Sometimes, if you’re looking for something specific and can’t come up with it yourself, outsourcing may be your best option. Considering hasHBrown is something of a monster behind the boards in his own right, let’s assume that specific circumstance was the lining behind this H-Town multi-tasker’s electrifying new single, “The Death Penalty.” Read the rest of this entry »

There’s something about Joe Cool’s delivery that makes him so believable. It’s not like anything amidst this personal reality check on his new track “#OctoberAfternoon” would be suspicious really, but the depth of his words and hesitant pauses imply a specific sincerity that doesn’t always develop right away in all artists. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s a quick post just in case you couldn’t get past those horrendous tags on Freezer’s Intermission tape that dropped a few days ago. Adding the ultra-cool Mayer Hawthorne and casually swag Ralph Florian to he and Jake One’s interpolation of Rick James’ biggest hit, this version of the State Prop soldier’s “She Makes Me Feel Alright” carries a tad more depth Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s face it, there are plenty of reasons why Kyle Lucas is humming his new tune, “Cut Me Down.” As the lead singer of alternative band Vonnegut and solo rapper in his own right, the Marietta, GA artist has undoubtedly received some flack for going back and forth between roles. Read the rest of this entry »

Believe it or not, Ya Boy didn’t get signed to Akon’s newly-renamed Kon Live Records for his ability to drop intricate hip-hop records. Nope, as an artist known more for catering his craft towards music that makes money, the Bay Area warrior got inked up because he’s supposed to make crossover records that girls love and guys pretend to hate. Read the rest of this entry »

This might be one of the better things cancer has ever produced. In an effort to further spotlight the disease that plagues our people and help raise awareness for the American Cancer Society, Brooklyn based Hip-Hop label Coalmine Records did us all a favor and recruited some of our favorite MCs for “Beautiful,” a track about keeping the faith. Complementing M-Phazes’ deep chords and Mela Machinko’s hopeful hook, OU, Kweli and K.R.I.T. each spit sixteens specifically reminding us to keep our chins up and take nothing for granted.

The stream below is the full version, which I bought on iTunes for a buck because all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society’s continual search for a cure. Do someone you love a favor and follow suit.

Talib Kweli Feat. Big K.R.I.T., Outasight & Mela Machinko – “Beautiful” (Produced by M-Phazes)

If the majority of these righteous hipsters and grey-haired super-liberals occupying Wall Street were replaced with chain-welding bad-asses who’d actually just take what they want, Justice’s “Cannon” might very well serve as great theme music. When I flip the switch on this rock & roll rebellion from the Parisian duo’s highly-anticipated Audio, Visual, Disco, I picture more than just people with ridiculous mustaches holding signs and making demands outside Rupert Murdoch’s apartment. Instead, I envision a couple thousand empty-bellied souls pillaging past police, marching in droves down Fifth Avenue and then kicking in the door to that phone-hacking son of a bitch’s plush apartment and hanging him out the window on some Suge Knight, “Where-the-f*ck-is-my-money!”-type sh*t.

Sure, that might cause more problems than it would solve, but certain songs are meant to start a revolution, right?

Download — Justice – “Cannon”

The most money I’ve ever found on the ground was five bucks at a gas station. However, if I were hypothetically a working girl and happened to be getting down with $hort Dogg and E-Feezy, the amount of “Money On The Floor” I’d be picking up would probably keep my utilities on. Read the rest of this entry »

When I first met Freddie Gibbs and his crew almost two years ago at SXSW, his manager Archie was talking about how they were about to rock a Pitchfork showcase and joked, “You wanna hear Freddie rap over some dance beats?” Well, “The Vision” from British producer Joker isn’t exactly fast-paced, but this digital monster is definitely a tad outside Gibbs’ typically G’d up lane. Read the rest of this entry »

Back before The Unit was The Unit, I remember being so impressed with how easily Lloyd Banks commanded 2Pac’s “Can’t C Me” beat, I actually ended up buying The Hunger For More. Read the rest of this entry »

Adapting with the times is not always the easiest thing to do. For Exile, the lure of ease that new technology brings into his studio has to sound a bit suffocating, which is probably why he stuck with analog recording on his upcoming 4TRK MIND album. For Blu, Ex’s Below The Heavens counterpart, the challenge in change lies in finding a groove that is both marketable and non-conforming. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re Terrace Martin and happen to specialize in the type of jazz-infused dittys Top 40 radio typically strays away from, one way to ensure airplay is by placing features from two of the most sought-after MCs of the past 12 months on the same track. And, with “Do It Again,” that’s exactly what Devi Dev’s homie does. Read the rest of this entry »

Does anyone else find it odd that Tyga is the only one from the YMCMB clique that got this throwaway Drizzy feature for his lead single? Read the rest of this entry »

Regardless of your backstory and no matter your name, there’s a certain line you don’t cross if you want to be taken seriously. Even though it seems Charles Hamilton’s been playing hopscotch over that line for some time now, his new, industry-assaulting slight “Cats Said I Can’t Diss You” might just have done Sonic in for good. Read the rest of this entry »

In the midst of floating around over at The Chuckness yesterday, I was floored by tracks from relatively unknown emcee Skizzy Mars. Today, I was even more impressed after finding out the NY upstart is only 18 years old. Read the rest of this entry »