Q-Tip has been droppin gems from his new album, and I’ve been feeling most all of them. This is the video for the second single – FIYAH! Dilla on the beat. No audio file for this yet… anyone got it?

THROWBACK CUT

Q-Tip (Kamaal The Abstract) – Even If It Is So
Man I love this cut. Shout out to JDL!
[audio:qtip-evenif.mp3]

It’s been a minute. I’ve been up in some business but as always I’ll bring it back. Posts will be more frequent soon-ish, when I can get my shit in order… so let’s just get on with it. Here’s some bang for your box.

Brooklyn Academy – What’s The Buzz feat. Will Tell
This album (Bored Of Education) dropped a short bit ago… and honestly, I was not feelin it. I don’t know why, but it didn’t really click with me in any way. It just felt off and too much so for all the buzz about it. However, this cut crept into my rotation. It’s mostly the productions that caught my ear, but this cut will make me revisit the album.
[audio:bklyn-buzz.mp3]

Illa J – R U Listenin’ feat. Guilty Simpson
He’s come a ways from appearing as his brother in the Won’t Do video. The younger brother of Dilla is dropping some interesting cuts. Honestly, his lyrics sometimes are a bit of a stretch sometimes, but from what I’ve heard at least he’s always coming on some pretty solid beats (many non-Dilla beats). I got high hopes for the dude. Let’s see what he’s got in store. Is anyone else getting sick of Guilty Simpson?
[audio:illaj-rulistenin.mp3]

Black Milk – Purple Track 8
Now THIS is what’s up! I’ve been playing the hell out of this beat tape. Black Milk is still one producer I always check for. This project he took time to flip Prince cuts into beats, maybe just for fun. They all slam and make you listen for a good second before you know what’s been flipped. Listen through the end, then go track down the rest of the album (ah hem…).
[audio:bmilk-purple8.mp3]

Jake One – Glow f. Elzhi & Royce Da 5’9″
Jake One is the dude. White Van music recently dropped and it’s one of the more solid releases to come out lately. Front to back… SOLID. Jake is a heavy weight in production these days, always comes with heat and production that make you wish was more prevalent on the radio. Highly recommended – do not sleep.
[audio:jakeone-glow.mp3]

This is going to sound ridiculous, but I actually wrote this post a few weeks ago. For some reason I thought I posted it. Apparently I didn’t. Yeah, that’s how these last few weeks have been for me! On with with it… here’s some new ish.

Dwele – Open Your Eyes
OK, this is kinda of a strange. Dwele covering Bobby Caldwell’s Open Your Eyes, which people bug out on due to Common’s The Light. Funny how things come full circle like that. Anyway, Dwele is the dude so I’m not mad. His new album (dropping very soon – or likely by now) is pretty solid if you got love for neo-soul and the Detroit bump. There’s also a strange Dilla homage on there.
[audio:dwele-open.mp3]

Giant Panda – Cinemax
The boys Giant Panda are back with a new album on Tres. I’ve given it a few listens and haven’t yet really absorbed it, but Cinemax is definitely a jam. Now I’m not going to go as far as to say the album ain’t hitting me right just yet, but let’s just say I ain’t warmed up to it yet. Their last effort was a new classic in my humble opinion.
[audio:giantpanda-cinemax.mp3]

Atmosphere – Shoulda Known
OK this isn’t THAT new but I wasn’t really checking for it. What the fuck is up with this beat? Ant done flipped his shit up. After the last album they gave away a little while back – I fully expected to hear more Atmosphere to be on the throwback style. I gotta say, this beat is kinda hot and not what I expected from them. Slug, those lyrics about drugs and girls are gettin a little old homie – but I’ll let it slide for this one.
[audio:atmosphere-shouldaknown.mp3]

Vast Aire – The Crush
I played the shit out of the Cannibal Ox album when it came out. There were a few things I learn from all that listening; one – El-P is actually a pretty dope producer and two, Vast Aire is a crazy nice MC. That album made me respect El-P. Anyway, I’m feelin this cut – though heard it possibly didn’t make the album.
[audio:vastaire-thecrush.mp3]

Hustle Simmons – The Rundown ft. 84 & Fel Sweetenberg
A lot of buzz about these cats right now. Seriously, they had me at the horn stabs. Been playing this a lot lately though, and am excited to hear the album. Dig it.
[audio:hustle-rundown.mp3]

EDITOR NOTE: Yo, if you can’t figure out how to download these file, click the titles.

EDITOR NOTE 2: Dwele’s Open Your Eyes was actually first released on the Detroit Soul compilation a while back. Thanks to my discriminating readers. I did however discover it was pruduced by the The Platinum Pied Pipers.

Man I can’t believe I haven’t done a Black Milk post yet! Producer and MC Black Milk recently he released his first proper album Popular Demand after a few mixtape, EPs and one offs (did Sound of the City even get distribution?). I’ve been giving it a lot of spins lately, and it’s worth the listen. The production alone is refreshing. This cat chops up shit like crazy and keeps it soulful (a hem… see here and here). You gotta love that.

One half of the production team BR Gunna, Black Milk stepped out on his own and is picking up speed. Hailing from Detroit, his sound definitely has the knock of the D (see: Dwele, Dilla, PPP), matter of fact we start of making beats for Slum Village. People have been taking notice too, so don’t sleep (see: Monch below)!

Black Milk – U (feat. Ty & Kory)
[audio:blackmilk-u.mp3]

Black Milk – So Gone
[audio:blackmilk-sogone.mp3]

Black Milk – U’s A Freak Bitch
[audio:blackmilk-freakbitch.mp3]

BONUS CUT

Pharoahe Monch – Let’s Go (feat Mela Machinko)
[audio:pharoahemonch-letsgo.mp3]

there’s loads of cuts from what may be the next Common album flying around (titled Finding Forever). includes production by Premier, Will.I.Am, Kanye West, Dilla and more. i’m only going to post a few i’m feelin, but if this is any indication of what’s going to make the cut then i predict the new album will be a highlight of 07. no idea if these are official or mastered, but check for it cause there’s some damn nice cuts. you go Comm!
Common – Black Maybe (feat. Bilal)
[audio:common-blackmaybe.mp3]
Common – The People (feat. Dwele)
[audio:common-thepeople.mp3]
Common – Southside (feat. Kanye West)
[audio:common-southside.mp3]