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!

stefanoneder Mixtapes

Magestik Legend – To Be Continued…Chapter 1 Mixtape (Separated Tracks)

Artist:  Magestik Legend

Album:  To Be Continued…Chapter 1 Mixtape (Untagged)

Tracklisting:

  1. Intro (prod. by The Audible Doctor)
  2. Bout Freedom (prod. by Astronote)
  3. Blood, Sweat, Tears (prod. by Bean One)
  4. Postal Service (prod. by Pete Cannon)
  5. All Eye Know (prod by Astronote)
  6. Larry Brown (Paystyle)
  7. Get Doe (prod. by Magestik Legend)
  8. The Showbiz (prod. by Astronote)
  9. Pop Metal (ft. MarvWon and Ro Spit) (prod. by Astronote)
  10. Crack Rules (prod. by Marink D)
  11. Where Can I Start (ft. Fes Roc) (prod by Hill Inc.)
  12. Day Break (ft. Othello) (prod. by 14KT)
  13. Shoot The Breeze (prod. by Oznoh)
  14. CARBON (prod. by Astronote)

Note:

I won’t spent a whole lot of time big uppin’ this release after giving a more extensive review of Chapter 2 earlier.  Magestik Legend is talented and is backed by some talented producers and guest emcees on this release.  I am just trying to get the populous prepped for his November 30th release, The Great Escape.   My favorite off of this joint is the track All Eye Know. You can stream and download this mixtape (separated tracks version) below.

stefanoneder Mixtapes

Magestik Legend – To Be Continued…Chapter 2 Mixtape

Artist: Magestik Legend

Album: To Be Continued…Chapter 2

Tracklisting:

  1. Reintroduction
  2. The Rundown (prod. by Astronote)
  3. Get.Ends.Hide (prod. by Astronote)
  4. Long Distance (prod. by Astronote)
  5. What’s In A Name (prod. by 14KT)
  6. TBC2 Interlude
  7. Vice Gripz (prod, by Astronote)
  8. Brand NEW (prod. by The Audible Doctor)
  9. What The World Needs (ft. T. Calamese) (prod. by Astronote)
  10. Lock And Key (prod. by Astronote)
  11. Dirty Little Pretty (prod by Slop Funk Dust)
  12. Video Game (ft. Buff1)
  13. Carbon (prod. by Astronote)
  14. Crazy (prod. by Astronote)

Note:

Magestik Legend is getting us ready for his album dropping November 30th, entitled The Great Escape.  This is going to be his first full length album since 2007 and I would expect heads to support it wholeheartedly.   To Be Continued…Chapter 2 is obviously the second installment of a series of mixtapes to prep for this release.

Honestly, this is more of an album in itself.  It’s got a ton of dope songs and very little filler and the other things that get in the way of a good cut.  It is hosted by none other than, Rapper Big Pooh.  If you are unfamiliar with Magestik Legend but appreciate intricate lyricism, you will love this release.  Magestik Legend’s lyrical prowess is amazing.  The way he bends the English language to his will puts him in an elite group of emcees. He can flip on a variety of different production styles and BPMS and sounds dope in all instances. The song CARBON really will illustrate his abilities as an emcee.

Astronote handles the bulk of the production duties and I think he is very underrated or under-mentioned.  His work on tracks like The Run Down, Get.Ends.Hide., and Vice Gripz show a great deal of polish and really give Magestik Legend a powerful sound to work with.  The Audible Doctor also lends his hand to one track, Brand NEW, which ends up sounding incredible.  It has a very soulful vibe.  I love the samples this guy uses.  He has a gift and a knack for finding and incorporating those dope samples.

What’s my favorite track?  Take your pick.   I could name any of the aforementioned tracks as a favorite.   But I won’t be wishy-washy.  CARBON.  Bottom line is give the man his due and recognition.  Get all of his material.  You will definitely appreciate it.  Listen below…

stefanoneder EP

Watts – Scuba Lessons Vol. 1

Artist: Watts

Album: Scuba Lessons Vol. 1

Tracklisting:

  1. Success (Redo)
  2. La La La
  3. Peel Back (Power Of Your Love) (Redo)
  4. Reflection
  5. Stain Glass

Note:

Let me start off by saying that I literally know nothing about the emcee, Watts.  But I want to know more so if you are reading this, homie, please get at me so I can get on board with what you are doing.  This artist is mad talented.  This is just five tracks but in this brief EP I can hear immense talent.  He kills every verse.  My favorites are La La La, where he demolishes the Fugees instrumental, Reflection, and Stain Glass.

I can appreciate a lot of music and usually find something enjoyable in every release but rarely am I blindsided by someone I haven’t heard a verse from.  This kid is good.  Damn good.

Shouts out to YNotMyDream for putting me on….