Bowen Homes Carlos still got it for the l-o and that’s the type of budget he opts for his videos as well. Regardless, it’s keeping his last endeavor on the blog circuit and keeping his hood status fresh. When you shoot clips in the ‘jects with boulders of that yola and baking soda-stained wife beaters, no one will ever accuse you of not keeping it real, right? Read the rest of this entry »

Over the past few years, the collective talent and consistent production of the St. Louis underground has become an unstoppable force in the Midwest. Leading the march on Atlanta are Black Spade, Vandalyzm and Gotta Be Karim, three MCs who share the scene’s dedication to musical purity. All three capitalize on The Lou’s status as a transit city, mixing the best of sounds from the Chi, to the Dirty South to coasts East and West. And all three focus on winning hearts and minds with their lyrical chops—no gimmicks here.

Despite these shared principles of artistry, each artist maintains a definitive style that sets them apart. Spade acts the part of the older wiser sage, equally adept snapping off a casual verse or crooning a soulful chorus. Vandalyzm’s cockiness and confidence on the mic obscure that he’s one of the hardest working artists around. And Karim’s sunny but street personality shines through on every track he makes.

The tracks selected here show both these MC’s collective talents and unique skills. Revolutionary Bullshit” features Karim and Spade swapping stories over a head boppin’ beat. “Get Dough,” finds Vandalyzm behind the mic and the boards, and the result is pure hustle music. Enjoy, and come see them at more at A3C.

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Download — Black Spade Feat. Gotta Be Karim – “Revolutionary Bullshit”

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Download — Vandalyzm – “Get Dough” (Prod. by Flying Lotus)

Download — Union LA, Trackstar The DJ & TSS Present Black Spade – Build & Destroy Mixtape

Download — Cobblestone Rock Music & The Smoking Section Present Gotta Be Karim – Bullets & Books

Download — Vandalyzm – Megatron Majorz Redux

Words by C. Paicely

Even as the Brooklyn-based duo gets all snug and comfy in their Kafkaesque blankets, it seems they constantly have to remind us what’s behind all their apparent tomfoolery. These dudes are uncanny at taking a sick beat and using it in a way no one else ever would. Take “People Are Strange” for example. Read the rest of this entry »

Rugz D. Bewler may have one of the stranger monikers around, but that hasn’t stopped him from turning heads with his skills on the microphone. He particularly shines on Ski Beatz tracks as the two have a natural chemistry of odd creativity that meshes well. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s not Friday yet, but new Kanye West music on a Wednesday is welcome and there’s an air of juxtaposition that makes the head-spinning “Lost In The World” work. Read the rest of this entry »

Isn’t this just a welcome turn of events? I started out the week speaking on Jeezy’s music and he decides to raise the bet by unexpectedly dropping a new mixtape, The Last Laugh. After hearing “Rap Game” and “Amen” already, let’s see what he and Shawty Redd have been concocting. Read the rest of this entry »

Allain Victoria

Bishop Eddie Long Accuser Jamal Parris Talks [Fox Atlanta]

4 Reasons To Be Afraid Of The 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards [Bark Bite]

Casting The Inevitable Michael Vick Movie [TSJ]

Alyssa Milano Has Moved On To The NFL [With Leather] Read the rest of this entry »

Looks like NBA Elite 11 isn’t living up to its namesake. EA Sports decided to pull the plug on the game’s launch next week after realizing it wasn’t ready for prime time. Its demo got a seismic ton of criticism across the internet mainly for it’s new, half-baked controls. Read the rest of this entry »

“Willie The Kid, nothing sweet, Rap dudes geeks, Poindexters…”

New musical venom from Gun Rule’s finest as he drops “1,000 Lashes,” coming from his upcoming release, The Finest Hour. Read the rest of this entry »

So a couple a weeks ago, I’m chilling with Freeway after his show and he comes over with this iPad, excited about the new music he’s created for his upcoming album (his second of ’10), Diamond In The Rough. When asked about the status of his working relationship with Jake One, he immediately turned it over to “Beautiful Music.” Concocted by the Seattle Supersonic, a light piano riff and subtle drum loops were all that was needed for Freeway to deliver that some his rugged yet vintage Hip-Hop. Read the rest of this entry »

Looks as if Wayne decided to skip regular retail outlets, giving digital outlets the sales jump on his latest EP and pissing off a few folks in the process.

“Lil Wayne is giving himself a nice birthday present on Monday (Sept. 27), but brick-and-mortar merchants haven’t been invited to the party. The rapper released his next album, “I Am Not a Human Being,” initially through digital channels only Read the rest of this entry »

Jazmine Sullivan makes heartbreak sound so beautiful. I’ve often wondered about Jazzy’s inspiration. Whoever the guy is, it has suck knowing your mistakes are helping build another person’s fortune. It’s the same thing I said about Keyshia Cole, until she got crossed up by Daniel Gibson and eventually jumped the broom. And who could forget about the queen of R&B heartbreak, Mary J. The formula is simple: pain > happiness, everyday of the week and every month of the year. Read the rest of this entry »

What happens when two dope producers who dabble on the microphone break bread and collaborate for a track? Well, when it’s the man with the Album Of The Year and VA’s most consistent producer (we see you, Pharrell), expect the response to be simply, “Blast That.” Fresh from Nottz’ long-awaited October release, You Need This Music, this musical mishmash molds together a playful lead melody and guitar riffs that way a ton. Leaving room for two well-rounded musicians to show what happens when you refuse to limit yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

He’s not an athlete but the Massachusetts born leader of the World Famous Superfriends DJ Mars gets blessed with a short promo clip from New Balance, entitled “All In A Day’s Work.”

“New Balance accompanied DJ Mars one day to be part of his daily routine. Read the rest of this entry »

Backed by Khryris on the keyboards, King Mez wants to give all his foes sweaty sheets and clammy skin after stepping into the mic circuit with him. Rooted in North Carolina, this young lyricist might be placing his crown in the Justus League hallways to expand his kingdom. At any rate, dropping heatrocks are always welcomed around these parts. Even if it leaves chumps shivering under their blanket. Read the rest of this entry »