Keenan Cunnin "The 'One Million Dollars!!!' BeatTape

Souls of Mischief & Adrian Younge "There is Only Now" Album Review

Once I heard Souls & Adrian Younge were teaming up for an LP, the tweaking began-very similar to the way I tweaked when I heard Dilla & Madlib, Madlib & Doom, and Madlib & Freddie Gibbs were teaming up (yes, Madlib is the dude).  These are the kinds of dream collaborations that sound too good to be true.  These are the kinds of dream collaborations which cause one to anticipate, yet pray that they don't turn out as a botched attempt at greatness.  However, in the same way that all of the aforementioned collabos satisfied beyond expectations, this new Souls album meets all of the conditions for dopeness and goes waaaaaay beyond. Thanks to ridiculously-dope production by Adrian Younge, an amazing return to form for all four members of SOM, and a few surprise features for good measure- Snoop?! Busta?! Ali Shaheed Muhammad?! (btw Scarub gets honorable mention for illest featured verse).  I could rattle on all day about this project, but I'm going to keep it short so I can go listen to it again...

1. Adrian Younge is the new savior of hip hop.
2. SOM & Adrian Younge have created what is arguably the best example of hip hop storytelling EVER.
3. I predict that this album will be the first ever to receive five Xs on HipHopDX.  If it doesn't...?
4. I also predict that we will find out down the road that Q-tip was somehow involved in the Your Old Droog EP, as well as this There is Only Now LP.   (This may be way off, but I remember hearing Q-tip rock with Del and Pep Love on "Undisputed Champs," and Del making an homage to ATCQ recently-so hiero and Tribe clearly have a history.  Regardless, this new project has Native Tongues written all over it.
5. If you don't buy this album-as I plan to-when it officially drops you will be a huge disappointment to me, yourself, and the rest of the world.  DROPS AUGUST 19TH!

p.s. Adrian Younge, please team up with Roc Marciano next to put the nail in the coffin.  One.

Kool Keith & Mr.Sche "Magnetic Pimp Force Field"

Judging by the artwork and sampler (below), this shit gon' be dope.  Drops May 27.

 

Keenan Cunnin "Smoke Sum"

 

 

Smoke Sum wit ya boy!

 

Cannibal Ox – Gotham x Gases In Hell (Inhale) x Psalm 82

 

Three ridiculously ill tracks to prepare us for the new Cannibal Ox (Vast Aire & Vordul Mega) album.

 

First Light (Pep Love & Opio) "Hold On" (Video) (2013)

 

Opio & Pep Love come correct on this new joint from "Fallacy Fantasy" coming out March 26t?!  Damn, that's soon... 

Doppelgangaz "Hark" Album (2013)

 

I love when I forget when something is about to drop, then I get reminded the day before-it takes a little bit of the waiting-game-pain away...Support some ill shit and get that new Doppelgangaz album "Hark" tomorrow.  If you don't, "Oh Well..."

 

Self Jupiter (of Freestyle Fellowship)- Mayday

 

Here's one from 2001 that I have been thinking about for a few years.  If you think you like Hip Hop and you don't know about Freestyle Fellowship...sorry. 

 

....May you be enlightened by poetry as good as this more often. 

 

Joey Bada$$ f. Smoke DZA & Big K.R.I.T. "Underground Airplay"

I think Joey Bada$$ is aiight...shit, he comes more 90's on this track than both of his elders.  Yet, Smoke Dza & Big K.R.I.T. both drop perfect 16s on this one.

Blu, R.A. The Rugged Man & Tristate "Thelonious King" (2013)

Dope!

Vast Aire "Royal Purple Bag"

From the super-slept-on MC who brought us "Look Mom No Hands" in 2004, Vast Aire's "A Space Iliad" EP on the way later this month...

Doc Waffles "Ambulance Chasers" LP

 

If you wanna hear some dope Hip Hop music with a unique sense of humor...Here is Doc Waffles' new project, "Ambulance Chasers."  One of the highlights is "Wings Over Detroit," when SelfSays exlaims, "We Out Here!"  only to have Doc correct him by saying, "No we're not.  We're indoors."  Props to Eddie Logix for the solid production.  The album is available at Bandcamp at a "Name Your Price" fee.

 

 

Detroit CYDI "To Be Continued"

 

Here goes a new video from Detroit CYDI (Doc Illingsworth, Sean Uppercut, Rufio Jones) which acts as a precursor to an album they are dropping in October.  To Be Continued! 

 



Elzhi "Blue Widow" Video

I'm from Detroit, so I was able to hear solo material from Elzhi back in the late 90s; before he linked up with Slum Village.  While he gained national exposure working with Slum Village, he was unfortunate enough to be working with the crew during a time that two of their core members died (Dilla & Baatin).  Nevertheless, he proved he could shine as a solo MC by dropping  last years Elmatic.  Finally, Elzhi is about to drop a project called "The Weather Report" which will be his proper debut.  With no need to worry about group politics, and his tribute to Illmatic off of his chest, Elzhi may have a classic of his own on the way...Peep the video for "Blue Widow"

Living Legends "Trojan Horse" video (2012)

Here is one of the illest rap crews ever hitting everybody with some crazy ill shit!

Mayhem Lauren f. Action Bronson & Heems (of Das Racist)- "Special Effects" (prod. Harry Fraud) (2012)

Mayhem Lauren is a Queens MC who has been getting alot of shine alongside the likes of Roc Marciano & Action Bronson.  He is soon to release a Free Mixtape, "Respect the Fly Shit," and this ridiculously dope track, "Special Effects" will be included...

Dj House Shoes "The Makings Pt. 2" (Free Mixtape) (2012)

Pt. 2 Bitches!

This dude is a Detroit Hip Hop God! He was a very close friend of both Dilla & Proof, he rocked countless Detroit shows, and he's the guy who does more and knows more about Hip Hop than anyone. The recent years have been very good to 'Shoes, as he is now a staple in the LA Hip Hop scene carrying the torch for anything Detroit-Hip Hop related. I used to hang with my older brother (Orator) at his DJs apartment, and House Shoes would be chillin smoking blunt after blunt after blunt...THE FIRST BEAT I EVER WROTE A VERSE TO WAS A HOUSE SHOES BEAT (circa '96)! He didn't know that of course, as I was 14 years old stealing beat (cassette) tapes from my brother to listen to. If you don't know about DJ House Shoes, then you do now Biaaatch!!! This new mixtape, "The Makings Pt. 1" highlights some of 'Shoes' production work (yep, he produces too). If you're looking to find a true DJ/producer who embodies Hip Hop look no further. 

Download Here

The Pro Letarians- "Hello Forever" Free Mixtape (2012)

Just stumbled upon this at 2dbyz...Another free mixtape (download below) from a group I'm surprised I've never heard of: The Pro Letarians consisting of Jupiter Jim (on the mic) and JO (beats).  I'm gonna plug this on the strength of this video, for "Church":

Download The Pro Letarians "Hello Forrever"

Apollo Brown & O.C.- "Fantastic" (2012)

The legendary O.C. (of D.I.T.C.) teams up with Detroit producer Apollo Brown for their May 1st release "Trophies."  Peep the last cut on the album, "Fantastic"

Go here to listen to samples of the album

DJ House Shoes- "The Makings Pt. 1" (Free Mixtape) (2012)

This dude is a Detroit Hip Hop God! He was a very close friend of both Dilla & Proof, he rocked countless Detroit shows, and he's the guy who does more and knows more about Hip Hop than anyone. The recent years have been very good to 'Shoes, as he is now a staple in the LA Hip Hop scene carrying the torch for anything Detroit-Hip Hop related.  I used to hang with my older brother (Orator) at his DJs apartment, and House Shoes would be chillin smoking blunt after blunt after blunt...THE FIRST BEAT I EVER WROTE A VERSE TO WAS A HOUSE SHOES BEAT (circa '96)!  He didn't know that of course, as I was 14 years old stealing beat (cassette) tapes from my brother to listen to.  If you don't know about DJ House Shoes, then you do now Biaaatch!!!  This new mixtape, "The Makings Pt. 1" highlights some of 'Shoes' production work (yep, he produces too).  If you're looking to find a true DJ/producer who embodies Hip Hop look no further.