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)

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

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)

Intalek & Ritchcraft did a bang up job on Lives and Vibes.  A while ago I got an email from Ritchcraft about his instrumental remix album, The Big Band Blueprint.  It was good, and figured I should keep an eye out for this cat.  Well the time has come and he’s teamed up with Intalek; a 23 year old emcee with a classic hip hop flow.  This dynamic duo throws in uptempo tracks you can rock at a party, and mix it with chill-out homie tracks making Lives and Vibes a great balance.  You can’t go wrong with checking out Lives and Vibes.  Download Intalek & Ritchcraft – Lives and Vibes on BandCamp.  BIG thanks Ritchcraft for keeping us in the know with your projects.  I looking forward to your next one.

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Intalek & Ritchcraft – Everyday Money (ft. Honey Time)

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Intalek & Ritchcraft – I’m The Man (ft. Lew Sid and Meeze)

Magestik Legend doesn’t disappoint, and he brings the heat once again with To Be Continued… Chapter 1.  I played To Be Continued from beginning to end, and had the volume cranked up. I thought Magestik Legend was dope when he dropped FREE, but he kills it on this one.  Bout Freedom (produced by Astronote) gets you geared up to walk a little harder, head nodding , hands waving.. good time.  To Be Continued is hosted by T3 of Slum Village and has guest appearances by Marv Won, Ro Spit, Othello, and Buff1 gives a shout out.  Check out the track Day Break featuring Othello and produced by 14KT.  If you don’t like that track, Hip Hop is not your genre.  Download Magstik Legend – To Be Continued… Chapter 1 on BandCamp.  BIG thanks Magestik for the heads up on this one.

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Magestik Legend – All Eye Know (prod. Astronote)

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Magestik Legend – Day Break ft. Othello (prod. 14KT)

kyLA introduced me to TiRon one summer hanging out at the Do Over.  Ever since then I’ve been keeping a close eye on this talented cat.  Last year he dropped Ketchup and this year it’s MSTRD.  Just like a food fight, but without the mess and a whole lot of fun.  TiRon’s MSTRD quickly became a part of my heavy rotation playlist.  And don’t sleep on the video to Ms. Right featuring Ayomari. Download TiRon – MSTRD here.  Also check out TiRon’s other releases Ketchup and Handshakes & Ponds.  BIG thanks TiRon for making the music.

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TiRon ft. Ayomari – Ms. Right

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TiRon ft. Blu & Asher Roth – The Richers

My man Niles is always on the grind, and one of his many projects that I’m honored to write a post on is Notes For Haiti.  There are horrific events and disasters that hit home everyday, and when it passes for some, we must remember there are others still struggling through recovery and need our help.  Notes For Haiti is a full length compilation with an all star cast.  They not only want you to help the people of Haiti, but want you to nod your head to the beat.  Please donate anything that you can and download Notes For Haiti on BandCamp.  For more information on Oxfam America click here.  BIG thanks Niles for all that you do brotha.

Check out: Notes For Haiti, Oxfam America

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Astro – Underdogs feat. MEDaphor

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CoSS & Sene – Let’s Begin

Man, let me start off by saying BUY Selective Hearing Part 2!  J1 introduced me to Kev Brown at a benefit party for Kutmah at the Verdugo Bar.  I bought Kev Brown’s Random Joints a while back, and was a big fan (a House Shoes recommendation).  Kev was in town to do a tour with his partner in crime LMNO, from the super group The Visionaries, to promote the new album Selective Hearing Part 2.  When I got a copy of this I played it all day.  I got a chance to play some tracks on Soundwaves and played The Ultimate.  LMNO and Kev Brown kill it on the mic.  And the album uses all James Brown samples, it’s off the hook.   This is already in heavy rotation on the ipod.  Buy Lmno & Kev Brown – Selective Hearing Part 2 at Up Above Records.  BIG thanks Kev and Trevor for opening my ears on this one.

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LMNO & Kev Brown – The Ultimate

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LMNO & Kev Brown – Ya Know

I was catching up on twitter and ran across a Jansport J tweet about a free download… Blaktastic Vol. 1.  I’m all about the free downloads, but I took a second look at that one.  “Blakface, what?!?”  It was well worth that second take.  At first I wasn’t sure what I was going to get, but a couple of tracks in I turned up the volume.  If you walked up to me while Blakface Blaktastic Vol. 1 was bumping in my headphones, I wouldn’t be able to hear you. That’s how much I was intoit.  Jansport J has 4 tracks on Blaktastic Vol. 1 (Can’t Let Em Down, Lady Hip Hop, Where U R, & Hello Mornin) that are dope, but you’ll dig this from beginning to end. Download Blakface – Blaktasic Vol. 1 on BandCamp.  BIG thanks to Jansport J for tweeting about this one.

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Blakface – Hello Mornin’

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Blakface – Rap City