stefanoneder EP

Wordsmith – Buzzworthy Bangers Vol. 1

Artist: Wordsmith

Album: Buzzworth Bangers Vol 1

Source: 2Dopeboyz

Tracklisting:

  1. Ground Zero (prod. by Streetrunner)
  2. Hear The Whispers (prod. by Centric)
  3. In This Corner (prod. by J-Mac)
  4. Show Me The Money (prod. by Drum Majors ATL)
  5. Touch Back Down (prod. by Strada)
  6. A Night To Remember (prod. by Neo-Keys)
  7. Flashback Of Hope & Happiness (prod. by Strada)
  8. The Righteous Path Revo Remix (ft. Kontact, Black Knight, and Whitefolkz) (prod by Krate Krusaders)
  9. A Night To Remember Revo Remix (ft. Kontact and Black Knight) (prod. by Neo-Keys)

Note:

Wordsmith is one of those artists where the more you hear from him, the more you can appreciate what he does on the microphone. He has a rapid fire delivery and crisp cadence. He has also been a very busy artist this year. A couple of mix tapes and of course his album, Vintage Experience, have really made him pretty prolific and that’s not even to mention all of the guest shots the man has appeared on.

Buzzworthy Bangers Vol. 1 is a different vibe. Wordsmith is going to get his name heard on this release with plenty of accessible tracks.  There is something on here for the hip hop purists and those who are looking for a cut or two that should get some serious radio play if the right people are listening. Hear The Whispers is one of those tracks that could make it in both circles.  Lyrically, Wordsmith is keeping you on your toes, while  the producer Centric organizes a very energetic track.   It’s very uptempo and keeps the adrenaline flowing.   Wordsmith’s skill and charisma really draws you in on a track such as this.

My favorite track is The Righteous Path Revo Remix.   The production is really busy on this track, but it keeps you listening intently.  And while the beat holds your attention, Wordsmith, Kontact, Whitefolkz, and the very underrated Black Knight drop some meaningful bars.   I abide by the policy, that dope production, when coupled with dope, meaningful lyricism will always equal a sure shot.

Buzzworthy Bangers Vol. 1 is a great place to start if you have never heard a Wordsmith joint before, but also a great piece of music for existing fans to sink their eardrums into.  Wordsmith definitely has the ball rolling in a positive direction and I can only hope that hip hop enthusiasts can catch up to and appreciate what he and the rest of his DMV compatriots are putting down.

stefanoneder EP

Ayden – Miles To Go Before I Sleep EP

Artist: Ayden

Album: Miles To Go Before I Sleep EP

Source: Kevin Nottingham

Tracklisting:

  1. Ashes (ft. X-1, Mina B, Enormus The Ox, Mokeout)
  2. Guerilla war (ft. Havoc, Curt@!n$, Myth)
  3. Cold Streets (ft. Big Lou, Famoso, Sha Stimuli)
  4. Fam (ft. Shabaam Sahdeeq)
  5. Venting (ft. Keith Murray)
  6. Life Of Glamour (Instrumental)
  7. So Strong (ft. Donny Goines, Famoso, Rap P)
  8. Ain’t Going Out (ft. Mokeout, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Tools)

Notes:

Another what I will call “left field” release.  I am not sure who Ayden is, nor who Supabeatz is.  Do I need to study up?  Evident ally, because this little ditty is dope.  Strong production throughout really resonated with me.  Also, if I see a Donny Goines feature on your project, I can be guaranteed that the joint is going to knock.  Goines never disappoints.

This EP is chocked full of dopeness.  The joint, Ashes, starts out like a cinematic feature and then the four emcees just go for delf when the beat settles in.   I am not familiar with a single emcee on this cut but I don’t have a bad thing to say about any of them.  All had a nice flow about them and contributed their part.  The next jam, Guerilla War, made it’s way around the blogging circle earlier this year.   This joint features Havoc  (from Mobb Deep), Curt@!n$, and Myth.   Obviously that is a strong line up and the joint hits hard.  The track is very understated and certainly is not over-produced.  He really lets the emcees shine by the way the production is subtly dope.  That’s true not only for this track but for every track on this EP.

Hip Hop veterans, Shabaam Sahdeeq and Keith Murray also add solo joints to the project and both sound very nice over Ayden’s beats, particularly the former.  I have most of Sahdeeq’s material and I am glad to hear him attacking the beat again.  He sounds very rejuvenated over Ayden’s production.   I would be very interested in hearing an EP or album from Sahdeeq completely produced by Ayden.  I think there is a lot of chemistry there.

Most of the tracks are posse cuts and the production throughout the project makes it very accessible.  The bottom line is if you like the guest list, rest assured that you will certainly like production.   There is a lot of Boom-Bap flavor from Ayden on this joint.  If I understand correctly, this is just a prequel to a much bigger project so we should all be checking for something from him in the future.

Be sure to download this EP and check back here for more information.

stefanoneder EP

A. Sesay – A Special EP

Artist: A. Sesay

Album: A Special EP

Source: Bandcamp

Tracklisting:

  1. Intro (ft. Muggsy Malone)
  2. We Want In (ft. Chris DeShield, D.O.E. C.I.G.A.P.O.M., Mannrock, K-Beta, Wordsmith, Adversary & Born Undadogz)
  3. Don’t Leave Me Lonely (ft. Dagga and Mannrock)
  4. Sinking With The Ship (ft. D.O.E. C.I.G.A.P.O.M., Adversary, and Napoleon Da Legend)
  5. If Love Was There (Interlude) (ft. Infearion)
  6. If Love Was There (ft. Dave East, Mic Legacy, Benji, and DJ Dublee)
  7. You Don’t Know Me Dog (ft. Dagga, Muggsy Malone, D.O.E. C.I.G.A.P.O.M., Bear Witnez)
  8. Can’t Hold Me Down (ft. Erika Anderson, Dave East, Karnagie, and Dagga)
  9. All In Stride (ft. JNesmuziq and Wordsmith)

Note:

A Special EP is one of the hidden gems of 2010.  There has not been much talk of this EP in blogging circles as far as I can tell so it certainly has gone under the radar as it were.    Regardless, of it not being picked up on by the masses, A. Sesay has done an incredible job producing the entire EP.  The DMV area has been a hot bed of hip hop activity lately and A. Sesay keeps the area on the front burner with this release.

Not only does the EP showcase A. Sesay’s production talents but it also gives other artists to share their verbal talents with the listener.  One emcee in particular that I thought was incredibly dope was D.O.E. C.I.G.A.P.O.M.  His verse on Sinking With The Ship was stellar.  It made check out his own Bandcamp page to listen to his album, Culture Shock 2012 AD.  That’s dope in it’s own right.

So what’s A. Sesay’s style?  I will call it understated.   He doesn’t “over-produce” a track.  On the posse cut, We Want In,  he keeps the beat crisp over organ instrumentation.  He sneaks the bass drum in and then all the sudden you are just nodding your head to a complete banger.  These emcees assassinate the track.  It really is dope to hear the instrumentation and the emcees come together so flawlessly.

On Don’t You Leave Me Lonely, the concept is very similar except that A. Sesay keeps it more mellow and uses a beautiful vocal sample that haunts the track.  Dagga and Mannrock both show keen ability to rock the track.  Again the fusion between emcee and producer is seamless.  This track is one of my favorites though I would have a hard time picking from the litter.

Sinking With The Ship, is the cut that I posted the video for earlier.   This cut is the one everyone should be talking about.  It’s bound to blow. The  beat and another incredible vocal sample lead the way as the emcees talk about developing unity in the hip hop game.   It addresses the way that emcees are prone to tearing each other down.  It’s a positive anthem for how hip hop should be done.  I do not take the word anthem lightly by the way.

By the time this EP is over with you should have developed a certain appreciation for what A. Sesay does behind the boards and what the DMV area talent is capable of.  So enjoy this hidden gem, and then spread the word.

stefanoneder EP

Kap Kallous – The TV EP

Artist: Kap Kallous

Album: The TV EP

Tracklisting:

  1. Intro – ChannelSurfing (prod. by DJ Dolo and MONOwax)
  2. Lets Do Lunch (prod. by DJ Dolo and MONOwax)
  3. Bitchuations (prod. by DJ Dolo and MONOwax)
  4. Go On (prod. by DJ Dolo and MONOwax)
  5. Where I Am (prod. by DJ Dolo and MONOwax)
  6. Warphone (prod. by DJ Dolo and MONOwax)

Note:

Kap Kallous is one of many talented emcees from the Florida area.   I first heard him on the collaborative project,  The Caveman Theory which released and album called The Stone Quartet in 2007 which featured some of the states most talented artists.

I came across The TV EP just by chance.  I hate coming across things by chance because that means the word isn’t getting out appropriately.  I just happened to see a “Tweet” (yeah, I know) about it, so I definitely wanted to check it out.

It’s short and ill.  It’s a build up for his new LP dropping later this year entitled, I Should’ve Kept My Mouth Shut.  According to Kap that should drop in early 2011.  The track that I found most dope off of this release was, Where I Am.  Dude, can spit some bars, no doubt.

Download this.  Check The Cave Man Theory Album from 07.   And come back for more information about his latest projects. One.

stefanoneder Album

Jeff Chery – The Transition

Artist: Jeff Chery

Album: The Transition

Source: DJ Booth

Track Listing:

  1. Nu JC (prod by The RZA)
  2. Someday (prod. by Katapult)
  3. Candy Girl (prod. by Gamble)
  4. Pass The Dutchy (prod. by Chase N.Cashe)
  5. Drop The World (prod. Hit-Boy & Chase)
  6. Gotta Make It (ft. L.Jaye) (prod. by Kalaj Dame)
  7. Pedigree (prod. by Good Will)
  8. They Get Around (prod. Sam Sneed)
  9. Say You Will (prod by Kanye West)
  10. Come From (prod. by Scott Armstrong)
  11. One Night Stand (prod. by Hoodfamous)
  12. I Bet He’s Nice (ft. K. Sparks) (prod. by D. Roof)
  13. Steady Mobbin (prod. by Kane Beatz)
  14. The Pair (prod. P Haze)
  15. Doubt Me (ft. CurT@!n$) (prod. Kalaj Dame)
  16. Airplanes (prod. by Alex Da Kid)
  17. Who Is That (ft. Lil Chuckee) (prod. JHot)
  18. Silly

Note:

The Transition is a mixed bag for me.  There are some excellent tracks on here and then there are some that I feel fall short of his potential.  I have enjoyed Jeff Chery tracks before.  He is a mainstay for a lot of the popular blogs so the exposure is definitely there.    With that being said, I think I could half this album and listen to about fifty percent of the tracks and do without the rest.

This album suffers from an uncomfortable duality.  The production from the album is almost exclusively based on synthed out beats.  Whether they be original or instrumentals used previously from other artists.  I am simply not a fan of that sound.   There are times where it sounds good, ala Pedigree and They Get Around.   These tracks utilize good hooks and Jeff Chery comfortably flows on top of them.    These two songs are definitely highlights.  The rest of the production feels pretty bland.

On some of the other songs I feel like the content of the rhymes is a little cliche.  Alot of tracks regarding the ladies slow the progress of the album.  I don’t mind a couple of cuts but too many defines redundancy.   A little more diversity with eighteen tracks would have been better for the project.

Again,  I don’t want to totally disregard the project as it does have it’s merits.  I just can’t recommend it.

stefanoneder Album

Magestik Legend – FREE (2007)

Artist: Magestik Legend

Album: FREE

Tracklisting:

  1. FREE (Intro) (prod. by Magestik Legend)
  2. The Legend (prod. by Astronote)
  3. In N Out (prod. by Snowman Jack)
  4. Chosen Ones (prod. by Eric G)
  5. Street Corner (prod. by Magestik Legend)
  6. Out There (prod. by Jay Fab)
  7. Good and Bad (prod. by Zhao-Ski and Magestik Legend)
  8. Someone Better (ft. Neco Redd) (prod. by Eric. G)
  9. Take 5 (Flashback 99′) (prod. by Magestik Legend)
  10. What Would You Do? (ft. Patrice Williams) (prod. by Jay Fab)
  11. Black Out (ft. iLLite) (prod. by Decompoze)
  12. Baby Girl (ft. Kashia) (prod. by Nick Speed)
  13. Hold Ya Weight (MLMIX) (prod by Zhao-Ski)
  14. Thanks to…(Flashback 99′) (prod. by Nick Speed)
  15. FREE (Outro)

Note:

This album comes from a few years back.  2007 to be exact.  This was my first exposure to Magestik Legend.  I originally got this off of Hiphopsite.com back in the day, when they were trying to be a online distributor.  Now you can find it on his bandcamp page.  Again, I am not going to spend a lot of time reviewing something from back in 2007 but I do think it is relevant now that his new album is coming out. The Great Escape dropping, November 3oth.

If you are looking for the sureshot off of this release, look no further than the Decompoze backed joint, Blackout.  Decompoze production is incomparable and iLLite needs to get mentioned more when folks talk about Michigan hip hop.  Stream…Download…Enjoy!