Best Downloads of the Week (10/26/12)

10/26/12 | By Andrew Martin | 5 Comments

Kendrick Lamar | good kid, m.A.A.d. city Samples Mixtape

I have to hand it to the Babylon Cartel, aka Gianni Lee and Mike Blud. They have been putting in some work with these mixtapes highlighting the samples on some of the year’s biggest albums. They did a damn-fine job with Cruel Summer and nailed it again here with good kid, m.A.A.d. city. I mean, who doesn’t want a mix of the tracks used on what might be 2012′s best hip-hop album?

You can download the tape via this Sharebeast link.

Mr. MFN eXquire | The Man In The High Castle [Mixtape]

OK, so this one technically dropped last week, but I get the strong feeling way too many people slept on it. The Man In The High Castle might not be Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire‘s “best” work to date, but it’s a great starting point for anyone who’s just been hipped to the BK spitter. He’s brash, hilarious, and gully, and he has one hell of an ear for beats. Download the tape via Dropbox and pray Universal doesn’t find out.

Angel Haze | Classick Mixtape

Angel Haze did the whole pretty-much-out-of-nowhere release thing this past Thursday with Classick, a quick-strike EP featuring her sharp raps over, well, some classics. And Lupe Fiasco’s “Bitch Bad“. Anyway, Haze has continued to gain momentum this year, what with her Universal Republic deal and increased exposure. Classick looks to further her progress, both career-wise and as an artist. In particular, she delivers a heavy dose of reality on her version of Eminem’s “Cleaning Out My Closet” that features a graphic look at the sexual abuse she suffered as a child. Gripping, courageous stuff.

Download the mixtape/EP/project at Live Mixtapes.

Cosmic Compositions | Pharoah Sanders Compilation

We love compilations here at Potholes—we’ve been known to drop ‘em ourselves—so I couldn’t resist at least checking out Cosmic Compositions’ new project. And any urge I had to not listen was eradicated when I saw that it was a tribute to Pharoah Sanders. OK: click-download-listen-JOY. If you have even a feint interest in jazz and/or boom-bap, you need this. Now.

Download the comp at Bandcamp.

Jackmaster | Tweak-A-Holic 3 [Mix]

This isn’t just one of the best downloads of the past week; it’s one of the best of the year. OK, that might be a stretch but damn, Jackmaster put his entire body into his third Tweak-A-Holic mix. This shit is certified party playlist material and also the type of thing you can blast all day without getting bored, tired, etc… If you like certified soul/R&B jams from the ’70s and ’80s, you better not pass on this.