[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] AWKWORD - "World View"

NYC emcee Awkword released a very interesting project late this Sunday; unfortunately it hit the net after I had gone to bed due to the dime difference over here, and since I haven't been on The Lost Tapes since then really I haven't been able at all to make any new updates. But better late than never, here's Awkword's anticipated concept album "World View" which featues Awkword and several A-list underground spitters going in over production collected from all over the world. Really interesting stuff, and especially when some of the producers include ATG, Numsonics, Domingo, DJ Fafu, The White Shadows, Tranzformers and many more, while guests include, but not limited to, Chaundon, Sean Price, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Punchline, Beretta 9, Jasiri X, Chino XL, Sha Stimuli, REKS, C-Rayz Walz, Dug Infinite, Mista Lawgne (!), ILLBILL, Slug, and Joell Ortiz. Despite featuring several producers "World View" clearly has a cohessive soun, and comes off as an homage to the Golden Age of true hip-hop. Be sure to check this one out, not least because it's a free digital project, sponsored by the always great DJBooth. TURN IT UP!!

[Out Now] BLAQ POET - "Blaq Death"

Blaq Poet is one of the hardest emcees out, and one who's Screwball records, "Deja Vu" and "Tha Blaqprint" I have played religiously throughout the years. But I gotta be honest, his albums post-Year Round Records has been quite dissapointing if you ask me. There were some certified bangers on his first collaboration with Stu Bangas & Vanderslice on "Blaq Poet Society", bibut the replay value was lacking, and the "E.B.K." CD - I'm not even gonna touch that one. It's not that Blaq Po still don't know how to bring the heat like he used to, but after an album fully produced by DJ Premier/Works of Mart (with Easy Mo Bee supplying a guest production), it's pretty damn hard to come back to that type of quality - just ask Jeru The Damaja.
Now he's back with another full-length however on Man Bites Dogs, which marks his second full collaboration with Brutal Music production team of Vanguard and Stu Bangas. From what I've heard so far this is the stronger album of the two based on the tracks we've heard so far - I don't want to jump the gun if it stays in this realm this could very well be Po's best release since 2007. We got a sequel to the impressive "Voices", and guest features from artists including Sadat X, Roc Marciano, Tragedy Khadafi, Chino XL, Vinnie Paz and more. You can order the album and peep the samples @ Amazon (seems to be digital only). Peep the tracklist and artwork: 

01. "Intro"
02. "Looking for Trouble" (Ft. Vinnie Paz, Spit Gemz, Chino XL)
03. "Drunk and High"
04. "Interlude"
05. "Mean and Dirty" (Ft. Tragedy Khadafi, Celph Titled)
06. "Real Nigga Coming Through"
07. "Four Time Felons" (Ft. Spit Gemz, Lateb)
08. "Interlude"
09. "Don Omar" (Ft. Spit Gemz, Snak the Ripper)
10. "Jack Move" (Ft. Blacastan)
11. "All Blaq Everything" (Ft. Roc Marciano)
12. "Blaq Kruger"
13. "Who Can You Trust"
14. "Voices, Pt. 2"
15. "Outro"

[Snippet] DIAMOND D / CHINO XL - "THE PAIN"

With the exception of some very few artists I really don't fuck with snippets, but this one is too crazy not to post. When I interviewed Diamond back in April, he had just gotten back from a session with Chino XL which he mentioned as one of his most exciting collaborations for "The Diam Piece LP". A few days back the self-proclaimed best producer on the mic posted a one minute long snippet of the track he was speaking about, "The Pain" is a collaboration between Chino XL and AG. This looks pretty damn mindblowing track on paper, but the actual song sounds even hotter than one could hope for. With a somber acoustic piano floating throughout the song, a hypnotically repetitive female vocal sample, and vintage Diamond drums the stage is set for Chino XL who comes armed with a flow not of this world and plenty of jaw-dropping lines, Xtra Large. Say what you want about Chino's own output past his debut, but he remains one of the most lyrical cats on the planet. Unfortunately the preview cuts off before we get a chance to hear AG's verse... Oh well!

In further news on Diam's upcoming producer album, yet another tracklist has been revealed via official sources. In my interview he made it clear that nothing definite about the tracklist, sequence or even which songs would make the final cut were yet decided, and that the first leaked tracklist was more of a blueprint. The new updated, latest, I believe is a lot closer to what eventually will be released; however I'm sure there still will be a bunch of changes/additions/subtractions before the tracklist is finalized. Especially considering the strange fact that "The Pain" isn't even on it (but neither is this or this, or Skyzoo who he's pictured with avoce)? Some crazy, marvellous shit that's got my mouth watering on here though - Fat Joe reuniting with Diamond is always exciting to me, especially when the track also features Chi-Ali and Mr. Bumpy Fucking Knuckles. Also it's fantastic that we will finally get a OC solo produced by Diamond D! Did you know that has never happened despite them being in the same crew for more than 20 years?

DIAMOND D PRESENTS... "THE DIAM PIECE LP" 
01. "Whiplash" (Ft. Pharoahe Monch)

02. "You Better Know It" (Ft. Black Rob)
03. "Da Hardest Hard" (Ft. Fat Joe, Chi Ali & Freddie Foxxx)
04. "NY State of Mind" (Ft. Smith-n-Wessun)
05. "Only Way to Go" (Ft. Pete Rock)
06. "People Of The World" (Ft. Tha Liks & Kurupt)
07. "Ain't The One to Fuck With" (Ft. Scram Jones)
08. "Change & Adapt" (Ft. OC)
09. "Get Cha Hands Up" (Ft. Hi-Tek)
10. "Vanity" (Ft. Mos Def & Minnesota)
11. "Galactic" (Ft. Ras Kass & Guilty Simpson)
12. "The Time is Now" (Ft. AG & Sadat X)
13. "My People" (Ft. J-Live, Lord Jamar & Hakim of Channel Live)
14. "Ace Of Diamond" (Ft. Masta Ace)
15. "On The One" (Ft. Torae & Punchline)
16. "Ask ´Niccas" (Ft. The Artifacts)
17. "Slick Talk" (Ft. Kev Brown)

* source 

[Mixtape] M-Phatik & Illegal Promo w. J-LOVE Presents "ON THE VERGE"

Observant readers should be aware that you already have been warned of this monster a few times, and now it's here; what is most likely the hottest mixtape of the year! M-Phatik Sounds & Illegal Promo presents "On The Verge", mixed and hosted by the seasoned DJ veteran that is J-Love. Featuring 31 tracks, the tape features a large host of the absolute best underground rappers on the scene right now. If you think that hip-hop is dead in 2012, with the possible exception of the already well established lyricists who's still putting out hot shit, prepare to get your mind completely changed about that (together with the just released "Formula=99" by Soundsci). "On the Verge" is chock full of true school esthetics, gritty, analog sounding sample based HIP-HOP beats, crazy turntable work, and headnod material. In other words, to sleep on this would be a big disfavor to yourself.

Artists featured on the tape include Super N.E.S., Rasheed Chappell, Rashad & Confidence, Smif-N-Wessun, J-Quest, Tragic Allies, Relentless, The Audible Doctor, Chino XL, J-Love, ASN, G.Dot & Born, Edo G, Ace & Hustle, Price Stylez, J-Love, Bambinoo, Crucial, T-Max, Tony Moreaue, Red Eye, Singapore Kane, Born Unique, Agallah, Hell Razah and Tokyo Cigar as Heavenly Cartel, and many more. And we haven't even got to the producers yet, so here goes... The main lacers are Tokyo Cigar, Confidence, Nick Wiz, Purpose, M-Credible and Cyrus The Great, but additional contributed bangers comes courtesy of the great ThoroTracks, Tha Audible Doctor, P-Solid Connection, DJ Grazzhoppa, The Breaks, Crucial G and Cuzzo Sosay. 31 tracks, including both slamming posse cuts and outstanding solo tracks, all expertly mixed and cut up by J-Love with virtually no DJ shouts for those of y'all who strongly dislikes that. "On The Verge" is basically a 90 minutes smorgasbord of gripping, authentic hip-hop of today's illest up-and-coming US rappers and producers - many of who might become the legends of tomorrow - mixed with a few cameos from some of the already well-established greats for good measure.

But don't take my word for it, the mixtape is totally free and if you like the content of this site, I can guarantee you will love this as much as me. Check out the back cover with tracklist and producers below, if you can't get a full size even when you click on it, try this instead. Much props to everybody involved for making this incredible project happen, it will make a lot of haters shut up about the state of hip-hop in 2012. There's only one rule though once you hit that play button... TURN IT THE FUCK UP!!!!

 

M-PHATIK & ILLEGAL PROMO's "ON THE VERGE"