New Joint – Common / Black Thought / Seun Kuti

Common ft. Black Thought & Seun Kuti – “When We Move” (@Common / 2021)

Upbeat vibes from Common’s recent album “A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2”.

New Joint – Common / Jill Scott / Samora Pinderhughes

Common ft. Jill Scott & Samora Pinderhughes – “Show Me That You Love” (@Common / 2019)

Honest, heartfelt reflections on fatherhood from the Windy City emcee’s new album “Let Love”.

New Joint – Common / Swizz Beatz

Common ft. Swizz Beatz – “Hercules” (@Common / 2019)

Cinematic drama from the veteran Windy City wordsmith’s forthcoming album “Let Love”.

New Joint – Common / Daniel Caesar / Dwele

Common ft. Daniel Caesar & Dwele – “HER Love” (@Common / 2019)

The veteran Windy City wordsmith revisits his “I Used To Love H.E.R.” concept over a smooth and soulful Dilla track.

New Joint – Amerigo Gazaway / A Common Wonder

A Common Wonder – “The Light (I’m Yours)” (Amerigo.BandCamp.Com / 2017)

Taken from producer Amerigo Gazaway’s recent Common / Stevie Wonder project “A Common Wonder”.

A Common Wonder Album Stream – Amerigo Gazaway

Producer Amerigo Gazaway adds on to his already impressive catalogue of releases with this latest project, combining the true-school lyricism of Chicago favourite Common with the timeless soul of the legendary Stevie Wonder.

Resurrection – Beats & Remakes 02 Album Stream – Various

Following last year’s A Tribe Called Quest tribute project, Sweden’s NineToFive imprint once again pulls together a global selection of production talent, this time to recreate Common’s 1994 favourite “Resurrection”.

100 Best Albums & EPs Of 2016 (Part Two) – Vinnie Paz / REKS / Ras Beats etc.

Check Part One here.

LEX – “Necessary” (LEXNYRE.BandCamp.Com) – This project from Queens, NY wordsmith LEX was an album rooted in the proud heritage of true-school Rotten Apple rap which effectively showcased the talented emcee’s dedication to both his craft and the culture of Hip-Hop.

Ray Vendetta  & Calvert – “Calculated Vendettaz” (RayOfLight.BandCamp.Com) – Triple Darkness member Ray Vendetta joined forces with talented London-based producer Calvert for this brilliantly-executed example of intelligent, hardcore Hip-Hop. Packed with potent lyricism that ranged from the gritty to the humorous to the inspirational, “Calculated Vendettaz” captured the natural chemistry between Ray’s accomplished wordplay and Calvert’s sample-based beats, with features from UK heavyweights such as Iron Braydz, Tesla’s Ghost and Skriblah DanGogh.

ChrisJay – “The Day She Ran Away” (ChrisJayOnline.BandCamp.Com) – Canada’s ChrisJay delivered personal, heartfelt rhymes with a captivating blend of strength and vulnerability on this thoroughly engaging  EP produced by Die-Rek and Cream Of Beats.

Vinnie Paz – “The Cornerstone Of The Corner Store” (Enemy Soil) – The third solo album from Jedi Mind Tricks front-man Vinnie Paz offered more gritty half-righteous, half-foul anthems from the Philly emcee,  with production supplied by the likes of Buckwild, C-Lance and Psycho Les providing the project with an uncompromisingly hardcore sonic backbone.

Cryptic One – “The World According To…” (CrypticOne.BandCamp.Com) – The former Atoms Family member showcased his razor-sharp wordplay and worldly wit over a dope selection of self-produced beats on this succinct effort.

Killer Ben & Twiz The Beat Pro – “Invincible Ben” (DrumsetMusicWorks.BandCamp.Com) – This project from Durag Dynasty’s Killer Ben was one of the finest examples of quality lyricism you were likely to hear this year, as the West Coast-based wordsmith pounded Twiz’s impressive production with a non-stop barrage of high-velocity verbals.

Shay D – “A Figure Of Speech” (ShayD.BandCamp.Com) – Inbetween co-hosting a radio show on London’s Itch FM, running youth workshops and organizing live events, UK emcee Shay D found time to release this well-crafted project, powerfully combining social commentary, personal experience and artistic passion with striking results.

Common – “Black America Again” (Def Jam / ARTium) – Sounding determined, defiant and, perhaps most importantly, more focussed creatively than he has done in recent years, Chicago vet Common dropped this timely album inspired by the racial, political and social turmoil which dominated the US throughout 2016. Striking a balance between realism and optimism, this was music with a message which proved in no uncertain terms that the Windy City emcee still loves H.E.R.

REKS – “The Greatest X” (Brick Records) – With nothing on this epic 35-track project that could honestly be described as “throwaway”, Massachusetts microphone fiend REKS largely succeeded in conquering the double-album format which even icons such as 2Pac and Biggie struggled with. An endless stream of passionately-delivered verses paired with well-chosen production (Large Professor, Statik Selektah, Nottz etc) ensured the listener’s attention was maintained at all times. Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme, indeed.

OC From NC – “The Second Renaissance” (OCFromNC.BandCamp.Com) – Following-up 2015’s impressive “Higher Learning” project, North Carolina’s OC once again called on the services of production partner B Squared for “The Second Renaissance”, a quality combination of intelligent lyricism and soul-drenched boom-bap.

Ras Beats – “Control Your Own” (Worldwyde Recordings) – Featuring appearances from the likes of A.G., Roc Marciano and Sadat X, this project from NYC’s Ras Beats  was a strong outing from a gifted producer who clearly wanted to add on to the legacy of traditional New York boom-bap rather than simply try to recreate what had come before him.

Soundsci – “Walk The Earth” (Global Expo) – The mighty Soundsci crew went global on their third full-length release, with the transatlantic troop once again delivering a fine selection of funky, intelligent Hip-Hop grounded in a genuine shared desire to help push the culture forward to a better place.

Beneficence – “Basement Chemistry” (Ill Adrenaline Records) – New Jersey representative and Ill Adrenaline co-founder Beneficence took it back to the golden-era with this solid boom-bap-driven album featuring appearances and production from the likes of Masta Ace, Chubb Rock, Da Beatminerz and more.

Ron Jon Bovi – “Neaux Mursi” (Elevation Nation) – Satisfying the appetite of lyric lovers everywhere across Planet Rock, this Unjust-produced collabo album from Hieroglyphics member Casual and Detroit’s Phat Kat found the pair sharing a chemistry that suggested the two lyricists had been rhyming together for years instead of merely the time it took to put this release together.

Loopwhole Beats – “Newyorkism II” (LoopwholeBeats.BandCamp.Com) – Atmospheric, 90s-influenced boom-bap from the NY producer featuring appearances from Brainsick Mob, Roc Marciano and Eastkoast.

The Cornel West Theory – “The T.A.B.L.E.” (TheCornelWestTheory.BandCamp.Com) – The Washington D.C. crew quickly followed-up their impressive 2015 opus “Coming From The Bottom” with an equally rewarding and intense listening experience in the form of “The T.A.B.L.E.”. Powered by a revolutionary spirit and anti-establishment attitude, this album went against the grain both sonically and lyrically, with the end product sounding all the better for it.

Libretto – “Gangsta Jazz Volume Two” (Liquid Beat) – As its title suggested, this long-player from Liquid Beat Records found the Watts, Los Angeles-raised Libretto mixing street-related rhymes with melodic loops, resulting in a project which boasted a throwback feel without getting lost in nostalgia.

King Draft – “Live Forever” (TheKingdomMusic.BandCamp.Com) – Effortlessly blending classic influences with contemporary flavours, North Carolina-based emcee King Draft delivered clever wordplay and verses of substance over the accomplished production of fellow Kingdom member Jerm Scorsese throughout this solo project.

Mr. Kinetik – “The Colors” (MrKinetik.BandCamp.Com) – Indianapolis-based artist Mr. Kinetik dropped dusty jazz vibes and intricate rhymes on this short-yet-impressive self-produced EP.

DSOTM – “The Echo Chamber” (DSOTM.BandCamp.Com) – Menace Mendoza, FlowTecs, Joey Menza and the rest of seven-man crew Dark Side Of The Moon spat raw rhymes over atmospheric production from the likes of Beat Butcha and Ringz Ov Saturn on this uncompromisingly hardcore UK opus.

Part Three coming soon.

 

New Joint – Common / Bilal

Common ft. Bilal – “Letter To The Free” (@Common / 2016)

Soul-stirring cut from Common’s recent album “Black America Again”.

 

New Joint – Common / Bilal

Common ft. Bilal – “Home” (@Common / 2016)

Windy City representative Common may have branched out from music over the years, but it’s clear the mic is still his first love on this gem from the forthcoming album “Black America Again”.

New Joint – Common / Stevie Wonder

Common ft. Stevie Wonder – “Black America Again” (@Common / 2016)

Poignant, moving title track from the Chicago wordsmith’s forthcoming album.

New Joint – Spit Gemz

Spit Gemz – “In Our Own World” (@SpitGemz / 2014)

The Queens, NY emcee drops some quality wordplay over the No I.D.-produced instrumental of Common’s 1994 album track “In My Own World (Check The Method)”.

The Remix Report – 1994 Hip-Hop Remix Compilation Mix Stream – DJ BenHaMeen

The Combat Jack Show’s turntable technician returns with another quality mix, this time taking a walk down memory lane to 1994, a year which gave us classic music from Biggie Smalls, Organized Konfusion, Nas, OC, Outkast and many, many more.

Pulling together a lengthy list of 94’s greatest remixes, BenHaMeen effortlessly blends together timeless favourites from the likes of Craig Mack, Common, The Beatnuts etc.

New Joint – Common

Common – “War” (@Common / 2014)

Passionate verses from the Chicago veteran’s forthcoming No I.D.-produced album “Nobody Smiling”.

New Joint – Yancey Boys / Common / Dezi Paige

Yancey Boys ft. Common & Dezi Paige – “Quicksand” (Delicious Vinyl / 2013)

Soulful Dilla-produced vibes taken from the Illa J / Frank Nitt album “Sunset Blvd”.

New Joint – Common / J. Period

Common & J. Period – “The Next Chapter (Still Love H.E.R.)” (JPeriod.Com / 2013)

Taken from the J. Period’s forthcoming mixtape “The Rage Is Back”.

Basement Vibes Remix EP Download – Phoniks

Those of you with good memories may remember a post on Old To The New last summer highlighting Portland, Maine producer Phoniks’ impressive remix of Biggie’s classic “Kick In The Door” – that dope reworking is included on this new project from the dusty-fingered beatmaker along with his equally impressive interpretations of other 90s favourites from Common, Wu-Tang, Kool G. Rap and more – download here.

Rugged Remixes: Reenactments #1 Album Download – MWP / Ghostface Killah / The UN / Common etc.

Denmark-based producer MWP gives the likes of Ghostface Killah, Big L and The UN the remix treatment with his own brand of boom-bap on this impressive project – check the flavour here.

Pad & Pen – Common

Promo clip from the forthcoming Ice-T-directed documentary “Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap” featuring Chicago’s Common remembering the first rhyme he ever wrote.

New Joint – Brother Ali

Brother Ali – “Sweet (Potato Pie)” (Rhymesayers Entertainment / 2012)

The gifted emcee takes Common’s “Sweet” instrumental to the kitchen as he continues to build anticipation for his forthcoming album “Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color”.