[comp] PETE ROCK - "This is the NEW Shit"

Since I first heard ".T.R.O.Y.", "Shut 'Em Down", Pete's take on "Jump Around", "Nighttrain" and so many more, I've heald Pete as one of the holy trinity of Hip-Hop production. There's of course plenty of great rducers out there, but Pete reallt walked the extra mile putting together and layering something rottally original. This was the early '90s and songs like "T.R.OY", "The Basement" and basically the whole LP, there never was a qiuestion Pete Rock still got it. Simple as that. His sound might have changed quite a bit since the classic SP1200 days with CL Smooth and "Letterman" but though the man is still cranking out bangers on a semi-regular basis, he sure as hess stillgot,. In the last couple of years he served Hip Hop heads with serious dopeness on his full-length collaboration with Smif-N-Wessun ("Monumental"), brought out the ill instrumental grooves on "Petestrumentals II" and released two free digital mixtapes with Camp Lo that featured enough hot exclusives to make up a nice little album. One of the joys of being a dedicated Pete Rock fan, however, is not only checking for his LP releases and special projects but of course to keep eyes and ears open for whatever singles he's invited to produce or remix. While his work in the 2010s might not be as consistantly mindblowing as his early '90s years there's been plenty of Pete Rock heatrocks released on various albums over the last three years or so. Ron Carter was a bassic that Miles wanTed in his badn fot quote time -and thereS unodubtedly weak homes. "There Will Be Blood" is undoubtddly one of the best children's 

Last week I saw a GREAT concert performance by Pete Rock and CL Smooth in Copenhagen which really got me in a Soul Brother listening mode. Hence I dug up this compilation I made a while back for personal listening, but why not share the goods, right? This comp is basically an overlook of Stank for other artists between 2012 and 2016. I've tried to find all joints in the best possible quality as far as Mp3 goes (320 kbps) but a few of the songs is in lower bitrate as that was how they hit the internet in the case of some of these digital loosies. Either way it's a pretty cool front-to-back listen for anyone who still considers himself a Pete Rock fan... Check it out!

01. Torae - "Get Down"

02. Edo G - "Let Da Horns Blow"

03. Ill Bill - "Truth"

04. .38 Spesh - "Gone" (Ft. Sean Hayes)

05. Mack Wilds - "Duck Sauce"

06. Mac Miller - "Melt" (Ft. Schoolboy Q)
07. Robert Glasper Experiment - "Black Radio" RMX (Ft. Yasiin Bey)

08. Panda Bear - "Crosswords" RMX

09. NORE - "Vitamins" (Ft. Pete Rock)

10. Styles P - "Children" (Ft. Pharoahe Monch)

11. .38 Spesh - "Support" (Ft. Styles P)

12. Blu - "The Clean Hand"
13. Edo G - "2 Turntables & A Mic"
14. Ill Bill - "When I Die" RMX
15. Mack Wilds - "The Art Of Falling"
16. Smoke DZA - "Achieve"

 PETE ROCK - "THIS IS THE NEW SHIT"

[Album] EL GRANT - "The Beast Academy"

I know this dropped almost a week ago by now, but as I haven't been updating I feel this needs to be posted to make sure it won't fly over other peoples heads. I've been posting the singles leading up to New Yoprk freestyle champ  El Grant's's album, entirely produced by JOAT (Jack Of All Trades) who's boom bap/golden age-esque production forms a great chemistry with the quick witted emcee. It's not often that we get a 10 track album these days, but El Grant has wisely chose to strip the album of all fat, only leaving the swelling meat which he serves up with hip-hop totates and make it gravy. Check out the Rick Rubin influenced "Bases Load" with it's dirty rock-sampling hip-hop beat that allows El Grant to put on some true A-game. "Goldie Hawn" is another certified banger where two master lyricists clashses head to head and gives the listener a true journey through rap verbals of the higest order, all set to a beautifull soul joint. But in the end this is an album you listen to front-to-back each and every time, not only because it's short in length but also because it's extremely poignant all the way through. Enjoy this one as you stream it below, but if you dig it you can cop a digital download @ DJBooth for $7.99. TURN IT UP!

[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!!

Snowgoons Ft. Ill Bill, Celph Titled, Apathy & Sicknature - "Black Snow 2"

Germany based production team The Snowgoons rounds up ILLBILL, Celph Titled, Apathy and Danmark 'goon for the title track from the upcoming "Black Snow 2" project. As expected this is some hard ass stuff and the featured emcees sounds just about perfect over this type of agressiveness. The LP is set to be released on December 13, pre-orders will be available soon and word is that the iTunes version will carry three bonus tracks!

[Video] ILL BILL - "Paul Balloff"

"Paul Baloff" is one of the huge amount of brilliant joints found on "The Grimey Awards", Ill Bill's recent album which to me is also his best; possibly only rivaled by the DJ Muggs collaboration. There's been a lot of videos from the project so far, and here's another one; a cartoon video directed by MoreFrames. More than videos, there's also a plethora of some of the best producers in the game on there, and the knocking "Paul Bekoff" is produced by Premier protogé MoSS. In case you have already not supported Bill and his cause, you can order the album with a few bonus tracks @ iTunes but if you are like me, and want physical copies of the album, its available on both CD and 2xLP at UGHH or  Ill Bill's Official Website.

Ill Bill, DJ Eclipse, Torae talk productions from Pete Rock, Preemo & Extra-P

Ill Bill was the guest on the latest edition of DJ Eclipse's and Torae's Rap Is Outta Control show. In this two minute clip, the trio speaks on the thoughts and blessing of incorporating the famous "Illmatic" line-up of Pete Rock, DJ Premier and Large Professor for their respective albums. Of course, Non Phixion was the first to do it with their official debut LP "The Future is Now", and more recently both Torae and Ill Bill reached out to the power trio to lace several cuts on their latest albums, respectively... And to great effect! Interesting stuff!

ILL BILL - "World Premier" [prod. DJ Premier]

The founder of Non Phixion's solo album "The Grimy Awards" is in stores now and is filled with dope beats and rhymes from the likes of Large Pro, Pete Rock, Psycho LES, DJ Muggs, El-P, Mo$$, Bill himself, DJ Premier and many more. The latter is responsible for the album's closing song, "World Premier", an overall terrific joint that has now been made into a video/single, so press play and let your head bang! Support for the cause and order/pre-order your format of choice NOW.

DJ Skizz Ft. Ill Bill & Lil' Fame - "Violence"

Brooklyn's DJ Skizz is about to blow some heads with his self-produced debut album "B.Q.E" which is slated for an early 2013 release. Filled with hardbodie beats, the LP is loaded with some of the best street emcees around; get ready for cameos by Roc Marciano, AG, Cormega, Sean Price, Havoc, Tragedy, Masta Ace, Craig G, Rah Digga, Steele, Torae, Nature and more. To get you ready for what's to come, check out the lead single "VIO-LENCE" featuring no less rhyme slingers than Lil' Fame and Ill Bill. Don't sleep!

 

[Video] ILL BILL - "Exploding Octopus"

Another ill single from Bill's "The Grimey Awards" which drops at the end of the month; this one's titled "Exploding Octopus" and is self-produced. I'm getting Non Phixion vibes off this, the album will be straight heat, that's for sure!

[Tracklist] ILL BILL - "The Grimey Awards"

Ill Bill's"The Grimey Awards" packs one of the most exciting tracklists in some time, and as Bill regulary delivers heat this should definitely be an enjoyable ride once it drops on February 26. Loads of interesting collaborations here; I can't wait to hear Shabazz, Lil' Fame and Ill Bill, not to mention the combination of OC, Cormega and Bill on a DJ Muggs production!

01. "What Does It All Mean?" [prod. by Ill Bill]
02. "Paul Baloff" [prod. by MoSS]
03. "I Don’t Know How Long It’s Gonna Last"
04. "Acceptance Speech" (Ft. A-Trak) [prod. by Junior Makhno]
05. "Truth" [prod. by Pete Rock]
06. "Exploding Octopus" [prod. by Ill Bill]
07. "Forty Deuce Hebrew" (Ft. HR of Bad Brains) [prod. by Ill Bill]
08. "How To Survive The Apocalypse" [prod. by Psycho Les]
09. "Vio-Lence" (Ft. Shabazz The Disciple & Lil Fame of M.O.P.) [prod. by DJ Skizz]
10. "Acid Reflux" [prod. by Large Professor]
11. "L’Amour East" (Ft. Meyhem Lauren & Q-Unique) [prod. by Ayatollah]
12. "Power" (Ft. OC & Cormega) [prod. by DJ Muggs]
13. "When I Die" (Ft. Tia Thomas) [prod. by Pete Rock] *
14. "Severed Heads" (Ft. El-P) [prod. by El-P]
15. "120% Darkside Justice" (Ft. Jedi Mind Tricks) [prod. by C-Lance]
16. "Canarsie High" [prod. by Large Professor]
17.  "World Premier" [prod. by DJ Premier]

* it seems that track #13 will be a Pete Rock remix of the single that was released recently (and can be heard via the link) as official sources credited that as an Ill Bill production.

ILL BILL - "The Truth" [prod. Pete Rock]

Ill Bill's upcoming "The Grimey Awards" is shaping up to be one of the hardest albums of the year, real horrorshow. Chock full of A-list producers and guests, the album lands in stores February 26. One of the most anticipated records of the project is by far Pete Rock's contribution "The Truth", considering we haven't heard these two pair up since Non Phixion's classic "If You Got Love". Bill has now released the song as another single from the LP. Click here if the embedinng don't work.

[Video] ILL BILL - "When I Die"

Ill Bill's "The Grimey Awards" is out on January 29, and the second single from the project is a self-produced cut called "When I Die" that sounds just as promising as the first single (the one with El-P). I have a feeling this might be Bill's finest solo album, possibly with the exception of the DJ Muggs collaboration, considering he has rounded up some of the greatest and most innovative producers for the project; DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor, El-P, Psycho LES, Ayatollah, Muggs, MoSS, and more. I'm gonna see Bill in concert about three weeks from now where he appears together with legends like AG, OC, Pharoahe Monch, and more.. Can't fucking wait!

Ill Bill / El-P - "Severed Heads Of State"

Ill Bill's really been on a run lately, pumping out dope music whether working with Muggs, La Coka Nostra, Vinnie Paz or solo. Besides the project he's supposedly doing with Sean Price (check the interview linked in the post below), he's preparing another solo LP; "The Grimy Awards" is set to hit stores on January 29 next year so get prepared. The list of producers and guests Bill has brought in for this one should make for one unreasonably sick LP - how about DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Psycho LES, El-P, DJ Muggs, Large Professor, Ayatollah, MoSS, and C-Lance? Or what if I said Cormega, OC, Shabazz The Disciple, Lil' Fame, Meyhem Lauren, Jedi Mind Tricks, Q-Unique, and more? Yessir, it should get you hyped too!

The first single just dropped; "Severed Heads of State" is both produced by and features a cameo from El-P. The video is directed by Ill Bill, and produced/edited by NO/FI.

Ruste Juxx & The Arcitype - "The Walking Dead"

Ruste Juxx's been around for quite some time, but it's just over the last couple of years that he's really started making real noise. Always making sure the hardcore hip hop heads are catered to, none of his later projects has dissapointed, and I like the fact that he bases his albums on the one DJ / one MC idea. His latest venture is the LP "V.I.C." with producer The Arcitype, out September 25 on Duck Down / AR Classic Records. For the single "The Walking Dead", Ruste is joined by three heavyweights in Guilty Simpson, Ill Bill and Shabaam Sahdeeq.

[TRACKLIST] Brutal Music Presents "Diggaz With Attitude"

A year or two ago, Stu Bangas and Eric Vanderslice formed the production duo/publishing company Brutual Music, who released (and produced) Blaq Poet's latest LP; "Brutual Music". Together they have laced hot joints for peeps like Heltah Skeltah, Reef Tha Lost Cauze, Vinnie Paz, Apathy, Slaine, Army Of Pharoahs, Outerspace, Termanology and Hell Razah & Shabazz The Disciple as THUG Angelz, Now they are taking on a full-blown solo project to be released late this summer, "Diggaz With Attitutde", set for an August 28 release on Man Bites Dogs Reocords. Packed to the max with crazy US guest features so keep an eye out for this; first single should arrive soon!

01. "Intro" [prod. by Vanderslice]
02. "A Word From The Ghetto Child" (Ft. Smiley Da Ghetto Child) [Vanderslice]

03. "Half Dead" (Ft. Apathy, Roc Marciano & Planet Asia) [Stu Bangas]
04. "Pharoah Status" (Ft.. Esoteric) [Stu Bangas]
05. "The Gusto" (Ft. Apathy, Roc Marciano, Alchemist & Evidence) [Vanderslice]
06. "The Brutual Music Collection Agency" [Vanderslice]
07. "Okay, Player" (Ft. Wais P) [Vanderslice]
08, "Death Wish" (Ft. Ill Bill, Blaq Poet & Wais P) [Stu Bangas]
09, "Extened Mags" (Ft. Outerspace) [Vanderslice]
10, "Spyhunter" (Ft. Blacastan) [Vanderslice]
11. "The Van Sleazy Extravaganza" [Vanderslice]
12. "Casino Royale" (Ft. Apathy & Blacastan) [Vanderslice]
13. "1st Degree Murder (Ft. Vinnie Paz, Roc Marciano & Celph Titled) [Stu Bangas]
14. "The Realest" (Ft. Slaine & Ill Bill) [Stu Bangas]
15 "Vikings" (Ft. Apathy & Wais P) [Stu Bangas]
16, "Black Lung Rap" (Ft. Reef The Lost Cauze) [Vanderslice]
17, "Thank You & F*Ck You" [Vanderslice]

La Coka Nostra / DJ Premier - "Mind Your Business"

God damn, this goes HARD!! The La Coka Nostra crew hooks up with DJ Premier for this smashing single called "Mind Your Business". Be sure to check for "Masters Of The Dark Art" in stores on July 31.

DJ Muggs announces new LPs

This is some great news right here! Ever since Muggs came out with Cypress Hill in 1991 to his collaboration with Ill Bill last year he has proven to be one of the most lethal producers to ever grace an MPC. Alot of hot producers create a few classic albums then drops the ball heavily, but Muggs has constantly proven that he never ever fell off, especially considering his recent Vs. series.

In this recent interview that my man Angry! put me on to the veteran speaks on two upcoming releases that both sounds like they could be serious contenders for albums of the year. The first one is a DJ based record called "Bass For Your Face" which will be a fusion of electronics, glitch and hip-hop; from what I gather it will mostly be instrumental but will feature guest verses from RZA, Bun B and Razhel. The second project he announced is a straight hip-hop album and another installment in the Muggs Vs. series - a full-length collaboration with Ill Bill, Vinnie Paz and Muggs. Now how fucking dope those that sound?

As a related bonus I uploaded a track that was scrapped from 2008s "Pain Language", the DJ Muggs/Planet Asia. The track is called "Top Shelf" and features The Blastmaster KRS-One.


DJ MUGGS VS. PLANET ASIA - "TOP SHELF" (Ft. KRS-One)

DJ Muggs with the "Heavy Metal Kings"

Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz is finally releasing their long planned collaboration, 'Heavy Metal Kings'; the album is supposed to be nothing but pure hip-hop and the title of course come from the amazing Jedi Mind Tricks / Ill Bill record from 2006. Both artists have released really good solo projects leading up to this, Vinnie's 'Season Of The Assassin' had plenty of impeccable songs both lyrically and especially beatwise (what coulld you really expect with tracks by Lord Finesse, Lil' Fame, Madlib, 4th Disciple, DJ Muggs, Da Beatminerz, etc.).

Ill Bill went a different route with his solo last year, having DJ Muggs produce, score, direct and oversee the album front-to-back and what a chemistry the two showed together. 'Kill Devil Hills' was one of the best albums of 2010 and it also featured Vinnie Paz on the masterpiece title track. The track below could be seen as a continue of that, as it's DJ Muggs sole contribution to the album and is a great track. ORDER 'HEAVY METAL KINGS' HERE.

ILL BILL; VINNIE PAZ; DJ MUGGS - "Leviathan"