I really don’t think this cat needs any introduction so I’ll get down to the music. Blu’s debut album with SoCal producer Exile dropped in 2007 and was instantly hailed a classic by man heads (and yours truly). The album includes is critically acclaimed for Exile’s usage of obscure late 60s to early 70s samples as well as his twisting of more well known 90s & early 2ks hip-hop tracks into completely different, yet incredibly beautiful new tracks. It is on this first full length LP that we are introduced to a extremely introspective kind of griot in Blu who fully delivers over Exile’s production with his own brand of average nigga type storytelling which paints panoramic visions in the unworldliest of minds.

Onto C.R.A.C. Knuckles. The Piece Talk is Blu’s second full length album released under the moniker C.R.A.C. Knuckles with Detroit native Ta’Raach. A lot of cats were feeling 50/50 on this one, but I personally think it was quite good. If you listen to a lot of hip-hop acts like Arrested Development, The Pharcyde, Gnarls Barkley and PM Dawn or acts of other genres (particular Afrobeat like Fela Kuti or Brazilian Samba/Funk like Azymuth) then you’ll love it.  On this album you’ll catch a more expiramental spontaneous Blu. The production isn’t completely hip-hop and the music isn’t either, but you’ll find a nice mesh of several different genres in here (no electric circus).

As far as full length releases go, the Johnson&Jonson joint is Blu’s last full length joint (thus far). Again Blu revisits his Bridgetown stomping grounds to find a producer for this work in the little known Mainframe. A lot of people don’t realize it, but this Johnson&Jonson joint was actually put together before Below the Heavens and thus considering he was probably on a different wavelength at the time and the album has a different producer we get another completely original sound from Blu which is by no means a bad thing. When I initially heard this album (I got it in late ‘07 ’cause I got it like dat =D) I wasn’t a fan and I let it sit in my unsorted downloads folder for ages. Finally, about three months later I listened to it again ’cause I lost most of my music and it was one of the only things I still had left and I was more than a little impressed. Word, it’s not like Below the Heavens, but it’s almost just as good. The way Blu proved to be an amazing storyteller on BTH is the way he proves to be an amazing wordsmith on J&J. This album is packed with crazy punchlines, wordplay and metaphors and unlike his major label counterparts, his shit also makes sense… no random punchlines here and there (ahm, weezy). BTH or J&J… which album is better? Too close to call…

This drop also includes The Lifted EP, an EP released before BTH, The BeSene EP released earlier this year by Blu & Sene under the moniker Patch Adams (predecessor to an upcoming full length to be titled A Day Late & A Dollar Short), The Narrow Path & Buy Me Lunch VLSs (the only two current VLS avaiable to my knowledge). Purchase information available on Blu’s myspace page (all are worth buying… support the trueschool) and keep looking out for Blu’s upcoming debut Solo album.

Blu LPs
Blu_And_Exile-Below_The_Heavens-Retail-2007-I*T
C.R.A.C._Knuckles-The_Piece_Talks-2008-C*
Blu_And_Mainframe_Are-Johnson_And_Jonson-2008-C*

Blu EPs
Blu-Lifted-EP-2006-C*S
Patch_Adams-BeSene_EP-(WEB)-2008-CTR

Blu VLSs
Blu-The_Narrow_Path-VLS-2006-F*D
C.R.A.C._Knuckles-Buy_Me_Lunch_(WEB)-2008-F*H

*BeSene EP isn’t a scenerip.
*The DJ Heat & Blu So(ul) Amazing mixtape wasn’t include as it’s not official, but can be copped here via our affiliates at SpeakerBoxxx.
*The C.O.R.E. mixtape can be downloaded here.

More info after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Dirty!

“The Layover” idea came about while I was on tour with Little Brother last year. It was supposed to be a side project that Khrysis and I were going to do - him on the beats me on the mic, 5 songs, free download. I strayed from the “side project” idea and moved towards making,”The Layover” an Official EP.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s All Souled Out or Ice Cube’s Kill At Will are big inspirations and examples of EP’s that were really quality & served as the perfect vehicle to make me get the next album to drop shortly there after. This is my intention with The Layover EP. It was important to me that even though Khrysis and I didn’t do the whole project together he still be a major part of it, and he gladly accepted.

This is THE FIRST banger off of my upcoming EP - “THE LAYOVER” title track. Khrysis on the boards with the heat, Dj Revolution On the Cut, and me on the mic, painting a picture about my best friend, FREK ONE who I lost in 1993. This is really taking my career WORLDWIDE, and some classic E-V Word Play to get this project kicked off on the right note ! So much more to come…Stay Tuned !”

(Via HipHopGalaxy.com)

Tracklist after the jump. Cop this hotness here.

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Looked and looked and looked some more, but I haven’t been able to find this anywhere on the internet since it dropped earlier this year (outside of iTunes and Boomkat stores) so I bought it. Info after the jump, but it here. BTW if you don’t know who either Blu or Sene are GTFO! Can’t wait for the full length Patch Adams LP. You best check it while it’s here ’cause like I said I can’t find it anywhere else, fuck my life if I’m lying.

Bonus: Sene ft. Blu - KingMe.mp3

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Looked and looked and looked some more, but I haven’t been able to find this anywhere on the internet since it dropped earlier this year (outside of iTunes and Boomkat stores) so I bought it. Info after the jump, but it here. BTW if you don’t know who either Blu or Sene are GTFO! Can’t wait for the full length Patch Adams LP. You best check it while it’s here ’cause like I said I can’t find it anywhere else, fuck my life if I’m lying.

Bonus: Sene ft. Blu - KingMe.mp3

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I’m sure we’ve all been waiting for this one to drop for a minute. 

“The Layover” idea came about while I was on tour with Little Brother last year. It was supposed to be a side project that Khrysis and I were going to do - him on the beats me on the mic, 5 songs, free download. I strayed from the “side project” idea and moved towards making,”The Layover” an Official EP.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s All Souled Out or Ice Cube’s Kill At Will are big inspirations and examples of EP’s that were really quality & served as the perfect vehicle to make me get the next album to drop shortly there after. This is my intention with The Layover EP. It was important to me that even though Khrysis and I didn’t do the whole project together he still be a major part of it, and he gladly accepted.

This is THE FIRST banger off of my upcoming EP - “THE LAYOVER” title track. Khrysis on the boards with the heat, Dj Revolution On the Cut, and me on the mic, painting a picture about my best friend, FREK ONE who I lost in 1993. This is really taking my career WORLDWIDE, and some classic E-V Word Play to get this project kicked off on the right note ! So much more to come…Stay Tuned !”

(Via HipHopGalaxy.com)

Tracklist after the jump. Cop this hotness here.

Read the rest of this entry »

New EP from The Alchemist, the DJ Revolution prodigy and man behind the boards for artists including (but not limited to) Nas, Evidence, Dilated Peoples, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, The LOX, Everlast and Eminem. I hear he’s planning on putting out 6 new joints along with Evidence in the upcoming year so expect more hot ish. 1st Infantry was a classic, so I know this is probably worth the peep. At least check the tracklist.

Whether you’re familiar with Alchemist’s [click to read] work by virtue of Mobb Deep, Dilated Peoples, Evidence or countless other artists, it becomes immediately apparent from listening to his beats that Alc is a damn good producer. The most recent example has been his consistently excellent work on Prodigy’s [click to read] releases, Return of the Mac [click to read] and H.N.I.C. Pt. 2  [click to read] – making a latter-day P not merely listenable, but enjoyable. With a body of work spanning a decade, Alchemist has produced for countless artists, which is a testament to his range and abilities. Want proof? Take a look at the guest list for The Alchemist’s Cookbook: Aside from the expected Prodigy and Evidence appearances, you’ve got Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss [click to read], Pusha T [click to read] (on one song!), Styles P [click to read], Blu [click to read] and more. Keeping in mind that this is just a six-track EP, one might think things would probably get too crowded with so many artists – but that’s simply not the case.

Prodigy is assisted by Nina Sky on the opening track, “Key to the City.” P addresses the haters nicely on the song, showing a rare moment of self-awareness for today’s Hip Hop artist: “They want me to get on my grizzly, and rap like I’m sixteen/They say ‘P got lazy, lately he gets busy’/Ya heard the Mac is back, the H-N-I-Cizzy.” The soulful hook and beat coupled with tough talk from P eases the listener into the heavier tracks ahead.

Alchemist brings the posse cut back with “Lose Your Life,” which features Jadakiss, Snoop Dogg and Pusha T. Easily the most high profile song on the album, all of the artists contribute a ferocious verse, each riding the eerie beat flawlessly. Nineties favorites Capone-N-Noreaga find themselves on the following track, “Follow the Dollar.” Though not delivering nearly as impressive an emceeing performance as the previous track, CNN fit perfectly with the aggressive beat. “Calmly Smoke” is a bit of a reprieve from the heavy tracks as Styles P and Evidence offer an ode to the green over an ethereal backdrop.

Evidence is featured on the next cut, “Therapy,” and is this time joined by Blu and Kid Cudi. This is another light song, and all emcees deliver over the guitar loop. The same cannot be said for Keak Da Sneak [click to read], whose trademark delivery is simply out of place on “Al Capone.” This, coupled with a weak hook and verse from Prodigy and an uninspired beat makes the EP’s closer a very disappointing way to close out an otherwise solid effort. One weak track may sound like a minor gripe, but on an album with only six of them, it is a glaring blunder.

The Alchemist’s Cookbook is definitely worth checking out. It’s an extremely solid release, and aside from one instance, there isn’t much to complain about. As with all EPs, there’s little room for error. Alc seems to be aware of this; forgoing the obvious cooking reference, The Alchemist’s Cookbook is a compilation of a mostly stellar group of emcees and beats.

(Via HipHopDX.com)

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New EP from The Alchemist, the DJ Revolution prodigy and man behind the boards for artists including (but not limited to) Nas, Evidence, Dilated Peoples, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, The LOX, Everlast and Eminem. I hear he’s planning on putting out 6 new joints along with Evidence in the upcoming year so expect more hot ish. 1st Infantry was a classic, so I know this is probably worth the peep. At least check the tracklist.

Whether you’re familiar with Alchemist’s [click to read] work by virtue of Mobb Deep, Dilated Peoples, Evidence or countless other artists, it becomes immediately apparent from listening to his beats that Alc is a damn good producer. The most recent example has been his consistently excellent work on Prodigy’s [click to read] releases, Return of the Mac [click to read] and H.N.I.C. Pt. 2  [click to read] – making a latter-day P not merely listenable, but enjoyable. With a body of work spanning a decade, Alchemist has produced for countless artists, which is a testament to his range and abilities. Want proof? Take a look at the guest list for The Alchemist’s Cookbook: Aside from the expected Prodigy and Evidence appearances, you’ve got Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss [click to read], Pusha T [click to read] (on one song!), Styles P [click to read], Blu [click to read] and more. Keeping in mind that this is just a six-track EP, one might think things would probably get too crowded with so many artists – but that’s simply not the case.

Prodigy is assisted by Nina Sky on the opening track, “Key to the City.” P addresses the haters nicely on the song, showing a rare moment of self-awareness for today’s Hip Hop artist: “They want me to get on my grizzly, and rap like I’m sixteen/They say ‘P got lazy, lately he gets busy’/Ya heard the Mac is back, the H-N-I-Cizzy.” The soulful hook and beat coupled with tough talk from P eases the listener into the heavier tracks ahead.

Alchemist brings the posse cut back with “Lose Your Life,” which features Jadakiss, Snoop Dogg and Pusha T. Easily the most high profile song on the album, all of the artists contribute a ferocious verse, each riding the eerie beat flawlessly. Nineties favorites Capone-N-Noreaga find themselves on the following track, “Follow the Dollar.” Though not delivering nearly as impressive an emceeing performance as the previous track, CNN fit perfectly with the aggressive beat. “Calmly Smoke” is a bit of a reprieve from the heavy tracks as Styles P and Evidence offer an ode to the green over an ethereal backdrop.

Evidence is featured on the next cut, “Therapy,” and is this time joined by Blu and Kid Cudi. This is another light song, and all emcees deliver over the guitar loop. The same cannot be said for Keak Da Sneak [click to read], whose trademark delivery is simply out of place on “Al Capone.” This, coupled with a weak hook and verse from Prodigy and an uninspired beat makes the EP’s closer a very disappointing way to close out an otherwise solid effort. One weak track may sound like a minor gripe, but on an album with only six of them, it is a glaring blunder.

The Alchemist’s Cookbook is definitely worth checking out. It’s an extremely solid release, and aside from one instance, there isn’t much to complain about. As with all EPs, there’s little room for error. Alc seems to be aware of this; forgoing the obvious cooking reference, The Alchemist’s Cookbook is a compilation of a mostly stellar group of emcees and beats.

(Via HipHopDX.com)

Read the rest of this entry »

Requested by my boy Ant, here low on the official mixtape series for the critically acclaimed anime series, Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks. Anybody who’s seen a few episodes of the show has probably caught onto many of the social undertones and themes of the show (many which have carried over from McGruder’s comic strip by the same title), and his same anti-mainstream society motif shows up in the majority of the musical features on the tapes. Skyzoo, Talib Kweli, Tanya Morgan, Pacific Division, Jean Grae, Mos Def, Little Brother, Blu, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Tribe, Cunninlynguists, AZ, Rakim, Quasimoto, Bishop Lamonot and so many more. Do yourself a favor and at least peep one of these.

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Hot new track off Evidence’s upcoming Layover EP. Shouts to 1Liefde over at MuzikSupremacy for this one.

Download: For Whom The Bell Tolls.mp3

So I’ve been talking about the release of this compilation for sometime now and it’s finally here along with two new members of the CTR team. As those who frequent the site know I did a search for somebody to help with the site since the original members (all of who are still affiliated with the site) have become rather busy with… well, life. Based on responses to several questions we sent out to everyone who showed interest in contributing, the two who’ve been chosen (as of right now) are LedD and Thedude… not familiar names now, but you’ll become accquainted with them in during the next few days, weeks, months and maybe years (If you were not chosen, but opted to participate in the new blog we’re planning on starting, you’ll recieve an email in the next few days… thanks to everyone else). Welcome them here and check the mixtape (pass it around if you like). Tracklist after the jump…

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Finally the retail version!

Label…………….: Tres Recordings
Genre…………….: Hip-Hop
StoreDate…………: Sep-23-2008
Source……………: CDDA
Size……………..: 44,5 MB
Total Playing Time…: 45:22

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I’ve had the leak of this album since December ‘07, but I can’t wait for the legit release. Will def be copping that shit. Check the video (and look up the other Johnson&Jonson music video on here or on youtube).  Blu murked that shit.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP3_zKa7XXo]

So the story goes. Once upon a time in the land of hip hop legendary producer of the Beat Junkies, DJ J Rocc, passed a CD of beats to Madvillain maestro, Madlib. Were these beats J Roccs we may have ended up with a Roclib album, but as the story goes, these beats were (for some reason or another)  produced by none other than Jay Dee (aka J. Dilla). Madlib recorded over these beats and called the recordings Jaylib, but the recordings sat on a shelf getting dusty for a few years until Stones Throw put one of the tracks on a mixtape. Dilla, being signed to Stones Throw himself, heard the track, hooked up with Madlib and soon after began trading beats and rhymes (each did his own recording in his own respective hood) which lead to the 2003 release of Champion Sound. The album was hailed an instant classic and prototype for many hip-hop mashups to come after it (Madvillainy, Gnarls Barkley, Patch Adams, Dangerdoom etc.), but when Dilla passed away in early 2006 the album was re-vamped with a second CD of new remixes and instrumentals from the original album featured as well as a tribute to Dilla (”One For Dilla”). So here you are, the finished product of two of hip-hop’s greatest minds. Download the album and if you like it, cop it legit here.

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So I posted one joint by this cat a minute a good minute ago (Pavement Special) and expressed my amazement about how such a young cat could release such a dope album, but now it gets crazier as dude has release 3 more works… all just as crazy as the first. I know it’s a lot to listen to, so if you don’t know where to start peep his first work (link given above) or if picking out of the 3 new joints check on The Beautifully Ugly EP (2008), after which either of the other two albums Anywhere But Here (2007) and Elevator Music: A Collection of Rejected Excellence (2008) is a dope follow up. For fans of Raks One, Blu (of Blu & Exile), Buff 1 & Now On… fuck just do yourself and whoever you are, give dude a listen.

(Question: I know Elevetaor Music: A Collection of Rejected Excellence is being given away for free on Sene’s myspace page, and Pavement Special was a Japan only release, but does anybody know where the others can be copped legit as physical copies)?

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Like Cool Kids? Like Blu? Like Sene, Kidz in the Hall, Wale, The Knux, and Hollywood Holt? Def check these guys out. Hot shit coming out of Cali. Shouts to HHB.

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Johnson & Jonson’s (Blu & Mainframe) self-titled album is expected to drop on September 23. Check the first video off the album after the jump.

01. Finally
02. Up All Night
03. Half A Knot
04. Mama Always Told Me
05. Go For The Gusto Room (Ft. Bo Bo Lamb as Jack Johnson)
06. Wow
07. The Only Way
08. In The Building (ft. Miguel Jontel as Jontel Johnson)
09. Bout It Bout It
10. Get The Name Straight
11. Long Time Gone
12. Still Up All Night (ft. Co$$ Dollars as Troy Johnson)
13. Perfect Picture
14. Anything Is Possible (ft. Gonja Sufi aka Magic Johnson)
15. The Oath

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For those who are still craving more material from ’07s top indie beat conductor… Cali on the come up. Full of dope guest appearances, cop it here if you like it.

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One of undergroundhiphop.com and accesshiphop.com’s current best selling albums, this is a must have for true heads. On this 3rd full LP, Presto reaffirms his position as a well-rounded producer as well as a masterful DJ. This album (which might I add is crazy) includes guest spots by Blu, CL Smooth, Fatlip (of Pharcyde), Trek Life, O.C., Sadat X, Large Professor and more. Presto provides listeners with just the type of jazzy, soulful, and sometimes painfully beautiful tracks that many cats crave. Download this one, and after you listen to it and decide you like it (and you will) cop it by clicking one of the previous links.

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I originally checked this cat out because I heard he was doing a joint with Blu to be released later this year (under the name Patch Adams). The dude has this entire Raks One look going on where you can just look at dude and tell he spits shit on the same note as Aaron Carter, but when you listen you’re blown away. One of my favorite albums in a while. Not one bad track on the album, great production and such. Only disappointing thing about the album is that I can’t find a physical copy of it anywhere. Check out dude’s biography on last.fm, very interesting shit, especially when you get to just how old dude is. Don’t sleep on this (it’s an EAC).

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A 192kbps leaked sum time ago. Here’s the Grouprip.

Label…………….: Tres Records
Genre…………….: Hip-Hop
StoreDate…………: Apr-22-2008
Source……………: CDDA
Size……………..: 61,5 MB
Total Playing Time…: 58:48

Release Notes:

Blu & Taraach are…..

enjoy….

Tracklisting

01. What Up pt. 2 01:51
02. Buy Me Lunch 04:27
03. Love Don’t 02:58
04. Major Way 02:04
05. Activate (Too…) 00:45
06. Crachause 03:28
07. Respect 02:55
08. Pop Dem Boyz 02:54
09. 02.16.03 01:32
10. Mr. Big Fizz 02:55
11. Chill 02:00
12. Hello!? 00:36
13. Go! 03:11
14. Activate (As Well) 01:20
15. Bullet Through Me 04:13
16. Cotton 01:11
17. Credits 04:51
18. Dead Air Track 01:00
19. Untitled Hidden Bonus Tracks 14:37

Download!

Here’s Blu’s first studio work (as far as I know). Originally released in 2006 before Below the Heavens it includes 2 tracks off the album as well as 3 other tracks (if you were up on the advance release of BTH then you’ve got Party of Two already). There’s also a video to go along with the track (Mainframe produced) ”Another Day”. It’s been floating around for a minute, so if you haven’t seen it check that out as well. C’mon now… Blu’s your girl’s favorite color and should be yours too.

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Changing up the 2 emcees, 1 producer dynamic a little bit (1 emcee, 1 producer, and 1 DJ)  here’s our next indie trio, Move.meant hailing from Los Angeles, California. Great production coming from Just Beats (dude sounds like a premature version of Sabzi from Blue Scholars & Common Market), decent cuts from Spider, Champ’s lyrics are for the most part on point, and the album also has some nice features from Blu, Trek Life, Anecdote & more. I wouldn’t put it in my 10 best albums of 2007 (still a solid listen), but with time I’m sure these cats will move on up the food chain.  Def check ’em out regardless or at least peep the video.

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The cool kids track has been floating around for all of a week, the Blu track not as long. Peep them. The Cool Kids bring the noise as usual (in a good way of course) and Blu continues to spit like there’s no tomorrow. Fresh to def.

The Cool Kids - Oscar: Download

Blu - GloryUs: Download

links fixed.