Yule Prog is an annual event celebrating Progressive Hip-Hop in New York City. It was started by Uncommon Records and has grown to include Backwoodz Studioz and Reservoir Sound. Starting with a simple December date for a show, that bill quickly grew to include Beans from Anti-Pop Consortium. That first event was a huge success and soon it grew into an annual event that many New York hip-hop heads mark on their calendars yearly. The bills are always stacked with at least 10 acts and they take on a festival feel, that said, every artist on these events is always chosen and curated so that from act 1 to act X there is a reason that person(s) is on stage. Over the years the event has hosted KA, Homeboy Sandman, Meyhem Lauren, Open Mike Eagle, Brown Bag All-Stars and almost every artist associated with Uncommon, Backwoodz and RSW. In 2013 we'll be heading into the 7th Annual Yule Prog. If interested in sponsorship opportunities please write to info -at- uncommonmusic.net. Enjoy some videos of previous events below.
6th Annual "Yule Prog" (2012)
For the 6th Annual "Yule Prog" we had KA, fresh off the release of his classic "Grief Pedigree" album as our headliner, you can see him performing "Decisions" above. The 6th Annual event also marked an expansion in the partnership between Uncommon Records and Backwoodz Studioz that extended to Reservoir Sound. The 3 NYC Progressive Hip-Hop labels put together a card that also included Billy Woods, Cavalier & Faro Z, Cult Favorite, Jesse Abraham, PremRock, Adam Warlock, Taiyamo Denku, We Are Not For Them, Pruven & Shortrock and Hype Wonder.
5th Annual "Yule Prog" (2011)
In 2011 we reached a milestone in throwing our 5th Annual event. We had a twin headline bill of Meyhem Lauren and Open Mike Eagle. Unfornately, our 5th event has the least video available online. If you were there please get in touch with us with your video or upload it to Youtube for us - thanks in advance. Our 5th event was one of the most filled to capacity events we did while were were at Southpaw with all sorts of luminaries from NYC Hip-Hop history in the crowd and on the stage. The event also featured PremRock & Willie Green (with one of the best performances of the evening / "Be the Change" featured above), Marq Spekt, Billy Woods, the then newly formed Cult Favorite (Elucid & A.M. Breakups), Auxiliary Arms (L.I.F.E. Long & Masai Bey), Junclassic, Adam Warlock, Lyle Horowitz, Pruven & Creature.
4th Annual "Yule Prog" (2010)
In 2010 we enlisted NYC Underground vet LoDeck to headline the festivities that were held, once again, at Southpaw. Peep LoDeck performing "No Rims" above. Also on the bill in 2010 were Elucid, L.I.F.E. Long, The Presence, A.M. Breakups, HiCoup, Megabusive, Billy Woods, Teddy Faley, Willie Green, The MC Faceman, Warren Britt, Pruven & Cavalier. This also marked the first year where we had acts (that weren't signed to either Uncommon or Backwoodz) from beyond the tri-state perform at a Yule Prog with Megabusive travelling from San Jose and Teddy Faley from Baltimore.
3rd Annual "Yule Prog" (2009)
In 2009 we returned to Southpaw in Brooklyn with the then-new collaborator to both Uncommon Records and Backwoodz Studioz, Elucid closing out the night (you can see him performing "Then We Rage" above). Sharing the bill that night was also Brown Bag All-Stars, Marq Spekt, MC K-Swift, Masai Bey, The Presence, W.A.S.T.E.L.A.N.D.S., 11:00A.M., Zesto, Wilie Green, HiCoup, Centri, Shortrock and Octane Katana.
2nd Annual "Yule Prog" (2008)
The 2nd Annual "Yule Prog" will likely stand as one of it's best in retrospect, it also began the partnership in the event between Uncommon Records and Backwoodz Studioz. Headlining the night was Vast Aire (seen above performing portions of Cannibal Ox' "Raspberry Fields"), but also on the bill were two up and coming emcees at the time - both Despot and Homeboy Sandman took the stage. The annually stacked line up, now at it's new home at Southpaw in Brooklyn, was also filled with Super Chron Flight Brothers, Zesto, Shortrock, HiCoup, 11:00A.M., W.A.S.T.E.L.A.N.D.S. and Chaz Kangas who won a set by winning the battle the night before where The Presence and Masai Bey also performed.
Yule Prog Emcee Battle (2008)
In 2008, a 2nd Date was added to Yule Prog for the first and only Yule Prog Emcee Battle. The 2nd date featured performances from The Presence and Masai Bey and the battle featured Taiyamo Denku, Rabbi Darkside, Chaz Kangas, Johnny Voltik, Skarman and Watusi. We had an elimination style first round and then a 3 man final, but the closest battle of the night was Taiyamo Denku and Chaz Kangas in a decision that is still debated.
1st Annual "Yule Prog" (2007)
The first Yule Prog ever assembled took place at what was then called Galapagos (currently Public Assembly) in Brooklyn, NY. Nasa, looking to organize a show ended up with a date in Decemeber close to the holidays and thus the concept of a "Yule Prog" was born. The show featured a headlining Beans (from the legendary Anti-Pop Consortium), you can see him performing "We Rock" above. The rest of the stacked first ever bill included Masai Bey, L.I.F.E. Long, Super Chron Flight Brothers, Karniege, Megalon (aka Tommy Gunns) {with Panama P.I.}, The Presence, HiCoup, Creature, 11:00A.M., Zesto, Centri and E. Coli.
