Blue Mondays - Quelle

*Alex Note: This was originally written/posted 8.10.2010 as the test post*

"The Archie Whitewater Interlude"

Quelle and Denmark Vessey make up Crown Nation, maybe you've heard of them, maybe you haven't.

In case of the latter, they're a pretty dope Detroit duo (how's THAT for alliteration?) that has been causing quite a stir since 2006. I haven't placed exactly what it is about them that makes them so appealing. Maybe it's because they embody a classic hip-hop sound with a new school twist sprinkled with some dope lyrictry (my blog, my made-up word). It could also have to do with their production talents which is how I even stumbled across them in the first place (Denmark Vessey produced eLZhi's "Flyest" and well, you all can figure that one out).

"The Ghost Awards"

They've been supported and endorsed by some pretty hip-hop heavy people and recently they teamed up with House Shoes to release Slut Bag Edition/Blue Mondays Double EP (with hand drawn covers by Quelle himself). The vinyl is a limited edition and after seeing people say they've ordered 2 or 3 copies, the 500 records will be going ... fast.

My advice to you would be to order yours HERE before they all go bye-bye. Even if they have all sold out, You still might want to order a copy of Blue Mondays or Slut Bag Edition ... unless you like your iTunes to be depressing. Also, I remember watching this YouTube video they posted a few months ago (and after aimless Googling) I found it and thought you should check it out.

Detroit Summer - Invincible and Waajeed

Recently I have become obsessed with vinyl records. A vinyl makes some songs sound that much better, it's almost as though you can feel what the musician is feeling more with wax than you can an .mp3 (Let's not forget that crackling sound they can give off).

I'm not the only one that's getting back in touch with records, according to a 2010 Nielsen report, vinyl sales for 2009 increased by 33 percent.

©Flavorpill

Well hip-hop is going back to it's waxy roots... actually it never left quite a few people still have records pressed (just peep Stones Throw's store).

Invincible, who I have written on before, and Waajeed (Platinum Pied Pipers anyone?) are releasing the Detroit Summer 7" this month. I already pre-ordered mine and you can too, here.

This is more than just them releasing a 45, it's a real Detroit project. What's really cool is that Invincible and Waajeed have been releasing behind the scene videos that are a mix of a history lesson and getting the anticipation up for the release.

This first video is a look at the records getting pressed at Archer Record Pressing in Detroit. It's a three generation pressing plant that has even done work during the Motown era.

Invincible + Waajeed: Manufacturing "Detroit Summer" 7" @ Archer Record Pressing from EMERGENCE Media on Vimeo.

The second is a behind the scene look at the filming of their music video... There's even a cameo by DPD, watch how that goes :-/

Invincible + Waajeed - The Making of the Detroit Summer Video from EMERGENCE Media on Vimeo.