Militant Military "In Da Bikke"

things that make you go "hmmmm"
This one may take the cake. Militant Military is a Tampa group.
Here is their press release:

Militant Military? is compromised of what some may call a group of “young soldiers, rebels and revolutionaries”. Although the name may sound controversial, the troop certainly is not. “Militant Military? is a state of mind equipped with an army of Soljah’s to fight a battle for God” according to Soljah, the leader of the troops. “At one point, we were not disciplined, but had to learn to overcome those obstacles and discipline ourselves”. He further states, “due to our growth as individuals, as team, as a unit of one, we’re able to share a purpose, a vision, and the determination to work towards a common goal.”

What was once an ordinary group of men and women led by the misconceptions of life has now emerged into an Army that’s a force to be reckoned with. Whenever these Soljah’s take the stage daunting their signature mask and hip-militant attire, you best believe that there will be Attention on Deck!! The group is always on the grind performing shows throughout Florida; leaving their branded imprint in large and small cities alike.

This new revolutionary state of mind hip hop group promises to take charge and become viable members of the world’s hip hop movement.

Where to begin? Revolutionary towards or about what!?! Is it revolutionary to wear masks (ghostface)? Is it revolutionary to wear camo? There's nothing wrong with the song. It's a good club track about drugs and partying and getting fucked up. But what is militant about that??? What battle is being fought for God? How many more non-specific assertions can you make in one press release?
"We're militant!" about what?
"We're focused!" on what?
"We're disciplined!" How and why exactly?
"We share a determination! about what?
"We're working towards a common goal!" and that goal is...a player to be named later?!?!?
I DON'T GET IT! What exactly is being said here? If this is what's being pawned off as revolutionary in hip hop (and if it's accepted as such) then 2008 is in a sad state of affairs already. And nobody better come at me with this "stop hatin'" bullshit either. I don't hate party music. I don't hate on any form of music just because. This stuff is just mad inconsistent. If you claim revolution then BE REVOLUTIONARY! If you claim thug then BE A THUG! If you make party music then DO THAT SHIT! Be what you say you are!!
On a more positive note, their follow up song is called "Dat Pussy Look Good." So of course I will expect Revs. Jackson and Sharpton down here preparing a march with them any day now. If any song can change the system and smash the state it must be "Dat Pussy Look Good" right...

Download "In Da Bikke" (pronounced bike...yeah I don't know either.)

Dude N Em "Watch My Feet" remix ft Twista

I have been pretty obsessed with this song by Dude N Em called "Watch My Feet" since the Fall and realized I never posted it up here at Kicks-n-Jams. It is one more recent song that has made me RE Respect Twista. Man that dude can rap!! hahaha. Dude N Em is from Chicago and they are a part of that Chi-Town Juke music thing that has been blowin' up all over the place this year. Keep your eye on 'em because they are signed to TVT and will no doubt have a follow up to this extra hot song.

Download "Watch My Feet" ft Twista

New Balance 20th Anniversary 576 More Pics

Just when you thought it was safe we hit you with some new pics for a very dope shoe that New Balance is releasing in honor of their 20th anniversary. I posted about these 576s previously and had resigned myself to trying to pick them up online or via ebay. They've already been released at Mita in Japan. But now I have it on very good authority that these kicks will be available right here is the States as well!!
The shoes feature a velvet purple tongue and interior. Very nice details on the flower insole and the stitched "20th" on the heel. The gold lacelock and white sole are nice touches as well. All in all this is a shoe I'm really looking forward to. Feel free to repost these pics folks. Tell 'em kicks-n-jams hooked you up!

Ice Cube "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It"

Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It


I was prepared to hate on this song and video. But Cube spits knowledge here and pulls no punches plus the images in the video are on point.

Gemini ft Lupe Fiasco "We On"

Lupe Fiasco is all over at the moment. His new album "The Cool" is one of my favorite releases this winter. His FNF affiliate Gemini brings the hot shit on this one too.

Some West Coast Heat from Zion I, Too Short, & Mistah Fab

West Coast!!!! If you don't know then Imma tell ya that your boy DJ Lazy is a fan of the West Coast from waaaay back. Here are a few recent representas from the other side making some music that hasn't broken through to the mainstream yet but is just bubblin' under the surface.

Some hot tracks from the Bay Area. Slaps!!

Download "Goin' Crazy" Mistah Fab ft. Fabo, & 2Doll
Download "Don't Lose Your Head" Zion I ft. Too Short
Download "Popos" Turf Talk ft. E-40

Blame One "Finally" EP

Ripped from the vinyl only release by Blame One himself. Extended liner notes with a personal account of the songs can be found on DirtyScience.net, the new Blame One and Exile blog.

Dope. Link

This download will be really dope to some, outdated and/or even wack to others.Fuck it, it is what it is. I recorded this from vinyl straight to mp3 for the first time. I originally only pressed 500 copies of this on vinyl. It was my first vinyl as a solo artist (my group mystery's extinction was featured on vinyl before this). I to this day only have one copy so its very limited. Two songs ended up on “chemically imballanced” but they were heard here first. I didnt add any restoration or effects to clean it up, I kept it exactly as is. Ive always wanted to tell a bit of history behind songs and since this is free… I figured… why not

Kool G Rap & Haylie Duff "On The Rise Again"

This just in: CATS & DOGS LIVING TOGETHER, FIRE IN THE SKIES, REAL OLD TESTAMENT WRATH OF GOD TYPE STUFF!!"

This one goes into my "What The Fuck?!" Hall Of Fame.

Kool G Rap's upcoming album, titled "Half A Klip", will be released on the Koch Entertainment-distributed labels Chinga Chang Records and Latchkey Recordings on February 5, 2008 worldwide. Half A Klip features production by DJ Premier. The first single is titled "Risin Up" produced by Domingo. The next single "On The Rise Again" is produced by DJ Premier. Kool also allegedly fathered a child with Karrine Steffans.

Download "Kool G Rap ft. Haylie Duff - "On The Rise Again"

Rhymefest VS Michael Jackson Mixtape

Chi-town’s own Rhymefest is currently signed to producer Mark Ronson’s Allido Records, he is set to release his sophomore album, El Che, at some point this year (Wikipedia has it set for this spring.)

In anticipation, he’s put together another excellent mixtape, this time with a theme: the mixtape is a dedication to Michael Jackson and has ‘Fest rapping over old MJ songs and both old and original beats created from Jackson samples. The tape is mixed by Mark Ronson and features original production by Ronson & Emile. Talib Kweli, Dres (of Black Sheep) and the very dope DC rapper Wale (who is featured on Kicks-n-Jams here) all make appearances.

Rhymefest has very generously offered the mixtape for free download. Here’s a link to download it from his own site. (Mirror on Rapidshare)

Joell Ortiz: Ups And Downs Video

Joell is one of my favorite rappers of '07. Hopefully he'll continue strong in 2008.

Spy Vs. Spy teams with Puma & Bodega

Boston store Bodega has been behind some pretty impressive projects this past year, and more are to come. The store teams up with Puma and Mad Magazine's Spy vs. Spy cartoon for this latest project. The Puma Sky II Hi comes back as the Spy II Hi. Lots of nice details have been put into the shoe including morse code, bullet holes, dynamite swingtags and even a stash pocket. Via Sneaker Freaker.

Expect these to release in the coming months.

Lemon D live in Tampa!!

Lemon D, is a Jungle and drum n bass DJ and producer from Brixton in South London. He set up Valve Recordings in partnership with long-time collaborator Dillinja, with whom he also designed and built the Valve Sound System, purported to be the most bass-heavy system in the world (contrary to rumor, it is not the loudest). It is the only sound system purpose-built for drum and bass.

Albums include "Big Bad Bass" and "The Killa-Hertz" with Dillinja.

this is gonna be ruff!!!

Thursday Dec 27, 2007
at 10:00 PM
Crowbar Nightclub

FORCE Recordings

Click Here To View Event

Nike AF1 X Nitro Microphone Underground "Macka-Chin"

Here are the last Nike Air Force 1's to be released this year. These have been designed together with Nitro Microphone Underground from Japan This set of AF1's, called Macka-Chin and Suiken, (Japanese emcees that have been featured HERE on kicks-n-jams) have been released this past weekend in very limited quantities. Both sneakers come in subtle colors and premium materials, that you do not see everywhere. Thus also an elevated price point.
Macka-Chin is a producer/emcee from Japan. His crew, Nitro Microphone Underground, were signed to Def Jam Japan! If you want, you can think of him as their version of The Rza (underground producer and emcee who got snapped up and put on by a major label) and Nitro Microphone Underground as Japan's Wu Tang. They were the first Japanese hip hop group to achieve national success without having to go Pop.

Via Nike1Love.

Wale + JUSTICE = Explosive!!

This one is for my man DJ Rig. Wale (pronounced 'wha-lay') hails from Washington D.C. and just made the 150th cover of Urb magazine alongside the French duo Justice. He will be doin' big things in '08 and beyond and I couldn't be happier to see and hear more talented, artistically fearless emcees breaking through to the mainstream. Wale recently released a mixtape with DJ Nick Catchdubs called "100 Miles & Running" (you can get it here).

Download "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E."

Ray J. & Yung Berg in some Florida Drama

Chicago rapper Yung Berg was arrested in Miami today (Dec. 21) for smoking weed. The arrest took place on the set of the video for singer Ray J.'s new single "Sexy Can I" from his forthcoming release "All I Feel," on Koch Records which features Yung Berg.
Now how are you gonna get yourself caught smokin' on a hip hop video set?!! That's more embarrassing than anything else. You can't look around and spot 5-0 on a video set?! Wake up Berg!! You're TOO HIGH!
According to sources, the 21-year-old rapper, born Christian Ward, is currently being held at the Miami-Dade Jail. Originally signed to DMX's (who has had his own recent troubles in Florida) Bloodline Records at age 15, Yung Berg is best known for his 2007 single "Sexy Lady," which peaked at the number 18 position on Billboard's Hot 100 charts. The single, which was originally featured on Berg's "Almost Famous" EP, also appears on his debut full length album "Look What You Made Me Do," due out in March 2008.

Download "Sexy Can I"

info via allhiphop.com

New Balance 20th Anniversary 576

New Balance presents another 576 20th Anniversary style. This limited edition sneaker comes with a white premium leather upper with tonal white embroidery going over the entire sneaker. On the back heel they embroidered "20th". In contrast the tongue and inner lining come in purple velvet, a perfect fit.

The sneaker has been released today at Mita.

Lupe Fiasco "The Cool" secret track

Well not really a secret (more like a bonus track) off of Lupe Fiasco's latest album, "The Cool," but check it out anyway. I like the track and I'm, strangely enough, finding myself really looking forward to the Lupe, Kanye, Pharrell collaboration CRS.

The Cool is available pretty much everywhere so go get it already!! It'll make a good Christmas Stocking Stuffer.

Download "Blackout"

Just when you thought New Balance Super Team 33 was finished...

We present you the next series to come out from the New Balance Super Team 33 - the Luggage Collection. After using the New Balance 1400 throughout 2007, New Balance now worked on the 998 for 2008. Especially since this model has been rarely used on special editions, it's nice to see it appear as part of the Super Team 33 collection.

Luxurious luggage is the theme of this new collection. One pair is inspired by Italian luggage, coming with a premium croc skin upper in a nice brown tone. The second sneaker is inspired by classic vintage French luggage, with an upper made up of premium leathers. The last one has been inspired by the military luggage by Victorinox., coming in a mix of black premium leather and nubuck. Pics Via LaMJC.

The New Balance "Luggage" Collection will be released the 20th of January worldwide, as usual in very limited quantities.

Ghostface "Supa GFK"

Ghostface is my favorite Wu-Tang member! If Gza would put out more material he might be up there in the pantheon for me but he doesn't so there you go. "Big Doe Rehab" is gonna be a phenomenal album! What I really like the most about Ghost is that he will work with all kindsa different artists. Mainstream, underground, electronic, hip hop, pop, whatever it's all seemingly just music for the Iron Man Tony Starkes.

Pick up the album and you will not be disappointed.

Download "Supa GFK"

Battles Mash-up = DOPE B-Boy Document

The Battles track "Leyendecker" has already been used by Joell Ortiz, and documented HERE by kicks-n-jams. Now I have discovered another remix with the always dope vocals from The High & Mighty's, "B-Boy Document." Check this track out and enjoy. "I'm I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T!!"

Download "B-Boy Battles Document"