Another Rhymefest Leak

The person that claimed to have stolen Rhymefest's Ipod a week or so back has leaked another Rhymefest track. This track is fire so it is fitting that this person has chosen to call themself Prometheus. Bringing the fire to the people!

Rhymefest- What's Up

Put On

I've been feeling this song for the summer, it has really grown on me. And I think part of the reason it's grown on me is the video and the remix that Young Jeezy does with Jay-Z. 

First the remix. From the second Jay-Z clears his throat you know it's going to be a remix worth listening to. 

Young Jeezy ft. Jay Z- Put On (Remix)

I like this video too. It gives the song more of a message as Young Jeezy looks so hard standing in front of that huge black and silver American flag. I just love the vibe of this video. 

After Long Delay

I finally have the Santogold/Diplo 'Top Ranking' mixtape, although it took forever. And if this picture coupled with the mixtape doesn't make you forever link Santogold and M.I.A. I don't know what else you need. I like 'Top Ranking', but not as much as Diplo's mixtape with M.I.A., but maybe that has something to do with me liking M.I.A. more than Santogold. I mean Santogold turned me off with that cover of her puking gold glitter and being in Bud Lime commercials. But the mixtape is still good. Diplo definitely brings a unique flavor that only he could bring. Anways you can download the mixtape here.

This first one is similar to the Diplo remix of 'Starstruck' which I posted earlier, but this time he throws some vocals over it. 

Santogold/Diplo- Turbulence Dubplate

I think the strings in this song are a really good touch, I like the discordant sound for this one. It still flows with the drums in the background. 

Santogold/Diplo- Icarus

This One Is For Real

Here are a few techno bangers that I have been on for the past couple days. 

The first one is a song by the South Rakkas Crew which Diplo's label Mad Decent has been hyping for a while. This is a good remix though by Jokers of the Scene, who I've liked in the past. The song has a trance vibe, but not enough to make it inaccessible rave music that can only be listened to on drugs, so thank God for that. 

South Rakkas Crew- Get Mad Again (Jokers of the Scene Remix)

This next one is another remix of course and a song that reminds me a lot of Simian Mobile Disco's 'I Believe' which is a dope track. You can never go wrong with synths, I don't care what genre it is.

Empire of the Sun- Walking on a Dream (Sam La More Remix)

Nas On Colbert

For those of you who didn't catch it last night, Nas was on the Colbert Report and guess what he was talking about? How much he hates Fox News. He hates it so much that it was all he talked about with Stephen Colbert as he sat on petitions to ban Fox News, but even that wasn't enough. To fulfill the Fox News hate fest Nas performed 'Sly Fox'. Nas is so serious with this and I got to say I'm feeling it. It's nice to see a rapper stand up to Fox News. 

Man In The Mirror

I've been listening to a lot of Rhymefest lately and have started to listen to his mixtape titled 'Man in the Mirror' again. For those of you who haven't given it a listen this is for you. The whole thing is a Michael Jackson dedication which I'm down with and it features so sweet 'interviews' with Michael. And the songs are awesome too. It makes you understand why so many Rhymefest fans get really upset when he drags his feet on the 'El Che' release. 

Here are a few tracks. This first one has the nice MJ sample as Rhymefest comments on the state of modern hip hip and stakes his claim in the rap game. (Not intended)

Rhymefest- Can't Make It

This second one is probably my favorite off the mixtape. Once the beat drops Rhymefest has that ability to raise the intensity of his flow. Rhymefest's flow is so passionate its hard not to feel him. 

Rhymefest- No Sunshine

More Lupe

Real quick here's another track from Lupe that's unreleased. Street connoisseur! Honestly what is Lupe putting out these days that isn't fire. Literally every track, no matter what flow he uses for it, has been so good. No exception with this one. 

Lupe Fiasco- The Commercial 

Ipod Theft

So Rhymefest's Ipod was stolen, and this Ipod apparently contained his future album titled 'El Che' which is slated  to be released in the fall. Consequently, songs were leaked. 

However, this is a little different than the normal leak. The person who stole the Ipod wrote a letter which is interesting. The writer claimed they loved Rhymefest and was frustrated because even though he makes so much hot music, it never finds the light of day because of record company squabbles. So this person decided to leak tracks. Here's the last part of the letter

I got songs from your iPod. I'm going to leak a record from EL CHE every week until you drop a single or a video or some shit. The people have NO FUCKING IDEA how hot this shit sounds. Well, I'm going to show them. You had everything on your iPod. Even old, vintage shit. I'm gonna drop that, too. Until you or your weak-ass label keep your word and start dropping some fucking music. And, I'm not playing. I'm going to make you a better artist. I can't wait to see what you do.'

So here is a couple songs that leaked. I don't know how I feel about this yet, and I still encourage all to purchase 'El Che' when it drops because I'm confident it will be fire. I mean 'Man in the Mirror' was dope, but I have been waiting on 'El Che' like everyone else. I just feel like everyone is missing out on Fest! Both these songs are crazy, and have that personal tone that Rhymefest does so well. He's one of the easiest rappers to relate to. 

Rhymefest- Real Nigga Quotes

Rhymefest- Bring It Back

Dilla Ghost Doom

Another one from the legend J Dilla. How dope is this beat?! It's off Dilla's last album that he made on his death bed, titled 'Donuts'. This is part of a bigger project too that was apparently started towards the end of Dilla's life so get ready.

 MF Doom builds nice with this beat. It starts with Doom real soft and the beat loud but Doom's voice slowly becomes more clear. I don't know how I feel about Doom. There has been that whole business of him sending impersonators to do his shows, but as a rapper I really like him. 

Dilla Ghost Doom- Sniper Elite

Ain't Heard It From Me

Rhymefest is gearing up to drop his second release in the fall, and he has been floating around on a lot of tracks, mainly with fellow Chicago MC's. But on this one he teams up with D.C's Wale over a nice old school hip hop beat. Rhymefest's lyrics are always so refreshing to hear, there is something about them when combined with his flow that make him so much fun to listen to, he seems really easy to relate to. Oh and Wale jumps in towards the end for a nice little duet in the last verse. 

Rhymefest ft. Wale- Ain't Heard It From Me 

Air Yeezy's

This is a pic of the Nike Air Yeezy's, Kanye's sneaker. I think it's dope. It has a retro feel that goes back to early Jordan's but it still futuristic, kind of like Mr.  Kanye West himself. I would buy them, but once again in true Kanye West fashion, I'm sure this sneaker will be expensive as hell. 

The Legend

The one and only J Dilla (R.I.P.). One of the most innovative producers rap has ever seen, and this is perhaps one of the last tracks he ever created before he died from a rare blood disease in 2006. Dilla's impact on hip hop is perhaps greater than even his biggest fans realize, he always makes such innovative stuff. He is missed by all. 

J Dilla- Oxtopus

A Kid Named Cudi

There were 2 things I was thinking about towards the end of my 12 hour work day today, one was whether the Tigers would win their first game after the All-Star break (they did) and the second was wondering how awesome the Kid Cudi mixtape, which released today, would be (really damn awesome.) I have been following Kid Cudi for some time waiting for this mixtape to drop, and it is unlike anything else out right now, totally different. More singing than you are used to from a hip hop album, but it keeps a hip hop feel. It's up for free download here. It is worth getting and then some. 

This track is the one off the Kid named Cudi trailer. I have been waiting for this track ever since I watched that trailer, and it is crazy! It is the perfect track for summer night rollin'. 

Kid Cudi- Heaven At Nite

I wasn't expecting this one. How crazy is this song! Kid Cudi uses a sample from Band of Horses 'Funeral' and makes a song that is so smooth. I replayed this one like 3 times. 'Make my words important so if I slip away if I die today the last thing you remember won't be about some apple bottom jeans with the boots with the furr.' So Real!

Kid Cudi-The Prayer

Santogold x Diplo

Just as Diplo released the 'Piracy Funds Terrorism' mixtape at the start of M.I.A's career, he is following suit with Santogold with a mixtape titled 'Top Ranking'. If this 75 minute mix is anything like 'Piracy Funds Terrorism its going to be another summer jam from Diplo. Apparently the mix features everyone from Switch and Ratatat to Kid Cudi and Three 6 Mafia. I just ordered this mix from turntablelab.com so I haven't been able to hear the whole thing yet, but if I know Diplo (I like to think I do) this is gonna be crazy. I do have two tracks from the mixtape though. 

This is a pretty simple remix from Diplo. The beat is laid back to the floor. 

Santogold- Starstruck (Diplo Remix)

This track is a bit more upbeat and I am really liking it. If these two tracks are any indication this mix is going to be crazy. 

Santogold- L.E.S. Artistes (Gramzilla Remix)

Nasty Nasdaq

Nas untitled album was released today, and I won't be posting anything new from it. GO BUY IT! For all of you who complain about hip hop claiming it has no message these days, Nas confronts almost every issue you can think of on this one. He goes from black self hatred, to criticizing America, to Fox News, to a song about Fried Chicken and food in the ghetto, to addressing the word 'nigger' and mocking those who want to have a funeral for it. He questions white comodification of hip hop, then goes to a rap about global warming (call it eco-rap!). I have to give Nas credit, he has always been one of my favorites and his albums always inspire conversation and thought that wouldn't have occurred otherwise. He did it with 'Hip Hop Is Dead' as everyone asked if hip hop was indeed dead, and he certainly does it on this album. 

I will post a performance he gave at ALIFE in NYC last night. 

Talib

I think Talib Kweli is viewed a little too critically by everyone. He has been one of the best rappers to go under the category of 'conscious rapper'. I don't even believe in this category. I mean all hip hop is conscious, some just go further with it. But whatever you want to call it, Talib does it well, and I think he is not appreciated because people always expect him alone to be the savior of hip hop or something like that. 

This is a track off Talib's last album that I thought went under the radar. It is such a good summer track. 

Talib Kweli- Soon The New Day

Sha Stimuli

Out of Brooklyn, Sha Stimuli has been compared to Jay-Z and has been called by many the most underrated rapper today, and there is some truth to that. He is pretty underground, but his lyricism is crazy and is flow is insane. He can rap about anything to, as he can do a Brooklyn theme then go to a party track, but bring it back for a political song that delivers searing criticism of all things American in the past 8 years. 

First a video, for a song titled 'Brooklyn Stand Up'. I love borough theme songs, and as far as Brooklyn ones go lately, I think this one beats out the one by Papoose (that song isn't bad by any means don't get me wrong). But the flow in the last verse in this one is CRAZY. Link Below.

Sha Stimuli- Brooklyn Stand Up
 

Sha also has a mixtape out titled 'March on Washington' which I just finished listening to and it's crazy. The dude has some in depth rhymes. You have to listen to it to understand, and I promise it's crazy. It's available for free download. Get It! Here's a few tracks. 

This song is definitely the most mainstream accessible on the mixtape, but that doesn't mean Sha goes easy on the lyrics. As Sha says, 'sayin' something and sayin' nothin'. 

Sha Stimuli- Oh Yea

A politically charged track. 

Sha Stimuli- My Life ft. Block Mcloud

This song is crazy. One of the better gang violence tracks because it's honest. He acknowledges both sides of the story so well. He goes deeper than the 'product of my environment' stuff which has been getting played out. 

Sha Stimuli- Stop The Violence

Fuck Fox

That is the basic message that Nas delivers for about 5 minutes in his song 'Sly Fox'. We all know that Fox News, nor anyone that works there, is a huge fan of hip hop or black people for that matter. If you don't hate Fox News, what are you thinking?  This is the network that brought you the terrorist fist jab and  joked about an Obama assassination. But Nas fires back with this video, which is one of his more political songs. Nas is just building more hype for his release on Tuesday (Go Buy It!). 

Let Her See That Fancy Footwork

Not a new song, but I am currently listening to it a ton regardless. I love Chromeo, and had a chance to see them a few years back and they don't disappoint. I love their whole West Coast/80's vibe. The singer in this song is A-Trak's brother, must run in the family. 

Chromeo- Fancy Footwork

Ratatat

Their new album titled 'LP3' was just released and even though I haven't had a chance to listen to the whole thing yet, from what I have heard I really like it. Ratatat can do anything from make an awesome remix album to making something like this.   

I love this song off the new album. There music is getting more and more complex and I think this song really shows that as they add a nice background piano to go with their typical guitars. 

Ratatat- Falcon Jab

This is off their remix album, and it is still a song I love to listen to. Jay-Z's verse is nuts and the beat is absolutely amazing. 

Beanie Sigel ft. Jay-Z- Glock Nines (Ratatat Remix)

Skyzoo

Out of Brooklyn, and he is known for his lyrics. He has gained much acclaim through the past few years for his lyrics and style and has gained the assistance of some high-tier producers such as Madlib and DJ Premier. Despite these big names, the beats don't outshine the rhymes. 

This first one is self explanatory. 

Skyzoo- For The Summer

This is an old track, but I love this song. I think the lyrics in this song are crazy, but it's not so inaccessible that it goes over the head. 

Skyzoo- The Necessary Evils

Hero Video

One more video on the day. This track is so good that I use any excuse to listen to it, it just sounds so triumphant. Nas was one of my favorite artists before this song, but he went above and beyond on this one. This track has definitely been my summer jam so far. 

A Milli Video

The new Lil' Wayne video for A Milli, which I like. The whole thing is just him getting ready to shoot a video, which appears to be the 'Got Money' video as he ends it in a bank. But the whole thing is pretty fun to watch. 

Drivin' Down The Block

From Kidz In The Hall, the Ivy League hip hop duo. This is a remix off their new album 'The In Crowd'. Apparently the West Coast Remix means a ton of guests rapping over "Nothin But A G Thang', but it does bang so who cares. 

Kidz In The Hall- Drivin' Down The Block (West Coast Remix)

Baltimore Club

I can't get enough of it! I was introduced to it a couple years ago, and it is a somewhat simple subgenre of club/house music, but it is so much more grimey. It is pretty much just songs sped up with the same drums added. It's a pretty distinguished sound though, to the point where if you are familiar with the genre and heard a Baltimore Club remix, you could identify it as such right away. Anyways, here are a couple tracks. 

This first one is from a DJ named Scottie B who is one of the biggest names in Baltimore Club. This remix he does of Santogold's Creator is awesome

Scottie B- Creator (Remix)

This next one is one of my favorite tracks. It is super short and always leaves me wanting more.

DJ Technics- My Life Extra

Queens Get The Money

This is the last track I'm going to post until Nas' new album is released in a couple weeks. This song was produced by Jay Electronica, and the beat is unreal. Jay leaves behind the typical bass and drums and decides to go with the piano instead. Anyways Here it is. 

Nas- Queens Get The Money

Fuckin' Mother Nature

I was supposed to go check out De La Soul for free down at Detroit's City Fest tonight, but stepped out of the shower and turned on the TV to see Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. Sure enough, when 8:30 rolled around the lightning  was coming down from the heavens. It sucks, I love De La Soul. They are legends in my mind and have been one of my favorite rap groups for a long time. 

City Fest has been bringing in huge names the past few years, and all for free. Last year it was Lupe, the year before that Common. George Clinton closes it out with P-Funk Sunday, and it's free so even if it's not your typical thing you might as well check it out, and I bet you'll like it. Anyways here's a De La track. 

De La Soul- Brakes

Delivering On My Promise

So a while ago, I posted about Buff 1 and said I would attempt to focus on some local stuff, and I didn't forget about that. As I said, Buff 1 is part of the Athletic Mic League out of Ann Arbor. They have a few mixtapes out, and the track that I'm about to post is off 'The Thrill Is Gone Mixtape'. 

Athletic Mic League- Mo Rhymes Mo Beats

Chi-Town Stand Up

I want to post some stuff from Lupe that I have. There have been a lot of unreleased tracks for this guy, and really good unreleased tracks. I don't know if F and F is worried about Lupe's image or what, but these tracks should be seeing the light of day in my opinion. This one is crazy. Lupe's flow is getting better and better by the day it seems. 

Lupe Fiasco- Hold it Down

The Cool Kids mixtape 'That's Stupid' was released today, here it is. It's just a quick little 6 song thing, but it's solid.