New KRS-One & Marley Marl

Download: "Hip Hop Lives" and "Kill A Rapper"

In 2007, two of the game's pioneers, KRS-One and Marley Marl will release their anticipated collaboration, Hip Hop Lives. Here are two new tracks off the album which show that these legends have still got it.

Monta Ellis- G -Golden Sate Warriors

Monta has emerged as one of the most exciting players in the game, providing instant offense (16.8 ppg 4.1apg) as both a 6th man and a starter. He is also particularly efficient for a scorer, shooting an impressive 47.8% from the field. Here are some highlights from Monta this season:

Spin and layup vs. Washington (at about 1:27)



Reverse and one vs. Dallas



And finally, this disgusting dunk on Barbosa vs. Phoenix

*New* Talib Kweli: Fallen Star

Download

After it appeared that Talib had lost it with the R&B garbarge on Beautiful Struggle and the low budget mediocrity of Right About Now, he's come back strong with the solid mixtape with Madlib and the "Listen" 12". This is another song (presumably) off of Eardrum, his upcoming LP, and while it isn't as good as "Listen" or even the B-Side, "More Or Less", it's pretty nice.

For more Kweli, here is the video for the Hi-Tek produced "More Or Less":

Tha Alkaholiks: Coast II Coast

Download

A certified, west coast classic. The great production and witty lyrics make it an album that I can listen to all the way through. DAAAM!!!!!!!!

Props Over Here Presents...

Download

DJ Premier:: Premo has been behind some of the greatest tracks of all time, but here are some that may have gone over your head.

1. Cormega- Dirty Game
2. Non Phixion- Rock Stars
3. Gang Starr- The Squeeze
4. Blaq Poet- Bang This
5. Buckshot LeFonque- Music Evolution (Remix)
6. Kool G. Rap- First N***a
7. Skyzoo- Get It Done
8. Pitch Black- It's All Real
9. Ed O.G.- Sayin' Something
10. Afu-Ra- Motonomy
11. Jaz-O & The Immobilarie- Love Is Gone
12. Jeru The Damaja- Me, Not The Paper
13. Royce Da 5'9"- Ding
14. Xzibit- What A Mess

Download

The Guest Spots:: In my first of (probably) a few mixtapes, I put together 14 tracks with guest MCs that murder their bars on someone else's shit. Here is the tracklisting (guest artists in bold)

1. Raekwon- Verbal Intercourse (Feat. Nas)
2. Gang Starr- Above The Clouds (Feat. Inspectah Deck)
3. Jay-Z- Renegade (Feat. Eminem)
4. Gang Starr- I'm The Man (Feat. Lil' Dap & Jeru The Damaja)
5. J-Live- Give It Up (Feat. R.A. The Rugged Man)
6. Common- Making A Name For Ourselves (Feat. Canibus)
7. Kool G. Rap- Home Sweet Funeral Home (Feat. Papoose)
8. Nas- Life's A Bitch (Feat. AZ)
9. Gang Starr (sorry Guru)- Rite Where U Stand (Feat. Jadakiss)
10. Jay-Z- Brooklyn's Finest (Feat. The Notorious B.I.G.)
11. Mobb Deep- Drink Away The Pain (Feat. Q-Tip)
12. Pete Rock- Verbal Murder 2 (Feat. N.O.R.E., Common, & Big Pun)
13. The Notorious B.I.G.- The What (Feat. Method Man)
14. Mobb Deep- Give It Up Fast (Feat. Big Noyd & Nas)

Download

The Remixes:: A collection of some of the best remixes ever done. The tracklisting (producers in bold)

1. AZ- Never Change (Cookin Soul Remix)
2. Jamal- Fades 'Em All (Pete Rock Remix)
3. The Beatnuts- Se Acabo (Remix) (Beatnuts)
4. Blackstar & Black Thought- Respiration (Flying High Remix) (Pete Rock)
5. A Tribe Called Quest- Scenerio (Remix)
6. Nas- The World Is Yours (Q-Tip Remix)
7. Ras Kass- Soul On Ice (Diamond D Remix)
8. Common- Ressurrection (Extra P Remix)
9. Black Moon- I Gotha Opin (Remix) (Beatminerz)
10. Jeru The Damaja- You Can't Stop The Prophet (Pete Rock Remix)
11. Mood- Secrets Of The Sand (Jay Dee Remix)
12. Cormega- Fallen Soldiers (Alchemist Remix)
13. Public Enemy- Shut 'Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)
14. The Alkaholiks- Daaam! (Buckwild Remix)

eMC: Four Brothers (prod. Ayatollah)

Download

eMC is Masta Ace's new crew with his weed carriers from the "Disposable Arts" album: Wordsworth, Punchline, and Strick. Their album, "The Show" sounds great on paper with the rumored producers and guest MC's. This track, which may or may not be a single from the album, makes it easy to be optimistic.

Tyrus Thomas Gets Husky

The story goes that I was looking up this sick play where Tyrus Thomas, the Bulls' rookie power foward, blocks a shot then runs the floor and dunks on somebody. What I found was that he's done this before in a preseason game. Here are both for your viewing pleasure.

Prince Paul: A Prince Among Thieves

Download

A classic Prince Paul production. This is one of those "story albums", where the skits and songs tell the story of Tariq (Breeze from The Juggaknots) who is Tru's (Sha) protege until Tru sets him up and rhymes over his beat. Not exactly a Hollywood script but it's creative and entertaining. Oh, and the actual songs (there are like 14), are very good with beats by Prince Paul.

East Coast West Coast Killas

The is a hip-hop anthem right here. A cool video too.

Marco Polo-Port Authority (2007): Album Review

I'm gonna do these reviews the way "Bol" does them over at his site except minus the vague reviews and terrible taste. Marco Polo is a producer from Toronto who has worked with Masta Ace, and Boot Camp Clik who is signed with Rawkus which has quietly become relevent again. Now for the review:

PORT AUTHORITY INTRO

A few scratches and some guy talking over a drum-less beat. Not that I'd expect much more out of an intro for a "producer album".

GET BUSY (FEAT. COPYRIGHT)

Copyright contributes a typical indie, white boy rap, but is bearable over a pretty dope string/keyboard beat.

MARQUEE (FEAT. O.C.)

Another great beat from Marco (who shows some real skill with the keys these first two tracks). O.C., the old D.I.T.C. veteran, shows that, at the very least, he can still rhyme over tight production.

WAR (FEAT. KARDINAL OFFISHALL)

This one's got the same vibe as the first two, dark keyboard beats are just his strong point I guess. Fellow T-Dot artist Kardinal Offishall, who is generally hit-and-miss, sounds good over this beat (which is sort of a theme so far).

NOSTALGIA (FEAT. MASTA ACE)

A more laid back, guitar sample on this one, but Marco still laces this shit for Brooklyn legend, Masta Ace. Maybe the best track so far.

WRONG ONE (FEAT. WORDSWORTH)

Wordsworth, a pretty acclaimed underground rapper, kicks a decent rap over another good beat. Not the best track on here, but not filler by any means.

LOW BUDGET ALL STARS (FEAT. KEV BROWN, CY YOUNG, KENN STARR, & KAMBIR)

Nothing technically bad about this, it's just boring, like anything these guys have ever made. Possibly the worst track yet.

SPEAK SOFTLY (FEAT. JOJO PELLEGRINO)

This sounds like something Jedi Mind Tricks would do if Vinnie Paz wasn't just a fat sack of shit. JoJo Pellegrino (?) comes grimey rapping about pussy mahfuckas or something. Dope.

TIME AND PLACE (FEAT. ED O.G.)

Another grimey keyboard beat from Marco. Edo sounds real washed up, but then again he must be like 40 or something.

RADAR (FEAT. LARGE PROFESSOR)

Large Pro, who sure comes up alot on this site, spits his trademark, basic rhymes about being an underground artist. Meh.

ALL MY LOVE (FEAT. JAYSHAUN)

Damn. Jayshaun kills it over another grimey keyboard beat, maybe the best yet. Jayshaun may have actually out-rapped anybody up to this point, which is impressive given the roster of guest spots.

LAY IT DOWN (FEAT. ROC MARCIANO)

The main MC from The U.N. (see the post below), drops some un-inspired verses over a decent guitar loop. They can't all be winners.

GO AROUND (FEAT. BUCKSHOT)

Buckshot re-assures the hip-hop world that he's lost it over a jazzy beat. Another average track.

HOOD TALES (FEAT. KOOL G. RAP & DV ALIAS KHRYST)

A subtle, grimey background suits Kool G. Rap perfectly, as he sounds better than the other old MC's on this album.

HEAT (FEAT. SUPASTITION)

Not a fan of the synths on this, but Supastition just muders this shit. So much so that I'd rather listen to this than most of the tracks with good beats.

ROLLIN' (FEAT. SADAT X, JU JU, & A.G.)

Three more old rappers rap about cheeba cheeba. Sort of cliche but it's ok for what it is.

FOR THE FUTURE (FEAT. CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED)

The keyboards on this one sound like something you'd hear at a chinese restaurant and Critically Acclaimed is sort of wack. Whatever.

RELAX (FEAT J*DAVEY) (BONUS TRACK)

Basically some chick over "Electric Relaxation." Hopefully this god-forsaken "Bonus Track" doesn't make the real album.

OVERALL: A real dope album. Marco Polo's production is on point and the guest spots from some of the younger guys make up for the washed up 90's legends, and there are many. I am going to buy this album when it drops and encourage you to do the same.

BEST TRACKS: "Marquee", "Nostalgia", "All My Love", "Heat"

The U.N.: U.N. Or U Out

Download

A very slept on '04 release. The U.N. is comprised of Roc Marciano, who has a decent rep amongst indie fans, and a bunch of no names. How they got multiple bangers from Pete Rock and Large Professor is beyond me, but I'm not complaining.