My man Trek Life is not playing.  This is the Year of the Trek, and with his latest album, Everything Changed Nothing, there is no questions about that.  I heard So Supreme from ESPN, and a few other tracks here and there.  The day the album hit stores Trek’s in-store at Fat Beats, I bought the album right then and there.  On Everything Changed Nothing  Trek teamed up with super producer Oddisee to bring you this heavy hitting, west coast inspired album.  I’ve had it in heavy rotation since.  To me, Everything Changed Nothing is an uplifting, inspiring, and a motivating album.  Due West, Wow, & So LA will make you get up and move.  Trust me, you’ll have it in heavy rotation soon enough.  Buy Trek Life – Everything Changed Nothing at Fat Beats or your local record store.  BIG thanks Trek Life & Oddisee for making a great album, and BIG shout to DJ Buddy and J. Bizness.

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Trek Life – What It Is (Cuts By DJ Buddy & Prod. Hudson Mohawke)

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Trek Life – So Supreme (Prod. Oddisee)

Bonjay had me at the first siren.  A lot of bass & a lot of soul are mixed up with dancehall rhythms and indie electronic sounds to get the sound that will be featured on Broughtupsy, the full-length release from the Toronto-based duo of producer Ian “Pho” Swain & singer, Alanna Stuart.  Bonjay draws a lot of comparisons to M.I.A. & Santigold.  I hope they do indeed go for the win and take their place among these artists.

Download the track Stumble and be ready for that upcoming Labor Day Cookout!  Hit them up on Twitter and let ‘em know what you think!

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Bonjay – Stumble

If you live in LA, you have seen this cat VerBS.  Rocking shorts, a backpack, and the signature red beanie he’ll break out a flow if the mood is right… which is most of the time you see him. VerBS is a real chill and down to earth guy.  The other day I got an email with some info and a link to The Progress Ep 2: Fuck YEa MAn, and I’ve been rocking ever since.  It’s a collection of collaborations, remixes and some unreleased material by VerBS.  SLik d, Sevenday, Versis, Nocando, Alpha MC, Cloud, Vann Clayton, and L.Scatterbrain just to name a few folks featured on The Progress Ep 2: Fuck YEa MAn.  Trust me, I would have bought this if he was selling it.  Download VerBS – The Progress Ep 2: Fuck YEa MAn on BandCamp and check him out on MySpace.  BIG thanks to VerBS for making the music. Keep at it man.

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VerBS – Sing my Song ft. Brezzy Love Joy (prod. Block Cheddar)

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VerBS – Im on ft. Nocando (prod. Thavius Beck)

Sometimes when I catch up on listening to stuff, I think everyone has it already. Well if you already have Dollabin – Styles You Can’t Afford, then this is just a refresher on how dope it is.  And Dollabin’s Styles You Can’t Afford is timeless.  It doesn’t matter how old you are, or which genre of hip hop you’re all about, this will get you grooving without a care in the world.  DJ Ian Head’s jazzy tracks with Verbal Math’s lyrical skills makes for a great combo.

“We love records. As people continue to download mp3s like eating french fries, we wanted to try and make the release of our music a memorable experience, like pulling a classic record from the crate. Similar to jazz albums of the past, we’ve added a set of liner notes, to bring a little more context to each song. We’ve also made individual songs available for download, in addition to the full album. We hope you enjoy.
–  DJ Ian Head & Verbal Math aka Dollabin

Download Dollabin – Styles You Can’t Afford here, and check out projects on Dollabin.com and EveryDayBeats.net. BIG thanks DJ Ian Head and Verbal Math for making the music.

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Dollabin – Welcome

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Dollabin – Motion

“FIVE – A conceptual art show that will feature five forms of art: spoken word, music, art/graphic art, photography and dance.  Providing a full house artistic environment, an event that brings together lovers of all types of art & vision.” — Mykisha

Friday, August 20th is going to be an exploration of the arts hitting all your senses.  Nothing but good times.  There’s going to be performances by Trek Life, J. Bizness, Mykisha Thomas, and on the 1′s & 2′s DJ Buddy just to name a few folks.  At FIVE there’s going to be something for everyone, so bring your fun loving souls and your dancing shoes to Gallery 1018.  Click here to buy tickets.  BIG thanks to Mykisha for the heads up.

Friday Aug. 20th // Doors open @ 8pm

Tickets $10 , at Door TBD

Gallery 1018

1018 South Santa Fe Avenue Los Angeles, Ca

I got an email from this cat Keon Supreme, letting folks know that he was dropping his mixtape Supreme.  In the email he also expressed he had lost and gained from making this album.  Reading the email made me jump into it right away.  Knowing the effort it took to make this project come to light, I really felt the sincerity in each song.  When I got to The Flow (produced by Jansport J), I cranked up the volume.  I knew this was going to be an emotional rollercoaster when I got to Love Me Again (produced by Seven 4).  Supreme is worth the listen.  Check out Keon Supreme on Twitter and download Keon Supreme – Supreme on BandCamp.  BIG thanks Keon for the heads up.

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Keon Supreme – 24Hr Quik-E Mart ft. Kaleem “Sincere” Wasif

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Keon Supreme – In Due Time ft. Poetik Force

Tommy Blak (Treklife‘s DJ) posted something on Twitter about a reunion record from The Artifacts.  In turn, I shared the video of  C’mon Wit Da Git Down (1994) with the twitternets.  While listening to the track, I started thinking of another, more recent track that employed the same sample – Lo’ Sweatas, by Project Mayhem.  While debating the merits of making a Cabazon run to get my ‘lo up for the fall, I gave their video a play.

I started wondering if they released other records, or if they went out like Leaders of the New School (via Ustream, instead of YO! maybe?) and that I just didn’t catch it.  I jumped from Myspace to Twitter and ended up on Fake Shore Drive.  I’m just gonna chill out here in this steamy-hot Chi-City state of mind for a little bit, if you don’t mind.  Maybe jump on the train & pop into Jugrnaut or something.  In the mean time, give this track a spin & pop in the video on your lunch break.

Download Project Mayhem – Just Chill here.

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When Exile released Radio, I ran out to get it.  Radio is back and titled AM/FM.  Every track is remixed or features a guest vocalist, you can’t go wrong with an Exile project.  Your Summer Song, a remix featuring J. Mitchell, adds to how dope this track is.  Music video director Jerome D. takes the track to a visual level that I wasn’t expecting.  A nice country side drive in a Chevy Impala with 4 different versions of J. Mitchell, while Exile is wandering through the brush switching stations on his radio, you’ll be hooked watching it again and again.  Jerome D. does a great job visually representing a retro radio feel with the color section, screen distortion, and yes a retro radio.  Go pick up a copy of Exile Radio – AM/FM on Plug Research and the free BONUS tracks on Dirty Science.

When I used to live in Long Beach, Krispy Kreme had the ingenious idea of opening a location adjacent to the East Division station of the LBPD. It’s been a minute since I’ve called Long Beach home, but I’ll bet good money that this Donut Shop has weathered the recent economic storm.

The most visible Donut Shop in the LA area is clearly Randy’s Donuts, off the 405.  However, it’s Donut Man, a little shop quite a few miles outside the city proper (Glendora…just Google it) that inspires my actual Donut cravings.  Kelis’ Milkshake got nothing on a limited edition, (ie. seasonal) Strawberry Donut from Donut Man.

Speaking of limited edition releases, this six-pack of unreleased & re-mastered tracks from the Dilla archives was pressed & packaged into the first J Dilla Serato release back in May.  As a big thank you for everyone that supported this project, Stones Throw let them loose today.  You can download it here.

All to often those hidden stereotypes around what’s labeled “West Coast Music/Artists” (and their sound), tend to hinder great artists from getting heard.  Step out that box, and be introduced to a talent that just happens to reside on the West Coast.  Ab-Soul.  A Carson, California resident with a unique style and creative flow brings “New Air” to the rap world. With the release of his mixtape project “Long Term” in 2008, it was known he’d be a standing presence.  Now with the 2010 mixtape release of “Long Term 2: Lifestyles of the Broke & Almost Famous”, his style continues to solidify not only his presence, but his place in the game.  Check out the latest video from Long Term 2 “Turn Me Up” featuring Kendrick Lamar, and produced by Tae Beast.  Download “Long Term 2” and keep up with Ab-Soul on Twitter.

by Nichelle

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Ab-Soul – Be A Man (prod by Tae Beast)

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Ab-Soul – Long Term 2 (prod by Curtiss King)