Rappers and DJs know how to play St. Nick too and they’re coming through bearing audio treats for fans and listeners. In the spirit of giving, we rounded up a few that landed in our inboxes and want to pass them along to everyone. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve hipped yourself to any of the leaks from Mike Posner’s latest mixtape, The Layover, you might have heard his track, “A Perfect Mess.” Amidst all the star-studded guest features, I bring this song up specifically because it’s the perfect introduction to this new chapter in the career of a once-grounded artist. Read the rest of this entry »

If you aren’t completely hip to Outasight and his unique brand of swing-rap, this fresh compilation from the Yonkers MC and DJ Benzi should make catching up a breeze. Chock-full of OU’s most notable tracks from past releases and complimented by a few new ones, Get It Together was basically designed to show you why this guy’s currently getting blasted out of prime-time Pepsi commercials and been buzzing in general over the past few years. Read the rest of this entry »

For those who dare to dabble on the darkside – or at least outside the lines of typical boom bap – Mansion On The Moon have a bag of treats that come fully endorsed by music curators Diplo & Benzi. After collaborating with the likes of N*E*R*D and Chiddy Bang’s Xaphoon Jones, the trio’s debut project Paradise Falls features tracks that are incredibly atmospheric with heady beats designed to keep your ears in the stars. Read the rest of this entry »

Thank Me Later was copped it’s second week out and still hasn’t gotten a single spin. Aside from “Over,” I haven’t heard one song from the album we’ve given our highest rating to all year. On purpose. In some ways, I’m saving it. In others, I don’t care. The hype is over and at least ten other artists have filled any void left open for new music this scorching summer. Read the rest of this entry »

Not every act can start off on a stadium tour. In order to achieve Madison Square Garden love the initial grind of hitting dimly-lit, small to medium-sized clubs, taking some fan photos and shaking some sweaty hands is a must. Such was the case this past Saturday night as the kids from Chiddy Bang brought their Swelly Tour to the basement of Detroit’s famed St. Andrews Hall. Read the rest of this entry »

DJ Benzi knows a thing or two about remixes. After all, he is the man behind the Kanye West-inspired Sky High and the annual Get Right Radio summer mixtapes. Doing what he does best, Benzi gives fellow Detroit native Big Sean’s track, “What You Doin’? (Bullshittin’),” a make-over with a dubstep twist for this year’s GRRS offering. Read the rest of this entry »

“…She ain’t speak, Must’ve thought the Porsche was a Civic.”

Lulls in releases, especially during the industry’s Q1 grace period, give room for me to zone out to older material and right now I’m going on a Diplo kick without apology. This may have been the jumping point for my appreciation of what he could add to a track. Read the rest of this entry »

What did the five fingers say to face? “Smack yourself until you come back with GLC’s money.”

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At this time last year, if you would’ve told me the new mixtape from a white suburbanite, Southfield, MI Pop producer/singer named Mike Posner would make my most anticipated releases of 2009 list, I would have laughed straight in your face. Read the rest of this entry »

Couple a friendly reminder with an unfortunately meaningful day, and you end up getting gold. Read the rest of this entry »

Two days ago, I was discussing music & mixtapes & I told a friend that summer wasn’t officially official until certain DJ’s dropped their tapes. Specifically, Benzi’s summer installment was one I mentioned. And now here we are.

“The long awaited release of “Get Right Radio: Summer 2009 Edition” is finally here! This go round Star Trak’s own, Chester French, are in for hosting duties and are also contributing a couple of their new joints. the mix is packed with 50 tracks – all mixed and mangled in typical Benzi fashion. Besides the expected “Benzi Refixes” there’s plenty of exclusives and new joints by everyone from Wale and the Kings of Leon to 30h!3 featuring Mike Posner and Kid Cudi! This is another instant classic and you can receive your own free CD (just pay shipping) by clicking the Paypal button below!”

For the first time, there’s a tracked out version that, if you burn it in iTunes as a playlist, there should be no “clicks” in between tracks.

Hit the break for the tracklisting & links. Read the rest of this entry »

*pitches two shiny red cents into the hat*

I’ve decided that Beware shouldn’t have to carry the torch for Mike Posner alone.

Download — Don Cannon & DJ Benzi Present Mike Posner & The Brain Trust – A Matter of Time free via iTunes.

Mike Posner Rocks Show W/ No Mic

If you aren’t hip to Mike Posner, you’re missing out.

Watch this video of him and G.O.O.D.’s Big Sean preforming “Smoke And Drive” and “Cooler Than Me” off his DJ Benzi & Don Cannon-assisted Matter Of Time mixtape. The sound actually cuts out during their second “Cooler Than Me,” but since the entire crowd knows every single word, you can’t even tell. For an artist without mainstream play, that’s pretty damn impressive. Read the rest of this entry »

“Guess who’s back in the motherfuckin’ house?”

Benzi has been on his grizz the past few months. And yet, here we are with another one. The tracklisting on this one is thick to say the least. Read the rest of this entry »