ShowYouSuck: "Watching Walking Dead Episodes 3, 4, 5"
There are few artists in hip-hop or otherwise who have a more full-stocked pop-culture lexicon than Chicago's own ShowYouSuck. The owner of one of the most exciting rap shows there is today, Show has rapped about everything from Big Gulps, clam chowder and decades old mammary glands and today returned to one of his favorite topics in the TV show "The Walking Dead" with three new installments of the ongoing series produced by Tha Hydrox. The latest episodes are distinguished by beat changes, each change indicates the beginning of the next episode. ShowYouSuck follows up a strong end to 2013 by reminding us of the everyman spirit that make ShowYouSuck's music so endearing and fun at the same time. Check out the latest, "Watching Walking Dead" episodes 3, 4 & 5 streaming below.
[Mixtape] Tree: "@MCTREE_G EP"
Chicago's own MC Tree decided to christen 2014 with some fresh Soul Trap by surprise today, releasing the seven song @MCTREE_G EP earlier today on the Internet. The 29-year-old artist continues to carve his own niche within the ever-more dense local scene with his crafty sample chops and raspy spitting that reflects Tree's everyman spirit. @MCTREE_G EP, aside from being one of the best Twitter promotions in recent memory, is the latest release from Tree since 2013's Sunday School 2. It's not everyday that someone comes along with a uniquely different sound that can be appreciated from so many angles. With a Pitchfork performance and co-signs from MTV, among others, expect plenty more to come from Tree throughout this year.
[First Look] Kitty Cash
Photography By Julian Schratter
Over the past year and a half or so there has been a hip-hop resurgence in New York City that has had many, including Hot97's Peter Rosenberg, calling it a "Renaissance of Hip-hop". Then sentiment isn't just because of the music, which has spilled from the city's streets for generation, but rather the re-incarnation of hip-hop culture in society on a real level. Perhaps no one else in the scene embodies that realness as much as Brooklyn native, Kitty Cash, who firmly established herself with an eclectic, thought-out 19-track mixtape, Love The Free, which dropped just before the new year. The project featured a smattering of original tracks from an assortment of artists from across the country, including the like of Vic Mensa, Kilo Kish, Phony PPL, Jesse Boykins, The GTW, Jean Deaux, Justin Rose and more. It's a fun project that calls to mind different aspects of growing up through the 90s and early 2000s, as the newly-minted 25-year-old can attest to. The official DJ for Kilo Kish, who provides the introduction to Love The Free, Kitty Cash has been able to observe things from behind the scenes a bit, and used those experiences to put together the debut release. I had the chance to catch up with Kitty Cash just after the new year as she was preparing for her birthday and thinking about what's next, read it all here.
[Video] Jay Dot Rain: "How I Do"
We've been following the musing of young Alabama hip-hop artist Jay Dot Rain for a minute now, since getting to know him earlier this year as part of the RH First Look series. Newly graduated and with a degree, Jay Dot Rain has been on his grind, traveling the country and building his name outside of his native 'Bama. His latest, "How I Do" is a furtherance of that building, as the video follows Jay Dot and co. around the streets of New York City, an ode to that critical next step in any artist's career. Check out the latest from Jay Dot Rain, streaming here below.
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[Mixtape] King L: "Drilluminati 2"
[Mixtape] Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip: "The Abstract and the Dragon"
Pretty much anyone who grew up in the '90s (actually who doesn't know this song) knows A Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario" featuring Busta Rhymes. It was one of the biggest hits to come out of the Native Tongues collective, and one of those songs that, no matter where you are, you have to sing along with Bust's line "RRRRAOWR, RRRRAOW, like a dungeon dragon". It's actually very interesting that Busta and Tip haven't done a project together before this.
As the trailer to the project showed us, these two icons came up together and are the bestests of friends. Their chemistry is undeniable and I really hope we get to see them tour together next year. Last week, MTV released Busta's "Thank You" track featuring Yeezus and Weezy that will be on Busta's E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event) 2. Earlier this week, we got visuals for the track, and last night, the interwebs was treated to the full mixtape, The Abstract and the Dragon. Filled with the Abstract's production and classics, this is a must download for any head or any new music lover that hasn't heard some any of these classics. You can download and stream the mixtape below.
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[Mixtape] Roc Marciano: "The Pimpire Strikes Back"
Emcee/producer Roc Marciano releases his new "The Pimpire Strikes Back" mixtape today via Man Bites Dog Records. Throughout 16 joints, production is handled by the game's very best such as Alchemist, Evidence, Lord Finesse, Madlib while features include Willie The Kid, Action Bronson, Meyhem Lauren & Knowledge The Pirate. Special editions of the 'tape are available here.
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[Mixtape] Grant Parks: "Drilling Season"
Producer Grant Parks is here with an all-original mixtape, Drilling Season. It's a fact that Parks has worked endless nights and gave it his all to get this project to the quality he wanted it to be and the final product doesn't disappoint. With a mix of rambunctious instrumentals and boisterous records with the likes Malik Yusef, GLC and Skooda Choose, this is in an enjoyable listen to all those Drill aficionados out there that are looking for something refreshing.
You can stream Drilling Season on Grant Parks' SoundCloud.