If you're in the mood for something mello, check out the latest from Frank Ocean. He's letting his New Orleans upbringing show on his new track "Voodoo," another short track that he let loose on his Tumblr. Give us a full length song, Frank!!
Donnis was feeling generous again, and dropped off a music video and two new tracks for Vol. 2 of his Snack Pack series. Watch the short visuals to his Juicy J collab "Bout That Life," and hit the jump to hear the Atlanta rapper's new Gods Paparazzi-produced tracks, "Hoes" and "Benjamin Franklin!"
Lamborghini Lo Keys lets his lyrics take the front seat on "Spread My Wings," the second single from his upcoming mixtape American Greed (Scams, Schemes and Broken Dreams). In the meantime, check out his latest tape, The Green Hornet!
Here's some unexpected Mac Miller that Mr. Peter Parker and DJ Whoo Kid chose as the lead single from their upcoming tape #FRATRAP. Check out "Death Of An Emcee," a track that allows Mac Miller to address all of the naysayers who don't think he's a true emcee. I'm impressed by this one.
The Roots has changing the game with their concept album undun, which tells the story of fictional character Redford Stephens. Along with the album, there have been a series of visuals that turn the album into a soundtrack of sorts. There is also a free un(dun) iPhone app that serves as a comparison piece to the album. Check out one of the app's feaures below, an account of Redford Stephens's life through the eyes of his aunt, and make sure you go get the album if you haven't already!
Since I'm still in R&B mode, I couldn't leave out this new video from Carl Thomas and Snoop Dogg. Get your grown and sexy on to this Rico Love penned track, and be sure to put this one on your Valentine's Day playlists. Don't have a Valentine's? I'll two step with ya!
Kelly Rowland's Here I Am may not have blazed the Billboard charts last year, but it has proved to be an album that can spawn multiple hit singles. After dabbling in Dance music on "Down For Whatever," the singer took it back to her R&B roots for her current single "Keep It Between Us." Watch the music video below starring Kelly and Lance Gross. This video is so sweet, it makes a gangsta shed a :') tear.
Here's a new track from Detroit singer-songwriter Bei Maejor! I'm not sure if this song is part of his Upscale movement, but it's a nice pop ballad if you're into that kind of thing. Check out "Angel On Earth" below, and let me know what you think about the song by hitting me up in the comments below!
PenStation's Mike Tape, Volume II is out now exclusively on Gangstas Use Emoticons, but I had to single out their track "Destiny," which I think is one of the best tapes on the project. Check out the standout track below, and hit the jump to check out the full tape. Don't sleep on Mr. Write & Riddles!
Out of the thousand verses recorded over Tyga's "Rack City," he chose the biggest names for the remix. Check out the official remix, which features Wale, Fabolous, Young Jeezy, Meek Mill, and T.I.! Music video coming soon!
Tyga - Rack City (Remix) ft. Wale, Young Jeezy, Meek Mill, T.I. & Fabolous (Dirty)
Meek Mill gave us a sample of his "The Motto" freestyle last week, but now we have the full remix that he recorded with Wale. They've thrown around the idea of doing a joint mixtape together so I'm guessing this is a test run to see how the fans respond.
Who killed the beat better? My vote's for Wale on this one...
Emilio Rojas has been working effortlessly to make his new project Breaking Point one of the best mixtapes to drop so far in 2012. With Billionaire Boys Club and DJ Green Lantern placing their stamps on the album-quality project, how could you not try it? Stream or download the Breaking Point below, which boasts minimal features and production from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Willpower, The Olympicks, and more!
It looks like Slaughterhouse is finally geared up and ready to drop their Shady debut album. I've been waiting on this ever since I played their first album to death in my car. Their sophomore project welcome to: OUR HOUSE has been announced for a May 15th release via Interscope. To top it all off, they will be embarking on a world tour beginning in March that spans about two months. Hit the jump to see if the slaughter is coming to your area!
Chris Brown is going for a similar sound to "Yeah 3x" and "Beautiful People" that gave him international success on this new single "Turn Up The Music." Check out Fortune's official second single below, and let me know if you think Breezy has a hit on his hands!
One session. 5 powerhouses. The end result of this collab sounds major. Check out pics from the recent studio sessions with Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, Busta Rhymes, Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller below, and let me know what you think of this unlikely collab!
Odd Future has quite the year planned out. Along with their individual projects, they're dropping a the OF Tape, Vol. 2 in March and have now announced a 17-date world tour to capitalize on the release. Find out if OFWGKTA is coming through your city after the jump!
Los is one of the baddest emcees out right now, and this off the dome freestyle is hard, cold evidence of that. Check out the Baltimore wordsmith on Shade 45's Toca Tuesdays, and hit the jump to hear him explain the process behind his latest project, The Crown Ain't Safe.
Honors English is back with another dope set of visuals from his upcoming album State Of The Art, which drops February 22. This AUKS-animated video for "Second Chances," features the beautiful voice of Karina Pasian and begins as Honors English and Needlz explaining the entire concept behind the song, which involves the producer's surviving bout with cancer. Watch below as the G.U.E. favorite's lyrics get animated!
Every week leading up to his Valentine's Day concert at S.O.B.'s in New York, Bilal is going to release an acoustic cover of his favorite songs. Check out the acoustic version of his Airtight's Revenge standout "Think It Over" below, and sway with me. d(^_^)b
Here's "Tonight," the second single from the Think Like A Man soundtrack. This John Legend and Ludacris collab is a sensual R&B cut that I definitely prefer over the Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo and Rick Ross track that dropped last week. Think Like A Man hits theaters March 9th!
John Legend feat. Ludacris - Tonight (Best You Ever Had)
Estelle and Stacy Barthe are two of the R&B artists chosen for BET's Music Matters campaign, and I'm really happy that BET is giving real music the spotlight it deserves. Recently, the two singer-songwriters visited 106 & Park where Estelle promoted her upcoming album All Of Me and Stacy Barthe talked about the success of her Sincerely Yours mixtape. Watch the full interview below!
STS continues his internet takeover with visuals to his new song "Downhill," which shows STS rocking packed shows and making the crowd Demand More. Nice flip of XX's "Shelter." I wonder what's next?
Brothers Timothy and Teron Thomas who are the minds behind hits like Rihanna's "Man Down," Mario's "Music For Love," and The Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up," are renewing their position as artists under the new moniker Planet VI. Formerly known as Rock City, the duo finally cut ties with Akon's Konvict Records/Interscope after years of frustrations with the label.
To give Planet VI a proper introduction, the Virgin Islands representers just dropped the brand new mixtape The American Dream that includes production from Boi-1da and Tha Bizness, and features artists including Bei Maejor, 2 Chainz, Dom Kennedy, Chase N. Ca$he, and more. Stream/download the mixtape below, and get used to hearing Planet VI more often because they're not going anywhere!
For a rapper to have a DJ as famous as Don Cannon behind him, Tez McClain is bound to make some seismic waves in 2012. Download the Atlanta MC's new mixtape Wishful Thinking Vol. II: Respect My Grind below, which contains standout tracks "2 Minutes of Game" and "Luv Me," and features CyHi The Prynce, Mistah FAB, Focus & more!
Taylor Gang's Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J, and Lola Monroe aren't waiting until BET Cypher time to show off their camp. Instead, they've morphed into modern day Fugees and recreated their classic single into "Oh-Gee-La." Nowhere near as good as the original, but at least they're not rapping over "The Motto"...
Bobby Creekwater & Stat Quo are screaming FUPM on their new music video to the Kevin Hart sampled "Alright Alright." Watch the visuals below that show that TDE golden boy Kendrick Lamar is down with the Atlanta emcees!
Thanks to Strong Arm Steady's upcoming album StereoType with Statik Selektah, the East and the West are colliding in a major way. Check out "Smoke On," the latest single from the California group, which features smooth talker Dom Kennedy and Baby D.
Strong Arm Steady - Smoke On ft. Dom Kennedy & Baby D [Prod. by Statik Selektah]
Out of the 234, 083 verse recorded over Tyga's "Rack City," only Wale and Fabolous made the cut for the official remix. They just shot the video for the remix and let some behind the scenes photos loose to give us a preview. For now, check out the remix, and hit the jump for the pics!
Update (1.24.11): Check out Mun2's behind the scenes video of the photo shoot!
Over the course of the next few weeks, Stalley is building a bridge to his next album Savage Journey To The American Dream by releasing some bonus material he's grouping under Songs By Me, Stalley. Check out the MMG emcee's DJ Toomp produced single "City Of 30,000 Wolves" below, which features DJ Khaled. If this song is any indication of the album, Stalley's got himself a problem on his hands!
Masspike Miles is here to claim his spot as a true R&B contender with his new mixtape Say Hello To Forever. The Maybach Music singer has built up quite the buzz thanks to his The Road Less Traveled EP, sexy music videos, and now he's cashing in on his investments to make Say Hello To Forever his most successful project to date.
Check out the mixtape below, which features Raekwon, Fred The Godson, Torch, Wiz Khalifa, and more!
Brooklyn bred emcee Sha Stimuli does Hip Hop for one reason and one reason only. It's his calling. While everyone can call themselves rappers, Sha is a true emcee who spits effortlessly about things that you can't help but vibe to.
During 2011's A3C Festival, Sha recorded the Focus and DJ Presyce produced track "The Calling" in the festival's Unique Squared mobile studio and at Atlanta's Salem Psalms Library. I'm not liable if you break your neck listening to this one!
Illinois emcee Brief plans to make an impact in Hip Hop because he raps about real issues while others focus on materialistic things that they probably don't even own. His storytelling skills are put to good use on his new track "Miss Popular," a smooth Lando Beats production that sets the tone for Brief's confession of infidelity.
"Miss Popular" is the first leak from Brief's upcoming EP, whose production will be manned primarily Lando Beats and Trak Masta Tom. Hit me up on the comments, Facebook and Twitter to let me know if you want to hear more from the midwest representer!
On February 21st, Seattle based emcee Fatal Lucciauno is releasing is sophomore album Respect. Check out Fatal's latest single "Big Bro," who describes the song better than I could:
“The song is about the love of the down ass sistas from my hood, and those across the country that believe in what I believe," explains Fatal. "It's a true revolution through disciple love – it sounds weird, but for those that know, they know."
Nicole Wray??????? Y'all really don't understand. I was a huge fan of Nicole Wray when she dropped "Make It Hot" when I was 8. I sang that song like she was speaking my life, and I was always disappointed that she kind of faded away after her debut album and the Rocafella split.
With a feature from Mr. Tity 2 Necklaces himself, her new song "I Like" is bound to get some attention. But this video? It's like one of those stores in the mall that let you make a cheesy music video to generic backgrounds. Once Nicole gets a decent visual team together, I think things will look up for her comeback.
As a prelude to his sophomore album, Saigon is back with nineteen tracks of heat to reclaim his spot as one of the most skillful emcees in Hip Hop, period. Warning Shots 3: One Foot In The Grave contains the hard hitting singles "I Am 4 Real," "Hungry," and "Another Man Down." The features are scarce yet pretty impressive with Saigon's former rival Joe Budden making an appearance as well as production from Just Blaze, Scram Jones, Green Lantern and more. Check the tape out below, and let me know what you think by hitting me up in the comments below!
After only a few singles and a number of impressive performances, Elle Varner has already made her mark as one of R&B's most creative and talented new artists. Before her debut album Perfectly Imperfect hits stores, she's giving us a proper introduction with her brand new mixtape, Conversational Lush. With thirteen tracks, the songstress is practically giving us an entire album as a gift.
According to Funkmaster Flex, Neako is one of 20 to watch out for in 2012, and I completely agree. Check out the visuals to his IFWT freestyle "Disco" below, and let me know if you think the New Jersey spitter is one of this year's top contenders!
Casey Veggies has already captured the underground and the attention of heavyhitters like Jay-Z. Now he's looking for some mainstream appeal with the infectious Dynamic Duo produced single "Fuckin' Awesome." Check out the new track below, and hit me up with your reactions to the song in the comments below!
Casey Veggies - Fuckin' Awesome [Prod. by Dynamic Duo]
This mixtape has been in the works for months and after all of the leaks and freestyles, Mike Tape Vol. II is finally here! I've seen first hand how much time and effort Dre Write and Riddles have put into this project, and I'm proud to premiere PenStation's Mike Tape, Volume II on Gangstas Use Emoticons.
This mixtape features 20 tracks all sampling the sequin-gloved superstar Michael Jackson so that it captures the essence of the King of Pop while showcasing the originality of Riddles production and their combined lyricism. Don't sleep on these New Jersey brothers!
This morning on Sway's Shade 45 morning show, Cali emcee Bishop Lamont faced DJ Wonder's 5 Fingers Of Death freestyle challenge that Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T. and Childish Gambino survived with ease. How does Bishop Lamont measure up? Let me know!
