Gotta say what’s up to Tony Williams! His good music is definitely in the building! Having already dug up a golden piece of nostalgia to start the year off, the lowkey soul sanger is showing why he calls himself “Thee World Famous” with his Some Of My Best Rappers Are Friends mixtape. Read the rest of this entry »

Freddie Gibbs’ Cold Day In Hell will be the tape that has a snowball’s chance being remembered weeks and months from now. While others are dropping novelty tapes for the holiday, Freddie’s release seems meant to be played through winter and beyond. The tone is set by the distinguished art alone, which may be the illest seen this year. Beyond the cover, Cold Day… holds equally sick music and “consistency” best describes what Gibbs does best on this release. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s another way to build your brand at a music festival: connect with like-minded artists in legendary surroundings to create original music. During A3C, Royal Flush and SMKA production teams linked up with several artists who were in town for the festival to create an exclusive mixtape. Read the rest of this entry »

The young & reckless gather for the visuals of “Certified Shit,” shot by Richard Taylor for Taylormade Video Vision. Read the rest of this entry »

While the title for Young Scolla Meets SMKA: Seconds Away became literal today, the last leak of the project affirms Scolla must be extremely pleased with their acquaintance, as some of his best tunes have been delivered as a result. Read the rest of this entry »

With his collaborative project alongside ATL production crew SMKA a month away, the evolving Young Scolla laces us with his dark new visual for the lead single from Young Scolla Meets SMKA, brazenly called “Seconds Away.” Obviously referring to success, a claim so bold can be justified when you’re a talented young MC, building relationships and knocking out your own hooks in grand fashion, all of which the young Motor City native seems to be doing just fine. Some might say this song specifically sounds a tad bit like a certain bushy-eyebrowed, Canadian rappa-turnt-sanga, but the fact is that it sounds good regardless.

Hopefully success rubs off in more ways than one.

They say “the cheese stands alone” but SMKA and Aleon Craft pack too much flavor in their packaged goods to ever get complacent. Still glowing with radioactive inspiration from their last outer body experience, the Atlanta conglomerate are taking the world by meteor storm with Craft Singles, a focused delve into the realm of alternative rock. Read the rest of this entry »

After steady rocking out the second version of SMKA’s 808 Experiment compilations, I’m pleased to see these trunk-rattling tapes aren’t just a two-shot deal. Especially when these ATLiens are using their production powers to pair up welcome tandems like these. Read the rest of this entry »

“You be on that square sh*t…me I’m on that player sh*t.”

The Bay meets Georgia clay on DaVinci’s contribution to the third volume of SMKA’s 808 Experiment series. Since this isn’t his first trip down south, The Fillmore, San Francisco representative sounds right at home over slinky synths and a bassline made for making the turf do anything but stand still. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever ate food for thought off a flying saucer? Ever been beamed down by a wordplay transporter gamma ray? If you believe in UFO’s, RAP’s and 808s, Aleon Craft would love to cordially invite you to the planet of Mothership Decatur. It’s a spirited place where fun and artistic freedom run congruently in abundance. And in case you were wondering, all the girls in the yard got a “donkey kong” in the back seat. Read the rest of this entry »

“Pay attention to what’s hid in the books, They throw the books at us and slap the wrists of white collar crooks.”

More new music from SMKA’s upcoming, third installment of The 808 Experiment and it’s quite triumphant, the charge led by Donny, Bobby & Mikkey. Read the rest of this entry »

I could probably count on both of my hands and maybe one foot the number of male R&B singers I actually enjoy listening to. No offense to Scar, but he’s not on the list. The presence of El Prez and Aleon Craft, buoyed by SMKA’s dreamy synths and hyper hi-hats, far outweigh Scar’s opening verse. Read the rest of this entry »

A few things worth looking twice at…

– The street before you cross it.

– 85% of The Cooler girls.

– An Aleon Craft commandment. Read the rest of this entry »

SXSW mania is full swing around these parts and to officially get you pumped for our stage that incorporates the vast diversity next-gen Hip-Hop has to offer, SMKA Productions in conjunction with Fadia Kadar, iLuvLola and yours truly have compiled the official soundtrack to your Perfect Attendance experience for Austin, TX 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

Forever spitting the futuristic flavor that makes you do a double take on that “did-he-just-say-that-tip,” Aleon Craft is still hovering above the moon, stars and Milky Way since you last heard him on The Stargazing Soundtrack. Reminiscent to when the Dungeon Family used to dabble in spacey orchestration and harmonize in Martian funk, Aleon is crash landing the scene once again with Mothership Decatur, his joint venture with DJ Smallz and SMKA Productions. Read the rest of this entry »