Mr. Crooks does it again with Diamonds & Guns.  The title track is a banger.  Diamonds & Guns puts you in an Audrey Hepburn movie with a heist and the villain gets away.  Maybe it was the cover art that made me envision that.  Either way Stevie Crooks kills that track.  Crooklyn is another track that I can’t get outta my head.  This is one artist not to be slept on.  I rocked Stevie Crooks’ CSTC Mixtape for a while, and Diamonds & Guns is the only reason I retired it from my ipod.  Download Stevie Crooks – Diamonds & Guns on BandCamp.  You can also find CSTC Mixtape there too. BIG thanks Stevie Crooks for making the music that keeps heads nodding.

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Stevie Crooks – Diamonds & Guns

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Stevie Crooks – StopLookListen

I got a link from this cat Hollywood Floss about his EP, The Xperiment. Vol. 1. The link lead me to Hailmegetron.net with an explanation of the concept.  Hollywood Floss sent a few joints out to a couple of his frienda, and had them name the tracks.  And then he would put the “experiment” out.  Simple concept, but one I haven’t seen done to release an EP.  Cool idea.  When I first gave it a listen it wasn’t a sound I was expecting to come from Texas.  Its an electric mix with a Hollywood Floss style.  Hollywood Floss brings it with his witty lyrics over a nice choice of beats.  He’s definitely one to look for. Hollywood Floss wrapped a project set to release some time in February, so keep your eyes open.  Download Hollywood Floss – The Xperiment Vol.1 at Hailmegetron.net, and check out Hollywood Floss’ other release on Bandcamp.  BIG thanks Hollywood Floss for the heads up.

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Hollywood – The Effect Of Hip Hop

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Hollywood – The Verbal Slaughter (Megatron’s Armageddon)

I woke up a little earlier on Saturday, and saw my man Aspect 1 dropping a link to his latest project VIBE.OVER on twitter.  If any of you know Aspect, this cat only does shows on occasion, and kicks it less then that.  It’s because he’s focused on making beats.  I downloaded VIBE.OVER right away and it slapped me in the face.  I was instantly wide awake.  My friend a chung and I were ichatting about which tracks were our instant favorites.  I played it back-to-back-to-back… for reals.  I even had a hard time selecting which ones to preview.  Just download Aspect.One – VIBE.OVER, you’ll be glad you did. If you want the latest updates catch Aspect 1 on twitter.  BIG thanks Aspect 1 for the heads up man. Keep making bangers.

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Aspect 1 – After Sex

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Aspect 1 – Because

You know my man Moonsatellite is up on anything about the ATL.  Moon shot me a tweet a while back with a link to Beatz & Lyrics Show 10th Anniversary Mixtape.  I checked out the playlist, and knew a few folks but most of the artists were new to me. Knowing that this is a 10 year anniversary mixtape for the Beatz & Lyrics Show made me curious if it had a few “pop hop” songs in it (you know what I’m talking about). I turned it on, and it was good to hear that a hip hop radio show can last 10 years (plus), and stay true to who they are.  It was giving me hope in radio.  Catch the Beatz & Lyrics Show on WRFG 89.3 (in Atlanta) at 10pm – 1am on Saturdays.  Also check out the Beatz & Lyrics podcasts; and for updates, check out Beatz & Lyrics on Twitter.  Download Beatz & Lyrics Show 10th Anniversary Mixtape here.  BIG thanks Moon for giving the ATL lowdown.

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Phene – Think Rich

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Mojo Swagger – Phoenix Feathers

First off, if you don’t follow HouseShoes on Twitter, you’re sleeping. Now to the music. Marv Won’s Way Of The Won hits hard.  The first track, Rite Back, had me hooked. What Up came on and that’s when the volume got cranked up.  I can’t talk about each track here, but i’m telling you, I haven’t skipped a track yet.  From the banging beats to the storytelling style flows, you’ll see why this is in B+C’s heavy rotation.  Download Marv Won – The Way Of The Won here. BIG thanks HouseShoes for the heads up.

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Marv Won – Rite Back

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Marv Won – Get Back

I’m an 80’s baby and thought some of the stuff that came outta there was wack. Yeah I said wack. Anyways, rocking Sudan Life’s The Soundbomber Does The 80’s made me reminisce about the good things in the 80’s; like a Commandore 64, Eddie Murphy Movies (that were rated R & funny), and Voltron (f*!k a Power Ranger). I guess the 80’s were the sh*t. Sudan Life kills it with this 80’s sample. He admits himself that some are good and some are bad, but  either way I think you’ll bump The Soundbomber Does The 80’s like it was 1984. Download Sudan Life – The Soundbomber Does The 80’s on bandcamp.com. BIG thanks Sudan Life for the heads up on this. Keep those beats coming.

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Sudan Life//SuPerlative – We Are The 80’s

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Sudan Life//SuPerlative – Plays Arcade

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Sudan Life//SuPerlative – Round N Round

I have a love-hate relationship with EP’s. When I love it, I hate waiting for the rest of the LP to come out, and Something Out Of Nothing is no different. After listening to the 8 track debut EP…a few times I was like, “When’s the LP coming?!”  SelfSays has a classic style of flow with a Detroit twist that complements the electro-sapce beats. The cover art is a trip too. Reminds me of Fly Lo’s Los Angeles. Something Out Of Nothing is a chill EP that you can easily put on repeat. I was sleeping on this one. SelfSays dropped Something Out Of Nothing in February, but I’m awake now. Download SelfSays Something Out Of Nothing on Bandcamp. Also check out SelfSays on MySpace and Twitter. BIG thanks SelfSays for keeping it fresh.

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SelfSays – Little Things

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SelfSays – Same Space (Just Easy)

Vimeo video version click here.

For most of y’all I don’t have to tell you who Houseshoes is, but for those of you sleeping under a rock he is Hip Hop! To the point, laid back, real, Detroit, and all around good dude are just a few ways I would describe Houseshoes. From killing it DJing to making ill beats this is the guy to know. A while back I got this track called Castles by Houseshoes. Since then I’ve been keeping an eye out for whatever he drops, even podcast. Unlike other podcast, Houseshoes’ reads more like a resume and list of his friends. I’m amazed of all the projects and the people he’s worked with. Be sure to check out The Makings and keep your eyes and ears open for his LP, and look for him at Shoes House (Blue Monkey Lounge) in Hollywood. BIG thanks to Houseshoes for taking the time.

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Houseshoes – Castles

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Houseshoes – Dorothy’s Look

Check out:

Houseshoes on MySpace & Twitter

Houseshoes’ podcasts

A-Side Worldwide

Fat Beats “BUY A RECORD”

Once again gearing up for Boombox, and the line up is crazy. Boombox is having their Producer Showcase (vol. 6) with some heavy hits that are making BIG waves. We got Proh Mic from the Hawthorne Headhunters, TOKiMONSTA from Brainfeeder, Devonwho rep’n Klipmode, & Snowman (Jack) who’s out right dope in my book. My man Inka One gets top notch folks at Boombox, so this is one not to be missed. And always on deck at Boombox resident DJs Inka One, Ben Diggin, One Man Jazz. See you there.
IMPORTANT: RSVP at Going LA

BOOMBOX | 1st Saturdays
Grand Star Jazz Club
943 N.Broadway Los Angeles (Chinatown)
9:30pm-2am | 21 & over

$5 before 10:30pm w/ RSVP | $10 otherwise

For more additional info follow Boombox on Twitter.

I first got wind of this cat Rick Hughes from the track In My City off Cali Co-op, and a few folks I’ve talked with dropped his name in conversations. But what made me really pay attention was an email I got from Camille about her post on Arize Magazine’s site. I chatted with her on twitter about it, and Camille told me she was all about getting good music heard. I was down for that, and the tracks she sent were good. Rick Hughes has worked with a gang of people from Kid Boogie to Oh On, so I’d keep a close eye on this cat. Rick, keep making moves…and rep’n the I.E. Download all 5 tracks here. BIG thanks Camille for keeping my ears open.

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Elzhi & William S. – In My City (prod. by Rick Hughes) Download

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Mykestro – We Major (prod. by Rick Hughes) Download