Black Milk 'Tronic' review on Vapors

Black Milk-Tronic
Fatbeats Records
Rating: 4 out of 4
By:Preach Jacobs

Ever since the emergence of Motown records, Detroit has been one of the Mecca’s of black music. The genre of hip-hop is no different providing some of the most talented groups and producers in recent memory. Within the past three years, Black Milk has been one of the leaders of the Detroit hip-hop movement, and continues with his third solo release titled “Tronic.”

If there’s anyone that’s taken the baton and ran with it since Jay Dilla passed, then it has to be Black Milk as he channels the late producer from drum patterns, flow to cadence. Songs like “Losing Out” featuring Royce Da 5′9 is an incredible display of Milk as producer and rapper. read more @ vapors

Nicolay interview for Vapors Magazine

Words by: Preach Jacobs
According to Nicolay, best known as one half of Foreign Exchange (with Phonte of the North Carolina group Little Brother), many “producers” don’t deserve their title. Well, if anyone has room to talk, it’s him releasing superb efforts every year since 2004’s Foreign Exchange “Connected” sonically recreating a soulful blend of hip hop/house and jazz. Now, being at the helm of a new label along with a new release, Leave it All Behind, Nicolay had a chance to talk it up about the future for him and his take on the industry. READ MORE @ Vapors…

New Preach Posters & shirts

sup yall? this is preach with a long overdue update. first off, biggups to dre (illustrator of blutopia) for his new design for the new 'garveyism' posters and shirts. the obama/obey influece is heavy and i love the design. shirts will be available soon so stay tuned.

also, hope you enjoy the new layout to preachjacobs.com. we got more stuff on the way, i promise. that's it for now. be easy.

Kardinal Offishall-Not 4 Sale review

If you haven’t heard Kardinal Offishall’s album “Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1,” then consider yourself deprived of some great reggae influenced hip-hop. Bubbling in the underground circuit in the states for years (even though he’s a bigger name in his native Toronto), Kardinal always seemed one song away from blowing up in the states. It was with pleasant surprise to see rap/r&b crooner Akon take notice placing him on his Konlive imprint releasing Kardinal’s newest album in four years “Not 4 Sale.” read more from vapors magazine

Jake One-White Van music review

Jake One-White Van Music 4/5
It appears that the independent producers are making the best hip-hop records lately. From Marco Polo's "Port Authority" to S1's "Music Box," the bunch of rapper-one producer compilations have been the most promising albums in recent memory. Jake One is no different as he releases "White Van Music," one of the best albums to come out in 2008. READ MORE

Foreign Exchange-Leave It All Behind review

Foreign Exchange-Leave It All Behind 4 stars
2004's release of Nicolay and Phonte's "Connected" album was a testament to the power of cyberspace bringing us together. Due to Nicolay and Phonte's distance making it difficult to record the project together in a studio, the duo opted to produce the album via Yahoo Instant Messenger crafting a sonic masterpiece. Seamlessly blending aspects of hip-hop, electronic, house and soul music making a modern day classic. Now, four years later, they release the sophomore Foreign Exchange project 'Leave It All Behind.' READ MORE

The One interview for Vapors by Preach Jacobs

Taken from Vapors Magazine
The One: SuperPsychoSexy
Words by: Preach Jacobs

What happened to the anger in our music? What happened to our sense of purpose? Treading on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement from the late 60’s to 70’s, you had a mergence of black music engulfed in pride, frustration and an independence that wasn’t seen in our music prior.

In the midst of all of this, soul and funk music was conceived. Influenced by the church, mixed with the electric guitar and synths, this music stands the test of time. Somewhere along the way, black music lost its soul, but thankfully OM’s new artist The One recaptures the essence of Funkadelic and Curtis Mayfield and mixes it with the hip hop/neo-soul sound of Jay Dilla - a sound that’s vintage and yet ahead of its time. The One observes his musical upbringing and explains where the sound for his debut album “SuperPsychoSexy” comes from. read more