GZA, Bun B, Talib Kweli, Wale on Peter Bjorn and John Hip-Hop Mixtape

(swiped from Pitchfork Media)

Ever since Kanye West blew blog minds by rapping over "Young Folks" two years ago, Peter Bjorn and John have become the go-to indie band for rappers looking to cross over to the indie rock world. Cue mixtape maven Mick Boogie, who worked with PB&J directly on the forthcoming free mixtape Re-Living Thing.

The mix pairs MCs including Bun B, Wale, Rhymefest, GZA, and Three 6 Mafia with reworked versions of tracks from the Swedish band's latest LP, Living Thing, according to an MTV report. Remixers include Jazzy Jeff, the Kickdrums, and Apple Juice Kid. Get a taste for the project with a remake of "Nothing to Worry About" featuring Wale right here.

Re-Living Thing hits this thing called the internet on August 27. Check out a partial list of songs and guests to be included on the tape below:

Re-Living Thing:

J. Cole and GZA: "The Feeling" (remixed by Marco Polo)
Kardinal Offishall, Donnis, and Heno: "It Just Don't Move Me" (remixed by Jet Audio)
Big Sean and Black Milk: "Just The Past" (remixed by nVMe)
Wale, Young Chris, and Rhymefest: "Nothing To Worry About" (remixed by the Kickdrums)
Bun B: "Losing My Mind" (remixed by 6th Sense)
Freebass 808 and Amanda Blank: "Living Thing" (remixed by Apple Juice Kid)
Talib Kweli: "I Want You" (remixed by William Russell / Good Life Mike)
Three 6 Mafia and Trouble Andrew: "Lay It Down" (remixed by the Kickdrums)
Big Pooh, Chaundon, and Phil Nash: "Stay This Way" (remixed by Jazzy Jeff)
Naledge and Mickey Factz: "Blue Period Picasso" (remixed by nVMe)
88 Keys, Outasight, and 6th Sense: "4 Out Of 5" (remixed by 6th Sense)
U-N-I: "Last Night" (remixed by Remot)

Video: Preview from "Alligator Boots"

Via WSHH & Pitchfork Media:

As Pitchfork news reported a couple of days ago, Kanye West is working with Rhymefest and Jackhole Productions, the company behind "Crank Yankers" to produce a television show being described as "hip-hop meets the Muppets." And now World Star Hip-Hop has a preview video. I'm trying to imagine what many minutes in a row of this show will feel like, since this one-minute video seems to last forever. (via Videogum)

Kanye, Rhymefest Produce Puppet TV Show

(swiped from Pitchfork Media)

Looks like the video for Kanye West's "Champion" was just the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Kanye and puppets. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Champion" was just the beginning of a new partnership between Kanye, fellow Chicago rapper Rhymefest, and Jackhole Productions, the company behind "Crank Yankers" founded by Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Carolla, and Daniel Kellison.

West, Fest, and Jackhole have put together a pilot for a new puppet-centric TV show called "Alligator Boots", which The Hollywood Reporter describes as "hip-hop meets the Muppets." It will feature new music by West and Rhymefest, who, along with Kellison, are the pilot's executive producers. Kanye hosts the pilot, but the show will apparently feature a different guest host for every episode a la "Saturday Night Live" and "The Muppet Show". Comedy Central is considering the show for its 2009 schedule.

One has to wonder if this will have any effect on that Kanye reality-ish show he was working up with "Curb Your Enthuasiasm" producer Larry Charles for HBO, but doesn't puppet Kanye sound a lot more fun that rich, entitled Kanye? I mean, we get enough of that Kanye on the daily.

To that end, note that Kanye recently took to the blog to confirm that, yes, his new LP is indeed titled 808s and Heartbreak, and he's been working on it 16 hours a day. Speaking from experience, Ye, I have to say that working 16 hours a day (interrupted by frequent blogging) ultimately gives you maybe four good hours of labor, maybe. Kanye also notes that "I guarantee this will be 50's favorite album of mine. This will be gangster's album of the year."

Kanye has also snuck quite a few more dates onto his fall tour itinerary since our last report. Those dates follow the jump.



Kanye:

10-17 Mexico City, Mexico - Palacio de Los Deportes
10-18 Monterrey, Mexico - Arena Monterrey
10-22 Sao Paulo, Brazil - Auditorio Ibirapuera
10-24 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Marina da Gloria
10-29 Singapore, Singapore - Singapore Indoor Stadium
11-01 Beijing, China - Wukesong Olympic Basketball Gymnasium
11-03 Shanghai, China - Hongkou Soccer Stadium
11-08 Belfast, Northern Ireland - Odyssey Arena
11-09 Dublin, Ireland - RDS Simmonscourt
11-11 London, England - The 02
11-12 London, England - O2 Arena
11-13 Newcastle, England - Metro Radio Arena
11-14 Sheffield, England - Sheffield Arena
11-15 Birmingham, England - NEC Birmingham
11-16 Glasgow, Scotland - SECC
11-17 Manchester, England - M.E.N. Arena
11-20 Paris, France - Bercy
11-21 Brussels, Belgium - Vorst National
11-23 Oberhausen, Germany - König Pilsener Arena
11-26 Rotterdam, Netherlands - Ahoy

• MP3: Kanye West: Love Lockdown (studio version #2) [from the forthcoming 808s and Heartbreak LP]

New Vids to check out!

Kanye West "Champion"



Santogold "Lights Out"



Rhymefest "Stolen"