Heads will roll......

My homie Young Live of the starters put together this dope remix of Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Heads will roll" Been blasting it since I peeped it here.

The 100th day......

Yesterday was Obama's 100th day. While I personally don't feel like I'm balling 98 style, I do feel better knowing that the person in the office takes his position seriously and understands that change is needed and is taking on the burden of bringing it. I didn't expect things to change rapidly in these first 100 days, I just expected the shift to start, and it has. I just hope he keeps moving us forward....

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Never Hide......

Ray Ban's new ad campaign. The imagery is beyond dope and captures the world as I see it behind my sunglasses sometimes. Vivid.

From Cool Hunter:
German graphic designer and art director Sebastian Onufszak creates an intricate, graphic hyper-world, where color and form threaten to leap off the page right into your face. His detailed, energetic work has earned him commissions by top brands such as Audi, Bacardi, Sony, Jeep, L'Oreal, MTV and Nike. We're loving his recent work for RayBan, which has taken eyewear advertising to creative new heights.

You can find me here........

B.o.B - "I'll Be In The Sky"

B.O.B "I'll be in the sky"

Air Raid...........

I just want to say Thank You, to everyone who has listened to a song, downloaded a mixtape, checked out a video, joined a group, followed me on twitter.com/uptopjdp, lol forreal. Thank you for giving me and my music a chance. I've dedicate my life to expressing my art and sharing it with you guys and I'm just glad you guys have opted to be apart of it. Without your continued support it doesn't mean the same, theirs a million rappers in this world and I'm striving to be the loudest voice in a crowded room. We all are actually, and I hope my music serves as inspiration in some way, shape or form to Live life to the fullest, limitless. Thank you to everyone who downloaded 'Where Anything Goes' I appreciated all the feedback and support for that project even though the finished product was not without flaws. My life is this music and as such I've already crafted the base for my next project 'Air Raid' this, I promise you will be nothing short of amazing. I'm putting alot of work into this project as I want it to mark the transition from where I was, to where I'm going. I turn 22 this year, growing into my own both as a man and an artist. More sure, in my path, my sound, and I'm excited that I'll be able to share it with you guys again. I can't tell you what to expect, just know this mixtape is me, from the I just want to chill and think about life me to the life loving drunk and don't give a fuck me. Its all gonna be there and its all gonna be dope. So stay tuned my people, we got one. Air Raid is coming soon.

Mos Def "Say You Will" cover @ Blue Note

So.......

Another Ye & Hype collaboration. One day, when I have more time, I'll compile all the videos that they've smashed out the park together. This video lives up to its name.


Amazing from kwest on Vimeo.

If a picture is a 1000 words.......

Than these just yelled 1,000,000. Lol @ each one.

The day cometh........

May 7th.

I'm excited and not about 22. The up is that I'm one year older and this world, one more year of life, experience, and growth. The down is, from here on every bday is a "daaaamn! not 23,24,30,45." Yeah, I'm definitely jumping with that last one but still. 21 has been a crazy year but a great one, and part of me wishes I could stay this age for a while but I know better is to come. Idk yet what I'm gonna do as far a Bday party but I know its gonna be dope, crazy, fun, ect...you know how we go about these things people. So I'll keep you posted on the plans but just giving you all the heads up, May 7th & the weekend that goes with it I want to see all my people. That &......

Birthday Sex remix ft Fabolous

FLOW EAZY- Artist of the month!!

Make sure you head to WGCI.com & Check out the dopest female artists doing it right now. Yea, I said it. I'll say it again, the dopest female artist. Go find out why here

Twitter Logic #3

Karl_Lagerfeld

I have no scene. I go everywhere. I adapt.

& There you have my current theory of thought laid out for you. Warhol has another quote that I like to use but I don't feel like posting. I'm my own scene, I don't 'belong' to one.

Death of a dynasty.......

Peep, We all remember how 2003 was the year we heard the ROC was in trouble. From 98 to 2003 you couldn't say anything about Roc-a-fella, they were the most official in the game, with Jay-Z being the biggest Hip Hop star on his way to being called the best. Then suddenly it ends and we never really got the backstory as to how, or why. But then, they give us this...

Dame Dash vs DefJam

Choke No Jokes: Dame Dash's outburst Pt 3 and Jay-Z in Puerto Rico from Miss Info on Vimeo.

This is it what!!!

JDP & D2G "Luchini"

From Air Raid coming this summer.

The takeover has started.

A letter from big homie......

Gemstones retires.

Hello world. My name is Demarco Castle. You all might have known me as Gemini or Gemstones. This is just a little letter in regards to all the chatter and spectulation. I would 1st like to start by saying... I've found Christ or shall I say Christ found me... Because it wasn't him that was lost... It was me, LOL!


Know that I don't exspect most of you guys to understand or even begin to fathom what has taking place. If you don't have the spiritual wisdom to discern certain things, for this would be looked at to you as FOOLISHNESS because you're still leaning on your own understanding!


Am I a rapper? No. I now consider myself a messenger of Christ/ a servant of the lord! And for the rest of my journey this talent which is not mine that God has given me will be used to help save lost souls.


Many may rebuttle and say "You were already on that path!" Yeah maybe I was, but God wasn't getting all the glory. The lord said "Be not conformed of the world. Be in the world, but not of the world. And anything that's of the world is NOT of God!" And the world loved my music. That's how you know it wasn't of God. There was a positive message in my music indeed! But the residue from the world was all over it. I was straddling both sides of the fence and we all know salt water and fresh water can't come out the same faucet! I had to make a choice and this industry is not worth my salvation! For God said "What does it profit a man to gain the WHOLE world and lose his soul?"


The next time you guys hear anything pertaining to music from me... It will be GOSPEL!!! Since my new walk with the lord I've found peace, happiness, wisdom, understanding and last but not least I've married my beautiful wife!!! I trust and believe in the lord that my light will lead the blind out of darkness. I belong to man, but I make myself a slave to all people. I do this to help save as many people as I can... AMEN!

Damn the french.......

I've been hearing this groups name for a while, but I never bothered to check them out, up until yesterday my boy played me some songs off their mixtape. It was 4/20 and no better day to explore new music. Low and behold this shit is dope. Their music is unique and familiar all at the same time, what I strive to be. Of course the features on here, from Diddy to Wale make it just as sick. So damn the french man, this is inspirement.

Download it here

Welcome to Art School........

Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.

Nyle "Let the beat build"

This is dope as hell, and apparently they shot it all in one take. It takes me back to my first two years at Columbia, living in the dorms. We'd just chill in people rooms for hours just practicing our art. Whatever someone did, they did it and we'd put it together. Shout out to those lyrical excersises between Me, 2g and P to da. Also, that random 2 hour bathroom smoke/jam session between all of us. Ill.

In dreams look like........

Photo Stills from the "In Dreams" video, coming this summer.

Twitter Logic #2

Uptopjdp:Good morning twitter crew. First order of business press play "88 Keys- The Death of Adam"
eightyocho@Uptopjdp Great way to start your day I must say. *ha* "Morning Wood" *pause*
Uptopjdp@eightyocho ha! major pause. But I do agree.

Haha!! Seriously though, its nice as hell outside in the chi today and "Death of adam" is currently in rotation.

Negative News.........

Bad news.

Apparently I'm bad news.
I just heard.
Rumors fly like wings under my sleeve.
Heard he ate the bad apple and gave it back to eve.
The temptation,
David ruffin cause no one comes for otis.
who him, he's so bogus.
Notice.
I'm not the promiser of 2morro
I'm only alive for today
Or tonight
The deep rush that lasts for the rest of your life.
Find me through all hype
I'm just real. Too chill.
The getaway drug, replacement for your extasy pills.
But apparently I'm a bad guy
I just heard
My confidence to the unsure
Is then reflected as arrogance
"He loves hard
But don't care for shit.
Be careful with.
Your heart.
He won't be kind to it
As a matter of fact don't do it.
You think he has a reputation for no reason.
Don't be fooled by the kind words and reading."
Lol
Please,
Me a villain?
More like the victim
In search of a cure surrounded by symptoms.
In search for the pure around these wanna be pimp kens
I just can't help I might give in when its tempting
But what's the use is resisting
What is naturally felt.
Maybe I'm wrong, and need help.
Looking in all the wrong places
Or not looking at all.
Maybe just the 2am call
That doesn't give 2 cents about flaws
And personal walls
Who doesn't care if it falls
Just wants me to stay up.
No viagra
Just niagra.
Give me a reason to hold on to you after
Its hard to tell when everyone is an actor
Playing a part
So I choose to be real instead of the lead role
In the play on her heart.
Sunglasses
Just to stay in the dark.
Fuck it, I say why lie.
Just be cool and say hi to the bad guy....

Kind of throwback tuesdays.........

Sleepy Brown ft OutKast "I can't wait"

I'm hoping that the weather turns back around. Supposedly friday is suppose to be 70 so I'm keeping my hopes. up.

Wise man say.....

“Life is tragically simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time. Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have.”

-James Baldwin

Mano into orbit.......

Million $ Mano hooked up the production for the latest "Orbit" commercial. Nice.

If I kept that white girl........

Given then recent break-up of Ms.Lohan and Ms.Ronson (i.e her return to the right side of the force) I'm going to go ahead and remind cats why she was worth getting @ in the first place.

Wow. Obama the barbarian.......

From please think:
Here’s the US President as Barack the Barbarian in a new comic book. Chicago-based Devil’s Due Publishing will publish the comic in June, featuring Obama as the muscle-bound, loincloth-wearing president of ‘Kickassistan’…

Nooooo! To save the game!

So. I don't watch alot of tv. Music and the news is pretty much all I catch but "The Game" is probably my favorite TV show right now. Its actually a good show. Apparently its in danger of being canceled. Dizamn. Peep the vid to see what you can do to save the game. Lol...forreal...

This shit looks.......

Stills from Kanye's "Amazing" of course Hype Williams is directing.

We ain't slept in weeks.......

Traxxion put me on this song when we were discussing instrumentals I should work with for this upcoming mixtape 'Air Raid'. When he played it for me it was Rich Boy killing the verses and then I found this version with Cudi and Jackie Chain, soooo I'm just worried about the intrumental even though for the record everyone on it has killed it. I'm definitely decided to save this joint for "Purple" because it fits perfectly. Speaking of Purple we just shot part of the video for that project this weekend, came out dope. Shout out to Brit and the crew for coming out and helping me put things together. For now though, just check out this version. This song is perfect cause this weekend was crazy...ha!

Rollin Rollin- Kid Cudi ft Jackie Chain

Interview with a lemur......

Whats good.

So. A couple months ago (like November 08) I got contacted by "The Lemur" international blog about doing a project with them. They had linked up with me before and featured a few of my songs on their website.
http://thelemurblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/jdp-chicagos-own-kanye-west.html

Anyway, the project was a combination of assembling a few of my favorite songs with a interview, we we're going to to do the projects through muxtape.com but unfortunately they were shutdown before we could start things off. We held on to the dialogue from the interview in hopes that the site would start back but...no cigar. He sent it back to me today with apologies that we couldn't do it but suggested I put it up on my blog & myspace. Its probably one of my favorite interviews so I def wanted to share it with you guys. So peep below......\/


The interview:

For a lemur living in Madagascar/Sweden who is not really in the game when it comes to hip hop, it's hard getting a grasp on this whole East-West situation in American hip hop. I mean, to put it into a wider perspective, globalization is on everyone's lips and just generally in the world right now we have these cultures acting more and more accepting towards each other. Can you get us an update on the situation between West and East rap in America in the year of 2008? And perhaps retrospectively?

Haha. Nice start. I like how today is really about that, countries and cultures really finding acceptance with each other and more of a feeling of unity in the world. I wish America could say the same as far as some of our foreign policies but....that's another day. The east-west beef has really been over since the 90's though. Pac and B.I.G's passing really put the light out on that whole situation. It wasn't really a coastal beef, it was more a battle between two mc's(one more than the other) and the artists who were siding with them. Whats funny is that right now neither coast is the same power they were back then. I feel like Hip Hop likes to travel and lends its voice to whoever hasn't been heard. Right now the south is really the most dominant voice, and the top mc's right now happen to be from the south and the midwest. The game goes in circles though so who knows the next center to really get the light shined on them. Really, right now the outlook is starting to shift though. Its becoming less about genre, and coasts and becoming more about making the shit that you like and taking these influences from all over making something that's your own.


You're from Chicago, how do you think that has affected your rapping style, career and persona?

Its allowed me to take chances, head in different directions. People tend to stereotype rappers who are related with a coast. Like, most west coast mc's are "gangster rappers" or East coast is all "backpack music" or the most hardcore, purest, lyrical ish you ever heard. People now are blaming the south for dumbing down Hip Hop because they all seem to be trappin, coke dealers, ect...like bubblegum rappers. People forget some of the nicest dude have come out of the south though, Outkast, T.I, Wayne, Cee-lo, UGK but anyway....Being from the mid-west we don't really have a standard sound, every artist that comes out of chicago sounds different from the last one, and that's beneficial for me and my music because people don't already have me at a standard. I'm free to try new things and be me as oppose to trying to sound like whatever is hot to make it. You have to think about the major Hip Hop artists who break out of this city, Kanye, Common, Lupe, Cool Kids, Twista, they all sound incredibly different in ways of style, sound and shit. Being from Chicago helps remove the idea of limits, and I try to take advantage of that.


Can you give us some clues on how a stereotypical JDP would've sounded if he was brought up in: 1. Brooklyn NYC, 2. New Orleans 3. L.A. 4. Miami?

Haha! Wow man. I'm not really sure. I never really thought about that before. My style would probably reflect my environment. I don't think I'd be any different in terms of what I rap about, the stories would probably be different because each of those cities is a different world, a different way of life ya know? My style, delivery, and sound would definitely be different if I came up in those places and I'd probably be more influenced by the artists that came before me. All of those cities have like real strong, unified movements while being from Chicago really makes you find yourself because the city isn't connected to one style or sound like that.

Now, Chicago is neither West or East coast geographically seen. Culturally seen, if you're into pigeonholing stuff, what would the Chicago rap scene count as?

Right, we're the middle of the map like a muthafucka. You can't really pigeonhole this city, I mean you have to look at all the music that has come out of it. They wanted to call us the home of house music and we are but then common came out and do or die and twista and kanye and it all sounds different. Now they want to label us as the center of the Hipster Rap movement. What the fuck is that? whoever came up with that label needs to be slapped because suddenly not rapping about selling drugs makes you a hipster. They just replaced backpack with hipster. If you want to put Chicago in a hole than its a whole of creativity. The way we approach music here is outside the box, because being in the middle gives us the opportunity to see what everyone else is doing and mix that shit up. We experiment rather than follow.

Judging by the LEMUXTAPE you've made, you obviously have a wide and pretty much covered inspiration from many of the most influential rappers of America. But if you had to choose one, which would you prefer to co-produce a full-length debut album of yours, and why?
Probably Jay-Z. As far Hip Hop goes I don't think you can take it much further. I'd love to do songs with everyone on that tape especially considering both Kanye and Lupe are from my home town. But if you look behind those artists you'll see Jay-Z's name somewhere in the credits. I think his knowledge of putting together good albums is something I've already incorporated in my music and having him there to guide the project would only make it greater. So, hopefully one day I'll be able to actually get the man to wanna work on an project with me. I think that would be dope.

Do you have any specific goals in your rapping career? Rich, famous and creddy like Jay-Z and Kanye? Or genuinely respected underdog?
Can't you want both. I'm conflicted about alot of things in this life man. lol. I really want to be respected for my music. If it came down to it and the options on the tombstone were "He was rich as hell" or "He was a great artists" I would rather the latter. I want people to remember for making great music or apsiring to inspire rather than trying to get some paper. I'm not saying I don't wish to be succesful because that would be lying. I'd love to headline arena sized concerts and work with legends because the more succesful you are in Hip Hop the more people you have the opportunity to reach. I was reading a Kanye article in spin and they asked him if he'd rather be Micheal than Prince, more famous or more respected. I'd rather be prince.

Personally, I'd be really interested in seeing more rap in not-hiphop albums. If you were to rap for one or a few tracks in a non-hiphop band's/artist's album, which artist/band would that be for?
I'd want to do something with Kenna. I really dig his music and I think that collaboration would be sick.

What do you think will happen with hiphop in the 21st century? How will it develop? Will you be the one to push it forward and further from where it is today?
There was a moment in mid-2006 when people started saying that the music was dead. Fast forward and Jay is performing at Glastonbury, Wayne has sold a million, Kanye West just wrapped up one of the most amazing Hip Hop tours and theirs so much good music coming from millions of directions. I think Hip Hop will continue to grow as we continue to grow. The way music is today, more and more people are trying their hand at new and exciting music making it mean more to themselves. Hip Hop is our voice and will continue to be, the way we speak or what we speak about may become different but in a good way. I can only see the culture being pushed forward and yes, I'm planning on having a hand in taking it to where it going, my generation ain't dropping the torch ya dig.

I'm gonna give you a chance to namedrop some names that you think deserves and will get a little more attention, as I'm doing with you now.
My sister Flow-Eazy (myspace.com/flyycityflow) she really is one of the sickest female MC's I've heard out here. My homie Bullet
(http://www.myspace.com/gobullet) his project just dropped a few weeks ago make sure people cop that. My boy D2G (myspace.com/2gdagreat) beast. Nothing else needed to be said there. I've done a few joints with my boy Taylor Mallory(http://www/myspace.com/taylormallory) we got a song together called On the low thats pretty sick. My favorite producers The Bartendaz (http://www.myspace.com/bartendazmusic) DC (http://www.myspace.com/dcshotta) and The Gift(myspace.com/ihatebeatz). and my whole squad FLYY CITY (myspace.com/flyycity) We're all just working for the same thing, too try and push this music forward. Shoutout to everyone who's doing there thing right now, in the Chi and out. Also, much love to you man for linking up with ya boy and putting this together.

What projects do you have coming up?
I'm putting the finishing touches on the next mixtape I'm putting out. Its gonna be free with like 20 songs worth of material. I make alot of music so I figured why not just start giving it out because I made it to touch people so why hold it back. But yea, that's coming out around may and my girl Flow's project is coming out around the same time, I'm on a song called "Backstage Party" that joint is dope...her whole project is gonna be sick. I got 2 songs coming out on the soundtrack to a upcoming indie film called "Chicago Overcoat" starring Frank Vincent and Armand Assante. I just put out a new song to ride with Styrofoam cups, I'm excited because it doesn't sound like anything I've done before......I think that's it so far, wait, no. I'm working with a bunch of different producers to put out like 4 or 5 mixtapes with each one capturing a different feeling or vibe. I got a Styrofoam remix that The Starter DJ's put together we're about to send that to a couple clubs...ok, I think that's it for the schedule everything else is low-key until it ain't.....lol. and I'm voting for Obama. Peace.

Check out the songs I picked here:
http://www.facebook.com/notes_cheatsheet.php#/note.php?note_id=43474880814&id=48605042&index=21

'Air Raid' on the way.....
Please vote for 'Styrofoam Cups" on wgci.

Myspace.com/uptopjdp

Twitter.com/uptopjdp

Peace!!

Haha!!! Do you like fish sticks........

Full South Park episode. "Do you like fish sticks"

Kanye West. Treated. Lol.

Yes. We do. Want every one of em........

Young Money "Every Girl in the world"

Mr. West & Mr. Fiasco......

Cornel West sits down with Lupe Fiasco for a smart and entertaining interview.

The Last issue........

Slim Shady is back.......

Eminem "We made you"

Sounds about right......

Flashback music.........

We were having a conversation last night about Hip Hop music for the kids these days, how our little brothers and sisters are growing up listening to Souldja boy and the music we grew up listening to was entirely different. You really can view the generation gap by leaping through Hip Hop videos. Lol. We started doing the Dame Dash when Christian pulled this on up though.

Beyond the hype: The Air Yeezy's........

Shout out to Davy Greenberg, directing this video.

I remember when the world went crazy because Jay and 50 got shoe deals with Reeboks but it definitely wasn't the stand in line fanfest that jordans inspired. Kanye and Nike together, of course its going to be dope.

Yea, this song is dope........

I poke her face (poker face) Kid Cudi ft Kanye, Common, & Lady Gaga (scratches by A-Trak)

Thank You's & Coming Soons........

Expectations

Expectations.
Mom said son.
Hope for the best, expect the worse.
And life will land you somewhere in between.
Wise words.
From a decent woman.
But son never wants to settle for the mean.
Just dreams.
To make real.
Just to taste how great feels.
Driven.
No destination but the one that's ahead of him.
Begs to question the world
and hopes that it answers back.
Pushes until it reacts.
A million people rap.
He just wants to stand out.
Ignores the alternate routes and hand-outs.
Knowing that good things will pan out.
And expecting the struggle.
Life's trouble.
Flips & its hustles.
The Flyest feathers get ruffled.
But he'd rather deal with that than be chicken.
And never leave the ground.
Rather scream out his soul to the world.
Then never make a sound.
Rather leave a dent in the world
Then a fingerprint.
They all say its such potential.
Growth exponential.
So why think small
instead of portraits, grab the spray can and head for the wall.
Play. Never Pause.
Be forever in awe
and live up to the vision that you want projected.
Its you.
Its whats expected.

The purple one & Q-tip........

Prince ft Q-Tip "Chocolate Box"

Definitely did not see this coming. Definitely not complaining.

To change the perspective........

One must think outside the box. This is a brilliant idea and a definite attention grabber. I wonder if this would work in chicago

I'm gifted.......

Lie and say this video isn't dope. Visually its a acid shot. Not that I've ever done that type of thing. lol.

St.Elsewhere looks like...................

Mr. Weezy F on the cover of rolling stone.

Power to the punks........

I went to this party in my neighborhood it happened to be an all girl punk band performing and I swore it was the dopest thing I've seen. Their energy was crazy and started a whole section of the party moshing and sht. I didn't get their names but damn.......I need a guitarist.