This track from the Exchange Bureau Music compilation “Assorted Good vol. 1” has that swanky jazz lounge sound. Detroit’s Magestik Legend raps about his lady and Genevive sings a sultry hook. Snowman Jack probably doesn’t sound familiar, but he produced a few tracks on Shawn Jackson’s album First of All and he released an EP with Guilty Simpson last year.
Late pass on this mixtape from producer Mars, with appearances from The Game, Phonte and Marsha Ambrosius. Mars is part of the production group 1500 or Nothin’ who produced “Dope Boys” and “Touch Down” on L.A.X.Life on Mars is futuristic and sometimes excessively pop, but still very soulful. Can’t wait for volume 2.
Q-Tip’s second solo album Kamaal The Abstract, was recorded in 2001, and was supposed to be released in 2002 as the follow up to Amplified. Kamaal was shelved for its apparent lack of commercial appeal but it’s finally coming out on September 15th, via Battery Records (home of “Stanky Legg”!)
I listened to it a few times about a year ago, and it’s pretty interesting . I don’t like it as much as The Renaissance, but it’s certainly a more adventurous album; Tip raps and sings (much more of the latter) over live, loose jazz, rather than the pristine sampled jazz loops he normally employs. There have been versions of it floating around online for years but this one is apparently going to be fully remixed and remastered. I’m looking forward to hearing it again.
I’m officially excited to hear Sacramento producer Lee Bannon’s mixtape Me & Marvin when it drops tomorrow. Every track will sample Marvin Gaye. Between this and the last song we heard, Me & Marvin is shaping up to be something special and not just formulaic soul samples.
This is the first I’ve heard of Philadelphia producer/rapper Lushlife. The beat is great – a chopped up rock sample interspersed with vocal samples – but the verses leave something to be desired. Off his sophomore album Cassette City.
Tomorrow night come out to celebrate the release of 2 solid hip-hop albums, Blaq Poet’s Tha Blaqprint & DJ JS-1’s No Sellout. Be sure to check the dress code on the 2 fliers , as you might have to wear your timbs to work. Since we are so nice to our readers , we have a few tickets to give away, simply send an email to
with the subject Release Party tickets and we will hook you up with a pair.
Really, Jay? Boxes marked “Auto-Tune” exploding? I can’t be too mad, he got the OG T.I. to play his chauffeur and Jigga apparently plays cards with Harvey Keitel on the regular. And Kobe’s in there too.
RZA finally cleared the air regarding the Chamber Music album: “Chamber Music is NOT a new Wu-Tang Clan album — but it’s pretty close.” RZA told Billboard that the idea to make a vintage Wu-themed album without samples was producer Bob Perry’s idea. Instead, Brooklyn-based band The Revelations provides live music. (wait, what about El Michels Affair?)
So for the record, Chamber Music is only a side project, which I think is appropriate. Some will laud the album for being a more traditional Wu-Tang affair than 8 Diagrams (hi haters!), but it doesn’t have the magnitude of a real Wu-Tang album.
A little catch-up on one of my favourites from the South, Killa Kill from the Ville, a.k.a. Killer Mike. Mike is smarter and better than your favourite rapper, and he’s been putting some fantastic tracks lately.
There’s a few tags on these, but they’re mostly pretty quiet. “Pay Up” is allegedly a Detox reference track (certainly nothing newthesedays), but it doesn’t really matter; it succeeds on its own merits, a stellar storytelling track with an appropriately late night vibe.
“My City” and “Man Up’” are both off the new Greg Street/Grand Hustle mixtape. “My City” is a tour through Atlanta, blessed with a thundering Cannon beat. “Man Up” is just some quality shit talk over blaring horns.
