Real talk, I don’t think I gave Nocando’s stuff a good listen before Prometheus. The times I’ve been to Low End Theory I didn’t really get the full Nocando sound. Now if you’re like me or getting an introduction to Nocando, Zero Hour is perfect. From the production, guests, and Nocando’s flow, I got this in heavy rotation. Time for me to go back and pick up what I’ve been missing. Thavius Beck, Nosajthing, Busdriver, Mexicans With Guns, and a handful of other cats.  You would think they’re shooting for the rap album of the year award or something. I wouldn’t be surprised if the instrumental version of this album dropped shortly. Zero Hour has turned me into a Nocando fan for sure. Download Nocando – Zero Hour from Hellfyre Club on tumblr. BIG thanks Nocando for killing this one.

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Nocando – Bernie prod. by Busdriver

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Nocando - Westside Rentals

This album should be called “The Hardest Working MC You Need To Respect.” I tell you there are cats that put out albums right away, half good half bad, and then fade out. LMNO is not one of those cats. I counted 12 full-length albums on Up Above Records. Yes 12, and quality stuff! Overtime is right up there on quality. The title track, Overtime kicks off with announcers talking about overtime, a few scratches, and then the drums roll in. The thing I dig about Overtime is LMNO/Up Above made it a free download and LMNO didn’t give you anything less than an LMNO album. Funky production that you can bump and smart lyrics that will rattle around in your head. LMNO, package this and slap a price tag on this brother. But I do appreciate kicking off my year with a free album. On a side note, the artwork is ill. Download LMNO – Overtime from Band Camp. BIG thanks Up Above Records for the info.

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LMNO - Surround Trip

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LMNO - Aquaduct

This is another one that I’ve been rocking and needed to write about a while back. Sometimes I get way into it. Keyel was another J-1 connect that I’m blessed to have. Keyel cats are bringing that head nodding hip hop with CLVLND.CTY.CNQRS. I’m not going to cram Keyel into a box by trying to classify the type of music that Keyel is making. What I dig about this album is it’s not a throwback where you have to dust it off, and it’s not light years ahead where no one gets it. It’s now music, you’re good to play this anywhere and anytime. The rhythm of the lyrics feels like each track is telling a story. The ill beats you can get lost in, so just put it on repeat. I’m really digging the flow of CLVLND.CTY.CNQRS, and I’m sure you’ll agree. Download Keyel – CLVLND.CTY.CNQRS on Band Camp. BIG thanks Keyel for making good music. wonder if I could roll into one of those bars that plays junk and switch it with this? Might have to give it a try. BIG shout to aLive.

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Keyel - Beats+Raps

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Keyel - Christmas Special ft. RIO the Mechanic

My friend, Trackstar the DJ, shot me an email about a youth program called Sessions LA  that he was involved with before he recently moved. Sessions LA is an opportunity for professionals like Trackstar to help and encourage kids through music. Sessions LA has been running on donations from the community and funds they have been able to drum up.  Now they need your help to stay in operation. Check out the video, read more about it, and give what you can. It’s a win-win for everyone, so lets keep building.

Here’s the story: when I moved out West, I left behind the non-profit organization I started in St. Louis to teach youth through Hip-Hop, hoping I’d find a similar organization in California where I could connect with a new group of like-minded individuals who wanted to use the genre as an educational tool. Our St. Louis program was great and provided a handful of kids with skills to help them harness their passion for Hip-Hop while applying real life lessons. However, due to a lack of funding, it was hard to expand past a certain point even though I always saw potential for it to grow. When I met DJ Phatrick in Los Angeles (through friend of TSS, Bambu), I discovered an organization called SESSIONS LA that executed the vision I had for my program and did much more. — Trackstar the DJ

Donate what you can to Indiegogo.com/SaveSessions. For more information check out Sessions LA and The Smoking Section. Check out the album the kids from the program have put together.  BIG Thanks Trackstar.

I don’t want to hold you back from listening to this great album, so this write-up is going to be short and sweet. Trek hit me up about Duke Westlake and, I admit I was totally sleeping. Duke chimed in on our twitter convo and showed me the video he did. (Kids shut your eye or skip the next two words.) F*CK’N CRAZY, so I had to post that too. Duke Westlake’s Memory Palace put me in this dream like, high energy, creative state of mind. I was instantly inspired to create something… anything. After the 4th round of Memory Palace I went back to work with round 5 playing. Very dope album that you need to hear.

“I stumbled onto a record store and acquired some interesting vinyl from their surprisingly abundant dollar bin. The music I discovered inspired me to make a collection of raw beats / instrumentals. Memory Palace is the first of a three part series of this music I’ve decided to release.” – Duke

Check out Duke Westlake on Knock Steady, SoundCloud, and Twitter. Download Duke Westlake – Memory Palace here. I honestly hope you charge for this soon. BIG Thanks to the homie Trek Life for the heads up. Duke, I’ll totally check my email more often brother. BIG Thanks for making dope music.

Start the Riot and look out because Thurzday is bringing the fire. When you have a popular group that doesn’t work out, usually it takes a while for a solo artist to produce a level of work you’d expect from them. F#ck that Thurzday came out blazing on L.A. Riot. And I’m not just talking about exceeding what I was expecting, but from the featured artist to the well planned promotional strategy, I really dig that Thurz brought the topic of the L.A. Riot and the social issues we all face today and don’t express or share our thoughts about to this project. Don’t just bump L.A. Riot, but listen to it. Download Thurz – L.A. Riot from The Riot Starts Here. Better yet, go buy it on iTunes. It’s worth it. BIG shout to Executive Producer, Ro Blvd. BIG thanks to Thurz for making music with substance.

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Thurz – Fuck The Police

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Thurz – Killers ft. Jazzy

The good folks at (iN)SECT Records sent an email about this Detroit cat Chanes. I was digging the artwork  for (iN)TANGIBLES and gave it a spin. I rocked it for a whole day before I went back and read the email again.  Chanes has a good blend of, well a bit of everything, and there’s a couple of snippet tracks on (iN)TANGIBLES I can’t wait to here the whole thing.

“We had heard about Cameron Falsetti a.k.a. Chanes, for a while now, I think first from Detroit’s Ambassador, House Shoes, we dug a little deeper and we started to see a young man with an already prolific career. Reaching out to him to see if he would be down to give us a mix for the (iN), We were not ready for what we got, all songs produced by Chanes with 8 exclusive joints. Artwork by Mike Combs”

- Andy the (iN)Tern

Anything from the D, there’s always a House Shoes connection. Gotta love that guy. Download Chanes – (iN)TANGIBLES on (iN)SECT Records. BIG thanks (iN)SECT Records for the heads up. And to Mr. House Shoes for getting good music heard.

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Chanes – Playground (featuring Miz Korona & Moe Dirdee)

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Chanes – Free Money (featuring Moe Dirdee, Freeway & Clemmye)

Episode 008: Purple High

And now for the long awaited next episode of Beats+Crates Radio mixed by DJ Mantron. Purple High is for all you music lovers that want to feel grown. DJ Mantron, through some J Dilla, Mos Def, Nicolay & Kay, The Pharcyde, and J*Davey,  brings you a mix that will have you dancing.  Lately I have been driving a lot, and Purple High has been my soundtrack for the road.  I’ll tell you Life Is Better with Purple High in heavy rotation. Download DJ Mantron’s episode of Beats+Crates Radio: Purple High here.  Click “Continue reading” below to see the whole playlist. BIG thanks to DJ Mantron and J1 aka THE DEER.

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Continue reading…

Beats+Crates Radio: Purple High Download

Going through my emails as usual, I was looking for a video to write about and ran across Koncept and Tranzformer Day Dreaming. I started thinking about when I would day dream in class. I checked out the video and started nodding my head to the track. Below the video was a link for a free EP, so I downloaded it. I played the whole thing. If More Than Meets The Eye is an EP, I can’t wait to hear Koncept and Tranzformer’s LP. This is a must to check out. Download Koncept & Tranzformer – More Than Meets The Eye at DJ Booth.Net. Also check out Koncept on twitter. BIG Thanks Brown Bag All Stars for the heads up.

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Koncept & Tranzformer – High

I’m almost speechless when it comes to Cookies or Comas. Jean Grae’s Cookies or Comas was needed more than fresh air in LA smog. I Rock On is that joint you need to crank the volume up to hear the heavy bass hit. I’ve got the headphones on, and think I might go deaf by the time I finish writing this. Cookies or Comas  also has Talib Kweli, Styles P, Royce Da 5’9” and Pharoahe Monch spitting on tracks. If you have never heard of Jean Grae (which shouldn’t be the case), Cookies or Comas is the prefect introduction to this lyrically sharp, witty emcee. Download Jean Grae – Cookies and Comas on DJ Booth.net. Also check out Jean Grae’s blog and on twitter. BIG thanks to DJ Booth.Net for hosting the mixtape.

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Jean Grae – Uh Oh ft. Talib Kweli

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Jean Grae – Assassins ft. Pharoahe Monch & Royce Da 5’9″