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)

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 first introduced to Seven Day (Jay Diction & J Listed) through Versis.  Seven Day and Versis have been working on a few things here and there, so when I got an email from the duo I checked it out.  They shot a few tracks to B+C now and again, but I wanted to hear what a completed project sounded like…not bad, not bad at all. Seven Day’s Concepts still has my ear, and I’m looking forward to see what else they’ll drop.  Download Seven Day – Concepts on BandCamp.  Also check out Versis – Gotta Love it (produced by J Listed).  BIG thanks Seven Day crew for getting at me.

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Seven Day – Bounce ft. Versis

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Seven Day – I Am

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Versis – Gotta Love it (prod. by J Listed)

Haz Solo is cranking out the beats once again.  This time he’s teamed up with New York based emcee SigNif.  Haz gave me a quick run down on how this project came about.  He linked up with SigNif, a fellow Milwaukee native, to produce a track (AfterNoon Jazz) on her album The Transition.  That project was coming to a close and Haz was digging it.  He wanted to make more, so he requested the acapella version of the title track, and made 4 different versions.  Haz then got 4 other tracks which turned into The Transition Remixes.  I’m a Haz Solo fan anyways, but I think SigNif is coming for you emcees.  Download Signif x Haz Solo – The Transition Remixes on BandCamp.  Also check out the original album, SigNif – The Transition.  BIG thanks Haz for the heads up.

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Signif x Haz Solo – Make Moves ft. Prophetic (Haz SoLA mix)

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Signif x Haz Solo – Driftin’ (Cloud 10 mix)

A while back we got the track Hot & Nasty from the (Eulorhythmics Kenny Keys & aDad) featuring Proh Mic.  It piqued our interest enough to check out the whole album titled Green Street & Avers.  The production the tracks are dope.  I would definitely like to check out an instrumental version of Green Street & Avers.  Not forgetting about the lyrcis, aDad brings this hypnotic lyrical rhythm to the album.  Together you’ll be nodding your head a few seconds into the first track.  Check out Eulorhythmics – Green Street & Avers on Amazon.com or iTunes.  BIG thanks to Anthony Fields from All Natural Inc. for keeping us in the know.

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Eolorhythmics – Bluelight Groove

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Eolorhythmics – Hot & Nasty ft. Proh Mic

I don’t like to classify or make sub-genres of Hip Hop, but this is on some backpacker blow your mind ish.  Yes that is a good thing.  I started playing Taiyamo Denku’s Articles of Mind and right away it made me feel proud when I rocked a backpack everywhere.  A walkman, sketchbook,and sharpies handy to jot down ideas and bump whatever mixtape I had.  When I say Articles of Mind is backpacker I also want to include the lyrical content.  The lyrics are strong, in your face, blunt statements of the political & social issues, create expression, and the state of Hip hop.  Call it what you want, but Taiyamo Denku stays true to that and more.  Articles of Mind also has dope guest appearances by some heavy hitters.  Buy Taiyamo Denku – Articles of Mind online.  Also check out Taiyamo Denko’s free download Lost Thoughts on BandCamp.  BIG thanks to the folks at Uncommon Records for the heads up.

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Taiyamo Denku – Questions Need Answers ft. Sabac Red (prod. by Dynamo)

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Taiyamo Denku – Lost In Production (prod. by Ayatollah)

Take the time and enjoy a Dilla track or 2. We’ve all been blessed to witness a movement in music history with this man’s gift. Be inspired, create, and leave your mark on the world. I hope to have an impact as J Dilla’s music did on me.  Please check out the J Dilla Foundation.

Thank you James Yancey aka J Dilla.

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J Dilla – Think Twice (Welcome To Detroit)

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The Pharcyde – Runnin’ (Labcabincalifornia)

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J Dilla – Make’em NV (Ruff Draft)

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J Dilla – Dilla Says Go (Donuts)

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Jaylib – Starz (Champion Sound)

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One Truth – Man vs. Woman

The first thing that pops into my mind when people mention “spoken word artists” is political (or whatever topic that’s currently socially conscious) rhythmical rants. One night J1 invited me to Transmissions at Grand Star to check out this cat One Truth. Man, was that an experience. One Truth had a three-piece band called MugPush and a style far removed from other poets I’ve seen. It felt more like a hip hop or jazz show. Point is, One Truth changed my whole perspective of spoken word artists. His album Soundtrack To Life: New Beginnings also reflects that- it’s one you’ll bump in your car. Check out One Truth on MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube. Buy One Truth’s Soundtrack To Life: New Beginnings. BIG thanks J1 for the heads up.

I’M NOT PLAYING…BUY THIS SH*T NOW! Ok, I’d heard the buzz about Strong Arm Steady’s (Krondon, Phil Da Agony, & Mitchy Slick) In Search Of Stoney Jackson, but it was the midnight release and in-store performance at Fat Beats that pushed me over the edge. (If you haven’t seen it, google that sh*t. I would have paid for that show.) Earlier that day a Strong Arm Steady podcast mixed by House Shoes and J. Rocc was dropped with all the extras. I bought the album that night and bumped it all the way home. Even took the long way. I can’t say anything bad about In Search Of Stoney Jackson; every track is a banger. Funky beats by Madlib, hard-hitting lyricism by Strong Arm Steady, and guest appearances by Phonte, Planet Asia, Tri-State, Fashawn, Talib Kweli, Oh On, Evidence, & more mean there’s no way this could be a bad album. Stop what you’re doing and go buy In Search Of Stoney Jackson! I got mine at Fat Beats. BIG thanks to Strong Arm Steady and Madlib for making great music. You cats set the bar high.

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Strong Arm Steady – New Love ft. Planet Asia & Tri-State

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Strong Arm Steady – Two Pistols ft. Mitchy Slick

I was at Fat Beats talking to House Shoes, and he pulls a record off the rack and says “You should get this”.  It was Dynas – The Apartment and at first I was like ” who’s this cat?”  House Shoes put it on the turntable and started going through the tracks.  ”And this is why you should check it out”.  I mean with tracks like The Future featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff and Family Jewels with Slick Rick you can’t go wrong.  Dynas The Apartment is in heavy heavy rotation on the ipod.  To sum it up when House Shoes talks music…TAKE NOTES. Go buy Dynas – The Apartment at Fat Beats, Amoeba Music, or ask for it at your local record store.  BIG thanks House Shoes for the heads up.

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Dynas – Crown Royal

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Dynas – The Apartment