In 1988, Rony Seikalybecame the Miami Heat’s first ever draft pick when the center was signed ninth overall. Twelve years later, “The Spin Doctor”, as he was lovingly known by fans, hung up his basketball shoes after scoring 9,991 points and grabbing 6,424 rebounds in his NBA career and playing a one-on-one with Magic Johnson to prove that HIV is not contagious by touch. Fast forward to 2012 and now, the Heat have picked up their second ever NBA Championship and Rony is an international DJ and is currently promoting his first ever compilation record with Nervous Records, Nervous Nitelife Presents Rony Seikaly, released on June 5. A few days ago, I chatted with the former NBA star and DJ sensation about his new career in music, which you can read about below.
I’ve read that you wish to become a well-known musician not because of your basketball career, but because of your music, which is a very humble and grounded mindset to have. I’m just wondering though, has there been any overlap between your music career and your basketball one?
Music was always in my blood. When I played basketball, music was always my sanctuary. I never thought about making music as another career but it happened organically.
Did you ever think the nickname “The Spin Doctor” would extend outside the basketball court?
It’s very ironic but never thought it would.
What was your first exposure to music? Could you tell me more about the “music rooms” in your homes?
My parents were music enthusiasts. They would play classical music, disco and other genres always at the house and my dad would always play his guitar. When I turned 14, I wanted to get my own equipment so I saved up my money and bought two turntables and a mixer at first, then turned a storage area into my own club. All my friends would come and hang out for a nominal fee where I would play the music and with the money made I would upgrade the lights and sound. As the years went by and I started playing in the NBA, I would always turn one of the rooms in my house into a music room and invite friends — only difference was that it was free of charge.
Your music seems to have a very wide spread of influences. What was your favorite era of music and what influenced your sound the most?
I grew up on disco, early hip hop and early house but always had a wide range of musical taste from ethnic, tribal, rock to classical.
What has been your favorite moment in your music career so far? How does that compare to your favorite basketball moment?
Nothing compares to the adrenaline of sports. Music is a hobby, sports is my love. The highlight of my musical career is when I released my first track and thought it was so surreal.
What’s next for you?
I am enjoying the moment. Not looking ahead just yet.
How do you feel about how the way the NBA Finals ended this year?
I have my special ties with the Miami Heat as I was the number 1 pick in that franchise’s history. So it’s very satisfying for me personally to have seen the transformation of the franchise from its inception to champions.
Thanks for taking the time to chat. Best of luck with everything, Rony!
Rap group Odd Futurejust released a new music video for “Sam is Dead” which features Tyler, the Creator and Domo Genesis. The song is from the OF Tape Vol.2, which was released earlier this year. The video was directed by Tyler, the Creator under the Wolf Haley alias and is shot as a war short film. The video features appearances from Lee Spielman of Trash Talk and many OFWGKTA members including Lucas and Earl Sweatshirt. Watch the music video below.
By now, you’ve probably seen the short film for Lana Del Rey‘s “National Anthem”. Apparently that wasn’t enough for A$AP Rocky and Lana Del Rey, who teamed up once again for the second single off Rocky’s forthcoming LongLiveA$AP LP. “Ridin'” was originally supposed to appear on April’s Follow The Leaders mixtape from The KickDrums, but Rocky liked it so much he wanted to save it for his album.
Lana, who has always described herself as a huge fan of hip-hop, trades verses with Rocky on the new cut, which is literally a tribute to the indie songstress and the Harlem rapper’s apparently budding romance. Rocky repeatedly mentions, “Long hair, Lana, that’s my b**ch. You can tell by the swagger in her lips.” Cute.
One of this year’s most anticipated short films (I say one because I’m hoping that Kanye‘s 7-screen short film for Cruel Summer will somehow leave Cannes and see a public release) was just released onto the internet. Directed by Anthony Mandler, the video for Lana Del Rey‘s “National Anthem” clocks in at just under 8 minutes and features the singer masquerading as both Marilyn Manson and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Playing the part of JFK? None other than Harlem upstart A$AP Rocky, who does his best impression of the charismatic President, complete with suits, snapbacks, blunts, and more. It’s all rather surreal and, well, it has to be seen to be believed. It’s also probably going to spark quite a bit of controversy… but that’s another topic entirely.
Frank Ocean of Odd Future has released the final details of his forthcoming new album Channel Orange, his Def Jam and official studio debut. Out on July 17th, Ocean’s new album features a verse from Outkast‘s André 3000 and additional collaborations with John Mayer and fellow Odd Future cohort Earl Sweatshirt. He also posted the album’s cover (seen above) and its full tracklisting on his Tumblr account.
Channel Orange Tracklisting:
01 Start
02 Thinkin Bout You
03 Fertilizer
04 Sierra Leone
05 Sweet Life
06 Not Just Money
07 Super Rich Kids [ft. Earl Sweatshirt]
08 Pilot Jones
09 Crack Rock
10 Pyramids
11 Lost
12 White [ft. John Mayer]
13 Monks
14 Bad Religion
15 Pink Matter [ft. André 3000]
16 Forrest Gump
17 End
Today, Lost In The Sound is extremely excited and honored to premiere a brand new song from two-thirds of upcoming hip-hop trio THEBLKHANDS. “Live Lucid (Pt. 1)” features two-thirds of the group and is the final single from Dominic Serendip‘s debut album Live Lucid, set for release in early July. The track is produced by ILLA, who also produced THEBLKHANDS’ first single with Big K.R.I.T. The group’s 2nd single, which features Smoke DZA & Fenix, will be out very soon.
Both Dominic and ILLA are on point on “Live Lucid (Pt. 1)”, which serves as an introduction to Dominic’s lifestyle and philosophy. Living lucid, as he describes it, is being able to live out your dreams and to create your own destiny. As he tears up ILLA’s masterfully constructed strings with verse after verse, it’s clear that he lives what he preaches: Dominic’s passion for his music and his desire to make his dreams come true shine in his rhymes and because of that, I’m glad to have a chance to premiere the track today and be a part of his lucid dreaming. Give it a listen for yourself below.
Pussy Wizard is a relatively new band with their latest content being released in February 2012. They currently have two EP’s: F.J.V. 1 and ABRACOOLDADBRO. I downloaded their second album a long time ago and couldn’t stop listening to the song “West Coast Ghosts”. After recently hearing two of their songs on some playlists (Fork and Spoon’s Free Love Free Download playlist, for instance), I have fallen into an obsession with the band and downloaded their first EP. Both EP’s are incredible, with such an original sound that keeps the smooth vibes flowing from song to song. They are currently available for free on Pussy Wizard’s Bandcamp. You can listen to F.J.V. 1 below.
For Gossamer second single “I’ll Be Alright”, Passion Pit goes absolutely all out with maximalistic production and high-tempo, high-pitch vocals from Michael Angelakos. Like some of the main standouts from Manners, Angelakos’s falsetto is on full blast with his melodies anchoring the track and then his lyrics playing second fiddle. But the beauty of “I’ll Be Alright” is that while the song sounds extremely happy and summery, Angelakos discusses his personal and emotional troubles; his first line says it all: “Can you remember ever having any fun?/ Cause when it’s all said and done I always believed we were/ But now I’m not so sure.” What sounds bubbly on the surface has a whole lot more bubbling underneath. Give it a listen below and Gossamer will be available on July 24th through Columbia Records.
On Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night, the Legendary Roots Crew, Fallon himself, and pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen teamed up for a cover of Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” using nothing but classroom instruments. Questlove rocks out with his kazoo while simultaneously playing a güiro with what appears to be an Afro pick. That’s talent.
It’s hard not to smile when watching such talented musicians have so much fun on their respective instruments. Bonus: Questlove gives a hearty laugh through his kazoo and Black Thought seriously rocks out.
Carly Rae Jepsen – vocals, triangle
Jimmy Fallon – wood block, tambourine, bass drum
Questlove – washboard stick, kazoo, recorder
Tuba Gooding Jr. – kazoo, recorder
Frank Knuckles – bongos
Captain Kirk – ukulele
James Poyser – melodica
Mark Kelley – toy xylophone
Black Thought – tambourine
Frank Ocean has the whole mysterious vibe down pat. Earlier this morning, the Odd Future-affiliated crooner posted a short snippet of a brand new song onto his Tumblr. He left no comment and from the video, we’re left to guess that the new song is called “TV” and will appear on a new release entitled Channel Orange, out on July 17th. The song features layered vocals and a dark, glitchy synth in the background. The two minute snippet features, unsurprisingly for Ocean, a BMW station wagon. Listen and watch for yourself below.
There’s a good chance that Channel Orange may be Frank Ocean’s first official release with Def Jam, which was previously rumored for release in the summer of 2012. Since releasing his shelved album Nostalgia, Ultra as a mixtape last year, the singer went on to gain internet stardom and two well-received features on Jay-Z and Kanye West‘s Watch The Throne. His first official single “Thinking Bout You” was released April 17, 2012 and may also be included on Channel Orange, although details are currently unknown at this time.
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