So Far, So Good..

It was written on the walls that success is a process
No matter how hard I fall, I know where there's some progress
-Common

.. Now this is what I call a collab! Fresh off his upcoming The Million Dollar Backpack, Virginia MC Skillz (a.k.a. the dude that brings annual industry rap ups, year in and year out) linked up with Talib Kweli and Common for this heater.

Head on over to Okayplayer for an album sampler & thanks to eskay for hooking up this track.. Enjoy!

Skillz ft. Common & Talib Kweli - So Far So Good Remix

The Roots & Such..

... are coming. For now, I'll have to allow a low-fi web-rip of Rising Down to hold me over until the good quality hits the blogosphere. With that said, enjoy these leaked tracks and some random jams from lyrical newcomers Wale & Skyzoo, Yonkers slick-talker Jadakiss and (borderline) insane veteran MC Nasir Jones.

Be sure to cop the latest from the illest hip-hop organic jazz crew The Roots NEXT TUESDAY! Pre-order here at Okayplayer.com and support original, quality artists!

Listen here:

The Roots ft. Chrisette Michelle & Wale - Rising Up

The Roots ft. Saigon & Truck North - Criminal

Skyzoo ft. Wale - Lyrically Inclined

Nas - Be A Nigger Too

Jadakiss - From Then 'Til Now prod. Alchemist


The Roots' Rising Down Track List:

01. The Pow Wow
02. Rising Down feat. Mos Def & Styles P
03. Get Busy feat. Dice Raw, Peedi Crack & DJ Jazzy Jeff
04. @15
05. 75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)
06. Becoming Unwritten
07. Criminal feat. Saigon & Truck North
08. I Will Not Apologize feat. P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw
09. I Can't Help It feat. Malik B & P.O.R.N.
10. Singing Man feat. Truck North & P.O.R.N.
11. Up There (Unwritten) feat. Mercedes Martinez
12. Lost Desire feat. Talib Kweli & Malik B
13. The Show feat. Common
14. Rising Up feat. Chrisette Michelle & Wale
15. Birthday Girl feat. Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy

New Blog Title & Mission Plus New & Old Hip-Hop Gems!

See, I got this idea. I think it's my duty to bring you constant updates, when I can, of some dope music and interesting news surrounding music culture. That's why you need to check it on a regular basis and click on my ads on the bottom while you're here (it takes barely any time and you can X out right after)! I'll still post reviews on the journalism tip but I want to stay grinding to help you get the proper hits from this blog.

Shouts to LowKey at You Heard That New, Ivan at Hip-Hop Is Read, Nah Right, Michael at Fifteen Minutes To Live, Oh Word, Ill Roots, etc.. I'm the newcomer in this blog game and I appreciate your updates.

Saigon's New Song, Bloggin' & Buggin' at Joe Budden


Saigon - "Wake Up," Moral Of The Story

Here's Saigiddy's newest track, the typical deep single I'd expect from a dude who's been through all that this Brooklyn/Mooseknuckle (say what?!), NY MC has. And for those that didn't know, Saigon's been voicing his opinion on his blog regarding Joe Budden's one-liner referencing his punkin' of Prodigy of Mobb Deep. The Yardfather needs to realize it was wordplay and keep his music movin'.


Styles P Suffers From DeJa Vu


Styles P ft. Black Thought - Cause I'm Black, Super Gangster: Extraordinary Gentlemen

Didn't LOX rep Styles P already make a song about the struggles of his skin color? Seems like Pinero is suffering from deja vu, but I like this one better than the one with that Floetry chick especially 'cuz Roots lead MC Black Thought spits real tough.

Dust Off the Crates: Hits from the Past - 1st Edition


I had to post this after watching the movie recently. Denzel does the damn thing there while Chuck D and Flava Flav drop some knowledge God over a craftily-placed sample from Buffalo Springfield's 1967 hit "For What It's Worth." Yeaaa Boyyyy!

Public Enemy - He Got Game, He Got Game Movie Soundtrack


Y'all Know The Rules: Stay Cool



The Roots - Y'all Know Who, Okayplayer: True Notes Vol. 1

I had to finish up with a slept-on jam from hip-hop's legendary Roots Crew. This fast-paced bass-thumping blitz is off 2004's Okayplayer: True Notes Vol. 1 which my homie DJ J Past put me onto recently. Even I over-looked this ill collection so grab it here if you missed it, too.

[i'm ghost, peace and much love]


My wandering got my ass wondering
Where Christ is in all this crisis
-Chuck D, Public Enemy - "He Got Game," He Got Game Movie Soundtrack