Monday, January 31, 2011

Single: Lupe Fiasco ft. Skylar Grey - Words I Never Said






















Wasulu is kickin knowledge in ya got damn ear kiddies...you betta listen...

Like, an hour ago Lupe Fiasco blasted this new single off...I'm not wild about the production and really I'm kinda in between on Ms. Grey's performance too, but got damnit, this man is speaking some raw, unadulterated truth in here, and well, it's my duty to deliver that to ya'll. Hip-Hop needs MORE of this right here...I'll deal with the fuzzy, quasi alt. rock beats, just spit that real man...just spit that real...

"Lasers" comin soon March 8th....

-BIG D O


Video: J. Dilla - Still Shining Documentary Trailer



This Feb. 7th over on TheJDillaProject.com B. Kyle Atkins will debut his new documentary that pays homage to one of the best beatmakers Hip-Hop ever had in Dilla...

It's said to feature some unreleased footage of Dilla as well as some personal, never before seen flicks of the late Detroit beatmaker as well...I personally can't wait to see it.

-BIG D O

Sunday, January 30, 2011

News: Immortal Technique Comments On The Unrest In Egypt



















By now, I hope, god willing most of you are aware of the outright revolution that's being helmed in the Pharaoh's land, mostly by young, jobless people...while I personally smell a rat (a covert American involvement rat) I know a lot of people globally are thrilled at the prospect of Egyptians ousting Mubarak and  possibly inserting some form of Democratic government. It's important that we as Americans take note of what's happening in North Africa and the middle east right now...In good time, I'm confident it will come into play with our world soon enough.

I'mma let Tech tell it tho...

-BIG D O


Immortal Technique:

The people of Egypt have been crying out for their freedom for years. In response the tyrannical regime of Mubarak has disappeared, tortured and murdered any opposition to it’s rule. He did this with the support of the US, the UK, Israel who he blockaded Gaza for, and many others. As a dictator he destroyed the concept of human rights in full view of the same people that cry about China & Cuba while ignoring Colombia, El Salvador & did so in Afghanistan during the time of the Taliban until after 9/11.
He (Mubarak) played a key role in the foreign policy of the West and so was allowed to NOT receive the same amount of criticism for it as the dictators that have been given a pass by this and especially previous administrations. But he is not Ben-Ali and he has a stronger hold on that government that any of these so called “Prince’s of The Middle East.” He didn’t get his crown from Daddy. He built his laurels with the bones of political dissidents over the course of a 30 year reign. Remember that this in itself complicates the situation heavily. It is not as easy as just blaming the US or England or Israel although their role in his regime merits investigation. It calls for serious soul searching in the Middle Eastern and North African world about the way in which governments are allowed to exist. It is not a piece of blame that can just be passed on.
That said. The people of Egypt will not see true freedom from Mubarak simply appointing a new government, freedom can never be given to a person, it must be taken from an oppressor. A Revolution must be organic, it cannot be brought to you by Coca-Cola or come with back door deal for natural resources after the celebration is complete. I pray that day comes for Egypt. I am tired of writing long drawn out historical dissertations about the politics behind current events, so I’m not going to this time. We all see this unfolding, and even though the internet there was shut down for a while the resourceful people of Egypt started to funnel information out. The images are now all over the world.

Read the rest here

News: Kool Herc Hospitalized






















Some really shitty news to start the week....sorry...

In the past few days DJ Premier informed the masses that Hip-Hop pioneer Kool Herc's health is deteriorating rapidly and that he is currently hospitalized, w/o health insurance.

While Herc's bills continue to soar, I urge all of my Hip-Hoppers worldwide to dig into ya hearts and ya pockets and help out the man that helped birth the culture that so many of us truly love...

below is the address you can send donations and well wishes..


Kool Herc Production

PO Box 20472 
Huntington Station, NY 11746



Just try and keep in mind what this man really means to all of us that currently profess that Hip-Hop is our "lives"...I guess if he didn't help create it we'd have that much less of a life...

Update:

Herc is now home, resting, thankfully, but yo, the man still needs some help with those bills and upcoming surgery on his back and feet....you can now donate to help out this pioneer of our culture via his sister's paypal: cindycampbell1@aol.com

-BIG D O

Friday, January 28, 2011

Single: Muneshine & The Vinyl Frontiers - Easy Does It






















New joint from Muneshine AKA one of, if not my personal favorite Canadian emcee/producers...

Mune's new tune is aided by the deftly dope, newcoming production team Vinyl Frontiers; the same folks that are puttin out the EP project from which this track stems, "Larger Than Life Vol.1". This laid back goodness is a gem and definitely driving around in the elements music too...scoop it and get ready for that EP on Feb. 2nd...

-BIG D O



Muneshine & The Vinyl Frontiers - Easy Does It

Singles: KRS-One & Showbiz...4 Joints From Upcoming "Godsville" Album








































I try and hook up a 'Single Of The Weekend' every Friday usually, but this Friday your gettin 4 buttersoft biscuits of boom bap from two of the game's best...ever. How you love me now?

In case you've been hibernating the past 3 months or so, yes, legendary DITC producer Showbiz and the truest teacher within Hip-Hop, KRS-One, announced some time ago they'd be doing a new album together titled "Godsville", that they would be releasing digitally...Since then they've leaked a few joints and now, all together we have 4 cuts we can reference in anticipation for this LP's drop date..which BTW is Feb. 15th...

"Show Power", "We Love This", "The Truth" and "Improve Yourself" all really are very strong records...My favorite personally has to be "Improve Yourself"; Show got all types of illy with those horns and as far as the rhyming tip goes I think Kris really flexed his powers here, as he does on all of them.

Link(s) via Unkut.com & Nahright

-BIG D O


Showbiz & KRS-One - Show Power


Showbiz & KRS-One ft. Fred The Godson - We Love This


Showbiz & KRS-One - The Truth


Showbiz & KRS-One - Improve Myself

Video: Meyhem Lauren ft. Shaz Illyork & Action Bronson - Glacierz



These days only a select few rap outfits could successfully make ya average around the way bodega into a live ass video...The Outdoorsmen are one such collective...

This vid is actually Meyhem Lauren's, but I figured I'd throw The Outdoorsmen some love as well..."Glacierz" is what any hardcore rap fan wants man...gritty beat, raw bars...and imagery that focuses more so on backing up an overall aura rather than creating a false one...as so many rapper dudes do today...I wish we could get back to the time when emcees was cats just like us; ya know, fellas that stayed around the way, shopped at the same mall as you, wore the same kicks as you and yes, hit up the store on the corner for whatever, just like you...

-BIG D O

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cover Art - Raekwon - Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang






















What can I say? Rae is one of the last realest cats in the game and he's coming off one of his best solo LP's ever...There should be no reason why you don't go out and cop this when it drops in March (crosses fingers)...

If you have any doubt that this joint will be straight [insert whatever Meth's weed carriers hold for him] than do the knowledge and peep the tracklisting here.

-BIG D O

Video: Reks - 25th Hour (prod. by DJ Premier)



Mark my words....Reks is finna drop a classic Hip-Hop LP...

Set to release his new and 3rd solo record "Rythmatic Eternal King Supreme", which will boast production from the likes of Pete Rock, Hi-Tek, The Alchemist, Fizzy Womack and Statik Selektah among others, Reks decided now would be a good time to let us hear the DJ Premier produced joint the album contains...

"25th Hour" is purely just a banger...A track dedicated to folks waking up and formulating a plan for life b4 it's too late, Reks' stark bars fit Preeme's ever grimy boom bap perfectly...

Get ready for "Rythmatic Eternal King Supreme", it drops March 8th on Showoff Records...

If you wanna grab the "25th Hour" single, you can do so on iTunes now...

-BIG D O

Single: Chali 2na - Road To Success
















The Chicago bred, L.A. based, baritone blessed emcee that formerly use to steal shows alongside his Jurassic 5 brethren has a new joint that you need to peep...

Over a breezy and upbeat composition Chali 2na outlines his "Road 2 Success" while simultaneously cautioning you on how to maybe walk yours...tons of gems in this, do open ya ears and listen to a few...

Hey, just keep walkin down the road baby...

-BIG D O


Chali 2na - Road 2 Success

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Statik Selektah & Frank The Butcher - Concepts Selektions






















We've been gettin leaks for a month and now a tape that I can confidently call one of the best I've heard in awhile is out there for you to DL for free...

Boasting names like Freeway, Termanology, Black Milk, Ill Bill, JoJo Pellegrino, Consequence and many others all going in over previously released Statik Selektah beats, this not only is a diverse listen, it's a true nod to old school tapes and how they used to be constructed in a lot of ways...Speaking of which, what classic new tape would be complete w/o the cat who helped refine the genre off shoot in Doo Wop stopping through? Yup, you get that too...

I'm impressed...Frank The Butcher and Statik Selektah really put together a nice piece of work here...

-BIG D O


Statik Selektah & Frank The Butcher - Concepts Selektions

Video: Malcolm & Martin - Movement Music



West coast duo Malcolm & Martin hit you smack dab in the forehead with a dope new vid that is oh so Cali and oh so on point....

Featuring DJ Revolution riding around in something nice and some Cali palm trees we get a pretty ill slice-of-life type of video that is guaranteed to get you up and moving as well as maybe get you thinking...

Marco Polo on the beat, You know who on the cuts...Malcolm & Martin's latest project "Life Doesn't Frighten Me"

-BIG D O

Video: DJ Red Alert Remembers Mr. Magic



Hey shut the fuck up!!....Wise Elders are speaking...

The Coach gets up with Kool DJ Red Alert on the bustling NY streets and has a word with him about so many aspects of the late, great Mr. Magic, who we all know recently passed on in October of 2009...

Red Alert cycles through some of Magic's beginnings on WHBI and his trailblazing vision to play Hip-Hop records and how he innovated rap on the radio.

-BIG D O

Single: Gangrene ft. Fashawn & Evidence - Demons (remix)
















Them Gangrene boys link with two cats that are killin' the west coast scene at the moment for an OD dope remix...

Alchemist and Oh No decided to throw the talents of Fashawn and Evidence into the fray for their manically paced and superbly executed remix/leftover off their laudable debut collab LP "Gutter Water"...Hands down this'll get ya head movin man...As far as who had the nicest verse? Dare I say our boy Al?!?! He's really coming along with his flow/rhyming...miles ahead of where he once was...I commend him for working on it...

link via Nahright

-BIG D O

Monday, January 24, 2011

Single: Ill Bill & Vinnie Paz - Keeper Of The Seven Keys
















Later this year the world of rap will in fact get rocked when two of the hardest of the hardcore emcee's ever will unite for a collabo album...

Vinnie Paz and  Ill Bill will drop "Heavy Metal Kings" on April 5th of this year and today they let loose the first hard charging single off the project, entitled "Keeper Of The Seven Keys"...

Complete with some Raekwon vocal cuts scratched on the chorus as well as some blisteringly dope, conspiracy driven rhymes from Paz and Bill, this can only peak your interests that much more in the upcoming album....Could it be that a year after he dropped the best Hip-Hop collab album of 2010 that Ill Bill does it again w/ Vinnie Paz? Stay tuned....

-BIG D O



Ill Bill & Vinnie Paz - Keeper Of The Seven Keys

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie presents..It's About To Get Crazy Vol.2


































Just when you thought ya weekend was gonna suck more than it absolutely had to, D-Dot hits us with a new tape...

You see the lineup...old vets like Tracey Lee (wow, that's amazing that he dug his ass up), Sauce Money, Ras Kass to new young guns like Maffew Ragazino, Skyzoo and Wais P, your gettin a nice mix of talent here...

"It's About To Be Crazy Vol.2" also comes nice in the production arena, as it boasts beats not only from the former Bad Boy Hitmen member D-Dot, but also Statik Selektah, Scram Jones, Preemo and Snowgoons....Don't focus on some of the wayward remixes *cough* Nikki Minaj & Lil' Kim *cough*, but rather, all the dope shit that the Mad Rapper himself brought out with this....25 joints...get ya DL on...

-BIG D O


Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie presents...It's About To Get Crazy Vol.2

Single: Oh No ft. Termanology and Ea$y Money - Sound Off

































Oh No meets ST. The Squad....Yes please....

Gearing up to release his upcoming "Ohnomite" record, the Southern Cali emcee/producer and proven dope-LP maker Oh No enlists the talents of Lawrence, MA hardcore purveyors Termanology and one of his ST The Squad Captains, Ea$y Money...

I really like this beat...I mean, really like...Oh No continues to impress in that area...As far as the verses go, I mean, they were up to par I guess...coulda used a lil' more direction maybe..maybe a lil' less gimmicky on Term's part...but hey! I'm not complainin' I'll be playin this out in due time...

link via Rawdrive

-BIG D O


Oh No ft. Termanology & Ea$y Money - Sound Off

Friday, January 21, 2011

Single: Pharoahe Monch ft. DJ Boogie Blind & Showtyme - Clap (One Day)






















Finally we have the official CDQ of Pharoahe Monch's first single off the much, much anticipated "W.A.R." record...you ready to "Clap"?

I think this is just one of those really perfect and rare conscious records that emit so much soul and Hip-Hop aesthetic all at once...I mean who was that last cat that put out their  first single and had cuttin and scratching on the chorus? This is insanely dope, I can't wait for the record, it's scheduled for release sometime in March on Duck Down records...I have high hopes...

-BIG D O


Video: Lukey ft. Lil' Fame - Off The Corner b/w Who The Fuck



Just in case you wondering what Lil' Fame has been up to....

Indeed these is some of the hardest beats that Fame has thrown an anonymous, new name rapper dude ever, I mean damn Fame, you might should be handing over this typa heat to cats that is gonna be able to get it a good deal more shine...It's a friggin' crime hardcore purists might miss out on hearin em' simply cause they ain't checkin for Lukey.....

All that not withstanding I can't totally shade out this Lukey guy...I guess I gotta hear more, I mean he didn't ruin anything, but he didn't really set himself apart from the other gazillion dudes that's comin out using the same schtick...

-BIG D O

Single: MC ADaD - Never Let Go (Prod. by Ta-Ku)
















Okay, this is just a great joint...I ain't heard a cat go in and rip somethin this fierce in a minute....

MC ADaD is a cat that I've featured on PHH a few times before and a cat that I personally took a liking to after he did a few things with Exile...This past Tuesday, via his website, the windy city emcee let loose an completely scathing track that is highly admirable in it's lyrical pursuit...

Over a regal beat effort from Ta-Ku ADaD exemplifies intensity on this...It's ya single of the weekend slackers...do ya homework!

-BIG D O


Single: Roc Marciano - Sound Travel (Radio Rip)














Man, I don't know if any other rapper has the 90's hardcore heads more enthralled than Roc Marciano...

Here we got another new joint from the former Flipmoder titled "Sound Travel", ripped off the Frozen Files Show on EVR and finding Roc spittin pure, middle of winter heat over  a Just Ice classic...This joint is tremendous, can't wait for a CDQ version or better yet, the new project it stems from.

link via CultureKing

-BIG D O


Roc Marciano - Sound Travel (Radio Rip)

Video: What's In My Bag: Questlove



Everyone's favorite Twitter poster and the greatest Hip-Hop drummer (and just drummer in general) is stopped inside one of the greatest record stores in the world Amoeba Music, for their on-going series "What's In My Bag"...

LOL, Okay, maybe Quest loses a few points for having a grip of Grace Jones CD's, but he def. gets props for picking up those Motown re-releases of the Jackson 5 catalog as well as that "Dilla Anthology" that I, like an asshole, haven't copped myself yet...

sidenote: Yo! Quest's shorty is bangin'....

-BIG D O

News: Q-Tip Responds To Michael Rapaport












































Okay, so the other day we finally heard what Actor/Director and famed "down" white guy Michael Rapaport thought about the fact that the frontman for ATCQ, Q-Tip, not really diggin the direction that he was taking the documentary he filmed about the group...Today, Tip had some more comments, that while tempered, once again seemed to counteract with Rapaport's....

Tip's furthering perspective via his Twitter acccount:


“Speaking of 1nce again… here i some tribe chat. the director of the film cannot speak to what is in my head abt the documentary. nor can this director EVER say the i dont speak for the group. when i say i do then belive me i do. tribe is no different than any other collective. we experience bumps bruises and disagreements then and we still do.
But knowing our history and our messages in our music we will NEVER be taken advantage of like we were in the past. we dont care who it is. but we are truly thankful for your interest in our music and your interest in this flattering look at our career. if @alishaheed @jarobione or @diggymusberger says they speak for the group then THEY do. no one else! peace….”

Okaaay, make of that what you will...One thing I think that most of us would like above all else is just some more info about when and if the film will actually be released and what exactly (and I mean that in the most explicit sense) rubbed Tip the wrong way within the flick...

Stay tuned man...

-BIG D O

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Video: TDK Chronicles: Nas



Ha! What a dope feature/interview/nostalgia piece from TDK and Nasty Nas man....some serious reminiscing going down on this...TDK always was a reliable name, I know so myself from gettin my Pause Tapin' on!

In this interview Nas talks old school tape culture that's all but extinct today, how he used to try and throw his tape player/boom box's batteries in the freezer to re-charge em', his favorite old school tape jams and some of his favorite modern artist's now...Be sure to watch this man...great, great Nas interview...

-BIG D O

Single: Willie The Kid & The Alchemist - Fucking Toxic (prod. by Lee Bannon)





















La The Darkman's protege and perhaps thee most stellar West Coast beatmaker this side of DJ Muggs and DJ Khalil (appearing here as a rapper) team up for some illy shit...

Over a ridiculous Lee Bannon  (if you ain't heard by now you sleeping harder than Jimmy Hoffa) Willie The Kid and The Alchemist trade bruising barbs and basically construct my fav. single of the week...

link via TheUrbanGifted

-BIG D O


Willie The Kid & The Alchemist - Fucking Toxic (prod. by Lee Bannon)

Cover Art: Blu - Amnesia






















lookslikethismanbluisfinallygonnadropsomethinnew...

LOL, that's ^ a joke right there...meh, Blu fans will get it...Anyway, yes, it's true, fans of underground, west coast emcee Blu will finally see a new release from him on the 15th of next month..."Amnesia" is a 7-track EP that Blu will be lettin loose on limited 10" vinyl as well as digitally...

Hopefully this sets up that "No York" full length album that rumors have been swirling about...I dunno at this point...

-BIG D O

Interest Piece: The Find Mag...Issue no.4



Yo! Issue numero four of The Find Magazine is available for purchase now suckas! An guess what? That's right, the formerly digital-only mag has gone hard copy print for their fourth issue...

Besides havin a plethora of dope write ups about real Hip-Hop, you also get some free music mixed by DJ Swann if you order...music that is actually featured in the mag!

Hit up The Find's Online store or direct order this gem here...

We have to keep at least one dope and pure Hip-Hop mag alive man! C'mon people!

-BIG D O

Single: DC The Midi Alien ft. Slaine, Vinnie Paz, Sabac & Trademarc - Man Made Ways














































This! This is how you do political conspiracy rap ladies and gents!

DC The Midi Alien, a production name that a lot of you Termanology fans will recognize has a brand spankin new LP he's gettin ready to drop on Feb. 15th called "Avengers Airwaves", that I know is gonna be proper as shit...

The lead single DC is droppin' for the album is as strong as they come in "Man Made Ways", a break neck, up beat, conspiracy riddled banger that has a dream team of hardcore scribes featured on it...From former Non-Phixion group member Sabac (Red) to a highly poised Slaine Carroll batting lead off and JMT frontman Vinnie Paz in rare form, you cannot miss this....hit play and get ready!

link via The Crypt

-BIG D O


DC The Midi Alien ft. Slaine, Vinnie Paz, Sabac & Trademarc - Man Made Ways

Video: Ubiquitous - Canadian Bakin' Promo



Newcomer Ubiquitous blesses us with a dope promo that features an all too familiar style that 90's heads will hear and instantly perk up...even if they did just troop through the snow to hunt for records.

Ubiquitous is obviously a true school student of the artform, although he's a product of our northern neighbor, the Canadian boardsman makes music that sounds like he's been cooped up in some hole in the wall tenement on the lower Eastside.

As for his upcoming release "Canadian Bakin'", that I'm sure will be loaded with nugs just like the ones we heard in this vid, they're may be plans to release it on cassette, which if in fact he does do, I def. need me a copy! Wouldn't that be ill if artists started droppin shit on tapes again? Rhymefest already did it last year, let's make this a trend folks!!

Video shot by Chadwick Burgess and Brett Lindzen.

-BIG D O

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Single: Pacewon & Mr. Green - Can You Hear Me (A Tribute To The People Of Tunisia)




















Time for me to get all Geo-political on your asses...

In case most of you are paying more attention to shit like this these days, and how can you not, I mean, your practically inundated with it 24/7, Pacewon and Mr. Green are here to remind you there is a world outside of the reality TV and social networking madness that engulfs so many American lives...

In Tunisia today, and for the past month and a half there has been utter social and political chaos...rioting and violent clashes with Tunisian security forces have taken place frequently in response to heinous living conditions that the people there have been enduring under the regime of president Ben Ali...

This is a break from the usual stuff you'll hear Pace and Green doin, however I will say that "Can You Hear Me" is a powerful and very well done foray into the political rap arena...

link via Nahright

-BIG D O


Pacewon & Mr. Green - Can you Hear Me (A Tribute To The People Of Tunisia)

Cover Art: Lupe Fiasco - Lasers






















Wasalu is one of the few modern, semi-mainstream rappers I can tolerate...So yeah, I'mma give his new one a lil' bit of promo....

"Food And Liquor" was a great album, "The Cool" was, meh, coo...and what'll "Lasers" be like? Only time will tell...

"Lasers" is slated for release on 3/28/2011...

-BIG D O

Video Interview: Saigon Discusses The Greatest Story Never Told



Sai Giddy checks in while out in the chocolate city to talk about his upcoming and long-awaited debut LP "The Greatest Story Never Told" and sheds light on what he has comin for the people next month...

Sitting down w/ Beats & Ballads, Sai talks the album's producers, it's guests, why he truly believes his time is now and even blamin' skinny jeans on Jamaica? What de bloodclot! Press play ya'll

-BIG D O

Monday, January 17, 2011

Single: Singapore Kane - MLK (Tribute)






















Today was MLK day and while I'm fairly sure a good deal of us were out there actin' up in our usual ig'nant ways, others were paying tribute to a man, a single man, who through civil disobedience, non-violence, an un-dominable will and nerves of steel changed this country for the better...for all of us.

Boston upstart and flat out talent, Singapore Kane takes a moment to eulogize our beloved Dr. King in applaudable fashion...listen to this kiddies...

-BIG D O


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Actual Proof - The Talented Tenth






















I doubt highly there is any other producer working more feverishly to put on more new names than 9th Wonder is...

Here we have Actual Proof (Enigma & Sundown) a new, NC-based duo signed to 9th's The Academy/IWWMG imprint that simply put, rhyme about real shit that most of you should care a whole hell of a lot more about...Aided by a slew of other new 9th Wonder mined talent including Thee Tom Hardy and Rapsody, as well as production from Khrysis and Ka$h, this tape is formidable. Along the way you'll also see a few older Justus League familiars...that, to me was also a pretty big highlight, word to Sean Boog, Tyler Woods and Big Remo.

The whole idea behind this project is these two give you two sides...One being the Martin side, the other being the Malcolm side..that should be enough right there to get you open...personally, I'm more of a Malcolm side...always have been...

-BIG D O


Actual Proof - The Talented Tenth

News: Michael Rapaport Comments On Possible Rift W/ Q-Tip Over ATCQ Documentary









































The last time we checked in on the drama unfolding around the impending release of the upcoming (I think) ATCQ documentary and it's director Michael Rapaport, things seemed more than a lil' bit frosty between him and Tribe front man Q-Tip...As Tip put it, he didn't like the project's "direction"...

Today Rapaport had a chance to sort of expound on where those comments might have stemmed from with MTV and his ideas about that are more than a lil' bit telling...

Michael Rapaport:

“I think the reason he did his little Twitter thing was because when he realized that the movie was coming to completion and going to get seen by people,” Rapaport said. “I can’t really speak for him but I think he got a little nervous. He’s a very protective of the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest and the movie is a very honest depiction of my time with them and the information that I was given in interviews and content.”

Rapaport knows how to play chess...we'll leave it at that...but I would bet money he thinks twice about puttin the Documentary out w/o making some eleventh hour edits though...sheeeit, don't fool yaself, Q-Tip ain't the one and he's got lawyers too. My main question is however, what "direction" did ole' Remy Rapaport take the film that Tip wasn't too fond of? Some intimate testimonials from fellow disgruntled groupmates? Surely Tip had to of seen that comin'...Some clowning sessions attacking his acting? What? Maybe it'd just be better if he let the shit come out. I mean what Hip-hop head hasn't wondered about what exactly the inner turmoil within ATCQ was all about? Stay tuned kiddies.

-BIG D O

Video: Boog Brown - Marinate



There are few moments that are more intimate to a woman than when she applies her make up...

Boog Brown the creator of one of the best female helmed Hip-Hop albums in probably about 10 years with her stirring "Brown Study" LP, lets us take a peek here as she puts herself together, respectively.

This video is short (just over a minute) but I guarantee you'll be transfixed on the imagery...Seems I'm getting more and more used to Ms. Brown producing great things..

-BIG D O

Single: Rah Digga - Straight Spittin 4.5 (prod. by Marco Polo)
















With the aid of one of Hip-Hop's best Canadian imports Jersey's 1st lady updates one of her better tracks in recent memory...

Rah Digga combines with Marco Polo for this decidedly more boom bap'd version of "Straight Spittin"...While I liked the original which was done by Nottz a whole hell of a lot, this is a marked one uppance of an already impressive performance, that to me no other femcee this year besides maybe Eternia or Boog Brown has eclipsed or hung wit...

Dig in and keep Digga goin' I love having her around the rap landscape...buy her new record "Classic"  today!

link via DDotOmen

-BIG D O


Rah Digga - Straight Spittin 4.5 (prod. by Marco Polo)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Single: Raekwon - Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang
















Celebrated his 41st born day yesterday, today we get the title track from The Chef's new and much anticipated album...

Bringing the wild violent imagery and the sinister beat backdrop, Rae gives us a pretty worthy joint...that said, I wasn't that into this...Still think "Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang" album is gonna be nuts though.

link via HipHopEarly

-BIG D O


Raekwon - Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang

Single: 2Mex ft. Prince Po - What You Know About (SULLified Remix)



























I was up on the original version of this joint early when 2Mex dropped their new album "My Fanbase Will Destroy you"....soon as I seen 2Mex was collabin' with Prince Po, it was over, I had to swoop it.

I gotta say 2Mex is somewhat of an acquired taste as far as underground rap acts go...not everyone is gonna dig him for the simple fact that his music usually is drastically different from most of the stuff you hear going on right now, as well as densely lyrical.

Personally, I'm happy I stepped outta my comfort zone years ago and discovered they're (I got up on the music when they were known as Of Mexican Descent and Xolo was apart of the group) unique brand of southern Cali meets conscious meets rapid streams of thought being recited...lol...

Anywho, this remix is particularly good IMO, b/c it totally gives the song a brand new feel...trading in the original version's laid back and soulful feel for a far more manic and electro vibe, this is a true remix in every sense of the word, hats off to SULLified ...

-BIG D O


Wednesday, January 12, 2011

SIngle: Ill Bill - Megatron

















We have yet another leak from that upcoming Frank The Butcher and Statik Selektah tape...this go round Ill Bill steps up to the mic.

"Concepts: Selektions"  is really turning out to be something special IMO, and it should contend for the best mixtape of this oncoming year easily....On this leak, we find former Non Phixion member and constantly dope rhyme slinger Ill Bill giving us a minutes worth of his berserker flow...

Do Keep ya eyes open for that "Concepts: Selektions" coming real soon...

-BIG D O


Ill Bill - Megatron

Single: Donny Goines - The Loudest Silence (Disco D Tribute)























It's now been 4 some odd years since we've lost producer, DJ and all around character Disco D to suicide....

When Disco passed it was an utterly sobering moment for so many involved in the Hip-Hop game from Detroit to NY, and while a lil' bit of time has helped heal a few of the wounds, many are still reeling with the pain of not having the funny and wildly talented boardsman around...

Today, emcee Donny Goines lets loose a warm and proper tribute to his old friend, 11 days before the anniversary of his death..well done Donny...and great job with the acompanying statements as well...

link via Nahright.com

-BIG D O


Donny Goines - The Loudest Silence (Disco D Tribute)

Chuck D's Open Letter: Never Have So Many Been Pimped




















At the beginning of this month rap icon Chuck D issued an open letter to AllHip-Hop.com and DaveyD.com from his then location of Capetown, South Africa that really I'm sort of ashamed to say I'm just now catching up to...

Raised in this portion of the letter are Chuck's concerns about Hip-Hop, it's direction and how the system of major radio oppresses a culture and art form that began as a pure form of black music.

tune in..ya elder is talkin'....

-BIG D O

I really don’t know what constitutes for “relevant” coverage in  HIP-HOP news in America these days, but I really want to give you all a heads up. As you know I’ve been through three passports, 76 countries on the regular in the name of Hip-Hop since 1987 and in 2010, although I’ve never stopped traveling the earth this year, I’ve seen, heard and felt some new things.
As far as RAP and HIP-HOP, it’s like USA Olympic basketball, the world has parity now and have surpassed the USA in ALL of the basic fundamentals of HIP-HOP – TURNTABLISM,  BREAKING,  GRAFFITI, and now EMCEEING with succinct mission , meaning and skill. Skill-wise rappers spitting three languages, have created super rappers to move the crowd with intensity and passion. The “arrogant” American comes in blackface, but if there was a HIP-HOP or Rap Olympics, I really don’t think the United States would get Gold, Silver or Brass or even ass for that sake.
Personally, Public Enemy has been setting records in a record book that doesn’t really exist. The 20th year anniversary of FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET has become into a year and a half celebration of eights legs and five continents. All the while, looking at a HIP-HOP Planet across 25 countries while still somewhat supportive of American rap, the rest of the world has surpassed the U.S. in skill, in fundamentals and commitment to their communities. Public Enemy’s mission is to set the path, pave the road for cats to do their thing for a long time as long as they do it right.
Because of the lack of support from local radio, television and community in the United States, the ability for “local” acts to thrive in their own radius has killed the ability to connect and grow into a proper development as a performer, entertainer and artist. Rappers trying to get put on to a national contract hustle from a NEW YORK or LOS ANGELES corporation has caused the art-form to atrophy from the bottom, while never getting signed to a top echelon that really doesn’t exist, but to a very few.
HIP-HOP NEWS spreads like any other mainstream NEWS in America. The garbage that’s unfit to print has now floated on websites and blogs like sh*t. For example a rapper working in the community gets obscured while if that same rapper robbed a gas station he’d get top coverage and be label a “rapper” while getting his upcoming or current music somewhat put on blast, regardless of its quality which of course is subjective like any other art. RAP sites and blogs are mimicking the New York POST.
This is not mere complaint , this is truth and its coming down on Americans like rain without a raincoat with cats screaming how they ain’t wet. This is real. The other night upon finishing groundbreaking concert performances in Johannesburg we followed a special free concert in Soweto. To make a point that our agenda was to “show? and encourage the Hip-Hop community to be comfortable in its mind and skin without chasing valueless Amerikkkan values.
It does the people of the planet little good to hear that an an artist is famous and rich, will wear expensive jewelry straight from the mines, show it off, stay it the hotel, ride in limos, do the VIP with chilled champagne in the clubs, ape and monkey the chicks (meaning not even talking) and keep the dudes away with slave paid bodyguards when real people come close. The mimic of the VIACOM-sanctioned video has run tired, because it shows off, does NOT inspire and it says NOTHING.
Here in South Africa PUBLIC ENEMY has done crucial groundbreaking performances. Its the same level of smashing the house that we’ve done this year in Moscow, New York, Paris,  London , Chicago and other places this year. This is not news  We are not trying to prove any point other than to show that a classic work is timeless and doesn’t have a demographic per se. The Rolling Stones and U2 are NOT measured by mere tracks’ they are measured by the all-around event they present. The art of the performance has left Hip-Hop whereas somebody has led artists to do more performing off the stage than on it. The agenda here is to create artist exchange
This serves as a call to the infrastructure-less Hip-Hop game in Amerikkka. We know what your hustle is, but what is your work and job here? Faking it until making it runs its course in a recession, which is a depression for Black folks who increasingly are becoming more skill-less as they become jobless.


Read the rest here 

Born Day: Raekwon



























Happy born day to the god, Shallah Raekwon...man is 41 years young today....

Single: Corinne Bailey Rae - I Wanna Be Your Lover



























I know this is a Hip-Hop/Rap blog, but I'm hittin ya'll with Corinne Bailey Rae's new single because I'm deeply in love with every fiber of her she's for some time now been one of the best new female vocalists out there...

The sultry 31-yr old British singer, songwriter and guitarist is prepping her new project "The Love EP" for release on Feb. 14th and this cover of the Prince classic is the 1st taste of it we're getting...

This cover still has that bubbly fun side to it, but Corrine blesses it with her breathy, soft voice making it all her own ...very beautiful rendition...also a real dope breakdown in it toward the end....cut loose and grab this knuckleheads...

-BIG D O

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Single: J-Live - No Time To Waste (prod. by Diamond D)



























J-Live's first single off  "SPTA (Solid Person Of That Ability)", his new project...get ready...

The dually talented champion of the underground NYC sound lets us hear "No Time To Waste", a straight up stirring track that features DITC beat legend Diamond D tampering with some strings in a fashion that only he can...

This is just amazingly good...much praises due to J-Live's consistency over the years...man is still pumpin out butter.

Mess with this people, real Hip-Hop...

-BIG D O


Single: Killer Mike - Burn






















We need revolution now more than ever....Let's make it happen while we play this in the background.

This is the type of Hip-Hop we need flooding the airwaves...but nope, they'd neva let that happen...I mean heaven forbid that the youth actually start paying attention to artists that have something to say about the rampant distress and mis-treatment within urban and minority communities.  

Tune in to the underground as Mike Bigga Killer Mike teaches you the lessons you should be focusing on while you over here watching bullshit like Basketball Wives....Grow up and realize who and what you are kiddies...

This stems from Mike's new one, "Pl3dge", which should be out around March...

Link via TheSmokingSection

-BIG D O


Killer Mike - Burn (prod. by Sweatbox)

Video: Bobbito Interviews Q-Unique



A Kool Bob Love beat exists??? What??

One of the Latin rappers I've respected for years, Q-Unique, and the Latino five-tool artist, journo, writer, deejay, and former pro ball player in PR, Bobbito Garcia, that I've chosen to pattern myself after decided it was a good time to sit down and have a conversation.

Sitting down and chopping it up about everything from Q's below the radar talent for production to how Bobbito used to let him come to his pad and dig through samples, Annnnd how Q is actually in possession of a Bobbito Garcia beat, this is a great and highly natural interview. Man, going back to that possible Bobbito beat tho, we gotta hear that somehow...Q, if you readin this...liberate that to the net for the rest of us nerds man...I know it's dope...

Also featured: a few words about Fat Beats (R.I.P.) and Q's new album "Between Heaven And Hell", which is available now.

-BIG D O

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