Pick up your jaw from the floor, its true. Madlib appeared on BET’s Rap City. A moment that will most likely not happen again, ever.

This was a part of the Talib Kweli week where he hosted a few shows. Same way 50 Cent did a while back, and some others as well. I wasn’t able to catch any of the shows myself, but this video ended up on Stone Throw’s youtube page. Definitely a classic appearance, and you can tell Madlib was a bit nervous. If you’ve ever seen Madlib in person, he kind of acts the same way. Seems like a real shy and humble dude.

But he dropped a bomb on the appearance that I hope you noticed. Madlib said he has 8 tracks on the next Erykah Badu album. Word?? DOPE!!! Thats some great news. Its been a minute since Badu has put out some material, so this makes it even more exciting. Madlib has a wide variety of beat styles, and I totally dig his smooth R&B steez, ala Dudley Perkins or Stacey Epps.

Here is my favorite track off of Talib’s album, produced by none other than Madlib.
Talib Kweli - Soon The New Day Ft. Norah Jones

Last of all, I gotta represent for Badu, as I anxiously await to hear what she cooked up with Madlib. Here is one of my favorite songs by Badu, produced by the late J Dilla. Hopefully Badu and Madlib can be on this level, and I don’t doubt it.
Erykah Badu - Didn’t Cha Know

Little Brother is back in Miami!!! Hell Yeah!! You HAVE to see these guys perform live, and Evidence will be in the building as well. Lovely. $12.

Spank Rock, Benny Blanco, and Amanda Blank get together to let you know what to bump while getting your freak on. Many classics are thrown in, and some songs you might not even remember.

This was done for MySpace to promote Spank Rock and Benny Blanco’s new project “Bangers and Cash”, which i already posted earlier! And if you heard that project, you already know they all about getting your freak on, in the booty. (Amanda says that!)

If you’re still wondering who that white girl is, its Amanda Blank. She’s been putting it down on the remix scene for a while, and has been touring with Spank Rock since the dawn of time. Here are a couple of tracks which can be found on her MySpace. The first song is some real dope uptempo shit. And the second song features world famous M.I.A.

Amanda Blank - Get It Now

Amanda Blank - Take it easy Ft. MIA

Biz Markie - Def Fresh Crew Ft. Roxanne Shante. Last week I posted a song by the Young Americans, and I was trying to figure out what vocal sample they used. I knew it was very familiar, but couldn’t remember. Then the homie DJ Sharpsound put me onto this long lost gem. This is Biz Markie and the real Roxanne tearing it down in the late 80s. So simple, yet so dope. This track is genius.

And if you doubt the classicness of this track, check it out back in 1986. Damn!!!! So dope.

Chromeo - Fancy Footwork. When Halloween starts coming around every year I always get into my Michael Jackson Thriller type mood. Best video ever. I started browsing some semi-new songs I got, and realized how dope Chromeo was. They bringing back some of that dope 80s sound, but flip it in their own way and keep it current. One of my favorite tracks of their last album is the title track “Fancy Footwork”. If the jheri curl Mike we like was still making classic music today, this is what it would sound like.

Pete Rock - We Roll Ft. Jim Jones & Max B. Who would have thought? Jim Jones and Pete Rock?!?! Word? I;ve never really checked for Jim Jones like that, but he does have a few dope songs here and there. And who can forget baaaallingg? I still be throwing up my jumpshot move constantly–even at times when I don’t really do big baller type shit. Like the other day I was at KFC, and the cashier gave me a free drink. Baaaalliiing!!!! Chea, so back to the joint. This song is butta.

UGK - Real Woman Ft. Talib Kweli & Raheem Devaughn. Another rap act I never really checked for is UGK. I know they got dope songs here and there, and have been in the game forever, but I guess it just wasn’t my steez too much. Their album this year was pretty dope though. A bunch of classic tracks, including this one featuring Talib Kweli.

Jeru The Damaja will be performing his classics at Studio A. He will be the headline act for the Dunks XChange event, where you can go trade/buy/sell your exclusive kicks. $15.

In what seems to be happening a bit more often, which is a great thing, this weekend is filled with many dope events. And as you may expect from us, we have highlighted the best in our events list on the right side of the page.

If you don’t count DJ Qbert performing tonight at Studio A, then the party starts on Friday when world famous Steve Aoki makes a visit to the Pawn Shop. This will be a free event, for those in the know. So hit us up for details! And for those with different tastes, Fresh Basil familia will be rocking out at Jazid lounge once again for another free event. Performances by MAYDAY, Wrekonize, ArtOfficial, and good dance music upstairs.

The pace switches up a bit on Saturday, as iAmYourVillain hosts another one of their extravagant splendors at the AntiKulture gallery. It will be an art display and gallery as DJ Keen One provides the sounds and funkiness. Expect lots of fly ladies and trendy types in the building.

On Sunday, Hip Hop Karaoke returns to Purdy Lounge!!! If you missed the last one, you missed a great time! People making fools of themselves on stage, all in good fun. This one will prove to be even better, the Halloween edition. Come dressed as the rapper you will be performing as!

And of course, Monday will top things off with M.I.A. performing at Studio A, along with the Cool Kids. What!?!?! This is going to be crazy.. But guess what? Its already sold out. They will have limited tickets at the door, so get your ass over there early.

For more events to know about, hit us up at freshbasilcrew [at] gmail [dot] com. HOLLA!

MAYDAY and Wrekonize will be rocking out Jazid again in their bi-weekly love fest at Jazid, this time a Halloween special!! Wear your costumes kiddies. Free before 12!!!

Art display and gallery going down at AntiKulture. With the infamous DJ Keen One spinning. Come get your wine and cheese on, and mack it to high society females.

Rick Ross Ft. Clipse - Blow . Gotta start things off proper with hometown heavyweight Ricky Ross. This song comes off a new album which was supposedly recorded before his Def Jam debut. There was a whole bunch of drama popping off with Def Jam and Rick’s previous label, as to whether they could release this or not. Either way, its got some pretty good joints on there, and this track is serious. As you probably guessed, a track with Rick Ross and Clipse can only be about one thing, that good ol’ coca-ina. I’d love to hear Ross over more beats like this.

Young Americans - Cold Act Ill. This is a new track by an electro duo based out of California, the Young Americans. It starts off pretty fresh with a nice vocal sample that I can’t pinpoint. Sounds very familiar, but can’t figure out who it is. Somebody tell me! As the track progresses it gets thicker with more bass and synth, and just drops heavy. Nice club track.

Digitalism - Idealistic (DJ A-Trak REMIX). World famous DJ A-trak drops another banging remix, this time for German allstars Digitalism. Doesn’t seem to change much off the original, but somehow manages to make it sound so much hyper, and laced it with some beefed up drums. I think this version is way better than the original.

Flying Lotus - Massage Situation. This guy has got to be one of my new favorite producers. I was sleeping on him for a while, but he has been putting in some work and keeps dropping crazy shit. While hearing his tracks, you can totally feel the J Dilla inspiration throughout. Smooth soul, feel good type music. I love it. And this track delivers beautifully. The bass and sample on this track are crazy. THis is featured on his latest release, the Reset EP.

Hip Hop Karaoke returns, Halloween edition! Dress like the rapper you will be performing as! Don’t miss this one, the last one was hella fun.

DJ Qbert will be pleasing all the scratch nerds at Studio A. Fresh Basil familia will be in the building as DJ I-Dee and Wrekonize perform as well.

For those into the indie scene, Kenna might be a familiar face. But for most, Kenna is a mystery. I’m not even sure how I heard of him myself. But ever since I heard his first album “New Sacred Cow”, I’ve been hooked. And just today, Kenna releases his second studio album called “Make Sure They See My Face”.

Its not so heavy and deep for those thinking I’m trying to put you onto some weird indie rock shit. Y’all know Fresh Basil better than that!! This guy rocks over some really fresh beats and compositions made by Mr. Neptune himself, Chad Hugo. Yes, Mr. Neptune. You know Chad was the mastermind behind the whole setup while Pharrell took the spotlight over the years. On this album Chad displays his skills at putting together some great songs. The lead single, however, was produced by Pharrell. And you can peep the video above.

Kenna - Say Goodbye To Love Ft. Pharrell. This is a great track. It’s got that classic Neptunes sound and has Pharrell killing it with a nice drum pattern.

Kenna - Sun Red, Sky Blue. This is one of my favorites off the album. And for some reason, it reminds me the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Good thing? Maybe. But this track definitely bangs.

Kenna - Live & Flow. This is a random track, which is not on the new album, and not on the first album either. I’m not sure where it appeared, but this was one of the first songs that got me into Kenna. Straight banger.

Making his first trip back to Miami in a couple years, DJ Qbert will be at Studio A on Wednesday, October 24th. Not much to explain about Qbert. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you won’t understand.

The place is going to be packed with scratch nerds, but it will definitely be popping off with DJ I-Dee in the house as well. Wrekonize will be performing alongside I-Dee, no homo, so expect Fresh Basil familia to be in the house.

Aquabooty has been putting it down heavy on the soulful house tip for eight years. They will be performing this Saturday at the one and only Pawn Shop. This event looks major with other dope performances by the Jazzanova crew from Germany, Osunlade, Vaughan Sheldon, and more. Hit up tomas (at) aquabooty (dot) com for guestlist or drop $20 at the door.

Make sure to check for new Miami Transplant Djinji Brown on the decks for that Bronx Boogie. Check the recent article I wrote on him for the Miami New Times here. Dude has some stories!

When Spank Rock started making a splash in the scene a couple years back, I wasn’t really paying attention. The first few singles were a bit too weird for me, and I basically slept on him. As time went by, I realized I was missing out on some good shit.

On his debut album entitled YoYoYoYoYo, Spank Rock teamed up with veteran producer XXXchange, and dropped a very unique “hip-hop” album. Although its labeled as hip-hop, this album crosses every line imaginable, and delivers a fresh new style that propped up Spank for great success.

Now Spank Rock is back with a new producer, Benny Blanco, and has completely flipped the script again. Together they are known as Bangers & Cash, and their project was released October 9th. They have taken it back to a time that I know many Miami-ans hold dear in their heart—the nasty, yet beautiful Miami Bass days! Its so dope how accurate they are at capturing that raw, grimey bass sound, and flip it with their own style. So if you haven’t already checked them out, do it now! Here’s a few sample tracks of their EP, which you can buy here.

Bangers & Cash - Get Loose

Bangers & Cash - Shake That