One of the truly illest cats out right drops his new mixtape presented by super producer Harry Fraud. Support the Eddie B movement!!

Download Here

1. Eddie B. and Shabaam Sahdeeq Spit Live Fire
2. Eddie B. Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Harry Fraud Instruct Us To Curb Our Velocity
3. Chinx Drugz and Harry Fraud Get High… Literally

Related posts:

1. Shabaam Sahdeeq Interview
2. Fokis and Sadat X Are Simply Verbalizing
3. Respect The God Sadat X!

In growing anticipation of the Nico the Beast/ Vanderslice True to Form EP dropping May 27th, we present Lost Sessions Volume 1. Comprised of five unreleased tracks from his original rendition of 2008′s Dinner is Served mixtape, Nico the Beast goes in over a handful of classic beats, including Common’s “The Game” and Outkast’s “2DopeBoyzinaCadillac”. Recorded prior to the despairing tragedies that influenced the content and tone of his subsequent releases, Nico focuses on simply impressing bar after bar, serving as a retrospective prelude for his return to grassroots hip-hop on True to Form.

Download Here

1. Nico The Beast And Vanderslice Experience Deja Vu
2. R.H. Bless Has Demands

Related posts:

1. Another Reason To Cop And Love Copywrite’s God Save The King
2. Copywrite Stays Working
3. Copywrite and Stu Bangas Make Magic

His name says it all; standing at well over six feet tall and with the intimidating muscular build of a linebacker, Big Shug’s physical presence alone is enough to command attention. His voice, a hoarse rumble effective for delivering both fearsome threats or smooth crooning as his alter-ego Shugie Diamonds, is one of rap’s most instantly recognizable. As both a solo artist and founding member of Gang Starr, his name has consistently shown up in album credits alongside hip-hop’s elite for over 20 years.

But despite that, Shug has never courted the spotlight. As countless other rappers, and even Gang Starr themselves, fell by the wayside, he has persevered through fans’ evolving tastes and a changing record industry by staying true to the ideals – integrity, respect for the streets and love of music – that have fueled his career. Nowhere is that more apparent than on I.M. 4-EVA.

Stitching together the various parts of his career into one, this album, true to its title, is a comprehensive look at who Big Shug is, where he came from and where he is going. With his bruising flow over classic DJ Premier produced cuts bringing back nostalgic 90s memories, he pays tribute to the fans who have stuck with him since the beginning. I.M. 4-Eva – Shug’s fourth solo album and his first since 2008′s Other Side of the Game – marks the next chapter in his ongoing maturation as an artist. The album reunites Shug with old friends like M.O.P., Fat Joe and Premier, while also connecting with a new generation of hip-hop fans via collaborations with Reks, Termanology, Singapore Kane and Slaine.

In addition to the 17 all new studio cuts Brick Records has presented a timeless package; a hard back, 36 page book chronicling The True History of Gang Starr as told by Big Shug, plus anecdotes from his 20+ year career, rare never before seen vintage photos and more. Through his words and his music, Big Shug truly shows here why he is 4-EVA. Big Shug’s I.M. 4-Eva LP and The True History of Gang Starr will be released on 7-24-2012.

Tracklisting for Big Shug’s I.M. 4-Eva LP:

01. Still Here (Prod. By A Kid Called Quest)
02. Hardbody feat. Fat Joe & M.O.P. (Prod. by DJ Premier)
03. Spit Six (Prod. by DJ Premier)
04. For The Real feat. Termanology, Slaine, Singapore Kane & REKS (Prod. by Fizzy Womack)
05. Blue Collar (Prod. by DJ Premier)
06. Ass Mouth (Skit)
07. I.M. 4-Eva feat. Singapore Kane
08. Big Fly Homie (Prod. By A Kid Called Quest)
09. No More feat. Trumayne
10. War In The Club (Prod. by Lee Bannon)
11. We Miss You (Prod. by DJ Premier)
12. My Kids
13. I’ll Be Here
14. Sixteen Go
15. New Era
16. True Love
17. Basically (Prod. by Fizzy Womack)

Related posts:

1. Big Shug Is Back!
2. Rappers Aim To Inflict Pain To the Point Of Us Giving Up
3. The Soundtrack To Whipping Someone’s Ass

Beat it, let’em watch… Women in touch with their sexuality LOVE that shit.. I wouldn’t steer y’all wrong b.

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 16, 2012

Related posts:

1. Joe Budden Helps Keep The Domestic Peace
2. Inspectah Deck Entertains Joe Budden Beef
3. Stimuli x Sheek x Budden

Murs is the man and here’s another reason why.

Murs had a revelation while waiting in line to see the Louvre Museum in Paris. A longtime staple of L.A.’s underground hip-hop scene, Murs had a day off while on tour in Paris last year. Spotted by museum workers, Murs and his wife were pulled from the line and told to bypass the crowds.

“Some fans came up to me and gave us some free passes,” said Murs, who was born Nick Carter. “That’s when it hit me that we’re old enough to be involved with the arts. I have fans who work at the Louvre? That’s crazy.”

Not, perhaps, as crazy as collaborating with a similarly world-renowned art institution.

This week, Murs and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will launch a six-month exploration of L.A.’s hip-hop culture with the series Through the Mic. On Thursday night, Murs’ own group 3 Melancholy Gypsys will stage its first performance in about five years; monthly concerts will follow, each presented in front of the 200 vintage lamp posts that make up the museum’s “Urban Light” installation on Wilshire Boulevard. The goal, said Murs, is for “the Los Angeles hip-hop scene to get some validation as art and not just gangsta rap or pop music.”

“Even in the past, in traveling to New York, my friends think a lot of the gangsta rap is just made up,” Murs said. “They think it’s a product and they think it isn’t real hip-hop. They think it’s entertaining, like everything else in this city. We’re known here for entertainment, but not necessarily known for our art scene and our hip-hop scene. I aim to change that.”

‘Through the Mic’ will return June 21 with Koreatown’s Dumfounded and pioneering female MC Medusa. While LACMA is no stranger to live music, showcasing bands as part of its events-focused Muse membership program in addition to hosting a jazz series, the museum’s hip-hop ambitions will be the first step toward turning the outdoor area near the “Urban Light” exhibit into a venue.

“We want that venue in front of ‘Urban Light’ to emerge as one of the best outdoor concert venues in Los Angeles,” said Jason Gaulton, coordinator of the Muse program. “We’ll never be able to take anything away from the [Hollywood] Bowl, but ‘Urban Light’ makes for a stunning backdrop. It’s an intimate experience but creates a unique experience.”

Murs said he has acts lined up through much of the series. The artist, who now lives in Tuscon, Ariz., has been programming the annual Paid Dues hip-hop festival since 2006, and that event’s promoter, Guerilla Union, will be handling stage setup and sound for ‘Through the Mic.’

“I have relationships with everyone from Snopp Doog to Kendrick Lamar,” Murs said. “When I first started meeting with LACMA, I was telling them about Kendrick Lamar, and I said, ‘By the time we get this started, he’ll be the biggest rapper in L.A.’ Now we won’t get him to slow down enough to do this.

“But who doesn’t want to be a part of presenting their art at LACMA?” Murs continued. “If it doesn’t mean anything to you, it means something to your mother and your grandmother.”

Gaulton believes the events will target those who don’t usually come to LACMA, and he hopes it’s the first of many music-focused happenings. “When we first started talking about the series, we were talking about an eclectic series, where each installment would reflect a different genre,” Gaulton said. “We felt like the strength of being a museum, and what you find in exhibition, is an exploration of one topic.”

For each concert, LACMA will open its doors to a modern art exhibit, said Gaulton, although there are currently no plans to curate any hip-hop-related artworks on the museum’s walls. About 1,000 tickets will be sold to each concert, the first of which is sold out and cost $15 to non-members. Also running will be “Metropolis II,” a mini-city installation that features 1,100 Hot Wheels-sized cars, 25 large buildings, 18 lanes of traffic and 13 trains.
Murs hopes visitors will explore not just the museum but also the history of L.A hip-hop. “Medusa has been around for a long time,” he said. “She’s worked with everyone. She was with Outkast for quite some time. For me, she was my introduction into the more Afrocentric side of the L.A., the Leimert Park area. She’s worn a giant Afro since ’92, and I remember seeing her and being in love with her.”

The artist has another goal as well: “It’s time for our generation, the hip-hop generation, to become patrons of the arts,” he said. “When some of us have ancillary money to invest, it’s important to be a part of a museum.”

Murs practices what he preaches — sort of. He’s not currently a LACMA member. “I’ll definitely become a member after the show,” he said.

Via The LA Times

1. Murs is the Man

The incredible Oddisee drops 4 fantastic remixes demonstrating his versatility and undeniable dopeness.

Related posts:

1. Slept On Producer Oddisee Drops Smooth new Joint
2. Remix Album Download: Gensu Dean “The CL Smooth American Me Remixes”
3. A Morning Dose Of Boom Bap Goodness

Download Here

Related posts:

1. Copywrite and Stu Bangas Make Magic
2. Stu Bangas Interview
3. Stu Bangas Beat Contest

Seriously, Tyga in the classroom? Rack City? Not only is that song awful, it’s really awful. This teacher obviously has no intention of advancing her career.

SANFORD — A Seminole County reading teacher who strayed far from Charles Dickens and Stephen Crane has been suspended for playing profanity-laced rap music to her high school class.

Heather Michelle New, who teaches at Crooms Academy of Information Technology in Sanford, is serving a five-day suspension without pay that began Wednesday and continues through Monday.

Ron Pinnell, head of personnel for Seminole schools, said an investigation after receiving complaints revealed that New, 32, played two inappropriate rap songs to her class last month.

Crooms Academy received national recognition last year for its on-spot technology when it was named “Most Connected Classroom” in the country by U.S. News & World Report. But raunchy rap songs were not what district officials had in mind for the school to be plugged in digitally.

One of the songs New played in class was “Rack City” by Tyga , a song dealing with drugs, sex and prostitution that repeatedly uses a disparaging reference to blacks.

The song contains at least three dozen inappropriate words or phrases, including a reference to sex with a grandmother.

“There were all kinds of references to all kinds of inappropriate things,” Pinnell said.

The second song by rapper Jay-Z with a disparaging allusion to blacks in its title, was equally offensive, he said.

New, who has been a teacher in Seminole schools since 2009, could not be reached for comment.

Pinnell said he did not know why New chose to play the songs, except perhaps to be accepted by students.

The School Board approved the suspension Tuesday based on Superintendent Bill Vogel’s recommendation. He charged her with misconduct in office and violation of the code of ethics and principles of professional conduct for Florida teachers, as well as violation of local school board policies.

Pinnell said the district will ask the Florida Department of Education’s Professional Practices Services to investigate. The agency could pursue further charges against New and levy disciple up to revocation of her teaching certificate, although lesser punishment might be expected.

Via Sun Sentinel

“BLAT! Pack beatsmith KuroiOto presents his latest work, “The May 3rd” EP lovingly dedicated to his muse on the day of their anniversary. An affectionate mosaic of original poetry, beats and sampled offerings diving into his fondness for her energy. Over six tracks he recounts the ways, culminating in the title track a richly energetic, love symphony. Afro-centic shades, passionate lyrics and funky rhythms keep the theme burning vividly without losing sight of glowing instrumental highlights. KuroiOto reminds us how it feels to be under love’s immaculate spell.”

Download Here

Your debut album Underground Superstar is finally dropping. What makes an “underground superstar”?

Someone who is known but not known, if that makes any sense. It’s like you’re well-respected in your craft and what you do and I’m a master of my craft at that level. It still leaves more room to conquer.

There’s no question you’ve earned your stripes on the underground circuit, from tours to guest appearances and more. What took so long to get this first album done?

I never really saw myself as a solo artist. I never really just wanted to stand on my own like that. I’ve been in a group since day one with Wordsworth with the Punch and Words thing. Even in the streets, rhyming and battling, we were always together. We did the eMC album and that’s four guys right there. I never really had a desire to do an album on my own but thanks to DJ Soulclap, we made it happen.

Did he have to do some convincing?

No. It wasn’t that hard. We were always emailing songs back and forth to each other. He’d give me beats and he’d tell me that we had about ten beats now. He asked why don’t we just do an album and I said, “Sure.” He sent me a new record and that’s “Clap Your Hands” and that’s how we got started.

DJ Soulclap produced the entire Underground Superstar. What was it like working with him?

It was cool. The only hard thing was working with him in Germany. Our time schedules are different and it was just a matter of getting the right beat. He’ll send me something and if I liked it, I wrote to it and recorded it and sent it back to him. I was looking for the right, particular joints so that was always a timely process that made it hard. And I’m overseas all the time so I should get that much more love now!

Did you ever meet up with DJ Soulclap or was everything done online?

Half of the album was done through email and so forth and for the other half of the album I flew out to Germany for a week and a half and we touched up certain records and finished other songs for the album.

Is there a noticeable difference between the tracks you recorded in America and overseas?

I notice a difference. The records I did in my apartment sound different than when I record over there. We ended up keeping most of the records I recorded in my apartment. The record “Run,” he made that beat in his crib right in front of me and I sat at his table and wrote it in an hour. But I think the records I write in my own space, with my own time, come out better. I never like writing in the studio because I always feel like I’m wasting someone’s time. I always feel like I have to rush so I’ll drop something real fast and I don’t like that. I like taking my time with it.

You have the song, “Cleanin’ My Sneakers,” dedicated to your shoe collection. What are your favorite sneakers?

The Cartoon’s, the Brown Pride. The way they look with the artwork and the tattoos and the clown face, those are the first pair I ever bought that I ever fell in love with. And the Christmas edition of the Lebron James that came out a year and a half ago. The retro Jordans are always banging. And I need to get the One’s again. But there are certain ones that I like. I don’t just buy any types of Jordans.

I remember talking to Words years ago about playing pick-up ball. Do you play?

Yeah, I do.

What do you wear when you play?

I’ll probably wear the Bugs Bunny Jordans. I have one particular pair that I put to the side to play basketball in. It’s okay if they get scuffed. I play in those, it’s cool. But just those, though. I keep those to the side just to play basketball.

“Tweet” is a great song about a woman so buried in her phone that she misses everything else. Is that the most obnoxious thing a woman can do?

Nah, there’s more. She can be nosy and all up in your business. Instead of paying attention to you, she’s paying attention to what you’re doing and she’s looking for dirt. That’s kind of annoying when you accuse somebody for doing something for nothing.

What are the five most annoying things a woman can do?

Know when to pay your man some attention and when to give him his space. Don’t just bully your way in and be too forceful and ask him hundreds of questions. I’m not trying to explain the game of basketball to you when I’m watching the game. You gotta know how to cook. Three, you gotta always be sexy, because if you’re not sexy for your man, another female will be. That’s major right there. Four, you just gotta know how to handle a household. Some of them really don’t and it’s amazing. They don’t know how to clean and they take their clothes off and throw them all over the floor. I used to think women were the neatest people in the world. They’re worse than guys. And five, you gotta put it down in the bedroom.

No doubt. Do you ever feel underappreciated in the game or have you stopped thinking about that?

No, I never stopped thinking about that. I feel I’m very much underappreciated but I feel it’s because of the level of where I’m at. The exposure is so hard to get and it’s kind of frowned upon, like, ‘Oh, you’re down there making underground records. You can’t do this, that, and the third.’ I’ve always felt underappreciated but if they ever heard me rhyme, they would understand it and I would get that much more respect from them. I push for that now.

Do you have any desire to have radio and commercial hits or are you happy with where you are and the music you make today?

I’d say that the music that I make and the music that the public gets to hear are two different things. I love to make those hit records and have that for my own personal career but I’ve written stuff for other artists that are totally out of my realm. I’ll do it but I understand that there’s a machine that comes along with it and it’s a money game as well. You can’t just have the hits. It’s a money game as well and it’s expensive and it’s a game that I can’t play at the moment.

A lot of the younger fans of hip-hop today were in elementary school during the Lyricist Lounge days. Do you think a lot of kids have gone back and did their homework about you or do you think kids need to be put on to what you’ve accomplished?

I think the younger generation needs to be put up on what I’ve accomplished in the past. I understand it and I don’t have it, but the sad thing about hip-hop is that they just don’t honor those that have done things before them. It’s like, ‘What are you doing now?’ And there are some people who go back and listen to the older stuff but the majority, nah, they don’t. They just keep it moving and only pay attention to what cats have done already. You can hear it when they’re impressed with what someone says and you tell them, “Nah, LL did that” or, “Masters of Ceremony did that.” You run into that kind of scenario a lot.

Do you find yourself schooling a lot of younger fans?

Yeah, I have. I also was working with this company called Hip-Hop Love and they had me talk to a bunch of teenagers, ranging from 16-19 years-old. We would do these hip-hop workshops where we would rhyme and freestyle and school them on the game. There are some awesome kids that are willing to learn.

But like Masta Ace said, it’s Disposable Arts.

Right now, yes, yes it is. It’s very much disposable arts at the moment. You get the music so fast and the way that you receive music now is just totally different. It’s like, ‘I heard that song three minutes ago. Who’s the next cat?’

I can see that being frustrating with trying to have a single make an impact off Underground Superstar.

Exactly. If you don’t see the post in the first three or four pages of a blog, nobody’s going that far back. That’s why I stay constantly posting the link on my Twitter and Facebook and SoundCloud page so people can always know what’s going on.

How do you balance blasting the same song out without getting repetitive and annoying fans?

I’ll probably send it to a different person that will blast it out to their circle of friends. I’ll pick different people that I’m sending it to or hit a particular celebrity or friend and let them blast it out and get people outside of my little realm to hear it. I just try to stay on top of it and I don’t do it more than one record a month. But I will throw it out at different times of the day. I will shoot a video to it and it’s the same record but now you’re getting visuals to it

What are you most proud of off of Underground Superstar?

It’s a toss-up between “Love Crazy” and “Follow Your Dream.” “Follow Your Dream,” for the content and what I’m rhyming about, it was the second-to-last song I recorded and I’ve never made a record like that. I’ve always been braggadocios and rhyming. Hopefully this will reach the younger generation so they can grow with Punchline. And “Love Crazy” because there was a situation like that that I went through.

Fans loved eMC’s album The Show. Do you guys have plans to record another record?

Yeah. We’re actually thinking about it now. Everybody has solo albums coming out. Words’ album, The Photo Album, comes out June 12. It’s real dope. I’m on there. Me, Words, and Ace have a record on there called “Vanish.” It’s a pretty good album. I think there’s sixteen joints on there. I’m pretty sure he’ll release more records. He has about three records floating around out there now. Masta Ace’s album comes out, I think, in July. Once all that comes out we’ll do another eMC album.

Have you and Wordsworth talked about a Punch and Words album?

Yeah. We talked about that. He wants everybody to get my solo point of view so that when we come together, everybody has an understanding of who we are.

What’s your focus for the next few months?

Moving forward, even if I’m on tour, I have my ideas to start recording another Punchline album all by myself with different producers. The next one will be totally me, all me. Hopefully that’ll be out early next year.

Cop Underground Superstar here.

Related posts:

1. Punchline Actually Pays Tribute to Greats
2. Punchline and Fokis Link Up For A Banger

1. DJ Premier’s Road Test (ft. DJ Premier)
2. That Nigga Crazy
3. Wolves (ft. OC)
4. Here and Now
5. I Just Go Along
6. God Is 4 Us
7. Berri Love (ft. OC)
8. Walk With Me
9. You IN Trouble (ft. DJ Premier)
10. My Imagination
11. Show And A
12. South Bronx Shit (ft. DJ Premier)
13. Experience
14. Suspended Animation
15. The Bond

Download Here

1. Showbiz Drops the Dopeness
2. Teach The Children

OH NO RETURNS WITH OHNOMITE

GANGRENE MEMBER GRANTED FULL ACCESS TO DOLEMITE’S ARCHIVES FOR OHNOMITE & COLLABORATES WITH ALCHEMIST, MF DOOM, EVIDENCE, ROC MARCIANO, GUILTY SIMPSON, TERMANOLOGY, ERICK SERMON, STICKY FINGAZ, BIG POOH & PHIFE DAWG

OHNOMITE WILL BE RELEASED ON 6-5-2012

Following two successful collaborative efforts alongside fellow producer/rapper The Alchemist as the power duo Gangrene -2010’s Gutter Water and 2012’s Vodka & Ayahuasca- and the 2011 gem with The Alchemist as Gangrene & Roc Marciano, the Greneberg EP; The Oxnard, California based beat-smith and emcee Oh No returns for a solo mission.

Oh No (born Michael Jackson; younger brother of Madlib and son of singer Otis Jackson) was granted unprecedented access to the Rudy Ray Moore / Dolemite audio archives and given free rein to slice, dice, chop and sample his way through the classic-yet-absolutely-filthy catalog. He was able to use legendary material from The Human Tornado, Petey Wheatstraw, the Dolemite Soundtrack and more, plus a multitude of previously unreleased and alternate acapellas and instrumentals. The end result is Ohnomite, a 19 track head-banging extravaganza of sloppy funk, dirty soul, and brainy lyricism, all aimed at one thing- making your head nod and your ass shake. And when you add to that guests spots from the likes of MF Doom, Evidence, Phife Dawg, The Alchemist, Erick Sermon, Rapper Pooh, MED, Guilty Simpson, Roc Marciano, Sticky Fingaz, Chino XL, Roc C, Prozack Turner, Termanology, Frank Nitt and more, and you are left with a one of a kind album from a one of a kind musician. Ohnomite- 19 songs of pure whoop ass from Oh No and Dolemite!

Tracklisting and credits for Oh No’s Ohnomite:

1.) “Ohnomite” Intro
2.) “Real Serious” f/Evidence and Alchemist (cuts by DJ Romes)
3.) “The Guns” f/Guilty Simpson, MED and Pok Dog (cuts by DJ Romes)
4.) “Time” f/Roc C and Chino XL
5.) “3 Dollars” f/MF Doom
6.) “Let’s Roll” f/Damani
7.) “Stop” (Interlude)
8.) “Hallucinations” f/Prozack Turner
9.) “Sound Off” f/Termanology & Ea$y Money
10.) “The Escape” (Interlude)
11.) “Whoop Ass” f/Sticky Fingaz (cuts by DJ Romes)
12.) “Ohnomite Jazz”
13.) “The Hitmen” f/Roc Marciano
14.) “Touch It” f/Frank Nitt
15.) “You Don’t Know Me” f/Rapper Pooh and Phil Da Agony
16.) “Dues N Don’ts” f/Jose James and Phife Dawg
17.) “Piano” (Interlude)
18.) “Runnin’ The Show” f/Erick Sermon
19.) “Ohnomite Outro”

***All Tracks produced by Oh No

Related posts:

1. Get Ready For An Ass Whooping!

“Ramesses” is a term for ancient Egyptian royalty, Pharaohs to be specific. If Hip-Hop was Kemet, The Imperial Gensu Dean would be among the regal few. At a time when the music is drowned in a sea of thin synths and weak stock drums, Dean consciously keeps it analog, relying on the tried and true SP-1200 and stacks of records.

For his newest single, “Ramesses”, Gensu Dean enlists two up-and-coming rhyme kings in their own right, the dexterous Homeboy Sandman and the ferocious 7evenThirty, to compliment his apocalyptic beat. Matching a mean guitar riff with gunshot drums and a wailing vocal sample, Dean provides intense energy, allowing 7evenThirty to wild out and rap about busting through the side of mountains, mummifying opponents and riding on the back of the Sphinx. Homeboy Sandman provides a good counterbalance; rapping with equal lyrical intensity but taking the everyman route, reminding us of when he would drink water to quell hunger and lie about cutting McDonalds out of his diet.

Related posts:

1. Remix Album Download: Gensu Dean “The CL Smooth American Me Remixes”
2. DJ Soko, Guilty Simpson, and Gensu Dean Say Fuck Biters Who Be Biting
3. Gensu Dean and Roc Marciano Get That International Paper

Our fam CuzOh! Black and Wordsmith drop some new heat for the people!

CuzOH! Black – Never Break Me Down Feat.Wordsmith (Produced by Street Level)

Related posts:

1. CuzOh Black Reps For The Youth
2. Mixtape Download: Wordsmith- Prelude To The King
3. Wordsmith Reps For Us!