Twin brothers Jonathan and Jarred Lindsay aka Mackamillion and Mr. Mackmore, known as the hip-hop duo Double Vision, are the newest force poised to take over hip-hop. Their debut album, Bifocal, is being released next month on the ultra-hip indie rock label No Sleep Records and is reminiscent of Pharcyde, Outkast mixed with Gym Class Heroes. Backpack Cat spoke to the backpackers from their shared apartment in LA.

NB: Being twins, have you guys ever played a trick on kids at school or your teachers ?
DV: Once. It was at Palms elementary school here in L.A. Some kid who knew us really well told on us, so we beat him up later.

NB: Do you like being compared to other twin rappers, like Ying-Yang Twins or Kane and Abel?
DV: As far as Ying Yang twins, were they even actually twins? As for Kane and Abel, they were a pretty good group. People used to call us that when we were younger, so that comparison is cool--minus the gangster image.

NB: Of all the rappers today, who do you wish had a twin?
DV: nicky minaj, but if you see nina sky, tell them to get at us!

The Eastbay Express called Bifocal an "impressive debut" and "We won't be revoking your hipster card any time soon, Double Vision..." For full article, click here.

Visit DoubleVision on twitter: dvhiphop On Twitter | dvhiphop on MySpace.com

Zion-I Hit the Road for West Coast Tour

From The Grouch and the Mighty Underdogs to Rebelution and Soja, hip-hop duo Zion-I have toured around the country with some of the most talented musical acts in the country. Now, as they put finishing touches on they're 7th album, they are getting ready to hit the road again, bringing one of the best live hip-hop shows to cities across America. The forty city tour starts in their home town of Oakland with a rare reunion show with Black Star (Mos Def and Talib Qweli) and ends in September. The guys will be performing songs from their forthcoming album.

ZION I TOUR

July 31, 2010 Oakland, CA, Fox Theater **Opening for BLACK STAR

August 6, 2010 Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Brewing Company

August 7, 2010 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater w/ Pretty Lights

August 13, 2010 Plainfield, VT - Rhinofest Music Festival

August 14, 2010 Portland, ME - Asylum

August 19, 2010 Reno, NV - The Beach Club at the Grand Sierra Resort

August 20, 2010 Bend, OR - Domino Room

August 21, 2010 Bellingham, WA - Wild Buffalo

August 22, 2010 Portland, OR - 2410 Mississippi

August 27, 2010 Sacramento, CA - The Venue

August 28, 2010 Fairfax, CA - 19 Broadway

August 29, 2010 Arcata, CA - Humbrew

September 4, 2010 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey

September 5, 2010 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall

September 15, 2010 Aspen, CO - Belly Up

September 16, 2010 Boulder, CO - Fox Theater

September 17, 2010 Fort Collins, CO - Aggie Theater

September 18, 2010 Denver CO - Cervantes

September 23, 2010 San Francisco, CA - Amp Live @ The Mighty

September 24, 2010 Santa Barbara, CA - West Beach Festival

BACKPACK CAT SCORES EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE FOREIGN GLOBESTER

NB: Who is the Foreign Globester?
FG: He's a guy who is against the grain in his home town. He travels the world with what he has to offer and gets better reception over seas and in other areas of the u.s. for what he does. He's so foreign to everyone--even in his birth place. He has no time to see or care on who will except what he brings to the table. He's gotta keep it moving. Whatever he's doing, he'll be foreign to the globe with no home.He's no sob story. He's a figure-outter!

NB: How did you meet the Rondo Brothers?
FG: I was recording an album with my man Sean from Hate Breed called "KING BEAST" and we happened to record it at the Rondo's studio. They turned out to be some really down to earth cool cats and we started vibing the next thing i know they were asking me to come record for commercials and projects they were doing. When I came to record, they let me breathe do what i felt and it was on. We did a Palm Centro commercial where santa clause was fat and came out young and skinny. These guys want to create not follow.

NB: What does the Globester do for fun?
FG: Uniquely investigate...

NB: I read somewhere you tell stories around campfires in the Yukon, bonfires in the Middle East, woodfires in South Africa? Have you ever told stories around a pit-fire in the Hamptons at Martha Stewarts or Diddy's? What was that like?
FG: Undisclosed posture

NB: I also read somewhere that you seek love and find emptiness. That's sad, have you ever found love, even from a rescue dog?
FG: Being foreign to the globe, you experience small scale and big scale things, intermediate beings, it's all relevant and how you engulf it in. I love and hate my past and future! I love frog leaps im making , and I hate some toad warts I left.

Click here for more info on the Foreign Globester !!!!!

The Burnerz, a collabo between Zumbi (of Zion I) & Houston producer the Are, are readying a project of their own this Fall. Backpack Cat asked Zumbi some questions about his latest musical endevour, what it's like to work with a new producer and who exactly is The Are?

NB: Who is The Are and how'd you meet him?
Zumbi: The Are is a veteran producer out of Houston, TX. He began his career with K-Otix in the early 2000's. Within the last couple years, he signed on to Trackmasters and has credits on Keisha Cole's last album, along with credits with the Game and Ludacris. We met while on our 2nd tour in Europe during 2003. We spent 3 weeks travelling, and became homies while on the road.

NB: How is this record different from a Zion I album?
Zumbi: I feel like it is more of a testament to raw emotion. Usually, Zion I records go thru several layers of editing before they are sent out to the public. On the Burnerz album, everything has been done with the idea to capture the initial emotion of both lyrics and beats, and then it is served directly to the listener without any manicuring.


NB: What's the idea behind your record?
Zumbi: The concept of the Burnerz is to bring the world honest hip hop music, less concerned with image, while being totally committed to fresh musical content.