PAID DUES 2010

This year's Paid Dues Festival was incredible. The fact that I got to spend it with some great friends made it even better. This year's show was exceptionally special because my good friend MC Prototype was on the bill. He even got a special introduction by Murs. Congrats Proto!

While I was doing promotional work for Proto's new EP The Ones Overlooked, I got to watch a lot of other performers' sets. One that really stood out for me was Afro Classics. Scarub(Living Legends) and Very are really good at what they do. After their set, I picked up 2 of their CDs and talked to them for a bit. Those guys are real down-to-earth.

On the main stage, we saw Psycho Realm, Dilated Peoples, Tha Dogg Pound, Jay Electronica, Raekwon, Murs and 9th, and West Coast legend, Ice Cube. I could go on for days talking about how cool it was to see each of these artists. Paid Dues has gotten better every year since they started it, so I can only imagine how good next year's show is going to be.

Proto doing what he does. Photo by Dennis Chung for Original Knockoff. The rest of the pictures are mine.

1 part of the team - Lex Diamond, Kray-Z K, and me on the curb. These guys host a show called Daily Duels. Any MCs want to battle, hit them up! Oh, they battle too and they're both really good.

SuperB and Proto. Check out this video SuperB did with our friend Shane Romero.

I'm a fan too! Me and Scarub(Afro Classics/Living Legends).

Another part of the team, David (BLK) and Kei-O. 3 tracks on Proto's new EP were produced by Kei-O.

To be continued...

MUSIC MONDAY

The new Murs and 9th Wonder album, "ForNever," comes out April 13th. The first video off the release, "The Problem Is," features two legendary Los Angeles emcees, Murs and Sick Jacken, with the help of Uncle Chucc and, of course, 9th on the beat. You can catch Murs and 9th, as well as Sick Jacken and Psycho Realm at Paid Dues on April 3rd. Get your tickets soon, it's less than 2 weeks away! My boy Proto is gonna be there too! If you keep up with my blog, you would have already known that.

Another album to look out for is "Revolutions Per Minute" by Reflection Eternal. It's been 10 years since 'Tek and Kweli have released an album together, and from what I've heard so far, I might have this album on repeat for a while. It drops April 20th. Here's their new music video for the song "Strangers," featuring Underground King, Bun B.

PINK'S HOLLYWOOD FASHION TROLLY?

I don't know how, but I forgot to announce that MC Prototype will be performing at this year's Paid Dues Festival! If you have been following his Free Speech Tour, you should have seen his thank you video a couple weeks ago. If not, here are all the Free Speech Tour videos so far. He's going to be posting one every week until Paid Dues. The lineup this year is ridiculous. Check it out here.