1- Blitz The Ambassador – Stereotype (Amazon)

“It would be great if albums like this became the prototype for future Hip Hop releases in taste, quality, and execution.” – Kkon-El

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After hearing the radio rip on Shade45 with Just Blaze and Jay Electronica, the CDQ has finally surfaced.  The beat sounds like something from the Rawkus era. Jay Electronica and J. Cole really shine on this latest Hi-Tek production.  Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek’s Revolutions Per Minute is due out in February 2010.  Props to Eskay.

Download: Reflection Eternal – “Just Begun” Feat. Jay Electronica, J. Cole & Mos Def [Right Click Save-As]

Part three of this great interview between Mos Def and DJ Semtex. Cannot wait for that new Gorillaz album *hint hint*.

I was in the middle of watching this video and just felt like sharing it with those of you who might be unaware of it. Some incredible news in there regarding the second Reflection Eternal record, too.

It still really troubles me how much I enjoy Jim Jones on this album. Damn you, Damon Dash! The above performance is pretty solid, though a little awkward at first. Really lookin’ forward to that second Blakroc record, which I’ve heard is in the works.

Buy Now! Blakroc – Blakroc

Hooray for more visuals off Mos Def’s phenomenal The Ecstatic, which is easily one of the top five hip-hop releases of the year — if not the best. And it’s good to know the promotion machine behind it ain’t done. The above video is for the Oh No-produced “Supermagic”.

Support! Mos Def – The Ecstatic

Album Review: Blakroc – Blakroc (2009)
Rating: 3 out of 5 Potholes

Buy Now! Blakroc – Blakroc

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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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The Mighty Mos Def just alerted everyone to GoogleMusic’s posting of an acapella version of this The Ecstatic highlight. The original version of “History” features a dope J Dilla beat that probably can’t be topped. But hey, maybe someone can make some more magic with these hot verses from Mos and Kweli. Producers, jump on it. Enjoy!

Download: Mos Def – “History” Acapella [Right Click Save-As]

Historically hip-hop has always brought attention to the social injustice. Whether it was Public Enemy with “911 Is A Joke” pointing out the disparity between emergency assistance in the inner city compared to white neighborhoods to Mos Def’s posse cut “One Four Love Pt. 1″ in response to police brutality in NYC in the wake of them killing unarmed African immigrant Amadou Diallo. The message has not been lost and hip-hop has covered it. Read the rest of this entry »