Real talk… Don’t sleep on the I.E.!  They are coming for you and they’ve unleashed the beast Noa James with Beautiful Darkness.  He’s Coming and the title track Beautiful Darkness bring this dark murky feeling, and then Noa James breaks out his weapon of choice on My Bars, My Life.  When I play F#ckin With You featuring Tomorrow, Yesterday I was thinking Noa declared victory.  With Miss Bliss’ lyrics on Blissful, the party begins!  This is an album worth copping.  Go buy Noa James on BandCamp or ask for him at your local record shop.  BIG thanks Noa and the whole Black Cloud fam.

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Noa James – Fuckin’ With You (Feat. Tomorrow, Yesterday)

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Noa James – Disrespectful (Feat. Curtiss King)

All to often those hidden stereotypes around what’s labeled “West Coast Music/Artists” (and their sound), tend to hinder great artists from getting heard.  Step out that box, and be introduced to a talent that just happens to reside on the West Coast.  Ab-Soul.  A Carson, California resident with a unique style and creative flow brings “New Air” to the rap world. With the release of his mixtape project “Long Term” in 2008, it was known he’d be a standing presence.  Now with the 2010 mixtape release of “Long Term 2: Lifestyles of the Broke & Almost Famous”, his style continues to solidify not only his presence, but his place in the game.  Check out the latest video from Long Term 2 “Turn Me Up” featuring Kendrick Lamar, and produced by Tae Beast.  Download “Long Term 2” and keep up with Ab-Soul on Twitter.

by Nichelle

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Ab-Soul – Be A Man (prod by Tae Beast)

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Ab-Soul – Long Term 2 (prod by Curtiss King)

I was checking the updates on my man Trek Life’s site, and ran across the name Richard Wright.  I recalled the name from checking Brick To Ya Face, Curtiss King’s BIG Drums Come Knockin mixtape, and Trek Life & J Bizness Rhymes Within Reason.  I had to check out #randommixtape4.0, and if Trek is talking about it…you NEED to check it out.  Richard Wright has dropped 4, yes 4 #randommixtapes, and has appeared on a gang of other tracks.  His sound is infectious and if you haven’t seen this cat in your town performing…you will.  Download Richards Wright – # RandomMixtape4.0 from BandCamp.  BIG thanks Trek for being the dope taste maker you are.  And I’ll be looking for that next Trek Life project to drop.

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Richard Wright – God Damn (Magic Man) ft. Belvi

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Richard Wright – Ignant Shit

DON’T SLEEP on the I.E.!  That’s real talk people.  Black Cloud Records has got a gang of artists that are putting the I.E. on the map.  Yasin is one cat you may have heard of or caught a track he’s been featured on. Sound Of A Monster, Black Friday Tape, and now War Iza Reality are just a few projects Yasin has be involved with.  War Iza Reality is a banger.  On Murder Cops (ft. Jynxx), Yasin doesn’t hold back on expressing how he feels about (some) cops, and the Oakland tragedy.  Overall this is a head nodding Hip Hop album.  Download Yasin – War Iza Reality here. BIG thanks to Noa for the heads up.

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Yasin – Deff March

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Yasin – Sorrow (feat Antahlyzah)

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Yasin – Choppin’ Heads (feat Art Barz, Curtiss King & Noa James)

My man Noa James shot me an email, and was like you gotta check out Curtiss King’s Snick @ Nite.  After listening to Bangin’ On A Trash Can & Guttah Gullah Island I was feeling it, and was sure Snick @ Nite was *ish that’s going to be on some other level.  Right away I was digging the play on Nick at Nite.  Curtiss throws out all the old cartoons that I watched.  That’s when I knew this project as dope.  Download Curtiss King – Snick @ Nite here.  Want more Curtiss King ?!  Check out his other projects on Brick To Ya Face.  BIG thanks Noa for the heads up.  I.E. is bring’n it in 2010!

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Curtiss King – Salute Your Shorts

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Curtiss King – Ren & Stimpy ft. Pheo & Ramone Jones

Hopefully by now you know the name Noa James, but if you don’t, no worries. Noa has been cranking out the projects like crazy with the rest of the cats on Black Cloud Music. After dropping Sounds Of A Monster, Noa, Jynxx, Curtiss King, and Art Barz are bringing Black Friday Tape. And putting it out on Black Friday (11/27/09)! Most people know Black Friday as the biggest shopping day of the year, but now you got something else to look forward to on Black Friday (11/27/09). I got a few samples of Black Friday Tape, and can’t wait for the rest of it. Download the sneak peeks from Black Friday Tape here. Full album link HERE. BIG thanks to my man Noa James for the heads up. Keep rep’n the I.E. fam.

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Art Barz, Jynxx, Curtiss King, Noa James – Fall Down

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Noa James – Can’t Harm Me

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Jynxx, Art Barz, Curtiss King – Take Me Away

My man Noa James does it again. Breaking out of the cage and bringing you Sounds Of A Monster. What I dig about that cat Noa James is his lyrics. He’s clever, shares personal stories and the 90s WWF references. Sounds Of A Monster lets you in on how Noa James ticks. One of my favorite tracks on this album is Therapy Session which show how Noa can paint a picture with his lyrics. The production by some dope producers on this album complements Noa’s mic skills and vice versa. Download sounds of A monster here. Also check out In Blanka Mode. BIG thanks to Noa James & Jynxx for the low down. Keep cranking’em out IE fam.

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Noa James – Dominant Predator

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Noa James – Blow ft. Ramone Jones, Jynxx, & Yasin