From The Desk Of Teddy Ruck-Spin

photos by DJ Graffiti | more pics here

For the last clip from our Finale, check out Gameboi, J.A.E. & L.A.Z of Clear Soul Forces reflecting on their time at F.O.K.U.S.:

In case you missed the individual performances, all clips are below.

Shouts to J.A.E., Yung Classix, Red Pill, DJ Graffiti, Silas Green, Phresh Heir, DJ Ell, Gameboi, Clear Soul Forces, Dre Skeez, Clavius Crates, and Dayggs for sending us off right. We’ve had an incredible series of guest artists come through over the years, so it was only right to close out with some of our Alumni and a few new faces.

Also much love and appreciation to the whole F.O.K.U.S. CRU, especially Bdubs, Dom, Miss Lady Soul, Nina & CiCi, for bringing their flavor to the show each week. The dedication and support has been amazing over the years.

While this wraps up the last of F.O.K.U.S. Radio, lookout for our co-host CiCi Ross taking over WCBN in the near future!

Until next time… peace!

Gameboi Gets Rick Roll’d

Silas Green & Clavius Crates (Rick Roll pt. 2)

L.A.Z of Clear Soul Forces

Red Pill

Phresh Heir

E-Fav of Clear Soul Forces

J.A.E.

J RoC of Clear Soul Forces

Gameboi Pt. 2

Featuring: J.A.E., Yung Classix, Red Pill, Silas Green, Phresh Heir, Gameboi, DJ Graffiti, Clear Soul Forces, Dre Skeez, DJ Ell, Clavius Crates, Dayggs.

Hosted by CiCi Ross.

Full recap + video coming soon.

Ever since it dropped in May, I’ve had I’m On One and the ensuing ‘freestyles’ in heavy rotation on F.O.K.U.S. Radio.

A couple weeks back, I mixed in some F&L era Lupe and took a swing at the beat myself. Here’s the version I made for the show, now available for streaming and download:

More on F.O.K.U.S. Radio @ http://djteddyruckspin.com/fokusradio.

On June 12th Gameboi returned to F.O.K.U.S. Radio to promote his new EP Freshman Of The Year. To celebrate the occasion, F.O.K.U.S. CRU member Julian Allen (Drums) assembled a live band featuring Marcus Elliot (Electronic Wind Instrument), Ben Rolston (Bass), & Alex Levine (Guitar).

The resulting live session was nothing short of fantastic. Watch Gameboi spit some writtens and trade freestyles with Lady Bugg over vintage DILLA:

We also got to debut “Runnin Around” feat. L05 and talk with Gameboi about the making of FOTY, writing rhymes in class, etc:

Towards the end of the show, we let Julian & Friends cut loose. Watch Lady Bugg do her thing over their jazz-funk rendition of Rick Ross’ “Here I Am”

Soundcheck!

S/O to Gameboi, Julian, Alex, Marcus, Ben, Lady Bugg, Miss Lady Soul, Carla, Dominic & our live session engineer Bryan Dulaney for making all this possible.

Gameboi -- Freshman Of The Year EP

Marcus Elliot Quartet -- Looking Forward LP

Full Audio from the Live Session:

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[download link in comments]

Tommey discusses his upcoming traveling exhibit, the affect of declining album sales on designers, his favorite album art and artists, and the Treats Volume 1 cover.

Full Interview Audio:

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Previously: Part 1

Tommey Walker | F.O.K.U.S. Radio | CiCi Ross

“I feel like we’re in the middle of a revolution, an entrepreneurial, artistic revolution. I feel like in 200 years we’ll be discussed about what happened to Detroit.”

[topics] Detroit, SeeHear Media Group, CrazyDope Mixtape, Creative Process, Big Sean.

Tommey Walker | F.O.K.U.S. Radio | CiCi Ross

Here’s some highlights from our interview with Hir-O, who stopped by F.O.K.U.S. Radio back in January to talk about his new instrumental album The Voyage Home. Check out the second clip to watch a session over original Hir-O beats featuring The Amature, Red Pill, JYoung The General, P.H.I.L.T.H.Y., Doss The Artist, & L05.

Full audio from the live session:

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Check out these dope selections from The Voyage Home, and get your copy at Hir-O’s bandcamp page.

Also be on the lookout for The Kick, Hir-O’s upcoming album with Red Pill!

Behold the SANTA CIPHA, produced by Nameless. Preceded by A Ken Villain Christmas.

In order of appearance:

Man In Charge, J-RoC of Clear Soul Forces, Wimpy of Clear Soul Forces, GreenE of Phresh Heir, Ilajide of Clear Soul Forces, J-RoC, Nick Speed, Cheeks of Tree City, Ilajide.

More F.O.K.U.S. Radio Holiday Special: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Back on April 17th, Shad spoke with myself and CiCi Ross while on tour in Philadelphia. We chopped it up about his recent hometown show in London, Ontario, the impact of Detroit’s music scene, freestyling with Janelle Monáe, performing at the CBC Hip Hop Summit, advice to up and coming artists, the challenges of touring in the U.S., plans for another album, the making of Lucky 1’s, and more.

If you aren’t up on Shad’s music, be sure to check out tracks like Rose Garden, Keep Shining and 6 Minutes HERE.

S/O to Co-Sign Collective.

Beat #1 [prod. by Nameless]
E-Fav and Wimpy of Clear Soul Forces

Beat #2 [prod. by Ken Villain]
Gameboi, J-RoC and Wimpy of Clear Soul Forces

Beat #3 [prod. by Ken Villain & Ilajide]
J.A.E., Nick Speed

Beat #4 [prod. by Nick Speed]
Nick Speed

Beat #5 [prod. by Nick Speed]
Nick Speed, J-Roc, Gameboi, E-Fav

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Final clip coming soon… SANTA CYHPA.