I had to post this up. When people reach out to you from around the world because they love your music, that is love. Oddisee has been cranking out the tunes as a producer and an emcee, so it’s great to see that cat get rep’d like that in Belgium. The Blooming has a very cinematic feel, and the storytelling aspect is great. I love how they show the watch several times to go with the ticking in the track and to represent time passing. Great video.

“Belgium’s ZBS Studio reached out to Mello Muisc Group about permission to do a video for Oddisee’s “The Blooming”.  MMG of course was honored to have them interpret the song and apply their vision to the track.  The resulting marriage of visual storytelling & instrumental perfection is a narrative work that tells the story of time’s passage in the life of a boy.  The video was directed, shot, & edited by Tomasz Cibulla and Wojciech Drożdż of ZBS Studio in Belgium.”

Go pick up Oddisee – Odd Seasons at Fat Beats.com. BIG Thanks Mello Muisc Group for this one.

Mello Music Group, in my opinion, has built up an impressive catalog of independent Hip-Hop in a relatively short period of time. You may already be familiar with their work with Diamond District (XO, yU, Oddisee), Apollo Brown & Trek Life; in which case, the odds are quite good that you agree with me.

Helpless Dreamer is a compilation album that releases Nov 23rd, and is a preview of their 2011 slate. With contributions from Black Milk, Magestik Legend & Roc Marciano, Helpless Dreamer checks in at a solid 13 tracks – from both the lyrical and sonic perspectives.

Highlights include: Oddisee’s innate sense of space on the soulful Different Now, featuring Toine. The Detroit triumvirate of Finale, Invincible & Black Milk on Don’t Sleep. KC native son  Stik Figa‘s collaboration with Oddisee, co-produced by Dunc entitled,  From the Top, which is part of  Oddisee’s effort to promote regional Hip-Hop flavors.

Beats+Crates got the jump on your other favorite blogs with this one.

Download Stik Figa – From the Top prod. Oddisee

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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

Oddisee rounds out his seasonal collection with the 4th and final installment Odd Spring.  Oddisee is one of my favorite producers/emcees, and you know you’re going to get quality music from him every time.  Odd Spring is another collection of Oddisee tracks that sets the mood for the season.  The tone is set right away with The Blooming and builds up with Birds & Bees (featuring the Diamond District).  Half way through you might as well be outside with the volume cranked up.  Download Oddisee – Odd Spring on BandCamp.  Also pick up Oddisee’s Traveling Man.  BIG thanks Oddisee for making the dope music.

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Kingpin Slim & Oddisee – Anticipation

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Oddisee – I’m From PG

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

I rocked Oddisee’s Odd Summer for a long time and recently switched up to Oddisee’s Odd Autumn. We don’t have seasons in So Cal, so when it started getting cold the other day I figured it was time to switch. Stuff Oddisee puts out quickly becomes a staple in my ipod, so Odd Autumn is no different. I rocked Odd Autumn when I needed to feel grounded and relaxed. It’s feel good music all the way. Earlier today I was walking around downtown LA playing Odd Autumn and it felt like a soundtrack. That track The Second Date had me moving faster. Download Oddisee – Odd Autumn here, and check out Oddisee on MySpace. BIG thanks to Oddisee for making dope music and Put Me On It for dropping the exclusive.

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Oddisee – Every Day People (Inst.)

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Oddisee – The Second Date

2 words fo you…heavy rotation! I was fired up after learning about the DMV area, and what kinda music was comin outta there. I had Diamond District in heavy rotation until YU popped off wit “Before Taxes.” I was playing it so much I didn’t take the time to write about it until now. YU brings it on “Close” (ft. Slimkat78 and Isabella Banneker) wit a chill beat, poetic flows and a 20′s flapper hook. If you haven’t caught on to what’s going on in the DMV, you need to. Download YU “Before Taxes” and get hooked to it. Check out YU on the Diamond District’s site or MySpace. BIG thanks to the Fresh Selects fam for posting this one.

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Yu – Beats & Rhymes from March25 (Kick Styles)

I’m not sure how to put it, but can I be real wit you for a moment. Hip hop never dies, it just gets slept on…even by true hip hop heads. With that said, Diamond District is wakin asses up wit this one! From bangin tunes, tight lyrics, and sampling Gang Star on “I Mean Business” this is off the hook. I was lovin the first track “Who I Be,” but didn’t know all this was coming. “In The Ruff” is headed into heavy rotation in my iPod fo-sho. Check out Diamond District on their site, and BIG thanks to Put Me On It for the heads up. Download “In The Ruff” here.

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Diamond District -Make It Clear

Rep’n DMV (DC, Maryland, & Virgina) Oddisee, X.O. and Y.U. make up the Diamond District. They remind me of early Wu-Tang (not just because of the sample of O.D.B.) and the Goodie Mob. “Who I Be” has the eerie down-tempo sound that give it that Wu flava, but totally a sound of their own. Their album is due out April 14th…as a FREE download on their site, so check that when it comes. BIG thanks to Fresh Selects for the post, good info. Want to know about the DMV? Check the mini Documentary they made.

Download the track here.

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Diamond District – Who I Be (clean)