Directed by Steve Raze

Check out the video recap of the night!

Besides performing tracks from Trunk Muzik Returns, Yelawolf also took time  to talk about being a “single artist” versus an “album artist” with XXL.

“If it ends being that I have a single so be it, but looking back I may just not be the person that is built for that,” says Yelawolf. “I might just make albums… If I get a hit record cool man. If not, f*ck it.”

Yelawolf is currently working on his sophomore LP tentatively titled Love Story. It is expected to be released later this year.

In the meantime, Yelawolf dropped his sequel to 2010′s Trunk Muzik mixtape last week.

The 10 track Trunk Muzik Returns is produced entirely by frequent collaborator WillPower. It features appearances from Paul Wall, A$AP Rocky, Raekwon, and Killer Mike.

[ALSO CHECK OUT: Yelawolf Ft. ASAP Rocky & Big Henry “Gangster”]

Watch the video of Yelawolf at SXSW and stream/download Trunk Muzik Returns below.

Take a Look at the video:

AllHipHop would like to thank SUPERGOODMUSIC, Craveonline.com & Sharp TV for being sponsors for this event!

After the whirlwind of events if you really did your thing, you will be remembered and it will pay off. There are artists like MGK that got deal off of SXSW in the past. Saturday night at Suite 101 in Austin, TX, AllHipHop was honored to have Mystikal, Yo Gotti, Taylor Gang’s Quay Meanz, Berner, Tuki Carter and Chevy Woods, Drumma Boy and LEP Bogus Boys along with a surprise performance from Young Swift and Akon! Our stage also featured rising stars like Paypa, Breeding Ground’s Sonnie Carson, Rideout 163 and Chuck Inglish and stand-out performance by 18 year old Ken Rebel who all took part in this epic concert. The stage was hosted by ATL’s own Fort Knox and music provided by DJ Hella Yella. Take a look at the pictures from out Saturday night showcase courtesy

Photos courtesy of EatingHipHop.com

With memorable breakout performances by Two9, Scotty ATL, Rich Homie Quan and others to prep the crowd Suite 101 on 5th St. was jam packed from beginning to the end.

During Two9′s performance Taylor Gang members Tuki Carter, Chevy Woods, Sledgren and Will took the stage to enjoy the festivities also performing hit songs from their catalog as well including the epic anthem, “Taylor Gang.”

Chevy also performed several hit songs from his own personal catalog before leaving the smoke filled stage.

After Two9′s performance, B.0.B. made a surprise guest performance, jumping into the crowd as he performed his hit song “Still in this B*tch.”

Following an Rich Homie Quans performance, Trinidad James took the stage performing “Females Welcomed” and his hit song “All Gold Everything.”

More images and video as they emerge.

For the 5th consecutive year, AllHipHop.com will be producing a concert at SXSW. To start off our year long celebration for AllHipHop’s 15th year anniversary, we would like to present the Official AllHipHop.com Stage @ SXSW 2013 featuring Taylor Gang, YG and headlined by Mystikal!

Just added to the line-up:

YO GOTTI

AllHipHop has always been a leader in presenting epic stages at SXSW (see our 2012 SXSW stage headlined by Snoop Dogg), and this year we expect even more. All official SXSW badge-holders are invited to the AllHipHop Stage at 8PM-2Am on Saturday, March 16th 2013 at Suite 101 located at 101 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701.

Our line-up includes:

Chance The Rapper
Paypa
Ken Rebel
Chuck Inglish
Rideout 163
Vinny Chase

and featuring:

Taylor Gang (Quay Meanz, Berner, Tuki Carter & Chevy Woods)

Spaceghostpurrp

LEP BOGUS BOYS

Yo Gotti

YG (Def Jam)

and headlined by
Mystikal (YMCMB)

Hosted by Fort Knox &  Music by DJ Hella Yella!

For the 5th consecutive year, AllHipHop.com will be producing a concert at SXSW. To start off our year long celebration for AllHipHop’s 15th year anniversary, we would like to present the Official AllHipHop.com Stage @ SXSW 2013 featuring Taylor Gang, YG and headlined by Mystikal!

Just added to the line-up:

LEP BOGUS BOYS!!

AllHipHop has always been a leader in presenting epic stages at SXSW (see our 2012 SXSW stage headlined by Snoop Dogg), and this year we expect even more. All official SXSW badge-holders are invited to the AllHipHop Stage at 8PM-2Am on Saturday, March 16th 2013 at Suite 101 located at 101 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701.

Our line-up includes:

Chance The Rapper
Paypa
Ken Rebel
Chuck Inglish
Rideout 163
Vinny Chase

and featuring:

Taylor Gang (Quay Meanz, Berner, Tuki Carter & Chevy Woods)

Spaceghostpurrp

LEP BOGUS BOYS

YG (Def Jam)

and headlined by
Mystikal (YMCMB)

Hosted by Fort Knox &  Music by DJ Hella Yella!

The allure of diamonds have always been captivating. Who could forget that James Bond and Kanye West taught us that “Diamond are Forever”? In Hip-Hop “bling bling” has always been a way to show your wealth and prowess, so it only made sense when Hip-Hop/Skate streetwear company Diamond Supply Co. started to shine.

The 15-year old brainchild of designer, skater and entrepreneur Nick Tershay (aka Nicky Diamonds) was founded in 1998 originally as a skate hardware idea that has now grown into one of the most popular brands in the skate and Hip-Hop worlds.

With athletes and entertainers like Jay-Z, Rihanna, Wiz Khalifa,, Curren$y, Kevin Durant and others wearing their gear, Diamond Supply Co built a brand that now has two flagship locations in San Francisco and New York.

For SXSW this year Diamond Supply is hosting a VIP dinner co-hosted by Def Jam Recordings and including a gifting suite and pop-up shop. Joining in on the festivities this year Diamond Supply is bringing out August Alsina, Big KRIT, YG, Juelz Santana and Trinidad James.

Yesterday AllHipHop caught up with the guys from Diamond Supply Co, and caught up with Philly Freeway who was scheduled to perform at their Thursday night show with Don Cannon.

Check below for our exclusive interview with Philly Freeway and check out the gear they are putting out for their Spring 2013 collection.

Check out some of the pics below from their Spring collection and make sure to go check out their online store and blog here: www.diamondsupplyco.com

Freeway x Diamond Supply Co from AllHipHop on Vimeo.

The official SXSW showcase will take place on Friday, March 15th and as a partner, AllHipHop.com will provide post coverage and on site social networking as part of a stage that will showcase Trinidad James, Rick Homie Quan, Sean Falyon and Will Brennan.

Also bringing the event to SXSW are Gold Gang, Ballers Eve, Creative Revolution Union, Motion Family and the HS8 Agency.

“The new Atlanta stage isn’t about showing you the best artist in Atlanta but about showing you how all the great artist from Atlanta work together,” Trinidad James said about the #NewAtlanta Event.

Trinidad James hit song “All Gold Everything” earned him a multi-million dollar deal with Def Jam and has allowed the artist to tour around the country consistently since the video went viral just months ago.

Check out the details below:

While Raekwon and Talib Kweli performed at their already scheduled spots, fans were also treated to surprise sets by Master P, Trae the Truth and Killa Kyleon at the famous Rusty Spurs on 7th Street in Austin, TX.

Kicking off the night was up and coming rapper Chris Skillz who started off the show with a memorable set of storytelling rhymes. He followed up by Eeron Lee, Drew 32, G-Eazy, Satyre, The Airplane Boys.

Following an emotionally driven performance of “Miss Money” by VIP (K-Paul and Pimpin Pen), Master and No Limit Forever took over the stage as Master P performed his hit song”Al Capone” and other hits like “Bout It, Bout It.”

Talib would not be outshined though as his set was just as memorable as Master P’s rocking a packed out house at the peak of the night. Leaving the stage with a classic performance of “Get By” Talib left it all on the stage.

After Talib, West Coast rapper Problem took the stage bringing out Trae the Truth as he performed club banger after banger including his hit song “Like What.”

Clyde Carson continued the show after performing “Slow Down” and few of his other songs that have bubbling on the left coast.

Fillling afterwards Taylor J, Sean Falyon and Rain prepped the crowd for a historic set by Killa Kyleon.

Repping heavy for his home state, Killa Kyleon held the crowd down for a full 30 min set of hits also featuring an appearance with AllHipHop Breeding Ground artist Doughbeezy.

Rae talked to the crowd about how the Wu-Tang Clan came to be as he ran through a host of hits from Only Built for Cuban Linx, 36 Chambers and Wu-Tang Forever.

In addition to the performances, Sharp Television gave away a 60” Sharp Aquos TV to a lucky fan that tweeted about the event and showed how they were living at SXSW.

More video and images as they emerge.

Also set to perform at the (G-Pen x SuperGoodMusic x Sharp AQUOS) collaborative showcase will be Talib Kweli, a No Limit Forever set (Miss Chee (#BGA), T-Bo & Eastwood), Problem w/ Bad Lucc (#BGA), Clyde Carson (#BGA), Killa Kyleon (#BGA), Kosha Dillz, Watch the Duck, G Eazy, The Airplane Boys, Sahtyre and V.I.P. (K-Paul and Pimpin Pen #BGA).

While there are several big name special guests set to perform, organizers of the event plan on keeping the special guests surprises until they hit the stage.

“AllHipHop has been a big supporter of mines for years, and im truly excited to be apart of their Breeding showcase this year at sxsw, its gonna be epic night!!!” Raekwon to AllHipHop.com.

In addition to the performances, Sharp AQUOS & SwaysUniverse.com will be giving away a TV to one lucky winner at the event.  The massive 60” Sharp Aquos TV will display the event partners logo’s throughout the event and will be awarded during the show.

The showcase will also feature two stages and over 20 different acts that are Breeding Ground picks (#BGA), G-Pen affiliated artists, SuperGoodMusic choices and several Hip-Hop legends.

More news as recaps and details of the event emerge.

To RSVP to the event check out the eventbrite link:  RSVP to the EventBrite page here.

AllHipHop.com dug up some more video from SXSW 2012. Watch a high-quality, live performance of Miguel’s “That I Do”, a single from his Art Dealer Chic Vol.1 EP:

Miguel – That I Do SxSW from Miguel on Vimeo.

Miguel’s Art Dealer Chic Vol.3 drops on April 27. Follow him on Twitter (@MiguelUnlimited) or visit artdealerchic.com.

After recently releasing the very well-received mixtape, Breaking Point, with DJ Green Lantern, Rojas  is on a mission: to have his music heard by as many new listeners as possible. Traveling to South By Southwest (SXSW) to perform for one of the most diverse gatherings of music aficionados is just another of the ways he has taken his career into his own hands.

The Rochester native continues to tour in support of the project and wants to release as many visuals for tracks off of Breaking Point as possible. It was after one of his explosive performances at SXSW that we were able to speak to the man behind tracks like “Sympathy For the Devil,” “Runway,” “P*ssy and Cologne”, and “Champion” about the response to Breaking Point, his new untitled EP with Green Lantern, and what exactly SXSW means to him.

Check out our exclusive interview with Emilio Rojas below:

Follow Emilio Rojas On Twitter (EmilioRojas).

We caught up with Rockie Fresh – the man behind the critically-acclaimed project Driving 88 - backstage to briefly talk about his experiences as a first-timer at SXSW, what his plans are once he heads back on the road, and most importantly, how it felt to technically be opening for Hip-Hop icons Timbaland and Snoop Dogg.

Check out our interview and some performance footage of Rockie at SXSW below:

Follow Rockie Fresh On Twitter: (@RockieFresh)

Then you use SXSW as just another MC’s playground for you and your superhero crew of rap friends.

Predictions rolled in pre-SXSW around the AllHipHop offices as to which Hip-Hop artist would get the most bang for his buck at the festival. There were calls for Big K.R.I.T. as the man to bring his sturdy work ethic, along with A$AP Rocky, and a few others.

Still, it was Talib Kweli who would prove the hardest-working man at SXSW 2012, performing across so many stages on last Saturday alone, one would think his hustle is brand new. He even found time to float through and show his face at a few of the other big showcases of the week – like the AllHipHop/Vibe House Breeding Ground Showcase. Perhaps that is his genius; the Blacksmith head honcho was skillful at bringing his wordy intelligence to a new crop of fans and listeners in Austin, Texas - just the kind of thing you might be into if you’ve spread the gospel for as long as Kweli has.

Watch the video below as the “Gutter Rainbows” rapper invites friends Bun B, Jean Grae, Pharoahe Monch, 9th Wonder, and Mela Machinko onstage to help him rock the house – or, in SXSW fashion – the parking lot roof:

Follow Talib Kweli and his trans-world adventures on Twitter (@TalibKweli).

A$AP Rocky and Curren$y were surprise guests that Smoke DZA brought out and Wiz Khalifa [BGA] came out to support Chevy Woods. These guests added even more energy to an already star-studded night.

When we spotted Jackie on the streets of SXSW after checking out a show headlined by Smoke DZA and A$AP Rocky, we wasted no time in talking about life and the music he’s been creating post-After Hours.

In addiditon to the revelation that he’ll soon be going under the moniker Bruce Lean, Jackie revealed that his next mixtape, The Bruce Lean Chronicles, is nearly complete and will be hitting the Internet and streets sooner rather than later. He also updated us on the status of his Universal Republic debut, Aint Slept In Weeks, and spoke on his plans while he was down in Austin.

Check out the video interview below:

Follow Jackie Chain on Twitter: (@JackieChain74)

AllHipHop.com asked the rapper about his time at SXSW in 2012 – not his first visit to the large-scale gathering that brings musicians, industry heads, and fans to the Texas capitol for showcases and panels each year. On probation for a domestic violation a few months ago, 40 Glocc noted that he was happy to attend the festival and avoid any breaches of his legal obligations.

In the video below, 40 Glocc also offered details on his project with rap duo Mobb Deep, who he has shared the stage with at SXSW and other festivals, and upcoming work from his Zoo Life Records family:

That’s not all that MGK has to be proud of, though, after coming off a hectic week of insanely energetic performances at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Kells’ first stop at the festival was the S.O.B.’s 30th Anniversary showcase, headlined by himself, Miguel, 2 Chainz, and Slaughterhouse.

Before the concert, we caught up with the man behind the Lace Up movement to talk about a long list of topics, including his run-in with Diddy at SXSW last year that led to the Cleveland native being signed to Bad Boy. He also detailed plans for this summer’s “Vans Warped Tour”,  in addition to being a part of Tech N9ne’s record-breaking “Hostile Takeover Tour.”

MGK dropped a few bits of information about a record on his album that features his favorite rapper of all time, DMX. Check out the video below:

MGK then spoke on the mega-remix to “Wild Boy” he just dropped with 2 Chainz, Yo Gotti, Mystikal, French Montana, Meek Mill and Steve-O, and what the purpose behind releasing his Half Naked & Almost Famous EP before his Bad Boy debut Lace Up was. The video below also contains footage of him and 2 Chainz filming part of the music video for the “Wild Boy” remix, along with the young MC chopping it up backstage with Joe Budden.

MGK’s Half Naked & Almost Famous EP is available now on iTunes.

Follow Machine Gun Kelly on Twitter: (@MachineGunKelly)

In addition to his thoughts on the response he’s received since regarding his most recent project, White Jesus: Revival, Rittz talked about his overall plans for the festival both as a performer and supporter and what he’s got coming in the near future for the fans.

He also sends out a “get well soon” to his boy Yelawolf, who had to drop out of SXSW after suffering from ruptured spleen. Check out our exclusive interview with Rittz below and be sure to download his well-received White Jesus: Revival mixtape, which features appearances from the likes of Yelawolf, Big K.R.I.T., 8Ball, and more:

Follow Rittz On Twitter: (@TheRealRITTZ)

Now, Cedric did move to the side as other artists came to the stage to take pics, but he didn’t depart. This prompted several people working the event to continue to ask him to get off. He seemed to get very, very irate and upset and got into a shouting match with the girl manning the camera. He was upset because he called her a b*tch and she didn’t appreciate it. According to a source, Cedric said, “I could buy this place!” Then some of the people said they were going to call security. But this time, Cedric had some of his boys with him. They said, “Go get security!” Security never did show up. He left and came back, but nothing much came about it.

Then upstairs, somebody claims that Cedric got into a confrontation with somebody that left him bloodied. There are conflicting reports. One said he was bleeding from the arm and another from the face. Nevertheless, the security in the whole place convened on this confrontation. This part took place upstairs as Timbaland was performing his new songs. We don’t know all the deal, but we know this…Cedric is a wild guy! Let’s get football training started!!!!

Still, when you rock with the “King,” they say “all things are possible,” and that’s just the spirit behind Reach Records artist LeCrae. AllHipHop.com first met the talented Atlanta MC after his much-talked-about performance in the 2011 BET Cypher. Since that time, we’ve heard a lot more of his music and witnessed the industry co-signs he’s receiving from the likes of legend Bun B and others.

LeCrae was in Austin a few days ago for the South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival, where he served as proof that Hip-Hop has made its mark on the annual event like never before. On a year when rap showcases exploded beyond venue capacities, there was room for inspirational lyricism, too. And it’s clear that these days, in that lane, LeCrae is the man.

We caught up with LeCrae on the street at SXSW – he was happy to see us and even happier to know that his music and stories have been doing well recently among the mainstream audience. Watch the video below as he talks about his 2012 SXSW experience and where his faith-filled career will go from here:

So, will LeCrae and his blessed brotherhood from Reach Records make their mark on the industry? Only God knows.

In the meantime, check out a video for his recent “Live & Let Live” single produced by DJ Statik Selektah:

We weren’t disappointed, as we saw some energetic stage shows that included the now, nearly-mandatory SXSW crowd dives, and lyrics that ranged from candy paint to trips to outerspace.

But, we went prepared ahead of time to catch up with Young Gliss, a newcomer from Philadelphia with ties to one of the biggest Hip-Hop dynasties in the world – The Legendary Roots Crew. We caught our first live glimpse of him recently as he opened for the Philadelphia leg of Jim Jones’ “Vampire Life Tour.”

His The Glimmer EP just dropped last week (see download below), featuring guest appearances from Killer Mike, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and more. The project is promising, with tight, clean production and a variety of melodies over which to feature his eager flow. And yes, some of Young Gliss’ themes venture from pimping to hustling to grinding, but they’re packaged in an intelligent way that leaves you cheering him on in the end.

AllHipHop.com caught up with Raw Life Records’ Young Gliss just after his performance as part of the SXSW Nice Kicks Showcase for emerging artists. Check out how he “stole” his MC name, and why he doesn’t plan on leaning too heavily on his “Roots” to earn his stripes:

Download Young Gliss’ The Glimmer EP HERE. Follow him on Twitter (@YoungGliss).

Chase N Cashe took a break recently from the latest leg of Drake’s nationwide tour to make an appearance at the annual South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Watch the video below as he shares some news with AllHipHop.com about the latest leg of Drake’s “Club Paradise” tour:

Apparently, Raekwon doesn’t require sleep. One would be hard-pressed to find a time when the Wu-Tang Clan veteran is not touring around the world, participating in a panel discussion or TV appearance, or marketing his latest line of what-have-you. In fact, one might ascertain that “The Chef” has just as much work and stamina as he did back in the glory years of Wu.

So, it came as no surprise when AllHipHop.com caught up with Raekwon at the 2012 South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas this week, that he was performing multiple sets and pushing his latest venture – belts???

However odd it may seem, the Shaolin MC insists that belts are key for those making a transition into manhood, and he’s always, always worn a belt as a grown a*s man. And, while he’s not ready to knock the young boys for their “sagging,” he is committed to keeping his own pants up – at least in public anyway. Watch the video below as we checked in with Raekwon during his stop to promote his belt line:

Outside the trendy boutique where we spoke with him, Raekwon moved with ease through the Austin streets with his small but faithful entourage of helpers and bodyguard in tow. He performed alongside a few of his Wu brethren during SXSW, and threw a little of his own solo flavor into the festival mix. Below is footage of the hard-working Raekwon ripping the Mass Appeal/ Decon Showcase at Kung Fu Saloon with GZA and JD Era:

Follow Raekwon and get his latest updates on Twitter (@Raekwon).

Mistah F.A.B. and Problem both spent a few minutes chopping it up with AllHipHop.com and showing love to us for our continued support of their movements and music. They spoke about the importance of SXSW to artist and their careers, what they’ve got going on during the festival, and what the fans can expect to hear from the them each in the near future.

Check out our exclusive interviews with both artists below, and stay tuned for a ton of more content from SXSW coming soon!

Follow Mistah F.A.B. On Twitter: (@MistahFAB)

Follow Problem on Twitter: (@ItsaPROBLEM)

AllHipHop.com: Matt, you are consider to the the person that brought Hip-Hop to SXSW.

Matt Sonzala: Well, there’s been Hip-Hop shows since like 1990, I think, at SXSW. They just didn’t have as many until recently. I came in in late 2003 wanting to make sure some of the Houston guys like Swisha House, Chamillionaire, Bun B, etc. all got on SXSW as I felt like things were really about to happen for Houston. So I sent an email to the general address at SXSW asking if I could possibly put together a showcase full of all these folks from Houston, and they wrote me back basically saying that if I could make it happen, they’d be down to do it. So I hit up all the artists, and explained to them what SXSW is, and we did the first shows in March of 2004 – with everyone from Zin and OG Style to Bun B and Chamillionaire. Paul Wall came with Magno, we had some Austin artists on there, Play N Skillz, and it just grew every year from there.

I also worked under Andre Walker from 1993-1996 helping him put together the Hip-Hop  shows in those years. There’d be just a couple each year, but sh*t, we had the first Gravediggaz show ever, Mad Flava, ESG. Man, I remember seeing Erykah Badu come out as Erika Free to sing just one song with this group Heads N Dreads. I remember it like it was yesterday. She had short hair and braces and was wearing a sweater and some jeans. She brought the whole place to their knees with just one song – it was incredible. Pretty sure that was 1995.

AllHipHop.com: Theda, can you explain why it was important for you, since you were at Def Jam Records?

Theda: I was the first urban label exec to recognize the importance of the festival and worked tirelessly to get my labels to attend the event just as the interactive festival was beginning to jump the shark in 2006. The intersection of Hip-Hop, interactive media, and emerging technologies is intoxicating mix of gumbo ya ya. Having grown from a regional music festival to include film and interactive media, SXSW attracts a very diverse audience looking for “what’s next.” Jumping in early ahead of the curve gave my artists a significant edge over those that ignored the festival and exposed them to a “crossover” audience.

AllHipHop.com: Davey, you are widely regarded as a political activist. What was so important about this that you were involved in it?

Davey D: It was important because SXSW has a huge audience, and far too often, Hip-Hop was treated as a stepchild. Matt was someone who was down to treat it as an equal with other genres. The panels I did were designed to further that mission.

AllHipHop.com: Now, Davey, Theda was on one side of the coin by bringing acts from major labels to SXSW. But what is your take?

Davey D: I seen this phenomena occur on several cases, where a good thing designed to give voice to a voiceless segment of the music industry blows up and them becomes a “marketing” tool for the majors. In each instance, something special gets lost.  As much as I like a Snoop Dogg or any number of artists of his caliber, the best part of SXSW was discovering an Anita Tijoux, or seeing a Rebel Diaz, or coming across a Toki Wright or meeting local indies from overseas. I hope that flava and spirit doesn’t get lost.

(Continued below)

Matt Sonzala, SXSW Director of Hip-Hop

AllHipHop.com: What was it like bringing Hip-Hop to this major festival that was mostly known by those outside of urbana? Do you remember the events that went on at that time.

Theda: The early Hip-Hop events at SXSW where Texas Hip-Hop showcases and some DJ sets. Swisha House and Rap-a-Lot were well represented. I remember Bun B’s first solo album had just come out, but was already a legend as one half of UGK in Texas. When Bun hit the stage, it was complete pandemonium. Anyone in the audience who was not from Texas recognized they better catch up quick. The conference has grown from there. Last year, there was an African Hip-Hop showcase, Kanye performed a free show, and there was a major DJ competition put on by Red Bull. SXSW has become a must for emerging artists and established artists alike.

Matt Sonzala: Yeah, man, it was incredible. I loved bringing folks to SXSW for the first time because it’s such an incredible event. Besides all the fun you can have, you can always find work and meet like minded folks to work with. It’s still one of my favorite things about the conference, opening young artists eyes and minds to the bigger picture of the music business. But when I was starting it was hard, I literally had to explain every aspect of SXSW to every single person I dealt with. And I got a lot of doors closed in my face, especially from the major labels in those days. But I will tell you this, Bun B was always supportive, and he really understood it once he came down for it, and his voice was a major factor in the success of SXSW Hip-Hop for sure. He was always so positive about it.

AllHipHop.com: Davey?

Davey D: The first time I went to SXSW was to do a panel on bringing healthcare to artists. It was with Rock Rap Confidential and Rock-A Mole. When there it was crazy, because there was thousands of people and no Hip-Hop. I think there was like one rap act performing with a rock band, and it was really big deal that a Hip-Hop act was there. When Matt started bringing acts, I believe he brought Dizzee Rascal from London, and it was huge deal. By the time I was doing panels…the line up for Hip-Hop had grown dramatically. It was still a lot of underground acts alongside local/Texas artists. That was pretty good, as it was nice to see  the underground scenes from different regions link up.

AllHipHop.com: Theda and Matt, you have both moved to Austin for good from New York and Houston respectively. Can you speak on the changes that have occurred in the city over all since this awareness has been made?

Matt Sonzala: Man, its gotten pretty crazy Hip-Hop wise. Just the sheer numbers have increased artist and fan wise. It’s crazy. Austin has always had a lot of concerts of all kinds throughout the year, but I will say for sure that in these past few years, those numbers have grown. It’s like every Hip-Hop artist comes through Austin now, at some point in the year. And everyone is here for SXSW. Austin is the type of city that most people want to return to once they have experienced it, that is for sure.

Theda: Austin during SXSW is not at all like Austin not during SXSW. The city is one massive gridlock alert day meets Madri Gras for 10 days straight. SXSW is one of the largest drivers in the local economy. I believe South By infused more than $100 million into the economy last year. With all the major brands that are participating this year, that number will only grow. Since the SXSW hotels always sell out, probably the biggest change in recent years is the number of locals leaving town to rent out their homes to SXSW goers via HomeAway or AirBnB.

Matt Sonzala: What do you think of the present state of Hip-Hop in general and how it has evolved at SXSW?

Theda: I think a lot of these guys were raised eating way too many soy products to be real with you, but in the end, Hip-Hop is in a great place right now. There’s so many different styles coming down the pipeline and regional sounds are becoming more mainstream. Not that that hasn’t happened before, but I am saying as a whole. When I sit back and look at who is really doing it right now from indie to major, it really spans a pretty wide diaspora of music. I personally would like to hear more rappers attempt to lyrically overthrow the government, but whatever. There’s some great music happening right now.

AllHipHop.com: Have you ever feared it will get too big, like say Freaknik? [laughter]

Davey D: My one concern was seeing a lot of mainstream acts show up and do these side parties and events. I don’t think they are concerned about nurturing the underground scenes. They just wanna piece of the large audience showing up SXSW on many levels was designed to set up infracsture for indie artists, not be a farm team for the majors. This means when an artists comes to SXSW, he/she is interacting with folks. They are part of the makeup, not flying in to do a show, have 50 bodyguards  and do a VIP tent keeping them at arms length from everyone. I recall the year before last, when there was a couple of showcases for artists from overseas, that got lost by huge side parties being thrown by majors who flew in major artists who saw this as a pit stop and not a building block.

Matt Sonzala: I am very, very extremely afraid of that to be honest with you. I mean, we have a small city here for real, and more and more people come every year. I think we attract some real cool music fans, and SXSW is generally a lot of fun. I am not tripping. But space wise? Sh*t, try to get a hotel for SXSW 2013 right now. You will probably already have issues. It’s nuts.

A producer who has contributed hits to most “Shady” affiliated artists like 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Royce Da 5’9”, and more, Porter is stepping out on his own with a new album, tHe mEmO, and a new production company, My Own Planet.

“I’m just really stepping out on faith. Encouraging people to take that leap with the life we have left and LIVE IT!” Porter told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive statement reacently. “Do what you need to do to make yourself happy.”

His first solo project, tHe mEmO, is an EP, to be presented by My Own Planet, and includes a title track first featured on Royce Da 5’9”’s album, Success Is Certain. Porter produced and sang on the hook, and one version features Joe Budden, and on another, Big Sean. Porter plans to develop and produce several artists who will follow his release.

tHe mEmO is being released as “Denaun,”, his first name, not his previous moniker, “Mr. Porter.” He states that this is him in his purest, rawest form:

“I’m representing regular people with regular problems. People trying to find themselves. The music is “conscious” music. Each song has a powerful message. This is me expressing a higher level of creativity.”

tHe mEmO has yet to be released, but check out the teaser video below. Denaun Porter is currently in Austin for SXSW with Eminem.

In addition to the aforementioned performers, Curren$y, Kirko Bangz, XV, and Snow Tha Product will be backed by DJ Drama, with Hip-Hop personality Sway handling host duties.

The showcase, which takes place at La Zona Rosa in Austin, will begin at 8:30 p.m., with the stream kicking off at 9:40 p.m. CST.

For more information, visit Warner Sound and watch the showcase stream below:

We hear security could barely contain the mayhem once Yeezy took the stage and began addressing the crowd. Several other artists were in the building, including Slaughterhouse, Talib Kweli, MGK, Miguel, and MC Hammer. For so many stars, security did NOT hold it down – people had to run for cover as all h*ll broke loose. And yes, I said HAMMER was there!!!!

Once the crowd calmed down,Yeezy and Big Sean were able to perform “Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay”. Check out a video of the performance below:

With regards to the panel’s theme, according to Cashmere, “Since the social media burst in 2004, Hip-Hop Industry tastemakers and artists have embraced these platforms as an essential tool to connect with fans and to extend their brand. These early adaptors learned to engage fans, disseminate content and create brand awareness. What are the new trends and next steps for Hip-Hop in the multi-cultural future of social media?”

The panel will be moderated by Cashmere Agency’s own Ryan Ford, Vice President of Creative Strategy, and feature top industry influencers: Elliott Wilson (CEO, RapRadar and RESPECT Magazine), Karen Civil (Founder, KarenCivil.com and Beats by Dre), Devi Dev (SiriusXM Co-host, MTV Show “Hip Hop POV”), Nick Adler (Director of Branding, Stampede Management – Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, Far East Movement, The Airplane Boys), and Justin Siegel (CEO, Mocospace).

The panel will be held today (Wednesday, March 14) from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM CST at the Austin Convention Center (Room 13AB). Watch the live Ustream below or on the Cashmere Ustream page:

Well, according to several reporters who attended Jay-Z’s Amex Sync Show on Monday night in Austin, Texas during the SXSW Music Festival, Jay-Z forgot the lyrics to two of his biggest songs! Reports are saying that Hov forgot the words to his Grammy winner, “Empire State of Mind” as well as to the classic “Jigga What, Jigga Who”.

The concert received mixed reviews, with one reporter commenting, “The concert’s first half gave the impression of a man performing for a corporate-sponsored promo event. This was not the rapper’s finest 90 minutes.” – Wow, really?

Maybe Jay had an off night. We’re all entitled to those, aren’t we? Anyone see the show? Did Jigga really flub his lyrics?

The both street- and college-educated rapper has dropped three mix-tapes: The Day The Game Changed 1, 2, and 3. Lee also dropped his first album, The Surface, in January. The young trailblazer is making a point to steer the Hip-Hop game in an upward direction, with a slightly different scope of what the game has been missing in lyrical contact.

AllHipHop.com: So you’re originally from Oklahoma? How long were you there? Do you remember it at all?

Erreon Lee: I was born in Tulsa, yeah, I was there up until grade school and I was like six. Then my family moved to Louisiana with my stepdad. He was a football coach. I was there for another six years, until I was 12. Then my family stayed in Tulsa for about two more years through middle school. And I went to high school in Fort Myers, Florida… it’s about a hour outside of Miami. I moved around a lot. Then I moved to Texas my senior year in high school…been here ever since.

AllHipHop.com: So all that moving had to have really shaped the artist that you are, with so many geographical influences.

Erreon Lee: Right, it did. I believe it’s a benefit I might have up against other artists, you know, not just being from one region, but just having moved around makes me more of a well-rounded person as well as an artist.

AllHipHop.com: Why did you guys stay on the move?

Erreon Lee: My stepdad and my mom parted ways, so we moved back to Tulsa. And a lot of people don’t know about Tulsa – they think it’s a bunch of Indians runnin’ around, but Tulsa is like a little California to me! They dress the same, the accent is kind of the same. I’m not saying they bite off Cali people, but a lot of people that are in Oklahoma have family from California. A lot of my family, you know when it gets back into the tree, they come from California. But yeah, it’s real gang affiliated, man, where I’m from on the north side. A lot of the California gangsters, when they wanted to lay low they moved to areas like Little Rock and Tulsa.

So it’s been like that since my mom was a kid back in the ’70s. All my cousins and everybody like that are involved in all that, and I was headed down the wrong path. My mom saw that and didn’t want me to end up like the rest of my family members. We had no positive male influence in our whole family. So she went to a job fair out in Florida, and it turned out she had enough college credits to get a job teaching. She came home one day and was like, “We’re movin’ to Florida!” We packed up and left the next week. Being in Florida made me more well rounded, being around different cultures. I look back and I’m happy I got a chance to move out of Tulsa, so I didn’t end up like everybody else.

AllHipHop.com: What did you have planned for yourself before music?

Erreon Lee: My life was pretty much centered on basketball. My mom tried to save up as much as she could to send me to all the good Nike basketball camps. A lot of my smarts come from her, too. She went back to school and finished up on her MBA. She was business oriented; she was always telling me about the business and marketing world, so it was something I took a liking to. After that, I said if I go to college I want to study business marketing. I most definitely wanted to play basketball in college, but I broke my ankle my senior year in high school. I tore it up pretty bad, so the interest from colleges kind of went away. I still went to school though, and that’s when I was really focusing even more on music.

At that time, I was thinking I really could be better in music than in basketball. I still wanted to go to school, but I wanted to go to school for a reason I could still use for music. I chose to do business marketing and get into the field of like how to become an A&R for a record company. Everything is so independent these days, the role of an A&R is kind of dissolving. So if I could be my own A&R and learn how to market myself, I could use my degree for music and not just have it for nothing. I’m about six months out from getting my bachelor’s degree right now; I just took a semester off because I’ve been doing so much traveling.

AllHipHop.com: So you got some Hip-Hop is in your blood, too. Your dad was the former DJ for Vanilla Ice, DJ Earthquake?

Erreon Lee: Right! My dad did some stuff for Vanilla Ice, NWA, D.O.C. Music has always been in my blood, and I really grew up a sports guy. I played football, basketball, baseball all through grade school. But my thing was really basketball; I always did music as a hobby. But I started taking it seriously when I was about 17 or 18 years old, people started telling me you might be able to do this for real, like as a career. They really started believing in my skills and ever since then, I just been trying to polish and get better.

AllHipHop.com: When you really started working on your music seriously, you were in Dallas. But your music style is not typical music for the Dallas scene. How did you deal with that clash?

Erreon Lee: It was kind of difficult at first, because my style is a little bit different. I just tried not to look at the negatives in it and use the positives like, that’s good because I sound different from everyone in my region so I may stand out a little bit more because I’m not doing what everyone else is doing. At that time, I was just doing like freestyles and things like that but when I was about 19, I put out my first real mixtape just to throw it out there and see how the public would receive it. It was called The Day The Game Elevated. And when I put it out, people were like, “Ok I see what you comin’ wit’ now!” and I don’t feel like it got enough respect for it, I thought it was pretty good for my first mixtape. So I was just like I gotta go harder!

So I put out The Day The Game Elevated 2 a year later, when I was 20. Now people were like, “Ok, I really see what you doin’ now.” And right after that I was like I just wanna do an album; I was tired of doin mix-tapes. I knew it would take a long time to put out the kind of quality album that I wanted to. So in between Elevated 2 and my album which is The Surface, my viral buzz really started goin out of control. People were ordering t-shirts from my website, the hits on YouTube, and the blogs started noticing me.

I had a fan base that I really didn’t want to keep waiting because I knew The Surface would take a little more time and development, so I put out The Day The Game Elevated 3. It was just a small, 10-song project that I put out. I did that when I was 21, pretty much releasing something every year. I just released The Surface on my 23^rd birthday. It has all original music on there. I think it really just represents where I want to go as an artist, and it’s a story about where I came from, and it was perceived well with the public. So that’s where I am now, getting more exposure and touring those songs.

AllHipHop.com: I notice your ‘Game Elevated, Surface’ concept. Explain the next level, smart rap concept you’re bringing to the table.

Erreon Lee: That’s exactly what it’s meant to be. The Day The Game Elevated was a confident title. It wasn’t meant to be arrogant, but it was a confident title you know, about a young independent in the game trying to raise the standards. The Surface, and even the single off the album, “We Here” doesn’t say we made it or we’re on top or anything like that. It’s just…I’ve surfaced, you see me, I’ve arrived, I’m here and it’s time to get recognized.

AllHipHop.com: Your YouTube is WarriorTV… You call yourself The Warrior…

Erreon Lee: Yeah, that’s my alias. It really represents me as a person. My stepdad gave that to me when I was younger cuz I just didn’t stop. He said I was a warrior. Even if I was having a bad day, I just stick through it. I just keep a warrior mentality all the time towards life. Ironically, that’s what they used to call me on the court, too, ’cause I’m pretty nice with that rock. [laughter] But with music, I think it’s the same way. It just represents the struggle of the market that I’m in trying to break through doing the kind of music that I’m doing. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I just keep that warrior mentality about me as I go through things.

AllHipHop.com: You recently did some work with one of the hottest DJ’s in Dallas, DJ ASAP. How was that?

Erreon Lee: DJ ASAP, man. I remember when I was 18 standing in long lines in the cold, tryin’ to get in the club, waitin to see DJ ASAP break records I’ve never heard before. I used to be like, man, I can’t wait til he’s spinnin my records. And it’s all happening now. He’s always showing me love, and he got behind the whole project. He just believes in everything that’s going on around me, and he’s been a good accomplice to have on the team because he has a really great ear for what people want to hear. He’s taken somewhat of an A&R role, and we bounce ideas off each other between him and my management. It’s just a great team and I’m lookin forward to the future with DJ ASAP. That’s most definitely my official DJ out here in Dallas.

AllHipHop.com: You have your first performance on a bigger stage coming up in Austin for AllHipHop’s Breeding Ground Showcase at SXSW. How are you feeling about it?

Erreon Lee: It is gonna be my first time on a bigger stage. I’m most definitely ready for it. I’m ready. I’m always ready to turn up. When them lights come on, it’s showtime.  I can only imagine the energy of what it’ll be like. I can’t wait personally.

AllHipHop.com: We’re all looking forward to it! It’s been real talking to you. See you at the show.

Download Erreon’s mixtapes and album at www.erreonlee.com and follow him on Twitter (@ERREONATION). Expect a high energy show from Erreon Lee on AllHipHop’s Breeding Ground Stage at Kiss n Fly  in Austin this Friday, March 16.

Other Breeding Ground performing artists include Big K.R.I.T, Travis Porter, Smoke DZA, Chevy Woods, and Future. The showcase will also feature performances from Mystikal, Trae The Truth, and Juvenile. See you there!

Headlining acts will be Mobb Deep, Freeway, Killa Kyleon [BGA], Gangsta Boo, XV, Sir Michael Rocks, Skyzoo [BGA], Torae [BGA], Jon Connor [BGA], Emilio Rojas [BGA] and many others!

SXSW badges will be honored all night until capacity. Showtime 8PM- 2AM.

Today’s panel will feature Hip-Hop artists and activists Dee-1 and Jasiri X, among others (see the full panelist list below). Moderated by Rob “Biko” Baker, executive director of The League of Young Voters, the discussion will explore the urban blogosphere’s impact on youth engagement in the 2012 Election. The diverse group of panelists will discuss how the digital media climate has changed over the past four years, along with its influential role in the upcoming November election.

Watch the Ustream below:

Panelists

Chloe Hilliard, Editorial Director, TheLoop21.com (@Chloe_Hilliard)

Dee-1, Hip-Hop artist (@Dee1Music)

Jasiri X, Hip-Hop activist (@Jasiri_X)

Quentin James, National Director, Sierra Student Coalition (@QJames)

Erica Williams, Senior Strategist, Citizen Engagement Lab (@EricaWilliamsdc)

Rob “Biko” Baker, Executive Director, League of Young Voters Education Fund, @bikobaker

Rashad Robinson, Executive Director, Color of Change, @RashadRobinson

* AFTER THE PANEL – Monday, March 12, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. CST

The League will live stream the “Why Hasn’t the Internet Made Voting Awesome?” panel from SXSW. The founders of the “Netflix for Voting” will discuss how technology is revolutionizing the electoral process.

Guests can tune in on YoungVoterLive.com and interact with the panel using the hashtags #sxsw or attend in person at the AT&T Conference Hotel in Austin, TX (visit HERE  for more information).

A number of top West Coast rappers are confirmed for the event, which will take place on Saturday, March 17 from 8pm – 2am at Kiss & Fly nightclub in Austin, TX.

Artists like Strong Arm Steady, Self Scientific, Terrace Martin ft. 9th Wonder, Pac Div, Dom Kennedy, Jay Rock, Ab Soul, Kendrick Lamar, Nispey Hussle and others are confirmed to perform.

For more details visit vibe.com/sxsw and to support on twitter use #VIBEHouseSXSW!!

If you won’t be at SXSW this year, The VIBE House will also stream live via Livestream, so fans around the world can tune-in to watch the entire show, exclusive at new.livestream.com/vibehouse  and AlliHpHop.com.

In addition to 50′s performance, Shady Records artists Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf will also both have sets of their own at the showcase which is being presented by Beats By Dre, Fuse, Lipton Brisk and The Village Voice.

Shade45 and Rap Radar will also be involved with the Shady 2.0 showcase as they present “The Next Phase” which will be hosted by Sway and feature performances from Big K.R.I.T, Action Bronson, Don Trip, Schoolboy Q, S.T.S. and The Foodchain.

The Shady 2.o Showcase will take place on Friday March 16th at the Austin Music Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For more information visit www.ShadyRecords.com

Confirmed artists to perform during this year’s Breeding Ground showcase include Juvenile, Mystikal, Trae the Truth, Don Trip, Big K.R.I.T, as well as Breeding Ground Artists [BGA] Future, Travis Porter, Chevy Woods, Smoke DZA, Six Reasons, Erreon Lee, Dee 1, Tito Lopez, Rockie Fresh and the new additions of The Airplane Boys and Chase N Cash and others.

The first event to take place is AllHipHop.com’s Breeding Ground showcase, which takes place on Friday, March 16 from from 8pm – 2am at Kiss & Fly nightclub in Austin, TX

For more details visit vibe.com/sxsw and to support on twitter use #VIBEHouseSXSW!!

If you won’t be at SXSW this year, The VIBE House will also stream live via Livestream, so fans around the world can tune-in to watch the entire show, exclusive at new.livestream.com/vibehouse.

Just before he heads to perform on five showcases at the South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference next week in Austin, Texas, Big K.R.I.T. has issued the first visual from the mixtape for the single “Boobie Miles.” WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

Download Big K.R.I.T.’s 4Eva N A Day HERE. For more info on his and other SXSW showcases, visit www.sxsw.com.

Fast forward to 2012 and The Dean’s List are preparing to release their debut album, Generation X, while touring constantly to help expand their fanbase and perfect their crafts. Molding genres to create one uniquely uniform sound is not as easy as it seems, but it’s a task that the producing duo of Mik and Mendoza have almost perfected as they lay the foundation for MC Sonny Shotz to do his thing on the mic.

AllHipHop.com spoke to the trio while they had some downtime from headlining the “Road To SXSW Tour” they’re currently on with fellow Breeding Ground artist Rockie Fresh. The guys talked about their background and influences, the impact that The Drive-In had on their careers, and what they have planned musically in the near future:

AllHipHop.com: How’s it going, guys?

The Dean’s List: Good, man, really good.

AllHipHop.com: So first things first, how did the three of you hook up and ultimately create The Dean’s List?

The Dean’s List: In my [Mendoza's] senior year of high school, I was playing basketball with Sonny, and then we started doing music together and didn’t really take it to seriously. Then the summer before Berkeley, I met Nick in the dorm rooms and we were just doing a lot of Techno production and having fun with that. And then Sonny came into the picture, and we all started doing music together in the dorms; that led to doing music full-time.

AllHipHop.com: How would you guys personally describe your style and sound?

The Dean’s List: I [Sonny] think it’s just a mix of a bunch of different genres. I’d say it’s like Indie, Rap, Pop, Electro, I don’t know [laughter]. It’s a little bit of everything.

AllHipHop.com: That being the case, I’m curious to hear who you guys are most influenced by when you’re creating music?

The Dean’s List: I [Sonny] always looked up to and really respected Bob Dylan as a musician. I think he’s an awesome songwriter, and I love how he puts stories together. I’m also a big Jay-Z fan and a big fan of The Beatles. Mendoza is a big fan of a lot of classical music. Also Jay-Z and Kanye, I think the way that they connect with their fans beyond music is just amazing and also what their music stands for.

AllHipHop.com: Do each of you guys remember the first Hip-Hop related purchase you made?

The Dean’s List: First Hip-Hop record I [Sonny] bought was Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Actually, no, that’s a lie. It was G-Unit’s Beg For Mercy. I [Mendoza]didn’t listen to a lot of Hip-Hop when I was really young, but I remember really connecting with Kanye’s Graduation. I used to really listen to a lot of other music, and then I started getting into Hip-Hop later on.

AllHipHop.com: I hear you guys. So let’s get into the music that you three create. I want to start with The Drive-In, which you guys put out last year. I believe that it was the project that really elevated you guys at least in terms of having the industry take notice. In your own words though, what do you think The Drive-In did for your careers?

The Dean’s List: I [Mendoza] think it really helped launch us and gave us a really great start. We weren’t touring or anything like that before it came out and after The Drive-In. Even though the numbers at the shows were kind of small, it was really cool for us to be able to go all these different places across the country and have people know our music. That alone was really cool; that was really the breaking point for us.

The Drive-In really established us and helped us as artists. Especially because we were creating music, going to shows and seeing people recite our songs. That was also around the point where we were half in school and half doing all of The Dean’s List stuff, so it was kind of an interesting transition for us.

AllHipHop.com: So let’s fast-forward to your upcoming album, Generation X. This will be the first project you guys release that you all focused 150 perent on as a group. Is that fair to say?

The Dean’s List: Yeah, that’s fair. We definitely had a lot of trouble when we released The Drive-In since we were dealing with school and stuff like that, and we were barely passing classes at a certain point with all of the traveling and stuff like that. Generation X is really the first time we were able to focus completely 150 percent to a project and be committed to it.

AllHipHop.com: What is the difference musically between what you guys were creating when you were juggling school and music and what you have been able to create now? How has the sound evolved?

The Dean’s List: I [Sonny] think it’s just a lot more mature, the stuff coming from us, like the song topics and the things we’re talking about and also the production on Generation X is a lot bigger then The Drive-In. I think, overall, like lyrically and melodically, everything came together really well, and we kind of matured as we were working on it so it’s definitely a step up.

AllHipHop.com: And you guys produce all of your own music, right?

The Dean’s List: Yeah, we produce and write everything. It’s all in-house.

AllHipHop.com: Is that something that’s done collectively between the three of you, or is that more-so Mendoza’s job?

The Dean’s List: It’s Mik and myself [Mendoza] that do the production pretty much. Overall, it’s done as a collective. Mik might start working on something, and then I’ll jump in and work on it and we’ll just finish it up. Sonny will put his two cents in, too, on what he’s feeling or maybe not feeling so every track is touched on collectively by us. It’s a group process, for sure.

AllHipHop.com: What is the significance of the title Generation X to the three of you?

The Dean’s List: It’s basically saying that Generation X is the generation before us, and we are influenced by the people and music that came before us. And it shows through the music we’re making now, that the past is just as important as the future. That’s the message we’re trying to get across with the album.

AllHipHop.com: How far along in the recording process are you guys with the album?

The Dean’s List: We’re finished with it. We’re done with everything.

AllHipHop.com: So when can the fans be expecting to hear Generation X?

The Dean’s List: April 3.

AllHipHop.com: I know you guys had a select few features on the last project. Are there any features on the album?

The Dean’s List: There are 16 tracks on the album plus two bonus tracks. We didn’t really get any rapping features besides this vocalist Danny that was on our last project and Sid Sriram who’s on the single “Youth”. We’re not really too into doing features.

AllHipHop.com: Now, you guys have pretty much been on the road for the past year, and you’re now on the “Road to SXSW Tour” with Rockie Fresh and Casey Veggies popping up on a few dates. What is the experience on this tour like compared to the last one?

The Dean’s List: So far the tour has been going well. We look forward to rocking the stage every night that we have to perform. It’s always a wild time.

AllHipHop.com: If you could either make music or performing, which would you prefer?

The Dean’s List: I’d [Sonny] say the making music part of it, because that’s where you can be the most artistic and it allows you to perform. I [Mendoza] think it’s really cool to perform the music that I created and see the fans and people in the crowd respond to it directly. It’s definitely cool to be able to perform in front of people and get out there and have that one-on-one fan connection.

AllHipHop.com: And seeing as how the tour is called the “Road to SXSW,” I have to ask what your plans are for SXSW? Is there anything special going on?

The Dean’s List: We definitely do have some things coming up at SXSW that are pretty exciting, and we’re definitely looking forward to getting down there to Austin.

AllHipHop.com: Any plans to tour immediately after Generation X drops?

The Dean’s List: Yeah, we have a lot of college dates and a lot other stuff coming up in April that we’re excited about. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like once Generation X drops. There may not be an immediate tour, but we’ll be doing a ton of shows throughout the country.

AllHipHop.com: What do you feel sets you guys apart from everyone else who makes music and is trying to get their star to shine so to speak?

The Dean’s List: We don’t strive to be different or anything; we just strive to make the music that will inspire other people. I’d like to say that we’re the best thing out there and the most different group you’ve heard, but at the end of the day, there’s a million people making music like you said, so it’s really up for the listeners and fans to decide what’s worth listening to. Our fans love us and support us so much, and they also have a great taste in music and that helps us create and be responsible for what we make.

AllHipHop.com: Is there anything else you want the fans or readers to know?

The Dean’s List: Generation X is coming April 3^, and we’re going to have a video for the single “Youth” dropping really soon. There’s actually going to be a video for every song on the album, so we’re really striving to bring the visuals to life. It’s going to be a great year for us.

AllHipHop.com: Great guys. I’m looking forward to hearing the album. Thanks for your time.

The Dean’s List: Thank you, man. We definitely appreciate it.

Download The Dean’s Lists’ Mixtape The Drive-In Now!

Follow The Dean’s List On Twitter: (@FollowDeansList)

On Monday, March 12 at 8:00PM EST, Jay-Z will partner with American Express to offer a live-stream his show via the Internet. Fans can interact with Jay-Z during the show by using the Twitter hashtags #JayZSyncShow and #Song to cast their votes for which songs he should perform.

The 2012 appearance marks an encore for Jay-Z at SXSW. Last year, he made a surprise appearance with fellow Throne-mate Kanye West. This year’s concert has had rumors swirling recently, but was confirmed by the American Express show announcement.

Jay-Z’s SXSW concert will be offered on repeat on American Express YouTube channel from March 13-19. For more info on SXSW 2012′s massive lineup, visit www.sxsw.com.

Yes, there are Black people in Kansas, XV wants you to know from the start. The Midwestern states are filled with them; in fact, enough that promoters staked their claims on XV for the recent “Midwest State of Mind Tour.” There, along with his roadies, he can seen wearing Halloween masks (when it’s nowhere near Halloween) and crowd-jumping with the best of the young, rap set.

AllHipHop.com caught up with XV recently to hear more about his tour and his plans to wow the crowds in the coming weeks and months. Check the interview below:

And, yes, the XV stands for the Roman numeral for 15, and he wants you to be curious about what that stands for. It’s the age he began his quest for music stardom, and a reminder to him daily that at 26, he still has years ahead of him. In the meantime, catch XV at SXSW next week during The Warner Sound Showcase on Thursday, March 15, where he’ll be in good company with artists like T.I., B.o.B., Wale, Meek Mill, Stalley, Curren$y, Kirko Bangz, Snow Tha Product, and DJ Drama.

Visit XV’s website at www.iamxv.com. Follow XV on Twitter (@XtotheV).

If your @ SXSW, you do NOT want to miss this concert!

Uh Oh! If the rumors are correct, we are hearing something epic is going to go down at SXSW! The word on the street is that the two biggest names in rap are going to make an appearance up in Austin. On the last Saturday of the festival, rumor has it that the twin titans are going to do an exclusive show. Surprise! Opps…hopefully we didn’t spoil the surprise. Who knows, South by gets bigger every ear. No real shocker, but a shocker nonetheless.