Bloggerhouse Hip Hop

R.I.P. UNCLE HOWIE (May 3rd, 1953 – March 26th, 2010)

DJ Eclipse
(La Coka Nostra • Uncle
Howie • Fat Beats • Rock Steady Crew)

“The Halftime Show” • 89.1 FM WNYU • Wednesday Nights • 10:30 PM – 1:00 AM

“Rap Is Outta Control” • Sirius XM Radio • Hip Hop Nation Channel • Sunday Nights • 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM

www.myspace.com/itsdjeclipse • www.facebook.com/itsdjeclipse • www.twitter.com/itsdjeclipse

Lo-Fi in High Definition is the sound. This is 60’s and 70’s psychedelic way-out there weird hip-hop stuff. While Coincidence provides dreamy quality laid back braggadocio mixed with lyrical inventiveness and idiosyncratic metaphors. Akello Light is the ambiance maker with his ever-shifting relationships to rhythm, melody and texture. The poetic imagery and the transcendental effortlessness of Coincidence, flows well over the crazy amount of short improv free-jazz style instrumentals produced by Akello. This is a tape-echo breezily experience meant for hip-hop to breath again.

Get it HERE

1. “Bone Gristle”-Clan Destined

Taken From: “A Story Never Told: “F#$% A Mixtape” (get it HERE)

Yes sa’, it’s about damn time something moves me in Hip Hop in 2010.  The first quarter of each year is usually slow, but with the release of the recently leaked Clan Destined mixtape things are about to heat up. Hailing from East Point, the duo has hooked up with fellow ATLien Floyd The Locsmif (stop sleepin’, ak’ like you know!) for a bouncy, neck-breaker in the form of “Bone Gristle”, a track that evokes memories of the Blahzay Blahzay classic “Danger” (of course, without all the anthemic qualities).  DO NOT SLEEP on this mixtape, had it not been for a random Illastrate (Aarophat & Illastrate) “tweet” I would have been left out in the cold on this one as well.  ATL continues to churn out more good, quality Hip Hop with the likes of the aforementioned Clan Destined, Aaro & Illa, Senor Kaos & Boog Brown.  Thinks are looking good for 2010!!

2. “Panic”-Roc Marciano

Taken From: Roc’s solo debut “Marcberg”

Here’s just one more reason (aside from The Left’s “Gas Mask”, sorry…according to Apollo Brown,  ya’ll are gonna’ have to wait til’ the winter of 2010 for that one..) that I’m quite certain that all is gonna’ be well for underground Hip Hop in 2010, Roc Marciano’s long-awaited solo debut “Marcberg”.  Already garnering rave reviews, with some going as far as stating this album is a “game changer”, “Marcberg” takes a page outta’ Raekwon’s “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx” (or even Ghost’s debut, for sake of comparisons), with vivid lyricism and raw (with a particular emphasis on RAW), stripped-down, gritty production (handled by Marc, himself), it’s hard to find anything wrong with “Marcberg” as a whole.

Now, for “Panic”, I have yet to hear anything that quite resembles this track production-wise this year.  Not necessarily something you can categorize (although, oddly enough I do hear some “electronic/Flying Lotus” qualities floating around in there), “Panic” possesses that extra “IT” factor that’s bound to put that extra jerk in your neck.  Couple those addictive factors with Roc’s gravely, “raw-to-the core/raw like reservoir dogs” delivery and this album feels like it was preserved in a time capsule from 1993.  However, for the listener, April 20th can’t arrive soon enough!

3. “You & I Both Know”-Alex B

Taken From: Alex B’s forthcoming LP “Moments” (click for details)

I know, right? How in God’s Earth do I go from Roc Marciano to this? Crazy, that’s just how unpredictable my listening habits have been as of late. I will say this: I’m starting to become more than concerned, am I falling outta’ love with Hip Hop?  Simply because it’s tracks like Alex B’s “You & I Both Know” , Flying Lotus’ leak “Cosmogramma” (see below) and the new Jneiro Jarel EP “Android Love Mayhem” that have been dominating my Ipod and headphones. I mean, admittedly, I’m a production-junkie to the core, but sites like Moovmnt and 92BPM have taken the reigns in terms of surfing habits over that of the HipHopBootleggers and 2Dopeboyz of the blogosphere.  However, it’s hard to deny that tracks such as “You & I Both Know” aren’t the future in production for Hip Hop as it continues to evolve into the more “electronic” and “sonically-infused” focus of beat-crafting.

4. “My Life 2.0″ f. Kes Kaos-U-N-I & Ro. Blvd.

Taken From: U-N-I’s revamped “Love Supreme 2.0″

Syrupy hook and all, I’d be a bold-faced liar if I told you that the original version of “My Life” (featured on U-N-I & Ro. Blvd’s free LP, “Love Supreme”, from 2009) wasn’t one of my most played tracks of last year.  However, this time around the production is just as elegant and breezy as it was on the first trip (with more of an emphasis on live instrumentation on this version, as opposed to the o.g.) , and I’d be hard pressed to say that version 2.0 just may have very well trumped the original. Although, I’m not sure that I can say that the same case can be made for “Love Supreme 2.0″ as a whole, as this album, which also includes 5 new “bonus” tracks, feels more watered-down and “commercial” (rightfully so, this time the goods aren’t “free).  As for a purchase? I’ll leave that up to your imagination and Dart’s “tried and tested” “cop it or not” formula. Yet, one thing is for certain, “My Life” lives on in 2010 with it’s crafty, aimed for the Spring/Summertime remix.

5. “Me Again”“-Dom Kennedy

Taken From: Dom’s mixtape “From The Westside, With Love” (get it HERE, link courtesy of 2DopeBoyz

Some of you may be familiar with L.A.’s Dom Kennedy via his appearances alongside fellow “hipsters as long as you’re a listener” Pac Div. With this 3rd release from Dom he’s sure to blaze a few trails with the impressive free release, “From The Westside, With Love”.  Yet, Dom saves his best for last on this 16-track banger with the “bonus” cut “Me Again”.  Atop a thumping bassline and an airy sample, Dom takes the listener on a trip from “Old To New” with a catchy delivery that reels you in and eagerly keeps you awaiting the next 16 from this overlooked emcee. Other tracks from the mixtape that are just as “bump-worthy” are “Locals Only”, “Home Alone” (one listen to this and all you old-headz like myself, ahem…Trav, will be uttering, “ya’ can’t find, ya’ can’t find me, ya’ can’t..Hit me in the comments section if you catch my drift) and “A Leimart Park Song”.  Be certain to check this out if you haven’t already…

About 9 years ago I was living in Minneapolis and decided to check out Fifth Element, headquarters of Rhymesayers and a retail music store, on Hennepin about 10 blocks from my apartment. If I remember correctly, it was a Friday around 5 or so, and I walked over there sweating my ass off due to my poor choice of a black t-shirt and jeans on a sunny 70 degree day.

I was specifically going there to get the new Masta Ace single “Don’t Understand”, which I was really just hoping they’d have. Luckily for me, they had it and I flipped through some more vinyl. The guy behind the counter looked familiar and I looked around quite a bit and heard him and the other guy talk about the music that was playing. Not to call anyone out, but I remember them clowning U-God’s lyrics when a Wu song came on. The dude who seemed to be working the counter ordered some pizza under Sean and talked about getting another six-pack, because they just killed their last one. So, when the guy said his name was Sean, I realized it was Slug from the newly found group to me, Atmosphere.

I decided to pick up a couple of CD’s as well, Zion I’s Mind Over Matter and Breez Evahflowin’s Pro-Files The EP. The CD’s were behind the counter and I had to ask for them from Slug, he grabbed them and set them down. I placed my MA single on the counter and he said something about it and the other dude said something to the effect of, “Masta Ace is putting out new stuff?” To which Slug explained to him that a new LP was on the way.

While he was ringing up my stuff, he commented on Breez and that he was a fan of all the Stronghold MC’s. I said some dumb crap about how what I heard sounded good and that I had been finding all sorts of stuff on the internet that I never knew about (I’ve previously written about my finding of indie hip-hop around 2000). Well, when I mentioned the internet, he shot me a look of ‘you’re a chump’ and continued to ring me up. I remember the internet catching a lot of flack around that time, and as soon as I mentioned it, I thought it was probably a bad idea, and I guess it was. Although it’s about a half mile from where I live, I haven’t been there for years, but I doubt Slug works the counter that often, but who knows?

Anyway, I went about to post Breez Evahflowin’s EP Pro-Files and not my “amazing” story of buying stuff at Fifth Element. Breez is known as a top-notch freestyler and battle MC. Based on that and some information I read on the dreaded internet, I decided to just purchase his EP.

Overall, it’s a real nice EP and you get some good bang for the buck here. Breez definitely has a great flow and can carry a track easily. The stand-outs to me are “Step This Way”, Between the Seams” and “Saki” with it’s Asian flavored beat. If you don’t have this, it’s well worth a quick download.

BREEZ EVAHFLOWIN’ – PRO-FILES THE EP (2000)

http://www.zshare.net/download/743677760f037cab/

1) Intro
2) Step This Way
3) Grain
4) Super-Breez
5) The Heat of the Battle
6) Between the Seams
7) Saki (w/ Akrobatik and L.I.F.E. Long)
Definition of True Skills
9) Pro-Files

I also found this video of Breez freestyling in London while sketching a caricature, I can’t say that I’ve ever seen, or heard of, anyone do this. Real cool:

Front Porch Poets – For the Record

Dave Redi and Mr. Ramble have teamed up as the Front Porch Poets (FPP) to produce their first debut album “For The Record”. Inspired by late 90′s hip hop with a touch of soul, it’s a refreshing album with the sounds of what hip hop is, used to be and always will be, it is an album that illustrates their vision of music, daily routines and just having fun with it. No clichés, no gimmicks, just pure music from the soul. Due for release in the spring of 2010, For The Record is definitely a sure shot for the ears.

1. Intro 01:52
2. Back to Work ft. Cedric Salah 02:58
3. Blood, Sweat and Tears 02:41
4. Wondering 03:41
5. Soul Suvivor 02:59
6. Rhyme Artist 02:44
7. JanU ft. 7even:Thirty & MO 03:20
8. Had To Leave 03:32
9. Ease Off 03:06
10.Trunk Music 03:28
11.For The Love Of It 02:47
12.Outro 01:03

www.myspace.com/frontporchpoets
www.frontporchpoets.hyves.nl
www.twitter.com/frontporchpoets

The free debut album from The Front Porch Poets has steadily gotten a lot of play these past few weeks. I won’t say this album is amazing or genre changing, it’s not. What it is though is solid, soulful, enjoyable hip hop. Tracks like “Blood, Sweat & Tears”, “Soul Survivor”, and “For the Love of It” are perfect examples of what to expect from For The Record. This album is steadily heading up my favorite albums of 2010 list. - Trav

First leak off The Gospel is Free 2 that features an amazing guest feature from Detroit emcee Nametag. The track is produced by Teddy Roxpin and features cuts from Dj Grazzhoppa (enjoy).

Get it HERE

http://praverb.net
http://praverbthewyse.bandcamp.com/
http://www.twitter.com/PtheWyse

Georgia & Declaime recently dropped their debut LP, SomeOthaShip, on Mello Music Group, and to keep the freshness flowing here come two brand new remixes of one of the album’s many standout tracks, “Heaven Or Hell,” which also served as the title track of their pre-album, vinyl-only EP. Enter: The Re-Bop, and Queen G Remixes. Both versions are produced and remixed by Georgia Anne Muldrow herself who originally only intended one new remix, but ended up delivering more than she planned. “Georgia wanted to take the reins and create a new remix for the track,” says Michael Tolle, founder and head of Mello Music Group. “She ended up creating 3: the album’s street version and these two incredibly unique interpretations of the track.” The remixed versions find the song with a slightly beefed up head-nod factor, and some choice melodic change-ups. But don’t spend too much time figuring out which version you want, grab them both.
Read more…

MC/Producer Aimé Cain & Producer/DJ Bluntspeakers teamed up on for a 5 track e.p.entitled ”The L’s Heart u”. Its the first of many releases slated to come out this year with this e.p. being a reintroduction for aimé cain and a showcase for bluntspeakers. Aimé Cain is most known for his work with Co$$ , Blu and J’83 with who he forms a production duo ”spaceshipstatus”, the group is currently still working on the FRIED COTTON project with blu and produced 70% of Co$$’s debut album due 4 the summer on tres records.

THE L’s HEART u e.p.

1 LOVE MONEY hi
2 P.U.N.K.
3 KITTY KILLS
4 Gold Mouth Ta$ha
5 Georgia ( Green Eyes)

Get It HERE

All songs produced by Bluntspeakers
Cover Art by Deluge over at www.punchdouble.com

Yo!! This one right here? Maaan, really feelin’ these cats, just previewed the album and can’t wait to give it a thorough listen. What are you waitin’ for? Get it HERE. Features production from the likes of Floyd The Locsmif and guest spots from Arablak & Senor Kaos to name a few…

LMNO with anotha’ 1!! This cat is havin’ a helluva’ 6-month run IMO!!!

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