Category: Blog

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Playlists

DJ Iron Mic’s SXSW 2016 playlist

Missed out on SX this year? Made it to SX, but already miss the heck out of it? Don’t worry, DJ Iron Mic’s got you!

Click here to listen!

Chill Moody – November Funk
$ave Dat Money – Lil Dicky feat. Fetty Wap
Ready – Chaz French feat. Goldlink
The Pessimist – Wale feat. J. Cole
Shards – GRRL
Antidote – Travis Scott
Clearest Blue – CHVRCHES
L$D – A$AP Rocky
New Level – A$AP Ferg feat. Future
The Waters – Anderson .Paak feat. BJ the Chicago Kid
Who Dey Rockin Wit – Trae tha Truth feat. Yo Gotti
Law – Yo Gotti feat. E-40
Top – Lil Uzi Vert
Bounce – Flatbush Zombies
Victory Laps – Doomstarks
Ready or Not – Fugees
Where U Been? – 2 Chainz feat. Cap 1
Live at the Barbecue – Main Source feat. Nas
We Takin Over – DJ Khaled feat. T.I., Fat Joe, Akon, Lil Wayne, & Birdman
N.Y. State of Mind – Nas
Lonely Cities – Tigertown
I Wanna Be Your Dog – The Stooges
Changes – Charles Bradley
2 Phones – Kevin Gates
The Seed 2.0 – The Roots feat. Cody Chestnut
O.P.P. – Naughty by Nature
Lights On – Big Grams
ATLiens – Outkast
Blow the Whistle – Too $hort
Ready – Joey Bada$$
Knock Tha Hustle – Cozz feat. J. Cole
Fire – Vince Staples
Sanity – Boulevards
Go – Domo Genesis
Bust it Open – Scotty ATL feat. B.o.B.
Boom Clap – Charli XCX
Cherchez LaGhost – Ghostface Killah feat. U-God
It G Ma (Remix) – Keith Ape feat. A$AP Ferg, Father, Wacka Flocka Flame, and Dumbfounded
All The Way Up – Fat Joe feat. French Monatana
Good Knight – Kirk Knight feat. Joey Bada$$, Flatbush Zombies, & Dizzy Wright
Talib Kweli – Get By

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC Underground Hip-Hop Charts: March 22nd

1 GANGRENE – You Disgust Me – Mass Appeal
2 PROFESSOR TOON – Take Notes – Cardigan
3 LIZZO – Big Grrrl Small World – Self-Released
4 VINCE STAPLES – Summertime ‘06 – Def Jam
5 TORAE – Clap Shit Up – Internal Affairs
6 KING MAGNETIC – Timing Is Everything
7 JR AND PH7 – Noir
8 TROOF MUSIC – The Donation [EP] – Self-Released
9 CONSTANT DEVIANTS – Avant Garde – Six2Six
10 DENIRO FARRAR – Bow Down

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC Chainsaw Rock Charts: March 22nd

1 LYCUS – Chasms – Relapse
2 BARONESS – Purple – Abraxan Hymns
3 FORCED ORDER – Turn The Knife – Revelation Records
4 KYLESA – Exhausting Fire – Season Of Mist
5 FOUNDATION – Turncoat  -Jawk
6 CULT LEADER – Lightless Walk
7 GLOAM Hex – Of Nine Heads – Caligari
8 TWITCHING TONGUES – Disharmony – Metal Blade
9 DEAFHEAVEN – New Bermuda – Anti
10 EXPANDER – Laws Of Power

Top 3 Adds

1 FUTURE PRIMITIVE – Spring Break Demo – Self-Released
2 BLOODIEST Bloodiest – Relapse
3 MAGRUDERGRIND II – Relapse

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC 88.1 FM Charts: March 22nd 2016

1 MOTHERS – When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired – Grand Jury
2 RATBOYS – AOID – Topshelf
3 PINEGROVE – Cardinal – Run For Cover
4 DAY WAVE – Headcase/Hard To Read – Grand Jury
5 PORCHES – Pool – Domino
6 WILD NOTHING – Life Of Pause – Captured Tracks
7 JAWBREAKER REUNION – Haha And Then What – Miscreant
8 GAZEBOS – Die Alone – Hardly Art
9 DEAR TRACKS – Soft Dreams [EP] -Track And Field
10 LA SERA – Music For Listening To Music To – Polyvinyl
11 THAO AND THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN – A Man Alive – Ribbon
12 SUNFLOWER BEAN – Human Ceremony – Fat Possum
13 QUILT – Plaza – Mexican Summer
14 ADULT BOOKS – Running From The Blows – Lolipop
15 MASS GOTHIC – Mass Gothic – SUB POP
16 FLORIST – The Birds Outside Sang – Double Double Whammy
17 SLINGSHOT DAKOTA – Break – Topshelf
18 FEELS – Feels – Castle Face
19 EERIE WANDA – Hum – BBIB
20 CULLEN OMORI – New Misery – SUB POP
21 NADA SURF – You Know Who You Are – Barsuk
22 BASEMENT – Promise Everything – Run For Cover
23 SO PITTED – Neo – SUB POP
24 YUCK – Stranger Things – Mame
25 SOUND OF CERES – Nostalgia For Infinity – Joyful Noise
26 HOLY WAVE – Freaks Of Nurture – Reverberation Appreciation Society
27 YOUR FRIEND – Gumption – Domino
28 INTO IT. OVER IT. – Standards – Triple Crown
29 SKI LODGE – New Life – Old Flame
30 DONKEYS – Midnight Palms – Easy Sound

Top 5 Adds

1 SUN DAYS – Album – Run For Cover
2 KITTEN FOREVER – 7 Hearts – Atlas Chair
3 B BOYS – No Worry No Mind – Captured Tracks
4 GOLDEN DAZE – Golden Daze – Autumn Tone
5 SUMMER TWINS – Limbo – Burger

Categories
DJ Highlights

Iron Mic’s Best SXSW Moments Pt. 1

From artists as obscure as Chill Moody and Tiger Town, to superstars like Nas and 2 Chainz, SXSW 2016 supplied days upon days of amazing performances. This is just the beginning of everything I got to experience on my trip to Austin.

Chill Moody

Tiger Town

Nas

Khaled and Chainz

Categories
Local Music Music News and Interviews

WKNC Giveaways of the Week! March 21st – March 25th + Bonus!

Goldlink // Elhae // WELL$ – Monday 3/21 @ Kings Barcade

Slothrust // Yung – Tuesday 3/22 @Cat’s Cradle Backroom

Palm // Gnarwhal // SLMH // Doc Ellis Dee – Wednesday 3/23 @ Kings Barcade

Bleak // Lesser Life // Trudge // Junior in His – Thursday 3/24 @ Local 506

Aaron Carter – Friday 3/25 @ Cat’s Cradle

Bonus! Thanks to the help of Live Nation, WKNC will also be giving away tickets to Live Nation’s “Locals Only” event on April 3rd ! Be on the listen for the next two weeks to win tickets to this awesome showcase of local music! 

And as always keep it locked to 88.1 all week to win tickets to these great shows! Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it and you could be a winner! 

Categories
Festival Coverage

Michelle Obama’s “Let Girls Learn” Speech at SXSW

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AUSTIN, TX – Days after President Obama came to Texas to speak at the tech portion of SXSW, Michelle Obama, accompanied by a panel of female superstars led by Queen Latifah, rapper Missy Elliot, songwriter Diane Warren, and actress Sophia Bush; spoke as the keynote to kickoff SXSW Music Week, Wednesday morning.

The focus of Obama’s speech was on her “Let Girls Learn” initiative, a program that aims to help improve education quality for the 62 million girls around the world who aren’t in school for various reasons. The panel also spoke about the new single that was recorded to promote Let Girls Learn, “This is For My Girls,” featuring Zendaya, Kelly Rowland, Lea Michele, Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monae, and recent Parkwood Entertainment signees Chloe and Halle.

All of the panelists spoke about their experiences as women who never gave up on their goals, but emphasized that men and women should be allies in the effort to help women around the world. “There are a lot of ‘men only’ tables out there,” said Obama, “and if you want to strengthen your organization you have to bring women to the table as well.”

Obama cited economic reasons such as, countries with a larger population of educated women having stronger GDPs; and Queen Latifah pointed out that when women are able to be included in the professional workspace, it creates the ability to handle issues from a broader perspective.

Being that it was a music conference, the ladies also spoke about the artists they listened to growing up. Queen Latifah gave the most detailed response, talking about her experiences as the only girl in her crew as a young rapper and how that was a good experience for her because there was no sexism, just collaboration.

The First Lady wrapped up her speech with a couple questions from the audience, one of which created quite a stir. She was asked whether or not she would run for President. She unfortunately declined the possibility, stating that she’s had a wholesome experience as First Lady, and that it wouldn’t be fair for her family, especially her two daughters that are entering young adulthood. However, she did admit that she’ll miss being in the White House, and that she’ll miss helping and working with young people.

In a political climate where the loudest opinions always seem to be passionately against the Obamas, the First Lady’s discussion in Austin was in front of a friendly crowd that most likely wouldn’t exist outside of the city’s limits. She seemed relaxed and at home, which is fitting for a conference like SXSW where work and fun intersect every day, and stood as a perfect way to usher in the greatest music festival of the year.

-DJ Iron Mic

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Categories
Festival Coverage

Mass Appeal SXSW Showcase

Iconic Hip-Hop label, Mass Appeal, held a showcase headlined by Nas on Thursday night at the Austin Music Hall, named after his debut guest feature, Live at the Barbecue. The showcase honored Golden Era Hip-Hop with opening performances by Smif N’ Wessun, Buckshot Shorty, and Freeway; as well as a special dedication to the late rhyme legend Sean Price.

Hype was generated for the event via DJ Khaled, who took to his notorious Snapchat account to let everyone know he was on his way to show some “fan luv” to the festival goers at SXSW. DJ Khaled’s list of famous friends is deeper (and cooler) than Jaden Smith’s raps, so it was a no-brainer that the WTB mastermind would be a ‘major key’to this event.

Khaled did not disappoint. He took the stage in front of an at-capacity audience that lost their minds at his presence. Then the surprises started. One by one, Khaled brought out super stars of the past and present.

First there was Wyclef, who sang his verses for Ready or Not and Fu-gee-la. Then the Texas legend Bun B, who sent the crowd into hysterics with his verses from Big Pimpin and International Player’s Ball. Then 2 Chainz came out to please the crowd.

All of the fanfare was a perfect way to usher in the performance of a legend like Nas, who took to the stage with his mythical hit, New York State of Mind. Nasty kept it classy with the classics, going through Hate Me Now, Made U Look, and the showcase’s namesake, Live at the Barbecue, joined by Large Professor.

This was a Hip-Hop head’s showcase. The most modern rapper on stage was 2 Chainz. But you can’t go wrong with classics no matter the demographic. This kind of sticking-to-the-classics approach is something that Mass Appeal excels at as a company. They stick to what they know, and they know Golden Era Hip-Hop, which made Live at the Barbecue a memorable event for anyone who just loves the culture.

– DJ Iron Mic

Categories
Concert Preview

WolfTrax Music Group Presents: Night Vision EDM Party

Gather ‘round, everyone, for a sick night of EDM. By that of course, we mean Electronic Dance Music, not Elephants Doing the Moonwalk. We understand that those are easily confused, and would like to clarify that there will be no circus animals present at the event. We know, we were disappointed too. On the plus side, there will be some pretty awesome DJs, and admission is free. Not only are they great DJs, but they’re also local independent artists right here from NC State! What could be better than that? Well, obviously moonwalking elephants, but we don’t have those. 

The event will be held March 22nd in the Talley Coastal Ballroom on NC State’s main campus. Doors and show are at 8pm. Our artists include: 

Asteroid AfterParty (8pm – 8:25pm)
Mystec (8:25pm – 8:50pm)
Xtals (8:50pm – 9:15pm)
Deadzone (9:15pm – 10pm)

Come out and support your local artists! This event is the second of its kind. With its success, we anticipate many more in the future. 

Click here for more event info!

– Nick Weaver

Categories
Festival Coverage

Dubsteppin’

       After a brief foray into the oxymoron of corporately sponsored independent rock. I set off for 6th St., the main drag for SXSW, in search of club Barcelona or as referred to by LA’s DJ Flinch “The Bass Cave.” And that it was indeed. I could feel the beats surging up from the basement dance floor when I arrived courtesy of Gino Cochino, a native of The Los Angeles Dubstep scene. For all those who complain (including me on occasion) that Dubstep isn’t danceable, this DJ may just change your mind. He brings the driving bass drops from Dn’B together with the grinding syncopated distortion of Dub all set to wicked beats of which no one on the dance floor seems to be able to get enough.

       The next set and the night belonged to the Austin’s very own Wolf-E-Wolf. Another DJ who has successfully taken Dubstep back to it’s basics and created music with an actual beat to dance to instead of just admire for it’s technical proficiency. Hip-hop, Trap, and even Jungle aspects were all present in Wolf-E-Wolf’s set, and the whole club was moving as was yours truly. If the east coast is drum and bass then it seems the Midwest and West Coast are definitely dubstep.

       Back out on 6th Street, the crowd was just as packed as in the bar. I was beat and planned to head back to my room to sleep off the nights festivities, but it seemed that SXSW had other plans for me. 

Stay tuned…

-Just Damien