RIP junclassic

Damn. This one hurts; it always hurts when someone I know passes, especially when the word comes out of nowhere, but damn, I really rocked with junclassic. I don't remember how we first linked up; back when we were really rocking over here, emails would just hit the inbox on the regular. Hell, I was getting mail sent to the crib. Thing is, jun still sent his albums. I have a few CDs sitting around somewhere; he was always working, and was always looking out.

Back in 2009, Kid Hum allowed me to let a bunch of dope emcees rap over beats from his Fossil Fuels instrumental album; when I was reaching out to folks for the tracks that would become Offshore Drilling, I feel like jun was one of the first cats to submit tracks. Hell, he has two solo joints on the project, and he made sure to throw in "you gotta rock the dub, baby." I never asked; that's just how he was. Stand-up individual. Hard worker. Dope as fuck with the pen. Dare I say one of the more prolific artists I've ever come across.

Kid Hum · 06 Junclassic "Angst" (Produced by Kid Hum)

Kid Hum · 14 Junclassic "Passport" (Produced by Kid Hum)

jun is also all over The KhemLab, the spiritual sequel to Offshore Drilling if you will; one of my personal favorites is the J57-produced "Khemistry," which finds junclassic kicking the final verse. I always loved the last line of his verse: "keep ya shit tighter than African hair braiding." jun was always ready with a tight verse, a dope project, and his warm spirit, always down to rep for the culture.

You will be missed, jun, although it looks like you have a project dropping Friday, so you'll definitely still be with us. Rest easy. 

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Cyrano Sinatra ft. Various Artists "The Beast! (NC Roll Call)"

Check this one out: Cyrano Sinatra sorted out a proper North Carolina-specific posse cut version of "Beast", which was found on The KhemLab project (and is produced by the homey Centric). This new version is found on Ladies Choice Entertainment's the manifestation of h​.​e​.​r. mixtape, and features Flauce, Seven da Pantha, AP the Apostle, Poe Mack, Lyrick & Sharp. I'm glad they did the original justice and kept the original beat in tact. Shit's still disgusting.

DOWNLOAD Cyrano Sinatra ft. Flauce, Seven da Pantha, AP the Apostle, Poe Mack, Lyrick & Sharp "The Beast! (NC Roll Call)" (prod. by Centric)

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The Sixth Sense #iseedubpeople

Another year down. rockthedub turns 6 today, and as we always do at this time, I've cooked up a free compilation for you, the artist who fucks with the site, and you, the reader/supporter who always checks the site. Pop a bottle of your favorite libation and celebrate with me! Spread over the main and [extended] parts of this compilation, The Sixth Sense features dope music from Danny!, Zilla Rocca, Tone Liv, MarQ Spekt, Ethel Cee, Muja Messiah (with Maria Isa), Scatta R.Pee, Silent Dust, Elite Assembly, Phace, Rhymageddon, Sol Zalez, Ray Dawn, My Man Shafe, BURNTmd, AWKWORD, Yogy and plenty more, including a special J. Slikk-produced KhemLab cut featuring Main Course, junclassic & Sky 7thb!. Some cuts previously-released, a bunch of unreleased/exclusive bits, and even some well-wishes from heads out in Philly (shouts to Haj, Side Effect and Ethel Cee). Shouts to EVERYONE who hit me with tracks for this - greatly appreciated. I want to thank you all for your continued support for RTD - here's my thank you gift.

DOWNLOAD The Sixth Sense #iseedubpeople | The Sixth Sense [extended]

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Main Course & Sky 7th "Orphans"

If you fucked with The KhemLab, Main Course and Sky 7th should be two MCs that you're more than aware of. These two were all over the album, and for good reason. In any case, Main is prepping his A Beautiful Blend album, which should be dropping on the 13th of February. The full project is produced by Soundproof, and this one is just wild. Love how this track has an undercurrent of hype to it, but flows at its own pace. These two don't waste a bar at all. KhemLab 2012 and onward. Get involved.

DOWNLOAD Main Course & Sky 7th "Orphans"

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Sky 7th - It Don't Cost Nothin'

DOWNLOAD [shouts to Vintage Media Group]

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SteadyFlow - Carlin & Pryor

If you fucked with the recently-released KhemLab project, you'd heard heat from both Cyrano and Sharp. I actually didn't know that these two did a lot of work together, but I'm thoroughly fucking with their SteadyFlow project, Carlin & Pryor. Great cover, great music, loads of dope beats (mostly produced by Sharp, although Centric & J. Slikk do make appearances), and a load of raw Rap for your bitch ass. And your bitch's ass. Loving it. If you're not nodding your head to this one, you might be in need of some new ears.

DOWNLOAD SteadyFlow - Carlin & Pryor

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rockthedub presents The KhemLab

Finally. It's been two years since Kid Hum and RTD dropped Offshore Drilling. Two years since guys like Cy Yung, Whygee, Sky 7th, junclassic and others joined forces with Main Course, Deal - The Villain, The Jake and a merry band of features (including the one like Nico The Beast) aligned themselves as The KhemLab. Two years of starts and stops, and finally a powerful push over the last few months to get this done. And it's here. 20 tracks full of raw lyrics, tough beats and a bevy of topics, ranging from murder fantasies to cuts devoted to needing new kicks.

I'm excited for you guys to hear this project in it's entirety, mainly because it started from nothing and became something I'm truly enjoying. The crew also flips cuts from Diamond District and DJ Concept & DJ Mickey Knox' BYOP EP, alongside a serious grip of original beats - shouts to Anno Domini, Centric, Four Finger Ring, Sharp, 2 Deep, J57 and the rest of the 'Lab. But enough from me - take this journey with us.

Don your labcoats and help us decipher this thing called Hip-Hop, and experiment with what the music can really become.

DOWNLOAD rockthedub presents The KhemLab

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[preview] Kid Hum - Love to Give

With the hoopla from #TheKhemLab taking over the last two weeks, I forgot that the homey Kid Hum was dropping a new album! From his last correspondence, Love To Give drops on the 24th of October (AKA this coming Monday), and I know he said it will be available on Bandcamp. I'll have the full details up on this when they become available, but if you peep the tracklist (after the jump), the album features "Abbey's Psalm", the lone instrumental track that you hear on The KhemLab project that dropped today. Fucks with that, and get prepped for the rest.

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The KhemLab "Ya Gone"

Here's the final leak from #TheKhemLab project that we're dropping tomorrow. I won't go too ham into the shit, but I finally got everything sorted out last week, and feel that this is a strong compilation... that most of you will sleep on. Anyways, atop an instrumental from DJ Concept & DJ Mickey Knox's BYOP EP, Main Course, Whgyee and Sky 7th go hammer over some sly horns. One of the more powerful/immediately impactful bangers from this compilation, these three really brought their individual flavor to this one. Shouts to Main Course, who has helped a LOT in getting this project completed. Grab this, and rock to "Put It To Rest" and their "Streets Won't Let Me Chill" flip, then get ready for our opus when it drops, tomorrow morning!

DOWNLOAD The KhemLab "Ya Gone"

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The KhemLab "Put It To Rest"

Been a minute since I started talking about The KhemLab, a conglomerate of MCs that features cats from the Offshore Drilling project, as well as some additions, and over a number of starts and stops, we're proud to say that the project will be dropping next month. Don't ask for a day yet, doe. If you're like me, you've been living with a migraine. Just feel like there's a lot that are on our plates, and there's a bunch of bullshit trying to clog the pipeline of progress. Kind of like this project. What'd these guys do, though? Put their nose to the grindstone, set their sights on the prize and annihilated anything standing in their way. Main Course, junclassic and Sky 7th took this theme and beasted over this 2 Deep production. Love the drums in this one, really tough, and I'm a sucker for piano loops. There's a lot more heat on this KhemLab project, trust. You've been warned.

DOWNLOAD The KhemLab "Put It To Rest" (prod. by 2 Deep) [mirror]

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The KhemLab "Street's Won't Let Me Chill"

The KhemLab "Street's Won't Let Me Chill": It's been a little over a year since I dropped The Four Horsemen, which included the rough version of "KhemLab Theme". The Lab has been sitting on some things, and I hope to have the complete project out in some form by the end of 2011. For now, it just makes sense to leak a complete track, right? This cut finds Cyrano, Main Course and junclassic going IN over that Diamond District "Streets Won't Let Me Chill" instrumental, taking the theme and delivering their own spin on it. I love that each MC literally puts their own vibe to the sampled hook, making each portion of the track unique and uniform. Something to vibe to while cracking a brew at your backyard BBQ. The heat won't let me chill!

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Main Course Blood, Sweat & Tears: A Soulja's Course

I love great producer/MC tandems. Cats who really link up and go in on some music shit. KhemLab member Main Course and producer Holy Soulja have some 50 tracks in the can, recorded between 2008 and 2010, and this project assembles some of the gems, and is the first of two albums from these two (Kane Courso is on the way). MC is one of those cats who puts it all on the line, for the music. Dude’s got a lot of heart, and dips his pen inward, bleeding on the pad. Soulja has a dope, varied style, allowing MC to take the beat and go on a different journey than the last. Book your flight now – it’s free!

DOWNLOAD Main Course Blood, Sweat & Tears: A Soulja's Course

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[update] WhyGee x RTD The Saga Of Mr. Bitches

Back in February of 2009, WhyGee allowed me to create an album from a grip of tracks he had sitting unreleased. The result, the Boondocks-inspired The Saga Of Mr. Bitches got some good press on your Internets - so much so that a limited run is being pressed up. Last night, Why hit me with the above artwork, which was hooked up by Happy Little Trees; if you're looking for some work, hit her up - tell her @khal sentya! Hit up Why for more info on the Saga of Mr. Bitches CD release, if you're trying to get that.

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[preview] Sky 7th Trouble Man

Last September, Sky 7th hit you with Trouble On The Way, which was a prelude to his Trouble Man album... which is finally set to drop on tomorrow, Friday the 13th! Dude reps hard for my little KhemLab clique, and is just a very talented artist in his own. Features on the album include Deacon the Villain, Rappin' 4-Tay, Lou Sleefe, Cyrano Sinatra and Justin Terio. Loads of fresh beats, spread out over 18 pure Hip-Hop cuts. Hit the jump for the full tracklist, which includes two leaks. Then check for the album tomorrow!

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Whygee & Jonny 5 w/ Big Wheel Electrosoul

Thanks for the shout, Whygee! Via Backbeat.

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Main Course x Holy Soulja

The boy Main Course has been putting in some work behind the scenes, and hit my inbox with a few tracks last night, taken from his Blood, Sweat, & Tears: A Soulja's Course project, which drops for free on May 25th:

• Main Course "Joy In The Struggle" (prod. by Holy Soulja)
• Main Course "The Sound Of Music" (prod. by Holy Soulja)

This will be followed up by Kane Courseo, which will be released digitally and physically on June 8th (that's a tentative date). This cat is a #KhemLab representer, so support when it drops!

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RTD Presents The Four Horsemen

A year after The Magic Number, RTD presents to you The Four Horsemen. This is a compilation of tracks I've received over the last year, thrown together to celebrate rockthedub.com's four-year anniversary. With my enthusiasm for professional wrestling, "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson was an easy choice for the cover. Just made sense, the fact that he's holding a prestigious title, showcasing his allegiance. I won't go into all of it, but it's deeper than "oh he referenced this old school wrestler dude", nahmean? Exclusives from StreetMedia and DaVinci, with tracks from Rob Jay, Deal - The Villain, Hans Beck, Internal Quest, Mayhem, MAGr, Ryen David and many more are featured. Hit the jump for the the skinny.

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Chanes "Earthquake"

Just a quick heads up; my boy Chanes has a new single, "Earthquake", available for purchase. Proceeds of this track are going towards Haiti Relief. This is being distributed via Island Def Jam Digital, so this is a great look for a great cause. It's available on iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody and many more outlets. Support good Hip-Hop and the Haitian Relief.

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Joulz Il The Il Identity

Today marks a new chapter in the career of the MC known as Joulz Il. Last year, heads were asked to take part in an Il Experiment, which garnered interest and brought people some ill music. The New Jou Year has given us the fruit of that labor in The Il Identity, which can be download for free via Joulz Il's Bandcamp page. You should be familiar with some of these cuts, while others might be knew, but know that they are all dope, and all are produced by Entity Starr. Thing is, this is just the tip of the iceberg... the next couple of months are about to get very hot and hectic for Hip-Hop. All of that will be revealed on Monday, when I bring you a special Q&A with Joulz about 2009, his forthcoming projects, and beyond. For now, preview the cuts below and do yourself a favor - download them!

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Main Course & Holy Soulja "Truth Is"

Main Course & Holy Soulja "Truth Is": The homey Main Course hit me with this earlier today, promising that he has enough heat on deck to make this winter dumb warm. I believe it, too... he's the latest addition to The KhemLab, and laced a few beats effortlessly. Watch out for him, watch out for The 'Lab. Just be prepared.

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