Metal Lungies

Metal Lungies does not condone taking drugs or abducting delivery guys, but Oh No and Alchemist get a pass because their album is amazing.

This morning I was browsing through my e-mails and one of the hundreds I actually decided to open was from one of my favorite online streetwear sites. They were featuring a callabo between a streetwear company called Rocksmith and that ol’ Wu-Tang Clan thing. I was kinda feeling what I saw, had thoughts of maybe copping a few pieces. Then, I had to pumpppp the breaks when I saw this (on the right):

(Image via HypeBeast)

Which right away reminded me of a shirt I bought about 5-6 years ago from Manifest Worldwide. (Reason I remember the brand is I remember how the owner of the brand, personally handled each order and questions that I had.)

(Image via UGHH)

Now, not only is this a complete ripoff job of the Manifest shirt, but they neglected to add Masta Killa (I know why, but STILL). Now maybe Rocksmith didn’t know about the Manifest shirt, but considering it was one of the first “list &” style shirts, I have my doubts about that. I guess streetwear shirts are as original as rap itself, which is kind of ironic.

The concept for The Interlude sounds like kind of a cool idea, but in execution, it’s brilliant. On his new mixtape, The Kid Daytona rapped over hip-hop interludes reworked by producers like 6th Sense, 9th Wonder Bink! — interludes meaning those funky little beats that bookend your favorite tracks, not the Wu-Tang “torture” skit.

With The Interlude, Kid Daytona takes a fresh approach to the throwback mixtape by using beats sourced from overlooked classic sounds that haven’t been defiled by generations of freestylers. The result is nostalgic and original at the same time. Daytona’s charismatic wordplay helps too. Highlights include Freddie Gibbs tearing up “The Chronic (Intro)” and the Pete Rock & CL-inspired “Fly Lullaby.”

Download: The Kid Daytona – The Interlude

via LRG

Track list with the sources for all the interludes after the break.

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Here’s a pleasant surprise from the inbox. Light speed storytelling over a jazzy beat? Thar be New York raps.

Download: Chris Faust – The Case of Said Rapper (produced by 6th Sense)

(image)

Immediately after signing to Roc Nation, Jay Electronica released two songs. The songs highlight the delicate balancing act of Jay’s image. He’s supposed to be “the mercurial and mysterious would-be savior of hip-hop” who releases music at his own pace and doesn’t care about getting an album on Best Buy shelves. “The Announcement” plays up this mystique with a eerie beat and a clip of John F. Kennedy giving a speech on traveling to the moon. So, Jay Electronica’s Roc Nation deal is about space travel, not popping bottles over five star dishes and different exotic fishes.

“Shiny Suit Theory” featuring Jay-Z and, um, The-Dream, shows the other side of Jay Electronica, the side that eats $30 spinach quesadillas with Diddy and just signed to Jay-Z. But hey, both songs work and he even made Jay-Z step his raps up a little. Let’s hold off on calling him a sellout until the music suffers. So far, it hasn’t.

Good luck, Jay. And hop on that Willow Smith collab.

Download “The Announcement” at Rap Radar

Download “Shiny Suit Theory” (ft. Jay-Z, The-Dream) from Jay Electronica

How could I see this on Nah Right and not post it?!

Cover for his new album Apollo Kids after the jump.

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Coincidence? Kanye drops a track packed with racial overtones right after his back and forth with George W. Bush. To recap, the former president said Kanye’s outburst (“George Bush doesn’t care about black people”) was the worst moment of his presidency. Kanye responded that he sympathized with the president because people labeled Kanye as a racist after he interrupted Taylor Swift.

Not to sully Kanye’s redemptive moment of forgiveness, but did anyone really accuse Kanye of racism after the VMAs? I remember a lot of “I’mma let you finish” jokes and another president calling him “a jackass”, but no one thought Kanye got up on that stage because of racism. Props to Kanye for apologizing, but this was a pretty narcissistic way of doing it.

Q-Tip on the beat.

Download: Kanye West – Chain Heavy (ft. Talib Kweli, Consequence) (produced by Q-Tip)

via Kanye West

Imam Thug is the go-to hook man for CNN street anthems. See also: “Thug Planet” Watch Nore boast about drinking Ketel One with no hangover in the behind the scenes clip for the video above.

I’m starting to like Ketel One. That’s the inner whiteboy in me. Pause.

Download: N.O.R.E. – Blam (ft. Imam Thug)

via 57thAve

Yep, that’s a jam. On “Shot Glass Magnified,” Soul Khan and Sene play the underground everyman MC. Soul Like Khan drops for free on Tuesday. Those who listened to Koncept’s Playing Life EP know to expect quality from the Brown Bag AllStars crew.

Download: Soul Khan – Shot Glass Magnified (ft. Sene) (produced by Elaquent)

Bama’s best represent over a mighty Block Beattaz production.

Download: ST 2 Lettaz – Warning Shots (ft. Bentley, S.L.A.S.H., Kristmas) (produced by Block Beattaz)

via Dirty Glove Bastard