Mr. Crooks does it again with Diamonds & Guns.  The title track is a banger.  Diamonds & Guns puts you in an Audrey Hepburn movie with a heist and the villain gets away.  Maybe it was the cover art that made me envision that.  Either way Stevie Crooks kills that track.  Crooklyn is another track that I can’t get outta my head.  This is one artist not to be slept on.  I rocked Stevie Crooks’ CSTC Mixtape for a while, and Diamonds & Guns is the only reason I retired it from my ipod.  Download Stevie Crooks – Diamonds & Guns on BandCamp.  You can also find CSTC Mixtape there too. BIG thanks Stevie Crooks for making the music that keeps heads nodding.

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Stevie Crooks – Diamonds & Guns

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Stevie Crooks – StopLookListen

I got a link from this cat Hollywood Floss about his EP, The Xperiment. Vol. 1. The link lead me to Hailmegetron.net with an explanation of the concept.  Hollywood Floss sent a few joints out to a couple of his frienda, and had them name the tracks.  And then he would put the “experiment” out.  Simple concept, but one I haven’t seen done to release an EP.  Cool idea.  When I first gave it a listen it wasn’t a sound I was expecting to come from Texas.  Its an electric mix with a Hollywood Floss style.  Hollywood Floss brings it with his witty lyrics over a nice choice of beats.  He’s definitely one to look for. Hollywood Floss wrapped a project set to release some time in February, so keep your eyes open.  Download Hollywood Floss – The Xperiment Vol.1 at Hailmegetron.net, and check out Hollywood Floss’ other release on Bandcamp.  BIG thanks Hollywood Floss for the heads up.

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Hollywood – The Effect Of Hip Hop

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Hollywood – The Verbal Slaughter (Megatron’s Armageddon)

Winter is here and Oddisee has dropped another soundtrack dedicated to the season.  Odd Winter has a few more tracks with emcees on it than Odd Summer & Odd Autumn, but totally has the season themed series feel.  Ci’iy Life featuring Tranqill sets the mood, and eases you into the “Oddisee sound.  I use “Oddisee sound” loosely because you can hear the diversity throughout Odd Winter.  Even with the eclectic sound Oddisee brings it all together to give you a blast of winter.  That’s what makes him a very talented producer.  I have to say, you can’t go wrong with Oddisee as a producer or an emcee. Download Oddisee’s Odd Winter on Bandcamp, and check out the other seasonal releases.  BIG thanks Oddisee.

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Oddisee – Winds From The North

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Oddisee – Black Broadway ft. X.O

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Oddisee – Carry On Instrumental

The first time I heard the track Please Tip Your Driver, I played it over and over.  Shortly after, I hit up Red Pill and wanted to get the low down on the track.  It’s the first single from his album with the same title.  At the time when I first heard it, the album Please Tip Your Driver, didn’t have a release date, and a few months later it is here!  I have to tell you Please Tip Your Driver is a MUST have. Dead End Road, I Understand, YouCanMakeLifeCanMakeYou every track is like a short story that you can relate to.  I don’t know what else Red Pill’s got in the works, but he’s one to look for. Download Red Pill – Please Tip Your Driver from his site.  BIG thanks to Red Pill for making real hip hop. Keep doing you.

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Red Pill – Worry About It Later

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Red Pill – Please Tip Your Driver

I’m rounding out the year with stuff I’ve had in heavy rotation, and now I’m bringing it to you. It’s taken me a while to write about Ro Spit’s The OH S#!T Project because I keep playing it. Best way to describe it is “…more than a mixtape, but not quite an album.” nevertheless, still a banger. Ro Spit is one you shouldn’t sleep on. The OH S#!T Project has been out for a few months, and gets better and better every time I play it. Ro Spit also put his own spin on Jay-Z’s track (Empire) Renaissance State Of Mind that reps his city. Just download it NOW! Download Ro Spit – The OH S#!T Project from his site. BIG thanks Ro Spit for making The OH S#!T Project.

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Ro Spit – I Do Me (Prod. Koen)

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Ro Spit – Burn Rubber (Prod. 14KT)

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Ro Spit – Muthafu#*as (Prod. CA$HCADE)

Detroit is one city that is cranking out artists left and right. I got an email from Jon the other day with eLZHi’s latest release The Leftovers Unmixedtape, and I checked it out right away.  eLZHi’s The Leftovers is a 14 track unmixedtape of old promos and projects, but together is a banger.  The lyrics are hands down dope, and all of the producers are home run hitters. I think I even played that track “The Crowd” (produced by Leef)  a few times in a row before I got to the next track.  Call it what you want, The Leftovers Unmixedtape is one you’ll crank up the volume to.  Download eLZHi – The Leftovers Unmixedtape at eLZhi.com.  Keep and eye out for other projects eLZhi drops on MySpace.  BIG thanks to Jon for the heads up.

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eLZhi – Deep (Prod. Black Milk)

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eLZhi – Contra ft. Danny Brown (Prod. Apollo Brown)

I’m an 80’s baby and thought some of the stuff that came outta there was wack. Yeah I said wack. Anyways, rocking Sudan Life’s The Soundbomber Does The 80’s made me reminisce about the good things in the 80’s; like a Commandore 64, Eddie Murphy Movies (that were rated R & funny), and Voltron (f*!k a Power Ranger). I guess the 80’s were the sh*t. Sudan Life kills it with this 80’s sample. He admits himself that some are good and some are bad, but  either way I think you’ll bump The Soundbomber Does The 80’s like it was 1984. Download Sudan Life – The Soundbomber Does The 80’s on bandcamp.com. BIG thanks Sudan Life for the heads up on this. Keep those beats coming.

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Sudan Life//SuPerlative – We Are The 80’s

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Sudan Life//SuPerlative – Plays Arcade

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Sudan Life//SuPerlative – Round N Round

J. Bizness dropped Reason Beats & Pieces a while back and it was something to rock to. You can’t go too long without hearing a J. Bizness beat, he’s everywhere. J. Bizness teams up with Ayiro, another dope beat maker, for Cali Fire Commission. Earlier I was going through downtown L.A. and the tracks fit the mood. It was a cinematic moment. A few days ago I was talking with J. Bizness on twitter about the tracks I was digging, but you can rock the whole thing and won’t be disappointed. Don’t sleep on this one people. Download Cali Fire Commisson Vol. 1 on bandcamp.com. For more info on J. Bizness & Ayiro check them out on MySpace. BIG thanks J. Bizness for the low down.

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Ayiro + J. Bizness – CFC 302

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Ayiro + J. Bizness – CFC 359

I have a love-hate relationship with EP’s. When I love it, I hate waiting for the rest of the LP to come out, and Something Out Of Nothing is no different. After listening to the 8 track debut EP…a few times I was like, “When’s the LP coming?!”  SelfSays has a classic style of flow with a Detroit twist that complements the electro-sapce beats. The cover art is a trip too. Reminds me of Fly Lo’s Los Angeles. Something Out Of Nothing is a chill EP that you can easily put on repeat. I was sleeping on this one. SelfSays dropped Something Out Of Nothing in February, but I’m awake now. Download SelfSays Something Out Of Nothing on Bandcamp. Also check out SelfSays on MySpace and Twitter. BIG thanks SelfSays for keeping it fresh.

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SelfSays – Little Things

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SelfSays – Same Space (Just Easy)

CSTC Mixtape is a skaters sound track! When I was in high school I’d cruise around town late at night playing De La, Common, and the Pharcyde. Some of the classic beats Stevie Crooks got on here gave me flash backs of those days. You don’t have to be a skater or have ever skated to enjoy CSTC Mixtape. CSTC is a down right cool mixtape and hip hop heads will enjoy it. Download Stevie Crooks – CSTC Mixtape here, and check out what I’M talking about. BIG thanks to Stevie Crooks for making good stuff. Check out Stevie Crooks on MySpace, Twitter, and Band Camp.

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Stevie Crooks – September

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Stevie Crooks – Used to Love H.E.R.