[EP] NUTSO - "I Plead The 5th" (2013)

With all the extreme amount of super dope material being released on a regular basis you know it's inevitable that you're gonna miss out on some really sick releases every now and then. Even this year there's some heavy releases that I've been looking forward to that I haven't even banged out yet (Cannibal Ox, Mr. Green / Malik B.). But today I noticed on my FB that the always trustworthy EgoTripLand had posted a 2013 single by severely ill Queens spitter Nutso (p/k/a Nut-Rageous) featuring Kool G Rap and Mic Geronimo (DAMN!). It turns out this is actually a track from a Bandcamp EP that Nutso released in the spring of 2013 called "I Plead The 5th". As I'm listening to the six tracks that make up the EP I am blown away by how dope this is, 

"I Plead The 5th" is a collaboration with producer 5th Seal (hence the double entendre of the EP:s name) who supplies Nutso's rugged lyrics and delivery with a soulful boom bap type of sound that really does the emcee justice. I'm a sucker for the one MC/one DJ formula and the three full projects that I know from Nutso's catalouge are all done in that matter - this one, 2013's excellent collaboration with French boom bap maestro DJ Low Cut called "In The Cut" and most recently that brand new 2015 EP with the homies Divided Souls Entertainment and DJ Pain 1 ("Divided Souls") that is one of the five best albums of the year so far if you ask me. Stream the entirety of "I Plead The 5th" below via Bandcamp where you can also download a HQ Mp3 download in the digital format of your choice. Features comes from Kool G Rap, Mic Geronimo, Punchline, Wais P, Meyhem Lauren, AG Da Coroner, J-Love, and a couple of others. Satisfaction guaranteed!

[Mixtape] ALCHEMIST & AGALLAH - "Past & Present"

Alchemist has by far been the most productive, yet constantly interesting producer of 2013, and I doubt this year will be much different. No other producer can churn out full albums at his speed while maintining complete quality control; the only other one that comes to mind is Madlib but as much as i love 'Lib's craziness I have to admit that some of the stuff he has put out through the years have been terribly self-indulgent. Alchemist on the other hand is both versatile and almost always spot-on as a producer, and 8-Off a/k/a Agallah The Don Bishop is another interesting producer that's been at it for at least 15 years. Both of them are of course also rappers, and together they have came together for a free 24 track mixtape. ALC only rhyme on a couple of tracks though so this is in fact an Agallah show, presented over 12 of his own beats and 12 of Alan's, with the latter throwing in a rhyme or two for good measure. The vibe is definitely good, and when you add guests like Roc Marciano, Thistin Howl The Third, Guilty Simpson, Masta Ace, AG Da Coroner, Buc Fifty, Channel Live, Craig G, Sean Price, and many more, you know you got an underground hit on your hands. I'm five tracks in so far and this is pure unadulteratued hip-hop, strongly recommended although I notice that track #5 (one of ALC's beats) is actually a reuse of the classic beat he gave to Mobb Deep and G Rap for "The Realest". Oh well, there's plenty of original material on here as well and don't underestimate the talents of Agallaha behind the baord (an edit - having listened through it, I believe that is the only reused beat on his side)... So what are you waiting for?

[EP/Mini LP] AG DA CORONER - "Crushed Grapes"

Brooklyn to Queens representative AG Da Coroner clearly has no intentions of letting the dope music that he's been supplying us with for the last two years. His latest addition to an already fat catalouge is the free project "Crushed Grapes", entirely produced by ATG who I have praised several times here on The Lost Tapes. The latter is progressively evolving his own hard soul based sound, filled with grinding organs, bluesy basslines and boom bap-type drums which is a perfect match for AG's rough edged voice and intense street themed lyrics. Add to that guest verses from Meyhem Lauren, M.Reck and a posse cut with Nutso, Lord Nez (in addition to appearing on two other cuts), Termanology, Realm Reality, and Spit Gemz and this is a straight up and down crazy release that will work well in holding us over until Da Coroner's official album drops.