News: GZA talks college science lectures and a new album 'Dark Matter'

Later this week GZA is set to perform with Latin super band Grupo Fantasma at a headlining Babygrande Records SxSW showcase this Saturday March 17 at the Haven Club.

GZA's new album Dark Matter is set to drop later this year on Babygrande Records. It's inspired by his fascination with astronomy, quantum physics and science fiction-turned-reality. To quote:

"I've been interested in many branches of science for years. RZA and I constantly exchange books and ideas. I recently met with quantum physicists who deepened my interest in the cosmos and gave me further inspiration for this next album. I want to take my listeners on a journey through deep space and deconstruct the idea of science fiction. If you think about it, 'science fiction' is an oxymoron but it makes sense because a lot of what was once fiction is now science and a lot of science is fiction until proven beyond hypothesis. For instance, when I was a kid there was a book called "A Wrinkle In Time" and some physicists at Cornell, whom I'm going to meet when I lecture there in April, actually created a wrinkle in time. That's incredible."

Expect the Genius to return to MIT March 21 to lecture in part with the Civic Media Lab. GZA will also be hitting the college circuit and lecturing at NYU, USC and Cornell later this spring.

Lecture Dates:

3/21 - MIT Civic Media Lab lecture

3/25 - NYU EMP Pop Conference/Clive Davis Institute

4/07 - Cornell University lecture T

Tour Dates:

3/17 - Austin - Babygrande Records' showcase at The Haven Club

4/18 - Brooklyn - Williamsburg Music Hall w/ Bad Brains

4/19 - Philadelphia - Trocadero w/ Bad Brains

4/20 - Washington D.C. - Howard Theater w/ Bad Brains

Below is a video of GZA, touring MIT doing a research for his album.

News: Endemic plotting new album + collaboration with Tragedy Khadafi

Nottingham based producer Endemic is getting ready to release his next opus – Terminal Illness Part 2.

Following on from the epic Terminal Illness vol 1 [one of the few UK hip hop releases to secure major label distribution in the US! Through EMI] 2009’s Cappo E.P and last years acclaimed Cyrus Malachi LP, Endemic is continuing to spread his production and A&R credits across the globe with his forthcoming offering.

As the first UK based producer to release an album on legendary US independent label Duck Down Records, home to Pharoahe Monch, Talib Kweli, Statik Selektah, Smif N Wesson, Sean Price, Black Moon and many others, Endemic’s latest project is set to further cement his position as one of the most consistent hip hop beat makers the UK had produced in the last decade.

Set for release this summer Terminal Illness Part 2 already has a list of certified US & UK MC’s involved, including the mighty Masta Killa [Wu Tang], Queens Bridge hero Tragedy Khadafi, Bootcamp soldier Rustie Juxx, heavy hitter Roc Marciano, Dom Pacino, Killah Priest, Hell Razah, Shabazz The Disciple, Bronze Nazareth & The Wisemen, Shabam Sahdeeq, British born wordsmith Cyrus Malachi, Bugsy Da God and many many more!!

Endemic has also just announced a collabo album with Queens Bridge legend Tragedy Khadafi!!!


"There's a real drought of those synthy string records topped with real hip hop mcs, endemic terminal illness is happy proof that sometimes they still do make them like that!" - WORD MAG

"Hey British rap is is far from dead! it can become a little richer thanks to a rather gifted producer named Endemic." - RAP2K (France)

“We been playing the coming to kill joint since last year! Very dope album and a worthwhile purchase” - Dj Eclipse WNYU RADIO NYC....

“British Talent Endemic provides excellent atmospheric backdrops to great emcees from both sides of the Atlantic” – Metro Newspaper

“Transatlantic wonder kid Endemic brings the Illness on his debut album, he’s coming to kill!” - DJ Sarah Love - BBC radio