Damn thats one hell of a line-up! Tickets go on sale this Saturday at Ticketfly.com. These tickets will sell out. I’m not speculating, I’m being real. Don’t get left behind.

“Giving Up The Gun” is the 2nd single off of Vampire Weekend’s follow up album, “Contra”. All you really need to know about this video is that it features Joe Jonas, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil Jon, and RZA. Yes, that RZA, on a tennis court.

Wu-Tang Lego: Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ from davo on Vimeo.

Words by: Jason Hortillas

If you don’t know who Leon Michels is, you sure know what he sounds like. As a producer, he has worked on Grammy award winning albums by Adele and Amy Winehouse, in addition to working with hip-hop producers like Just Blaze. As a saxophonist, Michels created the horn line for “Roc Boys,” the lead single off of Jay-Z’s American Gangster. As the front man of El Michels Affair he released “Enter The 37th Chamber,” an instrumental album covering songs made famous by The Wu-Tang Clan. The album is the band’s sophomore effort on Fat Beats Records, applying their Funk and Soul roots to the gritty production of The RZA. In addition to backing Wu-Tang members like Raekwon and The Genius on stage, Michels runs his Truth & Soul Record Label. I spoke with the El Michels Affair co-founder and asked him about the new album and how it felt being forever linked to Hova.

What and who influenced you decide to pursue music and do it full time?
I was into Jazz at an early age. When I discovered artists like Lou Donaldson, The Meters, and James Brown I got obsessed with Soul music.  As far as what got me into music in the first place, I gotta give up to my elementary school music program.  I had good teachers who were inspiring and made me love music.

What drew you to reworking Wu-Tang songs as opposed to other artists?
We decided to cut re-workings of Wu-Tang songs after we had been paired with Raekwon for a series of concerts put on by Scion.  After the first show with Raekwon went so well that myself and co-founder of Truth & Soul, Jeff Silverman, decided to actually record instrumentals of the Wu’s music.

Were you initially nervous working with Raekwon on stage?
We were nervous how he would react to the live interpretations of his music.  There were moments when it got a little hairy on stage, but for the most part, all the Wu-tang guys were consumate professionals. 

What was your favorite song to perform on “Enter The 37th Chamber?”
I think the best Wu-tang song to play live, especially with the El Michels Affair line-up, was “Criminology” and “C.R.E.A.M.” 

What was your reaction when Jay-Z took your horn line for “Roc Boys?” How does it feel to be included on beat diggers’ playlists?
Even before that happened if you had asked me, “what MC would you want to have sample your music” I would’ve said Jay-Z.  That was an incredible moment, especially cause the horn line was pretty much the main focus of the “Roc Boys.” There are some great viral videos of little kids playing that horn line on alto sax, and violin, and bad Casio keyboards. 

Any other projects you working on in the future?
El Michels Affair just released a tribute to Isaac Hayes EP. Truth & Soul Records is putting together a re-issue project about the Ghetto Brothers album “Power Fuerza.” They were a 70′s gang/community organization from the South Bronx. Most recently, T&S just released Lee Fields & The Expression “My World” which was produced by myself and Jeff Silverman.

“Cinematic Soul” has been a description of your band’s sound.  If you could pick a classic movie from back it the day to score what would it be?
That’s a tough one. All my favorite movies from back in the day usually have the greatest scores already.  I think something like “Bullit” or “French Connection” would have been fun to score to.

“I Shoot People” marks the debut unveiling of Trevor Traynor’s Hip Hop photography, his first step outside of his fine arts background. Trevor has been documenting the culture for the past six years; shooting live concerts, portrait shots, album covers, magazine spreads, and more. Notable artists he’s worked with include Afrika Bambatta, Rakim, KRS-One, Nas, N.E.R.D., Mos Def, Q-Tip, De La Soul, M.I.A., Public Enemy, Wu-Tang Clan and much more. His portfolio is a who’s who of Hip Hop culture, from the underground to the mainstream, from the old school to the new school.

The opening reception is June 20th from 7:00 – 11:00 at Tradition.

The repo man got Method Man for his 2008 Navigator for not paying over $50,000 in taxes. Damn, you would think residuals from How High would be enough that is on all the time. Keep your head up Meth. You can always do a reality TV show.  You can read the story here.

Courtesy of SOHH.com

Wu Music Group, the new label ran by the administrative mind of Mitchell “Divine” Diggs and the creative force of Wu-Tang Clan’s chief architect, “The RZA”, will release their second album, Afro Samurai: The Resurrection, on January 27th, 2009. The album is the soundtrack to season two of Spike TV’s critically lauded animated television show and DVD featuring the voice of Samuel L Jackson and is musically produced entirely by Wu Tang Clan’s The RZA. The soundtrack features unlikely collaborations and guest spots from legendary recording artists such as Sly Stone, members of the Wu-Tang Clan, Kool G Rap, Rah Digga, and a whole cast of RZA’s protégé’s, including the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son – Boy Jones. This highly anticipated release demonstrates RZA’s incredible genius and ability to unite some of the finest voices in hip-hop together in one place. The multi-talented producer/actor will also hit the big screen again later in the year as he co-stars in the upcoming comedy from writer/director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up) out summer 2009.  He will be seen alongside Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in Funny People, the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience.

Tour Dates and Tracklistings after the jump…12.10.2008    DENVER, CO    OGDEN THEATRE
12.11.2008    FORT COLLINS, CO    AGGIE THEATER
12.14.2008    CHICAGO, IL    HOUSE OF BLUES -
12.15.2008    MINNEAPOLIS, MN    FIRST AVENUE
12.17.2008    CLEVELAND, OH    HOUSE OF BLUES  
12.18.2008    ROCHESTER, NY    MAIN STREET ARMORY
12.19.2008    PHILADELPHIA, PA    THE TROCADERO THEATRE
12.20.2008    NEW HAVEN, CT    TOAD’S PLACE
12.21.2008    SAYREVILLE, NJ    STARLAND BALLROOM
12.23.2008    NEW YORK, NY    HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM
12.27.2008    LANCASTER, PA    CHAMELEON
12.31.2008    BALTIMORE, MD    SONAR
01.01.2009    WASHINGTON, DC    9:30 CLUB
01.02.2009    PROVIDENCE, RI    LUPO’S HEARTBREAK HOTEL
01.04.2009    SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT    HIGHER GROUND
01.07.2009    NORFOLK, VA    THE NORVA
01.08.2009    RICHMOND, VA    TOAD’S PLACE RICHMOND
01.09.2009    GREENSBORO, NC    THE N CLUB AND RED ROOM
01.10.2009    CHARLESTON, SC    THE MUSIC FARM
01.11.2009    CHARLOTTE, NC    AMOS’ SOUTHEND
01.12.2009    RALEIGH, NC    LINCOLN THEATRE
01.13.2009    COLUMBIA, SC    LEVEL

“AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION” TRACKLISTING:
1.   Combat (Afro Season II Open Theme) – RZA; P. Dot
2.   You Already Know – Kool G Rap; Inspectah Deck; Suga Bang
3.   Blood Thicker Than Mud “Family Affair” – Reverand William Burke; Sly Stone; Stone Mecca
4.   Whar – Kool G Rap; Ghostface Killah; Tash Mahogany; RZA
5.   Girl Samurai Lullaby – Rah Digga; Stone Mecca
6.   Fight for You – Thea Van Seijen
7.   Bitch Gonna Get Ya’ – Rah Digga
8.   Bloody Days Bloody Nights – Prodgical Sunn; Thea Van Siejen
9.   Kill Kill Kill – Rugged Monk
10. Nappy Afro – Boy Jones
11. Bloody Samurai – Black Knights; Dexter Wiggles; Thea Van Seijen
12. Dead Birds – Killah Priest; Prodgical Sunn; Shavo
13. Arch Nemesis – Ace; Moe Rock
14. Brother’s Keeper – Reverand William Burke; The RZA; Infinite
15. Yellow Jackets – Ace; Moe Rock
16. Take the Sword pt. III – 60 Second Assassin; Leggezin; Crisi; Christ Bearer; Rugged Monk; Tré Irie; Kinetic; Reverand William Burks; Bobby Digital
17. Number One Samurai (Afro Season II Outro) – The RZA ; 9th Prince