Ecstatic Listening

I've got some big moves in the pipeline on the blogging tip, will fill you all in as soon as I can. For now, it's going to be business as usual.

For those in the New York area this Friday, Santos is hosting a listening party for Mos Def's upcoming album The Ecstatic. After hearing the snippets, I'm excited to hear the final product and might make the trip for this one.

Hit up TheEcstatic09@gmail.com to RSVP, thanks to Heather for posting the flyer!

Random Hits:

Check the Cbox-->

J Dilla ft. Bun B & Termanology - Make It Fast (Bonus)

Lloyd Banks - Practice

The Kickdrums - Things Work Out

Guest Who It Is

Rarely do I dedicate an entire post to a mixtape, but this here is a genuine effort that I had to highlight.

The good homie Trackstar The DJ hit my inbox today with his new tape The Guest Chamber, a collection of Wu-Tang guest appearances on non-Wu tracks. Simple formula, serious results.

Just glancing over the track list makes me know this is special. Rather than follow the trend of dime-a-dozen mixtape DJs with "exclusives" on their digital frisbees, Trackstar holds it down for heads with heat like Gangstarr & Inspectah Deck's timeless "Above The Clouds," Outkast and Raekwon's crisp "Skew It On The Bar-B" and one of my all-time favorite collabos, Method Man & the late great Christopher Wallace's "The What."

Big thanks to the man himself for the cover and links 'cause this is one for your collection. Real recognize real, Enjoy!

Download:

Trackstar The DJ - The Guest Chamber (Best of Wu-Tang Guest Appearances)

1. Notorious BIG feat Method Man-The What

2. Gangstarr feat Inspectah Deck-Above the Clouds

3. Mobb Deep feat Raekwon and Nas-Eye for an Eye

4. Onyx feat Wu-Tang Clan-The Worst

5. Mobb Deep feat Method Man-Extortion

6. Hi-Tek feat Ghostface Killah and Raekwon-My Piano

7. Alkaholiks feat ODB-Hip Hop Drunkies

8. Q-Tip feat Raekwon, Lil Wayne, and Busta Rhymes-Renaissance Rap Remix

9. 2Pac feat Method Man, Redman, Daz, and Kurupt-Got My Mind Made Up

10.Jayo Felony feat Method Man and DMX-Whatcha Gonna Do

11.DJ Muggs feat RZA and GZA-Third World

12.Cypress Hill feat RZA and U-God-Killa Hill N****s13.Redman feat Method Man-Do What You Feel

14.Big Pun feat Inspectah Deck and Prodigy-Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy)

15.Pete Rock feat Inspectah Deck and Kurupt-Tru Master

16.Cocoa Brovas feat Raekwon-Black Trump

17.Spice 1 feat Method Man-Hard to Kill

18.Royce da 5'9" feat Raekwon and Talib Kweli-Give Up Your Guns

19.Outkast feat Raekwon-Skew it on the BBQ

20.Bounty Killa feat Masta Killa-Eyes a Bleed (RZA Remix)

21.Jon Spencer Blues Explosion feat Killah Priest-Greyhound Pt 2 (GZA Remix)

Fell In Love With H.E.R.. Again

Nope, I'm not talkin' about a PYT in my life. Don't fret ladies, I'm still single :-D

I'm talking one of my original loves, "Hip-Hop in its Essence is Real" as Common eloquently put it on his '94 classic song. I hit up the Black Star reunited show at Nokia Times Square and it reminded me how much I really do love hip-hop despite all the hate and negativity permeating the art form nowadays.

Mos & Kweli possessed an on-stage vibe that conjurs hip-hop's glory days as they rocked tracks from the Black Star LP in addition to solo joints from their respective careers. I was one of 2000-something rhyming along with the duo during what's sure to be one of 2009's best concerts, period.

The good folks at OGHipHop posted the video up top, while YN flip-cam'd the later show to post on Rap Radar.

I'll leave y'all with the footage and suggestions of new music that's carrying on tradition. If you need help finding these projects, hit me up. Enjoy!

Check the CBox for all songs -->



J Dilla - Jay Stay Paid [Posthumous Dilla album compiled by Pete Rock]

Sneak Peak:

Fire Wood Drumstix ft. MF Doom




Marco Polo & Torae - Double Barrel [Coming out Tuesday, cop that]

Sneak Peak:

Party Crashers



Tiye Phoenix - Half Woman, Half Amazin' [Dropped last week, I love this LP !!]

Sneak Peak:

Master Plan


Mixtape of the Day:



Download T.I & MLK - A Year & A Day


Random Hits:

Check the CBox-->

Jaspects ft. Senor Kaos - Fallin'

T.I. ft. Kanye West & B.o.B - On Top of the World (Unreleased Version)

We The Lions, You The Cheetahs

I announced it before, but I wanted to remind my loyal readers about this weekend's epic concert.

This Saturday, two of my favorite MCs Talib Kweli and Mos Def will reunite as Black Star for a pair of shows at Nokia Theatre NYC. Yours truly will be in the building for the later time slot, supporting real hip-hop in its truest form.

Tokyo designer Rocksmith dropped these shirts to mark the Brooklyn duo's performance, which are available now at Karmaloop and at the shows.

Scoop up your ticket here and let me know if you want to link up at the show. Thanks to Gotty for the heads up on the T-shirts, Enjoy!

Random Hits:

Check The CBox --->

6th Sense - Thoughts

Bobby Ray (B.o.B) - Put Me On

Jay-Z - Can't Cheat Death prod. DJ Premier

Killer Mike - Man Up

Lupe Fiasco - Fire

Mos Def - The Ecstatic (Snippets)

T.I. ft. Mary J Blige - Remember Me

Torae - Lay It Down Freestyle [Double Barrel drops next week!]

Birth of the Cool

Today would've been jazz legend Miles Davis' 83rd birthday.

Let's celebrate with one of my favorite songs from the bebop trumpeter's extensive collection, "Godchild" from his early days, Enjoy!

Still Kickin'.. And Groovin'

In between flippin' from the Mets dramatic win over the Red Sox to the first half of this Lakers/Nuggets, I spotted some fly kicks throughout the 'net that dropping within the next couple months. Check out the various Nike releases below, thanks to SneakerFiles and Extra Butter for the info.

I've also been digging up some old goodies throughout the night. One disc from my digital vaults that I revisited is The New Groove - The Blue Note Remix Project. This 1996 compilation features reinterpretations of jazz classics from Cannonball Adderley, Grant Green, & Horace Silver among others by some of hip-hop's greatest producers like Easy Mo Bee, Large Professor, and Diamond D.

Now I'm not gonna offer up the entire CD (that'd be TOO easy), but what I will do is post a couple of my favorite picks. If you're really interested in this project, I'll help you find it.

Time to get watching the 4th quarter of the Lakers/Nuggets, Enjoy!


The New Groove - The Blue Note Remix Project (1996)

Track List:

01 - Donald Byrd & The Angel - Kofi
02 - Cannonball Adderley & Large Professor - Hummin'
03 - Noel Pointer & DJ Smash - Living For The City
04 - Gene Harris & Guru - Listen Here
05 - Ronnie Laws & The L.G. Experience - Friends & Strangers
06 - Grant Green & The Ummah - Down Here On The Ground
07 - Ronnie Foster & Diamond D - Summer Song
08 - Lonnie Smith & Spearhead - Move Your Hand
09 - Horace Silver & Easy Mo Bee - The Sophisticated Hippie
10 - Bobby Hutcherson & The Roots - Montara
11 - Jacky Terrasson & The Angel - Mixed Feelings (The New Groove)

Mixtape of the Day:





Cassidy, DJ Thoro & Big Mike - Apply Pressure (Mixtape)


Can I Kick It?

Nike Air Force 1 '07 White/Team Red-Black

Nike Air Max Light - White / Dark Red

Nike SB Dunk Low Premium White Gum Soles

Nike Air Max 1 - White / Red - Grey June 2009 Quickstrike

Friday Night Lights (Out)

The internets were all sorts of buzzin' today about this clip of blog-whore Charles Hamilton gettin a knuckle sandwich from his ex-girl/jumpoff/manager/whatever she may be. Sonic got a lil' too personal for shorty's liking, so she jabbed his jaw pretty heathily. I don't blame her - I'd wanna punch anyone wearing a stuffed Pink Panther on his forearm, too.

Even though I do enjoy some of his music, this goes beyond that - I don't condone airing people's personal business out like that. I think she has every right to rock his grill, dude seems like a straight asshole to shorty when he thinks he's funny, but he ain't. Plus, it makes for some of the best Twitter chatter in a minute.

Got some new music, course. Three new Eminem freestyles with Tim Westwood showin' he still has some skills, two new Wale tracks (one with a host of MCs and the other an unfinished album track) and the official "All The Above" reeeemix equipped with a revamped Just Blaze instrumental.

Throw in the full demo to Madonna & Weezy's collabo (that's growing on me, listen by listen), and tracks from T.I., Donny Goines, Nore featuring DJ Webstar, Torae & Marco Polo, & U-N-I and we've got ourselves a full Friday night.

Shouts to LowKey, Shake & Mike for the heads up on the Em frees, Necole Bitchie for the hilarious Sonic footage, and a gang of others for the random tracks, Enjoy!

Donny Goines ft. Che Grand & Izza Kizza - She Likes

Eminem - Alchemist Freestyle

Eminem - Chonkyfire Freestyle ft. Mr. Porter

Eminem - Respect My Conglomerate Freestyle ft. Mr. Porter

Madonna - Revolver ft. Lil' Wayne [Demo Version]

Maino ft. Young Jeezy & T-Pain - All The Above (Remix) prod. Just Blaze

NORE ft. DJ Webstar - So Hot

Torae & Marco Polo ft. Sean P & Masta Ace - Hold Up

T.I. - Hell Of A Night (DJ)

U-N-I - Land of the King

Wale ft. Peedi Crakk, Young Chris, Black Thought & Tuphace - Hot Shyt

Wale - Magic (Unfinished) prod. Best Kept Secret

I Loved College (2004 Edition)

.. So even tho I received my undergrad diploma from Rutgers University back in the winter, I'm finally walking today for the actual ceremony.

Of course, I'm rushing out the door. Well, my family is rushing me, but I had to post somethin' real quick for my loyal readers.

This here is a collection of tracks that I was into my freshman year, so these represent the start of the beast four years of my life. I tried to include a lil' something for everyone, from the club bangers I used to play while DJing to some more sentimental, nostalgic deep tracks.

Congrats to all my fellow Rutgers grads and best of luck to all my readers grinding hard to get their degrees, you can do it.

I'm off to the ceremony, Enjoy!

Download (In one .rar file)

I Loved College (2004)

Brother Ali - Self Taught [Champion EP]
De La Soul ft. MF Doom - Rock Co.Kane Flow [The Grind Date]
The Diplomats - Crunk Muzik [Diplomatic Immunity 2]
Eminem - Mosh [Encore]
Fabolous - Breathe [Real Talk]
Foreign Exchange - Be Alright [Connected]
Ghostface ft. Jadakiss - Run [Pretty Toney Album]
Ill Bill - What's Wrong With Bill [What's Wrong With Bill]
J-Kwon - Hood Hop [Hood Hop]
Jadakiss ft. Nas, Common & Styles - Why (Remix) [Kiss of Death]
Jay-Z - The Threat (DangerMouse Remix) [The Grey Album]
Jedi Mind Tricks - Before The Great Collapse [Legacy of Blood]
Jim Jones ft. Cam'ron & Jay Bezel - Certified Gangstas [On My Way To Church]
John Legend - Ordinary People [Get Lifted]
Kanye West - School Spirit [College Dropout]
Lil' Jon ft. Lil' Scrappy - What U Gon' Do [Crunk Juice]
Lil' Wayne - Go DJ [Tha Carter]
Lloyd Banks - On Fire [The Hunger For More]
Ludacris - Blueberry Yum Yum [Red Light District]
Madvillain - Strange Ways [Madvillainy]
Mos Def - Sex, Love & Money [The New Danger]
Masta Ace - Revelations [A Long Hot Summer] Murs - Freak These Tales [3:16 The Nine Edition]
Nas - You Know My Style [Streets Disciple]
Outerspace ft. Chief Kamachi - Divine Evil [Outerspace]
Postaboy - God By My Side [DJ Kay Slay - The King Iz Back]
Talib Kweli - Going Hard [Beautiful Struggle]
T.I. - Bring 'Em Out [Urban Legend]
R.A. the Rugged Man - Lessons [Die, Rugged Man, Die]
Redman ft. R. Kelly & Jay Z - Da Banger [Gillahouse BC 4]
The Roots - Don't Say Nothin' [The Tipping Point]
Saigon - Come Again [Warning Shots]
Sean Price ft. Joe Budden & Buckshot - Hot 97 Freestyle [Donkey Sean Jr.]
Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell - Drop It Like It's Hot [R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece]
Terror Squad - Lonely [True Story: Bonus Tracks]
Twista ft. Bun B & Mike Jones - In 'Yo Cadillac [DJ Smallz - Southern Smoke 12]
Twista - Slow Jamz [Kamikaze]
Young Buck - Shorty Wanna Ride [Straight Outta Cashville]

The Breakfast Club

It's just one of those days over here, where everything seems to be going wrong. Can't explain why, I just have a bad feeling. Gotta shake it off and just keep moving.

But, at least we've got some new music this morning. Just got an e-mail with Harlem lyricist Donny Goines' new free album The Breakfast Club. Anyone that heard Donny's first LP Minute After Midnight should be excited for this, featuring production from Dame Grease, 6th Sense, Buckshot, Statik Selektah and appearances from Termanology, Skyzoo, Planet Asia, Amanda Diva & more.

The persistent, up-and-coming MC says:

"With this album it was important to me for people to just listen. I didn't want any apprehensions or hindrances with this project at all and my main goal is to just get the music to the masses. There will always be times to make money, but my focus now is making an impact."

Donny's personal motto is "if you don't know my name, I'm not working hard enough." Now that you know his name, get to know his music.

Thanks to Melanie for the artwork and link, Enjoy!

Download:

Donny Goines Presents The Breakfast Club

Track List:

1) Don't You Prod. by Cook Classics

2) Bring It Forward (New York, New York) Prod. by Versatile

3) Whatever It Is (Ft. Mela Machinko) Prod. by Frequency

4) Money (Ft. Mistah F.A.B) Prod. by DJ Static

5) Don't Mess with a Woman (Ft. Amanda Diva & Naledge) Prod. by Dub Z

6) Sublime (Ft. Peter Hadar & Outasight) Prod. by Buckwild

7) She Like (Ft. Che Grand & Izza Kizza) Prod. by Apple Juice Kid

8) Make Me Feel (Ft. Emilio Rojas) Prod. by Kwame

9) Oh No (Ft. Patent Pending) Prod. by The Goverment

10) What U Expected Remix (Ft. Rain, Termanology, Reks & Big Lou) Prod. by Statik Selektah

11) A Love Song (Ft. Lydia Caesar & Skyzoo) Prod. by Digga
12) Closer Prod. by Dame Grease

13) Digital Genocide (Ft. Planet Asia & Poison Pen) Prod. by DJ Snips

14) Grateful (Ft. Tanya Morgan & Jeremy Carr) Prod. by Cookin Soul

15) Party Apple Prod. by Apple Juice Kid

16) Can't Get it Right (Ft. A.Pinks, Esso & 6th Sense) Prod. by 6th Sense

17) These Times Prod. by Dub Z

Still Got It.. Kinda

I had to address it after my various rants.. Relapse.

To sum up my thoughts on: It's aiiight. Em seems to be even crazier sober, but definitely not as consistent as he's been. There are some gems on it, namely "Old Times Sake" with Dre, "Beautiful" and "Hello." But there's too many songs that lack replay value like "We Made You" and "My Mom" and I really can't get passed that accent, I'm sorry.

However, between the Nick Cannon and Mariah reference and insest-filled, drug-coated stories, Em does show signs of his Shady self. I think "Deja Vu" is one of his realest - resembling a 2009 "The Way I Am" - and he's at his most murderous on "Underground."

I surely didn't have high expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised overall.

Thing is, if Em keeps rapping like in this video on Tim Westwood's show, Relapse 2 could be a problem.

Thanks to RR for the "freestyle" video, Enjoy!