Any time I see Stoupe on the production credits, the song/project is going to get a look. And here he sets the right/left march for Switch and guest emcee Slaine to put cadence to. Slaine in particular sounds nasty on this beat but both emcees do a nice job harnessing the energy Stoupe brings to the table.
New dope from producer Brutal Caesar, and he’s got a host of dope emcees on his new joint, Last Days. Ren Thomas, Shyste, and Revalation all join in as though it was there last day to spit a verse. Lots of clever line in here and good wordplay to be had.
There was a time when I only dated strippers / With more junk in the trunk than American Pickers / Rorshack Blot Test bored staring at pictures / Cats call themselves ballas, I call them terrible tippers
Shyste – The Last Days
More soulful hip hop from Lord Juco, and this time backed with some production by Sibbs Roc. It’s short but really sweet. You get one sixteen, that’s really impossible to put into a quotable because Juco’s style is so interwoven within the bars. So you will just have to trust me with two minutes of your life on this one.
Here’s another release I don’t think you should be sleeping on. Kail Problems and DJ Hoppa linked up for a project called Massive. And it’s not one to miss. Neck snapping production coupled with an emcee who really knows how to deliver his bars.
The Summit is my favorite track off of this project. It’s a joint that just goes from start to finish with DJ Hoppa really making those drums hit hard with various instruments samples and when Kail Problems gets going he just doesn’t stop. He’s ready to go, sink or swim.
Don’t press your luck, keep your weaponary / N#@%as test your nuts but it ain’t nothing like vasectomies
Kail Problems – The Summit
Jae Skeese was a revalation to me last year. His intelligence and insight are such a welcome contribution to hip hop. As a writer, it’s not about clever punches, it’s about telling a story and a perspective with deft mic skills. Definitely feeling his style. And here he quite literally rides the wind taking advantage of Superior’s subtle and understated production.
Testament Of The Times is out now!
I really wanted to showcase this producer, Nef. This man is not getting enough credit for his sound. He has a keen ear for making beautiful backdrops for emcees to tell a story. He recently released another album, The Gentleman’s Board which is extremely dope. I loved Tabula Rasa but this new one is definitively a growth in sound.
I decided to feature the Bobby J From Rockaway track, because these two just have an incredible chemistry. And Bobby J is just so clever with the wordplay. The Mordor line had me run it back. Really dope!
Another single off of Jay Royale’s forthcoming EP, The Bea Gaddy Soup Kitchen. And this project is bound to be just as flames as the last, Criminal Discourse.
Jay Royale solicits the skills of Pete Twist on production, and a verse from Born Unique. So you KNOW this joint is going to be tough. This piano banger from Twist sounds like a horror movie score, which is justifiable once you hear these bars. And those Mobb Deep samples scratched in, really adds that special touch. Don’t Sleep!
We are blessed today with a new one from Spit Gemz, and he’s spitting with some vengeance over this Seth SilenSir production. Linking up with Bub Styles, they illustrate that they aren’t about to be derailed.
All of you pussy I have no doubts about it / In my zone ain’t a man who can take me out it / On my throne ain’t a harlot that can shake me out it
Embarking on a different type of project are artists, Nejma Nefertiti, Double AB, Dub Sonata, and Tone Spliff. You may or may not be familiar with all the names, but trust me these are titans of their perspective crafts. On the track Pigeons, the emcees take on the task on dropping sixteens on the birds that have become synonymous with urban centers. They each have dope narrative and perspective and it’s a unique way to display dexterity and invention. And Dub Sonata laces some soulful boombap flavor that takes to the streets of NY while Tone Spliff (hardest working DJ/Producer in the game) scratches those finishing touches on an already dope track.
Animal Barz drops on March 15th.
Single from producer Big Sproxx featuring the incomparable Tragedy Khadafi. It’s mellow yet “deep” production. The depth of sound really keeps the listener attached to the music. And Tragedy is more than three decades in and still has razor sharp bars that everyone can relate to. His craft is really the stuff of legends and doesn’t get mentioned enough.
I ain’t even touch my zenith believe it the night’s still young – Tragedy
Hip Hop Dependency 