Xmas Gifts: Patrol The Skies' 'Holiday EP'

If you stateside dnb is what you want for Christmas this year, Patrol The Skies has got you covered. DJ Seen and the crew cultivated this five-track Holiday EP to drop for the free on the most magical day of the year.

As the should, the proceedings feature Pish Posh leading things off, but the likes of Noisefloor, DJ Deffcon, Echo Brown, and Todd Buchler all get their just desserts. "This EP is full of attitude," the PTS crew says, "heavy at its core and masterfully engineered to assault dance floors with fury."

You can stream this EP in full below, and grab a .zip of .WAVs over on Dropbox. Rinse and repeat.

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Xmas Gifts: This Ain't Bristol's 'VIP Selections'

The This Ain't Bristol crew is great for churning out house music of the deep and bassy variety. For Chirstmas, they put together an 11-track pack of VIP mixes of bangers. Featured VIPers include Bot, Taiki Nulight, Marc Spence, Billy Kenny, and many others.

Now that you've gone through your gifts and (hopefully) had your fill, it's time for Christmas turn up to TRULY begin. Stream the full project down below, and download it for the price of a Spotify login.

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Xmas Gifts: Kyam's 'Seventy Summers' LP

Image via Stina Strangis

Because of the style(s) of drum & bass I normally gravitate towards, Kyam's been a name I've seen around. It's also been intriguing, because one of my favorite cousins is named Kyam (love ya, Ky!). Kyam's material has been seen everywhere, from Renegade Hardware to Subtle Audio, and earlier this month, he gave away a 10-track album, Seventy Summers.

There's no real rhyme or reason to this one, other than it containing a vibrant batch of tracks that are all within the 170BPM lane, but don't all sound the same. You have more hypnotic bangers like "Dupe" saddled up nicely with more headier breakbeat workouts like "Hole." Truly intoxicating material.

Stream the full release below, and grab it for whatever you want to pay for it via Bandcamp.

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Xmas Gifts: Mister Shifter - "Blood Riddim"

Image via Facebook/Tim Evans

Mister Shifter's someone I've been a fan of for a while. My love for his beats goes all the way back to the early days of Random Movement, of which he was a part of before dipping to do his own thing. He's dropped material everyone from Lightless to establishing his own imprint, Artikal, and for the holidays he gave away this ferocious 130BPM beast, "Blood Riddim."

He says he got a lot of support for this tune, but never got around to hooking up a proper flipside for release, so he decided to unleash it before it got "too old." It feels like something you'd have to dance to in order to not get merked in the middle of the jungle to. Turn up.

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Xmas Gifts: Jam Thieves & Voltage - "LSD"

One of my lowkey fav releases, drum & bass-wise, from 2017 was the Hackers release from Brazil's Jam Thieves. It dropped mad early in the year, but it had staying power, especially if you just want your dnb to be crunchy bass over tight drums.

Shouts to the Playaz camp for putting that out, and giving away this freebie from Jam Thieves and Voltage, "LSD." Just a little Christmas banger from DJ Hype's dnb camp. Stream and download below.

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Jon1st Mixes Down His Favorite Tunes of 2017 For Solid Steel

Like Solid Steel always does around this time, they've invited Jon1st back for his annual "best of" mix, throwing down ~60 minutes of his favorites from the year that was. He's keen with the turntablism, and we share some of the same vibes when it comes to music, so these are always a treat.

"This is the 2017 of my annual megamix series that I've been putting together since 2010," Jon1st says, "blending together some of my favorite records of the last 12 months" There's a lot going on in these mixes, traditionally, so you have to have a keen ear to catch all of the transitions and such.

Included in this mix is material from Om Unit, Sam Binga, Sinjin Hawke, Syd, Ivy Lab, Spectrasoul, Sinistarr, Mono/Poly, Zed Bias, and many, many more. Download and stream to your heart's delight.

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Mr. Mitch Gifts a Previously-Unreleased Remix of Sampha's "Kora Sings"

On the low, Mr. Mitch has stayed in rotation this year. He dropped his impressive album Devout back in the spring, and finished the summer with the intoxication Devotion II mix. To close out 2017, he's dipped back into his bag for another remix that's sure to hit you right in the gut.

According to Mitch, he was commissioned to remix Sampha's "Kora Sings," which was on his debut album Process. As Mitch shared, "they were looking for something a bit darker so it didnt make the vinyl but the track only inspired beauty and light from me." I can hear that; this is definitely not dark, but it has a way of getting to the core. Really emotional, with an anthemic bounce that I won't be able to take off of repeat.

You can stream and download the full remix via SoundCloud. And if you missed it, "Dru (Part 2)," which Mitch gave away towards the end of 2016, is still available for download.

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Jeremih & Chance The Rapper Gifted Us Their Latest Mixtape, 'Merry Christmas Lil Mama: Re-Wrapped'

One of my favorite holiday-themed projects from 2016 was Jeremih and Chance The Rapper's Merry Christmas Lil Mama. No, it's not just because DJ Spinn and Gant-Man produced the title track, but that is a big part of it. Mostly, it's because it was the perfect new school black holiday anthemic piece of excellence for the Christmas season.

The good brothers must have felt the same way, because they went back into the studio and cooked up nine more tracks for this expanded mixtape, Merry Christmas Lil Mama: Re-Wrapped. Standouts on the second disc, IMHO, include cuts like "Big Kid Again."

What's weird about all of this is that they played a bunch of cuts on Power 92.3 in Chicago, and while a bunch of radio rips ended up hitting the internet, Power's DJ Pharris had the clean versions of these tracks up on his SoundCloud for a few hours before Chance revamped his SoundCloud with these. Not sure what the situation was there, aside from beating the leak, but both discs are available for streaming below. You can also download the full project via Chance's site.

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Mixpack Comes Bearing Gifts In the Form Of Their 2017 Holiday Bundle

Mixpak is back and in the holiday spirit. Since 2013, the imprint—which specializes in bringing the sounds of dancehall and dance music together in exciting ways—has dropped an annual Holiday Bundle, and their 16-track 2017 Holiday Bundle will fit perfect into your holiday turn up playlists.

Not only will you find remixes of material from Future and Sean Paul, but we're getting everything from dope Jubilee remixes to Architect reworking a classic Timberlake instrumental, as well as Florentino's remix of Jubilee's "Wine Up," which has been streaming for about four months, and was even featured in Jubilee's Holy Ship! 2018 mixtape.

Stream Florentino's impressive "Wine Up" remix down below, and grab this year's Mixpak Holiday Bundle (as well as the packs going all the way back to 2013) via Mixpak.

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Hustle Emcee Takes Listeners On 'The Marvelous Pursuit of Peace'

The homey Hustle Emcee blessed me with a link to his ItsJustAhmad-mixed project, The Marvelous Pursuit of Peace a little while ago, and I've been sitting with it. Dude is really one of the cats you need to be listening to, especially if you're from The Town and need someone who speaks your language to properly knowledge you. He's one of the most humble cats I know, and one of the more wiser heads on the mic.

We actually got a glimpse of this via the "Major Keys" freestyle Hustle dropped in 2016, but who knew it'd turn into two of Trenton's titans locking horns in this mixtape? And for those of you who might need to listen to the individual freestyles on their own, Hustle dropped them in their own separate link. You're welcome.

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Donwill Released a Trio of Trap Kwanzaa Carols

Recently, the Another Round podcast held their Kwanzaa Spectacular in Brooklyn; I saw a pic Donwill shared on IG about a lit "Jingle Bells" song that he performed during the event, and he asked if he should drop it. I didn't say "fuck yes," but I replied with the swiftness, because what the hell? I know I don't celebrate Kwanzaa, but I'm not sure if any Kwanzaa songs are in my holiday playlists.

Well, that's changed now that Dondub's three-track Trap Kwanzaa Carols EP is available for the free. Don does exactly what it says on the tin, turning joints about dashikis and homemade cake into some of the most lit Kwanzaa anthems you never heard. Oh, and yes, "Jingle Boujee" is definitely a flip of Migos' 2017 anthem.

You want this amazing Kwanzaa-themed EP? Head over to Bandcamp and grab it, ASAP!

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Prince Paul Put Out a Free Album This Year and (Seemingly) No One Noticed

I can't hate on being busy...except for when my busy work schedule means I miss dope shit. Case in point, Prince Paul's The Redux, which was apparently a whole album from one of my favorite producers that dropped back in October. Not saying no one knew about it; Mass Appeal definitely premiered a track and posted on it, but I'm shocked that the #RealHipHop contingent that is all over my Facebook timeline wasn't hyping this. Shouts out to kris ex for bringing it to my attention, though.

How many albums find a way to feature the late, great Guru, Jean Grae, De La Soul, Def Squad, MF Doom and many, many more dope artists on the same project?! Paul can, because he's just that dude. Paul told Mass Appeal that he feels this is his best work in some time, and dropped the following description about the release: "I worked pretty hard on it and the concept is simply ‘getting a second chance to get it right.’ Upon listening you will get exactly where I’m coming from! Kind of cryptic but then again my work has always been." It would appear that The Redux is Paul's second attempt at his 2003 album Politics of the Business, which will end up putting a lot of things into perspective.

The Redux is available for free via Bandcamp, although it's in four separate MP3s as opposed to a tracked-out release. It's free, and comes with the promise of some new shit in 2018, so really, enjoy that.

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Lenzman and Dan Stezo Take It Back to 'The Boombox'

Lenzman has been on a roll with The North Quarter, especially when it comes to cooking up marvelous mixtapes. Their latest, "The Boombox," feels like an instant classic. Lenzman's a don when it comes to a particularly soulful drum & bass vibe. Add Dan Stezo on the vocal, on a day like today, when Winter Storm Benji is lightly coating part of the East Coast with snow? Puts you in some type of mood.

The mix is massive, and free; stream and download below. And if you love that artwork, you can win a hoodie with the art on it. Only thing missing is a tracklist, which you more than likely won't get. Happy hunting!

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Redman Is the Rap Oscar Madison, and This Compilation Proves It

While I know Ivan of Hip Hop Is Read is around, I know he hasn't been keeping HHIR as tidy as he could.  Hell, I go through the same shit. But it's dope to see that he returns with a BANGER of a compilation, highlighting how ill Redman has been...over the last four years. For as many jokers as there are out there sleeping on Red, it's funny to see a compilation that's 24-tracks deep showcasing all of the reasons why you shouldn't be sleeping on Doc right NOW!

The best part? Ivan got the idea from a stray comment in a Hot 97 interview. Stream the full project below.

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The Planet of the Drums Crew Assemble For a Drum & Bass 'Awakening'

While AK1200, Dieselboy, Messinian, and DJ Dara have been touring the world, preaching the drum & bass philosophy as Planet of the Drums since 2000, this new mix ('Awakening') is their first official mix...EVER. Spanning 81+ tracks (which include a number of teases), this mix clocks in at an hour and 37 minutes, and truly takes heads to another dimension. There's no time frame on track selection; you're being given teases of Remarc's "RIP" and Digital's "Deadline" alongside newer material from DC Breaks, Chase & Status, Dimension, and others. The set moves at full speed, doesn't take breaks, and is the perfect way to ride out a truly trying year.

This set is a perfect combination of the squad's collective strengths, and should be seen as a proper statement of intent from the crew. Stream and download the mix via SoundCloud, and bask in the glow of the tracklist down below.

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Cymarshall Law Remixed An Ed Sheeran Track

Wifey and I have been watching a fuckload of those FBE "React" channel episodes where the adults and teens they have on the payroll have to guess songs by a few seconds of audio. The other day, they played Ed Sheeran's "The Shape Of You," and while I couldn't figure out the name of the song, I knew I was a fan of the track...which was kind of surprising?

Almost as surprising as NJ's Cymarshall Law going for almost three moments over this slinky riddim about, what else, shorty who he's eyeing. Truth be told, if you're trying to holler at shorty, you might need to commit some of these lines to memory. She'll be impressed. Then pass her the MP3 and be like "here, this is how I feel about you." You're welcome. Stream and download below.

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DJ Cable's "Work" Flips a Hip-Hop Classic

DJ Cable's a certified favorite here at RTD for tracks like this. The UK-based DJ/producer/label head has an edge up on most, considering that he's a nimble-fingered DJ who knows how to properly slide in between the worlds of hip-hop and grime to create truly unique tunes for the heads on both sides. Riddle me this: who else would take the sample from East Flatbush Project's "Tried By 12" and turn it into this diced-up UK grime mastrerpiece? Add emcees Reece West and Grim Sickers to the mix and it's MURDAH!

Cable's not only giving away the vocal for "Work," but he's also giving you the instrumental, all for the free. What more could you truly as for?

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Holly (and Company) Journey Into the Future on 'Maggie Love'

Portugal's Holly has truly been on one. My homey Nappy put me onto his material back when we were still asking if androids could dance, and the prolific producer has netted himself everything from releases on SMOG, Firepower, Trekkie Trax, and other progressive imprints to winning A-Trak's first Goldie Awards.

For his next trick, he's aligned with SATURATE! to release his new EP, Maggie Love, featuring a number of talented producers: Starkey, Kraddy, and more. And because it's SATURATE!, it features a host of superfuture material and a stack of remixes, including an intoxicating rework from DJ Pound. The entire release (10 tracks, including remixes) feels like we're immersing ourselves in the future of sound. Dare to dive in.

You can grab the EP from SATURATE!'s Bandcamp page for free; it will only be available for a limited time for that price, so hop on this deal ASAPia.

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Westside Gunn Is Coming Off The Top Rope, "Finn Balor"

You ever been making a mix(tape) and wanted to slow the vibe down a mite, but couldn't find the track to do it? Westside Gunn's latest might be that one. Similar to how Ghostface can take a hypnotic, throwback loop and do a thug's waltz to it, Gunn comes off the top rope (similar to WWE superstar Finn Balor) on the Green Lantern-produced track. This isn't an elegant swan dive; Gunn's brutalizing the beat, stomping on top of it on some precision missile shit.

The best part? It's available for free. Enjoy that.

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