[Mixtape] TREK LIFE x RHETTMATIC - "Hometown Heroes"

Trek Life's new album "Hometown Foreigner" with producer Duke Westlake is out and available now, which I'm sure some of y'all caught when I posted the stream last week. If you're still trying to catch up on Trek's musical journey, or just want to spend another hour with fat beats and slick rhymes in your ear, DJ Rhettmatic of The Beat Junkies' has put together a knocking mixtape called "Hometown Heroes". This was originally pressed up on very limited cassette, but now we get a chance to hear the digital version for free via Mello Music Group. If you want the cassette, it's still available as a bonus item when you purchase "Hometown Foreigner" @ UGHH.

[Album] TREK LIFE - "Hometown Foreigner"

Mello Music Group signee Trek Life is back with "Hometown Foreigner", his third LP on the label and fifth overall. Unlike the majority of the skilled LA spitter's previous output, which had Oddisee behind the boards, the music on this release is made in collaboration with producer Duke Westlake. However, I'm sure the initiated fans of the man will have no problem adjusting to the new sound as Trek continues to spit engaging real life raps over sample based instrumentals, often favoring smooth melodies over hard, pounding drums. Guest apperances comes from the usual suspects like Oddisee, YU, Hezekiah, and more. The digital release of the LP is out now, and can be purchased @ Tunes, while the CD release isn't out until the 23:rd (pre-order @ UGHH); enjoy the free stream thanks to DJBooth below.

Trek Life - "Just The Music"

Trek Life has been around for quite a few years now, constantly dropping interesting stuff worth keeping an ear to. I first became aware of him through his three full-length collaborations with Oddisee, released between 2008 and 2010. Now in 2013 the West Coast rhymer is gearing up for his second release with Mello Music Group, titled "Hometown Foreigner". Look out for features from yU, Bishop Lamont, Richard Wright and more, and while Oddisee will appear as a spitter the musical aspect of the project is fully handled by Duke Westlake who will produce, mix and master all the music. Pre-order the CD in time for its April 9 release via UGHH (digital heads get an early drop, already on the 2:nd) and check out the first single, "Just The Music", below. Sounding good!

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"

Trek Life - "Due West" [Has-Lo Remix]

As reported previously, California rhymer Trek Life decided to complete an entire remix album of his previous project, the free Oddisee laced "Everything Changed Nothing". The new project, which is called "Wouldn't Change Nothing" is out digitally today and features remixes by Apollo Brown, Has Lo, J. Bizness, Slimkat78, MavWon, Audible Doctor and others plus two new, exclusive song(s) produced by Oddisee.

On the song above, Has-Lo, mostly known for his rapping skills, further shows his production skills. Here he's flipping Oddisee's original version into something more dark, sinister and brooding to match Trek Life's rhyming subject. The dope artwork displayed above was created by Alvin The Third. Below is the tracklist for the project and a link to the Has-Lo remix. If you like what you're hearing you can order the album digitally or pre-order the CD (which is available on August 2) from the following links; iTunes or Fat Beats.

TREK LIFE - "DUE WEST" [HAS-LO REMIX]

Trek Life - "Wouldn't Change Nothing"

 Back in May, LA based rapper Trek Life released a collaborative album with producer Oddisee titled "Everything Changed Nothing" via Mello Music Group for free. A few days ago a remix of one of the songs entitled "What It Is" appeared in a completely new form courtesy of Apollo Brown. When I posted that song I made the mistake of assuming that the abovementioned remix was a single further promoting the original album. Fact is that Trek Life and Mello Music Group will release a totally remixed version of the LP, instead calling it "Wouldn't Change A Thing" and the Apollo Brown song was the lead single from that project. Today the second single has been released, a new Oddisee remix titled just "Wouldn't Change A Thing".

While you're listening to the song, get to know more about the project through this mini-interview my man Chris Moss and Mike of Mello Music Group did to accompany the release of the single. Chris writes for Al Lindstrom and is a talented writer whom I suggest you should check out more work from. Below are excerpts of the interview, click on the link above to read the whole thing.

Q:  Tell us a little about the new project “Wouldn’t Change Nothing”.
Trek Life:  “Wouldn’t Change Nothing” is coming out on my label, Mello Music Group, Tuesday July 12^th , it’s another summer record.  We brought on a lot of dope producers to revisit the “Everything Changed Nothing” album.  This one’s got some of my West Coasts people like J Bizness, Duke Westlake, A3, Captain, and DJ Buddy.  Plus it’s got Detroit’s Apollo Brown and MarvWon, Philly’s Has-Lo, Audible Doctor who did Joel Ortiz’s Battle Cry, ST/MiC came through with some heat, SlimKat78 who did a lot of work on yU’s Before Taxes killed a joint, and of course Oddisee jumped in for two tracks.  It’s a big record.  Aaron Sutton from Visual Goodies did the cover art.

Q:  Where direction were you taking with the production on this single?
Mike Tolle (Mello Music Group):  Oddisee’s range and ability to produce songs that fit into a variety of genres has always been one of the reasons for his success, whether it’s producing a track with artistic sentiments and irregular rhythms, or making a classic grimy boom bap track, or even a polished commercial gem.  For this one Oddisee dipped into a more commercial sound, polished and more epic in it’s tone.

TREK LIFE - "WOULDN'T CHANGE NOTHING"

Trek Life / Apollo Brown

If you've been following this blog for a while you might remember West Coast emcee Trek Life for his free album "Everything Changed Nothing". The majority of that album is produced by Oddisee, one of the illest "retro" producers to gain alot of notoriety in the underground community the past couple of years. Another similiar producer in that situation is heatmaker Apollo Brown from Detroit. I was first introduced to his boom slap production on the great debut album from his group The Left last year, as well as this years instrumental LP "Clouds". Here he takes on the single "What It Is" from the aforementioned Trek Life album and the end result is quite fucking great. Check out more from Trek Life, Oddisee and Apollo Brown @ Mello Music Group.

TREK LIFE - "WHAT IT IS" [APOLLO BROWN REMIX]

Trek Life & Oddisee: free LP!!

Just got this pleasant message from Mello Music Group in my inbox! Another free full-length album from that label, you can't do nothing but love shit like that. Once again it's the underrated Washington DC producer Oddisee (of Diamond District fame amongst other things) who's giving fans a free taste of the "latest edition of what you've been missing". This time he lends his boom bap sound to the West Coast and California, LA emcee Trek Life for his sophomore album "Everything Changed Nothing" which features 12 tracks, whereof 11 are laced by Oddisee. Guests are Oliver Daysoul, a soul singer who previously worked with Oddisee quite a bit, J. Bizness, Audio Live, Skeem Price, Ralph Real and Oddisee makes an apperance on the mic as well. Track #6, "What it Is" is produced by a guy called Hudson Mohawke. I haven't listened to the album yet but will do so very soon and considering the team behind it I bet it will be an interesting listen. If you're feeling it and want to support Trek Life and Mello Music Group, you can order wax @ UGHH.com or buy CD @ Fat Beats.

1. Ready To Live feat. Olivier Daysoul (Produced By: Oddisee)
2. Still Never Rains feat. J.Bizness, Audio Live, Skeem Price (Produced By: Oddisee)
3. As The World Turns feat. Olivier Daysoul (Produced By: Oddisee)
4. Everything Changed Nothing feat. Olivier Daysoul (Produced By: Oddisee)
5. Wow (Produced By: Oddisee)
6. What It Is (Produced By: Hudson Mohawke)
7. Due West (Produced By: Oddisee)
8. So Supreme (Produced By: Oddisee)
9. I'd Rather Be feat. Olivier Daysoul (Produced By: Oddisee)
10. So LA (Produced By: Oddisee)
11. Jump Out There (Produced By: Oddisee)
12. Might Sound Crazy feat. Audio Live, Oddisee, Ralph Real (Produced By: Oddisee)

TREK LIFE - "EVERYTHING CHANGED NOTHING"