I first heard Zo! on the project Zo! and Tigallo Love The 80’s, and then saw him live with the Foreign Exchange a few months ago.  The guy oozes musical talent, and this EP is another showcase of his skills.  He enlists Foreign Exchange family members Darien Brockington, Yazarah, Carlitta Durand & Phonte to help create this collection of cover songs.  My favorite track is the cover of Bobby Caldwell’s ‘Flame’, which I admittedly only knew from being sampled on Biggie’s ‘Sky’s The Limit’… but hey, that’s how you learn.

Download: ZO! – …just visiting too

See what ?uestlove, 14KT (of Athletic Mic League & Mayer Hawthorne affiliation), & Mick Boogie have to say:

The new project from Fitts and Tilla has arrived, and it’s sure to be a banger.  Thanks to URB.

Tracklist
1. Revelation In Slow Motion
2. Walking Dream
3. Robot Rage
4. Wath For White Noise
5. Merry Go Round
6. Somewhere A Mountain Is Moving
7. Killing Yourself To Live

DOWNLOAD: The Kickdrums – There Might Be Blood EP

Previously:
The Kickdrums – Waking Dream
Video Preview: The Kickdrums – Things Work Out
The Kickdrums – Just A Game EP

Jay Smooth writes:

Working my way back to hip-hop topics, and LJ is down with the ROC so this gets me halfway there. The target of his tweet epithets (twepithets? ok maybe not) posted quite a thoughtful response on his blog, which I might come back to later. 

Lupe shed the fat at FNF, and then started rapping his ass off over other people’s beats. This time he picks apart the Timbaland-produced Drake song, ‘Say Something’.

“Eye up in the sky like helicopter cams
And you down there in the traffic jam
From here, I’ve seen a bunch of fake shit like avid wrastling fans”

Download: Lupe Fiasco – Say Something

The general consensus is that without this cypher and the Goodie Mob reunion, the _._._. Hip Hop Awards would have just been a Gucci Mane showcase.  I know I’m not alone in imagining this trio of MC’s on a track together for years upon years. Prayers were answered with an Em, Mos & Thought cypher with DJ Premier on the decks.  Even better.

Again, early consensus says Em > Mos > Thought (and Tariq is one of my favorite MC’s, so this says a lot)

I’m excited for Mixtape’s Weezy’s return, which came earlier than expected today.  But no one should be allowed to listen to that, until they listen to fellow New Orleans native, Jay Electronica.  If you’ve never heard him, this song is a good one to start with… produced by Just Blaze.

“I’m bringing Ancient Mathematics back to modern man/
My Momma told me never throw a stone and hide your hand/
I got a lot of family, and you got a lot of fans/
That’s why the people got my back like the Verizon man/
I play the back, and fade to black, and then devise a plan/
out in London, smoking, vibin, while I ride the tram…”
(full lyrics at RappersIKnow)

Download: Jay Electronica – Exhibit C (radio rip)

Since I first posted about the Just A Game EP prior to listening, it has become one of my all-time favorite albums.  Matt Tilla creates soundscapes no one earth-dweller can deny, and Alex Fitts knows how to pen a song that will stay imprinted on your brain for weeks. Plus, they used to get it in Ohio…. © Killa!

Here’s the first song from the highly anticipated There Will Be Blood EP, out 10/29/09.

Download: The Kickdrums – ‘Walking Dream’

Watch the trailer (with hidden tracklist throughout):

There. Is. No. Greater. Love….. than to hear new Blu & Exile tracks performed live.  Exile is a monster on the MPC. I sometimes don’t give enough credit to his craft because I’m so caught on Blu’s wordplay & imagery.

Here is 49 minutes of live awesomeness from CMJ 2009 in NYC last week. It’s starts with a nice verse from Pharaoh Monch, who is also hosting.  Blu & Ex only rock for 10 min or so.  The rest is Large Professor spinning some classic NY records, Dilla, and other heat you’d expect from a legend like Large Pro.

Right click and save to Download: Can I Get You High Podcast (CMJ 2009)

Big thanks to VTECH for the link.

(via alpha’s blog)

This is the live, acapella version of Middle of The Street, one of my favorite songs from alpha.  If you have alpha.live & DOPE Couture Present: Steal From The Rich, you should be familiar with this clip from the last track on the mixtape.  If you don’t have it, just quickly download it, and no one will judge.

“I mash out more posses than Billy & Fame/sucka-MC’s rock ice, but they’re really in flames”

Jay Electronica was 1/5 of the reason I started this blog, in case you forgot.

Download: Jay Electronica – Suckas (prod. by Dilla)

Who cares about that little 8-12 month bid coming up, three songs from the upcoming No Ceilings mixtape leaked.  Apparently, Jay’s “… I might give this to the Mixtape Weezy” on ‘D.O.A.’ lit a fire, because he’s spitting like it’s the Drought series.  Clearly… when’s the last Weezy post you’ve seen around here?

DOWNLOAD: Lil Wayne – Run This Town
DOWNLOAD: Lil Wayne – Wasted
DOWNLOAD: Lil Wayne – Swag Surfin’

I can’t tell you how happy this makes me because A) Chappelle is doing new material, and B) I’ve said similar things about The Secret, after being forced to read the chapter about visualizing your bills as checks! Lol..

Can’t wait for a full stand-up special.  We just might be okay…. after all….. sun gon’ shine….

It’s been an interesting 11.5 months since XXL’s ‘The 10 Freshmen’ issue hit newsstands.  Over the year, we’ve seen instant stardom for some (Cudi), stumbles and falls for others (Charles), and few notable omissions from the guest list all-together (Drake).  Love em or hate em, these youngn’s are paving new paths in the game.

You should be familiar with the OG’s of  Twitter Fights, Complex Mag.  (Eminem vs. Nick Cannon, Jim Jones vs. Ne-Yo, Will.I.Am vs. Perez, Shyne’s first day out…. classics).  Taking a page from the Complex playbook,  a Fake Twitter Fight Reunion seemed more than appropriate to catch up with the Class of ‘09.   All the graduating Frosh agreed, and gathered to celebrate a year of Sonic losing his rings, the Moon Man crooning, Hangovers, collabs, beef & much more! La chaim!

‘Freshman 10′ Twitter Reunion*:

@Wale DC, whatup? Freshmen, whatup? Been a whole year since the XXL cover. That’s wild… we about to be sophomores! lol.  whats errbody been up to?

@CurrenSy_Spitta tree

@asherroth @CurrenSy_Spitta shoulda been on the Great Hangover tour with us, it was hella fun, mad kush

@kidcudi @asherroth raaaaaaaaaagggggggeeeeee!!  Crazy times with the broskis

@bobatl @kidcudi @asherroth maaan, that Atlanta show shut shit down! Remember shorty in the pink heels at the afterparty?? Lol

@asherroth @bobatl @kidcudi I’m nice right now… what about when my boy drew a penis on my other dude’s face when he passed out drunk… shit was classic

@MickeyFactz Truthfully: I’m feelin a little left out of this convo

@MickeyFactz Sad Really: but that’s just how I feel.

@Wale yeah, let’s hear from everyone else………… kthxbye

@CurrenSy_Spitta roasted

@charleshamilton @Wale don’t really feel like talking… layin low, bro. haven’t been on Twitter since June

@Wale @charleshamilton aint nobody talking to you, jo.

@charleshamilton @Wale so no collab? Too bad… was just cookin up some heat in the studio with JMJ

@Wale @charleshamilton Jam Master Jay?! #fuckouttahere, Haley-Joel Osment …

@herfavcolor ayo,iontusuallygetonhere, butletsutilizethisgroup and sharesuc(Cess)storiesEtCetera.LOVEsongs,plethora

@Wale @herfavcolor ok…. I learned a GaGa or Gucci can put my name in new circles… #burrrrr

@MickeyFactz Truthfully: just watch my Youtube video explaining what happened with Raekwon & Joey

@iamkidcudi I learned to step away from all this nonsense for a bit broskis.  Deleted my Twitter today…

@bobatl @iamkidcudi then how’d you just tweet? You retiring again?

@iamkidcudi @bobatl I deleted my old one @kidcudi, and just started this one to let yall know… and Pat may or may not be running the @realkidcudi account

@bobatl @iamkidcudi oh ok.. thought you might be doing a name change like I did with bobby ray & b.o.b.  it’s confusing… Mike Bigga sold me on it, but I’m second-guessing now

@iamkidcudi @bobatl Mike who?

@CurrenSy_Spitta I waketh, I baketh….

@corygunz @CurrenSy_Spitta ni**a, you been awake!  Just playin… what up yall, you hear when @souljaboytellem said I was on another stratosphere?… shits bout to get serious in 2010

@iamkidcudi @CurrenSy_Spitta you tweet bout trees more than I sing bout em! lol  you #inthesestreets?

@CurrenSy_Spitta I fell sleep at the stu… needed tree to get back up. Personally, im lookin forward to my ni**a Ace Hood’s release, when that drop?

@acehood954 @CurrenSy_Spitta RUTHLESS IN STORES NOW!…. or just call 954-928-5555, my dude will get you a copy. Dropped in Jan

@CurrenSy_Spitta @acehood954 oh. my bad

@drakardnoir just wanted to say you are all talented… and I don’t think I’m better than none of yall. Much respect

@acehood954 @drakardnoir I mean, We The Best!, but in actuality, you’re much better than me

@jcolenc just want to go on record and say I’m not mad that @kidcudi got to perform with Jay at the Garden… not sweatin it

@kidcudi @jcolenc yo man, I deleted this twitter, you gotta reach me at @iamkidcudi or @realkidcudi

@Wale allllllright folks, we’re out of time. this was a good reunion. @corygunz whatup, @CurrenSy_Spitta whatup, @MickeyFactz whatup, @kidcudi whatup….

@herfavcolor (hits Wrap It Up box) wegotitman… justSaveTime,and say errrbody,whatup

*conversation not real

The legendary Judge over at Vinyl Meltdown posted a nice little MIX to get you hip to The Tornado Alley, the world’s first Twitter supergroup.  Yeah, I said it.  You’ll hear the story soon enough… In the meantime, head over to VM and download these tasty mp3’s.

VM: Introducing: The Tornado Alley [mix]

If you’re a Twit, follow the The Tornado Alley: Rusty Redenbacher, E Dot Spencer, Mr. Kinetik, Firearms, alpha.live, & A SkyWalker.