DiViNCi, producer behind Solillaquists of Sound, takes live MPC musicianship to the next level during his performance at the 2008 Plug Independent Music Awards. While some producers make a show of rocking one sampler, DiViNCi easily handles three Akai MPC’s, a talkbox, and more.

DiViNCi kills it on 3 MPCs at the 2008 Plug Awards from Solillaquists of Sound on Vimeo.

Shine So Brite is a track from Nottz’ LP “You Need This Music,”

DJ JS-1's Greatest Sell-Outs, a video in which JS lists some biggest sell-outs ever. From the biggest groups in music to today's leading athletes, JS calls out anybody and everybody that has ever sold out. Staying true to his principles and ideals, JS released this album in 2009, No Sell Out, to showcase his skill as a DJ and an artist, and proclaims he "didn't make this record to make money, obviously." As JS lays down the law on everybody who has, in his eyes, sold out for the money or the fame, the list begins to pile up.

Here is his album sampler for anyone that never got to check it out....
DJ JS-1 "NO SELLOUT" ALBUM SAMPLER MIX That Was Released in June Of 2009, 21 tracks featuring over 40 emcees (79 minutes long)

List of guest emcees, including KRS-One, Large Pro, Pharoahe Monch, Canibus, Sean Price, Blaq Poet, Killah Priest, Ill Bill, Kool Keith & Ced Gee (Ultramagnetic Mc’s), Aesop Rock, Vast Aire, Chino XL, Sadat X, AG, OC, Craig G, CL Smooth, Edo G, Prince Po, Akrobatik, J-Live, Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks, Rakaa of Dilated Peoples, Krondon, C Rayz Walz, Vast Aire, Nutrageous, Copywrite, PMD, Rahzel, EMC (Masta Ace, Strick, Wordsworth, Punchline), Termanology, Torae, Pumpkinhead, Jak D, Big Noyd, Q-Unique, Brother Ali, Slaine, Virtuoso, Pack FM, Supastition. Block McCloud, Trez, Rugged Intellect, and DJ Premier. No Sell Out is available in stores everywhere via Fat Beats Records.

Tracklist

Chino XL, Sean Price & Killah Priest - Murder (Prod: DJ JS-1)

Clear N' Present Danger - DJ JS-1 ft. KRS One & Canibus

DJ JS-1 - Ridiculous (ft. O.C. & Pharoahe Monch)

http://www.djjs1.com/

An unofficial Fan video made by a good friend, Bob mixing a few differnt shots to the song Fall Through Atlantis by Cise Star a member of the hip hop group CYNE

The track also appeared as a bonus track on the US realease of Water For Mars

Source: Cherokee One Feather

Tsalagi rapper Pensmoke makes an auspicious debut with “Move Undetected”, his breakthrough cd. Pensmoke, who draws his name from the lyrical skills and talents neede to create hot musical tracks, blends his personal experiences and his dedication to Native life and culture in this impressive cd.

Each song showcases this artist’s devotion to true hip-hop and features his efforts to remain true to his tribe and to his beliefs. While many rappers lionize lives comprised of crime and showy spending, Pensmoke strives to portray a transparent and authentic side of his hip-hop music.

He freely reflects on his challenges with habits, sins and the obstacles of everyday life throughout the song “Help”. This song is a poignant cry for Divine Guidance that includes Pensmoke’s frustration with his continual failings and depicts his willingness to surrender to a higher power.

For Pensmoke, Christianity represents a way of coping with challenges and addictions in a positive way. “NDNCognito” spotlights the role of multiracial and multicultural people within Indian Country. Skillful artist N-Don joins Pensmoke for a track called “Speak on It” which extols truth amidst entertaining beats and rhythms.

Pensmoke openly expresses his ideas with courage and conviction, as showcased during “Soldiers”, “Sword” and “Change Came”. The title of the cd, “Move Undetected”, explicates numerous facets of this gifted artist’s music and personality. Comfortably nested in the shadows of the cover photo,

Pensmoke symbolizes the large population of Natives in urban areas as well as the significant quantity of Christians in almost every social, political, and other arena of life. This cd demonstrates that this artist is comfortable in his own skin and with his own soul. The result is an energetic and intriguing cd. More info:
www.myspace.com/pensmokemusic

Pensmoke interviewed by Dr. Honey Dawn Karima Pettigrew PhD

Pensmoke, AKA 'The Professional Outcast', is an underground Memphis emcee and traditional golden age style artist. He perceives that his music is going against the grain of the popular 'trends' that are common in the mainstream rap world. With soulful production from Memphis beatmaker/emcee MaxPtah and 'The Derelict' of Half-Breed Productions, his new album, "Move Undetected", is unique.

Pensmoke describes his cd as a "much welcome change from whats typical in the Memphis Hip Hop/ Rap scene". His songs touch on life in Memphis, being a confused mixed-blood (Native American/White) in a black and white racially segregated southern city, and going from a state of furious rage to recieving knowledge of God, as well as the state of Hip Hop music today. Pensmoke describes his style as "real Hip Hop music for real Hip Hop heads". He shares his vision, his inspiration and his insights in this recent conversation.

Q: Who is Pensmoke?
A: Pensmoke is an emcee trying to speak Truth in an age that doesn't want to hear it. And doing it in a style that is closer to traditional hip hop than today's watered down version of this once proud artform.

Q: How did you acquire the name "Pensmoke"? How does it reflect your music? A:'Pensmoke' refers to placing well thought out writing in the forefront instead of tough guy gun-talk. Pensmokemeans strong lyrics instead of the more popular subject of 'gunsmoke' that is more prevalent in todays rap music.

Q: Congratulations on your new cd! That's a great accomplishment! What does it mean for you to "Move Undetected" ?
A:Thank you very much. I am honored. Move Undetected is what I have done throughout my life...unintentionally. Moving in silence, most of the time alone, instead of screaming for attention and running with the followers in this artform of Hip Hop.

Q:Who are your greatest musical influences?
A: The Golden Age of hip hop was my biggest influence. From the '86 to '95 time frame, I enjoyed Emcees like Big Daddy Kane, KRS1, Rakim, and many others. Later on, I got familiar with groups like Tunnel Rats, LPG, Cross Movement, and so on. These days I mostly listen to lots of underground brothers like Sev Statik, Supaman, Mikeless, Redcloud, and too many more to name really.

Q:How did you come to hip-hop and become a musician?
A: I started out in '88 trying to learn to DJ on a ragged turntable I had. I found hip hop music around 1987 and was hooked ever since. I like to get things off my chest so writing and emceeing was more of what I needed to do as opposed to DJing. It just clicked naturally.

Q:Describe your distinctive style of music.
A:Traditional, underground, golden age style hip hop with the Truth embedded.

Q: What are your dreams for your music?
A:I just want people to enjoy it and get the message that is relayed in it. Its up to God what direction He wants it to go in. I will try to be ready for whatever direction that is.

Q:Why do you think so many Native people gravitate toward hip-hop? What does it mean to us?
A:Well, Native people and people in the hip hop community, who were at first mainly African American and Puerto Rican in New York, have had similar struggles. Very different in some ways but very similar in others. We are creative people, and hip hop is a very good outlet for creativity to be expressed. Some of the best emcees out there today are Native, might I add. Maybe I am a little biased though. lol Anyone who hasn't heard music from Redcloud or Supaman, for example, is seriously missing out on some pure hip hop.

Q:What is the difference between rap and hip-hop?
A:Hip hop is a culture. Hip hop is a culture that consists of emcees, DJs, B-Boys, and graffiti artists. Those are the basic elements of the hip hop lifestyle. 'Rapping' is another word for Emceeing, rhyming over beats. These days a 'rapper' is some one who tries to emcee but often knows nothing about real hip hop culture and usually doesn't care about it. 'Rappers' are usually willing to rap about anything because their motivation is money and not the arform. Emcees are representative of real hip hop and will rap in an expressive and/or intelligent or uplifting way.

Q:What obstacles or challenges have you faced and overcome in life and in your music?
A: In life, I came from a place where drugs and trouble were tempting me at every corner it seemed like at times. Instead of giving in, for the most part I escaped into the music until I got older and came to know the forgiveness of God.

Q: How did you overcome these issues?
A:Honestly it wasn't me that overcame the issues. It had to have been God's help because I wasn't making the best decisions in life and I am fortunate to be here and have the life that I now have.

Q:What have you learned from them?
A:I have learned that the easy way is usually the wrong way to go.

Q: What advice could you share with your listeners?
A:Don't follow trends and get involved with what's popular because its usually shallow and wont last. Get involved with something meaningful that will help your people and uplift God and you will be rewarded.

Q:What message do you hope they gather from your music?
A:God really does forgive even the foulest people if they want forgiveness and want to do something that will uplift Him and help others.

Dr. Honey Dawn Karima Pettigrew, Ph.D. is the author of two novels, THE WAY WE MAKE SENSE and THE MARRIAGE OF SAINTS. Her first cd, THE WORSHIP OF ANGELS, was a Nammy nominee.

To Purchase and Preview Tracks Go To Cdbaby
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/Pensmoke

This new Assata Shakur book presents the thoughts and opinions of Assata Shakur in her own words. While her autobiography tells her life story up to the point of her arrival to Cuba, this book starts with her in Cuba.

Assata Shakur is an ex political prisoner, who has been living in exile in Cuba since 1984. She has been a political activist for most of her life. Although the U.S. government has done everything in its power to criminalize her, she is not a criminal, nor have she ever been one. If you are interested in learning the views of Assata Shakur this is an excellent place to start.

Available On The RBG Website/Store

Here is an article Mos Def Wrote In 2008 On Assata
MOS DEF ON THE LIFE OF ASSATA SHAKUR

Assata Shakur: The government’s terrorist is our community’s heroine

by Mos Def

Early in May, the federal government issued a statement in which they labeled Joanne Chesimard, known to most in the Black community as Assata Shakur, as a domestic terrorist. In so doing, they also increased the bounty on her head from $150,000 to an unprecedented $1,000,000.

Viewed through the lens of U.S. law enforcement, Shakur is an escaped cop-killer. Viewed through the lens of many Black people, including me, she is a wrongly convicted woman and a hero of epic proportions.

My first memory of Assata Shakur was the "Wanted" posters all over my Brooklyn neighborhood. They said her name was Joanne Chesimard, that she was a killer, an escaped convict, and armed and dangerous.

They made her sound like a super-villain, like something out of a comic book. But even then, as a child, I couldn’t believe what I was being told.

When I looked at those posters and the mug shot of a slight, brown, high-cheekboned woman with a full afro, I saw someone who looked like she was in my family, an aunt, a mother.

She looked like she had soul. Later, as a junior high school student, when I read her autobiography, "Assata," I would discover that not only did she have soul, she also had immeasurable heart, courage and love.

And I would come to believe that that very heart and soul she possessed was exactly why Assata Shakur was shot, arrested, framed and convicted of the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper.

There are some undisputed facts about the case. On May 2, 1973, Assata Shakur, a Black Panther, was driving down the New Jersey State Turnpike with two companions, Zayd Shakur and Sundiata Acoli.

The three were pulled over, ostensibly for a broken tail light. A gun battle ensued; why and how it started is unclear. But the aftermath is not. Trooper Werner Forester and Zayd Shakur lay dead.

Sundiata Acoli escaped (he was captured two days later). And Assata was shot and arrested. At trial, three neurologists would testify that the first gunshot shattered her clavicle and the second shattered the median nerve in her right hand. That testimony proved that she was sitting with her hands raised when she was fired on by police.

Further testimony proved that no gun residue was found on either of her hands, nor were her fingerprints found on any of the weapons located at the scene. Nevertheless, Shakur was convicted by an all-White jury and sentenced to life in prison.

Six years and six months to the day that she was arrested, and aided by friends, Shakur escaped from Clinton Women’s Prison in New Jersey. As a high school student, I remember seeing posters all around the Brooklyn community I lived in that read: "Assata Shakur is Welcome Here." In 1984, she surfaced in Cuba and was granted political asylum by Fidel Castro.

There are those who believe that being convicted of a crime makes you guilty. But that imposes an assumption of infallibility upon our criminal justice system.

When Assata Shakur was convicted of killing Werner Foerster, not only had the Black Panther Party been labeled by then FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover as "the greatest internal threat" to American security, but Assata herself had been thoroughly criminalized in the minds of the American public.

She’d been charged in six different crimes, ranging from attempted murder to bank robbery, and her acquittal or dismissal of the charges outright notwithstanding, to the average citizen, it seemed she must be guilty of something. And she was. She was guilty of calling for a shift in power in America and for racial and economic justice.

Included on a short list of the many people who have made that call and were either criminalized, terrorized, killed or blacklisted are Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King, Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman, Medgar Evers and Ida B. Wells.

Perhaps what is most insulting about the government’s latest attack on Assata is that while they vigorously pursue her extradition, a few years ago using it as a bargaining chip for lifting the embargo itself, they have been decidedly lackadaisical in pursuing the extradition to Venezuela of an admitted terrorist, Florida resident Luis Posada Carriles. Carriles is likely responsible for blowing up a Cuban airline in 1976, an act which claimed the lives of some 73 innocent civilians.

For those of us who either remember the state of the union in the 1960s and 1970s or have studied it, when we consider Assata Shakur living under political asylum in Cuba, we believe that nation is exercising its political sovereignty and in no way harboring a terrorist.

Cubans sees Assata as I and many others in my community do: as a woman who was and is persecuted for her political beliefs.

When the federal government raised the bounty on her head this May 2, one official declared that Assata was merely "120 pounds of money." For many of us in the Black community, she could never be so reduced. For many of us in the Black community, she was and remains, to use her own words, an "escaped slave," a heroine, not unlike Harriet Tubman.

For more K-Rino visit these channels
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHipHopSpot
or http://www.youtube.com/user/LlLWayneSucks