So I was aimlessly wandering around the internet as I normally do and decided to stop home for a minute at http://unitedstatesofmind.bandcamp.com/ and all I see is album covers.  Sometimes I forget that we really do put in a lot of work at USM to get this music out to the people.  Then I click the link and remember that we made most of our back catalog free as we just want you guys to hear it.  Below are the album covers and click whatever one you like to jump to the site and download.  Click em all.  Tell your friends to do the same.  I believe all of them (With the exception of Zo and Asylum 7′s “Overdue Process” and my release “Live @ The Get Up”) are free and soon enough “Live @ The Get Up” will be as well because I made it for the heads wanting to give you guys a little something different than your average.  Anyways, it is my hope you enjoy and check for the new shit when it drops.  Check 1, check 2, check it out.

click the album cover to jump to download site

Whaddup my people,

About a year after it’s initial release we have decided to put our debut album up for free download. Why you ask? I’m sure there are some very good reasons.   Here are a few I can think of.

1) Everybody seems to be doing it these days

2) We put a subliminal message in the download to make you murder every other rapper alive.  Even the dope ones.  (of course we hate whack rappers but we also hate rappers more successful than us)

3) At the end of the day we just want you to hear what we’re doing over here.  The money and acknowledgment from our peers is nice and all, but it begins and ends with you.  We do this to express ourselves and whether you like it or not, we’re satisfied if you’ve just given it a listen so you can make an informed decision.  We don’t have any crazy kind of marketing machine or budget or cool friends that make us popular so a free download is our best way to mainline our music directly to the people.

If you like what you hear all we ask is that we let your people know that we’re out here and making music.  Please copy this link and spread it around -- http://unitedstatesofmind.bandcamp.com/album/kill-the-bullsh-t and when I  say spread it around I mean hit your blog, hit your twitter, hit your facebook, hit your friends facebook, hit your myspace (do we still use this), and if you run a site feel free to post it.  That’s about all I gotta say about it.  Fuck it actually -- if you hate it let us know too cause that’s valid.  Just feel something.  I feel like music has been watered down for so long people have become numb to it and it’s suddenly taken on the form of soilent green or something.  It’s like peeps aren’t even hungry for Hip Hop like they used to be.  Well I say “Kill That Bullshit”.  We cooked something up last year that I feel is gourmet so eat the fuck up and break bread with your fam.  Until next time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sABdE0tIMuY

whaddup people,

Yeah, I’m feeling pretty good so I’m gonna hit you with 2 updates in one day.  This ones a bit easy as the homie DJ Graffiti hit me with an email the other day alerting me to a mini-mix he did for the homie Ro Spit.  If you’ve been hiding under a rock the past week or so you might not know that Ro Spit has just released an album for free download at www.RoSpit.com.

Anyways, I’ve known both of these gentlemen for quite some time and they are both killin’ it in their respective fields – they even occasionally cross over into each others fields as Ro started out as a DJ for the Subterraneous crew and I’ve heard Graf spit some bars on the classic Bling Free mixtape series.  I’m also trying to spread word on this because it’s always dope when two camps get together to prop each other up.  Cats really don’t know how us artists in Detroit/Ann Arbor/Lansing really connect so projects like this serve that purpose.  Skip that crab in a bucket shit.  There is strength in numbers here so best believe they’re both winning with this move. Anyways, to make this short and sweet I’ll just copy the important parts of the email Graffiti sent me and you guys check out the links and spread the word.

What’s up D.Allie?

I’m blasting out a short mix that I just did featuring songs by one of Detroit’s most up and coming emcees, Ro Spit.  All the songs in my mix feature Ro Spit solo on the mic over beats from producers from the A-Side camp (Lab Techs: 14KT, Vaughan T & Forekast, and one from Astronote).  The songs are all taken from “The Oh S#!t Project” that was released yesterday for free download on www.RoSpit.com.  Feel free to post my mini-mix and/or a link to the entire project. The Oh S#!t project isn’t an official A-Side release, but Ro Spit is definitely family!

My mini-mix (direct link hosted on my mediafire account):
http://www.mediafire.com/?zjn2ztyjmn1

The entire Oh S#!t Project & more info about Ro Spit is available at:
http://www.RoSpit.com

The Oh S#!t Project Cover
http://www.asideworldwide.com/images/1013.jpg

It’s been too long as usual, but as usual I’ve been working and working to give you guys something to talk about next year.  B4 I say my piece about the man of the hour, Metasyons, lemme give you some quick updates on what’s going on in the world of D. Allie.

1) Progress Report (my collaborative project with Producer/MC Eddie Logix) is all mixed and should go to master this week.  This is an initial step in a long list of things we need to take care of b4 we can get the finished product to you but it is an important step and I’m making sure that I try to enjoy the journey as much as possible this time around.  As of now we are releasing a 7 inch in January (that’s right my people – cats are still on that vinyl movement) and we hope to have the full length project to you by March.  I know it seems like a long time away but if you looked at our to-do list it wouldn’t seem too far away.

2) I just recently celebrated my 27th birthday and I’m looking forward to this year very much.  I’ve made a concerted effort to slow myself down just a little (can’t party like a rockstar every night of the week because those hangovers seem to hit harder and harder).  I’ve also tried to make steps to improve my health by going to the gym and……..wait for it…….I am pleased to say that I haven’t had a cigarette in about 2 months now.  Those that know me know what a tremendous feat that is for me because there were few things I like on earth as much as a cigarette.  I can already feel the positive effects when I’m performing and recording in the studio.  I might mess around and start putting out some long winded bone thugs type verses on you.

3) For my bday I bought myself a few presents.  One being a mac book which I’m typing on right now, (I love this machine) and another being a plane ticket out to San Fran to visit the homie 5 ill so hopefully we’ll get some music crackin out in the bay area come early december.  If you are or know anybody in the San Francisco area who puts on shows let a brotha know.  I would definitely like to rock while I’m out there.

Alright, I think I’ve bored you to death with my updates but b4 you go to sleep let me wake you up to one of my musical partners in United States of Mind and a man I have the pleasure of calling my friend….METASYONS.

"Detroit...The birthplace of everything fly" - metasyons

As I disclosed we are crew and he is a close friend so I’m gonna be a bit biased, but I truly believe that Meta is by far one of the most talented cats I have come across since I’ve been doing this music and I think you’ll get to see that with this project.  It’s a quick listen with 6 songs and features myself, Ro Spit, and some cat from Greece (yeah, we tryin’ to keep up with the global trends).  If you’re digging what you’re hearing we always ask that you spread the word in anyway you can.  Check the commercial for it posted below and then go to WWW.USMDETROIT.COM and get to downloading the project.  Hit me on the email and let me know what you think.  you can even download it here but go to the USM site as well and see what we’re doing over there.  I’ll leave you with some words from Meta on the project so enjoy.

USM PRESENTS…

Metasyons’ Eviction Notice. This mixtape/sampler was produced because I (Meta) am broke as fuck!! I recently received an eviction notice, so that’s what sparked this project. You people can at least give me the pleasure of enjoying my music, hence the free download! Spread the word. We need this to be major! Maybe it could lead to me eating again……..

Thats it hopefully the music speaks for itself

Since I wasn’t able to update you regularly from the road I decided I will give you some recaps on the tour.  They will be out of order and probably a bit jumbled, but whatever…just meet Rob already.

haven't we taken this back pack thing a little too far already. lol.

I had the pleasure of meeting Rob Viktum down in Austin at SXSW through my man Chief who I will have to do a whole other blog on later (google the name for now and get familiar or follow him at www.twitter.com/mr_chief).  As you meet about 5 million people at SXSW it is admittedly not the best situation to really build with someone.  Fortunately, the monday after SXSW was a day off on the tour and we told ourselves we would maximize everyday and Rob resides in Dallas so as we had gas to burn…

When we got to his spot we (me, Dante LaSalle, Chief, and Rob) just shot the shit for a little and then we went up to the lab to see what he was cooking up in the studio.  He played the first beat and I was like DOPE.  He played another and I was like DOPE.  This continued more times than I feel like typing.  At some point I ran downstairs for the weaponry of a pad and pen and to get some beer from the corner store (it’s not a problem I swear. lol).  When I got back a beat was going so I cracked a tall boy High Life and wrote out a verse.  As we were writing he asks us if he can work on another beat as he likes to stay busy.  We all had the tempo down so this was more than fine.  So he pulls out a record and starts finding another sample.  I finish my verse (I’ve been becoming a quicker writer these days) so me and Chief go down for a cigarette and chill out for a minute.  He finishes his verse outside and then we head back up and…..

HE’S ALREADY DONE WITH THE OTHER BEAT AND IT’S BANGERIFFIC (yeah I said that).  From the original record I couldn’t believe that beat came from that, and then I think he starts working on a new beat cause it was sounding completely different, but he’s like “I just think the beat needs a break”.  I’m just thinking I need to pick the pad up and get to another verse.  10-15 minutes to write and it had nothing to do with me.  I was inspired by the work ethic and had to show and prove.  Sometimes others can just push you to work harder without saying a word and Rob’s beats did that for me.

Outside of the beats, we had a great time in Dallas.  We went to a bar after the vibe session and just hung out.  The bar had a kick ass juke box (but I had to wait until bar close to hear my killer selections…don’t you just hate that. lol.) and dope pizza.  We also got to meet his beautiful wife who is a B-Girl (that’s right folks…girls do listen to hip hop even if the ratio at shows is a little sausage centric).  Hilarity did ensue at the bar and after the bar but some things are just gonna have to stay secret’s of the bRoad.

Now the reason that I’m writing this blog at this time is that I was on my favorite site outside of mine (www.potholesinmyblog.com) and saw that they just put up a project of his for free download entitled, “Rob Viktum Presents: Snack Pack Vol 1″ so I had to go download it and it was just as I suspected.  He still hasn’t made a beat that I wasn’t feeling.  All you gotta do is click the album cover at the end of this blog and it will take you away to the potholesinmyblog article with info on how to download. They will also give you all the fancy writer stuff on him like what he sounds like and all that ish. In my opinion, if you like what I’m doing, this will definitely not disappoint.  And as your listening check for track 5 and track 14.  5 was the first beat I started writing to and 14 was the one he made while I was having a cigarette.  A fucking cigarette folks.  Thanks for the inspiration brotha.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO POTHOLE IN MY BLOG AND DL THE PROJECT FOR FREE

Nicotine  Usm/ metasayons, Asylum  7, Drastik

Thinkin Back  Usm/ D. Allie/ Asylum 7/ 5 Ill

Click Here To Download

Click here To Cop The New Album

]]> http://hiphopismysoul.com/index.php/2009/03/you-didnt-think-i-was-gonna-leave-you-without-giving-you-something-free-usm-digital-12-inch-for-your-listening-pleasure/feed/ 0 http://hiphopismysoul.com/index.php/2009/02/i-got-potholes-in-my-blog-and-when-i-looked-in-one-i-found-the-kill-the-bullshit-album-review/ http://hiphopismysoul.com/index.php/2009/02/i-got-potholes-in-my-blog-and-when-i-looked-in-one-i-found-the-kill-the-bullshit-album-review/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:39:48 +0000 admin http://hiphopismysoul.com/?p=182

best name for a website ever

One Love to Potholes in my Blog For Showing Us Some Love and Shining Light On What We’re Trying To Do With This Music.   Therefore, Click their banner to read the review on their site (I’ll probably post it a little below but there is much better shit to go to their site for and I will describe now).

For starters they actually have a writing staff.  This is not just copying and pasting shit people.  Actual independent thought goes on here.  For Two, I was able to download 2 pretty dope projects off their website so you can constantly find good music there.  If you’re wondering if you like the music they post there, if you get the title of their blog, you will, and if you don’t get it, you won’t like it, and frankly I don’t know why you’re reading my blog.   Moving along.

The 2 projects I was able to download was a project was an Album Called “Her Favorite Colo(u)r” by Blu(u) and “Flowers” by Duhmi.  Here are the album covers so search for them on the site (I’m not gonna give you links to everything…isn’t it much more fun to explore sites on your own).

Okay….I’m going to make an admission here.   Up until this point I had never heard Blu.  I know he has been on like every website and praised, but for one when you do music all the time its really hard to listen to new ish all the time (to me often times silence is the sweetest sound), and i never listen to music on someone else’s schedule (but it’s always right on time).   I had also never heard Duhmi (but i had never heard of him before either).  Anyways……

Both projects I would’ve gladly paid for and they gave them to you for free.  FOR FREE.  just because they were nice enough to give them too you for free does not mean it should be treated as such.  The vibe of each of these projects was something I haven’t heard much of in new music.  It was quite laid back and the dopeness was implicit in each project.  Once again I’ll say make your own critiques but If you read this blog I doubt you feel i’ve lead you wrong thus far and let a brotha know if I have.   Onto the review of “Kill The Bullshit”.

No Bullshit Was Harmed In The Making of This Flyer. I can't make the same guarantee for saturday. *insert sinister laugh here*

Getting reviews are a very interesting phenomenon.  I want to get them because that makes you guys know I exist, but it asking people to judge you (and you could say they are just judging the music but from my perspective there really is no difference between me and the music…dig).  This is a little different as this is a project from a group I am part of so it is not a direct reflection of me but I am definitely a part of it.  Also with reviews, I often find myself being misunderstood, but all that is general speak.  Let’s get into the nitty gritty of this review.

We got 3/5 potholes which isn’t great, but it isn’t bad either.  Also, let me also state that people should not just look at reviews in terms of sheer ratings.  There is more to be found in the text and the man that wrote the review, Andrew Martin, is in my opinion a great writer so his reviews and whatever else he writes should be read.  I definitely agree with a lot of his critiques on the album and feel we share a lot of the same sensibilities as people (although I don’t know him in the flesh I have been able to converse with him on the internet in terms of email and twitter so you should follow him at www.twitter.com/amartin520).

With this album and my other works in general I still do very much feel as I am a work in progress and consistently growing.  As I have just decided I won’t post the review here (go to the site people by clicking their banner…it’s worth it) a quote that did stick out to me was “Let’s just hope none of them become complacent, because with a little growth, there’s no telling how far USM could go.”  In that respect, it is my vow to never become complacent, and it is my hope that my growth will be witnessed through these audiophonic diaries that I am sharing with you.  Can’t wait for you guys to hear the next shit.  For shits and giggles here is a link to a review of “The Cooperative” that Andrew Martin also wrote but this one was for okayplayer.  click here to go to it and fest assured the next album will get classic status…or not.

if you don’t mind i’d like to introduce you to my friend SelfSays.  SelfSays…meet the people.

ladies. he is single and he has a sign for goodness sake. what more do you want?

First of all, check his myspace HERE. Self and I have known each other for the better part of a decade (don’t go thinking we are all old people.  hip hop brings kids together at a young age).   We lived down the block from each other in Ann Arbor and through the years we have gotten into some shennanigans and hilarity has ensued, but that’s really neither here nor there.

Basically, beyond being a friend Self is a talented artist and he is a real person which is always nice.  He is one of the rare ones that makes music for himself (I don’t include myself among that list…that’s why I whore myself out to you people).  There has been times where i haven’t seen him perform for a year and then he will hit the stage just cause he feels like it and he doesn’t lose a step.  He’s the same way about recording which is probably why he hasn’t released anything…that is until now.

The “Something Out of Nothing Ep” is a collection of songs he has recorded through the years.  You see what i’m saying people.  It’s not like he had the thought process that he needed to record songs for an album.  He just had a collection of songs that were lying around and decided to give them away.  That’s right…give them away to you for free.  If you are a Self Head (believe me, there are more than a few out there) then you will recognize most of these songs but i believe there are a couple on there that I wasn’t even familiar with.  I could rave about it, but I prefer to let your ears be the judge of that.  He has a very good song sensibility and a good ear for beats so i’m pretty sure you’ll approve.

He put it out with the help of True Radio so you can support those cats HERE.

DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM BY CLICKING BELOW ON THE FRONT OR BACK ALBUM COVER.

that's right. we live this rap life. okay....not really, but don't you wish you were in his position in this photo.

you should already know him if you know me because i’ve made it a habit of riding his co-tails, but if you don’t know meet Dante.  he’s an artist local to the mitten (that’s michigan for you non mid westerners) and we’ve been friends for quite sometime.  I believe we met at a battle (how hip hop is that) in 2000 or 2001 and hilarity has ensued from there.  Anyways i could sit here and tell you all these dope facts about him like how he was on the warped tour last year, and has toured overseas (and even cooler that we are about to hit the road together in march), makes music that is not the average boom bap (he’s an outside of the box beats and concepts kind of dude), had his debut solo record(was in the group switch stance) “Roaming Empire” hit #2 on the CMJ charts, and the fact his DJ is a muay thai fighter, but that would be tooting his horn a little too much (only D. Allie should be propped up so much on this site).  You can find out all the info you want at his website by CLICKING HERE.

However, for those of you that don’t like to read (like me) Dante has made some of his music available to you guys for free so you can see that the proof is in the pudding, truth is in the music, fish is in the sea, cows in the barn….i’m rambling.  The project is called “The Fixtape” and here are the particulars: