Work gettin' done...

Man, I just looked up and realized March was almost over, and I have not really been posting any updates. Rest assured I am not hibernating, your boy's been busy this month:

- Diamond D EP almost done (photos, artwork, design...BOOM!)

- shooting a video for a song I did with W.I.C. (which is turning out very cool, more to come on that soon)

- working on an acoustic guitar score to a dope short film my homie Sam Dyches wrote and directed

- mixing some tracks up for young Eli Sweet from his last visit from China

- just dropped a hook and verse idea for another Goon Trax release over a beat by Japanese producer Re:Plus.

- speaking of Japan, filling out my application for Red Bull Music Academy

I wonder if they still will be holding it in Japan this year...

UPDATE 3/31/11: Just found out that it will not be in Japan this year. Damn. The new location will be announced April 11th, they apparently extended the deadline to April 26th, which is great for the slack-ass procrastinators like myself.

Not that I think I could necessarily get in, but I really want to go through the process as sort of a self-evaluation, as it requires you to make a thirty minute compilation of the best of what you have to offer, and answer a shitload of introspective questions about who you are and where you see yourself in the musical universe. So, coming soon, thirty minute Best of Ben Hameen compilation (as I will definitely be throwing a version up for download, considering it has been taking up so much of my time).

Anyway, if you are having Hameen withdrawal and need more immediate contact, you can find me on Twitter @hameen for an occasional quote, pic, comment or response.

Or actually, you can just follow me in Google World, go to my Buzz. I always share anything interesting I find while perusing the infinite blogosphere, and it automatically lists any posts I do here, and any of my amazing tweets. So it's a win/win.

CE in Japan...

Collective Efforts was featured on the debut album of Robert de Boron, not the 12th century French poet, but the producer...out of Japan. We did a track called "Take Your Turn" and today I stumbled across the most bizarre video, which is apparently the official video from GoonTrax! Pretty hilarious, check it out. CE represent in Japan! Peace to Robert de Boron and crew.

Fresh for 2010...

Happy New Year, fam! We've been really busy getting this CE business in order, and I'm excited about the prospects for this new year. The next couple months are major for us as we prepare to shoot another video in anticipation for the release of Freezing World, which is Feb 16th.

Speaking of videos, much love to Justin at KevinNottingham.com for selecting "Crazy Things" as the #6 video of 2009! Definitely stay posted to their blog for dope independent hip-hop reviews, videos and news.

Anyway, the Freezing World Release Party is scheduled for Feb 26th at Smith's, and it is going to be off the chain. Beginning in March we are planning to hit the Southeast every weekend with the new line-up to create some buzz for the new record. We also plan to host some more in-town shows with a scaled-down line-up, bring out the MCs, MPCs and a DJ for a more intimate event...you'll get more info on that as it develops.



Found a cool blog for discovering hip-hop that is off-the-radar, musicalschizophrenia.blogspot.com. They showcase a ton of independent hip-hop, jazz, soul, etc. Even ran across one of our own albums, and I've been looking for this one, too. (I think they have Medicine, too, but you didn't hear it from me.) Enjoy while it's there, but make sure to support the artists, and remember to be careful of viruses when downloading free music on the sites that pop up. Never click on any banners, and surf at your own risk.

Click the picture below for a gift...