Doxx
Mac Dre
Charizma
Rappin’ Ron
DJ Co-V-Co
Leak from F.A.B.’s mixtape with September 7th, Prince Of The Coast. Drops in February.
“How I Came Up” [download]
As DaVinci continues to build momentum for the March 9th release of his full-length album, The Day The Turf Stood Still, he is unleashing the second in a series of three pre-album tracks. This second offering, “Trickle Down,” is again produced by Blunt, and again displays DaVinci’s poignant, yet street-corner informed, take on the Bay Area blocks that raised him and the world at large that surrounds him. As the song begins with relaxing jazz sounds, the realization soon hits that the song isn’t about relaxation at all. As DaVinci’s voice cuts through the music, the heady subject matter emerges as he raps about his neighborhood where survival is about gang wars, hate, and animosity. Taking it a step further, he compares the inne rworkings of street life to the machinations of modern day governments.
As DaVinci raps, “Hate is power, love is a weakness / You do wrong the right way, they call you a genius,” the rising Bay Area emcee’s powerful message resonates loud and clear – what’s valued in the streets seems to be exactly what is valued in politics too. This is the trickle down effect that grips the government and the community. “No government is perfect,” says DaVinci. “But if you represent a nation built on lies, cheating, thieves, murder, slavery, and the like, it’s going to be difficult for the people who make up that nation to see this as wrong.”
Further proving the Bay Area emcee’s penchant for releasing quality content, joining “Trickle Down” is a video montage, commanded by DaVinci’s own firm narrative. “Take a ride with me,” begins DaVinci over the sounds of a beating heart. Coming together with the driving strength of DaVinci’s words is a number of different black and white images, each signaling its own significance to the Fillmore native’s experiences, thoughts, and themes found throughout his music.
DaVinci is really killin’ it right now. The Day The Turf Stood Still – March 9th!!
“Trickle Down” [download]
To celebrate the release of the instrumental version of the already highly acclaimed album In The Ruff, Diamond District is proud to release the “I Mean Business” yU Remix. Produced by fellow group member yU, this track is reminiscent of the 90’s East Coast hip-hop that the DMV-based trio has often credited as a major influence on their sound.
When asked on why he chose to remix “I Mean Business”, yU said, “Of all the songs that we perform at shows, it always stands out like one of those songs you were supposed to hear in your lifetime.” But producing the remix definitely had its challenges, as yU explains, “Oddisee made it hard as a mug to remix anything on the album, but I wanted to do something different, drum pattern wise. I found some sounds that felt like a good blend and got to chopping and adding stuff.”
Continuing with their mission to bring back the sounds of old with a new twist, Diamond District’s “I Mean Business” Remix combines a laid back bass groove, an addictive drum pattern, and is laced with the unmistakable lyrical prowess of group emcees Odisee, X.O. and yU. The track is a further testament to their ability to capture the essence of the boom-bap sound, mixed with street savvy and politically conscious lyrics that depict life in and around our nation’s capital.
“I Mean Business (yU remix)” [download]
Purchase Diamond District’s album, In The Ruff, on iTunes.
After simmering down from the buzz garnered from their smash single “I’m On”, Bay Area pioneers of ‘Town Techno’ League510 are preparing themselves for a massive invasion of fan’s auditory senses in 2010. The group, which consists of emcees TK, MONT, Mr. Knowitall, and DJ Blacksmith, has a busy year ahead of them consisting of a new mixtape, a new album, and tour to top it all off.
League’s as-yet-untitled new album will be released in spring 2010 and is poised to bring the town techno movement into the national spotlight. A mixtape titled Invasion Vol. 1 will be released as a precursor to the album in January. When asked about the challenges of balancing so much, Mr. Knowitall replied, “It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but we’re up to it. This type of opportunity doesn’t come around often, so we feel blessed to be in our position.”
The first mixtape track to be released is “Nightlife” feat. J-Billion and 1-O.A.K. The track is somewhat of a departure from “I’m On”, League’s mtvU Freshman-winning single. Hard-hitting drums instantly get your head nodding, with heavy synthesizers guiding the flow of the song. Lines like, “How we feelin’? Kanye this the good life, Chevy boy rims spinnin’ in them bright lights, white right we colder than dry ice, nice white tight precise…” showcase that the group’s lyricism is as important as the beat they rhyme over.
“Nightlife” w/ J-Billion, 1-O.A.K. [download]
In Search of Stoney Jackson is produced entirely by Madlib, longtime friend of Phil Da Agony and extended Strong Arm Steady family. The album’s conception owes a great deal to World Famous Beat Junkie, J.Rocc, who provided the trio with close to 200 of the Madlib the Beat Konducta’s tracks to choose from. Strong Arm Steady had previously rapped over Madlib productions on the Madlib and Talib Kweli Liberation album, but this full-length marks a long-desired collaboration between the four. It’s a hip-hop jam session, with the group acting as the rhythm section for an all-star cast of guest vocalists such as Planet Asia, Guilty Simpson, Evidence, Chase Infinite, and Phonte of Little Brother.
Strong Arm Steady & Madlib’s In Search of Stoney Jackson drops worldwide Jan. 26, 2010.
“Jordache Look” [download]
“Best Of Times” w/ Phonte [download]
Brand new video from the Bay’s Meko McAfee. This is off his Justifiable Means EP which drops in February. Look here for more videos and music soon!
BONUS: Meko also recently leaked this track…
“Yay Area” [download]
You might not jump at the name, but Sareem Poems is no stranger to the game. Formerly Sharlok Poems of LA Symphony, the Long Beach, California emcee has been contributing his brand of positive hip-hop and earning the respect of hip-hop fans for years. On his latest single, “Come Get It”, off his Mello Music Group release, Black and Read All Over Deluxe Edition, Sareem makes sure you know he’s no new-comer. Joining forces with another well-respected and longtime contributor to the hip-hop world, producer/DJ Theory Hazit, Sareem delivers another eye opening hip-hop gem and demands that you pay attention.
“Mind of a black panther/Heart of a black pastor.” Within seconds of cueing it up, the brooding church bells, thumping bass drum, and hardcore spitfire assault slams your speakers. The powerful combination of Sareem and Theory is a perfect storm of intelligent lyrics, complex rhyme flow, and heavy-hitting production. “Come Get It” is one of the most relentless tracks you’ve heard in ages. Prepare to be bumping it out your car for weeks to come.
“Come Get It” w/ Theory Hazit [download]
Purchase Sareem Poems’ album, Black & Read All Over (Deluxe Edition), on iTunes.
With lyrics of determination and drive, a soulful hook and a rock-influenced beat, “Go” has the makings of a raw rock anthem – albeit one still very rooted in Fly Gypsy’s hip-hop sound – “guaranteed to get listeners amped up, focused and ready for whatever!” Speaking on the inspiration behind the song, Fly Gypsy’s emcee Kowboy Kom explains “Everyone needs an anthem and “Go” has all the anthem qualities of a rock song (but) still has a very soulful feel to it. This is such a real song for me because at the time I was dealing with some people’s lack of understanding (in) the moves I was making… (but) I didn’t want it to just be an anthem for me. I figured I’d help my people and my haters and drop some jewels on how we can all go get what we are trying to get.”
“Go” w/ David James [download]
Purchase Fly Gypsy’s EP, Change For A Dollar, on iTunes.
Head-nod maestro IMAKEMADBEATS continues his neck-breaking assault of dopeness with his latest single, “Return With a Mask On.” Featuring MidaZ the Beast (Alchemist’s Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars “Gangrene Mix”) and J.Freedome over a frenetic banger selected from one of the producer’s 2000+ beats, the song offers parallel stories of the stress and anger that causes people to retreat behind their ‘masks’ – and return with a vengeance.
“Return With a Mask On” serves as a placeholder to keep fans satiated for the slew of projects that all three artists have on deck for 2010. MidaZ is set to release a free conceptual mixtape with www.potholesinmyblog.com called El Midaz Affair (featuring the music of El Michels Affair) in January. J. Freedome will be heavily featured on IMAKEMADBEATS’s upcoming debut album, IMAKEMADBEATS (Culture Kings Music). Additionally, IMAKEMADBEATS will also be releasing the Daylight/Nightlight split-EP, featuring Butta Verses (De La Soul’s The Grind Date) and MidaZ the Beast.
“Return With A Mask On” w/ MidaZ The Beast, J. Freedome [download]
