DOOM is as evil as ever. This album features some unexpected guests like, Talib Kweli, De La Soul and Jake One to name a few.  Slow flows over headnodic beats are what the album entails. There is a lot of familiarity in this project; DOOM hasn’t veered far from the style that he is well known for. Unexpected Guests is good music, and with such great collaborations this album is definitely worth the investment.

What happens when you blend a witty battle lyricist and an innovative legendary turntablist?  Eyedea & Abilities becomes the mold and this musical duo has just the right ingredients for one to digest their collaborative hip-hop brilliance.  Dating back to the mid-nineties, E&A set the world ablaze with Eyedea’s dynamic lyricism and Abilities‘ mix tape marvels, as well as his inimitable production.  The pair have played a significantly large role in the craft of the underground scene and have continued to influence artists and enthusiasts alike from their origin to the present.  Set to release their third masterpiece, By The Throat on July 21st, E&A guarantee to catch the listener’s attention with bursts of fresh music oxygen for the soul.  The album incorporates hazy keyboards, catchy choruses, jabbing guitars, and some of the most obscure turntable sounds to date.  Witness them live, if you haven’t already at this year’s upcoming Rock The Bells festival 2009.

Here is a freestyle to set you all off.

Friday June 12th, 2009

Del The Funky Homosapien and Mike Relm

House of Blues on the Sunset Strip
Price: $17.50 – $20.00 | Ages: 18+
Doors: 8pm

House of Blues Sunset Strip
8430 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 848-5100

Words by: Sepehr Vakil

Which came first: your passion for music or your commitment as a political activist, or are they had a reinforcing relationship for one another?

I have always been of a Revolutionary mind first and then musically inclined, there are people who think these cannot co-exist, and truthfully it is difficult because Hip Hop has the tendency to put you in a box. I make music that is felt across the board, so sometimes certain people get mad when others that are from a complete other demographic listen to and appreciate it. For example now that my music has spread like a virus throughout the Black and Latino community and the assistance of Green Lantern has assisted in the extended play and penetration into the commercial circuit some people take that as me moving towards that industry mentality. Burt regardless of who out there is listening, the message in the music hasn’t been curbed or censored in any way shape or form. And the fact that all of the work I do in different communities and countries is funded with underground Hip Hop money. So if anything the message and the music has just gotten stronger, and it aids the Revolutionary actions I take.

You clearly see the value in investing time and energy for the intellectual and artistic development of young minds. I’m dying to know, what and who were some of your most significant and positive childhood influences?

I think that of course the eye opening misery of incarceration (legal slavery) was a big influence, but much more than that the studies I took upon myself, the works, of Michael Parenti,Tariq Ali, Mariategui, John Henrik Clarke, Al-Tabari, and even the great critics of any leftist aspects of civil liberties and the supporters of the one world state, I have to understand how these people think… History itself though is the best teacher I have ever had, to learnt the victory and failure of our people and empires throughout the ages. But as far as Hip Hop I am blessed to know people like Chuck D, KRS1, Afrika Bambaattaa, and others that taught me so much about the culture of Hip Hop history and the methodology used to prostitute this culture and our people’s struggles.

I read your latest online piece titled, “The 3rd World & My $4 hat.” Although you might think that you are losing credibility on the streets by flexing your intellectual muscle, you are also influencing minds that otherwise would not be reached through your music (those outside the hip-hop generation). On this note, do you have any plans on writing a book that could be used as a tool for affecting unaffected minds?

Quite the opposite it seems, I have never had a louder voice in the hood, I think that the people who believe that intelligence and strength are not compatible are marginalizing themselves instead of me when they propagate such ideas. I know that I have a very powerful support base in colleges around the world but now the message has infiltrated Hollywood, and the first place I started selling records back with Vol.1 in 2001…the streets. As far as writing a book, I wouldn’t rule it out, but right now I am very focused on promoting “The 3^rd World” Album/Mixtape. The world tour coming up and then of course “The Middle Passage” and “Revolutionary Vol.3” Besides this though, I also am actively involved with programs to run with gangs, street organizations and prisons for youths whenever I have the time to spare to be involved with these things. I try to always stay connected to that side of the struggle. It’s not just journal entries I live this.