[Album] D'ANGELO - "The Black Messiah"

The golden grail of modern soul music has just been unleashed on the sleeping population as D'Angelo has finally released his first new album in 14 years. Following up one of the greatest albums of all tiime, 1999's "Voodoo", is no small task but the twelve songs that D has perfected with The Vanguard on "Black Messiah" will very likely be considered a classic some years from now. Fans of the super talented multi-instrumentalist and singer will welcome this as a return to form I have no doubt and listening to the first few songs I can attest to this being some truly great shit. As of now "Black Messiah" is available via digital retailers sand can also be streamed via Spotify (see below). Guest features include fellow Soulquarians ?uestlove and Q-Tip as well as Parliament's Kendra Foster. Support D's return @ iTunes while we wait for physical copies of this funky monster. Christmas came early!

[Album] THE WHOOLIGANZ - Proposed Album

Today I got a truly crazy gem for all of the '90s hip-hop fanatics that love them some bass heavy Soul Assassins ish. Mista Mo approached me about putting this on the site for y'all to hear and for that I am very grateful! In case you've missed out on the scoop The Whooliganz was an early '90s hip-hop duo affiliated with Soul Assassins, but what really makes them interesting is its members - The Alchemist who teamed up with Scott Caan (yes, the son of Sony Corleone) to form The Whooliganz. After opening up some shows for Cypress Hill the group were signed to an album deal with Tommy Boy around '92 and started working on their debut. Though the album were completed the deal fell through after the first single, "Put Your Handz Up", failed to get the duo any real attention. As is often the case however, a very small number of promo cassettes were pressed up and has been sought after by hip-hop heads for years.

Last year we were treated to a rip of a snippet tape for the album called "Make Way For The W" but now thanks to Mista Mo I can present you with the real deal. Mo purchased the promo tape from Jamieson Grillo, a former Tommy Boy employee, and decided to share the goods with the rest of the world. Notice that this differ heavily from the aforementioned snippet tape, and features a bunch of previously unheard tracks, including several guest appearances by B-Real. Check out Mo's notes and the tracklist below and scroll down to grab yourself a copy. Mad thanks for this one!! EXCLUSIVE!

"This is not "Make Way For The W", the unreleased album. It's probably a demo tape intended for internal listening at Tommy Boy. The name "Make Way For The W" was probably taken from the song of the same name, which isn't on this but has surfaced on another demo tape. It is likely that versions of some if not all of these tracks would have been on the final album.

Versions of Time Goes On, Put Your Handz Up, Hit The Deck and Whooliganz were released on singles, the rest of the tracks are unreleased.

Time Goes On is incorrectly listed as "Whooliganz - Original" on the UK Whooliganz 12".

Put your Handz Up is a slightly different mix to the single version (e.g. the horns before the first verse).

Whooliganz is not the same as the single version. It is nearly identical but does not feature B-Real.

A version of T-Rays beat for "Keep On" was used for Wayne Smith - Under Mi Sleng Teng (Soul Assassins Remix)."

A1. "It's The Whoolies" [prod. by T-Ray]

A2. "Get A Grip" (Ft. B-Real)  [prod. by T-Ray]
A3. "Time Goes On" (Ft. B-Real) [prod. by T-Ray]
A4. "Put Your Handz Up" [prod. by DJ Lethal]
A5. "Hit The Deck" (Ft. Everlast) [prod. by Baka Boyz]
A6. "Back Off Me Yo" (Ft. B-Real) [prod. by T-Ray]
A7. "Crackin' Da Cranium" (Ft. B-Real) [prod. by DJ Lethal]
A8. "Interlude / Skit"
B1. "Keep On" [prod. by T-Ray]
B2. "Don't Mean Nothing" [prod. by DJ Lethal]
B3. "I Get Mine" [prod. by T-Ray]
B4. "On The Reel" [prod. by Baka Boyz]
B5. "Fat One" [prod. by Baka Boyz]
B6. "Whooliganz" [prod. by Baka Boyz]
B7. "Shout Out Track"
B8. "Shout Out Track" (Instrumental)

DOWNLOAD LINK
STREAM LINK

[EP/Video] AUDESSEY as JACK JONES - "Motivate & Move"

Audessey really keeps impressing me with his releases, both as part of Soundsci and his solo releases (including the excellent side project with producer A Cat Called Fritz). His latest project is a spanking hot 7" single on WorldExpo Records under the name of Jack Jones, which should lead the way to a brand new album from the Atlanta-based emcee. Be sure to support the single via A's Bandcamp (also available with a T-shirt) and peep the single for "Motivate & Move" up top.

[Documentary] PUBLIC ENEMY - "Prophets Of Rage"

Although it might not offer that much new information for the hardcore fan, I found the BBC produced TV documentary "Prophets of Rage" to be quite an interesting look into the life and times of the band that in no small part helped redefine hip-hop music. The majority of the hour is spent discussing the years around the masterpiece trilogy that is "Yo! Bumrush the Show", "It Takes A Nation of Millions..." and "Fear of a Black Planet" though it does cover things like Flava Flav's foray into reality TV (very interesting to see Griff, Chuck and Flav separately discuss this). Interviews with Flava Flav, Chuck D, Griff, the Shocklee brothers, Bill Stephney, DJ Lord, and a host of other people important to the legacy of Public Enemy makes this a well worth watch. I would also like to recommend writer Cristopher R. Weingarten's musings on "It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back", for me the best volume in the often excellent 33 1/3rd book series. Many thanks goes out to 808SHIRTS for the upload to YouTube of the documentary.

SHABAZZ PALACES - "Palace Slide"

Shabazz Palaces' "Lese Majesty" is not only one of the best albums of the year, but also one of the most eccentric, experimental and mystical sounding hip-hop albums I've yet to hear... without ever coming off as forced. All around just a beautiful thing, so you can imagine I was happy to come across a song from the sessions that I hadn't heard before. "Palace Slide" was pressed up on a limited 7" single only released as a bonus disc to those who pre-ordered "Lese Majesty" via Sub Pop. Check out the vocal and instrumental versions below, but be sure to support the cause by purchasing the LP as well.

A - "Palace Slide" [Vocal]

B - "Palace Slide" [Instrumental]

AG & ROC MARCIANO - "Marcberrii" [Extended Cut]

Fans of AG and Ray West will remember this short but deadly jam from their first real collaboration together, 2011:s "Everything's Berri". The version we heard back then worked as a litte interlude bridge with a powerful verse from Roc Marciano, although I always wondered why AG didn't jump on it. The answer comes with the release of the full version which is being unveiled by Ray West for the vinyl deluxe version of "Everything's Berri" which is now up for pre-order @ HHV for its December 19 release. Still BANGS!

[Coming Soon] BIG PUNISHER - "Bronx Legends Never Die"

I've heard some whispers about this before but now the incredible news of fresh new music from the great Big Punisher is a definite reality. Titled "Bronx Legends Never Die" the project is produced and created by Domingo (who of course produced one of Pun's all time classics "The Dream Shatterer") and will feature guest apperances by Chris Rivers, Cormega, Shaq & Easy Mo Bee. While no tracklist has been released as of yet one song has been revealed to be a re-recording of the Shaquille O'Neal track "The Bigger They R" with Fat Joe and Pun, which is now set to include verses from 'Mega and Chris Rivers, The EP is being pressed up on a very limited CD run of 100 (typo?) copies which is up for pre-order @ IndieGoGo.

[Album] GHOSTFACE KILLAH - "36 Seasons"

NPR is also premiering the new album from Ghostface Killah, called "36 Seasons", which has been one of my most anticipated joints of the year. Are there seriously people still questioning that Ghost got the best catalouge in the game at this point? This latest LP is no different as Ghost goes cinematic over straight up beautiful soul music provided by The Revelations, with additional co-production coming from Fizzy Womack and The 45 King. Add a whole load of guest apperances from Kool G Rap and AZ and you got one of the most exciting projects of 2014. December 9 is the date, Tommy Boy is the label, and the pre-order's up @ iTunes, UGHH or HHV. Seems to be only CD for now, but the disc comes packaged together with a 20 page comic book, and according to the HHV info it's a 2xCD which also includes all the instrumentals..

01. "The Battlefield" (Ft. Kool G Rap, AZ & Tre Williams)
02. "Love Don't Live Here No More" (Ft. Kandice Springs)
03. "Here I Go Again" (Ft. AZ & Rell)
04. "Loyalty" (Ft. Kool G Rap & Nems)
05. "It's A Thin Line..." (Ft. The Revelations)
06. "The Dogs of War" (Ft. Kool G Rap & Shawn Wigs)
07. "Emergency Procedure" (Ft. Pharoahe Monch)
08. "Double Cross" (Ft. AZ)
09. "Bamboo's Lament" (Ft. Kandice Springs)
10. "Pieces of the Puzzle" (Ft. AZ)
11. "Homicide" (Ft. Shawn Wigs & Nems)
12. "Blood in the Streets" (Ft. AZ)
13. "Call My Name"
14. "I Love You For All Seasons" (Ft. The Revelations)

GHOSTFACE - "36 SEASONS" @ NPR

[Album] PRhyme - "PRhyme"

With nothing but bangers under their collaborative belt, DJ Premier and Royce Da 5'9" made a wise choice in forming PRhyme. Now we are able to hear the fruits of their labor as NPR has made the nine song album available for free preview streaming. All songs are composed around samples from Adrian Younge's catalouge and the result does not dissapoint as Premier hooks up some of his freshest beats in some time while Royce brings the verbal slaughter. CD and vinyl drops December 5, pre-order @ UGHH.

01. "PRhyme"
02. "Dat Sound Good" (Ft. AB Soul & Mac Miller)
03. "U Looz"
04. "You Should Know" (Ft. Dwele)
05. "Courtesy"
06. "Wishin'" (Ft. Common)
07. "To Me, To You" (Ft. Jay Electronica)
08. "Underground Kings" (Ft. Schoolboy Q & Killer Mike)
09. "Microphone Preem" (Ft. Slaughterhouse)

PRHYME - "PRHYME" @ NPR.ORG

[Compilation] RON ESTILL - "Made in Detroit"

To those who know me it is certainly no secret that next to New York, the Motor City Detroit is my favorite place when it comes to knocking out slamming music. Of course J Dilla continues to be one of my all time favorites as his many sounds simply were out of this world, but even after his tragic passing the hp-hop scene has continued thriving with countless superb producers and spitters. Many of the city's finest was given a platform to evolve through Jay Dee and has continued growing following his passing over to the other side. I'm talking cats like T3, eLzhi and the Slum Village crew, mega talented soul singer Dwéle, rough voiced hardcore spitter Guilty Simpson, my man Phat Kat, Taa'rach, Beej, the always underrated Karieem Riggins, Frank Nitty and his partner Dankery Harv, Finale, Big Tone and many others. Then you got the producers who keeps the sound of Motown hip-hop alive and proving that the sound of the city are iller than most. Black Milk especially, but you also got NameTag, Apollo Brown and Bronze Nazareth from the Michigan area that's all definitely doing their thing. With all of these talented cats repping the "D" it's not at all a stretch to say that Jay Dee definitely were the true Godfather of Detroit hip-hop.

Of course, there were also local musicians that inspired James Yancey a great deal - most importantly his mentor and teacher, Amp Fiddler, the talented multi-instrumentalist/singer who used to play with George Clinton and Funkadelic. Another important person in Jay Dee's career that mostly figured in the shadows were Ronald "Ron E." Estill, a Detroit resident who was an early manager of Slum Village as well as for Yancey's close friend Dwele. Estill is also a producer, specializing in deep soul remixes with a hip-hop touch and listening to his music there's no question that he was heavily influencced by Jay Dee's production style - it's very possible that they both inspired each other. They at times appeared with one remix of their own each on the same 12" (such as Lucy Pearl's "Without You") and a few songs that have been credited to Dilla in the internet age are actually Estill's work (LSK's "Hate Or Love" and Jamiroquai's "Black Capricorn Day" especially). An interesting fact is that Ron "E" Estill was the first producer to have an original James Yancey verse on his beat, with his remix of Tami Heart's "If It Wasn't For You". So while Estill is far from prolific when it comes to releasing music, the few remixes and songs he has released are pretty much all interesting stuff that should be heard by every fan of that true Detroit soul/hip-hop sound. Much of the songs found here are co-productions between Estill and Dwele, while the final cut by T-Love is actually something he did together with Dilla himself. As far as I know this is about every production released under the name Ronald "Ron E." Estill (he did drop a 12" or two under the name Soulfingerz in the early '90s, but those were more in the vein of house music). If you're into the more soulful late '90s excursions of James Yancey and Dwele I think you will be pleasantly suprised by how terrific these tracks are, so press play, kick off your shoes and lay back but don't forget to TURN IT UP!!!

01. Bahamadia - "One-4-Teen"
02. New Sector Movements - "The Sun" [Dwele's Motor City Remix]
03. Luct Pearl - "Without You" [Aphrodisiac Mix] (Ft. Phat Kat)
04. T-Love - "Swing Mandidly"
05. Tami Heart - "If It Wasn't For You" [Detroit Demolition Mix] (Ft. Slum Village)
06. Dwele - "Money Don't Mean A Thing"
07. Bahamadia - "Pep Talk"
08. New Sector Movements - "The Sun" [Dwelogy Remix]
09. Jamiroquai - "Black Capricorn Day" [Slum Village Remix]
10. LSK - "Hate Or Love" [Caffe Latte remix] (Ft. Slum Village)
11. T-Love - "Long Way Back" [co-produced by Jay Dee]

RON ESTILL - "MADE IN DETROIT"