Blind I | The Boutique Music Blog | Quality Over Quantity.

VIDEO: RHYMEFEST – SAY WASSUP (F/ PHONTE) (IN 3-D)

Shouts to Rhymefest and Phonte for giving me a legitimate reason to have these 3D glasses I stole from the IMAX when I went to see Avatar. Smh. Go Grab El Che now.

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RUBYHORNET PRESENTS CLOSED SESSIONS VOL. 1

Now this is a stellar project. The good homies at RubyHornet, in conjunction with Chicago-based Soundscape Recordings, brought together producers and artists to formulate a great original project. The EP was recorded entirely in Chicago, IL at SoundScape Studios with visiting as well as local artists. Pretty much, when an artist came to Chicago, they brought them to SoundScape, made them comfortable, gave them access to the production catalog and just got out of their way.  The EP features artists such as Bun B, Kidz In The Hall, Emilio Rojas, GLC, Truck North, Big Pooh, Skyzoo, Rhymefest, Chip Tha Ripper, Hollywood Holt, Million $ Mano, U-N-I, Amanda Diva, Tanya Morgan, Curren$y and more.

Yep, heavy hitters. You’re gonna be even more impressed once you indulge. Check out my FAVORITE shit off the project, “Fresh Academy” featuring Kidz In The Hall, Chip The Ripper, Donnis, and Mikkey Halsted.

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TRAILER: 4,3,2,1 PRELUDE (RHYMEFEST, JUICE, MIKKEY HALSTED, TWONE GABZ)

First time online today! So I’ve gotta lace you guys. Jay Illa sent over a preview of the “4,3,2,1” flip he commissioned from Rhymefest, Juice, Mikkey Halsted, and Twone Gabs for his upcoming release, “Revenge Of The Backpacks 2: Welcome To Chicago“. Shot & recorded at Soundscape Studios, it’s sure to give you that real authentic hip-hop feel. The rest of the Backpacks 2 project features slated tracks from Rhymefest, Juice, Mikkey Halsted, Twone Gabz, Marvo, Que Billah, the League, Project Mayhem, Naledge, Mic Terror, Erika Shevon, Add 2, Phil G, Pugs Atomz, Rashid Hadee, Prime Meridian, and even yours truly. It should be dope when it drops!

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THE FAKE SHORE DRIVE MIXTAPE, HOSTED BY DJ TIMBUCK2

Good morning, Blind I Faithful! Today we start off the posts with a special drop from the homies Andrew & DJ Timbuck2, coming through with their new FakeShoreDrive mixtape featuring a bunch of new & unreleased material from some of Chicago’s most prominent up & coming artists. This joint features joints from The Cool Kids, Bump J, Twilite Tone, Sly Polaroid, Que B.I.L.L.A.H., Lupe Fiasco, Mikkey Halsted, GLC, NO.I.D., Rhymefest, D’Ablo, Big Wiz, Skooda Chose, Really Doe, Pugz Atoms, Twista, and J Ivy. Enough Chicago for everybody! Here’s a joint from Lupe that’s featured on the mixtape to wet your appetite:

Lupe Fiasco – Fire

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Download The Fake Shore Drive Mixtape (zShare)

Indulge yourself and rock to this for the remainder of your 4-day workweek! Tracklisting after the jump.
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RIP Donda West: A Spirit Lasts Forever

LOS ANGELES – Donda West, mother of Kanye West and former chairwoman of Chicago State University’s English department, has died, a spokesman for the rapper said. She was 58.

Donda West died Saturday night in Los Angeles, said the spokesman, who asked for anonymity because not all family members had been notified.

“The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief,” the spokesman said.

A cause of death has not been released.

Donda West was known for the strong bond she shared with her son, by whose side she was often seen at parties and award shows.

Kanye West, 30, often spoke of his close relationship with his mother, who raised him alone after her husband left when Kanye was 3.

She was the inspiration for the song, “Hey Mama,” on Kanye West’s 2005 album “Late Registration,” in which he sings: “Hey Mama, I wanna scream so loud for you, cuz I’m so proud of you … I appreciate what you allowed for me. I just want you to be proud of me.”

Donda West frequently defended her son against critics who accused him of penning misogynistic lyrics and other purported transgressions.

“I support my baby,” she said in a Chicago Sun-Times interview. “He is telling how he feels and he is speaking the truth as he sees it.”

In May, she published the book “Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star,” in which she paid homage to her famous son.

Donda West served as chief executive of West Brands LLC, the parent company of her son’s business enterprises, and as chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation, an educational nonprofit that works to decrease dropout rates and improve literacy.

Kanye West told the Associated Press in August that he and his mother worked together to devise the foundation’s first program, “Loop Dreams,” which helps public school students get involved in music.

“Me and my mother were discussing ways to give back and came up with the concept,” he said.

Donda West worked in higher education for 31 years, before leaving academia in 2004 to help manage her son’s career, according to a biography on the Kanye West Foundation’s Web site.

She began working at Chicago State University in 1980 and eventually chaired the school’s English department, according to the site. She started her teaching career in the early 1970s as an instructor at Brown College in Atlanta.

Kanye West’s writing partner Rhymefest lamented Donda West’s death Sunday in an appearance on Chicago radio station WCGI.

“She was everyone’s mom,” Rhymefest said. “A spirit never dies, a spirit lasts forever.”

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Associated Press Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody in New York and AP writer Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report. (Yahoo)

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RHYMEFEST & LIL JON! (YEAH, I KNOW)

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