Rockstar and Green Lantern Releasing Liberty City Invasion: Music Inspired by Grand Theft Auto IV

Today, Rockstar Games and Future Green Entertainment are proud to announce the release of an original production album from The Evil Genius DJ Green Lantern featuring music from and inspired by Grand Theft Auto IV.

Containing eight brand new tracks crafted exclusively for DJ Green Lantern’s “Liberty City Invasion” radio show on the in-game radio station “The Beat,” as well as eight new songs directly inspired by Grand Theft Auto IV, The Evil Genius DJ Green Lantern has created an epic urban soundtrack. This special album release features an incredible lineup of hip-hop, reggae and R&B superstars including heavyweights Busta Rhymes, Wyclef, Fat Joe, Styles P and Fabolous as well as up-and-coming artists Mavado, Uncle Murder and Future Green Entertainment’s own Johnny Polygon, Qadir and more.

Singles include “Where’s My Money” from Busta Rhymes and “Nickname” from the brand new artist Qadir. The perfect summer anthem “I’m So Fly,” featuring Fat Joe and Fabolous is inspired by Grand Theft Auto IV and while included on the album is not in the game.

“The Grand Theft Auto games have always featured stunning soundtracks and the amount of eclectic music in Grand Theft Auto IV goes above and beyond anything we have been able to do before” said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games, “DJ Green Lantern’s contributions give the soundtrack a true New York flavor and we’re excited to be releasing his full album to fans.”

“From making mixtapes, to being on the radio, to touring with the biggest artists on the planet, and then for the biggest video game title to solicit me to create exclusive music is something most people could only dream about, it’s like a graduation,” said Green. “Rockstar Games understood what I bring to the table as far as not just presenting music, but creating music.”

Green Lantern originally came to prominence in the mixtape scene by consistently featuring exclusive self-produced music with hip-hop superstars like Eminem, Jay-Z, The Beastie Boys, Mike Shinoda’s Fort Minor, D-Block, Busta Rhymes, Mobb Deep and many more. This led to an acclaimed career as a proper music producer in his own right which has yielded such Billboard hits as “Number One Spot” by Ludacris and “In The Ghetto” by Busta Rhymes featuring Rick James as well as the street hits Akon “Ghetto” feat. Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac, Uncle Murda’s “Bullet, Bullet,” and many more. Green Lantern can be heard every week nationally on his Sirius Satellite Radio show.

The Evil Genius Green Lantern makes his official production album debut with the release of Liberty City Invasion: Music from and Inspired by Grand Theft Auto IV. It will be available at all major digital retailers on May 20th with a physical release coming soon.

Grand Theft Auto IV is currently available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION® 3 computer entertainment system.

Bloggin For Beats: The Fatty Girl Remix (again)

It’s funny how things happen. When the remix to Fatty Girl first came out I didn’t realize it was a remix. I hadn’t heard the original Neptunes joint, but when I did I was like “now I know why they did it over.” It was cool but it was mad slow and the Trackmasters did the damn thing flipping it with the Fat Albert sound effects. So when I found this acapella in a bunch I’d downloaded I was like “hmmm, what the hell could I do to freak it?” Building on some advice I’d gotten recently from Green Lantern about continuity (the interview is coming soon, I promise) I decided to use the Roy Ayer’s sample that Tribe used in another ode to big booties, “Bonita Applebum.” [Read more]

Bloggin For Beats: Life of The Party Remix

I grabbed some Bob James and took on a remix of Little Brother’s “Life of The Party.” While it isn’t my favorite LB record it’s the only dang acapella of theirs I’ve been able to find. But with a little “pure imagination” I was able to pull off something to bring some life to a party. [Read more]

Producer Danja Nabs Songwriter of The Year

New York, NY– Three-time Grammy Award winning producer Nate ‘Danja’ Hills picked up numerous awards including the nights two biggest at the SESAC Awards in New York City on Thursday; honoring the top music producers and songwriters of the year. Danja won both the Songwriter of The Year award and Song of the Year – for Nelly Furtado’s “Say It Right” – where the in demand producer also won for his string of smash hits for Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, Timbaland, and Nelly Furtado.
This past February Danja was celebrated for his consistent phenomenal work at the Bryan Michael Cox Luncheon, sponsored by SESAC.

Danja’s Grammy wins include Best Dance Recording for producing the Justin Timberlake smash hit ‘LoveStoned/I Think She Knows,’ Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for ‘My Love’ by Justin Timberlake feat. T.I, as well as winning Best Dance Recording for ‘Sexy Back.’ At this past years 2008 Grammy Awards, Danja’s nominations included; Record of The Year for Justin Timberlake’s ‘What Goes Around…Comes Around,’ and Best Rap Song for 50 Cent’s ‘Ayo Technology.’

Virginia native Danja embarked on his musical journey at age 17. A few years later in 2001, he received his first break when he was introduced to Teddy Riley and began recording the first of many platinum hits to come. His sound was unique, immediately catching the attention of fellow producer Timbaland. Now, Danja has come into his own, being responsible for several #1 and top 10 Billboard singles which include “Gimme More” (Britney Spears), “SexyBack” (Justin Timberlake), “Promiscuous” (Nelly Furtado), “My Love” (Justin Timberlake), “Give It To Me” (Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado), “What Goes Around…Comes Around” (Justin Timberlake), “Say It Right” (Nelly Furtado), and “We Takin’ Over” (DJ Khaled and various), “Summer Love” (Justin Timberlake) and “Way I Are” (Keri Hilson & Timberland).

WHO DID THAT BEAT? Hasane Insane

By Jerry L. Barrow

Photos by J. Shotti

If you think he sounds like a terrorist, you’re right. When Hasan Insane gets on an MPC he will hold your ears hostage. You may not know his name or his face but if you consider yourself a hip-hop fan you should know Hasan Insane’s work. His remix CDs, The Pink Album and Perfect Strangers are must haves for any Nas and Jay-Z fan frustrated with their sometimes suspect beat selection. Now the 25 year old New Yorker has released another inspired CD, Black Caesar, using vocals from Jay-Z’s American Gangster. Joking that he makes “only one beat per month” this perfectionist took a few minutes to talk to Nodfactor about how he still remains one of the best kept secrets in the production game.

[Read more]

Million DJ March Planned for Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC - This summer the DJ will take center stage. The economic plight of the deejay within the music industry is to be the focus of a three day event in Washington, DC with rallies and activities beginning August 28, 2008. Organizers are expecting the attendance of deejays from around the world to participate in a Million DJ March from the Capitol Building to the Washington Monument on August 30th and its message is attracting not only deejays and deejay organizations, but civil rights activists as well. Plans for an organized union for deejays to assist them with things like 401k’s and gig compensation security, is expected to be introduced at this time, which attending deejays will be encouraged to sign up for.

Founder of the Million DJ March, A. Shaw, a long-time sponsor of Justo’s Mixtape Awards, felt compelled to address the economic disparity deejays experience after many years of working with them through various channels. “DJ’s do not get fully recognized for the work they do, “she says. “Label and major businesses who reap the rewards of default publicity need to pay attention and give more recognition and financial compensation to DJ’s for the promotion they provide, without which music sales would surely suffer.”

The team for this event includes Sommer McCoy, who is responsible for booking talent and speakers and DJ Green Lantern, who is the main poster boy for the March. Sponsors and attendees will be able to watch artist performances and hear the speeches of music industry leaders and founding deejays, highlighting deejays’ decades of service to the industry. A. Shaw says ins closing, “I am calling upon the industry to show support for an event to unify deejays and help create future economic safety for those that have chosen this art form as a career.”

For further information, or to become involved, kindly contact Nancy Byron, OGPR (832) 220-6071 or nancyb@ogpr.net.

Bloggin For Beats: Justifying My Thug

I’ve been a violent mood. Maybe it’s the proximity of Grand Theft Auto 4 coming out a week after NYPD cops were acquitted for murdering a man outside of a strip club. Maybe it’s my cable box fuggin up my DVR of Family Guy. Either way, I’m pissed [Read more]

Soul Machine: Raphael Saadiq calls in Legends to Recreate 60’s Sound on New Disc

Raphael Saadiq has an old soul. If his production on Tony ToniTone’s House of Music and his own Instant Vintage didn’t convince us of that, his next project certainly will.

His new album, The Way I See It, is a virtual time capsule of 1960s soul. The singer/ producer spent a month putting the project together and it’s a remarkable achievement in capturing the sound of decades past.

“I was born in the 60s so everything that was going on influenced me,” he told a crowd gathered at the Sony club in Manhattan. “Everything was authentic. We used Beatles mics for the kick drums. We looked in books to see what they used. 62 bass, Gibsons, bought an old drum set. I started doing it like that with a song I did for Leela James and for Mary J. Blige’s ‘I Found My Everything.’ That’s how I knew I could do it.”

Having the right instruments is one thing, but Saadiq had some serious help in recreating that vintage sound.
“I got a few real Motown cats on my record which means a lot to me,” he shared. “Paul Riser did all the strings.”
Riser is the legendary arranger behind “Love Child” and “I’m Livin’ In The Shame” for Diana Ross and The Supremes as well as “Rocket Love” for Stevie Wonder, to name a few.
“He called me ‘son’ and my engineer was jumping in pictures with him. James Jameson, Jr. is on bass.”
Stevie Wonder also makes a contribution to the project, playing his famous harmonica.
“He called me up like ‘this is Stevie.’ We had him on speaker phone and he was like ‘What’s up fool.’”
One thing is for certain, after hearing The Way I See It, it’s clear that Raphael Saadiq is nobody’s fool. Look for the CD in stores this summer.

-Jerry L. Barrow

Hydrosonics, Origimoz: “Cool Like Dat”

Name: Origimoz
Age: 19
Repping: UK, Mozambique
Key Track: “Freedom of Speech”
Contact: Myspace

You were born in China and raised in Mozambique. When were you exposed to hip-hop and which artists were you listening to?
I guess I was exposed to hip-hop ever since my older brother was. As far as I can remember it was along the mid-90s when he used to bump cassette tapes of everything from Camp Lo to The Roots to Jay-Z to Wu-Tang to The Lost Boyz and many, MANY more which ended up being the foundation for the love of the music. I was around 8 or 9 years old.

What does your name Origimoz mean?
Origimoz actually means ORIGINALLY from MOZAMBIQUE..that was because by the time I arrived in London a couple of good years ago, I didn’t want to keep my old name because it was quite chessy! So coming up with something that was original and that resembled where I’m from was the best possible option!

I like how you freaked that classic break in “Freedom of Speech.” Did you use the Fruity Sampler, the slicer or what? How did you manipulate it?
The idea for that beat was to make the drums match the sample because it was SO EPIC that normal drums just wouldn’t go because they would get stepped over. So what I did is that I sampled each part (Kick and Snare) individually on Cool Edit, layered the Kick with a 808 kick and a low kick (like a sub-kick)…and added some almost invisible clap with an opened hat on the snare, done my drum pattern and finally I added percussion and reverbed them all to sound as live as the sample was!

Do you have any formal music training? You mention using a midi keyboard, can you play? To be honest I can’t play ANY instruments to save my life! But again, it all depends on the ear that the person has to try and achieve the desired sound. The MIDI keyboard is still very new to me because I STILL draw notes on the piano roll using a mouse! So with time maybe I will try and learn how to professionally play because it helps a WHOLE lot!

“Flying High” has the most plays on your Myspace page, how did you make it? “Flying High” came about when I was listening to a Blaxploitation soundtrack (which I won’t mention for security reasons!) looking for something that could immediately catch an emotion…that came about…I sampled it, added, drums, percussion, bass and the whole lot and there it was!

Who are you working with or who would you like to hear on your beats?
I’m currently working with a few people over there in the U.S. naming LEX, Dave Notti and the whole Thrilla crew, Jae-Nice and local acts such as Mark Asari, Micky Negro, DUKO, NY and more…they are unsigned and got some serious music

What do you love/hate about Fruity Loops?
I’m not a very technical guy in Fruity Loops but I hate I guess I have to go with the interface of it. Sometimes when u are not on a good mood that interface doesn’t really help! But what I love on it is the simplicity of things. Is not a very hard program to understand and with a good examination process everything should be well clear!

RZA HAS A SNACK ATTACK: RETURNS AS BOBBY DIGITAL

(New York, NY) — RZA’s much beloved character Bobby Digital returns this summer with Digi Snacks, a brand new studio album via KOCH Records. Digi Snacks will be out in July of 2008.

The Bobby Digital character was introduced some ten years ago with the release of In Stereo and went under seven years ago after the release of Digital Bullet. To date, Bobby Digital releases have sold a combined 1 million units.

“This world wasn’t in a digital format in 1998. Now digital is the most compelling force of commerce and entertainment,” RZA explains. “So this is like a re-launch of the character.” And some of the ‘real life’ characters that Bobby Digital tapped for Digi Snacks definitely lend to the mission: John Frusciante, Dhani Harrison, The Black Knights, Dexter Wiggles, Shavo Odadjian (System of a Down), Reverend William Burke, Stone Mecca and Scandinavian newcomer Thea. There’s even a track produced by David Banner. He continues, “I think Digi Snacks is an album with a lot of fun. This album is more of a performance album too. When you see it live, you’ll get a difference experience. I’m not trying to get into the world…I’m trying to bring the world to come to us.”

To celebrate the release of Digi Snacks, RZA will embark on a National U.S. tour with the future-soul group, Stone Mecca, as his backing band.

RZA has produced a number of albums for the Wu Tang Clan, its affiliates, and other A list artists that have lead to sales in the millions. He has a successful movie career and as appeared in films with Bill Murray (Coffee & Cigarettes), Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe (American Gangster), Angela Bassett (Gospel Hill), Jude Law & Forest Whitaker (Repossession Mambo), Clive Owens (Derailed). RZA’s also created soundtracks for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Afro Samurai and the cult-classic Ghostdog: The Way Of The Samurai. He’s revolutionized the hip-hop world while simultaneously creating an empire upon it. And yet RZA says, “I’ve only just begun to enter my prime.”

Described by his colleagues, admirers, and even haters alike as a “mad scientist,” Robert Diggs, aka RZA, comes across more like a relentless warrior. And like any good warrior, he’s on a mission…an honorable quest to infect all he comes across with a positive polarity. “You taste everything every day. You go through these different shifts of positives and negatives throughout your whole day,” he explains. “I just make more of a fiction thing around it, metaphors in all different ways. That’s all I’m doing. You get the Manga, you get the Martial Arts, you get the Sci-Fi, you get the Blaxploitation, but you still get your real life because I’m a real person.”

Engulfed in a full on story of revenge, betrayal, seduction, hustlin’ and pimpin’ slaves as souls, completed with a cast of characters that includes the return of The Raven, The Hawk, The Eagle, The Vulture, The four fouls of prey and, of course, Barbara Peppers, Bobby Digital explains “if you follow the character, he’s always talking with himself between good and evil, trying to balance himself. Sometimes when you think you’re all the way at the end, you’re actually at the beginning.”

The Bobby Digital tour dates featuring Stone Mecca are:

June 10-Houston, TX@Warehouse Live
June 11-Austin, TX@Emo’s
June 12-Dallas, TX@Palladium Ballroom
June 14-Denver, CO@ Cervantes Ballroom
June 15-Salt Lake City, UT@ Urban Lounge
June 17-Tucson, AZ@ Rialto Theater
June 18-Phoenix, AZ@The Brickhouse
June 20-Los Angeles, CA@Henry Fonda Theater
June 21-San Francisco, CA@1015
June 23-Portland, OR@Hawthorne Theater
June 24-Seattle, WA@Showbox
June 25-Vancouver, CAN@Richards
June 27-Calgary, CAN@Sled Island Festival
June 30-Minneapolis, MN@First Avenue
July 01-Chicago, IL@House of Blues
July 02-Pontiac, MI@Crofoot Ballroom
July 04-Ottawa, CAN@New Capital HallJ
]uly 05-New York, NY@Webster Hall
July 07-Philadelphia, PA@Trocadero
July 08-Washington, DC@9:30 Club

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