Benz and a Backpack

Ricky Shabazz & the Boom Bap Boys and Juan Deuce present No Sweat. After the major success of his collaborative tape with Falside for The Mechanics EP, Juan recruited a team of slick producers to craft the music on No Sweat: Falside, J57 and Audible Doctor (of The Brown Bag All-Stars), The Doppelgangaz, Fonzi Wells, pJAYd, Fakts One (The Perceptionists), and ACB. Juan flexes over the diverse production, showcasing his growing lyrical muscles with a little help from fellow New Englanders Jon Hope, Romen Rok, and Dj Emoh Betta. Stream, download, share and enjoy! Note: Physical copies of No Sweat and Sweat Band Bundles will be available for purchase via Strange Famous Records later this month.

Tracklist after the skip!
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Time Machine (Jaysonic, Comel and DJ Mekalek) is back after a four year hiatus with a project entitled Vicious Experiments. The new eleven track project exists somewhere in the grey area between mixtape and album, and features collaborations with Apathy, Damu The Fudgemunk, Raw Poetic, Juan Deuce and more. Vicious Experiments will feature both original production and re-workings of music from eclectic sources spanning various eras and genres. Props to Fal and Deuce behind the lens!

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Here is the second leak from Juan Deuce‘s upcoming Ricky Shabazz and the Boom Bap Boys presented mixtape “No Sweat“. This time around Juan enlists Providence wordsmith and Brooklyn representative Romen Rok. Release date TBA. Please share, post, spread, and enjoy this certified head-nodder produced by Falside.

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Fresh off the release of The Mechanics EP, his collaborative tape with super duper producer Falside, Providence’s rugged rally capper Juan Deuce unleashes “Freeze,” the first single off his upcoming mixtape No Sweat presented by Ricky Shabazz and the Boom Bap Boys. “Freeze” features Deuce flexing his sinewy lyrical muscles over a hypnotic, bass-heavy cut from up and coming beatsmith, Fonzi Wells. Preparing No Sweat nicely, “Freeze“ sets the table for what promises to be a very strong showing from Juan Deuce and Ricky. Stream below, download after the jump!

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Call it anti-recession rap: a couple of artists content with their discontent exploring the depths of their Johnny Walker Red-scented underemployment. It’s The Monty Brogan EP, and it’s the latest project from Providence-based indie rap stalwarts Reason and Dirty Hank. It also marks the first official collaboration between Reason (best known for his work with Poorly Drawn People and his solo albums, Landlords & Lullabies and Gemini Slang) and Dirty Hank (the man responsible for a run of stellar releases, including The Class Act Mixtape and The Guide To Giving Up EP).

The 9-track release, a free download available through Poorly Drawn Recordings, finds the dubious duo at their raunchiest, musing about breakups, alcohol dependency, and squatters’ rights. Production duties are handled by Falside (fresh off his collaboration with Juan Deuce, The Mechanics EP) and Mad Plaid, one of Rhode Island’s premier, up-and-coming beatmakers. Songs include lead single “Say Disease,” as well as “Not That Hip” and “Perfect Day To Die.”

The Monty Brogan EP is available through Bandcamp at the link above . For now, it’s a free download. But the safe bet is to grab it quickly, because Congress can only pass so many unemployment-benefit extensions and Brooklyn Lager isn’t getting any cheaper. Stream below, download after the jump!

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Krill Pill (Juan Deuce) from Ricky Shabazz on Vimeo.

In February, Ricky Shabazz and the Boom Bap Boys will be releasing their second annual mixtape of exclusive tracks from some of your favorite underground hip-hop acts. This time around, the tape is sponsored by 2dopeboyz and will be released digitally and physically for free. Tracklist/Artwork/Release Date will be announced soon but in the meantime, enjoy the first of many videos we will be putting out leading up to the release.

Additionally, this marks the very first in “Ricky’s Wontime” series in conjunction with Three/21 Media. The idea of the series is to achieve a thought provoking and entertaining one-shot music video. There are no restrictions, as long as the entire thing has no cuts and lasts the entirety of the song. Subscribe to Three/21 Media’s YouTube to follow the series in full.

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Building on the strength of their recent body of work, Juan Deuce and Falside proudly present The Mechanics EP, a seven track tape flush with keen raps from Juan and diverse production from Falside. The two Providence natives officially joined forces a little over a year ago, and the subsequent fusion of their emerging styles has been nothing short of synergistic. Couple Deuce and Fal’s dynamism with the electrifying video work of Ricky Shabazz (“Guts” premiered on Rik Cordero’s The Hub Series two weeks ago), and you have yourself a bonafide trifecta. This winter, Juan Deuce and Falside will prepare a full-length joint album. If The Mechanics EP is any indication, we’re all in for a treat.

Stream and download after the jump!
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Juan Deuce and Falside are ready to drop “The Mechanics EP” free on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011. Here is the official artwork and tracklist for the project.

Tracklist:

1.) GUTS
2.) HEY DJ
3.) MECHANICS
4.) FORECAST FT. JAYSONIC (OF TIME MACHINE)
5.) VICES
6.) FRANK & DEAN
7.) KINGS

Raps by Juan Deuce
Beats by Falside
Recorded in Providence, RI.
Mixed by Reason (PDP)

Previously: Juan Deuce & Falside – Guts (Video)

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Before making his way back home to Rhode Island on Saturday (where Juan Deuce will now be performing), Sage Francis is swinging by NYC’s Irving Plaza tomorrow as part of his Homecoming tour. We are excited to say we have five (yes, 5) pairs of tickets to give away to you loyal readers of this here blog for the NYC show this Friday.

Rules: Go to the Benz and a Backpack Twitter feed, follow us, then RT the status update mentioning the concert. You have until 10pm tonight, when we will randomly select five winners (everyone gets to bring a guest).

Good luck!

Update: We are going to make this even easier. Here is the link to the specific tweet.

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You ready? Thought so:

“We are proud to present “Guts” the new video from Providence, Rhode Island’s wordworker Juan Deuce and beatsmith Falside. “Guts” is directed by Nicolas Heller (Ricky Shabazz and the Boom Bap Boys) and is presented/honored by Rik Cordero, the acclaimed hip hop video director for such acts as The Roots, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Q-Tip, Snoop Dogg, and The Clipse, as an official selection for his Directors Hub series. “Guts” is a song from Juan Deuce and Falside’s upcoming release, The Mechanics EP, which is slated to drop on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 for free. Please enjoy the visuals, and please share, post, and as always, tell a friend.”

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As seen on 2DopeBoyz (give it the thumbs up over there!). Finally people are catching on to the wonderful emcee that is Juan Deuce. Shouts to Falimus on his director tip!

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Last night Fal, Deuce, D Dem and I rolled to the newly minted Providence Social Club (formerly Jerky’s) for The Bridge, a weekly hip-hop event that boasts a combination of live art, spoken word, and headlining acts. The dudes behind the event are Providence heavyweights CR The Beast, Chachi Carvallho and The Reg, and if last night is any indication hip-hop lovers in Southern New England will look forward to Tuesday every week.

Standouts included young gun Caliph, who rapped his ass off on the open mic and in a post-show cypher, Writes and Hype Holla, who dropped a brand new Araab-produced head-turning banger, and of course the man himself, Chachi, who always puts on a fun and engaging show with his fam DJ Therion on the decks.

With local personalities like DJ Sterby Rock in attendance, The Bridge promises to be a night of good music, good networking opportunities, and an all around relaxed and relaxing atmosphere. Hit the skip for the schedule, and make sure you keep October 18th available as Fal, Juan Deuce and I will be curating a fantastic night. Major shouts to Claudine DePina for making some beautiful artwork on the fly and Simone for being so lovely at the door!
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