Mick Boogie + nVMe + Duck Down Records Presents: Survival Kit

Some of hip-hop's youngest and brightest teamed up with producer nVMe, prolific mixtape guru Mick Boogie, and Duck Down to craft this dedication to legends KRS-One and Buckshot. The 11-track Survival Kit, which is an ode to the duo's 2009 album Survival Skills, features revamped takes on classic cuts like "Sound of Da Police," "South Bronx," and "I Got Cha Opin." The MC's lending their microphone skills for the project include Tanya Morgan, Chaundon, The Kid Daytona, Diz Gibran, Sha Stimuli, J.A.M.E.S. Watts, Fashawn, Torae, Skyzoo and more. [via PrefixMag]

01. Survival Kit Intro by DJ Sherazta
02. Gotcha Opin Original (Re-Mix) – Tanya Morgan (Prod. by nVMe)
03. South Bronx (Re-Mix) – Cause, The Kid Daytona & Chaundon (Prod. by nVMe)
04. Buck Em Down (Re-Mix) – Christian Rich (Prod. by nVMe)
05. Sound Of Da Police (Re-Mix) – Diz Gibran & Shawn Chrystopher (Prod. by Ill Tal)
06. Shit Iz Real (Re-Mix) – Ruste Juxx (Prod. by nVMe)
07. Step Into Our World (Re-Mix) – Team Facelift & Jade (Prod. by Abaddon)
08. Talk Shit (Re-Mix) – Torae & Skyzoo (Prod. by nVMe)
09. MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know – Sha Stimuli, Promise, J.A.M.E.S. Watts, Fashawn (Prod. by nVMe)
10. I Got Cha Opin '09 – Kardinal Offishall & Buckshot (Prod. by Havoc)
11. Past Present Future – KRS-One, Buckshot, Melanie Fiona & Naledge (Prod. by 9th Wonder)

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Duck Down Records Signs With Blue Scholars

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Walking away from numerous record label offers, Blue Scholars will release several upcoming projects through a unique partnership formed with Duck Down Records, and Seattle’s Caffe Vita Coffee Co.

On August 25, 2009 Blue Scholars will release “OOF!” their newest collaborative multi-media project and the first release to be distributed through their new venture. On September 1st, they will re-issue their 2007 album “Bayani”, which has already sold over 20,000 units. “Bayani Redux” will include one brand new track and two songs that were previously available only via digital retail outlets. There will also be a brand new full-length Blue Scholars album and other projects coming soon.

The sales and distribution model developed by the group for their upcoming releases will allow them to maintain complete ownership of their music and total control over how it is marketed, sold, and even given away.

Instead of signing a standard artist/record label deal, Blue Scholars hired the label Duck Down to run point on marketing for all of their upcoming releases. As a major player in the current and ever-changing record label industry, Duck Down Records saw this deal as an opportunity to get creative and experiment with strategies for record labels to continue evolving as viable businesses.

Dru Ha, CEO of Duck Down Records states, “I believe Blue Scholars is positioned to be one of the next important groups, not just in hip hop, but in music worldwide, and I want Duck Down to be a part of that. They bring their progressive ideas not just to their music and lyrics, but also in the way they think about and do their business.”

Duck Down’s current distribution partner, E1 Entertainment, the largest independent distributor in the United States, will handle distribution of Blue Scholars’ physical product. Digital sales and distribution will go through Tunecore. Direct-to-fan marketing and sales will be developed by the members of Blue Scholars themselves, using Topspin web marketing tools.

Says Geo, of Blue Scholars, “After weighing all the options, remaining independent is without question, the best look. Duck Down shares that vision and their track record speaks for itself. With them, we get that national and international push while still owning and controlling our music. "

To finance all the upcoming projects, Blue Scholars have formed a strategic brand relationship with Seattle independent coffee company, Caffe Vita. The coffee company will also play a role in the sales and distribution plan by selling upcoming albums in all of their retail outlets and marketing the releases via their online presence.

Blue Scholars DJ/ Producer Sabzi says in regard to their partnership with Caffe Vita - “their innovative marketing, their justice and equity in business practices, and their premiere quality of product and presentation, make Caffe Vita an ideal brand to partner with. I intend to do with our music what Vita does with their coffee.”

"Coffee is both International and local, it effects the lives of millions, and it has tremendous ability to generate culture. We believe strongly in the work of the Blue Scholars and their power to look beyond the basic commodity that music has become. We are honored that Sabzi and Geo see that Vita is striving for the same goals." Mike McConnell, founder Caffe Vita

Blue Scholars have sold over 60,000 albums and played over 400 live shows. They have developed a dedicated following in the Northwest (selling over 4,000 tickets for each of their last few Seattle performances) and have shared the stage with an impressive list of nationally acclaimed artists such as Kanye West, Q-Tip, De La Soul, Immortal Technique, Hieroglyphics, GZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Matisyahu, Zion-I, Flobots and the Coup.

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Duck Down Records: Tribute To The Classics

The whole Duck Down family was in the building for the "Tribute To The Classics" show @ South Paw. Marco Polo & Torae performed cuts off "Double Barrel," Black Moon performed "Enta Da Stage" & Smif-N-Wessun performed "Da Shinin." It was an amazing event, which also saw features from Sean Price, Craig G, Sadat X, Dru-Ha, O.G.C. & more! J-Hatch of www.istandardproducers.com hosted the event & Da Beatminerz/Bazarro held it down on the 1s and 2s all night! This video is a summary of the night's activities.


More footage of the dope "Tribute To The Classics" event at South Paw, Brooklyn. In this video, Smif-N-Wessun performs Sound Bwoy Buriel, with Tek & Steele dancing on the bar! Black Moon performs "Who Got Da Props?" and bonus freestyles from Sean Price & Sadat X!!! Peep history in Brooklyn. Shouts to Duck Down Records for putting the event together, J-Hatch for hosting the event & Da Beatminerz for holding it down on the turntables! hit up www.theundergroundcomeup.com for more videos, interviews, music and more.

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