[iTunes Bonus] CZARFACE - "Deviatian Septums" / "Sinister Remix"

Yesterday Get On Down Records released the sophomore album by Czarface, the trio made up of Wu-Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck and long-time MC/producer duo 7L & Esoteric. In 2013 they dropped their self-titled debut album in February 19, an LP that actually gained a lot of recognition as a great underground record. Personally I really tried to get into that one but beside a few cuts it sounded quite generic to me and was an overall disapointment. In other words I didn't have any hopes

 for this follow up called "Every Hero Needs A Villain" but GOD DAMN was I wrong! L7 stepped up his beat game BIG TIME on here (with the help of his protogé and partner Spada4), a perfect fit for Deck, and even Esoteric (whose lyrics sound kind of lame at times) sound deceent on this fifteen track excursion. I would strongly recommend this every time to fans of Wu, 7L & Esoteric and genrally just underground hip-hop. Today the iTunes version was released and this edition includes two bonus tracks that are just as good as anything else found on the LP. I uploaded them both to my Audiomack account for free streaming, no downloads however you can buy the album from iTunes here.

[Video] INSPECTAH DECK / 7L & ESOTERIC as CZARFACE - "The Great" / "Deviant's Septum"

I love Inspectah Deck but I got to admit that the fist Czarface album was a dissapointment to me, I tried time and time again to get into it but save for a few joints the beats just sounded generic to me, Esoteric was wack and INS was far from bringing his A game. Now the second Czarface album is here, once again entirely produced by 7L who does a fucking banging job this time around and INS is on fire straight through the whole album... Man I can't even front too hard on Esoteric. "Every Hero Needs A Villain" is a real thorough record that will satisfy both Wu fans and 7L & Esoteric heads. Check out the official video for "The Great" up top and order the album @ iTunes (including two bonus tracks) or UGHH for psychical copies (wax and CD). Below you can check out one of the iTunes bonus tracks thanks to YouTube user FeLo, called "Deviatin' Septums". Love this joint!

CZARFACE Ft. Method Man - "Nightcrawler"

Ok so this has been out for almost two weeks but whatever, as I haven't really had time or lust to update the blog lately, I still want to throw this banger up because this is some heavy hitting shit with INS and Method Man really goes IN over the immaculate production by 7L. I'm not a big fan of Esoteric to say the last but with the guests, production and Deck's performance this is definitely an album any hip-hop head will want to hear. Released on Friday via BRICK Records, this single alone got me a little hype for the album especially considering I relaly couldn't get into the first installment for several reasons. The first single from "Every Hero Need A Villian" which drops on June 12, available on both CD and wax with the former including some nice bonus items like a full-color comic book. Order @ UGHH and also peep the Meyhem Lauren single "Deadly Class" below.

RZA Presents: Shaolin Soul Selections

The legendary Stax Records catalouge has been sampled in the creation of some of the finest hip-hop music ever put on wax, not least by The RZA for the Wu projects. In a recent article published in Wax Poetics I learned that RZA had been granted unprecedented access to the vast catalouge of the label's original multitracks recordings, which he and co-producer Howard Drosin relied on heavily for the crafting of the superb "Man With the Iron Fists" soundtrack (which I got on right now). Continuing on that path, the acclaimed musician has now put together a compilation highlighting some of his personal favorites from the history of Stax; featuring classic music from artists such as Isaac Hayes, David Porter, Otis Redding, Booker T & The MG's, Isaac Hayes, The Dramatics, and more. The collection will be released via the Soul Temple Records imprint in a 3xLP and 2xCD editions which can be pre-ordered here. Below you can get a preview with a 10 minutes long sampler mix put together by DJ 7L.

CZARFACE Ft. Action Bronson - "It's Raw"

The release of Wu-Tang legend Inspectah Deck and Boston duo 7L & Esoteric's full-length project as Czarface is getting closer everyday. The 19:th of February is the date when it drops in record stores via Brick Records' distribution. The third single features a solid boom bap beat by 7L, an impeccable verse by Deck, and even Esoteric doing his thing, and as if that wasn't enough we get a very welcome cameo from Action Bronson who has really stepped up over the last couple of years. The joint is fittingly titled "It's Raw" and is the third single from the project, and like the previous outings is sure does not dissapoint. With all the intense guest features shining on the tracklist and to finally hear Deck rip a DJ Premier beat again, promises great things for this. Check out the new single below and make sure you are ready when the album drops.

Rebel INS & 7L/Esoteric are Czarface

For some time now rumours about Wu-Tang's super lyricist Inspectah Deck joining forces with Esoteric has been floating around the web. Now this project is definitely soon to become reality and it seems that Esoteric's traditional producer partner 7L will also be involved in the album which will be released under the group name CZARFACE (weird, I know). Rebel INS is one of my favorite rhymers of all time but besides the classic Clan album he has never been able to fully deliver a truly solid solo album if you ask me. He absolutely killed his latest LP "Manifesto" as far as the vocal part goes but except for a few beats ("The Champion", "Tombstone") it was real lackluster.

With CZARFACE we'll get to hear The Rebel rhyme over the talented 7L's production with additional contributions by the one and only DJ Premier (something fans have been fiending for since "Above The Clouds") and cameos from Roc Marciano, Action Bronson, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire and Large Professor. I really hope the latter gets to supply a beat for the project as well, considering he's been truly on fire lately. But back on topic, I uploaded the classic 7L & Esoteric '99 single "Speaking Real Words" which was the first time they duo worked with Inspectah Deck; a classic song mixed by the one and only Marley Marl.

7L & ESOTERIC x INSPECTAH DECK - "SPEAKING REAL WORDS"