My big brother Scram Jones has been putting in overtime lately on possibly his most overlooked talent out the triple threat [Producer, DJ, MC].  Scram the Rapper put out a brand new mixtape this week called The Hat Trick, showing off his bars while as expected also handling most of the production.  Download and listen.  I’m not sure how this guy remains not only relevant, but at the top of the game on the boards and in the booth, and still can find the creativity to come up with rhymes like the ones on this project. Hat’s off to him.

Scram Jones ft. The Alchemist – Collision Course

In true 4.20 fashion, this post is being made on 4.21.  Who’s putting in more work right now than Dub Sonata?  After the wide spread success of Nights In Cuba, Dub is back already with another highly potent instrumental project, Bluntitled.  It’s the musical equivalent of that kush/sour/purple haze L. Anyway, you already know EMPT got the exclusive release, ’cause thats how we move.  Check out the title track below, and support the man himself by purchasing the 5 track EP on iTunes.

Dub Sonata – Bluntitled

First off, ya Gangster is cosmetic.  Fresh out D&D Studios in 2003 was Gang Starr’s last album The Ownerz, which was their 6th.  Their first album was released in 1989, yes the 80′s, and some of the records were recorded as early as ’87.  Through the evolution of a growing genre, Gang Starr saw their way through 14 years of in your face, East Coast grit.  With this genre that we speak of basically running the media world, the late Guru was still left unmentioned during this year’s Grammys.  Huh?  I disagree with that personally.  Since I live and breath music with my peers every day, I gain extra respect for those that did the same years before me, and shaped the sound that creatively I interpret and interpolate. Yup, that’s exactly what I meant.  Exhibit A – “Rite Where U Stand”.

Respect first then money, basic shit.  You got niggas under pressure, you can take they shit.”

As in a perfect scenario, Jadakiss takes his talents to this record.  His verse always stands out to me when thinking of the ‘Kiss classics.  Bring that back.  And of course… Primo on the beat.  The intro to The Temptations “Gonna Keep On Trying Till I Win Your Love” gets the hard chop treatment, definitely can’t say anyone does it better.  The chop at 0:05 flip flops with the piano from 0:02, and the drums stretch the swing limits.  Hip Hop professor Premier pinpoints “Your ganster is cosmetic” from QB’s Finest “The Bridge 2001″ and scratches in a verbal punch to the hook.  This record dares the listener to step up to the level of the music, and really go to war.  It’s good to know that my partner, and the EMPT general is tryna get it over quick, leave you rite where u stand.

The Temptations – Gonna Keep On Trying Till I Win Your Love

QB’s Finest – The Bridge 2001

Gang Starr ft. Jadakiss – Rite Where U Stand

via KevinCaseyMusic and Et Musique Pour Tous

Haven’t bought Nights In Cuba yet?  Damn you sleeping.  After initially being released with an epic write up on Et Musique Pour Tous, Dub Sonata’s unprecedented project has started to win over its listeners, and critics.  Check out write up’s on AlarmPress, Exclaim Magazine, and Rap Reviews.  Although already posted on EMPT, I had to directly link “Todos” to my site because I love it so much.  The backwards sample starts off the movie like soundscape, and is quickly joined by a collection of instruments and drums… it’s great.  Get up on one of the greatest to be, Dub Sonata.

Dub Sonata – Todos

Shotout to everyone and anyone checking in on my site, and reading up on my Sample Saturday’s sponsored by Et Musique Pour Tous.  Take my bias into account if needed, but my brother Hector Mendoza Jr.’s EMPT is steadily moving towards being the best music blog on the PLANET.  Keep a musical edge, and learn new records through Hec’s knowledge and overall musicality.

You think positive thoughts and act upon them and you will get those type of results. Yet some insist on associating the negative perception as reality, I don’t know what the point of that is.”

Embrace something that challenges you, join the EMPT movement.  Hec, it’s yours kid.

So me and another one of my partners in crime Hector Medoza Jr., the mastermind behind Et Musique Pour Tous, have officially joined forces to create the musical super-hero, Casey Mendoza.  Before you come see us do what do we live, check out Gold For Breakfast Vol. 1, a 17-minute mashup of a variety of music sure to get your adrenaline levels boosted.  We tried to take the mix-factor to another level, combining 3 to 4 songs at a time in certain parts to create powerful new soundscapes.  Officially sponsored by EMPT and BroBible.com.  This mix is just a small preview of the things to come for us, stay tuned… in the meantime download and enjoy.

Et Musique Pour Tous & BROBIBLE Present: Gold For Breakfast Vol. 1 by caseymendoza

One of my partners in this music thing, and also one of my favorite producers, Dub Sonata, recently put out a fully instrumental album inspired by a trip to Cuba.  Fittingly so, it was officially released on my favorite website EMPT with an amazing article and description courtesy of Hector Mendoza Jr.  I was lucky enough to see this project develop from its early stages and I can honestly say I’ve never witnessed such hard work first hand when it comes to music.  That hard work more than payed off, and it is evident in every beat of Nights In Cuba’s 45 minutes.  Dub has set a high standard for my whole team, and he is doing so like a true leader with this amazing album.  I am certain that 2011 is going to bring an abundance of success for the people I am surrounded by, and no one more than Dub.  Support real music and buy Nights In Cuba on iTunes.  Viva Cuba.

Dub Sonata – Puffin’ On a Fat Blunt

After a small holiday hiatus we’re back like we never left.  First and foremost Happy 2011 to you all!  Since you are here paying us a visit, that means you have exceptional musical taste and you are already winning in the new year.  To jump things off, we have a special Sample Saturday brought to you by myself and Dub Sonata.  We’re gonna look into the making of Nights In Cuba and expose the dusty Cuban records that helped make up track 19, ”January Nights On The Malecón In Havana Cuba.” The Malecón is a long stretch of roadway and seawall that runs along the coast of Havana.  Dub stayed a few blocks away from the Malecón in Havana Centro and spent many of his nights on or around that strip of road, a gathering point for locals and visitors.  Just a few blocks off the Malecón is where he discovered the “everything shop” that ended up being the musical source that fueled Nights In Cuba.

To actually brake down all of the production moves that Dub made with this track would probably take up a whole page, so we’ll briefly touch on some of the main uses of samples. “January Nights…” is made up of two sections, the first which begins with the outro from “Mango Mangué” (3:45) followed by chopped notes taken from the intro of the same record.  Sixteen bars after the beat drops we hear a vocal sample from another Merceditas Valdes song called “Yambambó” (2:59).  Eight bars later we hear the first use of a flute line from the Sintesis record “¿Pensar, Que Es?” (2:14).  The second section begins with a Los Reyes 73 sample chopped up from “Necesito De Alguien Como Tu” (3:21).  Eight bars after the drums come in we hear a horn section lifted off the same Los Reyes 73 record (0:16), along with a vocal sample (4:46) which immediately follows.  Throughout the track you can hear some chimes in the background from “Mango Mangué” (1:40) and a sprinkling of synths.  To tie it all together, Dub brought in various instrumentalists to add on saxophone, trumpet, flute and acoustic guitar.  Keep up.  And be smart enough to take the time to listen to these songs in their entirety and enjoy one of the coolest genres of music on the planet.

Nights In Cuba available on iTunes.

Merceditas Valdes – Mango Mangué

Sintesis – ¿Pensar, Que Es?

Los Reyes 73 – Necesito De Alguien Como Tu

Merceditas Valdes – Yambambo

Dub Sonata – January Nights On The Malecón In Havana Cuba

via KevinCaseyMusic, Et Musique Pour Tous, and Dub Sonata

In a year where hip-hop often sounded more like hip-pop, we finally have a project to bring us back to the glory days.  One of the biggest contributors to those days on the production side was a friend and mentor of mine, the real Buckwild.  For the cleverly named Nineteen Ninety Now, underground rapper Celph Titled decided to bring it back to the essence, and to have his project scored entirely by the legendary D.I.T.C. producer.  All the beats are said to have been made in the mid-nineties, and were dug up for this project specifically.  Having the chance to hear sixteen unheard Buckwild beats is a selling point in itself, in addition is Celph Titled contributing his unique abilities as an edgy and versatile lyricist.  Guest appearances by artists like Sadat X, Grand Puba, Treach, and the D.I.T.C. crew add some different styles of voice to the overall sound.  Lyrically all artists did their thing in representing the 1990′s… now. All in all, the star of the show is Buckwild himself, one of the greatest to ever bang on an MPC.  Salute!

“With its crashing kicks and snares and dusty sampled grooves, Buckwild’s production on this album is the standard to which all Hip Hop producers should aim to achieve.” – HipHopDX

Celph Titled & Buckwild – Mad Ammo (feat. F.T. & R.A. The Rugged Man)

My friend and colleague Roy Perez has been out working his competition lately while building the career of his artist Kristine Elezaj, the future princess of the pop world.  Along with being one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, Kristine’s talent, beauty, and passion are ingredients for guaranteed success.  On top of that, having Roy as her manager the team has been making moves that has even the majors taking notes.  Speaking of the majors, most of them want to give Kristine a home, and one of them will soon be announced as the lucky winner.  With that said, support hard work and good music and buy Kristine’s album No Questions Remain on iTunes.

Kristine Elezaj – Warpath