rbma Archives - The Come Up Show

[Video] Q-Tip on Red Bull Music Academy

I can't get enough of these Red Bull Music Academy lectures. This time, the legendary Q-Tip joins DJ Chairman Mao in New York for a lengthy discussion on his career and a whole bunch of other great stuff. In my eyes, Q-Tip is one of the most quintessential emcees and producers in hip-hop history, so it's fantastic to get a glimpse into his thought process. On a side note, if you're a Tribe fan like I am and you haven't seen the Beats, Rhymes & Life documentary, I highly recommend checking it out - even if it's a little heartbreaking. Watch the video and read the teaser below.

"Q-Tip is one of hip hop’s greatest MCs and producers. As a member of A Tribe Called Quest, he helped to shape the sound of hip hop throughout the ’90s. The group’s exceptional run of full-lengths became a blueprint for MCs looking to balance the literate and the absurd, as well as producers searching for the perfect (and unexpected) break—Tribe’s influence is pretty much unmatched in hip hop circles. Since Tribe’s split in 1998, Q-Tip has kept busy with a solo career that has included four albums as well as countless productions and guest appearances in places both expected (Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, and Jay-Z) and improbable (Chemical Brothers, R.E.M.). He has also honed his DJ chops, spinning regularly in New York City and beyond."

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[Video] Questlove on Red Bull Music Academy

Martin Bauman

Questlove recently dropped by the Red Bull Music Academy in New York for a lecture, speaking at length with DJ Chairman Mao about his career and much more. Honestly, anytime Questo drops knowledge, it's definitely well worth watching. I'm really becoming a fan of these lectures; if you enjoy them as much as I do, make sure to check out the lectures with Rakim and Stretch & Bobbito. Watch the video and read the teaser below.

"A pivotal figure of the Philly scene, Questlove cofounded The Roots, who rejuvenated hip hop in an instrumental flurry. Meanwhile, Questlove’s engagement with the Soulquarians production squad, and collaborations with artists such as D’Angelo, Jay-Z and Common have reasserted the importance of real-time playing in a style dominated by sampling and programming. Besides establishing the crucial heads’ website Okayplayer and gigging with The Roots as the house band for Jimmy Fallon’s late night show, Questlove has also acquired serious skills behind the ones and twos."

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[Video] Rakim on Red Bull Music Academy

Martin Bauman

This one's a treat. The legendary Rakim stopped by the Red Bull Music Academy in New York to chat with DJ Chairman Mao and reflect on his illustrious career. To this day, Rakim remains one of the greatest lyricists - if not the greatest lyricist - of all time. In the lecture, he shares advice for upcoming artists, talks about the shift in lyricism, and reveals what influenced him in the early years. Watch the video below.

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[Video] Stretch and Bobbito on Red Bull Music Academy

Martin Bauman

This video is by no means new, but it's still absolutely entertaining and informative. DJ Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia sit down with Chairman Jefferson Mao for a Red Bull Music Academy lecture, discussing the beauty of college radio and their role in launching careers of artists like Jay Z, Nas, and Mobb Deep. For those unfamiliar with Stretch and Bobbito, the two co-hosted The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on 89.9 WKCR in New York during the majority of the 1990s. In 1998, The Source named the show the "Best Hip-Hop Radio Show of All Time." Suffice it to say, these two have an important place in hip-hop culture, and have a wealth of knowledge to offer. Sit back and watch the video below.

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