New Joint – Blu

Blu – “People Call Me Blu(e)” (NatureSoundsMusic.Com / 2022)

Quelle Chris supplies the animation to accompany this Exile-produced track from West Coast emcee Blu’s latest album “The Color Blu(e)”.

New Joint – Blu

Blu – “Because The Sky Is Blu(e)” (NatureSoundsMusic.Com / 2021)

The LA-based lyricist delivers vivid, captivating rhymes over the dense production of J57 off the forthcoming concept album “The ColorBlu(e)” which drops on Friday.

New Joint – Gift of Gab / Windstrong

Gift of Gab ft. Windstrong – “Slaughtah Dem (Godly)” (NatureSoundsMusic.Com / 2021)

The Bay Area’s late, great Gift of Gab places wack emcees in his lyrical sights on this Nick Andre-produced track from the new album “Finding Inspiration Somehow” which was finished before the Blackalicious member’s untimely passing.

New Joint – Preservation / Mach-Hommy

Preservation ft. Mach-Hommy – “I-78” (@NatureSounds / 2020)

Subtle, sublime rawness off NY producer Preservation’s new album “Eastern Medicine, Western Illness”.

New Joint – Preservation / Navy Blue

Preservation ft. Navy Blue – “North Bridge” (@NatureSounds / 2020)

Taken from the NY producer’s forthcoming album “Eastern Medicine, Western Illness” featuring Roc Marciano, Your Old Droog, Ka and more.

New Joint – Tha God Fahim

Tha God Fahim – “Cash Rulez” (@ThaGodFahim / 2020)

Taken from the album “Lost Kingz”.

New Joint – Tha God Fahim

Tha God Fahim – “Iron Fist” (NatureSoundsMusic.Com / 2020)

Taken from the forthcoming album “Lost Kingz”

New Joint – Blu & Oh No

Blu & Oh No – “Pop Shots” (@NatureSounds / 2019)

The West Coast duo deliver a creative-yet-cautionary cut off their recent collabo album “A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night”.

 

New Joint – Blu & Oh No

Blu & Oh No – “The Lost Angels Anthem” (@NatureSounds / 2019)

Taken from the album “A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night”.

New Joint – Masta Killa / Method Man / Redman

Masta Killa ft. Method Man & Redman – “Therapy” (@RealMastaKilla / 2017)

PF Cuttin-produced banger from the Wu-Tang member’s forthcoming album “Loyalty Is Royalty”.

New Joint – R.A. The Rugged Man

R.A. The Rugged Man – “Tom Thum” (@RATheRuggedMan / 2015)

German beatboxer Thum makes the music with his mouth for this track off the NY emcee’s 2013 album “Legends Never Die”.

New Joint – Camp Lo

Camp Lo – “Cold Retarded” (Nature Sounds / 2014)

Bronx brothers-from-other-mothers Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede deliver typically slick Lo lyrics on this uptempo track from their forthcoming Ski Beatz-produced album.

New Joint – Prince Po & Oh No

Prince Po & Oh No – “1st Word To What Was Last Said” (Wandering Worx / Nature Sounds / 2014)

Taken from the duo’s collabo album “Animal Serum”.

New Joint – R.A. The Rugged Man / Amalie Bruun

R.A. The Rugged Man ft. Amalie Bruun – “Definition Of A Rap Flow (Albee 3000)” (@RATheRuggedMan / 2014)

The infamous NY emcee takes it back to the old-school with this brilliant video featuring Grandmaster Caz, Sadat X, Chill Rob G and more from his album “Legends Never Die” – word to Albee Square Mall!

Back Together Again – Camp Lo / Ski Beatz

NYC’s Camp Lo and producer Ski Beatz discuss both their musical chemistry on the classic 1997 album “Uptown Saturday Night” and working together again on the forthcoming Geechi Suede / Sonny Cheeba project.

52 Best Albums & EPs Of 2013 (Part Three) – Ill Bill / J-Zone / Dirt Platoon etc.

Ill Bill – “The Grimy Awards” (Uncle Howie) – The Brooklyn emcee kept one foot in the gritty past of NYC and the other striding towards an apocalyptic future as he shed light on both his influences and pivotal life moments throughout this extremely personal project. With production from the likes of Large Professor, DJ Muggs and DJ Premier, Bill dropped arguably his most impressive work to date (and an honorable mention has to go to Q-Unique for one of the year’s best verses on “L’Amour East”).

Omniscence – “Sharp Objects EP” (Omniscence.BandCamp.Com) – Having made his name in the 90s with underground classics such as “Amazin'” and “Touch Y’all”, the North Carolina punchline king returned like he hadn’t missed a beat, displaying his agile lyricism on this EP built on the strong, jazzy head-nodding sonics of Australian producer Debonair P.

Dam-Funk & Snoop Dogg – “7 Days Of Funk” (Stones Throw) – Getting back to his G-Funk roots, Snoopzilla got in touch with his inner Bootsy Collins by uniting with talented producer Dam-Funk for this synth-heavy blast of retro goodness that sounded like Tha Dogg Pound had gatecrashed a 1983 Bar-Kays jam session. Ooooweeee!!!

J-Zone – “Peter Pan Syndrome” (Old Maid Entertainment) – Providing theme music for thirty-something Hip-Hop heads everywhere faced with the cold realities of growing-up, Zone Loc’s latest opus found the Queens, NY producer-on-the-mic navigating the pressures of full-time employment, property ownership and relationships with his usual blend of sarcastic humour and musical inventiveness.

DJ Skizz – “B.Q.E. (The Brooklyn-Queens Experience)” (Gawd Of Math Music) – Amidst ongoing debates around the topic of New York rap losing its identity, producer DJ Skizz enlisted the likes of Masta Ace, Al’ Tariq and Rasheed Chappell for a hardcore shot to the dome that needed to be listened to whilst wearing a hoodie and Timberlands to be fully appreciated.

Strange Neighbour – “The Heisenberg EP” (Revorg Records) – Taking his inspiration from the anti-hero of cult TV show “Breaking Bad”, UK producer Strange Neighbour got busy in the lab and cooked-up this drum-heavy batch of bangers featuring the varied lyrical styles of Phoenix Da Icefire, Oliver Sudden, Big Toast and more.

Durag Dynasty – “360 Waves” (Nature Sounds) – The Alchemist continued to spend the year churning out ridiculously dope beats with this full-length crew effort from Planet Asia, Tristate and Killer Ben. With the West Coast trio each spitting sharp lyrical darts, Alchemist’s stripped-down beats provided the right amount of thump to ensure said darts exploded on impact as intended.

Chairman Maf – “1976” (ChairmanMaf.BandCamp.Com) – UK producer Maf’s debut full-length instrumental project was a masterclass in creating mood music. Ranging from ethereal boom-bap to intergalactic soul, “1976” took the listener on an unpredictable sonic journey which had a worthwhile destination around every corner.

Skyzoo & Antman Wonder – “An Ode To Reasonable Doubt” (Loyalty Digital Corp) – The Brooklyn lyricist paid homage to Jigga’s classic debut respectfully and creatively on this Antman Wonder-produced EP. Retreading the musical steps of golden-era Hov definitely meant attempting to fill some big shoes, but this brilliant eight-track release found Skyzoo adding just as much to “Reasonable Doubt” as he was taking. No regrets here.

Dirt Platoon – “War Face” (Shinigamie Records) – Straight off the streets of Baltimore, duo Raf Almighty and Snook Da Crook cracked the concrete beats provided here by French producer Kyo Itachi like a pair of lyrical jackhammers. Rough, rugged and raw, “War Face”  left your eardrums feeling like they’d just been pummelled by the neighbourhood bully.

Tommy Tyler – “The Golden Section” (SonsPhonetic.BandCamp.Com) – The Irish emcee delivered a moody, hypnotic five-track EP that drew the listener into a sombre world further enhanced by the bass-heavy production of Mook. Music to listen to with the lights off.

Ryan Proctor

Check Part One, Part Two and Part Four.

New Joint – Prince Po / Oh No / Roc C

Prince Po & Oh No ft. Roc C – “Bearz” (Nature Sounds / 2013)

Taken from the Organized Konfusion emcee’s collabo album with Madlib’s brother entitled “Animal Serum”.

New Joint – R.A. The Rugged Man / Vinnie Paz / Sadat X

R.A. The Rugged Man ft. Vinnie Paz & Sadat X – “Sam Peckinpah” (Nature Sounds / 2013)

Brutal tag-team wordplay from R.A.’s recent album “Legends Never Die”.

 

New Joint – R.A. The Rugged Man / Brother Ali / Masta Ace

R.A. The Rugged Man ft. Brother Ali & Masta Ace – “The Dangerous Three” (Nature Sounds / 2013)

Taken from the album “Legends Never Die”.

New Joint – Durag Dynasty

Durag Dynasty – “360 Waves – Part II” (Nature Sounds / 2013)

Viral visuals for the second part of the title track from the West Coast crew’s recent Alchemist-produced album.