P.E.S.O - The Air (2010)

It's free LP's like this that make hip hop still interesting these day's... Definitely worth some spins on your Ipod! If I didn't know no better I would think that this was an official album.

Download

The Illz - M.P.A (My Public Apology) (Video)

"Synopsis by filmmaker Kristopher Rey-Talley: Round 3: don't have a ton to say this time. Beauty of this video is what it become in contrast to what we set out to do. What was supposed to be a simple picnic vid became a sensual and romantic ode to French New Wave Films. I wanted it pretty, so I shot long lensed, and to give it that easy, nice flow, would give them topics to talk about and just let them interact as I shot. It was almost like I was staging a documentary and then capturing it. Of all our collabs, this may be the one I'm most proud of. I figured out how to rig a new lens system (my own secret) to give it a very cinematic feel. There's something effortless and earnest about the video and that's what I love. Even the performance shot was nailed in one take and I have no qualms about it, as it looks damn great.

So enough talk. The ILLZ and I present "M.P.A. (My Public Apology)" Enjoy.

"M.P.A. (My Public Apology)" was produced by Duke B, Telepopmusik with Vocals by Angela McCluskey. Model Co-Star: Lourdes Madera.
Download the "In Between Video Series" along with the videos and the songs on August 17th. "

Round 3! Much respect to Kristopher Rey-Talley for the video!

Slik D - Sunshine (2010)

1. Super Powers
2. Blown As Possible
3. Sidewalk
4. Gangsta Boy
5. In The Sun ft Eponym & J.Seph
6. Hello Summer (&California)
7. Sunsets





"What up yall. SLik once again saying Thank You for downloading yet another project from me. I do this for you,me,fam,friends,future honeys,artist..everyone that have yet to hear my music. Ive made this project because I wanted to give people something to listen to for the rest of summer. Simple. It was gonna be the promo tape for my new vibes commin out. But I changed my mind and added some tracks that needed to be bumped this year. I wont write too much. Enjoi yall and have a good 2nd half of summer. "

I will post more material of Slik D one of these day's.. If like what you hear and you can't wait, his previous LP; Midnight Vibes can be downloaded on his bandcamp.

Download

Freddy Gibbs - Str8 Killa No Filla (Mixtape)

1. Dollar $ 4 Dope (Intro)
2. Face Down
3. National Anthem (Fuck The World)
4. Born 2 Roll
5. Str8 Killa No Filla ft Big Kill
6. In My Hood ft L.E.P Bogus Boys
7. Rep 2 Tha Fullest ft Jay Rock
8. Slammin'
9. Live By The Game
10. Serve Or Get Served (Interlude)
11. P.S.A (Pussy So Amazin')
12. Personal OG
13. Best Friend
14. Do Wrong
15. My City ft V.P & D-Edge
16. Crushin' Feelin
17. Goon Shit ft Sick Jacken & Planet Asia
18. The Ghetto
19. Rock Bottom ft Big Bun
20. 4681 Broadway
21. Slangin' Rocks

Crushin' Feelin

Rock Bottom ft Bun B

Freddie Gibbs is a problem! His latest mixtape Str8 Killa No Filla is finally here.. hosted by Statik Selektah, DJ Burn One and Josh the Goon, Brought to you by XXL!

Str8 Killa EP will be out on August 3rd! You can pre-order here

Download

Freddy Gibbs - National Anthem (Fuck The World)

After releasing a few mix tape's and making it to XXL's freshman's list of 2010, Freddie Gibbs is about to release his first official EP named Str8 Killa on August 3rd. His mixtape Str8 Killa No Filla will be out tomorrow... Too dope to be ignored !

Slum Village – Villa Manifesto (2010)

1. Bare Witness (Featuring Babu)
2. Lock It Down
3. Scheming (Featuring J Dilla, Posdnuos & Phife)
4. Earl Flinn
5. Faster
6. 2000 Beyond (Featuring J Dilla)
7. Dance (Featuring AB)
8. Don’t Fight The Feeling (Featuring Dwele)
9. Um Um (Featuring Keys)
10. The Set Up
11. The Reunion Pt 2
12. Where Do We Go From Here (Featuring Little Brother)
13. We’ll Show You (Featuring AB)




If you don't know Slum Village by now, you should jump off a bridge A.S.A.P. Just download, listen, enjoy and.....buy it!
Buy
Download

Mac Miller - Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza

Of Mac Miller's upcoming project K.I.D.S dropping August 13th! Some laiiid back music..

Kooley High - Eastern Standard Time (2010)

1. Rae Intro
2. Eastern Standard Time
3. Ya Time's Up
4. Somethin Outta Nothin (Feat. Median)
5. Betty Crocker
6. Pedals
7. Certainly (Feat. Halo)
8. All Day
9. Atmosphere (Feat. Halo)
10. Solitude (Feat. Median)
11. Too Slow (Feat. Halo)
12. The Calling
13. The Love I Need
14. Float On
15. Remember It (Feat. Halo & Median) (Bonus Track)

"North Carolina-bred, Brooklyn-based crew Kooley High have hooked up with DJBooth.net to bring listeners Eastern Standard Time, their first release since 2008’s acclaimed The Summer Sessions EP.

The project features 15 brand new tracks from Charlie Smarts, Rapsody, Tab One and company, including Booth-premiered leak “Ya Time’s Up.”

In addition to the boardwork of group members Foolery and The Sinopsis, EST features production by K-Salaam & Beatnick and Napoleon Wright II. Guest appearances come courtesy of fellow N.C. natives Median and HaLo."
______

I already gave you an introduction to Kooley High so if you want to know more about the group or check their previous projects use the search bar. PS: Some tight production on this tape!

Download/Listen

Kno - Death Is Silence

"Death Is Silent, the solo debut from CunninLynguists‘ producer and emcee Kno, is set to be released on October 12th 2010.

While handling nearly all of CL’s production since the group’s inception in 2001, his emceeing has more recently taken a backseat to his beats — and it has shown. Fueled by Kno’s lush production techniques, A Piece of Strange currently ranks as the #8 release of 2005 (and the only hip-hop release in the Top 30) at high traffic web community RateYourMusic.com, Dirty Acres was awarded “Album Of The Year” honors by UndergroundHipHop.com for 2007 and both of 2009’s compilation releases, Strange Journey Volume One and Two, were given “Top Ten Albums” honors at 2DopeBoyz.com.

After amassing only 4 verses over the CunninLynguists’ last four releases, the Atlanta-based artist is set to step out from behind the boards on Death Is Silent, both producing the entirety of the record and handling the majority of the vocals. The record’s concept involves the inevitability of death and its impact on love, life, family and friends. The artwork was realized by Argentinian visual artist Diego Fernandez.

Kno will still see plenty of activity on the production side of things, as the next 6 months will see the release of Oneirology, CunninLynguists’ newest studio album in 3 years, Chico and The Man, the long-awaited concept album with fellow QN5 Music artist and longtime friend Tonedeff as well as MacheteVision, a joint project with emcee Marq Spekt.

While all of these releases will be produced entirely by Kno, his production will also be featured on upcoming projects by Freddie Gibbs, 9th Wonder signee Tom Hardy as well as the album Niggaz With Latitude, a group project from CL’s own Deacon The Villain and Sheisty Khrist.

Death Is Silent will be released on CunninLynguists’ own imprint APOS Music and will be distributed by Traffic Entertainment Group.

Pre-orders begin right here at QN5.com on September 3rd 2010."
__________________

This here just made my day! Shit isn't even out yet and I already know that it is going to be in my top 5 releases of 2010..

The Illz - Turpentine Weed (Video)

"Synopsis by filmmaker Kristopher Rey-Talley: Here we go, Round 2. Its funny, The ILLZ and I have wavered back and forth about how to release this video series, and what video would come when. It become clear, after Life and Dreams of Beth", that 'Turpentine Weed' would be a nice followup, as it would crush expectations set forth by our first two collaborations, The Moment You Feel Definite Hope, and the aforementioned Beth. This video was a 180, and it needed to be. The record is laid back, fun, and I wanted to create a video that felt that way as well. The ILLZ is a very multifaceted person. Not only is he intelligent, and one of the most ambitious and cinematic thinking musicians I know, but he also knows how to kick it. If you met him in the street or at a bar, you'd never know how intense and moody his tracks can be. So with Turpentine, we wanted to show off another part of his personality, or two parts in this case. We have the smooth motherfuckin ILLZ and we have the ILLZ as "The Dude". Talented, well spoken and educated, but also has the ability to kick it and not give a shit. Its a low fi concept done in a creative and hopefully, entertaining way. And watch out for part three, as this series grows deeper and the style conquers another bit of cinematic history."

"Turpentine Weed" was produced by ILL Tal.
Download the "In Between Video Series" along with the videos and the songs on August 17th.

Round 2...!

Soulution - Shine Through (2009)

01 01:48 Intro Ft. Brotha Soul
02 04:49 Soul Shine Ft. Mr. J Medeiros, Kam Moye
(Supastition), Bahamadia & Nicole Amina
03 03:46 The Hill Ft. Sivion
04 03:21 Yao Ming Ft. Project Move
05 05:15 I Been Ft. Rhema Soul
06 04:15 Drive Ft. Median, Braile & Sivion
07 03:14 Hey Now Ft. Project Move
08 01:14 Fragment Ft. Juanlove
09 05:02 Shine Through Ft. Supastition
10 03:08 The Whole World Ft. Anonymous
11 05:43 Moodswing Ft. Talib Kweli & Asheru
12 03:18 Open Your Window Ft. Stacy Epps and Rita J
13 03:21 Anthem Ft. Project Move
14 05:45 Who Am I Ft. Freddie Bruno, Sivion, Playdough &
Brotha Soul
15 04:27 Love Life Ft. El Gambina
16 03:03 The Whole World Remix Ft. Anonymous

Shine Through Ft. Supastition

Soul Shine Ft. Mr. J Medeiros, Kam Moye

Drive Ft. Median, Braile & Sivion

More music from Holland... Soulution is a producer that is signed to the Japanese record label Goontrax. To be honest almost nobody in Holland knows this guy but still I think he deserves much more attention. He managed to put together a very solid project with a lot of dope guest spots such as artists like Talib Kewli, Mr. J Medeiros and Supastition. Make sure you give it a listen, you won't regret it.. some boom bap/jazzy hiphop for your ear drums!

Download

Joe Budden - Short Summer

Are you in that mood yet ? because Mood Muzik IV is getting closer and closer. Personally I have been waiting on this one for a long time and hearing his latest leak Short Summer just made me even more impatient.

Download/Listen

Taebeast - TDE Presents::TheTaeBeastTape (2010)

For those who are not familiar with Taebeast.. He is the one responsible for the production of some of my most favorite tracks of Ab-Soul & Kendrick Lamar.

*Ab-soul: Take 'Em There, Be A Man, Turn Me Up, Rush & Can Anybody Hear Me
*Kendrick Lamar - Cut You Off, Growing Apart

Download

Unknown Prophets - Le System D (2009)

01 03:20 Bleeds & Sweats
02 03:35 Forgot You Were Human
03 03:20 No More Hell
04 04:29 Ugly Face Feat. Grieves
05 04:13 Tap Dance Feat. Lazerbeak, & Chickenbone
06 04:52 Explore Feat. Braille
07 04:16 Stand Our Ground Feat. Brent Snyder, & Anneke Kampman
08 03:32 Face The Storm
09 04:36 Fresh Feat. New Mc, & Alicia Steele
10 04:31 Forever Feat. Promoe
11 03:50 What I Live For
12 00:10 Untitled
13 03:37 Dangerous (Bonus Track)

Forever ft Promoe

Explore ft Braille

Face The Storm

Download

Kendrick Lamar - Growing Apart ft Jhene Aiko

New track of Kendrick Lamar featuring Jhene Aiko. The new album of Kendrick Lamar OD will be dropping this summer.

Download/Listen

The Illz - Dreams of Life & Beth (Official Video)

"Synopsis by filmmaker Kristopher Rey-Talley: When The ILLZ approached me about the “In Between Video series”, I was struck by the simple brilliance of it all. Releasing video and song simultaneously, as one piece of content, was a bold and strong move. I signed on immediately, and within a few days, we began shooting the first few videos. Simple, often low concept, but brimming with ILLZ insistence on cinematic imagery. With “Dreams of Life & Beth”, I decided to go with a very cold, morbid look. The song is introspective and haunting, and I wanted to convey that through a simplistic set of visuals. Shooting on the Manhattan bridge at 5:30am, we got that clean ambient light, and complete desertion. Everything was shot on long lenses, creating a sense of deep space and complete loneliness. The video is a mood piece, low on concept but high on artistry and emotion. It is but the first chapter in a varied, complex and beautiful set of upcoming videos, one unlike that of any artist I’ve worked with thus far.

“Dreams of Life & Beth” was produced by Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man.
Download the “In Between Video Series” along with the videos and the songs on August 17th."

Can't wait for this shit... Seriously the Illz is something different!

Cradle Orchestra - Velvet Ballads (2009)

01 Talk it Out feat. Nieve & Jean Curley
02 All I Want In This World feat. CL Smooth
03 Mountain Top feat. Aloe Blacc
04 Live Forever feat. Black Thought (of The Roots)
05 Bubbles feat. Jean Curley
06 So Fresh feat. Talib Kweli
07 Nothin For Nothin feat. CL
08 Only One feat. Need Not Worry
09 Jag Jam Jazz
10 The World Outside In feat. Othello
11 Cheers feat. Asheru
12 Food For Thoughts feat. O.C.
13 Yin Stacks feat. Rakaa Iriscience (of Dilated Peoples)
14 Velvet Ballads



All I Want In This World ft CL Smooth

Mountain Top ft Aloe Blacc

So Fresh ft Talib Kweli

"CRADLE is a groundbreaking Japanese unit specializing and leading a beautiful revolution in mellow and jazzy Hip Hop track making.

Through their stunning first release “MAKE IT LAST (feat. Aloe Blacc (Emanon)” in 2005 CRADLE were immediately propelled into the spotlight through outstanding success in Japan. MAKE IT LAST was later released in the USA, Europe and Australia.

Their long-awaited debut album “ATTITUDE” streeted in June, 2006 and the albums immense popularity elevated CRADLE in the top tier of Japanese mellow Hip Hop artists, alongside the internationally acclaimed NUJABES and NOMAK at the forefront of the genre in Japan

As DJs CRADLE play with some of the biggest major and underground Hip Hop artists in Japan including NUJABES, DJ KRUSH, YASUHARU KONISHI (Pizzicato Five), SHUYA OKINO (Kyoto Jazz Massive, DJ KIYO, DJ JIN (Rhymester), DJ MILES (Breakestra), STARVING ARTIST CREW, DJ MITSU , THE BEATS (Gagle), DJ RYOW etc etc

Pursuing their dream sound (and also partly due to the risks and limitations using sampling) CRADLE (aka CRADLE ORCHESTRA) commenced working hard on creating their own unique “LIVE SOUND”, an exciting, new sound that they have always wanted to create.

By collaborating directly with some amazingly skilled and high profile musicians in Japan CRADLE now incorporate live violin, flute, piano, saxophone, bass, and many more instruments into their track making. This collaboration has resulted in the creation of amazingly beautiful and unique melodies with an incredibly original orchestra type sound……the CRADLE ORCHESTRA sound!"

If you like the music of Nujabes or any other Japanese hip hop producer than you are going to like this one. Some real mellow hip hop!

Download
Buy

Inspired Flight - We All Want To Fly (2010)

01 It's The Chemicals (feat. Scarub)
02 It Always Takes
03 Pull. Push. Let Go (feat. Eligh)
04 I Won't Let You Down
05 Wishy Washy
06 Jackie's Song
07 Before Im Done (feat. Rugged Monk)
08 Peace Of Mind Through The Hardest Truths
09 An Ocean Of Great Whites (feat. Eligh)
10 Eight Words
11 We All Want To Fly (feat. Inspectah Deck)





Download

Introduction To: Mr.Probz

Who Are You

Get My Probs

Wise Old Man ft Sonny Diablo (prod by Focus)

Straight out of the land of the Dutch. In my opinion the only artist here in the Netherlands that really can compete with artists out of the States and UK. After doing some international collaborations with artists such as Joe budden, Joell Ortiz, Graph, Sha Stimuli, Promise and many more... he is finally getting ready to release his long aticipated debut EP called "The Treatment EP". Despite the fact that he does a lot of hooks he is also a very great MC that deserves much more attention if you ask me. Check his music and if you like it spread the word. Support real artists!

Download/Listen:
Sonny D ft Mr.Probz - What's Next
Mr.Probz - Who Are You
Mr.Probz - All Falls Down ft Graph & Sha Stimuli
Mr.Probz - Get My Props

Myspace

Kendrick Lamar - P&P ft Ab-Soul (Video)

I'm going through something with life, but pussy & Patron make you feel alright! Official video for Kendrick Lamar's Pussy & Patron featuring Ab-Soul. You can find the track on Kendrick Lamar's self titled EP that I posted earlier.

Moe Green - Rocky Maivia: Non Title Match

1. He’s Moe Green (Intro)
2. Going For The Kill
3. Non Title Match
4. Emerald City
5. Day Dreamer (feat. Ragen Fykes)
6. Ride
7. Search Party
8. Keep It Ill
9. KIM
10. Cruise Control
11. Don’t Hurt Me (feat. 1OAK)
12. Level After Like
13. Buzz Lightyear
14. Top Turn Buckle Lifestyle
15. What It Is
16. Preliminaries
17. Exclamation Point







I posted the video of Ride 2 month's ago but now the long awaited album of Moe Green is finally here. This shit shit is dope, Moe is ill on the mic plus the production is smooth!

Download

Gotham Green & Quickie Mart's - La To JFK ft El Prez (Video)

The first single of the latest project of Gotham Green & Quickie Mart's named "Haze Diaries" featuring El Prez. Haze Diaries Volume 3 will be out on July 3rd!

"The 3rd installment of Gotham Green & Quickie Mart's Haze Diaries.
Vol. 3 features appearances by Planet Asia, Freddie Gibbs, El Prez, iCON The Mic King, Josh The Goon, Malkovich, Jes Hudak, Tunji, Jackie Tohn, DJ Hush, Blessed By The Beats, and Eddie Venom" be on the look out!

You can stream the whole tape here:

The Illz - The Pursuit LP

01 - The Appreciation
02 - Heaven (Higher)
03 - Melfi
04 - In Between Us
05 - Faded / Los Angeles (existen)
06 - Dark Side Of The Room
07 - Let It Fall
08 - SHINE
09 - Come IN
10 - The Pursuit
11 - The Moment You Feel Definite Hope*






"On December 15, 2009 ILLZ released his first full length project entitled ‘The Pursuit LP’. The Project, which is presented by 2 Dope Boyz and DJ Booth.net, was released to wide critical acclaim. Songs like “Melfi”, “In Between Us”, “Heaven (Higher)”, and “Faded/ Los Angeles (existen)” connected with fans and critics alike. This project lead ILLZ to feature on HipHopDX.com’s DX Next Editorial which feature new up and coming artists. Video’s for some of the songs on ‘The Pursuit LP’ will be released soon adding visuals to the great music on this project."

Download

The ILLZ - Amnesia, Forget It All

"Because The ILLZ is a featured performer on Soul Rebel’s NYC x HipHopDX’s Generation Next, his track “Amnesia, Forget it All” will also be featured on a promotional EP ‘We Got Next’, mixed by DJ Quiz (Hot 97/ThatsEnuff.com) which will be released via HipHopDX.com, RosenbergRadio.com and ThatsEnuff.com on Tuesday, July 27th."

Brand new single of The Illz. I don't know if you are familiar with his music but he is one of my favorite new comers. His latest project The Pursuit LP which was released in December 2009 is one of the best LP's that I have heard in a while and I still put it on repeat often. Make sure you check it out..

Download/Listen

Slum Village - Faster feat Colin Munroe (Video)

Official video for Slum Village's first single Faster. The Villa Manifesto LP dropping 27th of July. Can't wait for this one!

Delorean - No More Heroes LP

1. No More Heroes (feat. D.Scott)
2: Chapter Seven
3. My Most Favorite Emcee
4. Look Alice Great LP,
5. Needy Girl
6. Chillin’ (feat. C-Plus, DJ Flow, & Dahlak)
7. Dear Langston
8. Grandfather Jenson





"Rap to the future: Neighborhood Watch co-founder and emcee 5th Ave and local producer Jon Reyes are Delorean, whose eight-song release, No More Heroes, takes local hip-hop back to the basics: smart raps, catchy hooks, chill harmonies, addictive bass, rich synths—all a welcome reprieve from the hyperfast BPM, aggro-snare, bouncy-lows trends of mainstream rap.

Beats don’t have to bump at 88 damned miles per hour all the time, remember?

No More Heroes is proof: six unique tracks by Reyes and 5th bookended by spoken-word songs featuring lyricist D. Scott. The opener, “No More Heroes,” feels like an overture to a French New Wave film.

On “Look Alice,” a funky, psychedelic but straightforward rap track, 5th alternates with a female-chanted chorus of “How deep does the rabbit hole go?” and complex production that beckons a beguiling wonderland. And on “Needy Girl,” 5th raps, “She’s a needy girl / And I can’t stand needy girls,” to a slick, Billy Ocean-sounding rhythm, including an unexpected outro riffage of keys and a decayed funk bass. “Chillin’” features a cowbell backbeat that’s arguably the only nonannoying use of a cowbell in the past 10 years. And “Dear Langston,” which opens with live applause and a jazzy snare kit/synth strings arrangement, has 5th rapping, “Ask me what I’m writing for / It’s simple: just to give some hope,” a soulful ode to friendship, family and community."

Great LP!

Download

Capone-N-Noreaga - The War Report 2 (2010)

1. Pain
2. Bodega (feat. The LOX)
3. Dutches V. Phillies V. Bamboo (feat. Raekwon)
4. My Attribute
5. Favor for A Favor
6. Hood Pride (feat. Faith Evans)
7. The Reserves (feat. Raekwon)
8. With Me (feat. Nas)
9. Live On Live Long Pt.2
10. The Oath (feat. Raekwon & Busta Rhymes)
11. Brother From Another
12. Thug Planet (feat. Imma Thug & Musaliny)
13. Scarface
14. The Corner (feat. Avery Storm)



The Corner (feat. Avery Storm)

Download

Curren$y - Pilot Talk (2010) (Retail)

1.Example
2.Audio Dope 2
3.King Kong
4.Seat ft Snoop
5.Breakfest
6.Roasted ft Trademark and Young Roddy
7.Skybourne ft big Krit and Smokedza
8.The hangover ft Mickey Rocks
9.The day ft mos def and Jay electronica
10.Prioritize ft Nesby phips
11.Chilled Coughphee ft devin
12.Adress feat Stalley
13.Life Under The scope



Download

Incise

Incise - Nobody's Story (2008)



















01 Intro
02 In Love With Two Women Ft. The 49ers
03 Move Rhymes Ft. The 49ers
04 Scorpion Tail Ft. Need Not Worry
05 Tock Ft. The Stereotypes
06 Nothing To Do
07 So Beautiful Ft. Poems
08 Quite Like It Ft. Muneshine
09 Intermission
10 Magic Ft. Nieve
11 Your Soul Ft. Skyrise (Don Cerino & Shaunise)
12 True Greatness Ft. Tunji Of Inverse
13 Tock (Remix) Ft. The Stereotypes
14 Strife Ft. Hydroponikz & Anika
15 Outro
16 Scorpion Tail Remix Ft. Need Not Worry

Tock Ft. The Stereotypes
Quite Like It Ft. Muneshine

Download

______________________________________________________________

Incise - Daily Methods (2010)


















01.Sunrise
02.Hope ft. Need Not Worry
03.Running Out Of Time ft. The 49ers
04.Got To Go ft. Nieve
05.Bring It Back ft. Hydroponikz & Anika
06.Paving The Way ft. Okay City, Shad K & David Morin
07.Go Back ft. Noah King
08.Mid-Day
09.A New Day ft. Ajaxx
10.Music Forever ft. The Stereotypes
11.Written ft. Don Cerino
12.Rising (Redux) ft. Tunji
13.Inequity ft. Stain
14.Stay Driven ft. Dan Johns
15.Sunset
16.Paving The Way - re:plus Remix
17.Got To Go ft. Nieve - Incise Remix

Paving The Way ft. Okay City, Shad K & David Morin
Rising (Redux) ft. Tunji

Download

"Incise is a Toronto based musician whose career started back in 2002 when he first started DJing and scratching records. In 2004, he spun at the regional DMC Canada scratch competition as a young 17 year old shaggy haired contestant. It was around this same time that Incise began learning to make beats and started chopping sounds to create new melodies/harmonies. Although Incise's roots were originally in Hip Hop and Jazz, he has since crossed over and has been experimenting with electronica & ambient sounds. Life being his primary inspiration, Incise intends to keep creating music that will evoke emotions of people across the world. "

What a coincidence, I was listening to Incise's - Nobody's Story today after a long long time and decided to post it when i got home. Just before I logged into Blogspot I visited a few blogs and discovered that the man just released a new CD last month. For the people that never heard of Incise, listen to the previews. It's kinda hard to not love the music because the beats are so laid back and soulful. Just give it a try, you won't regret it!

Charon Don & DJ Huggie (Hands Down) - Art Of Life (2007)

01. Intro
02. Just Wanna Know (feat. Reef the Lost Cauze)
03. Ready or Naught
04. Up In Here (feat. Lil'Scrappy & Rah Digga)
05. Alphanumeric
06. Stop (Best Beware)
07. Ghetto (feat. Dynamiq)
08. From Around Here (feat. Wiz Khalifa)
09. Frequency of Love (feat. Belove)
10. Free
11. Judge Wize
12. Observers (feat. Killah Priest)
13. Motherless Child
14. Make It Good
15. Anything Can Happen
16. Act Like You Know (feat. Chief Kamachi)
17. Bonus - Get Up Now (feat. Leymar White)

I Just Wanna Know

Free

Anything Can Happen

"It sounds cliché, but many a successful crew began working together by a chance meeting during the hell we call high school. That kid who made the illest beats by banging on the lunchroom table or on the beatbox teaming up with the one lyricist who always stood out in the cipher. Well, the story of ChaRon Don and D.J. Huggy began along those lines. Both graduates of Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, PA, ChaRon and Huggy hooked up after initially migrating from their respective crews at the time. ChaRon, who surprisingly came from "spoken word" roots, parlayed his use of prose to more conventional hip-hop lyrics. The task is easy enough, as many artists feel restricted and sometimes perceived as an outsider spitting poems instead of ill rhymes, sort f like making a 360 from band nerd to jock. Entering the Hip-Hop realm as part of the collective known as "Justuce" and shortly after working with "Illogic Rumor." Huggy, on the other hand was the kid with the equipment, therefore he went through a slew of emcees hungry for his minimalistic but raw tracks.

The two first showcased their distinctive sound to the masses by taking part in a bi-monthly "lyricist-lounge"-esque show called "Theraputix" at the Kingsley Center in East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. After being together for a mere three weeks they dropped their first "official" release in mid 1999. Investing time and money, burning CD's to the crack of dawn. Camping out at Kinko's, running copies and cutting inserts manually to save a buck. Fairly silent throughout most of 2000, we caught a glimpse of them at the occasional local revue. It was at once of those shows that they impressed Moes of Influential Flavor (a local promotions company) so much that he instantly approached the crew backstage and inked a management contract with no delay. Already in the process of dropping a follow-up release, Moes proved to be an integral force in providing the financial backing needed for wide scale distribution.

ChaRon and Huggy's release, "Mental Combustion" hit the stores in September 2001 and moved a substantial amount of units. An impressive collection of work from the packaging, to the beats, to ChaRon's ever-changing rhyme flow. "I'm moody, I have an Indian summer type of personality, however I feel in the morning inspires me to write how I write," states ChaRon. Performing a juggling act of sorts, they continued to attend school, work part-time and squeeze out enough time in the day to practice several times a week.

More recently ChaRon and Huggy have adopted the name "Hands Down" and are constantly working on new material and perfecting their craft. Huggy works full-time at a local recording studio, I.D. Labs and ChaRon is pursuing higher education while maintaining a part-time job and penning lyrics for the upcoming sophomore, yet to be titled release. Keep an ear out for Hands Down the name says it all."

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