Ropeadope

What's happening, family?! Here's a Blu and PETE ROCK joint that I've been meaning to post or the last month, but just never got around to it (until today!). You might have heard of it; iBt's titled "The Clean Hand".  Enjoy.

They're back (As if they ever went anywhere)!!!  Out of the loop?  Well, everyone's favorite band, The Legendary Roots, managed to squeeze in enough time in between tapings of the Jimmy Fallon Show to complete the new, and highly anticipated, album titled Undun.  Stamped as a concept album, here's the first single (and leak) from the upcoming release titled "Make My." It features an about-to-blow Big K.R.I.T …

If you haven't checked out Blu's NoYork! release, do yourself a favor and immediately cease everything (even if this means eating), and pick up this joint!  It's that d*** good.  Promise.  Presented here is one of my favorites off the release titled, "Keepushinn."  The haunting and jazzy melody will stick with you for a hot minute! Enjoy.

More music from Willie Evans, Jr.  This time it's a collaboration with Mr. Lif that was released in the beginning of the year.  Enjoy.

One of the best new artists that I've heard in a minute!  I haven't heard a bad track from this cat!  An emcee and producer, Willie Evans, Jr. is a Jacksonville native and a member of the Asamov clique.  His flow sort of resembles Metal Face, and his album, Introducin', dropped mid-summer and disturbingly went under-the-radar.  He's one of those artists on my list to check …

Presented here is the intro to Quik's latest gem, The Book of David.  Be sure to check out the album if you haven't already; it's legit.

From his mixtape, XXX, comes this short, phenomenal, and heart-wrenching story about a 'good girl' now addicted to coke.

Fresh off of The Eleven One Eleven Theory Mixtape, comes the beautiful and amazing track, "Samples and Sh*t," from 'Chocolate City' emcee, Wale.  The mixtape will more than suffice until the much anticipated release of his next LP, Ambition.  Enjoy.

Here's the first of many posts to music from this sensational up-and-coming vocalist/rapper, Jered Sanders.  When you think of a hybrid singer-rapper, you may have some reservations as one skill may lack the other's quality; however, this cat does both extremely well, and without auto-tune! A member of The Talented Tenth duo (with fellow rapper, AnMor), Sanders has collaborated with the likes of Oddissee, DJ KO, …

Within the last two years, I've become a HUGE supporter of The Cool Kids.  Imagine my excitement with the announcement of The Cool Kids linking up with some of my favorites - Bun B, Freddie Gibbs, and Blended Babies - to release an album.  The announcement saw the release of the group's first official collabo-release, "Authority."  It already has me hooked, and the beat is simple, …

Great music from the Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme, REKS.  Do yourself a favor and peep the debut, if you haven't already.

Great stuff off of the Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Music) collabo between Mishka NYC and the homie, Stalley.

This is a rare one for fans of The Roots. This a remake of Bobby Hutcherson's "Montara". From the Blue Note compilation "The New Groove: The Blue Note Remix Project, Vol. 1".

Like it!

Way before the acting career and make-up ads, Quenn Latifa was killing it in the hip-hop world. The horns on this track are what makes it.

You can never go wrong with dope MCs and a Donald Byrd sample.

Who's got the jazz? They do. Sampling Lucky Thompson's "Green Dolphin Street". From the classic album "The Low End Theory".

Classic Hip-Hop from Main Source. Sampling Lou Donaldson's "Pot Belly". From thier 1991 album "Breaking Atoms"

Straight outa Jersey! First track off of YZ's first album, "Sons of the Father". (1990)

"chillin, killin like a villain, the meaning of RAW is Ready And Willing"

"When it comes to days like this," I sit back, light some incense and chill with Native Tongues as my backdrop.  Midnight Marauders.

Guru giving a breakdown of the meaning of Hip-Hop over Jazz beats. From the 1995 album "Jazzmatazz Vol. II".

KMD!!! MF Doom's first crew! Still remeber the feeling the first time I heard this tune. Sampling O.C. Smith's "On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)". From their album "Mr. Hood". Jeep Music.

Such a great tune. Staten Island Hip-Hop! Sampling Blue Mitchell's "Good Humour Man".

Hip-Hop + Blood, Sweat & Tears. Now that's fusion. Form their 1988 release "The Cactus Album".

One the first Hip-Hop groups to work with a live band. Classic! From their 1988 album " In Full Gear"

"My Key" is off Atmosphere's new album The Famly Sign. This album revolves around the concept of family....family meaning those closest to you, and those who make you who you are. Those who came and went, and those who are still around. It's a raw concept of the reality of what family really is and the time we have on earth with them.

Classic Philly Hip-Hop! Maxx from Black Landlord representing! From their album 'Tricks Of The Shade'. (1992)

This Jamaican dancehall artist is the bee knees in Jamaica. I was there for a week and would ask everyone who their favorite artist was...90% of the people I asked there said VYBZ Kartel. I chose this track "Clarks" because in the beginning he says "wa a gwan popcaan" which is the only Jamaican Patois I will ever understand...it means "what's up, popcorn"...if you look up …

From their brand new album, this is 'Paramount' from Dumhi's brand new album, The Whole World's Watching. This song features emcees Random, Ethel Cee and Reef the Lost Cauze.  Grab the project here.

Microphone check one two what is this?  The five foot assasin with the rough neck business....Float like gravity, never had a cavity, got more rhymes than the Winan's got family.  Classic!

This is "Fire", a funky cut from Detroit producer Waajeed, which appears on The War LP.

From the masked emcee MF Doom (now known as only Doom?), this is "Elder Blossoms".  This track appears on his "Metalfingers figners presents Special Herbs" collection of instrumental beats made by the man himself.  A jazzy cut perfect for a sunny day.

This is "Sacrafice" by Madlib, which appears on one of his many installments of the Beat Konducta series.

From his latest solo album, super producer Mark Ronson mixes some break beats with western cowboy sounds and 80's synths. Add Ghostface Killah and you got yourself one certified banger.

Here's an instrumental song from Los Angeles beatsmith Exile.  Composed by collaging together samples from the LA radio waves on a drum machine, this track is designed for you to come up with your own meaning for it.  Listen.

Like the greats before him, Tupac Amaru Shakur connects LOVE as the solution to all suffering. Thise who know, know... But for those that don't know Tupac (that would be me) start here and understand.

Off of his album "To Serve With Love", this is Black Spade's "Evil Love". Handcrafted in full by the vocalist/producer himself, the burbling synths and off kilter-rhythms create a hypnotic head-nodding groove. It's raw. It's rich. It's dope.

Sometimes there's just not much to say...De La Soul remixing Yo La Tengo.  A more mature De La flipping it on their white-brothers from Hoboken, creating something new from something old....and wonderful.

If you've missed it, John Forte has been dropping gems all around the 'net.  This most recent one, "Sew I," is my favorite by far!  It features an electro backdrop and extremely profound and reflective lyrics.

"When I was away did you get free?"

The Goats were beastie way before the boys.  As the illest cats to come out of the 215 in a long time, they were the originators of hip-hop meets rock with a three headed monster of mcs coupled with beats by Joe the Butcher.  These guys were hard-core and ahead of their time, but ultimately imploded (poor Swaysak never could handle that cocaine) and really now …

A few years ago, I met a interesting cat, from Chicago, by the name of Swamburger.  At the time, I was in the beginnings of a managing editor position of a poetry and art publication on campus, and was in search for visual artists who wouldn't mind being included in this first issue that I was over.  This is how I met Swamburger - gifted visual …

From The LP - an album that was shelved in '96 - comes the Xtra P classic, "The Mad Scientist."  As a member of Hip-Hop heavyweights, Main Source, Pro produced tracks for Nas, Busta, and more.  He officially released the once-shelved album some time ago; however, I can't seem to find a hard copy anywhere.