Murs and Aesop Rock, two underground kings, connect on Varsity Blues.
Murs is on the verse and Aesop Rock is on the boards. Check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jga3vhG95rk&feature=player_embedded... Read more
Video
ScienZe’s Song in a Glass is a nice metaphor. The track has a smooth jazzy feel to it, with vintage lyrics.
This would fit right in on a vintage Slum Village playlist. Check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkzda27tCE&feature=player_embedded Not a bad mix with something like this, right: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-oLqMwzvBY... Read more
Roy Ayers is a musical giant. His tracks have built some of the most important samples in hip-hop.
There's a documentary coming out on Roy Ayers later in the year (great year for music documentaries, btw. With the amount of his music that has been sampled over the years, Roy Ayers is one of the founding fathers of hip-hop. Here are some of his most influential tracks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zy2ZrIqIpc... Read more
The Cool Kids dropped Bundle Up–a hot single with just a beat, lyrics and sparse keyboard–in February.
Here's the video, which is a satire of music videos themselves. Click here to download Bundle Up and click here to download Sir Michael Rocks' mixtape which is one of the best to drop so far this year.... Read more
Reks dropped an album last month with an all-star line up of producers: DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Hi-Tek…Here’s his video for Why Cry, his track with The Alchemist.
Styles P also gets on a verse to add a little flame. Check it out. If you missed the Reks album, click here to listen to a full preview.... Read more
There’s a reason why Big K.R.I.T.’s music is so soulful. It’s in his musical influences. Check out this interview of K.R.I.T. and see below for a sampler of some of the soul singers who influenced him.
Here's the interview: http://vimeo.com/22188472 And here's the soul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9VRS2aTaKQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9tJc27IWKw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtzRJgZG98I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44HmbcWwyGM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bmPsGQsJMg&feature=player_embedded... Read more
We’ve been giving a lot of love to Breakin’. Now it’s time to give some to the DJ. Check out Scratch, one of the best films ever on turntabilism.
Scratch gives an in-depth look at the art of working the 1s and 2s. It goes from the beginning with Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizard Theodore, Afrika Bambaataa and others to DJ Premier, the X-Ecutioners, Q-Bert and many, many more. Watch the whole movie below.... Read more
Here’s the latest video from Saigon’s stellar album The Greatest Story Never Told. Check out Bring Me Down, Pt. 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1j6zN7N3Is&feature=player_embedded... Read more
Here’s a new Freddie Gibbs video. Check out Rock Bottom. It’s a GREAT way to ride into the weekend.
This is from Gangsta Gibbs' Str8 Killa album. Click here to buy it, if you haven't already. It's str8 quality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6udb3mM_04&feature=player_embedded... Read more
Dubb is a beast. He spits fire in these 2 videos and even calls out XXL for not making him a freshman.
He may have a point...Check out the videos for Friendz and Passing Me By. Friendz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PeVHGUy7GQ&feature=player_embedded Passing Me By (on that Pharcyde track) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWD6HGFuWqU&feature=player_embedded... Read more
Here’s a pretty cool interview with Pete Rock. He discusses his top 5 producers, his thoughts on being a rapper/producer and a few other topics.
Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mAQ6QjrNhc&feature=player_embedded... Read more
Check out this new mini-documentary on Bun B. It features some good interview and performance footage from the Trill O.G. Both the sound and video quality are stellar.
It's not often you get to hear Bun B do some of his best cuts with a live band. Here's the doc (5 parts--courtesy of Noisey): Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5... Read more
Planet Asia puts it DOWN on a classic Grover Washington, Jr. track.
Check out the video for Black Frost. This is the 2nd high quality drop from Planet Asia in the last few weeks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_wxB_pPA9c&feature=player_embedded Here's the original Black Frost: Grover Washington, Jr.'s music has been sampled in hip-hop for decades. Here's Mr. Magic, another classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBCteWVR6kw As sampled by Salt-N-Pepa:... Read more
Here’s another quality Toca Tuesday Freestyle. This one is courtesy of Yelawolf.
It still doesn't top when Cyhi Da Prynce straight blacked during his Toca Tuesday Freestyle, but Yelawolf more than holds his own. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM-katDdakY&feature=player_embedded... Read more
Cyhi Da Prynce + Decatur Dan = #Winning. Check out the video for Cyhi’s Bunch of Rounds.
Decatur Dan continues cranking out sleek videos. The song is from Cyhi's super solid mixtape Royal Flush. Click here to download it if you missed it. http://vimeo.com/20109238... Read more
It’s a great day for Little Brother fans. Here’s an incredible interview of Phonte sharing his thoughts on 9th Wonder and a new joint from Rapper Big Pooh.
The interview is from a forthcoming documentary on 9th Wonder called The Wonder Year. Phonte talks about their friendship, 9th Wonder's ear for music, their future in music and much more. Check it out. http://vimeo.com/21349706 Click here for the new joint from Rapper Big Pooh ft Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul.... Read more
The video for Asher Roth’s Gotta Get Up is very dope visually. It looks like a mix of animation and live video.
Whatever the technology may be, it's a cool look. Nottz is on the the boards and Chester French is on the hook. Check it out. http://vimeo.com/21791285... Read more
The movie Breakin’ introduced many to the West Coast break dancing scene but before Breakin’ there was the documentary Breakin’ N Enterin’.
Breakin' N Enterin' is a film from 1983 that documented the then nascent LA B-boy scene and inspired Breakin'. It featured many of the players that went on to star in Breakin' and gave a glimpse at their real lives. Shabba Doo, Boogaloo Shrimp and a VERY young Ice-T are... Read more
Apollo Brown’s Time Passed Autumn is an instrumental that takes you on a journey.
I can hear J. Cole murdering this one. Who can you hear blacking out on this track? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNywrh1AotU... Read more
Cinematic Music Group has been dropping some quality music videos. Smoke DZA’s The World is the latest.
And, the beat is oh so soulful. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X96SR8sdf1U&feature=player_embedded# If you missed it, they also did Big K.R.I.T.'s Dreamin' video. Click here to watch.... Read more
Ab-Soul continues to showcase different flows. On Gone Insane he goes in over a Southern bounce track.
The visuals are pretty ill too. It's great to see cats re-injecting diversity into the game. Check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGOhHA2gR0M&feature=player_embedded Click here for more Ab-Soul.... Read more
We’ve been talking a lot about influences this week: OutKast on A.Dd+, PE and Ice Cube on Freddie Gibbs and Self Scientific…
Now check out what the Trill O.G. Bun B has to say about his influence on Big K.R.I.T. The video is kinda hard to hear but it's worth focusing your attention on the jewels Bun B drops. Also, check out the down and dirty video put together by Big K.R.I.T.... Read more
There is no one group or rapper who took the torch from the likes of Public Enemy and Ice Cube. But, there have been many who have embodied the spirits of those artists in a verse, a song or even a few albums. Self Scientific, Krondon and Freddie Gibbs are the latest to carry the baton in the video for Peaceful. Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tquQ2Plrdk4&feature=player_embedded And if you forgot how Public Enemy and Ice Cube used to bring the ruckus, here are a couple of reminders. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM5_6js19eM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeFHMVWaYsc... Read more
It’s a good day for rappers who hold it down on the independent tip. Salute to Jean Grae who’s been doing it on her own for YEARS.
Check out the video for R.I.P. ft Talib Kweli and Styles P. Click here to download.... Read more
Here’s a video for 1 of the better songs on Statik Selektah and Termanology’s 1982 project. Check out 82/92 ft Mac Miller + Biggie scratches on the hook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfq-qcwo_78&feature=player_embedded Click here to download Race Against Time, the newest release from 1982.... Read more
Uncle Snoop Dogg’s album The Doggumentary dropped today. It’s hard to believe he’s been doing it for nearly 20 years.
Here's his latest video, My Own Way ft. Mr. Porter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=22L5QGzj0CE Click here to buy the album.... Read more
Sir Michael Rocks and GLC combine to make some country cool on You Know the Rules. Check out the video.
This is from an upcoming mixtape called The Goodoctors Present: The Duff. If you haven't gotten that Sir Michael Rocks mixtape, The Rocks Report, click here to download it. It's a winner. Here's the video for You Know the Rules: http://vimeo.com/21606199... Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Moe Green is another dude who could have EASILY been a XXL Freshman. Check out his new video for Cruise Control.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCrttg-_CuY&feature=player_embedded Iced Out Lifestyle was another hot one, if you missed it.... Read more
B.o.B. get his X-Files on in the video for Dr. Aden. Check it out.
This is from his No Genre mixtape. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvXXDjL9tOs&feature=player_embedded... Read more