215HIPHOP.COM ~ Philly Hip Hop

*Pictured from left to right: Cimer Amor & Equinox

Interview w/ Caen Project
By: Justin Rizzio

Go to enough hip hop events and you’re guaranteed to come home with a pocket full of fliers not to mention the occasional CD. When a CD does get handed to you, most likely you give it a quick listen and then throw it in some drawer of your house never to be seen again. But then there is that rare instance; that one time out of 20 (being generous with 20) that you really like what was handed to you. With that I introduce you to Philadelphia’s own CAEN Project, made up of MC Equinox and producer Cimer Amor. On their recent release, Caesar’s Vengeance, Cimer manages to provide the perfect backdrop to compliment Equinox as he supplies us with both aggressive street narratives and his own introspective struggles. So take the time to learn more about Cimer Amor, Equinox, and the CAEN Project.
To Purchase album Click HERE
*AND for a better READ w/out the Bold please Click HERE (more…)

Interview w/ Illvibe Collective (Lil’ Dave, Statik, Phillee Blunt, Panek, Skipmode)
By: Justin Weleski

I started to get tired of the old neighborhood bar/house party scene back in ‘99-2000. So, I took my fake ID down into the city where I took a crash course to what the Philly hip hop scene was all about. Going to events like Footworks, The Remedy, Tasty Treats (and working with Okayplayer.com) I discovered a whole world of music that I loved and took in like a long lost brother. Then one night a New York DJ/friend was visiting and took me to a party called The Body Rock. It was at a very discreet location where you would drive by it a million times and still not know what door to walk in (because we did exactly that.) When you did though…it had good times written all over it. The music, the crowd, the art on the walls; there was every little element that makes a good vibe happen. While discovering this I also discovered what many people have called the glue that keeps this scene together in Philly. They have the “do it yourself” DJ/promoter mentality. They cover everything from mixtapes, to recorded music, DJ’ing for MC’s, album/flyer designs, radio shows, and production. You name it and illvibe collective is the name that so many artists and fans have relied on to this very day to give them what they want and so desperately need – Quality work coming from quality people! Sit back and learn some things from the people who taught me and many others in this city much of what we know.

Check illvibe collective every 2nd Thursday @ The Barbary for ill! makaniks and every Last Friday for the Body Rock @ The M Room. And visit the official illvibe website at: illvibe.net
AND sorry again for all the bold – for a BETTER Read, please Click HERE

(more…)

Interview w/El-P
By: Justin Rizzio

Ever wear a sock with a hole in it and think that no one will ever see it, only to find yourself in a situation where everyone does? “Take your shoes off please,” was the first thing El-P’s tour manager said as I stepped onto the tour bus. EL was not there yet so I had a seat and waited. I didn’t mind though, because right in front of me was a laptop playing instrumentals from Dizzee Rascal’s new Def Jux released album Math’s + English.  Next to the laptop was Dizzee, practicing his set which was only about 2 hours away. He greeted me in his thick, slang heavy, cockney accent. After asking “what?” several times, I just nodded and smiled, pretending to understand what he had just said. I was actually more concerned with the hole in my sock, thinking to myself before I left the house; “who cares? when tonight will I be in a situation where my shoes would have to be removed?”

I made a mental note to go home later that night and throw away all socks with holes. I still never got around to doing that. After all, when will I be in a situation where my shoes would have to be removed? Here’s an interview I did with EL-P.
*For a better read please visit our forums as we fix text issues with the main site. So please Click HERE
(Interview conducted outside of a R5 Productions show @ The Church)
(more…)

Interview w/ Maylay Sparks
By: Justin Weleski

Back in the late 90’s there was this revolution of underground hip hop that was creating a huge buzz throughout the world. Philly just happened to be one of the biggest landmarks and homes for what many now call “indie hip hop.” Most of the names from Philly came out of this lil’ record shop off Market Street called Footwork. This is where artists such as Jedi Mind Tricks, Last Emperor, OuterSpace, Nuthouse, Chief Kamachi, and of course Rasheed & Ill Advised would go to network and master their craft. Rasheed, better known now as Maylay Sparks, released several 12-inch records, made features on major label albums and was featured on numerous legendary shows from New York for Bobbito and Stretch Armstrong to Cali on the Wake Up Show. Maylay Sparks now lives over in Copenhagen (Denmark) but is still reppin the 215 to the fullest with his new album… and he’s still giving you that same Philly attitude he crafted at Footwork.
To purchase the new album “Flaskworthy” Click HERE
And our apologies again for the bold text, so for a better read please Click HERE (more…)