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)

In With The New

As a little experiment, things are going to change 'round here. Starting with: enough of these time-consuming single-song posts. They are boring for you and tedious for me to write.

So now we're going to hit you with a theme, and a number of songs that fit into that. You get the option of downloading them individually, or downloading them as a single zip file. This optio is akin to just trusting me that whatever Im posting is killing whatever else any other blog/friend/wifey/Pitchfork idiot is trying to sell you.

So without further ado, Theme #1:
Groups or artists that catch hate that are making dope shit.
Steady rotation at the new palace:

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DRAKE - BARRY BONDS FREESYLE

Ya I know this kid was on Degrassi High as a child, is from Canada, and is more overhyped than Color Me Badd in the 90s, but I cosign him 100% with a straight Idontgiveafuck. This is one of my favorite beats ever, and Drake just completely nukes it. Plus dude said "You just mad cause your girl's at my house with her tongue sticking out like a Michael Jordan rookie card."

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THE COOL KIDS - SUMMER VACATIONS

The Cool Kids have always been a bit of a gimmick for the new generation. They're on that "Hey look at us we're so throwback" shit that all the 16 year-olds are doing right now, even though there's no reference point...

Oh wait, what? This is basically the new Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff "Summertime" joint for '09? My bad, guys.

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50 CENT - FUNNY HOW TIME FLIES

It's funny how time doesn't fly when I'm listening to any other 50 song.

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The last dude getting unnecessarily hated on right now is Barack Obama. WTF is wrong with you people? Just look at that smile.

Be Ali

Ant laces another gorgeous drunken guitar loop, while Ali arrives with his usual head on his shoulders wisdom.

Gotta deal with your demons before they deal with you.

BROTHER ALI - BABY GIRL

More Mobb Deep Letters

Thank god Havoc is doing the letter writing this time around, instead of having to struggle through yet another all caps nonsensical Prodigy letter from jail again. It's a pleasure to have at least one of these guys spouting off over a nearly classic Havoc beat. Bout. Cotdamn. Time.

HAVOC - LETTER TO P

Man On The Moon

Remember this? We premiered this a little over one year ago, and no one knew who he was.

Here's a new Cudder track off his debut LP Man On The Moon.

There really aren't any tracks quite as good as Day N Nite on here, but I would nevertheless recommend copping this album and meditating on it for a week or so before you make up your mind about it. There are a few jawns with MGMT and Ratatat, which are much appreciated, as well as some other hidden gems.

KID CUDI - HYYERR

Walk Wit Me

As predicted, Raekwon's much anticipated Purple Tape 2 is a bust. Rae chose a few nice beats from Dilla and Dr Dre, but picked his usual set of uninspired ones as well, and failed to make his mark lyrically. The album has its moments on joints like 10 Bricks and Catalina, but the rest is...well...let's just say I'm not memorizing any of the lyrics anytime soon.

But this random UK bonus track is the real diamond in the rough (how does the UK always get bonus tracks that are better than the album itself?).

RAEKWON - WALK WIT ME

Empire State of Mind

Jay-Z recreates every album cover in one shot in 60 seconds.

This would be even better without the Rhapsody ad at the end...i.e. if it was used as a promotion for the new album alone. Speaking of the new album, this is one of the better joints off The BP3.

I made the Yankee hat more famous than the Yankee game.

JAY-Z FT ALICIA KEYS - EMPIRE STATE OF MIND

World Tour

Wale has terrible taste in kicks, but great taste in beats and hooks.

WALE - WORLD TOUR

And this marks the first post with a direct link. Just click on the blue song title for a straight-to-iTunes download.

Good Googley Moogley

I start droppin jewelery,
Her eyes went googley
She went home & Googled me.

Peter Bjorn John and Hip-hop

Peter Bjorn and John released Living Thing last spring, which was an unusual departure from their mainstay of indie rock into the realm of beats. Hip-hop heads took notice...especially Full Clip favorite Mick Boogie, who just put together a remix album titled Re-Living Thing (out August 27). Included are Talib Kweli, GZA, Wale, Little Brother, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and a handful of other top shotters.

On the lead single Jazzy Jeff keeps the "Summertime" vibe alive, while Pooh and Chaundon reminisce on being young and staying that way. I've been feeling old lately, so this is my new summer anthem.

PETER, BJORN, JOHN, AND LITTLE BROTHER - STAY THIS WAY (DJ JAZZY JEFF REMIX)

24k

Havoc and Rae take over my favorite downtown gear stop, sell all the kicks, keep all the cash, and then float. Real NYC video for a serious NYC collabo track.

In case you missed this gem the first time around:

J DILLA FT MOBB DEEP & RAEKWON - 24K RAP

Wale x Apple Juice Kid

Apple Juice Kid is a relatively new name on the production scene, but within the last year has produced the new Camp Lo EP, as well as that excellent Miles Davis remix project. He's flexed skills mostly on jazz beats thus far, but is proving with this new African dance beat for Wale that he's got much more fire in the future.

Got more green than Whole Foods.
- Wale Faloren

WALE - MY SWEETIE

Outside The Box

It's amazing what a white Jew from Manhattan can do to positively affect the hip-hop game in a matter of less than two years.

Since he stepped into the scene working for Hot97, Pete Rosenberg has successfully brought real hip-hop back to the masses, heavily promoting unknown but great artists like Oddisee and Folk & Stress (in addition to putting on those dope interviews at the 92nd St Y).

Here he is again hosting a new mixtape from Folk & Stress—two white brothers from the Big (Crab) Apple—heavily influenced not by the Def Jux's or Asher Roth's of the world but by that late 90s New York boom bap. These kids can SPIT.

I literally have been listening to nothing but these two joints all week:

FOLK & STRESS - 3RD BASS

FOLK & STRESS - GETTIN BUSY