stefanoneder EP, Recommendations

Koncept – Playing Life EP

Artist: Koncept

Album: Playing Life

Guests: Sene, Silent Knight

Production: The Audible Doctor, J57, Maticulous, DJ Brace, DJ Dyllemma

Best Tracks: Keeping On, First Time, Old Man Winters

Recommendation:  Highly Recommend

Note:  The BBAS has never given you reason to doubt the skill that lies within.  Koncept’s release is no different. Playing Life is short and excellent.  I always was impressed by Soul Khan from BBAS but this EP gave me an opportunity to really see what his compadre Koncept could do on the microphone.  He does not disappoint.  He is not a punchline rapper but rather relies on a great flow and emotion to rock a track.  When you listen to him you really feel the music.

The production is also incredibly solid.   Ever since I heard the Undeniable Remix by The Audible Doctor I was an instant fan.  He laces three tracks for the EP and all of them are on point.  He has great command of his production.  It just seems so effortless.  But the banger on the album has to be Keeping On which was laced by maticulous.  The song just knocks.

In conclusion,  I feel that this EP deserves a spot on your Ipod.  It’s just too nice not too.  While to call it an “instant classic” is a reach, it still differentiates itself from the rest of the pack to make it one of the better releases in 2010.

stefanoneder Recommendations, Video

Gotham Green: Haze Diaries Vol. 3

Artist:  Gotham Green & DJ Quickie Mart

Album: Haze Diaries Vol. 3

Features: El Prez, Planet Asia, Freddie Gibbs, Jes Hudak, Icon The Mic King,  Malkovich, Jackie Tohn, Tunji

Production: DJ Quickie Mart, Josh The Goon

Favorites:  Tell Me Something, Smoke For The Ladies, The Five Families, Dirty Filthy Liar

Recommendation: Highly Recommend

Notes:  If you are not familiar with Gotham Green and DJ Quickie Mart then this is a perfect opportunity for you to do so.  Haze Diaries Vol. 3 features a full range of production, dope flows, and a good assortment of guest shots throughout.  Gotham Green continues to show his competency when he is confronted with a microphone.  He simply slays his verses.  The female vocalist, Jes Hudak, is also very noteworthy.  I rarely give credit when it comes to the vocalists on releases but she really makes the songs so much better when she comes on over the chorus.  I think in all there was one song I might skip over but that should not detract from the overall quality of the project.

stefanoneder Recommendations, Video

Kali – The Cali Kali EP

– Artist: Kali

–  Album:  The Cali Kali EP

–  Guest Shots:  Termanology, C-Scharp, Glasses Malone, Mistah Fab

–  Producers: Statik Selektah, Cinema, Blaze P

–  Recommendation:  Highly Recommended

–  Stand Out Tracks:   Rock Starr, Mister Misunderstood

–  Notes:  I have listened to Kali for a while now.  Just picking up this and that mixtape and let me tell you I was not prepared for how good this was.  It is eight tracks in length and each track holds it’s own.   There is nothing that is skippable.  I think you need to have this in your collection.

stefanoneder Mixtapes

Rain: American Dreamin Pt. 3

Rain brings his finest musical offer yet to the table.  American Dreamin 3 is certainly not to be slept on.  I have always thought Rain had the talent to make a big splash in hip hop and this release is a major step in this direction.  Rain takes his listeners on a journey through his life that proves to be interesting both lyrically and musically.  What I real like about this release is how it distinguishes itself from his previous releases with consistent production and improved content.

I love to hear a musician push the envelope in discussing his or her life. Tears Of  A Man really had my attention.  It is such a deep track that touches upon Rain’s life experiences.  It’s powerful tracks like this that make hip hop great.  Clearly, the artist just takes a completely raw approach and exposes his thoughts to the microphone.

Home Sweet Home is also a five-star track that should have the music world buzzing.  This is the best produced track off of the mixtape.  The lyrics to the chorus leave the listener gasping for breath.   Rain takes us for a ride through his hometown giving you glimpses into what he sees on a day to day basis.

American Dreamin Pt. 3 deserves notice for more than just the two aforementioned tracks and commands more than just one full listen.  Rain gets better and better with each release and will soon find his name mentioned as one of the artists poised to make a power shift in independent hip hop.

If you have not checked out his previous work, you can check out his website HERE.  Otherwise, click the pic to check out the DJ Booth sponsored release and enjoy some dope hip hop.