You probably know who Matt & Kim are by now. Even if it’s not for their music, their video for Lessons Learned has been making its way around the internet for a few months now and was even voted MTV’s Breakthrough video of 2009. Yes, that’s really Times Square, and yes, they’re really getting naked.

Matt & Kim (composed of Matt Johnson & Kim Schifino) are a “dance/punk” duo hailing from Brooklyn, NYC. The two met while studying at the Pratt Institute in NYC and began making music together in 2004. After a couple years of practice, practice, practice, they released their self-titled debut album in 2006, which garnered some attention for the up-and-coming band. Matt & Kim really cracked the shell of the mainstream market though with their second album, Grand, which was recorded in their bedroom and released in 2009. Quickly capitalizing on their newfound spotlight, they rushed back to the studio and recorded their new album, Sidewalks, released in stores on Nov. 2.

Coinciding with their recent trip to Montreal a couple weeks back, the duo’s marketers, Cornerstone, gave us a chance to interview the band, but due to conflicting schedules on both sides, Above & Beyond couldn’t get any writers to take the job. A&B has a lot of supporters though and we have to thank my friend Jenn for jumping on the opportunity and handling it like a pro. So hit the jump to read the interview! Learn a little bit about the “dance/punk” band (you’ll see the reason for the quotations later) and what they’ve been up to since the release of their album, Sidewalks.
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Let’s start with the Bay Area. If you know about the scene there, you’re probably familiar with Keak da Sneak, Too $hort, Mac Dre, and you’re probably familiar with E-40. When E-40 was going into the studio to record his albums in the ’90s, like The Hall of Game and In a Major Way, there was probably a kid running around, in and out of the booths and playing with the mixers. It’s time to get familiar with that kid. He’s 22-years old now, going by the name Droop-E, and taking the Bay Area by storm.

Droop-E’s production is unique, to say the least. He goes from building a song entirely around Bjork samples (which she personally cleared after hearing – keep in mind she pretty much never lets people sample her stuff) to using just a synth and a couple drum hits to make a minimal, but nonetheless hyphy track. The rapper/producer’s newest mixtape – though calling it that feels kind of belittling of the project – is a modest eight tracks, which sample songs by R&B/jazz outfit Sade in one way or another. BLVCK DIAMOND LIFE is only a taste of what this dude has in store for us.

E-40’s protégé took a minute to chat over the phone with A&B and let us know what was going on in his head while working on his latest mixtape, his dad’s influence, and who would be a better baby mama: Sade or Bjork? Listen to this highlight track, “I’m Loaded”, and learn a little about an upcoming star.

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AIM fucking sucks, AOL needs to step their game up. But luckily, The ILLZ is a damn nice dude. I hit him up last night for a chat and halfway through he wasn’t able to send any more messages, but he agreed to just finish it up the next day. He could’ve deleted my account and gone on with his day. Respect.

Our guy reps New Jersey to the fullest and has an entire blueprint for his future set out. He’s the kind of rapper that is making dudes like Gucci Mane sound as prehistoric and elementary as they really are. Rap blogs are cosigning him left and right and he’s dropping quality shit on your face constantly, so, along with AOL, you industry heads need to step your game up as well.

Check out our conversation, where ILLZ touches on quality over quantity (in reference to Lil B), his itinerary for the future, and how amazing we all know Smashing Pumpkins used to be.

Above & Beyond: hey man

The ILLZ: What up homey

Above & Beyond: haha you’re a trooper, what the fuck just happened with your knee?

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Like many artists, NYC-bound Cilla K. sent me an email asking me to check out her music a couple of days ago to promote her release of her debut album entitled Fine Line. Which I decided to do and went on her Myspace and completly fell in love with her music. I would say that she blends soul, jazz and a hint of Dilla to the perfection, but that might just be me. Even if fairly new to the industry, she had the chance to collaborate with the like of David Pattillo, Junius Bervive (Floetry, D’Angelo, Common, N.E.R.D.), Clay Sears (Jill Scott, Vivian Green) and many more and with the recent release of her debut album, I’m pretty sure it’s just a matter of time before she explodes on the scene. And much like the treatment I did for Kellee Maize, here’s a little interview I conducted with her being a new and emerging artist.

Who is Cilla K? Please introduce yourself to the Above & Beyond family
I am a beat maker, singer,songwriter whose artist name is CILLA K. Born Priscilla Othily in the West Indies (Guadeloupe), grew up in the Caribbean and studied in Paris then New York. My artistic personality is twofold. Cilla is the quiet, dreamy side of me influenced by classic melodies. I think the track where this aspect of my personality is the most obvious is ‘Fine Line’ with a very minimalist and classic approach. The K in my artist name is the edgy , funky part of me. K. also stands for the passion I have for beats. It represents an ethnic drum used in the island I come from, called “Ka”; so it is simply an image I use as a symbol for beats,freshness,funkiness.

When did you get interested in music?
I knew from a very early age that I was an artist . As a child, probably 4 or 5 I used to make drawings and compose a melody for each of them, I used to dream of melodies too, i still do!. It was also obvious to my family, especially my parents that art was very present in my world when I was a child.

How would you describe the kind of music you do?
The music I make is definitely a fusion of several genres. I’m very inspired by jazz music, hip hop beats and electro sounds, indie and alternative movements, world music or ethnic sounds… I like experimenting. But at the same time I use those elements and create simple or dreamy vocals with them, or I can go for something more intriguing with jazzy vocals. It all depends on my mood or feelings when I’m creating.

Could you name a couple of your inspirations?
wow….sooo many artists had an impact on my vision…Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Prince, J Dilla, David Bowie, Fela Kuti,Serge Gainsbourg, Sade, Miles Davis, Minnie Riperton…totally random order here and also many others I might have forgotten to quote.

What music are you currently jamming to?
Right now I’m listening to various albums, I love Damu the Fudgemunk, Flying Lotus, Spacek, Georgia Anne Muldrow, SA-RA Creative partners, the PPPs, Santigold, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Vampire Week End……. lots and lots of diverse but always powerful artists of different genres.

According to you, what makes good music, GOOD?
Anything with a great concept, and quality instruments or samples..anything that obviously involves an astounding creativity or boldness or some kind of artistic genius.

Who would be your dream collaboration?
SA-RA and Damu the Fudgemunk…as well as Flylo.

What would be the best advice to give someone new in the industry to generate a following?
I am a newbie myself so still trying to sort things out!Never give up. Always believe in what you do , be obstinate when you have to. Be yourself, spread the love for your music.

What are you up to when not performing or creating music?
Sleeping, I love sleeping haha (this one should be on my guilty pleasure list) , I love food!!!eating to good restaurants or restaurants with unusual concepts or design, going out with friends,I love going to art shows, or having a walk in busy and artsy Brooklyn neighborhoods, chilling in jazz lounges….just enjoying life in New York.

What would be your favorite guilty pleasure?
Old school cartoons! ahahah

What ONE record would you HAVE to save from your house if it was burning down?
One record?! oh gosh I could never pick just ONE record! oh well..I’d say Afrika Bambaataa “Looking for the Perfect beat.”

Tell us about your latest release.
My latest release was my Debut Album entitled “Fine line” which came out just a few days ago.

And finally what future projects can we look out for?
I’m working on several video projects for two tracks of the album and according to the response, we will probably work on releasing a single as well. I also started to work on a second album, but it all depends on how the first one will be received.

I’d like to personally thank Cilla for her time and please be sure to check out her myspace for more information. Also, her debut album, Fine Line is in stores now.

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download : Cilla K. – Rise On Me Interlude

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download : Cilla K. – Nomad

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download : Cilla K. – Easy To Love

While being a blonde white girl in the music industry that raps instead of shaking her hips to pop music is already pretty uncommon, being a blonde bombshell that raps about yoga, meditation, astrology and many other things of that aisle is pretty unique if you ask me. Well Kellee Maize is all of that, set to break down barriers one at a time with her unique approach to hip-hop. To be honest, judging by the pictures that was attached to the first email she sent me, I was not really sure of what to expect out of it, but I’m not one to be judging a book by it’s cover and glad I am not or I would have passed on Kellee Maize, and boy would that have been a mistake, because that girl can definitely throw down.

So with that said, here’s the interview I conducted with her as I wanted to dig a little deeper in the whole Kellee Maize phenomenon… enjoy.

Hello, well first of all, please introduce yourself for those who are still in the dark about you…
My name is Kellee Maize. I live in Pittsburgh PA….a very special place! I write, rap, sing and dance as therapy, as activism and for fun. (kelleemaize.com) I also run my own events and promotions company called Nakturnal.

With that said, how did you get into the whole music business?
My my mom said that I was “singing and dancing before I could walk and talk”. Music has always been one of the most important parts of my life. I have always performed in one way or another either as a singer on stage or doing gymnastics to music. I sang in rhyme and when I discovered hip hop at a young age I fell in love. I was afraid to rap in front of anyone until about 8 years ago but I haven’t stopped since and I still sing. Artists like Ani Difranco, Lauryn Hill, Madonna, the Roots, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, WuTang and Outkast have kept me going through all kinds of crazy life circumstances. I appreciate unique expression in all forms and music is by far the one thing I can’t live without.

When did you know that you wanted to make a career out of singing?
It was always a dream since I was very young but, I never really had the ego for it. My ego was more interested in being a self-defeating victim…which is just as bad as a pompous show-off who acts like they are better than everyone else! I never thought I was good enough. It wasn’t until I felt a purpose in my writing that I began to embrace my artistry in a way that gave me confidence and faith in what I am doing here in this life and why.

Is it hard for a female MC to evolve in the hip-hop game?
I have spent a lot of time in the past being intimidated to jump on stage full of men, record in a studio full of men, or entering a male dominated industry. But, then again, the world is also dominated by men. But from a spiritual perspective, the feminine qualities of cooperation, compassion, and kindness (in both men and women) will become more important and more respected within the next few years. The future of this planet and our children depends on everyone embracing their feminine energy.
The yin and yang will rebalance.

Who are you musical influences?
Well, I mentioned some previously, but the list is really incredibly long. I feel I have been influenced by every artist I have ever heard. Can’t say that I literally ever said, “I want to make music like him or her”, or that during writing I turned on a certain artist and drew inspiration. But, I have been inspired by so many artists at different parts of my life. In addition to who I mentioned above, I would also say Patsy Cline, Gnarles Barkley, Michael Franti, Erykah Badu, Cher, Notorious BIG, The Fugees, The Raiders, and Joan Jett. And I feel like I am leaving off ALOT of important people, but this is who I can think of right now!

What do you enjoy most about creating music?
I love the opportunity to share ideas, thoughts and concerns that have helped me live a more aware and ultimately a happier, more productive life. My hope is that the content will help the listener. I also like to be able to inspire and make someone dance! At the core I think we all have amazing gifts and want to help others, I think our dreams usually mirror this combination.

How has it changed your life?
I think I feel more fully self expressed in my daily life. It has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing and inspiring people. I think when you do what you love there is an energy that you create and make more of as you connect with people. I also have really enjoyed the chance I have had to work with young people who enjoy what I am doing.

What ONE record would you HAVE to save from your house if it was burning down?
Wow, that is such a hard question. I will just choose what came to mind first….The Score by the Fugees. I can remember listening to that over and over again…it is such a classic.

What future projects can we look out for?
The makers of the movie Zeitgeist have given me permission to use their music and video from their films, so I will be releasing a song called Zeitgeist next month. I am also releasing music videos for the songs Yesterday and Big Plans in the next few weeks!

I’d like to thank Kellee Maize for her time and for even more informations you can head out to her very own website or myspace and you can also get two of her albums right here, free to download.

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download : Kellee Maize – Mothership

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download : Kellee Maize – City of Champions

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download : Kellee Maize – Godette

Newest member of the G.O.O.D family, Mr. Hudson & The Library is also supporting Kanye West on his european tour Glow In The Dark and apparently were actually the ones featuring on Kanye’s last album 808’s & Heartbreak song Paranoid (while it was said to be Kid Cudi).

download : Mr. Hudson & The Library – Take Us Somewhere New (Brave The Cold)
download : Mr. Hudson & The Library – Ask The DJ
download : Mr. Hudson & The Library – Picture Of You
download : Mr. Hudson & The Library – One Specific Thing