Yeah, buddy. Keep those videos coming, y'all. I was just at the shoot for Grayskul's "Scarecrow," off of their second Rhymesayers LP, Bloody Radio, which is due out on September 11. And now, Mass Line Media just debuted a new video (their fourth in the last few weeks, and like the rest, filmed by Zia Mohajerjasbi) for Gabriel Teodros's "Don't Cry for Us," the powerful dancehall-flavored cut off of Gabe's Lovework LP. The song features impassioned appearances from Siren's Echo songbird Toni Hill and Gabe's ferocious other half from Abyssinian Creole, Khingz. As usual, you can check it out on YouTube, www.masslinemedia.com, or that new local hiphop blog www.raindrophustla.blogspot.com... ahem!

Check out my man Brotha Thomas—MC/producer/Clean Cut Barbershop owner—dude is hosting an all-ages hiphop throw-down at West Seattle's Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on Thursday, July 19. Homegrown 2007 features performances from RA Scion, DJ WD4D, Rogue Pinay, Suntonio Bandanaz, Sleepwalkers, AudioPoet, Oddfellaz, Marcus Aurelius & I Adjust, DJ Congo aka Kamikaze, CyphaTeam, E-Maculit, 1.2, and Muridian, as well as Brotha Thomas himself. Festivities kick off at 7:00 p.m., so you can come through and vibe while the sun's still out. Y'know, now that summer is really, actually, truly here now. The lineup is a dope mix of young and tested artists, and it all benefits Youngstown to boot. Tell you what, check www.cleancutbarbershop.com for more details, my net-savvy friend.

Appreciators of the DJ will no doubt be both exhilarated and horrified to discover that the night of Friday, July 13, brings them not only the Great Grand Dean of Disc Jocks, Grandmaster Flash (playing at the Last Supper Club), but also the Jimi Hendrix of direct drive, DJ Qbert (rocking Neumo's). Jesus Christ, ain't that just a booking nightmare. Perhaps the Neumo's support lineup of DV One, DJ Hydro, one of my fave new local crews the Physics, all-star funkateers Big World Breaks, and world champion b-boys Massive Monkees will sway you Hill-wards. Or, shit, do it like a G-O and see both. Drink your Sparks.

You know Brother J (least you better), and you've probably got Brother Ali tatted on your face (Stan)—now who in the hail is Brother Reade? This was my thought after bringing my mail up last week—as I'd just received the advance for their upcoming release, Rap Music. BR as it turns out is the Los Angeles—based (formerly of North Cackalack) duo of MC Jimmy Jamz and DJ/Producer Bobby Evans. Though their chosen handles bring to mind some lost New Jack Swing crew, I'm happy to report that Rap Music is fuckin' fresh to def, as that Dame Dash character might say. After several buzzing but below-radar releases and some hip marketing, this might just be the release to take them over the top. The pair's punk roots show in both Evans's propulsive, party-rocking production and Jamz's down-to-earth, snarky smart-guy swagger, but they wear an unabashed love for all of rap's eras on their sleeve—far from the typical I-know-better-than-you indie-hop stance. It is what it is—Rap Music. And goddamn it, isn't that enough anymore?