In favor of not burying the lede I’m gonna dive in feet first here and say that I’ve launched my own hotline! Why? Well, why not!?
You can call 1-877-DONWILL and leave a message about this newsletter, The Almanac of Rap or just anything else in general you feel like. However if you’re calling abou this newsletter there is a prompt and this week’s prompt is: can you help me write a jingle? Call me up and hit me with any ideas you have!
SHOWS
I’m still on tour with Michelle Buteau and if you see your city you can get tickets here.
Apr 9 - Toronto - Allied Music Center Massey Hall w/ Michelle Buteau
Apr 10 - Bensalem - Parx Xcite Center w/ Michelle Buteau
Apr 11 - Medford - The Chevalier Center w/ Michelle Buteau
Apr 16 - Minneapolis - Orpheum Theatre w/ Michelle Buteau
Apr 17 - Madison - The Orpheum Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
Apr 18 - Chicago - Chicago Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
April 20 - Brooklyn - Frankenstein’s Baby @ Union Hall
Apr 24 - Kansas City - Midland Theatre w/ Michelle Buteau
Apr 25 - St. Louis - The Pageant w/ Michelle Buteau
May 1 - Oakland - Fox Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
May 6 - Los Angeles - Dolby Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
May 8 - Las Vegas - The Palazzo Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
May 15 - Atlanta - Tabernacle w/ Michelle Buteau
May 16 - New York City - The Beacon Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
May 17 - New York City - The Beacon Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
ALMANAC OF RAP
This week’s interview is with Born I. He’s a Washington DC based rapper who is also a practicing buddhist. He was originally coming to do my East Village Radio show and I decided to dig a little deeper and have him feature on AOR as well. I asked him about the ties between hip hop and buddhism and had him clear up a few questions about how the two relate based on rap lyrics. People always talk about smoking buddha which is one of the main questions but also what’s up with the logo on True Religion jeans.
You can listen to the episode here and call 1-877-DONWILL if you have any questions concerns or comments.
NEWS
Speaking of the hotline let’s talk more about it…
I have wanted a toll free number for years. It’s something that I’ve always thought of doing but never really looked into because it just felt too random. Don’t get me wrong, I am a very random person but just having your own hotline is self indulgent levels of random.
Enter the podcast and this newsletter. Two great reasons for having a more intentional way to interact. I’d ultimately like to do a mail-bag episode of the podcast with messages from the hotline as the basis but you guys have to call it. I’d also like to just fuck around and find out how far we can take it in general so for the forseeable future I’ll be leaving prompts in the newsletter as well.
At the moment the number doesn’t accept text messages, mostly because I want voicemail This is just one big social experiment tho so that could change.
Let’s have some get weird and have some fun! Call me and tell me your deepest, darkest secrets! Share your favorite album with me! Ask me for advice! Give me a complment! Ask me questions! The phone lines are open!
VIDEOS
For those of you gearing up to hit the Roots Picnic this year J. Period dropped off this footage from the live mixtape series that he does there. This is especially cool for me cus I haven’t been in years.
Earthsignchels has been all over my timeline and I’m not mad at it. I can already hear the obvious comparisons (Nicki/Tierra) but I’m excited to see where she takes it.
Rogue is one of my favorite DJ’s and she’s really dope on the beats too. This set showcases both of those abilities. Enjoy!
ALBUMS
I haven’t gotten around to listening to this one yet but it’s Thundercat so we know it’s good.
New Che Grand!!! This is a tribute to Roy Ayers. I haven’t heard it yet but I’ll be playing it soon!
Earl and Mike dropped their double album and I haven’t heard it yet either.
This Nubiyan Twist album dropped a week or two ago and I think i posted it but I have tour brain which means I barely know where I am at any given moment let alone what I posted last week.
SINGLES
I think T.I.’s album is gonna be good but I also don’t remember what a typical T.I. album sounds like. I just know he knows how to make some big records.
Mary J Blige knows how to pick some songs. I feel like she should executive produce a project for Coco Jones.
I don’t know who Olympia Vitalis is. I think that she is british. This song is jamming.