The Empire & DJ Skee Present Pill - 4075: The Refill (Mixtape)

I've been following Atlanta emcee, Pill ever since I saw the video for "Trap Goin Ham" from his first mixtape, 4180: The Prescription.

DOWNLOAD:
The Empire & DJ Skee Present Pill - 4075: The Refill

Track Listing:

Jaycee - Eargasms 8 (mp3)

I'm glad I'm moving back to Atlanta next month because I'll be blessed with Jaycee and "The Afternoon Delight" every lunch hour on V-103.


LISTEN:

Eargasms: Numero Ocho...

The Afternoon Delight w/Jaycee, on V-103 Atlanta

DOWNLOAD:
Jaycee - Eargasms 8

Track Listing:
Intro (it's been a long time...)
Al Green "I'm Glad You're Mine"
Robin Thicke feat. Rakim "Mrs. R&B"
Foreign Exchange "I Wanna Know"
Amerie "The Flowers"
Maxwell "Bad Habits" (delightful blend)
Chante Moore "Love's Taken Over" (delightful blend)
Musiq Soulchild "The Ingredients Of Love"
A Tribe Called Quest "Sucka Nigga/Sucka DJ's"
The Roots "Silent Treatment"
Slum Village "Fall In Love"
Mayer Hawthorne "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out"
Stevie Wonder "Golden Lady"
Eric Roberson "How Could She Do It"
Michael Jackson "I'll Be There" (delightful blend)
Michael Jackson "I'll Be There" (Jazzy Jeff Remix)
Zo! feat. Phonte & The Notorious B.I.G. "My Flame"

Pac Div - "Whiplash" & "Young Black Male" (Video)

Pac Div comes through with a 2 for 1 video from their Church League Champions mixtape.

Rihanna - "Russian Roulette" (Video)

Dope video. Rihanna's album is kinda fresh; definitely her most complete body of work. Rated R in stores 11/23

Melanie Fiona - Street Performance Series: London Edition (Video)

First was NYC, then came Canada. Now Ms. Fiona travels across the pond to London for the third and final installment of her street series.

The Bridge in stores 11/10.

Alchemist vs. Just Blaze: Red Bull Big Tune Battle @ ATL (Video)

Two of the dopest producers in hip hop going back and forth, track for track, hit for hit. Big tunes.

Diz Gibran feat. BJ the Chicago Kid - "Truly Yours" (Video) + Acoustic Version

This is Diz Gibran's first official video from the Soon You'll Understand project. BJ the Chicago Kid on the hook.


Dizzy & BJ performed an acoustic version of the track a while back. Peep the video below.

Crooks & Castles Presents: Diz Gibran - Soon You'll Understand (Free Album)

I completely slept on this mixtape/album when it dropped earlier this year.

Los Angeles emcee, Diz Gibran, and Queens producer, Moonshine, link up for Soon You'll Understand, presented by clothing brand Crooks & Castles. Nice collaboration all around.

I overstand...

DOWNLOAD:
Diz Gibran - Soon You'll Understand

Track Listing:

Jay Electronica - Live @ Santos 11.3.09 (Video)

Jay Elect had a Red Bull sponsored show earlier this week in NYC. This video footage contains performances of "Dear Moleskine", "Google Eyes", and of course "Exhibit C".

50 Cent - "Stretch" (Crime Wave Pt. II) [Video]

Part 2 of the street single video/movie.

Before I Self Destruct digital release on 11/9 and in stores on 11/16.

Lil Wayne - No Ceilings (Mixtape)

Fire...

It's a shame rappers have to face jail time in order to spit the way they're supposed to...smh

DOWNLOAD:
Lil Wayne - No Ceilings

Track Listing:
01. Swag Surf
02. Ice Cream
03. D.O.A.
04. Skit (feat. Gudda Gudda)
05. Wasted
06. Watch My Shoes
07. Break Up (feat. Short Dawg & Gudda Gudda)
08. Banned From TV
09. Throw It In The Bag
10. Thats All I Have (feat. Tyga & Shanell)
11. Skit (feat. Shanell)
12. Wayne On Me
13. Im Good (feat. Lucci Lou)
14. Poke Her Face (feat. Jae Millz)
15. Run This Town
16. I Got No Ceilings
17. Cool N Dre (feat. Birdman)
18. Oh Let's Do It
19. Single
20. Sweet Dreams (feat. Nicki Minaj)
21. Skit End

DJ Matt Cali & Russell Fong - Sample Junkies (Instrumentals)

Another dope mix from the dynamic duo...

via Hold the Throne

Here’s the second mix from the Sunshine State’s honorable DJ/turntablist Matt Cali and the Empire State’s musical mastermind/graphic designer Russel Fong, aptly dubbed Sample Junkies due to its nostalgic feel.

Sample Junkies is a three-part compilation of classic hip-hop samples and breaks mixed fluidly by Cali. Fong has chosen the music of Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Dells, David Porter, The Charmels, Michel Gonet, Menahan Street Band, The Jackson 5, Ramp, Ramon Morris, Esther Bryde, 9th Creations, Monk Higgins, Sting, Smilin Billy Suite, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Aretha Franklin, Jack Mayborn, Roy Ayers plus plenty more to serve as the soundtrack to your trip back in time.

DOWNLOAD:
DJ Matt Cali & Russell Fong - Sample Junkies

Track Listing:

New York Yankees: 2009 World Series Champions

#27...

Trey Songz - "I Invented Sex" (Video)

This is an intimate video, borderline soft porn.

Anticipation, the mixtape > Ready, the album. IMHO

Zo! - Just Visiting Too EP

Foreign Exchange band member Zo! has released ...Just Visiting Too, a free seven track album of covers. FE Music = Music that makes your soul feel warm.

We are proud to present the new EP of covers from our longtime friend, collaborator, and bandmate Zo!, ...just visiting too

Working on this record has been a labor of love for everybody involved, and we hope it serves as a teaser for Zo's upcoming full-length SunStorm dropping next summer on FE Music.

Enclosed in the …just visiting too zip file is a digital pdf booklet complete with all the album credits, information on the album’s vocalists and contributors, as well as information on the originals.

Enjoy the music, pass it around to a friend, and as always thank you for the support.

'Te and Nic

DOWNLOAD:
Zo! - Just Visiting Too

Track Listing:
01. Perfect Angel feat. Yahzarah
02. Nights Over Egypt feat. Carlitta Durand
03. Crazy You feat. Sy Smith
04. Holding You, Loving You
05. My Flame feat. Phonte
06. Somethin Special feat. Yahzarah
07. The Highways of My Life (Pts. 1 & 2) feat. Darien Brockington

Ayah - "In My Lifetime" (Video)

The Toronto talent pool is getting deep..introducing Ayah.

Check out her album 4:15. Also be on the lookout for a new album with DJ Jazzy Jeff (!) coming in the new year.

Nice track. Great video. Beautiful voice.

Throwback: Geto Boys - "Mind Playing Tricks On Me" (Video)

This year Halloween fell on a weekend...

Classic

Black Thought & Mos Def - "75 Bars" (Video)

After the cypher. Emcees showing emcees respect.

"You wanna hear the core of The Roots, the core of hip hop; It's the beat & the rhyme"
-Mos Def

via Frolab

Jay Z feat. Alicia Keys - "Empire State Of Mind" (Video)

The visuals to the classic.

directed by Hype Williams

Jay Electronica - "Exhibit C" (prod. by Just Blaze) [Radio Rip]

"I make the devil hit his knees and say the Our Father"

The Megatron Don was on Shade45 last night for Tony Touch's Toca Tuesdays and released some gems; "Exhibit C" being the crown jewel. This is epic, and it's only a snippet.
I hope these collaborations are leading up to an album because Jay Electronica is "spittin that He Could Pass A Polygraph"

It's stuff like this that makes me hate the state of music today. This is 'sugar in the raw' HIP HOP, not the Splenda "rap music" that gets played on mainstream radio.
I find it fitting that this should drop the night of the BET "Hip Hop" Awards where Gucci Mane was on stage more than any other artist...We CAN do better people.

DOWNLOAD:
Jay Electronica - Exhibit C (Radio Rip)

Transcribed lyrics here via FWMJ.

Sean Price Is Right (Video)

via Dallas Penn

"Rappers eat...P!"

lol, I miss Pathmark, word...

The Cypher: [Part I - III] (Video)

The best part of the BET "Hip Hop" Awards each year is The Cypher.


Part I - Nicki Minaj, Buckshot, Crown Royyal, Joe Budden



Nicki Minaj surprised me. I never paid too much attention to her before, but if she just spit and didn't use weird voices she might actually be okay. (I get it though)
And Budden went in hard on this...You past your prime, I ain't spit ether yet/You need a major, I just need an ethernet


Part II - Wale, Nipsey Hu$$le, Gsan, KRS One



I don't get the hype around Wale, I'm not feeling him at all. Nipsey Hu$$le is a problem though. And of course, Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone.


Part III - Mos Def, Black Thought, Eminem



This is hip hop right here, real emcees. Even though Mos recycled his verse from "Brooklyn (Go Hard)", you gotta love it. Thought blacked out, never disappoints.
And Eminem...I’m a f*cking cross between Osama, Dahmer, Obama, and Dhali Lama

Melanie Fiona - Street Performance Series: Canada Edition (Video)

The first stop was NYC, next stop Canada (Toronto & Montreal). Still fresh...

The Bridge in stores 11/10.

UNDRCRWN & DJ Jazzy Jeff Present: He's The King, I'm The DJ (Mixtape)

A 49 track tribute remix project, Dope concept...

“I did it exactly as I would play it out live,” Jeff explained. “I kind of wanted to give a feel like you heard it in a club. I didn’t necessarily want to go in a certain order, ’cause everybody in the world plays certain Michael Jackson songs. And I wanted to play songs that not everyone plays, play some obscure album cuts. And if you listen to it, I have some a capella and versions of songs that not everyone had heard. So, I kind of wanted to mix it up and keep people off guard. Just give them an example of all that Michael was like.”
-DJ Jazzy Jeff

DOWNLOAD:
UNDRCRWN & DJ Jazzy Jeff Present: He's The King, I'm The DJ

Track Listing:

50 Cent - "Crime Wave" (Video)

Fif says his upcoming album Before I Self Destruct is like the prequel to Get Rich or Die Tryin. More aggressive content. We'll see...

This is the official video for the street single, "Crime Wave"

Fashawn - 21 To Grow On (Mixtape)

Fashawn's debut album, Boy Meets World is in stores now. Cop that pronto.

via The Beehive

In honor of his milestones -- both career-wise and personally -- I wanted to revisit some of the music he's put out over the last few years.

The result is "21 To Grow On." It's intended to be a "best-of" all his pre-"Boy Meets World" material. It's 21 tracks, pulled from all seven of his mixtapes. If you're looking for either a refresher course or your first introduction, this oughta do it.

DOWNLOAD:
Fashawn - 21 To Grow On

Track Listing:
01. The Phenom
from: "The Phenom Vol. 1," 2007

02. The Phenom 2.5
from: "The Phenom Vol. 2," 2008

03. Streets of Fresno
from: "Grizzly City Vol. 1," 2006

04. F.A.S.H.A.W.N.
from: "One Shot One Kill," 2008

05. The City is Mine
from: "The Phenom Vol. 1," 2007

06. F.C. (feat. Planet Asia & Turbin)
from: "The Phenom Vol. 2," 2008

07. Prima Donna (feat. Bravo)
from: "Grizzly City Vol. 1," 2006

08. King of Grizzly City
from: "The Phenom Vol. 1," 2007

09. Pretty Thing (feat. Diego Redd)
from: "The Phenom Vol. 1," 2007

10. Strange Love (feat. Rob the Voice)
from "Grizzly City Vol. 2," 2007

11. Wall to Wall
from "Grizzly City Vol. 2," 2007

12. Come on Baby (feat. Planet Asia)
from "Grizzly City Vol. 2," 2007

13. Fash Plays it Cool
from "The Antidote," 2009

14. Got It Sewn
from "The Antidote," 2009

15. Back to the Block
from: "The Phenom Vol. 1," 2007

16. Relax (feat. Thurzday)
from: "One Shot One Kill," 2008

17. Missing You
from: "The Phenom Vol. 2," 2008

18. Day 'N' Nite
from "Higher Learning," 2008

19. Sunday Morning
from "Higher Learning," 2008

20. Shut Up and Let Me Go
from: "One Shot One Kill," 2008

21. We Taking Over (feat. Planet Asia, Diego Redd & Shake Da Mayor)
from "Grizzly City Vol. 2," 2007

Kanye West - "We Were Once A Fairytale" (Video)

What was originally supposed to be the video for Kanye's "See You In My Nightmares" from 808's & Heartbreak turned into a short film directed by Spike Jonze. Strange...

In the film, Kanye plays himself drunk at a club acting belligerent and boastful, telling starstruck club-goers that the song playing in the club is his. He wanders into a side room where he encounters a beautiful woman. They start having sex and then he passes out on her leopard print dress. When he comes to, he finds himself in the VIP room with his pants down – he was hallucinating and fucking the pillow. The realization startles him and he rushes to the bathroom where he vomits what look like rose petals.

Then it gets weird.

Kanye finds a bowie knife in the bathroom and cuts into his stomach, spilling a torrent of more petals. He digs in the knife deeper and then with his hand rips out a small furry rodent, like a demon, only its quite cute. When Kanye realizes it’s connected to him with an umbilical cord, he pulls it hard, ripping it out of him for good. He then puts the demon on the sink and hands him a tiny bowie knife to fit the critter’s scale who then uses it to commit hari kari.
-The Daily Swarm

"Tell everybody that you know!"

RZA on The Colbert Report (Video)

RZA dropping knowledge on Stephen Colbert and promoting his book, The Tao of Wu.

The truth is mathematically correct, it’s never something that belongs to somebody. One plus one is two no matter where you go. Uno, uno still translates to the number two. Mathematics don’t lie, so we use mathematics to express our truth more than anything.
–RZA

Melanie Fiona - Street Performance Series: NYC Edition (Video)

Fresh...

The Bridge in stores 11/10

DJ Matt Cali & Russell Fong - The Little Green Tape (Instrumentals)

Dope...

via Hold the Throne

Bay area turnablist DJ Matt Cali and New York music guru/graphic designer Russell Fong craftily pieced together The Little Green Tape, an hour-long sonic journey through turntablism, break-beats, and instrumental hip-hop with sprinkles of electro-experimental and funkified rhythms throughout.

Broken down into four parts, the duo works together as Cali mixes and scratches the sounds that Fong has expertly chosen.

Among the laundry-list of sampled artists are Wu-Tang Clan, J Dilla, Mobb Deep, Jake One, The Xecutioners, Peanut Butter Wolf, DJ Shadow, Lewis Parker, etc...You get the point, these two don’t play around.

DOWNLOAD:
DJ Matt Cali & Russell Fong - The Little Green Tape

Track Listing:

Mike Tyson on Oprah (Video)

I feel like sometimes that I was not meant for this society.
-Mike Tyson

The Classics: An Album Cover Art Exploration (Video)

A video comprised of classic album covers and vintage interviews from Run DMC [@2:20], Leaders of the New School [@6:45], and LL Cool J [@9:40].

via The Rap Up

DJ Jazzy Jeff - "Rock The Bells" Intro (Video)

On 10/13, VH1 Hip-Hop Honors will pay homage to a record label for the first time, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Def Jam.

?uestlove captured footage of DJ Jazzy Jeff scratching the intro to LL Cool J’s “Rock The Bells” at the event. Classic magnificence.

Duck Down Records - Download The Right Thing (Mixtape)

"This past year Duck Down Records has remained active with a onslaught of quality releases from a growing roster of artists. Rather than force fans to scour the Internet looking for low quality MP3s on our product, we have taken it upon ourselves to provide you with a collection of music from various MCs on Duck Down through the DOWNLOAD THE RIGHT THING sampler mix cd.

Hear music from KRS-ONE & Buckshot, Sean Price, Kidz In The Hall, Blue Scholars, DJ Revolution, Heltah Skeltah, Random Axe (comprised of Sean Price, Guilty Simpson and Black Milk), B-Real of Cypress Hill, Skyzoo, Team Facelift, Naledge, Smif N Wessun, Marco Polo & Torae, Ruste Juxx, General Steele and Boot Camp Clik."

DOWNLOAD:
Duck Down Records - Download The Right Thing

Track Listing:

Foreign Exchange - "I Wanna Know" (Video)

This is my favorite cut from Foreign Exchange's Leave It All Behind album. Directed by Matt Koza.

Vybz Kartel - "Yuh Love" (Video)

I'm feeling the Rastafari-conscious Kartel as oppose to the ghetto confrontational Gaza. Tuff tune.

RIP Mr. Magic

"Every Saturday 'Rap Attack', Mr. Magic, Marley Marl; I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped..." (c) Biggie Smalls

"I got to have it, I miss Mr. Magic..." (c) Nas

We're losing our pioneers. Mr. Magic aka Sir Juice hosted the 'Rap Attack' on WBLS in NYC with Marley Marl. This was the first all hip-hop show anywhere on radio, ever. Mr. Magic was also instrumental in one of the earliest rap beefs; Boogie Down Productions vs. The Juice Crew.

DJ Premier's Letter:

I WANT TO SEND OUT THE UTMOST RESPECT AND CONDOLENCES TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN RIVAS aka MR. MAGIC

HE PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING OF A HEART ATTACK.

TRUE HIP HOP HEADS KNOW THAT HIS HISTORY IS SO LONG DUE TO HIM BEING THE FIRST RAP MIXSHOW TO EVER BE ON COMMERCIAL RADIO ON NEW YORK’S WBLS (107.5) WITH MARLEY MARL AND FLY TY IN 1982-1984. THEN WENT ON TO WHBI IN OCTOBER OF 1984 AND THEN BACK TO WBLS IN 1985 AND WDAS in PHILLY SIMULTANEOUSLY

HE PAVED THE WAY FOR ALL RADIO STATIONS THAT EVER DID MIXSHOWS AND ALSO SPARKED THE CAREER OF BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS DUE TO THE DISS HE SHOWED WHEN THEY CAME TO SHOP THEIR DEMO TO HIM AND WAS TURNED AWAY WHICH THEN SPARKED “SOUTH BRONX” AND “THE BRIDGE IS OVER”.

HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS DIRECT AND SARCASTIC ATTITUDE ON THE AIR AND EVERY ARTIST WANTED HIS APPROVAL WHEN IT CAME TO BREAKING NEW RECORDS. HE EVEN HAD SONGS DEDICATED TO HIM BY THE LEGENDARY WHODINI (”MR. MAGIC’S WAND”) WHICH WAS SURPRISINGLY PRODUCED BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS THOMAS DOLBY.

SHOUTS OUT TO MARLEY MARL AND FLY TY FOR THE CORRECT INFORMATION ON THIS.

REST IN PEACE MR. MAGIC………….DJ PREMIER

The Roots - "How I Got Over" (Video)

The Roots never disappoint, ever. Here is the official video for "How I Got Over" from their upcoming album of the same name. Directed by BBGun.

Black Thought explains:

It’s a more celebratory album — the story of triumph and the rise of the brand that is The Roots, and how we kept our heads above water consistently for so many years in the game without taking a hiatus, maintaining some love and relevancy for all this time. And it refers to the gospel song by Mahalia Jackson. That’s the initial inspiration for the title of this joint. It’s like a moving performance of her rendition of that song.

Stop The Violence: 16 year old Chicago Honor Student, Attacked & Beaten To Death (Video)

via Chicago Tribune

16-year-old Derrion Albert, a student at Fenger High School, was beaten to death by a group of other youths Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 in a vacant lot next to a community center in Chicago's Roseland community. Witnesses say Albert, an honor roll student, got caught up in the melee was a culmination of a simmering rivalry between two groups of Fenger students, one that lived near the school and the other from the Altgeld Gardens housing development.

Eff Taylor Swift and interruptions. Where is the outrage at the interruption (end) of Derrion Albert's life?

I know that people wouldn't usually rap this
but I got the facts to back this
just last year, Chicago had over 600 caskets
man, killing's some wack shit
-Kanye West

Just because our President is black doesn't mean we don't still have real issues. Black people in this country we call America need to be more aware, concerned, and proactive with what is going on in our communities instead of concentrating on frivolous bullshit and 'reality TV'.

The reality of the situation is we need to stop watching "Frankie & Neffe" and the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" and spend that time working on/building up our own families. Instead of a "Real Chance of Love" we need to give our children a real chance at life.

Why does #DerrionAlbert need to become a trending topic on Twitter for us to realize there is (has been) a major problem. We are a nation lost, but we can (must) do better. Stand up, Be accountable.

"There's a war going on outside no man is safe from" (c) Prodigy
R.I.P. Derrion Albert

Brinks Boys Presents: Raekwon - Staten Go Hard Vol. 1 (Mixtape)

This joint is a couple of months old, but I can't get enough of the Chef after listening to OB4CL2 (classic?). Hosted by J-Love.

DOWNLOAD:
Raekwon - Staten Go Hard Vol. 1

Track Listing:
01. Intro
02. Staten We Go Hard
03. Trenchmen
04. Pop Champagne (Freestyle)
05. Criminology 09
06. Yessir (Feat. Crooked I & Ghostface)
07. Wu Ooh
08. Stick Up Muzik
09. Blood Missles (Feat. AZ)
10. History
11. Very Well (Skit)
12. White Lines
13. State Shoutout
14. SuperFly (Skit)
15. Real Talk
16. Once In A Lifetime (Feat. Mika)
17. Resolution
18. Watch How You Talk to Me
19. Spook That Sat By The Door
20. Rae’s Letter To B.I.G
21. Where’s The Money (Skit)
22. Flawless
23. The Setup
24. Attention (Skit)
25. Heat Rocks
26. Rotate (Freestyle)
27. Renaissance Rap
28. Get It In (Freestyle)
29. Guerilla Rap
30. Realer (Feat. Maino)
31. Give It To Me (Remix)
32. Words From The Chef (Outro)

1995 DMC World Championship [Roc Raida] (Video)

R.I.P.

DJ Premier - R.I.P. Grand Master Roc Raida Tribute Mix (mp3)

Just like he did for MJ, Primo paid tribute to the Grand Master during his Sirius/XM Satellite show by spinning a mix of tracks Roc Raida produced or did the cuts on.

DOWNLOAD:
DJ Premier - R.I.P. Roc Raida Tribute Mix

Beatnick & K-Salaam Present - Never Can Say Goodbye (Mixtape)

Beatnick & K-Salaam are dope on the remixes and have paid tribute to Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder with an 8 track mixtape, Never Can Say Goodbye.

LISTEN/DOWNLOAD:


Track Listing:
01. Michael Jackson – I’ll Be There Remix (Prod. By Beatnick & K-Salaam
02. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Prod. by Beatnick & K​-​Salaam)
03. Stevie Wonder – My Cherie Amor Remix (Prod. by Beatnick & K-Salaam)
04. Michael Jackson – Never Can Say Goodbye Remix (Prod. by Beatnick & K-Salaam)
05. Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On Remix (Prod. by Beatnick & K-Salaam)
06. Stevie Wonder – Uptight Remix (Prod. by Beatnick & K-Salaam)
07. Michael Jackson – ABC Remix (Prod. by Beatnick & K-Salaam)
08. Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On Remix (Prod. by Beatnick & K-Salaam)

Melanie Fiona - "It Kills Me" (Video)

I've been patiently waiting for Ms. Fiona's The Bridge to drop since I posted her live mixtape a while back.
Here is her latest video from the album, which is scheduled to be released on 11/3.

Plug Research Podcast - Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra) Edition [mp3]

Plug Research brought you the Exile podcast a couple of weeks ago. This time we're blessed with the music of Sa-Ra (Creative Partners) member, Shafiq Husayn.
The mix features music from Sa-Ra, previous collaborations with Erykah Badu, John Legend, Jill Scott, and Pharoahe Monch, as well as a few exclusive tracks from Shafiq's debut album, Shafiq En' A-Free-Ka, in stores 10/6.

LISTEN:


DOWNLOAD:
Plug Research Podcast - Shafiq Husayn Edition

Track Listing:
01. Sa-Ra - Fantastic Vampyre (OG version) - Non Album - prod by Sa-Ra
02. Sa-Ra exclusive - EXCLUSIVE - Non Album - prod by Sa-Ra
03. Shafiq Husayn w/ Fatima - Lil' Girl - Shafiq En' A-Free Kah - Plug Research - prod by Shafiq Husayn
04. Shafiq Husayn - Nirvana - Shafiq En' A-Free Kah - Plug Research - prod by Shafiq Husayn
05. Jill Scott - Breathe - The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 - Hidden Beach - prod by Sa-Ra
06. John Legend - Maxine - Once Again - Sony Music - prod by Sa-Ra
07. Sa-Ra exclusive - EXCLUSIVE - Non Album - prod by Sa-Ra
08. King Tee - Trifflin Nigga - The Triflin' Album - Capitol Records - prod by Shafiq Husayn
09. Jurassic 5 - Twelve - Quality Control - Interscope Records - prod by Sa-Ra
10. Sa-Ra - we are Ra - EXCLUSIVE - Non Album - prod by Sa-Ra
11. Shafiq Husayn w/ Bilal - Cheeba - Shafiq En' A-Free Kah - Plug Research - prod by Shafiq Husayn
12. Sa-Ra - Drug Traffika - Nuclear Evolution: The Age of Love - Ubiquity Records - prod by Sa-Ra
13. Sa-Ra exclusive - EXCLUSIVE - Non Album - prod by Sa-Ra
14. Erykah Badu - Me - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) - Universal Motown/Control Freaq - prod by Shafiq Husayn
15. Erykah Badu - Master Teacher - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) - Universal Motown/Control Freaq - co prod by Shafiq Husayn
16. Sa-Ra - Bitch Baby - Nuclear Evolution: The Age of Love - Ubiquity Records - prod by Sa-Ra
17. Sa-Ra w/ Pharoahe Monch - Glorious - Non Album - prod by Sa-Ra
18. Sa-Ra - Master Teazer (Ken's revenge edit) - Non Album - prod by Sa-Ra

Havoc - From Now On (Mixtape)

Havoc gave me incentive to check for this mixtape when I peeped this video. I haven't exactly been eager to listen to him without the other half of Mobb Deep, but this joint is solid.

DOWNLOAD:
Havoc - From Now On

Track Listing:

Drake feat. Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem - "Forever" (Video)

From the soundtrack of Lebron James' documentary More Than A Game, in theaters 10/2. The video is pretty ehhh, but I like how each had his own separate screen shot for his verse. Directed by Hype Williams.

Em's verse/scene (Slaughterhouse?) >>> the rest of the video.

Jay Z - Rhapsody Commercial (Video)

I know this is type old, but it's also genius on so many levels. Shouts to Jay Z on 11 #1 albums.

"I'm the 1 twice over, I'm the new 11" (c) Drake

Havoc - "Smells Like 9/5" & "Sex Tape" (Video)

Havoc drops a 2 for 1 video from his latest mixtape From Now On. Featuring Roxy Reynolds.

J. Period - Best of The Isley Brothers (Mixtape)

J. Period creates the greatest "Best of..." compilations. He dropped this one off on his Twitter account last week. 45 tracks of The Isley Brothers remixed, reinvented, and revisited.

At their best, it's love.

DOWNLOAD:
J. Period - Best of The Isley Brothers


Track Listing:
01. Take Flight (Intro)
02. J. Period f. CL Smooth - Come Back (Isley Brothers Tribute)
(Exclusive - Produced by J. Period)
03. Big Daddy Kane - Longevity (Interlude)
04. The Isley Brothers - For The Love of You, Pt. 1
05. Nas - Good Morning (Remix)
06. Papoose - Faithful (Exclusive)
07. Masta Ace - The I.N.C. Ride
08. Slum Village f. Dwele - Call Me
09. J. Period f. Ludacris - I Turned You On (Produced by J. Period)
10. I Don't Want It If It's That Eazy (Interlude)
11. Eazy E - Eazy Duz It
12. Lil Eazy E - Legacy (Interlude)
13. Bone Thugs ‘N’ Harmony - Crossroads
14. Big Daddy Kane - 3 Generations of Love (Interlude)
15. The Isley Brothers - Don't Say Goodnight (J. Period Remix)
16. Jay Dee - Bye (J. Dilla Tribute)
17. J. Period f. B.I.G. - Soldiers March (Produced by J. Period)
18. Nas f. Ron Isley - Project Windows
19. The Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets
20. A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum (Hootie Mix)
21. B.I.G. - Big Poppa
22. Jay Z & Cam’ron - Summer In New York (J. Period Exclusive Remix)
23. Keith Murray - The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World
24. Da Brat f. Snoop Dogg - Funkdafied (J. Period Exclusive Remix)
25. J. Period f. B.I.G. & 2pac - Ballad For The Fallen Soldiers (Produced by J. Period)
26. J. Period f. Black Thought - And Then You're Gone (Produced by J. Period)
27. The Isley Brothers - Ain't I Been Good To You, Pt. 2
28. The Isley Brothers - Make Me Say It Again Girl (Interlude)
29. J. Period f. 50 Cent & LL Cool J - Make Me Say It Again Girl (Produced by J. Period)
30. Nas f. R. Kelly - Street Dreams (Street Dreamer Remix)
31. Aaliyah - Wake Up (Interlude)
32. Aaliyah/Isley Brothers - Choosey Lover (Old School)
33. Aaliyah - Choosey Lover (New School)
34. Mos Def f. Ron Isley - Beauty in the Dark (Unreleased)
35. The Isley Brothers - Footsteps in the Dark, Pt. 1
36. Jay Z - Who U Know Like Hov? (J. Period Exclusive Remix)
37. Ice Cube - It Was A Good Day

MR. BIGGS SLOW JAM MIX
38. The Isley Brothers f. R. Kelly - Blast Off (New Baby Makin Music LP)
39. The Isley Brothers - Just Came Here To Chill (New Baby Makin Music LP)
40. The Isley Brothers - Contagious
41. The Isley Brothers - Busted
42. The Isley Brothers - Let's Lay Together
43. R. Kelly f. Ron Isley - Down Low (Nobody Has To Know)
44. BONUS: Mobb Deep f. Ron Isley - There I Go Again
45. BONUS: Public Enemy/Isley Brothers - Fight The Power

Supa Qool DJ Uncle Q - The Best of Raphael Saadiq (mp3)

From the same DJ that compiled tight mixes of Erykah Badu and Maxwell.

It feels good...

DOWNLOAD:
Supa Qool DJ Uncle Q - The Best of Raphael Saadiq

Track Listing:

Ghostface Killah feat. Raheem DeVaughn - "Baby" (Live @ Jimmy Fallon) [Video]

Another joint off that Ghostdeini: The Wizard of Poetry. The album version is supposed to have Raheem DeVaughn using auto tone on the hook. *Sigh*, No need.

Alex Goose - The Blueprint 3 Outtakes (Instrumentals)

In the spring of 2009, an A&R affiliated with the Roc got in contact with me. Shortly after, I had the opportunity to submit various tracks for Jay Z's long awaited "Blueprint 3" album. Unfortunately, none of them made the final cut. After letting people hear what I sent Hova (including people who know him), they suggested I release them for the public to hear. This is what the Blueprint 3 could have been...
-Alex Goose

Alex Goose is a producer out of Atlanta, GA who should be getting a lot of work once this circulates. Why Jay Z didn't use any of these beats I will never know. As I'm listening, I can literally hear him murdering every last one of these tracks as if it was supposed to happen that way. This really is what the BP3 should have been, without question.

DOWNLOAD:
Alex Goose - The Blueprint 3 Outtakes

Track Listing:
01. Success
02. Rise
03. Hova's BAck
04. Dear Daisy
05. Hova Needs This
06. Check Me out
07. Fire
08. No One Rides For Free
09. Golden Voide
10. On My Soul
11. Dear Winter
12. Out of This World
13. Walk Away
BONUS
14. PSA (Alex Goose Remix)
15. Roc Boys (Alex Goose Remix)
16. The BP3 Outtakes Mashup

Pac Div - "Pac Div" (Video)

The Church League Champions mixtape was dope. Here's a visual for one of many stand out tracks. Cali is a problem!

Ghostface Killah - "Stapleton Sex" (Video)

This is Ghost at his explicit best.
Ghostdeini: The Wizard of Poetry in stores 9/29!

Kid Cudi - "Day N Nite" (Crookers Remix) [Video]

Nice visuals. BBGun needs more work. Check out videos they've directed for Fabolous and J. Cole.

Kid Cudi feat. Ratatat - "Pursuit of Happiness" (Live @ David Letterman) [Video]

I'm feeling Cudi's album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day. Check out the live performance of his third single, "Pursuit of Happiness"

Emo rap...Hate It or Love It?

DJ Destroyer - This Is My Loft Vol. 1 (mp3)

DJ Destroyer weaves a seamless blend of funk, soul, disco, and house...
Dope mix.

DOWNLOAD:
DJ Destroyer - This Is My Loft Vol. 1

Track Listing:

Fashawn - The Antidote (Mixtape)

Fresno CA emcee, Fashawn, teams up with The Alchemist for The Antidote, an appetizer in anticipation of his upcoming debut album, Boy Meets World (produced by Exile).
Straight spittin, I'm diggin it.

"Only West Coast nigga that could've been in the Wu"

DOWNLOAD:
Fashawn - The Antidote

Track Listing:
01. Intro
02. Shall Come A New Name
03. Fash Plays It Cool
04. The Antidote
05. Gone In 60 Seconds
06. Rap Seduction
07. Whats Your World
08. From The Creation
09. FYT
10. Lost In New York
11. Got It Sewn

Raekwon - "Walk Wit Me" (Video)

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II is in stores now. This is the Raekwon album people have been waiting for since the first purple tape...Album of the year so far (in my opinion).
This is the official video for the iTunes bonus track, Walk Wit Me.

BJ the Chicago Kid - The New Beginning (Mixtape)

I've been checking for BJ the Chicago Kid ever since I caught some videos of him singing acapella on Vimeo...very talented. The brother is on a real soulful R&B vibe, which is much needed in the genre today. Check out his brand new mixtape.

DOWNLOAD:
BJ the Chicago Kid - The New Beginning

Track Listing:
01. Intro
02. Sky’s The Limit
03. Lights Off feat. Young Chris
04. I’m Doing Me
05. We Can Make It
06. Take It Off feat. Harold Lilly
07. 911
08. Good 1
09. If I Had U Now
10. Skate
11. Edge
12. Freak
13. Money Talks feat. Young Chris
14. Personal Super Model
15. Still Parker Brothers feat. Parker Brothers
16. Like We Do It
17. Can’t Get Me Down

Plug Research Podcast - Exile Edition (mp3)

More instrumentals...

Exile, who produced Blu's critically acclaimed album Below The Heavens, released an instrumental album, Radio, earlier this year. The concept of the album was to sample vocals and sounds from mainstream radio and reinvent how we should listen to it.

"Good and evil are present on the radio. With this record I express love in contrast to evil. I did not want to put an album out showing only my talent...I needed to share with the listener what I have learned from my life. In this case, the radio."
-Exile

In this podcast, Exile provides an instrumental mix of cuts from the album, exclusives, and upcoming projects.

LISTEN:


DOWNLOAD:
Plug Research Podcast - Exile Edition

Track Listing:
01. Sike (Exclusive Instrumental)
02. Vangel (Exclusive Instrumental)
03. Freedom (from Fashawn “Boy Meets Word” Inst)
04. B.A.D.B (Exclusive Instrumental)
05. Your summer song (from Exile “Radio”)
06. Your summer song J mitchell remix (from Exile “Radio” Remix project)
07. If you’re down (Exclusive Instrumental)
08. Hell Fya (Exclusive Instrumental)
09. Hey Snake (ADAD EXclusive)
10. Population Control Samiam Remix (from Exile “Radio” Remix project)
11. Operator (non album Exile “Radio” track)
12. Were all in power Ev, Krondon, and Blame one remix (from Exile “Radio” Remix project)
13. Its coming down Knowledge remix (from Exile “Radio” Remix project)
14. In Love Milo Remix (from Exile “Radio” Remix project)
15. I’ve been Dreaming of you (non album Exile “Radio” track)
16. Stay tuned Musinah Remix (from Exile “Radio” Remix project)
17. Silver Moon (from Exile “Dirty Science” LP)
18. Spitten Image/ Emanon (from Exile “Dirty Science” LP)
19. Time has come/ Slum Village (from Exile “Dirty Science” LP)
20. Fly/ blu and Exile (from Exile “Dirty Science” LP)
21. Sky (Exclusive Instrumental)
22. Stepper (Exclusive Instrumental)
23. In the night 22 (From “From LA With Love” Compilation)
24. Treat (Exclusive Instrumental)
25. FUNKD (Exclusive Instrumental)
26. Birds eye view (Exclusive Instrumental)
27. No Greater love/ Blu and Exile (from “Below the Heavens” LP)
28. Stars /Fashawn (Exclusive from Fashawn “Boy Meets World” LP ft. Aloe Blacc)
29. Good Bye (Exclusive Instrmental)

14KT - Nowalataz (Instrumental Album)

Staying with the instrumental album theme, I found this Dilla influenced project from Detroit producer, 14KT.

About the concept:

Here it is...a project I unofficially had done since 2006. It started when James Yancey a.k.a. J Dilla passed that February. To cope with the death of my favorite producer, who I liked to call my unofficial “musical mentor”, I started making “donuts”...uncontrollably.
I never planned to release any of the material out of respect for Dilla & his craft. I've shared some of the music with others, in which they would repeatedly ask me to hear it, so I decided to put a little something together and make it official.
This is a collection of beats created about 3 years ago. Some "donuts" style, some just around that era of 14KT beats.
"Now & Laters" were always a favorite candy of mine. They are addictive, yet fun eat...a feeling I found mutual when making music at the time. Ironically, I fell back in love with "Nowalataz" around this era. Enjoy.
-14KT

DOWNLOAD:
14KT - Nowalataz

Blu - Open[theInstrumentalLP] (mp3) + NoSleepForADay[theInstrumentalEP]

The illest emcee on the West Coast has released his second instrumental album in two weeks. The first was an 8 minute EP, NoSleepForADay.

If you know the vibe that Blu is on, then you know these are dope tracks...I just wish he would spit over them.

DOWNLOAD:
Blu - Open(theInstrumentalLP)

Track Listing:
01_NoWorries(TheyGonnaLoveUBaby)
WrittenByHerCry
ProducedByMyNegligence
RecordedBeforeCashAndSene

02_GoodGrace(LetUsThankHimForThisFood)
WrittenByMyInspirition
ContainsInfluenceFromJamesYancey
ProducedAndRecordedInGrandpasLiqiourDen2007

03_RAw!(AsHardAsItGets)
WrittenBySmokeyChops
ContainsFakeScratchesFromTheThoughtsOf:
Frank,Asia,LilFame,BustaBust&FieldMob
Produced&RecordedByTime;GodSpeedTho

04_theRunAwaySlaveSong
WrittenByMyReasonToLeave
ProducedByMyReasonNotToWrite
RecordedOnTheBeachWithMyFeetUp

05_LikeEveryDayAintTheSame
WrittenByOldJazzRecords
ProducedByTheFeelingIWas58
RecordedInAEmptyWoodFloorLivingRoomBuiltIn1940

06_OpenChopShop(MilkMoneysFirstBeat)
WrittenByTheChildFeelingToProduce
ProducedByTheWayHipHopMadeMeFeelAsAChild
RecordedInAnOfficeWorkingAtMyThirdLabelJob

07_LetMeTellU
WrittenByTheThoughtOfWhatMyMomThinksOfMe
ProducedByTheFeelingThisWouldGetOld
RecordedByTheFeelingThatThisWouldGetSold
AndRecordedOverBySene

08_TalkingToMyselfTooOften
WrittenByAnAngelWhisperingRapsAboutWhatTheySayBackHome
ProducedByMyClosedMindAndOpenThirdEar
RecordedInSomeGlossyPrintPictureOfChoppedHeaven

09_WeDance(ThoughIWalk,WeUsedToFly)
WrittenByAnAncestrialDream
SampledByAPoemFromSaulWilliams
AndAJayElectronicaLineThatCrushedMyAlbumTheme
ProducedAndRecordedWithBothThoughtsInMindAtTheTime
AndSuposedlyAGodlee/RaachFeature

10_theLongWindedReverendBarnes
WrittenByTheThoughtICouldPreach
ProducedByGodsWillThatIWentToChurchAsAChild
RecordedAtTheChurchOfFlyingSoulInMyBedroom

11_FoundAtTheBottomOfTheRainbow
WrittenByTheThoughtOfLovingMusic
ProducedByTheLoveOfTheThought
RecordedBeforeIKnewWeWouldBeAlone

12_SucreForSunshine
WrittenByAMemoryOverSangria
ProducedByHerLatinRequest
RecordedForHerSmile

13_ThruTheMist
WrittenByMyDetermination
SampledForExtraConfindence
ProducedByAmbitionToGoHard
AndRecordedByMyStubbornWill

14_ThankU
WrittenByTheThoughtOfThisDay
ProducedByTheThoughtIWasAPianist
AndRecordedBeforeAFakeStudioAudience

15_(bonus)cB4(WBGlow)
WrittenInCaseUReallyWantedToHearMeTalkAboutMyOldBeats
ProducedAfterIHadOver300Of’em
RecordedLike…FuckIt,WhyNot

DJ Destroyer - Strictly Soul Mixed Vol. 5 (mp3)

A nice R&B/soul/hip hop mix to vibe out to...

DOWNLOAD:
DJ Destroyer - Strictly Social Mixed Vol. 5

Track Listing:
01. The Highest - MeLo-X
02. Melody (Featuring Shabaam Sahdeeq and Erik Rico)- DJ Spinna
03. Too Late For Us - Tiye Phoenix Feat. Phonte
04. Sounds Like Love (Feat. Debi Nova) - Illa J
05. Get Involved - Pete Rock
06. Super Stereo Blaster (Feat. Reach) - Leonard DStroy
07. Milk And Honey - Goapele
08. Universe 4 U(Feat. Phase One) - Chester Gregory
09. Rhythm Of The Drum - M64-Ragen Fykes+Ohmega Watts
10. Candelight (Myx’s Nu Soul Remyx) - Jody Watley
11. Killdat - Dam Funk
12. I Feel It All (Diplo Remix) - Feist
13. You Could Be Here- Deborah Jordan
14. Pretty Wings (Willie Isz/Jneiro Jarel Remix) - Maxwell
15. The Joy - Joy Jones
16. Want U for Myself (Feat. Peter Hadar) - Theophilus London
17. Love Czars - Sa Ra Creative Partners
18. I Want You (Remix) - Karriem Riggins
19. Wanna Be (Vicelounge Mash) - Maiysha
20. Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out - Mayer Hawthorne
21. Never Change - Choklate
22. Futuristic Soul (Do You Agree?) - Tony Ozier
23. Real Good (Feat. Phonte) - Yazarah
24. Slowly Surely (Supreme Remix) - Jill Scott
25. Look Around - Dotmatic
26. LOVE - Frank Nitt
27. Keep On Going (Feat. Vitamin D) - D. Black
28. Believe - Ayah
29. Cosmic Theory - fLako x Noir
30. Breath Of Fresh Air - Caretta Bell
31. Right Person Wrong Time - Jamal
32. Never 2ndary - Tanya Morgan
33. Smile - Alchemist Ft. Maxwell & Twista
34. Sunday - 9th Wonder Feat. Keisha Shontelle & Chaundon

Tab One [Kooley High] - The Tabloids (Free Album)

Kooley High's "Kool Summer" series continues with its second installment, The Tabloids, from Tab One. Charlie Smarts was the first of the three North Carolina emcees to put out a solo project. Next up is female emcee Rapsody's, Return of the B-Girl.

DOWNLOAD:
Tab One - The Tabloids

Track Listing:

Foreign Exchange - "House of Cards" (Video)

In 2004, Dutch producer Nicolay and NC emcee Phonte (from Little Brother) teamed up to form The Foreign Exchange, and dropped a heavily slept on hip hop album, Connected.
In 2008, Nic & Tigallo dropped a more R&B/Soul themed album, Leave It All Behind. "House of Cards" is the second single. Dope video for a dope song from a dope album.
Also, check out the video for the first single, "Take Off The Blues".

Jozeemo, Joe Scudda, Chaundon & Rapper Big Pooh - Reservoir Dogs (Mixtape)

Four Hall of Justus emcees join forces to form the Reservoir Dogs. Nothing much else to say...this shit is ill.

DOWNLOAD:
Jozeemo, Joe Scudda, Chaundon & Rapper Big Pooh - Reservoir Dogs

Track Listing:

Jaycee - Sample Clearance Part 2 (mp3)

The best half hour on Atlanta radio is "The Afternoon Delight" with Jaycee on V-103.

A musical journey that sounds like nothing else on commercial radio in Atlanta, spun by a very musically inclined and super technically capable soul..."it all blends perfectly"
-Jaycee

Here he is spinning Part 2 of the Sample Clearance series:

LISTEN:

Sample Clearance pt. 2 on V-103

The Afternoon Delight w/Jaycee, on V-103 Atlanta

DOWNLOAD:
Jaycee - Sample Clearance Part 2