Just got the email from my man Dave, saying that the “Video is Up over on Kanye’s Blog!” And I must say that the video is very fresh. The song has been floating around the net for some while now, and the video has finally dropped. The video is for the song Everybody, by Mr. Bentley featuring Kanye, Andre 3000 and produced by Sa-Ra, the video showcases classics performances by each of the, and is directed by Dion Watkins. Shout out to the whole crew for a great song and video to compliment it. Make sure to check out Bentley tonight in the premier of G’s to Gents on MTV. Video and message from Bentley below.

Bentley X elevatedla.com

If you know that classic and said “Its mine, its mine, its mine” then you probably know that today Nas dropped his 9^th studio album “Untitled.” With plenty of controversy surrounding this album because of its initial title, many have been awaiting its arrival. Already being rated as a classic in many notable publications make sure to cop the album today. If you have been paying close attention to our events, you will know that Nas has be a guest and host on more than one occasion, and its only fitting that we produce his Official Album Release Party tomorrow night at Cabana Club. In addition the 2008 EPSY Awards will be filmed tomorrow night, and its is only appropriate that our favorite athletes join us in celebration. Cuttino Mobley (Clippers), Matt Kemp (Dodgers) Vernon Davis (49ers) Shaun Phillips and Stephen Cooper (Chargers) will co-host this combo event.

In review, today go buy Nas album “Untitled”, tomorrow join us for Nas’s Official Album Release Party/ESPY Awards After Party. Though you will never be quizzed on these things, you may still want to take notes, “Hustle Hard, Eat Well, Live Elevated.”

I could never understand why so many people dreaded Mondays. Starting of a new week, back in the office, and if you were lucky you have stories to share with your co-workers on what a great weekend you had. Though there is no known cure for the a case of the Mondays, I prescribe a little medicine I stumbled upon.

Every Monday Phonte of Little Brother and DJ Brianchild release a podcast episode of the Gordon Gartrell Radio Show. A mix of great music and comedic yet prophetic commentary make for good listening while working on those TPS reports. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, or just check back for their updates. If you can’t listen to music while sitting in your cubicle, you can get a new job, or just download it and listen later.

They’ve penned…and recorded a summer anthem (probably one of many to come but…whatevs). So if you’re looking for a concert to hit that will compliment the laid back and chill summer you EXPECT to have (we can only hope), Shwayze is probably the ticket you’re looking for.

Who is Shwayze? you ask. Correction: Who are… Just a couple of guys (Cisco Adler and Shwayze) who met at a party and let their love for music (or was it partying) lead them to make music we love to BBQ/sip Coronas/mindlessly groove to during the unique So Cal summer.

A few live shows, and one infectious hook later (not to mention the look…) Shwayze had folks buzzin’ all over town…

So if you’re not feeling totally relaxed by now, check out the song that you’ll probably blast up and down PCH for the rest of the summer (or at least in your backyard with the inflatable pool, it’s all good) …

… and check ‘em out when they stop by at one of these So Cal venues.

Shwayze
Fairplex Park, Pomona| 6.20
Seaside Park, Ventura | 6.22
Home Depot Center, Carson | 8.17

It’s been a good week for Wale. First he released the video for “W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.” and now finally after months of delays, real hip-hop lovers and music enthusiast alike can breathe a sigh of relief – “SERENITY NOW!” ‘The Mixtape About Nothing’ by everyone’s favorite DC rapper, Wale (pronounced WAH-lay) has finally arrived.

Recently signed to Interscope via Mark Ronson and poised to become “The Next Big Thing”, Wale brings a “Seinfeld” inspired mixtape, continuing with his quest to turn rap and hip-hop on its side with his hyperactive alliterated flow and heavily influenced go-go sound.

In an ode to the changing musical and cultural landscape, The Washington Post reviewed the mixtape – YES A MIXTAPE REVIEW! – And compared its debut to “Christmas, Hanukkah and Festivus all rolled into one.”

The Album is a tribute to Seinfeld, Wale’s favorite show, and its Track Lists follows the sitcoms formula of “The” beginnings.

The tape opens with the aptly titled “The Opening Title Sequence” in which Wale asks “What the deal with” the world in true Jerry Seinfeld fashion. He incorporates clips from the show, Micheal Richards “rant” (proceeding the socially conscious “The Kramer”) and even has a guest appearance by Elaine herself, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is apparently his “biggest fan.”

Not all content that made the mixtape is fresh content, which has Wale’s die hard fans questioning its delay. For instance, “The Roots Song Wale Is On” is “Rising Up”; “The Feature Heavy Song” is “Back in the Go-Go” and “The Cliché Lil Wayne Song” is “Nike Boots remix”, which received much hype when Wale released it exclusively on his Myspace page Christmas Day 2007.

Yet and still, with 19 tracks – many produced by DC’s own Best Kept Secret, ‘The Mixtape About Nothing’ pleases, with Wale exploring topics ranging from race, popular culture, issues in the Black community, society, with ones self, and the watering down of rap – even calling out Interscope label mate Soulja Boy. As always, Wale reps extra hard for the D/M/V and the PGC (that would be DC, Maryland, Virginia and Prince Georges County Maryland, which he calls home) and exposes the go-go sound and even a taste of Baltimore Club (“The Bmore Club Song” produced by Club legend Scottie B) to people outside the “urr-rea.”

Listen here, download here via elitaste.com, Wale’s personal blog.

Wale, “That’s [his] name don’t forget it.”

If you don’t know about Pacific Division yet you’ve definitely been sleepin’. So wake up and come out to the Key Club tonight, where the LA natives will be performing along with J Davey and Diz Gibran. They’ve created quite a buzz, especially in the last year, and have been featured in the Source (last year) XXL (this month) and Billboard (this week). They were named one of URB Magazine’s next 100 artists and Myspace’s featured artist of the week. The F.A.T. Boys video was a Myspace featured video of the week. Needless to say, these boys ain’t playin’ around!

If you didn’t catch their guest appearance at our Cool pool party at the Standard, you can check them out on the Wake Up Show and in the Women Problems video below.

So come join us at their show tonight…it’ll be $15 well spent.

After all, sleep is for suckas.

The Key Club
9039 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90069
310.786.1712

Women Problems Video (I see you Ms. Loveless!)

Friday, MTV released their Top 10 MC list for 2008, in the past couple of days there has been much debate on the accuracy of there choices. When looking back at the past year, it is difficult for me to rank artists, but since MTV dictates what is hot, I guess we have to agree.  The list is below, click each name to see why the made the list. I am sure the special will air again soon, so be sure to set your DVRs. Hit the comment section and share your thoughts. I am still trying to gather my opinion.

1. Kanye
2. Jay-Z
3. Lil Wayne
4. Rick Ross
5. Snoop Dogg
6. 50 Cent
7. Lupe Fiasco
8. Young Jeezy
9. Andre 3000
10. T.I.

The phrase March Madness was coined for the annual NCAA Basketball Tournament, but as we know during this time of year madness stems from a number of sources: preparing taxes, spring cleaning and closing out the 1^st quarter of the year, to name a few. Since music has the universal ability to aid us in daily life dealings, the necessity for fresh mixtapes is never higher. Though far from the literal sense of the mix tapes we all use to prepare back in the day, we now download, copy and trade mixtapes with ease.

One of the hottest mixtapes on the street right now is from the rapper you love to hate, 50 Cent. Say what you want about his music being watered down, but you must admit that 50 is a funny dude. His new mixtape, Elephant In The Sand, is dedicated to Fat Joe, as a mockery his new album Elephant in the Room. If you visit ThisIs50.com you will notice that the whole website has been transformed just for this occassion. After a review, the mixtape is fairly hot, and not really focused on dissing Fat Joe. You should definitely check it out. A few other mixtapes have dropped this month that are worth listening to. Tanya Morgan–a rap trio–has released “Tanya Morgan is a Rap Group” with DJ Soul and the good folks over at Okayplayer. Talib Kweli paired up with mixtape mastermind Mick Boogie to drop the “MCEO Mixtape”. With fresh tapes dropping almost daily, and plenty of past mixtapes to search for, you can keep your self pretty occupied. Hey, you might even fall in love with hip hop again.

The Legendary Roots Crew has captured our attention for years with their classic albums and great performances, truly living up to their name. Rising Downwill be their tenth studio album and will feature a host of notable guest appearances, including Lupe, Styles P, and Talib. They have already released videos for for 75 Bars (Blacks Reconstruction) and Get Busy (below), two of the singles on their upcoming album.

“…a mission to produce innovative music videos, documentaries, shorts and narrative features by any means necessary…”

Both videos were directed by Rik Cordero, a multi-talented director, cinematographer and editor. The trailer for Jay-Z’s Blue Magic and the video for Consequence’s Feel this Way  are a couple examples of his compelling work. He is a member of Three/21 Films, a company which “was created with a mission to produce innovative music videos, documentaries, shorts and narrative features by any means necessary. With little regard for formal training, permits or rules, we instead focus on unique and non-traditional solutions for any given situation.” As usual, you can expect a solid album from the Roots and many more great works of art from Rik Cordero.

Shout out to OnSmash.com for keeping it thorough with the video content!

Murs is coming to town…Well, kind of.

He’s coming to San Bernardino. Which, I guess, seems appropriate since the LA native and the rest of his lyrically gifted friends joining him for the THIRD annual “Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Festival” dwell on the periphery of mainstream music outlets’ auditory range.

So you know what that means: ROOOOOOOOAAAAD TRIIIIP!

A stacked line up of mic vets, representing various places acros the states, hit the stage at the NOS Events Center, and include Little Brother, Dilated Peoples, Jedi Mind Tricks, etcetera, etcetera…(it’s a long list and I’m short on time. Deal).

So just, get some folks to chip in on some gas (yeah, yeah, we already know) and get comfortable. It’ll be a late night. Consider it the Woodstock for the obscure - (in a good way!) - hip hop-loving generation.

And, what’s this Murs character all about, you may ask?

Hmm, where shall we begin…

Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Festival
4 p.m. | March 22, 2008

NOS Events Center, San Bernardino.
Tickets: $40
213.480.3232 | www.ticketmaster.com

March 22, 2008 | 4pm$40 | http://www.ticketmaster.com/

If you haven’t seen this girl on stage, then you’re missing out.

Although it may seem that the Long Island native has been promoting her first album “I Am” for, hmmm, forever, you gotta remember that people. are. a little. slow. to catching onto something good.

If you’re tired of filtering through the gar-bage clogging up the airwaves and violating your eardrums, consider - no, scratch that - go catch Chrisette at the El Rey Theatre tonight.

If you haven’t heard her album, I’m pretty sure you’ve at least heard her voice (Jay Z’s “Lost One” or Nas’ “Can’t Forget About You” ring a bell?). The mature and soulful voice of the young songwriter and Def Jam artist is unmistakable.

I’ve seen her do some live sets a couple of times earlier in 2007, once with a band and once without (just her, her voice and the keys), and both times moved crowds (literally, they were groovin) even as they wondered who the small woman with the big voice was.

If you don’t know, you should know…tonight.

Wed, 3/5/08 ($20)
El Rey Theatre
5515 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles 90036

Join us this Wednesday at Ritual for “Revelations in Style,” a soulful event sponsored by Complex Magazine and Honda. The image above is the Propaganda Champ’s rogue attempt to bring the orginal image to life.

The night will be hosted by Garth Trinidad of KCRW’s Chocolate City, with music by Vikter Duplaix and DJ Eque. As accomplished musicians, Duplaix’s video for ‘Make A Baby‘ has earned a number one spot on BET-J, while Eque has electrified stages both domestic and international as the tour DJ for artists like Beyonce, Usher and Redman. You do not want to miss out on this night of style. 

Complimentary cocktails by Effen Vodka will be served from 9-10 PM, so arrive early. See you there!

Ritual
1743 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028

Note: This is a guest list only event, so you will need to RSVP at rsvp@complex.com.