Born Ruffians were awesome enough to stop by for an interview! Here’s what happened.
Category: Music News and Interviews
Music news, interviews, features and giveaways
STS9 Giveaway!

What?? A giveaway for STS9 tickets??? YES! Thanks to our friends at Live Nation, this week we are giving away THREE pairs of tickets for STS9′s show at The Ritz Raleigh. The tickets also come with an amazing prize back including:
– a VIP viewing
– meet and greet with the band
– an STS9 merch pack
– 1 YEAR of free STS9 downloads
– early admission into the show
Exciting stuff! If you are interested in this amazing giveaway, just stay tuned into WKNC 88.1 FM and be the correct caller when the DJ asks for calls! Good luck!
11/2: Joanna Gruesome @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

11/3: Youth Lagoon @ Cat’s Cradle

11/4: Minus the Bear @ Cat’s Cradle

11/5: DIIV @ Cat’s Cradle

11/5: Murs @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

11/6: Birds and Arrows @ Kings

11/6: Copeland @ Cat’s Cradle

11/7: Animal Weapon @ Kings

11/7: The Foreign Exchange @ Cat’s Cradle

11/8: Deafheaven @ Cat’s Cradle

10/26: Mikky Ekko @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

10/27: The Underachievers @ Cat’s Cradle

10/28: Peaches @ Cat’s Cradle

10/28: Nikki Lane @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

10/28: Blistered @ Kings

10/29: July Talk @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

10/30: Bedowyn @ King’s

10/31: Kings’ Halloween Bash

10/31: The Districts @ Cat’s Cradle

11/1: Day of the Dead @ Kings
10/19: Caspian @ Kings

10/20: Protomartyr @ Kings

10/20: Cannibal Ox @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

10/21: Widowspeak @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

10/22: The Devil Makes Three @ Cat’s Cradle

10/23: Rasputina @ Cat’s Cradle

10/23: No BS! Brass Band @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

The BET Cyphers haven’t been the same since Kendrick Lamar burned them down in 2013. Seriously, there should have been a charity event for the families of all the rappers killed at once that night (we will never forget *praying hands*). But if you watched the Cyphers on Tuesday night, you might have noticed a very bold statement made. It was subtle, but important, especially if you were watching in North Carolina.
The North Clack was well represented this year, with impressive performances by Jackie Spade from Kinston, Rain910 from Fayetteville, T-Top of Fuquay-Varina, and Raleigh’s own King Mez. Unless you’ve only been paying attention to Drake for the past year, you know that the North Carolina Hip Hop scene has been on the rise. T-Top has been making waves on BET’s Ultimate Rap League, dismantling MCs in the battle circuit; and King Mez was heavily featured on Dr. Dre’s latest album “Compton.”
The Cyphers don’t have a good track record for creating stars individually, but the fact that the state was represented so extensively, shows that NC’s strength in the game is finally being appropriately recognized.
Check out this year’s Cyphers here:
http://www.bet.com/shows/hip-hop-awards/cypher.html
K.A.A.N Interview
If you’re a fan of bars over bullsh*t rap, look no further than one of the DMV area’s most promising up-and-comers, K.A.A.N. The 24 year old Maryland native is a student of the greats, like Big L, 2Pac, and Big Pun, but unlike the hoards of wannabe rappers that claim the same thing, you can here their influences echoing in his extraordinarily complex and high octane raps. Go to his Soundcloud page, listen to “Kaancepts,” and try not to jump out of your chair screaming. Not gonna happen. He blesses the classic “Deep Cover” beat in a multi-syllabic double time flow that definitely has Pun smiling up in heaven.
Recently, K.A.A.N. put out a mixtape EP where he flows on the Golden Era’s most classic beats, like “Shook Ones,"Flava In Ya Ear,” and more. The EP is called “1/12/199?” and definitely worth peeping. He plans on putting out his first full project with original production some time next year, so stay tuned on his progress because I have a feeling that his name is going to ring bells sooner than later.
10/13: Red Fang @ Kings

10/13: Waxahatchee @ Cat’s Cradle

10/13: Bottle Rockets @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

10/15: Matt Pond PA @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

10/16: Kooley High @ Kings

10/16: Blitzen Trapper @ Cat’s Cradle

10/17: Archers of Loaf @ Cat’s Cradle

10/17: Braids @ Kings

10/18: Telekinesis @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom

On September 17th, Phian interviewed The Charming Youngsters before they played at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub for Local Band Local Beer. They featured four tracks during the interview: Resourcerer, Sentinels, Brave Me, and Black Birds. If you want to find out more about The Charming Youngsters, check out there Facebook Page.
Local Band Local Beer: Durty Dub
Last Thursday, DJ Dilemma interviewed Durty Dub before they played at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub for Local Band Local Beer. They discussed the origins of the band and the group’s affiliation with the larger African beats community. If you like what you hear, you can check out more at Durty Dub’s Facebook page.
