Killah Priest - "Anakims Dream"

Killah Priest and producer 4th Disciple reunites for "Anakin's Dream", a cut that most likely will end up on the rapper's long awaited "Psychic World of Walter Reed". Before that, it will also make its way to the "Digital Dynasty 20" mixtape, hosted by Cormega, which will is said to drop before the end of this month so watch out for that. Intense storytelling over intense production equals another sick track from this duo. 

Right click + save as to download the song below. Shouts to Jammin for keeping up with the Wu news.

KILLAH PRIEST - "ANAKIM'S DREAM"

BEASTIE BOYS - "Jimmy James" [Original Mix]

"Check Your Head" is partly known as the project where the trio left behind most of the extreme sampling that created the sound of its predecessor, and insteaad saw bassist MCA, guitarist Ad-Rock and drummer Mike D pick up their respective instruments. Besides producer Mario Caladato, who had worked as an engineer on "Paul's Boutique", they were also joined in the studio by the very talented Keyboard Money Mark who played a very important part on the project, literally. Reading about the three year process it took The Beasties' to produce "Check Your Head", documented in Brian Coleman's "Check the Technique" amongst many other sources,  is truly fascinating and greatly inspiring. It was a complete turnaround from the way that "Paul's Boutique" was recorded, not only because of the lesser amount of samples, or the trio's re-introduction as instrumentalists, but because they spent the majority of their budget on building their own studio; G-Son. The group has talked about the massive freedom, and the importance, this created, allowing them to experiment as much as they wanted and however they wanted... And "Check Your Head" is an extremely experimental record, especially for the time it was conceived, but that's also where its brilliance lays.

The idea was originally to produce an all-out instrumental project, and although much of those elements remained, vocal tracks such as "So Watcha Want" and "Pass the Mic" ultimately took the LP to the next level. One of the songs featuring MCA's, Ad-Rock's and Mike D's trademark lyrical styles was the blazing introduction, titled "Jimmy James". The cut introduced the group's new direction with a bang, displaying a majority of the wide spread influences that went into the making of the LP. Unfortunately, sample clearances can be a bitch, resulting in a much reduced version than intended making it to the presses. However, the track was eventually released as a single, including the so called "Original Original Version". This mix, which was instrumental, featured several samples of different Jimi Hendrix records, giving it a rawer, yet more accomplished feel than the LP version. In memory of the late MCA, who gets busy on the turntables on this one too, y'all should all listen to this classic joint as it was originally meant to be heard. Also make sure to tune in to Toca Tuesdays via Sirius XM this Tuesday, as Al Lindstrom will dedicate the show to the memory of the legendary MCA.

BEASTIE BOYS - "JIMMY JAMES" [ORIGINAL ORIGINAL VERSION]

K-DEF / El Da Sensei - "Back to Basics"

The latest of K-DEF's work since signing with Redefinition Records comes in the form of "Back to Basics"; a 7" single featuring El Da Sensei of The Artifacts. Check out how 'Def manages to work in all those multiple layers of sound, while still keeping it clean enough for the emcee to get his shine on! The mini-EP also features a brand new instrumental tune called "Mean Johnny Barrow's Groove", besides two exclusive instrumental versions of tracks from the excellent "Nightshift EP". Order the 7" @ Fat Beats or grab the MP3 version @ iTunes.

"Professor @ Large" Trailer / Artwork

"Professor @ Large" is the title of Extra-P's fourth solo album, which is now completed and set for a June 26 release. We recently saw the video for the blazing posse cut of a single, "MARS", and the original lead single, "Key to the City", is still available on limited 12" vinyl. Now the album is up for pre-orders and I'm rejoicing over the fact that our favorite Professor hasn't abandoned the 2xLP format. Pre-order the CD or vinyl set, and peep this short promotional video teaser... 2012 is looking to be one of the best years of hip-hop music in several years; so many of my favorite artists are releasing new projects!

Danny Brown - "Jay Dee's Revenge"

We just saw the trailer and artwork to the next entry in the J Dilla saga, "Rebirth Of Detroit". The LP will be released on June 12, but already on May 25, a limited 10" single with the tracks "Jay Dee's Revenge" (featuring Danny Brown) and "Birhtright" (featuring Big Tone, Guilty Simpson & Finale) will be available via OfficialJDilla.com. The Danny Brown cut is given the visual treatment, seen above, and is a real killer..

J DILLA - "Rebirth Of Detroit" [Trailer]

The spirit of the one and only Yames Yancey lives on! Prepare yourselfs with the trailer above, and support "Rebirth Of Detroit" when it hit stores on June 12. I know I will!

DJ Soko Ft. Guilty Simpson & Hasaan Mackey - "Stand Up"

DJ Soko, one third of Detroit crew The Left, connects with Guilty Simpson and Hasaan Mackey for this hardboiled neckbreaker, called "Stand Up". This definitely has a The Left vibe to it, which is not suprising when you see Apollo Brown's the producer of the joint. While this is dope, I find the B-side, "Biters", to be even heavier. The 7" single is limited to 300 copies, so if you want it in your collection, make sure to get it NOW. I'm real impressed by DJ Soko's skills on the tables, between these two joints and "The Gas Mask", I would love to hear a full album worth of material.

LEX Compilation - "Complex Vol. 1"

LEX Records, the label behind many of Danger Mouse's releases, is celebrating their 10th Anniversary this year. For the event, the label has released "Complex Vol. 1", a collection of ten exclusive tracks of different genres. Of special interest to The Lost Tapes readers is two MF DOOM collaborations, as well as a prequel to DM & Jemini's classic "Knuckle Sandwich".  Some different, but pretty cool shit for sure. The whole album can be streamed for free, but is also available to purchase on wax and in HQ digital download. Shout outs to Food For Thought for the info!

LEX RECORDS - "COMPLEX V.1" [order / listen]

[Tracklist] OH NO - "OhNoMite"

Last week, the psychadelic beat maestro and emcee Oh No announced his next solo album "OhNoMite", and dropped the first street single from the project; the Sticky Fingaz featured "Whoop Ass". As we're getting closer to the release date of 5th of June (damn, this really seems to have popped up out of nowhere), the tracklisting has now also been revealed, and just as I expected it's full of cameos from some of the all-time greats. But the best news of all might just be that it's being released not only on CD and in digital format, but as a 2xLP package as well. All songs produced by Oh No.

01. "OhNoMite Intro"
02. "Real Serious" (Ft. Alchemist, Evidence & DJ Romes)
03. "The Guns" (Ft. Guilty Simpson, MED, Pok Dog & DJ Romes)
04. "Time" (Ft. Roc C & Chino XL)
05. "3 Dollars (Cat Fight)" (Ft. MF DOOM)
06. "Let's Roll" (Ft. Damani)
07. "Stop (Instrolude)"
08. "Hallucinations" (Ft. Prozack Turner)
09. "Sound Off" (Ft. Termanology & Ea$y Money)
10. "The Escape (Instrolude)"
11. "Whoop Ass" (Ft. Sticky Fingaz & DJ Rhomes)
12. "OhNoMite Jazz"
13. "The Hitman" (Ft. Roc Marciano)
14. "Touch It" (Ft. Frank Nitti of Frank-N-Dank)
15. "You Don't Know Me" (Ft. Phil the Agony & Rapper Big Pooh)
16. "Dues N Don'ts" (Ft. Phife Dawg & Jose James)
17. "Piano (Instrolude)"
18. "Runnin' the Show" (Ft. Erick Sermon)
19. "OhNoMite Outro"

CD Bonus Tracks
20.  Life Games" (Ft. LMNO)
21. "Overlord" (Ft. Wildchild)

PRE-ORDER "OHNOMITE" @ UGHH

Get Ready for ALTERPROD

ALTERPROD is the name of an up-and-coming production crew with roots in Paris, France. Their debut album is to be titled "The French Revolution", and is set for a July 26 release date as of now. There must be something in the air in France, because although I don't understand a word they're saying, I've heard loads of amazing French hip-hop that perfectly captures the essence of the true school music. As you're watching the promotional video for the album above, you will understand just what I mean by that. 

Not only can we expect a batch of dope beats, but the tracklisting reveals a superb list of guests, many of them well respected artists from USA. It will be mad interesting to hear greats like Sadat X, AG, Verbal Kent, Block McCloud, Chief Kamachi and Shabaam Sahdeeq go in over some European heat for beats. Hip-Hop culture crossing borders is a beautiful thing! Oh and by the way, hold your eyes and ears open for a Lost Tapes compilation, representing the finest of French Hip-Hop.

01. "Next Execution" (Ft. Verbal Kent)
02. "TV Screen" (Ft. Chief Kamachi, Kromeatose, Block McCloud)
03. "The NOD " (Ft. Pain Killer Crew)
04. "True Rhyme" (Ft. Divine)

05. "Kamikaze MC'"(Ft.at. The Foundation ( Lex Starwind & Jon Murdock)
06. "Fast Lane" (Ft. Main Flow, Access Immortal & Estee Nack)
07. "Alter Ego" (Ft. AG, Sadat X & Lion Of Bordeaux, Cuts by Dj Modesty
08. "International Juggernaut" (Ft. Red Eye, Wily Maze, Murdoc & Shinobi Stalaine & DJ Modesty)
09. "What's Realer" (Ft. Halfabrick)
10. "NYC Evils" (Ft. Shabaam Sahdeeq, Halfabrick & Spicco & Dj Modesty)
11. "The Merovingian Revenge" (Ft. The Lost Children of Babylon & Dj Modesty)
12. "Made you Proud" (Ft. Carnage 45 & Ihsan Bilal)
13. "Revolution On My Brain" (Ft. Reef The Lost Cauze, Freestyle of Arsonists & Dj Modesty)
14. "Watch We Combine" (Fat. The Absouljah)
15. "The Take Over" (Ft. Lord Lhus, Sicknature & DJ Modesty)
16. "The War Effect" (Ft. Banish, Aims, The Armada (Johnny Teflon & DJ Rybe)
17. "Revolucion" (Ft. Shabaam Sahdeeq, Bekay, Lateb)
18. "Coup de grâce" (Ft. Amadeus The Stampede)