Destro Destructo "Filthy" Ft. JFK

I heard someone at JFK's last show tell me that they're from Portland and that there's no hip-hop scene in Portland. I was like "WTF?"

There is an underground hip-hop scene EVERYWHERE - the island of Guam had one when I was there, for Goodness' sake. Portland hasn't had its own Macklemore yet but Destro Destructo, one third of the group Boom Bap Project, is a Portland State alum and has put out some really solid rap music. Check out his album "Day Of The Dead" and this song "Filthy."

Destro puts his soul in to his music - it's all about his struggles, not shooting guns or wearing jewels or whatever. Really solid, empowering stuff.

 

 Here's a little more from Destro - really honest rapping, "If you can download it for free, why make the register break?"

 

9th Wonder Announces Release Date For ‘The Wonder Years’ Album

From Hip-Hop-N-More:

9th Wonder’s debut solo album The Wonder Years has been in the works for almost 4 years now but was repeatedly shelved or pushed back duetoi numerous reasons. The producer today announced on AHH that it’s finally coming on September 27th this year. Guests expected to make appearance are Marsha Ambrosius, Kendrick Lamar, Warren G., Big K.R.I.T., David Banner, Erykah Badu, Murs, Mac Miller, Big Remo, Rhapsody and Phonte.

“If there was ever a better time to express how I feel about Hip-Hop music, black music, or just music in general, it would be to do it now, on this project. My career has been from the depths of the underground, to the pop charts, but it has always stayed my sound, and what I believed in to be pure. Welcome to the Wonder Years.”

Lil Wayne - Six Foot Seven Foot

Lil Wayne - Music - More Music Videos

Art Blakey, Twitter and Journos

I want to thank Will Pierce for finding this gem. I never would have heard of it otherwise.



In other news, Blood Is One is now on Twitter. We've added a "Best Of Blood Is One Journalism" so that you don't lose track of our fantastic essays on the art of music from all our bloggity nonsense.

Das Racist - I'm So Wavy Video

This is the best rap video ever made. They're going to get an Oscar for this. No joke.

Multiple Skin Tones, The Blood Is One

Welcome to the first post for The Blood Is One, a hip-hop enthusiast blog.

The genesis of the blog was when my friend Will Pierce sent me a comic book themed song that pitted the world of comic books against the most famous rappers in the game:

I listen to alot of hip-hop and have written professionally about rappers and rap groups for Seaspot magazine and Earthwalkers Magazine. I had never heard what he sent me before. I figured that he would be as damn good of a partner in something like this as anyone else.

Neither of us look like rap guys and if you visit either of our Twitter accounts (@mopowell and @greatistheworld, respectively), that vibe will likely not translate. Nevertheless, I think and hope that we will provide a service to our readers in exploring all facets of the genre and bringing to light untapped gems and new talents. We may cross into other genres because we're like that. I'll be starting this out on Blogger and may choose a new platform if things work out well. Likewise I will recruit more people to the blog if things work out.

I've created an e-mail account for this blog at bloodisone@gmail.com. If you want to contact us, you can leave a comment or send something there.