Tenacity & D.R.U.G.S Beats "Discussions" (Album Stream)

Los Angeles based Rapper / Engineer Tenacity and Grammy nominated producer D.R.U.G.S. Beats recently joined forces to create this collaborative project, "Discussions". The musical duo’s first album together introduces 13 forward-thinking tracks that focus on a variety of societal issues and current events that have affected a vast amount of people around the world. D.R.U.G.S. Beats supplies a hard-hitting back drop for Tenacity to express raw emotions and share his point of view in a way that makes the listener feel as if they are part of the discussion. The Street Corner Music affiliates are hoping to open some minds and bring awareness to those who struggle to relate to another’s individual struggle. “It’s very rare to hear music on popular radio that openly discusses bigotry, hate, prejudice, or even domestic abuse,” says Tenacity. “But I think it’s important to bring attention to these topics through music, especially since much of what this album centers upon is relatable - my message will resonate deeply with someone, somewhere in the world. My mission is to make people stop, listen to the lyrics, and think. Hopefully this creates continued discourse that goes beyond just listening to this album.” Discussions features guest appearances from Jalal Salaam, J57, and Deejay Element, as well as woodwind arrangements performed by Seb Zillner. Listen below...

The AK's "Laws Of Attraction" (EP Stream)

The AK's (Absoulute Konquest) is a young duo from Queens, New York; formed by Izrl and Horus. With fresh production by Philanthrope, Tusken, 2Late, Jahshoota, and Tides, the 6-track "Laws of Attraction" EP has a nice blend of Jazz and Hip-Hop with the young Queens spitters providing introspective lyrics, similar to the sound coming out the Don't Sleep Records camp. Thinking back on how quickly time flies, the 22-year old MC reflects, "My head was in the clouds and it was not in them books / bumpin' Mobb Deep's while peepin' all these halfway crooks." A dope introduction to The AK's, the project is available on vinyl through Germany's Radio Juicy label. Dig into the EP below.

Jam DOT x Da Ooh! ‎– Da Original Troopa EP / Lost In Queens EP

"Here we go again with this supa ultra DOPE and conceptual release from Queens with Jam DOT and Da Ooh!, which consisted of Jam & Kwota. For this release we selected the best Jam DOT 90's unreleased tracks that deserved to be on wax, 6 tracks EP simply called Da Original Troopa EP, all the tracks are produced by Jam DOT himself. Then second EP on this double vinyl release is Da Ooh! as said above this group consisted of Jam DOT and Kwota, in this second 6 tracks EP we have chosen to reissue their very rare Da Ooh! - The Chemistry 12" and we added three crazy demos from Da Ooh! early 90's material..." - Back 2 Da Source Records. Personally, I remember building with Jam DOT back in the MySpace days; I was trying to get a better copy of the Wastelanz (shouts to Flushing, Queens) remix to his track Time, and get more information. He looked out and that was appreciated. Glad these joints are being unearthed and getting love. Peace to Back 2 Da Source.

Cousin Feo & Keor Meteor "A Little Caviar" (EP Stream)

"A Little Caviar" is a collaborative EP between French producer Keor Meteor and Los Angeles emcee, Cousin Feo. The project is heavily themed around street soccer and hustlin', titling each track after famous French footballers, capturing both the energy of the sport as well as the streets. The short EP is only 5 tracks, but it's a solid project from the emerging Cousin Feo. Listen...

Brock Berrigan "The Narrows" (Instrumental Album)

"Ten months in the making, I am proud to present my new album "The Narrows." I went to Utah and hiked around canyons for a month and got inspired to create this album. Tried to put a little of every style I've done so far and branch out into some new territory. This record was an incredible journey to make and has destroyed many brain cells in the process, but I am beyond pleased with the final product. As I always tend to say with each album release, sit back, grab a drink, turn it up, and enjoy." - Brock Berrigan. Enjoy his latest 17-track instrumental offering, The Narrows, below...

Kevin Keith & The Dirty Dozen (3/19/94 w/ Da King & I)

There are dozens of classic radio uploads on DJ Eclipse's mixcloud page, and while all of them are dope, I know I'm just not gonna be able to sit through all of them any time soon. So, I'm handpicking, and the logic for this pull is the interview with Da King & I; as fans of Izzy Ice & DJ Majesty, it's nice to be able to go back and listen to old interviews like this. As Eclipse says, Da King & I "also brought up Duo Die (Free & Sid) who now go by Duo Live - veterans of selling CDs in front of Fat Beats. Funny enough, Izzy also shouts out Strictly Roots, who were in the place late from missing their spot on The Awesome Two's show. The Da King & I interview is at 26:34 and a freestyle with Iz and Free is at 52:18, carefully time stamped by Eclipse himself. Great work, check out his page!

Eazy-E (September 7, 1964 - March 26, 1995)

"The 31-year-old rapper was diagnosed with AIDS after being hospitalized for breathing troubles three weeks ago. "I would like to turn my own problem into something good that will reach out to all my homeboys and their kin because I want to save (them) before it's too late," Wright said in a statement... The singer did not previously know he was HIV-positive, and does not know how he contracted the disease... Wright admitted to leading a fast life filled with "fancy cars, gorgeous women and good livin'" and he noted that he had fathered seven children with six different women. "Now I'm in the biggest fight of my life, and it ain't easy," he said. N.W.A. released the landmark 1988 album, Straight Outta Compton, a chronicle of inner-city squalor. It sold more than 2 million copies. N.W.A.'s music mixed swatches of previously recorded music - called samples - with rhyming, frequently vulgar lyrics. Few of N.W.A.'s songs could be played on the radio, and yet the band was popular and influential. Followers of "gangsta" rap say the gritty music is steeped in social commentary... A follow-up record, 1991's "N!ggaz4Life," became the first hardcore rap album to hit No. 1 on the charts even though it was banned by a record store chain and seized by the British government. Mostly recently, Wright had been a solo artist (1993's "It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa") and had produced and supervised several other acts, including Above The Law, Bone Thugs N Harmony, and Blood of Abraham. N.W.A. alumni Ice Cube and Dr. Dre went on to become trend-setting and controversial rappers, and the band's angry, rebellious style was imitated by a variety of top rap artists." Eric "Eazy-E" Wright died due to complications from AIDS on March 26, 1995, at age 30.

Slick Rick & Dana Dane "Pimpin' Ain't Easy" (2000)

Back in 2000, Priority Records and the WWF joined forces to release a compilation album called 'WWF Aggression.' The project had rappers adding original rhymes over various wrestlers' entrance themes. Artists such as Method Man, Snoop Dogg, Redman, Heltah Skeltah, RA The Rugged Man Ice-T, and more. There was originally a version of Ice-T's "Pimpin' Ain't Easy" that had Dana Dane and Slick Rick instead over the Godfather's Theme. I am not certain why the record didn't make the retail version of the album, but this gem was lost to many and is certainly worth your listening pleasure. At the time, the Priority release was considered a "flanker," because Koch Records had released a project called "WWF The Music Volume 4" that would expand the market base and make room for the WWF to grab some new market share. The article talks about their street teams handing out snippet cassettes for the album and I do have a sealed copy somewhere. I never gave it a second's look, but had I known Mark Copeland at Priority said, "we wanted street-level thugs with a genuine love of wrestling," I might have been sold. That's sarcasm, why would he say that!? lol

The original article in Billboard (March 25, 2000) is below...

Westside Gunn "FLYGOOD ... Is Good All The Time" (EP Stream)

Keeping the fire coming, Gunn has teamed with producer Mr. Green for a new EP, FLYGOD Is Good… All The Time. “We were originally going to film the project, but scheduling-wise, we were never able actually to lock in a shooting date,” Mr. Green said to Hypebeast. “So, we ended up doing it audio-only. It was originally supposed to be more of a Live From the Streets film project than a music project, but it just sort of morphed into a dope music project.” - via 2DBZ. Dig into the EP below...

Prhyme 2: DJ Premier & Royce Da 5'9" (Album Stream)

PRhyme 2 is the second studio album by American hip hop duo PRhyme, consisting of Royce da 5'9" and DJ Premier. Produced entirely by DJ Premier, the album features samples composed by producer AntMan Wonder. It was released on March 16, 2018 via their own record label PRhyme Records and INgrooves Music Group, and is a sequel to the eponymous album PRhyme. The album features guest appearances from rappers 2 Chainz, Big K.R.I.T., Dave East, Rapsody, Roc Marciano, Yelawolf, Chavis Chandler, bassist Brady Watt and singers Novel (as a part of duo Summer of '96 with Wonder), CeeLo Green and Denaun Porter. It's not as great as the first LP, but do dig into it below...

Rest In Peace, Mom.

My mom died today ... I'm trying to find the words, when even the feelings are foreign to me. Sigh. I've never felt hurt like this before. A lot of things don't feel fair at times in our lives, mostly it's our own preparation; decisions that could have gone another way or just a stroke of bad luck - it comes and goes. This, is something else. My mom was perfectly healthy a month ago. Yes, she had physical pain, but the same residual pain she'd had since the 90s when we were both struck by a truck on a street corner in Queens. I mean healthy in terms of her vital signs and body operating as it should. An infection was wrongly introduced to her body and she got very sick; she spent a month fighting it in the hospital and today we had to pull the plugs. She'd had several strokes at the hospital and it was at a point where her heart and her lungs were causing her more pain than we could bear to watch her experience. This whole ordeal has tested my faith to new limits, and has left me even more confused. We've been through too much for me to understand why God would allow her to suffer this way. I know that life must go on - death is a natural part of life - but the details I'm leaving out are what make this all so hard to swallow. I love you, Mom. Rest In Peace. I'll see you when I get there. I will not be doing a public GoFundMe, but hit me to help support. Sidenote: I was oddly thankful to have this site to post at through all of this - conversations about music took my mind off everything else. Constants are always a comfort in difficult times. Anyway...

Meka "50 For 50: Happy Birthday, DJ Premier" (Mix)

Originally released last year, Meka (2DBZ) found a new home for his mix at MixCloud, so he's sharing it again, with the included note: "As a testament to my advancing age (and dwindling sanity), DJ Premier has been perhaps the most influential person in my musical life. In fact, it was his mastery on both the production boards and turntables which compelled me to try my own hand at this warped world called the music industry. Seriously, hearing “All 4 the Ca$h” for the first time all but confirmed that I would never be a doctor or lawyer. Sorry, mom... Anyways, I consider Chris Martin — along with DJ Jazzy Jeff — to be one of the greatest turntable maestros of all time, and they are the two motivating forces behind my own deejaying career. So, with Premo turning 52 years old today (March 21st), I crafted this mix in honor of him. Cramming 50-plus different songs (count them, if you don’t believe me) into this mix, I played old classics, recent bangers, utilized acapellas, and flipped the original samples. The entire thing took much longer than I thought, but it is one of my favorite mixes to date. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did putting it together." Listen below.

Awon & Phoniks "The Actual Proof" Album Stream

"Brooklyn-born / Virgina-based emcee Antwan Wiggins, better known as Awon, and Portland, Maine hip hop producer Phoniks have been cutting ‘Golden Era’-inspired rap tracks since 2013. This year’s The Actual Proof marks their 5th endeavor back into the studio, their third release on their own music label, Don’t Sleep Records. First track True to the Facts harkens back to the conscious hip hop years of the early aughts, my personal favorite era of this ever-expansive genre. Gliding on a Bob James-inspired organ hook delivered by the great Phoniks and some smooth-as-silk flows from Awon and Anti-Lilly, True to the Facts is yet another reminder that jazz and hip hop are as aurally delicious of a combo as coffee and cream." Peep the stream below and definitely show support.

Thorough "Thorough Rhymes & Crazy Beats" (Album Stream)

If you've been following along, this is the third release I've posted from Jamaica, Queens MC Thorough. Thorough has a purist's sound - raw and unflinching lyrics over rugged beats provided by long-time collaborator CrazyBeatsP. He definitely commands the mic and makes me miss my neighborhood back home in Queens. If past projects weren't convincing enough, I think this album, "Thorough Rhymes And Crazy Beats," is really gonna win over a bunch of new fans. Everything down to the artwork shows great attention to detail, do yourself a favor and check it out below....

Soho & Otesla "Evergreen Tape" (Instrumental Album)

Germany's Dirty Beauty label is back with another dope instrumental release. The latest is from Soho & Otesla, released on cassette and containing 22 solid beats. Soho & Otesla produced, mixed and mastered the "Evergreen Tape" themselves and add, "Spring is coming. The better days are shining through. Feel the life in the breeze. Feel the warm sun on your skin and enjoy the pleasant vibes from our friends." The dope artwork was handled by Ilya Gorev. Listen to the project below...

DJ Rei Double R & G-Bo The Pro "Tape #16" (Mixtape, 1993)

DJ Rei Double R & G-Bo The Pro kept feeding the streets with diverse mixes of Hip-Hop, R&B and Dancehall cuts on Tape #16, released in 1993. This mix tape features cuts from Cutty Ranks, Buju Banton, Terror Fabolous, Daddy Screw, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, SWV, LL Cool J, Prince Markie Dee, H-Town, Capleton, Beenie Man, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Rayvon, The Pharcyde, Diamond D, Intelligent Hoodlum, The Beatnuts, Lords of the Underground, Cypress Hill, Method Man and more.

Pounds x Oh No "Borgata" (EP Stream)

Rochester, NY rapper of Italian descent Pounds kicks off 2018 in the best of ways, he released a 4-tracks collaboration EP with West Coast producer, 1/2 of Gangrene, Oh No entitled “Borgata”. The record opens up with “Last Supper” and with a clear statement of intent: “Run for your life, my cousin brought a drum and a knife, break my hand on your face I need a bucket of ice” just so you understand where this project is headed since the first song. His style is always direct, without any frills, with his trademark voice spitting gritty crime-themed bars that revolve around drug and the street life that raised him. A “borgata” in Italy is a “hood”, and Pounds, being the definition of an artist that talks the talk and walks the walk, couldn’t pick a better title for this project.

Eternia & MoSS "To The Future" (Video)

It took me a year to listen to “To The Future.” It was the one song I was going to listen to just as the fans would experience it on the day of the “At Last” LP release. Those plans changed when the test presses arrived and I was tasked with clearing them for final pressing. I sat - alone - in a back office at Fat Beats warehouse with tears in my eyes; sad ... angry ... but mostly humbled by E’s strength to put her life on the page so openly/vulnerably for the world to see. I have no words to express how that impacted/impacts me. When we decided almost a year after the release of At Last to make To The Future the 3rd and final video, we knew we needed to attach it to an organization that would help us raise awareness and offer an outlet for those with similar experiences to get help. Kids Help Phone in Canada stepped up and agreed to partner with us. MTV News gave it a nice push, then we took to the red carpet at the Juno Awards and continued to raise awareness with many established outlets who felt the messages of sexual assault, domestic violence, gun violence, and more in the song/video. Eternia 1st performed the track at Southpaw in Brooklyn with her live band to an applause that felt... more gratifying than almost any other show.

A shout out to MoSS, who crafted the perfect gut wrenching beat and knowing that perhaps only Eternia could touch it, then stood proudly by her knowing the content would be hard for some to hear. It’s his favorite song and it was MoSS who said we needed a video. Salute that man, he wasn’t always easy to work with but he had a vision and he saw it through. Erica Shallow who directed the video and brought visuals to life. Amazing! Julia who did E’s make up; she brought E’s natural beauty out and the clothes were by Married to the Mob. I have to accept that maybe in my role I failed a bit because I’m sure many of you never heard this song - as much as we did and as much as we tried to get it out there, there was a glass ceiling & I never quite got thru it. It’s not too late tho! The message is as strong today as it was when E wrote, recorded, and made the video. Every 90 seconds...! The official video was released on this day in 2011 via Fat Beats Records, watch it below...

Recognize Ali "God's Vision LP" (Album Stream)

Recognize Ali shares gems from the underground with his latest offering, God's Vision LP. 16-tracks of gritty production and fierce rhymes from Ali, Sage Infinite, Crimeapple, Danie Son, Lil Eto, Vic Spencer, C-Rayz Walz, and production by Karnate, Tone Spliff, DJ TMB and more. Listen below...

DJ Obsolete "The Mandela Effect" (Album Stream)

"The Mandela Effect" is entirely produced by German producer, DJ Obsolete; it is also available in vinyl and cassette from UK label, Village Live Records. The album has a great blend of instrumentals and vocal tracks, with features from Ill Conscious, Gee Bag, Blabbermouf, Warpath, Nomadic and Dysfunkshunal Familee. There's some solid replay value in this project, so consider ordering vinyl after streaming it below, and let me know what you think (here or on IG). Props to DJ Obsolete.

Master P & the NBA (1999 Press Release + Video)

Percy Miller aka Master P was signed to two separate NBA contracts in the late 1990s. He played for  the Charlotte Hornets during the 1998 pre-season and the Toronto Raptors during the 1999 pre-season. When Master P was released in Charlotte, P explained his conversation with the GM, who said, "You are a helluva basketball player, but your music is pure filth and it's a Bible belt city." The above press release was an invitation to media so that P could set the record straight on his release from training camp in Toronto back in 1999. Master P shared that he was bitter at the way things went and that he was "disappointed in my teammates. I worked hard but nobody said how hard I worked," arguing that perhaps his teammates didn't have his back the way he felt he did for them.  In 2002, he played in the (CBA) Continental Basketball Association for Fort Wayne Fury. In 2003, he played in the (IBL) International Basketball League for the San Diego Stingrays. In 2004, he also played in the (ABA) American Basketball Association for the Las Vegas Rattlers.  He also owns his own basketball league, Global Mixed Gender Basketball (GMGB). To close this out, Master P added this message, "There are no limits when you work hard, chase your dreams, believe in yourself and most importantly trust God. God blessed us each of us with many talents. Don't be afraid to use them." Much respect to Master P - while his music wasn't necessarily my preference at times - his business sense and strategies have always intrigued me and I salute him for that.

Tony Touch "Hip Hop 60: Power Cypha 3" (Mixtape, 1999)

Tony Touch's tape #60 was the third in his legendary Power Cypha series, wherein Tony Toca featured the best then-underground hip-hop artists spittin' raw freestyles over classic beats. The mix featured dozens of MCs like Rah Digga, AZ, M.O.P., Eminem, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Milk Dee, MC Lyte, Cormega, Prodigy, Large Professor, Sauce Money, Special Ed, Kid Capri, Q-Tip, Grand Puba, B-Real, Xzibit, Tash, Wyclef, Ed O.G., Dead Prez, Black Rob, G.Depp, Mad Rapper, LA The Darkman, Thirstin Howl III, Juju, Craig Mack, Positive K, Common, Posdnuous, Kurupt, Saafir, Ras Kass, Royce Da 5'9, Defari, Blahzay Blahzay and more!. This is a CLASSIC mixtape, much love to Tony Touch in the mix, check it out! Props to DJ Step One for uploading both sides of the cassette. Enjoy the mix below...

Nas "God's Son" (Vibe Review, February 2003)

"Stillmatic, released last year amid a flurry of controversy, was a triumph, redeeming Nas' waning street credibility. But this latest, more mature album, God's Son, goes further than the lyrical infighting and antiwar propaganda of Stillmatic, boldly exploring themes of nostalgia, redemption, retribution, and responsibility. With grim determination, Nas sets out to give the currently vacuous genre of hip hop a swift kick in the ass like it was his own manifest destiny. He's definitely the right man for the job. Nas has always had a knack for coming up with the ill song concepts, and this album is proof. Its crowning jewel is "Get Down," a suspenseful rap story that traverses the violent streets of Queensbridge, the drug-addled South, and a tragic Crip funeral along Crenshaw Boulevard in L.A., delivered with the kind of artistry and skill that first made him famous in '94. Nas settles old scores on "Last Real N!gga Alive," on which he reveals juicy details about his unforgettable ride in Puffy's Range Rover before B.I.G.'s Ready To Die was released; being caught in the beef between Wu-Tang and Bad Boy; and perhaps most painfully, his feelings of betrayal when his daughter's mother slept with Jay-Z.... For "My Book of Rhymes," Nas flips through the pages of his old notebooks, beginning to recite what sound like potentially amazing songs, only to dismiss them as immature scribblings. He's disarmingly self-deprecating here, and gives us a rare look into his artistic process. His willingness to appear weak further cements his strength." Cont'd below...

"The risks he takes with the production are a big part of the allure of God's Son. In a time when a Neptunes beat is as essential as a savvy marketing plan, Nas goes in the other direction, giving producer Salaam Remi plenty of room. Remi waxes sentimental over hip-hop's Golden Era on songs like the breakbeat-infused "Made You Look" and the singsongy "I Can." Nas entrusts Alicia Keys to produce a war cry of epic proportions and soaring vistas on "Warrior Song," as she sings behind his seething lyrics, an African drum beat morphs into a marching-band drill..." Continue reading below...

"Some time in the late '90s, Nasty Nas, as we once knew him, died - death by mediocrity and misdirection. Loyal fans who had received Illmatic as gospel were understandably disappointed by the blatant commercialism of his successive albums. Humiliated by his diminishing presence on urban radio, BET, and MTV; burning with a sense of righteous indignation; and fueled by the loss of his mother to breast cancer last year, Nasir Jones, the great lyricist, was roused to battle - resurrected, not surprisingly, by death." Updated with some dope clips from "God's Son Live."

Jeru The Damaja + Nas + @ILLstrips

A quick big-up to the homie @IllStrips on IG, definitely a big fan of the work. If you are on Instagram, give a follow and support the independent art. On, but off, topic ... it's a disappointment that back in the 90s, we didn't get Nas & Jeru The Damaja tracks with production from DJ Premier. It's not a reach (is it?) - maybe I don't know the climate behind the scenes between them. Jeru had "Invasion" off one of the New Jersey Drive soundtracks, which sampled Nas' voice from "It Ain't Hard To Tell," but I blank to think of anything else. I wonder if The Fugees played a role, Jeru surely dissed the shit out of them at a later point. Nas had toured with them as label mates, that mighta made it difficult, but I dunno ... just thinking aloud. Another interesting parallel, Nas had AZ on "Life's A Bitch" off Illmatic and Jeru The Damaja had Afu-Ra on "Mental Stamina" off Sun Rises In The East -- neither artist was very feature-heavy in their projects anyway. Rap nerd stuff.

Royce Da 5'9 Freestyles on Funk Flex (Video, Hot 97)

We've talked it before, but every now and again, there are moments that make everyone stop what they're doing and collectively shift their attention... In hip-hop, one of those recent moments was Royce Da 5'9 up at Funkmaster Flex's radio show for his Freestyle series. On the back of freestyles from Black Thought and Joe Budden, I knew Royce would comewiddit when he finally made his appearance. Joined by the legendary DJ Premier, celebrating their upcoming release of PRhyme 2, Royce overdelivered! Again. This is a man with decades in on this game, yet still elevates, grows and opens up new chambers within himself to bring us something new and refreshing. "I transcend like Wu-Tang to all eras, cash rules / Now I'm just dead nice, the pallbearer of bad news..." + "I shit on every artist on the charts and leave a diaper on the jukebox..." and "I'm happy at platinum but I was happier / Back when 500 thousand was sold / My proudest accomplishment now / Was when I got quiet to get sober / And silence is gold" are just a few of the BARS that caught my attention. What more can I say? ... Dig into Royce Da 5'9's freestyle below and cop that PRhyme 2 on the 16th!

Bluntone "Space Is The Place" (Instrumental Album)

"Space Is The Place" is the latest instrumental offering from the Budapest, Hungary beatsmith, Bluntone. The project is released through Blunt Shelter Records, which considers itself "a safe spot for talented beatmakers, beat junkies and people who seek daily meditation in music along with healing vibrations." Well said... that's a nice dose of what's offered on Bluntone's 10-track instrumental release. Definitely give it a full listen below and hit the labels below for more releases.

DJ Rondevu "5:55 Testament Of Hova" (Mixtape)

Brooklyn DJ and producer DJ Rondevu returns with his latest mix, paying tribute to one of the greatest MCs and all-around artists alive, Jay-Z. 5:55 Testament Of Hova displays a collection of Jay-Z records with some crafty remixes and skill-filled mixing. Known to me as Das EFX's long-time DJ, Rondevu has put in consistent work on the scene for two decades, and his mixes are always very technical and go steps beyond simple blends, transitions and song selection. You really need to click play to get the full breath of his work behind the 1s and 2s. Check out his latest mixtape below...

Phonte "No News Is Good News" (Album Stream)

No News Is Good News is the sophomore solo album by Little Brother and The Foreign Exchange member Phonte. Phonte hasn’t come back to compete with the latest teen rap sensation or pander to a younger demographic. He’s returned to share some grown man rap, and No News Is Good News is the epitome of such Hip Hop. The 10-track effort features Freddie Gibbs and Eric Roberson, as well as production from DJ Harrison, Marco Polo, King Karnov, Nottz, Illingsworth, DJ Cozmos, Tall Black Guy, and Abjo. Phonte has a lot of perspective to offer, so it's good to hear this new music.

Blu "The DS Dumb Style" (Mixtape, Volume 1)

Back once again is the homie B-L-U. His latest release is called "The DS Dumb Style Mixtape," which features over 35 tracks of Blu on production rounding up a grip of underground talent and friends to lace his beats with verses. Such artists include: Roc C, Blame One, Homeboy Sandman, Young R.J., MED, Anthm, ScienZe, Local Blacc, Jabee, Ayun Basaa, Mainframe, Sene, and even Blu himself drops some bars here and there. Blu has remained one of the most prolific MCs since his 2007 cult-classic with Exile, Below The Heavens. Check out Blu's latest mixtape and production below...

Remembering Starter Jackets From The 90s

In the 1980s and '90s, these jackets were manufactured by Starter (New Haven, CT). The company was licensed to produce gear for all the major professional teams (baseball, hockey, basketball, and football). Starter's business peaked in 1992, when the brand made $350 million in sales. The most popular product was the winter-weight jacket... The apparel was marketed to kids in their teens and early 20s. But the gear was so popular that numerous kids became crime victims. In 1990, 17-year-old Uland Tiggs was shot and killed after he gave up his New Orleans Saints Starter jacket to a pair of robbers. In 1993, 17-yr-old Karla M. Benner was gunned down in Youngstown, OH for her Starter jacket. In 1992, 14-year-old Dewayne Williams Jr. was killed for his Raiders Starter jacket. In Chicago, 4 separate teens were murdered for their Starter jackets in 1990 alone. There were numerous other incidents reported all around the country. But the potential danger that accompanied owning a Starter jacket certainly didn’t stop very many people from buying one. I remember my Miami Hurricanes Starter Jacket like it was yesterday! We'd flip them around if we were on the move, got me out of trouble, a time or two. Skratch Bastid made a whole mixtape about Starter, and the video below was the classic Jazzy Jeff and Rodney Dangerfield commercial. Times have definitely changed.

Napoleon Da Legend "Path Of A Warrior" (Album Stream)

Path of a Warrior gives us a first person view on Napoleon Da Legend's tumultuous journey of life and Hip-Hop. DJ Doom provides the gritty backdrop with samples chopped up courtesy of his SP1200. The album features General Steele of Smif-n-Wessun, DJ Eclipse, Q-Unique of the Arsonists, Blacastan and DJ Modesty. The entire LP was mixed by the legendary Eddie Sancho. Album art was made by the talented Mark 563, whose coloring books you should check out, too. Listen to it below...

Tony Touch "Hip Hop 39" (Mixtape, 1994)

Another dope Tape Kingz release from Tony Touch in 1994, this is Hip Hop 39. Lots of classics here! Tracks from artists like Gravediggaz, Craig Mack, Co-Defendants, Artifacts, The Roots, Dredknotz, Da Youngsta's, A.D.O.R., The Notorious B.I.G., Das EFX, Jeru The Damaja, King Just, Low Down Click, House of Pain, Ill Al Skratch, Mic Geronimo, 5 One 6, The Beatnuts, Ground Floor & Lord Finesse, Slick Rick, O.C., Organized Konfusion, Rampage, and more! Dig into this dope mix - updated - below...

Cappadonna "Hip-Hop: The Mixtape" Prod. by Pete Rock

This is quite the mystery ... a Cappadonna mixtape, entirely produced by Pete Rock? With 0 promo? How can it be? There was a time when Pete Rock took to social media to announce a project in the works with a Wu member, but that's all I remember. Here we have a 12-track project (mixtape), which has it's highs and lows in terms of overall sonics - it clearly could have been mixed and mastered to bring it up to industry standards, but all in all, it's a solid mix to check out. I remember back when the original image for the cover art of "Iron Flag," hit the internet, then the final artwork was released and Cappadonna was photoshopped out because he wasn't on the album. Not much press about that either. I also remember the press kit for "The Pillage," which said "The stage is set for the Brooklyn-born/Staten Island-reared former security guard and present-day vocal dart thrower. Having appeared on over a dozen Wu-Tang joints, 1998 is the year for Cappadonna to shine. Representing the East Barracks projects in Park Hill, the life-long friend of the Wu breaks through with "The Pillage," the sixth dolo strike from the Clan." Well, he's back again, check out this latest effort from Cappadonna, "Hip-Hop: The Mixtape." If you have more info, hit me up in the comments.