This EP from producer R. Thentic (RTNC for short) just blew my mind. RTNC’s sound varies from tribal to rock-influenced to jazzy and he elicits killer verses from some lesser known underground rappers including recent favorite Co$$. The EP is a half-hour-long one track mix and the tracks are broken up by interludes of philosophical mumbo jumbo. Very trippy. You don’t want to miss this.
This Tuesday sees the release of two great albums: Jay Stay Paid, a posthumous collection of unreleased material from J Dilla and Double Barrel, Marco Polo & Torae’s boom bap massacre. Fat Beats has you covered for both.
On Monday, Fat Beats will host a listening party for Jay Stay Paid. DJ Evil Dee of will be in the building at 7:00 playing the album as well as other assorted Dilla joints. Rumor has it that you’ll be able to buy the album a day early at Fat Beats.
Come through again on Tuesday to meet Marco Polo & Torae and catch a live performance.
Both events are free. But if that isn’t enough incentive for you to show up, ML will likely be in attendance on both days and yes, I’ll be taking pictures and signing autographs.
The reclusive Dr. Dre shows up in the most unexpected places. In December, he randomly lent a verse to Kardinal Offishall for a remix and now he’s in a Dr. Pepper commercial. In the ad, Dre pushes an inept DJ off the turntables and plays a few seconds of a song off Detox. Readers of hip-hop blogs will recognize the song as “Shit Popped Off,” which leaked in the form of a reference track by T.I. back in February. T.I.’s bars are especially appropriate here:
Commandeer the turntables, that’s my first mission ‘Cause the DJ ain’t spinnin’, he bullshittin’
While some may scoff at Dre selling soda, I think the ad is a good sign. Before this, all we’ve heard from Detox are shady, unfinished leaks. Dre is finally promoting the album himself. Now, if only I could get someone at Dr. Pepper to send me the track.
On “Get Down, ” Co$$ goes in on a beat that doesn’t sound as original as some of his other work, but still gets the job done. Heads will recognize the sample as the same one used for Mobb Deep’s “Drink Away the Pain.”
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.
M-Dot is a Boston-based emcee who I’ve checking for a minute, and I was recently hit with the link to his latest mixtape, M.oney D.oesn’t O.wn T.hought. The mixtape boasts appearances from Termanology, Singapore Kane and Nabo Rawk and production by Domingo and DC the Midi Alien. This is boom-bap comfort food, with good rapping and quality beats. Also I think he may be competing with One Be Lo for the “most convoluted acronym-based album title”, also known as the M.C.A.B.A.T. award.
Here’s the video for the song “Gotta Be” off M.usically D.riven O.ver T.ime, featuring Krumb Snatcha. Very dope.
M-Dot’s debut M.usically D.riven O.ver T.ime drops later this year, and will feature guest spots from Masta Ace, Sha Stimuli, Akrobatik, Krumb Snatcha, Edo.G and Big Shug.
This video isn’t technically or visually dazzling, but it’s still very clever. Play it for someone and see how long it takes them to get it. Filmed at 360 Vinyl in Portland.
Finale gives stragglers yetanotherreason to check out his album A Pipe Dream and a Promise. As always, Finale’s bars match the quality of his beat selection. For the last two minutes, Prince Whipper Whip of the Furious Five lectures rappers on writing meaningful lyrics.
