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Worldwide Critical Acclaim for AWKWORD ‘Bars & Hooks’ Video
The number-one single off AWKWORD’s forthcoming DJBooth-sponsored World View album, “Bars & Hooks” has been played and downloaded tens of thousands of times since its release December 2011; and two Sundays ago (April 29) The Source Magazine world premiered the official video, directed by Andre Ward of Across the Bridge Productions and featuring the full cast of characters: AWKWORD, Sean Price, The Kid Daytona, The Incomparable Shakespeare and Harry Fraud.
Within a week, the “Bars & Hooks” video had accrued 20,000 plays, thanks in part to great features from the likes of Complex Magazine, Hip Hop Wired, Okay Player, Hip Hop DX, 2 Dope Boyz, Nah Right, You Heard That New, etc. — without a single dollar spent on promotion.
See below for some of the rave reviews, plus a list of top links (a couple sites posted it twice!).
And feel free to click the links to vote-up or comment on the video/song. They take notice. And we appreciate.
Reviews
New York City rapper AWKWORD just released the visuals for his collaboration with Sean Price and The Kid Daytona “Bars & Hooks,” produced by Harry Fraud with The Incomparable Shakespeare on the chorus. These guys are taking it back to the essence of NYC hip-hop with this one. Pay attention.
AWKWORD takes hip-hop back to its essence with this brand new video “Bars & Hooks” featuring Sean Price, The Kid Daytona, and The Incomparable Shakespeare (with Harry Fraud on the beat). The title says it all, what more can you ask for?
Some rugged Hip-Hop for your Monday morning. Awkword drops “Bar & Hooks (Keep It Moving [K.I.M.]),” featuring Sean Price, The Incomparable Shakespeare and The Kid Daytona. Harry Fraud hooks up a beat heavy on flutes and brolic drums. Keep it moving and peep the video for “Bar & Hooks”.
The entire song is called “Bars & Hooks (Keep It Moving [K.I.M.]).” Harry Fraud on the beat, and a bunch of talented emcees on the raps make for one good combination.
Finally… some grimy, boom bap, bully foot East Coast shit. This goes super hard.
AWKWORD, Harry Fraud, Sean Price, and The Kid Daytona are to backpackers what Future, 2 Chainz, Ross & French are to main stream. this collab is huge. and Andre Ward form Across the Bridge Productions brings this Harry Fraud production alive.
“Talking about the jerks in the game, you know who you are.”
AWKWORD brings some of NYC’s most talented emcees together for 4-plus minutes of dope NYC rap on “Bars & Hooks”. The posse cut features Sean Price, The Kid Daytona, and The Incomparable Shakespeare, with production from Harry Fraud. The video is directed by Andre Ward, who does a great job of not over visualizing this straightforward record. Watch it below. Shouts to AWKWORD.
Don’t worry about the lengthy title, just press play. Its about time NY emcees re-take the throne. Can’t go wrong with P! With a song title like “Bars & Hooks” what else you expect. La musica de Harry Fraud.
AWKWORD releases the crazy visuals for the street heater “Bars & Hooks”… Everything is hot bout this track — the cocaine beat by Harry Fraud, the sick verses, and the video just puts it all in perspective.
These guys are doing back the true New York style of the past. [translated.]
Pop Killer (Poland):
Oh yeah, i enjoy that song since its release (December), and finally shot him a video. [translated.]
aik.éqt & fngrprnt (Germany):
The new week starts again more than epic. Rotate your boxes to enjoy the brilliant weather, and to this unspeakably sexy sound! The track can be found on the album “World View” by AWKWORD again and is just one of many other beads. AWKWORD released on Sub City Productions / DJ Booth, and up to mischief in no less a city than the metropolis of New York City Hip Hop. The guy I’ll keep an eye on each case. Until then, enjoy the track and listened to the album purely sometimes! [translated.]
Honorable Mentions
‘AMERICAN’ (U.S.)
- Duckdown.com
- DJ Bobby Trends (Hot 97)
- The Combat Jack Show
- Dallas Penn
- Nah Right
- You Heard That New
- DJ Booth
- The Well Versed
- Xclusives Zone
- Kevin Nottingham
- Donuts & Milk
- The Tony Grands / Reading & Writing Is For Dumb People / Ear Hustlin
- The Mad Bloggers
- Hip Hop Ruckus
- Drop The R
- Its Bizkit
- Ashley Outrageous
- 808 Crate
- Hip Hop Dependency
- Dope Music Blog
- Dork Mustache
- Heavy Mentalist
- Just A Love Thing
- We Goin In
- Eastside Morales
- Rock The Dub
- Refined Hype
- Crayon Beats
- Emilio Sparks
- Above Ground Magazine
- Hip Hop Site – 1 x 2
- Gorilla Leak – 1 x 2
- CyberGorillas
- Good Music All Day
INTERNATIONAL
- The Hip Hop Chronicle (England/United Kingdom)
- DJ Loscar (France)
- WHUDAT (Germany)
- KINGSIZE (Norway/Scandinavia)
- Yappari HipHop (Japan)
- Illegal Promo (Portugal)
- Versos Perfectos (Spain)
- Sunete Sub.Sol (Romania)
- Hip-Hop.sk (Slovakia)
- Street Poets (Netherlands)
- Music Kitchen (Lithuania)
- HipHopaholic (Russia)
- Ozarts Etc (Belgium)
- Funky Unk (Mexico)
For more rave reviews, including mad love from Japan and elsewhere in Asia, click here to read the late 2011 write-ups on the “Bars & Hooks” song; and follow @AWKWORDrap on twitter — he reads, responds, retweets, etc.
And if you want to watch AWKWORD on your TV, stay tuned for the next post on AWKWORDrap.com…
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REQUIEM Gets Love from YouHeardThatNew, PleaseDontStare, etc
Need some fresh music to play at your next kegger? AWKWORD‘s got just the thing—provided you like your party music with a pitch-black edge. Described by the artist as a “frat party track with the worst of tragic undertones,” Requiem finds the headliner trading verses with SoulStice, Ess Vee and Cuz OH! Black over a brooding instrumental by ATG. This moody selection is just one of many quality jams set for inclusion on DJBooth-sponsored, 100%-for-charity street album World View, set to hit our mixtape page for digital purchase in the near future.
“This ill track“, The #Requiem was first heard on The Company Man Show on PNC Radio [FM/Internet] and world premiered exclusively through Andreas Hale‘s The Well Versed. Since, it’s been getting spins as nearby as New York City (e.g., WNYU Radio’s This Culture Will Never Die show with DJ Dharmic X) and as far away as Germany (e.g., Trackblasters Radio with DJ P.R.). It has also been featured — with critical acclaim — by the likes of Please Don’t Stare, You Heard That New [give it 5 stars!], DJ Booth [play, rate & comment!], Ashley Outrageous, Kevin Nottingham, The Mad Bloggers [rate it "Dope"], Donuts And Milk, Buck Marley XXX, Rock The Dub, DOPE Music Blog [rate it "DOPE"], Deal With No Deal, Eastside Morales, We Goin In, Womazing, Definition of Fresh, Hip Hop Dependency and DJ Loscar (France).
Below: stream and/or download the song via soundcloud; or, take part in the #WorldView movement — download the better-than-CD-quality version at your own price via bandcamp, with 100% of the proceeds donated to our charity.
Soundcloud
Bandcamp
Click here to read the full song lyrics.
VIDEO COMING SOON!
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Switzerland’s Vinyl Digger Joins World View Movement
It’s in the name itself: World View is all about the global connections we make through Hip Hop music x culture. So, it should come as no surprise that we considered every continent when looking for the person/team to mix & master this important project. We went no further than Switzerland’s Vinyl Digger.
scratchin, blendin, cuttin, jugglin. remember hot 90s mixtapes? dats how i do!
And it doesn’t hurt that Vinyl Digger has the co-sign of two trustworthy World View participants, emcee Tenacity and Brown Bag AllStar-affiliate producer Tranzformer, each of whom describe Vinyl Digger as, simply, “dope”.
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New AWKWORD Single Hits DJ Booth Indie Music Chart
We’re now at #20… Help us get to #1!
The newest AWKWORD x World View single, “Radio 2.0“, features guest verses from KRS-One, Dug Infinite & Brimstone127, over production from Vice Souletric.
As noted here, DJBooth.net world premiered the cut January 19, 2012.
DJ Z, Editor-In-Chief, DJ Booth:
Great old school, 90′s era hip hop feel on the record, which is solidified by the legendary vocals of KRS.
To help us get “Radio 2.0″ to the top of the chart, go to http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/awkword-radio-2.0/ — and play, download, rate & comment!
Click here for the DJ Booth Indie Music Chart.
About the DJ Booth Ratings:
Welcome to the Booth’s Top Independent Chart! As always, your feedback has determined which songs made the cut. Each chart’s lineup is calculated using a special DJBooth Formula that takes into account member ratings and reviews as well as features’ overall popularity.
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New AWKWORD Interview with WeGoinIn
Click the image above to read the full interview. See below for the questions I answer, in typically bizarro fashion.
- For those who aren’t yet up on you, how would you introduce yourself?
- Your “World View” project is scheduled to be dropping soon. Can you explain what it is, who’s involved and your motivation behind it?
- Your music is very influenced by your social views and your activism. How important is it for those passions to be conveyed in your music?
- Do you see your music as having a particular goal or is it more about communicating what’s inside you?
- You’ve done a number dope joints with Harry Fraud who is blowing up crazy. How did you two initially link up?
- Who are some of the artists who have inspired you and who you look at as role models in the game?
- Any new artists that you’re feeling lately and are looking to work with?
- What’s on the horizon for 2012 for you?
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New Audio: AWKWORD ft. KRS-One – “Radio 2.0″ (prod. Vice Souletric)
AWKWORD ft. KRS-One, Dug Infinite & Brimstone127 – “Radio 2.0″ (prod. Vice Souletric)
Check out the newest single off AWKWORD‘s 100% for-charity global Hip Hop project ‘World View’, a DJBooth.net Top Song of the Week (see below), produced by Ohio’s Vice Souletric, and fittingly featuring KRS-One, the legendary Bronx emcee behind the Stop The Violence movement, Chicago’s iconic rapper/producer Dug Infinite and fellow Jewish emcee/activist Brimstone127 of Miami.
Soundcloud Stream/Download
Radio 2.0 ft. KRS-One, Dug Infinite & Brimstone127 (prod. Vice Souletric) by AWKWORD (@AWKWORDrap)
Bandcamp NAME YOUR PRICE
Download (highest-quality [.wav] sound file) — and donate 100% to Aim to Live, a 501c3-registered charity for urban youth.
Youtube Slideshow Video
Special Shout Out to DJBooth.net for WORLD PREMIERING “Radio 2.0″ last night. Click HERE to read the great song review and show support by rating/commenting!
DJ Z (DJ Booth):
Great old school, 90′s era hip hop feel on the record, which is solidified by the legendary vocals of KRS.
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BREAKING: New Sponsor/Host of AWKWORD’s ‘World View’ LP Named
Made official by an announcement on sister-site Refined Hype and then set in stone a few days later by the new partner itself, AWKWORD has entered into an exciting agreement for the sponsorship, promotion AND HOSTING of World View, his 100% for-charity global Hip Hop project dropping in 2012.
Congratulations to AWKWORD and the one-and-only… DJBooth.net!
About AWKWORD
AWKWORD, ‘The People’s Champ’, is the Writer, Hip Hop/Rap Artist and Activist behind World View, the 1st-ever 100% For-Charity Global Hip Hop Project, featuring contributions from every continent, approximately 20 countries and every United States region. Brought to you by DJBooth.net, End of the Weak (EOW) and The Morgan Stanley Foundation, the album boasts production from Domingo, Harry Fraud, The White Shadow, Tranzformer, ATG and many more, as well as guest emcee appearances from the likes of Joell Ortiz, Sean Price and KRS-One… AWKWORD — who is donating all proceeds from his World View project to Aim to Live, a 501c3-registered nonprofit dedicated to educating and empowering urban youth — has appeared on/in Urb Magazine, XXL, The Source, Hip Hop DX, Nah Right, DJ Booth, 2DopeBoyz, Vlad TV, The Hip Hop Chronicle, Kevin Nottingham, IndieHipHopNet, Ashley Outrageous, Refined Hype, BuckMarleyXXX, Rap Is Outta Control Radio, Hip Hop Nation Sirius XM, Revolt Radio, Israel National Radio, Daily Kos, The Nation, Huffington Post, and many more! For more information on AWKWORD and World View, visit http://AWKWORDrap.com. To talk to AWKWORD, like him on facebook — http://facebook.com/AWKWORDrap — and/or follow him on twitter — http://twitter.com/AWKWORDrap.
The World View Singles
As of Thursday, January 19, 2012.
- AWKWORD – “Thank You (A Tribute To My Mommy)” (prod. ATG)
- AWKWORD ft. ILL BILL, El Gant, Tenacity & Blame One – “Metal Music” (prod. Tranzformer)
- AWKWORD ft. Sean Price, The Kid Daytona & The Incomparable Shakespeare – “Bars & Hooks (Keep It Moving)” (prod. Harry Fraud)
- AWKWORD ft. Sha Stimuli & Viro the Virus – “The World Is Yours” (prod. Dominant1 [Malawi])
- AWKWORD ft. GuessWho? – “Doctor Doctor” (prod. MajoR R.E. [Malaysia])
- AWKWORD ft. Jade Foxx – “The Dating Game – Revisited” (prod. Flam & Aksim [Finland])
- AWKWORD ft. Punchline, Shabaam Sahdeeq & Beretta 9 (Killarmy) – “The People’s Champions” (prod. Harry Fraud)
- AWKWORD ft. C-Rayz Walz & Reks – “Imperialism” (prod. Jonny Lupo [Moldova])
Click here to listen/download/purchase.
For AWKWORD Soundcloud Followers ONLY. (Coming Soon!)
- “Requiem” ft. SoulStice, Ess Vee & CuzOH! Black; pr. ATG
- “Radio 2.0” ft. KRS-One, Dug Infinite & Brimstone127; pr. Vice Souletric
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VIDEO: What Inspires AWKWORD — The Bee Shine Interview
Click here to see AWKWORD’s new video interview with The Bee Shine — an in-depth conversation with the artist/activist about his music, his message, and his hands-on work to support it.
Support quality hip hop and a charitable cause by purchasing AWKWORD’s music.
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DJ Booth, Refined Hype, more on AWKWORD’s ‘Tribute To My Mommy’
“AWKWORD pens an intensely heartfelt track to his recently deceased mother.” — DJBooth.net
“It’s bigger than Hip-Hop.” — RefinedHype.com
AWKWORD says:
The Greatest Woman of All Time Died on One-Two…
I wrote and recorded “Thank You (A Tribute To My Mommy)” in honor of my perfect mother, who died 1/2/12, before she even reached 60. She was smiling and beautiful, even in her last moments.
I wrote this song sitting beside my mom, as she stared at death — with grace, as she did everything in her life. Without my mother, I wouldn’t be here today. And thanks to my mother, I never shied away from expressing myself through the arts. “Thank You” is the most personal song I’ve released to date, and for me it’s the most important. My #WorstMemoryof2011 was learning we’d run out of options. My #BestMemoryof2011 was witnessing my mom’s expression as she listened to her tribute song and watched the accompanying slideshow.
To me, this song demonstrates the positive power of Hip Hop — this is why I do what I do. And rightfully, “A Tribute To My Mommy” will appear on my 100% for-charity album World View, dropping in 2012. Yet, I can’t help but think my tribute only barely touches the surface in capturing all that my mother means and has meant to the people in her life and the plants, animals and insects all around her. World-Famous Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Social Worker, Chef, Singer, Swimmer, Activist, Artist, Gardener, Birder and Dog/Horse Whisperer. The only person I’ve ever know who practices what she preaches, adheres always to morality, and even challenges my theory that there is no true form of altruism.
In her honor, as her son, as someone who always admired — and was often in awe of — her, I present this song to my family, friends and fans, as well as to all those who have ever lost someone (especially due to cancer and metastatic breast cancer) they love, undoubtedly too early.
Youtube Slideshow x Song Preview
Song Stream
Thank You (A Tribute To My Mommy) by @AWKWORDrap
Song Download
Download in the HIGHEST, better-than-CD-quality sound, FREE or by electing to NAME YOUR OWN PRICE. All (100%) of the proceeds are being donated to The Nature Conservancy in the name of AWKWORD’s mother. And if you knew her, you know that this organization was more to her than a nonprofit to throw money at; AWKWORD’s mom lived and breathed its mission to “protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.”
Select Reviews
DJBooth.net:
AWKWORD pens an intensely heartfelt track to his recently deceased mother… Showing love to one’s mother is a theme that’s run heavily throughout hip-hop. From Tupac’s Dear Mama to Kanye West’s Hey Mama, nearly every rapper finds their way to jotting down at least a line or two – if not several verses or an entire song – paying tribute to the woman from which they came. AWKWORD’s Thank You (A Tribute To My Mommy) is not just your normal homage to the maternal figure in his life as it was written at her bedside while she was losing her fight with breast cancer, eventually passing on the second day of this year. The song was recorded and played for her before her passing and AWKWORD credits her as being his biggest supporter and influence. With more and more things taking up our time, taking a moment to call or see our mothers for a quick hug or “I love you” should always be on our “to-do” lists. For more from the NYC emcee keep an ear out for his upcoming World View album, dropping soon via The DJBooth.
RefinedHype.com:
It’s bigger than Hip-Hop… I know it seems like I’m some mysterious, faceless force that posts booty shots and talks shit about rappers, but believe it or not I’m an actual, real life person. So when an artist like AWKWORD comes to me with a track dedicated to his mother, who was dying of breast cancer when he first played the song for me and has now passed away, I have an actual human reaction. At its best hip-hop offers both an escape and reflection of our actual lives, so in that spirit I’m going to turn things over to AWKWORD from here on out…
AWKWORD drops a heart warming tribute to his mom.
Damn, that the most beautiful thing you could do for your mother. SALUTE!… Many blessings go out to @AWKWORDrap for even being able to write and put this together in his rough times. My mother was my grandmother and she’s passed. It was a very tough for me to see her so ill on her bed. Much love goes out!! The song is FREE but you can elect to pay for it and the money goes to the The Nature Conservancy. SUPPORT IF YOU CAN.
Oh, man… this has to be the most heart-felt song I’ve heard in a very long time. My eyes started to get watery while listening to it. AWKWORD releases a new song titled “Thank You” dedicated to his mother, where he talks about how much he loves and appreciates her. This was absolutely beautiful. My thoughts and prayers goes out to him and his family during this difficult time. Read below to get more of an insight behind this meaningful song.
AWKWORD reminds us that love and loyalty transcend all.
Now show your support for AWKWORD and his mother — and go to DJBooth.net to listen, rate, like and comment.
[Share this page: http://bit.ly/AWKWORD-ThankYou-Reviews.]
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DJ Booth Review, Stream, Download & Rate: AWKWORD – Metal Music ft. ILL BILL, Blame One, etc.
Fresh off bringing down the house with the single Bars & Hooks (Keep It Moving), AWKWORD takes the pole position on Metal Music, the official lead single off producer Tranzformer‘s forthcoming street album. Over the Booth-approved beatsmith’s head-noddable synth-percussion boardwork, the NYC buzzmaker is joined on the mic by El Gant, ILL BILL, Tenacity and Blame One. In addition to appearing on Tranzformer’s Raw & Homemade 2 tape, Metal Music is set for inclusion on AWKWORD’s 100%-for-charity World View LP.
To stream, download, rate and comment on the song, click here.
All plays, downloads, ratings and comments count toward landing a spot on the DJBooth.net Top Indie Song Chart.
Next Page »
100% of the proceeds from World View will be donated to Guns 4 Cameras (G4C) (a.k.a. Aim to Live), a 501c3-registered nonprofit dedicated to eradicating street violence through the Hip Hop-inspired education and empowerment of our urban youth.
Hip Hop/Rap artist & activist AWKWORD is the mastermind behind World View, the first-ever 100% For-Charity Global Hip Hop project, sponsored by DJBooth.net, End of the Weak (EOW) & The Morgan Stanley Foundation.
World View is mixed by Switzerland's Vinyl Digger and executive produced by AWKWORD and The White Shadow of Norway.
