Well, this is just hilarious. Comedian Aziz Ansari (in the guise of his alter ego Raaaaaaaandy, from Funny People and his stand-up routine) is apparently teaming up on a mixtape with the help of TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek.

In this track, “Aaaaaaaaangry,” Raaaaaaaandy does his best to straight dis every major rapper in the game for not sending him verses that he allegedly requested. The results are frickin’ aaaaaaaawesome (with eight as):

Click past the jump for our favorite moments…

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If you’ve been anywhere near a window today, or have been fool enough to venture out in the billowing drifts, you know that NYC’s a snow globe right now. And if you haven’t had the foresight to visit the grocery store, fortify your apartment with blankets or rent/borrow DVDs, so you’re going to need something to do, right? Allow us to step in…

“Snow Days” by Real Estate Let’s just start of with literal. Literal is safe. But the closing track of Real Estate’s excellent debut LP conjures up imagery of walking around “February down by the shore/Where the waters never freeze.” Who knew Jersey could be this pretty?

“Daily Routine” by Animal Collective Animal Collective seems to always write about childhood feeling and emotions, and this track is no exception—it’s about Panda Bear stuffing his kids into their winter coats and boots.

Clipse “Virginia” When Clipse talks about snow, they’re not talking about snow. But they kind of are. “Virginia” just fits anywhere, especially since that’s the part of the country that getting hammered the hardest by winter weather. Clipse’s thick wordplay could certainly be labeled as a “lyrical blizzard.” Ahem!

Cold Cave “Life Magazine” A cold cave is probably the last place you’d want to be right now, but still, you gotta have the obligatory icy synth-pop track.

The Drums “Let’s Go Surfing” Ah, to live in a place where this song’s behest was an actual option. Guess we’ll be surfing Hulu or Instant Netflix…

Galaxie 500 “Snowstorm” A Titus Andronicus recommendation for today’s snowiness. “Well, you know there’s a snowstorm/When the TV has gone out/And they got nothin’ else to think of/And they’re letting me go home.” Totally. Let’s just hope that the TV thing doesn’t happen.

Best Coast “Sun Was High (So Was I)” Because on days like these, the sunny climes of Texas and SXSW can’t be close enough.

Welcome to Play Count, the Volume’s weekly mix of the best in recent hip-hop. In this edition, new music from Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco, Snoop Dogg, Freeway and more.

Click past the jump for commentary.

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Welcome to Play Count, the Volume’s weekly mix of the best in recent hip-hop. In this edition, new music from Pill, Clipse, Wale and more.

Click past the jump for commentary.

Read more »

Photos by Dan Dealy

Last night kicked off the whirlwind action of the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon. This year boasts a strong hip-hop lineup, and things started right with performances from The Clipse, Donnis, Wiz Khalifa, Grand Puba and U-God. Hit the jump for a full recap of the night’s showcases, including a video from Wiz Khalifa and a very special guest at Southpaw.
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Clipse

Still one weekend remains until the dreaded Labor Day concert buzzkill. Get out there and see some music, people.

Friday
Sarah Lipstate’s instrumental music project, Noveller, does a set at Bruar Falls. Read our show preview here.

The After the Jump Fest—which aims to expose new bands and raise money for inner-city music programs—begins tonight at Littlefield and continues through Sunday. Arty Brooklyn trio Dinosaur Feathers headlines tonight’s set.

Clipse, which may just be the best rap group on the planet, performs a free show at J&R’s MusicFest in City Hall Park. The fest continues Saturday.

Saturday
The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival begins today at Marcus Garvey Park before heading down to Tompkins Square on Sunday.

The experimental-improv label Generate hosts a tenth-anniversary party on Roosevelt Island.

A diverse lineup that includes the psychedelic Psychic Ills and indie folker Sharon Van Etten plays BKLYN Yard. Check the Volume later for an in-office performance from Van Etten.

Sunday
The Cool Kids bring their fashionable hip-hop to S.O.B.’s. Read our show preview here.

(Le) Poisson Rouge welcomes the Robert Glasper Experiment. Read our review of his latest disc here.

Lightning Bolt resurfaces to crush your brain at 979 Broadway.

And…the last Pool Party of the summer at East River State Park boasts the chill vibes of Grizzly Bear and Beach House.

Welcome to Play count, the Volume’s weekly mix of the best in recent hip-hop. In this edition, new music from Kid Cudi, Naledge, the Clipse, Lupe Fiasco and more.

Click past the jump for commentary. Read more »

Welcome to Play Count, the Volume’s weekly mix of the best in recent hip-hop. In this edition, new music from Wale, Mos Def, Eminem, David Banner and more.

Click past the jump for commentary.

Read more »