Fresh Archives

It’s time for another New World (Au)der where we take hot albums and re-order the tracks for your listening pleasure. This week’s is Raekwon’s new classic Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang.

NEW WORLD (AU)DER: RAEKWON THE CHEF "SHAOLIN VS WU-TANG Remember all the drama that select members of the WU had with the crew's 5th studio release, "8 DIAGRAMS"? Remember the rumor, that an album called "SHAOLIN VS WU-TANG" would eventually be released, (in spite of...), as a collective Wu-Tang Clan... Read more

March 27, 2011 Audio, Food for Thought

Need more basketball in your life? Check out Soul in the Hole a 90’s documentary on New York street ball. The soundtrack that accompanied it was a classic filled with some of the greatest names in hip-hop: Wu-Tang Clan, Brand Nubian, Mobb Deep, O.C., Common, M.O.P., Big Pun, Organized Konfusion…Check out the full movie and a playlist from the soundtrack below.

Click here to watch the trailer. Here's the movie: And, here's the playlist from the soundtrack:... Read more

March 27, 2011 Audio, Playlists, Throwback, Video

The next playlist features music that has more of a groove to it but it’s still head-nodding music. You’ll find new tracks by XV, Dom Kennedy, Sir Michael Rocks, Zion I and The Grouch, The Kid Daytona, E-40 and DJ Quik.

Just press play, sit back and enjoy.... Read more

March 26, 2011 Audio, Playlists

Quietly, a lot of good hip-hop has dropped (or leaked) over the last few months. Here are a couple of playlists with some of the better joints. On this one, you’ll find Pusha T, J. Cole, Kidz in the Hall, Rapper Big Pooh, Phonte, Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., Chuuwee, Pharoahe Monch and others.

It has more meditative, darker beats--think 9th Wonder-type music. Click here for the second playlist.... Read more

March 26, 2011 Audio, Playlists

Here’s some new GhostWrida ft Freeway. Check out Window Cracked.

Here's a video teaser and you can listen to and download the full song below: http://vimeo.com/21500751 ... Read more

March 26, 2011 Audio

OK…so I was a little late on Nardwaur but better late…

For anyone else who missed these or who wants to be entertained (again) check out the best of Nardwaur vs. Hip-Hop. It's cool to see him consistently engage some very respectable minds in hip-hop with deeply researched questions. Warning: These interviews are like Lays...No one can have just one. Nardwaur... Read more

March 26, 2011 Food for Thought, Video

Here’s an incredibly entertaining interview with Big K.R.I.T.

Nardwuar, the interviewer, is a character, but dude is amazingly well-researched. You can see the respect for each question on K.R.I.T.'s face. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93zbaLjsLh0&feature=player_embedded... Read more

March 25, 2011 Video

There have been a lot of hot leaks from Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy and Curren$y lately. Check out the mixtape.

Listen to all of Jet Life to the Next Life and download it below. Props to 2DopeBoyz for putting this together. Download Mixtape... Read more

March 25, 2011 Audio, Mixes

Can’t wait for Pete Rock’s new album with Camp Lo next week? Check out this week’s playlist dedicated to some of his best joints.

Pete Rock is a DJ AND a Producer AND and an MC. As a triple threat, he's one of the nicest to do it. Here are some of his best productions (and co-productions) and turns on the mic. 80 Blocks From Tiffany's, his new album, drops Tuesday. Until... Read more

March 24, 2011 Audio, Playlists

Here’s some more soulful ish from Trademark Da Skydiver and Young Roddy. This track speaks for itself.

Check out Nothin' Lesser. Click here for more from these cats. Click here to download.... Read more

March 24, 2011 Audio

Wow. Zion I & The Grouch chopped up a classic Earth, Wind & Fire track really nicely on Victorious People.

It features Freeway & The R.O.D. Project. Check it out. Click here to download. Here's the Earth, Wind & Fire original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTQJ2QiK4QU... Read more

March 24, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

Skewby drops some knowledge on his new song Don’t Understand. Dude comes with substantive lyrics but keeps it entertaining…

...the beat is cool too. Support good music. Thematically, the first verse kinda reminds me of this gem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0WMSovOboY... Read more

March 23, 2011 Audio, The Bridge, Video

Kendrick Lamar is another one of the XXL Freshmen on the Honor Roll. Check out his 2 new joints.

First up is Don't Understand: Click here to download. Next is Outrageous: Click here to download.... Read more

March 23, 2011 Audio

Big K.R.I.T. is without a doubt one of the strongest of the 2011 XXL Freshmen. He’s done a stylish and introspective video for Dreamin’.

Check out the video and 2 new joints (Man On Fire and Now Or Neva rmx ft. Slim Thug) from K.R.I.T. below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqYgfX6dfxc&feature=player_embedded#at=217 Here's Man On Fire (from the XXL Freshman Mixtape): Click here to download. And here's the Now Or Neva Remix: Click here to download.... Read more

March 23, 2011 Audio, Video

The 2011 XXL Freshmen put on a show at NYC’s BB King’s last night and dropped a mixtape today.

Watch a recap of the show and listen to and download the whole mixtape below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuLlIsCAWqI&feature=player_embedded#at=22 Here's the mixtape: Download Mixtape... Read more

March 23, 2011 Audio, Mixes, Video

The 80 Blocks to Tiffany’s Reference from the last post inspired some video crate digging. Check out this 20/20 clip on hip-hop from 1981.

It is reported to be the first nationally-televised news story on hip-hop...ever. Though in some respects the verbiage almost sounds like an SNL skit because it's so rudimentary, it is also incredibly deep on some levels: 1. it's fascinating to see footage on the beginnings of the culture, 2. it's... Read more

March 23, 2011 Food for Thought, Video

If you are down with hip-hop from the 90’s, get ready. Pete Rock and Camp Lo are about to release a project together.

It's called 80 Blocks From Tiffany's and below are the intro and a song called Mic Check to whet your appetite for that good cookin'. In addition to the reference to the South Bronx, an interesting tidbit about the title of the album is it's a reference to the title... Read more

March 22, 2011 Audio

The Jets appreciate soulful tracks. It’s evident from the beats selected by Curren$y, Trademark Da Skydiver and Young Roddy.

Pilots, the newest record from Trademark Da Skydiver and Young Roddy, is no exception. Props to 2DopeBoyz for putting this project together. Check it out. Click here to download. Not convinced about the soulful selections? Check these out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x8MGapyqhc&feature=player_embedded#at=24 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS1m_Pa_0vA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9EuIRsXoL8&feature=player_embedded#at=33... Read more

March 22, 2011 Audio, The Bridge

We posted a dope track by Focus ft Kida last week. Now Rapper Big Pooh and Chaundon lay down some verses on it.

Dope rappers + Dope track (still) = dope record. Check out Idols & Role Models (Perspective #2). Click here to download. If you missed it, here's Perspective #1 ft Kida.... Read more

March 22, 2011 Audio

2 days, 2 dope freestyles. First up is Young Chris and then Pusha T.

Young Chris laced Toca Tuesdays and Pusha T dropped bombs with Funk Flex. Check 'em out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxFoKuC5Phw&feature=player_embedded Click here to download.... Read more

March 22, 2011 Audio, Video

Speaking of legends, here’s an unreleased track from Common.

It's got a reggae flavor to it. Check out Follow Me. Click here to download.... Read more

March 22, 2011 Audio

Keeping it on the West Coast tip, here’s some new E-40 ft Bun B and Slim Thug.

3 legends holding it down on a funky beat. This is some OG ish. Check out That Candy Paint. Click here to download and click here to buy the album. It's cool to hear Bun B on a verse and on the hook as a sample. Here's where E-40 got... Read more

March 22, 2011 Audio, The Bridge, Video

Here’s a cool interview where Pharoahe Monch reflects on working with Nate Dogg to create the classic Oh No.

This was one of the few East Coast joints that Nate Dogg blessed. Sucker Free Here's Oh No: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYrmop7g2cU... Read more

March 22, 2011 The Bridge, Throwback, Video

Wiz Khalifa teams with Curren$y his favorite partner in rhyme on Rooftops.

Click here to download. Rolling Papers drops on 3/29.... Read more

March 21, 2011 Audio

How dope is stic.man from Dead Prez?? Dude did a song and video about putting in work…in the gym and with his diet game!

Who does that?? Him. That's who. This is my ANTHEM after 5 days in Austin. Check out Back On My Regimen. http://vimeo.com/21287201 Yeah. It's still bigger than hip-hop for him and Dead Prez. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edzyY5NtAJA... Read more

March 21, 2011 The Bridge, Video

Jewels just continue to drop from SXSW. Check out this video of Black Milk performing with a full band.

Both the sound and video are professionally done, and gives you a great sense of what it was all about last week. http://vimeo.com/21305178... Read more

March 21, 2011 Video

Here’s a new Ab-Soul video for Nothin’. Once again, he flips up his style to kick something very different from past releases.

Still dope, though. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJxuweus8S0&feature=player_embedded#at=148 Click here to check out some of his other flows.... Read more

March 21, 2011 Video

DJ Quik rocked the house at SXSW last week. Here’s a good interview about his upcoming album, Book of David.

The album drops on 4/20. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilCGZZBQQ-s&feature=player_embedded... Read more

March 21, 2011 Video

Pusha T’s Fear of God mixtape has arrived. Listen to the whole thing and download below.

Download Mixtape Also, here's a cool interview between Miss Info and Pusha T on his thoughts on making Fear of God without Malice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GE7ZClQUZQ&feature=player_embedded... Read more

March 21, 2011 Audio, Mixes

It’s a good day for older mixtape gems. Here’s a new video from an old Freddie Gibbs mixtape.

Check out How I Feel from midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik. You can listen to and download the mixtape below if you don't have it already. http://vimeo.com/21238144 Here's the mixtape: Download Mixtape... Read more

March 20, 2011 Audio, Mixes, Video

Here’s some “new” J. Cole. This is apparently an unreleased track from The Warm Up sessions.

Whatever the case it's 90 seconds of typical J. Cole goodness. Check it out The Good Son Pt. 1. Click here to download. And if there's anyway you missed The Warm Up, click here to dowload 1 of the best mixtapes to drop in the last 5 years.... Read more

March 20, 2011 Audio

There have been a lot of great tributes to Nate Dogg but who better to show love than Warren G, Snoop and Tha Dogg Pound.

Check out their performance at SXSW. Also, below are 2 Nate Dogg mixes from DJ Premier and DJ Skee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWjlqjhpw6o DJ Premier Tribute Click here to download. DJ Skee Tribute Click here to download.... Read more

March 20, 2011 Audio, Video

Here are 3 new joints from Pusha T. Fear of God the mixtape drops next week. It’s about to be ree-diculous.

You can feel the heat from Spring coming with these. First up is I Still Wanna ft Rick Ross and Ab-Liva. Click here to download. Next is Feeling Myself ft Kevin Cossom. Click here to download. Last but not least is Alone in Vegas. Props to Shade 45 for these... Read more

March 19, 2011 Audio

Here are some random musings from SXSW.

Hip-Hop is alive and well in Austin, TX this week. If you're not up on South By Southwest (SXSW) it is a music festival that has been around for decades. It is now the world's biggest music conference. It has traditionally catered to indie rock but over the last few... Read more

March 18, 2011 Food for Thought

Some of these XXL 2011 Freshman Cyphers are pretty tight (especially parts 2 and 3). Check out all 3 below.

YG, Mac Miller, Diggy Simmons and Lil Twist Yelawolf, Kendrick Lamar, Lil B and CyHi Da Prynce Meek Mill, Big K.R.I.T. and Fred Da Godson... Read more

March 18, 2011 Video

50 Cent has been putting in work lately. Boomerang is one of his better tracks to drop in a while.

Click here to download.... Read more

March 18, 2011 Audio

Here’s a cool new upbeat track from XV ft Pusha T called Awesome.

Feels like a summer time joint. Check it out. Click here to download.... Read more

March 17, 2011 Audio

Mobb Deep wasted no time getting in the studio once Prodigy came home. Check out Love Y’all More.

Alchemist is on the track. There are tags from Funkmaster Flex, but you won't mind... Click here to download.... Read more

March 17, 2011 Audio

Here’s another solid XXL Freshman Freestyle. This one is courtesy of Big K.R.I.T.

K.R.I.T. continues to spit about the everyday struggle. Click here more of the best of these XXL Freshman Freestyles.... Read more

March 16, 2011 Video

The track for Pusha T’s Cook It Down dropped last week. Here’s the video.

http://vimeo.com/20957311 Click here for the download.... Read more

March 16, 2011 Video

My heart is heavy. Hip-Hop has lost 1 of its most important voices. The one and only Nate Dogg. Words alone cannot commemorate Nate Dogg. Here’s a playlist that showcases just a few of his great contributions to rap music. His impact cannot be overstated.

From his start with 213 with Warren G and a young Snoop Doggy Dogg, through his work on The Chronic, through more features than can possibly be counted on some of hip-hop's biggest records, Nate Dogg's silky-smooth gangsta flow is synonymous with the sound that put the West Coast on... Read more

March 16, 2011 Audio, Playlists, Throwback

Got lyrics? Jay Electronica does. His verses + Kanye’s beats = Blue Magic.

Devil in a Blue Dress that is...Check out the video for Prelude to a Freestyle: http://vimeo.com/21091889 J. Cole spit on this beat too. LOTS of fire on this track. Check out J. Cole's version and Kanye's original Devil in a New Dress below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7E0Hy6JK00 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rULPq7XEjY... Read more

March 15, 2011 The Bridge, Video

Trademark Da Skydiver kicks some more meditative ish on Committed.

Check it out. If you need some more music to meditate to, click here. Click here to download.... Read more

March 15, 2011 Audio

It’s a great day for lyricists. Next up is Pharoahe Monch.

The song is called Assassins (guess he and J. Cole are on the same wavelength these days) and features Jean Grae and Royce Da 5'9". Oh yeah...the beat is fire too! Pharoahe's album drops next week on the indie tip. Support good music.... Read more

March 15, 2011 Audio

Here’s some new J. Cole. He and Big K.R.I.T. are carrying the torch for true Southern spitters.

The track is called Killers and there's an interesting story behind it. Here's the story: From Alex Haldi: Hello All, Unfortunately our first single leaked ahead of time but I would really appreciate if you could link the artwork and our blurb. Its for Charity and this is by far... Read more

March 15, 2011 Audio

American Rapstar is the third song to drop from Big K.R.I.T.’s upcoming album. He’s 3 for 3.