League 510 – “Soul Of A Synth” (Flying Lotus Redux)

The last time we checked in with League510, they were releasing their debut retail EP, Believe In The League. It’s been a minute since then, but the League hasn’t lost a step – or their signature feel-good swag . On the contrary, the Bay Area foursome, comprised of Monty, TK, Mr. Knowitall, and DJ Blacksmith, are poised for a triumphant return, complete with a newly developing sound, and are celebrating that return by flipping Flying Lotus’ “Computer Face/Pure Being.”

After stumbling across the track as background music for a Cartoon Network commercial, the League realized the beat was simply “begging to be rapped over,” and the rest, says League510, was history. The end result was the flipped track, which the crew dubbed “Soul of a Synth,” a title, according to League510, inspired by “the super swinging, heavy, and soulful drum cadence and the layered 8-bit, video game-style synths.” League510 impressively rides the off-kilter production, in what comes off sounding like a completely natural collision of the League’s bouncy flows and Flying Lotus’ less-than-orthodox production. “We made the track to display our style, the positive attitude and strong lyrical ability,” explains the League. “We’re back – and better than ever.”

Download “Soul of a Synth” here: http://soundcloud.com/league510/the-soul-of-a-synth

Purchase Believe In The League EP:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/believe-in-the-league-ep/id422907443

DTMD – 95 Live (feat. Quartermaine)

 

 95 Live begins with scratches, a clap your hands call, and steady drums that open up to include jazz horns,  and a swirling warmth that envelopes the lyrical content like a good shot of something heavy. Then Quartermaine picks up the mic to offer the opening verse some greatness: “Through the District / Daily do I troop / I get pounds from mystics / Who sit bearded on their stoop / And lose their roof when they hear an open loop.”   DTMD emcee Toine offers his casual brand of braggadocio on the next verse:  “I’m taking it all, that’s no fable / Spit caine and the flow abel / Deep enough to go naval on your whole stable / Verbally fatal”.  The result is one beautiful song.

Enjoy the song 95 Live & then be sure to cop the album Makin’ Dollas!

[Free Download]

DTMD – 95 Live (feat. Quartermaine)

http://mellomusicgroup.bandcamp.com/track/95-live-feat-quartermaine

[Support]

DTMD – Makin’ Dollas

Now Available on CD

http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/dtmd-makin-dollas/MMG020CD/

Now Available @ iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/makin-dollas/id457361076

Saukrates Announces Release Of New Album Season One

Canadian hip-hop veteran Saukrates is excited to announce the upcoming release of his new album, Season One. The album will be released in three parts; the first and second parts will each contain three songs and the full album, which will contain the first six songs plus six new songs will be released the first quarter of 2012. The first part contains the songs “Drop It Down” featuring Redman, “Say I,” and “Na Na Na” is available now through a joint partnership between Frostbyte and eOne.

Saukrates, a Toronto-native who played an integral part in shaping much the country’s hip-hop scene, made the transition from childhood violin prodigy to serious MC in the late 1990s. He met close friend Redman in 2000, and by 2005 had been featured on How High soundtrack with Red and Method Man, produced for the likes of Nas and Kardinal Offishall, and toured with fellow Canuck Nelly Furtado on her 2006 Loose Tour. And before Young Money fame, Saukrates was showing Drake the ropes, introducing him to other soon-to-be famous artists like Toronto producer Noah “40” Shebib.

Saukrates, who has long contributed to the meteoric rise of his Canadian cohorts, is proud to release his own upcoming album, Season One. Much of the production comes from both Saukrates and his Toronto comrade Rich Kidd, who also produced Soxx’ single “Say I,” which was recently used in Nike’s Always On 24/7 campaign. Featured artists on the trilogy’s first installment include Redman, OB O’Brien, Michelle Nyce, Richie Hennessey and Andreena Mill. Says Saukrates of the album, ‘I’ve gone back to the basics… sharing simple melodies and interesting stories is what I’ve always done best and enjoyed the most. When it calls for collaborations I let that happen naturally. Friends and associates I’ve been anxious to work with and vise versa make it easy to accomplish my ‘lofty’ ideas!”

After working with each other for 11 years, Redman joins Saukrates once again in Season One’s first video and lead single, “Drop It Down.” The visual harkens back to the days of the iconic iPod commercials: fluorescent colored backgrounds against the distinguishable silhouettes of Soxx, Red, and a couple of ladies. And don’t let the animated doodles Sauk made using Nintendo DSI fool you; the song is bona fide club-ready.

Download “Drop It Down” here

 

M.O.P. & Snowgoons – “Anybody Can Get It”

Germany’s own, Snowgoons teams up with M.O.P to bring you some sure fire heat, “Anybody Can Get It.”  Snowgoons have worked with artists such as Reef  The Lost Cauze, Ed O.G., Ill Bill, and Outerspace.  They consist of members, Dj Illegal, Det and Sicknature. None mostly for their works with indie hip hop artists, they are surely to break ground in the mainstream very shortly. Get to know these guys. Also keep your eye open for their new project with producing Veteran, Parrish Smith as they collaborate to bring you, “Goondocks.”

Download here:

http://hulkshare.com/mrzlu4heypo5

also M.O.P speaks about the collaboration. Check the interview here:

http://soundcloud.com/snowgoons/mop-radio-interview-about

Big Pooh Announces Dirty Pretty Things

Rapper Big Pooh is excited to announce the upcoming release of his new album, Dirty Pretty Things. Serving as the second official solo album from the now-solo emcee, Dirty Pretty Things will be released November 1st via Big Pooh’s newly formed label, For Members Only.

In 2005, Big Pooh first stepped outside of the Little Brother umbrella, releasing his debut solo album, Sleepers. Since then, the fan favorite group released a handful of highly regarded albums before finally disbanding last year, and so, as Big Pooh sat down to begin crafting Dirty Pretty Things, with his career as part of Little Brother was coming to a close, he found inspiration in a movie that he felt mirrored his own journey through music. “I always thought Dirty Pretty Things was a really dope movie,” remarks Pooh. “But it was overlooked for whatever reasons, the same way I’ve been overlooked as a solo artist.”

It makes sense, then, that an album intent on proving, once and for all, that Pooh can stand alone as a solo artist would also serve as some of the rapper’s most personal work to date. “This album is me; it allowed me to give listeners a piece of my soul and reveal a lot of what I’ve been dealing with over the past couple years,” explains Pooh. “Dirty Pretty Things is about looking past outside appearance and finding out what’s really going on inside. It’s about the truth.”

Joining Pooh for Dirty Pretty Things is an impressive cast of producers and rappers, but more than that, they’re artists that Pooh felt best complemented his own vision. “I decided who to work with based on feel,” explains Pooh, who enlisted the production efforts of Nottz, DJ Khalil, Focus… , and more, while Torae, Joe Scudda, Carlitta Durand, Darien Brockington, and others lent vocals. “I’m not into forcing music,” notes Pooh. “Everyone was chosen based on how I felt they would fit the puzzle I put together.”

One of those puzzle pieces was Family Biz, Ent., who lent their touch to “Medicine Man,” released as the first song and video from the album. Joining that track are a handful of other personal favorites of Pooh. “Free,” for example, is a track about learning how to be comfortable in your own skin. “Are You Ready,” featuring Torae and produced by Nottz, is another standout, as is “Real Love,” produced by Focus…. “‘Real Love’ is about the current relationship I have with my brother,” explains Pooh, and the song is just another example of how Pooh’s most personal work has translated into his strongest. “All of the personal and professional anguish led up to this moment,” says Pooh. “Dirty Pretty Things marks my progression as a man, my progression as a businessman, and, most of all, my progression as an artist.”

Download “Medicine Man” here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Bread – “The Trenches” feat. Sean Born (rmx)

Apollo’s remix features a haunting piano line combined with minimal but gritty drum programming creating a completely different sound scape than the original Apollo Brown production.  Hassaan Mackey rips the mic with urban war stories, while Sean Born delivers some of the tracks most memorable lines “Atonement for the shit I got away with / I got a way with words, I just say shit /  Had my way with birds, chick-fil-a sh*t”.

NEW APOLLO BROWN REMIX:

Daily Bread (Hassaan Mackey & Apollo Brown) “The Trenches” feat. Sean Born

http://mellomusicgroup.bandcamp.com/track/the-trenches-feat-sean-born-apollo-brown-rmx

Support:

Vinyl (2XLP + Bonus 45)  

iTunes (New & Noteworthy)

 

CD (Deluxe 6 Panel Digipak)

Oddisee – “The Carter Barron”

The Carter Barron is a smooth, sweeping track, with amazing drums performed by DC’s Jon Laine, bass from DC’s Dennis Turner, keys from the always dependable Ralph Real, soulful sampling, trademark expansive synth work from Oddisee and beautiful orchestration.

Oddisee “The Carter Barron”

http://mellomusicgroup.bandcamp.com/track/the-carter-barron-2

Icebird (rjd2 and Aaron Livingston) – “Going And Going. And Going” (Illvibe and rjd2 Remixes)

Two weeks ago, we got the first taste of Icebird, the new collaborative project from producer rjd2 and singer-songwriter Aaron Livingston, with the lead single from the duo’s upcoming album, The Abandoned Lullaby. The song, “Going and Going. And Going,” is pushed forward by rj’s dynamic guitar- and drum-driven production, an instrumental mix that plays against Aaron’s gritty, soul-filled vocals and witty lyrics.

Now, Icebird is excited to release two official remixes for the single, one helmed by rj and the other by Mr. Sonny James of the Illvibe Collective. “I always liked how 12 inch releases back in the ’90s had multiple remixes of the same song,” explains rj on his motivation behind the dual offering. “Fans could choose and debate, argue the different versions and which they liked more.”

While the original was all soul, rj’s remix kicks things off drastically different, with a bending synth line, eclectic percussion, and sample chops that build alongside a bevy of heavy drums for a rock-filled track that will likely remind fans of rj’s work on the now classic Since We Last Spoke. For the second remix, Icebird reached out to Mr. Sonny James of the Illvibe Collective, who brought the track new life – and a bit of island flair. “The Illvibe remix does a great job to really re-envision the track in a dub style,” remarks rj. “When that beat drops, it was the last thing I expected, but it’s a great groove; the Hammond organ – it really makes sense with original.”

Download “Going And Going. And Going” (rjd2 Remix) here

Download “Going And Going. And Going” (Illvibe Remix) here

Metermaids – “Bad Things (Redux)” Ft. Sage Francis & B. Dolan

Before Metermaids’ sophomore LP, Rooftop Shake, is released this coming Tuesday, September 6th, the Brooklyn-based duo of rappers Sentence and Swell are excited to release a brand new track as a way to show their appreciation for fans that have been patiently awaiting the new album. The track is an extended redux version of “Bad Things.” While the original version of “Bad Things” shows up on Rooftop Shake, including the flawless Sage Francis guest verse, this redux version also includes a special, end-of-track verse from B. Dolan
Sage Francis opens the track with his signature gravely voice and rough neck rhymes. “How do I love Thee?” spits Francis. “Subtract the possibilities, countdown to Armageddon, god forbid if you ain’t feeling me.” Sentence and Swell attack the track with equal vigor (“This bird’s on its last wings/ Wanna back out but I can’t, ’cause I’ve seen bad things.”), while producer and frequent collaborator M.Stine, who splits production duties on the album with 9th Wonder, lays a beating, guitar- and soul chop-driven track for the four emcees. As with the entirety of Rooftop Shake, DJ Rob Swift of The X-Ecutioners lends his cuts throughout.

You Can Download Bad Things Redux Here:
http://soundcloud.com/strangefamousrecords/bad-things-redux