King Mez x Khrysis – The King’s Khrysis

Artist: King Mez x Khrysis

Album: The King’s Khrysis

Source: DJ Booth

Tracklisting:

1. Reaching Out (Intro)
2. Nightmare
3. Shine
4. From The South (feat. Thee Tom Hardy, Sean Boog & DJ Flash)
5. Something’s Missing
6. The King’s Khrysis (feat. Phonte)

Note:

King Mez’s release last year, The Paraplegics, produced entirely by Commissioner Gordon, was one of the best releases in 2010.  I became an instant fan of King Mez and swore I would try and make sure I listened to all his releases from here on out.   And sure enough, King Mez does not disappoint me one bit on The King’s Khrysis.   He is backed by one of the most established producers in the game.  Khrysis is excellent on switching up production, giving the listener a different look/listen within the same song. Case in point is the first track, Reaching Out.

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Grynch – Timeless EP (2011)

Artist: Grynch

Album: Timeless EP

Source: DJ Booth

Tracklisting:

  1. So Long
  2. Timeless (ft. Jon Hope x La)
  3. All I Wanna Do (ft. Sol)
  4. Out Of Sight, On My Mind
  5. Randy The Ram
  6. Got Ya Numb (D-Sane Remix) (ft.  Wizdom)
  7. My Volvo (Sabzi Remix)

Notes:

I check for Grynch ever since I heard his first EP, Chemistry.  He’s got an above par flow and seems to work with dope producers.   The Timeless EP is probably his best effort to date and thus it was worth mentioning here.   I like the ‘chemistry’ (no  pun intended) with producer Jester.  Often times when an emcee works with just one producer on a project I find that the beats get stale.  That is not the case with Timeless.  There’s enough variation to make the whole EP very listenable.

If I have to pick standout tracks (which you know I will) I am going to go with  Timeless, Out Of Sight, On My Mind, Randy The Ram.  The vibe on all of these tracks is pretty mellow, but Jester uses different instrumentation to give each song a different vibe.

Timeless features the venerable Jon Hope who is really up there on my list of emcees to blow.   This guy hasn’t even come close to peaking so please watch out! Back on topic, Jester finds a very sonic back drop and then just enhances it with some piano and what sounds like guitar in some places.  I really feel the musical effort on this particular track.  Obviously, the emcees are putting something together that will stand the test of time and they use their verses to discern between the flash-in-the-pan emcees and themselves. Grynch says it s best:

…Look in the mirror, yeah you the flavor of the month / Years from now I’m trying to be a cat they saying they still bump….

Out Of Sight, On My Mind is an ode to the lady in your life that’s not where she should be: In your life.   Jester puts together a very engaging production that is layered in different sound.  He’s got some banging piano chords that drive the track.   Grynch details his feelings for a woman that is not around but he still feels that attachment.  Think of it as a love lost song without the sappiness.  I think most of us can appreciate a track about the one who got away, or went missing as the case may be.

Randy Ram is the joint for those of us who have ever considered  giving up on our dreams.  This is Grynch’s ode to making things happen and pursuing that elusive dream.  The title’s namesake is for Mikey Rourke’s  character in the award winning movie, The Wrestler.  A figure who only knew how to do one thing, and that was to entertain through wrestling.   Grynch isn’t trying to wind up disgraced like Randy The Ram.  He is trying to make moves and plans for his future doing what he loves.

It is a forgone conclusion.  Go download this EP and get acquainted with what Grynch is doing musically.  (Check out any of the links above to DL)  You can also check out his website to see videos and listen to previous releases.

Zilla Rocca – Bad Weather Classic EP (2011)

Artist: Zilla Rocca

Album: Bad Weather Classic

Source: Email

Tracklisting:

  1. Tiger Heli (prod, by Face-One)
  2. Bad Weather Classic (ft. Mally and Curly Castro) (prod. by Face-One)
  3. Never Should I lose You (Prod. by Zilla Rocca)
  4. High School Ring (prod by Small Professor)
  5. Midnight Mask (prod. by Zilla Rocca)

Note:

This release underscores the deep rooted musical talent that is Zilla Rocca.  Everything I hear from the man really stands out.  I get put onto a lot of hip hop that varies in dopeness but I can always be rest assured that a release of Zilla Rocca’s will be of the highest caliber.

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The Brainstormers – The Brainstormers EP (2011)

Artist: The Brainstormers (Cayoz Da Beast x A.L. Laureate x Praverb the Wyse x DJ Grazzhoppa x O*Zee)

Album:  The Brainstormers EP

Source: Bandcamp

Tracklisting:

  1. By All Means (prod. by Deca One)
  2. Mind’s Design (prod. by O*Zee)
  3. 4 Corner Vision (ft. Crooked I) (prod. by Teddy Roxpin)
  4. Proceed With Caution (ft. Skyzoo) (prod. by Teddy Roxpin)
  5. Righteous Soldiers (ft. Hell Razah) (prod. by Teddy Roxpin)
  6. Same Start (ft. ManChild Of Mars ILL) (prod. by DJ Frantic)

Note:

There’s a new group to speak of in independent hip hop.   Each of the lyrical members of the group hail from what essentially is the four corners of the continental United States.  The DJ, DJ Grazzhoppa, hails from Belgium.  They come to you collectively as The Brainstormers. Some groups like to project how “eclectic” they are, but in this case, each member of The Brainstormers does indeed bring a completely different style to the table.

The most unique of the four emcees, in my opinion,  is A.L. Laureate out of Florida.  He is billed  as the abstract one and that term definitely qualifies.  His style is very poetic.  It takes a while to digest what Laureate is saying, which actually is quite refreshing in this day in age where we are being spoon fed lyrically. Praverb the Wyse has always struck me as someone who has a great spiritual resonance.  He brings a level of sincerity to the mic. Cayoz Da Beast is the most pragmatic emcee of the group.  His style is very deliberate and his flow is more aggressive than the others.  O*Zee (not featured as an emcee on the project) is an excellent addition to the group.  He is lyrically gifted and can drop the ill punchlines and metaphors.   His wordplay is very elaborate and clever.

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Kyle Hubbard – Tomorrow In Retrospect (2010)

Artist: Kyle Hubbard

Album: Tomorrow In Retrospect

Source: Bandcamp

Tracklisting:

  1. Waddup (prod. by DJ Corbertt)
  2. New School Slang (ft. Rapper Big Pooh) (prod. by Royal Audio Tunes)
  3. Chasing The Dream (ft. K-Rino and Renzo) (prod. by Basement Productions)
  4. The Paper (prod. by DJ Corbertt)
  5. I Don’t Care (ft. Preemo) (prod. by Vherbal)
  6. I Got Love (prod. by Basement Productions)

Note:

Houston hip hop does not receive the respect it deserves outside of Texas.  At least that’s my impression.  It is steroetyped and pigeon holed into southern drawls and classified in the gangster “genre” as a general rule of thumb.  What people don’t know is that there are a grip of ill lyricists and artists who have the ability to make  great songs.  For the purposes of destroying these misconceptions, I have decided to use Kyle Hubbard and his EP, Tomorrow In Retrospect as my main example.

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Halfabrick & Alterbeats – Revolutionary Tactics Vol. 2 (2011)

Artist: Halfabrick & Alterbeats

Album: Revolutionary Tactics Vol. 2

Source:  Absouljah Twitter

Tracklisting:

  1. Intro Bars (ft. DJ Modesty)
  2. Mott Aveness (ft. Spicco and Absouljah)
  3. Rebel G You
  4. Real Connotations (ft. DJ 456)
  5. Addicted
  6. Verses In The City Of Light (Bonus Cut)

Note:

I have a rule of thumb, if someone whose music I currently like, recommends something else that I may not have heard, I check it out.  This is how I find a lot of rare gems and dope tracks.  I monitor my Twitter timeline hoping to find that diamond in the rough.  Well this time that gem comes courtesy of The Absouljah.

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Passalacqua – Self-Titled (2011)

Artist:  Passalacqua (Mister + Blaksmith)

Album: Self-Titled EP

Source:  Bandcamp

Tracklisting:

  1. Pineapple Faygo
  2. Bad Grammar
  3. Tom & Bootsy
  4. Footprints
  5. Passalacqua
  6. Been A Minute

Note:

This is a release that randomly hit my email the other day.  I always have an assortment of releases to look at and review, but I got this in my inbox and decided at six tracks, the least I can do is give it a spin.  I am glad that I did.  Passalacqua  is a dope record by any set of standards.  They pack a lot of punch into these six tracks.  The EP is the type of jam that you would play on a Sunday morning and relax.  It’s jazzy and very harmonious.

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Armageddon – The Journal Vol. 1: Rebirth (2011)

Artist: Armageddon

Album: The Journal Vol.1: Rebirth

Source: SoFloEntertainment

Tracklisting:

1. Imma Get Mine
2. Get Yours
3. Dance With The Devil
4. Rap Therapy
5. Sending My Love

Note:

I listened to this EP before bed last night and literally I couldn’t go to sleep for hours because these five tracks had me so amped.  These cuts from Armageddon are absolutely flawless.  It’s the perfect EP.   If you love that intelligent hip hop over those boom bap beats, you are going to love the return of Armageddon.   I haven’t heard from this artist in what would seem like a decade. Usually when an artist resurfaces it is with mixed results, but Armageddon has bucked that trend with an awe inspiring effort.

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Memphis Reigns – Frog Hill Legend (2010)

Artist:  Memphis Reigns

Album: Frog Hill Legend

Source: ColinLegend

Tracklisting:

  1. Errrrry!!! (prod. by Piloophaz)
  2. Chill Street Blues (prod. by Piloophaz)
  3. Judas (prod. by Keko)
  4. Cloud Kingdom (ft. Pravery The Wyse) (prod by. D-Mitch)
  5. Letter To Sakura (ft. Allison Molgaard) (prod. by D-Mitch)
  6. Facebooks (prod. by Keko)
  7. Last Hello (ft. Ceci Basila) (prod. by Keko)
  8. Preach (prod. by Keko)

Note:

I am not sure what it is about Memphis Reigns’ music that I crave.  I think it initially dealt with the mystique.  When Genelec and Memphis Reigns first released Scorpion Circles in 2002, it was heavily talked about but it was hard to find.  I went about trying to hunt this album down and eventually scored it.   It was worth every penny.   Memphis Reigns then seemingly resigned himself to the shadows.  I would hear a track here and there but there was no consistent wealth of music available.  Then as the age of blogs emerged I suddenly found a slew of rare releases and collaborations.

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IMAKEMADBEATS ft. MidaZ The Beast – The Nightlight EP (2010)

Artist: Imakemadbeats x MidaZ The Beast

Album: The Nighlight EP

Source: Bandcamp

Tracklisting:

  1. Nighlight Sunset
  2. Flyers
  3. Freedom (ft. TzariZM)
  4. Subliminal Diss
  5. Word Of Mouth (ft. TzariZM and MURDOC)
  6. The Response
  7. 7 Years
  8. Nighlight Sunset

Note:

This project was released in conjunction with the sister project, The Daylight EP, that featured Butta Verses.   Both of the projects are a prelude to IMAKEMADBEATS’ self-titled album which is dropping, next week on January 18th.   I didn’t comment on the Daylight project mostly because I was involved in the end of the year business but I also must say that I prefer the darker side of things.

The beats on this project are grimey and MidaZ is the perfect emcee to rip over these tracks.    He has the voice, flow, and delivery to turn these dope instrumentals into hip hop gold.

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