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
News
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
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
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
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
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
The Jets appreciate soulful tracks. It’s evident from the beats selected by Curren$y, Trademark Da Skydiver and Young Roddy.
Pilots, the newest record from Trademark Da Skydiver and Young Roddy, is no exception. Props to 2DopeBoyz for putting this project together. Check it out. Click here to download. Not convinced about the soulful selections? Check these out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x8MGapyqhc&feature=player_embedded#at=24 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS1m_Pa_0vA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9EuIRsXoL8&feature=player_embedded#at=33... Read more
We posted a dope track by Focus ft Kida last week. Now Rapper Big Pooh and Chaundon lay down some verses on it.
Dope rappers + Dope track (still) = dope record. Check out Idols & Role Models (Perspective #2). Click here to download. If you missed it, here's Perspective #1 ft Kida.... Read more
2 days, 2 dope freestyles. First up is Young Chris and then Pusha T.
Young Chris laced Toca Tuesdays and Pusha T dropped bombs with Funk Flex. Check 'em out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxFoKuC5Phw&feature=player_embedded Click here to download.... Read more
Speaking of legends, here’s an unreleased track from Common.
It's got a reggae flavor to it. Check out Follow Me. Click here to download.... Read more
Keeping it on the West Coast tip, here’s some new E-40 ft Bun B and Slim Thug.
3 legends holding it down on a funky beat. This is some OG ish. Check out That Candy Paint. Click here to download and click here to buy the album. It's cool to hear Bun B on a verse and on the hook as a sample. Here's where E-40 got... Read more
Here’s a cool interview where Pharoahe Monch reflects on working with Nate Dogg to create the classic Oh No.
This was one of the few East Coast joints that Nate Dogg blessed. Sucker Free Here's Oh No: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYrmop7g2cU... Read more
Wiz Khalifa teams with Curren$y his favorite partner in rhyme on Rooftops.
Click here to download. Rolling Papers drops on 3/29.... Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
American Rapstar is the third song to drop from Big K.R.I.T.’s upcoming album. He’s 3 for 3.
Check it out. Click here to download. Click here for more Big K.R.I.T.... 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
Hollyweerd’s Yellow Pages has a mid-90’s feel to it. Imagine a Southern Souls of Mischief spitting on a Pete Rock track…
Check out the video... http://vimeo.com/21012902 ...and the Pete Rock and Souls of Mischief comparisons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiTy71nSkKw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONpxDfhMjjk... Read more
CyHi Da Prynce dropped one of the 3 strongest XXL freestyles so far…
The other 2 belonged to Kendrick Lamar and Yelawolf. The XXL one still doesn't hold a candle to this one, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4BAz4MlJg... Read more
Sir Michael Rocks from The Cool Kids has been dropping some bangers lately. Here’s the full mixtape, The Rocks Report. Listen to the whole thing and download below.
It's 25 songs strong... Download Mixtape... Read more
Keeping it on the Cali underground tip, check out Blu on WhatUWanna by Dela.
This may be Blu's best performance since Below The Heavens. Click here to download. Here's one of my favorite joints from Below the Heavens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ghhLhSCVQ... Read more
Two underground legends, Defari and Madlib, connect on Puro. Check out the video.
The Likwit Crew never got the props they deserved. King Tee, Tha Alkaholiks and Xzibit were sikwidit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRtouB7ZiQs&feature=player_embedded Here's some of that Likwit goodness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL-idMUSekU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2clm68lcsQQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H91kWpUNiwU... Read more
MED is the truth. He actually holds his own with Talib Kweli on Classic.
Check out the video. Med - Music - More Music Videos... Read more
You can clearly hear the influence of Outkast in A.Dd’s music…but that’s a GREAT thing.
Check out their song Greedy. Click here to download. Speaking of Outkast, here's a dope track from back in the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HarAKzpFSHE... Read more
Phil Ade keeps flexing with Take It Slow. Dude has lyrics for days.
Check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMmhzTK9eek&feature=player_embedded#at=125 Click here for more Phil Ade.... Read more
Ab-Soul is one to watch. He consistently puts out good music that takes you on an aural journey.
The latest is his video for Picture That. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XicMahwAVXc&feature=player_embedded#at=229 And, click here if you missed some of his other more recent releases.... Read more
Here’s a double dose of new Kanye West. Check out the remix to All of the Lights and the promo video for Kanye’s appearance at SXSW.
The All of the Light remix features Lil Wayne, Big Sean and Drake and the visual is a mix up of some of Kanye's best tracks. Here's the video and you can listen to and download the track below: http://vimeo.com/20948755 Click here to download.... Read more