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Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Melker Project - "(2) Chain (z)" ft. Fleetwood Mac & 2 Chainz


The best mashups are the ones that come from left field. Who would've thought that 2 Chainz and Fleetwood Mac together could create something this dope? Scott Melker, that's who.
Fleetwood Mac is one of the greatest bands ever. Producers rarely remix Fleetwood Mac. Why you ask? Most remixers and mashup artists focus solely on what is “hot” now – you know, pop songs and EDM “hits.” The Melker Project wanted to buck the trend and introduce mashup fans to some of the timeless classics that often go untouched in remix culture. You know, GOOD songs.

“Skeetwood Mac” is the first in a series of EPs being released by The Melker Project, each focusing on a different classic artist. As the name implies, this EP is comprised of five Fleetwood Mac songs, each mashed up with Hip Hop and R&B standards.

This track features the Fleetwood Mac classic "The Chain" mixed with a 2 Chainz instrumental and 3 2 Chainz verses. "The (2) Chain (z)." Clever, right?


Just because it's amazing, hit the jump to listen to The Melker Project 2, a 52 minute mix in which Melker uses over 200 tracks for our attention deficient enjoyment.
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[New Mixtape] Ryshon Jones - "In Theory"


You've seen how In Theory came to be thanks to the documentary. Now experience the entire project from Ryshon Jones which includes "False Reality" and 14 other "theoretical" tracks. Vibe out and download below. "The Example" and "Common Dream" have been on repeat for me this morning. Which In Theory tracks do you connect with the most?


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[New Mixtape] CyHi The Prynce - Ivy League: Kick Back


CyHi The Prynce's having a pretty G.O.O.D. week seeing that his mixtape Ivy League: Kick Back has already been downloaded over 25,000 times in one day. In case you haven't peeped his project which features the previously posted "Whoa," "A-Town," "Round Da Corner" and "Far Removed," stream Kick Back below. 


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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

[Video] Trinidad James ft. ForteBowie - "Southside"


With a single out that probably gets stuck in your head twice a day, a new deal with Def Jam, and a video that people are still spoofing, don't expect Trinidad Jame$ to go anywhere any time soon.

Still taking time to promote the mixtape that catapulted him to being one of the most talked about rappers this year, he drops the visuals to the Don't Be S.A.F.E. standout "Southside." Watch below as he and and Forte Bowie take over J Pauls, and hit the jump to stream the rest of the tape.


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[Promo Video] So So Def Reunion Concert


On February 23rd, Atlanta's Fox Theatre will be packed to see nearly all of So So Def's former artists reunite on the stage. We're talking Kris Kross, Da Brat, Jagged Edge, Xscape (well half of the group), Anthony Hamilton, Bow Wow,  Lil Jon, Bonecrusher, Dem Franchise Boyz, Dondria and more. No matter which generation of So So Def you were a part of, this show seems to have something for everybody. Hell, I just might be up in there!



Click HERE for ticket info, and hit the jump for So So Def's remix of Game's "Celebration."
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[Documentary] Ryshon Jones - "Road To 'In Theory'"


Ryshon Jones' In Theory mixtape will be upon us in a few hours. While you wait, get to know the Philly emcee before he shows off yet another facet of his himself as an artist by checking out his new documentary Road To 'In Theory.'

 Presented by 2DopeBoyz, follow Ryshon as he recounts moments throughout the past few years which brought him this point-- his first SXSW performance; the making of his projects before, which led to people boxing him in as an emo rapper; and the recording process behind In Theory.
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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

CyHi The Prynce - "Whoa"


"Whoa" is probably what you're saying after seeing this cover, but it also happens to be the title to CyHi The Prynce's latest strip club anthem. This Big Sean sampled track is set to appear on his mixtape Ivy League Kick Back which drops TONIGHT.



[Def Jam]

Previously: CyHi The Prynce ft. Trae Tha Truth - "Round Da Corner"

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Big K.R.I.T. ft. Rapsody & Heather Victoria - "Gettin Mine" (Prod. by 9th Wonder)


9th Wonder has definitely been an influence for Big K.R.I.T. as a producer, and it's great to see that the two have been cooking up more music in the studio.

Fortunately "Life Of Kings" isn't the last time we'll hear K.R.I.T. over a 9th track, since he traveled to NC to record "Gettin' Mine" with Jamla soldiers Rapsody and Heather Victoria. Stream the record below, and be sure to hit me on Twitter or Facebook with your the thoughts!



Previously:

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Rick Ross - "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" (Freestyle)


Yesterday, Rick Ross went from celebrating his 37th birthday to being all the Internet could talk about as he and his girlfriend were reportedly the victims of a failed drive by attempt in Miami. For more details on that, click here.

Always a label to capitalize off of any opportunity, MMG made lemons out of lemonade by releasing a well-timed freestyle from Rozay over Kendrick Lamar's "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe," which you can catch below. Also hit the jump to check out Rozay's latest, "Box Chevy." His new album Mastermind is coming soon...maybe.


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Monday, January 28, 2013

[New Mixtape] Pusha T - Wrath Of Caine


It's been a while since we've received a full solo project from Pusha T, but 2013 will be the year the G.O.O.D. Music emcee floods us with quality tracks. First up is his mixtape Wrath Of Caine, and next up will be his solo debut LP My Name Is My Name.

Enjoy the project below, which features verses from Rick Ross, French Montana, Troy Ave, Wale, and more. My favorite so far: "Revolution" produced by The Neptunes.


Previously: Pusha T ft. Wale - "Only You Can Tell It"
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PJ Morton ft. Stevie Wonder - "Only One"


No other name in R&B holds more weight than that of Mr. Stevie Wonder. So when you see him not only supporting but collaborating with a fresh talent like PJ Morton, you should definitely stop what you're doing and take notice.

The Maroon 5 keyboardist and YMCMB signed vocalist delivers his new single "Only One," the lead single from his forthcoming his debut solo album New Orleans. Stream the track courtesy of Billboard below, and hit the jump to stream + download his latest EP Following My First Mind.


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CyHi The Prynce ft. Trae Tha Truth - "Round Da Corner"


This is going to be a G.O.O.D. week. CyHi The Prynce's mixtape Ivy League Kick Back drops tomorrow, while Pusha T's Wrath Of Caine is set to hit the net tonight. Check out "Round Da Corner,"the latest leak from Kick Back, which features a verse from Grand Hustle vet Trae Tha Truth.



[IFWT]

Previously:
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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Pusha T ft. Wale - "Only You Can Tell It"


Pusha T's new mixtape Wrath Of Caine hits the net tomorrow, and to give one last preview of what to expect on the full project, he gave Billboard the okay to premiere the Wale featured "Only You Can Tell It."

 

Previously:
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[Video] Kendrick Lamar Performs "Swimming Pools" & "Poetic Justice" Live On SNL


Kendrick Lamar hit a lot of milestones in 2012, and things don't seem to be stalling one bit for the TDE forerunner who took to Saturday Night Live to perform his hit singles "Swimming Pools" and "Poetic Justice." Big congrats to Kendrick and his team on "Swimming Pools," which was officially certified platinum this week!

"Swimming Pools (Drank)"


"Poetic Justice"


Hit the jump to watch a less serious side of Kendrick as he assists Adam Levine and The Lonely Island in the hilarious video for "YOLO."
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Friday, January 25, 2013

[Video] Kendrick Lamar - Funkmaster Flex Freestyles


Kendrick Lamar stopped by Hot 97 and kicked three freestyles for Funkmaster Flex over some NY classics. Interesting to hear some new bars from the Compton King, especially over tracks made for Mobb Deep, Nas and Wu-Tang. good kid, m.A.A.d city in stores now!


Parts 2 & 3 after the jump...

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G's Use Emoticons Radio: The Re-Up (Mixed By @DJHourglass)


I took a little sabbatical from blogging late last year to shift my focus a little more from reporting what kind of music was out there to creating. While I plan to continue sharing great music with all my loyal G's out there, look forward to more mixes which I intend to make better with each and every edition.

During my brief break, I put together The Re-Up, which a lot of people seemed to enjoy and pass around. Since it's the weekend it's the perfect time to give this a spin and take a nice, healthy shot of Turnup juice. Check out the rest of the repertoire on Mixcloud and be sure to let your support be known!


 For bookings in Atlanta, St. Louis, Charlotte and the surrounding areas, email DJHourglass@gangstasuseemoticons.com. It's hourglass time!
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[Music Video] Marsha Ambrosius - "Cold War"


Co-starring The Wire's Michael Kenneth Williams and Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, Marsha Ambrosius opts for drug dealing instead of selling some of the prized possessions in her New York loft on eBay as she fights to maintain her lifestyle after her beau gets fired. "Cold War", produced by Diplo and co-written by Elijah Blake, is the lead single from Marsha's upcoming sophomore solo effort Friends & Lovers.



What do you think about "Cold War?" Hit the comments and let me know!

[Rap-Up]

Previously: Daley - Alone Together ft. Marsha Ambrosius [Music Video]
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[Lyric Video] Justin Timberlake - "Suit & Tie"


If this is just the lyric video, I can't wait to see how Justin Timberlake goes all out for the official music video for "Suit & Tie." To get people prepared for the amount of GQ fly that they are soon to see from Mr. 20/20 Experience, he gets prepped for a very grown and sexy night on the town while clearly revealing the lyrics to his new hit single.

His third solo album The 20/20 Experience is currently slated for a March 19th release.



Previously: Justin Timberlake ft. Jay-Z - "Suit & Tie" (Prod. by Timbaland)
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Thursday, January 24, 2013

[Music Video] Thurz ft. Jarrell Perry - "Keep Livin"


Thurz spreads some needed positivity on his new single "Keep Livin," and now the Jarell Perry assisted track gets an equally bright visual treatment. "Keep Livin" is set to appear on Thurz's next album Blood On The Canvas, and can be purchased on iTunes NOW.



[Soulculture]

Previously: Thurz - 517 W Queen Tape [New Mixtape]
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GQ - The Town (Prod. by 9th Wonder)


GQ, the Jamla army's Oakland soldier, takes on a 9th Wonder production as he reveals "The Town," the first offering from his forthcoming project, Death Threats And Love Notes.



[DJ Booth]
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DJ Scream ft. Future, Wale & Ludacris - "Cee-Lo"


DJ Scream summed his new single "Cee-Lo" up in one sentence: "I put together them hood anthems, ni**a!"

Now that it's clear what this track is all about, listen below as Future, Wale, and Ludacris rip the production by 808 Mafia.



Previously: 
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[Video] Joey Bada$$ Speaks On The Passing Of Capital STEEZ & Freestyles On Sway In The Morning


Joey Bada$$ stopped by Shade 45's Sway In The Morning this week where he was uncharacteristically open in an interview about discussing how the suicide of his Pro Era brother and friend Capital STEEZ has impacted him. 

Watch below as he reveals that his feelings have been laid over a new track, and watch him eagerly lay down three freestyles to the impeccable beat selection of DJ Wonder.


In case you missed it, stream and download Pro Era's Peep The Aprocalypse below, which features some mean verses from the late Capital STEEZ.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Ryshon Jones ft. L.atasha A.lcindor - "False Reality"


Ryshon Jones. In Theory. 1.30.13.
Decided to let something loose from the In Theory tape featuring L.atasha A.lcindor prod by Jordan Granados. The concept being "breathe life into my sins, baptize me in my pride" is something the listener will have to fully understand once they hear the project. A couple more leaks will be released next week and i'm putting the final touch on the In Theory documentary which will be out next week as well.  - Ryshon

Download (Audiomack)

Fake DJ Envy and I are hype about it. Are you?!

Previously: Ryshon Jones - "White Lines" [Music Video]
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[Music Video] A.Dd+ - "Can't You See"


The Dallas Observer called A.Dd+'s When Pigs Fly "the best rap album that Dallas has ever seen, front to back," and from what I've heard from emcees Paris Pershun and Slim Gravy so far, I'm confident that their new project DiveHiFlyLo may top it.

Peep the visuals to the NickNack produced "Can't You See" below, and if you're in the Dallas area, don't miss their DiveHiFlyLo album release show this Saturday, January 26 at the Granada Theater.


Directed by Luxury Mindz

[Red Bull USA]
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Kevin McCall - "High"


Kevin McCall is busy cooking up his new project Definition, and he recently hit the studio to work with esteemed Neptunes' producer Chad Hugo. Check out his latest offering, "High," below produced by Young Lad (who also co-produced Fat Joe and Chris Brown's "Another Round").

Download (HNHH)

[SingersRoom]

Previously: Keke Palmer ft. Kevin McCall - You Got Me
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Skewby - "When I Ride" (Prod. by Mindlabs & Skewby)


Skewby perceives 2013 pretty much like this: "New Year, New Music, New Shows, Same bills." He's working on a currently untitled project and will be headlining his first show in Memphis on February 9th. Check out his latest offering, the smooth "When I Ride," and hit the jump for more information on his upcoming show.



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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Ab-Soul x JMSN - "You're Gone"


With extremely impressive solo projects under each of their belts, Ab-Soul and JMSN have banded together to create the album Unit 6. Stream the first offering "You're Gone," below, and cop the single on iTunes if you're like me and like what you hear. Owwww...

Ab-Soul & JMSN - "You're Gone"
Purchase: (iTunes)

If you're not familiar with JMSN, download his latest album †Priscilla† HERE on The Well Versed and take another listen to Kendrick's good kid, m.A.A.d. city. He's all over the album on background vocals.

[Dajaz1]

Previously: [Music Video] Ab-Soul ft. Kendrick Lamar "ILLuminate"
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[New Mixtape] Casey Veggies - Life Changes


Casey Veggies gave us a preview of his new mixtape Life Changes with "F*ck Witchu," but now stream the entire follow up to Customized Greatly, Vol. 3. From what I hear, this tape goes.


Previously: Casey Veggies - "Fuck Witchu"
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Kelly Rowland - "Kisses Down Low"


If you thought "Motivation" and "Ice" were racy, you've got another thing coming. With the help of writers Planet VI and producer Mike WiLL Made It, Kelly Rowland takes it to another level (a lower level) with "Kisses Down Low." With a hook that seems inspired by T.I.'s "Top Back," this definitely seems like a guaranteed radio and club smash.



[The Urban Daily]

Previously: Kelly Rowland - "Number One"
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Monday, January 21, 2013

Kanye West ft. Jay-Z & Big Sean - "Clique" (TNGHT Edit)


Collectively known as TNGHT, producers Hudson Mohawke and Lunice put out one of the best projects of 2012 with their EP. Many stars have taken notice, as Hudson recently signed a production deal with Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music and Lunice received major props from Rick Ross for his work with Rockie Fresh.

During Lunice's mix on BBC's 1XTRA radio show, he debuted TNGHT's latest work, a remix of G.O.O.D.'s smash "Clique." Enjoy the radio rip below, and hit the jump to check out the entire mix.


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[New Mixtape] Rockie Fresh - Electric Highway


If the rest of Electric Highway is as nice as "Superman OG" and "Life Long," Rockie Fresh has quite the tape on his hands.

Today the Chicago emcee presents his debut project since joining MMG, and he impressively commands most of the tracks solo. Stream the DJ Ill Will hosted project below, and hit the comments with your thoughts on Rockie Fresh.

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[Music Video] CyHi The Prynce - "Far Removed"


CyHi The Prynce isn't letting up on the promotion for his January 29th mixtape Ivy League: Kick Back as he premieres the visuals to "Far Removed," a continuation of the story told in the video to "Favorite Things" (after the jump). Also starring in the clip is fellow ATL emcee Pill.


Directed by BPace Productions
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[Video] Beyoncé Sings The National Anthem At The 2013 Presidential Inauguration


Today's presidential inauguration was definitely a beautiful sight to see. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President Barack Obama was sworn in along with VP Joe Biden while a sense of "togetherness" permeated through the air.  Along with the moving speech from our President, one of the highlights of the inauguration was Beyoncé's performance of the National Anthem.

With the Super Bowl, an HBO documentary and a new album on the way, it seems that 2013 is about to be another amazing year for Queen Bey.



Hit the jump to watch more clips from today's 2013 Inauguration.
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Johnny Polygon - "Vacation Suicide"


Since I've been bumping Johnny Polygon's "my shit >" pretty heavy lately, I did some prying on his FB and realized I'm more than a few days late in hearing "Vacation Suicide." If you're late like me, stream + download below, and countdown to the release of his project Nothing on February 20th.




Previously: Cisco Adler ft. Yelawolf, Dirt Nasty & Johnny Polygon - Lemonade
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CyHi The Prynce - "A-Town" (Remix) ft. 2 Chainz, Travis Porter & B.o.B [Prod. by Anthem]


Yeah, yeah. I know. The Falcons didn't pull out the W yesterday.

Regardless, one thing I've learned since moving down here is that everyone from the A are all graduates of the Lil Jon School of Rep Yo City University. At the top of his class is CyHi The Prynce who has been busy prepping his follow up to last summer's mixtape The Ivy League Club.

 Check out his remix to the project's standout track "A-Town" (produced by my homie Anthem), which will live on his January 29th release, Ivy League: Kick Back. This remix includes a brand new verse from CyHi and a new feature from his G.O.O.D. brother 2 Chainz. Stream the track below via Def Jam, which also features guest spots from B.o.B and Travis Porter.

[Vibe]

Previously:
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[Video] Wale - "Never Never"


"Never Never" is definitely a deep cut from Wale's latest mixtape Folarin, and I'm definitely glad he gave this jazzy freestyle the visual treatment. Watch below as he switches up is flow and gives us something reminiscent of Hov back in '96...



Previously: Wale - Folarin [New Mixtape]
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Kalenna - "Lately" (Prod. by T-Minus)


Kalenna's been pretty heavy on her studio grind, and she's finally let one of the tracks out of the bag. On "Lonely," she may have a certain someone realizing they walked away from a pretty good thing as she continues to stunt on these hoes.

Stream the T-Minus produced track below, and hit the comments with your thoughts on "Lonely" by the Dirty Money diva.



[Karen Civil]

Previously: Kalenna - "Justin Bieber" ft. Jarren Benton
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[Music Video] Tamar Braxton - "Love & War"


Tamar Braxton may ruffle a few feathers with her over the top sayings and tendency to tweet before  she thinks, but one thing's been proven-- she has a great voice and she's capitalizing in all the right ways on the success that reality TV has brought her. "Love & War" sat comfortably at #1 on iTunes when it premiered, and she continues to ride with the title track as she debuted the music video earlier last week.

If you've yet to hear the Tamar's love ballad, catch the visuals below or hit the jump to watch her performance of "Love & War" on The Wendy Williams Show. Love & War is set to hit stores this March.


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Friday, January 18, 2013

[Music Video] Wiz Khalifa - "100 Bottles"


With Wiz Khalifa's O.N.I.F.C. in stores and a new baby set to debut any minute now, the Taylor Gang captain's got a lot going on. Somehow he still managed to find time to shoot a short video for "100 Bottles," which lives on his highly downloaded mixtape Cabin Fever 2.

 Stream + download the rest of Cabin Fever 2 after the jump...



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[Video] Terrace Martin - Making Of Kendrick Lamar's "Real" (Episode 1)


In a new mini series from APluzFilms, producer, emcee and instrumentalist Terrace Martin dissects his experience creating "Real" from good kid, m.A.A.d city. The song is definitely a favorite of mine, thanks to its lighthearted sound paired with a strong message.

A musical genius in his own right, Terrace gives a lot of credit to the mind of Kendrick Lamar who was not only responsible for his verses but for a lot of the melodies included in the production. Watch Part 1 of the interview below, and look for the next installment to hit the net next week.



In the meantime, Terrace's 3ChordFold is still in the works... get ready!

Previously: Terrace Martin ft. Dom Kennedy & Punch - How I Live
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Shome - "Bourbon & Canal" (Prod. Wister Dice)


When I graduated college, I celebrated by hanging out with my family and then dipping off to get chocolate vanilla just plain wasted with my girls.

Honorably, New Orleans bred Shome hit the booth and kept his eyes on the prize while he celebrated his graduation from University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Check out "Bourbon & Canal" below, and be on the lookout for his EP The Balancing Act to hit the net next month.

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Fabolous ft. Chris Brown - "Ready"


Fabolous hasn't been slow to drop mixtapes, but it's been a while since he's released a full length album. To kick off the promotion for his forthcoming effort Loso's Way II, he caters to the ladies with The Runners produced "Ready" featuring Chris Brown.

iTunes

Previously:
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Just Blaze x Baauer - "Higher"


While my sister and I were doing some extreme mattress testing, this new collab from producers Just Blaze and Baauer was perfect theme music. Maybe because "Higher" seems to be perfect theme music for just about anything...

With Jay-Z serving as the main supplier of vocals, Blaze and Baauer take you through a nearly six minute journey through the blended genres of trap, dubstep and hip hop.

Listen to "Higher" below, which serves as a precursor to their upcoming Big League Tour, and hit the jump to see if they're coming through your city!


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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

BanksOnTheBeat - "Chapter MMXIII" (Prod. DJ Dahi)


BanksOnTheBeat, one of my hometown heroes, has switched it into high gear as he preps to release both a beat tape and his next project as an artist, College Dropout Too, at the top of this year. On "Chapter MMMXIII," Banks lets DJ DAHI handle the production as he shows how much he's becoming a problem lyrically.

Check out the single from the Charlotte emcee below, and be sure to keep an eye out for some big moves from the YachTs crew in 2013.



Previously: BanksOnTheBeat ft. J.A.E - Round 1 [Music Video]
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[FreEP] Raekwon - Lost Jewlry


Raekwon's gearing up for a big 2013 with the release of Fly International Luxurious Art, but first he delivers the EP Lost Jewlry which features the likes of Faith Evans, Freddie Gibbs, Maino and more.

I'm definitely getting an Arabian Nights vibe from the first two tracks. Listen below to hear the project for yourself, and hit the comments to let me know what you think of Lost Jewlry.


[Complex]

Previously: N.O.R.E. ft. Styles P & Raekwon - Google That [Music Video]
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[Music Video] Santigold - "Girls"


Santigold, her dope dancers, and NYC represent for all the "Girls" out there in the visuals to the title track of the HBO series' official soundtrack. This video's sure to make you laugh, and appreciate all the shapes, colors and sizes we women come in.

Be sure to catch Girls every Sunday at 9PM Eastern time, and purchase the indie soundtrack HERE on iTunes. (If you're against Lena Dunham nudity on every episode, let us stand together!)


Directed by Weird Days

[Brooklyn Vegan]

Previously: Santigold - The Keepers [Music Video]
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[Music Video] Ab-Soul ft. Kendrick Lamar "ILLuminate"


Ab-Soul helps lead our generation away from our Control Systems as he and Kendrick Lamar star in the visuals to "ILLuminate." Definitely a visual that'll have you thinking of what's holding you back or what you've escaped from.

Do your brain a favor and cop Ab-Soul's latest album if you haven't already.


Directed by Fredo Tovar and Scott Fleishman

Previously:

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

[Music Video] Dawn Richard - "86"


Dawn Richard's debut solo album Goldenheart has hit iTunes today, and it's doing extremely well so far. Currently dominating the R&B/Soul charts, the indie star is looking to hit #1 overall.

Stream the Goldenheart for free courtesy of AOL, purchase HERE (I bought my copy!), and check out the visuals to standout track "86" below.



Previously: Drake ft. Colin Munroe & Dawn Richard - Where Were You
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Rockie Fresh ft. Rick Ross & Nipsey Hussle - "Life Long"


Give Rozay some peace Gunplay!

The bawse and quasi-rumored, quasi-official MMG artist Nipsey Hussle assist Chicago's Rockie Fresh on "Life Long," set to live on his upcoming project Electric Highway. Something tells me EH is gonna solidify Rockie's spot as a rookie not to be overlooked when it drops on January 21st.




Previously:

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