Aes and Cage’s new sideproject

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via 2dopeboyz

Aesop Rock urges mainstream artists to make different kinds of music and for all MCs to do their own thing. Taken from the interviews for the book How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC.

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“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW BOUT F SEAN MARTIN?” The Mixtape by ChaunceyCC

tracklist:
1. Intro
2. House of Blow: “Champion Hour”
3. XO Skeletons: “Lascivious Facts” Ft. Cage
4. The Profiler: “Dance Tonight”
5. Cage: “Captain Bumout” [FSTLANE Remix]
6. Aesop Rock: “Mars Attacks” [F. Sean Martin Crunk Set Remix]
7. LKRZ: “Raw Facts” (We Got That Crack)
8. Gucci Man Vs. F Sean Martin: “I’m the Shit” [Chauncey Remix]
9. Yak Ballz: “Halogen Glow”
10. M.O.P. Vs. House of Blow: “Ante Up” [Chauncey Remix]
11. F Sean Martin: “Funeral for a Cowboy”

what else is there to say? pump this shit

Last week I went to the west coast (SF & LA) with a very special someone for what we would essentially call a LIFETOUR. It was my first time in years without being on tour playing shows, or recording while out west. We ate good food, visited friends, saw some cool shit, and did a lot of shopping. All of which facilitates the ideal headspace to be in as an artist. Went out there with some great reccomendations from Chris Palko, who I owe a thank you to, for some fine dining in Napa Valley and got to have a dope mexican dinner with my WM brother Aesop Rock and his wife Allyson in San Francisco. Aes hooked it up with a piece of hardware with pads that I will be getting busy on very soon. After a short but active stint in SF, we took it to LA where we visited my extended family out west: Barmak Badei , his wife Sukari, and their baby girl, Shahla; who I am crazy about. Barmak is the founder of SCIFEN, the clothing company I was sponsored by and worked extremely closely with during the Scifentology I & II releases. As much as this was a time to enjoy life, it was also a time for creative inspiration and some further meetings/discussions of some very exciting things that will be taking place this year. Stay tuned.

Check out some of the pictures of the trip in the Flickr set HERE

PRETTY FUNNY FUCKERS!

AVAILABLE NOW AT http://www.weathermen.shopshogun.com

The Weathermen are Yak Ballz, Camu Tao (R.I.P), EL-P, Cage, Aesop Rock, Tame One, and Breezely Brewin

photo by Todd Westphal

The drive from Phoenix to Albuquerque is a long one and we have an instore to make it to. This part of the country is dry and dusty and it’s hard to believe people spend a lifetime here without ever leaving. They could probably never imagine living where things move faster than a speeding bullet. We’re out of the hotel a little later than we should have. Todd is rushing us. We get in the van and I put on my headphones and try to zone out. It is a pretty boring and uneventful ride. We start getting hungry. When driving on highways and hunger strikes, options are limited. All of a sudden there is a sign for Del Taco. It’s amazing how I can go from amped about Del Taco one day to feeling like if I never had it again, I wouldn’t care. But here we go again and we all bite the bullet. It’s either that or some other shit like Carls Junior. While we are on line Sean got spotted by some die-hard Hatebreed fans who he took pictures with right then and there. As we were leaving another dude pulls up in the parking lot, parks in the middle of the lot, jumps out of his car, runs up to the window and says “is Sean Martin in there?” He was the brother of the dude in Del Taco who must have gotten word that Sean Michael Martin was in Del Taco. Sean being the gentleman that he is got out in the middle of his meal and took a picture with the kid. Back on the road. Long and boring drive down a stretch of road that seems like it’s taking us straight to hell. Instead we end up in Albuquerque, NM, a city in the dessert where we are parked in the back alley of the Launchpad venue, which I’ve never played before. We never made it to the instore on time and had to cancel due to some difficulties we had along the way. One thing I can say about this place is that it seems to be developing since I first came here about 5 years ago. This show is all ages and there are plenty teens and pre-teens on line so we sign and take pictures with them. Before showtime Chauncey, Todd, and I hit this diner called Lindy’s which is a small diner on the corner that I’ve eaten at before. Head back to the venue and play my set to a small but loud crowd. It was cool. I never went backstage, but just hung out at the merch table for the rest of the show. The people here are very down to earth and I even spotted a kid with an original Yak Ballz T-Shirt, the first series I ever made, and brought on my first tour with Aesop and Cage about 5 years ago. Crazy. There is a scene here and I hope to be back sooner than later. Thanks Albuquerque.

I’m ready to get out of this hotel. Sometimes we just wear these places out and start feeling like it’s some sort of dirty time warp sucking you in deeper, the longer you stay. It’s a cool hotel, Holiday Inn, and a decent location downtown LA, and clean, but after a while any hotel starts to feel like the walls are closing in. Somehow the climate in hotel rooms never reaches a comfortable temperature for me. It’s always too hot or too cold and this room is no exception. Our van call is is 2pm and we all meet downstairs. We take off on the highway towards San Diego or more specifically, Solana Beach, where the venue is located close by. As we are on our way, all of a sudden we hear a huge pop, thump, and a rumble in the back of our van. Timmy swings across two lanes over to the right onto the shoulder of the highway. Our tire popped and shredded so we are stuck.

Timmy gets underneath the van and unlatches the spare to find out that the spare has a hole in it as well and is also flat! What-the-fuck?! So basically we were riding on the spare the whole time and it was never replaced by whoever used this van last. Very considerate. We call AAA and wait for them to come. During this time we are twittering what is happening and where we are. After a little while a car pulls up in front of us. One person gets out and walks up to the window and asks if we need any help. It is a fan who caught our tweets. By that time Todd left with the AAA dude to get the new tire so we didn’t need a ride anywhere or anything like that so we said no and thanked him for stopping. It was really good to know that our fans are good people who are willing to bail us out of a jam. About 15 minutes later a black beemer pulls up in front of us and a girl comes walking up. She is another fan checking up on us. At this point we have realized how powerful twitter really is. Todd gets back with the tire within 5 minutes of this happening and we thank her as well and send her on her way and she says she’ll be at the show. The AAA guy fixes it and we’re off. We pull up to the Belly Up and I remember playing here with Aesop a little less than a year ago. Something about San Diego makes me feel good. It’s beautiful here and maybe the most beautiful place in the United States that I have ever been to. The beach is right down the block from the venue and I headed there on foot with the camera in hand. It’s a perfect evening at the beach and there are still people in the water. I chill for a second, take it in and return to the venue. It’s approaching showtime and for some reason I don’t feel well. I have a lingering cough from when I was sick and it’s annoying. I pushed through the set and the thin crowd was appreciative, nonetheless. Some days on tour are more rough than others and some shows are better than others. It’s the nature of the beast. Somehow we always bounce back. I love San Diego. It’s a special place. After the show we hit the hotel. There is a Denny‘s right next to it so Todd, Cage, and I decide to eat some unhealthy food before bed.

photo by Todd Westphal

Me, Sean, and Cage wake up at Aes‘s and meet Timmy and Chauncey outside. We still have to pick up Todd at his uncles in Oakland. SF was good to us. We drive a few hours and we’re starving our asses off. We opt for Del-Taco instead of Subway. I like some Del Taco every once in a while so I’m into it. There is a stretch of road when you are driving from SF to LA on I-5 where it gets super hot, like desert hot, and there are signs for you to shut your air conditioner off because chances are you will overheat somewhere along the way. And without fail there are always cars on the side of the road steaming with their hoods open. This time there was a cab of a truck smoking and it was obvious by what was left of the skeleton that it went up in flames and burnt to a crisp not too long before we got there. We finally pull up to the El Rey theater after sitting in LA traffic. Tonight seems like it will be the biggest show of the tour. The El Rey is an awesome venue; really sick sound, floor, staff, backstage. It’s just top notch and a prestigious place to play. I’ve played here once before with EL-P also. This time I think I’m more prepared but a little more anxious about everything, especially since still I’m trying to bounce back from feeling like shit from days before. There are already some fans outside. The night is underway and my good friend, and founder of SCIFEN, Barmak Badaei, came through and we kicked it. Also surprise cameo’s from our Cardboard City brother Shia “Beouf” LaBeouf as well as EL-P. LA Weekly was also there covering the show and took some awesome pictures which you can check out HERE. Showtime and I walked out to a screaming mob. Adrenaline took over and by the time I got off I was soaking wet to the point where I had to towel off and change clothes. Cage went up and lit the place up, literally, as the strobe light flashed through his set. It was a great performance solidifying LA as one of the best cities of the tour, if not the best, yet. We take it to the afterparty at an undisclosed location and cap off the night. WE WIN.

Woke up in Weed and walked outside to Mount Shasta towering over my head. It’s a gorgeous day and we will finish out our drive into San Francisco where we will ultimately play our first show in California tonight. After we pack the van, we stop at a gas station for what seems like an eternity. I’m just sitting in the van waiting for the rendezvous of scattered brains so we can get out of here with time to spare. Sean walks out with a T-Shirt in his hand and approaches the van with a smile. He steps to the open doors, whhhips off the shirt he’s wearing and opens up the NEW shirt he’s just bought. It says “I LOVE WEED CALIFORNIA” inside of a heart.

I’m feeling a little better today and trying to mentally prepare to play a show tonight after the rough couple of days I’ve just had. We are in a rush and I get the feeling the next food stop isn’t going to be much of a stop at all, but more like a grab and go and it is just as I predicted. Next stop….Subway. Great. Ever since I twittered about liking Subway better than Quiznos, Chauncey will not let me live it down. I’m actually disgusted with Subway at this point. I’ve reached my breaking point. I can’t have another Subway sandwhich on this tour after this time, and I won’t. Off to SF. I always get a little anxiety when entering a major metropolis on tour. Something about a big city other than my own that gives makes it interesting. As we go over the Bay bridge, the clouds are thick over Alcatraz which normally can be seen in the distance. Chauncey, who lives in SF, explains that the clouds over the water indicate it’s going to be a cool night. It’s always a cool night in SF in my experience. Don’t get caught sleeping if you’ve never been. That shit gets brick. As we pull up to the Great American Music Hall, it brings back some memories. I played here a few years ago when I was on tour with my friend EL-P. A lot of crackheads roaming the area but nothing out of the ordinary for San Fran. Cage points out the marquis and we take a picture. We are early but still proceed to load in. I actually took some swigs of cough medicine in the car and I feel it putting me on my ass. So I go downstairs to the dressing rooms, find a couch and pass out. Sean wakes me up raving about the Hummus they put out, which he feels the need get me up and try as he is explaining that it is the best Hummus he’s ever had in his life and I need to try it before the bread gets cold because it is hot right now and it cannot wait. If there is one thing to know about Sean Michael Martin is that he is a man of his word and with that said, I get my ass right the fuck up, walk to the next room without hesitation, take a big piece of pita, and dip. The pita is still warm and it is damn good. I take a couple of these and Sean and I bullshit for a while until it is time to soundcheck. In comes the crew accompanied Aesop Rock, who lives in SF and Benn Grim who flew out for the show. Mizery Crew from CT is opening tonight. Cage checks and then I check fairly quickly. Not much to be done because it sounded great. One thing I remember about this place is they have a kitchen in the back and they serve a meal for everyone from artists to staff one hour before doors open. Tonight the had some kind of chicken with potatoes, corn on the cob, veggies, and for dessert they had home baked cookies and rice krispie treats. YUM. They definitely did it up proper. Other honorable mentions include CC brothers Alex Pardee, who did the art for Cage’s record and several other CCWM merchandise, Deefy, and Metal Heart. My good friend Sean also stopped by, so tonight was full of friends and support. Showtime. Good set. Good crowd. Back down and hang out. After the show, we take it to Aesop’s place. Cage, Sean, and Aes go get Bob’s Donuts and bring back an apple fritter hot out of the oven which was to die for. I watched Bruno‘s guest appearance on the Howard Stern show on Howard TV and passed out on the couch.