This morning XXL Magazine debuted the first single from SP1200 producer Gensu Dean & Cali microphone legend Planet Asia. The track “Faces On The Dollar“ is the lead single off the upconing album “Abrasions“ to be released on Mello Music Group February 26th.
The album was produced entirely by Gensu Dean on the Jedi tool of choice – the SP1200 – while Planet Asia lays fire: “vibe on my scripture, ride to the pictures I paint, even the deaf, dumb, and blindcan entwine with this one.”Abrasions is 17 tracks long and features Grammy Award Winner David Banner, Tragedy Khadafi, and more. The album artwork was done by the amazing Flux Wonda outta Atlanta and gives a good sense of what Abrasions is all about.
This is a mix of just a few of Audible Doctor’s favourite tracks that he produced last year. He didn’t make a track list but the mix contains tracks, features, and remixes from Onyx, Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, Consequence, John Legend, Method Man, Freddie Gibbs, Homeboy Sandman, Journalist 103, Saigon, Chuuwee, Don Trip, REKS, Brown Bag AllStars, Blacastan, Wise Intelligent, Dres & Jarobi and more!
You know, considering this is in my top ten albums of the year (Taylor Swift being number 1) this review should have come out the week Too Many T’s released their debut mixtape ‘Early Necks & Round Grey’. Maybe though, I wanted to let it sink in yeah? Maybe I wanted to bask in Too Many T’s musical mastery eh? YOU DON’T KNOW.
Anyway.
As previously mentioned this is Too Many T’s first official release. For people unaware of the London duo I would say that if you enjoy Atmosphere, Beastie Boys, Jabbathakut, DJ’s actually djing (no button pressers please), a healthy dose of light heartedness and mid-90’s hip-hop, then you’re probably going to like these guys.
‘Earl Necks’ is a good representations of the group, plenty of lovely breaks, cuts and scratches that will please any vinyl head, mixed up with some weird little samples that you just wouldn’t expect (Check The Yardbirds’ hook on ‘For Your Love), and some samples that you might (‘Get Out My Life’ features a delicious Solomon Burke remix, yum, yum). Ignoring the lyrics for a second, its instrumentation on this release is fantastic (Yeah I used that word, big boot claims indeed), and that’s in part to the big list of contributors present throughout, such as Savage Henry, Mr Ozio, Seek The Northerner. For a full list check the group’s Bandcamp page. Although I’ve seen these guys live and the two swapped DJ and beatbox duties, along with their in-house beatboxing/DJing music machine, Pikey Esquire so they could well have produced a lot of their own tracks, skills kids.
On to the lyrical aspect of the record, yes it’s got a lot of humour, but no it’s not all gimmicks and vacuous content. If it really was then it wouldn’t have had the sticking power that it has with me since its release in the early winter. They manage to poke fun at investment bankers, discuss the pitfalls of a relationship that just isn’t working anymore all with the same self-aware, wry British dark sense of humour whilst still having a serious undertone. Simply put, they’re not trying their very hardest to demonstrate how totally serious and brooding their are on every single track (SENSITIVE ARTIST MODE!); seriousness does not always have to equate to being unhappy you know? Gosh, have a cup of tea why don’t you? Trust me, I have so many feelings; it’s okay to smile.
Usually for me, I’m not a big fan of skits and intros/outros. In fact once I put an album or EP on my computer, I immediately delete them. The skits on this release however are generally listenable and not just generic messy spoken pieces about being real hip-hop or how bad they are. They’re a mix of some fun beatboxing, and a weird little Snoop Dogg inspired one called ‘Tz & Hustlers’. I can’t believe that I actually enjoyed a skit, it’s been years I tell you, years.
Overall this is one of my favourite releases from 2012, and whilst I was a bit disappointed they didn’t put in ‘It Ain’t Right’ on the mixtape, this is still a generally memorable and gold release. Now go and get yourselves a copy, you have the blessings of the HHLAT staff, praise indeed eh?
Words: Aimee (For anyone who wants to argue about Taylor Swift being awesome, COME AT ME BRO)
For fans of Boogie Down Productions, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Jabbathakut, Beastie Boys.
Diamond District emcee Uptown XO teamed up with MTVhive to release the first single from his upcoming solo album “Colour de Grey”. The track, Finding My Way, was produced by A.B. The Pro and features a percussive funk loop that finds XO in an introspective mood – lyrically exploring all he’s been through – from childhood evictions and lost memories, to the battle for his soul: “Lost erything in life and had to start all over / I had to cope with the pain, no I can’t stay sober”
Middlesbrough Hip Hop duo Leddie and Smoggy are back with a brand new video and single release from their debut album – ‘Sorry We’re Late…‘ [Release date TBC]. ‘Walk the Line‘ is produced by Leddie, the female of the duo and includes added instrumentation by Gemma Haddow and Alex Bailey.
Video directed by Nathaniel Bygrave of Escape Route Media (@EscRouteMedia), Mixing and Mastering by Alex Bailey (@AlexIProduce), Cuts by Joe Sensation (@JoeSensation)
To request a censored version suitable for radio air play, please send an email including name, show times and radio website address to Contact@LeddieAndSmoggy.co.uk.
184 linked Pete Cannon for a remix of his track ‘Superman’ featuring King Kaiow, Sonnyjim and Jehst. Download this remix and instrumental for free here….
Starting the year off with a limited edition 45 Vinyl produced by DJ Spinna available on pre order next week. For now here is the sneak peek. The art of story telling is still alive, taking a page from Slick Rick and Nas, Shabaam Sahdeeq engages in a action packed story with the backdrop provided by DJ Spinna. Digi 12″ drops next week also with the B Side ‘Do You’.
Sha Stimuli recently released a collaboration album with Atlanta based production duo, Dynamite Bruhz. The project boasts notable features such as Planet Asia, Skyzoo, King Malachi of the Dungeon Family, Phene, + more… Check out Track #8 below…..
Sha Stimuli ft. Phene, Scienze, King Malachi, & Poodie the Byz – “Hold Me Down”
Sha Stimuli teams with production duo The Dynamite Bruhz for the last edition of his Rent Tape Series entitled The Present. The Rent Tape Series started in January of 2012 with The Calling and there has a been a new release every month since.
Sha’s series is finishing strong with his last two tapes working with Grammy Award winning producer FOCUS… on The Motion Soundtrack and now working with The Dynamite Bruhz, the team responsible for putting together official mixtapes for The Beatz & Lyrics Show, the A3C festival, & SXSW. The Dynamite Bruhz produced every track on the project with cuts from turntablist DJ Precyse.
The series has been supported so heavily by fans that Sha decided to make the last tape a gift to all those who have supported him this year so The Present will be available for free download. As part of his gift he enlisted the help of some of the dopest emcees around.
The project features Planet Asia, J Live, Reks, Boog Brown, Torae, Skyzoo, Big Pooh, Playboy Tre, 4ize, Midaz, Wordsworth, Jamall Bufford, King Malachi of the Dungeon Family, and many more.
Never one to bite his tongue for anyone REKS is starting this new year off with select words for those who extend one hand while holding the dagger in the other. Brought to you by garglegrenades.com, ‘Revolution Cocktail’ is a warm up for what promises to be another productive year for REKS .
With “Judas,” produced by California’s monster beatsmith Lee Bannon, we have the first leak off of REKS “Revolution Cocktail” mixtape which will be released on iTunes on 22-01-2013.
