New Joint – Iron Braydz

Iron Braydz – “The Impeccable, The Amazing” (@Braydz / 2015)

The UK emcee performs some lyrical gymnastics on this Ransom Notes-produced track off his forthcoming EP “Held For Ransom”.

New Joint – Kid Tsunami

Kid Tsunami – “The Throwdown” (@KidTsu / 2015)

The Australian producer picks up the mic on this pounding old-school-influenced banger.

New Joint – Finale / Homeboy Sandman / Miz Korona

Finale ft. Homeboy Sandman & Miz Korona – “Just Due” (@FinaleDet313 / 2015)

The Detroit emcee responsible for 2009’s quality “A Pipe Dream And A Promise” album makes a welcome return with an Oddisee-produced track from his upcoming Mello Music Group release.

New Joint – Apathy / Suave-Ski

Apathy ft. Suave-Ski – “CREW” (@ApathyDGZ / 2015)

Taken from the Demigodz member’s self-produced EP “Weekend At The Cape”.

New Joint – Alec Koenen & Confidence

Alec Koenen & Confidence – “I Give It My Heart” (@ConfidenceBeats / 2015)

Philly-raised, Boston-based producer Confidence introduces the lyrical talents of 21-year-old Minnesota emcee Alec Koenen to the Hip-Hop world.

New Joint – 7 Spherez

7 Spherez – “7 Heavenz” (DrGProductionz / 2015)

Moody boom-bap from the Manchester crew’s forthcoming self-titled album.

Liberation – The Voice EP Stream – Iomos Marad

Chicago emcee Iomos Marad’s 2003 long-player “Deep Rooted” still gets pulled out of the collection every now and then by yours truly, so it’s good to see the Windy City wordsmith still approaching his craft with the same level of integrity and intense lyricism that made his debut album so impressive all those years ago.

New Joint – MoSS / Slum Village

MoSS ft. Slum Village – “Boombastic” (@MoSSAppealMusic / 2015)

Rugged beats and rhymes from the Canadian producer’s forthcoming full-length release.

New Joint – Big Toast

Big Toast – “Sell Units” (@BigToastTPS / 2015)

The TPS Fam member aims shots at all things wack over heavy-duty 2Late beats off his recent project “The Wedding Fund LP”.

New Joint – Maffew Ragazino

Maffew Ragazino – “Summer Nine Five” (@MaffewRagazino / 2015)

Drum-heavy Jimmy Dukes-produced head-nodder from the Crooklyn wordsmith’s forthcoming EP “Eight Million Stories” featuring Thirstin Howl, Roc Marciano, Willie The Kid and more.

New Joint – Stig Of The Dump / Jehst

Stig Of The Dump ft. Jehst – “Kubrick” (StigOfTheDumpUK / 2015)

Cinematic visuals to accompany the understated title track of the UK emcee’s quality new album “Kubrick”.

MPC Series Episode 3 – Sam Zircon

Triple Darkness-affiliated producer Ringz Ov Saturn continues his “MPC” interview series with an in-depth look at the story behind the sounds of the UK’s Sam Zircon.

Lady Tee Sings The Blues Mix Stream – Kil

Regular visitors to this blog may find it hard to believe that I don’t listen to Hip-Hop all of the time. With that being said, California’s Teena Marie is my favourite female vocalist of all-time.

After discovering her music as a young kid back in the 80s I was hooked by that incredible voice and have continued to be captivated by the soul icon ever since, from albums like “It Must Be Magic” and “Starchild” up to her more recent output such as “Sapphire” and “Congo Square”.

So when I stumbled across this new tribute mix to the former Rick James protege by Philadelphia’s Kil, it had to be posted.

RIP Teena Marie.

New Joint – IG & Dro Pesci

IG & Dro Pesci – “Veteran’s Bop” (@DaRealDroPesci / 2015)

The two Rotten Apple emcees deliver some good ol’ fashioned New York straight talk over moody production from Crate Divizion’s Vic Grimes.

Do It How You Wanna Do It Album Stream – White Mic

Bored Stiff member White Mic’s latest album finds the Cali resident dropping his usual high-quality brand of blue-collar Hip-Hop, discussing the plight of underground artists (“Bizness”), the complexity of personal relationships (“Belong Together”) and still having a crush on 80s funk sensation Sheila E. (“Working To Play”).

New Joint – Akrobatik & LX Beats

Akrobatik & LX Beats – “Shotgun” (@AkrobatikMC / @LXBeats / 2015)

Music to ride to off the forthcoming collabo EP from the Boston mic vet and Finland-based producer.

Album Review – Venomous2000

Venomous2000

“Will To Power” 

(Venomous2000.BandCamp.Com)

Positive energy activates constant elevation. That appears to be the overall message behind New Jersey emcee Venomous2000’s ninth full-length solo album.

Having consistently worked at sharpening his lyrical sword on each of his previous releases, “Will To Power” arguably finds Venomous more creatively focussed and artistically determined than he’s ever been before, delivering a quality collection of life-affirming Hip-Hop that embodies the true-school values of the culture whilst looking towards the future.

Backed by a talented team of producers, the East Coast wordsmith does a sterling job throughout of matching his poignant verses with their ideal sonic backdrop, a selection process which allows his words to resonate and hit home that much more effectively.

The opening “All You Need (Within Your Self)” sets the overall tone of “Will To Power”, with Venomous delivering motivational rhymes over airy keys and thumping beats courtesy of Germany’s Robot Orchestra. Encouraging us all to strive for our goals whilst acknowledging the hard journey that can lead to, the NJ lyricist suggests we “keep exercising (our) mental gifts like this was all aerobics” in order to succeed.

Lead single “Will Power” pairs the driving, organic boom-bap of producer Alex KidOne with 2000’s purposeful wordplay, whilst the jazzy, Dilla-esque “Stormy Nights” finds Venomous displaying his fluid skills over the sonic mellow madness supplied by MentPlus

The Methuzulah-assisted “Reflect On Music” is the sound of a truly passionate emcee who remains resolute in his mission to leave a mark on the world of Hip-Hop whilst staying true to the art, a sentiment also echoed on the pounding “Watch The Pen Smoke” (“If people want the fresh I bring my best to the table though, I guess it’s not about blowin’ like fellatio…I pray my fans sit down and listen, They can feel this…”).

The sombre “Is Life Fair?” vividly details the self-proclaimed Ultra Emcee’s experiences growing-up in New Jersey, whilst the piano-laced “Now Justice (NJ)” offers present-day social commentary, as Venomous balances the spirituality of his Yoruba religious beliefs with the harsh realities of the world around us.

Thoughtful, intelligent and sincere, “Will To Power” succeeds in its aim to enrich the lives of those who hear it, with Venomous2000 presenting himself as an artist who firmly believes in the power Hip-Hop has to have a lasting, beneficial impact on its audience.

Ryan Proctor

New Joint – Da Buze Bruvaz

Da Buze Bruvaz – “Dos Equis” (@ChoppedHerring / 2015)

Philly duo Him Lo and Clever One mix Lo-Life attitude with both Mexican flavour and cooking lessons in the clip for this Jisah-produced track off the “Straight Shotz In Dirty Glassez” EP.

From Da Old 2 Tha New Mixtape Stream – DJ Modesty / Shabaam Sahdeeq

France’s DJ Modesty pulls together a quality selection of music from the veteran NY emcee which spans Sahdeeq’s entire career, from his mid-90s indie scene releases to last year’s impressive “Keepers Of The Lost Art” album.

New Joint – Venomous2000

Venomous2000 – “Force Of The Orisha” (@Venomous2000 / 2015)

The New Jersey emcee delivers some spiritual DJ Manipulator-produced boom-bap from his new album “Will To Power”.