Over the last few years Thaione Davis has consistently and carefully put out quality hip hop and is easily one of the most promising emcees out of Chicago in years. Still Hear follows up his 2007 album Burgundy (The Antebellum Collection), and teams him with producer Rashid Hadee who has produced for a number of other Chicago area artists and even a track on Little Brother's Get Back. Featuring guest appearances by Infinito 2017, Longshot and more. It's got both a late 90's and current feel set to the backdrop of Southside Chicago and overall is definitely not one to sleep on.
01. Still Hear
02. Inside Your Mind
03. Tradesmen feat. Ben Butter, Iomos Marad, King, J.Hewitt, Infinito 2017 & Longshot
04. Bottomline
05. Observation Incomplete
06. Problems feat. Melatone & Rashid Hadee
07. The Gambit
08. Confessions Of An Adolescent
09. Subliminal
10. Face Of The Hood
11. Onetwo
12. Leaving Babylon
13. Deception
14. Highest Regards
15. Purpose
Few hip hop acts are able to appeal to both the commercial hip hop fan and rap purist in the same breath. Enter Self Scientific, one of the most critically acclaimed groups to emerge from the City of Angels and a group that's earned the respect of gangstas and underground heads alike. Part of L.A.'s unique hip hop scene, Self Scientific - the duo of Chace Infinite and DJ Khalil present their groundbreaking debut album, The Self Science.
01. Opus 02. The Covenant 03. Best Part 04. The Long Run 05. Cash Craft 06. Three Kings feat. Krondon & Planet Asia 07. We All Need 08. Murderation 09. You Can’t Fall 10. The Self Science feat. Jade Tiger 11. Duality 12. Love Allah feat. Krondon 13. Dead Honest 14. Anguish 15. Return
01. Breaker 19 02. Up to Speed 03. Ya Never Know 04. Keep On Runnin feat. Denosh 05. Things Change feat. D-minor 06. Shadokat-Retropect 07. Life Ain’t Fair 08. No One Will feat. Tiffany Paige 09. Stutter Interlude 10. Rebellion in Occupied Territory 11. Incredible Force feat. Hassaan Mackey & Oddissee 12. Why’d You Have To 13. Sometimes feat. Silent Knight
Seattle super producer and self proclaimed "great beat writer" Jake One steps from behind the boards to present his own debut full-length album, White Van Music. Polishing his production chops over the last decade, Jake One has crafted the musical soundscapes for everyone from De La Soul ("Rock Co.Kane Flow" feat. MF DOOM) to 50 Cent ("All Of Me" feat. Mary J. Blige). With an impressive and diverse discography Jake One has managed to bring his sound from the underground to the Billboard Top 10 charts.
Featuring an engaging cast of emerging underground artists as well as some of Hip Hop's most respected mainstream acts, Jake One's White Van Music will blur the so called lines between underground and mainstream Hip Hop... just as his stellar production career has.
01. I'm Coming feat. Black Milk & Nottz 02. Gangsta Boy feat. M.O.P. 03. The Truth feat. Freeway & Brother Ali 04. Turn It Down 05. God Like feat. D. Black 06. Bless The Child feat. Little Brother 07. Oh Really feat. Posdnuos & Slug 08. Hi 09. Trap Door feat. MF DooM 10. Dead Wrong feat. Young Buck 11. Kissin' The Curb feat. Bishop Lamont & Busta Rhymes 12. How We Ride feat. Freeway 13. White Van feat. Alchemist, Evidence, & Prodigy 14. Big Homie Style feat. J. Pinder, GMK & Spaceman 15. Scared feat. Blueprint 16. Great Sound 17. Get 'Er Done feat. MF Doom 18. Feelin' My Shit feat. Casual 19. Soil Raps feat. Keak Da Sneak 20. Glow feat. Elzhi & Royce Da 5'9" 21. R.I.P. 22. Home feat. Vitamin D, C Note, Maine & Ish
Black on Both Sides is the debut solo album by Mos Def, released on October 12, 1999. Intended as a return to the roots of hip hop, the album was hailed as a classic soon after its release, and went on to ship Gold in sales. The album's blend of socio-political rhymes with jazz and other unusual sources of samples endeared Mos Def to listeners uninterested in gangsta rap. This album also received 4 Mics from The Source's Five Mic Award.
01. Fear Not Of Man 02. Hip Hop 03. Love 04. Ms. Fat Booty 05. Speed Law 06. Do It Now feat. Busta Rhymes 07. Got 08. Umi Says 09. New World Water 10. Rock 'N' Roll 11. Know That feat. Talib Kweli 12. Climb feat. Vinia Mojica 13. Brooklyn 14. Habitat 15. Mr. Nigga feat. Q-Tip 16. Mathematics 17. May-December
"Freedom's Journal" which was established in NY by Samuel E. Cornish & John B. Russwurm in 1827-1829. The name of this collective is Completion which is a Hip-Hop group that consist of two members, Trance The MC & Mr. Emphatic! This group displays a wide range of vocabulary concepts accompanied by a politically charged analysis of the Black experience, complimented by a solid array of beats and rhymes. These two wordsmiths do not have a problem w/waving the flag of the conscious rapper as they aspiss. With a true respect for the art form, Completion stands firm in maintaining their artistic integrity while promoting hip-hop's ability to educate as well as entertain. Angela Y. Davis was quoted in the Essence Magazine as saying, music can be utilized as a vehicle of consciousness. This statement soundly exemplifies Completion.
All songs produced by Illmind except, "Acknowledgement" & "Game Plan (First Installment)" produced by Algorythm, "The Ambiance" produced by Zo! & "Lets Ride" produced by Best 21.
01. Acknowledgement (Intro) 02. We're On Our Way feat. Darien Brockington 03. Certified 04. We Got It! / Lets Ride 05. What Do You Stand For? 06. Game Plan (First Installment) 07. The Proposal 08. Under Pressure 09. Rock To The Rhythm (Don't Stop!) 10. Warrior's Code feat. True Allah & O.G. DASU 11. One Night 12. I Wanna Get To Know You (Stand & Deliver) 13. The Ambiance feat. Karim Shabazz / Don't Make Me Wait 14. The Appreciation Tour (of Duty) 15. Ride Or Die Chick 16. So Beautiful (Warrior Queens Anthem) 17. Freedom's Journal: 2nd Journal Entry feat. True Allah 18. Acknowledgement (Outro) 19. Days Of Our Lives (In These Times)
In 2001, Kenn Starr joined the Low Budget Crew, which also included D.C. locals Oddisee, Kev Brown, Critically Acclaimed, and Cy Young. His connection with producer Oddisee landed him a deal with New York-based indie label Halftooth Records, which released his debut single, "If", featuring Talib Kweli and Asheru, in early 2004. "If" and its B-side, "Walk the Walk", were included on the Halftooth Records compilation You Don't Know the Half. The single led to a number of guest appearances including The Foreign Exchange's "The Answer", Wordsworth's "Head High", and Symbolyc One and Illmind's "Guilty Pleasures".
In June 2006, Starr released The Starr Report, a mixtape featuring most of his unreleased guest appearances on albums by the likes of Supastition, Cesar Comanche, The Foreign Exchange, and Kev Brown; followed by the single "Against the Grain". On August 29, Starr's debut album, Starr Status, was released, featuring production from Illmind, Khrysis, Kev Brown, Oddisee, DJ Roddy Rod and M-Phazes.
Starr Status garnered the rapper attention from magazines including Scratch, The Source, and JIVE, who called Starr "one of the best MC's in the game"
01. Starr Status (Intro) (Prod. by Oddisee) 02. Against The Grain (Prod. by Illmind) 03. Relentless feat. Kev Brown (Prod. by Kev Brown) 04. The Same Pt. 2 (Prod. by Oddisee) 05. Mr. Nice Guy feat. Wayna (Prod. by Oddisee) 06. Middle Fingaz (Prod. by M-Phazes) 07. U Will (Prod. by DJ Roddy Rod) 08. Never Too Late feat. Sean Born (Prod. by Kev Brown) 09. Carry On feat. Supastition & Darien Brockington (Prod. by Oddisee) 10. Waitin' On You (Prod. by Khrysis) 11. Inside feat. Wayna (Prod. by Illmind) 12. Back At It Again feat. Median (Prod. by M-Phazes) 13. Nothing But Time feat. Oddisee (Prod. by Young Cee) 14. Another Day feat. Sean Born & Chronkite (Prod. by Kev Brown) 15. Know Too Much (To Go Back) (Prod. by Oddisee) 16. If feat. Asheru & Talib Kweli (Bonus) (Prod. by Oddisee)
In only a few years, producer/emcee Black Milk has quickly developed into one of the few hip hop artists who both carries an accomplished resume and is followed with widely-held optimism about what he can bring as one of the leaders of the modern hip hop movement.
Now 25 years old, Black (born Curtis Cross) earned his stripes both locally in his native Detroit and on a national level from his associations with Slum Village. After getting his first production credit for "What Is This" on SV's sophomore album "Trinity" in 2002, he produced much of the popular group's next two albums both individually and as part of the production team BR Gunna, with whom he also released the album "Dirty District, Vol. 2." It wasn't until his self-released debut solo album "Sound of the City" in 2005 did he begin to achieve some notoriety as an emcee, and it was off the strength of the album that he signed his first record deal with Fat Beats Records in 2006.
Upon the release of his "Popular Demand" album in March 2007, Black Milk instantly became one of underground hip hop ambassadors. In addition to becoming a go-to producer for commissioned beats on an independent level (he's placed beats on projects by Kidz in the Hall, Guilty Simpson, Strange Fruit Project, Genius/GZA, and many more), he's also worked with major label artists like Pharoahe Monch, Kardinal Offishall, and Busta Rhymes. He's also since released two albums on his own Music House imprint (Fat Ray's "The Set Up" and Black Milk presents "Caltroit"), produced nearly an entire album for Elzhi from Slum Village ("The Preface"), and produces and rhymes as a member of the group Random Axe (with Sean Price and Guilty Simpson) who have a full length album dropping soon.
His new album "Tronic" shows that Black has grown tremendously as a producer, as he's adopted more live instrumentation and is introducing more complex arrangement than his previous sample-heavy work. He also shows marked improvement as an emcee, and carries most of the album himself with only 3 guest verses on the entire album (from emcee royalty Pharoahe Monch, Royce Da 5'9", and Sean Price). Not even two years removed from his breakthrough release, Black Milk proves on "Tronic" that not only is he growing as an artist, but hip hop music as a genre still has room to grow.
01. Long Story Short feat. Dwele 02. Bounce 03. Give The Drummer Sum 04. Without U feat. Colin Munroe 05. Hold It Down 06. Losing Out feat. Royce da 5′9" 07. Hell Yeah feat. Fat Ray 08. Overdose 09. Reppin For U feat. AB 10. The Matrix feat. Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price, & DJ Premier 11. Try 12. Tronic Summer 13. Bond 4 Life feat. Melanie Rutherford 14. Elec (Outro)
Now with a solid foundation in the Subterraneous camp, MaGestiK LeGenD has gradually changed to a more global focus. Setting his sites on shows overseas, songwriting, and being a complete producer. With plenty of performing experience from touring nationally, MaGestiK LeGenD has developed a very high energy live show that will entertain you and actually make you FEEL where he is coming from.
He has performed w/ a long list of artist, including George Clinton, Wu-Tang, Ludacris, De La Soul, Rakim, Saul Williams, and Redman. MaGestiK has been featured on projects w/ Elzhi, One Be Lo, and Capital D to name a few.
While still shopping deals and researching distribution avenues for his debut LP. MaGestiK LeGenD recently decided to take the independent route and release the FREE MAGESTIK LEGEND Project strictly for his fans. The FREE Project is dedicated to giving back to those who have supported his release since day one.
01. Count Your Blessings 02. The Words 03. More Than You Know 04. Pseudo 05. Make Music 06. The World Don't Sing 07. Politician 08. The Waiting Room 09. Four Square 10. A Story 11. Ahh Ouai 12. Not What It Seems 13. Six Million Ways 14. She Thinks 15. Farewell
"Bayani" marks a creative and emotional leap forward for Blue Scholars. The four years since recording their first album has been marked by four years of war and uncertainty. People everywhere are looking for answers, growing tired of the banality and repetitiveness of the music and culture that currently dominates the airwaves. Similar to the wave of protest music that emerged during the Vietnam war, "Bayani" is a statement record stamped with the anger, depression and the slowly emerging hope of these uncertain times. Less sloganeering and more storytelling, Bayani showcases a more focused Geologic and a polished Sabzi coming into their own as a premier DJ-emcee duo. "The Distance" tells the story of a working-class immigrant, accompanied by a dark melodic soundscape that recalls a Philippine dance song. Geo also flexes his narrating skills on "Joe Metro," an ode to Seattle's lone form of public transportation and "50 Thousand Deep," recalling the 1999 "Battle in Seattle" at the historic WTO protests.
01. Baha'i Healing Prayer (Intro) 02. Second Chapter 03. Opening Salvo 04. North By Northwest 05. Ordinary Guy 06. Still Got Love 07. Bayani 08. Loyalty 09. Fire For The People 10. Xenophobia (Interlude) 11. The Distance 12. Back Home 13. 50 Thousand Deep 14. Morning of America 15. Joe Metro
DJ Revolution has spent 15 years perfecting his craft on turntables or as he would refer to them his 1200s. Revolution has done just about everything you can think of with records… spun them, scratched them, remixed them, collected them, even juggled them! Since 1997 Revolution has operated the world famous Wake Up Show on Power 106 based out of Los Angeles, CA, alongside with King Tech and Sway (also from MTV). Aside from being an on-air personality, he also tours worldwide as a DJ for acts such as Rakim and Kanye West. Revolution is now readying 'King Of The Decks' on Duck Down Records, which showcases some of the brightest artists in hip hop.
01. Intro feat. Jazzy Jeff 02. King Of The Decks feat. Sean Price & Tash 03. The DJ feat. KRS-One 04. Do Your Thing feat. Guilty Simpson & Royce Da 5′9″ 05. LA D.J. feat. Tony G 06. Funky Piano feat. Bishop Lamont, Crooked I & Styliztik Jones 07. The Big Top feat. Special Teamz 08. Start The Revolution feat. Boot Camp Clik 09. Scratch Nerds 10. Invaders From The Planet Sqratch feat. DJ QBert 11. EY feat. Joell Ortiz & Termanology 12. Casualties Of Tour feat. Rakaa Iriscience 13. Damage feat. Blaq Poet & Bumpy Knuckles 14. Willie Lynch feat. Styliztik Jones & KBimean 15. The Biggest Up feat. DJ Premier 16. Blow Da Spot feat. Strong Arm Steady 17. School feat. Planet Asia 18. Spit Ridiculous feat. Defari 19. Pro's & Con's feat. Evidence 20. Calling HAUL 21. Man Or Machine feat. KBimean 22. The Set Up feat. Sway & King Tech 23. The Re-Match feat. DJ Spinbad 24. Raided R feat. DJ Raid
FILI- This is Real Hip Hop right here, repped to the fullest by the legendary DJ Rev, backed by the legendary Duck Down Records and featuring legendary MC's like KRS-One, BCC and more, including established artists and rising stars of the future, this is as real as it gets, don't sleep!
Whats good? The name's Elaquent, and I'm a hip hop beatmaker, Sega fanboy and kung fu movie buff...representing the Gill Breathin family...but most dudes call me eQ for short..
First and foremost, I'm a fan of hip hop music and hip hop culture...been doin this thang here for 8 years...damn, wheres the time gone...and i love what i do. I dont care to become the next Just Blaze...if it happens, thats great...but im having a blast just making beats....what equipment i use to make beats is irrelevant..as long as it bangs....i love the dirty lo-fi vibe...i love clean shit too, but dirtiness is where its at...if you're lookin for that jiggy shit...or something more pleasing to commercial radio....look elsewhere.....my shit appeals more to the open mind and open ears..i love Sega shit...Master System...Genesis....Dreamcast...got lots of love for all my Nintendo shit, but i rep Sonic over Mario...sue me....since i started doin the myspace thing, ive learned a lot, and cats have showed me lots of love from all over the globe, especially Europe....appreciate it all...peace to everybody holdin me down in small ass Guelph...peace to everybody holdin me down in the Tdot and the rest of Canada...peace to everybody holdin me down in the US....peace to all my peoples holdin me down in the UK....Germany...France...Japan...Chile....or wherever it is ur from...if u've ever taken the time to hit the play button, i appreciate it, whether u think its wack or not...hope y'all enjoy the tracks on the page..more to come...now if anyone wanna talk business (beat inquiries), music, life, whatever, feel free to message me or drop a comment. just dont spam. for real, that shit irks me to no end..
one love, -eQ (via MySpace)
01. After Midnight 02. The Love 03. All For One feat. Mishoo the Drumkit 04. Daylight Savings (Interlude) 05. Tip Toes 06. Too Good (One for Isaac) 07. 2 AM Reflections feat. Moka Only & Es 08. Gobstopper 09. Mystery 10. Peanut Butter 11. Take it Higher (Remix) feat. Tha Connection 12. Graffiti High 13. Theory in Practice feat. O-Phrap 14. High Score (Interlude) 15. 12 O’Clock feat. Thesaurus Rex 16. Stars Aligned 17. Sleep Walking 18. Higher Level feat. Es & Solar C
The Undisputed Truth is the third full-length album by hip hop artist Brother Ali, his second major release. It was released on April 10, 2007 on Rhymesayers Entertainment. The album is produced entirely by ANT of Atmosphere. The first single, "Truth Is", was released on January 9, 2007 and is available for download at Rhymesayers Entertainment's official site. The second single is "Uncle Sam Goddamn". Additionally, the song "Whatcha Got" is featured in the EA Sports game Madden 08.
In the period of promotion before the release of the album, several videos were released of various hip hop icons talking about Brother Ali and this upcoming album. In one video, Slug from Atmosphere is shown getting a tattoo while praising Ali and the new album; at the end of the video, the camera reveals that he has just had the title of the album tattooed in large letters across the side of his neck.
The album debuted at number 69 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 11,000 copies in its first week.
01. Whatcha' Got 02. Lookin' At Me Sideways 03. Truth Is 04. The Puzzle 05. Pedigree 06. Daylight 07. Freedom Ain't Free 08. Letter From The Government 09. Here 10. Listen Up 11. Take Me Home 12. Uncle Sam Goddamn 13. Walking Away 14. Faheem 15. Ear To Ear
X-Rae- In comparison to Brother Ali's previous releases, The Undisputed Truth sees him on a very much more personal journey. He parted with the mother of his son, went through a bitter custody battle and had to essentially rebuild his life from the ground up - series of events which caused him to be be homeless with his son twice. He appears to use this album as a cathartic process through which he releases all the emotions associated with the events he has experienced. He tackles issues such as the debate over his race, breaking up with his wife, raising his son, his religion, being asked to fight for his country and much, much more.
As a huge Brother Ali fan, I loved hearing the very subtle references to past joints; On Looking At You Sideways he says 'I ain't learned jack shit from Dorian (Shadows On The Sun) at all; Let me hear you abusing the culture I adore; I'll come across the hall and get involved like this here'; On Daylight he refers to the 'Whatever comes up, comes out' lyrics featured on Rain Water (Champion EP); And on Letter From The Government he makes references to the 'I grind til the sparks fly off the concrete' line referred to on Fire In The Eye (Off The Record). It's almost like he anticipated that people would view Undisputed as a complete contrast and somehow still managed to tie it in with his past works. Whether it's intentional, who knows, but it's effective.
Ali comes across on this album as a strong man, defying all the odds that are thrown against him and through perseverance and strength of character delivers a big 'Fuck You!' to all challenges. I have yet to come across an emcee who puts so much heart into his music that you can hear it in his voice. You can tell when he's mad, when he's hurt, when he's contemplative, when he's hyped - not only through his lyrics but by the way he delivers them. On Here, Ali talks about having the courage to change your life if you are unhappy with it:
"I don't like my life I gut it, rebuild it Keep nothing but God and my children I kill the devil wherever he resides Even if he hide under me he got to die I killed little Jason he was only fifteen Sewd his good traits together, made Ali Filled his lungs with the Qu'ran until he breathe Let him walk but kept him on a short leash Here he stand now seventeen year old man child Ain't ask nobody for a mother fucking hand out He trying to carry heaven on his back Jumped the broom with a stranger, he ain't never look back What he know about how the world spin? Bless his heart he a virgin never even had a girlfriend Want to be a man so bad that he can taste it His family fell apart and he's tryin' to replace it You'll find in him a heart that is second to none But I know old soul that his lessons ain't done so I stand willing to kill him again If to grow he got to shed his skin then let it be done"
Puzzle is one of my favourite joints on the album. Here he talks about how the struggles in life go towards making us stronger people. It's one of the most empowering tracks I've ever heard, and it's not some corny, self-help type shit, it's just fucking real. He throws in our faces the fact that we are all dealt shit blows in life, but:
"see to it that your head is up; Just never let your chest and your chin touch in public... Every stone that's ever been cast or blow that's ever landed; Helped to build the man that's standing before your bitchass; I'm back to reak havoc; I never retired, retreated or recanted, I; Don't expect you to have stood where I'm standing, Why; Respect is the only thing I'm demanding, Try; You can't honestly shake til you know where my hands been, brother."
Walking Away has seemingly simple production but it's such a clever choice of beat when you consider the context of the subject matter. Here, Ali addresses his son's mother and the reasons that they seperated over a quiet blues type beat. A whistle sample runs through the track and as he's rhyming you can just picture him 'walking away' from her, whistling that melody. So although it's not your typical bitter diss track about the ex.. the beat alone, and the way Ali phrases his thoughts, he asserts himself as the 'winner' in that situation. Straight after, Ali goes into a track addressing his son, Faheem over what might be Ant's most powerful beat on the album. It is just incredible. Appropriately, Ali refrains from complex rhyme schemes and bravado and just recites a letter from the heart, from father to son. The album ends on a perfect note: Ear to Ear. This is the happy ending, where he says he might not have much, but he has whats important: 'my life, my God, my songs... I'm feeling fly as hell right about now; I done pushed a whole lotta hell outta my house'. He has his son, his music, his religion and has rid himself of all his demons.
Okay, I could actually write a novel on this so I'll kinda cut it short. Needless to say, I think this album is unbelievable. Just take the time to listen to it from start to finish, in order and keep in mind that it was 3 years between this and his last release, and in that time, he experienced a lot of shit, all of which all goes into this project. He's not solely concerned with making his rhymes the most clever out there or spitting a whole lot of attention grabbing lyrics - Nah, he's just not as pretentious as many emcees out there are. What he does do is put himself, Brother Ali, the man himself, on wax..and it just so happens that he is excels as a lyricist. As he says on Truth Is; "Not nearly a single solitary soul; Still put the kind of passion to the mic that I hold; One day it'll have to be pryed from my cold dead hand; Until then the big man is gold." Alot of people might not be feeling the introspective approach but it's just Ali doing him and expressing himself through his music and that's the best thing about it.
Music is an art, the emcee is the artist - and Ali lays it down on Undisputed like a world class painter does on canvas. With all the mushy stuff, lets not take away from his incredibly intelligent lyrics, concepts and wordplay and Ant's dope ass production throughout. This is one of my favourite releases of 2007. The man is a genius.
01. Dedication Intro (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 02. You Can't Hide feat. Augustine (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 03. The Rememberance (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 04. Let Go (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 05. Surrender feat. Manov War (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 06. Pushers feat. Sincere, Augustine, Skinny Kenny & Young Valentine (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 07. Six to Seven (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 08. Get You Outta My Head feat. Young Valentine (Prod. by Young Valentine) 09. All I Need You To Do feat. Augustine & Khallee (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 10. Addiction (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 11. Missing Pieces (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 12. The Xpressway (Prod. Melatone) 13. Plannin' For Tomorrow (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) 14. Mercury Retrograde (Prod. by Rashid Hadee) (Bonus)
Preview:
X-Rae- He has been compared to 9th Wonder in terms of production, but while on that soulful tip, Hadee definitely has his own distinct sound particularly the way he chops his samples. If tight production ain't enough, he flows incredibly well over his beats with honest rhymes that we can all relate to. This is a dope album, featuring fellow Chapter 13 members, which showcases Hadee's talents and puts him up there as Man of the Moment. Look out for this dude, he's everywhere!
01. Soul For Sale (Prod. by Young Cee) 02. Simone (Louder) (Prod. by Kev Brown) 03. Fit For Nuttin' (Prod. by KeeLay) 04. Wrong Side Of The Tracks (Prod. by Young Cee) 05. Feel It (Prod. by Quarterpound) 06. War (Prod. by Kev Brown) 07. Cuda Brown's Revenge (LaLaLaLa) (Prod. by Young Cee) 08. Grace (Prod. by Moproducto) 09. Boom (Remix) (Prod. by Young Cee) 10. Stand Up (Get Up) feat. Emilo Rojas (Prod. by Illmind)
Since its initial commercial release in 2004, and following its unprecedented critical success, unsurpassable achievements on urban radio, and phenomenal reception by fans, press, DJs and taste-makers alike, Wordsworth's Mirror Music is back and better than ever! Due to popular demand, Halftooth Records is reissuing the classic debut album from Wordsworth with a fresh and exciting twist. Halftooth Records presents Mirror Music: The Deluxe Edition, the definitive version of the certified-classic Hip-Hop album from Brooklyn-bred microphone fiend Wordsworth. Now packaged as a limited edition 2-disc set, Mirror Music: The Deluxe Edition includes the entire 20-track original Mirror Music album from Wordsworth, PLUS a special bonus CD entitled Oddisee Presents The Mirror Music Remixes, featuring exclusive Mirror Music remixes by producer extraordinaire Oddisee. Wordsworth's Halftooth Records label-mate Oddisee re-crafted certain songs with his own unique and mesmerizing style, emerging from the lab with his own distinctive version of Mirror Music with an entirely new vibe and a refreshing musical and emotional landscape far different from the original. Oddisee carefully constructed entirely new beats to enhance and compliment Wordsworth's lyrics, even adding his own lyrics to certain songs, ultimately creating genuine new musical compositions. Wordsworth's unparalleled rhyming abilities and word-play matched with Oddisee's sensational production style is a triumphant combination that will be listened to and appreciated for many years to come. With a combined total of 30 tracks, Mirror Music: The Deluxe Edition is a truly special collection of music that is sure to please both those fans who already have the original album version and those who do not.
Disc 1: Mirror Music
01. Right Now (Prod. by Ayatollah) 02. What We Gon' Do (Prod. by DJ Static) 03. 12 Months (Prod. by Da Beatminerz) 04. Trust (Prod. by Dox 1) 05. Be A Man (Prod. by DJ A.Vee & DJ 3D) 06. Not Fair feat. Punchline (Prod. by Curt Gowdy) 07. One Day (Prod. by Frequency) 08. Gotta Pay (Prod. by Oddisee) 09. Shoulder (Prod. by Frequency) 10. Head High feat. Kenn Starr & Oddisee (Prod. by Oddisee) 11. Guardian Angel (Prod. by Curt Gowdy) 12. Point Blank (Prod. by Sebb) 13. Fast Lane (Prod. by Belief) 14. Don't Go (Prod. by Frequency) 15. Evol feat. Justin Time & Masta Ace (Prod. by Ayatollah) 16. Run (Prod. by Dave Dar) 17. Unity feat. Meleni Smith (Prod. by R. Thentic) 18. Gonna Be (Prod. by Oddisee) 19. On Your Feet (Prod. by Da Beatminerz) 20. That Way (Prod. by Curt Gowdy)
Disc 2: Oddisee Presents the Mirror Music Remixes
01. Right Now (Oddisee Remix) feat. Oddisee 02. Trust (Oddisee Remix) feat. Oddisee 03. Not Fair (Oddisee Remix) feat. Punchline 04. Point Blank (Oddisee Remix) 05. What We Gon' Do (Oddisee Remix) 06. Run (Oddisee Remix) 07. Don't Go (Oddisee Remix) feat. Oddisee 08. Gotta Pay (Oddisee Remix) 09. Evol (Oddisee Remix) feat. Justin Time & Masta Ace 10. Gonna Be (Oddisee Remix)
Preview:
FILI- I'll keep this short, this is a damn classic from a lyrical genius. If you don't have this album, then make sure you add it to ya collection and rejoice in having one of the best hip hop albums to grace the stage. Throw in a bonus disc with 10 exclusive remixes from Oddisee and it gives you even more reason to cop it!!!
Binary Star was an alternative hip hop group formed in 1998 that comprised of One.Be.Lo and Senim Silla. While in prison, Lo met Senim Silla, and the two formed Binary Star during their time in Hiawatha Correctional Facility. One.Be.Lo took the time to gather extensive amounts of knowledge pertaining to the music industry, such as copyrights, publishing, and how to successfully start a record company. In his own words, he "learned how to hustle legally".
Their debut effort, Waterworld was produced on a $500 budget and released in 1999, under the label Terrorist Records. An extensive tour of Michigan followed, as both members of the duo were on parole and were not permitted to leave the state. Binary Star then switched to Subterraneous Records and released Masters of the Universe, named for a track on the album. This album was essentially just a remixed version of Waterworld, but garnered far more attention, as the album sold 20,000 copies. However, the pair were not getting along particularly well, and, citing creative differences, Binary Star was discontinued. They reunited briefly in 2002, doing a concert together at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, but they did not record any new material. Although there has inevitably been speculation about a reformation of Binary Star, One.Be.Lo has stated that this is unlikely. "I seriously doubt it", he said, proceeding to claim, "Artists are real, real picky and real, real closed minded. They can be real, real strongly opinionated. If there ain’t no real chemistry, it ain’t going to work."
Binary Star's legacy, while minor, is still apparent, as Masters of the Universe and its earlier counterpart Waterworld are still highly regarded by many fans of underground hip hop.
01. Reality Check 02. Conquistadors 03. Solar Powered (Intro) 04. Solar Powered 05. Slang Blade (Intro) 06. Slang Blade 07. Binary Shuffle (Intro) 08. Binary Shuffle 09. Fellowship feat. Athletic Mic League & Decompoze 10. New Hip Hop 11. Masters of the Universe 12. Indy 500 feat. Decompoze 13. Evolution of Man feat. Brenda J 14. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Part 1) 15. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Part 2) 16. Honest Expression 17. Honest Expression (Outro) 18. Glen Close 19. Wolfman Jack (Intro) 20. Wolfman Jack 21. OneManArmy 22. The KGB (Intro) 23. The KGB feat. Malaki, Texture, Elzhi, O-Type, Lacks & J.U.I.C.E. 24. Album Outro
Preview:
FILI- Without doubt one of the illest hip hop albums, ever!!! This is one of my early experiences of really gettin into underground hip hop properly. As soon as I heard the first track, I was hooked. This album is really an underrated and overlooked gem. They way OneManArmy (One.Be.Lo) & Senim Silla flow back and forth between each other is sometimes mesmerizing. Seriously, if you ain't got this or even haven't heard it yet (where you been??!!) then now's your chance to get your hands on a hip hop masterpiece!
The new album from Boston hip-hop mainstay Akrobatik and follow-up to 2003's Balance, Absolute Value takes the listener on a journey through his diverse range, and he does not go at it alone. An impressive list of guest artists and producers that accompany Ak on Absolute Value include hip-hop legends, some of today's most powerful contemporary names, and members of the underground elite. It all comes off as if Akrobatik is conducting an orchestra of some of the most talented and respected artists in the game.
After years of regional rap stardom and underground acclaim, Ak penetrated Hip-Hop's greater critical consciousness as one-third of The Perceptionists with Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One. Their 2005 Def Jux release, “Black Dialogue,” pitched some of music's most resounding criticisms of bandwagon pop culture and the Bush regime, and became the only indie rap project toregister on Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records of the Year list. With AV, Akro deals with issues both personal and socio-political, but never strays too far from his fist-pumping, party-inducing formula for bangers. The effects of life on the road, enlightening misguided youth, perseverance through the toughest of times, and the continuing struggle of Black America are among the issues Akro tackles on AV. And with production from the likes of J Dilla, Illmind, Beatminerz, 9th Wonder, Hezekiah, J-Zone, and more, Akro has the perfect backdrops to get his points across while keeping the funk totally intact. The list of artists lending their vocal talents to Absolute Value is mind-boggling. Talib Kweli, Chuck D. of Public Enemy, Mr. Lif, Bumpy Knuckles, and Little Brother headline a guest list that would leave any true hip-hop fan brimming with excitement.
01. A To The K feat. B-Real (of Cypress Hill) (Prod. by Illmind) 02. Soul Glo (Prod. by Da Beatminerz) 03. Put Ya Stamp On It feat. Talib Kweli (Prod. by J Dilla) 04. Step It Up (Prod. by Hezekiah) 05. Rain feat. Brenna Gethers (Prod. by Illmind) 06. Be Prepared feat. Little Brother (Prod. by 9th Wonder) 07. Absolute Value (Prod. by J-Zone) 08. Black Hell Breaks Loose feat. Willie Evans Jr. & Therapy (Prod. by Therapy) 09. Kindred feat. Chuck D & Brenna Gethers (Prod. by Illmind) 10. Front Steps Pt. II (Tough Love) (Prod. by Tzarizm) 11. Beast Mode feat. Mr. Lif (Prod. by DJ Fakts One) 12. If We Can't Build feat. Bumpy Knuckles (Prod. by Illmind) 13. Ak B. Nimble (Prod. by Baba Israel & Yako) 14. Back Home To You (Prod. by Therapy) 15. Hidden Track (Prod. by Slopfunkdust)
