GiftOfGab-DreaminftDeltheFunkyHomosapienBrotherAli.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Gift of Gab, a member of Blackalicious, is an alternative Bay Area rapper. His first solo project in many years came this month with Escape to Mars. I haven’t listened to it yet but I like this song and have high hopes knowing that his originality has come through on all his past work. About Song: This song is off of Escape to Mars and is the only track on the album with features. This song feature Del and Brother Ali both of whom I’m a big fan. Favorite Line: Just listen. Each of these MCs are talented lyrcists in their own right. Other: I really like the sample and even though they’re alternative Gift of Gab, Del, and Brother Ali all have great verses. Gift of Gab Wikipedia
TalibKweli-CountryCouzinsJPeriodRemixftBunB.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Talib Kweli is an extremely respected rapper in the game who’s been doin it since the ninties despite never reaching mainstream commercial success. He first reached prominence through his group Black Start with fellow MC Mos Def. J Period is a talented NY producer who specializes in remix projects and has worked with artists as famous as Nas and Lauryn Hill. Bun B is a long time famous Texas rapper and former member of UGK with the late Pimp C. About Song: This song comes off a remix project between Talib and J Period called the noisemakers. I recently featured a larger and even better J Period project with K’Naan HERE Talib Kweli Wikipedia J. Period Wikipedia Talib Kweli Wikipedia
ChipThaRipper-HeyLove09.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Chip tha Ripper is a Clevland rapper (same as Kid Cudi and the Kickdrums) who has a couple mixtapes out right now and is in the process of working on a ever delayed mixtape called “The Cleaveland Show” which will hopefully vault him toward being signed. About Song: This song is lighter and more fun that most other Chip the Ripper songs (download his best mixtape below). This track was produced by Remont will be featured on Mick and Terry Urbans upcoming (any day now) De La Soul tribute mixtape. It is, maybe not obviously, a remake of De La Souls’ “Talkin’ Bout Hey Love” (listen here). The song is a nice little track that speaks truth of high school flirtation etc (he talks about the girl he likes seein him around other girls not knowing they were just his friends 1:31). Favorite Line: “She say I was always a cool nigga, but I ain’t have a chance when I went to school with her. But that was then this is now I’m a pimp in my own mind I can hold down.” (1:26) I just like the rythm of the line with the track. Other: Chip works a lot with DJ-EV. He has a great mixtape called “Can’t Stop Me” which you can download HERE SlabUp.com (Chip’s website) Chip Tha Ripper’s MySpace
Saigon-SayYesPart2TheArtOfStoryrhymin.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Saigon is Brooklyn rapper who spent seven years in prison as a young man earning him the nickname “The Yard Father”. With a mixtape by the same name and an appearance as himself on the tv show Entourage Saigon rose to fame and is awaiting the release of his first commercial album “The Greatest Story Never Told” in 2010. About Song: This song is a remake of Say Yes from the afore mentioned Yardfather Mixtape. This track was leaked earlier this year and it is unclear weather it will ever be officially released. Favorite Verse: All the verses are good but I love how it just comes in and gets to it immediately. Other: Saigon Wikipedia
MikePosner-IDontTrustMyself.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Mike Posner is a producer rapper from Michigan, currently attengin Duke Univerity (Fuck Duke), who’s worked with artists like Big Sean (he is actually featured two posts ago with Big Sean), Wale (whom he share’s manager Daniel Weisman with), Donnis, Don Cannon and DJ Benzi. Mike Posner signed to RCA/Song over the summer but still no word on when the release of his album will be. About Song: This song is hardly Hip Hop but I think some people will like it. Other: Be warned this song is pretty Emo.
Previous post featuring Mike Posner HERE Mike Posner Wikipedia
Neptunes-GhettoChildrenftMarcDorseyNERD.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: The Neptunes are a production super duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. NERD is Pharrell’s alternative rock/hip hop group. About Song:Originally made for Kelis Keliedscope from 1999. Other: This song is not new but it’s just a cool obscure track.
I’ve been really busy so sorry that the posts have been brief.
BigSean-SmokeNDrive.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Big Sean is a young rapper who was hand picked by Kanye to his label. About Song: This song is off of his first mixtape, “Finally Famous” which was great created with the help of Kanye’s GOOD music label. Other: Produced by Mike Posner. Check out Mike’s new mixtape One Foot Out the Door, its really good and lots of people are talking about it. Big Sean Wikipedia
KidCudi-GetItIn.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Kid Cudi just came out with his freshman album which was a thematic journey through Kid Cudi’s dream world. Cudi, who hit the mainstream earlier in the year with Day N Night, is already talking about his next album Cudder, which will be more diverse and feature heavy. About Song: This song is NOT on his album as pictured right but is just a random track. It is a great song but it really doesn’t fit the theme of his album, which I’m sure is why it didn’t, make the cut. Favorite Line:“Hot Damn I am the man, I don’t need to cheme, I don’t need a plan. I just say hi and then I grab her hand” (0:13)
“All these women they all so pretty. Which one I need, which one i want. The one that like drink, that good rollin blunts” (1:35) Other: Search Cudi in the search filed to see past Cudi posts which are definitely worth cehcking out. Kid Cudi Wikipedia
LupeFiasco-SaySomethingFreestyleprodbyTimbaland.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: There are three artists involved here. First Timbaland made the track for his upcoming album shock value 2. Timbaland is known as a super producer though he has released his own albums. Check out his wikipedia page for his full discography and you’ll see se’s been cranking out hits for years. Second is Drake who was origianlly featured on the track. That version was good and can be downloaded at the link below or HERE. Drake is fairly new to the scene, at least the mainstream. Of course Best I Ever Had was what rocketed him into the mainstream this summer and he is now signed with Lil Wayne’s Young Money, see links to past Drake posts below. Last is Lupe Fiasco who needs no introduction and who’s wikipedia page and past posts links are listed below. About Song: I kinda covered that above. Favorite Line: Every line. View the lyrics (link below) while you listen). But if I had to pick one it would be
“I’m feelin’ like a Mac, standing around a bunch of PCs” (1:09) Other: Download Original Drake Version (right click and save link as) Lupe Version Lyrics Timbaland Wikipedia,Lupe Fiasco Wikipedia,Drake Wikipedia
Past Lupe HERE, and HERE
Past Drake HERE, HERE, and HERE
LilWayne-Wasted.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Lil Wayne has been makin music since he was 15 in the late 90’s and has had an amazing sucessful career. After creating a core of diehard fans and releasing what many consider his best work with the Carter II, lil Wayne exploded into the mainstream with the Carter III with songs like Mrs. Officer, A Milli and Lollipop. Carter III sold over a million copies in it’s first week and has to date sold more than 10 million. Hoever many people were critical of his use of autotune on the album as well has the way wayne seemed to trade in his lyricsim on some songs for catchy hooks and dumb gimmicks (like saying young mullah baby in that waynesque way). HOWEVER lil Wayne is back! His No Celings mixtape was recorded in his tour bus studio over the last year and is his first offering since the Carter III and let me just say it is awesome. Every track amazing and represents a a return to classic lil Wayne lyricism. Even lil Wayne skeptics will be impressed! oh and also if you didn’t know it looks like they’re gonna put lil Wayne in prison for the next year on a gun charge. About Song: This song is just one of my many favorites on the tape. I like it cause it’s got some great lines but don’t get me wrong, there are at least four other songs I could have put up here and look for more No Ceilings on the blog cause there is definitely more coming. Favorite Line:
“My life is a video and and the women want they cameo” (0:51)
“…I’ll serve anyone like a blind waiter, I make my girl come first then I arrive later, I shake your pussy soft, I’m her vibrator” (1:18)
“New Orleans nigga, I get super dome” (1:43)
“Still spittoon fire, you niggas wood to me” (1:49)
“Oh she a good, I gotta transform it, she gave me hot head, I called it global warming” 2:18
“…I got 27 years of this, hit or miss, i hit your misses, you are local news, I’m 60 minutes. I hit the target, I hit the witness, I work out in my office guess I’m fit for business” (2:45)
“…I’m diverse, I save the world second, I get high first. I’m a mind freak, check my time sheet, bitch I bring then noise where the lions sleep” (3:20)
“…I got a million flows, label me the hardest nigga in civilian clothes” (3:58) Other: Wasted Lyrics
Check out the trailer for the mixtape below. Download No Ceilings! Lil Wayne Wikipedia
Novel-SkyMightFalloriginallybyKidCudi.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Novel is an LA rapper who has done collabos with Lauryn Hill and Talib Kweli. He is still waiting on is debut album which has been pushed back from March 2009 to an unknown date. About Song: This song is for everyone, not just Hip Hop fans. The song is a soul remix of Kid Cudi’s the Sky Might Fall off of his Debut album Man on the Moon. Other:I really like the way the song was redone with a soul sound but keeps the feel of the original.
Knaan-ShotTheSheriffMessengersRemixprodbyJPeriod.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: K’naan is a NY rapper who immigrated from Somalia. About Song: This song is off of a very special three part mixtape project between K’Naan and DJ J Period. The project is a trilogy of tribute tapes to Fela Kuti, Bob Marley and Bob Dylan. The short tapes give a history of the original artist while remixing some of that artists most famous tracks. Favorite Verse: Favorite Line: Other: These mixtapes short and great to listen to all the way through I would highly recommended that people download the tapes from the Link below if they liked this track. Download The Messengers Mixtape Trilogy
MacMiller-PenGamefeaSkyzooproMillzBeats.mp3 (to download right click and “save link as”) About Artist: Mac Miller is a…wait for it… white high school aged rapper. He is another skilled oddball who is building the current “new school” hip hop. It’s not because he’s white but is really blend between Eminem and Asher Roth. He holds true to classic hip hop roots, incoprates some rhymeing patterns from slim shady, but has a Kid Cudi/Asher Roth flavor with his tongue in cheek punchlines. Also featured on the track is Skyzoo who really makes this record hot. Skyzoo just came out with his first studio album and, while i haven’t heard it yet myself, is said to be great! Favorite Verse: 1st Verse (Mac Miller) but the other verses are great too. Favorite Line: “Best worst verse hot as your best rhyme, damn” in the Chorus. The Line’s not clever to they make it sound good. Other: Skyzoo Wikipedia Mac Miller Myspace
