DUSTY CRATES

Dame Lo – Mexicans With Guns from System D-128 on Vimeo.

The Man. The Myth. The Mexican.

Mexicans with Guns releases his next track, “Dame Lo,” off his latest Me Gusto EP (Stones Throw/Innovative Leisure, Exponential). This sexy banger is accompanied by an experimental short film/music video that summons the raucous revelry of any Robert Rodriguez dusty cantina shoot-em-up flick over a Dia de los Muertos celebration.

MWG is making the short trip from SA to HOU this Saturday, August 14th, to put it down at The Backroom (Mink, 3718 Main St, 77006) for us. Pero no se to olvide…ponte los zapatos porque vamos a bailar!

For more on “Dame Lo,” check here.  Read the LA Times article on Mexicans with Guns here. He’s the masked crusader of big beats–big time!

“Dame Lo” – MWG (mp3)

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

In light of current events in the Middle East and even here at home in Arizona, MIA‘s new video, “Born Free,” speaks volumes.

The 9-minute short film was directed by Romain Gavras, who also directed Justice‘s thuggish “Stress,” so it’s no surprise she chose him to help convey her socio-political message by focusing on the persecution of society’s “red-headed stepchildren”.

Watch the video that’s been yanked from Youtube here and let me know what you think. But a word of warning: it’s brutal, raw and provocative.

If that’s too much, here’s MIA’s airy “There’s Space for Ol Dat I See” (also from her upcoming, yet-to-be-titled, but soon-to-be-landmark 3rd album) to temper an aggressive “Born Free”.

So how’s this for ending on a good note?

There’s Space for Ol Dat I See – MIA (filesavr)

Paper Planes (DFA remix) – MIA (filesavr)

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Uploaded by funkyfreshandres. – See the latest featured music videos.

By now Houston hip hop fans have noticed a void on the local air waves. The crazy Kracker Nuttz are no longer on KBXX 97.9 The Boxx for supposedly playing the Trae verse in a Chamillionaire song.

After 12 years on the radio, the say goodbye via their Kracker Nuttz blog:

…we want to thank everyone of you who tuned in. For all the times we felt like giving up on “corporate/commercial” radio & quitting… YOU were the only reason why we stayed. We felt like we owed it to YOU… the voice, the fan, or the listener who was never properly represented…

But these are not the last words on their abrupt departure. Taking a parting shot in an Open Letter addressed to The Boxx, writer/blogger and pusher of all things truly hip hop, my dude Matt Sonzala put it best on his AustinSurreal blog:

KBXX – you are in the wrong here. You initiated this problem, and now refuse to work to fix it. Your ban on Trae, and the subsequent actions you have taken on fairly innocent parties, is reprehensible and cowardly. It’s also lazy. I realize that in the age of 140 character tweets and Facebook updates, genuine conversations often take a back seat. This situation merits a genuine conversation, and a solution.

Your half assed, one sided solution is not the answer…

Word.

Best of luck to Clean Kutt, Baby Jay and the Nuttz; I’m sure I’ll see you out rockin more clubs where now we’ll all get that first-hand “all up in yo mouth” experience.

Read the entire Open Letter to 97.9 The Boxx at AustinSurreal.com >>

Here’s a new video release from our dear and talented friend Ben Godfrey, lead singer of Listen Listen. Their video for “On the Water” from Hymns from Rhodesia (out September 22nd), is now up on youtube and vimeo!

So, Watch Watch! “Shall We Meet” with Interview >>

Hymns from Rhodesia (Murkville Music) by Listen Listen will be available in gold-embossed packaging.

She may have started out as a visual artist but the world soon came to know her for her musical styles. Lately M.I.A. is known as a mommy, Grammy-nominated musician and now director.

“Bang” by Rye Rye featuring M.I.A. is her directorial debut. Video is pretty low-tech, but compliments the angsty, frantic beats. So, go ‘head girl!

On a side note: Rye Rye won’t be performing at Warehouse Live in Houston this Saturday. Instead, Theophilus London takes the stage with A-Trak and Treasure Fingers. More show info >>

If you guys didn’t already know, there is a “secret special guest” at the Green Shoelace party on Saturday. RSVP stat because time is running out.

Hope to see ya’ll there!