Jelani "Race Matters"

Jelani "Race Matters" (prod. by Durkin): Taking the lead from the Race Matters book from Dr. Cornel West, Jelani speaks on a number of issues affecting the Black race right now, from Fox News to racial profiling. Oddly enough, a nigga at my job had made mention of Willie Lynch, and that Talib Kweli line hit me in the head. I spent an hour at work being mystified at word that the "Willie Lynch speech" wasn’t real, or can’t be confirmed as legit. Oddly enough, while I hate spreading falsehoods, the shit in there mirrors what has gone on in America. Whether it’s us vs. them or us vs. us, we have been put into some fucked up predicaments that only we can reverse. Get educated and move forward.

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Jelani "Japanese Architecture"

Jelani "Japanese Architecture" (prod. by Durkin): I’ve got a feeling Durk and Jelani will be putting out a mixtape or some shit. Jelani didn’t give much info on this track, aside from one word: bars. He has a lot of ‘em. He pops like magnums, while you pussies are mad dumb. He’s an arms reach, a short two-step and a long leap from being where he could be. Or is it should be? I don’t know, that mid-tempo lazy horn bop Durkin has me senseless. Great, laidback sneak attack shit.

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Jelani "Clarity"

Jelani "Clarity" (prod. by Durkin): I’ve been slackin’ on some of these write-ups – I think this track has been in my on deck circle for almost a week. My bad. Fuck it, Jelani and Durkin need to do an album together. These two “get” each other, it feels. Jelani says he had this Durkin BANGER of a beat in his BlackBerry for a while, and would rock to it, often. He’s like me – an observer, and when he decided to pen this one, he took the listener into his head and allowed cats to see their surroundings through his eyes/words. Intriguing idea, and it works well. Especially with a fawnky beat like this.

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Jelani "Ok, You're Up"

Jelani "Ok, You're Up" (prod. by Durkin): Druk brought the drums out for Jelani, who heard this instrumental and almost instantly daydreamed of it being performed live. He says the inspiration from that drove him while writing, and hell – you can feel the energy of a packed-house, hands in the air in appreciation for a skilled MC ripping up the stage in front of them. I’m at work now and the trace scent of mary jane is wafting through the… wait, that’s just the mailroom. Jelani is coming correct with the gems, can’t wait for what this all is leading up to!

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Jelani "Paradise"

Jelani "Paradise" (prod. by Durkin): Jelani, I hate you – how you gonna blast this out and say some shit like “if a beautiful Saturday afternoon had a soundtrack, *this* would definitely be on that CD”? That sounds like some shit I’d say! Jelani said he fucks with music pon the regular (like, on some all day shit), and made this while thinking of the niggas he converses with on your Internets from the hours of 9AM to 5PM, where us unlucky fucks are usually chained to a desk, punching clocks and pushing pencils. An escape from planet Monday kind of thing. It definitely has that “I just got off work early on a sunny Friday afternoon, let me go drink and smoke this roach” vibe to it. That 3rd verse is the shit, too – when it’s just bangin’ drums and dude going ballistic with the flow? This is the stuff that makes quality Hip-Hop. Ride those horns, soldier.

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Jelani "Great Night"

Jelani "Great Night": Following up on the love that “De La Vega” got, Jelani pulls out the thump and bounce and turns things up a bit. Funny enough, I was sitting around depressed that I essentially “missed” the 60+ degree weather we had on the East Coast this past Friday; Jelani left his normal cave-like existence and hit up a party in SoHo. He heard this track and went hammer for a night – woke up the next day, looped the original and birthed the track you’re downloading/jamming to right now. Live a little and enjoy the night.

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Jelani "De La Vega"

Jelani "De La Vega": Finally giving us some new ish since The Proposal, the Notherground MC known as Jelani comes with some fresh shit. This track is pretty new - it was sorted out on the 3rd of February, and takes the lead from the quotes of NYC street artist James De La Vega, whom Jelani would see growing up as a yout in Harlem. The idea of grabbing hold to your dream to do something with your artistic gifts is something I'm dealing with right now. Shit ain't easy, but once you see these gifts blossom into tangibles, it makes that struggle worth it. Kweli called it a beautiful struggle, and while it might not feel that way - become your dream.

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John Public "Jack & Ginger Ale"

John Public "Jack & Ginger Ale" (prod. by 6th Sense): I’ve actually never had Jack with Ginger Ale – it’s either straight or with some Coke (no Bobby Brown). I’m not up on John Public, but he reps Jersey City and linked up with the homey 6th Sense; their collab on this one is a perfect mix. I’d actually love to be at a happy hour with a band playing this track, but I digress. One thing I do when I drink is reminisce, which fits perfectly with Public’s backwards journey he takes in this cut. This is taken from Re-Gifted: Thrift Shop Experience, which is due out on December 7th via DJ Booth (and on iTunes early 2011), and features beats from 6th, M-Phazes, Oddisee, DJay Cas and more. Interesting cut here, a nice diversion from the normal shit you hear these days. Keep it locked for more on this project from dude. Jersey!

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The Combat Jack Show (10/22/2010)

Newest latest edition of The Combat Jack Show, featuring RTD friends 6th Sense and the might Sam Han. Shit is late, but it's here. Get ready for com-bat!

DOWNLOAD The Combat Jack Show (10/22/2010) [via PNC Radio]

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Wildabeast Beastroc

Interesting project here - 7 tracks completed in like 8 hours? All Blackroc instrumentals, with Wildabeast going ham on them. Simple and plain, and one of the great things about your Interents. Notherground!

DOWNLOAD Wildabeast Beastroc

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It's A 6th Sense Beat Yo!! Volume 2

We've previewed the above cover and tracklist, as well as shown dope videos for "Inspire" and "Story of the None", and now we bring you this 34-track instrumental opus from 6th Sense, bringing you a new installment of fine beats that have been graced by MCs like Outasight, Talib Kweli, The Kid Daytona, Donny Goines and plenty more. Hit the jump for the goods, and expect some more videos in the near future. Thanks, 6th!

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[video] 6th Sense "Story of No One"

Directed by Derek Pike. It's A 6th Sense Beat Yo!! Volume 2 drops tomorrow, July 13th.

Bonus Beats 6th Sense "Story of No One"

previous [video] 6th Sense "Inspire"

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[video] 6th Sense "Inspire"

Here's the first video from 6th Sense's It's A 6th Sense Beat Yo!! Volume 2, whichi s set to drop on July 13th; 6th asked a number of dope visual artists and directors to cook up some sick visuals for the beats - Kristopher Kristopher Layng kicks it off:



Bonus Beats 6th Sense "Inspire"

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It's A 6th Sense Beat Yo!! Volume 2 Cover+Tracklist

On July 13th, 6th Sense and Society will be dropping 6th's It's A 6th Sense Beat Yo!! Volume 2 w/ a limited edition run of CD and t-shirt packages. Word is these tracks will be flipped into superb visual experiences (aka dope ass videos) by some talented cats, so be on the lookout for those, too. Artwork by Black Marmalade. Hit the jump for the tracklist.

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The Kid Daytona "Inspire"

The Kid Daytona "Inspire" (prod. by 6th Sense): Been on some non-posting shit for whatever reason. Daytona hasn't been on some non-rapping shit, though. First heard of him through his affiliation with Cipha Sounds, but he really came into his own, in my opinion, when he hooked up with 6th and started really opening his sound up. Now dude is a true force to be reckoned with. Don't believe? Peep this new leak from It's A 6th Sense Mixtape Yo!! Vol. 2 & 3.



previous Homeboy Sandman "Abduction"

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Good*Fella Radio: 6th Sense

previous Homeboy Sandman "Abduction"

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It's A 6th Sense Mixtape Yo!!

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6th Sense It's A 6th Sense Mixtape Yo!! Cover+Tracklist

6th Sense is dropping a mixtape tomorrow; here's his info on It's A 6th Sense Mixtape Yo!! (Vol. 1):

After supplying a ton of music for free for the last couple of years, here's a mixtape of mostly unheard material. To show your support it's only $5.

Volume 1 contains songs that mainly feature 6th Sense on the mic as well as behind the boards. The overall feel is a more stripped down sound, with a focus on dense, multi-layered lyrics, with hardly any hooks or choruses.

More volumes are on the way and coming soon with different formats (more for free too). There's a whole lot more music that hasn't been heard yet.

Tracklisting:

1. Thoughts
2. Sunrise
3. Yeah
4. Let It Breathe
5. Wherever You Are, There You Go
6. As Far As I Can Take It
7. Tastemaker Cosign
8. Take 6
9. It Is What It Is
10. Presently
11. In The Garden
12. Take 6 (Instrumental)

Be on the lookout for this one tomorrow (October 27th).

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[video] NothergroundTV: April '09 Pt. 2 Recap

previous [video] NothergroundTV: March '09 Pt. 2 / April '09 Pt. 1 Recap

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[video] Black ELement ft. Jelani "The Resume" LIVE

Here's the homey Black ELement perform a cut entitled "The Resume" with Jelani LIVE at the Western Front earlier this month:



This is taken from Black EL's The Collage; hopefully I get some more info on this in the near future.

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