Welcome back for this week's edition of Straight No Chase, your one-stop shop source for all things hip-hop here on EARMILK. This comprehensive weekly feature aims to share hip-hop based content we may have missed during the past week, while also highlighting memorable content we did cover. In addition to the recap of our best hip-hop posts, SNC also includes a Video of the Week, Project of the Week, and a brief list of recently released noteworthy projects and upcoming releases.
As any hip hop head worth their salt knows, these days music floods the blogosphere by the millisecond. Consequently, the landscape of hip-hop is forever changing. There are countless rappers, both established and up-and-coming, as well as renowned and budding producers and beatsmiths dropping their fair share of dope music for the listening masses. It is our mission to mine the interweb for both audio and visual gems, delivering them straight to you for your auditory consumption. But enough with the jaw jacking: let's cut straight to the chase.
Straight Killer, No Filler
Though people may get the impression that music bloggers and writers are freaks of nature who robotically comb the Internet for music, never missing a beat, I am here to assure you that we too are fallible humans who in the process of bringing dope music to the masses, may miss a good banger or two along the way.
This week's delivery includes music from Angel Haze's new EP, a Guilty Simpson assisted track of The Alchemist's Russian themed LP, a nostalgia inducing track from Nas' highly anticipated Life Is Good LP, a Black Spade assisted gem from Blu x Exile's new EP, Maybe One Day and a list of other dope tracks.
Without further ado, let's jump right into this past week's selection of (22) killer tracks:
Angel Haze – Reservation [EP]
Ibn Iglor – GawdsSpeed [Mixtape]
Carlos Serrano: Jay-Z vs Lana Del Rey – mashup
SkyBlew – Your Dreams Is BLEW Reality [Mixtape]
aDDLib – It's The Thought That Counts [LP]
Dash Speaks – Night On Earth [LP]
The Alchemist – Russian Roulette [LP]
REKS – REBELutionary [LP]
Chin Injeti – Peoples Mixtape [Mixtape]
Rockie Fresh – Driving 88 [Mixtape]
Phony PPL – Nothing Special [EP]
Trade Voorhees – Saturday The 14th Part 2 [Mixtape]
Nas – Life Is Good [LP]
40Love – Dreams Don't Sleep [LP]
Action Bronson – Closed Session Vol. 2 [LP]
Truthos Mufasa – Wallian [EP]
Shad – melancholy and the infinite shadness [EP]
Kami de Chukwu – Light Look [LP]
Supreme Cuts x Haleek Maul – Chrome Lips [Mixtape]
14KT – A Friendly Game of KT [LP]
Caleb James – Ground Up [Mixtape]
Blu x Exile – Maybe One Day [EP]
On The Rocks: Weekly Recap
Here's a five track flashback of some of the best hip hop covered this week on EARMILK. Take a couple of minutes to stroll down memory lane and revisit a handful of tracks brought to you earlier in the week.
The week got off to a promising start with the first release from Domo Genesis' forthcoming album, No Idols (due out August 2), followed by a collaborative track from Childish Gambino and Jay Rock which was unveiled on DJ Super Sam's new mixtape.
As for the latter half of the week, one of G.O.O.D. Music's criminally slept on artist Cyhi The Prynce dropped a surprising mixtape which featured a guest appearance fron ScHoolyBoy Q, OF duo MellowHype released the first single from their upcoming album Numbers (due out October 9) and an unfinished leak from Talib Kweli forthcoming album, Prisoners Of Consciousness found its way to the masses.
For those who may have been snoozing at the wheel, here's your chance to play catch up:
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Tanya Morgan – "Whatever That's Mine"
When it comes to a consistency you need not look any further than hip-hop duo Tanya Morgan. Whether working solo or together as TM, Von Pea and Donwill have made it their business to make dope, uncompromising hip-hop their calling card. The Brooklynati duo revisit their 2011 EP, You And What Army to give their track "Whatever That's Mine" the visual treatment. Directed by Brian Petchers, the video offers a glimpse into a day in the life of Donwill and Von Pea.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuM-w20o7Rs[/youtube]
• TANYA MORGAN | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | YOU AND WHAT ARMY [EP] •
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Nemo Achida – Conversations With Myself [LP]
Earlier in the week Lexington, Kentucky's native son Nemo Achida released hisnew album, Conversations With Myself. In addition to producing the entire LP ,the talented emcee proves to be quite the lyricist on his well-crafted nine track album. In addition to displaying a healthy musical acumen behind the boards the Locksmith Music affiliate and protégé of veteran beatsmith 88-Keys wields a powerful pen delivering an introspective and revealing lines like on "Tribe Called Cult and one of the album's standout tracks "Still Not Mr. West". Penning rhymes for an entire album and on top of that producing the whole project is comparable to throwing yourself a fifty yard TD pass or executing a flawless one man alley-oop amid a sea of defenders. In other words, Mr. Achida has pulled off quite a remarkable feat with his latest effort which is well worth checking out. (Download)
• Nemo Achida | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP •
Other Noteworthy Projects
Upcoming Releases – July 24
Friday Flashback
Digable Planets – "Dog It"
Long before Ishmael Butler formed Shabazz Palaces he was known to the hip-hop world as a Butterfly, a member of the eclectic left of center hip-hop group Digable Planets along with Ladybug Mecca and Doodlebug. Together the group contributed two solid albums to the late period of what is generally described as the Golden Age of Hip-Hop. DP's last LP prior to their breakup, Blowout Comb (1994) included a collection of slick jazz-infused hip-hop cuts one of which is "Dog It". The horn and xylophone laced track includes a sample of jazz-funk fusion quintet The Headhunters' record "God Make Me Funky". Indulge your nostalgic impulses and check out Digable Planet's limited yet nevertheless impressive discography.
