Grip Grand — “TR-808″

Produced by Grip Grand

Rapper/producer/bloggerator Grip Grand (URB’s Next 100, XXL Chairman’s Choice, East Bay Express Best Rapper, etc.) presents “TR-808,” an ode to California from the upcoming FREE mixtape, Cassette Trippin’. If you like classic West Coastin’, this one is for you…but don’t take my word for it. Listen to “TR-808″ above, then download it below:

This is where you click to download it FREE
Or
Click here to purchase the song on Bandcamp

The full Cassette Trippin’ mixtape will soon be available for free download from GripGrand.com, RoutineFly.com Bandcamp, and better blogs everywhere. Until then, enjoy this sneak preview, and stay tuned!

Stay up,

Grip Grand

Grip Grand — “Definition”

Rapper/producer/person-writing-this-post Grip Grand (URB’s Next 100, XXL Chairman’s Choice, East Bay Express Best Rapper, etc.) presents “Definition,” from the upcoming FREE mixtape, Cassette Trippin’. If you like rapping and beats, I really think you’ll appreciate the finer points of this project…but you don’t have to take my word for it. Listen to “Definition” above, then download it below:

This is where you click to download it.

The full Cassette Trippin’ mixtape will soon be available for free download from GripGrand.com, Bandcamp, and maybe a third place (if some organization decides to sponsor it…I’m looking at you, Harpo Productions). Until then, enjoy this sneak preview, and stay tuned for more leakery next weekery.

Be up,

Grip Grand

Related: Grip Grand — “Popular Demand” video (studio version appears on Cassette Trippin’)

Download “Anger Management” for free (or donation) HERE.

Who loves you, baby? New free music for fans of Grip Grand, Swedish psych-rock, and/or both mixed together.

 

Grip Grand—Conservation of Matter (Right-click link and Save As…)

Written and Produced by Grip Grand

(Image: “Untitled,” 2009, pencil on paper, by Cheryl Cotman, http://www.cherylcotman.com/)

I’ve been promising new, free music for a while now in the form of my upcoming mixtape, Cassette Trippin’…but this isn’t that. Unforeseen obstacles have come between me and the mixtape’s eventual release date, but rest assured that you’ll get it in your hands as soon as possible.

Until then, here’s a song that sounds nothing like Cassette Trippin’ at all: “Conservation of Matter,” written, produced, and performed by De La Soul’s least favorite De La Soul song—which is to say, by Me, Myself, and I. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go see Plugs One through Three in concert sometime. They’ll probably clear it up for you.

Astute listeners may recognize this beat from my recent instrumental album…but probably not. If they do, though, gold star for them. For the rest of you, here’s some new Grip music, with my complaints…er, I mean compliments. Enjoy!

Transmitting live from tomorrow’s yesterday,

Grip Grand

HOTHEAD, 2002, Watercolor & Ink on Cardboard

GripGrand.com! GripGrand.com!! GripGrand.com!!!

Hey, friends. In a further effort to mimic well-known rapper/youth spokesman Haji P’s every maneuver, I’ve managed to wrangle my own website into my existence. Well, to be honest, Rob Rush the Rec-Technician did most of the dirty work. I just poured some Grip on it.

Be that as it may, GripGrand.com is here (and has been for a while). Hoof on over to my new headquarters and check it out, if you haven’t already. Which, admit it, you haven’t. You’ll find plenty to peruse: Grip Grand T-shirts, vinyl, CDs, downloads, free music, y mas.

GripGrand.com is also the home of my various blog-based word rambles, including the newly relaunched Grip’s Pull List (for you comic book fans); Creative Non-Fiction and Non-Creative Fiction (a column devoted to my non-rap writings); and many more of your future favorites. So roll on through and say “Hey” to your boy. I’ll be the guy in the glasses, the one posting stuff. You can’t miss me.

OK, people. The Grip Grand Army is recruiting. All you gotta do is show up. See you at GripGrand.com!

Stop, drop, shut ‘em down, open up shop,

Grip Grand

Grip Grand — Brokebeat, Vol. 1: Mr. Prettybeat

Do you like offbeat instrumental hip-hop and sample-based sound collages? Are you tired of waiting for the next volume of MF Doom’s Special Herbs to come out? Do you need a symphony for your subway ride or that long walk home from work? Want to know what happens when you put 808’s under a Tony Bennett song? If you answered “Yes” to any of the above, then this is your lucky day!

Grip Grand presents Brokebeat, Vol. 1: Mr. Prettybeat, featuring 93 (!!) previously unreleased slaps, snippets, and skiterludes from my instrumental vaults. This so-called instrumental album contains literally hundreds of samples, including both sung and spoken vocals. It is, however, 100 percent free of live human rapping. Many of these beats will be songs someday, by myself and others…but, until then, let them be the soundtrack to your life.

(How to get it? Read on, genius.)

Brokebeat, Vol. 1: Mr. Prettybeat is available for download from gripgrand.bandcamp.com, and all proceeds go directly to the artist as part of the, um, “Feed Grip Grand’s Baby” fund. The government doesn’t consider it a charitable donation, but I sure do. So thanks in advance.

If Brokebeat, Vol. 1 isn’t enough Grip Grand for you, stay tuned for the upcoming mixtape, Cassette Trippin’, as well the new collab album from Grip Grand and producer MF Shalem (title TBD), both out this year!

Please Note: This album has 93 tracks, but some of them are only seconds long. It was designed to be played all the way through, start to finish, with no gaps. Well, the first time, anyway. After that, you can skip to your favorite song (“Um…I think it was track eighty-something…damn!”). At any rate, most of these cuts won’t make sense out of order, so do us both a favor and don’t jump around too much. I know it’s making your fingers itch just thinking about it, but try to show some restraint. Music is for listening…shuffle-me-not.

Enjoy,

Grip Grand

PS–Come visit me at my new website, www.gripgrand.com!!!

Rare picture of Grip Grand, Outkast, and assorted naked ladies (Source: New Orleans Daily Picayune)

Grip Grand “A New Drug”/Outkast “13th Floor/Growing Old”

So, I was cleaning out my closet (if anyone knows a good skeleton-disposal service, hollerate me) and I found this demo. Before I made the “beat” for A New Drug (a song that can be heard on my Facebook page, among other places), I recorded the lyrics over one of my favorite beats of all time, Outkast’s “13th Floor/Growing Old” (ATLiens is the best). I did this so that I would have something to work with when making new music for my song. But now you can listen to the verse in its most unadorned form, complete with ad-libs that the audience was never meant to hear, and laid on top of a super-hot beat by an amazing production team who isn’t me (Organized Noize, also the best). Finally, it’s worth noting that this version (unlike my final song) has drums, which I know that some of you prefer. Whatever.

Anyway, give it a spin (as always, at you own risk). If you do, hey, you are a terrific human being, so pat yourself on the back, pal. But if you don’t (and in that case, you haven’t read this far, have you?), I really don’t care. No, I do, I do, I’m totally holding back the tears, but I’m so mannish you’d never know it. So very, very mannish. And, with that, I’ll take my leave. Until the next…

Yawa,

Grip Grand

Grip Grand — Above the Clouds (Right-click to download)

*Please note: This article was originally posted on March 4th, 2010, before we received news of Guru’s passing. Routine Fly would like to thank Kieth Elam for his lasting contribution to hip-hop culture. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the hip-hop fans around the world who have lost one of their founding fathers. R.I.P., Guru.

While the legendary Guru makes what is hopefully a swift recovery following his recent heart attack, I wanted to show my support for one of my favorite artists during this difficult time. Hence, the song above. Very few groups have been as influential to hip-hop, and to myself personally, as Guru, DJ Premier, and the monumental Gang Starr foundation. Peace and prayers to Guru, Primo, and their family and friends. Stay up and hold your head, y’all.

Much love and respect,

Grip Grand

PS–This song is from my upcoming mixtape, which will be out soon in advance of the new Grip Grand & MF Shalem album. Stay tuned…

www.facebook.com/gripgrand

gripgrand.bandcamp.com

Grip Grand — D.O.A.

Now in digi-stores near you!!

New 5-song digital single includes:

1. Grip Grand — D.O.A. (Dirty)

2. Grip Grand — D.O.A. (Clean)

3. Grip Grand — D.O.A. Instrumental

4. Grip Grand — D.O.A. Acappella (Clean)

5. Grip Grand — D.O.A. Acappella (Dirty)

Now available from better imaginary stores everywhere (mostly Bandcamp and iTunes), may I officially present the Grip Grand “D.O.A.” Maxisingle! Totally unrelated to the Jay-Z song of the same name, D.O.A. (recently featured on the Rec-League “Season 2″ compilation) is a classic winter-thru-summer jam combining pointed punchlines and sly social commentary with a catchy little-kid chorus. It also happens to be one of the most poorly timed releases ever. But that’s how it goes…great minds think alike. I recorded this shit before Jay’s was released (you’ll just have to trust me), but since his version came out first, I lose…or maybe I would lose either way. Typical. Try to forget all that while you enjoy a tall glass of lemonade alongside the equally refreshing sounds of Grip Grand, aka myself. If you decide to try your hand at a remix, give me a shout (facebook.com/gripgrand or myspace.com/gripgrand or gripgrand.com…you get the picture). If you decide to just bump the instrumental, I won’t be mad at you. If you decide you want nothing to do with me, why don’t you just keep it to yourself, pal? Thanks a million. Whatever you do, I hope you’ll give this track a try. It could be your new favorite song! How do you know it’s not? What are you, psychic?

Best wishes from sunny California,

Grip Grand

GRIP GRAND EPIC T-SHIRT FAIL!

So, you know how some things look better on paper? Well, the new Grip Grand shirts are back from the printers. The good news is, these shirts are guaranteed to make people stop and stare in the street! The bad news is, they’ll be staring at your crotch.

See, there’ve been some alterations to the design. As it turns out, the printer I hired couldn’t silkscreen the design at its original width, so he had to move the hands a few inches closer together. And what do you get when you move the hands a few inches closer together? You get the outline of a not-insubstantial phallus, one which is clearly about to be punched. Hard. By a big red monster. Hmmmm…maybe I should have thought this whole thing through a little better (see illustration below).

Seriously?

Anyway, I’m not blaming the eminent unwearability of these shirts on the printer–the hands would’ve looked weird creeping out of your waistband, even if they were a few inches farther apart. And I’m not blaming the designer, because the shirts looked great on paper. I blame only myself. Next time I’ll prototype my products before I get ‘em manufactured.

So what does all this mean for you? If you were one of the kind souls hoping to have your hands on a Grip Grand shirt in the near future, you may be changing your mind right about now. I couldn’t even get a real person to put one on, hence the mock-up you see above. Sure, these shirts are perfect for people who like to be asked “Is there a monster in your pants?” ten times a day, as well as for fans of collectible errors/misprints, Marvel Comic’s Red Hulk, and/or aggressive ball-punchery. But I’m not certain I want my name to be associated with any of these things (the Grip Grand logo is on the back, small and tidy just below the collar), so I’m still on the fence about selling them. Hell, I’m on the fence about giving them away. The best suggestion I’ve had so far is that I should donate them to the homeless, thereby creating the ultimate Brokeland street team. The ethical implications of this option are still being weighed.

OK, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Let me know your thoughts on how I should go about getting an ass-load of failed t-shirts off my hands. Ideally I’d make back what I spent on ‘em, but you’d have to be a pretty avid Grip supporter to sink your hard-earned funds into these (admittedly rare and hard-to-find) groin-grapplers. On the other hand, maybe you want to look like a walking psych-evaluation. In which case, have I got the shirt for you!

Until next time, I’ll be awaiting your advice.

Happy New Year,

Grip Grand

PS–If you really wanna buy one of these things, let your voice be heard…I’ll find a way to make it happen. But consider yourself warned.