Evidence - Red Carpet (Raekwon x Rass Kass)

This beat is a total kick in the nuts and the verses match the beat quite nicely. I haven't heard the whole album yet, but so far it's holding it's own strongly among the recent influx of music this month (Phonte x 9th x Cole). It also sounds like his rhymes are more polished now and the features and production on this record is just flat out amazing.

Red Carpet



Here's Ev just speaking about the track over the instrumental in the background.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess everyone has heard the joints released this year -- hit the comments are say what your favorite album this month is.

Also, you can buy Evidence - Cats & Dogs on iTunes here

Pac Div Megapost [Discography]

So I've been saying for awhile I had a megapost coming up. Since I've been a little slow lately, figured I'd make it up to you. Pac Div (short for Pacific Division), is a hip-hop trio hailing of of Los Angeles. Originally a crew of more than 10 rappers, it's now composed of brothers Like and Mibbs, along with their long time friend BeYoung. Leading the "new west" movement, they've been dropping quality music since 2006.

"You keep talking this new west, but dude we been here, you left"

Pac Div mixes surpsingly lyrical street rhymes with some creative and sometimes hard knocking beats. They really have been one of my favorite groups since I watched their music video for "Mayor" (mostly because I really wanted that Nike crewneck sweater). So I've loaded below a few of their music videos, along with their entire discography thus far. And as always, a fair share of miscellaneous tracks you most likely have missed out on. Keep an eye on Grown Kid Syndrome coming up late '11/early '12. All links after the jump.

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Lyric Lounge: Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Pt. 2

How's it going everyone? Been awhile. Here's a new thing I've always wondered about doing, and figured I might as well give it a shot. This new little installment will highlight songs that I would classify under as one of those lyrical masterpieces you only come by so often. Granted this is my opinion (y'all know how much I love Kendrick Lamar), so this is no way means they're better than your favorite rapper. Although, Kendrick is. Anyway.

The Heart Pt. 2 is one of Kendrick's self-confessed favorite songs he's ever done. Off of his "(O)verly (D)edicated)" mixtape, It really does have a lot of heart in it, showing him pour out his feelings about life, society, and everything in between. Spitting over The Roots' "A Piece of Light" (one of the best standalone beats out), he really does the beat justice and it feels natural with his lyrics. That's really hard to do. There's some lines here that literally make put me in awe every time I hear them, even though I listen to this song all the time. 

I provided a streaming link, along with the lyrics below after the jump. I'll highlight my favorite lyrics below in bold. If you've STILL slept on dude until now (or have never heard/paid attention to the song), you gotta read along while Kendrick kicks the latest facts.

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Blu - NoYork! (2011?)

The man that needs no introduction. And well, if you need it, I made a megapost about him a few months ago that will satisfy your needs for EVERYTHING Blu. 

Blu performed at Rock the Bells (LA) over the weekend, and was seen throwing out free copies of his upcoming album out into the crowd. Word on the street is that his label still hasn't given him a release date...so here we are. He knows what he was doing. Based on his latest twitter status -- which has a youtube channel that has all the songs --  he wants it out. So here it is. Tracklist (about official as you can get other than a few grammatical nitpicks) and link below.

*includes all 4 possible album covers, along with the one shown above mosaic-style (my favorite)

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Upcoming Artist: Dom Kennedy

Dom Kennedy is a steady contributor to Cali's resurgence. While he isn't the illest lyricist, he brings a nice laid back flow over top-notch production. Trust, you'll come to appreciate this dudes cruisin'-on-a-sunday-with-the-top-down sound. Below are some choice cuts off of each of his most recent releases, for those in need of catching up.

It Was Beautiful - off of Future Street/Drug Sounds

Locals Only - off of the critically acclaimed From The Westside, With Love

On The Way Home - off of The Original Dom Kennedy

Graduate - off of From The Westside, With Love II

[Lateef & the Chief] Maroons: Ambush (2004)

Here's another album you should definitely check out. Maroons is a Quannum side project composed of producer Chief Xcel (of Blackalicious) and Lateef the Truthspeaker. An incredibly dope album; something I've come to expect from the West Coast label for the last decade or so. Xcel laces the album with some of the funkiest hip-hop beats I've ever heard in my life, while Lateef spits...well the truth. 

Pick up the album to discover an album only really talked about on the left coast. Great music should be showcased worldwide. Stream and link below.

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U-N-I - A Love Supreme (2009)

U-N-I is an MC duo hailing out of Los Angeles, leading the hip-hop revival out of the resurgent west. Composed of rappers Y-O and Thurzday, they bring energy, positivity, and just plain fun to rap. In the same vein as XV, they have their own style, composed of electo-bounce, groovy strings, and boom-bap.

They are fairly hipster, but their music is undeniably fresh. Don't be mistaken, their no Rakim or Nas with lyricism, but their energy is amazing. They can sing too, bringing a refreshing vibe to the seemingly once one-dimensional west coast scene (being gangsta rap). Below I present to you their mixtape A Love Supreme, one of the best releases of the calendar year -- mixtape or album. As an added bonus, I will also present to you a remix and favorite song of theirs from an earlier mixtape, "Beautiful Day". The song features one of my favorite all-time beats.

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The Complete Blu Collection [Discography]

Just recently did a little digging into Blu’s solo work, which a lot have you been requesting for awhile. This definitely took longer than my previous Jay Electronica and Kendrick Lamar megaposts combined. If you don't know Blu, you should. Coming out of Los Angeles, he is well known for his laid-back, personal approach to hip-hop, and his chill beats. He is as prolific a producer as he is an MC. Sort of in the vein of MF Doom (who I think is the only artist who's top 10 as both a producer and MC), Blu has stayed mighty busy over the past 5 years or so. He has an amazing amount of material for that time span, certainly the polar opposite of Jay Electronica. Overall, he probably has more than 200+ tracks he's been involved in during his short music career.. Let's just say it's so many songs that I don't even want to count. 

A lot of people have only heard his work with producer Exile, Below The Heavens. While I think that is both a great starting point and a classic album, some decide to end their knowledge of Blu's work right there. I did for awhile, but after a little digitial digging, I found gems everywhere. Unfortunately, as some of you Blu fans know, he has a proclivity (don't know how I thought of that word either) to release projects out of the blue (pun intended) but with horrible quality. So don't shoot the messenger, but this is as good as they were made. 

Below I will present to you every official and non-official releases/mixtape out worth downloading with an assortment of new Blu tracks at the time. This includes his solo work, compilation mixtapes, guest features, and official projects with other artists. 

After the jump, check for a total of EIGHTEEN releases that Blu has released in the past handful of years. And if you're iffy on Blu (which you shouldn't be because you're reading this), I presented a periodical stream from each release to peak your interest. As we await the highly sought-after NoYork! album this year, catch up on everything Blu in the meantime. Plus, you gotta check my mediocre/snazzy album artwork.

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Upcoming Artist: Are And Be - Up So High (2011)

Today I bring you a hip-hop duo Are And Be. I found them patrolling the many up-and-coming rap acts on Last.FM (which btw, you should all have by now. I owe almost 90% of my library to Last.FM). Based out of Los Angeles, Abe Thelonious and Lucky Benjamin compose this talented group. In all seriousness, these guys are pretty good, a real good find. Their lyrics are really consistent, and on some tracks they go completely off. Big upside.

This sounds very similar to what you would expect out of the new West Coast artists nowadays, but also contains a little throwback feel to it. The beats on this are pretty hot, showing a wide range from piano samples, vocalists, and everything in between. Hope to see a lot more material out of these cats in the future.

Check below for a FREE album link, provided by the artists' themselves. Check out the streams on their bandcamp page if you ain't convinced (even though you should be).

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Zion I - True & Livin' (2005)

Zion I - producer Amp Live (left) and MC Zumbi (right)

Today I bring to you a group by the name of Zion I. I'm actually really suprised I haven't posted about them on any of blogs yet. One of my absolute groups, definitely. Hailing out of Oakland, Zion I is composed of MC Zumbi and producer Amp Live. They began making music in the mid 90's, in a time where hyphy music in the bay area ruled the area. They were really one of the first bay area hip-hop artists who ventured out into spreading good vibes and socially charged material when everyone else was going "dumb".

Amp Live is an internationally renowned producer, known for creating futuristic, lush, and melodic landscapes...even venturing into what the kids nowadays call "slaps". Don't fret, he balances each characteristic on each track. Zumbi is definitely one of my favorite rappers, encompassing everything an MC should be: positive messages, witty and strong lyrics, and sometimes politically and socially charged lyrics. These two are some of smoothest music I've ever heard, like they were born to do this shit. I bring to you their 3rd album, "True & Livin'", which I find to be their most accessible album (although I'm sure some will disagree). Check out the streams below if you ain't convinced.


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Kendrick Lamar Discography (Megapost)

I introduce to you one of the best hip-hop artists currently making music. Kendrick Lamar is an artist based out of Compton, California, leading the west-coast's recent revival in hip-hop (more on that later). On the very highly toted Top Dawg Entertainment (or TDE for short), comprised of Kendrick, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, and Jay Rock. As one unit they call themselves Black Hippy, although me and Jay Rock don't get along too well because his music is a little to gangsta for my taste, but to each their own. Kendrick brings hunger back into hip-hop, along with emotion, complex lyricism, and a vast range of subject matter. If you're sleeping on him, I suggest you wake up. 

Below I present to you links to both of his free mixtapes as Kendrick Lamar (disclaimer: before, he went by K.Dot and had a handful of mixtapes, but his style was a little different; check out on your own discretion), along with a link to purchase his newest release Section.80. I also present to you several songs not on either mixtape, and that have been overlooked by many a fan of his, including me. 

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