It’s Friday, snitches! That means I’m sharing, but straight cuttin’ and pastin’ the pertinent info (and the extra mustard intended to entice you to download a musical composition) because I don’t want to be working anymore than you do. Read the rest of this entry »

Between the failing automotive industry and record low seasons from their professional football team, the city of Detroit has more reasons than usual to feel hopeless during a recession. Sharing the same sense of disparity comes a rapper not afraid bank his aspirations on the power of alliteration: Finale. Planted firmly in the Motown music scene, his debut A Pipe Dream And A Promise features prominent beatsmiths such as Black Milk, Oddisee and of course his mentor J Dilla to deliver the soundtrack to his life as a wishful thinker thus far. Read the rest of this entry »

New mixtape from Suffolk’s own Kenn Starr.  While he may be known more for his guest appearances on various Justus League projects than his own work, it hasn’t stopped his grind.  Setting the table for his upcoming album Two Track Mind, along with his Low Budget Crew (Oddisee, Kev Brown, Critically Acclaimed & Cy Young), he’s re-introducing his self to the general public with It’s Still Real… Although he’s not a household name, appearances and production from the likes of Wale, Marco Polo, 9th Wonder, Big Sean, Oddisee & Kev Brown should give a little bit of credibility.

Track list and link are one click away. Read the rest of this entry »

You probably hadn’t heard of Finale prior to his A Pipe Dream And A Promise release. He didn’t have the blog buzz, he wasn’t throwing out music for free as fast as he could record it, and he wasn’t forcing himself onto the masses in an effort to win folks over with everything but music. Instead, he has utilizing the the Bob Wylie approach; taking it one step at a time ensuring that each move is correct and not premature. It’s a method the Detroit native has used throughout his career, which as he describes in this interview is one unique to the rest of his peers in Rap.

Finale’s patience and self-discipline laid the foundation for his debut, the bluntly titled A Pipe Dream And A Promise. Recorded over a 5 year period the album plays out like a meticulously crafted collage. Boasting a dream team of producers from Nottz, Dilla, Flying Lotus, Black Milk, Oddisee and others there is surprisingly high level of cohesion that carries throughout, which is a direct reflection of Finale’s vision. The same precision carries into his lyrics, with each word in each bar playing a specific position and covering a wide range of topics rooted in reality. All the elements of a great album are in place, and it’s just a matter of time before listeners catch on. If it happened over night it wouldn’t be right. It wouldn’t be Finale.

TSS: I gotta kick it off with the most basic question; what originally sparked your interest in Hip-Hop?

Finale: I used to write a lot. All the way through High School I was always writing, but not even rap lyrics. But uh, after I graduated High School I went to Morehouse. When I was out there I linked up with a crew called who now goes by Shaman Works. I don’t really do the whole crew thing, but that’s my family. They showed me the ropes and taught me how to write bars and structure songs. That’s when I fell in love with rhyming and that’s when I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I remember someone gave me a tape of OC’s Jewelz and I just listened to that non stop for like two semesters straight. That album really made me want to write. Read the rest of this entry »

Soul is two for two thus far with Beyond Borders, heavily influenced by SBe’s production. For “Chi Worldwide,” he links up with Windy City emcees GLC & Naledge for a melodic trip through the city’s Southside.

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Download — Soulstice Feat. Naledge & GLC – “Chi Worldwide” (Remix) (Prod. by SBe)

Previously Posted — Soulstice Feat. Oddisee – “Unfold” (Prod. by SBe)

DMV based rapper/producer Oddisee drops off the brief Odd Summer EP just in time for well…the summer. Leaving the mic alone on this instrumental EP, he drops off a half hour worth of smooth vibes equally adequate for Read the rest of this entry »

The Rap Game/Crack Game analogy is as worn out as Karrine Steffans jawbones, but when it sounds like this you have to let it slide. DMV resident and Justus League affiliate, Oddisee (who produced the track as well) linked up with Rapper Big Pooh & Black Milk for this joint off his new album Mental Liberation. Read the rest of this entry »

Since it seems like LC has called dibs on “yacht rock,” I’ll start calling my smoothed out Hip-Hop submissions “Caramel Macchiato music.” This one is from SoulStice. Sure I don’t know anything about him. It showed up in the inbox, I liked it and that’s enough for me. Who I do know is Oddisee and he’s usually involved with only the goodness. Greater than that I know enjoyable music when I hear it. Read the rest of this entry »

The second leak from the Laced With Gems mixtape, mixed by DJ Eves and hosted by Oddisee. And it’s another unreleased Dilla & Common collabo. Read the rest of this entry »

It was enough to be reminded of Com & Dilla on that Hevehitta tape from a few days. But this just hit the inbox, coming off DJ Eves Laced With Gems mixtape. Read the rest of this entry »

The first single for A Rosenberg Oddisee. Read the rest of this entry »