Get To Know H.E.R.

As all of you may or may not know by now, Saigon has decided to team up with Statik Selektah to bring you All In A Day’s Work. Pretty exciting news, especially if you’ve been waiting on an official full length from the man for years now. Saigon is a great rapper when he’s focused and Statik has produced some heat in the past 2 years so at the very best, we’ll have a dope release on our hands and at the very worst, it should be decent/a little above average. According to Digital Amalgam, the album will be released on March 17th and was recorded in one day. Hopefully, there won’t be a rushed quality to the whole thing. Anyways, here are two songs from the album.

Spit: http://www.zshare.net/audio/56876723b9507226/

The Rules: http://www.zshare.net/audio/56876768f4aabe61/

O and for those who care, The Greatest Story Never Told is still set to be released soon, although who the hell knows what soon means anymore.

Peace and props to MeccaGodZilla for this. You guys should check him out sometime. Erroars is that shit.

Anyways, this is the promo release of MF Doom’s next album, Born Like This. Actually, I guess we should get used to calling him just DOOM from now on. All caps too…he insists…although what difference would that make when you’re saying the name? Would you have to emphasize the word like “DOOM!!!” ?? Geez, the man is obnoxious but damn it if he isn’t a sick rapper. But yeah…enjoy yourselves

Tracklising:
1. Ballskin
2. Lightworks
3. Angelz (ft Ghostface and Raekwon)
4. Cellz
5. That’s That

link: http://www.sendspace.com/file/ib9uyx

As for normal entries, I’ll start it up again Thursday. And since I’m falling a bit behind (bit is an understatement, I know), I’ll start with my reviews of 09 albums. And what better to start with than B-Real’s Smoke and Mirrors, which actually is out in stores today. Peace til then.

 Cymarshall Law, who is one of the Rawkus 50, just dropped 2 mixtapes, Cyology 3: The Freedom Writer and Two Thousand Mine, for free download to his fans. He’s a pretty good rapper and in fact, all of the Rawkus 50 guys are tight in their own right. Check out the two tapes and make sure to also check out his 2008 LP, Hip Hop In The Soul.

Cyology 3: The Freedom Writer
http://www.sendspace.com/file/oq26ar

Two Thousand Mine
http://www.sendspace.com/file/m12mf7

In other news, Stoupe of Jedi Mind Tricks fame is finally releasing a solo LP on our asses. It’s called Decalogue and is due to hit stores March 31st. Stoupe is an excellent producer and his beats have a feeling of grandness to them. I mean honestly I’ve always listened to Jedi Mind Tricks more for Stoupe’s beats than Vinnie’s rhymes (not to take anything away from VP). With guest spots from rappers such as Saigon, Joell Ortiz, MOP, and the usual Army of the Pharaohs crew, this is going to be one heck of an album. Look for it in the near future.

Cali’s underground rap phenomenon just dropped a mixtape/album for download on his myspace. Most of ya’ll should know who this guy is by now. If you don’t, you really should pick up a copy of any one of the projects he’d dropped in the past 2 years. Although I would recommend you pick up Below The Heavens first, since it is, in my humble opinion, a post 2000 hip hop classic. Anyways, here’s the tracklisting and his own words, followed by the link. I hate how this guy types by the way, regardless of the dopeness of his music.

01_Love
02_Amnesia
03_Since
04_Morning
05_Melo
06_Wind(terludeOne)
07_When(terludeTwo)
08_Silent
09_Pardon
10_Vanity
11_Beggars’/BlackGold
12_Celln’Ls
13_Untiled(LovedU)2
14_Peace

Finally,
AsIfIleftYouWaiting.
NoBigWords,JustFeelings
Congrats,YouAreTheBest!
ThankUForYourTime,
TheEnd
CreditsRollForever
AndWeStillSittingInTheTheater,

TrippingLike,
IDidntKnowAllMyBoysWereInThisFilm
IKnewHim,Him,Them&Them.
ProductionCreditsGoToMe,
ForProvidingTheSet,TheProps,TheStandIns&StuntMen.
AndMostOfAllForCastingTheNewLeadCharacter.
WhoGotTheGrammies?
Oscar&Granny,TheTitleOfTheFilm.
SlatedForAFullLengthButEndedUpAShort
w/TonsOfSpecialFeatures,
Fuck.
INeverWatchedThose.
SomeOneToldMeICouldBorrowTheDVD.
ILaughed,Cried,Smiled&ShoutedOutObscenities
ThenBowed.
TheEnd.

ToYouAll,FromMyApreciationForYourInspiration.
HerFavoriteColorIsntBlu(e)ItsU.
ProducedByMe.
ForYou,
All.

GoodDay

http://www.mediafire.com/?nnyynnnt50y

I’m gonna take a break just for today from album reviews to post up this EP by Junclassic. I’m actually not sure when this was released but I just listened to it today and shit is pretty good. Check it out if you have the time and make sure to read the word docs for some extra info from the man himself. Tracklisting is as follows.

1. I Gotcha (prod. by Cynergy)
2. The Ohh Ahh feat. Cy Yung (prod. by J Slikk)
3. Status feat Monsta X (prod. by Cynergy)
4. The Basics (prod. by J Slikk)
5. Forever (prod. by Cynergy)
6. Cruisin Thru The Southside (prod. by J Slikk)
7. Lil Bit feat Ceez (prod. by Cynergy)
8. Heard Em Say (prod. by J Slikk)
9. Sleeping Awake (prod. by Cynergy)
10. Werld (prod. by J Slikk)
11. Premeditated (prod. by Cynergy)

Here’s the link to the EP and his myspace if you’re interested.

http://sharebee.com/ac329ec9

http://www.myspace.com/junclassic

As for the top 50 albums of 2008 list, I’m sorry it’s taking so damn long. It’s taking a lot longer than I thought to catch up on the enormous pile of albums that built up during the fourth quarter of last year. If it takes to long, I may just listen to them straight through first without writing a review, do the list, and then work my way backwards at my own time to those since 2009’s albums are starting to come out soon enough.

I’ll start up reviews again tomorrow, but for now it’s time to go through my email once again and pick out some of the more interesting mp3s.

First up is the first single from the Crown City Rockers’ next album, 5 Gold Stars. For those who don’t know, Crown City Rockers consists of emcee Raashan Ahmad, who’s released an excellent album earlier this year, and a live instrument band (Woodstock, Kat Ouano, Headnodic, and Max McVeety). They’re sort of like the West Coast Roots with more of a jazz feel to their music and I’m a big fan of their previous works. Anyways, here it is, their single, Body Rock.

http://media.audibletreats.com/Crown_City_Rockers-Body_Rock.mp3

The second song for today is by a production duo by the name of Keelay & Zaire. To be honest, I’ve never heard of them before but the song, The Times, caught my attention because it happens to feature underground favorite Blu. So give it a listen and if you enjoy it, their debut album, Ridin High, is due to be released sometime early next year.

http://media.audibletreats.com/Keelay_and_Zaire-The_Times_fet_Blu_Fortilive_Nino_Moschella.mp3

As the election draws closer and closer, you knew this was bound to happen. I haven’t had the chance to give this a peep yet, but from the tracklisting, it shouldn’t be bad. Just a heads up though, the whole thing is formatted as a single mp3, so you’ll have to cut it yourself if you want individual tracks.

1. Intro
2. David Banner,Busta Rhymes,Talib Kweli “Black President” Rmx pt1 *
3. Barack Obama “Stand Up”*
4. Nas Speaks on Politics
5. Styles P and Cassidy “Make It Out”*
6. Jay-Z Speaks “The American Dream”
7. Barack Obama “One Mic, One People”
8. Russell Simmons Speaks on Obama
9. Joe Budden,Twista,John Mayer “Waiting on the World to Change 2008″
10. Angie Martinez “Yes We Need A Mixtape!!”
11. Kanye West,Malik Yusef “Promised land
12. Wale,Rhymefest,Christina K, Royce 529 “Black President” RMX Pt2*
13. Barack Obama “My Life”*
14. Jay-z “Lick a Shot”*
15. Russell Simmons on Change
16. Wyclef “Obama for President”
17. Charles Hamilton “The Moment”
18. Find ur Dreams (interlude) *
19. George Bush’s Highlight Reel
20. Mikkey Halsted “King George” *
21. Obama on Hip-Hop
22. Joel Ortiz feat Dante Hawkins “Letter To Obama” *
23. Akon , U.M. “Aint No Sunshine” *
24. Qadir, Dwayne (Invasion) “Its My Time
25. Johnny Polygon (Invasion),Amanda Diva “Colorblind” *
26. Mavado “We Need Barack” *
27. Jay-Z / Gabe Real “What We Need” (Speech)
28. Qadir “Yes We Can” Outro

http://www.sendspace.com/file/laa2r9

A couple of weeks ago I put up a free Black Milk mixtape, Music From The Color Purple for all ya’ll enjoyment. Now Black Milk has put out another free mixtape, the ELEC mixtape, which can be downloaded from this link.

http://cdn.hiphopdx.com/audio/downloads/blackmilk-elec-2008.zip

Tracklisting is as follows

1. Fat Ray & Black Milk - Take Control

2. Black Milk - Give the Drummer Sum

3. Caltroit - Go Hard (feat. Ras Kass & Royce Da 5′9″)

4. Elzhi - Motown 25 (feat. Royce Da 5′9″)

5. Elzhi - D.E.M.O.N.S.

6. Caltroit - Goatit (feat. Elzhi & Bishop Lamont)

7. Black Milk - Dub Rock

8. Fat Ray & Black Milk - Nothing to Hide

9. Jake One - I’m Comin (feat. Black Milk & Nottz)

10. Dabrye - Special (Black Milk Remix, feat. Guilty Simpson)

11. T3 - Yawl (feat. Elzhi)

12. Caltroit - Mouth Music (feat. Guilty Simpson)

13. Slum Village- Call Me (feat. Dwele)

14. Pharoahe Monch - Bar Tap

15. Young RJ - Welcome to the District (feat. Black Milk)

16. Black Milk - The Matrix (feat. DJ Premier, Pharoahe Monch, & Sean Price)

17. Slum Village - Bootleggin

18. Genius / GZA - 7 Pounds

19. Caltroit - Bang that Shit Out (feat. Bishop Lamont & DJ Rhetttmatic)

20. Guilty Simpson - My Moment

21. Marv Won - Talk About

22. Caltroit - Everything (feat. Kardinal Offishall)

23. Fat Ray & Black Milk - Get Focus (feat. Phat Kat)

24. Fat Ray & Black Milk - When it Goes Down

25. Caltroit - Inconvenient Truth

Look out for Tronic, dropping October 28th.

So in conjunction with the release of DJ Revolution’s King of the Decks LP, which is out today and should be reviewed by me within the week, Duck Down Records has decided to put out a free mixtape for you, the customer. Of course, this means that they want you to buy some of their albums now and why shouldn’t you? Duck Down Records has slowly become one of my favorite record labels of today with the quality of their releases (The Formula, Shell Shock, The In Crowd) and the way their future projects are shaping up (DIRT, and that proposed KRS/Buckshot collabo album). Here’s the link and the tracklisting.

http://www.duckdown.com/hotline

1) DJ Revolution INTRO & Buckshot Interview

2) 9th Wonder & Buckshot “Brand Nu Day”

3) Buckshot Interview

4) 9th Wonder & Buckshot featuring Mickey Factz “Concrete Jungle”

5) Buckshot Interview

6) Buckshot “WHO GOT THE PROPS 2008″

7) DJ Double O of Kidz In The Hall Interview

8 ) Kidz In The Hall featuring Estelle “Love Hangover” (Video debuted on MTV’s TRL)

9) Naledge of Kidz In the Hall Interview

10) Kidz In The Hall “Driving Down The Block Westcoast Remix”

11) Ruste Juxx Interview

12) Ruste Juxx “Vic Flair”

13) Ruste Juxx “Wipe Off Ya Smile” off INDESTRUCTIBLE in stores October 28th

14) Heltah Skeltah Interview

15) Heltah Skeltah “Everything Is Heltah Skeltah” off D.I.R.T. (DA INCREDIBLE RAP TEAM) IN STORES SEPTEMBER 30th

16) Heltah Skeltah “FUCK THAT RAPPER”

17) DJ Revolution Interview conducted by DJ LOGIC

18) DJ Revolution featuring KRS-ONE “THE DJ” off KING OF THE DECKS IN STORES SEPTEMBER 16th

19) DJ Revolution Interview

20) DJ Revolution featuring Bishop Lamont, Crooked I & Styliztik Jones “Funky Piano” off KING OF THE DECKS IN STORES SEPTEMBER 16th

21) DJ Revolution Outro

In other news, Joe Budden’s Padded Room LP has been pushed back from October 28th to February 24th 2009. However, Joe Budden fans will still get something on October 28th as he’s planning on releasing a digital download intermediate album, Halfway House on that day.

Also to prepare for the Termanology album that’s coming out soon, here’s yet another track from it titled Drugs, Crime and Gorillaz, featuring Sheek Louch and Freeway. As an additional treat, I’ve also put up the link for a non LP track bonus track, produced by the man, Pete Rock.

https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=R3ozRkJkR0ZOMUIzZUE9PQ

https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=R3ozRkJkR0ZHa09Ga1E9PQ

Those of you who’ve read my review of Ras Kass’ Institutionalized Vol 2 may remember that I mentioned that the good bulk of Ras’ discography is out of print and damn near impossible to find a copy of. Well, that’s not the worst of it. Thanks to the ever so shady doings of the record company, two of Ras Kass’ albums never even saw the light of day and are actually impossible to find a copy of. These two albums are Van Gogh and Goldyn Chyld, and it’s a shame that these were never released since I think it features some of his best songs (including the Goldyn Chyld Primo remix). Hopefully one day they will be, ala Jean Grae’s Jeanius, but in the meantime Ras Kass fans will have to rely on blogs such as this one to supply them with the two albums.

Van Gogh Tracklisting:

01. Hot Game
02. Goldyn Chyld
03. Back It Up
04. Kiss You
05. Kick Rocks
06. 4 Much
07. What You Want
08. Is This Love
09. Sex
10. NBA
11. One Night
12. Aha
13. Root Of Evil
14. Van Gogh
15. TV Guide

DL Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/135385844/Ras_Kass-Van_Gogh.zip.html

Goldyn Chyld Tracklisting:

01. Revelations 2222
02. Goldyn Chyld (DJ Premier Remix)
03. The Whoop
04. Everything and More
05. Do You See What I See
06. Is This Love
07. Hate Me More
08. Fuck U Up
09. NBA
10. Sex
11. 4 Much
12. Drinks Up High
13. Happiness
14. Back It Up
15. Kick Rocks
16. Kiss Of Death
17. The Seance

DL Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/135380072/Goldyn_Chyld_2002.zip.html