NEW RELEASE | Jah Orah & KD Assassin- Used To Be Bobby & Darrick (album)

Considering just how well emcees KD Assassin and Jah Orah work together as a rhyme duo, it's hard to believe that this new Used To Be Bobby & Darrick album is their first collaborative effort. The two St. Louis residents drop a steady barrage of forward-thinking, razor's edge rhymes while making sure that their every effort is paired with an...

Read More

NEW RELEASE | Jewbei- Jewbei Does Sean Price (EP)

Producer/beatmaker Jewbei releases the latest offering in his " Jewbei Does..." remix series with the newly released Jewbei Does Sean Price. I'll readily admit that I'm only just now discovering this series but I'm giving this isht two big thumbs up. Hell, the remix of the Roc Marciano/Sean Price track "Snow" is worth the price of admission alone. Dope stuff...

Read More

REVIEW | The Hurt Project- The Shady Bear Sessions (single/EP)

While I won't begin to present myself as some sort of authority on the subject of blues music, I do consider myself a fan that's familiar enough to recognize good blues music when I hear it.  The sound has been a part of my life for as long as I can recall.  In fact, some of my sweetest memories of growing up in the Carolinas are connected to songs by artists like...

Read More

NewRelease | ADaD & Khaibeat- Apollo (album)

Brand new project from emcee ADaD and producer Khaibeat.  The Chicago-based wordsmith teams up with a talented young beatmaker out of Spain to give the people a dope 4 track project entitled Apollo. You can stream 3 of the 4 tracks, right now, over on Soundcloud (here).  Or you can purchase all 4 tracks for the low, low price of $1 over on Bandcamp (here)....

Read More

AWAR & Vanderslice- The Winning Team (album review)

The duo of producer Vanderslice and lyricist AWAR create a dark and gritty opus with their latest collaboration, a full-length album entitled The Winning Team. The two man team have a knack for creating eardrum pounding, grimey hip hop music that attacks its listeners with the intensity of a melee attack on a battlefield. As an emcee, AWAR succeeds in...

Read More

Live45's | Engelwood- Only For You (instrumental)

Check out this free spacey soul instrumental from producer Engelwood. And if you dig what you're hearing, pick up a copy of his recently released Tre project ...

Read More

Live45's | yU- Never Burning Out (single)

Incredible sounds from one of my favorite hip hop artists! On this new "Never Burning Out" single, Diamond District representer yU connects with producer Drew Dave (who you may also know as Soulful! from his Mumbo Sauce & Drumbreaks album from a few years back) to create a beautifully soulful, high concept track that imagines a thoughtful conversation...

Read More

Live45's | ADaD- Next To It (remix)

Listen as ADaD remixes and "re-spits" over the track "Next To It" , as originally released by Lupe Fiasco earlier this year. If you haven't done so already, head over to ADaD's Soundcloud page to make sure that you stay up on all of the new heaters the brother has been dropping lately....

Read More

Live45's | SNKA- Knw[Sm]Wun (instrumentall)

A nice bit of glitchy goodness from producer SNKA. The track is called "Knw[Sm]Wun" and it's a dope future soul cut that kind of sticks with you well after the final note sounds. While the highlight of this track may be its stuttering syncopated drum pattern, its the little touches like the addition of haunting strings, horns, and vocal samples that make this one an...

Read More