Real talk, I don’t think I gave Nocando’s stuff a good listen before Prometheus. The times I’ve been to Low End Theory I didn’t really get the full Nocando sound. Now if you’re like me or getting an introduction to Nocando, Zero Hour is perfect. From the production, guests, and Nocando’s flow, I got this in heavy rotation. Time for me to go back and pick up what I’ve been missing. Thavius Beck, Nosajthing, Busdriver, Mexicans With Guns, and a handful of other cats.  You would think they’re shooting for the rap album of the year award or something. I wouldn’t be surprised if the instrumental version of this album dropped shortly. Zero Hour has turned me into a Nocando fan for sure. Download Nocando – Zero Hour from Hellfyre Club on tumblr. BIG thanks Nocando for killing this one.

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Nocando – Bernie prod. by Busdriver

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Nocando - Westside Rentals

This album should be called “The Hardest Working MC You Need To Respect.” I tell you there are cats that put out albums right away, half good half bad, and then fade out. LMNO is not one of those cats. I counted 12 full-length albums on Up Above Records. Yes 12, and quality stuff! Overtime is right up there on quality. The title track, Overtime kicks off with announcers talking about overtime, a few scratches, and then the drums roll in. The thing I dig about Overtime is LMNO/Up Above made it a free download and LMNO didn’t give you anything less than an LMNO album. Funky production that you can bump and smart lyrics that will rattle around in your head. LMNO, package this and slap a price tag on this brother. But I do appreciate kicking off my year with a free album. On a side note, the artwork is ill. Download LMNO – Overtime from Band Camp. BIG thanks Up Above Records for the info.

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LMNO - Surround Trip

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LMNO - Aquaduct

Jonti’s Sine & Moon is a FREE album curtesy of Stones Throw records for a limited time. If you missed it …. I don’t know what to say, but it’s a good one.

Jonti’s Sine & Moon is one of the happiest beat albums I’ve heard. I was checking out the artwork and wasn’t sure what I was going to get. I had my headphones on, volume cranked up, hit play and Saturday Night Song started. At first I was like,  ”Folk music, what’s this?!? Did Stones Throw let me down?” I let it play and thought that was one of the happiest tunes I’ve heard in a while. Red On Green kicked in and I knew. Head started nodding, fingers typing. By Flesh Of Morning I had a smile on my face and was happy as can be. Jonti bring a lot of familiar sounds and some that aren’t, and arranging them in an upbeat melody. I can see why PB Wolf put Jonti in the starting lineup for the year. If you still can, download Jonti – Sine & Moon on Stones Throw. BIG thanks to Stones Throw for tweeting about this one. Also check out Jonti’s Twirligig in stores now.

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Jonti - Nagoya Train Station 3AM

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Jonti - Sugar High

This is another one that I’ve been rocking and needed to write about a while back. Sometimes I get way into it. Keyel was another J-1 connect that I’m blessed to have. Keyel cats are bringing that head nodding hip hop with CLVLND.CTY.CNQRS. I’m not going to cram Keyel into a box by trying to classify the type of music that Keyel is making. What I dig about this album is it’s not a throwback where you have to dust it off, and it’s not light years ahead where no one gets it. It’s now music, you’re good to play this anywhere and anytime. The rhythm of the lyrics feels like each track is telling a story. The ill beats you can get lost in, so just put it on repeat. I’m really digging the flow of CLVLND.CTY.CNQRS, and I’m sure you’ll agree. Download Keyel – CLVLND.CTY.CNQRS on Band Camp. BIG thanks Keyel for making good music. wonder if I could roll into one of those bars that plays junk and switch it with this? Might have to give it a try. BIG shout to aLive.

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Keyel - Beats+Raps

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Keyel - Christmas Special ft. RIO the Mechanic

After you buy this album hit play and close your eyes. Now imagine you are floating through space. Feel the galaxy around you, and see the stars as they jet by turning into  different colors. Now open your eyes and feel how calm and relaxed you are from listening to Mecca:83 (aka Rise) - Life Sketches Vols. 1 & 2. That’s how I felt after my train ride home the other day. It was a long day and I put on Life Sketches Vols. 1 & 2, closed my eyes, and shortly after I was in another zone. Life Sketches Vols. 1 & 2 is one of those albums you put on when you’re really stressed, and it melts away after the first track. They should make a prescription for this stuff. Go buy Mecca:83 – Life Sketches Vols. 1 & 2 on FreeForm Records. It’s worth it!  BIG thanks Mecca:83 for making my new go-to album for stress. Keep making that good stuff.

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Mecca:83 - Vibrate

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Mecca:83 - Godbless & Goodnight

If you are not familiar with Stateless, this is a great introduction. They  have been around for sometime since 2002, and I heard about them shortly after they put out their self-titled record Stateless. Fast forward a few years to 2011, and I get an email about Stateless. I was so stoked that Stateless came out with a second album Matilda and their friend wanted me to check it out. Let me just tell you it’s been on heavy heavy rotation since. I discovered one of my favorite tracks from Matilda has a video. Ariel is  crazy. It shows a dancer with red and blue light streaks on a grayed out almost black background. The dancer moves in very fluid motions.  It’s a very poetic and ill video. Go buy Stateless – Matilda and check out the Ballad of a NGB (Tensei Remix). BIG thanks to Chris for the heads up.

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Stateless – Ballad of a NGB (Tensei Remix)

1st Things First has got head nodding bass,  jazzy melodies to hold your lady’s to, and hypnotic rhythms to get your feet moving. If making beats this smooth was criminal, they would have had to lock Garfield Adams up a long time ago. From having Tomorrow, Yesterday rapping on a track to J. Maka El dropping lovely vocals, 1st Things First had me relaxed and carefree in minutes. Airspace sounds just like the title when you play it. The bass hits hard and the keys with a little delay make you feel like you’re floating. I’d classify this as zen music. The whole album is worth the buy. Buy Garfield Adams – 1st Things First on Band Camp. BIG thanks to Garfield Adams for making music that takes stress away.

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Garfield Adams – For The Love featuring E Reece, Basicali, Yep!

My friend, Trackstar the DJ, shot me an email about a youth program called Sessions LA  that he was involved with before he recently moved. Sessions LA is an opportunity for professionals like Trackstar to help and encourage kids through music. Sessions LA has been running on donations from the community and funds they have been able to drum up.  Now they need your help to stay in operation. Check out the video, read more about it, and give what you can. It’s a win-win for everyone, so lets keep building.

Here’s the story: when I moved out West, I left behind the non-profit organization I started in St. Louis to teach youth through Hip-Hop, hoping I’d find a similar organization in California where I could connect with a new group of like-minded individuals who wanted to use the genre as an educational tool. Our St. Louis program was great and provided a handful of kids with skills to help them harness their passion for Hip-Hop while applying real life lessons. However, due to a lack of funding, it was hard to expand past a certain point even though I always saw potential for it to grow. When I met DJ Phatrick in Los Angeles (through friend of TSS, Bambu), I discovered an organization called SESSIONS LA that executed the vision I had for my program and did much more. — Trackstar the DJ

Donate what you can to Indiegogo.com/SaveSessions. For more information check out Sessions LA and The Smoking Section. Check out the album the kids from the program have put together.  BIG Thanks Trackstar.

I don’t want to hold you back from listening to this great album, so this write-up is going to be short and sweet. Trek hit me up about Duke Westlake and, I admit I was totally sleeping. Duke chimed in on our twitter convo and showed me the video he did. (Kids shut your eye or skip the next two words.) F*CK’N CRAZY, so I had to post that too. Duke Westlake’s Memory Palace put me in this dream like, high energy, creative state of mind. I was instantly inspired to create something… anything. After the 4th round of Memory Palace I went back to work with round 5 playing. Very dope album that you need to hear.

“I stumbled onto a record store and acquired some interesting vinyl from their surprisingly abundant dollar bin. The music I discovered inspired me to make a collection of raw beats / instrumentals. Memory Palace is the first of a three part series of this music I’ve decided to release.” – Duke

Check out Duke Westlake on Knock Steady, SoundCloud, and Twitter. Download Duke Westlake – Memory Palace here. I honestly hope you charge for this soon. BIG Thanks to the homie Trek Life for the heads up. Duke, I’ll totally check my email more often brother. BIG Thanks for making dope music.

This is the M.E.D. album I’ve been waiting for and I know you folks need it. From Push Comes To Shove and the features here and there, Classic says it all about M.E.D.’s skills. Where I’m From is a bang. Yes I know you are all thinking, “he likes it because Mr. Aloe Blacc mentions Riverside.” No… but it doesn’t hurt. The production on Classic is crazy and full of superstars, but M.E.D. makes this album a Classic. I cranked up Too Late and then played it again. Then I realized I have to listen to the rest of the album. So glad I did. Good album to just hit play and ride out. Get your copy of M.E.D. – Classic from Stones Throw online store. BIG thanks to my man Weyez.

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M.E.D. – Too Late

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M.E.D. – Blaxican