There’s something about Pusha T. He’s made a career of rapping about the coke game that’s stretched several records with his brother Malice as Clipse and now into his recently released solo mixtape Fear of God. But even as he talks about the up’s and down’s of slangin’, the Virginia Beach MC knows how to weave words and find plenty of tasty beats to bump in order to keep things interesting. That practice is abundantly clear in the video for “My God”.

While he’s riding around in some Lamborghini being driven by a video vixen and dropping verses in front of a rag-tag group of little drummer boys, the darker side of the bling and bitches he so covets is exposed as having a price thanks to interspersed shots of impassioned preachers. It’s that undertone of morality and consciousness that separates T from other rappers/hustlers. Now, do your own musical Hail Mary and check out the video above (via Pigeons and Planes).

Fear of God is also getting a physical release with new bonus material as the Fear of God: Let Us Pray EP.  No word yet on what the new stuff may be, but the EP is set to hit stores June 21st via Decon Records (fret not, though; Pusha T is still a G.O.O.D. Music artist.)

Making the announcement after West’s surreal performance at last night’s VMAs, where he dropped a verse, Pusha T did say that he’s “definitely doing my solo project through G.O.O.D. Music.” Fret not though, Clipse fans, as he also confirmed the brothers were still recording, saying that they’re “definitely coming with a new Clipse project. We’re definitely coming with the Re-Up Game project. The family is still here, man.”

If the VMA performance wasn’t absurd enough, make sure to check out Pusha T on the most recent G.O.O.D. Friday offering. As always, stay tuned for more news and release details as they’re announced.

Since then, as XXL reports, Barker has recruited even more hip-hop heavyweights, including Eminem, Drake (duh), T.I., Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, RZA, Lupe Fiasco, Clipse, Yelawolf, and The Cool Kids. In other words, basically everyone except Kanye… but he has an excuse.

XXL reports the still-untitled record is due for release in October, and that Barker not only handled the album’s drumming but its production as well.

Of course, we’ll update you as more details become available.

Rock the Bells 2010 will feature Wu-Tang Clan performing Enter the 36th Chamber, Rakim performing Paid in Full, KRS-One performing Criminal Minded, and Slick Rick performing The Great Adventures Of. Other acts scheduled to take part in the festivities include Street Sweeper Social Club, Murs & 9th Wonder, Clipse, Immortal Technique, Brother Ali, and Wiz Khalifa. For a full list of confirmed acts, click here. And it probably goes without saying that even more will be added in the weeks to come.

Update: The tour announcement also mentions “special guest” Lauryn Hill, but does not elaborate on what role the former Fugees and solo star will play on the tour (via MTV).

Currently, Rock the Bells 2010 stops have been announced for Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Washington, DC. Ticket information is still forthcoming.

Rock the Bells 2010:
08/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ NOS Events Center
08/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Shorline Ampitheatre
08/28 – New York, NY @ Governors Island
08/29 – Washington, DC @ Merriweather Post Pavilion

Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 5th via Livenation.com. For the full lineup announcement, this in Twitvid form, scroll down. We should also note that tonight marks the one year anniversary show for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. So, congrats to J-Fal, The Roots, and everyone else involved!

Two songs that stand beyond those restrictions (for better or worse) are two jams spun with some island flavor. “There Was A Murder” is an interesting beast. It’s a fusion of some bargain basement reggae, complete with Rastafarian chorus, and the boys switching to a Caribbean flow. The anti-snitching jam is west coast sensibilities with a calypso rhythm. “Footsteps” a better version of the Jamaican fusion, much grittier and funkier. The chorus is like Montel Jordan doing Matisyahu with an Autotuned wailer in the mix. There’s even the line “it weighs on my conscience and I hate conscious rap”, demonstrating a level of uncertainty about maturing.

“Popular Demand (Popeye’s)” is a confusing conundrum if there ever was one. While the phrase “Sittin’ outside of Popeye’s, eating chicken and fries” has a Will Ferrell-like ability to catch on, the whole thing kind of falls apart. It’s one part gangster gloat feast to the beat of an old-time piano and one part meditation on how absurd the game is (“Who knew all those commas meant you could lose your common sense”). A case of good intentions being bogged down with asinine hooks. “Counseling” is the jam for those with a sex addiction. It’s another one of those really interesting balances of the scummy rap player beating his chest while demonstrating a genuine lack of an ability to connect and commit. Throw in Nicole Hurst, a poor man’s Beyonce, and you’ve got sexy R&B meets ‘80s cheesy gimmick rap ala the Fat Boys with a dash of N.E.R.D. level skate thug thrown in for good measure.

“All Eyes On Me” is the first cameo that isn’t a huge letdown (sorry Kanye and Cam’ron). Keri Hilson actually sounds like a vixen and is smokier than ever. It might also be that this is like some Neptuned-Bollywood jam that celebrates throwing money and women with well-endowed posteriors. It could even be an album breakout. “I’m Good” is the kind of Will Smith “Summertime” celebration of sheer abandonment as the brothers work to buck off the negative vibes of their community and the ever-crumbling world around us. Call it the lowest common denominator, but the combination of a beat that rumbles and buzzes and Pharrell’s heavy falsetto makes for an infectious hit.

The songs where they bare it all to the world make the club favorites that much more acceptable. The opening track “Freedom” speaks to the whole emotional aim of the album. The brothers have suffered and gained from rap. This is the song, and by extension the album as a whole, where they can establish a world where they’re remorseful and not yet ready to get off the streets. Best line: “My critics finally have a line of mine to jerk off to.” Add in the lighter than air guitar and the battle-ready drum machine and the message is pretty clear: Clipse is in charge. “Showin’ Out” goes from satirizing Lady Gaga to tearing into the cruel mistress that is rap (“Common loved her, I wish I never met her. They slutted her out, there’s nothing left to treasure”). Here, Clipse offer emotional insight into why the duo do what it does behind a distorted track full of effects and jingly keys that burns alongside them.

“Champion” is the celebration with a beat that would make T.I.’s Paper Trail a non-currency color of green. “Life is with your kids watching Madagascar in the head rest of the H3 with crash bars, rocking play clothes, every day’s a catwalk”. More evidence they’re dealing with a new level of realness. Sadly, they have a tendency to go overboard on the whole concept. “Life Change” is less an angry flow regarding feeling wretched and more this kind of really cheesy anthem. The thinly veiled Christian metaphors and lyrics (especially on the second verse) are disingenuous. “Now I’m back on board due to the Lord’s GPS” is just awful. Same thing for “Door Man”, which features lines like “I put my money on the roof and crush this bitch” and “Don’t cry for us now, just pray for our babies.” It’s kind of amazing the depth of spirituality the song portrays while at the same time portraying the most conceited rappers imaginable.

Take your feelings for Clipse and put them aside when you give the album a spin. The brothers are in brand new places with a brand new sound and the jury’s still out regarding whether this move will be for the best or not. However, there’s no mistaking that while the new music is sometimes emotionally evocative and other times uninspired cliches, the game has forever changed for Clipse.

Buy:
Til the Casket Drops

And the best part? All the performances will be free to attend, though for the big, Sunday night finale Phoenix’s features Against Me!), you must test-drive a Kia Soul at some point during the weekend.

Told you this is shaping up to be one of the most unique things you’ll ever see. Find tour dates below; hit Kia’s website for info on who is playing when.

Kia’s “Soul Collective” 2009 Tour Dates:
08/27-30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ice House
09/10-13 – Chicago, IL @ Envent Event Space
09/17-20 – Washington, DC @ Warehouse
09/24-27 – Philadelphia, PA @ 23rd Street Armory
10/01-04 – Miami, FL @ Awarehouse
10/08-11 – Atlanta, GA @ Ambient Plus Studios
10/15-18 – Boston, MA @ AFH
10/22-25 – New York, NY @ TBD
11/05-08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Siren Studios

Clipse & Cool Kids 2009 Tour Dates:

Old will meet new next month when the critically acclaimed Virginia hip-hop group known as Clipse will hit the road with Chicago’s The Cool Kids. Lasting throughout the month of August, the tour consists of 13 dates, including two in Clipse’s home state. Select tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com. In other news, The Cool Kids still have yet to release their debut full-length.

08/12 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
08/15 – Las Vegas, NV @ LAX
08/16 – Pomona, CA @ House of Blues
08/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
08/18 – San Diego, CA @ Canes
08/23 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews
08/25 – Grand Rabids, MI @ Intersection
08/26 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
08/27 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Place
08/28 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
08/31 – Richmond, VA @ National
09/01 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
09/03 – Oxford, OH @ Brick Street Bar

Sea Wolf 2009 Tour Dates:

Alex Brown Church and the rest of Sea Wolf will hit the road this September in support of their new album, White Water, White Bloom. The tour runs through late October and will include Port O’Brien and Sara Lov as support. Select tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.

09/14 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho Bar & Music Club *
09/15 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar *
09/16 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House *
09/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour *
09/18 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club ^#
09/21 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios ^#
09/22 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club ^#
09/23 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern ^#
09/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue ^#
09/26 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive ^#
09/28 – Omaha, NE @ The Slowdown ^#
09/29 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry ^#
09/30 – Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet ^#
10/01 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern ^#
10/02 – St. Louis, MO @ The Billiken Club ^#
10/03 – Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio ^#
10/04 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House ^#
10/07 – Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center for the Arts ^#
10/09 – Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee’s ^#
10/13 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club ^#
10/14 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge ^#
10/16 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall ^#
10/18 – Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club ^#
10/19 – Washington, DC @ DC9 ^#
10/21 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Nightlight Bar & Club ^#
10/23 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl ^#
10/24 – Nashville, TN @ Exit In ^#
10/27 – Dallas, TX @ The Cavern ^#
10/28 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Jr. ^#
10/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts ^#

* = w/ Afternoons
^ = w/ Port O’Brien
# = w/ Sara Lov

Deer Tick 2009 Tour Dates:

In support of its recently release new album, Born on Flag Day, Deer Tick has unveiled a lengthy late summer, early fall tour that will see the Providence outfit comb the U.S.’s many venues and music festivals. Among particular highlights are appearances at this weekend’s George Wein’s Folk Festival in the band’s home state of Rhode Island and the Monolith Festival in Morrison, Colorado. Select tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.

08/01 – Great Barrington, MA @ Bella Terra Festival
08/02 – Newport, RI @ George Wein’s Folk Festival
08/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Prospect Park Bandshell *
09/03 – Uncasville, CT @ The Wolf Den
09/06 – Ithaca, NY @ Stewart Park #!
09/07 – New York, NY @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise ^
09/08 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe ^
09/09 – Bloomington, IN @ Video Saloon ^
09/10 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge ^
09/11 – Iowa City, IA @ The Mill ^
09/12 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre ^
09/13 – Morrison, CO @ Monolith Festival
09/15 – Centralia, WA @ Olympic Club
09/16 – Portland, OR @ Kennedy School
09/17 – Gearhart, OR @ Sand Trap
09/18 – Portland, OR @ Musicfest NW
09/19 – McMinnville, OR @ Hotel Oregon
09/23 – Bend, OR @ Old St. Francis School
09/24 – Seattle, WA @ High Dive
09/25 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
09/26 – Forest Grove, OR @ Grand Lodge
09/27 – Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield
10/03 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
10/10 – Joshua Tree, CA @ Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival
10/11 – Joshua Tree, CA @ Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival
11/05 – Wallingford, CT @ The Space
11/07 – Northampton, MA @ Iron House
11/08 – Boston, MA @ Church

* = w/ Grace Potter and The Nocturnals
# = w/ The Hold Steady
! = w/ The Felice Brothers
^ = w/ Jonny Corndawg