The new AWKWORD video “Bars & Hooks” [w/ Sean Price, The Kid Daytona, Harry Fraud & The Incomparable Shakespeare] premiered Wednesday, May 9, 2012, via iFame TV on ROKU nationwide [available now in 3 million households] — and it is still available on your TV today.

To read the critics’ rave reviews about the “Bars & Hooks” video, click here!

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

Complex Magazine:

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.

Okay Player:

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?

Hip Hop Wired:

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”.

2 Dope Boyz:

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.

Hip Hop DX:

Finally… some grimy, boom bap, bully foot East Coast shit. This goes super hard.

The Sermon’s Domain:

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.

Ruby Hornet:

“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.

Digiwaxx:

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.

Revolt Radio:

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.

Ecko Unlimited Italy:

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…

Fittingly, on May Day, a day after the release — to critical acclaim and great fanfare — of the video for AWKWORD‘s World View single “Bars & Hooks“, The Village Voice‘s Sound of the City blog drops its interview with the Activist Rapper…

The Village Voice:

N.W.A.’s “Fuck Tha Police” burst into Awkword’s life thanks to his baby-sitter. The Manhattan-based rapper visibly remembers the day when his part-time watchdog turned up with a copy of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube’s anti-establishment rant; hearing the song kick-started his first forays into writing his own raps. True to that song’s sentiment, today Awkward is as much an activist as an artist, channeling the idea of conveying a message and a viewpoint through rhyme and attempting to cause a change in the world around him. His upcoming World View project is the next stage in his mission, with all profits from the project going towards the Guns 4 Cameras (Aim To Live) anti-street-violence organization.

With the Occupy Wall Street movement set to snag more headlines today, we checked in with Awkword to speak about the potential for instigating social change through music, the dynamics of organizing a successful protest, and how his music is equally as inspired by Ill Bill as The Beatles.

Click here to read — and comment on or share — this unique, lengthy interview.

NEW VIDEO – WORLD PREMIERE via The Source Magazine…

AWKWORD ft. Sean Price, The Kid Daytona & The Incomparable Shakespeare – “Bars & Hooks (Keep It Moving [K.I.M.])” (prod. Harry Fraud)

[Watch -- and Read the COMPLEX MAGAZINE Write-Up -- Here!]

“Bars & Hooks” appears on AWKWORD’s World View LP, the first-ever 100% for-charity global Hip Hop project. This new New York City grime anthem is produced by Mr. Shot Caller himself, Harry Fraud, and features verses from Brownsville’s Sean Price and The Kid Daytona, from uptown, with a hook from The Incomparable Shakespeare.

NahRight.com World Premiere Post.

DOWNLOAD.

NAME YOUR PRICE — and donate 100% to Guns 4 Cameras [Aim to Live], the 501c3-registered nonprofit recipient of all AWKWORD World View proceeds.

FOR the DJs [Clean/Radio].

LIKE it on HarryFraud’s page.

The Philadelphia (and New Jersey) Community, the Hip Hop Community and the World View Community lost a Veteran Soldier in Philadelphia’s own Viro the Virus. He was one of the first artists I reached out to to work with me on this historical project, now even more important with our loss of this unique, talented emcee.

Strangely enough, I was just talking with fellow World View emcee and Philadelphia native MarQ Spekt about Viro — we were both wondering where he’d gone. And then a mere few days later, long-time Viro affiliates the Snowgoons confirmed his death.

It is a sad day.

Below is the World View theme, featuring Viro and Sha Stimuli. Available now — for a limited time — as a free download. Or use bandcamp, name your own price, and donate all proceeds to Aim to Live, a charity educating and empowering at-risk youth in our neighborhoods.

STREAM / DOWNLOAD:

NAME YOUR PRICE FOR CHARITY:

And, for the FIRST TIME, in HONOR of OUR FRIEND VIRO, I am releasing the White Shadow Remix of “The World Is Yours” — both as a FREE DOWNLOAD, through Audio Mack EXCLUSIVELY; and for purchase via bandcamp, for AS LITTLE AS $0.70 (NAME YOUR OWN PRICE), with ALL PROCEEDS going to CHARITY (Aim to Live).

PURCHASE for CHARITY:

STREAM / DOWNLOAD here.

Please SHARE this post.

And, if you have any information on Viro, or how to reach his family or representative, please email info[@]AWKWORDrap[.]com.

Khal, via Rock The Dub:

Another year down. rockthedub turns 6 today, and as we always do at this time, I’ve cooked up a free compilation for you, the artist who fucks with the site, and you, the reader/supporter who always checks the site. Pop a bottle of your favorite libation and celebrate with me! Spread over the main and [extended] parts of this compilation, The Sixth Sense features dope music from Danny!, Zilla Rocca, Tone Liv, MarQ Spekt, Ethel Cee, Muja Messiah (with Maria Isa), Scatta R.Pee, Silent Dust, Elite Assembly, Phace, Rhymageddon, Sol Zalez, Ray Dawn, My Man Shafe, BURNTmd, AWKWORD, Yogy and plenty more, including a special J. Slikk-produced KhemLab cut featuring Main Course, junclassic & Sky 7thb!. Some cuts previously-released, a bunch of unreleased/exclusive bits, and even some well-wishes from heads out in Philly (shouts to Haj, Side Effect and Ethel Cee). Shouts to EVERYONE who hit me with tracks for this – greatly appreciated. I want to thank you all for your continued support for RTD – here’s my thank you gift.

The Sixth Sense #iseedubpeople Tracklist:

1. Ethel Cee Speaks (and sings)
2. Ethel Cee – One Fifty (prod. by Haj of Dumhi)
3. Scatta R.Pee – Man Eattah
4. Tony Moreaux – Pitching Feelings
5. Family Affair – Code
6. Haj Speaks
7. MarQ Spekt – The Feast
8. Trace Motivate & Futurewave ft. 360 & T.R.A.C. – The Bizness (Remix)
9. Rich Garvey & Psymun – Found Art
10. Tone Liv ft. B Stilt & Sosh B – Supa Guilty (prod. by Dibia$e)
11. Side Effect Speaks
12. PE – Eternal Reflection (prod. by DJ Benzocaine)
13. Muja Messiah ft. Maria Isa – Dance With The Devil (prod. by Mike The Martyr)
14. Lil B – Real Life (Silent Dust Remix)
15. Zilla Rocca x Joker – Massive #9
16. DLRN – The Calling
17. Haj Speaks (again)
18. Danny! ft. Collette – Keep Your Head To The Sky
19. Elite Assembly – Nightmare (Sumthin’ Tah Talk About)
20. Phace, Dramatic & Gentum – Rockin Dubs Freestyle
21. The KhemLab – Life Music (prod. by J. Slikk)

The Sixth Sense [extended] Tracklist:

1. Rhymageddon ft. John Robinson – Vaccine (prod. by Divine Drummah)
2. Sol Zalez – Morning Order
3. AWKWORD ft. SoulStice, Ess Vee & CuzOH! Black – Requiem (prod. by ATG)
4. Harn Solo x Jakie Skellz x Lyriqs da Lyraciss – Hustlin
5. Greg Grease -The One (Remixed by Mike Frey)
6. My Man Shafe – Won’t Get Me (prod. by PE)
7. Yogy ft. Deziak – The Grass Greener (prod. by Brian Foxworth)
8. Ray Dawn – Won’t Slip (prod. by The Jake)
9. The Lunar Crew – Superficial
10. BURNTmd vs. Benga – United Kingdom
11. Elite Assembly – Ghetto Freestyle

To download, click here for the rockthedub.com post.

To learn more about — and download — the AWKWORD track “Requiem”, click the song title above. (Single Cover Art — by Andreis Costa for SweatShop NY — below.)

The Trackblasters Top 10 list features Eminem, Nas, DJ Premier, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Obie Trice, Odd Future, ASAP Rocky, Swizz Beats, Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., Chevy Woods, Kardinal Offishall, Bumpy Knuckles, AWKWORD, ATG, Ess Vee, SoulStice and CuzOH! Black.

Click here to listen to and download the songs, mixtapes and/or album listed below.

Trackblasters.com Top 10

1. Nas – The Don
2. DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles – KoleXXXion [LP]
3. Mac Miller ft. Kednrick Lamar – Fight The Feeling
4. Big K.R.I.T. – 4Eva N A Day [Mixtape]
5. Wiz Khalifa ft. Chevy Woods – Nameless
6. Odd Future – The OF Tape Vol. 2 [Mixtape]
7. Swizz Beatz ft. ASAP Rocky – Street Knock
8. AWKWORD ft. SoulStice, Ess Vee & CuzOH! Black – Requiem (prod. ATG)
9. Kardinal Offishall – Kill Shot [song + video]
10. Obie Trice ft. Eminem – Richard (prod. Statik Selektah)

To learn more about — and download — the #8 song on the list, AWKWORD’s “Requiem”, click the song above. (Single Cover Art — by Andreis Costa for SweatShop NY — below.)

DJ Booth:

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.