Nitty Scott, MC probably has triple the amount of YouTube clips that she does MP3′s so when she drops it like it’s hot, we have to take advantage. The Doobies x Popsicle Sticks EP is a short and ice cream sweet hodgepodge of bootlegs and b-sides to keep her name buzzing going into the next year. Read the rest of this entry »

In honor of what would have been MJ’s 53rd birthday tomorrow, J. Period teams with fellow DJ and MJ aficionado DJ Spinna plus Spike Lee and his 40 Acres outfit to present a collection of rare, unreleased, live and remixed MJ music for the masses Read the rest of this entry »

In case you missed the news, the John Legend/The Roots tandem were big winners of three Grammy Awards at the 53rd event for having the Best Traditional R&B Vocals, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album in Wake Up! (available on iTunes now). But as you can see, it was more of a homogeneous mix of rhythmic blues than the jazzy Hip-Hop The Legendary Roots Crew have made their calling card. Read the rest of this entry »

Somehow, I got wind of this release late but knew to be watching out for it today. Many forget Black Thought’s live performance abilities as the discussion of his placement among the top emcees gets debated. The weight I place on being able to rock a stage has increased since I’ve watched countless newly hyped artists take the stage in a storm and completely flounder Read the rest of this entry »

Even when presented with countless opportunities to take the sleazy Pop route out, Skillz lyrical tendencies keep pulling him back in. Which is why we’re blessed with such conceptual works of genius like Infamous Quotes. From Allen Iverson rants to classic pieces from The Wire, SkillzVA blends our favorite quips and his penstrokes with help from DJ Jazzy Jeff and J. Period. Read the rest of this entry »

Circa 2005, C.L. Smooth got with J. Period to release this Man On Fire mixtape, a collection of notable beat-jackings and freestyles. Worth a listen? Sure, the Mecca Don was never ever a slouch on the mic and could find his place on track’s tempo, fast or slow. But his true home is over a Pete production. So while this will remind you of what he is/was capable of, ultimately it’ll leave fan club members firing up their pens sending in new pleas for the duo to get back in the studio together. Remember that C.L.

Download — J. Period Presents C.L. Smooth – Man On Fire: The Freestyle Sessions | Alt. Link

Trackstar put me onto “Walkin’” a collaboration from J.Period and Nigerian born Nneka. The track recalls Native Tongues tribal production styles, but with an upgraded 21st century bass drum added to the proceedings. The verbal singing/scattin’ of Nneka gives the track an African authenticity, while Jay Electronica injects some Americanism into the proceedings with a dope guest verse of subtle self-promotion.

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Download — Nneka Feat. Jay Electronica – “Walking” (J.Period Remix)

Snag the whole J.Period & Nneka Present The Madness project over @ www.JPeriod.com. Nneka’s Concrete Jungle hits stores stores February 2, 2010 on Yo Mama/Decon/Epic.

Preparing your listening materials for the 24-72 hours? Let me help you out a little. That DV One mix was intended to be the first assist with Mick & Terry’s tape thrown in as an extra log on the fire for newer material. This compilation should allow you to check off the “old school” segment of your playlist. Released in 2003, J. Period on the mix while Kane plays the host as his material is played. Two of the best @ what they do. Read the rest of this entry »

Fresh update & part of your Tuesday music via J. Period’s site.

“J.Period & K’NAAN are pleased to present the third and final installment of The Messengers tribute to Fela Kuti, Bob Marley & Bob Dylan. Episode #3 celebrates America’s reluctant Civil Rights song leader and poetic voice, Bob Dylan. Dylan’s own struggle with his status as a “Messenger” is Read the rest of this entry »

I let the press release talk for me & this project.

“J.Period & K’Naan are pleased to present the 2nd installment of The Messengers, a tribute to Fela, Marley & Dylan. Episode 2 celebrates Jamaica’s global emissary of struggle & unity: Bob Marley. Read the rest of this entry »

I could note how long I slept on K’Naan (||), his album Troubadour and the rest of his deep catalog. Read the rest of this entry »

No disrespect to your favorite DJ, but for my hard drive space, I’m only checking for soulful mixes from Jaycee, Neil Armstrong or this cat, J. Period. Personal preference, knowing they’ve never faltered when it comes to remaining true to the artist’s sound.

So while we haven’t posted other MJ mixes that we’ve come across, this one goes up automatically. Read the rest of this entry »

Words By Jesse H.

There’s something about Brooklyn.

After you’ve lived in New York City long enough to understand the subtle nuances of the subway system (knowing the color of the train you need and the actual letter of the train you need is a very pivotal difference), you begin to have a certain respect for the intrinsic cultural differences of each borough-especially as a Hip-Hop fan.

Staten heads don’t even refer to the island by it’s formal name, thanks to you know what crew. Harlem heads champion Cam’s street stubbornness. Queens residents rock hoodies and Timberlands in mid-summer and fiend for grimey ghetto-narratives. Bronx folk are the old heads who glower at the mention of Solja Boy and the latest dance trend. But there’s something interesting about Brooklyn. Brooklynites like their lyricists pure, their drum snaps crisp and their looped samples mid-tempo. And while Brooklyn fans arguably are the snobbiest (ask any Brooklyn resident, and they’ll tell you ad nauseum about how they “refined” the craft), the list of top-20 caliber emcees that call Brooklyn home is indisputably impressive. So what better place for an independent New York Hip-Hop festival to call home? All the requisite pure-Hip Hop characteristics were on display in excess at Brooklyn Bodega’s 5th Annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival.

The event got a righteous initiation on Friday with the kick-off party (salute to Noah from BB for organizing). Brooklyn Brewery supplied the booze, DJ’s spun throwback Read the rest of this entry »

Late last night while many of us slumbered, J. Period & G. Brown released the March 9/09: The Complete Collection mixtape right before the clock struck twelve. The compilation Read the rest of this entry »

From the press release —

J.Period’s highly anticipated to The Abstract Poetic is finally here. This styles precedented mixtape arrives on the heels of Q-Tip’s critically–acclaimed album, The Renaissance (released Nov 4), and urges a new generation of fans to take note of Q-Tip’s tremendous contributions to Hip-Hop throughout his career.

With an all-star lineup of contributors—De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, ?uestlove, Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Consequence, Zion I, Skillz, Black Sheep, Kid Cudi, and Blu, The [Abstract] Best is a first of its kind in the mixtape game, and a testament to the depth of influence Q-Tip has had on Hip-Hop’s elite.

Nothing left but the tracklist. Read the rest of this entry »