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After the long wait, it’s finally here.

Hero & Rad Video Premiere Flyer

Hero & Rad ft. Mike & Ike – Smoothness, Coolness

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Smoothness, Coolness.mp3

Houston’s Hero and Rad will premiere their video for “Smoothness, Coolness” featuring Mike and Ike this Friday, September 11 in Houston at the The Jet Lounge. The video was filmed in Austin and Houston and has a cameo from Mic Skills. Besides Mike and Ike, Hero and Rad’s album, Resilience, also has appearances from Karina Nistal, Mic Skills, Lower Life Form and the Legendary K-otix.

Hero & Rad ft. Mike & Ike – Smoothness, Coolness

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Smoothness, Coolness.mp3

Houston’s Hero and Rad preview their video for “Smoothness, Coolness” featuring Mike and Ike. The video was filmed in Austin and Houston and has a cameo from Mic Skills. Mic Skills and Hero and Rad have two of the best independent hip hop albums in Texas right now and if you listen now you could get in on the ground floor of what their main producer Digi M is doing. Besides Mike and Ike, Hero and Rad’s album, Resilience, also has appearances from Karina Nistal, Mic Skills, Lower Life Form and the Legendary K-otix. Apparently the album is locked up in Houston and they won’t let it out (no Akon-0), I’ll let yall know when it pops up to purchase online, for now, download the single. 

My good friend Mike, better known to many from Mike and Ike, has finished up medical school and will be moving away from Austin. The only real emcee/MD that I know of, Mike found a way over the last few years to keep making music in between work and school and will now be moving away to DFW to continue doing what he does. He will be celebrating Saturday May 2 at Dirty Bill’s in Austin (511 Rio Grande), Dj Diamond Tip will be spinning some of Mike’s favorite songs, Mike will jump on the mic for a few songs and maybe invite some friends to do a few songs for old times sake.

If you are not familiar with Mike, he just finished up some collaborations with Hero and Rad, Mic Skills and Mike and Ike’s debut album has been made available recently on Bandcamp. Check out the the music and if you know Mike make sure you’re at Dirty Bill’s in Austin this Saturday May 2.

Poise ft. Dj Diamond Tip – Heavyweight Champion (Produced by Decap)

Download Poise ft. Dj Diamond Tip – Heavyweight Champion (Produced by Decap)

BigBadMedium has an exclusive download from Austin based artist, Poise, produced by Decap. Poise is currently gearing up to release Bullets, a mixtape also featuring 20/20 and Dj Diamond Tip. Heavyweight Champ is a promotional track leading up up to his full LP, entitled “Lifeguard”, which features both production and vocals from 20/20. Poise recently launched his new MySpace page, visit him and keep up to date on the latest.

More About Poise
Originally from the midwest, Poise brought his lyricism and high energy act to Texas a few years ago and he hasn’t looked back. First featured on Mike and Ike’s “Classic Sound”, Poise has remained on the radar as someone to expect great things from. His ability to balance mainstream appeal with raw underground lyricism and delivery has many anxiously awaiting studio material. Poise has shared the stage with Diamond Tip on several different occasions both as an opening act (Guru, Neyo, Canibus, Black Sheep, Juelz Santana, Oneself,Rakim, Method Man, and Lil Wayne.) and as the main act across Texas, gaining recognition and respect for their talent and high energy live performances. Having collaborated with Texas based producer and emcee, 20/20 for a few years now the two have developed a unique chemistry, building a sound that is distinctively “20/20 and Poise.”

As posted a few weeks back, Austin hip-hop group Mike and Ike were selected as as finalists for the Midwest region in Disc Maker’s Independent Music World Series. The group will be performing with Dj Diamond Tip and Global on October 16th at Elbo Room in Chicago. I told Mike to send me as many updates as possible and it turns out they had an early flight this morning and it also turns out that Ike has never ever been on a plane before….ha! I’ll try and keep up with all the ridiculousness that Mike reports to me. I’m also going to put up some of the pictures that Mike sends me on my Flickr, check them out! 

Late Edit from The Honest Ape…     I’ll post the video once I have it though…but…  

Still #1….

12:12am, Chicago’s Elbo Room
Elbo Room, 12:12: “You gave it 110% and today just wasn’t your day.” – Global

We didn’t come out with the victory today, but we’re not ashamed. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to travel for free and get to see the windy city. We’re thankful for the opportunity to share our music with the people of Chicago…

Alright, I’ll stop being nice. It feels WACK to lose. The thought of losing never crossed my mind. But today has been a roller coaster ride. From the limo ride, to the VIP treatment, to the show and it was a blast. I’m looking forward to enjoying the rest of the weekend in the Chi. If you’re here holla @ me.

Thank ya’ll for sticking with us all day. We appreciate ya’ll. Thanks for all the encouragement and love you’ve showered us with all day.

We represented Texas well. We gave it our all. It ain’t over…

Mic Flo out….

Mike and Ike

11.26pm, Chicago’s Elbo Room
Elbo Room, 11:26: Damn… The show was crazy! We left it all on stage, for real… Don’t worry, we got it all on film & it’ll be on youtube soon as we touchdown in the ATX… We practiced hard & it definitely showed… Hopefully, the judges will agree. We’ll see very soon.

Right now, I’m winding down outside the club enjoying the weather… We are EXHAUSTED… We had a few mishaps but none that were glaringly noticeable. Anyway, the judges are about to announce the winners right now so stay tuned.

Thanks for staying with us…
8:48 pm, Chicago
The first act just went on right now. We’re fifth.

8:03 pm, Chicago
The VIP, 800 pm: We’re chilling @ the IMWS VIP pre-party. I just met Mr. Whitefolks of Pimps Up, Hoes Down fame. He’s a legendary pimp from the Windy City. He was schooling me on the game until he met our manager Sassy & then he was SO FOCUSED. HaHaha. Crazy.

So right now, I’m taking a break from networking & enjoying the free drinks (seems to be the  theme of the day) to holla @ the peeps in the ATX. We’re the only TX representatives here so we’re gonna represent ya’ll well. Know that. Just like our alma mater, UT, we’re not happy unless we’re #1. Alright, it’s time to get focused.

Stay tuned…

(more…)

Austin’s own Mike and Ike have been selected as finalists for the Midwest region in Disc Maker’s Independent Music World Series. The group will be performing with Dj Diamond Tip on October 16th at Elbo Room in Chicago. There are quite a few great prizes at stake for the competitors, including a complete cd manufacturing package from the sponsors and enough studio gear to make anyone jealous. If you’re in the area make sure and check out the group and cheer them on, you won’t be disappointed.

Links
Mike and Ike on MySpace
Independent Music World Series

Videos
Mike and Ike ft. Poise “Classic Sound”