I think we’ve posted several tracks from Maja & FSD’s The Breakout, including standouts from personal favorites from Mikkey & Freddie, Pill and Mic Terror. But previous to, I don’t ever remember hearing/reading words from the man behind the boards. Since we’ve reached our destination and final product is available, it’s only fitting that one of the brains behind it all share his thought process on how it came to be. Read the rest of this entry »

If you follow Pill on Twitter, you know the guy has a preoccupation with food. So it’s comical that he starts his verse here with a culinary reference. But that’s where the jokes stop because the rest of the track is business between him and Chi-town’s Bogus Boys. Off Maja & FSD’s The Breakout, which should be around the corner. Read the rest of this entry »

Andrew, Mr. “All Things Chicago,” dropped off these two mp3′s from Mikkey Halsted. Up first is the CDQ for “On My Own,” which had a video that dropped the other week. Of course, it co-stars Freddie and will be on Maja 7th & FSD’s The Breakout.

The second one is what would be the original version of “Lifetime…,” produced by Cayex Illah. Personally, I prefer the one that appeared on Best You nEver Heard because the “Ghostwritten by God…”chorus is key and is only amped by the spooky, cascading feel of the track. But the warped sound to this one might work better for some.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download — Freddie Gibbs & Mikkey Halsted – “On My Own”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download — Mikkey Halsted – “Lifetime In Between The Papers Lines” (Cayex Illah Original)

“Ask anybody in Chicago, I got the biggest set of balls, when I die I hope it’s like Cleo in “Set It Off,” Take a couple of cops with me through the devil’s fall, And I mean that shit, no metaphors…”

Continuing with the Midwest’s march to leave their stamp on the game, watch Mic’s name start ringing more bells this year. The guy’s got an uncanny ability to be obnoxious and offensive but in a witty way that will leave you saying “aww naw he didn’t.” Well, yes he did. Fresh clip for “I’m Famous” off the FSD & Maja 7th project, The Breakout.

Salute: FSD

A few seasons back, I made the remark that the Midwest was next to grab the spotlight. It took the region (or maybe the media coverage) a bit to catch on but the time is finally here with Gibbs & Halsted, two of my personal favs, as two of the torchbearers. On “On My Own,” the artists bring their usual dose of keen-edged social commentary & lyricism, giving listeners a glimpse into the neighboring cities of GI and the Chi through the eyes of two of their most promising denizens. Read the rest of this entry »

If there were two posts per day on Freddie Gibbs for the next two months, I still wouldn’t think we were covering his music enough. Pardon my overtly Stan-like stance on the Gary-born lyricist. But in a game full of hyperbolic gangsters and effeminate hipsters, the presence of honesty that is found in Freddie’s music is the Hip-Hop equivalent to finding a valid opinion on a Fox News program. Read the rest of this entry »