It has been two years since Brooklyn rapper Mic Handz has released a project! The wait is over after “The Prelude” officially dropped earlier this month!
Although this is not an album, this project does speak volumes for itself. Mic Handz has enlisted barbarian support from notable emcees like Ruste Juxx, Rockness Monsta, Sadat X, Tragedy khadafi, Innocent?, Dready Kruger, General Steele, (The late great) Sean Price and more.
The production has been handled by the international arsenal of beat makers such as Dichter 2 Productions, Cool FD, Aarron “Freedom” Lyles, Lyve 1-OH and Ozee. This is THE PRELUDE to what is coming! This is the personal playlist and travel log bumping in the headphones of Mic Handz! Remember in the words of Handz himself, “It’s never me it’s always them”!
‘Cool & Fresh’ is a collaboration between West Sussex rappers Adam Turner and Mister.Smith originally released as a limited CD release in April. Hard copies sold out quick and the duo have now made it available digitally as a Deluxe Edition with four bonus joints not on the CD.
Holding down the cuts and hosting ‘Cool and Fresh’ is Mista Offkey who back in 2013 introduced the two rappers on his radio show.
This isn’t roadman rap, or conscious Hip Hop, this is just two rappers having fun displaying witty lyricism, catchy hooks and demonstrating the ability to switch flows delivering dope bars and differing rhyme schemes over some self produced joints and beats from Production Prophets, Anno Domini, Mario Pro, CrackheadCircus. Alchemist The Collection. ‘What You Braggin’ About’ taken from Krystal Gob’s self titled EP.
‘Cool & Fresh’ kicks of with three favourites ‘It’s Hip Hop’, ‘Scratch It’ featuring Mista OffKey and ‘What We Do’ with both emcees going in. ‘So Many Words’ is a really catchy joint with both of them going in with a barrage of lyrics. The pace slows with the track ‘Shadows’ a reflective track from the pair about over coming life’s struggles.
The track ‘Hunnid$’ while that style of ‘Trap’, ‘Swag’ rap I find so annoying, you gotta take that at face value as this is a parody joint, mocking all those rappers that claim to be stacking ‘Hunnid$’
Also look out for the bonus tracks ‘L.T.L’ and ‘Life’ and grime inspired ‘What Ya Braggin’ About?’. This is a solid release from the duo that brings together various styles reflecting flavours of the old and new.
I’ve seen Adam develop from a young aspiring rapper, and make continuous progress with his pencraft and delivery and only expect better things to come. I’ve been critical of Adam in the past, but that was more to do with the selection of beats on his last project, but I’ve never doubted his rapping abilities. This is the first time I’ve heard Mister.Smith and was impressed with his bars and flows and both emcees ability to create catchy hooks.
Enough waffle from me, check it out for yourselves! You can get ‘Cool & Fresh’ on Bandcamp as a name your price’ download so technically you can get it for free, but just remember a lot of hard work goes into putting these releases together.
As they prepare for the early 2016 release of ‘Oak Dreams’, an EP of brand new material together, Benny and Able bring you the ‘Life Re:Moved’ remix project. For this collection they reached out to some of their favourite producers to rework ‘Life Moves’, their 2013 debut on the Boom Bap Professionals imprint.
Featuring remixes from Luca Brazi, Dusty Ohms, Pete 1st Blood, Bambu Hands, Blue Buttonz, Diger Rockwell, Rude Lead, Ragu The Dog Walker, Brother Beatbox, Ro Jista & Gadget.
Stream and download the release for free/ name your price on Bandcamp here
With the 25th Anniversary deluxe edition of ATCQ’s debut album ‘People’s Instinctive Travels’ and the ‘Paths of Rhythm’ fresh in stores, three of the legendary rap crew’s four founding members (yes, four—don’t sleep on Jarobi!) turned up to kick it with Mass Appeal.
They talked about trying to shop their demo tape at a time when labels weren’t quite ready for their fresh approach to the art form, their camaraderie with the other members of Native Tongues movement, and what’s up with those long-winded titles. Plus, in a worldwide exclusive, Phife finally reveals the identity of the real Bonita Applebum.
People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (25th Anniversary Edition)
Dave drops some heavy bars for SBTV the realness he delivers is on point and he’s only just turned 17, definitely one of the new youngers to watch out for in the future!
hiphoplifeandtimes 