B. Dolan drops the new single from the upcoming album “Fallen House, Sunken City”.  Earthmovers is the post-racial, pre-apocalypse, dance floor sensation of 2010. This is the first radio single off of B. Dolan’s forthcoming album “Fallen House, Sunken City,” produced entirely by Alias.

Thats right Providence, Strange Famous Records is bringing it to you this month with a great show full of amazing talent!!

Feb 27th at Jerky’s in Providence, RI (71 Richmond St)

B. Dolan
Alias
“What Cheer?” Brigade
special guest performance by: Sage Francis
More acts TBA
$10 at the door, 18+, Doors at 9pm

click more for the flyer info and FB event page!

Facebook event page

B Dolan has beeninvolved in Providence longer then you have thought rap music was a good career choice.  He helped spearhead the consumer awareness website known as Knowmore.org with Sage Francis, and now gets to tell 401hiphop.com all about his upcoming album with Alias, and how the whole thing came to be.

H.W. For the few that might not know you, who are you and when did you get involved with hip hop, how long have you been in the scene.

BD – Who am I?  B. Dolan. The lost fourth Fat Boy.  I was keygrip #4 on Style Wars.  You might remember me from the craft services table.  I’m the one that showed Lil’ Fame where to find the banana cream crumble.  The one that blew up the bathroom before Buckshot went in it.  I ghost wrote KRS’ Gospel of Hip Hop and Nas’ verse on ‘Oochie Wally’.  I am before before.

H.W. -  You are signed to Strange Famous Records, how did that come about?

BD – I met Sage Francis at the Providence Poetry Slam in 2002, after moving back to Providence from New York.  Through slam we ended up being around each other for a few years after that, and eventually a kind of mutual respect  and friendship grew between us.  Sage had always maintained SFR as a kind of personal indie label to release his ‘Sick of…’ series, but in 2006 he decided to turn it into a more formal kind of record label. I was one of the people he talked to at that time about releasing an album, and things sort of followed and grew from there.

H.W. -  You are involved with a consumer resource site known as Knowmore.org, for those that dont know, what is the goal of the site?

BD – Knowmore.org was created with the aim of informing consumers about the people and practices they support when they buy.  Every time you spend your money on a product, you send a message of support to the company you bought it from.  “I approve of what you’re doing.  Whatever you did to make this item, or to get it at this price… keep doin’ it.  You’ve earned my business.”  And the fact is, a lot of us don’t realize the kind of action we’re enabling when we do that blindly.

So with Knowmore.org, you go to the website, enter the name of any brand, product, or company, and get taken to a page that shows you the history and info behind what you buy.  We rate companies from good to bad in the categories of workers’ rights, human rights, environmental concerns, business ethics, and political influence.  So Knowmore.org is just about helping people raise their own awareness about the issues their money connects them to every day.

H.W. -  How has knowmore.org grown since its inception? How are you trying to improve upon the site?

BD – The number of companies we’ve been able to cover has grown massively.  We literally started this database with one company profile, and have grown it to cover hundreds and hundreds of companies and thousands of consumer brands.

We’ve also gained a huge readership, and are read by tens of thousands of people per month.  With articles like our expose on American Apparel, we’ve earned people’s trust and some journalistic credibility, and I think that’s gone a long way too.  The main way we’re trying to improve the site this year is to get it closer to the point of sale by creating a smart phone App before the year’s out.  That way you can stand in the store with your phone and find out in the instant you have a question about a product.

H.W. -  The name of your first record on Strange Famous was “The Failure” what was your approach heading into the creation of that record and why did you name it that?

BD – My approach heading into the creation of that record was seriously this:  “If I die and only get to make one record, this has to contain my raw unfiltered self.”  So that’s what that album is about, and it’s a very unique kind of album that’s probably not for everyone.  A lot of folks have heard it and become rabid fans, and probably an equal number have been like ‘ehhh I don’t get it.’ … which is fine by me.

It’s just an album that was made with no consideration towards audience, or commercial success, or anything.  Like I said it’s just the raw brain-download.  I was and still am really proud of it, and it represents about 8 years of work, all told.   It’s my hope that as my career progresses, more people backtrack and hear that album from different perspectives.  I think some of the best and most important writing I’ve ever done is on that record.  I called it ‘The Failure’ because… it turns out I failed to die after I made it.  And now I’m stuck with this albatross avante-garde shit in my catalogue forever.  Nah.  Life is the trying.  Death is The Failure.  Both are necessary, I think.


H.W. -  Do you have any previous releases before “The Failure”?

BD – Just a whole lot of messy demos that I pray remain buried.


H.W. -  Your upcoming album is called “Fallen House, Sunken CIty” whats the story behind that title?

BD – It’s a long story, actually.  I was thinking about morbidly obese people.  The kind that you have to knock down a wall of their house to get them out.  I was thinking about morbidly obese people and Atlantis.  Lost people and lost civilizations.

H.W. -  Alias (from Anticon fame) handles all of the production on your upcoming project, how did this relationship form? And how has it grown since this project?

BD – I met Alias in 2006 on Sage’s Human the Death Dance Tour, and we immediately hit it off.  I had to drive him somewhere in my car and I was listening to a song called “The Four Horsemen” by the group Aphrodite’s Child.  Alias’ eyes lit up when he heard the song and the rest was history.

I felt significantly intimidated when we started making this album, and like i’d have to grow as an emcee to fill the shoes of Alias’ production.  Which is what attracted me to the project in the first place.  So, there was growth there.  There was friendship growth with one of my favorite people.  There were cancerous growths in my stomach and throat.  There was growth and growth and growth.

H.W. -  This project is more of a rap album then your previous album, is there anything you are trying to accomplish with this album that you didnt with “The Failure”?

BD – I’m trying to get PAID, motherfucker!  No one ever bought a swimming pool off their clown paint protest poems!  I’m getting old.  Too many Evel Knievel jumps off stages.  Now I want a hot tub to soak my bones in.  I heard there was money in rap.  I’m just trying to invent a dance or sumn.

H.W. -  How did the Bombzo character come to exist?

BD – Speak of him and he appears.  I’d been working as an activist, and performing political poems and raps, since 1999.  Writing them since way before that.  I was watching the start of the Iraq war on TV, as the first bombs were falling on Baghdad, and thinking two thoughts to myself simultaneously.

1.) I should never get onstage again unless I’m wearing clown makeup.  The shit I’ve been doing is a joke, and doesn’t effect anything.

2.) “Bombs away”

That’s how ‘Bombzo Way’ was born.

H.W. -  What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment to date?

BD – I dunno man.  I don’t spend much time thinking about accomplishments.  I keep undertaking ambitious things, then feeling a brief sense of accomplishment when they’re finished, then getting antsy and moving on.  I guess I try not to rate them or cherish or celebrate them for too long, because who gives a shit.  I feel like I’m as good as what I’m working on today, generally.

H.W. -  Best show you have ever performed at? Funniest moment at a show?

BD – Well, there’s been a lot of great shows, and a lot of really wild moments…

The most recent was the Strange Famous Showcase at Jerky’s this past November.  That show was really incredible start to finish, and the crowd was wild and unpredictable and weird all night long.  That was the only show I think I’ve ever been to where the crowd did not move from the time the first opener went on until the headliner got off.

We just went straight through our sets with no breaks in between, and nobody moved the whole time.  That was pretty incredible.  In the middle of that show, an old friend of Sage’s showed up for a fairly hilarious incident.  Details are on the youtubes. (ed note: Peep the youtube video right below):

Click here to view the embedded video.

H.W. -  Ok now for something else: if not for music, what would you be doing?

BD – Landscaping.  I liked that job.  I’d be in better physical condition.  Spend time in the sun.  Work with my hands.

H.W. -  Now for something rediculous: Penguins or Pandas?

BD – Penguins depress the shit out of me.  And Pandas are kinda depressing too because they’re almost extinct.  I don’t wanna see either of those animals because they’re a drag.

Jellyfish baby.  All day.

H.W. – Thank you for your time, any closing comments?

BD -  www.FallenHouse.com is the place to get all updates on upcoming shows and the new album, which drops on March 2nd.  I’m currently working out details for a record release party at Jerky’s for Feb. 27th, with some real crazy surprises lined up.  Hopefully the RI hip hop community will be in effect that night, because we plan to make it one for the books.

Shoutout to Mr. Mortal, Chachi, and the whole Elevation massive.  four oh won, fuh eva.

check out the promo video for Fallen House, Sunken City right below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

B. Dolan of the Strange Famous Records crew has dropped this single from his upcoming album “Fallen House, Sunken City” a few days ago.  The song reflects on the way the corporate image has tainted society and how we only strive to kill each other for the sake of our own success.  We also have an interview with B. Dolan coming out real soon, till then peep the audio.

El-P
B. Dolan
Yak Ballz w/ Chauncey CC
Poorly Drawn People

Friday, October 09, 2009
@ Jerkys Music Hall
71 Richmond Street
Providence RI

Doors Open @ 9pm | 18+
Tickets are $18 At The Door
I (Mortal) have advance tickets for sale for $15. Hit me up and save $3. That’s extra beer money.

“Yak Ballz had this to say about the show on his official site (http://www.yakballz.net/):

My brother Chauncey CC will be accompanying me on this mini-adventure. There will be other special guests in attendance. Certainly not to be missed.

PS I will be debuting most of the songs from Gas Galaxy at these shows.

Download The Album here, for liner notes and a tracklisting click the read more link!

1) Strange Fame (2009)
2) S.A.G.E. Bastard (prod. by Buck 65, 2009)
3) I Trusted You (beat by Buck 65, 2009)
4) Needle (beat and scratches by Buddy Peace, 2009)
5) House of Bees (feat. B. Dolan, beat by Buck 65, 2009)
6) Jaw of Steel (beat and scratches by Reanimator, 2009)
7) If I Go To Hell (demo, 1997)
Conspiracy to Riot (beat & scratches by Reanimator, 2008)
9) Be a Star (beat by Buck 65, 2007)
10) Sea Legs (feat. B. Dolan & Sleep. Scratches by Buddy Peace.
Additional vocals by Jared Paul and Curtis Plum. Beat by Aupheus, 2009.)
11) Flashback 96 (home recording, 1996)
12) Masturbate Your Brain (AOI demo, 1997)
13) SFR Pays Dues (feat. B. Dolan & Prolyphic, 2008)
14) Pump (beat and scratches by Buddy Peace & Reanimator, 2009)
15) Revenge of the Ogre (interlude w/ Trinity)
16) Who Farted? part 1 (courtesy of XAUL ZAN)

here is a description from sage himself (via: SFR.com ):

I wasn’t sure if I would ever release another mix of this sort after the last one, but it’s been a couple years since my last official album and I’ve accumulated a large number of “left over” tracks that never found their way onto an official album. I also opened up the 4-track vault this year and was able to unearth some solid material that dates back to 1996.

My music career, as most people know it, essentially began with the “Sick of Waiting” mixtape in 1999. Now that I’ve typed that out I’ve realized that we’re essentially celebrating the “Sick of” mixtape series’ 10th birthday. Hot damn. It seems like just yesterday I was dubbing all the original tapes, cutting and pasting the album covers, writing out the album info on the stickers, and selling them hand-to-hand at shows. Time (f)lies.

The first Sick installment was called “Sick of Waiting.” That title was inspired by my frustration in waiting around for something official to pop off. I felt like the iron was hot and I needed to strike whether the labels were willing to scoop me up or not. So I threw together a batch of recordings/demos/freestyles that I had hanging around and I began selling the mix at shows. This was the beginning of Strange Famous Records.

10 years later the label has grown and expanded in significant ways. It has become the home to many of my favorite hiphop artists in the indie scene as well as a constant reminder of how much work it takes to get underground musicians the exposure they deserve.

Like all of the “Sick of” mixes, “Sick of Wasting” is not just an attempt to showcase my own material. It is also a means to promote all the featured artists involved, most of whom have projects of their own that have been released recently or will be released by the end of the year. Be sure to check for their respective projects.

As this project is a free digital download, we certainly don’t expect this to be a big money maker. However, the sales for the CD at our online store have gone well so I’d like to thank everyone who has shown support. For anyone without money to spend on music, the material is there for you to download anyway. We hope you enjoy it.

4 eva & always,
Sage Francis

Here’s a quick break down and explanation of each track:

1) Strange Fame (2009)

This is probably one of the fastest songs I’ve ever put together. Self-produced, recorded, mixed and mastered in my home studio over the course of 1 day. Due to the obvious sample issue, this is something I could never officially release but I’ve always wanted to jack this David Bowie song for a Strange Famous anthem.

2) S.A.G.E. Bastard (prod. by Buck 65, 2009)

Buck 65 put together this interlude by chopping up an obscure Blowfly recording.

3) I Trusted You (beat by Buck 65, 2009)

Buck 65 put together the beat. The intro and outro samples are from a televised Andy Kaufman performance. Kurtis SP sent me the “Sage” samples. I arranged all the vocal samples which took longer than it probably should have. The sentiment of this song is extended to more than a few people I’ve had the displeasure of sharing portions of my life with. That’s all I will say about that.

4) Needle (beat and scratches by Buddy Peace, 2009)

These lyrics have been around for quite a while. I was waiting for an opportunity to use them on an official album but it just never happened. I eventually recorded this song to another beat but wasn’t too thrilled with the outcome. When I sent it over to Buddy Peace he capped it off with that incredible scratch-sentence outro. And then at some point I sent him the acapella at which point he remixed the whole song and breathed new life into it. The funky sample he uses reminds me a bit of the first KMD record, and the drums definitely kill. I’ve never performed this song live but I look forward to it.

5) House of Bees (feat. B. Dolan, beat by Buck 65, 2009)

Recorded at B. Dolan’s studio dungeon, mixed and masted at my home studio. I don’t want to ruin any magic about this song, so I will keep this explanation short. Buck 65 put together a face smashing, boombap beat and we realized the song had to be about a house of bees. I told B. Dolan the concept of the song and he delivered some shit that made me want to go back and rewrite my verse. I never did end up rewriting my verse, but I think its all for the best. There’s a unique version of this track with Buddy Peace’s scratches at www.myspace.com/bernarddolan

6) Jaw of Steel (beat and scratches by Reanimator, 2009)

I fully intended on this song being on an official album, but the way my new material is shaping up it just wouldn’t fit. This beat was first going to be used on Prolyphic and Reanimator’s “The Ugly Truth” album. When it ended up not being used, I jumped at the opportunity to place some lyrics on it. There were a lot of vinyl snaps in the record that Reanimator sampled and I did my best to eliminate most of them, but in the process I think I may have affected the overall sound quality of the song. Whatever the case, I like the pace and build of this song.

7) If I Go To Hell (demo, 1997)

Originally released as a “Track of the Week” on SFRstore.com, this song was retrieved from the vault of my 4-track tapes. The sound quality is iffy, the music is jacked from DJ Shadow, but I enjoy the lyrics for the most part. I think this was the beginning of anti-religious sentiment in my songs.

Conspiracy to Riot (beat & scratches by Reanimator, 2008)

Reanimator sent me this beat a while back and he labeled it “militant.” I kept it around not totally sure of what I should do with it until all the pieces eventually fell into place. Originally released on www.ConspiracyToRiot.com as a way to raise funds for Jared Paul’s defense lawyers, this song joins the ranks of my other highly political tracks. Performing this song in MN while having thousands of people put their middle finger up for the police in their state was a gas.

9) Be a Star (beat by Buck 65, 2007)

This song was made during the course of making my Human the Death Dance album but it didn’t seem to fit very well. Also, the sample clearance would have been a headache. It’s mainly just an upbeat track that I did for fun. Perfect candidate for a “Sick of” release.

10) Sea Legs (feat. B. Dolan & Sleep. Scratches by Buddy Peace.
Additional vocals by Jared Paul and Curtis Plum. Beat by Aupheus, 2009.)

This monster posse-cut was originally released as a free download during the relaunch www.StrangeFamous.com to celebrate our 2009 roster. Everyone featured on this song recorded their material in their own studio and sent their contributions to me via email. I had to paste it all together and surprisingly it worked. I am a splice master. I’d love to do a full album like this at some point with all the SFR artists. Not only does B. Dolan completely slay this track, but so does Sleep and this is the first song I’ve ever done with him. Check for his new album “Hesitation Wounds” which drops on June 30th, 2009. You can download his single right now at www.StrangeFamous.com

11) Flashback 96 (home recording, 1996)

The lyrics of this song were originally written in 1993. Since then, I have recorded various versions of the song. The version most people would be familiar with is the “I Keep Calling” song, however this stripped down version was retrieved from old 4-track tapes and it’s got a lot of charm. I’m also amused by the idea of having flashbacks during a time where it sounds like I’m still a little kid.

12) Masturbate Your Brain (AOI demo, 1997)

Another “lost tapes” discovery, this is a 4-track recording of me with my first band before we hired a live drummer. The rhymes are tightly packed and the accent is quite thick.

13) SFR Pays Dues (feat. B. Dolan & Prolyphic. Scratches by Reanimator. 2008)

Originally made as a promo track for the Paid Dues Festival, this song was recorded on the spot in the SFR studio. Instrumental for this track was taken from the Beatnuts.

14) Pump (beat and scratches by Buddy Peace & Reanimator, 2009)

Boombastic, Mr. Fantastic. This song went through many incarnations before a remix beat collaboration came together between Buddy Peace and Reanimator. That mix of talent is tough to deny. The beat knocks hard and the scratches are ridiculous. Big up yaselves.

15) Revenge of the Ogre (interlude w/ Trinity)

Radio interview snippet between me and SFR forum’s very own Diane!

16) Who Farted? part 1 (courtesy of XAUL ZAN, 2009)

This is only part 1 because I fully expect more songs to follow up where this one leaves off. While touring with Grand Buffet a few years ago we came up with a rhyme game to figure out who farted. It helped us stay sane during long drives. Xaul Zan decided to take the worst of the worst and make a song about it. He turned a beautiful song by The Knife into something dirty and juvenile. Figures.

Sage has been collecting more material again and has decided to release another “Sick Of” album. This is a free download that will appear on Strangefamousrecords.com on June 16th along with a limited edition CD also from SFR.com. You can preorder your physical copy here. Appearances on the album include: B. Dolan, Prolyphic, Buck65, Buddy Peace, Reanimator, Sleep, Curtis Plum and more. The first track can be heard on the main page of the SRF.com website

“One Breath Left” is an exclusive leak from the ongoing collaboration between the emcee/producer combo of B. Dolan and Alias. For the past year, this duo has been in the lab constructing a boom-bap, neo-horrorcore epic they call “Fallen House, Sunken City.” The full length LP is currently scheduled to be released in Winter 2009. Â In the meantime, we decided to tease the curtain back and give you a taste of what’s to come with this exclusive track and remix contest.

More info and links for the acappella after the jump.

Download the acapella (right click and save) here.

What you need to know:

* The song is 80 bpm.

* Submit your remix as AN MP3 ATTACHMENT to strangefamous@gmail.com

* DEADLINE is May 14th, 2009. Â Winners will be announced at www.StrangeFamous.com on May 15th

* Posting your remix anywhere else online before the contest is over will disqualify you. Â Don’t dew it.

* Select remixes will be discussed at www.strangefamousrecords.com/forum as the submissions come through. Get your friends, fam and supporters to weigh in…it helps!

* The winner of this contest will receive a special SFR sex-packet containing signed copies of B. Dolan’s Live Evel EP, The Failure CD, as well as Prolyphic’s Artist Goes Pop 12″ (featuring Alias, B. Dolan & Sage Francis.) Â Winners will also receive an SFR knit hat and an all-expenses-paid trip to Propsville.

* Winners will be decided by B. Dolan, Alias, and Sage Francis.

* It’s not unusual for beats submitted during these remix contests to get turned into new songs by SFR artists! Â You’ve got our ear, so bring your got-damn A game! And make sure the remix is on beat by referencing the original version of the song which is currently available as a free download on the front page of www.SFRstore.com

The Grant, 250 Main St, Pawtucket, RI 02860

$10 to enter
Free parking garage
All Ages

8pm-12am

Spoken word & musical performances by:
SAGE FRANCIS
B. DOLAN
PROLYPHIC
PRAYERS FOR ATHEISTS (Jared Paul’s band)
SHANE HALL
more tba

This is major news from Rhode Island’s biggest indy hip hop label, He has just released his new roster lineup and man is it pretty sick. these are new(er) artists added to the already great lineup.

SFR’s 2009 Roster…

SLEEP of Oldominion
Upcoming album “Hesitation Wounds”, re-release of “Christopher”

B. DOLAN (feat. Alias)
Upcoming “Fallen House, Sunken City” album produced entirely by Alias.

CECIL OTTER of Doomtree
Upcoming album “Porcelain Revolvler”, re-release of “Rebel Yellow.”

2MEX
Digital release of “The Returners” as we wait for the SFR 2Mex album

BUDDY PEACE
Upcoming album “Late Model Sedan” and a free download of his “Holy Chrome” EP

JARED PAUL
Prayers for Atheists is the name of his band and the name of his upcoming album.

CURTIS PLUM
You need to hear his audio page to understand.

This is a large task for Strange Famous Records and they are kicking off the year with a basement show in pawtucket, RI (The Grant, 250 Main St, Pawtucket, RI 02860)

$10 to enter
Free parking garage
All Ages

8pm-12am

Spoken word & musical performances by:
SAGE FRANCIS
B. DOLAN
PROLYPHIC
PRAYERS FOR ATHEISTS (Jared Paul’s band)
SHANE HALL
more tba

Any and all information you would like to find out about these artists can be obtained through the StrangeFamousRecords.com website.