New Joint – Frank Nino / Smoke DZA / Blaksmif / Fabeyon / Hizeman

Frank Nino ft. Smoke DZA, Blaksmif, Fabeyon & Hizeman – “Help Myself” (@FrankNino1 / 2022)

Vintage soul flavour and slick, swaggering lyricism on this impressive posse cut produced by Massachusetts-based music man Frank Nino.

New Joint – Smoke DZA / 183rd / Nym Lo

Smoke DZA, 183rd & Nym Lo – “Chopped Cheese” (@SmokeDZA / 2021)

Ominous, late-night beats and rhymes from the NYC trio’s recent album “Thanks Again”.

New Joint – Smoke DZA

Smoke DZA – “Chin Music” (@SmokeDZA / 2021)

Smooth, soulful Harlem flavour from DZA’s new “Thanks Again” collabo album with 183rd and Nym Lo.

New Joint – Smoke DZA / Jim Jones

Smoke DZA ft. Jim Jones – “Tradition” (@SmokeDZA / 2021)

Swaggering Harlem flavour from DZA’s “Homegrown” album.

New Joint – Milano Constantine / Smoke DZA

Milano Constantine ft. Smoke DZA – “Winston Wolf” (@Milano7Warriors / 2020)

The DITC-affiliated emcee demonstrates yet again why he’s been considered one of the Rotten Apple’s most consistent wordsmiths for the past two decades on this title track from his forthcoming EP.

New Joint – Smoke DZA / Nym Lo

Smoke DZA ft. Nym Lo – “Frankie Carbone” (@SmokeDZA / 2020)

Produced by 183rd and taken from DZA’s new project “A Closed Mouth Don’t Get Fed”.

 

 

100 Best Albums & EPs Of 2019 (Part Four) – Juga-Naut & Giallo Point / Diamond D / Da Flyy Hooligan etc.

Check Part One, Part Two & Part Three.

Juga-Naut & Giallo Point – “Back To The Grill Again” (JugaNaut.BandCamp.Com) – Nottingham emcee Juga-Naut is a force of nature when it comes to this rhyming ish. A genuine talent, the UK wordsmith has been delivering high-end wordplay for years now. The resulting album from his partnership with producer Giallo Point was a match made in Hip-Hop heaven. Creative verses and smooth, sublime beats were on the menu here, with the pair succeeding in satisfying the musical cravings of fans across the globe.

Smoke DZA & Benny The Butcher – “Statue Of Limitations” (CinematicMusicGroup.BandCamp.Com) – Packed with captivating, street-related rhymes and quality Pete Rock production, this collabo EP from DZA and Griselda’s Benny effectively showcased the pair’s genuine chemistry as they each sought to capture their hard-knock life experiences via the art of rap. B-b-b-b-boom!

DJ Enyoutee Presents Planet Asia & Milano Constantine – “The Planet Asia & Milano Constantine EP” – These two phenomenal emcees joining forces was the sonic equivalent of me getting amped as a kid seeing my favourite super-heroes appearing together in an issue of “Marvel Team-Up”. Asia and Milano exchanged razor-sharp rhymes throughout this release, backed by dope production from BodyBag Ben, Cool FD, DirtyDigs and more.

Nujericans – “PBS – Puertoriqueno Barrio Sound” (Nujericans.BandCamp.Com) – New Jersey’s Joey Dynomite and Sol Zalez returned to burn with a rowdy selection of uncut East Coast flavour, featuring beats from A-$harp, The Custodian Of Records and Stu Bangas.

Von Poe VII – “Diary Of The Se7en III” (VonPoeVII.BandCamp.Com) – Cali’s multi-talented Von Poe VII dropped the final part in his “Diary Of The Se7en” EP series, with this third instalment consisting of the West Coast wordsmith’s usual blend of sharp, intelligent, multi-layered rhymes and equally impressive production.

Kwote – “List Worthy?” (TunnelMovement.BandCamp.Com) – Tunnel Movement member and Chicago representative Kwote has built a strong reputation over the years for being a talented emcee, with this collection of true-school beats and rhymes offering further proof that the Windy City wordsmith possesses a voice that deserves to be heard.

DEMOTAPEZ – “Real Life Situations” (DEMOTAPEZ.BandCamp.Com) – Lithuania-born, London-based producer DEMOTAPEZ worked some musical magic on his trusty Akai samplers here, crafting a quality collection of mellow, full-bodied beats laced with echoing horns, melodic keys and warm basslines.

Him Lo – “Prince Akeem Jewelz” (MarQSpekt.BandCamp.Com) – Following up his solo EP released earlier in the year, Buze Bruvaz member Him Lo dropped this self-produced long-player, packed with boisterous verses and unpolished beats, adding further weight to the perception that the Philly emcee will happily steal your beer, snatch your girl and then blow weed smoke in your face on the way out.

Kamanchi Sly – “The Domination Mentality” (HipHop73.Com) – UK legend and Hijack member K-Sly has been on a creative roll since 2017, with this being his seventh album project to see the light of day during that time (with more having dropped since). Attacking the mic with the same vigour heard on his late-80s / early-90s releases, the London emcee’s passion for Hip-Hop obviously remains strong, with his enthusiasm for his craft clear for all to hear throughout this self-produced effort.

Your Old Droog – “Transportation” (YourOldDroog.BandCamp.Com) – Having already released one of 2019’s best albums with “It Wasn’t Even Close”, NYC’s Your Old Droog made a swift return with the equally impressive “Transportation”, featuring production from The Purist, Mono En Stereo and Oh No, plus an unexpected but welcome remake of former Bad Boy artist G Dep’s mid-90s favourite “Head Over Wheels”.

Diamond D – “The Diam Piece 2” (DymondMineRecords.Com) – Legendary producer-on-the-mic Diamond D delivered a sterling sequel to his 2014 “Diam Piece” release, putting a contemporary twist on his traditional Diggin’ In The Crates sound, with an eclectic lists of artists on-hand to offer their creative input, including Pharoahe Monch, David Banner and Xzibit.

Ras Kass – “Soul On Ice 2” (MelloMusicGroup.BandCamp.Com) – One of the game’s finest lyricists, West Coast wordsmith Ras Kass’s follow-up to his 1996 debut demanded repeated listens in order to be fully appreciated. Dense verses packed with verbal expertise were the order of the day here, further cementing Ras Kass’s place in the Hip-Hop hall of fame.

Jack Jones – “The Fix” (MrJackJones.BandCamp.Com) – This long-awaited solo album from Mass Influence / Soundsci member Audessey featured the Atlanta wordsmith delivering accomplished rhymes over stellar production from the UK’s Jonny Cuba and Ollie Teeba, with microphone assistance from Prince Po, Supastition, Oxygen and more.

Anyway Tha God & Ocelot – “Allow Me To Interject…” (AnywayThaGod.BandCamp.Com) – UK emcee AnyWay Tha God sought to spark some positive change amidst today’s troubled times with this Ocelot-produced collection of inspirational beats and rhymes. Relax your mind and let your conscience be free.

XL Middleton – “2 Minutes Till Midnight” (MoFunkRecords.Com) – A long-time purveyor of “the new sound of LA funk”, California’s XL Middleton served up a new batch of smoothed-out grooves which evoked images of warm West Coast nights, packed house-parties and bouncing low-riders, with sonic influences such as The Bar-Kays, Zapp and DJ Quik all being mixed in to the Pasadena-based artist’s skin-tight brand of backyard boogie.

Da Flyy Hooligan – “FYLPM II” (GourmetDeluxx.BandCamp.Com) – Backed by quality production from the likes of Micall Parknsun, Ded Tebiase and DJ Flash, London’s Flyy Hooligan swaggered with stylish arrogance throughout this brilliant album. Packed with character and personality, this project was yet another worthy addition to the UK emcee’s catalogue.

DJ Muggs & Mach Hommy – “Tuez-Les Tous” (SoulAssassins.Com) – Production legend Muggs continued his run of working with today’s new generation of talented underground emcees throughout 2019, uniting with the rhyming enigma Mach Hommy for this particular project which found the pair complimenting each other stylistically and crafting a sparse, atmospheric collection of beats and verses.

Rapsody – “Eve” (JamlaRecords.Com) – An honest, insightful and ultimately powerful celebration of Black womanhood, this well-received project from North Carolina’s Rapsody found the Jamla-affiliated emcee continuing her own decade-long tradition of taking large artistic steps forward with each release. A mixture of social observation, cultural analysis and B-girl confidence, Rapsody demanded the listener’s attention throughout this album, commanding a refined and varied production selection supplied largely by 9th Wonder and Eric G.

Ghostface Killah – “Ghostface Killahs” (GhostfaceMusic.Com) – Larger-than-life and as lyrically entertaining as always, the Wally Champ dipped into crime-rhyme mode for the majority of this project, accompanied by his Wu brothers Cappadonna, Method Man, Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa.

Datkid & Leaf Dog – “Confessions Of A Crud Lord” (High-Focus.Com) – A rambunctiously raw offering, this album from Split Prophets member Datkid found the Bristolian emcee dropping attitude-fuelled verses laced with politically-incorrect punchlines over the gleefully radio-unfriendly production of The Four Owls’ Leaf Dog. Heavyweight guest appearances from Roc Marciano, Conway and Westside Gunn only added to the project’s hardcore appeal.

Fifth and final part of this 2019 best-of list coming soon.

 

New Joint – Smoke DZA x Benny The Butcher / Pete Rock

Smoke DZA x Benny The Butcher – “By Any Means” (CinematicMusicGroup.BandCamp.Com / 2020)

Pete Rock brings the drums out for this lyrical back-and-forth off DZA and Benny’s “Statue Of Limitations” EP.

New Joint – Smoke Dza & Benny The Butcher / Westside Gunn / Pete Rock

Smoke Dza & Benny The Butcher ft. Westside Gunn – “7:30” (KushGod.BandCamp.Com / 2019)

The two NY emcees deliver street-related rhymes over piano-laced beats off their Pete Rock-produced EP “Statue Of Limitations”.

 

New Joint – Pounds x Smoke DZA

Pounds x Smoke DZA – “Too Much” (Pounds.BandCamp.Com / 2019)

Taken from the EP “Two Packs”.

New Joint – Pounds & Smoke DZA

Pounds & Smoke DZA – “100 Plates” (@Pounds448 / @SmokeDZA / 2019)

Soulfully rugged street music from the NY duo’s new “Two Packs” EP.

New Joint – Smoke DZA

Smoke DZA -“Badabing’s Theme” (@SmokeDZA / 2017)

Taken from the Harlem representative’s 2016 Harry Fraud-produced release “He Has Risen”.

New Joint – Smoke DZA & Pete Rock / Dave East

Smoke DZA & Pete Rock ft. Dave East – “Limitless” (@SmokeDZA / 2016)

Taken from the album “Don’t Smoke Rock”.

New Joint – Joey Bada$$ / Big K.R.I.T. / Smoke DZA

Joey Bada$$ ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Smoke DZA – “Underground Airplay” (Ecko.Com / 2013)

Title track from the forthcoming Ecko Unltd-sponsored mixtape.

New Joint – Shabaam Sahdeeq / Eddie B / Smoke DZA

Shabaam Sahdeeq & Eddie B ft. Smoke DZA – “Futuristic” (Marvial Entertainment / 2012)

Taken from the forthcoming Harry Fraud-produced album “The Wolves”.

New Joint – Shabaam Sahdeeq & Eddie B / Smoke DZA

Shabaam Sahdeeq & Eddie B ft. Smoke DZA – “Futuristic” (@ShabaamSahdeeq / 2012)

Taken from the forthcoming Harry Fraud-produced album “The Wolves”.

New Joint – Smoke DZA / Den 10

Smoke DZA ft. Den 10 – “Cloudkickin'” (EmilioSparks.Com / 2011)

Taken from the forthcoming Emilio Sparks compilation project “Scumbino’s Way”.

New Joint – Smoke DZA

Smoke DZA – “Ralph Lifshitz” (SmokeDZA.Com / 2011)

Harlem’s DZA shows his allegiance to everything Polo on this Boi-1da-produced track from his forthcoming album “T.H.C.”.