[Album] MR. LIF & L'ORANGE - "The Life & Death Of Scenery"

Mello Music Group keep releasing quality music from quality artist. Mr. Lif has released excellent music since before his Def Jux days with underground classics like "I Phantom" and "Enters The Collosseum", always filled to the brim with clever concepts and an unmistakable flow. So when he join forces with L'Orange you can count on all fingers and toes that this is something you'd better listen to if you want a headbanger with lyrical substance. Stream for free or cop the high quality FLAC or Mp3 via Mello Music Group's Bandcamp. And while you're at it be sure to check out the debut album from The Perceptionists, tehe duo consisting of Mr. Lif and Akrobatik. Turn It Up!!

01. "The Perfect World Radio Hour: Day 279"

02. "A World Without Music"

03. "The Scribe" (Ft. Akrobartik & DJ Q-Bert)

04. "The Perfect World Radio Hour: Day 304"¨
05. "Antique Gold" (Ft. Chester Watson)
06. "The Gentile End"
07. "The Perfect World Radio Hour: Day 341"
08. "Strange Technology" (Ft. Akrobatik & Gonjasufi)
09. "Five Lies About The Outsde World"
10. "The Perfect Radio Hour: Day 421"
11. "A Palace in the Sky"
12. "There's An Art to Sleeping" [*Bonus]

"The Life & Death Of Scenery"

[2xEP] GENSU DEAN / GUILTY SIMPSON -- APOLLO BROWN / PLANET ASIA

It's a new year but over @ Mello Music Group the focus is still pumping out highly interesting quality hip-hop straight from the underground. A week or so I wrote an excited post on how their latest project to come out on the label will be a double EP where Apollo Brown has remixed tracks from Planet Asia's Gensu Dean produced "Abrasions" while Gensu Dean in turned has remixed Apollo Brown's original project with Guilty Simpson, "Dice Game". The result is already here, and it's sounding really great and is presented here as highly recommended listen for real hip-hop heads all over the world. 

"Abrasions: Stitched Up" includes five remixes in hauntingly dark and often moody, yet incredibly soulful Apollo Brown fashion which really compliments Planet Asia's flavorful brand of lyricism. It's interesting to me how Brown seems to find extreme inspiration when facing the task of remixing (or rather reimagine altogether) already existing material. For example Ghost's "The Brown Tape" stands as my favorite AB set yet, and the 5 cuts here are again some of the strongest work I've heard from the man. I also really dig how it's constructed as a complete musical joruney, despite its short length you have a clear beginning, middle and end (I mean you can't deny what a powerful closer "Reflections" is).

"Dice Game: Shaken" also consists of five Genu Dean flips (excluding a brief funky but brief introduction) where Guilty's gritty street raps are backed up with minimalistic but hard knocking boom bap type of bangers cooked up on Dean's trusty SP1200. Gensu's drum programming on here is absolutely flawless. For a cut like "Ink Blotches" (Remix) it's like you don't really need much more than a steady bassline, hard ass drums and Guilty at the center. Those ingredients right there are so powerful in themeselves that they are perfect for creating a batch of certified gutter hip-hop. Gensu also adds some hard ass electric guitar riffs on a couple of tracks ("Potatoes"; "Truth Be Told") which really works well, considering Guilty's agressive presence in a way evokes similiar vibes to the hard rock stuff. 

Besides being a brilliant idea on paper, Gensu and Brown really delivers through on the concept by naturally adding their signature sounds onto two fantastic lyrical performances. It's hard to say whether or not these remixes are better than the original versions or not.. I would probably say that for the larger part of both records they are just as dope as their OG counterparts, and that's saying a whole lot. I also don't want to single out one of the records as the better, as I believe that this is a double presentation that should be heard in one sitting. I would also suggest listening to the "Dice Game" EP first, as it has an intro, followed by a perfect album opener, but doesn't close out on such a fantastic note as "Abrasions" in my opinion. For now it unfortunately seems that this is a digital release only, but hopefully MMG will press up a few vinyl copies of this and if they do I really hope they press it as a 2xEP (including instrumentals) or as a single LP with each EP on each side. Whatever you do, make sure to listen below and if you want to support each EP is available for $4.49 @ MMG Bandcamp.

UGLY HEROES - "Pay Attention"

I was meaning to post this several days ago but then a lot of other things came in the way, but better late than never. "Pay Attention" is the new track from the Ugly Heroes crew (Apollo Brown, Red Pill, Verbal Kent), exclusively made for the upcoming Mello Music Group compilation which features a large amount of new and previously unreleased material from the impressive camp. The compilation is called "Mandala Vol. 2: Today's Mathematics" and will be released on January 28; you can check out the tracklist and pre-order here @ iTunes and check the new single below, while you stay tuned for more info and hopefully further singles!

[Video] ODDISEE - "After Thoughts"

On October 1:st, Mello Music Group and super producer Oddisee is releasing another instrumental album, titled "The Beauty in All". Should be some powerful shit, just check out the first official video above for the joint called "After Thoughts" and get prepared for the full deal!

[EP] The Black Opera - "Overture"

Black Opera is one of the new names I've been slightly curious about this year, but had yet to hear anything from the group. Signed to Mello Music Group, the group is set to release their official full-length "EnterMission" in a minute. To further the hype and make people aware of their presence, they have however already now decided to release a 7-track preqeul for free download. "Overture" gives a good idea of the sound this crew is relying on, and features production from DJ Rhettmatic, Slopfunkdust, Apollo Brown, 14KT, Nick Speed and J-Rell. Definitely worth your time if you ask me!

[Single] HAS-LO - "MMG Series #7"

Has-Lo's dropped some of the more impressive music of the last couple of years with his LP's "In Case I Don't Make It" and "Conversation B". A few days ago, he and his label Mello Music Group decided to give away the digital version of his very first 45 RPM 7" single which you can pre-order here. The A-side features my clear favorite of single, the Apollo Brown produced "Stained Glass" but !llmind's "Make A Beat" is definitely real good too. In case you haven't, make sure to stream it for free or enter your e-mail for a free download in the bitrate and format of your choice (definitely worth it).

Sean Born - "909 Jack: BTS Pause Mix"

DMV's Sean Born's album "Behind the Scale" is set for release via Mello Music Group on February 15. Throughout the last few years, Born has made his name known from guest apperances on several quality albums by artists like Kenn Starr, Hassaan Mackey, Apollo Brown, Kaimbr and Kev Brown. The last mentioned is also the main producer of "Behind the Scale" which is usually a sign of quality. You can pre-order it on vinyl or CD @ UGHH or in digital format via  iTunes.

To initiate us into his world, Sean Born has connected with DJ Marshall Law and host Peter Rosenberg to hook us up with "909 Jack: BTS Pause Mix". The tape is an ode to the old school pause mixes that many of todays best producers took their first musical steps with - "In true Low Budget fashion we take it back to dual tape decks. DJ Marshall Law and host Peter (PMD) Rosenberg get you familiar with Sean Born on this throwback featuring new, unreleased and random joints".

1.PMD
2. Invisible Hate (The Dope Jam) -feat. And Prod. By Early Reed
3. Never too late- feat. Kenny Cold - Prod. By Kev Brown
4. From my Porch -Prod By Kev Brown
5. Ready Rock (I wanna rock freestyle) feat.  Kenny Cold
6. Isaac Jones Intro - Prod By Kev Brown
7. Rappin'- Kaimbr and Kev Brown feat Sean Born (The Alexander Green Project)
8.The Trenches - Hassaan Mackey feat Sean Born (from the Daily Bread Album produced by Apollo Brown )
9. Strawberry Diesel (Fuck Blunt Wraps) Prod. By Early Reed
10. This Home feat Kenny Cold, Kaimbr and 'Toine of DTMD - Prod. By Kaimbr
11. Codeine Dreams feat. Kaimbr and Kenny Cold- Prod. By Early Reed
12. Jim Kelly Feat. 'Toine of DTMD Prod. By Early Reed
13. Go Hard - Prod by Kev Brown
14. Bullshit feat Hassaan Mackey - Prod by Kev Brown
15. The Combination - Kaimbr and Kev Brown feat Low Budget- Prod By Kev Brown (The Alexander Green Project)
16. Solid- Kaimbr and Kev Brown feat Isaac Jones- Prod By Kev Brown (The Alexander Green Project)
17. Look- Isaac Jones - Prod. By Kev Brown
18. YellowCake - Feat. Early Reed and  Kenny Cold- Prod by Early Reed
19. Isaac Jones Outro- Prod. By Kev Brown

SEAN BORN - "909 JACK: BTS PAUSE MIX" 

Oddisee Ft. yU - "Still Doing It"

As I reported a few days ago, Oddisee will release his new instrumental album "Rock Creek Park" in September, which is lead by the first single "The Carter Baron". The always interesting DC producer has already decided to release the second single through always reliable label Mello Music Group. "Still Doing It", which is the only vocal joint on the LP, features 2/3 of Diamond District as it's a collaboration between Diamond District who recently reunited in full on the first single, "Told U So", from Uptown XO's coming album. Check out more about Oddisee @ MelloMusicGroup.com.

Oddisee - "Still Doing It" (Ft. yU)

New ODDISEE - "The Carter Baron"

One of the most interesting producers of today, Washington DC's Oddisee, has been around for several years (I think his first placement was a beat on DJ Jazzy Jeff's "The Magnificent" in 2002 though I first started to take real notice with his three outstanding beats on The U.N.'s '04 debut). It's first in recent years that he's really been getting the recognition he deserve through pumping out dope album after dope album. His latest project is an instrumental release entitled "Rock Creek Park", as it's an homage to Washington DC's famous Rock Creek Park. The album (which is a warm-up to his "real" solo album due out this winter) is a mixture of heavy live instrumentation and Odd's classic rich sample-based sound that according to Mello Music Group "gives the album a sonically full 3-dimensional sound". Sounds interesting to say the least! 

The first single was released through MMG's site today and is called "The Carter Baron" and is a smooth but driving track with live drums, bass and performed by Jon Laine, Dennis Turner and Ralph Real, respectively. The soulful sample and trademark synthesizer work is conducted by Oddisee himself. This joint really gave me high hopes for the album; the CD/digital album will be released on September 6 while the wax will find its way to stores on September 27.

ODDISEE - "THE CARTER BARON"

Apollo Brown remixes "The Trenches"

Everytime I receive a mail from Mello Music Group, I know I'm in for a treat and no exception today. MMG are of course the home of Detroit's newest shooting star, producer Apollo Brown, amongst others and one of their latest album releases are the fantastic Hassaan Mackey / A. Brown album "Daily Bread". It's rare with front-to-back burners in hip-hop these days as more and more artists are abandoning the album format in favor of iTunes singles and other bullshit but "Daily Bread" is a really well crafted, thought provoking LP full of equally interesting rhymes and beats. As hip-hop should always strive to be if you ask me. Apollo Brown, who also produced the original, have let loose of a remix of the album track "The Trenches" which also features Sean Born. The result is just as stunning as the original mix as it seems everything this proucer touches turns into gold right now. Pre-order the vinyl or order the CD now @ Fat Beats!

HASSAAN MACKEY - "THE TRENCHES" [A. BROWN Rmx]

Mello Music Group X3

Since I saw the Mello Music Group logo for the first time, which I believe was on the Diamond District LP "In The Ruff", it has grown into one of the absolute best underground labels there is today. Not only do they have a very impressive roster of highly skilled hip-hop cats, they release ill shit around the clock and I don't know any other label that gives away so much for free; from full-lenght albums to singles, EPs and mixtapes. And it's all quality too! Today they continue their promotional run for three of their most recent projects with one single from each of those albums.

First out is what is said to be the final single off Apollo Brown's and Hassaan Mackey's just released "Daily Bread". Their album stands as one of my favorite releases of the year so far and this particular track, "Something" is a great representation of the sound find on this project. You can pick up "Daily Bread" on CD and wax via UGHH right away, the CD is shipping while the vinyl lovers will have to wait til' August 16 - it's worth the while though.

APOLLO BROWN/HASSAAN MACKEY - "SOMETHING"

The next single comes from Trek Life's remix project, "Wouldn't Change Nothing", which features producers like Oddisee, Apollo Brown, Has-Lo, J. Bizness and SlimKat78. I've only heard the latter through his featured production on Diamond District's debut album but since his contribution actually was an album highlight, I'm eager to hear more from him. Here Slimkat78 remixes Trek's "Jump Out There" and while it ain't as crazy as the DD track I mentioned ("Off The Last Night"), it's definitely worth hearing. "Wouldn't Change Nothing" is available on CD @ UGHH.

TREK LIFE - "JUMP OUT THERE" [SLIMKAT78 REMIX] 

And last, but definitely not least, is another single from Has-Lo's crticially acclaimed debut album "In Case I Don't Make It", another severely ill 2011 release. Even more impressive is that it's 100% self-produced, and it's hard to pick out whether he's a better emcee or producer. The track just released as single is "Storm Clouds". You can order the Cd @ UGHH, I have no clue if it's a vinyl release out there yet though?

HAS-LO - "STORM CLOUDS"