BIG NEWS concerning Charles Hamitlon & Grade A

Ok, that cake leaves a lot to be desired, but 70,000 hits...WOW. That's really all I can say. To anyone who has ever visited this site, referred anyone to this site, hell, even if you hated on this site...I SAY THANK YOU!!! Words can't even really express how grateful I am for the love this site is receiving. I know Grade A isn't on the level of a Hear It First or a 2DopeBoyz, but damn, if we aren't one of the most up and coming sites for music (and news), then color me stupid. I'm trying to get 100,000 hits by the end of the year, and I'm confident we can make that happen. Yea, I know I sound like I'm on my Barack Obama sh*t right now with all this "we" talk, but that's really what it is. If I didn't have people coming to the site, I wouldn't keep doing this. Be on the look out for CollegeRadioMusic.com, that's another site I am writing for. Don't worry, nothing is going to happen to Grade A except we are going to keep getting expanding the brand. Hopefully, soon, I can incorporate a radio station so when you come here, your favorite songs (and exclusives) will be playing.

But on to the BIG NEWS (well at least it is to me). By now, I'm sure most of you are in tune with Charles Hamilton, Demevolist and The Hamiltonization Process. Charles has been releasing mixtape after mixtape for the past couple of months and his buzz is growing expotentially. He just released The L Word earlier today. Soon, Charles Hamilton & Demevolist will be releasing a tape with Grade A & College Radio entitled, F.I.N.A.L.S. It's an acronym for F*ck, I Never Actually Learned Sh*t. As much as I would love to take credit for that name, I have to give that to a couple of people I went to high school with...damn, have I really been out of high school for almost 5 years?

Anyway, yeah, be on the lookout for that exclusive. Who would have thought when Grade A was first launched on August 7, 2008, that within three months we would be doing a tape with one of the top underground artists in the game? Blessed...that's all I can say.

I'm out though...gotta be back to work at 5 and I'm trying to catch a nap before then. Keep grindin' and keep struggling...cause at least you know you haven't quit. Those are my words of wisdom for the day.

--J. Tinsley

P.S. R.I.P. Julian King and to Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother. Damn shame...

LAST DAY TO APPLY 4 Absentee ballots....

Let it rock...

For my VA procrastinatin' people(such as myself)...you'll have to fax it to 804-371-0194!

"Deadline for Absentee Voting: Applications for an Absentee Ballot by mail must be in the Voter Registration office by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday October 28, 2008. The last day for in-person absentee voting in the Registrar's Office is Saturday November 1, 2008"

goto

http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/

for more info.


I think I forgot how to blog...

"Just my thoughts people...just my thoughts"

Let this rock and read. You know the drill.




Been a minute since I wrote something. Here goes nothing.

I watched "Sunday Morning" on CBS today. I always wondered why this was always on tv at my parents house on sundays. It varies from the "in your face" reporting we're accustomed to.

One of the stories had to do with David Bryne, the lead singer from "Talking Heads". Some how he managed to connect an organ to a building in NYC.



"Creative Time presents Playing the building, a sound installation in which the infrastructure, the physical plant of the building, is converted into a giant musical instrument. Devices are attached to the building structure — to the metal beams and pillars, the heating pipes, the water pipes — and are used to make these things produce sound. The activations are of three types: wind, vibration, striking. The devices do not produce sound themselves, but they cause the building elements to vibrate, resonate and oscillate so that the building itself becomes a very large musical instrument."
www.davidbyrne.com/art/art_projects/playing_the_building/




Bryne went to design school and by doing so he brought a performance art aspect to his band in the 70s, which was dominated with groups like the Eagles (They sold 29+ million records for their greatest hits album) and the Bee Gees, among others. This seperated "Talking Heads" from the other bands.



Oddly enough, I remember watching a band perform when I was younger with a guy moving around in a oversized suit. This was Bryne's work. Funny how things come full circle. Gotta ready for work now...


Peace.

Late Night Funk pt 5... Friday edition...

This needs no introduction...just let it rock and zone out...




Bonus:



Aaliyah - Hot Like Fire (album version)

The Pianist - Nocturne C # Minor

Relaxing. From one of my favorite movies...The Pianist.


Bonus: DG Yola - Pop and Roll







"She Like"

These tracks are old. Just know Yola has never really made a wack song. Real talk. Who even does the majority his beats??? I know Drumma and Midnight Black did a couple...



I'm pissed I didn't hear this one earlier in the summer. I think its called "return of da truth"



This is supposed to be the single. "She like it" prod. by Midnight Black

Dude is the truth...even with a live band...



"I ain't Gon Let Up"



"Girls Gone Wild"

Vote Grade A at the 2008 Online Hip-Hop Awards

Barack Obama and Grade A are the same entity...well sort of. We are the same in the fact that we were both little known before bursting onto the national scene. Granted his national scene and our national scene vary on importance. But enough of that, here is what I came for. Grade A Exclusives were nominated for the "Come Up Award" at this years 2008 Online Hip-Hop Awards. We are going up against some of the more known sites such as ThisIs50.com and 2dopeboyz.com, both of which I have a high amount of respect for.

Although winning may be a long shot, I figure why not give it a try. If Obama has the courage to be the first black president...then we can't give it a run in this? All you have to do is click here and nominate Grade A for the "Come Up Award"...only takes like 30 seconds. I truly believe that 30,000 hits in a month in a half deserves some type of recognition and the people who visit this site deserve ALL of the credit. YOU CAN NOMINATE ONCE PER DAY...AND THE DEADLINE IS OCT. 15...TELL A FRIEND TO TELL A FRIEND.

Help a brother out and register to vote (for the Online Hip Hop Awards).


Oh yea, make sure you vote in the REAL election in November. In case you haven't heard, it's kind of important this year.

In case you missed that link...click here.

SAW V

Seth in the pendulum trap...

A Town Soul...

My homegirl sent me this earlier today. I told her it was ironic since my dudes are heading to Atlanta for the weekend, minus me. Damn.

Good news is the city of Atlanta ain't goin' nowhere. This had me thinking about one of my favorite cds to listen to. DJ Jamad puts together classic material and his album covers are always sick.

This one is old school like a tape. No tracklist or song info. Peace.




http://www.zshare.net/download/1896056232300268/

Late Night Funk pt 2...

Worthy of their own post. The Spooks - Sweet Revenge

What happened to them???


Ming Xia with the vocals....damn.



Since we talkin' bout Philly...

Res - Golden Boys



A brief wiki background on this lady for those that don't know...

Shareese Renée Ballard, better known as Res (pronounced /ˈriːs/ reese) is a female Rock/R&B singer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her music is a mixture of soul and rock. She released her debut album, How I Do, in 2001 featuring the first single "Golden Boys." In spite of the video's heavy rotation on VH1, the song was not a hit on radio. Later the same year she released her second single "Ice King" featuring rapper Nas, like "Golden Boys" the song did not appeal to a mainstream audience and a video was never released for the single. In 2002 she released her third (and first hit) single "They Say Vision," which hit number one on the Billboard Dance chart and number 37 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. With the success of the single, the album entered the Billboard 200 for the first time. A fourth single, "Sittin' Back," was also released. Res did a remake of a Jefferson Starship song titled "Miracles" for the movie Maid in Manhattan (Starring Jennifer Lopez). Shortly after, she also became a poster child for Marc Ecko's "Ecko Red" clothing line and appeared in print advertising. After a near four years' hiatus she is currently touring supporting vocals with Gnarls Barkley and is in the process of releasing her second album. She recently released a song on the Akeelah and the Bee (starring Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett) movie soundtrack called "To Empower."

As of July 2006, Res' album How I Do has sold 244,000 copies in the U.S. The album suffered from a combination of poor promotion, wrong choices for singles / videos and most importantly radio format identity crisis - Could not fit into either Urban or Rock / Pop markets.

In 2008 Res released Black.Girls.Rock' via her MySpace page using the music distribution service Snocap. The album is only available to US internet users. However, Res is currently seeking to distribute it globally. She is planning on releasing a collaborative album in 2008 with emcee Talib Kweli as Idle Warship. The album is tentatively titled Party Robot.

- Another artist succumbed to the industry. SUPPORT SUPPORT. -


Jill Scott - Gettin' in The Way




I'm done droppin' heat folks. I'll try to post later in the week. Peace....

Late Night Funk...

Lonnie Liston Smith - Expansions



Fabolous - Computer Love



"She came first, I came last, roll the grass..."

Got damnit Fab. Lifestyle music...Definetly.

One of my favorite songs...Pete Rock ft. Loose Ends - Take Your Time



Another one of my favorites... Do or Die ft. Twista - Still Po Pimpin



Bonus: Pete Rock - Tru Master

Alabama Style

When I co-sign someone, I want you to listen and know my co-signs hold merit. Hell, I should be an A&R.

KD... from Alabama.

Dude spits heat and his production is top notch. His past two mixtapes with DJ BURN ONE are certfied bangers.

His music walks the fine line of being potentially mainstream and conversely raw & routhern.

But honestly, I don't think ya'll even ready...

I'll post the mixtapes soon enough.

Until then...

Keep The Party Goin...

Let this rock and read...

This song is so infectious. It's nasty. It speaks to you. That's how I want someone to feel when they read what I write. Additionally, it'll prepare you for my next post.

I sat down the other day after work and listened to this track 10 times straight. It matched how I was feeling at the time perfectly. Certain things need to be done so that progress can be made. Replay the track and listen to Rae closely.

Being under the weather the past couple of days along with other things going on in my life has given me a low tolerance for any bullshit. No leads on truly gainful employment. Possibly moving in several weeks. Managers showing no signs of professionalism. A car accident this morning. My apologies for the lack of updates.

What more can happen? What can I say for myself?

I've been watching alot of Adult Swim lately. Laughter does help.

"OUR PR DEPARTMENT IS AWESOME"

International Swagger

I was choppin' it up with this dude at work who was listening to this track on his Ipod. I told him I digged the song.

Interestingly, he was from Russia be explained how he listened to all types of music from different countries.

We agreed diversity was good thing.

Exchange of a song title and a website plug later and you've got this post...

GRADE A is International!

Muscat, Germany, Russia, Africa, UK, Belgium , I see ya'll!