All My Tri-State Heads..

I just got word of a couple upcoming shows y'all might be interested in.

The homie Phonte of Little Brother tweeted about two events coming up. The first is for all my tri-state jazz and hip-hop heads. February 27th, Le Poisson Rouge on Bleecker St will be transformed into a multi-genre party, featuring an array of artists led by Phonte himself and guest DJ Geology. Check out the flyer above for more info.

The other is a set of concerts featuring Foreign Exchange (Phontigallo & producer Nicolay), Yahzahrah, Darien Brockington, Zo!, and the Els. The crew will be starting in Baltimore on March 5th then making their way up to New York at the Highland Ballroom on March 8th and Philly on March 9th. Peep the Foreign Exchange website for the schedule and ticket details.

..And remember what I said about Phonte - he's the most under-rated of all under-rated MCs. Ever.

Thanks to the man Tigallo himself for the info, Enjoy if you go!!

For Whom The Bell Tolls

It don't even matter 'cause
I ain't even mad at God
I just think the saddest part
Is I don't wanna go


This track leaked a while ago, and I'm feeling generous so I've posted the video as Evidence, Phonte, Blu* and will.i.am ruminate on their mortality on "For Whom The Bell Tolls." Plus, the video is so creative that I just couldn't pass it up.

For the record, Phonte and Blu *>>>> Whoever you think is under-rated as an MC. He's got the total package, no Boy George.

Thanks to OnSmash for the video, Enjoy!

[Edit: I'm buggin, who the fuck I think Tay was? Well, it's Blu]

Let It Snowww

.. Our office is closing at noon today here in North Jersey, so I'll be driving home in this snowstorm. Hey, I'd rather be driving home than sitting at my desk for the next 6 hours, oh yeaaa!

Here's some hotness to help get through today's cold - the aptly-titled Khrysis: On The Boards With The Heat mixed by DJ Rhettmatic, a collection of bangers produced by the heavy-grinding Khrysis from his previous work with Sean Price, Little Brother, Torae, Smif-N-Wesson and Evidence of Dilated Peoples plus many more.

And if it's not cold or snowing by you, then this tape will help get you to the weekend. Good looks to Kevin Nottingham for the heads up, Enjoy!

Download:

Khrysis: On The Boards With The Heat mixed by DJ Rhettmatic

Track List:

1. Intro

2. King Kong (Sean Price)

3. Awesome (The Away Team)

4. The Rap Game (Cormega ft. Little Brother)

5. Still Here (LEGACY)

6. Hearing Aid (Sean Price)

7. That N*gga (Jozee Mo)

8. Talkin Dirty (Ness)

9. Cool As A Fan (Little Brother)

10. Back At It (Little Brother)

11. Money On The Table (The Away Team)

12. N*ggaz Is Commin (Torae ft. Tash)

13. Starvation (Little Brother ft. Chaundon)

14. Can I Live (Chaundon)

15. Crazy (Rapper Big Pooh)

16. Keep It To The Side (Rapper Big Pooh)

17. Greedy (The Away Team)

18. After The Party (Little Brother)

19. Waitin On You (Kenn Starr)

20. Sick Em (Smif-N-Wesson)

21. One (Sean Price)

22. Something To See (Torae)

23. Psycho Ward (The Away Team ft. Sean Price)

24. Word Has It (Supastition)

25. Rize (Median)

26. Sum Of Me (The Away Team ft. Evidence)

27. Gun Rap (Smif-N-Wesson)

28. JM Heartbreak (Jozee Mo)

29. The Weirdo Zone (Joe Scudda)

30. Told You That (Chaundon)
31. Real Late (Peter Rosenberg ft. Phonte)

Separate But Equal

Everybody lovin' it when Phonte rock the rhythm
Five-nine, kinda stocky with him
Wack MC's with no skills I gots to get 'em
Got niggas screamin' 'No Doubt' like optimism
Stop to give him a listen to the way that I be layin' tracks
Easily, you to me is like DVD to beta max
When I'm layin' back with ready, willin' and able raps
Soft niggas don't wanna play with that
-"Playin' To Lose"

.. How fitting a title for Election Night.

I dunno if I could make it up through all the media coverage, so gotta take my opportunity now to link some tracks to help you through the night.

North Cackalack natives Phonte & Big Pooh and (formally) producer 9th Wonder, collectively dubbed Little Brother, are mainstays on the in indie hip-hop circuit. With underground staples like 2005's The Minstrel Show and last year's Getback, LB has established itself, combining the ying of Pooh's straight-forward bounce with the yang of Phonte's lyrical dexterity and uplifting voice.

Thankfully, the rhyming duo decided to re-release 2006's mixtape Separate But Equal without the annoying DJ Drama drops. Here, I revive some of the most memorable jams like the Southern-fried Mos Def collabo "Let It Go," the verbal onslaught "Playin' To Lose" and the heartfelt "Passionflower."

Keep in mind The Minstrel Show received a 4.5 in The Source and XL rating in XXL Mag, dudes can downright spit. Real heads unite, Enjoy!

Track List:

1. Knock Knock
2. Don't Trust 'Em Skit
3. Cross That Line Ft. Big Treal
4. Let It Go ft. Mos Def
5. Can't Let Her
6. The Singing Bums Skit
7. Rollin' Out ft. Supastition
8. Macaroni
9. Boondock Saints ft. LEGACY & Chaundon
10. Home ft. Joe Scudda
11. Horror Movie Skit
12. I Need You
13. Candy ft. Darien Brockington
14. Speed Racin' ft. Skyzoo & Chaundon (prod 9th Wonder)
15. Deeper ft. Dynas
16. Playin' To Lose
17. Passionflower

Leave It All Beyond..

Here ya go! An album preview for Foreign Exchange's new LP Leave It All Behind. Remember how fresh the overseas collabo between Phonte of Little Brother and Dutch producer Nicolay made 2004's Connected? This one should be just as dope, Enjoy!

Foreign Exchange - Leave It All Behind Album Sampler

New Pete Rock Plus Roots' Rare Joints & Remixes

Paying homage to James Browns' Hell with his album cover design, veteran producer Pete Rock will be dropping a new LP in February (thanks to NahRight for the picture). If this song featuring one half of Little Brother MC Phonte, Justus Leaguer Joe Scudda, dictionary acrobat Wordsworth and underground legend Masta Ace is any sign of the guest appearances and musical quality, Pete's return to wax could be exactly what heads need in the '08:

Pete Rock ft. Phonte, Joe Scudda, Wordsworth, & Masta Ace - Bring Y'all Back

---

The Roots - Organamix (Roots Rare & Remixed Vinyl)

I recently came across this vinyl LP on ItsBX (good lookin' out randm for this vinyl rip!). It's a collection of some hard-to-find Roots material, including remixes and extra verses from some well-known hip-hoppers. I listed the tracks below and uploaded some of my favorites for your listening pleasure.

Track list:

1. Good Music
2. Proceed II ft. Roy Ayers
3. Silent Treatment (Kelo's Mix)
4. Meiso ft. Black Thought & Malik B (produced by DJ Krush)
5. Da Jawn ft. Bahamadia
6. The Show
7. 1.9.8.6. Remix ft. ILL Advised, Rasheed, Black Thought, & Malik B
8. Silent Treatment (Da Beatminerz Mix)
9. Da Notic
10. The Battle (Skribbles Vs Rahzel)
11. The Good, The Bad & The Desolate
12. Super Lyrical ft Big Punisher (classic, I had to share this one)
13. Silent Teatment (Black Thought's 87 You & Yours Mix)
14. Meiso (The Four Natural Ingridients Mix by Four Hero)
15. Listen To This (Walkin' Large) ft. Black Thought
16. Proceed III (Feat Bahamadia)

[i am in fact lacking confusion
as to what's real and what's illusion]