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 new music from Odd Future's MellowHype, Atlanta rapper Alley Boy's upcoming project The Gift of Discernment, music from Chicago rapper Gzus Piece's new EP and much more.
Without further ado, let's jump right into this past week's selection of killer tracks:
MellowHype – single
MOOSE x EPonym x Jofred Estilo x Viberoc – single
Gerald Walker – On Your Side Part Deux [EP]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59633241" iframe="true" /]
Dee-1 – The Focus Tape [Mixtape]
Thurz – 517 W Queen Tape
Blu – Jakarta Records 7"
Gzus Piece – Fuck Y'all [EP]
Dee Goodz – Danny Cash [Mixtape]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59627353" iframe="true" /]
Travis Barker x Yelawolf – Psycho White [EP]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59544439" iframe="true" /]
CurT@!n$ – 23 [Mixtape]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59680744" iframe="true" /]
Heems – single
Calez – single
The Cafeteria Line – HNGRY [LP]
Scoe – Tha Influence [Mixtape]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59756611" iframe="true" /]
Kool A.D. & Bill Ding – single
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59606605" iframe="true" /]
Rome Clientel – The Empire: The Battlegrounds [EP]
Jon Connor – single
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59478827" iframe="true" /]
Amerigo Gazaway – Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to The Pharcyde [Mixtape]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59675124" iframe="true" /]
Masia One – Bootleg Culture [LP]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59463899" iframe="true" /]
Asaad – single
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59454524" iframe="true" /]
Chase N. Cashe (of Surf Club) – single
Alley Boy – The Gift of Discernment [Mixtape]
On The Rocks: Weekly Recap
Here's a five track recap of some of the best hip-hop covered this past 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.
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/59064362" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/59448148" iframe="true" /]
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Sir Michael Rocks – "In The Loop"
With The Cools Kids' Sir Michael Rocks' new street album Lap of Lux still fresh in the minds and ears of fans and listeners, Midwest rapper recently let loose the third set of visuals off his new project for his auto-tune assisted track " In The Loop".
Produced by Polyester, the ultra-chill record get an equally laidback visual treatments that comes complete with fast cars, drugs and trippy effects. Stream the song above and check out the Young Wonder directed video below and follow the download link below to grab a digital download of Lap of Lux.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjis0IorTNs[/youtube]
SIR MICHAEL ROCKS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | LAP OF LUX
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
It's my pleasure to introduce EARMILK's readership to the musical stylings of Yo Dot and the Miluawkee native's latest project Red Mist. The eleven-track album boasts Yo Dot gracing the mic over a mix of boom bap hip-hop production and more smooth sample based cuts.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/49253996" iframe="true" /]
Presented by SMKA and DJBooth, the free LP features guest verses K. Tarantino, Logic, Tommy T, Klassik, Bandana and Proph and production handled by 40 Mill, Philly Phil, Dylan Thomas, Audio Pilot, Lib, Haz Solo and Deonte Hayes.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/55762020" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/56491469" iframe="true" /]
Other Noteworthy Projects
Upcoming Releases – September 18
G.O.O.D. Music – Cruel Summer [Compilation LP]
Homeboy Sandman – First Of a Living Breed [LP]
Masia One – Bootleg Culture [LP]
Tech N9ne – E.B.A.H. [EP]
Sunday Flashback
2Pac – "I Get Around"
This past Thursday, September 13th marked the 16th anniversary of the tragic shooting death of Tupac Shakur. Regarded as a rap icon and pioneer, gifted actor and influential visionary, 2Pac is forever immortalized through his music and the lasting impression he left not only a generation but an entire genre.
Pac's prolific and arguably contradictory mix of conscious, poignant and violent lyricism formed the core of his charm and intrigue as an artist. His memorable records such as "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "Dear Mama", which in 2010 was praised by the Library of Congress' and added to the National Recording Registry, won him near universal acclaim and the title as a voice of a generation.
For this edition of Straight No Chase I thought it only fitting to revisit one Pac's discography, specifically his sophomore album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. Released in 1993, one of the album's standout singles "I Get Around" featured a more lighthearted and playful side to the perceived tough guy rapper.
Featuring vocals sampled from soul/funk band Zapp's hit single "Computer Love" and instrumental samples of Gang Starr's hip-hop classic "Step in the Arena", the single included guest verses from Shock G and Money-B of Digital Underground."I Get Around" became Pac's first Top 20 single and paved the way future commercial success for Pac as Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (regarded by many as Pac's breakout album) would spawn another successful hit single "Keep Ya Head Up" while S4MN would go on to be certified platinum.
Celebrate the life and music of 2Pac by taking a step back in time and listening to "I Get Around" and checking out the original video for the single below.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnDR8OngS1U[/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.
