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.
A Quick Word From the Author:
Faithful readers of Straight No Chase may have noticed gradual changes have been made since the inaugural installment of the feature was published back in June. With that said, please take note of some of the stylistic changes that have been made to the feature and feel free to voice your opinion on the feature's content, look and feel by dropping a comment in the c-section. Enough with the formalities and 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 a track taken from Long Island duo Fresh Vetz's new project, new music from Chicago up-and-comer Ibn Inglor, the second leak from Freddie Gibbs' forthcoming mixtape, a cut from Blu & Exile's recently released joint album and much more.
Without further ado, let's jump right into this past week's selection of killer tracks:
Fresh Vetz – The Tape Effect [LP]
Rapsody – The Idea Of Beautiful [LP]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59053088" iframe="true" /]
yU – Mello Music Group 7” Series, Issue #7
Talib Kweli & Z-Trip – Attack The Block [Mixtape]
DeVin Maze – Second Hand Smoke [EP]
Sk La'Flare – Lost Tape Of Atlantis Vol. 1 [Mixtape]
Woody – Limes [Instrumental LP]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58000865" iframe="true" /]
Colin Munroe – Unsung Hero [Mixtape]
Ibn Inglor – single
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58971634" iframe="true" /]
Erma – Kumi [LP]
Audible Doctor – I Like That [EP]
Rickie Jacobs – Virgo Season [EP]
Freddie Gibbs – Baby Face Killa [Mixtape]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58817920" iframe="true" /]
Charmingly Ghetto – Scotland Yahd [EP]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58646544" iframe="true" /]
Blu & Exile – Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them [LP]
Dee-1 – The Focus Tape [Mixtape]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58672437" iframe="true" /]
|Download – Straight Killer, No Filler: Week 14|
On The Rocks: Weekly Recap
Here's a five track recap 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.
This week hip-hop fans were treated to a range of new music including a collaborative track from Blu and producer Bombay off the former's forthcoming solo LP, a track off Chuck Stranger's upcoming tape featuring BK emcee Joey Bada$$, new music from CurT@!n$ and ScHoolboy Q, a Young Chop produced banger off Big Sean's new mixtape, as well as Kanye West's new Big Sean and Jay-Z assisted single off the much hyped G.O.O.D Music compilation album. For those who may have been snoozing at the wheel, here's your chance to play catch up:
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58631468" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58749691" iframe="true" /]
|Download – On The Rocks Recap: Week 14|
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
House Shoes – "Sweet" (Feat. Danny Brown)
With his recently released debut LP Let It Go still lingering fresh in listeners' ears, Detroit hip-hop ambassador House Shoes revisited his stand out collaborative track "Sweet" with fellow Motor City representative Danny Brown.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/47228728" iframe="true" /]
"Directed, edited & fucked with” by RUFFMERCY, things get animated in the two and half-minute vid as morphing caricatures of the eccentric rapper pepper the trippy clip.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f18n-Nm0ag&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
"Sweet" is the third set of visuals from House Shoes' Let It Go LP, which features the likes of Nottz, Black Milk, Roc Marciano, Quelle Chris among others. The deluxe edition of the 18-track album is available now on iTunes and comes complete with instrumental cuts of each original sound found on the album.
HOUSE SHOES | TWITTER | LET IT GO
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Various Artists
Closed Sessions Vol. 2
- Closed Sessions
- August 30. 2012
For this edition's project of the week I thought it necessary t o backtrack and revisit a stand out release from last week from indie label Closed Sessions. After providing ample quality leaks over the summer, several of which were featured on past editions of Straight No Chase, the Chicago-based label let loose the second volume in their compilation series.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58113078" iframe="true" /]
Presented by the good folks at Ruby Hornet, SoundScape, and MTV2 Sucker Free, the project has been in the works since 2010 and involved an eyebrow raising cast of artists ranging from producers DJ Babu, Thelonious Martin, The Innovatorz among others and rappers Raekwon, Action Bronson, Rockie Fresh, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire and L.E.P. Bogus Boys to name a few. The 16-track LP packs a punch with a varied yet cohesive range of artists and producer s with distinct styles that complement each other.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58113081" iframe="true" /]
In addition to the album, an accompanying documentary chronicles the creative journey that culminated in the release of Closed Sessions Vol. 2. The series includes a collection of behind-the-scenes studio sessions and interviews with the artists and personnel involved in the massive undertaking.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58113091" iframe="true" /]
Check out some insightful footage from Blu's Closed Session below courtesy of MTV2 Sucker Free.
Get More: Sucker Free, MTV2
Other Noteworthy Projects
Top notch lyrics superimposed over dusty lo-fi production chopped and cooked up by Exile…What more can a hip-hop head ask for?
Expect nothing less than ultra witty and equally catchy wordplay and production handled by a list of capable beatmakers. To quote Johnny Polygon, Big Sean's "mixtape has a bunch of dudes talkin about how much they love 'the D' "…let that one marinate for a quick second.
Boston,MA's Charmingly Ghetto unloads a surprisingly solid quick-strike EP release with on point production handled by U.K. beatsmith/co-founder of Lunatick Records, Cypria. You'd be doing your ears a disservice to sleep on this.
To my knowledge the Italian hip-hop scene doesn't get much press here in the states and that is quite a shame. If you're into international hip-hop checking Italian beatsmith Erma's recently release Kumi LP would be a good look. Don't let the language barrier stop you from enjoying Erma's soulful production. Dope music is universal, and transcends cultural and linguistic barriers.
After teasing listeners with several singles in the past several months, Atlanta rapper DeVin Maze delivers with his second project which includes some interesting production handled by the likes of Track Ghost, Thelonious Martin and Lee Kanitsua.
Featuring 12 original rap cuts, the Long Island duo Fresh Vetz keep things sucka free with their new project that speaks to the group's East Coast roots.
While billed as a collection of rejected cuts that where left on the cutting room floor and not included on the BK spitter's 1999 tape, Joey Bada$$'s Rejex tape surely deserves a spot in your daily music rotation.
JAMLA over everything! Released at the end of last month, Rapsody's debut album will likely find its way on one my end of the year list for more reasons than one. With 9th Wonder and Khrysis on the boards for most of the LP, Rapsody makes one helluva formal introduction with her Jamla debut release.
With his fifth album Prisoner of Consciousnesss on the way, Talib Kweli linked up with DJ Z-Trip to drop a 18-track mixtape that boast a laundry list of guest appearances from Das Racist, Black Thought, Lil Wayne, Mac Miller, Ace Hood, Planet Asia and many more.
For original instrumentals you need not look any further than music producer Woody's instrumental album which includes 12 original instrumentals and an exclusive LIMES Drumkits.
Friday Flashback
Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) – "Ms. Fat Booty"
Where can one begin to describe the career of the prolific lyricist formerly known as Mos Def? From his formative years as a young hungry member in the hip-hop group Urban Thermo Dynamics in the early 90s and a core member in the hip-hop collective Native Tongue Posse, to his Rawkus Records days and his collaborative work with long-time friend Talib Kweli as 1/2 of Blackstar and his critically acclaimed and continually forward-thinking solo work, the Brooklyn emcee has exhibited an uncompromising level of adaptability while showing off some much coveted staying power over the years.
With his work with UTD, Native Tongues and Blackstar already under his belt, Mos' 1999 solo debut, Black On Both Sides was far from a typical introductory freshman release. The rich production found on Black On Both Sides coupled with Mos' fluid poetical lyrical delivery made the BK rhymesayers inaugural release a staple re;ease in what can best be described as muddled transitional period (c. 1998-2002) in the world of hip-hop.
While the entire LP deserves periodic revisiting, the album's lead single and most notable track "Ms. Fat Booty" deserves special attention. Produced by Queens producer Ayatollahm the single more so than any other record on the album rightfully embodies the Black On Both Sides' authentic sampled-based East coast sound, while also showcasing Mos Def's storytelling skills.
Take that nostalgic stroll down memory lane by giving Mos Def's narrative-driven single "Ms. Fat Booty" a listen and peeping the track's accompanying video below.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO_yLfBPRh0[/youtube]
That's all for this week's edition of Straight No Chase. Thanks for checking in and checking out our fresh selection of all things hip-hop. As always, feel free to comment on this week's tunes and/or offer up any suggestions and music and video submissions for the subsequent edition of Straight No Chase.
