CASUAL & PHAT KAT are RON BON JOVI

Just checking through some random stuff on Soundcloud this dark, rumbling beast of a joint started blaring through my headphones as Phat Kat took microphone duties. Ron Bon Jovi was not a name I recognized so I did a quick search and turns out that the Microphone Master of Detroit has joined up with the super talented Hieroglyphics member Casual to form this duo. Collaborative projects like this has become something of a norm in underground hip-hop these days and sometimes it works like a charm while other times it never truly gels. Listening to the single, "Time Tunnel", I gets a good vibe though so I'm definitely looking forward to the full-length ("Neaux Mursi") which is supposed to drop on February 19.

[Album] HIEROGLYPHICS - "The Kitchen"

The Hieroglyphics is back with a new LP, titled "The Kitchen". The legendary Oakland team's first collective project in over 10 years doesn't entirely consist of new material though - some of the tracks found here have previously been released on various solo projects by the members. Most of the material is previously unreleased and newly recorded however, and created in collaboration with the Sacramento based DJ-crew The Sleeprockers. The entire album is streaming over @ Spin (see link below), but if you want to support you can cop a digital copy from iTunes. Hit play for some of that smooth Hiero ish!

“This record is a fun release, an audio collage. Not much has changed with Hiero." - Casual

HIEROGLYPHICS - "THE KITCHEN" @ SPIN

[VIDEO] Casual x J Rawls - "Respect Game..."

Not too long ago Hieroglyphics rhyme maesro Casual and impeccanle beat maker J-Rawl's announced their collaborative full-length album "Respect Game Or Expect Flames" for immediate release last week. It is now out, and I've been spinning the album front-to-back a couple of times, and it's no doubt that it's a solid project. One of my favorite joints from the album is the title track, featuring Del tha Funkee Homosapien, who I posted the single for recenly. Here's the video too so enjoy!!

Casual x J Rawls - "Respect Game or Expect Flames"

Hieroglyphics' emcee Casual and DJ/producer J Rawls is teaming up on "Respect Game Or Expect Flames" for release via Nature Sounds next week. The leaks so far has all been solid but they have saved the best for last, as the title tracks featuring Del Tha Funkee Homosapien really knocks competition out the box. You can order the CD directly from Nature Sounds who already started shipping; vinyl heads will get their dose on September 25. Also worth peeping is J Rawls slamming Hieroglyphics mix which you can download/stream here.

[Video] Casual x J Rawls - "Reign"

Casual and J Rawl's might sound like a somewhat unexpected collaboration, but as Casual is one hell of a lyricist and his last few albums have failed on the production side I think this will turn out lovely. The visuals to the opening song "Reign" undoubtedly souns promising, and features a brief guest apperance from fellow Hieroglyphic Pep Love.

Casual & J Rawl's "Respect Game or Expect Flames" will be released on CD and 2xLP via Nature Sounds on August 28 and October 2, respectively. Tracklisting is looking serious too (I need to hear that Souls Of Mischief / MHZ posse cut ASAP); check it out and place your pre-order @ UGHH.

01. "Reign"
02. "Respect Game or Expect Flames" (Ft. Del The Funky Homosapien)
03. "La Danse Du Fessie"
04. "Caziest Story"
05. "The Authority" (Ft. The Mystery School)
06. "Surely, I'm Right"
07. "Fly" (Ft. Allah Reign)
08. "Nota Problem Part II"
09. "Hier O-Dot" (Ft. Copywrite, Phesto Dee, Tage, Tajai, Opio, Jakki Da Mottamouth)
10. "Ain't Tryna Hear"
11. "Find A New Remix" (Ft. Rene Dion)
12. "Emergency" (Ft. Kurious)
13. "Give Respect"
14. "Upper Echelon"
15. "We Servin' Y'all"

[Tracklist] Casual x J Rawls - "Respect Game or Expect Fames"

One of the founding members of Hieroglyphics is nothing short of a lyrical monster, yet many of his latest albums has ended up being dissapointments in the beat section. The Nature Sounds August 28 release, "Respect Game Or Expect Flames", will hopefully not fall into that category as the Oakland native has enlisted Ohio beat maestro J. Rawls to completey handle all production on the disc. J. Rawl's has produced such jazzy classics as Black Star's "Brown Skin Lady", "The Gibbous" by Makeeba Mooncycle, "We Bouncin'" by Makeeba Mooncycle, a whole bunch of joints for Lone Catalysts and many more.

In other words this this will most definitely be a new sound for both parties involved (J. Rawls said he had gone for a new style for this project), and I for one am eager to hear the final result. I wasn't blow away by the first single,, but looking at the tracklist and the involved names this looks like an interesting LP to say the least. Thoughts?

TRACKLIST
01. "Reign" (Ft.. Pep Love & Allana Reign)
02. "Respect Game or Expect Flames" (Ft. Del The Funky Homosapien)
03. "La Danse Du Fessie"
04. "Craziest Story"
05. "The Authority" (Fr. The Mystery Schoo)l
06. "Surely, I’m Right"
07. "Fly" (Ft. Allana Reign)
08,. "Nota Problem Part II"
09. "Hier-O-Dot" (Ft. Copywrite, Phesto, Tage, Tajai, Opio & Jakki Da Motamouth)
10. "Aint Tryna Hear"
11. "Find a New Remix" (Fr.. Rene Dion)
12. "Emergency" (Ft. Kurious)
13. "Give Respect"
14. "Upper Echelon"
15. "We Servin’ Y’all" (Ft. The Liquid Crystal Project)

Copywrite / Casual / Evidence / Roc Marcy

After seeing the tracklist for Copywrite's new album "God Save the King" on Man Bites Dog Records three songs immediatly struck out to me. Those were the two Bronze Nazareth productions, one titled "Love" which was recently released as the first single, and the other were the very promising posse cut "Golden State (Of Mind)" featuring Copywrite, Casual, Roc Marciano and Evidence. All these four guys are super lyrical and as expected the song hardly dissapoints with Vanderslice's solid production. "God Save the King" will be released nationally on the last of this month from the usual suspects like UGHH and Amazon. iTunes will be hosting an exclusive advance of the LP a few days before its release, starting on the 24th, which you can pre-order it via iTunes.

COPYWRITE x x EVIDENCE x CASUAL x ROC MARCY - "Golden State"