East coast emcee vets Edo. G and Shabaam Sahdeeq release a video for their “Play To Win” single. Directed by Eye Grustle the video captures the duo in their hometowns of Boston and Brooklyn (respectively). For fans of 90’s hip-hop, this black & white no-nonsense, beats & rhymes style video hits the spot!
Also making appearances is Torae who provides a guest verse and DJ Eclipse who adds some turntable work on the hook. “Play To Win” is taken from the recently released Recognize Your Power EP pairing Edo and Shabaam. Released via Loyalty Digital Corp and is produced entirely by emcee/producer Fokis (MC Eiht, Grandmaster Caz, N.O.R.E, Sadat X, Canibus). Besides Torae and DJ Eclipse, other guests on the release include Ras Kass, Oh No, Planet Asia and Craig G.
Check out the new video for the DSOTM track ‘SEPTEMBER’, produced by Noize Theivery and featuring the talented CW Jones on the hook. DSOTM (Dark Side Of The Moon) are a UK collective consisting of Menace Mendoza, FlowTecs, Gordo Templi, Dragon Priest, Nomad, Joey Menza and Dr.Voodoo. ‘SEPTEMBER’ is taken from the sick DSOTM album ‘The Echo Chamber’. Get it here….
Dope UK producer and DJ Harry Love recently uploaded this previously unreleased track ‘COPPERS IN DISGUISE (CID)’ onto Youtube featuring talented North London emcee Ramson Badbonez.
Harry said about the joint “One of the many songs we did for the album that never saw the light of day. I would say this is my favourite one we did and the lyrics are especially prevalent today and sadly for a long time to come.”
‘Recognize Your Power’ the collaboration EP between Boston legend Edo. G and Brooklyn’s Shabaam Sahdeeq was released a few weeks back entirely produced by NYC’s emcee/producer Fokis. The EP also features guest appearances from Ras Kass, Oh No, Planet Asia, Craig G, Torae and DJ Eclipse. It is safe to say, this is a project all true Hip-Hop heads will be able to appreciate.
Speaking on the title of the EP, Fokis elaborated saying “one has the freedom and ability to do as he or she pleases. You can work hard or play hard, you can make this kind of music or make that kind of music. The choice is yours. It’s all about the free will of man and what you choose to do with your power.” The EP is available on iTunes, Spotify and all other digital retail outlets.
Lifted from one of my favourite albums of the year as Detroit production meets Brooklyn storytelling. For many of us “Jordan’s & A Gold Chain” were all we wanted growing up. At times, aspiration couldn’t be more simple. Listen as Skyzoo takes you through his neighborhood over soul stirring production from Apollo Brown. Directed by Diego Cruz and shot in Calvan Fowler’s “Jordan Heads” shop.
“When I wrote this song, the idea was to really zero in on what we were told as youngins’ in my neighborhood what was important. To us, the small wins of a pair of Jordans and a gold chain meant the world, and with that in mind some of us lived on a “by any means” aspect and did whatever it took to fulfill those desires. Whether right or wrong, we all aimed for the same things where I’m from, and this record is a testament of those moments.” – Skyzoo
“Sonically I wanted to give this record something that was minimal, gritty, and straight to the point; almost underproduced. Skyzoo did his thing, talking about a topic that I think we can all relate to as younger folk. It was always a goal to be one of the “haves”, instead of the “have-nots”. Jordan’s and a Gold chain gave that representation.” – Apollo Brown
Buy the super dope album “The Easy Truth” on all formats
Shady affiliates Royce Da 5’9″ and Ca$his join Orlando’s Tripl3 Threat, the first group to sign to Ca$his’ Bogish Brand Ent, on their debut single “Road 2 Riches” off their self-titled album “Tripl3 Threat”. Check out the banger produced by Rikanatti & Black Cloud.
iTunes: Tripl3 Threat – ‘Road 2 Riches’ (feat. Ca$his & Royce da 5’9”) – Single – https://itun.es/i6hz63C
‘Green Grass’ is the second music video from Manchester rapper Afro Sam’s debut project ‘Rogue EP’. Produced by Pro P, this up tempo ode to Mary Jane is certainly the catchiest track on the EP. With a fun and colourful visual to accompany, this one is sure to please the smokers and rap fans alike.
Video by Ellis Meade & Kydro
‘Rogue EP’ is OUT NOW for ‘Name Your Price’ download here
Today marks the day that UK rapper Skrabl’s highly anticipated album ‘The Emperor’s New Garms’ drops. Adam was fortunate enough to be hit up with an early copy of this dope release. Here’s what Adam had to say about it…..
Skrabl comes with his new album ‘The Emperors New Garms’, produced by Oozhe. This album is SICK! End of review, send to Stix….. Nah lets actually get right into this because it’s worth some serious attention.
There are a few things that you can’t buy and a couple of those things are heavily involved in making TENG the reload laden, top spot on the rotation stealing entity that it is. Before I tell you what they are, and I bet you’re on the edge of your seat, I honestly wanna just say I’m not saying this for sake of review fodder, these are my truths (Holla Aimee). So you ready then? . . . Aside from talent being the essential tone of this release, its got PERSONALITY and DEDICATION at the centre of it and it is obvious from the jump. 14 tracks that are put forward with zero filler, and zero half arsed bars over zero half arsed beats. Essentially just natural and meant to exist.
Let’s have a wee chat about Skrabl if we may because there’s a lot of people vying for your ear drums with words, so sometimes even someone with frankly undeniable style and talent can be missed, and TENG should be where everyone realises. With a tongue in cheek cynicism that’s laced with layers of depth and hope, the lyrical content of these tracks is masterfully worked and crafted. Throughout this album keeping true to his own character and being honest and straight talking with a tenacity for turn of phrase, Skrabl takes the respect that he’s rightfully earned, multiplies it and evolves. Multi syllable control level – calm killer. With a vast vocabulary befitting of his moniker but yet a complete lack of pretentious long wording, Skrabl steps to every track with thought and precision I don’t really like to break down tracks because I just want to encourage you to listen to it for yourself, but ’26 Letters’ is so dope that as a writer myself I just go ahhhhhh that execution of concept is bang on.
So that’s the review then OH WAIT NO THE PRODUCTION IS LEVELS. Oozhe? I’ll tell you who he is, this is a dude who’s currently relentlessly marking out his name with varied production style and professionalism. These here beats on this here album are, . . wait . . , these here instrumentals on this here album, . . hold on . . , this here MUSIC on this here album bangs. Crisp and well structured production from Oozhe on this was almost to be expected at this point, but still I was shown new things and I did the face umpteen times, you know the face. You could easily be forgiven for assuming it was a group of producers on this album because of the different styles and therein lies the ability.
Available through True Unity Records and featuring Dotz, Gee Bag, Flo, Wordsmiff FLIP and Si Phili, ‘The Emperors New Garms’ is gunning for your playlists. Buy the CD if you like the album, can’t stress that enough!
Words; Adam
Get Skrabl’s ‘The Emperor’s New Garms’ Digitally here
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