Album Review: Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (2010)
Rating: 4 out of 5 Potholes

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1. The Roots - How I Got Over

Tentative Release Date:  Spring/2010

Producers/Collaborators: Phonte (of Little Brother), Blu, Cody Chesnutt

What We Know: The Roots are set to release their ninth studio album How I Got Over. The album title comes from a Mahalia Jackson gospel song of the same name. The band has described the new LP as upbeat, funky with political influences. The title track was first premiered on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in June 2009. According to ?uestlove, Phonte recorded three to five tracks for the album. Here’s hoping the live version of “How I Got Over” makes the final cut it because its clearly superior to the studio version. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s no secret that hip-hop is in constant motion – it changes year to year. Emerging technologies combined with the fickle needs and wants of the industry, the artists, and the fans, all play a role in shaping our musical world. Some of the changes to the hip-hop scene have been, well, less than desirable (see: the decline of radio rap). However, the past ten years, 2000-2009, still held releases of some of the most creative and unique hip-hop albums of all time, with an ever-expanding range of sub-genres. Traditional hip-hop rooted in the golden age of the ’90s was certainly alive and well, but it was sharing chart space with newer, progressive styles. That said, we have compiled a list of our 25 favorite hip-hop albums from the past ten years, as a form of celebrating the musical diversity in hip-hop from the decade that was.

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DJ Low Key joins acclaimed artist M11X and IllRoots.com for De La Extras #2, his second tribute to rap legends De La Soul. With 2009 commemorating the 20th anniversary of De La Soul’s landmark debut album, DJ Low Key put together an unconventional mix of De La Soul rarities, remixes, bootlegs & b-sides to accompany M11X aka Mikal Hameed’s De La Soul audio sculpture (featured on the mixtape’s cover) on the De La Soul – 3 Feet High & Rising Art Tour. With the tour being postponed, Low Key decided to release the tape in conjunction with Illroots.com and send it on M11X’s upcoming solo national tour. Be on the lookout for M11X’s upcoming shows, featuring the tape and chair on the cover, coming to a city near you, starting with San Francisco on January 8th. Props to the homie DJ Low Key

Download: M11X & Illroots.com Present DJ Low Key – De La Extras #2 (split) Download: M11X & Illroots.com Present DJ Low Key – De La Extras #2 (mp3)

Hit the jump for track listing + tour artwork… Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s what looks like an insane (in a good way) tribute to my personal favorite group of all time – De La Soul. Mick Boogie & Terry Urban teamed up with a slew of artists (ranging from Tanya Morgan to Phife Dawg to 6th Sense to Camp Lo to Apple Juice Kid) for this project. I heard a leak the other day for Phife’s  “Peace Porridge” and I can tell you I was interested off that track alone. Download, enjoy, and give thanks to one of the greatest groups to ever do it as well as everyone involved on this mixtape. Hit the jump for the tracklist.

Download: Mick Boogie & Terry Urban – Le Da Soul

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Hip-hop has been around for nearly thirty years now. However, its still feels very young at its core. Whiles many emcees have graduated to have success some are just college dropouts with no plan for what’s next. In a genre of music that has no set rules it also seems to be void of maturity in the process. The idea of hip-hop and “growing up” feels like something of an oxymoron when you look at the current music landscape and its future. Very few emcees are willing to take that music past frivolous beefs/feuding, actually becoming successful as artists and making music that doesn’t compromise who they are. In hip-hop for some reason that feels unrealistic? Music is supposed to inspire, how come we ain’t getting no higher? © Lauryn Hill

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I’m really anticipating the new Clipse album dropping next month. After that we should have De La Soul, Reflection Eternal and The Roots all dropping in early 2010. Maybe its just me, but it seems like we have less groups in hip-hop right now that can have actual success in the underground and mainstream arena. This is a glaring trend in comparison to the last two decades. When I think of great groups like The Beastie Boys and A Tribe Called Quest, the focus was less on who was the best emcee and more about how great the music was. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is the second leak from Señor Kaos’ Walk Softly & Carry A Big Brick, this time paying homage to the wonderful De La Soul, with the help of Von Pea and Homeboy Sandman. It’s great to see such a lineup of talented emcees take swings on a banger of a track from Supa Dave West, hopefully we see more and more tracks like this in the near future. Check out the single, and be prepared to cop the full album September 30th!

Download: Señor Kaos – “20 Years High & Rising (Homage To De La Soul)” feat. Von Pea & Homeboy Sandman

This is latest joint by De La Soul from the upcoming NBA Live 10 Soundtrack. The new video game officially drops October 6th and will feature music from B.o.B, De La Soul, 88-Keys, Murs, Jay Rock, Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, Wale, Zion I, Donnis, Talib Kweli, Mos Def and many more! Props to GW

Download: De La Soul – “La La La”

De La Soul was in Toronto last night in support of their 20th Anniversary tour of 3 Feet High & Rising. We got there just in time to catch the ending of local opener Notes To Self. Read the rest of this entry »