“I’m feelin’ really good, me and my own beat, Me and my different drummer, he play the timpani’s.”

No real frills in terms of the usual video accouterments. Instead, Lupe opts for a few lasers, light tricks, a few kids and bits of animation. What we end up with is a good video for a great song and a stoking of anticipation for Lasers. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been awhile, man. Nearly eight months. With the words to follow, this open confessional is not meant to merely take up space on the crowded freeway that is the Internet. Instead, I construct this with the hopes you take a few minutes away from whatever Hawaiian studio you’re in and allow yourself to digest this letter.

As it stands, I likely will never see as much fame or fortune as you have been blessed with throughout the course of your career. And I’m cool with that. With those highs also come lows that only you can truly understand and come to grips with. I’ll be honest – when the whole Taylor Swift incident went down, I was upset. Not because I was a Swift fan, but because I knew you would regret it once the Henny wore off. Given the recent track record of fellow superstars Tiger Woods and Ben Roethlisberger, however, you come off as a regular “Dolemite” with the women folk nowadays. If it means anything to you, I’m still unable to name one Taylor Swift song. But I digress. Read the rest of this entry »

The prime indicator that I’m head over heels in love with this particular mixtape? The fact that not only are we posting the front cover, we’re including the inner artwork as well. Unlike most, Theophilus’ mixtape is a work of art, bar code included or not, and it should be presented as one whole in order to help convey his message. Everything from paying respect to Marvin with the title (which immediately sets the bar high) and opening song cover to posing with the feline descendant of LL’s panther. It’s all here. VA$HTIE’s playing hostess. And we finally get the full and complete version of “Flying Overseas.”

Looking from the big picture point of view, I fully believe he’s one of those multi-talented artists who has the ability to help steer the course of music. Not just Hip-Hop. Music. With his arrangements, delivery and content, he’s cut from the same cloth of a few others I’m fond of – B.o.B., Dãm, etc. – who don’t necessarily fit into the narrow lanes of what’s expected, but manage to do the unexpected with grace. While they all may not make a mainstream impact, it will have a decided influence on your favorite artists. And just like Marvin’s I Want You played like a courtship between lovers, so does Theophilus’, be they lovers of music, life or anything in between.

Enjoy.

Download — Theophilus London – I Want You Mixtape (Hosted by VA$HTIE)

[Via]

A song named “Who Dat” without an ode to my Saints? No Drew Brees bars? Tsk tsk. You get a few points deducted, Mr. Cole. that leaves your point total at somewhere around 70 gatrillion because this song is a banger with a healthy dose of clever lines. The song takes the simple approach with Cole going with what got him to the dance, meaning that relentless lyrical exercise that’s total & complete ear candy. Read the rest of this entry »

Going home always provides a sense of perspective. It allows a person to see how far they have come in their life while providing more motivation for the future. With a little more than two months until the release of Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty, Big Boi recently kicked his mini-series which will ultimately provide an insight and inspiration behind the project. Read the rest of this entry »

This record sounds like it should’ve dropped on Halloween.

Mentally, Jay Rock’s “Know Who You Trust” is equivalent to walking into one of those dusty, old fold-up haunted houses in the back of the unfriendly, neighborhood parking lot carnival. You hit play and swarming organs and daunting strings immediately cast a spell over you. Which is befitting considering the straight scary stories the Watts’ prophet rehashes on his track with upcoming R&B talent, Sean McGee, as part of the young Tyrese’s upcoming Rhythm & Streets Special Edition Gangsta Grillz. Read the rest of this entry »

khal sent this older freestyle from L.E.G.A.C.Y. yesterday and my interests were instantly piqued. The Carolina emcee is underrated but trying your hand over a PE track isn’t for everybody. Chuck set the bar so high when he was @ his peak, it takes a certain caliber of emcee to even approach the challenge. One has to be either extremely talented or lyrical. I think Freddie did it well on “N_gga Machine” and L.E.G.A.C.Y. holds his own with “By The Time…”

Full of basketball references and “wind behind my back” bravado, L.E.G. makes his presence felt and, knowing this is from ’05, it only shows the growth he’s experienced between then and last year’s Suicide Music. There’s more than enough smile-producing punchlines to warrant a listen, especially if you haven’t been checking for him previously. Read the rest of this entry »

Scarface is cookin’ up and breakin’ off a taste of the product by offering a “megamix single” of his upcoming Dopeman Music street album. All in all, I think that’s a slightly souped way of saying “we neatly packaged the album snippets and put them on Amazon for you to stream/download.” Read the rest of this entry »

Kneecie

Michael Jackson’s Mom Kicks Grandchildren Out of House [PopEater]

Study Up On The Bill Hicks Story [Jump The Turnstyle]

XXTreme Dog Grooming [Uproxx]

Gap 2010 Fall Collection [F.Lux.B]

Toni Braxton Has An Album Coming Out! [I Had Heard] Read the rest of this entry »

“Polaroid, pepper and salt talk (Shake!) Strawberry, banana milk mix (Shake!) Finish transactions with a firm hand (Shake!) We pointing pistols patna, watch ya man (Shake!)” — Blu on “Shake”

That ^^ is my favorite shake. Kelis’ favorite shake is the kind that brings all the boys to the yard. Douglas Howser’s favorite shake is the weight he’s purchasing for his little lady and his viewing pleasure. Gotty’s™ favorite shake is of the chocolate variety from Chic-Fil-A.

But of all the favorite shakes in the world, I promise you Game’s new video will not be one of them for anyone but Game and the brigade of hoes he’s brought with him. Read the rest of this entry »

Ladies and gentlemen of the Hip-Hop community,

We are gathered here today to put to rest two beats – “Over” and “Beamer, Benz or Bentley”- that every rapper on the planet has been freestyling on. They died by gruesome mutilation at the hands of King Mathers. These two lost souls will be laid to rest right next to close friends “Drop The World” and “Forever.”

This new double-timed Eminem flow isn’t fair. It took until listen number three to catch “Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall.” And I only got “I’m so bad i can bitchslap a backhanded compliment” after five listens.

Apparently this is the opening salvo for Em’s new album, Recovery, which will allegedly have its first single hit the net on Friday. We’ll see about that, as these Interscope artists have broken the circle of trust one too many times. Even if the new single doesn’t drop on Friday, this freestyle is sure to hold you over.

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Download – Eminem – “Despicable” Freestyle

Happy B.o.B day, everybody. We’re sure you’ve been playing your newly purchased Adventures of Bobby Ray all day. To help bring you further enjoy your listening experience, Bobby, Tip and Tre dropped the visuals to the banger “Bet I Bust.” The visuals are just as action-packed as the song with copious amounts of booty, colors and words falling from the sky.

One more thing: while you’re flipping through your album booklet as these songs play, you can check the liner notes and see that the fresh is respected and represented. Shouts to B.o.B and his team for that great look.

YahZarah & “The Skype Karaoke Mass Choir” just dropped a new video which might be one the brainiest uses of the viral nature of today’s music and technology. It probably cost just a few Skype-call bucks to make this video and is worth its weight in gold. There are men dressed like nuns, sock puppets, Lucha Libre masks and Phonte singing through a plastic fork. What more do you need in a music video? Actually, it’s worth watching just to see that sexy picture of YahZarah at the end.

Featured appearances from Esthero, James Poyser, Choklate, Lalah Hathaway, RJD2 and our many other friends of the FE family. Edited by Matt Koza.

The Ballad of Purple St. James in stores May 4.

[FE Music]

The Pac trio seemed to cruise through and toss this one on to everyone’s doorstep without any fanfare or preliminary hype. In the current state of Hip-Hop presentations, that’s almost good for listeners, giving us back that element of surprise. What isn’t surprising is the quality of product found on Don’t Mention It as it’s the usual mix of solid, smooth production that compliments the group’s hard-hitting approach to lyrics and delivery. Also included are features Colin Munroe, Pill, Dom Kennedy and Chip Tha Ripper. If you want to try before you buy, it’s streaming via their site, ItsPacDiv.com, but off a few repeat streams it sounds worthy of the hard drive space. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a new year, but it’s still the same ‘ol boogie.  Boogie Bang to specific.  Track’s 23rd installment is locked and loaded, ready to be disbursed to the masses.  And best believe The Force is strong in this one, as Tef Poe handlesthe hosting duties thus leaving Trackstar to do what he does best.  It’s a family affair… & Brooklynati approved. Read the rest of this entry »