Medium

I recently wrapped up the some artwork for The League of Extraordinary Gz “Concealed Weapons.” I will have more in depth design talk about the artwork later on The Honest Ape, but for now just want to show everyone and give people a preview of what they should expect from this release.

The project is a collection of some tracks from each individual group that comprises The League of Extraordinary Gz: Southbound, Da C.O.D., and Dred Skott. Da C.O.D.’s Ova Da Stove Vol. 3 is  available at The Screw Shop and Southbound’s Season’s Change is available on iTunes and other digital retailers. I don’t know what the drop date of “Concealed Weapons” will be, but below you can preview some of the tracks from past releases, along with the tracklisting.

Tracklisting

2. Da C.O.D.- Raw (Billie Jean Mix)
3. Mr. Greezo & Tuk-Da-Gat (Dynamic Duo Mix)
4. Da C.O.D.- Let’s Go
5. Dred Skott- Take Your Clothes Off
6. Sandman (Dynamic Duo Mix)
7. Mr. Greezo, Gerald G, Sandman, Staci Russell- Ready or Not
8. Lil’ J- Herachi & Sachi
9. Dred Skott- You Can’t Bury Me
10. SouthBound ft. Bavu Blakes & Rochelle Terrell- Keep Movin’ (Remix)
11. Da C.O.D.- Shawty Roll Up
12. SouthBound- Classic

14. Lowkey- Channel Surfin’
15. Dred Skott- Lies

17. Da C.O.D.- Fly Away
18. Esbe Da 6th St. Bully- Follow My Lead
19. EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE* The League Of Extraordinary G’z- Alright

Pimpin Pen “Lil Homie”, directed by OG of Luxury Mindz.

Gerald G “How I Was Raised” directed by OG of Luxury Mindz.

Gerald G featuring Bavu Blakes & East 35 – Get Yo Game Up

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Gerald G featuring Bavu Blakes & East 35 – Get Yo Game Up

We have a fresh track from Gerald G’s upcoming What’s Really Hood mixtape, mixed by Rapid Ric. Mr. 512 teams up with Bavu and East 35 with a cosign from Fonzworth Bentley. The What’s Really Hood mixtape is set to feature Devin the Dude, Bun-B, Chalie Boy, Bavu, and more in preperation for Gerald’s full length album, Mr. 512 set to drop later this year.

How come no one tells me about tracks like this? Was this even released as a proper single? Does someone have an mp3 and/or an instrumental? Overall pretty sick verses from most…not so sick verses from others however. It always seems like Austin rappers don’t promote much outside of their circles and some I can’t even find through searching online. Either way, it’s good to see Austin artists coming together for a track and even though it’s the “512″ anthem, I’m sure there are plenty of artists that wish they had their chance to rip this track, although alongside Nook’s verse, I’m not sure many people may want to try.  Either way, that would be a good promo for whoever is behind the song, do a contest or just post the instrumental with some sort or creative commons license, or just sell it….but alas.

Nook is an Austin based artist that I’ve heard a few tracks from but wish I could hear some more. Some Austin artists alrady make it hard enough to find their music when you live in the city, let alone when you live on the other side of the country.

Update 05/03/09
NickNack has posted the mp3 up on Gigacrate..and it’s Free! Go download it, while I wait patiently for an instrumental.

OG has worked with many southern rap acts, including: Chamillionaire (top), Gerald G (middle) and David Banner (Bottom). 

For many their opinion of Southern rap music probably depends on where they stand on the map but no matter who you are there is definitely something to be said for a group of artists that work hard and know their audience well enough to make a good living as independent artists. So while many people in the hip-hop world like to view southern hip-hop as a cheap knock off of what the “art form” was meant to be, many in the South are too worried about steadily producing more of it, regardless of what others may think. This can be said for many hip-hop artists that have gotten to the point they are now by posting up and hustling mixtapes out the back of their trunk, but it’s important to point out that not all product that is hustled out the back of a trunk is created equal.

In terms of  design and photography all you need to do is jump on MySpace to witness firsthand that Pen & Pixel and their influence on cover artwork and photography is alive and well in the South. Whether that’s good or bad, I’ll let you be the judge, but many times when you’re looking for that platinum level of art you really are left with a gumball machine equivalent. It seems that just like everyone wants to be rapper, everyone wants to be a designer or photographer, without ever paying attention to quality. In Southern rap, there’s few artists and studios that really stand out and one artist who has not only embraced the culture and influences of southern rap but helped take to a more sophisticated level of artistry is Austin based OG of Luxury Mindz. OG took some time out of his busy schedule to rap with me a bit about his artwork, the artists he’s worked with, his platinum plaque, Austin hip-hop and the future of music related art.

Photo slideshow and interview after the jump ↓
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Mike and Ike at The Parish, August 1, Opening for Devin The Dude

Mike and Ike at The Parish, August 1, Opening for Devin The Dude

Austin 360′s “A-list” has published some pictures from last Friday’s Devin the dude show. The set includes some pictures from Mike and Ike’s set as well as from some of the other artists. Go over to the A-List website and check them out. If anyone else has any other pictures, feel free to link them up in the comments section. Peace

Texas hip-hop icon, Devin The Dude, will be bringing his eccentric brand of hip-hop to the 512 on August 1. Outside of his longtime Rap-a-lot partnerships Devin has also worked with everyone from De La Soul to Dr. Dre and is definitely one in a million in terms of showmanship and dedication to his craft. Opening will be Austin natives Gerald G, Southbound and BigBadMedium.com comrades, Mike and Ike. Also opening will be Fat Tony, Giovanni, COD and Kriminals. Quite a varied display of Texas hip-hop, which should go over well with Devin’s varied fan base.

Links
Devin The Dude
Gerald G
Southbound
Mike and Ike
TheScrewShop.com
AustinSurreal.com