The Grouch- Three Eyes Off the Time New Album News

Those that know the man behind the Buffalo mask already understand who my favorite MC is-- The Grouch. Even though he has grown apart from his darker/introspective material that made me a huge fan, The Grouch continues to burst through the billowy boundaries set by the new generation of artists and to expand the creative lines of hip hop. Here is what he had to say about his new record, Three Eyes Off the Time, which is set to release on December 9th.

On December 8, 2009 I will be releasing my new project entitled, "Three Eyes Off The Time" . This project is me acknowledging what is going on in the world around me, and even though I utilize all the web tools available to me, I refuse to participate at the levels of  foolishness that have become the norm. I think that it's time that people relaize just how powerful we really are.

In today's maniacally fast paced, and highly interconnected world filled with 140 character updates, constant availabilty, and staggering voyeurism it is so easy to become overwhelmed with it all. This winter, I'm urging you to join me as I unplug and reconnect with the physical and spiritual world. I brought along my DJ, DJ Fresh , who is handling the production on the project, be on the look-out for a leaked single soon. Track listing is below.

PRE-ORDER: HERE

1. Intro
2. Daddy's Home ft. Rankin Scroo
3. Whatever I Say
4. I Love This Game
5. The Dangers of Online Dating
6. Make 'Em Think ft. Marty James
7. Allieverwantedwas
8. Weight of The World
9. Dreamin' 

 

Sareem Poems- Rude Awakening Remix ft. Ken Starr & Oddisee

After a critically acclaimed original release, Long Beach native Sareem Poems is releasing an unusually comprehensive Deluxe Edition of his album Black & Read All Over. The Deluxe Edition will include all fourteen of the original songs along with instrumentals for each track. The album's most unique feature, however, might be its remixes. Sareem chose to remix the album's centerpiece track, "Lower the Boom" not once or twice, but half a dozen times. Each remixed version of "Lower the Boom" was given a different name, and each features a different producer and new guest verses.

"Rude Awakening" is the first of the "Boom" remixes, and features typically fantastic contributions from DMV super-producer and Diamond District emcee Oddisee, as well as lyrical contributions from up-and-coming rapper DMV rapper Kenn Starr.

Download: Sareem Poems- Rude Awakening Remix ft. Ken Starr & Oddisee

Intuition- Al Bundy

Los Angeles MC (by the way of North Pole, Alaska), Intuition, lets loose a track from his upcoming "best of..." mixtape, Girls Are Gonna Like Me, which will be released towards the end of December. You can also find this smash hit off his upcoming solo record, Girls Like Me, due out the 1st quarter of 2010.

Download: Intuition- Al Bundy

ZKPRZ- ZKPRZ Free Album Download

The Others’, Madwreck (long time producer for Supastition/Kam Moye), Mattic (MC for Wax Tailor) along with Catt Magle (producer for Sonny Cheeba & Phonte) have released a free album called ZKPRZ. There are some really great samples on this record (Phantasmagoria & I'm Not Playin' especially). And in case you haven't already, be sure to peep one of my favorite "unknown" indie albums-- The Others- Past Futuristic. Dope Carolina hip hop.

Download: ZKPRZ- Insomnia II 
Download: ZKPRZ- I'm Not Playin'

Download: ZKPRZ- Phantasmagoria

Download Free Album: ZKPRZ

Whitefield Bros- The Gift ft. Edan & Mr. Lif

The Whitefield Bros. (formerly known as The Poets Of Rhythm) are a funk/soul/afro-beat group out of Germany that is re-connecting with Stones Throw Records to release their new album, Earthology, their long-awaited follow up to 2001’s In The Raw.

The track features two of my favorite Boston MCs, Edan and Mr. Lif, ripping up the bouncing tuba with their infectious and original flows.
 

Download: Whitefield Bros- The Gift ft. Edan & Mr. Lif

Blog Buzz [Nov. 8th- Nov. 15th]

BLOG BUZZ

Every week I will toss up a BLOG BUZZ post that contains the dopest independent tracks released on various blogs. Consider this your one-stop blogosphere filtration system where only the good shit survives. You can check back with the post by going to the WRITTENS tab above and selecting BLOG BUZZ.

November 8th- November 15th

Download: Black Thought- The Professional 
Notes: An unreleased Black Thought track that was floating around the interwebz. Probably my favorite MC of all time.

Download: Strange Fruit Project- Crash ft. Thesis 
Notes: SFP returns! The Lonestar rappers are preparing the release of their free EP, M.A.S.K. (Making Art Sound Kool), which drops November 17th.

Download: Slum Village- Dope Man 
Notes: SV's first single off The Villa Manifesto dropping December 8th.

Download: Souls of Mischief- Proper Aim (Prod. Prince Paul) 
Notes: Another leak off of Montezuma’s Revenge, their first album in almost a decade. The album, to be released on December 1st, will be produced by the world renowned, Prince Paul.

Download: Portable Playback- I Should
Notes: One of the good tracks from Soup (Jurassic 5) and Marc7's self titled album under the moniker, Portable Playback. Album is out now.

Download: The Clipse- Door Man
Notes: Banging track from all my hometown hip hop heroes from Virginia, The Clipse and The Neptunes, off The Clipse's upcoming album, Til The Casket Drops, hitting stores December 8th.

Download: Madlib & Guiltly Simpson- The Paper
Notes: Madlib is launching the Madlib Medicine Show, a once-a-month, twelve-CD, six-LP series. The Madlib Medicine Show will be a combination of Madlib's new hip-hop productions, remixes, beat tapes, and jazz, as well as mixtapes of funk, soul, Brazilian, psych, jazz and other undefined forms of music from the Beat Konducta's 4-ton* stack of vinyl.

Madlib Medicine Show No. 1 is Before The Verdict featuring Guilty Simpson, a 17-track album mixing remixes and new material, something of a prelude to Madlib & Guilty Simpson's forthcoming OJ Simpson album.

Kayo- Inner City Bootleg Vol. 1 Free Album Download

I'm sure all of you purists, backpackers, and boom bap fanatics already know that Europe and Japan are now the hip hop hot spots for Golden Era revival music and production. With a deep admiration for jazz and snap-bap drums, beatsmiths from overseas still embody the nostalgic sound that everyone remembers and cherishes.

Kayo, a relatively unknow French producer, has just released a free remix album that features the type of production I was talking about above. Putting his own spin on tracks from J-Live, Talib Kweli, Kev Brown, Jurassic 5, amongst others; Kayo adds a fresh, yet classic, twist on various hip hop tracks we have loved and bumped before.

Download: Kayo- Inner City Bootleg Vol. 1

1. Kayo - inner city blues part 1
2. Funkdoobiest - hip hop music
3. Wade Waters feat Az - speak on it
4. Blendcrafters feat Mf Doom - melody
5. J-live - brand nu
6. Blake9 and Count Bass D - gamble
7. Talib Kweli feat Dion - more and less
8. Krumb Snatcha - closer to god
9. Kayo - inner city blues part 2
10. The Game feat kanye west - wouldnt get far
11. Boom Bap Project feat Blackalicious - wyle out
12. Kev Brown - work in progress
13. Jurassic 5 - turn it out
14. Talib Kweli - listen
15. Kev Brown - say sumthin
16. Kayo - inner city blues part 3
17. Akrobatik - livinin the city

The Niyat- Us Video

Khalif aka (Synato Watts), D-ology aka (Dr.Mindbender),and Snap aka (ClayRed) are the The Niyat-- one of the Lonestar state's special secrets that needs to be heard. These visuals are from a song of their mixtape from this year, Raxus Prime, which is still available for a free download here.

Exile Video Interview

Ignantwitted interview with Exile to talk about his preference for working with unknown MC’s, his goal of bringing the West Coast back, his process of creation, and performing live with the MPC.

MC Paul Barman- The Moon ft. Masta Ace, Del the Funky Homosapien, & C-Rayz Walz

New track from one of independent hip hop's most fun MCs that we barely ever hear from, MC Paul Barman, featuring an exciting vocal triple scoop from the likes of Masta Ace, Del the Funky Homosapien, and C-Rayz Walz. This track is off of Barman's upcoming solo record, Thought Balloon Mushroom Cloud, which will be released on November 24th. UGSmag with the assist.

Download: MC Paul Barman- The Moon ft. Masta Ace, Del the Funky Homosapien, & C-Rayz Walz

Blockhead- Attack the Doctor + Which One of Your Jerks Drank My Arnold Palmer

Known for his slow build ups, crisp transitions, and cinematic beats, Blockhead is truly one of independent hip hop's most overlooked producers. From his scattered work with Aesop Rock (Appleseed (1999)-  None Shall Pass (2007)) to his two highly touted solo instrumental records, Music by Cavelight and Downtown Science, Blockhead has consistently dropped original hip hop compositions since his unveiling alongside Definitive Jux's outlandish orator.

Last week, like his three instrumental solo albums before, Blockhead released his new production record via Ninja Tune Records entitled, The Music Scene. Unlike Uncle Tony's Coloring Book, his solo album released in 2007, The Music Scene goes back to the Blockhead we all know and love-- methodical, brooding beats anchored with surprising transitions that will bring smiles to avid music fans faces.

Below are two tracks from the new album, which is available via digital download now and will be released in physical CD & vinyl form early in 2010.

Download: Blockhead- Attack the Doctor 
Download: Blockhead- Which One of Your Jerks Drank My Arnold Palmer

Blame One- Danger + Mr. Science

Is it just me, or does Blame One get better with age?

Blame is back and good news! He isn't barkin' from his chair at the retirement home. Instead, Blame One has let loose two new tracks from his upcoming mixtape, Leaks and Gemz, which will be available to the public in a couple of months. Also, as reported by PHIMB, Blame is teaming up with DJ Babu of the Beat Junkies to drop a collaborative LP some time in 2010. 

Download: Blame One- Danger

Download: Blame One- Mr. Science

Blog Buzz [Nov. 1st- Nov. 8th]

BLOG BUZZ

Every week I will toss up a BLOG BUZZ post that contains the dopest independent tracks released on various blogs. Consider this your one-stop blogosphere filtration system where only the good shit survives. You can check back with the post by going to the WRITTENS tab above and selecting BLOG BUZZ.

November 1st- November 8th

Download: Reks- Hennesy 
Notes: Playful track from the Boston MC off of his upcoming collaboration mixtape with Green Lantern & Statik Selektah entitled, Between the Lines.

Download: Buff1- When the Winter Comes (Prod. Damu the Fudgemunk)
Notes: Buff1 teams up with one of my favorite producers from the DMV, Damu the Fudgemunk, on a track off his upcoming mixtape, ‘It’s a 1derful Life’ (dropping Dec. 2).

Download: DJ KO- 80's Babies ft. East & Silent Knight
Notes: Latest single off DJ KO's upcoming Living Out A State of Mind v.1 EP, dropping next week (11/10)

Download: Cunninglynguists- Imperial ft. Freddie Gibbs 
Notes: Another internet leak off of Strange Journey Vol. 2 featuring Gary, Indiana's own, Freddie Gibbs.

 

Midnight Specialists- The All Nighter Free Album Download

Shout outs and apologies to taeOne. I totally forgot to post this! But, if you are a fan of brooding, borderline creepy production, tae absolutely killed this record with The Master. I'll let his words set the mood for you below:

"The Midnight Specialists consist of MC extraordinaire, the Master, and beat-smith taeOne. Their debut album, The All Nighter, is a brooding and cautionary tale of modern urban life in New York City. The Master provides personal insights and lyrical dexterity rarely seen in todays hip hop. taeOne’s soundscapes range from classic east coast boom bap to drum and bass.  The combination results in a display of a plethora of styles that manifests itself in the form of a struggle between cynical disdain and undying faith, dripping with chest-vibrating bass and wielding an edge of paranoia. Their style is rooted in the classic New York rap sound, with Boot Camp Click and Organized Konfusion being central influences. 

They begin the album with a scary and off putting rant from comedic legend George Carlin recorded shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This sense of dread is a central element of the album and provides the Midnight Specialists with the fury needed to make a classic New York City hip hop album."

Download: Midnight Specialists- The All Nighter

Intro
The First Hit (dusk)
Get Busy
Who It Is
The All Nighter
Mushmouth
I’m Doin It (produced by The Master)
What Do We Have Here
Dutches and Phillies Remix (feat. Reef The Lost Cauze, Lex, Amen)
The Ills
Look! It’s Shadow (produced by Suede Jury)
Anabolic
Six Feet Deep part II
The Ride Home (dawn)

Ohmega Watts Video Interview

If you all aren't up on producer/MC Ohmega Watts yet, do yourself a favor and check out his 2005 record, The Find.

Grounded TV interviews Ohmega Watts as he discusses his production workflow and his unique blend of live and electronic instruments. Ohmega also goes further into his philosophy about artistic personal responsibility and the influence of new technology, information sharing, and the current saturation of music.