[Album] P.So The Earth Tone King - "Gateway to Greatness / "Constellations"

HiPNOTT Records returns with another souulful project called "Gateway to Greatness" / "Constellations" which is a reissue of P.So's 2013 album; taking 12 of the artists favorites from "Gateway to Greatness", four completely new cuts and three exclusive remixes which forms the "Constellation" part of the project. P.So's moniker The Earth Tone King is really making his sound justice as he's aiming for a real earthy, atmospheric vibe that's heavy on the bottom. The album takes a stamp in dark jazz, soul, indie rock and gritty hip-hop, with P.So aiming to create something fresh lyrical and different - his mission with the project is to encompass music, creating a cinematic journey that plays out like a graphic novel and will endure the test of time. Pretty big words, and on my first listen I wasn't that impressed but more and more the set is starting to grow on me. Strong writing, ill guests (8thW1, Homeboy Sandman, Outasight), impressive live instrumentation over funky beats (P.So himself, 2 Hungry Bros., The Other Guys, etc.). You can stream the album below via Bandcamp or cop the CD from UGHH or Fat Beats. Give this one a chance, an early favorite of mine is the 8hW1 collaboration.

"Gateway to Greatness" also comes with a graphic novel tie-in of the same title, the first volume bearing the subtitle "I've Had Better Days". You can read a pretty large preview of the novell and order it right away @ EarthToneKing.com.

KEV BROWN & MINDSONE Ft. Homeboy Sandman - "Pop"

Ill Adrenaline Records is continuing their victory run with a brand new release from emcee MindsOne all set over the always brilliant production by Kev Brown. The single "Pop" earns extra point through an inspired verse from Homeboy Sandman and is lifted from the EP which just dropped the other day and is called "Pillars". Groove heavy shit! Be sure to support by copping the limtied release on wax, CD or even cassette straight from the source.

[EP] BLU x NOTTZ - "Gods in the Spirit"

Both Blu and Nottz are artists that I feel is super talented and has dropped plenty of super hot material warranting them places as some of the most interesting artists out there right now, though I also think that they both have dropped uninspired projects as well. Luckily with their brand new EP, "Gods in the Spirit", they are both at the top of their game. Featuring five original songs and a remix that all bangs along hard with soulful chops and well written lyrics that'll suck you in right from the moment you press play. The artwork by renowed graffiti legend (and emcee) Skam2 adds a lot to the overall quality of the project as a whole too and this would be dope for a vinyl release. As it stands now it's digital only, available through iTunes, though you can stream the entire thing below via Soundcloud so be sure to do just that, and for chrissake TURN IT UP!

Homeboy Sandman - "Musician"

"Musician" is one of the crazy cuts on Homeboy Sandman's latest EP "All That I Hold Dear" which dropped last month. Entirely produced by M.Slago, guest apperances come from MED and Gob Goblin - pick up the wax @ UGHH.

[Mixtape] PETER ROSENBERG x ECKO UNLIMITED Presents "New York Renaissance"

Peter Rosenberg knows good music and how to put a dope mixtape, that has been proven time and time again. His latest endeavor is in collaboration with Ecko Unltd called "The New York Renaissance", featuring some of the finest hip-hop artists that New York currently got to offer; you'll see names like Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, A$AP Rocky, Flatbush Zombies, Homeboy Sandman, and more, with production from cats such as Oddisee, Harry Fraud, and Dante Ross to name the more interesting. Check it out, there's definitely a bunch of bangers on here, though it's not, at least for me, the best front-to-back listen. Peep it below via DatPiff.

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Silent Knight / Sandman & MadKem - "No Fare"

Recently we were treated to the free EP "Busy is My Best Friend II" to criticall aclaim in the underground circles. As announced before, the plan was always to have that as a precursor to the full-length version of "B.I.M.B.F. Pt. 2" that's out on Elementality Productions on April 16. HipHopDX has got first ching on leaking the first official single from the LP version, which is a really hot posse cut called "No Fare" and features guet apperances by Homeboy Sandman, and fellow EMPB spitter MadKem. Judging by this and the EP, you have only youself to blame not peeping this. I'm hyped as hell... Anyway, here go the track straight from HipHopDX so bang it out LOUD and feel free to drop a comment!

SILET KNIGHT / H.B. SANDMAN / MADKEM - "No Fare"

[Mixtape] J. Period Presents: "#Rage is Back"

As I announced recently, J. Period has teamed up with acclaimed author Adam Mansbach in putting together a mixtape companion to his latest book "Rage is Back". We've previously heard two impressive leaks from the project, the Common joint "The Next Chapter (Still Love H.E.R.)" and Black Thought's title track freestyle. Now the complete mixtape has been made available for free via J. Period's official site, which is filled to the limit with slamming exclusives from the likes of Kweli, Homeboy Sandman, Blu, unreleased remixes of classic tracks from Nas, Q-Tip, Biggie, and more; plus audiobook narration by GZA and Danny Hooch. 

01. This Is the Story of… (Intro)
02. Rage Is Back (J.PERIOD Exclusive) f. Black Thought
03. New York State of Mind (Interlude) f. Alicia Keys & Nas
04.  Run New York (J.PERIOD ReFix) f. Nas & Angel Haze
05. Hard (J.Period Monumental ReFix) f. Styles P, Sean Price & General Steele
06. Borough Check f. Biz Markie
07. Style Was DNA (Audiobook) f. Danny Hoch
08. Wrong Side (J.PERIOD Exclusive) f. The Kid Daytona
09. Invocate Freestyle (J.PERIOD Exclusive) f. Blu
10. Herb Man Trafficking f. Welton Irie
11. Police In Helicopter Dub
12. Billy Rage Is Back (Audiobook) f. Danny Hoch
13. Sound Boy Killing (Remix) f. Mega Banton
14. Killing a Soundboy  (J.PERIOD ReFix) f. The Notorious B.I.G.
15. Toolz of the Trade f. Smif’N’Wessun
16. Teach the Youth (Interlude) f. GURU
17. Hip Hop (Interlude) f. Common
18. The Next Chapter (Still Love H.E.R.) f. Common [Produced by J.PERIOD]
19, The Traveller f. Talib Kweli [Produced by J.PERIOD]
20. What Makes An MC (Interlude) f. Q-Tip
21. 1Nce Again (J.PERIOD ReFix) f. A Tribe Called Quest
22. Street Dreams (J.PERIOD ReFix) f. Nas
23. One Love (J.PERIOD ReFix) f. Nas
24. The Lord Giveth (Audiobook) f. GZA
25. Wu-Banger (Mathematics Mix) f. Wu-Tang Clan
26. It’s Working (Interlude)
27. Raw Freestyle (J.PERIOD Exclusive) f. Shad
28. Coral Reefs (Exclusive) f. Homeboy Sandman
29. Trust the DJ (Audiobook) f. Danny Hoch
30. The Pizza Box Bandit (Interlude) f. KEO
31. Survival of the Fittest (J.PERIOD ReFix) f. Mobb Deep
32. Empire State (Interlude) f. Jay-Z
33. Epilogue: Hard Knock f. Joey Bada$$
34. Epilogue: Jay Reed f. A$AP Mob
45. Bonus: Sound Boy Burial (J.PERIOD Monumental ReFix) f. Smif’N’Wessun

J. PERIOD PRESENTS #RAGEisBACK" 

Karriem Riggins - "Matador Posse Cut"

For the release of the "Matador" single from his recent gem of an album ("Alone Together"), Karriem Riggins beefs up the original instrumental with a new mix. Featuring ill guest featres from Krondon, Homeboy Sandman, Guilty Simpson, Jon Wayne and J. Rocc this is a bad ass Stones Throw posse cut right here.

KARRIEM RIGGINS - "MATADOR POSSE CUT"

JP Beats' "The Warning" LP

JP Beats has previously supplied music for a variety of artists like Dr. Dre, Jadakiss, Kurupt, Canibus, Pete Rock, and Keith Murray, but has yet to step out in the limelight. Partnering with M-Eighty, the A&R behind the "Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture" and "The Academy" compilations, JP Beats has spent the last year recording his debut album "The Warning" which drops tomorrow. Filled to the limits with well crafted beats and powerful guests includig everyone from George Clinton and Boots Riley, to Tragedy Khadafi and Dres, this is definitely one you want to check out on the guest list alone. Peep the tracklist and the two singles released so far below, and get your pre-order on.

1. "Are You Ready?" (Intro) f/ DJ Absurd
2. "The Warning!" f/ Tragedy Khadafi
3. "CB4" f/ Busta Rhymes, Canibus, Cappadonna & Block McCloud
4. "Spoil the Scene" (Paper Chasin’) f/ Agallah & Pex
5. "Maximum" f/ George Clinton, Planet Asia, Boots Riley & Tri-State
6. "Better Than Me" f/ Torae
7. "Bricks" f/ Young Buck, Illah Ghee, Louie Gonz & Cortez
8. "Lets Go!" (Remix) f/ Royce the 5'9", FAME (MDV) & Iatana
9. "We Ain’t Playin" f/ T.I., P. Dinero, Carbene & BurntMD
10. "Hunger Strike" f/ Bronze Nazareth & The Wisemen
11. "All In Together Now" f/ Heltah Skeltah, Keith Murray & Homeboy Sandman
12. "Sea To Shore" f/ Dres (Black Sheep)
13. "The Congregation" f/ M-Eighty, Jaecyn Bayne & Rusty Redenbacher
14. "Bong!" f/ Kurupt, Sav Killz, Math Hoffa, King Marvey X, Slee 57 & Khosi
15. "Follow" f/ Canibus & Keith Murray
16. "Kill Kill" f/ Copywrite

[Mixtape] "OPPORTUNITY KNOX"

Deep Concept Media presents DJ Mickey Knox heavy mixtape "Opportunity Knox Vol. 1" featuring a lot of sick music. You can download the 13 track tape for $5.99, but as is custom these days you also got the option to listen to the entire thing free of charge. Features include Tragedy Khadafi, Rock of Heltah Skeltah, Joell Ortiz, Homeboy Sandman, UG of Cella Dwellas, Nature JoJo Pellegrino, etc, and a bunch of knocking beats provided by the likes of Sickness, DJ Supa Dave and DJ Concept.  

Homeboy Sandman - "Watchu Want" [prod. Oddisee]

Oddisee makes wonders with this sweet Aretha Franklin sample for "Watchu Want From Me?", the first single from Homeboy Sandman's upcoming "First Of A Living Breed". The Stones Throw signee is set to drop his album on the 18h of September. I would love to see some more Odd prouctions on there, because this is just amazing.

Freestyle Session - Homeboy Sandman x I Am Many

Queens and Brooklyn representatives Homeboy Sandman and I Am Many recently visited Dharmic X's The Culture Never Dies which airs every Saturday between 11 PM and 1 AM. Towards the end of the show this dynamic duo decided to bang out a blazing off-the-top-of-the-dome freestye session; something that's sadly become a way too rare ocassion in rap music these days. This is discussed briefly before the verbal assault on the microphone begins. Homeboy Sandman has just released the "Chimera" EP via Stones Throw and I Am Many dropped his Logik Proof assisted debut LP "S.I.N. (Strength in Numbers)" last month so if you enjoy the session below (and who in their right mind wouldn't) be sure to support those projects as well. Many thanks to Dharmic X and be ready to tune in on WNYU for his The Culture Never Dies show every Saturday.

HOMEBOY SANDMAN x I AM MANY - "THE CULTURE NEVER DIES FREESTYLE SESSION"