Real fresh mix brought to ya by Skratch Bastid. The skill of scratching really is becoming a lost art which makes me appreciate this mix a lot more. Check it out..

This is the latest mix-cd from the great Canadian DJ Skratch Bastid. This follows up the amazing “Get Up from 2007. This mix features a very wide variety of music all blended perfectly by Bastid for your listening and dancing pleasure.

Tracklist after the jump. Sickness!

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Note: Dunno how many of you noticed it, but we have a new page set up where you can submit posts to CTR. Here’s the first submission we’ve received from Silvaboombaye. Very much appreciated mayne.

Brother Ali is one of the most gifted and talented emcees of our generation.
When we reflect on this era in Hip-Hop music, he is likely to be in the
forefront of the discussion as one of the realest and nicest to ever do it.

With the download of this album, I encourage you to purchase and continue
to purchase his albums from your local record distributor or off of Itunes.
When he is in your area I encourage you all to check out his live shows.
You will not be disappointed.

Support the arts and this beautiful culture we live daily.
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New PackFM compilation. 

Follow PackFM on a 10-year voyage down memory lane with this LIMITED EDITION collectible DVD, FMania: The Best of.. Built from the ground up for QN5 collectors - only 1000 of these have been made and numbered.

Packed to the gills with content, this DVD brings you never-before-seen concert footage, interviews and behind-the-scenes commentary, including a candid interview where Mr. FMakalishus recaps his Top 5 Favorite Moments on stage. Plus, ALL of your favorite PackFM music videos in full DVD quality including the EXCLUSIVE “Nigga Pass” animated cartoon and more!

FMania: The Best of. also comes with a bonus CD that includes an 80-minute blend of the greatest and rarest PackFM tracks including his very first recorded track ever “Hit List” - all on one disc!

Tracklist after the jump. You can cop this one here.

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Merry Christmas people! I’ve managed to break away from the fam for a few minutes to drop ya’ll a little Xmas treat to keep you afloat for a minute music-wise. 

Brother Ali is unlike any other emcee in the industry. I’ve been a fan ever since I came across Shadows of the Sun many years ago, and having the opportunity to see him live on multiple occasions has been absolutely amazing. Highly underrated in my opinion, here’s your chance to carefully examine the greatness of Brother Ali first hand. 

Brother Ali LP’s:
Brother_Ali-Rites_of_Passage-Remastered-2000-F*D_INT
Brother_Ali-Shadows_Of_The_Sun-Retail-2003-F*A
Brother_Ali-Champion-EP-2004-F*D
Brother_Ali-The_Undisputed_Truth-2007-F*D

Brother Ali VLS’s:
Brother_Ali-Room_With_A_View_VLS-2003-F*D
Brother_Ali-Truth_is_BW_Freedom_Aint_Free-Promo_CDS-2007-R*D
Brother_Ali-Uncle_Sam_Goddamn-(White_VLS)-2007-C*
Brother_Ali-Uncle_Sam_Goddamn-(Red_VLS)-2007-C*
Brother_Ali-Uncle_Sam_Goddamn_Blue-PROPER-VLS-2007-F*D

Brother Ali Mixtapes:
Brother_Ali-Off_The_Record_Mixed_By_BK-One-Bootleg-2007-F*D

Brother Ali has no reservations in saying that he’s “trying to be one of the greatest of all time” (on the Molemen track “Life Sentence”). Inspired by golden era legends like KRS-One and Rakim, this undisputed Master of Ceremony began rapping as a means of survival.

Growing up albino (colorless hair, skin and eyes, poor vision, and extreme sensitivity to the sun) in a world of cruel kids made it strikingly obvious to Ali that he needed a high-powered way to earn some respect and prestige among his peers. As a result, every since elementary school he hasn’t slowed down with his lyrical grind. In his rare moments of silence these days, if you catch his eyes, you’ll notice that this Minneapolis denizen is rapping in his head. For Ali, hip-hop doesn’t stop when he exits the studio or stage.

Around the turn of the millennium, Rhymesayers Entertainment couldn’t overlook Ali’s talent and drive when he submitted his self-produced demo, Rites of Passage. This rare, cassette-only effort features collections of rhymes, poems, and stories that he wove into his live sets. Its release help make him a welcome member of the RSE family alongside Atmosphere, Musab, and Eyedea and Abilities.

Before returning to the lab, Ali kicked his way onto the battle circuit and even wound up facing off with fellow RSE rep Eyedea at the 2000 Scribble Jam festival in Cincinnati. Ali beat battle champ Eyedea, but didn’t take home the trophy. Nonetheless, the MC collected his props and headed back to the Twin Cities, ready to record his official debut, Shadows On The Sun.

By no means a mixtape act, Ali focuses his energies on making complete records that will stand the test of time. This became clear on Shadows, the album that left critics and hip-hop kids alike stunned. As the Village Voice raved, “When Ali raps…I can’t do anything but sit and stare at my stereo, engrossed by the raw emotion and tricky wordplay.” Released in the spring of 2003, this breakout effort produced by ANT of Atmosphere saw Ali present himself as a “modern urban Normal Rockwell” who’s a “cross between John Gotti and Mahatma Gandhi.” Indeed, Ali painted vivid portraits of inner city plight on the fiery single “Room With A View” and showed the world that you can stand your ground without always resorting to violence on the uplifting track, “Win Some Lose Some”.

Since the release of Shadows, Ali has become just as revered for his performances, in which the MC takes audiences through heavy passionate ballads to high-energy crescendos and back. Among his 500-plus shows, Ali has shared stages with the likes of Atmosphere, Brand Nubian, Rakim, MF Doom, and Murs throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. And he hasn’t been limited to playing clubs and concert halls as he has participated in renowned music festivals like Coachella, Sweden’s Hultsfred and the Eurokeenes Festival in France.

During down time from touring, Ali returned to the studio with ANT to build off the chemistry sparked on Shadows to craft the Champion EP. While brief, this mini-album is an expansive effort that sees Ali express himself through everything from classic braggadocio (“Bad Ma Fucka”) to poignant societal examinations (“Chain Link”).

Following the release of Champion in the spring of 2004, Ali ran into a number of roadblocks that halted his usually steady recording process. This included him parting ways with his wife, being homeless, and trying to secure custody of his son. Armed with a wave of stories to share, Ali recorded The Undisputed Truth, once again with ANT in his corner. Due out Spring 2007 on Rhymesayers, Ali’s second full-length sees him dig deeper into his life experiences (“Walking Away”) and political views (“Uncle Sam Goddamn”) than ever before.

“I wanted to make an album that gives you no choice but to feel what I’m feeling at the time,” Ali explains of The Undisputed Truth. “I made choices that sent me through a lot of struggle in the past few years and ANT and I have made music that really communicates the exact feeling of those situations.”

As he ponders, “How does it feel to have to walk away from a ten-year marriage with a child? You got a six-year-old boy and he’s your life. How does it feel to look him in the eye and explain to him that you’re breaking up his home? The music and the sound of my voice and the way I’m describing the situations and emotions involved should make you feel like you’re in my shoes at that moment. That’s The Undisputed Truth.”

Gotta run, I’ll add info/covers when I get more time.

I can’t wait for this album to drop. The Brother Ali track looks straight bananas!

This Oakland duo, producer AmpLive and emcee Zumbi, have always championed a synthetic sound that incorporates the full spectrum of beat-based music. Their debut Mind Over Matter kept a foot in soul and funk sample-based nostalgia while also pushing keys, synths and drum’n'bass beats to the forefront. Almost ten years later, the duo continues to create “sponge music” that soaks up any beat worth taking. Early leaks like “DJ DJ” sound at home with Common’s “Universal Mind Control” electro vibe, while first single “Juicy Juice” bristles with Southern-styled 808 kicks. Their rainbow coalition party continues to expand and now includes guests like Devin the Dude, Brother Ali and UK emcee Ty.

Tracklist after the jump. Make sure to go out n cop this when it drops in stores next month!

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My favourite single off the Jake One joint. Don’t forget to cop this one along with the White Van Music in stores near you!

Artist [Jake One ]
Label [Rhymesayers ] Genre [Hip-Hop ]
Quality/Size [44.1 @VBR 26,7 MB] Ripped [11-28-2008 ]
Grabbed from [Vinyl ] Enc [Lame 3.97 ]
Website [www.rhymesayers.com ]

Track Time Title
©--öª ©-- ©-- -ö- -ò óª - ª

12" from the White Van Music LP. Has a bonus cut with
non-album track. Bonus shit is banging.

Been waitin on this shit fo a while. Crazy beats and dope features.

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Man, oh man. After hearing this track I can’t say how excited I am about Jake’s new Rhymesayers release (White Van Music due out October 7th). For those who don’t know Jake One has been the man behind the boards for everybody from MF Doom and De La Soul to 50 Cent & Nas. I mean damn… who didn’t love Rock Co. Cane Flow? His album is slated to feature underground & mainstream legends alike and with his ability to get cats who would have otherwise never worked together on the same track, this is going to be ill. Check this track out for a taste of what I’m talking about. Ill ass collabo. Fucking crazy…

Download: The Truth.mp3

As any of you who know me can tell, Brother Ali is one of my favorite two MCs of all time (just look at my last.fm page). Unlike most artists I listen to, I didn’t get into Ali from listening to his first album because when I started listening to him the album was near impossible to find. Thanks to somebody who order one of the first 300 copies of Ali’s 2004 Champion EP, Ali’s Rites of Passage finally started to pop up all around the internet late last year. If I had never heard of Ali before I would’ve thought this album was made in the early-mid 90s… which is a good thing, a really good thing. This album takes you back to the time of Brand Nubian, Black Sheep, Black Moon, Tribe and De La Soul from Ali’s lyrics, to his production (he produced this album), even to the interludes. Rites of Passage is a masterpiece of an album, so please don’t sleep on it for your own sake.

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1. Room With A View (3:50)
2. Champion… (4:06)
3. Star Quality (5:20)
4. Prince Charming (4:35)
5. Win Some Lose Some (3:24)
6. Pay Them Back (2:53)
7. Blah Blah Blah feat. Slug (4:20)
8. Shadows On The Sun (4:36)
9. Prelude (1:17)
10. Forest Whitiker (3:00)
11. Bitchslap (3:19)
12. Back Stage Pacin’ (3:51)
13. When The Beat Comes In (4:31)
14. Missing Teeth (1:54)
15. Dorian (3:50)
16. Soul Whisper (1:49)
17. Picket Fence (5:10)
18. Victory! (Come Forward) (4:09)

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