Fa Sheese

It takes a lot of time to get new school MCs to impress me, and that is definitely true for Fashawn. He put out one dope single, which we gave him proper credit for, but more often than not these one hits don't turn into much.

His EPK (seen above), however, convinced me that he was a genuine dude, especially since he was willing to talk freely about his tough life and it's relationship to his album. I copped it, and it is definitely what he speaks. The single below with Evidence of Dilated Peoples only tells half the story.

Im going to assume Babu is on the beat and cuts on this, because it's old school 90s Dilated.

FASHAWN FT EVIDENCE - OUR WAY

Green Eyed Love

I've been posted up in the apartment all day with a stomach bug that hasnt allowed me to move or eat. Aside from that, the heat isnt on in my building (NYC landlords, kill yourselves. Then reanimate yourselves and do it again). My only recourse for any sort of comfort is to move the couch close to the open gas oven, set it at 500°, and add carbon monoxide to today's 0 carb diet.

I was ready to chalk it up as one of the worst Saturdays in human history. But then the Mayer Hawthorne remix from Classixx arrived in my inbox.

MAYER HAWTHORNE - GREEN-EYED LOVE REMIX

Bold & Arrogant (CDQ)

I done been waiting for this track to drop for about 3 months, ever since the 10.Deep fall promo video knocked it out of the park. Fucking bonkers.

If you copped the radio rip earlier today, get rid of it. Here is the official high quality album version:

EMILIO ROJAS - BOLD & ARROGANT

Belhaven Meridian

^ If Jim Jarmusch made hip-hop videos.

This allegorical short film/music video for the fairly unknown Shabazz Palaces was shot in Watts, Los Angeles by Kahlil Joseph. Dope cinametography, an old reference to the 1977 film Killer of Sheep, and a barely visible cameo from a character from The Wire, combine to make this one of the most innovative and random videos of the year. These cats are now on our radar. Think Camp Lo, Digable Planets, and Outkast, if they were on Def Jux in Watts. Props, gentlemen.

The Blakroc Project

Ever since Dame Dash was cut off by Jay-Z, he's been a ghost. For years. Invisible. I mean, without hip-hop's biggest cash cow, there's nowhere to go but down, right?

Wrong.

Dame has been secretly waiting in the cut to do something monumental—something that hasn't been done since the days of the Beastie Boys: Create a colossal rap-rock album. And not one to shake a stick at either. His concept is Blakroc: a collaboration between The Black Keys and heavyhitters like Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Raekwon, Jim Jones, The RZA, and Q-Tip. Bringing together the down-south bluesy rock sounds of The Black Keys with the gritty up-north sounds of New York's greatest MCs, Blakroc seeks to cross genres in a way that would be brand new.

The footage of this is bananas. Especially watching The RZA sit down with the guitar and lay out that loop.



Blakroc will be released on "Blak" Friday, November 27th. Here's a taste:


BLACKROC FT MOS DEF & JIM JONES - HOOCHIE COO

Joss x Nas

While we patiently wait for the new Nas & Damian Marley album, here is a nice soulful new gem with Joss Stone. Joss' new album, released later this month, will also feature Full Clip favorite Raphael Saadiq.

JOSS STONE FT NAS - GOVERNMENTALIST

You dressin like you from the 80s, you was born in the 90s

Qwel used to be one of my top MCs in the early 2000s, but quickly fell as he became obsessed with religion and Christianity only a few years later. His lyrics have always been crazy deep and intricate, but he got fairly preachy and overly-complex (a la Aesop Rock) on his recent solo projects.

His new album with Maker, luckily, features a handful of incredibly dope reggae dub-inspired beats, which have forced him to flip his style back to the days of those old Typical Cats joints when he was not only wise but incredibly raw.

QWEL - PAPER DOLLS

Dear Pops

Instead of coming with his usual hate-filled, violent lyricism, Vinnie Paz eloquently tells the story of the sickness and eventual death of his stepfather.
The beat and hook (most likely provided by Stoupe) are perfectly crafted and beautiful, complimenting Vinnie's vivid storytelling. Who knew he had a heart?

A++.

VINNIE PAZ - SAME STORY (MY DEDICATION)