Paul Nice is truly one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time, making top-notch beats for years. He’s about to release a new album with rapper Phill Most Chill, and this 15-minute sample for it sounds incredible. Look out for Fabreeze Brothers when it drops, and give us some props for not using any puns about how this album will breath fresh air into hip-hop.
Category: Legends
Ghostface Killah & BADBADNOTGOOD – ‘Six Degrees’ (remix)
The Sour Soul album from Ghostface Killah and BADBADNOTGOOD was pretty decent, but we think this remix of the Danny Brown featuring Six Degrees by Island Riot is an improvement on the original. Listen below to decide for yourself, and let us know who you think won.
Byron The Aquarius & Dillon – ‘KeepDoinYaThang’ (Dilla tribute)
We fuckin’ love a J Dilla tribute, so we were pleased to hear that Byron The Aquarius and Dillon are about to drop their Dilla Dedication EP. The first single is KeepDoinYaThang, which has a definite Slum Village vibe to it. Listen below, and look out for the full EP coming next week.
DJ Premier and Black Milk Boiler Room sets
DJ Premier recently put in a stellar-as-always set on the Russian leg of his tour. His warm-up act was Black Milk, who played plenty of classic tracks too, and also couldn’t resist grabbing the mic towards the end. Watch both sets below.
The best hip-hop writing from last week
Its been another good week for hip-hop writing and journalism, with many of the usual suspects writing the best material. Here’s a round-up.
DJ Screw: A Fast Life in Slow Motion by Lance Scott Walker
Whether you are a fan of his music or not, the impact DJ Screw had on rap in his all-too-short life is huge. In this well-researched and extensive article, the writer pays proper tribute, telling the full story of Screw’s come-up, without focusing too much on his abuse of Lean and subsequent death. Read here.
The Selective Memory of Rap Fans by Robbie Ettelson (Unkut)
At a time when a lot of classic albums are celebrating their 20th or so anniversaries, Unkut points out how others are being forgotten. He singles out the X Clan album To The East, Blackwards as a prime example, and how it was a project of way more significance than most care to remember. Read here.
GZA Speaks: The Lost Art of Lyricism by GZA
He may be pointing out what most of us already know, but its interesting to have a first-hand opinion about the state of rap lyrics from one of the best rappers still working today. The highlight comes at the point where GZA explains how two different artists would interpret the same simple subject matter. Read here.
DJ EFN & K-Def – ‘Revolutionary Ride Music’ feat. Your Old Droog, OC & Royce Da 5’9″
On this new release, K-Def remixes DJ EFN track Revolutionary Ride Music, which happens to feature a line-up of emcees that includes OC, Your Old Droog and Royce Da 5’9″. It’s taken from the Looking for the Perfect Remix Volume 1 7″, but you can stream it below right now.
DJ Premier & BMB Spacekid – ‘Til It’s Done’
This funked-out track from Russia’s BMB Spacekid and Anderson Paak features cuts and scratches by DJ Premier, and you can listen to it below.
Jedi Mind Tricks – ‘Fraudulent Cloth’
That long-time-coming new The Thief And The Fallen album from Jedi Mind Tricks finally arrives next month. While you wait, check this new video for singe Fraudulent Cloth. Its a more low-key affair after the gore of last single Deathless Light, and you can watch it below.
Canibus & Bronze Nazareth – ‘Concourse P’ feat. Pete Rock
The latest of many drops from the new Canibus & Bronze Nazareth album Time Flys, Life Dies…Phoenix Rise features Soul Brother No 1 himself, the legendary Pete Rock. Listen below, and let us know if you like it.
Diamond D – ‘Pump Ya Brakes’
Diamond D has dropped another gem from his dope The Diam Piece album, this time giving us a video for Pump Ya Brakes. It features Rapsody, Boog Brown and Stacy Epps, and you can watch below.