[Stream] GHOSTFACE KILLAH - "12 Reasons to Die II"

 With the help of super ill composer/producer/instrumentalist Adrian Younge, Wu-Tang Clan's most shining star Ghostface Killah delivered his best album in several years with 2012's "12 Reasons to Die". Now the duo team back together for more of the same formula - following the concept of their first meeting so closely they have choosen to call it a proper sequel. While the album isn't released to stores in another week, the New York Times have been given exclusive rights to stream the project to listeners for free so be sure to head over to the link below and press play.'

01. "Powerful One (Intro)"

02. "Return Of The Savage" (Ft. Reakwon & RZA)

03. "King Of New York" (Ft. Raekwon)

04. "Rise Up" (Ft. Scarub)

05. "Daily News"

06. "Get The Money" (Ft. Vince Staples)

07. "Death's Invitation (Interlude)" (Ft. RZA)

08. "Death's Invitation" (Ft. Scarub, Chino XL & Lyrics Born)

09. "Let The Record Spin: Interlude" (Ft. RZA)

10. "Let The Record Spin" (Ft. Raekwon)

11. "Blackout" (Ft. Raekwon)

12. "Resurrection Morning" (Ft. Raekwon & Bilal)

13. "Life's A Rebirth" (Ft. RZA)

STREAM @ NYTIMES.COM

[Album] VINCE STAPLES - "Summertime '06"

 Oh hell yeah, here's a banging album that I've been waiting to turn up LOUD for quite some time. Vince Staples the young, 21 years old, super talented emcee from Long Beach that not too long ago was discovered by No I.D. and signed under his ATRium/Def Jam imprint. He has released a couple of mixtapes but what really turned me on to his music was when my big homie Linkan introduced me to his 2014 tape "Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2", produced by No I.D., Dilated Peoples and Scoop DeVille. Now in 2015 he finally drops his true debut album, and once again No I.D. is a major player in the albums production a long with DJ Dahi, Brian Kidd and Clams Casino. This might not be every Lost Tapes players type of shit but this is ill party music right here and Staples can definitely flow. Stream the album for free via NPR below; strangely enough it's a double album but together it clocks in at just under an hour. After the first listen, I can't say I'm too hyped but it's pretty decent. Check it out for yourself.

Disc 1

01. "Ramona Park Legend Pt. 1" [prod. by No I.D.]

02. "Lift Me Up" [prod. by No I.D. & DJ Dahi]

03. "Norf Norf" [prod. by Clams Casino]

04. "Birds & Bees" [prod. by DJ Dahi]

05. "Loca" [prod. by No I.D.]

06. "Lemme Know" (Ft. Jhené Aniko & DJ Dahi) [prod. by No I.D., DJ Dahi & Brian Kidd]

07. "Dopeman" (Ft. Joey Fatts) [prod. by No I.D.]

08. "Jump Off The Roof" (Ft. Snoh Alegrah) [prod. by No I.D.]

09. "Senioritá" [prod. by Christian Rich]

10. "Summertime" [prod. by Clams Casino]

Disc 2

01. "Ramona Park Legend Pt. 2" [prod. by No I.D.]

02. "3230" [prod. by No I.D.]

03. "Surf" (Ft. Kilo Kish) [prod. by Clams Casino]

04. "Might Be Wrong" [prod. by No I.D.]

05. "Get Paid" (Ft. Desi Monti) [prod. by No I.D.]

06. "Street Punks" [prod. by No I.D.]

07. "Hang N Bang" [prod. by No I.D.]

08. "C.H.B." [prod. by No I.D., DJ Dahi & Brian Kidd]

09. "Like It Is" [prod. by No I.D., DJ Dahi & Brian Kidd]

10. "'06" [prod. by No I.D.]

VINCE STAPLES - "SUMMERTIME '06" @ NPR

GHOSTFACE & ADRIAN YOUNGE Ft. Vince Staples - "Get The Money"

Adrian Younge is by far one of the illest producers out there, I'm just amazed at how he and his band Venice Dawn uses all live instrumentation but he uses a sampler to program every instrument into it just like if he was sampling records. People have complained that Ghostface isn't bringing his A game on his last few albums but "Twelve Reasons to Die" was easily my favorite LP of that year. Even if Ghost isn't rapping like on "Ironman" or "Supreme Clientele", he's hardly spitting Young Thug flows and he's still got one of the illest voices in the game and keeps his flow in pocket. Today the third single from "Twelve Reasons to Die Pt. II" dropped and it's another sure shot winner, and I'm stoked they included a feature from Vince Staples, easily one of the more interesting emcees to come out as of late. The second Younge/Ghost album drops on July 10 and features 13 songs + instrumentals, pre-order @ iTunes.

VINCE STAPLES - "Get Paid" [prod. by No ID]

My man Linkan put me onto Vince Staples with the "Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2" mixtape and I was sold right off the bat. Since then I've heard him on records by Common and others and the kid always delivers. In two weeks he's unleashing his official debut album on the world, and a double CD at that if I'm not mistaken. The album is titled "Summertime '06" and features from Jhéne Aikiko, Snoh Alegra, DJ Dahi, Kilo Kish and more. Check out the single "Get Paid" above, featuring Desi Mo and wait until June 30 when the LP drops in its entirety.

[Video] VINCE STAPLES - "Fire"

This is a few days old, but Long Beach emcee Vince Staples has really impressed me with his with his guest apperances on Common's latest album and especially his No I.D. produced mixtape "Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2". The kid can definitely spit, and now that he's signed to No ID's ARTium Records and Def Jam prepare to hear a lot of heat coming from this young cat in a soon future. The Anthony Killhofer produced single "Fire" is the opening track to Staples recent Def Jam EP "Hell Can Wait" which also features production from No ID (track #4), Infamus and Hagler. The seven track project can be pruchased @ iTunes or stream the entire project via Spotify below.

COMMON Ft. Vince Staples & Jay Electronica - "Kingdom Remix"

Without a doubt one of the hottest tracks of the year gets a new lyrical touch up as Common invites the always anticipated Jay Electronica to join him and Vince Staples in "The Kingdom". Sicccccck!

VINCE STAPLES - "Hands Up"

Vince Staples is another one of those young emcees that's incredible with the beat selection, flows and writing, and every mixtape and guest feature so far has pretty much all been fire. Now he's gearing up to release his first official label-backed EP which is called "Hell Can't Wait". And the new single "Hands Up" is another heavy hardcore type joint in true Vince fashion. Unfortunately the Audiomack and Souncloud link has been deaded, but you can still stream and/or download the  song @ Spotify so don't sleep.

VINCE STAPLES - "Hands Up"

[Album] DILATED PEOPLES - "Directors Of Photography"

Oh shit, here is one that I've been eagerly anticipating! I'm talking about the new Dilated Peoples album, "Directors of Photography", the LA trio's first project as a unit since 2006:s "20/20". Released to stores next Tuesday via Rhymesayers, but already now you can stream the LP in its entirety via Pandora - if you live in the US that is. With both lead singles being crazy ill, a tracklist with guest features from Defari, Gangrene, Sick Jacken, Vince Staples, Aloe Blacc, etc. and Dilated being Dilated this should be a great listen. Be sure to pre-order the 2xLP or CD @ UGHH.

01. "Intro"

02. "Directors"

03. "Cut My Teeth"

04. "Defari Interlude"

05. "The Dark Room" (Ft. Vince Staples)

06. "Good as Gone" [prod. DJ Premier]

07. "Show Me The Way" (Ft. Aloe Blacc) [prod. Jake One]

08. "Figure it Out (Melvin's Theme)"

09. "Let Your Thoughts Fly Away"

10. "Century Of The Self" (Ft. Catero)

11. "Mr. Evidence Interlude"

12. "The Reversal"

13. "Opinions May Vary" (Ft. Gangrene)

14. "Trouble"

15. "LA River Drive" (Ft. Sick Jacken)

16. "The Bigger Picture"

STREAM "DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY" @ PANDORA (US)

[Video] COMMON Ft. Vince Staples - "Kingdom"

Common just let loose of his beautifully looking Hype Williams directed video for his epic new single with producer No I.D. and guest emcee Vince Staples, "Kingdom". Com' really gets busy here and the arrangements and production is just mind-blowing - excellent joint.

COMMON Ft. Vince Staples - "Kingdom" [prod. NOID]

Common is back again with No I.D. on the board for the first single from their upcoming "Nobody Smile", and the result is absolutely stunning. Great, introspective lyrics, chunky beats, a beautiful gospel vocal loop and a nice guest apperance from Vince Staples. On a related note, check out Staples/NoID's excellent free mixtape "Shyne Coldchain II". I enjoyed "The Dreamer/The Believer" but despite some cuts being absolute mindblowers, I felt it didn't quite manage to live up to the legacy of Com's LP:s like his two by Dilla, his most previously recent NoID albums or "Be". However, the first single certainly bodes well for the rest of the project which should be out soon.