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

I’ll tell you, my man Greg the Dude knows just about everyone. I was at Greg’s spot for a party and was talking to this one cat Dobrega about some music. He told me a little about a project he was working on and would keep me posted. I didn’t hear from him for a while and ran into him at the Hit+Run show. We had another great convo about art and some music. Later that week Dobrega shot me a link of his finished project, The Rebuild EP. Now I’m always trying to multitask, but when this crazy 8-bit sound hit the headphones I was like what’s going on. Sounded like Zelda, but then a nice  rhythm creeps in. It was so hypnotizing I totally forgot that the 8-bit sound was in there. Freedom Dance damn near made me forget I had other work to do. That first go-round of The Build EP got my full attention… so I played it again. I really dig the layering of sounds on this EP. If you are looking to be trippin off some music Dobrega will have you in a trance with The Rebuild EP. Check out  Dobrega – The Rebuild at Dobrega.com. BIG thanks Dobrega for the good tunes. Now I’m waiting to see some visuals man.

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Dobrega - Rainbows Abound

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Dobrega - Sunrise

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!

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

VerBS is an all around good dude and a good friend. Not only is he a dope emcee, but also a connector in the L.A. Hip Hop scene. Not sure how it all went down, but Bless Escro shot me an email about his latest project, The Blessed. Really nice album, I listened to it straight through. The Blessed has a familiar/comfortable feel to it, like this is the way Hip Hop should be. Bless Escro is blessed with skills to spit with substance. The production on the tracks have hard hitting beats that will make your speakers rattle. Let Bless Escro bless your ear drums with The Blessed. Pay what you want and download Bless Escro – The Blessed on Band Camp. BIG thanks to the homie VerBS for the connect.

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Bless Escro – Metropolitan Dominance

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Bless Escro – Da Butterfli

I was introduced to Open Mike Eagle’s music through the Hellfyre Club’s Prometheus. Then I went to Bananas one night and got to see Open Mike Eagle there. We talked for a bit and asked if I got a chance to check out his album, Rappers Will Die Of Natural Causes, yet. I didn’t and he blessed me with a copy. On my way home I popped it in the CD player and cranked it up. “Riding down Slauson bumping 97 Weezer, Don’t know all the lyrics but hittin all the key words,” “Party people do you feel me, and if you disagree you should feel free, but if you wit it raise your hands to the ceiling” Opening lines to The Processional made me see how lyrically sharp Open Mike Eagle is. Most of the tracks I had to play twice to catch lines like that. The video to Nightmares is really thought out and on some other level sh*t. Rappers Will Die Of Natural Causes  is worth buying the hard copy. The artwork on the side is really dope.  Buy Open Mike Eagle – Rappers Will Die Of Natural Causes on iTunes, or if you happen to run into Open Mike Eagle, buy one from him. Real nice guy and a cool cat. BIG thanks Open Mike Eagle, keep doing what you’re doing. BIG shout to VerBs and Alpha MC always good catching up with you guys.

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Open Mike Eagle – No Body Nose

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Open Mike Eagle – Kings (Pay Attention) ft. VerBS & Real 8

Come on now. I think it’s time you folks need to be introduced to The Nice Guys. They have been cranking out singles, EP’s, videos, tweeting like crazy, and now The Show. From the emceeing to the production on the beats, The Nice Guys have a complete sound that will only get better and better. Jump on the bandwagon because they aren’t slowing down. From beginning to the end, I didn’t skip a track. Get to The Good Shepherd and break out your secret agent James Bond swag, because that track will put you in that mind set. Check out The Nice Guys on Audible Treats, and buy The Nice Guys – The Show on iTunes. Trust me, you will bump the hell outta your speakers! BIG thanks Audible Treats for the heads up.

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The Nice Guys – Toast

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The Nice Guys – Victory Lap

Jansport J is a dangerous man on the beats, and this time he’s bring the soul with Save My Soul. Rocking to it in my headphones at work, getting into the vibe, and before I knew it I had listened to the whole album. Just like Jansport J’s earlier release, MoveMeants, this is an all instrumental album that you can just press play. Last Saturday at Store XIII (13) Jansport J had a listening party for Save My Soul, and a few advanced copies for sale. Soul music is like soul food, you always feel at home no matter where you’re at. Save My Soul gave me that same feeling listening to it on Store XIII sound system. This album is worth picking up. Buy your copy of Jansport J – Save MySoul on Band Camp or a physical copy at Store XIII. On a side note this is one of many releases off the Cov Original Music label, so keep your eyes open for what’s next. BIG thanks to Abraham for the heads up, and Jansport J for making dope music to rock to.

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Jansport J – The Spirit Moves

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Jansport J – To Another

Quick note, my man Jon is working overtime to get good music out. If you see that cat in your neck of the woods, thank him. Alright, on to Crown Royale…now if you were digging that EP that dropped a little while ago, then get geared up for Crown Royale the LP. Before this album  when I thought about Crown Royal, it was about drinking. Now it’s about Partying with Buff1 and Rhettmatic with the volume past 10.  Both are very talented cats teaming up to bring you Crown Royale. Rhettmatic isn’t just dope on the 1’s and 2’s, but is also a monster on some beats. And if you haven’t heard about Buff1 you’ve been sleeping under a rock. Go grab a copy of Crown Royale on Amazon.com, or roll into your local music store and demand it. BIG thanks Jon for keeping me in the know.

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Crown Royale – World Go Crazy

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Crown Royale – Testing