Mixtape: BBU - bell hooks

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	Mixtape: BBU - bell hooks	02.21.2012


	New Mixtape Presented By Mishka Records & Mad Decent, Mixed By DJ Benzi

Critical Praise for BBU: "A group of conscious rappers who don’t take themselves too seriously, BBU are a four-man hip-hop crew who build community over feel good beats." - MTV Hive "BBU, which intermittently stands for Bin Laden Blowin! Up or Black, Brown And Ugly, revises the concept of the crew for the 21st century... Both socially conscious and rollicking, the guys point out issues happening on the South Side and encourage listeners to juke." - The Onion's A.V. Club "BBU showcase a raw energy and caliber of originality and skill that hasn't been seen since Chicago's own Cool Kids, Lupe Fiasco, and dare-I-say, Kanye West." - Pretty Much Amazing The Album: BBU is excited to release their new *bell hooks* mixtape. The 17-track project, presented by Mishka Records and Mad Decent, is mixed by DJ Benzi and includes features from Das Racist, GLC, Mic Terror, and more. Fans can download the project free from Mishka Records. For BBU, it's the stuff under the surface – the socially- and politically-tinged themes that come through on a closer listen – that defines the group's uniqueness. With bell hooks, the foundation of those themes starts with the mixtape's name. "We started throwing around the name 'Outlaw Culture,' which is this dope cultural criticism book," recalls Jasson Perez. "It examines how racism, sexism, and capitalism still impacts pop culture. The book is written by bell hooks." The goal, says BBU, was to get fans wondering who bell hooks is, and in doing so, the listener can grasp the greater message. Musically, to match that message, BBU shows plenty of artistic progression, touching on diverse sounds and topics throughout bell hooks. "We were willing to take more risks – to be more radical and confrontational with our politics – but express it from more a personal space," says Jasson Perez, noting that the group wanted to get closer to the sounds of hip-hop they listened to as kids. "Something About Mary" finds the group in full-on storytelling mode, for example, while "Cormega" displays the group's lyricism. Elsewhere, "Beau Sia" is all fun and good times. "Outlaw Culture," however, is BBU at their best, mixing up-tempo, left-of-center production with politically- and socially-minded themes. "It's a really good representation of our group dynamic," says Epic of the recent single. "We're influenced by Dead Prez but we're also big fans of Spank Rock, The Clash. This song was an opportunity to pay homage to all of our musical influences." Download BBU's bell hooks for free: http://mishkanyc.bandcamp.com/album/bell-hooks For more information on today's release, head over to Mishka: http://wp.me/pwdet-qbn Tweet Please contact Michelle or Dan if interested in talking with BBU. The Background: BBU (which stands for Bin Laden Blowin! Up or Black, Brown and Ugly) are a Chicago-based, foursome of hip-hop activists whose futureNOW sound is as diverse as the scenes they come from, run with and intentionally mash-up at their shows and in the sonic landscapes they rock over. Imagine Outkast, Bad Brains and Public Enemy cipher-politicking at a community-organized, revolutionary Juke party. On the strength of their mixtape, Fear of A Clear Channel Planet (available for download at foccp.com) BBU has performed across the country with Mos Def, (MF) DOOM, Dead Prez, J. Cole; been on Lollapalooza and SXSW stages and featured in the pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post, URB, The Chicago Tribune and TimeOut Chicago. The Chicago Reader named BBU, Best New Musical Group and the taste-making website Pitchfork hailed their anthem, "Chi Don't Dance" as their Best New Dance Track. As the crew finishes their new mixtape, *bell hooks* (set to drop in February 2012), MCs Epic, Illekt and Jasson Perez, remain on the artist-activist grind, working as community and union organizers, health care providers and educators and are helping to grow a culture connected to a People's Movement. They are creating a soundtrack for the people, by the people. They are creating a entirely fresh & furious "map, a common ground where people can come together" , a "music... designed to make people sit up and take notice." All people. All the People, down to get down.
Streams: bell hooks http://mishkanyc.bandcamp.com/album/bell-hooks "Beau Sia" http://media.audibletreats.com/BBU-Beau_Sia.mp3 "The Hood" Ft. GLC http://media.audibletreats.com/BBU-The_Hood_Ft_GLC.mp3 "Jumpers" http://media.audibletreats.com/BBU-Jumpers.mp3 "Outlaw Culture" http://media.audibletreats.com/BBU-Outlaw_Culture.mp3 Bio, pictures, and streams available here: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/bbu Twitter: http://twitter.com/itsbbu Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsBBU Website: http://www.itsbbu.com/ Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/binladenblowinup