about text-based games, there will be demos of other games, there will be assorted IF folks. I am speaking. Perhaps I will see you there. Also … Continue reading

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MED & Blu & Madlib x Anderson Paak – “The Strip”

MED, Blu & Madlib Announce 'Bad Neighbor' LP, Drop Very Funky New Single "Knock Knock"

MED, Blu and Madlib celebrate the release of the highly-anticipated Bad Neighbor LP and drop a nod to 80s boogie with their single “The Strip.” The Anderson Paak assisted track is the latest from the 15-track project, which boasts appearances from MF DOOM, Aloe Blacc, Mayer Hawthorne, Phonte, Dam-Funk and more. A likely anthem for summer days and the lowrider set, “The Strip” packs a healthy backbone of funk and plenty of references to fly whips. Check the track below to listen to “The Strip.” Purchase the Bad Neighbor LP via iTunes. Stay tuned for more from MED & Blu & Madlib.

The post MED & Blu & Madlib x Anderson Paak – “The Strip” appeared first on Okayplayer.

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OKP Premiere: Detroit’s iLLingsworth Carries The Torch, Drops Brilliant Debut LP, ‘Worth The Wait’

iLLingsworth's Full-Length Debut Is Well 'Worth The Wait'

As far as musical geography is concerned, Detroit is and may always be the Mecca. From Smokey to Slum Village, the timeline of the D has been one chock-full of innovation and nuance from its eternal Motown glow straight through to the swung and slurred production styles of J Dilla, still changing the game from well beyond the grave. But one iLLingsworth has taken up task in holding that massive torch, quietly releasing close to 40 deliciously dope tapes in the last six years, all flaunting a fresh take on the drunken drum and luscious chop clinics that’s been the city’s hallmark since Jay Dee came onto the scene.

But if you haven’t been hip to his expansive (and brilliant) catalogue over the years, we’re happy provide the necessary and proper introduction in the world premiere of his debut full-length piece Worth The Wait, which proves its name in spades. With the new record, iLLingsworth is a worthy and well-versed disciple, building on Dilla’s legacy and beat-making bloodline with an infusion of syrupy soul, tight snares and claps and low-ends that thump supreme, all making for an intoxicating blend.

iLLingsworth may not be a name on your radar just yet, but with this 20-track release, you’ll quickly catch the vibe and be begging for more. Stream the debut full-length album from the prolific Motor City beatsman below and head over to his Bandcamp to continue the journey. Consider the torch passed.

>>>Purchase Worth The Wait on vinyl (via Fat Beats) 
>>>Purchase Worth The Wait digitally (via iTunes) 

The post OKP Premiere: Detroit’s iLLingsworth Carries The Torch, Drops Brilliant Debut LP, ‘Worth The Wait’ appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Stream Madlib, MED & Blu’s Frightfully Dope ‘Bad Neighbor’ LP

MED, Blu & Madlib Announce 'Bad Neighbor' LP, Drop Very Funky New Single "Knock Knock"

It’s here, y’all. Following through with a promise they made on The Burgundy EP all the way back in 2013, Madlib, MED and Blu‘s anxiously-awaited full-length collaborative piece Bad Neighbor has arrived and it’s brought along a good grip of family and friends for the ride. Alongside the Burgundy trio, you’ll find MF DOOM on the funky lead-off single “Knock, Knock”, Phonte & Likewise on the vibe-y “Finer Things,” not to mention the extended Stones Throw crew, including Oh No (Lib’s lil bro,) Mayer Hawthorne, Dam Funk, Aloe Blacc, Anderson Paak and plenty more. And it’s all available for you to hear just below. Stream Madlib, MED & Blu’s Bad Neighbor LP below and if it’s as good to your earholes as it’s been to ours, head over to Rappcats to cop yourself a vinyl pressing of the record, shipping out December 1st. Or for the immediate, digital spins, hit iTunes to take it home with you today. Two months may have felt like two years, but you can finally put your waiting to heart to rest and bump this thing straight on into the weekend.

 

The post Stream Madlib, MED & Blu’s Frightfully Dope ‘Bad Neighbor’ LP appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Thursday, 29 October 2015

Minneapolis Radio Station To Host A Prince Marathon–Once It Snows

Prince Announces He'll Tour The States In A Series Of Surprise Shows

While most Prince fans associate the funk legend’s music with searing guitar solos and, ahem, rising temperatures, the man’s Midwestern neighbors are often stuck bumping their Dirty Mind and Controversy LPs while the winter wind chill dips to subzero levels. This native Minnesotan can assure you first-hand that the ice and snow can sap the funk right out of you, but the Twin Cities’ local public radio station is doing its best to heat things up.

The legendary 89.3 The Current announced Thursday that once an inch or snow has been recorded on the ground at Prince’s home residence of Paisley Park just outside Minneapolis, their local show will launch into a full-on Purple marathon. The details of their plan are as follows:

When MPR News weather guru Paul Huttner officially certifies that one inch of snow has accumulated in Chanhassen, Minnesota—home of Prince’s Paisley Park studio—we’re going to pull the Prince lever and start an all-out Prince marathon on our Local Current stream of Minnesota music. The hits, the B-sides, the album tracks…we’re just going to play a steady stream of Prince to welcome winter, Purple-style.

In a video announcing the blustery Prince-a-thon, Minnesota Public Radio staffers admitted that the move is a “shameless radio stunt,” but the enthusiasm is genuine, and there’s never a reason to be ashamed when it comes to bumping P. You can stream The Local Current show online and even sign up for an email alert that will let you know when the flurries have flown and the get-down has begun.

The post Minneapolis Radio Station To Host A Prince Marathon–Once It Snows appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Goldlink Teams Up w/ Anderson Paak On The Delicious New Cut “Unique”

GoldLink Takes "Sober Thoughts" To The Party w/ A Wavy New Clip

Goldlink‘s ever-growing fanbase received a nice surprise Thursday night in the form of a new track off his upcoming debut LP And After That, We Didn’t Talk. The Soulection MC collaborates with West Coast wave-maker Anderson Paak on “Unique,” a hip-hop cut that packs more live funk bass than you ever thought possible. Produced by Louie Lastic, the cut allows Goldlink’s local DMV heritage–particularly the synthesized strut of go-go–to do its own damn thing, and with Paak’s vocals icing over the midsection, “Unique” quickly lives up to its name. This is the sort of song repeat buttons were made for.

If you’re digging it (and you most certainly should be), Goldlink’s upcoming LP is waiting to be pre-ordered on iTunes. Listen to “Unique” below and check out the MC’s fall/winter tour itinerary after the jump.

Goldlink 2015-16 Tour Dates:

Oct 30 The Cotillion Ballroom – Wichita, KS
Oct 31 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
Oct 31 Toyota Park – Bridgeview, IL
Nov 01 Toyota Park – Bridgeview, IL
Nov 06 McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR
Nov 07 Knitting Factory Concert House – Spokane, WA
Nov 09 Showbox Sodo – Seattle, WA
Nov 12 Knitting Factory Concert House – Reno, NV
Dec 02 XOYO – London, United Kingdom
Dec 10 Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco, CA
Dec 14 Shrine Expo Hall – Los Angeles, CA
Feb 01, 2016 Silo Park – Auckland, New Zealand
Feb 05, 2016 Harts Mill – Port Adelaide, Australia
Feb 06, 2016 Brisbane Showgrounds – Bowen Hills, Australia
Feb 07, 2016 Sydney College of the Arts – Rozelle, Australia
Feb 09, 2016 Howler, MELBOURNE – Brunswick, Australia
Feb 12, 2016 OXFORD ART FACTORY – Darlinghurst, Australia
Feb 13, 2016 Footscray Community Arts Centre – Footscray, Australia
Feb 14, 2016 Esplanade Park – Fremantle, Australia

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IF Comp 2015 review collective

As mentioned elsewhere, as part of an ongoing project to bring more voices to the IF Comp conversation, I’ve been reaching out to players and authors who aren’t part of the intfiction community, and also to some veteran intfiction denizens … Continue reading

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OKP Premiere: Olivier St. Louis Re-Introduces Himself On The New ‘Black Music’ EP

Olivier St. Louis Daysoul Black Music Album Cover

For years, the music of UK vocalist Olivier Daysoul has been burning bright. A deep-voiced songwriter with a penchant for collaboration, the man has worked alongside Onra, Bibio and Hudson Mohawke in the studio and logged many a mile on the road with Oddisee‘s live backing band. If R&B were a kitchen, Olivier could rightly say that he’s worked every single station, from savory to sweet.

But now, a change is happening. For his new Black Music project, the “Daysoul” moniker is being shed; Olivier is taking up his proper surname–St. Louis–as his new artistic identity, and from the sound of things the effect has been one of revitalization. It only takes a few seconds for opener “Ain’t Cool” to find its stride, coasting Curtis Mayfield-like on the breeze. Things time travel to the late 90s on “Dog In Man,” which features a Dilla-level drum chop and more syrupy vocals. “Ship is Going Down” is an all-sneering strut, while EP closer “The Proud” gradually unfolds as a patient, tender ballad. With just one short and sweet record, the new Olivier St. Louis has already proven that there’s no groove he can’t bend to his melodic will.

Released on Jakarta Records, Black Music was entirely produced by St. Louis, and 90% of its instrumental tracks were self-recorded as well. It’s a new chapter, a new name and a new level of creative concept. And if this is where we’re restarting from, the future should be very beautiful indeed. Okayplayer presents the world premiere of Olivier St. Louis’s Black Music below. Pre-order your own copy on Bandcamp ahead of its October 30th release. As an added bonus, watch a video clip for “Ain’t Cool” after the jump.

The post OKP Premiere: Olivier St. Louis Re-Introduces Himself On The New ‘Black Music’ EP appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Hear An Early Stream Of Mr. Carmack’s Easy-Vibing New ‘White’ EP

Mr. Carmack White EP Cover Art

It’s been less than a week since we were gifted with new material from Mr. Carmack, but the prolific producer is already back, and this time he’s brought the real goods. Late Wednesday night saw the surprise release of Carmack’s long-anticipated White EP, a four track offering that features flips of Groove Armada and Goldlink. Also helping out are B. Real, Demrick, Enur, Juyen Sebulba and Omulu–all of whom use the producers vibrant and unpredictable sonic springboards as a kind of turbo boost for their own rhymes. Music sounds better when it’s made through collaboration, and on White Mr. Carmack proves just how well he can play with his friends.

You can stream the entire EP below, and then cruise over to the producer’s website to download your own copy. Carmack is on tour through much of the fall + winter, so if you’re out west be sure to catch a show.

Mr. Carmack 2015-16 Tour Dates:

Friday 30 October 2015 – 1015 Folsom – San Francisco, CA, US
Saturday 31 October 2015 – 1015 Folsom – San Francisco, CA, US
Friday 13 November 2015 – The Republik – Honolulu, HI, US
Saturday 14 November 2015 – Exposition Park – Los Angeles, CA, US
Friday 04 December 2015 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA, US
Saturday 05 December 2015 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA, US
Sunday 03 January 2016 – Wednesday 06 January 2016 – Holy Ship 2016 – Miami, FL, US
Saturday 09 January 2016 – Max Watt’s Sydney – Sydney, NSW, Australia

The post Hear An Early Stream Of Mr. Carmack’s Easy-Vibing New ‘White’ EP appeared first on Okayplayer.

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IF Comp 2015: Darkiss – Chapter 1: the Awakening (Marco Vallarino)

The 21st annual Interactive Fiction Competition is currently on, through mid-November. Voting is open to the general public; the only prerequisite is that you not be an author, not vote on games that you tested, and submit votes on at … Continue reading

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Sun Dogs (Royal Polygon)

Sun Dogs is a map-and-text game, with various events tied to each location, and various routes between locations. Much of the pleasure comes from exploring and finding out how different this universe is from our own. So far it’s formally … Continue reading

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Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Versis “Rain On A Sunday” + copæsthetic Trailer

Versis

The homie, Versis has been hitting us with random joints here and there the last few years, but it’s looking like he’s gearing up to hit us with his long awaited new project, copæsthetic, very soon. Today, we get our first preview of what’s to come with the new T. Hemingway produced track, “Rain On A Sunday.” The vibes are strong on this one, Versis explains the track’s inspiration: “inspired by witnessing my brother struggle with alcoholism as a by-product of unresolved emotional pain; he helped me realize the importance of self love; something i never even thought about until a couple years ago.” Along with the smooth new single, we also get a trailer of sorts for his upcoming copæsthetic album. It’s been over three years since we last got a project from the LA emcee, it’s looking like this next one will be well worth the wait.

The post Versis “Rain On A Sunday” + copæsthetic Trailer appeared first on Okayplayer.

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eSkills for Small Businesses – an Apps Alliance Round Table Discussion

On 15 October, the Apps Alliance organised a round table discussion on ‘eSkills for Small Businesses’ at the European Parliament in Brussels. The event was hosted by Amjad Bashir, MEP and a leader of the ECR working group for SMEs.  

Speakers included:

–        Catriona Meehan, Apps Alliance EU Policy Director

–        Martin Macmillan (CEO, Pollen.vc)

–        Jaka Levstek (CEO D-Labs)

–        Amjad Bashir MEP (host)

–        Paul Rübig MEP (founder and honorary President of SME Europe)

–        Anthea McIntyre MEP (ECR Employment Coordinator)

–        Alexander Riedl (Deputy Head of Unit at DG Connect)

–        Mark Mitchell (CEO mysocialagency.com).

There were around 40 attendees in the room, including the Chair of the EP Internal Markets Committee, Vicky Ford, MEP, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Ashley Fox MEP and Andrew Lewer MEP.

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The event showcased that policy makers are aware of the digital skills gap and are committed to find solutions that are effective at the EU level.

Key takeaways included: 

·       The labour market has changed: it’s more flexible and it requires different digital skills.

·       SMEs face different challenges: traditional SMEs need digital-savvy employees; there is generally a need for more training and inclusion of digital education in school curriculum. Digital SMEs, on the other hand, need to hire highly qualified employees with specific skills. Unfortunately they see a mismatch between what workers can offer and what the market really needs.

·       Due to this, SMEs don’t find it easy to hire the right people and attract talent; sometimes they don’t even receive applications for their vacancies.

·      SMEs have very limited resources, and cannot train every single employee; this clearly limits the scale-up potential.

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Stanklove: Outkast’s ‘Stankonia’ Is Getting A Limited (And Trippy) 15th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue

Outkast's 'Stankonia' Is Getting A Limited (And Trippy) 15th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue

This Halloween we won’t merely be celebrating the annual fright night festivities. No, this Halloween has a whole lot more going for it than tricks, treats and costumes. This Halloween, we celebrate 15 years of Outkast‘s year 2000 smash, Stankonia, still as potent today as it was at the dawn of the new century. And while we’ve got some extra-special plans to put one (or maybe even two) up for the ATLien duo’s fourth studio album, you’ll have another way to bring the stank into its fifteenth year. As a Record Store Day exclusive, Stankonia is being treated to a very limited (and very trippy) vinyl reissue with shades of yellow, orange, purple and black splattered to the acetate itself, pressed to only 3,000 copies and available only in participating stores, making this perhaps the year’s most coveted RSD release, rivaled only by a handful of others, which we’ll be sure to fill you in on tomorrow when we unveil our official guide to Record Store Day 2015. For now, you can just peep the packaging up above to get the salivating started. Certainly a worth piece for any collection that will come with its own set of bragging rights and all the Stanklove one can bear.

The post Stanklove: Outkast’s ‘Stankonia’ Is Getting A Limited (And Trippy) 15th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Guru Encounters Trailer

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IF Comp 2015: Arcane Intern (Unpaid) (Astrid Dalmady)

The 21st annual Interactive Fiction Competition is currently on, through mid-November. Voting is open to the general public; the only prerequisite is that you not be an author, not vote on games that you tested, and submit votes on at … Continue reading

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Jimi Hendrix’s London House Will Become A Permanent Museum

Hear Jimi Hendrix w/ Curtis Knight & The Squires In '67, Just Before He Broke Out And Took Over The World

The onetime London home of Jimi Hendrix will become a permanent museum dedicated to the psychedelic blues guitar legend. Located at 23 Brook Street in the Mayfair district of West London, the flat will open on February 10, 2016, with entry ticket sales starting up on November 10th.

The BBC reports that £2.4m was spent restoring and refurbishing the apartment, which was bought by Jimi Hendrix in the spring of 1968. On display will be rare images of the guitarist, and the flat’s living room has been restored to what it likely looked like at the time. “We hope that the opening of Jimi Hendrix’s flat will give people an added insight into the life and work of a figure whose actions have been examined no end since his death in 1970,” chairman of the Handel House Trust Alistair Stranack told the BBC. “While it has been a pleasure to have been working in Jimi’s bedroom for the past few years, it is even more pleasing to be able to throw it open to everybody else.” The house is located near the one-time-resident of another musical legend: George Frideric Handel, and Hendrix became fascinated by the composer’s work as he came to feel increasingly at ease on Brook Street.

The new Hendrix museum will also house a modern recording studio, which will be used to teach students and also function as a concert venue. “Living at 23 Brook Street fuelled Hendrix’s creativity,” the BBC stressed, “and led to many hours of writing and visits from fellow musicians led to countless jam sessions.”

Tickets for the Hendrix house can be purchased here as early as November 10th.

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Erykah Badu Shares Her Personal Playlist Of Politically-Charged Fela Kuti Cuts

Erykah Badu Shares Her Personal Playlist Of Fela Kuti Deep Cuts & Gems

If the month has proven anything, it’s that Fela Kuti‘s legacy is steel-strong in our circles. In our month-long celebration of the Afrobeat king’s musical and cultural impact, the likes of Questlove, Black Thought, Talib Kweli and now, the incomparable Miss Erykah Badu, have all shared personally-curated playlists of their most cherished cuts from Kuti. Badu’s list is a short, but potent one, selecting some his more fiery, politically-sharp works like the massive two-part jam “Coffin For Head Of State,” “No Agreement,” “Army Arrangement” and the sprawling masterpiece that is “Beasts Of No Nation.” A recent interview with Miss Badula found her reflecting on the weight of the the Black Lives Matter movement and social movements at large, being inspired by these recent sparks of change. And with this five-track (but roughly 90-minute) collection of Fela’s fire, perhaps we’ve found a soundtrack to these swells of reform. You can stream Erykah Badu’s hand-picked Fela Kuti selections below, just be sure to stay woke, as we’ll soon have some new fire from Badu herself, as promised in the aforementioned interview, and keep the Felabration running all year long. If you’re looking to bump Fela from between the dust and grooves, head over to the OKP Shop to get your fix of vinyl.

The post Erykah Badu Shares Her Personal Playlist Of Politically-Charged Fela Kuti Cuts appeared first on Okayplayer.

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60 Seconds with… Eleanor Matsuura

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IF Comp 2015: Taghairm (Chandler Groover)

The 21st annual Interactive Fiction Competition is currently on, through mid-November. Voting is open to the general public; the only prerequisite is that you not be an author, not vote on games that you tested, and submit votes on at … Continue reading

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Mike Dean Gives Kanye’s “When I See It” An Extended Outro

Mike Dean

You’ll remember about a week ago Kanye West re-imagined The Weeknd’s hit “Tell Your Friends” ( a track produced by Knaye and Mike Dean amongst others), and flipped it into his auto-tuned out cut, “When I See It.” Well legendary producer Mike Dean take the Yeezy version, takes out the vocals and adds some more flavor to it with this extended version letting that guitar play and lengthening the outro to a 4 minute cut. It’s very dope, check it, below. In other Kanye related news, you can watch his Yeezy Season 2 short film here, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at his Yeezy Season 2 collection, set to drop next spring.

The post Mike Dean Gives Kanye’s “When I See It” An Extended Outro appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Two Fresh “Still Got It” feat. Joey Purp & Vic Mensa

Two Fresh

Nashville twin brothers and production duo, Two Fresh, just dropped their new 6-track EP, Torch, today via Mad Decent. The features on the project include, Joey Purp, Vic Mensa, Jace and Curtis Williams from Two-9, and Njomza. To get you more familiar with the wave before you dive in head first with the project, check out Two Fresh’s “Still Got It” featuring SaveMoney representatives Joey Purp and Vic Mensa. Listen to the track below (full EP here). Under that, check their upcoming tour dates with TOKiMONSTA.

TOUR DATES:
10/27 Chicago, IL (EP Release Party) – 1st Ward @ Chop Shop
11/25 Detroit, MI – Populux
11/27 Toronto, CA – Mod Club
12/01 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
12/03 Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade
12/04 Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry
12/05 Washington, CD – U Street Music Hall
12/08 Atlanta, GA – Terminal West

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Curren$y Is Hitting The Road w/ Dom Kennedy, Jay 305 & Casey Veggies Next Month

Curren$y Is Hitting The Road w/ Dom Kennedy, Jay 305 & Casey Veggies Next Month

One time for Curren$ythe NOLA rapper who may never cease his relentless pursuit of greatness in the game. He’s brought the heat on two separate projects this year (the third installment of his Pilot Talk tape series and his Cathedral EP, which dropped at the top of the summer.) But it appears Spitta’s got bigger plans for the rest of this year, announcing a cross-country tour with Dom KennedyCasey Veggies and Jay 305, commencing at The Regent Theatre in LA on November 5th and running through December, capping of the affair at Baltimore’s Soundstage on December 5th. Peep the full list of dates down below and revisit Curren$y’s last two outings for a taste of what’s to come.

Tour Dates:
Nov 05 Regent Theatre Los Angeles, CA
Nov 06 Yost Theater Santa Ana, CA
Nov 07 The Republik Honolulu, HI
Nov 08 The North Park Theatre San Diego, CA
Nov 09 The Observatory Santa Ana, CA
Nov 10 The Catalyst Santa Cruz, CA
Nov 12 The Regency Ballroom San Francisco, CA
Nov 14 Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR
Nov 15 The Neptune Seattle, WA
Nov 17 Aggie Theatre Fort Collins, CO
Nov 18 Bourbon Theatre Lincoln, NE
Nov 21 The Cotillion Wichita, KS
Nov 23 The Ready Room St Louis, MO
Nov 24 Emerson Indianapolis, IN
Nov 25 Portage Theater Chicago, IL
Nov 28 Filmore Washington, DC
Nov 29 The Ritz Raleigh, NC
Dec 01 Filmore Charlotte, NC
Dec 03 Irving Plaza New York, NY
Dec 04 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
Dec 05 Soundstage Baltimore, MD

The post Curren$y Is Hitting The Road w/ Dom Kennedy, Jay 305 & Casey Veggies Next Month appeared first on Okayplayer.

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East Meets West: Snoop Dogg & Busta Rhymes Collide On New Cut “Powder On My Clothes”

East Meets West: Snoop Dogg & Busta Rhymes Collide On New Cut "Powder On My Clothes"

It feels like just yesterday that we were graced with some new hazy funk from Snoop Dogg. Oh wait, it was just yesterday. Well, in any case, for a second consecutive day, The Doggfather has dropped a slapper for you to rock with. Today, the collaborative cut “Powder On My Clothes” surfaced on the internets, finding Snoop colliding with fellow microphone heavyweight Busta Rhymes to wax illicit on the game that comes before the game for some rappers (you know, that game.) And while I’m sure you, like myself, would rather hear two grown-ass men, rapping about grown-ass man things, there is an indisputable charm to this joint, mostly due to the colossal production, provided by Rick RockHear east meet west on Snoop Dogg & Busta Rhymes’ new joint below and hold tight for the next episode.

Snoop Dogg Tour Dates:
Mar 10, 2016 @ Festival Estereo Picnic – March 10-12, 2016 – Bogotá, Colombia
Mar 11, 2016 @ Plaza De Toros La Macarena – Medellín, Colombia –
Mar 12, 2016 @ Lolla Brazil – March 12-13, 2016 – São Paulo, Brazil
Mar 18, 2016 @ Lolla Argentina – March 18-19, 2016 – San Isidro, Argentina
Mar 19, 2016 @ Lolla Chile – March 19-20, 2016 – San Bernardo, Chile
Apr 14, 2016 @ COACHELLA VALLEY WIND-UP – La Quinta, CA
Apr 28, 2016 @ COACHELLA VALLEY WIND-UP – La Quinta, CA

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DJ Premier Recreates Gang Starr’s “Who’s Gonna Take The Weight”…On The Spot (Video)

Gang_Starr_003_c_Raymond_Boyd_(7-98).jpg

Earlier this month, DJ Premier joined Royce Da 5’9″ and Adrian Younge for the first concert with all three PRhyme members. The October 13 Gramercy Theatre event also marked PRhyme’s first public New York City show. AFH was in the building to catch the historic moment, which also included Younge’s band.

During an intermission, DJ Premier got busy, showing show-goers how a few signature “Works Of Mart” tracks came to be. With Guru present in spirit, Preemo traveled back to 1991, and the Step Into The Arena single to recreate “Who’s Gonna Take The Weight.” Watch the footage capture DJ Premier in deep concentration as he uses two turntables, a mixer, and his laptop. At the 0:40 mark, the unmistakable Gang Starr symphony comes together, and still sounds incredible 24 years later. DJ Premier than proceeds to deconstruct his sound, while keeping the beat rocking.

Longtime Preemo Heads will notice that the two turntables are split by the mixer, which is a newer look for the iconic DJ who famously re-arranged the traditional set-up to have two decks side-by-side, with the cross-fader and levels on the end.

#BonusBeat: AFH also caught DJ Premier load up the “Full Clip,”  with its dusty Latin Jazz basis. Even on the other side of the universe, this will make you put your L’s up. Big L, Guru, and HeadQCourterz forever…

Oh, and Preemo did this with “10 Crack Commandments” too…

Related: PRhyme’s Joy Ride Continues. DJ Premier & Royce Release “Courtesy” In Full (Video)

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Alessia Cara Goes For Pop Gold On The Uplifting New Single “Wild Things”

Alessia Cara Goes For Pop Gold On Uplifting New Single "Wild Things"

It’s been a trip watching Alessia Cara‘s star rise over the year. She’s made a rare jump from r&b adolescent to soon-to-be pop darling in just a few short months, leaning on her brooding debut smash “Here,” which is now sitting pretty on both American and Canadian charts (yes, Cara is another north-of-the-border stock on the up.) Since then, she’s signed to Def Jam, released a unanimously-praised debut EP in Four Pink Walls, made her Tonight Show debut and is now getting ready to unleash to a full-length follow-up with the forthcoming Know-It-All LP. And so, with such sturdy ground already laid, Cara has just dropped the album’s lead-off single “Wild Things” as a perfectly uplifting counter-point to the isolationist jones of “Here.” Get wise to this new presence in the pop world below and preorder Alessia Cara’s debut album Know-It-All on iTunes today ahead of its official November 13th release.

Alessia Cara Tour Dates:
Nov 03 @ Dingwalls – London, United Kingdom
Nov 05 @ Badaboum – Paris, France
Dec 02 @ Comerica Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
Dec 03 @ Oracle Arena – Oakland, CA
Dec 09 @ Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA
Dec 12 @ Mid Hudson Civic Center – Poughkeepsie, NY
Dec 14 @ Verizon Center – Washington, DC
Dec 19 @ Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL

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OKP Premiere: Bearcubs Gets The Perfect Glitch On A Remix Of MNEK & Zara Larsson’s Smash “Never Forget You”

OKP Premiere: MNEK x Zara Larsson - "Never Forget You" (Bearcubs Remix)

Perhaps some of you are in-tune with the cross-pond frequencies that have given rise to the soaring vox of one MNEK and Swedish pop darling Zara LarssonRecently the duo brought their voices together on the club-ready anthem “Never Forget You,” which is very much in the Skrillex vein of contemporary pop composition. But in steps Bearcubs, another formidable UK-based beat-freaker with a penchant for electric twists and glitched-out chops, getting it just right with his own rework of the chart-climbing smash, where blips, bloops and a driving shuffle are a proper accompaniment to the big, bold voices of MNEK & Larsson, each stretching out over the cut. You can hear Bearcubs get the perfect glitch on his remix of MNEK & Zara Larsson’s infectious “Never Forget You below, just be sure to keep your ear to the ground for the latest from this new wave of electrified pop stars and starlets. And while this is the only place you’ll be able to hear this particular verson of the sond, you can grab your copy of the original compostions on iTunes today.

The post OKP Premiere: Bearcubs Gets The Perfect Glitch On A Remix Of MNEK & Zara Larsson’s Smash “Never Forget You” appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Listen To Cee-Lo’s Sun-Soaked Remix Of A Tribe Called Quest’s “Footprints”

A Tribe Called Quest 715w

In only a few short weeks A Tribe Called Quest will re-release their classic debut record People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm as a special celebration of its 25th anniversary. The package, which drops November 13th, will feature a fully remastered copy of the record, handled by the legendary Bob Power, along with remixes created and curated by modern hip-hop and R&B stars.

We’ve already heard (and heatedly debated) Pharrell’s remix of “Bonita Applebum,” and now the second People’s Instinctive Travels… flip is here. Yes, none other than Cee-Lo Green has gone to work reshaping “Footprints,” and you’re definitely going to want to put an ear to the results.

While the original album cut swirled in a kind of haze, punctuated by handclaps and the staccato flow of Q-Tip, Cee-Lo’s remix is decidedly kicked-back and sun-soaked. We get an extra dose of cowbell and some on-target rhodes chords, turning “Footprints” into a, yes, yacht-rocking affair. Then, the man goes and drops his own verse on the production, stressing “To leave footprints, one must be undefeated.”

The remix premiered Tuesday over at The Fader, who quoted Cee-Lo as stressing that ATCQ has always felt like family. “How was it possible to be so varied, strange, unique, interesting and dope? Then “Can I Kick It” and “Bonita Applebum” guaranteed that a brave new world was upon us.” Green continued, “I am me, by way of many things, and one them is A Tribe Called Quest.” On the remix, it seems Cee-Lo is back on his Gnarls Barkley flow, but is this brilliance, or blasphemy? We leave that for you to fight out in the comments below.

Fans can also expect a taste of J. Cole‘s remix of “Can I Kick It” to arrive before the full package is released next month. Listen to Cee-Lo’s remix of “Footprints” below, and if you just can’t wait to cop your own piece of A Tribe Called Quest history, pick up the 180 gram vinyl of People’s Instinctive Travels… over at the OKP Shop.

People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm 25th Anniversary Edition Track List
1. “Push It Along”
2. “Luck of Lucien”
3. “After Hours”
4. “Footprints”
5. “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo”
6. “Pubic Enemy”
7. “Bonita Applebum”
8. “Can I Kick It?”
9. “Youthful Expression”
10. “Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts)”
11. “Mr. Muhammad”
12. “Ham ‘N’ Eggs”
13. “Go Ahead in the Rain”
14. “Description of a Fool”

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IF Comp 2015 Guest Post: Lucian Smith on Switcheroo

This post is part of an ongoing project to bring more voices to the IF Comp conversation. I have been reaching out to players and authors who aren’t part of the intfiction community, and also to some veteran intfiction denizens … Continue reading

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Blood Orange Shares The Beautiful New Single “Sandra’s Smile”

Blood Orange perform in Indio, California on April 13th, 2014.

It’s truly a great day in the morning thanks to a new surprise offering from Blood Orange. The progressive and worldly dance-funk act founded and fronted by Dev Hynes released a new surprise single, “Sandra’s Smile,” late Monday night, making good on a promise posted to Twitter over the weekend that new material was, in fact, arriving on schedule.

The track itself is gorgeous piece of work, built upon a hairy drum pattern and faraway meandering saxophone lines. Hynes seems to have no qualms with contorting, amending and reducing the Blood Orange sound whenever it suits him best, and one might get the impression from the first few bars that “Sandra’s Smile” implies a new minimalist direction for the group. However: bass. As the track’s roving low-end finally shows itself and tenor sax sections collide to form chords, the song unfurls as something vast and full of life. Those might be “post-trap” hi-hats rattling amidst tiny high-pitched bells, but descriptions don’t really matter so much. There’s no need to overanalyze; listen, submit, repeat.

Stream “Sandra’s Smile” below via Spotify, and be on the lookout–we may finally be in the midst of a new full-length release cycle from Hynes and co. And if that’s the case, so far so good.

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GrandeMarshall Announces New Album + Drops Single “Never Change”

GrandeMarshall

Philly emcee, GrandeMarshall, made it clear he’s a young talent not to be slept on with his debut project 800, and the equally impressive follow up tape, Mugga Man, some three years ago. Since then, we’ve only received a handful of tracks from the Fool’S Gold signee with the promise of a new project to come. Well it now looks like that new project is almost here. Grande will be releasing his long awaited new album, My Brother’s Keeper, on November 20th via FG. With the announcement, Grande also gives us this new straight boom-bap single, “Never Change,” check it out below.

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Recap: Warsaw App Strategy Workshop

On 22 October, the Application Developers Alliance hosted their App Strategy Workshop in Warsaw. With 80 app developers and entrepreneurs in attendance, here are the key moments from the event. 

Panel One: Think Like Them: Creating Great Mobile UX/UI

Magdalena Ostoja Chyzynska (Human Tech Art), Peter Tuszynski (Appvetica), Dawid Wozniak (Netguru), Ivan Hernandez (Digital Loop)

Magdalena Ostoja Chyzynska (Human Tech Art), Peter Tuszynski (Appvetica), Dawid Wozniak (Netguru), Ivan Hernandez (Digital Loop)

Speaking on the topic of creating great mobile UX/UI were Peter Tuszynski, Appvetica, Dan Young of DXY, Magdalena Ostoja-Chyzynska of Human Tech Art, Dawid Wozniak of Netguru. Ivan Hernandez of Digital Loop moderated the panel.

Focus on one feature rather than multiple for better quality UX

Having multiple functionalities of an app can be detrimental to an apps user experience; Peter of Appvetica suggests that app developer should focus on building one feature as multiple features can often clutter the users journey.

Understand the users actual needs

Dawid of Netguru recalls conducting UX interviews, where he received drastically different reviews for his app. Magdalena of Human Tech Art also placed great importance in getting users, who do not have a vested interested in the app, and conducting research when users are in real world situations.

Panel Two: Making Money with Apps

Filip Milosewski (Listonic), Jamie Walters (Millennial Media), Stefan Bielau (Dynamo Partners)

Filip Milosewski (Listonic), Jamie Walters (Millennial Media), Stefan Bielau (Dynamo Partners)

Speaking on this topic included: Vincent Vergonjeanne of EVERYDAYiPLAY, Filip Miloszewski of Listonic, Jamie Walters of Millenial Media. Moderating the panel was Stefan Bielau of Dynamo Partners.

Consider advertising early on

Implementing adverts can be tricky as all apps are different. Jamie of Millennial Media suggests that prior to building the app, developers should develop a monetization strategy from day one.

Retention is a must

Vincent of EVERYDAYiPLAY advises some app developers who do not run ads to focus on building their user base and use retention as the key indicator in their monetization success.

Video ads can be a great way to monetize

Filip of Listonic suggests that publishers should consider video ads, as it does not damage the users experience, and has the highest cost per acquisition (CPA)

Fireside chat: Startup Journey: The Road to Success

It took Listonic four iterations before receiving their first great review; Filip says that first customer can boost the drive for success for any app publisher, and suggests any app developer to develop a clear revenue strategy early on, as Listonic faced many trials over this.

Want some more app advice? Join our member center for some great app content here

Find pictures from the event on our App Alliance Facebook Page: http://ift.tt/1P2vPls

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IF Comp 2015: Brain Guzzlers from Beyond! (Steph Cherrywell)

The 21st annual Interactive Fiction Competition is currently on, through mid-November. Voting is open to the general public; the only prerequisite is that you not be an author, not vote on games that you tested, and submit votes on at … Continue reading

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Monday, 26 October 2015

Def Sound “†rill . ∆llah”

Def Sound

After f’n my head up with his dope visuals for “i N e e d Y o u 2 K n o w ,” L.A. artist, Def Sound, returns with a new jam for us. Def comes through with his latest album cut, “†rill . ∆llah.” Def describes the creation of the Zack Setoff produced track: “THis time is about thee crowning moment. That moment you get thee inner email confirmation and go alllll theee way neon thee only way they can stop you is if you quit. This song “†rill . ∆llah” is that moment. I wrote this in a motel while I was homeless pondering what I would do next and all I wanted some to create something that felt better than where I was. Or maybe this song is just a slapper a that’s people will like it idk.” Def’s ∆∆∆’s.of.Neon album will be out November 6th.

The post Def Sound “†rill . ∆llah” appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Chance The Rapper & Saba Hook Up For The Upbeat New Single “Angels”

Chance The Rapper

While we’ve all been sitting here watching The Tonight Show waiting for this Chance The Rapper x Stephen Colbert collabo, Chano goes to soundcloud for the sneak attack. Chance collabs with fellow Chicago native, Saba, for this uplifting new single, “Angels.” Listen to it below, and we’ll update this post shortly with the live debut of the track + his interview on Colbert. No album announcement just yet, but this sounds like a strong first single right here.

The post Chance The Rapper & Saba Hook Up For The Upbeat New Single “Angels” appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Big K.R.I.T. Keeps The Heat Coming w/ “Guillotine Flow” feat. Rapsody (prod. 9th Wonder)

Big K.R.I.T Keeps The Heat Coming w/ "Guillotine Flow" feat. Rapsody (prod. 9th Wonder)

Just two weeks back, Big K.R.I.T. delivered on his promise of new southern-fried funk with the surprise DJ Drama-hosted mixtape It’s Better This Way. But if time has proven anything, it’s that K.R.I.T. can’t keep silent for too long. And so, today he dropped off a little something to chase in the Rapsody-assisted, 9th Wonder-produced heater “Guillotine Flow,” aligning the south’s finest on one burly joint. But it’s really just an appetizer for what’s to come, as K.R.I.T.’s Kritically Acclaimed tour heads across of the Mason-Dixon for some northern hospitality. You can hear Big K.R.I.T., Rapsody and 9th Wonder collide on the cold new cut “Guillotine Flow” below along with the full schedule of forthcoming tour dates.

Tour Dates:
10-27 | WASHINGTON, DC | The Howard Theatre
10-28 | NEW YORK, NY | Highline Ballroom
10-30 | CLEVELAND, OH | Grog Shop
11-01 | DETROIT, MI | St. Andrews Hall
11-03 | LANSING, MI | The Loft
11-04 | CHICAGO, IL | The Metro
11-05 | COLUMBUS, OH | Park Street Studio
11-06 | LOUISVILLE, KY | Mercury
11-07 | ST. LOUIS, MO | The Ready Room
11-08 | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | First Avenue
11-10 | LAWRENCE, KS | Granada Theater
11-11 | LINCOLN, NE | Bourbon Street
11-13 | DENVER. CO | Cervantis
11-15 | RENO, NV | Knitting Factory
11-16 | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Slims
11-17 | LOS ANGELES, CA | The Regent
11-18 | SANTA ANA, CA | The Observatory
11-19 | SAN DIEGO, CA | North Park Theatre
11-24 | HOUSTON,TX | Warehouse Live
11-25 | SAN ANTONIO,TX | Alamo City Music Hall
11-27 | DALLAS,TX | Bomb Factory
11-28 | AUSTIN,TX | Emo’s
11-30 | NEW ORLEANS, LA | House Of Blues
12-01 | BIRMINGHAM, AL | Iron City
12-02 | TUSCALOOSA,AL | Druid City Music Hall
12-03 | MEMPHIS, TN | Minglewood Hall
12-04 | MERIDIEN, MS | Temple Theatre
12-05 | JACKSON, MS | Hal & Mal’s
12-06 | MOBILE, AL | Soul Kitchen
12-08 | COLUMBIA,SC | Music Farm
12-09 | ASHEVILLE, NC | The Orange Peel
12-10 | CHARLESTON, SC | Music Farm
12-12 | MACON,GA | Cox Capitol Theatre
12-18 | ATLANTA, GA | Masquerade

The post Big K.R.I.T. Keeps The Heat Coming w/ “Guillotine Flow” feat. Rapsody (prod. 9th Wonder) appeared first on Okayplayer.

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DJ Dahi Brings Kali Uchis’ “Ridin’ Round” To The Islands w/ A Swaggering Rework

Kali Uchis - "Ridin' Round" (DJ Dahi Re-Work)

It wasn’t too long ago that the world was formally introduced to the whispery lilt of Virginia via Columbia songstress, Kali UchisHer debut freEP Por Vida, released in mid-spring this year, wrangled the likes of Tyler The Creator, Kaytranada,BADBADNOTGOOD, Bunx, Alex Epton and Caleb Stone to provide the sultry sonic suite for Uchis to lay down lead-heavy melodies and hooks. In the time since, she’s shared several cerebral clips in support of the record, even guest-starred in Tyler’s “BUFFALO” video, but today she returns with a new look on an old groove from mastermind producer DJ Dahiwhose credits cover cherished cuts from new-school titans of hip-hop like Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., Big Sean, as well as recent outings with Madonna, Dr. Dre and Lupe Fiasco.

Dahi tries his hand with the Por Vida cut “Ridin’ Round,” injecting it with a swaggering, island-vibe-soaked dose of twisted organs and skanking guitar strums; a perfect way to warm-up now that the mercury’s starting to settle. Stream DJ Dahi’s full-strut rework of Kali Uchis’ “Ridin’ Round” below and jump back to hear the original

Tour Dates:
Oct 26 @ LC Pavilion – Columbus, OH
Oct 27 @ Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
Oct 28 @ First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
Oct 30 @ Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO
Nov 02 @ The Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA
Nov 03 @ Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, Canada
Nov 04 @ Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
Nov 06 @ The North Park Theatre – San Diego, CA
Nov 07 @ The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
Nov 09 @ The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Nov 10 @ The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Nov 15 @ PARK PLAZA HOTEL – Los Angeles, CA

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Mr. Carmack Drops Off The Breezy New Single “Oye Como Va”

Mr Carmack Oye como va

Soulection stalwart and purveyor of all things progressive Mr. Carmack didn’t so much “fire off” his new single “oye como va” as he did gently set it into the digital ocean and wish it bon voyage. Suffice to say the new track is gorgeous in all of its laid-back ease, and while it doesn’t much take from the classic Santana recording of the same name, it does carry plenty of latin flavor, coasting easy on a sumptuous piano loop, dry drums and a bass that punches in all the right places. Carmack keeps coming up with ways to draw the neo-R&B sound backward, into a past when live instrumentation and that beautiful music tactic known as “space” were given and assured, and in the process is making music that resonates beyond the small pond that is SoundCloud. Listen to “oye como va” below and be sure to check out Mr. Carmack on tour if you’re out on the West Coast/Pacific this fall.

Mr. Carmack 2015-16 Tour Dates:

Friday 30 October 2015 – 1015 Folsom – San Francisco, CA, US
Saturday 31 October 2015 – 1015 Folsom – San Francisco, CA, US
Friday 13 November 2015 – The Republik – Honolulu, HI, US
Saturday 14 November 2015 – Exposition Park – Los Angeles, CA, US
Friday 04 December 2015 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA, US
Saturday 05 December 2015 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA, US
Sunday 03 January 2016 – Wednesday 06 January 2016 – Holy Ship 2016 – Miami, FL, US
Saturday 09 January 2016 – Max Watt’s Sydney – Sydney, NSW, Australia

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Beltway Voices: A Conversation With Chairman Steve Chabot

As Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, Steve Chabot (R-OH) guides a committee focused on issues affecting Main Street businesses across America.  Working tirelessly as advocates for entrepreneurs, Chairman Chabot and his committee handle a variety of issues including access to capital, healthcare, technology, and international trade – issues that are deeply personal to the more than 36,000 individual app developers and nearly 200 startups the Alliance represents.  Chairman Chabot’s genial “can-do” attitude, coupled with his belief in nurturing small businesses and celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit, are what make him such an effective voice for developers in Congress.

Chabot’s career in public service began in 1985 as a member of the Cincinnati City Council, where he served until 1990 when he was appointed to serve as a commissioner of Hamilton County, Ohio.  In 1994 he was elected to the House of Representatives.  In Congress, in addition to chairing the House Small Business Committee, Chabot serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee where he works to expand commercial opportunities for American businesses abroad, and the House Judiciary Committee where he has cosponsored legislation to curb harmful patent troll abuses.

As part of our Beltway Voices series, we caught up with Chairman Chabot to discuss an array of issues important to app developers.   

Application Developers Alliance:  The app ecosystem is growing at breakneck speed.  A decade ago the sector did not exist, yet it is estimated to have created nearly one million jobs since 2007, and could generate more than $40 billion in revenue in 2016 alone.  What should Congress do, if anything, to ensure growth in the sector remains robust?  What role will the House Small Business Committee play?

Chairman Chabot:  The app industry is one that didn’t exist a short time ago.  The more government does that gets in the way, the fewer opportunities there are for innovative new products and markets to develop organically. The sharing economy is the perfect example. 1 in 5 Americans has participated in the sharing economy. It’s creating new wealth and providing consumers convenient and affordable access to resources they wouldn’t otherwise have. But what are we seeing happen in response to these innovations? Throughout the country, entrenched regulatory forces are trying to stifle these entrepreneurs. We should be encouraging this type of innovation at every level of government.

The Small Business Committee has and will continue to stand up for the entrepreneur and the innovator at every possible opportunity.  We are moving toward solutions that would reduce the regulatory burden and modernize government by making the regulatory process smarter and more open than ever before. This means more citizens, startups, and businesses can engage in the process, which makes governing more inclusive and less intrusive. 

House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH)

House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH)

Application Developers Alliance:  The barrier for entry for software developers is relatively low today.  App developers can be found in all 50 states, and in fact, most developers are now located somewhere other than California.  What work is being done to create an ecosystem that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship for software developers in rural America and other places that may not be considered tech hotbeds?

Chairman Chabot:  I recently wrote an article for TechCrunch about the rise of entrepreneurial communities. In it, I highlighted the steps local and state officials are taking to support entrepreneurship and innovation. I’m not talking about Silicon Valley or New York, I’m talking about communities between the coasts. Startup communities are forming in places like Cincinnati and Kansas City and even smaller places like Chattanooga.

At the federal level of government, we need to take note of what these local communities are doing and look for ways to support them. We should be working to make capital more accessible by supporting new models of financing, such as peer-to-peer lending. We also need to promote a more flexible, light-touch regulatory environment that embraces disruptive technologies.  And we have to rethink how we utilize public safety net resources. More emphasis should be placed on helping the underserved learn entrepreneurial skills, because these are the building blocks that will create more opportunities. As the adage goes, if you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime. The same philosophy should be applied to our policymaking. Protecting and promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship should be our north star in most every policy decision we make.

As far as rural communities go, this is 21st century America. Every community – urban and rural — should be capable of offering residents high-speed connectivity.  Access to information and the ability to exchange ideas is the groundwork of innovation. We are committed to making sure we can meet the demand for a high-tech infrastructure in every American community.

Application Developers Alliance:  Patent trolls continue to chill innovation and job growth around the country, wielding overbroad, never-should-have-been-issued patents to extort businesses of all stripes and sizes.  Trolls frequently single out small businesses who often lack the money, time, and legal expertise to defend themselves against frivolous lawsuits. The Innovation Act (H.R. 9), of which you are a cosponsor, would go a long way to curbing abusive trolling if enacted. Improvements, however, could be made to require greater specificity in both court pleadings and demand letters. Do you expect the House of Representatives to pass the Innovation Act?  Will improvements be made to strengthen pleading and demand letter provisions?

Chairman Chabot:  There are a lot of issues that divide us on Capitol Hill, but one that continues to unite members from both sides of the aisle is combatting the rise of patent trolls. Why? Because patent trolls stifle innovation. They are not creating new value or wealth.  They are burdening hard-working people with junk litigation that really amounts to extortion. So, taking on these bad actors is something we as a nation should do to protect the spirit of the entrepreneur.

With regard to court pleadings and demand letters, as the Chairman of the Small Business Committee and a Member of the Judiciary Committee, I continue to explore all available options, because we need to strike the right balance for the sake of our startup community. I’m hopeful we can make progress on it.

Application Developers Alliance:  Software is providing untold societal benefits.  Software innovations are connecting small businesses with consumers in far-flung places, helping users better understand their health and other daily routines, connecting rural Americans with pharmacists hundreds of miles away, and generally reshaping how we live. These conveniences also bring with them the collection of vast troves of data, some of which can be very personal in nature.  There are instances in which lawmakers and other regulatory agencies have called on innovators to limit the data they collect for fear that their software may be breached and the data stolen by bad actors.  App developers know how important sound data stewardship is for the growth of their businesses, and they work hard to balance innovation with the privacy interests of their customers.  Instead of overreacting and running the risk of killing the next big idea in the cradle, what message should Washington send to app developers who create novel and sometimes life altering technologies?

Chairman Chabot:  Government tends to create more problems. Entrepreneurs create solutions. So I’m in favor of letting entrepreneurs do what they do best on these issues.

As far as data goes, the golden rule for developers should be to handle a consumer’s data the same way they’d want their own data to be handled. That may be overly simplistic, but it’s true. If a developer doesn’t put the consumer first – and by extension that means protecting that consumer’s data and informing them of how it’s being used – they won’t be in business very long. The market incentive is there to treat consumers in the right way.

At the federal level, we have to constantly remind ourselves that our approach to any regulatory question should be a light touch. All too often the government comes in like a bull in a china shop. We should let the free enterprise system sort these issues out.

Application Developers Alliance:  In today’s global marketplace many American businesses – including small app startups – are looking abroad for new customers.  What are you doing to make sure small, American app developers can continue to access markets overseas?

Chairman Chabot:  Building bridges to new markets around the globe is critical to the growth of our economy and the future of entrepreneurship. We’ve already seen how technology has made the world more interconnected – providing people of all walks of life access to educational tools, news, and other resources that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Building on these successes by lowering trade barriers will allow American entrepreneurs to reach new users in developing markets.  Isn’t the dream of most entrepreneurs to create a product that can be appreciated by the world, and not just a cluster of users in advanced nations? The Small Business Committee is going to continue to be a forum to highlight the successes and challenges facing app developers, and one of those challenges, which I personally view as an opportunity, is removing the barriers that keep American companies from participating in new markets.

Application Developers Alliance:  In today’s software marketplace consumers demand their communications and data remain private.  How can privacy enhancing tools like encryption protect consumers and entrepreneurs?

Chairman Chabot:  At the end of the day, the consumer is king and the long-term survival of any startup relies on happy consumers. So, the market incentive is there for businesses to employ stringent encryption standards to protect consumer data. If the Administration were to force companies to create backdoors in all their products, then those vulnerabilities are accessible not just to the good actors, but to the bad actors as well. So we have to be very thoughtful in how we approach the security challenges we face. 

Be sure to read the entire Beltway Voices series.  We also caught up with Chairman Will Hurd (R-TX) and Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA).


 

Geoff Lane

U.S. Director of Policy and Government Relations

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Snoop Dogg & Daz Dillinger Share The Ultra-Smooth New Cut “Sho You Right” (prod. Dam-Funk)

Snoop Dogg/Daz Dillinger - "Sho You Right" (prod. Dam-Funk)

It’s been a mighty year for Snoop Dogg. First there was his Bush LP, which harked back to the “Beautiful” days with Pharrell, but also snagged Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder, Rick Ross and others for the boogie-blessed journey. Since then, he’s explored his journalistic tendencies on GGN, hazily interviewing some of hip-hop and pop culture’s most compelling voices, including Freddie Gibbs, Killer Mike and Seth Rogen. But today, we’re getting another heady dose of that west coast funk with the new cut “Sho You Right” sharing the mic with his cousin Daz Dillinger and the ever-prolific Dam-Funk providing a relentless, yet ultra-smooth bass and synth-soaked production for the duo to get loose on. But perhaps most intriguing, is the fact that the track appears to be off of a forthcoming Snoop & Daz collaborative LP, tentatively (and aptly) titled CUZZNZ. You can hear Snoop Dogg & Dam-Funk extend the 7 Days Of Funk legacy with Daz Dillinger down below, just be sure to keep your head on a swivel for that record and if you’re still itching for the glitzy sonics of west coast nostalgia, try your ear on Dam’s latest masterpiece Invite The Light, which is available to purchase on iTunes today.

 

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Stream J Dilla’s Expansive Posthumous ‘Dillatronic’ LP In Full

Stream J DIlla's Posthumous 'Dillatronic' Tape In Full

The last month has proven to be pretty damn fruitful for the likes of J Dilla fans far and wide. First there was the announcement of yet another posthumous release from the estate and Ma Dukes; the expansive 41-beat compilation Dillatronic, which was packaged along with the tuff “Dillatronic #7.” Then last week we caught wind of “Dillatronic #34,” which should have put at least a few of the Dilla devout on their toes. But today, a full five days ahead of the tape’s official October 30th release, the camp has gifted the world an early ear on Dillatronic, streaming the entirety of the album via Soundcloud in pristine, remastered quality. But what’s more, the tape is available in a 3xLP vinyl set, available to preorder today as a means of securing what will certainly be a trophy piece to your collection. Stream J Dilla’s Dillatronic compilation down below and raise it up for that late Dilla Dawg, dropping dimes from well beyond the grave, proving donuts are of the heart and everlasting. Get that neck brace ready, this thing is heavy as hell.

>>>Peep the OKP Shop’s new batch of Dilla tees

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IF Comp 2015 Guest Post: Brendan Desilets on Untold Riches

This post is part of an ongoing project to bring more voices to the IF Comp conversation. I have been reaching out to players and authors who aren’t part of the intfiction community, and also to some veteran intfiction denizens … Continue reading

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Mixtape Monday: Ally Al’s Exclusive Halloween Mix, House Shoes, Cuurlzzz + More!

Beats, Tricks and Treats

Things are getting certifiably spooky in Mixtape Monday this morning. Yes, we’re as susceptible to Halloween as the next news outlet, and so we’re very proud to bring you all the world premiere of Ally Al‘s Beats, Tricks & Treats Halloween mixtape, a set that’s as frightening as it is funky and as macabre as it is magnificent. Past the ghoul get-down there are brand hip-hop new tones from House Shoes, a new love mix from Cuurlzzz, a dose of classic 90s boom-bap, some 80s pillow talk and more. So turn up the volume and light the jack-o-lanterns. Your week in mixtapes starts now.

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IF Comp 2015: Two Encounters in the Woods

The 21st annual Interactive Fiction Competition is currently on, through mid-November. Voting is open to the general public; the only prerequisite is that you not be an author, not vote on games that you tested, and submit votes on at … Continue reading

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Sunday, 25 October 2015

Stretch & Bobbito Celebrate 25 Years w/ Shade 45 Anniversary Special

Stretch & Bobbito Celebrate 25 Years Since The Very First Broadcast Of Their Beloved WKCR Show In The Two-Part Radio That Changed Lives Anniversary Special From Sirius XM Shade 45.

Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia celebrate 25 years since the very first broadcast of The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on WKCR in the two-part Radio That Changed Lives anniversary special from Shade 45. Packed with all of the crazy freestyles, classic beats and color commentary fans remember fondly, the show features appearances from Dante Ross, Lord Sear, Mimi Valdés and others. Check the tracks below to stream the two-hour special. Purchase Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives via Vimeo. Support the documentary when it screens in a city near you. Get more at stretchandbobbito.com.

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Byron The Aquarius x MDMA – “Let Me Know” (Dub Mix)

Byron The Aquarius & MDMA Follow "Shroomz & 808's" With The Enveloping "Let Me Know" (Dub Mix).

Byron The Aquarius and frequent collaborator MDMA follow the quirky “Shroomz & 808’s” instrumental with the enveloping “Let Me Know” (Dub Mix). Quickly becoming the loosie king, Byron delivered this joint and a handful of other heaters in recent days. The dub mix is a gorgeous offering driven by a deep groove, pleading vocals and a pocket that just won’t quit. Check the track below to listen to “Let Me Know” (Dub Mix). Purchase the WERC Presents FADED Vol​.​1 EP via Bandcamp. Stay tuned for more from Byron The Aquarius.

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Diggs Duke & Kamasi Washington Talk Shop w/ DJ Rahdu For ‘The Diamond Soul XXXperience’ 028

Diggs Duke & Kamasi Washington Talk Shop With DJ Rahdu In The 28th Installment Of The Diamond Soul XXXperience Podcast From BamaLoveSoul.

Diggs Duke and Kamasi Washington talk shop with DJ Rahdu in the 28th installment of The Diamond Soul XXXperience podcast from BamaLoveSoul. The pair of rising giants drop science on their respective careers during the chat; Duke breaks down the decision to start his own label while Washington tells the story of how his acclaimed debut landed on the Brainfeeder label. Check the tracks below to stream The Diamond Soul XXXperience 028. Download the discussion via Bandcamp. Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes. Purchase Diggs Duke’s The Upper Hand & Other Grand Illusions EP via iTunes. Purchase Kamasi Washington’s The Epic LP via iTunes.

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Haula – “Darkest Hour”

UK Singer/Songwriter Haula Nakakembo Deivers Smoke & Electricity With The Seductive New Single "Darkest Hour."

UK singer/songwriter Haula Nakakembo delivers smoke and electricity with the seductive new single “Darkest Hour” – the title track from her forthcoming debut EP. Anchored by her haunting vocal performance, the spacious pop ballad is an emotionally dense number that pairs feather-light strings with rich organ chords and driving percussion. Check the track below to listen to “Darkest Hour.” Keep an ear out for more from Haula.

Spotted at P&P.

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