Not to be missed!

special guests:
THE ALCHEMIST + OH NO = GANGRENE
["Gutter Water" Album Release Party]

boombox soundsystem:
INKA ONE [Beathackerz]
BEN DIGGIN [Soul.Scienz]
ONE MAN JAZZ [Soul.Scienz]

BOOMBOX | 1st Saturdays
Grand Star Jazz Club
943 N.Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Three days after the official closing of Fat Beats LA the LA Stereo team went to interview Joe Abajian, its founder. We throught it was important to reflect on the closing of this physical landmark in the hip hop community. The end of the retail store encapsulates how the industry is changing and the story of Fat Beats is intertwined with the story of independent hip hop.

We wanted to know why the store had closed, what could have been done to save it (part 2 coming up). We also reflected on some of Fat Beats' strong legacy and in Part 1 above Joe describes the beginnings of the retail.

Shout out to Randy Nkonoki for helping us set up the interview. And visit the online store to carry on supporting GOOD MUSIC.

Photography: Kasey Stokes

A few things have been happening recently on the Blu front, as he's taken back to Twitter, and his excitement for the new album is becoming palpable.

Here's a download: KEEPITGOING that he just dropped produced by Flying Lotus (one of the producers who features on the upcoming No York album) featuring U-God from the Wu-Tang Clan.

Blu will also be performing with Mainframe this Friday in Ventura for the opening of Verdell Wright's exhibition. Peep the flyer above and for more info visit the NewWorldColor website.

Also look out for the LA Stereo x BLU interview coming up soon.

Go support the homies Skeme who just dropped his new project Pistol & Palm Trees to great critical acclaim, Overdoz & Lite.

**BOOMBOX...1ST SATURDAYS****HIP HOP, BREAKS, & BEYOND** **SATURDAY OCTOBER 2ND**
special guest performances:

BLU w/ his live band NO YORK [Performing New Material Off His Upcoming Album

HAWTHORNE HEADHUNTERS [Black Spade | Coultrain | Ced No]

boombox soundsystem: INKA ONE [Beathackerz], BEN DIGGIN [Soul.Scienz], ONE MAN JAZZ [Soul.Scienz]

2 Full Bars | Outdoor Smoking Area

drink specials:
$3 LONG ISLANDS & HEINEKENS TIL 11PM

Interview on the way

-photo by kasey stokes

IV COMING SOON!

"Everyone was scared to write on the steps. But I wasn't. Because I ain't never scared. Dude. Remember to keep your head up to the sky. Shit is mad real, And if your still reading this, my bad for wasting 6 seconds of your life."

- Alchemist 

There was a whole bunch of hit ups, graffiti, stickers and what not in the back office of Fat Beats Los Angeles. A lot of famous/known artist and d.j's  left their mark in the back office. But this one passage stood out the most, it caught my attention. I wonder how long this has been back there.

Fat Beats interview coming soon..  FYI.

In Xzibit's final words "Fat Beats you ain't never going anywhere cause you are right here with us." The legacy of hip hop carries on.

West Coast in da house...for the final days of L.A. hip hop institution Fat Beats that helped launch so many careers.

A BIG thank you to Randy, Joe, HouseShoes, Rhettmatic from Fat Beats for accomodating people like me who were here to document some of it. Thanks to the cops for not shutting the house down... they waited until Sunday night. It was an insane evening that left us wanting for more.

"The Last Stop for HIP-HOP"

-photo by kasey stokes

Rock the Bells is Saturday.  Due to the premise of this year's festival- classic groups performing classic albums in their entireties- everybody's talking about its "historic" nature.  Seems likely, but we're shooting a little lower. What can we say?  We hate being disappointed!  

Five Things We Hope Happen

1) Snoop rocks our favorite throwback hairstyle of his.

2) Yelawolf turns the stage into his own little skate park.

3) Lauryn Hill actually performs.  Anything. 

4) The Clipse bring along a special guest. STAAAAAAAR TRAK!

5) Wiz Khalifa takes off his shirt. 

Five Things We Know Are Gonna Happen

1) Rakim won't have aged a day, vocally or physically.

2) A small army will accompany the DPG onstage.

3) Every person in the crowd will try to sing along with every song, and will end up mumbling half the lyrics. 

4) We'll catch a contact high backstage. 

5) Wiz Khalifa will take off his shirt. 

(No matter what happens, you know we'll be there, documenting it all. I'll live Tweet all the cool shit that can't wait: @rhaithcoat.  Thanks to Nicole Dawley for her contributions!)

That's right! This Sat in San Bernadino. 

Find out more on the Guerilla Union's website. Also let us know what questions you would like us to ask.

You heard it, go support true L.A talent

Footage of Speak & Pheo at The Spliff in Nov 2007 LOL

Meet Quadron the talented duo from Denmark that has already taken L.A. if not the US by storm, composed of Coco the singer and Robin the producer. Their album is on Plug Research, also home to Bilal, Shafiq Husayn, Flying Lotus, Exile to name just a few.

In this interview with M Boogie at the UCLA Jazz & Reggae Festival, they talk about the warm reception they've received from the US and how the terms "electronic soul" fit with their music. With live excerpts of hit tracks "Pressure" & Slipping".

Shout out to Jonathan Kim for getting us acquainted with the group, you can add us to their already long list of fans.