R.O.E. "I Wanna Rock": Here's a lil' exclusive from the homey ROE for RTD, taking Snoop's "I Wanna Rock" as his own. Just a lil' example of what you'll find from his Just Listen Vol. 2: Prequel to the Dream mixtape, which will be dropping on rockthedub.com in due time. That of course is the teaser for his A Pen. A Mic. A Dream., which will also be coming to you skraight from the RTD war room. 2009 snuck by a lot of niggas, and 2010 will have some surprises as well.
Steve Rifkind speaks to Vlad Yudin about the early days of Loud Records and Label to Artist Relations
Iron African "Poison Ego": Here's the first leak from the Flawless Hustle compilation Money Isn't Real, which is set to drop on October 19th. This tape will be featuring heads like Versis, Blockhead, Crew 54, Keelay & Zaire, Mike Schpitz and more giving different interpretations on the theme of money not being real. Iron African (who reps Sweden by way of Uganda) came super correct with this first single. Hit up my post on FH for more info on this track, and the compilation as a whole, and be on the lookout for the next leak!
Not sure if you knew, but the production duo formerly known as The Amps... (who have had their productions featured on projects like the We Got The Remix edition of Mood Muzik 3, Mick Boogie & Terry Urban's Viva La Hova and other releases) have been reemerged, and christened themselves The 2:15's (to avoid possible legal trouble).
Chuck D speaks to Vlad Yudin about Big Pun, Fat Joe and The Latin Impact in Hip-Hop.
Nato Caliph ft. Vast Aire "LogarithMIC" (prod. by DJ Crucial): Last night I hit you with the final version of "Beer Summers"; this time, we have another leak from Nato's Knowledge + Cipher album. The previous leak featured Naledge, and this time 1/2 of Cannibal Ox, Vast Aire, drops his sinister bars on this lush beat from Crucial. Both MCs expound on being "slaves to the rhythm", and this cut demands repeat listens.
Nato Caliph ft. Earthworms "Beer Summers" (prod. by DJ Crucial): Yes, I know, summer's gone, and the Beer Tab EP has already dropped, but the homey Nato hit me with the final version of his contribution to the release, "Beer Summers". Find some fresh cuts on the chorus, and just an overall better-quality version of this banger. Crack a cold one and reminisce on the summer of 2009...
Gripz "Rap Revolution" (prod. by Anno Domini): Here's another lyrical exercise from Gripz. This is very hot off the press - he sent me an e-mail with this like 2 hours ago, and said he finished it not too longer before he sent it. Now here's the kicker: his Poetic Literature mixtape isn't out yet (he says its set to drop on Friday) - this cut is from Poetic Literature Pt. 2! You know how we do. Be on the lookout for that, and vibe out to this.
BK Cyph "Ode To Panamanian Cricket":On twitter the other day, I made a comment about how Lady Gaga's ass > Lady Gaga's face. The nigga BK Cyph hit me like "I don't really see the hype", and hipped me to THIS. I was definitely blown away - damn. I know of a few Panamanians, and I never seen them stacked like THAT! Cyph said he'd rhyme to any beat about Panamanian Cricket ass, and I hit him with Cassie's "Must Be Love" instrumental, early.
A few days ago some pics leaked online of some chicks at a Cricket game in Panama. FUCKIN AMAZING! Some folks are claiming photoshop and that may be the case, but I couldn't take that chance. I've already booked my flight to Panama City and I'm embarking on a Borat-like expedition- wish me luck. But before I left, I decided to write a little song about it for your listening pleasures. Oh yeah, shouts to Cassie and all the good folks in the dELiA*s mailroom. HA!
Enig'ma "Paranoid" (prod. by J-Rell): It's been a minute since I've dropped some shit from the Perfection Music camp, but with RTD's recent anniversary, Enig'ma laced me with this exclusive. Dude wastes no time smackin' niggas in the face with that real talk. Throw this on in the headphones and watch your face transform to a screw, early.
Scanz ft. Wesley Simpsun "Refined Soul" (prod. by Frank G): For those of you who pay attention to more than the bigger Hip-Hop blogs out there, you should've peeped the three joints that Rappers I Know previewed from Scanz' forthcoming FREE LP, The Basement Chronicle, which I'm told is going to drop on Monday. The LP has a heavy list of featured MCs (KRS-One, Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, Reef Da Lost Cauze, Chaundon and others), and should be a dope treat. The homey Sherm let me know that he'd have something exclusive for me, and of course he came through with the hotness in "Refined Soul", which sounds just like you'd think it would. It's about to be rainy here on the East Coast, and tracks like this are the soundtrack to rain-slicked city streets.
The Paxtons "4321": Here's an exclusive, skraight from Paxton Avenue. This cut, with its sly Boyz II Men sample, will not be found on their forthcoming album, but rocks nonetheless.
Big up to the hooded druid who passed this EP onto me. Got the word to let this 12-track release go, for the masses to have their appetites whet before a slew of new/remixed Killah Priest material comes. Fans of the Priest will DEFINITELY know what time it is, especially on the lyrics. Grab this and go huddle into a dark corner, pull on your hoodie and practice some escapism to this pack.
[01] Top Cat - The Sweetest Thing (Benny Page and Marcus Visionary Mix)
[02] Chase and Status - Music Club
[03] Dope Ammo and Shortston - Better Believe (Muffler Remix)
[04] Clipz - Loud and Dirty feat Shiv
[05] Cause for Concern - Never Acid Again (*Mayday's Pick for Tune of the Year*)
[06] Break - Is This What You Want?
[07] Shimon and Sparfunk - The Smoker
[08] Fortress - Captivity
[09] Noisia - Stigma
[10] Dieselboy, Evol Intent and Ewun - Midnight Express
01. Bjork - All Is Full of Love (Chris.SU Remix)DOWNLOAD rockthedub presents Just Jeryl
This isn't out yet, but it got sent to me in 2008 and it's literally one of the most beautiful tracks I've heard in a long time. Hungary's finest export since, um, whatever else the hell Hungary exports, slides in a smoothed out reese bass and subtle trance elements with Bjork's inimitable vocal stylings floating over the top. Stunning.
02. Break - Destiny Comes Ringing
Easily one of my favourite producers of the year, Break knows how to throw down proper dance floor destroying drum & bass that never delves into cheese. This piece on Commercial Suicide was a cornerstone of my sets from the moment I got my hands on a TP.
03. Chase & Status - Streetlife
These boys know a thing or two about diversity and this track from their debut album 'More Than Alot' is without doubt one of my favourites. Simple but highly effective, the bassline is deadly deep!
04. Alix Perez - Stray
I've loved Alix' tunes for a long time but something about 'Stray' grabbed me more than usual for some reason. Maybe it's the pure simplicity, the effortless class that seems to drizzle itself over the edges of this track. Who knows, or cares? Beautiful music.
05. Spectrasoul - Alibi
My boys Spectrasoul have been on fire for a good while now. 'Alibi' is easily their best tune in my opinion though, it's just got absolutely everything you could want, a touch of soul, nice production and some filthy bass. This one dropped on Kasra's Critical Music label earlier this year.
06. Brookes Brothers - Tear You Down
Oh lord! Easily the biggest drum & bass track of the year, played by everyone and their mother including daytime playlisting on Radio 1, this track is a fat slab of unashamed dancefloor goodness. Brimming with hefty beats and bass all topped with a slight sprinkling of cheese which is enough to get your mum bopping along to it while not turning your stomach in disgust.
07. Telemetrik & Black Sun Empire - Magnet
I nearly pissed my pants when I first heard this beauty. Released on Telemetrik's debut album 'My Lightyear', this one is absolutely disgusting and features more twists and turns than a labyrinth designed by Escher.
08. Break - Is This What You Want?
I wanted to add a track from Break's rather awesome album and this one instantly stood up and begged to be included. The bass on this one when it drops is just stupid, so incredibly heavy it's not even funny.
09. Unknown - Greater Love
I heard this track on one of Kasra's studio mixes ages and ages ago but it finally came out on a sneaky white label this year and it practically made me moist with excitement. Such a great little bootleg, now, if someone could just remind me what the original is, it's been doing my head in for weeks!
10. Roni Size & DJ Die - Music Box (Sigma Remix)
Without doubt one of the finest updates of a track I've heard in a long time. When I first heard "Music Box remix..." and "Sigma" in the same sentence I was a little concerned as I'd only heard quite in your face dancefloor tracks from them, which is fine, but not what you want in a remix of a jungle classic. Thankfully they completely respected the original and worked out a tidy little rework that supposedly closes the book on the Full Cycle release schedule for good.
11. D.Kay - Wax'd (Remix)
My favourite Austrian steps up with a massive rework of 'Wax'd' for the Metalheadz Platinum Series album, and it doesn't disappoint. So many good tracks on that LP but this one overshadows them all for pure amen and LFO bassline fun. Dutty like Ken (that one's for you, XO).
12. Zero T ft. Steo - Walk Away
Literally made sex mess in my pants when I first heard it. The sampler to Zero T's incredibly Irish debut album 'Cheap Shots' released on CIA earlier this year, this one is all about that incredible vocal and warm, warm bass notes. Slick liquid business.
Finally...
I only made this mix 12 tracks long for a few reasons, firstly because I'm marginally lazy, secondly because I thought it was rather neat that it represented a different track for each month of the year, but thirdly because there were so many other great tunes I just couldn't fit in for one reason or another, either they just didn't mix in key or the vibes were too different etc. So to finish things up I want to shout out to Apex and the Lifted Music crew, definitely wanted to slip something from them in, and Blame for 'Stay Forever', I didn't even include any of my Westbay releases so a big shout to Nathan and all the family. Can't wait to hear my favourite tunes of 2009!
01 Q-Tip "Move"
02 A Tribe Called Quest "Oh My God"
03 Oddisee ft. Buckshot "Where I Be At"
04 Black Moon "I Got Cha Open"
05 Ice Cube "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It"
06 Ice Cube "Check Yo Self (remix)"
07 Common "Gladiator"
08 Common Sense "Soul By the Pound (remix)"
09 Pete Rock "Don't Be Mad"
10 Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth "Lots of Lovin'"
11 Method Man & Redman "Broken Language 2008"
12 Wu-Tang Clan "M.E.T.H.O.D. Man"
13 Redman ft. Oh No "Lay You Out"
14 Redman "Tonite's Da Nite"
15 Scarface "High Powered"
16 Scarface "I'm Black"
17 The Alchemist ft. Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss & Pusha T "Lose Your Life"
18 Snoop Doggy Dogg "Gz and Hustlers"
19 Saigon ft. Lil' Fame "World War IV"
20 M.O.P. "How About Some Hardcore"
