Fresh - Part 285

Big K.R.I.T.’s Neva Go Back really comes alive when accompanied by a band. Check out this ill performance with Grillade.

We posted the preview of Big K.R.I.T.’s collabo with Grillade last week. This is going to be a dope EP when it drops. Support good music. .

January 19, 2011 Audio

Missed this dope article Complex did on the Top 25 Kanye West verses of 2010 but it’s worth posting late.

It includes a breakdown of each verse along with an audio snippet. It’s a must for all Kanye fans. Big props to Complex for this. Click here for the article.

January 17, 2011 Food for Thought

This track for Members Only Jacket Music by The NU Revolution Camp is official. The sample is mostly violin and there’s no real bass line, so it’s a nice contrast to the usual.

Click here to download.

January 17, 2011 Audio

Here’s another video premiere. This one is courtesy of Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa for That Good. I bet you can guess the theme…

January 17, 2011 Video

You’ve heard Saigon’s Greatest Story Never Told. Here’s the video.

The album drops on 2/15. Support good music. .

January 17, 2011 Video

Happy MLK Day. It’s a day of reflection so here’s a playlist that reflects many perspectives on the State of the Union 82 years after the birth of the man named King.

You’ll find music from Common, Black Star, Nas, Actual Proof, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., 2Pac and others. Enjoy and keep the dream alive. .

January 17, 2011 Playlists

AFH TV – Your 24-Hour Fix of the Best in Hip-Hop

January 16, 2011 TV

Could Araabmuzik be the next producer to dominate hip-hop? @omarakil3 thinks so after seeing his razor sharp skills on the MPC beat machine. What do you think?

The kid in this post just might have invented the next trending topic in hip-hop battling, cause he most likely won’t be (or is not) the only game in town

January 16, 2011 Video

With the NFL playoffs heating up and DJ Premier dropping some heat on that Reks track, it’s perfect timing for this week’s PREEM-EAR by @omarakil3.

PREEM-EAR: NICK JAVAS PEPSI NFL AUDIBLE Sorry folks about the delay. The PREEM-EARs have been more delayed than a NY snow plow after the 2010 Blizzard. But being a true

January 16, 2011 Video

Reks wrecks a DJ Premier beat on 25th Hour. This is vintage Primo. Check it out.

There are tags on this one but I’m betting you won’t care by the end. Click here to download. .

January 16, 2011 Audio

Lloyd Banks is really, really underrated. He consistently puts out quality joints. Here’s one called Fly Like the Wind ft Jim Jones.

Click here to download. .

January 16, 2011 Audio

Wow. Copywrite go IN lyrically on Mega Mega. Here’s the video ft Camu Tao, Tage, Jakki and RJD2.

January 16, 2011 Video

Saigon’s album is sounding like it’s going to be a classic. Here’s another hot joint called Clap from the forthcoming Greatest Story Never Told. It features Faith Evans singing the best gospel heard on a track since Jesus Walks.

Once again, Just Blaze provides the fire on the track. Click here to download. The Greatest Story Never Told drops on 2/15. Here’s some more of that gospel rap: And,

January 16, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Actual Proof’s Talented Tenth album dropped on Dr. King’s birthday. There have been a lot of great leaks from this one the last few days. Here’s one more and a link to download the album. They’re giving the album away for free but it would have been worth buying.

Click here to download the album from DJ Booth’s site. Here’s the official description of the album: Fresh off their DJ Booth approved single Breathe, Sundown and Enigma, together known

January 16, 2011 Audio, Mixes

Something about TiRon and Ayomari’s Good Food reminds me of The Pharcyde. What do you think?

Both groups have similarly light-hearted, melodic flows and the ability to rhyme about silly subjects but still keep them engaging. Click here to download. And here’s a little Pharcyde for

January 16, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

DJ Khaled’s Welcome to My Hood will be rocking the clubs for a minute. It features Rick Ross, Plies, Lil Wayne and T-Pain.

Click here to download..

January 16, 2011 Audio

This week’s playlist is an ode to some of the G-Funk greats of the 90s. Some will be expected–Dre, Snoop, DJ Quik, Ice Cube–but there may be a couple of surprises that make your head nod a little harder.

I was catching up on some reading today and finally read the Wiz Khalifa article in the October 2010 issue of XXL magazine (the whole issue was incredible). There was

January 14, 2011 Audio, Playlists, Throwback, Video

This may be blasphemy but the hook on Rittz’s Fulla Sh*t sounds just like Pimp C. It’s fitting coming from a dude who named his album White Jesus. This song is TOUGH. It features Big K.R.I.T. and Yelawolf. One of the strongest to drop in a while.

Rittz actually has the best verse on the song, and that’s saying something with K.R.I.T. and Yelawolf on the track. Click here to download..

January 13, 2011 Audio

Statik Selektah drops a cool animated video on a track that sounds like it could have been done in the mid-90s (and I mean that in the best possible way) for the song 17 ft Mac Miller and JFK.

This is from Statik Selektah’s album called Leftovers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNYFSE3AvTI&feature=player_embedded.

January 13, 2011 Video

Here’s a 4th track from the upcoming Actual Proof project called The Talented Tenth. These dudes are serious. Serious lyrics, serious beats, serious talent. This one is called The March.

The track is produced by Khrysis who Little Brother fans might remember from some quality collaborations. If you missed the other Actual Proof leaks, click here. Or, wait to get

January 13, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

It’s been a good week for Chicago MCs. Rockie Fresh and Naledge from Kidz in the Hall make it even better. Check out the video for Living.

Kids These Days kicked off the week showing there’s room for more than one hip-hop band and Rockie Fresh ends it showing there are more Chicago MCs than those named

January 13, 2011 Video

How could I not post a new joint by Showbiz and KRS-ONE ? This one is called We Love This and also ft Fred Tha Godson

Click here to download. And, here are a couple of classics from Showbiz and the blastmaster KRS-ONE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDyYHIDJ1CQ.

January 13, 2011 Audio, The Bridge, Throwback

Mickey Factz made some noise in the fall of 2010 but then he disappeared. He’s back with a new song called Black Tearz pt 2. Part 1 was cool, but part 2 is fire. Check it out.

Mickey Factz’s Paradise had a sonic feel that was similar to Public Enemey #1. This one is much more smoothed out. Click here to download. Here’s Black Tearz part 1,

January 13, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Once again it’s the man with the master plan, they call him Sam and I think u better recognize. Here’s a “new” Sam Sneed joint called Lady Heroin.

Judging by the looks and sound of this however it’s much more likely an unreleased gem from the early 90’s. Not mad at that though. It was a classic era

January 13, 2011 Audio, Throwback, Video

Here’s more Actual Proof that they are dope. This one is called Great Minds. Their album The Talented Tenth drops on MLK’s bday. Not a coincidence…

Click here to download. If you like what you hear, click here for more Actual Proof..

January 13, 2011 Audio

This new Naughty by Nature song caught me by surprise. It’s more proof there’s no expiration date on the age for making good hip-hop. Check out the video for FLAGS ft Jaheim and Bilal.

The video is a mini-movie that features Ice-T. It’s a little heavy-handed but has a positive message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtJi8SE69E8&feature=player_embedded.

January 12, 2011 Video

Got beats? Here are some soulful instrumentals from an artist named Jansport J. You can listen to the whole album, Save My Soul, below.

If you like what you hear, support good music. .

January 12, 2011 Audio, Playlists

So while we’re on the topic…what is Underground anyway?

Is it a genre? A description of an artist’s commercial status? A reflection of whether you’re signed to a major label? All of the above? Neither? People use the term

January 12, 2011 Food for Thought

It wouldn’t be right to have a night dedicated to underground rap without featuring Mr. Underground, Talib Kweli. Check out this interview on his career and new album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPBTspue2Xg&feature=youtube_gdata_player.

January 12, 2011 Video

Stalley is one of the freshest cats to hit the underground scene in a while. Check out The Tune Up.

Click here to download Monkey Ish, another super hot track from Stalley. Click here to download..

January 12, 2011 Audio

Good things come in 2s. 2 nights, 2 strong cuts from Actual Proof. Dream was produced by 9th Wonder and Breathe sounds like it was produced by DJ Premier but was produced by AMP. Still underground…and hot.

Actual Proof are 9th Wonder’s new project (sorry LB fans). 9th and Phonte recently squashed their long-standing beef but there are no plans for a Little Brother reunion. In the

January 11, 2011 Audio

Mike Jaggerr’s Cruise Control with Big K.R.I.T. dropped a few nights ago. Here’s the mixtape.

If you missed it, here’s Cruise Control (or listen below). Click here to download from the official web site. Here’s the tracklist: .

January 11, 2011 Audio, Mixes

Let’s keep it strictly underground tonight. Here’s a hot one from J. Pinder aptly titled All That Fire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUViTbzeNkM&feature=player_embedded#!.

January 11, 2011 Video

Here are 2 dope joints straight from the underground. Check out Varsity Blues 2 by Murs and I’ma Murder by Jarren Benton.

Murs’ Varsity Blues was produced by Aesop Rock and I’ma Murder was produced by SMKA. Both showcase lyrics first but the tracks are still official. I might blow up but

January 11, 2011 Audio

Young Lace may remind you of another young rapper who is a fan of the medicinal. Check out his video for…Gettin’ High.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59_c36UkUsM&feature=player_embedded.

January 11, 2011 Video

Keeping it on the live hip-hop tip, check out Big K.R.I.T. in the studio with a band called Grillade. If this preview is any indication, K.R.I.T. is still on the come up.

By now, you know we’re FANS of K.R.I.T. Here’s another reason why: According to Yours Truly, there will be a whole EP released called The Grillade Sessions. Let’s hope. In

January 11, 2011 Video

Kids These Days…are really dope. Like The Roots, they are a true hip-hop band. Check out their video for Darling.

Here’s another one from them called My Days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mriAvnEctro.

January 11, 2011 Video

NEW KANYE WEST AND JAY-Z. NUFF SAID. It’s called H.A.M…you’ll figure it out.

This is a dark track with big strings. Need to give it a few more spins. What do you think? Click here to download..

January 11, 2011 Audio

Outasight continues dropping hot joints. Losing My Mind is more on the jazzy underground tip. He’s another one poised to blow in 2011.

Outasight been killing it for a minute and continues to stretch the boundaries of hip-hop. Click here to download..

January 11, 2011 Audio

Beat lovers get ready to feast on some true ambrosia for heads. Witness the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League’s sample battle.

Here’s some footage of Drake in the studio with the mighty J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League where he challenges them to battle one another with their dopest samples. It’s part of the Any

January 10, 2011 The Bridge, Video

Next up for Swizz Beatz’s Monster Mondays? Rick Ross. Check out The Transporter.

This isn’t the strongest Monster Mondays offering, but it’s cool. The old school joints he did with Rakim and DMX were super on point. Click here to download..

January 10, 2011 Audio

Whoa. Up and coming producer Phonix sliced and diced We Are the Champions like a Samurai on Fashawn’s Manny Pacquiao. It’s worth checking for the sonic experience alone.

He sets it up nicely by letting the original ride for a minute in the beginning. Click here for more Fashawn. Click here to download. Here’s We Are the Champions:

January 10, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Keeping it on the Nas tip here’s another (relatively) new joint called Courthouse.

This one first dropped a few months ago, but this version is tagless. Click here to download..

January 9, 2011 Audio

Will Nas and DJ Premier do a whole album together? Hear what Omar Akil has to say on the matter in the latest installment of PREEM-EAR.

This ep of PREEM-EAR is more anecdotal than a “display of hidden hotness”. I found this little clip of Primo calling out Nas in the motherland. You’ve heard the rumors.

January 9, 2011 Audio, Video

B.o.B. rocks out on a sample from an 80’s classic by Foreigner. He is one of very few in hip-hop who could pull this off. Check out the performance of Cold As Ice.

This song just further builds his claim that he can’t be defined by one style. Click here to download his No Genre mixtape. Here’s Foreigner’s version of Cold As Ice:

January 8, 2011 The Bridge, Video

Newcomer Mike Jaggerr comes with a slinky joint as laid back as its title–Cruise Control. And he invited Big K.R.I.T. for the ride. Check it out.

Click here to download..

January 8, 2011 Audio

You heard the “G-Mix” for Wiz Khalifa’s Black & Yellow ft Snoop Dogg and T-Pain. Now here’s the video.

This is probably the first of many collabos between Snoop and Wiz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWAGLkyxQG0&feature=player_embedded.

January 8, 2011 Video

Yelawolf and Trae Tha Truth go BERZERK on a heavily Latin-influenced track. Get your head ready for this one. It’s called Sht I’ve Seen, but it’s not sht you’ve heard before.

Click here to download..

January 8, 2011 Audio

Saigon drops another hot one ironically called It’s Cold. Here’s the video.

It’s no secret we’re Saigon fans. Here’s why. His album drops on 2/15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26c4oVsfIhI&feature=player_embedded.

January 7, 2011 Video

Some may say Jay-Z but my money is on Snoop Dogg to be the first rapper to have a hit after turning 50. Check out his new video for Wet.

This one could be called Sexual Eruption–The Sequel. As with most sequels, it’s not nearly as good as the original, but the video is too hot for TV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Fj33r2qdc&feature=player_embedded.

January 7, 2011 Video

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