Smif N Wessun's "The Album" drops Oct 23rd

Smif N Wessun are preparing their 4th album entitled "The Album." It'll feature appearances from fellow Boot Camp Click member Rock of Heltah Skeltah, and Joell Ortiz. The record is being released by Duck Down Records and should make the heads who have always supported Boot Camp Click happy.

make sure to go pick it up October 23rd.

Since October is a little while away hopefully this will satisfy your appetite 'till then.

Download "Stomp" ft Joell Ortiz

Diamonds In The Dirt "Bring It Back"

So I'm mindin' my own business checkin' my e-mail and what do I see in my inbox but a track from a Brooklyn group called Diamondz In The Dirt. I get a lotta tracks in the mail. I get a lotta garbage in the mail. But I'm pretty diligent. I try to check out everything so I don't throw a diamond (pardon the pun, and the following alliteration) out with the disposables.

I'm immediately struck by the fact that one of the members of the group (Loustar) is the son of Bow Legged Lou (of Full Force). You remember, the cat Pee Wee from House Party, who said "I smell somethin. What is that? Oh yeah! I smell....PUSSY!!!"



So they have a little pedigree. Because besides being in House Party, the members of Full Force have produced and written music for such diverse artists as Rhianna, UTFO, Doctor Ice, Samantha Fox, Jasmine Guy, Britney Spears, James Brown, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Backstreet Boys, La Toya Jackson, and Selena. Full Force received their first record contract thanks to their production of UTFO's "Roxanne Roxanne" (1985), a record that led to countless answer records, most notably by Roxanne Shanté. I'm at least gonna give 'em a chance.

So I check 'em out to see what's up. They strike me as a mix between Destiny's Child and DJ Kool ("let me clear my throat"). No lyrics to speak of, the production is OK, but on some level I gotta give respect to the track as a kinda DJ party starter record. Not great but who knows, we could be hearin' more from these cats in the future.

Check em out on their myspace page

Download "Bring It Back"

Board Bangers make the beats hot!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. These cats The Board Bangers have somethin' special goin' on. Just download the track and I dare you to tell me that it doesn't stand up to tracks like MIMS "This is Why I'm Hot" or Lil Mama "Lip Gloss" or any Dem Franchize Boyz track. It will thump in the club without question. Believe that! What really sold me on them as something other than flash in the pan fad jumpers though was the track "Skate Like That." They each flip the flow of a classic hip hop artist and flip it well!! Plus the production is stellar. You can see the video at their myspace page.

Download "Cause The Beats Hot"

MURS is dope!

Just thought I'd mention that...



You can still pick up 9th Wonder & MURS' "Murray's Revenge" album so go cop it already!!

Download the single "Murray's Revenge"

Hype or Harbinger? The Battle for the "soul" of hip hop

Another article on the state of hip hop...
This time the so-called decline of hip hop is cast as the backdrop for Kanye and 50 cent's "beef"(?)
Hip hop is "doomed" if 50 sells more and is "saved" if Kanye does. As if this isn't all simply hype to sell both artist's albums.
I mean come on! Pretending as if there are enormous differences between Kanye West and 50 cent is just a little like pretending that there are massive differences between Democratic politicians and Republican politicians. Sure, of course I have my preferences, but let's be honest, both are millionaire pop stars who work for multi billion dollar corporations. (Kinda like Republicans and Democrats in congress...)
Once again the numbers are a little more telling than the general thrust of the article. Sales have dropped... Alot in the last few years. What does this mean. I don't think anyone can be sure just yet. But whether or not 50 moves more units than Kanye is not gonna determine the future of hip hop. Your casual listener is not gonna suddenly realize that the Roots are awesome if Kanye sells more records. Some moron is still gonna go lookin' for the next single from that shitty group that made "Laffy Taffy" whether 50 retires or not.

Hell, me just posting about this is adding to the hype I guess...

whatever.

This article can be found in The Guardian

Lupe Fiasco "The Cool" coming in Nov.

Now here is an emcee who keeps it movin'. Not waiting to cool off and definitely not worried about a sophmore slump, Lupe Fiasco is readying his 2nd album for a November 20th release. "THE COOL," the follow-up to last year's Grammy nominated FOOD & LIQUOR, in stores November 20th! Keep an eye out for the first single 'Superstardom' coming soon.

Until then check out this track and go get that album when it drops!!!

Download "Dumb it Down"

Q-Tip & Common are "The Standard"

In an exclusive interview with XXLMag.com, A Tribe Called Quest frontman, Q-Tip, reveals he’s forming a new group with Common entitled The Standard. “Me and Common [are] getting ready to form a group,” ‘Tip tells XXLMag.com. “We’ll probably run it through the Uni [Universal Records] joint because we’re both on Universal.” According to The Abstract, it was Common who suggested the two from a group. “It was more of his suggestion,” he says. “He was like, “We just need to do a record.” So I’m really excited about that.” While the two haven’t started recording together yet, The Standard will start churning out material once the two starting touring together in a few weeks. As far as the production on the album, though, fans can expect Q-Tip to handle the majority. “I’m probably gonna do a lot of it,” ‘Tip says. “And we’ll get Kanye [West] on a couple things, but you know, that cat is busy.”

This should be good!!!

Clipse interview at INQMND

The interview is a little old but whatever. Some lyrical emcees from the south deserve a little shine.

INQMND does the interview so go check it.