Doxx
Mac Dre
Charizma
Rappin’ Ron
DJ Co-V-Co
Boy Meets World drops in September. Here’s the second single. I didn’t get the artwork in the inbox so the image is Deebo’d from 2dopeboyz.
“Life As A Shorty” [download]
Brooklyn’s own Bekay sits down with UGHH’s Van Stylez for an in-depth interview that covers everything from Bekay’s upcoming album Hunger Pains, to his thoughts of the game post 2000, to his not so flattering opinion of Asher Roth. Hungers Pains is slated for an October 13th release date with the first single “I Am”, produced by The Alchemist to be dropping later this summer. The album’s second single “Brooklyn Bridge” feat. Masta Ace (prod. by DJ Babu) will be dropping shortly thereafter- a video for both tracks are in progress.
The Blaps, Rhymes & Life compilation series continues, as the blapmaster Illmind and Dub MD bring you Volume 3 as yet another exclusive free download. Blaps, Rhymes & Life Vol. 3 is jam packed full of more classic !llmind production as he showcases his music with a mix of mainstream and underground artists, in this volume he collaborates with mainstream artists like 50 Cent, Scarface, Young Buck, and Marsha from Floetry, and keeps the balance with underground artists and rising stars such as Termanology, Wale, D-Black, Skyzoo and Torae to name a few. Also included is an official remake of 88 Keys’ single “Stay Up!” featuring Alchemist, Evidence and 88 Keys himself on the rhymes. Master Shake from Adult Swim’s hit TV show Aqua Teen Hunger Force also makes an appearance!
As always Illmind is working on multiple projects, as he hits the studio to put the finishing touches to the debut album with his group Fortilive consisting of Illmind, Slo-Mo and Mushmouf, which is due out sometime later next year through Myx Music, aswell as executive producing albums for Pumpkinhead, D-Black and Naturel. For more information and updates on him and the series, check out the new launch of the official Blaps, Rhymes & Life website at www.blapsrhymesandlife.com, www.illmind.biz, and follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/illmindproducer.
In addition to that lookout for Dub MD as he presents projects from various artists including the likes of Junclassic with “Southside’s Savior” out July 13th, the Nametag follow-up “Classic Cadence Vol. 2″ out August 10th and a whole host of others including Judah, Karniege, Dominique Larue and more. For more information and updates follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/dubmd84.
01.) Intro (feat. The Real “Master Shake”) (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)
02.) D-Black – Superbad (Produced By Illmind)
03.) Young Buck – Hold On (feat. 50 Cent) (Produced By Illmind)
04.) Skyzoo & Wale – Freshfest (Produced By Illmind)
05.) Rapper Big Pooh – Problems (feat. Jozeemo) (Produced By Illmind)
06.) Cres – Restless (feat. Termanology) (Produced By Illmind)
07.) Kaze – Dusk Til’ Dawn (Produced By Illmind)
08.) Scarface – Who Are They (feat. K-Rino & Slim Thug) (Produced By Illmind)
09.) Kida – We Made It (feat. Marsha Ambrosius) (Produced By Illmind)
10.) Dominique Larue – Okay (feat. Kim Joyce) (Produced By Illmind)
11.) Kids Incorporated (88 Keys, Evidence & Alchemist) – Stay Up! (Viagra) (Produced By Illmind)
12.) Common – I Want U (Shmoove Mix) (Produced By Illmind)
13.) MindsOne – Instinct (Produced By Illmind)
14.) Thoth – On My Terminator Shit (feat. Terminology) (Produced By Illmind)
15.) Edo. G – Wishin’ (feat. Masta Ace) (Produced By Illmind)
16.) Fortilive (Illmind, Mushmouf & Slo-Mo) – Cowboys (feat. 84) (Produced By Illmind)
17.) C.B. News – Bumrush The Show (feat. Torae) (Produced By Illmind)
18.) Deep Foundation – Girls (Produced By Illmind)
19.) AP – All I’ve Seen (Produced By Illmind)
20.) Vox Merger – Do Or Die (feat. The Far East Movement) (Produced By Illmind)
Blaps, Rhymes & Life Vol. 3 [download]
It’s an indie hip-hop meeting of the giants, as Tanya Morgan has called upon production duo Keelay & Zaire to remix their hit “So Damn Down.” Gone are the jazzy strings, and in is the undoubtedly Zaire bass line. While the original featured a scenic hook, the remix has a quintessential Kee and Zee feel: gritty drumbeat, huge synth hits, and J Dilla-esque siren calls and samples. The upbeat flow of Tanya Morgan’s original verses has been replaced by an East Coast hard cadence, but if you haven’t heard the original it would be tough to believe this is a remix. The blend of artists is so solid there should definitely be a larger collaboration in the future.
“So Damn Down (Keelay & Zaire remix)” [download]
Purchase Tanya Morgan’s album, Brooklynati, on iTunes.
Filed under: Videos
As promised Live, Love, Learn is here!! Entirely produced by Soulful!, a DMV based producer. Live, Love, Learn is a mature record. What I mean is, it’s life music. Experiences turned into relatable music. Definiteily excited about this project because I worked real hard, seriously. <–That may sound cliche but it is what it is. I gave you gave you guys two joints off of it(“Absolute Perfection” & “Baby It’s Over”) and the rest is better!
Live, Love, Learn [download]
BONUS: D.Julien threw in an extra release called Get Familiar so those who don’t know of him already can, well, get familiar. Full of old freestyles and songs it’s a great way to catch up on the kid and hear the progress.
Get Familiar [download]
Filed under: Videos
Filed under: Videos
Directed by Noah Banks, the video took three weeks to reach completion as it’s comprised of over 3,000 still photos and zero video footage.
Naledge’s “Chicago Picasso” Mix CD, hosted by Mick Boogie and DJ Timbuck2, is a 20 track album that features 100% original music, as well as guest appearances from Bun B, Curren$y, Mickey Factz, Jay Electronica, Chip Tha Ripper, and Rhymefest.
Naledge’s Chicago Picasso mix CD is available now.
D.Black, a Seattle, Washington-based emcee, is proud to announce the release of Ali’Yah. The album, D.Black’s sophomore effort, which features production from Jake One and Vitamin D, will be available September 15 via Sportn’ Life Records/MYX Music Label.
There are defining moments in every career. Moments of ascension; moments when taking the step from one level to the next is not only inevitable, but necessary. For D.Black, an emcee many first heard on the track “God Like” from producer Jake One’s White Van Music, that defining moment is now, and it comes in the form of the emcee’s sophomore album, Ali’Yah (Hebrew for Ascend). Praised for his polished rhyme flow, D.Black’s new record, and the sound he self-describes as “deep-rooted soul with heavy slapping drums,” will help define him as an emcee and a person. D.Black says, “I began recording a different album almost 2 years ago. In the midst of creating that album, I realized it wasn’t for me; I was making music contrary to my inner person. Ali’Yah captures me in the midst of a spiritual journey that has altered my way of being even in my physical life.” The result, an album inspirational both musically and conceptually, is finally ready.
D.Black has been a staple of the Sportn’ Life Records roster for some time. However, the Seattle rapper’s new LP, Ali’Yah, will be released jointly through Sportn’ Life Records and MYX Music Label. MYX Music Label, the Bay Area-based label that recently released the highly acclaimed debut album from Keelay & Zaire, Ridin High, is a label quickly making a name for itself in the hip-hop world. Partnering with Sportn’ Life Records for the release of D.Black’s new album is another big step for the label. Karim Panni, MYX Music label head and long-time fan of D.Black’s work, is excited to be a part of the project, seeing the partnership with Sportn’ Life Records as a no-brainer. Karim says, “You see two artists collaborate all the time, and for an artist like D.Black, with such a great new album, we thought combining the resources of two record labels would be a great move to give this album the attention it deserves.” On September 15, the fruits of the partnership between the two labels will be realized as fans finally get a chance to hear Ali’Yah.
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, D.Black’s musical roots are deep, with his mother and father both involved in pioneering hip-hop groups in the Seattle music scene. In 2006, D.Black released his debut album, The Cause & Effect, a huge regional success, allowing the emcee to share the stage with Nas, Freeway, Bun B, Clipse, Paul Wall, The Boot Camp Click, and more. After being mentored by Vitamin D, a staple and veteran of the Seattle hip-hop scene, D.Black began making a name for himself by working on projects with producer Jake One. One such collaboration resulted in D.Black being featured on Jake One’s White Van Music, on the track “God Like,” helping to cement the Seattle emcee as a household name beyond the Pacific Northwest. Jake One and Vitamin D were also both instrumental in helping D.Black create his new album, offering guidance and production on the record, along with D.Black, whose own production work has been featured on projects from former G-Unit rapper Young Buck. D.Black’s new album, Ali’Yah, will be available September 15 via Sportn’ Life Records/MYX Music Label.
Check out “Keep On Going” from D.Black’s new album, featuring and produced by Vitamin D. The beat was also recently taken by 50 Cent from an old Vitamin D beat CD and used for the track “London Girl,” which is featured on 50 Cent’s War Angel LP.
“Keep On Going” w/ Vitamin D [download]
The faint horns, driving bass line, and melodious refrain echoing the words nothing anyone can say welcome the listener to the track “Nuthin.” An inviting and familiar instrumental atmosphere reminiscent of an old blues shack or juke joint is immediately established as DJ JS-1 drops the beat. A powerful team of heavy hitters featuring CL Smooth, Brother Ali, and Sadat X lend their indisputably recognizable vocals to the record. Somewhat of an anthem to the emcees that have survived the changes in the hip-hop industry, “Nuthin” renders the haters silent and commands respect from the industry. “What do you say to a man who been to hell and bac k/ escaped out of Satan’s hands with his head in tact/ made his own plans when there was no welcome mat / dog I’ll tell you what you tell him, you don’t tell him jack.”
DJ JS-1 uses two major samples as the driving forces of the record. The first sample, “somebody say nothing!” is a scratch DJ JS-1 took from a KRS-One feature on a German record that was not released in the US. That sample merged with the sample “there’s nothing anyone can say” shapes the foundation of the record and gives DJ JS-1 the space to create yet another masterpiece. “Nuthin” is a banger off the new album “NO SELLOUT”(Ground Original 2), the second installment to DJ JS-1′s first album, Ground Original. “NO SELLOUT” (Ground Original 2) is now available via Fat Beat Records.
“Nuthin’” w/ CL Smooth, Brother Ali, Sadat X [download]
Ground Original 2: No Sellout is available now on Fat Beats Records, you bastards. You can get it digitally from iTunes or Fat Beats. Physical CD version is available here.
