[Music Film] JAY-Z - "Streets is Watching" (1998)

As I mentioned before Jay-Z posts on The Lost Tapes ocassionally get shut down quite nasty in the comments sections, which I can understand as I personally hate everything the Jiggaman stand for these days (with that being said, still to this day he at least have a few banging cuts on each album). However, Jigga's official debut and sophomore in 1996 and 1997, respectively, "Reasonable Doubt" and "In My Lifetime... Vol. 1" are straight up incredible albums. Although the 1998 documentary / extended music video for Roc-A-Fella Films "Streets is Watching" ties together a loose narrative connecting a large amount of videos, mostly previously previously unreleased; a large amount of the best songs from Jay-Z's best album a long with his two finest early videos - "I Can Get With Dat" and "In My Lfetime"; two excellent '95 tracks.

This was originally released in '98, proabbly slightly earlier than "Vol. 2... "Hard Knock Life" and features pretty much all the original Jay-Z videos from his two first abums, many of them never having reached the public before. Whether you're on of the guys who trapped in the mindstate that Jay-Z is not a truly gifted lyricist, before he dumbed down his flow, this is purely excellent hip-hop and makes for an interesting viewing, so if you haven't catched it before... Don't sleep!

[Video] GHOSTFACE KILLAH - Bonus DVD

Picking a single favorite artist is impossible but the name that's closest to my tongue when I get the question is most often Dennis Coles a.k.a. Ghostace Killah. Few artist is as incredible on all levels, and there's no denying that he's got one of the best catalouges in hip-hop; both with the Clan and as a solo artist. Every single one of those albums are true gems, and at least three of the solo joints are masterpieces. I also saw him perform a few years ago and it's still one of the best shows I've ever attended. 

In late 2008 Def Jam released a compilation of previously released material called "GhostDeini The Great". The 16 track set was was a collection of tracks pulled from most of his LP:s up to that point, a long with a few remixes and two new songs ("Ghostface X-Mas"; "Slept On Tony"). The most interesting part for well aquainted GFK heads however came with a 30 minutes bonus DVD consisting of interview clips and live segments of Ghost and Theodore Unit performing favorites like "Run", "The Champ", "Be Easy", "Ice Cream" and "Biscuits". Thanks to super Wu fan FeLo we now have the opportunity to stream the entire DVD via an upload he made to his YouTube account, and this was real great to see (I don't own the album since I don't really buy compilations like that). Huge props and mad thanks to FeLo for this upload, it's truly a blessing! Also as an added bonus, I have uploaded the two exclusive original songs in Mp3 format for you below... Now go out and buy his real albums if you don't have them!

GFK - "SLEPT ON TONY"
GFK - "GHOSTFACE X-MAS"

[VIDEO] Torae - "That Raw"

Now that both this and "For the Record" is out, my two favorite tracks from Torae's latest has gotten the visual treatment. Cool video, sick verses, banging Pete Rock track... Satisfaction!

Cormega, Roc Marcy, Saigon & Bronson - "MARS"

Only a few days ago, Extra-P announced his upcoming album "Professor @ Large", as well as revealing his new distribution deal and the official tracklist. Besides "Key to the City", a little suprisisingly the other song included we've already heard is "M.A.R.S."; the superb posse cut with Cormega, Roc Marciano, Saigon and Action Bronson. What's confusing is that was a song supposedly recorded for the forthcoming Large Pro produced Cormega album. However, as we all remember from the "Main Source" album, W.P. Mitchell included the AZ/Styles P collaboration "The Hardest" as a bonus track although it already had appeared on both AZ's and Style's respective albums. This might be a similiar situation, but... 

Whatever the case, the song bangs hard as hell and now we can enjoy the full music video for "Mars", featuring apperances from all the emcees. Directed by Chris Krook and Large Professor himself.

[Video] Diamond D - "Deflate 'Cha"

Not long ago dropped the first single from his forthcoming self-produced project that's still untitled and I'm not sure if he even's got a proper record deal, but hopefully this gets sorted out ASAP. As I've said time andd time again, I'm really fiending for a new Diamond album where he's handling the production, unlike his last offering "The Huge Hefner Chronicles". A pretty good album although, to me, it left a lot to be desired. "Deflate Cha" was the first official single from the LP and now it gets the visual treatment, directed in black and white by Emil Moller of B-Reel Films. Firey trak for sure!

[Promo Video] CL SMOOTH - "Nothin' Can Match It"

After the break-up from Pete Rock, we didn't really get to hear much from CL Smooth until 2005's somewhat underrated "American Me". Great news - it's now time again, as CL Smooh is preparing his second solo LP, "The Emancipation of Corey Penn" which should be ready for release soon enough. Already now we can listen to the promotional music video for the first single, "Nothing Can Match It". Really ill cut, beautifully produced by Dividied Souls Entertainment together with DJ Pain who I assume also handles the turntbale work here. And since he and Pete Rock recently reunited for some dope concerts and interview, I believe it's very possible that we might hear some exclusive Pete/CL collaborations on the LP. Stay tuned for more news on the project and a big shout out to  Chris "SPanky" Moss of Divid Souls Ent.!

[Documentary] NaS @ VH1's Behind The Music

A couple of days ago VH1 aired one of the reasons to why we still shouldn't give up entirely on all music television. Nas has always kept a low profile, rarely given interviews in comparision to most of his peers and always let his music speak for him and tell his story. And although that music speaks incredible volumes, it's a real cool exchange to see an actual documentary on the man. VH1's done a pretty fine job putting this together too with lots of rare photos, clips and great interviews with Nasir, his friends, fam and musical companions that together tells the story of the man that at 19 years old made the album that is still often considered the best rap record ever made. Nas is such a great storyteller as an emcee that you'll recognize a lot of the pivotal stuff he's telling about his life here if you're a big fan of his music. Don't miss out!

As a lil' bonus I had to upload "Surviving the Times", the absolutely stunning masterpiece that only appeared as an exclusive on Nas' "Greatest Hits" which dropped on Columbia in 2008. I recommend listening to this joint right after you've watched the flick as they together gives two great perspectives of the storyteller Nas.

NAS - "SURVIVING THE TIMES" 

[Stream] Wu-Tang Clan @ Paid Dues '12

A video stream of the Almighty Wu-Tang Clan's full 50 minutes performance at this year's Paid Dues Festival has been released. You'll hear all the usual throwback classics like "C.R.E.A.M.", "Triumph", "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin' Ta' Fuck Wit" and all that. I've seen Wu perform and it was a great set but I feel they should try to change up their set list a bit, considering they basically ignore any music they recorded as a group after 2000. This despite their catalouge being full of post-Millennium heaterz that would bang HARD in a live setting. I'm thinking about joints like "Rushing Elephants", "Thug World", "Wolves", "Take it Back", "Life Changes", "9MM Brothers", "House Of Flying Daggers", "Iron Flag", etc, etc. Still there classics of course remains CLASSICS in the most literal sense of the word so any W.T.C. set should be a good one...Spotted @ HipHopDX!

[Video] Illa Ghee - "Takin' Ova"

Hardcore BK repping rhymer and Mobb Deep affilliate Illa Ghee hits us with some straight up rugged hip-hop with "Takin' Ova". The new single appears on Illa's just released EP "Angeldust & Waffles" which is available @ iTunes now via IMOR Entertainment/Soulspazm Records. If you're feeling this, and I'd be suprised if you don't, you'll most likely enjoy the entire EP to the max as its entirely produced by Dom Dirtree.

Nick Javas / DJ Premier - "Warning Track"

Despite DJ Premier obviously being one of the sickest producers of all time, his own label Year Round Records hasn't exactly been a success story since its first release back in 2002. Soon after the label's second release, the incredible "Tha Blaqprint" in 2009, emcee Blaq Poet decided to leave and not long after Detroit artist Nick Javas left the label too, without even coming close to drop his planned "Destination Unknown" LP. More than a little suprising then, the visuals for the year old Preemo remix of Javas' "Warning Track" just hit the net out of nowhere. Can't complain about that though, and if this is new to you I added a download link for the song below. Spotted @ DJPB.

NICK JAVAS - "WARNING TRACK" [DJ PREMIER MIX]

[VIDEO] Diamond D - "Deflate 'Cha"

Funny thing that I just posted the full version of this joint yesterday and now I find out that a video has been released. Diamond's new single "Deflate 'Cha" is sick enough to get a third post though (I posted the early snippet version a while back as well), so here we go. This also counts as great news since Diamond dropping an official video means that promotion for the next Diamond D album starts NOW. Spotted @ Crates Of Jr., thx B!

[VIDEO] Sean Price - "Ruben Blades"

This hit the net yesterday but it slipped my mind so let's get back on track with Sean P's latest banger. The song "Ruben Blades" sees Sean Price attacking the microphone agressively with a lot of hot punchlines. Produced by the always underrated P.F. Cuttin' who's done plenty of heat for the former Brokest Rapper Alive throughout the years. The intro card says "Mic Tyson" coming soon (what else is new) so this might very well be an official single from the album. Video directed by Myster DL for ILL Mannered Films.

[VIDEO] Roc Marciano - "Emeralds"

The first video from Roc Marciano's upcoming "Reloaded" LP which if everything goes as planned should hit stores this summer, possibly via Decon. Beat is produced by Arch Druids... SICK shit, easily one of my most anticipated projects announced for 2012 so far. While we're on the topic of Roc Marcy, below you'll find another new cameo from New York's busiest (tied with Raekwon); "'86 Mets (3:05 AM)" from Children of the Night's new mixtape "Queens... Revisited".

CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT - "86 METS" (Ft. ROC MARICANO)

KA - "Decisions"

Ka is a heavy spitkicker hailing from Brownsville, NY. He's affiliated with Roc Marciano and most of y'all might've heard him on GZA's 2008 album "Pro Tools" where he was even given a heavy solo cut in the form of the Roc Marcy produced "Firehouse"; one of the LPs hottest track, More recently he traded bars with Marciano on "We Do It" from Roc's "Marcberg". In 2012 the vicious street style rhymer has just released his second album "Grief Pedigree" where "Decisions" is lifted from. Just like his original partner-in-rhymes music, the album is fully produced by Ka with the only cameo coming from Roc Marciano on "Iron Age". To cop music and check out more info on KA visit Ka's Official Website or buy "Grief Pedigree" in digital format via Amazon. Mad shous to the homie Angry! for putting me on to Ka's latest LP.

[Video] Killah Priest - "Listen to Me"

Killah Priest, one of the most underrated emcees of all time, has really managed to build a good buzz for his upcoming solo album "The Psychic World Of Walter Reed" with several street singles and snippet reels. Whether or not any of those will show up on the actual album is unclear but there's been a couple that I really wouldn't mind appearing there. This is another banger, titled "Listen to Me", and after the music video (directed by J. Russell) there's another extremely promising snippet reel. The LP is said to see Priest reunite with The RZA, GZA and 4th Disciple amongst others and although we don't even have a release date yet I think it's a good sign to see him take his time with this project bc that's exactly what he did with "The Offering". And we all know how incredible that turned out in the end so... Shouits to FeLo for spreading the word on this!

[Video] Torae - "For The Record"

The title track from Torae's phat 2011 album gets the video treatment, directed by Anthony Sylvester. DJ Premier, who produced this (and also makes a cameo in the video), and Torae really works well together as this quickly became one of my favorites from the LP which also featured many other heavyhitters like Pete Rock, Diamond D and 9th Wonder. Torae's "For The Record" is available now on wax and CD, head over to UGHH to pick up a copy.

[VIDEO] Sadat X - "Fake Out"

Since his early days in one of rap's greatest group, Brand Nubian, Sadat X (p/k/a Derreck X) always stood out with his unique voice and personal lyrics mixed with some 5% knowledge. In 1996 he dropped his classic debut solo "Wild Cowboys", which made it known to the world that Doddy X had no problem holding down an entire project without his Nubian brethren. After a hiatus, save for a fat '99 EP, he returned in 2005 with "Experience & Education" which was followed by "Black October" a year later; two solid full-length releases. Since then he's proven to be one of most productive emcees in the industry, pretty much dropping an album each and every year; some incredible (like "Band New Being") and some rather mediocre ("Wild Cowboys II" and the two Will Helm produced joints "Generation X" and "No Features"). Absolutely nothing wrong with his lyrical and vocal parts but he sometimes picked pretty weak, uninspired beats on those.

Future projects include a collaboration with AG and DJ Jab as The Trinity (with instant classics like the Diamond laced "Time is Now" and the dope Roc Raida Tribute). No word on the project has been heard for quite some time now. But Sadat X keeps moving. The latest single is a hardrock banger titled "Fake Out" that pretty much appeared out of nowehere a couple of days ago. According to my man Jaz the song is produced by City Parks and it got that vintage New York boom bap sound with DJ Premier figurating heavily in the video and is also responsible for the cuts on  the track. The X-Man's flow on this is super sick here too so TURN IT UP!!

Shabazz The Disciple - "Bail Money"

New single from Shabazz The Disciple called "Bail Money". Can't front on this!

[Double Feature] SADAT X

Last year Brand Nubian's most prolific emcee Sadat X released his extremely overlooked album "No Features". The CD was fully produced by Will Tell and while it's not one of The X-Man's finest releases it does pack some heat like the video for the single above, "Remember That", and X's always been an interesting rapper.

And as if that wasn't enough, the duo Fokis released their second single from their upcoming De La inspired project, "A Vintage State Of Mind". The song is called "Just Sayin'" and just happens to feature none other than Mr. Derek X so enjoy this double feature y'all cuz they sure both bang!

FOKIS / SADAT X - "JUST SAYIN'"

Gab Gotcha / Shaz Illyork / Meyhem Lauren

Crazy new tune called "Purple #7" from Gab Gotcha featuring Meyhem Lauren and Shaz Illyork; representing Queens to the fullest. The song is produced by someone who goes by the name of The Amazing Sick Beatz, and if these is a good representation of this producer's sound then I think he picked a pretty damn fitting alias for himself! Gab Gotcha is currently signed to the Wu Music Group label and released his full-length LP, "Timeless" last year.