J.Kim with the inbox assist of this footage of Exile and Teeko jammin’ on the one.

“I shot this video while in SF with Exile at sound check for his gig at the Elbo Room in San Francisco this past week. As I came into the venue, I peeped Exile and Teeko jamming out on their respective equipment, and I was impressed to say the least. Teeko has been making some noise with his group F.A.M.E. as well as recently working with Mark Ronson in NY for his upcoming album, and it was great to see them come together, and create some amazing music together.”

This 2009 Slept-On list covers the gamut of artists in the Hip-Hop realm. Old G’s from the mid-90s who still got the goods, even if they don’t resonate with the younger crowd. Underground super groups. Young artists on the cusp of breaking through into bigger circles. Southern legends riding out into immortality for the last time.

What ties these albums together is that for whatever reason, they didn’t quite get the love they deserved in 2009. So start off 2010 by loading up on some of the best music 2009 had to offer (for a very reasonable price).

Tanya Morgan – Brooklynati

With the soul and spirit of De La and Tribe, Tanya Mo quietly dropped Brooklynati. Backed by Sir Von Pea’s soulful production, the cast of Tanya Morgan delivered carefree stories of a rap group on the come up which spawned the infectious single “So Damn Down.” Phonte, Blu, Carlitta Durrand and Kay all co-star. Wake up and join the movement!—Landon A.

Cop: Brooklynati

M.O.P. – Foundation

Although seemingly dropping out of nowhere in the middle of September with zero promotional buzz and nary a video to boot, the brutes from Brownsville didn’t treat their undetected product like a contractual obligation. Setting things off over riot-inducing production from DJ Premier, Nottz and Statik Selektah, Foundation’s exterior sounded as rugged as day uno. Time to ante up if you haven’t heard it.—TC

Cop: Foundation

Fashawn – Boy Meets World

Two years after Blu & Exile’s groundbreaking project Below The Heavens shook the underground in 2007, the MPC-toting soulful beatsmith chose Fresno’s own Fashawn to be the second MC he would push onto the masses with their collaborative project Boy Meets World. Ex’s lush production meshes together beautifully with Fashawn’s lyrical tales reflecting his upbringing in the northern part of California that raised him. While the album didn’t reach far within the commerial realm, the critical acclaim and respect he gained as a lyricist in his region of the country makes his freshman outing a success that he can most definitely build on.—K1NG

Cop: Boy Meets World

K’Naan – Troubadour

’09 was a big year for K’Naan. He began the year by receiving the buzzworthy badge from The Man er…MTV and the summer months had him on the road with the Rock the Bells tour. Troubadour was a cocktail of worldly delights mixed with all the familiar elements of Hip-Hop that helped to make a sleeper hit. The guest roster adds flavor to the mix as Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Mos Def, Chubb Rock, Chali 2na and Kirk Hammett of Metalica all make appearances.—Landon A.

Cop: Troubadour

Twista – Category F5

Who said that hurricanes can only hit along the coasts? On his 7th studio album, Twista came out spinning early and often on this one. With songs like “American Gangster,” “Talk To Me,” & the radio friendly “Wetter,” Mr. Mitchell was operating at full strength during the eye of his storm. Although it loses steam near the end when he lends his attention solely to the fairer sex, Category F5 show that Twista hasn’t lost a step during his time served and when focused, is still as lethal as ever.—MZ

Cop: Category F5

Fresh Daily - The Gorgeous Killer In Crimes Of Passion

Fresh Daily is the Hip-Hop you love. An old school delivery with new-age punchlines make The Gorgeous Killer In Crimes Of Passion a joy to listen to. Daily’s bars are laugh out loud funny at times but it’s tracks like “Love Breakdown” and “Crimes of Passion” that allow the New Yorker to show off his more serious side. And try to listen to “Gutterman” or “Untucked Nunchucks” and not get the yuck face. Fresh Daily is a pundit on the mic and more outings like this will guarantee he’ll be a force in the game for a long time.—David D.

Cop: The Gorgeous Killer In Crimes Of Passion

Warren G. – The G. Files

Overshadowed by releases from his other Old G contemporaries, Sir. Griffin proved that G-Funk stays winning well into middle age. Help from a mix of the new Cali crew and some standbys didn’t hurt. Top tracks like the dark, “100 Miles & Runnin’” (poor title though c’mon Warren,) move the album, and even some of the poppy efforts like the Snoop collabo “Swagger Rich” are still enjoyable. Warren’s not consistent or adept enough to label this a new classic, but fans of old school, West Coast Hip-Hop should definitely partake.—Patrick M.

Cop: The G. Files

Donny Goines – The Breakfast Club

Ever wonder what the lyrical equivalent of Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise and crushed red pepper would amount to? If so, Donny Goines served up such a platter with The Breakfast Club. Mixing engaging food for thought (“Sublime”) with light midday meals (“Party Apple”), the free buffet was essentially a compilation seeing that it featured nearly every hot act in today’s blogosphere. Too many calories present to let this dish go cold.—TC

Download: The Breakfast Club

Curren$y – This Ain’t No Mixtape

After flooding the Internet with a massive amount of mixtapes over the span of a year or so, New Orleans’ own Curren$y decided to take a little time to craft an independent album alongside Amalgam Digital. Utilizing his effortless flow to glide over the sonic landscape provided by Monsta Beatz, Spitta crafted an album with enough weed & sneaker references to put Complex to shame. While it didn’t quite break him through to the mainstream audience, it proved to be a worthy project for any rap fan’s collection this year.—K1NG

Cop: This Ain’t No Mixtape

Lushlife – Cassette City

The guy doesn’t look the part and on first glance his name reads like a Twilight character. But 30 seconds of hearing Lushlife spit rhymes and you’ll believe in the product. Still Cassette City was largely ignored by the general public, who may have been turned off by the visuals or just didn’t know any better. That’s a shame, because the album combines introspective rhymes that keep coming with new-age production that keeps to its underground roots.—Patrick M.

Cop: Cassette City

Trife Diesel – Better Late Than Never

Eight years of purgatory doesn’t exactly breed excitement for the release of an album, but in the case of Trife Diesel, his tardiness proved to worth waiting for. Boldly going where NYC hadn’t been in some time, dirtier-than-fishscale parables like “Powerful Minds” and Ghostface-assisted “Respectfully” gave the East some bragging rights to close out the decade. Hopefully they won’t have to wait too long for the sequel.—TC

Cop: Better Late Than Never

Playaz Circle – Flight 360: The Takeoff

Without a breakaway hit à la “Duffle Bag Boy” Tity Boy & Dolla’s flight was a little less crowded this go around. But for those who chose to take a ride were treated to their signature brand of music for in-flight entertainment.  While the OJ Da Juiceman collabo “Stupid” was put into place to appease those hanger on’s from last go around, this DTP duo brought equal parts of style and substance to the table.  If they can continue on their current trajectory, it’ll only be a matter of time before they’ll be shopping for bigger planes.—MZ

Cop: Flight 360: The Takeoff

UGK – 4 Life

This was the final curtain call for one of Hip-Hop’s greatest groups and they went out in the same draped up and dripped out purple Cadillac they rode in on. If you thought this would be a sappy ode to Pimp C, you were sadly mistaken. “Still on the Grind” and “Swishas & Erb” are familiar odes to what made UGK successful while “Steal Your Mind” shows a dream collaboration with Snoop and Too $hort, forming a pimp dream team of outrageous bars. Then there’s Pimp with his insistence on unshaven pubic areas and lines like “I’m tryin to put my dick inside ya mouth/tryin’ to put my dick and nuts inside ya mouth!” Long live the Pimp.—David D.

Cop: 4 Life

RZA – Afro Samurai Resurrection OST

Noticably absent from the multitude of Wu releases for the year, RZA did manage to stay productive in the industry’s frozen tundra, better known as January. The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai Resurrection OST, the eponymous soundtrack for the violent animated movie, incorporated a massive amount of underground talent for the greater good of murder music. It’s like a Hanzo for your iPod.—TC

Cop: The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai Resurrection OST

The dark horse candidate is one of the most enviable positions to be in. While its peers are lauded and placed under scrutiny, they’re free to go about their business without all the extra attention and expectations. If for some reason they exceed the modest expectations placed upon them, they’ll rightfully be lauded along their contemporaries and not bashed if they stumbled out of the gate. Short on buzz and name recognition. but not talent; Fresno, CA emcee Fashawn has placed his hat in contention for one of ‘09’s top rookies with his debut album Boy Meets World. Read the rest of this entry »

J. Kim writes so eloquently direct.

“Very blessed to be sharing this podcast that Exile put together for LA based record label, Plug Research. It’s a mix comprised of exclusive instrumentals and includes plenty of exclusives from various upcoming projects, including his “Radio” remix project, the upcoming album with Fashawn, upcoming projects with Chicago based MC, ADAD, and a reintroduction to certain key pieces from Exile’s past catalogue. Read the rest of this entry »

From 2/3′s of the mind of Tanya Morgan comes a project every Hip-Hop head should be in tune with. Together with honorary TM member Euclid, Donwill and Von Pea make up Lessondary. A crew assembled to give some lyricism in your frequency modulation with their Radio project. Read the rest of this entry »

The Where: The Duck Room at Blueberry Hill in St. Louis, MO.

The When: Tonite, 6-8PM for the workshop, 9PM -1 AM for the performances.

The What: Red Bull Music Academy Workshop & Performance

– MPC Demo, discussion, short film and moderated workshop with Exile

– All ages are welcome to attend

– Must RSVP to wesallmond@mac.com

Afterwards, from 9PM to 1 AM…

– Free/21+

– Opening set by Trackstar The DJ

– Live rap performances by Rockwell Knuckles and Black Spade

– Set by Exile and DJ Day on 2 turntables and 2 MPCs

For more info about The Academy & workshops, hit up www.redbullmusicacademy.com.

When time & space permit, we’re all about public service. Consider this a good deed, especially if you’re in the Bay Area & looking for something to do this weekend.

Found in the inbox… Read the rest of this entry »

Props if you know him from Emanon, and if it wasn’t until Below The Heavens with Blu that convinced you of Exile’s musical genius, welcome. Since the early 90′s the Los Angeles-bred and buttered producer has been steadily building a resume of work few can rival. From underground 12-inches to commercial gems (think: Mobb Deep’s “Pearly Gates”), he covers all ground with a sound identifiably his. Not to be outdone by his works with other artists, Exile has two solo albums of his own: Dirty Science and his latest conceptual masterpiece, Radio. Sampled purely from the radio (yes, you read that correctly), the aptly titled album is his first purely instrumental endeavor and without the use of vocalists.

Yet, Exile is able to say more than most rappers choose to. He is a true master of the MPC, with turntable skills to match. An innovator. A visionary. Smart. Humble. Funny and for real with it.

If my words sound bold, check the facts, and without further adieu…

TSS: What was the first instrument you got your hands on?

Exile: The first instrument was an accordion. I was living in my Grandfather’s garage and he would give me accordion lessons. It didn’t really stick though.

TSS: Have you applied some of those lessons to your music later in life?

Exile: Yeah, definitely. That was my first time really learning keys, and I still play keys today.

TSS: What about in terms of beat machines?

Exile: It was actually tape loops first. I had one turntable and two tape decks and I would loop em up. I think it was the “Genius Of Love” sample (Hums beat). Rewind it and then leave a silent part. I’d do that for like three minutes, so I’d have a tape of that playing over and over with silent parts that I had to fill in. I’d play that and then fill in the gaps. So I could take a full loop, put it into the other cassette deck and play that. Then I would record on the other one and put stuff on top of it. I pretty much had infinite tracks.

TSS: Damn. How long were you doing that?

Exile: I did that for a couple of years and then eventually I got a push button sampler and a 4-track. That was when I first started putting out music. Making tapes and I even pressed it up on vinyl like that. Then I moved to the Roland MS1 and then eventually the MPC.

TSS: How are old were you when you were looping the tapes?

Exile: Eighth grade, but I actually started scratching on one turntable in sixth grade. I had one one of those home stereo component systems with the tape deck, radio and turntable up top. What I’d do was press the tape button down while hitting the phono button so it’d act like a transformer button. I used to scratch Star Wars records and stuff like that.

TSS: Since you were creating and cutting up sounds so young, when did the idea of being producer really resonate?

Exile: I always wanted to be a Hip-Hop producer and DJ. Ever since Junior High I knew. I used to fantasize, like when I was getting ready to scratch, I used to fantasize that I was at a KRS-One concert and Kenny Parker was sick or something and KRS would call out, “Can anybody DJ!?!” And then I would start scratching like I was on stage with KRS-One. I don’t know if that has to do with anything, but I thought I would let you know that (Laughs).

TSS: So it’s always been in the plans?

Exile: Yeah, I mean I know this sounds strange, but I used to think like if I had to make a record with just noises from my mouth, like a record label said that’s what you have to do, then I would do it. Again, I don’t know what that means (Laughs). I guess it just shows how much I really wanted to do it that I would just fantasize on some weird shit like that.

TSS: Was there a turning point in terms of your sound and productions? I ask thinking about the earlier mellow Emanon stuff to the “Algae” joint and the more upbeat or electric stuff. Read the rest of this entry »

J.Kim got up extra early (or maybe he stayed up dumb late considering he’s on Pacific time) to send out this remix of Flying Lotus’ “GNG BNG” featuring Blu. It’s hard to Read the rest of this entry »

Video footage of Exile and DJ Day doing their “Dope Man” routine for Exile’s Seattle Radio release party this past @ Nectar Lounge.

Exile’s Radio is in stores as well as iTunes now.

Blu & Exile performing the aforementioned “No Greater Love” @ the B&T show.

Previously Posted — Video: Mistah F.A.B., Zumbi (of Zion I), Kosha Dillz, & Others – Freestyle Cipher

Recently, I was asked who we didn’t get for The GOP B&T that I wish we would have gotten. Stepping back & looking @ it, I think the lineup is super solid. Again, there’s not much else you can do to say “Hey, come check this free show, which is probably one of the best you’ll see in 2009.” Literally, we asked & every artist you see responded with a quick “Yes” without hesitating.

But if we’re speaking hypothetically, one cat I wish we had reached out to would be Mr. Boy Meets World. Fashawn’s got Read the rest of this entry »

Blu and Exile Live @ The Mezzanine in San Fran, courtesy of
Blogmedown.tv. Below the break, footage of Fashawn doing his thing on stage for the camera & the crowd. Read the rest of this entry »

Get to know Fashawn before his debut album, Boy Meets World with Exile, drops in Spring ’09. Consider this your last fuckin warning!

Previously Posted — Video: Fashawn & Evidence – “Our Way” Live | Fashawn – Higher Learning Mixtape

Looks like something off MTV’s Liquid Television. Remember that? Read the rest of this entry »