I’d like to think that they dropped the visual Harry Potter motif they had in the teaser (below) after they read my post.

American Express has cut a fat check to live stream Jay-Z performing songs live from the famed Austin City Limits. Hov will perform songs as selected by twitter (HOLA HOVITO, PLEASE!!). I’ve watched a few Hov streams in my  internet life time, and all of them have been pretty noteworthy (and a lot of rappers can take note). Lastly, you’ll be able to watch the show from a choice of 3 different camera perspectives.

The live stream starts at 8pm EST at  American Express’ Youtube Page.

The Odd Future hype has died down for the moment and MMG is just an extension of Rick Ross’ self-parody featuring some mediocre to semi-decent rappers, so Black Hippy and ASAP Mob are the hip-hop cliques to watch right now. They’re both coming off great albums and they’re doing it without any gimmicks. Habits and Contradictions from ScHoolBoy Q is the grandson of G-funk; the weird cool, new thing for a new generation of heads. It’s nice when familiar rap themes get a fresh new sound and a fresh new face. Listen to some choice cuts above and below.

I tend to go overboard with superlatives when I see a music video I really like, but “Thuggin’” is the best video of its kind in a long time. It’s just seamless, ultra-stark images of drug dealers and gun runners which captures Freddie Gibbs’ stripped back approach perfectly. For the uninitiated, this is a great primer on Gibbs. And one of the best songs of last year.

I couldn’t imagine a more fitting video for this wacky, trippy track. I could do with more Paul White instrumentals.

For all the adulation and Bawse fealty, there’s really only one good song on Rich Forever. “Stay Schemin” does the urban kingpin thing in a way that isn’t too obvious or redundant. Ricky, Drake, and French Montana sing the woes of being the boss of a toxic city. By some mix up, French Montana hilariously sings the hook, but it kind of fits. Sometimes — not as often as people think — Rick Ross actually does pick really good beats.

Download: Rick Ross – Stay Schemin (ft. Drake, French Montana) (produced by The Beat Bully)

I listened to the whole song waiting for a Kurupt verse. I also would have appreciated a Montell Jordan cameo. So yeah, I’m comfortable with this vibe. Don’t listen to this if you don’t like fun. Off Cold Day In Hell.

Let me explain,
Nothing’s been new since Big Daddy Kane.

I love it when a rapper so succinctly shits on the whole game. Grab the mixtape below.

Download: Ludacris – 1.21 Gigawatts: Back To The First Time

I remember informing a kid in my 7th grade gym class that Busta Rhymes could rap twenty words per second. I eventually grew out of the notion that rap was a contest of who could rap the fastest. But this “Rigamortus” remix… damn.

via The FADER

Posted for the frantic, psychedelic animation, though Blu and FlyLo’s collaboration is a recent highlight for the discreet West Coast rapper. U-God’s part is missing from the video.