Sir Veterano ft. MURS – “Cocaine Rap” (SirVeterano.BandCamp.Com / 2020)
The ever-impressive MURS offers some thoughts on the dealer-turned-rapper narrative with his usual flair on this cut lifted from Cali producer Sir Veterano’s recent album “The Gathering”.
Vangarde (Mr. Lif & Stu Bangas) ft. Puma Ptah, Reef The Lost Cauze, Blueprint & Murs – “8:46” (@TheRealMrLif / @Stu_Bangas / 2020)
Potent social commentary addressing police brutality, political corruption, white privilege and racism off the forthcoming full-length Vangarde project.
Check Part One, Part Two, Part Three & Part Four.
Little Brother – “May The Lord Watch” (LittleBrotherNC.Com) – An absolute masterpiece of an album, this reunion project from Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh found the two North Carolina emcees offering mature, honest views and opinions on life, career and society, backed by the soulful thump of producers such as Khrysis, Nottz and Focus.
Ded Tebiase & Ash The Author – “Apex” (VillageLiveRecords.Com) – Succeeding in their shared mission for 2019 which was to “step the levels up”, this joint effort from UK producer / emcee combo Ded Tebiase and Ash The Author was full of sublime, drum-heavy beats and sharp, charismatic wordplay. Tebiase proved himself to be a true master of his craft here, blending the influence of golden-era greats with his own sonic personality, whilst Ash remained lively and engaging throughout. Brilliant musical team-work.
Sleep Sinatra – “Sources Of Nature” (GourmetDeluxxx.BandCamp.Com) – Delivering more of that “intricately manufactured quality product” that he’s become known for, Sleep Sinatra continued his run of consistency with this Custodian Of Records-produced project. Showcasing his impressive brand of thoughtful, introspective wordplay over melodic, full-bodied beats, the Nebraska-based emcee once again proved himself to be a lyricist who is clearly invested in elevating the art of rhyme.
Kev Brown & J Scienide – “Drum Machine Tape Cassette” (KevBrown.BandCamp.Com) – The DMV duo shared their undeniable creative chemistry throughout this full-length collabo project, packed with impressive beat science and accomplished verses. Grounded in a satisfyingly raw and spontaneous dusty basement sound, this album proved itself to be a joy for crate-diggers and lyric-lovers alike.
Knowledge The Pirate – “Black Cesar” (FXCKRAP.BandCamp.Com) – Following up 2018’s “Flintlock” album, East Coast emcee Knowledge The Pirate dropped more street-related rhymes from an OG’s perspective on this Elemnt-produced project. Detailed, cinematic verses sat perfectly atop a meticulously crafted selection of loops and samples.
Big Tone + House Shoes – “Big Shoes” (StreetCornerMusic.BandCamp.Com) – Years of combined personal Hip-Hop history were poured into this collaborative effort from Big Tone and House Shoes, two individuals who each played a key role in the Detroit Hip-Hop scene during a pivotal period for the city in terms of it receiving attention on a global scale. Aside from dope bars and quality production in abundance, this album resonated with experience, passion and determination.
Ronnie Bosh – “All People Expect” (HighFocus.BandCamp.Com) – Full of character and understated swagger, this long-awaited debut album from London’s Bosh definitely delivered the goods. Mixing punchline-heavy verses and concept-driven tracks with infectious hooks and the well-executed production of Dirty Dike, this was a slow-burner that offered something new each time you played it.
Murs – “The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over” (MursRaps.Com) – Time has proven again and again that when former Living Legends member Murs gets together with producer 9th Wonder, good music is guaranteed. This concise project from the LA lyricist (featuring additional musical input from 9th’s Soul Council) continued that tradition. Murs’ talent for blending humour, social observations and emcee arrogance was in full effect here, backed by brilliantly tailored production which gave his personality-filled rhymes just the right amount of sonic kick.
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Bandana” (Madlib.BandCamp.Com) – Following up 2014’s brilliant “Piñata”album, sonic odd couple Gibbs and Madlib once again demonstrated that opposites really do attract, with Freddie’s Indiana-influenced gangsta rhymes sounding right at home over the eclectic, unpredictable sample-heavy soundscapes of the West Coast producer.
DJ Muggs & Crimeapple – “Medallo” (SoulAssassins.Com) – Another fine example of Cypress Hill’s Muggs keeping his ear to the underground, this release found the LA-based producer linking with New Jersey’s Crimeapple, an artist who has steadily built a buzz for himself over the last few years with his sharp lyrical wit. The sparse, stripped-back sonics heard here gave the East Coast artist’s verses plenty of room to breathe, allowing Crime’s skills to be fully appreciated.
MED & Guilty Simpson – “Child Of The Jungle” (BangYaHead.BandCamp.Com) – An entertaining meeting of two sonically like-minded individuals, this joint effort from Cali’s MED and Detroit’s Guilty Simpson was organic, impressive and thoroughly enjoyable. The pair delivered blue-collar bars throughout, backed by some of the finest production of the year from the likes of Madlib, Nottz, Apollo Brown and more.
Griselda – “WWCD” (ShadyRecords.Com) – Having flooded the market in recent times with a string of quality solo projects, Buffalo’s Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher finally delivered the crew album that Griselda fans had been waiting for. Produced by Daringer and the UK’s Beat Butcha, this project was another dose of uncut street music, with the trio showing no signs of running out of hard-knock stories to tell.
Nolan The Ninja – “SPORTEE” (MelloMusicGroup.BandCamp.Com) – Detroit’s Nolan The Ninja rhymes like his life depends on it, and that sense of urgency was felt throughout this 5YNot-produced album; a well-crafted collection of vibrant, energetic verses, broken beats and crackling samples. The Motor City artist’s passion for Hip-Hop could clearly be heard on every track included here.
Micall Parknsun & Giallo Point – “The Magnum Opus” (GialloPoint.BandCamp.Com) – Arguably the hardest working producer of 2019, Giallo Point closed the year out alongside fellow UK representative Micall Parknsun, delivering this epic sixteen-track project packed with robust rhymes, understated, drama-fuelled loops and strong appearances from the likes of Da Flyy Hooligan, Juga-Naut, Jehst and more.
38 Spesh & Big Ghost Ltd – “A Bullet For Every Heathen” (38SpeshAirVinyls.BandCamp.Com) – Continuing his relentless work ethic of recent times, Rochester, NY’s 38 Spesh teamed-up with the mighty Big Ghost Ltd for this impressive display of gritty, street-related beats and rhymes. Vivid verses matched with atmospheric production ensured this project stood-out from those in a similar lane.
Sean Price & Lil Fame – “Price Of Fame” (SeanPriceLilFame.BandCamp.Com) – Tag-teaming like a heavyweight Hip-Hop wrestling duo, the late, great Sean Price and M.O.P.’s Lil Fame delivered some good old-fashioned Brooklyn hard-rock flavour on this rowdy collection of stripped-down beats and New York straight talk. BK all day!
junclassic – “SIZE: Husky” (junclassic.BandCamp.Com) – Veteran Queens, NY emcee junclassic dropped a new addition to his already extensive catalogue of unique Rotten Apple rap in the form of this quality Husky-produced project, which mixed true-school sensibilities with moments of musical experimentation.
Klashnekoff – “Iona” (Klashnekoff.BandCamp.Com) – UK rap legend Klashnekoff has always had a talent for injecting heartfelt emotion and personal experience into his verses, but on this particular project (his first for seven years), the London emcee proved that his pen game had elevated to even higher heights since we last heard from him. A concept-driven album, based around the loss of his mother, K-Lash poured raw honesty and feeling into every track here, resulting in a genuinely soul-stirring listening experience.
Pounds x Buckwild – “Trafficante” (Pounds.BandCamp.Com) – Rochester, NY’s Pounds paired his gruff, street-savvy delivery with the dusty-fingered production of Diggin’ In The Crates legend Buckwild for this brooding collection of East Coast head-nodders. Appearances from Roc Marciano, Benny The Butcher and Crimeapple added further lyrical weight to the project.
Foreign Beggars – “Matriarchy” (ForeignBeggars.BandCamp.Com) – Since the 2003 release of their classic debut album “Asylum Speakers”, London’s Foreign Beggars crew have built a strong reputation for delivering genre-blurring beats and rhymes of the highest standard. This final long-player from the group was a brilliant blend of styles, offering a grateful nod to the late-90s / early-2000s UK Hip-Hop scene the Beggars came out of, whilst embracing the more contemporary sounds of the present day. Sonically refreshing and lyrically inspiring, this was a fitting way for the FBs to say farewell. Thanks for the musical memories!
Posted in Album Reviews, Detroit Hip-Hop, East Coast Hip-Hop, Independent Hip-Hop, Southern Hip-Hop, UK Hip-Hop, Underground Hip-Hop, West Coast Hip-Hop
Tagged 38 Spesh, Ash The Author, Big Ghost Ltd, Big Tone, Buckwild, Crimeapple, Ded Tebiase, DJ Muggs, East Coast Hip-Hop, Foreign Beggars, Freddie Gibbs, Giallo Point, Griselda, Guilty Simpson, House Shoes, Independent Hip-Hop, J Scienide, Junclassic, Kev Brown, Klashnekoff, Knowledge The Pirate, Lil' Fame, Little Brother, Madlib, MED, Micall Parknsun, Murs, Nolan The Ninja, Pounds, Ronnie Bosh, Sean Price, Sleep Sinatra, Southern Hip-Hop, UK Hip-Hop, Underground Hip-Hop, West Coast Hip-Hop
Murs – “Ga$ Station Gucci Belt” (@Murs / 2019)
Taken from the West Coast wordsmith’s 9th Wonder / Soul Council-produced album “The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over”.
Posted in Music Videos, West Coast Hip-Hop
Tagged Independenent Hip-Hop, Murs, Underground Hip-Hop, West Coast Hip-Hop
Murs & 9th Wonder – “God Black / Black God” (@Murs / 2019)
New visuals off the duo’s critically-acclaimed 2016 project “Brighter Daze”
Posted in Music Videos, UK Hip-Hop
Tagged 9th Wonder, Independent Hip-Hop, Murs, Southern Hip-Hop, Underground Hip-Hop, West Coast Hip-Hop
Murs & 9th Wonder – “Otha Fish” (@Murs / @9th Wonder / 2016)
Reinterpretation of a 1992 Pharcyde classic from the duo’s new collabo album “Brighter Daze”.
Three years after West Coast wordsmith Murs and North Carolina production icon 9th Wonder announced their “Final Adventure” release would be their last collaborative project, the duo return with their sixth album.
With the pair once again showcasing the creative chemistry that has been clearly apparent since 2004’s “Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition”, “Brighter Daze” features a captivating balance of reflective lyricism and personal tales delivered over soulful beats, including a worthy cover of The Pharcyde’s “Otha Fish”.
Jabee – “Uncle Curtis” (@MyNameIsJabee / 2014)
The Murs-affiliated Oklahoma lyricist drops a gem inspired by the loss of a family member off his 2013 project “Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt”.
Murs & 9th Wonder – “What Up Tho” (Jamla Records / 2013)
New visuals from the last in the duo’s series of collabo albums “The Final Adventure”.
Beneficence – “Concrete Soul” (Ill Adrenaline Records) – This veteran New Jersey emcee’s latest album boasted enough featured golden-era talent to make true-school enthusiasts think they’d woken up back in the 90s, with the likes of Lord Tariq, El Da Sensei and Da Beatminerz all making solid contributions to this impressive release. But Beneficence didn’t allow himself to become a guest on his own project, ensuring his forthright lyricism kept him centre-stage throughout.
Brother Ali – “Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color” (Rhymesayers Entertainment) – The Minneapolis-based Ali has long been one of Hip-Hop’s most interesting and inspiring emcee’s, with this fifth full-length project finding the lyricist teaming-up with Seattle producer Jake One to delve into politics, economics and spirituality, resulting in a rousing soundtrack for society’s everyman to struggle to.
Juga-Naut – “Battle Of The Bulge” (Juganaut.BandCamp.Com) – The talented UK emcee delivered some serious verbal darts on this self-produced EP which also featured fellow Nottingham wordsmith Vandal Savage, with the pair expertly wielding vivid imagery and metaphors to paint potent pictures of lyrical excellence.
Craig G – “Ramblings Of An Angry Old Man” (Soulspazm Records) – Irrespective of the actual music contained on this project, the former Juice Crew member would have still gotten props for one of the year’s best album covers. The ever-reliable Queensbridge emcee did, however, also have the beats and rhymes to add extra weight to the sentiment expressed in said artwork, with Craig executing non-stop lessons in timeless lyricism over production from the likes of Marco Polo, Jake One and Da Beatminerz.
George Fields – “From The Sticks” (GeorgeFields.BandCamp.Com) – With influences ranging from Pete Rock to D.I.T.C., this young producer from Dorset, England concocted a soulful mix of heavy drums, filtered basslines and floating horns on this instrumental release which only appeared to hint at the quality to come from Fields in the future.
Soundsci – “Formula 99” (Crate Escape Records) – Combining the transatlantic talents of UK producers Jonny Cuba (Dynamic Syncopation) and Ollie Teeba (The Herbaliser) with Stateside emcees Audessey (Mass Influence), U-George (Hemisphere) and Oxygen (Sputnik Brown), this polished underground gem was packed with quality beats, entertaining rhymes and all-round good vibes, with the group’s far-flung members clearly proving themselves to be on the same sonic page throughout.
The Doppelgangaz – “Beats For Brothels Vol. 2” (Groggy Pack Entertainment) – Fresh off the cult success of their 2011 “Lone Sharks” project, NY duo Matter Ov Fact and EP returned with this largely instrumental project, compiling a head-nodding selection of atmospheric, dusty-fingered tracks perfect for late-night strolls shrouded in one of the Ghastly Duo’s trademark black cloaks.
Murs & 9th Wonder – “The Final Adventure” (Jamla Records) – The Living Legends emcee and Little Brother producer ended their successful musical partnership on a high-note with this final release in their series of collaborative albums. Choosing the if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it route, the project contained typically soulful production from 9th matched with Murs’ own unique brand of personal reflection and entertaining story-telling.
Meyhem Lauren – “Respect The Fly S**t” (L-R-G.Com) – Having spent recent years building a reputation via various mixtapes and collaborations with homie Action Bronson, 2012 will go down as the year Queens, NY’s Meyhem Lauren truly stepped into the spotlight in his own right. Recorded in a Texas hotel suite over two days during the SXSW music conference, this spontaneous Tommy Mas / Harry Fraud-produced project contained plenty of Lauren’s obligatory clothes and food references over a choice selection of samples, with the likes of Roc Marciano, Thirstin Howl and AG Da Coroner bringing new meaning to the term ‘room service’.
K.I.N.E.T.I.K. – “The Kinesis Thesis Vol. III” (Kinetik.BandCamp.Com) – A shining example of an artist who has consistently striven to perfect his craft, this latest intalment in his “Kinesis Thesis” series found London emcee K.I.N.E.T.I.K. delivering his finest creative moment to date, wrapping up his positive, thoughtful rhymes in melodic soundscapes which perfectly matched the emotional tone of his subject matter, which ranged from the plight of inner-city youth to pondering the responsibilities of fatherhood.
Timeless Truth – “Rock-It Science” (RTTNC) – Having kick-started 2012 with the brilliant “Brugal & Presidentes” EP, NY duo Solace and OPrime39 ended the year by making good on their promise to release their official debut long-player. A punchy collection of boom-bap bangers, the pair evoked images of graffiti-covered subway trains, Timberland boots and Polo gear as they travelled back-to-the-future, bridging the gap between the Rotten Apple’s Hip-Hop golden-era and the present day. Queens get the money.
Ryan Proctor
Check Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four.
Posted in Album Reviews, East Coast Hip-Hop, UK Hip-Hop, West Coast Hip-Hop
Tagged 9th Wonder, Battle Of The Bulge, Beats For Brothels Vol. 2, Beneficence, Brother Ali, Concrete Soul, Craig G, Crate Escape Records, East Coast Hip-Hop, Formula 99, From The Sticks, George Fields, Groggy Pack Entertainment, Ill Adrenaline Records, Jamla Records, Juga-Naut, K.I.N.E.T.I.K., Meyhem Lauren, Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color, Murs, Ramblings Of An Angry Old Man, Respect The Fly S**t, Rhymesayers Entertainment, Rock-It Science, Soulspazm Records, Soundsci, The Doppelgangaz, The Final Adventure, The Kinesis Thesis Vol. III, Timeless Truth, UK Hip-Hop, West Coast Hip-Hop
Amusing footage of the Duck Down crew sitting in for an absent Tony Touch on his Shade45 “Toca Tuesdays” show.
Dee-1 ft. Murs & Tabi Bonney – “Failure Ain’t An Option” (Dee1Music.Com / 2012)
Taken from the forthcoming project “The Focus Tape”.
Murs & Fashawn – “Just Begun” (Duck Down Music / 2012)
More quality from the West Coast duo’s forthcoming album “This Generation”.
Murs & Fashawn – “Slash Gordon” (Duck Down / 2012)
Taken from the West Coast duo’s forthcoming album “This Generation”.
Posted in Music Videos, West Coast Hip-Hop
Tagged Duck Down, Fashawn, Independent Hip-Hop, Murs, Underground Hip-Hop, West Coast Hip-Hop
Murs & Fashawn – “Slash Gordon” (Duck Down / 2012)
Dope track from the West Coast duo’s forthcoming collabo album “This Generation” produced entirely by Beatnick & K-Salaam.
AWAR ft. Nottz, P. Jericho & Murs – “Until The End” (@AWAR / 2012)
Soulful multi-region Nottz-produced collabo from the NY emcee’s forthcoming album “The Laws Of Nature”.
Posted in East Coast Hip-Hop
Tagged AWAR, East Coast Hip-Hop, Independent Hip-Hop, Murs, Nottz, Nottz Raw, P. Jericho, Underground Hip-Hop
Living Legends – “Trojan Horse” (Legendary Music / 2012)
Eligh-produced track from the influential West Coast collective that counts the likes of Murs, The Grouch and Sunspot Jonz amongst its members.
Murs – “Epic Salutations” (DD172 / BluRoc / 2012)
Taken from the West Coast favourite’s Ski Beatz-produced album “Love & Rockets Vol. 1”.
Great footage of Cali favourite Murs interviewing West Coast legend DJ Quik with the pair reminiscing on their early days in the rap game.
Posted in West Coast Hip-Hop
Tagged DJ Quik, Independent Hip-Hop, Maker Studios, Murs, Underground Hip-Hop, West Coast Hip-Hop
Murs – “Gods Gone Crazy” (@Murs / 2012)
DJ Foundation-produced track from the West Coast emcee’s combined album / graphic novel project “Yumiko: Curse Of The Merch Girl”.
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Old To The New - Ryan Proctor's Beats, Rhymes & Hip-Hop Nostalgia 