The Notorious B.I.G. "Ready To Die" (30th Anniv. Mix by DJ Filthy Rich)

Shout-out to the homie, DJ Filthy Rich out of Toronto, who continues to bless us with these fine tribute mixes. The latest installment pays tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G. and his classic debut album, Ready To Die, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Some albums just mark the time and I can remember so vividly sitting with this album in McClancy High School out in Queens, NY. Updated from his 25th anniversary mix, this is Volume 1 of the 30th with original samples and classic cuts from 1994. Rest In Peace, Notorious B.I.G. and DJ Mister Cee.  Unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions a small piece of the mix has been muted, but rock with it anyway y'all. Dig in...

Lloyd Banks "Halloween Havoc 5" (Album Stream)

Lloyd Banks is back with a brand-new installment of his classic Halloween Havoc series. Halloween Havoc 5 was released via Money By Any Means Inc and features 16 hard-hitting joints. The production is consistent throughout despite being handled my multiple producers such as Ron Browz, Cartune Beatz, Arkatekt Beats, Mr. Authentic, Haas Almahdi, George Getson, Formula2beatz and more. On Instagram, Banks shared, "You already know what I do around this time of year!! And nothing's gonna change... HHV loading!!" Yes, indeed. I haven't covered all the installments on this site, but best believe I was tapped into each and every one of them over the years. I still run the joint "History" (and "History 2" for that matter) on repeat. Whether introspective lyrics or the PLK Banks, he's one of the premier artists whose lyrics and pen I truly respect. Happy Halloween! Listen below...

Kurious "Majician" (Album Stream)

By his early 20s, Kurious was already an in-demand voice on the mic. His 1994 major label debut album, A Constipated Monkey, is a classic of its style, marked by heavy beats and nimble rhymes that are razor-sharp yet frequently hilarious. Despite being hailed as one of hip-hop’s most compelling lyricists, he didn’t release another solo LP for the rest of that decade, but he continued to be sought after. As he prepares for the release of his new album, Majician -- the nickname his peers blessed him with a generation ago—Kurious is well on his way to establishing the legacy he’s long deserved. The LP, which was executive produced by MF DOOM before his passing, is a mesmerizing blend of technical wizardry and personal introspection. Produced in its entirety by Mono En Stereo, Majician is filled with songs like “Eye of Horus,” which dance on the line between confession and confrontation. “Separation Anxiety” is a personal bloodletting in the form of lyrical exercise; “Par For the Course” makes drum breaks from the early Reagan era sound totally revitalized. With the amount of hard work Kurious put into the writing and recording of this material, he’s removed all ambiguity from the question of whether he can stand as one of the premier MCs of his time. Listen to Majician from Kurious below and hit the tags for more posts...

Shad & 14KT "Reel Speakers" (EP Stream)

The good homies: Toronto rapper Shad and Michigan based producer 14KT have surprised everyone by dropping a brand-new EP showcasing their recent collaboration. Reel Speakers, a four-track EP stemming from freestyles Shad did on socials, is a compact, high-energy listening with beat, grit, soul, and hope. The pair met at DJ Jazzy Jeff’s iconic Playlist Retreat years prior and connected over freestyles Shad was doing on Instagram to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary. 14KT started crafting a beat for one of the freestyles online, and the project eventually took shape and birthed Reel Speakers. BIG fan of both artists, this is an excellent collaboration, dig into the stream below...

Blu & Exile "Love (the) Ominous World" (Album Stream)

With the release of Love (the) Ominous World, Blu & Exile have returned with an album that brilliantly builds on their soulful, reflective foundation with stunning musicality and sharp songwriting. Their shared history as one of hip-hop’s best duos continues to grow, especially as they venture into new territory while embracing and refining what made them special. Man... Blu & Exile continue to inspire and keep me excited for music. Remember when a new album was an instant-purchase and you waited eagerly for it to drop? A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Lords of the Underground ... I couldn't wait. Blu & Exile give me that same feeling and they did NOT disappoint with their latest offering, Love (the) Ominous World. Definitely give the album a full listen below, as well as catching them on tour in your city. Gotta cop the physical releases too!

Awon & Phoniks "Golden Era 2" (Album Stream)

Awon & Phoniks make a triumphant return with "Golden Era 2," the long-awaited follow-up to their acclaimed debut, "Return to the Golden Era." The growth of the duo is evident in this new release, featuring Phoniks' thoughtful jazz-infused boom bap production and Awon's introspective lyrics. Together, the co-founders of Don't Sleep Records not only reflect on the past but also offer a vision for the future of underground hip hop. This album captures the nostalgic vibe of a classic era, reminiscent of the excitement when your favorite group drops a new record, with the stamp of quality you've come to expect from Don't Sleep. Featuring contributions from Anti-Lilly, Tiff the Gift, Dephlow, Hex One, V Knuckles, Demetrius Rhymes, PEL, and John Robinson, "Golden Era 2" is available on CD, cassette and limited-edition vinyl. These guys do it RIGHT, every time. Listen below...

Rakim "G.O.D.’S NETWORK (REB7RTH)" (Album Stream)

Hip-hop legend Rakim is breaking new ground with his upcoming studio album, G.O.D.’S NETWORK (REB7RTH), by flexing his skills both on the mic and behind the boards. Widely lauded as the best lyricist of all time, The God MC himself is blessing the culture with the next step in his historic career. G.O.D.’S NETWORK (REB7RTH) is proof that Rakim is truly one of the most special artists we’ve known not just in hip-hop, but all of music. You can tell he feels that level of praise when speaking about the genesis of the album. “Having the ability to showcase my talents behind the boards coupled with the elite lyricism the world already knows and gives me infinite praise for alongside some of the best talents to ever do it is truly a blessing and for that I am humbled,” he said. For fans of hip-hop, and especially of Rakim’s storied discography, there is so much to love on this record. You can hear his hunger as an emcee and producer on every track, as well as his desire to collaborate with so many respected artists. Despite having decades in the game and many classics to his name, it feels like Rakim is just getting started. - via Rakim Presents. Listen below...

Common & Pete Rock "The Auditorium, Vol.1" (Album Stream)

Pete Rock and Common finally got together to craft an album in 2024... a possible dream collaboration! The Auditorium, Vol. 1 is everything you thought it would be: dope lyrics and crisp production. About the album, Common shared, "Pete Rock is one of The Greatest Creators Hip Hop and Music has ever seen. It has been a dream of mine to work with him on an album. And once we got together and I was around him and all his records and his MPC I felt the spirit of what I always loved in hip hop, in soul music, and why I wanted to be a part of the artform. His beats, his production, his scratches, took me to a place where I could just MC freely. It felt like I was home." Back in 1996, Common got with Pete Rock who produced his classic diss track to Ice Cube, "The Bitch In Yoo." Common was also featured on Pete's Soul Survivor album in '98. Stream the LP below...