10 the Hard Way w/SMKA

By Dustin Chambers

It’s a rainy Thursday afternoon in Atlanta and Mike Walbert is sporting a nice shiner on his right eye, while lounging in the SMKA studio. To his right, partner-in-crime and production wunderkind 808 Blake is Facebook stalking. Believe it or not, this is as slow as the days get for the two high school best friends and business partners who four years ago decided — at a Chick-fil-a — to showcase 808′s production talents via a lending them to other up and coming artists in the Atlanta scene.

A few months after that fast food pow wow, l was living in Chicago and got a call from 808, along with Mike and their third co-founder 7King. They had an idea of putting together what they would call, “The SMKA Experiment Vol. I”,” an album featuring artists from all over the ATL, but produced mostly by 808 and 7King. The fellas asked for my help in finding some new names and others they might not have heard of quite yet to collab with for the project.

In the 1,460 some odd days since those conversations we all grew up. And by grew up I mean I got balder, slimmer and landed a corporate J-O-B. As for SMKA, their own growth has been undeniable and the fabric that ties their city’s Hip-Hop community together has in some ways been single-handily made tighter and stronger by these guys.

They’ve managed to produce two more “Experiments,” (fourth one on the way) collab’d with everyone from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to George Clinton and they do it all out of the guest house at Mikes’ parents crib. Oh, and they sure as hell didn’t need me for any more artists recommendations because they were all going out of their way to find SMKA. I could go on for days about 808 and Mike, (who once went with the last name Walberg instead of his actual “Walbert”) but as they would tell you the music does most of the talking.

Ahead of their 4YR Anniversary party this Saturday at ATL’s Star Bar, I hit both 808 and Mike with what I like to call, “10 the Hard Way.”

808 Blake

One phrase to describe Mike: He’s like Wolfman from Wolfman and Donna. If that doesn’t paint a clear picture of what Mike is then you need to go look at Wolfman and Donna.
First record you bought with your own money: “Totally Krossed Out” – Kriss Kross
Drink of choice: Fat Tire beer
Best song to make love to: “Seduction” – Usher
Favorite superhero: Han Solo or The Dark Knight aka Batman
Signature SMKA song: “Dear Momma” – Yelawolf. “Donkey Kong” – ALEON CRAFT
Best advice: “Good is the enemy of great.” – Dad
Worst advice: “When you get money you’ve got to stunt first.” That was the stupidest advice I’ve gotten. I won’t say who said that.
Rihanna or Beyonce: Paula Patton or Rashida Jones.
What will it say on your tombstone: “I did it, guys. Nailed it!”

Mike Walbert

One phrase to describe Blake: The Herman Cain of Hip-Hop. Blake: Eh, don’t get my black card revoked!
First record you bought with your own money: “Back Up Off Me!” – Ed Lover and Dré
Drink of choice: That changes every week, brutha. We’re brewing our own beer called, “A Beer Called Quest.”
Best song to make love to: “Party Rock Anthem” – LMFAO
Favorite superhero: Growing up my favorite hero was always Gambit – card player, was smooth and had a staff. Everyone wants a staff.
Signature SMKA song: “Donkey Kong” – ALEON CRAFT
Best advice: “Friends come and go but always appreciate your family.” Unkown
Worst advice: “Swing first!” – Unknown
Rihanna or Beyonce: Beyonce
What will it say on your tombstone: 1984 to…2065?

Grip Plyaz x Motion Family – “F**k Dat Hipster S**t” [Live]

I spy…MoFam, Fab 5, Sean Falyon…

Fresh of his plug in Complex Magazine, and an A3c Hip-Hop Festival takeover, my ninja, Grip Plyaz, recently rocked Club Crucial down in Atlanta for the “Leaders of the New Cool” showcase.

Me and this dude go back to my earlier days at Death RO, when I first interviewed him for a feature in the pub and wrote a review of his last project, Grip-Hop. Anyway, “Fuck Dat Hipster Shit” is a definite banger, and my homie Grip is someone I’ve been following and believing in for some time, so check him out.

Props to my girl Kei and the whole Governed By Loyalty fam.

Grip, we’re dyin’ for that Purp, Wind & Fire!

To The One That Got Away…

An definite oldie, but goodie. I remember years back when I first saw this video, and immediately felt like I’d witnesses a work of art. Ha, well I’m older now, and I’ve actually seen some cooler videos, but this one still sits strong with me because I think every man and woman has a story about, “the one that got away.” Unfortunately, I feel like I’ve got more of these accounts than I do actual success stories in recent years, but you sure as f**k won’t see me dancing anytime soon in hopes that my lost loves/lust partners make their way back into my life. I’m “on to the next one.”

Big Sean x Mike Posner x Motion Family – “Smoke & Drive” [Live]

So my future employers made a stop by the Ambient Studios in Atlanta, where Big Sean and Mike Posner were doing a performance for Kia Soul Collective.

The footage above is from the two Midwestern up and comers doing their classic, “Smoke & Drive.” Dope song. Dope footage.

Ambush x Zippo – Catch a Fire

Isetan and Zippo recently partnered up to bring you their “Eyez On Fire” lighter line. I get the feeling only my fellow smokers and pyromaniacs will appreciate this the most. Well, this flame’s for you gang!

I seen it @ Hypebeast.

Mach Five – Sex On a Sunday Sampler

If you frequent this blog, then you know that I’m a big fan of the homies over at Greedmont Park. What initially caught me was the name of their site, an homage to the famous Atlanta green space, Piedmont Park. From the dope art and design postings to their flaunting their various technology and fashion fetishes, Greedmont is like Kanye West’s blog with balls.

At any rate, not until the great Twitter outbreak of 2009 did I come to find out that two of Greedmont’s founders were also dope MC’s, and create some eclectic hip-hop under the moniker, Mach Five. Well, finally, A. Ware and Corey Davis have blessed us with a 7-track snapshot of their forthcoming album, Sex on a Sunday.

Even though the sampler only features two tracks (“On My Way” and “Rebecca”) that will actually be on the album, you can quickly get the idea that your safest bet when dealing with a duo like Mach Five is you should simply expect the unexpected. Like a cockier, hornier, 2009 version of the Pharcyde, Mach Five is able to grab the listeners attention with fun, clever worldplay, touching on topics of sex (“Microwave”), life uncertainties (“Beyond Us”) and the constant pursuit if happiness, all while breaking every rule in the process.

Download it, here.

The Cool Kids – “The Art of Noise” [Skate Video]

So I first peeped this video over at Andrew's site, and I have been watching it nonstop since. The track “The Art of Noise” on The Cool Kids and Don Cannon mixtape, Gone Fishing, might be one of all-time favorite tracks from this Midwest duo, and when I caught word there was a, eh, video out there I had to find it.

Well, this isn’t an official Cool Kids vid apparently, but after watching it once you’ll realize it doesn’t even matter. The treatment was done by a director by John Paul, and gives a very dope look Chicago’s skate culture, while paying homage to the great city that lays the scene for these men and their concrete playgrounds.

Treat’d: Chicago’s Olympic Dreams Die Early

Ouch. Hope all of you folks who didn’t back Chicago’s bid are happy.

Alex Goose – The Blueprint 3 Outtakes

Late pass…

Ok, so while feeding my Twitter addiction, I found myself annoyed with all of the Kanye West/Taylor Swift talk that ruled the internets for the past few weeks. Out of frustration, I voiced my distaste with the tweets, and demanded that someone give me a much-needed distraction. Well, thank the music Gods for Brittany Bosco, who put me on to the homie Alex Goose.

I admit I’d never heard of the man prior to my conversation with Ms. Bosco, but I am sure as hell glad I caught on. In one week, Goose’s project amassed over 10,000 downloads and it’s not because folks were mistaken and thought he was releasing a free version of Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3. It is simply the fact that dude is a damn-good musician and like Rashid Hadee‘s take on 808s & Heartbreak, Goose is makes you wonder what the album could have been.

Download The BP 3 Outtakes

Dope Art: Julian Callos

Growing up I had two creative passions, writing and drawing. Obviously, I didn’t quite take to pursuing the latter, and honestly who needs me when you have dope illustrators like Julian Callos. Beautiful, vivid and eerie all at the same time, dude’s work definitely captures your attention and imagination.

Shouts to Greedmont Park

Eliza Dushku: I Want to Make Sexy Time with Echo

What y’all know about the movie, That Night ? Ok, I figured I’d be the only one. My point is I’ve been following this Goddess for some time now and I love seeing her getting the mainstream love finally. A leading lady in the making who happens to be very attractive — that’s a winner.

Check out her Complex Magazine cover story and photo gallery. I promise you (and by you I mean the fellas) will thank me later.

SMKA Goes Ham Sammich [Video]

I can’t remember the last time there was a Hurricane Blake sighting. Well, apparently he’s back and he’s kind of looks like 808 Blake from SMKA.

In other news the fellas recently were voted by both critics and readers of Creative Loafing for Atlanta’s “Best Local Mixtape.” If you haven’t heard The 808 Experiment: Vol .1, download it here.

Also, check out Creative Loafing’s Best of Atlanta 2009 issue so you can check the SMKA write-up and other features with some of the ATL’s best up and coming hip-hop artists.

Drinking Out of Cups

Here’s the skinny…A few weeks back a couple of my girlfriends from college came to Chicago to visit me and after a few bonfires they hipped me to this video. As the story goes, a few kids were hanging out — tripping on acid — when one of them decided to lock himself in closet and went into this three-minute monologue. Combining the drug-induced tirade with computer animation, “Drinking Out of Cups,” was born. You’ll just have to watch it to get the full experience for yourself. Hint: the guy on acid is the voice of the lizard.

LSD is a helluva drug.

Big Boi ft. George Clinton & Too $hort – “For Your Sorrows” [Download]

“For those who think life isn’t fair cuz I blow my smoke in the air as if no one is standing there, then I’ll blow one tonight…for your sorrows”

Fresh off his appearance at the Goodie Mob Reunion show Big Boi has decided to bless the world with a track from his forthcoming solo album, Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty.

Big? G. Clinton? Short? Do you even need to ask?

Download "For Your Sorrows "

Props to the ATLien

Chicago Larry ft. G-Mar – “Stop Strike a Pose” [Video]

First, there was just a song, but now Chicago Larry has a video to go with his first single, “Stop, Strike a Pose.”

You’ve been warned.