A3C Mixtape Volume 1
The A3C festival is taking place from October 7-9 in Atlanta, GA. The festival will be featuring more than 200 artists from across the nation. SMKA is hosting a 2 part compilation of tracks from artists who will be performing at A3C. Volume 1 dropped today (part 2 comes out October 5). This first mixtape features the likes of Masspike Miles, Bun B, Aleon Craft, Mistah FAB, Killer Mike, Jean Grae, and many more. Check out the A3C lineup and download the tape below
Doc Ish: "Is It A Dream" ft. Joe Budden, Sean Price, & Talib Kweli
Grammy Award-winning Doc Ish created a track for the lyricist lovers on this one. All three rappers go over Doc's dreamy track, debating what life is with each one taking his own unique approach. This is a leak off of his upcoming album, The First Treatment, which drops October 26. Also, be on the look out for a music video for this track. Check out the track below.
Laws & The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble: "...Never" ft. Dave Young
Never write off Laws. He's given us some material to hold us over until his next mixtape, entitled Yesterday Future (yes, this is a tribute to Paul McCartney), drops sometime in late October. Laws and The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble create a smooth blend of jazz and hip-hop on which "Your Future Favorite Rapper" showcases his versatility, going from a sing-song chorus, to his usual crisp rhymes, and then to some rapid fire spitting. Download the track below
Mike Golden & Friends: "Bones" Video
Do yourself a favor and check these guys out. Mike Golden and Friends just dropped Trees EP Part 2 last week. The last track on the project, "Bones", had been out for a while prior to the EP's release. MG and F had been shooting the music video before Part 2 came out and we got to see a snippet that served as a teaser to the EP. The emotionally-charged, narrative of a video gives additional meaning to an awesome track as well as an intro and outro that supplement the Davy Greenberg directed visuals. Watch the music video for "Bones" below.
John Legend & The Roots: "Wake Up" (The Arcade Fire Cover)
Unfortunately, I haven't seen The Arcade Fire live yet. I have however seen plenty of footage from their shows and their musical talent and energy is overwhelming even though I've just watched them on my laptop. When I heard that John Legend and The Roots did a cover of The Arcade Fire's "Wake Up", which inspired the title of their latest project, I was hesitant to check it out. I thought that attempting to match or even compare to the original's magnitude was a futile effort. Luckily, I was wrong. Their cover of "Wake Up" is just another example of how versatile these musicians are. This is from the Spike Lee directed, American Express Unstaged Series and you can check out the visuals below.
Nottz: "Blast That" ft. Black Milk
Nottz and Black Milk go in over an appropriately named track. The mix of guitar, especially when the heavy distortion picks up later in the song, and bass will make you want to turn those volume knobs clockwise. Both talented producers/rappers preach real hip-hop and when their lyrics are paired with the feel of the track it's hard not to think of some older Roots material. Nottz' You Need This Music will drop on October 26 on Raw Koncept Media Group. Cop the track below.
Kanye West: "So Appalled" ft. RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, and Cyhi the Prince
Once again, Kanye has assembled a killer lineup for his weekly treat. He continues with the artwork that we've grown familiar to, but not necessarily fond of... As expected, this lineup delivers lyrically and the production is solid. I'm already waiting for next Friday. Cop the track below.
XV: Vizzy Zone (Deluxe Edition)
No tags/drops on this deluxe edition of Vizzy Zone that XV just came out with. I was impressed with the mixtape when it came out and the tracks have only grown on me. This new edition also includes 2 new tracks that were not on the original. Cop the download below.