Mic Check 1234! Mixtape Download – Max Tannone

This project might not be for everyone but it definitely puts a unique twist on the typical Hip-Hop-related remix / mash-up formula.

New-York-based producer Max Tannone follows-up projects such as “Doublecheck Your Head” with the Beastie Boys and the Ghostface-driven “Ghostfunk” with this mix of rap and punk featuring verses from Black Thought, Black Star and Public Enemy and the music of The Clash, The Ramones and The Sex Pistols –  download here for an interesting musical culture clash.

Name Of The Game – Talib Kweli

Kweli speaks to Bootleg Kev in Las Vegas about dealing with underground fans who don’t like to see emcees gain mainstream success and the possibility of a new Black Star album with Mos Def.

Star Time – Mos Def / Talib Kweli

Footage of Mos Def and Talib Kweli performing the Black Star banger “Definition” at Paid Dues 2011.

Blast Off – Talib Kweli

Kweli performing at Miami’s Delano Hotel.

“Definition” / “The Blast”

“Get By”

“In This World”

Thursday Throwback (Part 22) – Black Star

Black Star ft. Common – “Respiration” ( Rawkus / 1998 )

A classic moment from the independent Hip-Hop renaissance of the late-90s that still causes goosebumps today.

Back when Black Star’s self-titled debut album dropped I was involved with UK-based underground Hip-Hop mag FATBOSS – listening to Mos Def and Talib Kweli on cuts such as “Respiration” and “Definition” will always take me back to that time when I felt like every word I wrote about subterranean acts such as The Arsonists, Non-Phixion and Rasco was helping keep the spirit of real Hip-Hop alive in the face of an increasingly shallow and money-driven mainstream rap industry. Ahhh, the good old days.