“Habits & Contradictions” could be my favourite album of the year, so far. So anything new from ScHoolboy Q gets me excited. The TDE member stopped by the L.A. Leakers studio to deliver this freestyle over the Cardo produced “Brainstorm” off Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Allderdice. This is fire. Listen and download below.
Download: ScHoolboy Q – “BrainStorm” (L.A. Leakers Freestyle)
P.OV.IC is a super talented Hip-Hop/Neo-Soul group consisting of artist’s Rasta B and Adoria B. Their new song “MindBodySoul” takes on the “Fall in Love” instrumental produced by the late J Dilla. It’s always refreshing to hear new artists with such a soulful, old-school vibe, especially if they can pull it off. The blend of Rasta B and Adoria B definitely create something special and unique. Stream and download link below.
Download: P.OV.IC – “MindBodySoul”
Macadelic is Mac Miller’s first project since his debut album Blue Slide Park dropped last year. For those of you that have never really cared for Mac’s music, Macadelic might just change your mind. Mac has definitely tightened up his rhymes and the corny “high-school” rap we’re used to from him was thankfully left behind. I find this to be his best work so far and for the first time I can call myself a fan of Mac Miller. The mixtape includes some great production as well as some big features by the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Cam’ron, Lil’ Wayne and more. Listen and download below.
Slum Village and Mick Boogie recently teamed up to drop their latest mixtape, The Dirty Slums. As much as Slum Village isn’t the same anymore without Baatin and J Dilla, they’ve managed to regroup and put out some quality music, bringing on Dilla’s brother Illa J to keep the family legacy alive. On The Dirty Slums, they keep the guest features going, working with fellow Detroit natives Big Sean and Black Milk, Big Pooh, De La Soul, Phonte, and Phife Dawg, among others. In between songs, Slum talks about their evolution, the Native Tongues posse, their legacy, and the group’s future. Early favourites are “Music” ft. Focus, “Church” ft. Focus, “Turnin’ Me Off” ft. De La Soul, “Special” ft. Phonte, and “They Say (Remix)” ft. Big Pooh & Phife Dawg. Download the mixtape below.
Download: Slum Village & Mick Boogie- “The Dirty Slums”
J. Cole took to his website to deliver the original freestyle to the apparent “remix” that was released sometime last week of Kirko Bangz single “Drank In My Cup”. Cole sounds smooth as ever on this one so be sure to listen and download below.
Download: J. Cole – “Drank In My Cup” (Freestyle)
Swizz gets some assistance for his first single “Street Knock” which will be featured on his upcoming mixtape Limitless. I don’t know how I feel about Swizz on this track, then again I’ve never really been much of a Swizz Beatz fan, but when you throw in a verse from Rocky and a crazy beat from araabMUZIK, I’m able to look past Swizz’ mediocrity. No set date yet for Limitless, but let’s hope to see more collaborations like this on the final project.
Download: Swizz Beatz ft. A$AP Rocky – “Street Knock” (Prod. araabMUZIK)
The Chi-town native recently teamed up with Raekwon, Nick D’s and JD Era for “Tried To Tell Em”, the first leak off his upcoming mixtape Bottle, Henny On The Rocks II. Admittedly, this is the first I’ve heard of Paypa, but I’m impressed. It’s exciting to hear ICE H20 partners Raekwon and JD Era together again on a track. HOTR II will also feature Chip Tha Ripper, Emilio Rojas, GLC, and Naledge (from Kidz In The Hall), among others. Stream the song and download it below.
Download: Paypa ft. Raekwon, Nick D’s & JD Era- “Tried To Tell Em”
Funny enough right when we release our interview with AZ he releases the street single from his upcoming album Do or Die II. Listen it below on soundcloud and check out our interview with AZ.
The legendary DJ Premier recently sat down with Red Bull Music Academy Radio for Fireside Chat. In between telling his story, he spins some of his classics, including Gang Starr, Rakim, Jeru The Damaja, KRS-One, Nas, Jay-Z, Mos Def, and Notorious B.I.G. If you’re into hip-hop history, this is definitely worth listening to. Stream the hour-long show below. Photo credit to Remy Bourdeau.
Freddie Joachim just released this remix of ‘Bare Naked’ by Slakah The Beatchild (pictured in the foreground) over a week ago. He takes the Slakadeliqs frontman and Art of Fresh beatmaker’s relaxed, soulful tune and remixes it into something that can only be described as dope. If you’re a fan of Nujabes at all, you’ll dig this. Download it below.
Download: Slakah The Beatchild – “Bare Naked (Freddie Joachim Remix)”
Toronto native Kit Knows just dropped the latest instalment of his mixtape series, The Second Space: Kit in Toronto, following on the heels of his re-mixtape The First Space: Kit on the Moon. This time around, Kit brings along an eclectic Toronto lineup of producers, beatmakers, and songwriters to add their take on his previous work, including Rich Kidd, D-Sisive, Fresh Kils, Mantis of The Get By, HajahBug, and Junia-T of Smash Brovaz. Early favourites are “Welcome (Mantis Remix)”, “Failure (Helmet Remix)”, and “Hot Ish (Middle East Remix)”. Check out the video for “Welcome (Mantis Remix)” below, and hit the link for the mixtape download.
Download: Kit Knows – “The Second Space: Kit in T.O.”
