Frank Whizza, far from soft or fragile-uh/ Play hard like Reggie Miller, rapper slash dope dealer/ Slash guerilla, slash illest turn iller

Mar

16

Koncrete- Kon Air (Freestyle)

Posted by hangover_monkey

I mentioned Koncrete a couple of months ago. His mixtape, Well Grounded, is set to be released on March 26. He just sent us a freestyle, on the much used Over beat.  This dude has a ridiculous flow, and he is definitely an artist to watch.

Download: Koncrete- Kon Air (Freestyle)
Bonus: Koncrete- Too Young To Die

Mar

06

From The Underground – The Usual Suspects.

Posted by AaronM

The Usual Suspects are a Chicago-based rap crew who just released their self-titled debut EP online.  Rapper Ebonics kicks impeccable, effortless flows while group producer the Professional provides soulful, surprisingly polished beats. Nothing you haven’t heard before on here, but If you like throwback hip-hop with strong rapping and great beats, do yourself a favour and peep this EP. I’m glad to see the EP making a comeback. More rookie rappers would do well to follow this example and introduce yourself with a strong, concise EP instead of an overstuffed, underproduced mixtape.

The highlights are numerous but two songs stood out to me. “Truer Love” weaves a gorgeous piano sample with knocking drums as Ebonics rhapsodizes about his girl, guaranteed to get your head bobbing. “Cookin’ Up Classics” sees Ebonics spit an impressive double-time flow over a churning, stuttering beat.
Listen to both tracks and cop the whole EP below:

Truer Love (ft.Elle)

Cookin’ Up Classics

Download: The Usual Suspects – The Usual Suspects EP

Dec

08

Video: Koncrete- Exhibit K

Posted by hangover_monkey

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViKVPFYEV1Y[/youtube]

Up and coming rapper Koncrete just sent me this video he shot for his new song Exhibit K (a remix of Jay Electronica’s Exhibit B). He’s a fellow DMV person and a rapper that is definitely worth discovering. He sounds a bit like Big Pun, but with a heavy New Orleans (his hometown) influence. Check out his MySpace and be sure to look out for his upcoming mixtape Koncrete is ‘Well Grounded”.

The video is directed by Dehyu Sinyan

Koncrete at Myspace

Nov

15

Crown Nation – Cut The Lights Out (ft.Danny Brown)

Posted by AaronM

Over a creeping lurch of a beat, Detroit/Chicago group Crown Nation emphatically chew through their bars, aided by a typically excellent and goofy Danny Brown verse. Pay attention to these cats.

DOWNLOAD: Crown Nation – Cut The Lights Out! (ft.Danny Brown)

Aug

06

So This Is What Edan’s Been Up To.

Posted by AaronM

He cut his Jewfro and now looks uncannily like a cat I went to high school with; he’s on some business school ish! Edan talks about the possibility of live-in studio albums and an animated film with Mr. Lif. His new album comes out in November.

Via GRANDGOOD by way of Senor Kaos (who did a great job with the interview)

Aug

03

Tha Doppelgangaz – Good Hygiene.

Posted by AaronM

Ooh, this is nice. Clattering drums, a smooth guitar loop and some piano set off this low-key banger. Rapping is solid too. “Good Hygiene” sounds like an unearthed mid 90s 12’, and I mean that in the best possible way.

Tha Doppelgangaz consists of NY rappers Matter ov Fact and EP, who produces the group’s tracks. You can read more about the group here. Cop the single and their EP below, ML-approved.

DOWNLOAD: Tha Doppelgangaz – Good Hygiene
DOWNLOAD: The Ghastly Duo EP

Jul

07

Prafit – New York Swing (prod. Disco Vietnam).

Posted by AaronM

I like this a lot. A low-key NY anthem by Long Island emcee Prafit, produced by the homey Disco Vietnam. “Swing”’ has been getting some love on Real Late with Pete Rosenberg, which is cool. Strong Island y’all.

DOWNLOAD: Prafit – New York Swing
BONUS: New York Swing (Instrumental)

More Prafit, all produced by Disco. I’m especially fond of “Nice Weather”.

DOWNLOAD: Prafit – Nice Weather
DOWNLOAD: Prafit – My Life

Jun

23

5 O’Clock Shadowboxers – The Slow Twilight.

Posted by AaronM

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s finally here. We’ve been hyping it up and now the album is here. Liner notes here.

Treacherous dialect and tuneful indie rock, manifested in hip-hop format.

LISTEN.

5 O’Clock Shadowboxers – The Slow Twilight

Jun

16

5 O’Clock Shadowboxers – Weak Stomach, Video.

Posted by AaronM

Here, take this:

DOWNLOAD: 5 O’Clock Shadowboxers – Weak Stomach

Via Passion of the Weiss

Here’s the first single off The Slow Twilight, “Stay Clean”, via 2dopeboyz.

DOWNLOAD: 5 O’Clock Shadowboxers – Stay Clean

June 23rd.

Previously: 5 O’Clock Shadowboxers – Dirt Naps

May

28

Fashawn – The Outer City (produced by Exile).

Posted by AaronM

Via NR

A nice new track by the very talented Fresno native, perfectly suited for a rainy day. Exile’s beat sounds like it could be off of Below The Heavens and Fash rips it. Fashawn’s debut Boy Meets World comes out September 1st, and is produced entirely by Exile. This kid is the same age as me, damn.

DOWNLOAD: Fashawn – The Outer City

Previously.

Connoisseurs of fine wine and rhyme.