[Album] GRAND DADDY I.U. - "PIMP (Paper is My Priority)"

It's a true fucking shame the way Grand Daddy I.U.'s career has been handled. In 1990 the Stroong Island spitter and producer released his debbut albbum on Cold Chillin, ""Smooth Assassin", that to this day is viewed as one of the lost Cold Chillin' Classics of the late '80s/early 90s. After another album on C.C. in 1994 and an intense guest verse on Big L's "Da Graveyard" he kind of faded into obscurity until 2006s when he came back with "Stick 2 The Script", a stellar LP featuring real ass lyrics over beats by Grand Daddy IU himself (who's a very skilled producer in his own right), Large Pro, DJ Dooom, Marco Polo, Chucky Madness and Lotto. More recently he gave a lassting impression on Diamond D's recent "The Diaam Pieece" LP on the single/video "The Game".

Now I.U. has completed another album that he just released on our asses called "P.I.M.P. (Paper is My Priority)". I'm in the midst of listening to it right now, but this is fucking serious, for a quick eexample take a listen to the single/video "Suasquatch Feet" above, produced by GWop Sullivan.. This track is really, really dope - I.U. really got some thing on his mind and it he does it straight from the heart. The booming beats, turntable work, beauituful trumpet and the piano keys samples makes this a real winner. And as far as I'm hearing at this moment (I've bumped about half by now, ni skips) the entire album is in the same vein, Grand Daddy I.U. is the true definition of a  low-key legend, been doing great music for more than 25 years, inspired countless commercially more succesfull artists (including Nas and Jay-Z) yet only real music conniseours even know the name, But what the hell, at least he got a loyal fan bse, just wish it was bigger.

So far the album is available for digital HQ purchase and free streaming (which you'll find below), but will also be released on CD and limited golden cassette via RedLineMusicDistribution on March 17. The vast majority of the 20 track set is produced by the artist himself, with very few exceptiions, the aforementioned single "My Neck Of The Woods" is done by BLUNT; the intro is a Marco Polo banger; and finally ´"Sasquatch Feet" were produced by GWop Sullivan. This album is a real banger so don't sleep when it actually does drop - e.g. from UGHH. Also head over to GrandDaddyIU.com for more albums, mixtapes, music and info. Salute!

[Video] DIAMOND D Ft. GRAND DADDY I.U. - "The Game"

More DITC for y'all as Diamond D drops the visuals to the Grand Daddy I.U. assisted single "The Game", taken from one of 2014's best albums - "The Diam Piece".

[Mixtape] V/A - "Counterstrike 2: A Decade of UNKUT"

Robbie Etterson's brilliant hip-hop site UNKUT was definitely one of the reasons I wanted to get into this blog game, and it still remains one of my favorite sites. A few years ago Robbie got together a gang of dope underground rappers and producers and released the Unkut mixtape "Counterstrike". But now, on the 10 year anniversary of the sites incarnation, Robbie definitely steps it up with "Counterstrike 2: A Decade Of UNKUT", featuring 20 tracks with exclusive material from a lot of my favorite artists and producers. Some of the most interesting is the first Real Live material in years (K-Def and Larry-O for those not in the know), an Amed produced Milano banger, Grand Daddy I.U., Omniscience, Beneficence, $amhill, Craig G/Agallah and several others. This is a definite must hear if you love underground hip-hop, in the true school end of things, and is available for free download and CD and possible tape editions will pop up as well. 

Executive produced by Robbie Ettelson, mixed by Crate Cartel's Discourse, artwork and design by BURN Crew and (C) by unkut.com 2014. Click here to read more, check out the tracklist, etc.. Download or stream below and MEGA props to Robbie for this one; you're da fucking man!!

DOWNLOAD @ ZIPPYSHARE

[EP] FIRST DIVISION - "The Critical Path Pt. 1"

This slamming eight track EP went straight over my head when it was first released as a free download a few days ago, but I'm real glad I found it because this is exactly one of the many different types of hip-hop that I absolutely love with no holding back. First Division is an Ontario, Canada duo consisting of Shylow and Expertise, and besides Shylow's many DJ apperances on Marco Polo's album the duo also appeared on the stand-out cut "The Long & Winding Road" with Large Professor on Marco's immaculate "Newport Authority 2" (if you read my review you'll know that I hold that premix even higher than the more official "PA2: Director's Cut". On the "The Ciritcal Path Pt. 1" the duo gives an amazing performance both beat wise, lyrically and on the turntables - pretty much hip hop at it's finest. This is the pre-cursor to their upcoming official album "The Critical Path 2" which drops later this year. Scroll up a bit to find the two first singles from this album and a big shout out to this duo for making this incredible music available for free - if they are just pressing up this on vinyl, I'm sold!

GRAND DADDY I.U. - "Sasquatch Feet"

Following the majestic Sadat X collaboration "She Said", legendary Queens spitter Grand Daddy I.U. lets loose the second video from his new album "P.I.M.P. (Paper is My Priority)". "Sasquatch Feet" is a boom banging lyrical exercise from I.U., complete with classic vocal clips from BIG and a percussion driven beat supplied by Gwop Sullivan. According to the e-mail blast from SteadyFlow Entertainment, "P.I.M.P." should've dropped this past Monday, but I can't find any more info on that - if you know what's up please drop a comment below. TURN IT UP!!

Grand Daddy D.U. - "It's You" [Diamond Remix]

Unfortunately this is just a snippet of the Diamond D remix of Grand Daddy's upcoming single "It's Yours", the legendary producer/emcee's forthcoming album  I've been feeling a lot of the leaks so far, and the cassette is slated for a late August release and should find its way to any serious hip-hop connoiseo as the production/MC shouw a great chemistry together. Also peep the banging Diamond remix of "The Unitled". Just a snippet for now, but I'm betting the full cut will appear on "The Diam Piece LP".

Grand Daddy I.U. / Sadat X - "She Said"

Veteran rhyme spitters Grand Daddy I.U. and Sadat X links up for "She Said", the lead single from IU's forthcoming 2013 LP. "P.I.M.P. (Paper Is My Priority)" is available this June.

[Snippets] Diamond D Ft. Grand Daddy IU / Diamond D

Diamond D is at the very least one of the ten best producers in the game, having been active since 1988 and still pumping out HEAT (though there's of course been some real clunkers in such a long career). His "Huge Hefner Chronicles" had some bangers but left a lot to be desired, but over the last couple of years since he has regained that spot as one of the illest and most trustworthy beatmakers with brilliant work for Pharoahe Monch, J-Live, himself ("Deflate Cha"), Freestyle Professors, and Collective Efforts. Therefore news of his next album, "The Diam Piece" seems extremely promising, as the DITC veteran will handle all the production while the tracklist is chock full of extremely talented guests. The tracklist leaked quite a while ago (see the link above), but there's a good chance that there's still room for changes, as we've since heard several dope snippets that's not included there ("Love" for example).

Diamond just dropped two more banging snippets via his Soundcloud Page; one solo joint called "Magnifying Glass" and one featuring a very welcome guest spot from none other than the always impressive Grand Daddy I.U. ripping Diam's well-executed soul excursion.

Timid / Edo G / GrandDaddy I.U.

To be honest with you, I never in my life think I ever heard about an emcee by the name of Timid, and if it wasn't for the features on this I would have passed on even listening to it. After doing so, I can say I'm glad i hit the play button cuz this shit is a certified banger. The veteran producer/MC from Queens, Grand Daddy I.U., hooks up a marvelous boom bap track for Boston's finest; Edo G who kicks off the track with a hard ass verse. Timid proves that he's far from a slouch either, delivering two solid verses of his own. I got to give extra points for having a ill scratch hook; courtesy of a deejay named Dirty Digits. 

SoundCloud stream for now only, but if you're feeling this you can pick up an mp3 up @ iTunes.

  
TIMID / EDO G - "THIS IS THE WAY"