24 Facts about Dollar$ & Daialogue (Pt. 2)

The follow-up to our first EP, Dollar$ & Daialogue 1.5 has been received nicely over the past couple of weeks since its release with posts on Kevin Nottingham, Cluster Funk Collective and Hip Hop Wired blogs and positive feedback from listeners on both coasts (the Gulf and West respectively, lol). We've included twelve more factoids from the other half of the D&D duo, L'Daialogue DiCaprio. Check em out below:

13. Most of the samples from the initial EP and new D&D projects consists of classic breaks from old Memphis & New Orleans based records.

14. "Do It Tonight" was the first song recorded for Dollars & Daialogue.

15. At the urging of Mr. J'ai (founding Tygah Woods member), Slangston & L'Daialogue were advised to record an EP vs. an LP because the shorter length made for a better listen.

16. Dollars & Daialogue has been covered by many different publications such as Offbeat Magazine.

17. Dollars & Daialogue has also been covered by KevinNottingham.com, Clusterfunk Collective, Urban Orleans, the REUP Spot, & among other blogs.

18. Each song off of Dollars & Daialogue is an interconnected theme of money-based songs i.e. Payable To Me.

19. Our muse for the ideal "girl" on the song "Ladies In The Crowd" was the actress/poet/emcee/DJ Amanda [Diva] Seales.

20. Touted New Orleans DJ, EF Cuttin contributed to the project representing the legendary PsychoWard Crew which includes DJ Raj Smooth (Lil' Wayne producer), DJ Wop & DJ Bigg Cheeeze.

21. "Payable To Me" was the last song recorded for the project featuring Lyrikill and a flipped sample from L'Daialogue's Wi-Fi.

22. "Rockin Out" was inspired by a recent Honda Odyssey TV commercial sampling Judas Priest's "The Hellion."

23. An extended retail version is in the works for the Dollars & Daialogue project(s).

24. If you listen very closely...there may be ANOTHER hidden track
inside the other hidden track on the project.

Hip-Hop... The Gift That Keeps On Giving...

Hip-Hop has its fair share of ups & downs for an upcoming emcee, especially if you're putting on your own events & the majority of promo, networking, etc. However, that's another story for another time. A couple of weeks ago, I found myself in a brief period of self-doubt, minute depression and disappointing show attendance et al detracting factors associated with the rap game. That was until I received this "treasure" in the mail from a colleague that reignited my fervor for my culture and my respective place in it regarding a recent performance I had at an elementary school.


Shout out to Byrone & his teacher at the time, Ms. Craven of Truman Middle School for the support the proverbial pick me up! I DID return AND performed at the gym in front of the majority of the student body just as Byrone hoped for with the big homie, DJ Rik Ducci the next year. I signed alot of autographs that day and can only hope Byrone got one.It was a moment I'll never forget and thoroughly enjoyed. We'll work on Byrone's spelling of my stage moniker for another time. As for now, I'm having a positive change of heart!

Dollar$ & Daialogue 1.5 Tracklisting & Cover

Stay tuned as the follow-up to Dollar$ & Daialogue, (nominated for Hottest EP of the Year) prepares to drop this month!

Slangston Hughes & L’Daialogue DiCaprio Presents: Dollars & Daialogue 1.5

TRACKLISTING:

1. Bruised Fruit * produced by Blaze the Verbal Chemist

2. I’m So Raw feat. Top Billion

3. Do It Tonite (SlumVillaDillaDawgRemix)

4. Mike Swift Interlude

5. Overworked & Underpaid feat. Robin Barnes * produced by J-Snizzy

6. Paygrade * produced by Blaze the Verbal Chemist ˚

7. Plankin On A 20

8. Sallie Mae

9. Slangston’s Plankin Interlude

10. Tardy * produced by Brad M.˚

11. Suck It Up Rmx feat. Tygah Woods (J-Dubble, Blaze The Verbal Chemist,

Mr. J’ai, Lyriqs da Lyriciss, D. Francis, O.T & Wes Beez)

12. Debt Ceiling ˚

- Production by L’Daialogue DiCaprio & MiZUnderstatistic except

˚Additional live drums & Nord keyboarding by Nick "Soul Nick" Solnick

and Andrew McGowan of Fo On The Flo

24 Facts about Dollar$ & Daialogue (Pt. 1)

With the impending release of the re-up to Dollar$ & Daialogue quickly approaching, I decided to put together 24 random facts (D&D dropped on 2/11/11: 2+11+11 = 24) about the initial project. Check em out and see if you find out something you didn't know. Dollar$ & Daialogue 1.5 drops later on this month!

1) Dollar$ & Daialogue was developed as an official follow-up to Slangston’s first mixtape, Money & The Message. The idea was to continue the discussion of money and how it affects, hinders, and stimulates us for better or worse.

2) The original idea was for Slangston to do all of the writing/vocals with a Daialogue verse or two at the most with him remaining behind the boards the majority of the project, but with the energy and dichotomy that came about as songs manifested, a collaborative effort was a better fit.

3) Dollar$ & Daialogue was recorded in four studios, Wes B’s Blu Deuce Studios, Inner Recess Recording Studios, The Hut Studios and L’Daialogue’s home studio.

4) With Slangston’s Blueprint mentality, the only two features for Dollar$ & Daialogue are Hip-Hop Soul singer, Suave and fellow New Orleans emcee, Lyrikill.

5) If you listen closely, there’s a special hidden track at the end of this LP with a certain New Orleans flavor.

6) Despite the large amount of talented producers throughout New Orleans, Slangston chose extended Tygah Woods fam and Memphis native, L’Daialogue for this type of project because of the chemistry that developed in what Slangston calls “one of his best verses written” in the Tygah Woods x L’Daialogue collab “Marie Laveau” (http://bit.ly/odP2kh).

7) The artwork for Dollar$ & Daialogue was created the night before its February 11^th release and features the same font that's used on each denomination of US currency.

8) The first song written and recorded for the project was “Do It Tonight,” Slangston’s personal rebuttal to the pessimistic and negative Twitter posts ending in the phrase #FML or Fuck My Life.

9) Not an overtly avid fan of today’s bounce music, Slangston was surprisingly convinced to do a Hip-Hop track with a bounce beat after hearing L’Daialogue’s Triggaman sample flip and production on “Hands In the Air” (http://bit.ly/njIZcl)

10) The idea for “Ladies In The Crowd” came about after watching a Black Milk performance video that displayed a solid, enthused front row of female Hip-Hop listeners at one of his shows, something that isn’t often seen at Hip-Hop shows generally speaking.

11) Writing/recording for Dollar$ & Daialogue started around March/April of 2010.

12) Olde Soul, longtime producer and L’Daialogue contributor, added the Jay-Z cuts from “Some Like It Hot” you hear on the title track.

Two Years Strong & Nowhere Near Faltering...

Within two years of booking artists, scheduling rehearsals, performing, learning new songs, designing flyers, editing photos, promoting online and in the streets, informing the unknown of what Uniquity, we've NEVER (and I mean NEVER) have had a crowd like we had on March 26th! The freshmen class of NOLA's Hip-Hop showed & proved with the highest grossing Uniquity in two years! Giving many thanks to our guest musicians, Cliff Hines, Kashonda Bailey and Sam Wiseman, Preston & Bricks of the Dragon's Den, all of our performers (Chels, Heata Best, Macniffy, Quest, D. Selina and Jakie Skellz) and everyone who embraced that sheeeiiittt! Check out some shots from the illness that was March's Uniquity.



As we proceed with the proceedings, brought to you in conjunction with Inner Recess Recording Studios, Uniquity's two year anniversary celebration begins a day early with a special beat sale called the Auction by featured artist & producer, DaiN. Many of DaiN's beats will be available for purchase at exclusive slash and burn prices for one night only. We'll also have some discounted pre-sale tickets available for Friday's show at the Auction.

Keeping with the theme of two years, Uniquity celebrates its two year anniversary THIS FRIDAY with performances by featured artists, Soundclash Beat Battle producer/emcee, DaiN, seven time LEAF Poetry Slam Finalist and professional Spoken Word poet, Jon Brown and Rockspel artist and former BET Sunday Best top contender, Franklin IV.

April's Uniquity is sponspored by the Right Brain Society and Humidity Skateshop, who will also supply some free giveaways. We'll have special guests performing throughout the night in addition to our special guest cohost and Uniquity alumni, Elliot Luv. If you catch any Uniquity, this is one you don't want to miss!

I Couldn't Be Happier...

I still look back on last Friday and try to decipher why I was so nervous and worried about the the show in general. The talent truly spoke for itself and this month's Uniquity was one of the best attended shows I've put on in the past two years! Giving many many thanks to our AWESOME featured artist, Tonya Boyd-Cannon, D. Selina, special guest hosts, Greg Banks and Robin Barnes, the Dragon's Den and the Uniquity staff. Check out the pics below for a glimpse into the night that was.



Proceeding with the proceedings, we up the ante with the March edition of Uniquity. Deemed the "Up And Comers Edition," next month's Uniquity features some of the brightest talent of New Orleans' Hip-Hop freshmen class. Performances include Element Movement's Macniffy (formerly of the I.C.U.), Off the Dome runner up and freestyle fanatic, Jakie Skellz, lyrical prodigy, Chels and the penchant punchline prince, Heata Best. All will be joined by live band, Fo On the Flo for a showcase the young spittas. Make sure you're at the Dragon's Den on March 26th to embrace that sheeeiiittt!

New Year, Same Ole Funk...

The tone was definitely set for 2011 with great performances from Pyinfamous (Jackson, MS) and first time performers w/a band, Top Billion & featured artist, Dappa. Thanks to everyone who came out in addition to the Dragon's Den staff and Que Duong (http://queduong.com) for the photos.




Uniquity returns on Friday, February 18th w/an all R&B lineup including D. Selina and featured artist, Tonya Boyd-Cannon. They'll be joined by special guest hosts, Greg Banks & Robin Barnes.

2010 Ends With A Bang

If you weren't at the last Uniquity of the year on 12/18, you definitely missed one of the better Uniquity's of the year. With performances by Marcel P. Black, The Purple Bastard, Ensane One and featured artist, Elespee this month's Uniquity had an eclectic sound that definitely delivered.



Make sure you're at the Dragon's Den on 1/29 to check out the first Uniquity of the new year w/performances by Top Billion, PyInfamous and featured artist, Dappa.

Uniquity x DJ RQ Away Present Embrace The Dream

I decided to start the year off right dropping music under the Uniquity brand. Along with the assistance of the homie, DJ RQ Away we present to Hip-Hop lovers & listeners a mix entitled "Embrace the Dream." In memory of MLK Jr. & released on MLK Day, "Embrace the Dream" features socially poignant & lyrically conscious emcees from New Orleans & Baton Rouge, LA, Memphis, TN, Jackson, MS and New York City.

For those who might not be familiar with Uniquity. It's mission is to provide a monthly performance platform for both newcomers and seasoned veterans in the local Hip-Hop, Spoken Word and R&B communities, offering them the opportunity to push their musicality to a new level by collaborating with a jazz band on stage. Tracklisting & download link below.

DOWNLOAD HERE