The team at The Mad Bloggers are working on quite the ambitious (and fantastic) project with “The Journey to Hip-Hop.” Each volume will see the hip-hop site highlighting a different city, with Milwaukee obviously being the first. There are two volumes of music here, too, with tracks from the likes of Taiyamo Denku, JC Poppe, Ka$h, Dana Coppafeel, Haz Solo, and many, many others. And yes, there are two different covers for MKE’s Best to highlight the Draft and Light volumes. I don’t really like light beer, though, so that’s why I’m showing off the Draft one, haha.

Download: MKE’s Best – Light and Draft [Bandcamp]

I have to admit, I’m loving this new breed of producers utilizing the crunchy grooves of Dilla to make some of the most spaced-out, hazy beats on this side of the galaxy. The latest producer to enter this foray is BUG, who offers up his double-single of “Cosmic Lab” and “20 Winks” for free. You have to download the tracks through his Bandcamp, but you can stream them below to get a feel before you decide to take up some hard-drive space. I can’t wait to hear what’s to come from BUG and hopefully we get some more sooner rather than later.

Providence, R.I.’s own Falside, one of Potholes’ favorite up-and-coming producers, does the damn thing on a consistent basis. He not only delivers heat for his own beat tape and remix projects, but he also hooked us up with some slick exclusives for the Ocean State Sampler. He also apparently never rests as he put together this killer mixtape featuring a slow of cats we all know and enjoy. I’m talking guys like Reef the Lost Cauze, C-Rayz Walz, El Da Sensei, Pacewon, Reks, and members of Poorly Drawn People. I could name the rest but come on, those alone are enough to go on and download this 19-track mixtape. Dollars Make Change is primed to further thrust this young beatsmith into the spotlight so get familiar, damn it! Hit the skip for the track listing.

Download: Falside – Dollars Make Change

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After killing it with Macklemore on the Vs. EP, Ryan Lewis teamed up with Rhode Island MC Symmetry, who you might recognize from the Ocean State Sampler. Truth be told, The Symmetry & Ryan Lewis LP has been available for several months now. But now, the duo is offering their project for free.99. You gotta love when the artists just want to get their music out there. Be on the look out for new music from Symmetry in the near future. The word is that he’s got a new album in the works with a slightly different sound.

Download: Symmetry & Ryan Lewis – The Symmetry & Ryan Lewis LP

Free music from one of last year’s best artists? Yes, please. This EP, BlackMale, features eight brand new tracks from Toki Wright, whose A Different Mirror was one of my personal favorites of 2009. While it was released as part of the Rhymesayers Entertainment Spotlight Series, it looks like the label is still pushing him as this EP was post on its site. Wright of course wants to just get this music out there for the heads to enjoy but, if you are able, please donate. Find out how and why here.

Download: Toki Wright – BlackMale

One of QN5’s finest is here with a brand new project. Well, sort of. Wink: Something Substantial chronicles Substantial’s career across the past 10 years with a heavy focus on his love/relationship songs. Yeah, you guessed it, this also acts as a Valentine’s Day-type-project, like QN5’s 2008 release Baby Blue For Pink. Hosted by Kno and mixed by UK artist Dub MD, this mixtape also features three brand spankin’ new tracks from Substantial and features from a slew of cats including Eric Roberson, Nujabes, Kno, and Gods’Illa. Get to downloading, all you smooth-music lovers.

Download: Substantial & Dub MD Present – Wink: Something Substantial

One of Potholes’ favorite groups hit us up to exclusively drop their latest project and we would have been insane not to participate. Animate Objects have been steadily killing it in the Chicago scene for several years with successful albums and EPs alike. We loved their last project, Dubs Grunts & Things, so much so that we recruited them to remix one of their cuts for our Transmitting Live Vol. 1 release.

Thankfully, our relationship didn’t end there.

This project, Danya and the Fail Present: The Shit, is actually the group’s first mixtape. And it’s filled with 16 tracks of that dope hip-hop we have come to expect from Animate Objects. Below you will find a widget to stream and/or download Danya and the Fail Present: The Shit, a 16-track prelude of sorts to Animate Objects’ upcoming remix EP and full-length album. They are also touring the country and Europe right now to support the troops so be sure to check out a show if they come to your city. The tour dates are listed here.

While I absolutely love when Ms. Badu gets funky and abstract, I also love it when she gets laid-back and soulful. And that’s exactly what we get on the latest leak from New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). “Window Seat” is a breezy, sun-in-your-face-type joint that will absolutely earn a place on my personal Electric Relaxation playlist. Just try not to zone out to this one as she and James Poyser make something smooth and special. And props go to 2DopeBoyz for posting this.

Download: Erykah Badu – “Window Seat” [Right Click Save-As]

Providence, R.I.-based producer Falside met up with Boston-based turntablist DJ Emoh Betta, of The Deck Demons, for an afternoon of Pad Thai, caffeine, and brainstorming. Meet’n Veggies is the result. It’s a free five-track EP that blends Falside’s boom-bap elements with DJ Emoh’s ridiculous skills on the decks. If this is anything like what I have heard from Fal in the past — yes, I haven’t had a chance to listen yet — this is sure to stay in the rotation for at least the next week or two. Enjoy.

Download: Falside vs. DJ Emoh Betta – Meet’n Veggies

In honor of Mayer Hawthorne reaching the 10,000 follower mark on his Twitter page, he has decided to release some goodness for all his fans to enjoy. “1000 Paper Cranes” is an instrumental track he made a while back under his DJ Haircut moniker. Featuring an ultra smooth boom-bap drum loop, and some ambient keys, the track is drenched in a Slum Village-like soul. Let’s hope for more treats like this in the future from Haircut Check it out, and leave us your thoughts.

Download: DJ Haircut – “1000 Paper Cranes”