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

Boy Meets World is what you call an instant classic, without a doubt.  Fashawn put out One Shot One Kill and I couldn’t stop rocking that.  It was in heavy rotation on my iPod.  Boy Meets World was going to drop a few months later, but I didn’t have to wait that long. Fashawn and The Alchemist put out The Antidote which is also dope. Boy Meets World was produced by the one and only Exile. From Dirty Science to Below the Heavens you can’t stop him. Even if you haven’t heard of Fashawn (…yet), you can’t pass up another Exile banger. Boy Meets World is a must have, so GO BUY IT! BIG thanks Fashawn & Exile for making dope music.

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Fashawn – Freedom

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Fashawn – Lupita

I went to Fatbeats for Fashawn and Exile’s in-store and picked up the album Boy Meets World (dope, must have). I talked to Houseshoes and he was like, “If you want some dope sh*t, check this.” and handed me Kev Brown Random Joints. When Houseshoes talks music, you listen! I bought that too. I got in my car, put Random Joints in, and rocked it back to back. I even drove the long way home. You can buy Random Joints online, but with a physical copy you get 2 additional tracks and an instrumental track! Another reason to grab a physical copy Random Joints is self distributed, meaning  Kev Brown / Low Budget shipped it or dropped it off himself. That’s tight. Either way, go buy Kev Brown’s Random Joints. You’ll be glad you did. Catch up with Kev Brow on Twitter. BIG thanks to Houseshoes for the recommendation and Low Budget for putting out dope stuff. Can’t wait to see what else Low Budget drops.

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Kev Brown – Listen

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Kev Brown – The Marvelous Joint ft. Yu

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Kev Brown – Bonus Track

Dylan Thomas and Haz Solo are funny, crazy, and dope. The have done separate projects of their own (featured on each other projects), but together are dynamic. Haz has got a hand full of albums, and yeah man I’m still rocking June Bug. Dylan Thomas dropped And It Was Good…and it was dope. That one’s in heavy rotation on my ipod. All Jokes Aside takes it to another level with these cats. Don’t Turn Around is one of the tracks that got me hooked. The whole thing is worth the buy. Check it for yourself. Pick up All Jokes Aside at DigStation. You know I gotta give something for free and Dylan was down for it, so download Don’t Turn Around here. BIG thanks Dylan for the heads up.

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Dylan Thomas & Haz Solo – Crills

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Dylan Thomas & Haz Solo – Don’t Turn Around Download

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Dylan Thomas & Haz Solo – RedBlueGreen

The Seed is the first part of a bigger project that was put together by Adikt1 (on the beats), Kahlee & Uptown Swuite (on the mic). About middle of next year they are planning on releasing more tracks from the bigger project. I gotta tell you if this is for what’s to come, I really want to check what this bigger project is. The Seed has a classic hip hop sound with energy, but still on the kick back and chill tip. The second half  of The Seed is all the tracks instrumentals that Adikt1 put together for the album. Download these 2 tracks and buy The Seed at Wild Style Technicians. BIG thanks to Adikt1 for the heads up.

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The Seed – Ridin’ (Ft. Slo-mo of Fortilive, cuts by Dj Kutfather) Download

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The Seed – Summer Time Download

CunninLynguists have quickly became one of my favorite groups. These cats had me busting up and rollin on the floor with Never Come Down. Strange Journey Vol. One has a great balance of topics on their mind without being preachy, head nodding beats, and clever lyrics that will make you listen to each line closely.  The only other album that made me do that was The Pharcyde’s Bizarre Ride II! Strange Journey Vol. One also has a handful of guest appearances like Slug (of Atmosphere), Killer Mike, Skinny DeVille & Fishscales (of Nappy Roots) just to name a few. Check out the video Never Come Down and download both track here. Buy CunninLynguists – Strange Journey Volume One at iTunes or Amazon.com. It’s totally with it. For more on the CunninLynguists check them out on MySpace. BIG thanks to John at Sidecho for all your help.

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CunninLynguists Ft. Slug- Don’t Leave (When Winter Comes)Download

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CunninLynguists – Never Come Down (The Brownie Song)Download