Raekwon // Lizz [prod by Scratch]

This is the sound for this morning. I'm not sure if it's the fact that this has to be, hands-down, one of my favorite sampled Les McCann joints or that Scratch just worked it so well -- or both. I could let this loop ride for hours. The vocalist is a beautiful setup for the soulful murder Rae delivers with his verse. I'm particular about female vocals, but whoever this is has a serious set of pipes and absolutely nailed the vibe.

DOWNLOAD: Raekwon - Lizz [prod by Scratch]

via Metal Lungies

More about → Raekwon // Lizz [prod by Scratch]

TiRon // Still Never Happy [prod by Madlib]

LA artist TiRon gets up with Madlib for Still Never Happy.

I know I've heard this beat before. I want to say it's from Blunted In The Bomb Shelter or some other beat tape.

DOWNLOAD: TiRon - Still Never Happy [prod by Madlib]

More about → TiRon // Still Never Happy [prod by Madlib]

Ill Bill // Society Is Brainwashed [prod by DJ Premier]

Off of Ill Bill's forthcoming, The Hour Of Reprisal. Premo and Bill get sinister on it.

DOWNLOAD: Ill Bill - Society Is Brainwashed [prod by DJ Premier]

More about → Ill Bill // Society Is Brainwashed [prod by DJ Premier]

DJ Babu ft M.O.P. // Dearly Departed

STAND UP.

Wow. The track on this is serious. Babu flips some massive horns on a latin tip, with a sample I swear is Celia Cruz. It taps into the Cuban in me. I'm staring at the speaker with my head tilted to the side, ala Nipper, the RCA dog.

Look out for Babu's Duck Season 3, out October 28th on Nature Sounds.

DOWNLOAD: DJ Babu ft M.O.P. - Dearly Departed

More about → DJ Babu ft M.O.P. // Dearly Departed

Heltah Skeltah // Art Of Disrespekinazation

Matt serves us up some Heltah Skeltah, with Khrysis on the beat!

From the highly-anticipated D.I.R.T, out September 30th.

DOWNLOAD: Heltah Skeltah - Art Of Disrespekinazation

... and on the bonus:

DOWNLOAD: Heltah Skeltah - Shade45 Freestyle

More about → Heltah Skeltah // Art Of Disrespekinazation

Jay-Z // Jockin' Jay-Z (Dope Boy Fresh) [ prod by Kanye West ]

Nasty. Admittedly, I've never been sold on 'Ye (for numerous reasons), but this could be a turning point. I'll wait for more, but this sounds promising already.

DOWNLOAD // Jay-Z - Jockin' Jay-Z [ prod by Kanye West ] [ Dirty / Clean ]

via the GULLY, and salute to Khal & the BOBO.

More about → Jay-Z // Jockin' Jay-Z (Dope Boy Fresh) [ prod by Kanye West ]

DJ Muggs & Planet Asia ft KRS-One // Top Shelf

Pain Language drops in September.

DOWNLOAD // DJ Muggs & Planet Asia ft KRS-One - Top Shelf

BONUS:

DOWNLOAD // DJ Muggs & Planet Asia - 9mm [ Acapella ]

via Soul Assassins

More about → DJ Muggs & Planet Asia ft KRS-One // Top Shelf

Large Pro // Hardcore [ prod by Marco Polo ]

Outstanding. Main Source, out Sept 30th. Go buy it.

DOWNLOAD // Large Professor - Hardcore [ prod by Marco Polo ]

Need more reasons?

via Nah

More about → Large Pro // Hardcore [ prod by Marco Polo ]

Large Pro // Maica Living + Pump Ya Fist

Two more reasons why Large Professor is a producer's producer. I keep saying it, but look out for his forthcoming album Main Source, out Sept 30th. It's going to be big, believe it. If this pair doesn't convince you, check out the tracklist and leaks I dropped on you yesterday.

DOWNLOAD // Large Pro ft Killa Sha & Guardian Leep - Maica Living

DOWNLOAD // Large Pro ft Mickey D Lotto - Pump Ya Fist

I think this one is going to go right up there in my Tops for '08 list alongside PR's NY's Finest and J Live's Then What Happened? And I wouldn't be surprised in the least.

via OS

More about → Large Pro // Maica Living + Pump Ya Fist

Sticky Fingaz // Debo The Game + Free Album Downloads

It definitely sounds like Sticky Fingaz, but I don't know about that hook. Then again, I usually don't know about that hook. Especially when it's on some auto-tune nonsense. Debo The Game is taken from his forthcoming solo album. I hope the good majority isn't like this, musically, because his flows are still lethal as ever. The real gem here is the free download of his previous albums.

DOWNLOAD // Sticky Fingaz - Debo The Game

BONUS:

DOWNLOAD // Blacktrash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones [ Album ]

DOWNLOAD // Decade: But Wait, It Gets Worse [ Album ]

via GRANDGOOD & Bronx Rap

More about → Sticky Fingaz // Debo The Game + Free Album Downloads

Rukus // The Drip [ Freestyle ]

Another new blood on the come up that sounds official on the mic. Look out for his debut album, Can't Forget, out next week. Check out the interview with BGDB for some exclusive freestyle action.

DOWNLOAD // Rukus - The Drip [ Freestyle ]

DOWNLOAD // Rukus - I Wish [ prod by Kid Connect ]

LINK // Boo Goo Doo Boom - Rukus Interview

LINK // Rukus on MySpace

via Rock the Dub & the BOOM

More about → Rukus // The Drip [ Freestyle ]

Large Pro // Main Source [ Cover Art + Tracklist + Leaks ]

Tracklist:

1. The Entrance (The Intro?)
2. Hot: Sizzling, Scorching, Torching, Blazing
3. ‘Maica Living’ feat. Killa Sha and Guardian Leep
4. Pump Ya Fist feat. Mikey D Lotto
5. Party Time
6. In The Ghetto
7. Hardcore Hip Hop
8. Frantic Barz
9. Sewin’ Love
10. Ru Dope feat. Jeru Tha Damaja
11. Dap feat. Lil Dap
12. Noyd feat. Big Noyd
13. Classic Emergency
14. Rockin’ Hip Hop
15. Large Pro Says
16. To The Meadows
17. The Hardest feat. AZ & Styles P

Always looking forward to some new Large Professor, out Sept 30th.

via ML & 2db

More about → Large Pro // Main Source [ Cover Art + Tracklist + Leaks ]

Busta Rhymes // Packin' Them Things + Interview

You know, I've noticed that I always tend to be indifferent about Busta's hooks. I think it's because his flows are so tight otherwise, that when the hook comes around, I just tune out till the next verse. Respect due, Busta understands how he needs to work club-esq joints, the hook gotta be there -- and this one straddles that line.

That being said, most everything I've heard off his forthcoming Blessed is quality material.

Hands down. While this album is oh, 8 months late, I'll still be on the look-out.

DOWNLOAD // Busta Rhymes - Packin' Them Things

LINK // Busta Rhymes with Cool & Dre - Blessed Production Interview

By the way, I still wish the title was Back On My Bullshit.

via UniverSOUL + Crate Kings

More about → Busta Rhymes // Packin' Them Things + Interview

Large Pro // In The Ghetto + Hot, Sizzling, Scorching, Torching, Blazing

The Mad Scientist never ceases to amaze. In an industry overflowing with disposable one-trick ponies, it's refreshing anytime a legend steps back to the forefront. It's those consistent producers that are few and far between. More sure-fire heat from the forthcoming Large Pro long-player, Main Source.

Side note, Large Pro (and Diamond D, for that matter) remind me a lot of Drum and Bass producers like Spirit or A-Sides; a producer's producer who by and large has been slept on, but hold a discography long enough to make anyone flinch.

DOWNLOAD // Large Professor - In The Ghetto

DOWNLOAD // Large Professor - Hot, Sizzling, Scorching, Torching, Blazing

Torching and blazing, oh yes.

via Spine + SDSU

More about → Large Pro // In The Ghetto + Hot, Sizzling, Scorching, Torching, Blazing

DJ Revolution ft KRS-One // The DJ

Great music stays winning. Matt on the mission.

DOWNLOAD // DJ Revolution ft KRS-One - The DJ

LINK // Full Album Info & Funky Piano Download

More about → DJ Revolution ft KRS-One // The DJ

Ski Beatz ft Buff1 // Back It Up

I'm lovin' everything I'm hearing. This album is going to be firin'.

DOWNLOAD // Ski Beatz ft Buff1 - Back It Up

via UniverSOUL & ASide

More about → Ski Beatz ft Buff1 // Back It Up

The Knux // Bang! Bang!

Following up the hype from Capuccino, The Knux step up-front once again with Bang! Bang! Look out for their debut LP, Remind Me In 3 Days, out October 14th.

DOWNLOAD // The Knux - Bang! Bang!

Large to Matt, as always, for the inbox drop.

More about → The Knux // Bang! Bang!

Lil'Dap ft Guru // Son 4 Reason [ prod by Large Pro ]

From Lil'Dap's forthcoming I.A.DAP album via BabyGrande, August 5th.

DOWNLOAD // Lil'Dap ft Guru - Son 4 Reason [ prod by Large Pro ]

via Mr. X

More about → Lil'Dap ft Guru // Son 4 Reason [ prod by Large Pro ]

Opio // Original Lyricist [ mp3 & Video ]

Lyrical fury from the Hiero-affiliated Opio.

DOWNLOAD // Opio - Original Lyricist

BONUS:

via GRANDGOOD & Rock the Dub

Late start today, been a hectic morning.

Real life swoops down merely to inconvenience, Monday disguised as a Tuesday.

Go figure.

More about → Opio // Original Lyricist [ mp3 & Video ]

Termanology ft Bun B // How We Rock [ prod by DJ Premier ]

Matt delivers on what was a stream-only listen last week of new flavor from the forthcoming Termanology album. The collab between Term, Bun B, and Premo is the lead single from Politics As Usual, out September 30th via Nature Sounds. Look for a heavy list of producers on the album including Premo, Pete Rock, Alchemist, Hi-Tek, Large Pro, Nottz, Havoc, Buckwild, and Easy Mo Bee.

Excerpt:

When asked how the collaboration came about, Term stated "Around the time when I released "Watch How It Go Down," Bun B reached out to Premier and expressed interest in working with me." I ended up hangin with Bun at his birthday party in Houston and me preem & bun cooked up this track for my album - "How We Rock."We're shooting a video shortly, look for it!"

DOWNLOAD // Termanology ft Bun B - How We Rock [ prod by DJ Premier ]

More about → Termanology ft Bun B // How We Rock [ prod by DJ Premier ]