There’s a retrospective collection of classic Jigmastas (DJ Spinna and Kriminul) records coming soon, and the group have released two new joints to celebrate. They sound just as dope now as they did in the 90s, and you can listen to snippets of both below.
Category: New Music
Gangrene (Alchemist and Oh No) – ‘You Disgust Me’
A stream of the long-awaited new You Disgust Me album from Gangrene (Alchemist and Oh No) has been released, a week before it officially drops. Considering these are two of the best producers in the game, and the line-up includes Action Bronson, Evidence, Sean Price and Your Old Droog, its predictably dope, and you can check it out below.
Mac Miller – ‘100 Grandkids’
The follow-up to Watching Movies With The Sound Off from Mac Miller is set to drop in September, named GO:OD AM. Until then he’s a video for first single 100 Grandkids. The jury is still partially out on Mac, but he can definitely spit fire on a good day, and this new joint is pretty fly. Watch below, and let us know what you think.
Dynas & Tony Galvin – ‘Who U?’ feat. Slick Rick
Slick Rick The Ruler pops up on this crazy joint from Dynas & Tony Galvin. The animated video is basic but pretty funny to watch, and you can catch it below. Its from new album Big & Tall, coming soon.
Nems – ‘The Genesis’
Nems has gathered a fine selection of guest emcees to spit over a couple of classic instrumentals, with a line-up that includes Shabaam Sahdeeq and Spit Gemz. It’s taken from Nems’ Planet Of The Apes: Water project, and you can listen below.
Illa J – ‘Universe’
Yancey Boy Illa J (aka the younger brother of J Dilla) is back with a video for his Universe single. The laid back, funked out track is a change of pace for the Detroit rapper, but the video is well put together, and sees him get his MJ on as he tries to bag himself a hottie. Watch below.
STS x RJD2 – ‘Trunk Of My Computer’
Trunk Of My Computer is one of the standout cuts on the brilliant STS x RJD2 album by STS and RJD2, and now there’s a video too. Its nicely done, showing STS on the grind, literally selling out the trunk, old skool style. Watch below, and let us know what you think.
Atmosphere – ‘Sunshine’
Sunshine, from 2007 Atmosphere EP Sad Clown Bad Summer 9, has been given a special new video for the summer. It was created using nothing but solar power, which is pretty impressive. Watch the video and behind-the-scenes clips below. Props to Atmosphere for being environmentally conscious, because lets face it, its not very often we get to describe hip-hop artists as being that.
Homeboy Sandman – ‘Arrows’
After teasing us with new music from Guilty Simpson, Stones Throw Records have now dropped a new joint from Homeboy Sandman. No word if Arrows is from a new project, or just to build hype for HS’s new tour, which starts August 15. Either way, its dope, and you can hear it below.
The Elephunk in the Room: We need to talk About The Black Eyed Peas
A couple of weeks ago, The Black Eyed Peas released a new video. The same The Black Eyes Peas that many moons ago was a genuine hip-hop group, before changing beyond all recognition into a pop act that polarized rap fans.
Nothing strange about that so far. But on closer inspection the new song is without Fergie, references and covers many hip-hop classics, and has a throwback video to match. Oh, and it also happens to be awesome. We let it sit there for a while, but we can’t ignore what just happened any longer.
Here’s the dilemma. As fans of what we all like to call ‘real’ hip-hop (however ridiculous that makes us sound), we can’t possibly like a The Black Eyed Peas song, can we? Of course we can. We’ll just take a bit of time to admit it.
Its easy to blame everything on the evil Fergie, but in reality, the driving force behind the move towards pop has been will.i.am, an artist at times so unbelievably pretentious its a wonder he hasn’t yet disappeared up his own back passage.
But the hark back to their hip-hop roots, and even further back to Golden Era rap, is a curious one. Its difficult to tell if this is a new (or old) direction for the group, sans Fergie, although its hard to imagine they’d turn down further mainstream success just to keep it real for a small section of hip-hop heads. It may also just be part of the celebrations for their 20-years-in-the-game anniversary.
Only time will tell. But one thing can’t be denied: Yesterday is a good record, and its ok to admit it.
If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it here.