Single/Peep The Threads: Chace Infinite - Africa

Chace Infinite re-work's a D'Angelo standard in conjunction with a special T-shirt and wood piece necklace release with Akomplice and Good Wood NYC...All for what? Raising awareness about the struggles and plights that Africa is currently embroiled in...More info down below....

The project aims to promote change and education in the world’s global water and sanitation crisis. The unique collaborative pack will release at 7PM on February 11th, 2011. Limited to 65 pieces total and only available on the Akomplice and Good Wood NYC websites. The collaboration package (retail $69.99) consists of an exclusive track from Chace Infinite which is a flip on D’Angelo’s song “Africa,” a handcrafted box set containing an intricately carved Africa necklace from Good Wood, and an original t-shirt from the fellas at Akomplice. 100% of the package’s profits will be donated to Pump Aid, an organization which has developed a cost-efficient water pump for sustainable water production in impoverished African communities. Akomplice’s Africa t-shirt will also be offered alone later this month. The T-shirt will be available in red, white, green and black. The design features a text-formed image of Africa on its front, enumerating sociopolitical issues affecting the continent; its back is brandished by each collaborator and reads “Donate 2 Africa.” The shirt is more than a fashion statement – it represents courage, cohesion, and change. It is a tangible symbol of this project’s support for Africa.

find out more here, and remember the continent that gave you life!!

-BIG D O


 Chace Infinite - Africa

Single: Phonte & 9th Wonder - Paper Lines (Unreleased)

This be the illest unreleased gem you'll hear all week...word up...

Phonte was on his SwiftFM account last night going bananas droppin unreleased goodies of his, and the last jewel he blasted off was this, "Paper Lines" a track that he purports is the first joint him and 9th Wonder ever recorded together around '99 as the group G.I.M.M.E..

LOL, sounds pretty polished for a first ever recording, but I'll take Phonte at his word...

This is a magical joint and it really just makes me want a new Little Brother project all that much more.

link via Rawdrive

-BIG D O


Phonte & 9th Wonder - Paper Lines (Unreleased)

Video: Five Steez - Yard N*gga Rap

I got a new cat ya'll need to peep right quick...Irie...

Five Steez is a Jamaican emcee/producer who's fast been climbing his way through the game and turning a head or two...The versatile Kingston-bred rhymer recently put the final touches on a new video, brutally titled "Yard Nigga Rap"...

The innately boom bap sounding tune has a certain something that I can't put my finger on, but that I like a good deal...plus, I always dig black and white vids....

Directed by Primo Archer

-BIG D O

Album Watch: Bazooka Joe - Pressure Busts Pipes

Yo, I think I just found this year's equivalent of of Apollo Brown's smash remix project "The Reset"...

DJ and producer Bazooka Joe like Brown has amassed some of his nicest beats (and I mean nice) and set them to a host of acapellas, a few original works and composed a brand new album that is certified dopeness...Featuring music from names like AG, Lil' Fame, Blaq Poet, Roc Marciano, Raekwon, Joell Ortiz, King Phaze, Dirt Platoon and many others, you'll be dazzled at the composition of this banger...sounds like it was recorded in D&D back in 93', word is bond...

Below is Joe's rundown of exactly what "Pressure Busts Pipes" is all about as well as a link to where you may purchase it...go get that, trust me, it's worth every penny, especially if your a hardcore, boom bap, 90's enthusiast...

-BIG D O


Bazooka Joe:

Pressure Busts Pipes” is a conceptual mixtape/album project I put together to showcase some of my production. The project came about after becoming frustrated with the traditional beat shopping process and trying to find a more creative way to showcase my beat-making skills and prove to myself (if no one else) that I could produce an album all the way through, song for song, with a cohesive sound and a cinematic concept that is consistent with the sound of the albums I came up on as a native NY 90’s Hip-Hopper and in line with the music I have supported throughout my 15+ years as a DJ. A few of the songs are straight accapellas I found on the web or in my record collection, but most of them were exclusively sent to me by the artists themselves with a green light to remix and 2 or 3 are original studio recordings. The goal with everything I do is to craft a sonic experience more than just a mixtape or remixing a few songs, so I hope you download the whole thing and listen from start to finish as it was intended

You can purchase "Pressure Busts Pipes" here

Big Pun Tribute ...Mixed by DJ Soul

His death Anny' was this past Monday...lawd, we still missin our brother from another....11 years.

DJ Soul puts together a masterful mix of the late, great Big Punisher's best tracks as well as adds in a bit of new flair that die hard heads will be thrilled with (i'm not giving away the surprises).

34 tracks deep, this mix contains some of Punny's illest moments behind the mic as well as his some of his most bruising 16 bar performances...Whether your a longtime fan or a newbie to Pun, check in, you def. wanna hear this incredible mix that DJ Soul did such a great job on.

P.S. be sure to check for this on iTunes in the future for purchase...all proceeds will go to Pun's fam.

-BIG D O


Big Pun Tribute (Mixed By DJ Soul)

Video: J Dilla: Still Shining Documentary

Just in time for Mr. Yancey's birthday the forthcoming documentary that chronicles his life "Still Shining" has been put out there for all of us to enjoy.

Created at the time of Dilla's funeral and then completed around 2006, this is a raw and touching look at the man that helped define a culture and a sound. Featuring interviews with some of the giants of the game, his personal friends, family as well as some never before seen photos & rare video, this doc is a must watch for any real Hip-Hop head or die-hard Dilla fan. Detroit stand up...

-BIG D O

DJ Rhettmatic - Dilla Tribute Mix

While today marks the death date of Big Pun, it also is somewhat bitter sweet as it doubles as the day that J Dilla was born...

The insanely gifted, multi-talented producer/emcee who also quite sadly has already left us as well came into the world today back in '74 and what can I say about his contributions to the game? Just a man who had a bunch of towering achievements and represented The D wonderfully.

Today, L.A. beatsmith and dejay extraordinaire DJ Rhettmatic lends a hand to create a 35 minute tribute mix for his old friend and cohort. Great mix...some of which is comprised of joints Jay Dee produced, other parts of it are just some rare Donuts....Also included, a live performance from Dilla in Paris, France.

-BIG D O


DJ Rhettmatic - Dilla Tribute Mix

Action Bronson - The Program EP

If you ain't heard about that man Action Bronson yet, time to get acquainted...

The lyrically dexterious, Queens bred, heavyweight emcee that is apart of J-Love's Outdoorsmen collective is wildly talented and def. one of the next ones to watch. With a rapid fire flow that is straight outta 96' and some writing chops that are considerably up to par, he's a fresh face that has people buzzing with excitment. Personally, all I needed to hear was "Shiraz" and I was sold...

Check out this brand new, 4 track EP that Action has circulating the web...

link via Grandgood

-BIG D O


Action Bronson - The Program EP

Video: Nas & Damian Marley - Patience

Brand newness from Junior Gong and Nasir ya'll....

While I definitely had my qualms with the actual "Distant Relatives" album, I can't front, there was definitely a few bangers on it. Under the direction Nibil Elderkin, the duo's joint "Patience" is brought to life in a magnificent typa way and we get a visual that is awesomely engrossing...word to that last shot with everyone walking in a line in front of the moon...

-BIG D O

Death Anniversary: Big Pun

November 10, 1971 – February 7, 2000

Every year around this time a bunch of bullshit within Hip-Hop gets reported and a bunch of names continue to be debated as the "greatest ever". All of this goes down while the memory of the late great Chris Rios AKA Big Pun gets overlooked. Pun WAS thee greatest Latino rapper of all-time and still is...bigger than that though he was simply one of the greatest emcees of all-time period, regardless of his ethnicity.

Pun woulda been about 40 yrs old this year if he were still alive and I've no doubt that if he were still walkin around destroying tracks with a multi-syllibic flow that was next to no one's cept maybe G Rap, that the game would be just a lil' bit different.

Rest In Peace....

-BIG D O

Snippets: John Robinson + Robert Koch - Robot Robinson

Berlin based producer Robert Koch (of Jahcoozi) is linking with all around, NYC undergrounder Lil Sci John Robinson (Scienz Of Life) for a new album they're releasing called "Robot Robinson" and the duo has made the sampler available for everyone to check out...

It's wonky, it's zany, it's different, it's good. I think this might be a great new avenue for Hip-Hop to take man..who knows where it could go combining things like this...JR has long been one of my favorite emcees and he's coming off last year's triumphant collab release with Lewis Parker in "International Summers"

"Robot Robinson" drops March 4th on Project Mooncirlce ...They will be releasing this on vinyl as well...

-BIG D O

Single: J The S ft. Emilio Rojas - Last Tickets For The Bandwagon (prod. by Keleay)

New joint from Jake The Snake  J The S...

Boston bred rhyme artist J The S teams with longtime undergrounder Emilio Rojas for a very consistent, very pointed track titled "Last Tickets For The Bandwagon". You've basically GOT to peep this...I rarely take a gamble on any one of the bazillion emails I get on a daily, but this one struck me different. It helped that J recruited Rojas no doubt, but he also did his thing here in a big way...Sign me up for those tickets b!

link via KevinNottingham

-BIG D O


J The S ft. Emilio Rojas - Last Tickets For The Bandwagon (prod. by Keelay)

Single: DJ Kay Slay ft. Raekwon, Busta Rhymes, Styles P, Sheek & Papoose - Let The Dogs Loose

Brand new posse track, courtesy of the Drama King....

Pretty nice lineup here...something that Kay Slay is known for...fuck the bullshit, some of the artists Slay has gotten to work with and gotten to work together over his time in the game have been astonishing. Here we just have a really great look for NYC as he collects a few of the greatest ever to come out the apple and pairs em' with his still climbing (IMO) artist, Papoose...

I think Rae tore shit down, but damn if Styles didn't take this...great joint..all over the Resevoir Dogs beat, with a lil' re-working...

Be sure to be lookin out for Slay's new tape, "Soul Controller" you'll find this on there...

link via Xalence

-BIG D O



DJ Kay Slay ft. Raekwon, Busta Rhymes, Styles P, Sheek & Papoose - Let The Dogs Loose

News: Scraface Arrested And Being Held Without Bail In Texas

Unbeknown to many a Hip-hop head until this past week, it seems that southern rap legend Scraface has been incarcerated in the Montgomery County jail in Texas since early October of 2010.

Apparently Face's stay stems from various charges, including failure to make good on four different child support payments and some undisclosed federal charges.

-BIG D O

Video: Naughty By Nature Perform On Letterman

Dave's down with OPP....

last night one of Hip-Hop's longest running group's took to The Tonight Show's stage and performed a coupel fo their classics...Always good to see it when these brothers connect for a performance...I guess they got a new album of re-recorded stuff coming shortly, but man, Vinnie and Treach still can burn a stage down, even with minimal effort..."O.P.P." and "Hip-Hop Hooray">>>>

Enjoy and get ready for the forthcoming "Anthem Inc.".

-BIG D O

10 Deep & Black Thought present Money Making Jam Boys - "The Prestige: Jamboy Magic"

When was the last time you really brushed up on some of the new talent comin up out The City Of Brotherly Love?

10 Deep, Black Thought, Mick Boogie and Terry Urban have all gotten together with a number of the Illadelph's newest generation of emcee's, formed a group called the Money Making Jam Boys and put out a new tape for your listening pleasure...Featuring Truck North, S.T.S., Dice Raw, P.O.R.N. and Thought himself, you gettin some dope new ish' from one of the east coast's most talented city's here and a new group that I think has some potential to make some real noise.

Okay, now peep the tape...thanks to Firefire100 for the head's up...

-BIG D O


10 Deep & Black Thought present Money Making Jam Boys - "The Prestige: Jam Boy Magic"

Maffew Ragazino - Rare Gems The Collection

I can tolerate very few of the new jacks out here doin it these days....A lot of em' come off as tryin to hard, others don't really impress technically and then the large majority are simply carbon copies of whomever the teenage girls got pinned inside they locker.

*Sigh*, despite the dismal tide, every once in awhile I hear a new name that actually steps correctly and I can say, hey, this guy's pretty decent wit it. Maffew Ragazino is that dude today and he's got a new tape out that you should reference if your in the boat that I am when it concerns the fresh faces (or rather lack thereof) in the game today...

Hailing from the we don't take no shit offa nobody Brownsville section of Brooklyn, Ragazino has an intricate style that focuses on lyrics and boasts a versatile nature..he's more Jigga Man than M.O.P., but that's okay, we'll take it b/c after all, he's talented. He maintains a good pace on this appetizer, and shows that he's developed some worthy connections in the game as well; Ski Beatz produces the title track and he garnered a guest appearance from the legendary Masta Ace. More than anything tho, he's from NY and he sounds like it man...that's kinda refreshing in 2011...

-BIG D O


Maffew Ragazino - Rare Gems The Collection

Video Interview: Gangrene For JUICE Magazine

Brand new interview from one of the best new collab groups out there....

Alchemist and Oh No AKA Gangrene sit down with German Hip-Hop mag JUICE while on tour in Berlin to break some things down for the people...After some running thru of their videos over some commentary about, well, weed, both of them bless you with a an acapella...good stuff...

-BIG D O

Single: Dumhi ft. Sean Price, Burke The Jerk & Reef The Lost Cauze - The Knife (Remix)

You need not sleep on Dumhi...for if you do, you will miss out on much ill music...

Last year Philly producer Dumhi released his debut album "The Jungle" and this joint was featured on it minus the new verses from Sean Price, Burke The Jerk and Reef The Lost Cauze. Today we get the official bonus cut that is mad worthy of your time. Sean P wins again!

-BIG D O

Single: Doo Wop ft. Lord Tariq & Snagglepuss - Blackout

Maybe I'm a few days late on this one....nonetheless, are you ready to bounce?

Doo Wop has been lettin some new joints go recently and this is our latest taste...a brand new cut that features Bronx legend Lord Tariq and his usual Bounce Squad brethren in Snagglepuss...

As always this is that hardcore joint that hits the spot...dive in and get loose...

link via Unkut

-BIG D O


Doo Wop ft. Lord Tariq & Snagglepuss - Blackout