Heralded by two of hip hop’s most celebrated producers in Madlib and Exile, wind burned Chicagoan MC aDaD is an artist to watch in 2010. Currently working on an exciting project with the aforementioned  MPC masher, Exile, aDaD is a smooth spittin’ sensation with an infectious tumbling flow and singing voice. A perfect introduction to this future blog buzzed barnstormer is the track below, “Sky“, featuring Radio-like transmissions from the hottest producer in hop hop. Peace to RubyHornet and All Natural, Inc.

Download: aDaD- Sky (Prod. Exile)

If there is one thing I would love to bring to the forefront during my stay here at Potholes, it would have to be the budding Los Angeles underground scene that NO ONE seems to cover. When I say Los Angeles, I don’t mean the overly blogged staples like UNI, Pac Div,  and Blu– I’m talking about the talented blogosphere outcasts, like: Nocando, VerBS, Dumbfoundead, Open Mike Eagle, Versis, Sahtyre, Rogue Venom, and Intuition (who just recently broke the barrier between the two scenes). Original, creative, risky, and odd would best sum up this close knit scene’s spirit, but what is happening within the collective is on the same level of excitement their forefathers brought to hip hop on the corner of Crenshaw & Exposition every Thursday night.

Here is a new track from Los Angeles MC, Nocando; a rising talent that is preparing the release of his first solo record on Alpha Pup entitled Jimmy the Lock. The single features production from DJ Nobody and cuts from the notorious Gaslamp Killer.

Download: Nocando – Hurry Up and Wait [Right Click Save-As]

A lot of us still totally disregard the battle rap scene as a glistening talent pool of up and coming MCs (Iron Solomon will do that to you), but after following a Los Angeles MC for two years through his hilarious Grind Time battles, sincere viral videos, and versatile verbiage, I still have a lot of faith.

Dumbfoundead is a walking bag of charisma. Equipped with a blunted grin, infectious attitude, and an arsenal of quick witted rhymes, the Swim Team/Freestyle Battle All-Star is a burgeoning new generation Blowedian with endless potential.  Like most Project Blowed affiliates, there are some tracks that will leave casual rap fans’ heads scabbed from confusion, but Dumb is very smart and tactful with his music, and makes happy tunes that all walks of life can connect with.

Below is his latest collaboration track with unknown Maryland crooner, Sam Ock. Peep these two Asian sensations blaze their respective parts over a breezy beat from Ock himself, as they pay tribute to a true tale that Dumbfoundead experienced.

Download: Dumbfoundead- Different Galaxies ft. Sam Ock

Hit the skip for one of the funniest videos you will ever see…

Read the rest of this entry »

New Jersey MCs, Almighty and DistantStarr (MAGr), might not have popped on your radar last year, but I still truly believe they had one of the best free album releases of 2009 with their RocktheDub hosted freebie, No News is Good News, featuring Blu, Cymarshall Law, and Fel Sweetenberg.

Today, the underrated Philadelphia propagated producer, Small Professor,  laced the web with his rendition of the lead single from the record, Laminated Looseleafs, featuring everyone’s favorite new godlee rapper, Blu.

Peace to Public Axis.

Download: MAGr- Laminated Looseleafs ft. Blu (Small Professor Remix) [Right Click Save-As]

Fuzz & Mac originally crossed paths in Wilmington, North Carolina, while offering their talents to the  jazz fused hip hop band, Organix. After years apart, chasing their own artistic dreams in separate parts of the country, fate reared its magical hand and re-connected the perfect pair in the same town they met. Their artistic re-connection brought us 2008’s Together Again; a funky, soul filled EP that spotlighted the duo’s organic chemistry.

Now, merging muses once again, Georgia bred MC Fuzz Jaxxon and Seattle trip-hop vocalist McClain Sullivan bring us their latest  release, Remember This;  a 10-track odyssey through lounge laced hip hop music about love, hope, and music.

Here are two singles from their latest record, as well as a track from their 2008 release to get you better acquainted.

Download: Fuzz & Mac- Rescue You [Right Click Save-As]
Download: Fuzz & Mac- Carolina Sky [Right Click Save-As]
Download: Fuzz & Mac- In the Evening [Right Click Save-As]

The good people at Backwoodz Studioz just sent over the first single from the upcoming mixtape, Deleted Scenes, from Super Chron Flight Brothers. The “Guy Fawkes Remix” features production from the multi-talented Willie Green, and without spoiling anything, let’s just say it packs a punch. The original track appeared on their last full-length, Emergency Powers: The World Tour, back in 2007. Deleted Scenes is scheduled to drop as a free download on November 17, so be sure to look out for that. It will feature brand new tracks, remixes, and rare B-Sides.

Download: Super Chron Flight Brothers – “Guy Fawkes Remix” Feat. Trife Diesel [Right Click Save-As]

Video games are dope, hip-hop is dope, why not mash them together?  Check the new 9 track album from Random inspired entirely by Mega Man 9. Random has been making excellent music for some time now and has gained a lot of respect from the Potholes Crew. Be sure to check this free release out right now!

Hit the skip for the download…

Read the rest of this entry »

Just got this new mixtape project in by Sabrina Cuie from a good Potholes friend, Dumhi. This project is fantastic all the way through as Sabrina tears it up on the vocals. It’s also got some great production and features from the likes of Shameless Plug, Mashcomp, John Black, Cee Knowledge (Digable Planets), Dumhi, Fel Sweetenberg, Random and many more. Be sure to download this one, I swear by it!

Hope you are getting excited for the January 25th launch, stay tuned!

Full tracklist and download after the skip…

Read the rest of this entry »

Here is Special Treat number 4, thanks to Kenny Fresh at www.freshselects.net. An excellent mixtape from Platinum Pied Pipers to warm you up for their January 20th LP, Abundance. This one features remixes, outtakes and exclusive blends from the PPP duo. Make sure to check this freebie out and go cop the album next Tuesday, January 20th.

Continue to join us for a few more Special Treats before our January 25th Launch Date!

Full tracklist and download after the skip…

Read the rest of this entry »