Benny B. Blonco | Random Knocks [Compilation]

I said it once and I’ll probably get the chance to say it again: This collection of beats from disappeared-producer Benny B. Blonco is one of the toughest instrumental projects of the year. As much as it sucks that we might never hear from him again, he was making some of the freshest and most vibrant instrumentals of the beat scene a few years ago. Maybe he’ll get to see the love that Random Knocks is receiving and he’ll decide to make a comeback. If not, at least we have this, right?

You can download the compilation here.

Add-2 & Khrysis | Between Heaven and Hell  [EP]

Between Heaven and Hell is Add-2‘s first release since signing with 9th Wonder‘s Jamla Records earlier this fall. And across the EP, the Chicago rapper is backed by North Carolina producer Khrysis and his seemingly always-on point instrumentals. Dave wrote about one of the project’s standout cuts, “Club Church”, and noted that it sounded like the perfect example of how this crew’s sound has grown and progressed over the years. I couldn’t agree more.

You can download the EP here.

Jo Def | Steps  [EP]

Jo Def works his two-step magic on his latest effort, Steps, which features 12 new tracks from the California producer. He runs with the Soulection crew, which is how his work landed on our radar in the first place. I mean, anyone familiar with Soulection knows that they are killin’ it right now, so why wouldn’t we want to hear their latest release? Exactly. Steps jukes, shuffles, and bounces all over the place with some help from choice vocal samples, including Danny Brown. Ya dig?

You can download Steps on Bandcamp.

A.Dd+ | DiveHiFlyLo: Every Man Is King  [Mixtape]

Because of the pure awesomeness of singles “Can’t Come Down” and “Suitcases”, I just wasn’t expecting to score A.Dd+‘s new project as a free download. But sure enough, DiveHiFlyLo: Every Man Is King arrived on our digital doorstop for the cost of a mouse click or two (and some bandwidth). These two Dallas rappers, Slim Gravy and Paris Pershun, have those playful, funky, and impressive flows that remind me of when I first listened to Outkast. Of course, the Southern drawl doesn’t hurt in making that comparison. The stellar beats on DiveHiFlyLo and pacing don’t hurt a bit either, which, again, is what led me to believe this would be a retail project.

You can download the mixtape at DJ Booth.

Various Artists | Avant Garde Series Vol​​​.​​​3 (Sun Ra) [Compilation]

Legendary and beyond-prolific jazz artist Sun Ra is the focus of this new compilation from the team at Cosmic Compositions. They have enlisted a gang of producers for their third Avant Garde installment, which contains a gang of material from some familiar faces and newcomers alike. We’re talking Ben Jamin, Whoarei, Tuamie, Melodiesinfonie, and Stainless Steele. Yeah, I get the feeling that Sun Ra is smiling on whatever plane of existence he’s currently residing.

You can download the compilation on Bandcamp.

Falside | Platypus  [Beat Tape]

As a longtime Rhode Island resident now living elsewhere, I’ll admit that I was a bit of homer when I called the Ocean State home. I mean, I was also younger and just excited to hear killer music coming from artists living within 20 minutes of me. But there was something that always stuck out about fellow Rhody native Falside, whose work as a producer I maintain is heavily slept-on. That’s evident on his latest beat tape, Platypus, and its collection of neck-breaking instrumentals.

You can download Platypus on Bandcamp.