stefanoneder EP

Garcia – Off The Beaten Path EP (2012)

Artist: Garcia

Album:  Off The Beaten Path EP

Source: DJ Booth

Tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. We The Only Ones (ft. Omniscient, AG Lyonz)
3. Stolen Soul (ft. J. Nics, Bernz)
4. What I’m Sayin
5. 2 Gun Salute (ft. N.O.R.E.)
6. Why Not Me (ft. Reks)
7. Sadist Game (ft. Wrekonize)
8. About Her
9. Coming Home (Outro)

Note:

I caught this release off of DJ Booth the other day.  I wasn’t expecting it, nor did I truly know who Garcia even was.  I saw that he had the crew from MayDay and J. Nics on the release and that was enough to pique my interest.

Continue reading “Garcia – Off The Beaten Path EP (2012)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews, EP

Just FLow and MaV – The Water Break EP (2012)

Artist: Just FLow x MaV

Album: The Water Break EP

Source: Artist

Tracklisting:

1. Timeout
2. The Combine
3. Joey Crawford (Referee)
4. Cheerleader
5. Showtime
6. The Press
7. Heartless

Note:

The best part about HHD is finding and supporting a winner and that’s exactly what’s happened by helping to spread the word about Just FLow and MaV.   These guys appeal to commercial and underground audiences alike with a universal sound and good wordplay.  The emcees feed off of each other’s energy throughout the release.

Continue reading “Just FLow and MaV – The Water Break EP (2012)” →

stefanoneder EP

Ras Kass x Doc Hollywood – The Yellow Snow EP (2011)

Artist:  Ras Kass x Doc Hollywood

Album;  The Yellow Snow EP

Source:  Bandcamp

Tracklisting:

1. Yellow Snow
2. The Grinch (Who Stole Dub Step)
3. Jack Frost II (White Christmas)

Note:

I won’t take too much time to describe a three track Christmas release. I do want to say that this is a MUST LISTEN to project. Louie Rubio from Doc Hollywood produced these tracks and I really like how he used the yule tide flavor on this joint.

The highlight of this little gem is Ras Kass’ verses on Jack Frost II.  I haven’t heard my favorite emcee spit these type bars  in a long time.  He as always had that knack for dropping intelligent rhymes without sounding like an encyclopedia, but here he just goes bar after bar dropping knowledge.  I haven’t heard this type of flow since Nature Of The Threat.

stefanoneder EP

Sparkingtin x Soulslicers – The Exit Started It (2011)

Artist: Sparkingtin x Soulslicers

Album: The Exit Started It

Source: Soulslicers.com

Tracklisting:

01. Intro
02. Life Of A G feat. El Lay
03. Punchn’ Clockn’
04. Punch You In The Face For No Apparent Reason feat. El Lay
05. Thinkn’ Free’em
06. I Know This Is What U Want
07. Tickn’ Time Bomb
08. Outro

Note:

The Soulslicer’s are busy.  Not too long ago they released their awesome album, Boost Da Soul.  Now they uncover or rather spotlight, this really gifted emcee, Sparkingtin.  This EP is a real gift right here.  You have some gritty Soulslicer’s production introducing the world to a true talent.  Music and the internet work again to create this combo from across the seas.  The Soulslicers hail from Switzerland and Sparkingtin from the hip hop bedrock, Harlem, NY.

Continue reading “Sparkingtin x Soulslicers – The Exit Started It (2011)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews, EP

Muggsy Malone – TPK EP (2011)

Artist: Muggsy Malone

Album: TPK EP

Source: Artist

Tracklisting:

1. Cant Let Yall Catch Me (Produced by Tight Mike)
2. Make You A Believer (Produced By Djay Cas)
3. M.U.Double.G.S.Y (Produced By Grussle)
4. And I’m Out (Produced By Hec Dolo)
5. Be Alright (Produced By Timeless Beats)
6. Live Life featuring Novel (Produced By Timeless Beats)
7. Guardian Angel featuring Mary Brown (Produced By Bigg Vicc)
8. Otis Freestyle
9. Somewhere To Be At (Produced By Infamous)

Note:

This is a precursor to a bigger project but it serves to tide over fans until Mr. Malone drops his album.  This EP  is really dope and showcases yet another talented emcee from the DMV, which really has come to the forefront of hip hop in the last couple of years.  Every track on here is noteworthy.   There’s no reason to hit the <FF> button on this joint, you can enjoy it all the way through.

As always, I have a few favorites on the EP.  Can’t Let You All Catch Me is a legit banger as Tight Mike laces some DMV boom bap while Muggsy Malone is intent on staying ahead of his contemporaries and competition in this game.  The flow that Muggsy Malone takes with him on this track is phenomenal.  He speaks on all the ills, pitfalls, and snakes in the grass.  Every bar on this joint could be a quotable.  He is relentless.

Guardian Angel is a song that anyone who has lost a parental figure can feel.  Bigg Vicc cooks up a soulful, yet uptempo backdrop, but Muggsy Malone continues to drop his thoughts at intense pace.  He reflects on how his mother’s passing effected him in his childhood and in his adulthood.  This song just gave me chills as I hear the man tell his story.    This is an opportunity for us, as fan’s, to walk in the shoes of our favorite artists, if only for a few minutes.  It is a very powerful joint.

At the end of the EP we have the track, Somewhere To Be At.  The producer, Infamous, does an interesting rendition of Coolio’s, Gangsta Paradise.   It’s a cool joint.  The work done to alter the vocal sample as Muggy spits his bars brings a smile to my face.  Speaking of those bars…damn…the man’s flow just doesn’t quit.  He brings it on every verse regardless of tempo, sample, or beat.  Don’t waste his time, because this artist is going places.

I love what I hear in this EP and so will you.  Download it by clicking the link above.

stefanoneder EP

The Regiment – First Mondays (EP)

Artist: The Regminent

Album: First Mondays EP

Source: Kevin Nottingham

Tracklisting:

01. Detroit Hip Hop (prod. by Newstalgia)
02. The New Danger (feat. Kaimbr) (prod. by Newstalgia)
03. Don’t Judge Me (prod. by DJ Qvali)
04. The Show Goes On (feat. Bodega Brovas) (prod. by Beatnick Dee)
05. Failure (feat. Vincent J Kelley) (prod. by Soulution)
06. Presidential Suite (feat. Magestik Legend) (prod. by Soulution)

Note:

The Regiment’s album, The Panic Button, is due out in a little less than a week and I thought I would share their collection of tracks that they have been putting out for a few months now.  They are all pretty dope though The New Danger featuring Kaimbr is probably my favorite.  I expect this album to be very good base upon what I have heard from the Detroit duo and Kevin Nottingham has a pretty solid track record thus far of releasing dope music on his HIPNOTT Records imprint.

(Just click the title above to download)

stefanoneder EP

Moe Green – Lionheart (2011)

Artist: Moe Green

Album: Lionheart EP

Source: 2DopeBoyz

Tracklisting:

  1. Grind Season (prod. by Bedrock)
  2. Zeus (prd. by BK Beats)
  3. All The Money In The World (ft. Nio the Gift) (prod. by Johnny Juliano)
  4. Iced Out Lifestyle (prod. by Indecent The Slapmaster)
  5. Image Interlude
  6. Extra Extra (prod. by Ca$h Martin)
  7. Masterpiece (prod. by BMore Redd)
  8. Deja Vu (prod. by Rob-E)
  9. OWTB (prod. by DJ Flow)
  10. Dreamin’ (ft. Amy Serrata) (prod. by Bedrock)
Note:

Moe Green caught my ears with his Rocky Maiavia project a few months ago and I always keep my ears open for anymore of his music.  Thusly, I caught wind of his latest, Lionheart.    I quickly gave it a listen and the whole project proves to be noteworthy…again.  Moe Green has become the epitome of consistancy.  He never drops anything less than a dope project.

stefanoneder EP

Soulslicers – Before The Album EP (2011)

Soulslicers is a production crew coming out of Switzerland.  They have released this EP for free to generate interest in their soon to be released EP, entitled Boost Da Soul.  And let me tell you, my interest sure is piqued.  These three tracks are just ill and if this album is indicative of what is to come then let me go ahead pre-order this joint right now.  The production is phenomenal.  The songs just knock.  The song that his generate the most interest across the web is M-Dot’s  The Difference, but I am partial to the Quite Nyce joint, Cautious.   But I can’t front on that Access Immortal joint, King Of Kings either.  It’s good to hear him flow over a beat of this caliber.  All three emcees kill their verses over three different, but knocking beats.

These guys beats definitely deserve some recognition.  They have some serious skills and this is just the tip of the iceberg.  Shoot, I even dig the whole “producers in the shadows” concept on the cover art.  All around dope and a must download!  I am certain of it.

Download

stefanoneder EP

Ripynt – On Second Thought Vol. 1 (2011)

Artist: Ripynt

Album: On Second Thought Vol. 1

Source: Twitter

Tracklisting:

  1. Looky Looky
  2. In My Dreams
  3. Best Of Me
  4. Get Addicted
  5. One Of These Nights
  6. I’m Back
  7. Hindsight (ft. Latin Rose)

Note:

These are the kinds of releases that make my day.  Short.  Intense. Dope.  Ripynt is an artist that has dropped consistently dope material in the past and I have kept my ears peeled for some new material.  He dropped A Mid-Summer’s Day Drive with Sinic in 2009 for free, in addition his first full length album, Re-Inventing Poetics, also dropped.  Both of those releases have great replay value.

On Second Thought Vol. 1 is really a continuation from Ripynt’s previous releases.  He delivers loads of clever lines and dope verses, but also the production,  especially on a couple of tracks in particular, is impressive.  This is the type of EP that takes no shorts.  You don’t get a lot of music but what you do get is concentrated hip hop.

From the jump you know Ripynt is going to bring you a high energy release with the track Looky Looky.  The piano riff and beat really make the head nod.  It’s apparent that the premise of this track was inspired by Nas’, I Made You Look, as it is nuanced in both the lyrics and the beat, but the rhymes and production on the whole are entirely fresh and inspiring.  Looky Looky forces the listener to pay attention.  Ripynt dares you to disregard him with this track.

One of the more emotionally charged tracks is, In My Dreams.  This tracks details the story of a boy who grows to a man by the name of Joe.   Joe encounters numerous instances of loss around him.  Close family members and friends die throughout the track.  But more than just a depressing story that focuses on negativity, Ripynt leads the character to overcoming these obstacles and succeeding.  The production takes a back seat as Ripynt tells this story until the sample croons “Hold me…In my dreams”.  It’s all together very powerful music.

The joint, Best Of Me, is lyrically the strongest of the bunch.  On this track you get the sense that Ripynt is pulling from somewhere deeply personal.  He has got some thoughts to get off of his chest and convey to the listener.  I thought his first few bars were very noteworthy of sharing so I thought I would jot them down for you:

It feels like the dark’s always above me / No sunlight, no heart to ever love me / I love Him but my God sometimes disgusts me / And still has the nerve to ask me to blindly trust He / He who doesn’t have a face / He who doesn’t show a trace / Of caring whether or note we get erased / But it’s He who gave me air in the first place / And it’s He who gave me the opportunity to be great…

Lyrically brilliant.

Ripynt embodies everything that is right about hip hop.  He practices his craft not only with precision and skill but with heart and feeling.  He is able to deliver rhymes that will shatter the competition but also embraces the opportunity to move the hearts and minds of his listeners.  On Second Thought Vol. 1 does in seven tracks what 22-Track mixtapes often fail to do, none of which more important than impress.