[above: a DaVaughn Blakney profile picture] Ok, here we go… First of all welcome to any new visitors, but this post is for everyone that checks up on the site regularly, and has been left song-less as of late. I want to be one to make music, and not blog about it… and honestly that thought sometimes resonates in my head.  I see now that I am just lucky to have a platform to share great songs with people, and actually have them listen.  At the end of the day, being a fan of music is what made me want to make my own… so, “I’m Back” -Eddie Kendrick.

Yesterday, I got the pleasure of being with a bunch of old friends at the Marina in Yonkers for the annual Diddy Day.  It’s been 3 years since we lost him.  Diddy was too big of a personality to ever be forgotten, and that’s why we miss him like we do.  Lucky for you guys he had a good ear for classic street records, and “Dope Money” was one that got several hundred plays in his Maxima.  To be honest, I actually feel the closest to Diddy when listening to The Lox. Certain bars more than others.

“Pull over where the hustlers be : And why’s that? : Cuz I get chills, when you talk of hustling keys”

The Lox – Dope Money

I was lucky enough to lend a helping hand on the “Intro” of Fat Joe’s new album, The Darkside Vol. 1. The beat was put together by Scram Jones and myself, and as a result I got my first major album credit. Joe goes in for endless bars, no hook, making the dark tone of the album very apparent from the start. I’m grateful to be apart of an album with such a high overall caliber of production.  With no bias – I really find it to be a great album, and Fat Joe’s best in years.  Welcome to The Darkside.

Fat Joe – “Intro” (prod. Scram Jones & Kevin Casey)

Check out a new record from Scram Jones called “Fork In The Road.”  In between smashing the Manhattan club scene and making beats for hip-hop’s best, Scram some how finds time to lay down some vocals of his own.  Recently Rap Radar called him “Hip-Hop’s Best Kept Secret,” while the anticipation grows for a full-length project from Scram The MC.  By the way, Scram The DJ smashed the set from 10-12 tonight on Shade 45.

Scram Jones – Fork In The Road

If you have yet to see the kid Scram Jones do his club DJ thing then you’ve missed out.  You can catch him tonight at the famous Greenhouse, where he will also be tomorrow night and saturday.  Also, every friday he smashes CV Lounge on Rivington.  Come out and party with the Beast Music/Mes Hall team while Scram controls the 1’s & 2’s.

Young Jeezy ft. Plies – Lose My Mind

My man Mes does it all… as he says “check my resume.”  As the founder of the multi-functional Mes Hall, he has given the opportunity to people like myself to have a creative home amongst other like-minded people.  The Mes Hall is a building of studios with all the necessary resources for any producer, rapper, musician, graphic designer, or photographer.  We have a core group of people who cover all those crafts, and who help build each others brands.  For more information on studio time or booking enquiries visit The Mes Hall’s website.  Born in California and raised in the Bronx, Mes is also a talented producer, having worked with many rap artists in the New York area and overseas as well.  Below is a record of his with Mes Hall resident rapper, Rich Mo.

Rich Mo (prod. Chris “Mes” Vinson) – Bronx Anthem

For those of you who have been checking up on the site this week, I owe u.  I spent a lot of time this week preparing for a party I DJed at last night thrown by NYPudding and EtMusiquePourTous.  The Yacht left from the East Side of Manhattan, and sailed around the island for the majority of the night. Good food, drinks, and people.  Shouts to Chris Wonder, Roy Perez, and my partner Hector Mendoza. On to the next…

Here’s a track off the upcoming War Report 2 featuring the L-O-X (clean version for now).  This group of MCs on one record is a guaranteed win, plus its produced by the homey Scram Jones.  Everything I’ve heard thus far from this project indicates that a modern street classic is on the way.

CNN ft. The LOX – Bodega Stories

If you are a fan of New York hip hop then you are undoubtedly a CNN fan.  The highly anticipated War Report 2 comes out July 13th, and until then we have The Camouflage Season Mixtape to hold us over (free download here).  Hosted by The Evil Genius Green Lantern and presented by Beast Music, the tape includes a bunch of bangers, including “Kick It 2 Em Man” produced by my man Vin Tha Chin (pictured above far right, with the homey Scram Jones and NORE).  If you haven’t already, check my post on Vin’s track with Raekwon The Chef.

CNN ft. Tragedy Khadafi and Imam T.H.U.G. – Kick It 2 Em Man (prod. Vin Tha Chin)

Last night was the 5th Annual Stylus DJ Awards in Toronto, which is an award show that honors the best of the best DJs across Canada.  I wanted to congratulate my homey DJ Wristpect for being a boss and taking home Toronto DJ of the Year and also Mixtape of the Year for his Bridging the Gap Volume 4 which I posted back in January.  I will also take this opportunity to officially announce that me and Wristpect will be dropping a mixtape project together this fall.  All I can say is don’t expect the expected. I salute you homey, keep killing ‘em.

If you browse any of the popular hip hop blogs, then you already know about this joint from the homies Scram Jones and Green Lantern.  Green is a dude that I have tremendous respect for, so it was dope meeting him in the studio last week.  With Green on the beat and providing the hype in between verses, Scram goes in and does his rap thing… one of the three things he does exceptionally well.  I guess there are other “Triple Threats” out there (Rapper, Producer, DJ) but I certainly don’t know of any that do all three as well as Scram.  Make sure you catch every line… enjoy.

Scram Jones & Green Lantern – Two Piece Special