Jay Electronica swept onto the hip hop scene in a wave of enigma late last decade. The effect of his quirky, emotional sound was compounded by the erratic methods of their release, drifting out unannounced via the internet – the Myspace leak of Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge), a fifteen minute opus laced with movie samples and beatless film soundtracks, represented the beginning of an astounding surge of interest in both the man and his music, back in 2007. Since then, the New Orleans-born MC and producer has garnered heavy support from everybody from Nas to Gilles Peterson, and has worked heavily with soulslinger Just Blaze, dropping two instant neo-backpack classics, Exhibit A and Exhibit C. Only recently he partnered with New York-based “idea studio” Decon, working on his debut album as well as a video project with label founder Jason Goldwatch. With more anticipation around his Act II track than the rest of hip hop’s class of ‘10 combined, and another project with fellow supa emcees Mos Def and Curren$y in the making, the future couldn’t look brighter for Jay. To paraphrase his recent collaboration with Talib Kweli und Hi-Tek: he’s only just begun.

Grab ya popcorn and enjoy the footage!

Rime Interview x MTV Urban Germany from I Love Graffiti on Vimeo.

SHOWBIZ PLAYING BEATZ! W/ DJ PREMIER from A/V PRENEURS on Vimeo.

D.I.T.C.’s Showbiz previews some beats from an upcoming project with DJ Premier and talk production at HeadQcourterz Studio.

Common shares his memories of James Dewitt Yancey aka J Dilla aka Jay Dee. Common tells Nick Huff of Hard Knock TV that J Dilla is his, Pharrells, Kanyes and Questloves favorite producer. Common also talks about how Dilla and himself worked on Like Water For Chocolate almost 10 years ago and how he thinks Music would be different if Jay Dee was still alive.

“I never seen a producer sit there and have so much revere for music and so much respect for it. I’ve seen everybody from Pharrell to Kanye, to Questlove … and I’m like, ‘Man, that’s my favorite producer.’ I think music would be in a different place if he was here. He provided so much inspiration.”

“He made sounds that would be anything from the rawest of hip-hop to something like sounds flowing against Radiohead, and he would play some of the instruments.”

Yessir!

Last night Toca Tuesday featured a J Dilla and Big Pun tribute. 1st two hours was the Dilla tribute and last 2 hours was the Pun tribute with Just Blaze, Sean C & LV, Young Lord, Juju of The Beatnuts, Buckwild, DJ Soul, DJ Green Lantern, and a call from N.O.R.E. Click here to check out the rest of the pics from last night.  Take a listen!

Part 1: ?uestlove Spins a Dilla Set

Part 2: Busta calls in x Black Thought and Q-Tip Freestyle

Part 3: Big Pun Tribute Part 1

Part 4: Big Pun Tribute Part 2

Props: NahRight

This rarely seen footage gets the word on Dilla’s influence from Waajeed, Frank Nitty, and Mr. Love Movement – Dilla himself. These were Dilla’s last moments in Toronto.

Check out Carlos on Transworld.

Via: TH

I just returned from Tokyo, where my right hand Carl and I completed a 60’ mural and facade painting installation at the Stussy Shinjuku chapter store. This project was part of my ongoing support for the worldwide release of the new Haze x Stussy S/S 2010 capsule collection, which is already out in Japan, and drops here in the states and Europe next month…

Hit the jump for flicks.

Via: Haze

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PHARRELL WILLIAMS x BKRW video INTERVIEW from Jay SMITH on Vimeo.

As monster as this is, I still love the first one.

Pharrell Keynote at MIDEM 2010 from thecashmerethinker on Vimeo.

Skateboard P recently sat down with co-CEO Rob Stone of Midem and discussed the momentum of his career and its past, present and future direction. P offers his thoughts on todays creativity and what the up-coming stars of tomorrow can do to pursue their dreams. Loads of great stuff in this video. Enjoy!

LTD Presents Conversations: Just Blaze (Episode #1) from LTD Magazine on Vimeo.

With Baseline Studios up for sale, Just Blaze sits down with LTD Magazine for his last interview inside the legendary studio. They cover just about everything from the history of the place, the projects it spawned, the studio fights, the future and plenty more. Check out the second part after the jump.

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The man of many talents sits down with Jauretsi of tmagazine and discuss his latest venture.  Very amusing.  Click here for the video.