Bringing you nothing but that good music, heres one of my favorite songs from Elzhi. As he IS a member of Slum Village, im sure all my hip-hop heads will be more then satisfied with the WHOLE album (which, of course, has that pure hip hop feel im sure yall been dying for..). I recommend you pick up a copy of that if you havent already, my friends.

Here you go, enjoyy!

Elzhi – Talking In My Sleep
Off of his latest album, “The Preface”.

If this aint in your Itunes, your taking major L’s kidd..

HHHTaipei Bound,

I’m on my way back to the land of Stinky Tofu and Beetlenut!

Yes, the past 8 months here in Toronto have been phenomenal both personally and professionally (‘09 has been the SHEEEEEIIIIT!)  but, it’s starting to get cold and I’ve quickly realized that I’m not built like that anymore.  Plus, I miss the shit outta my Taiwanese counterparts.  So, I’m gettin my hibernation on and goin to the island to throw parties with the best of the best and enjoy life.

However, as those of you who’ve flown overseas before know, I’m gonna be on a plane for like 2 months rendering this blog inactive for a little bit.  So today’s post is gonna be completely loaded with goodies to tide you over until I get back to some land.

So without further ado…

THE PROFESSIONAL

If there was ever someone you called a ‘professional emcee’, Black Thought should be the first person you think of.  At very least second.

Well, this unreleased goodie aptly titled ‘The Professional’ has just surfaced and it proves my point 300 times over.

BLACK THOUGHT – THE PROFESSIONAL

DOPE MAN

If you read this blog regularly, then you know I love Slum Village.

I don’t know what it is, but there are few, if any, albums that ever beat out Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 2 on my playlist.  I still listen to that ish like it dropped last Tuesday, and I don’t foresee any slowing up.  Sure my favorite reincarnation of them is still the original trio, but Elzhi’s contribution to the group should never be downplayed.  He’s an absolute monster.    Anyway, since today’s blog is LONG, I’ma keep this short (as possible). With one of Baatin’s last recordings before he passed, off the upcoming Villa Manifesto, I give you…

SLUM VILLAGE – DOPE MAN

**BONUS**

MICHAEL JACKSON – BUTTERFLIES (Dilla’s Players Remix)

R.I.P. Dilla & Baatin.

TIL IT DROPS

New Clipse!

I’m starting to get amped up…

CENTER EDGE TERRITORY

So I’m not sure if you’ve heard or not but HHHT faves Mos Def, Jay Electronica and current Hip-Hop blog darling, Curren$y (pictured below) have formed a new group called Center Edge Territory and have apparently already finished 6 songs?

Yeah.  Didn’t see that one coming, especially since Curren$y used to roll with Lil Weezy and that match up just seems odd to me.  However, homie can rap, so as long as there’s that, I’m cool.  Anyway, although nothing has leaked yet, here goes a little something from each member of this new underground powerhouse.

Jay Electronica, along with Ta’raach jump on this intergalactic dopeness from another HHHT favorite Sa-Ra Creative Partners.

SA-RA CREATIVE PARTNERS – LOVE CZARS II ft. JAY ELECTRONICA & TA’RAACH

And Curren$y does his thing over a Mos Def original.

CURREN$Y – BREAKFAST IN & OUT (Produced by Mos Def)

A LIVING LEGEND

Scarub, Luckyiam, Sunspot Jonz, Eligh, Bicasso, Aesop, Murs & The Grouch, or better known as West Coast’s current underground torchbearers, The Living Legends are the definition of paid dues.  Having completely built themselves up independently from scratch, there are few hip-hop artists who can rival what they’ve done in the underground and truthfully, there are few hip-hop artists, underground or mainstream that can generate the revenue they do because of the work they’ve put in and the independent route they’ve taken.  Now, at approximately a gazillion total releases, one of the Legends standouts, the Grouch returns with his latest effort ‘Eyes off the time’ and so far it sounds extra ill. Check the promo vid and DL below:

THE GROUCH – WHATEVER I SAY

MORE BLAKROC

And finally, I give you all the newest updates from the BlakRoc project.  Out in 6 DAYS!

BLAKROC EPISODE #9 – Feat. PHAROAHE MONCH

**BONUS** BLAKROC – DOLLAZ & SENSE ft. PHAROAHE MONCH & RZA

BLAKROC EPISODE #10 – Feat. NIKKI WRAY

BLAKROC – AIN’T NOTHIN LIKE YOU (HOOCHIE COO) Feat. MOS DEF & JIM JONES

That’s it for now folk.

Enjoy life…I’ll see you in a few.

Triple.
www.ppfhouse.com

I’m really not a fan of promoting projects that are attached to gimmicky marketing campaigns. It’s not that I’m totally against the merger of corporate branding and fresh music,  but when cigarettes or alcohol are being pushed, I usually don’t feel the need to promote said company any more than necessary.

So if you can ignore that this download is being brought to you by a vodka company, delight in the fact that they’ve got world renowned DJ Benji B picking the cuts that are included. If you listen to Benji’s show on BBC 1 Xtra you know he’s got a good ear for playing futuristic world grooves and is one of the better DJs in the U.K. bar none. On his latest podcast entitled Future Music Series#2, he’s got heat from Little Dragon (Sweden), Bei Bei (California), Martyn (Holland), Electric Wire Hustle (New Zealand), Yaw (Chicago) and several other artists that you probably wouldn’t expect.

You’ll hear some good features on the podcast also with guest appearances from Detroit’s Elzhi and California’s Georgia Anne Muldrow as well. Feel free to download it if you’re over 21. Since it’s being promoted by a liquor company, the podcast itself is for those 21 and up.

We made it! Gravity Jones presents InfeRed’s brand new mixtape No Turn On Red. Pick your favorite file site to download from below the artwork…

InfeRed – No Turn On Red links: megaupload | rapidshare | sendspace | zshare | mediafire | limelinx | filefactory

Gravity Jones presents InfeRed’s 2009 mixtape “No Turn On Red.” MLKjr said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets, even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.” Tony ‘InfeRed’ Graves feels his path is leading him to record and perform honest music. If it’s true that your soul should speak truest and loudest through your actions, midwest rapper InfeRed’s soul preaches through every line. In the vein of some of Hip-Hop’s most candid and ground breaking artists, Red works with a passion and dedication to his lyrics and each message they encompass. He is often likened to Jay-Z, Common, Royce Da 5′9, Elzhi, and, more recently, Wale. Download the mixtape, analyze the lyrics, scrutinize the songs, love it and hate it. Peace and much love.

Also, check it out, rate it, comment on it at datpiff.

Please spread it like wildfire!! Feel free to copy any of the links, artwork, music, burn it onto cds, whatever…just get it out there!! Electric grass roots style…
Also, please let us know what you think…
and while you’re at it check the official video for the single
The Higher:

Peace, and much love!!!

Dope Man is the first single from Slum Village‘ The Villa Manifesto that drops December 8th, which leads up to the full-length Villa Manifesto LP next year, which will feature tracks as the fully united Slum Village.

Dope man

I’ve wanted to do this for a while now, as I’m a massive, massive fan of soulful hip hop. It’s songs like this that remind me that hip hop is not dead. so I want to try to keep this list almost exclusively in the new-school. It’s easy to find soul in the hip hop of the 80’s and 90’s, I know, but for the most part, hip hop in these periods was generally influenced by funk – not soul. Now, this is only a list of 10, with YouTube links to the song, but obviously there are heaps more out there, but I think, if you’re looking for some soulful hip hop, it’s a good indicator. I’m trying to stick to only one artist, but it’s a good idea to check out the album from which the listed song is taken. The following list is in no particular order:

1. Blu & Exile – Dancing In The Rain

This track is off Blu’s acclaimed 2007 LP, Below the Heavens. It was produced by DJ Exile, and the entire album is about as soulful as you can get. Straight out of L.A., Blu isn’t your typical west-coast rapper rhyming about blunts, dubs, guns, bitches, hos and cliques. If you haven’t already copped this album, get onto it. One of my personal all-time favourite albums. For real. It’s crack.

If you read my last post, you’d have noticed that I like to throw in my favourite lines from each track, but from the onset, this song is a lyrical clusterbomb.

“Look… it’s six o’clock I’m hopping outta the bed /
Rain fallin’, callin’ X but my phone lines dead /
I guess my bills ain’t paid /
No ride to work for the day /
Second option: hop the bus, but theres a traffic delay…”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYqm-xU2pi8

2. Brad Strut – Believe

Melbourne emcee Brad Strut makes the list with his track, Believe, which can be found on his curiously named Fallout Shelter EP / Rejuvenation LP, along with the instrumental. Braddles teamed up with producer Beat Butcha in London to produce the track, along with a couple of others on the 2009 release. Personally, it’s my favourite Brad Strut song, and if you’re from Melbourne, you might be able to recognize the location in which the video was filmed.

Here are the opening lines:

“I believe in the sun and stars / 
‘Cuz overheads got me looking up to ‘em /
I woke up, look up / 
I forge through it /
It occurred to me recently /
I tackle with the beast in me /
And talk through it peacefully.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bst-lUI9aeY

3. Common – Forever Begins

Really, I think I could have put pretty much any track by Common on here. Kanye West is one of the most soulful producers in the game, and Common is one of the most soulful dudes in rap, so it’s a pretty flawless mix. The opening drum rhythm is straight from a Paul Simon track, ‘50 Ways To Leave Your Lover’, but was played by drumming great, Steve Gadd. It’s a great track, and probably my favourite off Common’s 2007 album, Forever Begins. Check the lyrics:

“Sooner of later I know the cheddar gonna come /
For now I write the world letters to better the young /
On tree by jury /
Together we hung /
Now we let our chains hang and gangbang to maintain”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N_lYnsPOt0&feature=PlayList&p=5D7BA48288D01F07&index=0&playnext=1

4. DJ Bonez & Low Budget – Nobody Like This

DJ Bonez is one of Australia’s most recognized hip hop DJ’s, based in Melbourne.  Low Budget are hip hop duo also coming out of Melbourne, and are doing something different as well which is good to hear. This track is taken DJ Bonez collaboration album, Roll Call, which features some of Australian hip hop’s biggest names (i.e. Funkoars, Pegz, Muph, Javs) as well as Portland, Oregon group, Sandpeople. His track, off the same album, Certified, which features Adelaide hard-hitters the Funkoars was selected by ozhiphop.com as the best beat to come out of Australia in 2008, I believe. Get onto this release. Top notch. Couldn’t find a link for this track. Sorry!

5. Elzhi – Save Ya feat. T3

T3 (of Slum Village fame) produced this track, and did a good job of it, too, so it could technically be called a Slum Village track, as Elzhi replaced the legendary J-Dilla after he left SV. This is my favourite track off Detroit rapper Elzhi’s killer 2008 album, The Preface. It was released as the second single off the album, but aside from that I don’t know any more background information about it. It basically just deals with all the ladies who have shown up following Elzhi’s success. From the first verse:

“Infatuated with material things /
You only see your feet in those shoes /
Your ears in those rings /
But, uh, you can come round on your best behaviour /
But, sorry, love, I can’t save ya.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_DaM74px3w

6. Grafh – My Soul

I first heard this guy on Joell Ortiz’s a track called 125 Pt. 3 off his 2007 album The Brick: Bodega Chronicles, alongside Ras Kass, Stimuli, and Gab Gotcha.  Pretty much the only line from that track that hit me was one from Grafh. He rapped, “I ain’t battlin’ no one / So don’t bring a challenger over / If I wanted a challenge / I’d battle my poster”. My boy was apparently into him way before me, so props to him – I slept on him. He was born in South-East Jamaica, Queens. He got signed to Def Jam but his album, Autografh, kept getting pushed back and back so he made the shrewd business decision to stick it to the industry and release it as a free download on his MySpace. So I got the opportunity to cop this for free, but I would have paid my $30 for this album. It was later released by Black Hand and Roc-A-Fella. My Soul is a nice piano-driven beat, but I can’t tell you who produced it. Some up-and-comer. Check the rhyme:

“He had to learn his flaws /
And learn to walk /
Before he stepped in /
And learn that the Lord would catch him /
And learn that the Lord would send him /
To the Father in Heaven /
With his father in Heaven /
Until his moms called up the reverend /
And get him God /
But instead of God he got a head start /
To step in the dark and get lost in a dead-end /
Now there’s two roads in life to take /
And you’re taking the wrong one /
With dollar signs on your license plate.”

Sorry! Couldn’t find a YouTube link.

http://www.last.fm/music/Grafh/_/My+Soul

7. Hilltop Hoods – Stopping All Stations

Another Australian hip hop group, and probably the biggest to come out of the country. The Hilltop Hoods are out of Adelaide, and gained commercial success with their tracks, The Hard Road and The Nosebleed Section, which are both worth checking out. They were signed to Australia’s biggest independent hip hop label, Obese Records, before they left in 2008 to start their own record label, Golden Era Records, and release their fourth major release (+2 independent releases), which was called State of the Art, on which their only guest was hip hop legend, Pharoahe Monche. Stopping All Stations was on their commercially successful 2006 album, The Hard Road, and is a melodic flute-based track about various violent experiences on a train. Sometimes I feel that, despite their commercial successful and industry acclaim, they are lyrically underrated. Here’s the first verse:

Early morn’, train station, aching from the arthritis /
This war veteran knows what a hard time is /
He needs his pension, dementia and half blind is /
The reason he rides the train with no car license /
So he boards with an expired ticket has a swipe  /
Gets a fine cos the change he got don’t add up right /
We’re taking about a man who never lived a lavish life /
Caught up in the age of computer chips and satellites /
A lovely lady boards looking tired and half awake /
He smiles, she’s reminds him of his wife that passed away /
She says something as she walks right past his way /
His old hearing aid don’t last quite half a day /
Some young gentlemen alive with their laughter /
Approach the old timer and put a knife to his heart to /
Explain that money or blood the price of their barter /
To a man whose friends probably died for their fathers.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVXUtu4a1hE

8. Little Vic – Love Hurts

Little Vic is an emcee out of Long Island, New York, and this track can be found on his 2008 concept album, Each Dawn I Die. Love Hurts is a story more or less of a girl, but, as indicated by the title, the relationship isn’t idyllic. Little Vic’s flow is sick; he rides the beat on this track, weaving in and out of the rhythms. For beatnuts out there, DJ Premier has a track on this album (The Exorcist). Love Hurts is a really soulful track. Don’t sleep on this guy, and if you’re looking for an album to cop, I suggest this. Listen with an open mind and an attentive ear.

Haha, I couldn’t find a proper YouTube link, but the background music to this video is the said track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-4-DCDysSg

9. Pez – Heavenly

Pez is coming out of Blackburn in Melbourne. He came to fame with The Festival Song with 360 and Haley Kramer. Heavenly is dedicated to his parents, and basically thanks them for all they did for him. MATIK on the beat, with a nice sampled piano and saxophone. I love this track; I’d say it’s one of my favourite off the album, but A Mind Of My Own is, to quote another, ‘a hip hop masterpiece.’ The album is simply stunning. Get onto this. One of the best rappers I’ve heard. Period.

“I’ve never been rich and I’ve never been poor /
Which I guess made me appreciate everything more /
For I’ve had a chance and a way to decide /
To mix with people from all different situations in life /
I saw the pros and cons and then rose beyond /
All the negatives of each side /
The way I speak might be /
A blatant display of the way I was raised /
But shit - I’m proud of that.”

10. J-Boogie & Zumbi Of Zion I & Rithma – For Your Love

This album (Soul Vibrations) stayed in my stereo system for about 3 weeks, and this track was the standout. Beautifully smooth brass hits over a sample and a sung hook. Lyrically, it’s tight. Not the best that I’ve heard, but it’s soulful and it’s real. Zumbi gets respect for incorporating the word ‘facetious’ into his lyrics, which I suppose is a rarity in hip hop. I adore this track. Get onto it. Here’s the LastFM link:

http://www.last.fm/music/J-Boogie’s+Dubtronic+Science/_/For%2BYour%2BLove%2BFt.%2BZumbi%2BOf%2BZion%2BI%2B%2526%2BRithma

Alright, so that rounds up my first list! These are just 10, remember. With the exception of Common, I’ve tried to exclude mainstream artists in an attempt to, I suppose, raise awareness. Hope you enjoyed it.

Peace!

- DroopyRoof

Part 3 of 3 with performances from Guilty Simpson, Elzhi & T3 of Slum Village and Trick Trick.

Elzhi and T3 had some crazy ass freestyles you can’t miss in this one either.

Trick Trick went in on his “Detroit is a No Fly Zone” policy and spelled it out for everyone who wasn’t already in the know as well.

Big shouts to Yung Berg’s chain makin an appearance during Trick Trick’s set too lol.

People need to stop, sleepin on the D, they killin it on the low for real! #WELOVEUHEX

Since Late Nights and Early Mournings, I’ve been following Junclassic’s career and I finally got a chance to interview him this week. This was probably one of my favorite interviews I’ve done so far, so read week #3’s interview from Junclassic after the jump.

P.S. I am “Killa”, it’s not bad…

If there was one song that describes your life right now, what would it be?

Wow thats a great Question Killa. U mean off Imaginary Enemies right? It would probably be “Arrival” blended into “I Can’t Die” if I ca freak it like that. My time is coming. People are starting to embrace my music and Im making some great connections with cats making big moves. And they respect my grind. Thats all summed up by “Arrival”. I gotta blend it with “I Can’t Die” because life is always issuing challenges that threaten to take us under. I can’t let difficult financial circumstances be the thing that stops me. Not now.

What do you consider to be your proudest accomplishment as a rapper?

Getting my nephews out the street thru music and positive influence. Well, they still dabble in the street cause they got no fear and simply ain’t having it from nobody (me neither) but the lure of doing wrong has been greatly diminished by my strides in HipHop. My scholastic achievements play a part in that positive influence to my nephews too. Im the 2nd in the fam to graduate College. 2nd in the fam to go to college.

When people hear that you’re from Jamaica, Queens, I’m sure that 50 Cent’s name would come up. Do you think that there is more to Jamaica than you and 50?

Absolutely! There’s Onyx (RIP DS), Lost Boys (RIP Freaky Tah), Grafh (who ima big fan of) and the whole Black Hand, Tribe Called Quest (bet cha didnt know they from the Southside/St. Albans), LL Cool J, Consequence, then you move over to Hollis with the Legendary Run DMC (God Bless JMJ) and it goes on and on. U also got nice parks in Queens. My homie LP just moved from Flatbush, Brooklyn to Queens and him and the fam LOVE Queens for the tree lined streets and 24 hour stores in close proximity. Queens is almost suburban till u hear them shots in the distance and see the D’s slowing down as they approach you.

On Southside’s Savior, you introduced Lejon Lewis in “Lovin Life”. Who is he and what made you give him a chance to showcase his talent?

See thats why you the Truth Killa!! Thanx for asking about Superstar Lejon Lewis! He’s actually my nephew. The only son of my deceased Brother Bobby Lewis (LOVE U BOB!!!). He’s a 15 year old prodigy Fam! Does his own production and writes all of his material. Extremely talented. Sad thing is, I compared him to Michael Jackson after he laid the hook to “Lovin’ Life”. He did this 3 months before Michael died. Once Michael passed, I didn’t wanna make the comparison cause I figured people would say Mike’s death influenced me to compare them. Not true. When Lejon hits that high note in “Lovin Life”, you tell me what u hear? Lejon also did the hook to the song “ZeeZee’s Groove”, which he sang to his little sister ZeeZee. And he’s a Lil Pretty Boy too! Ladies, hit my myspace up, Lejon is in my top friends!

It’s clear that family means a lot to you because it’s a subject that comes up in many of your songs. How does your family influence what you do?

Family keeps me going. Sometimes we argue, but we love and need each other. Every album I’ve put out has a song dedicated to a family member. In fact, I usually have more than one song dedicated to family. I did “Come Home” off my first album dedicated to my nephew going to Iraq. Also did “Never Can Say Goodbye” for my niece and nephew who moved away from me back in 2007. On my sophomore album I did “Pretty Toni”, a dedication to my niece who was proud of her choice to be a lesbian and I totally support it. I think its important to let ya family know how much you care about em. What better way than thru music? Plus I think are going thru the same things many my listeners are so perhaps hearing my family stories will inspire my listeners and/or their families.

What made you release your newest project, Imaginary Enemies, in a nondigital format?

I wanted to do something different Killa. Wanted to help my label Classified Recordings stand out. And I really wanted people to go looking for the Imaginary Enemies CD, so I decided to get some siiick artwork done, press up a limited number of CDs and number each copy to create a Limited Edition Collector’s Item release. When Kanye did that battle against 50 with Graduation, he used some ill artist from Japan for the artwork. The illest artist I know resides in Uptown NY. My man Mr. Alan Coogan-Prieto painted the front cover with oil paint on canvas. Did all the comic book-like sketchwork thruout the booklet. Do you know some “industry folks” thought my album artwork looked “suspect” to the point where they wouldn’t even listen to the cd, let alone review it for their prestigious websites/publications? Can’t please everybody no matter what u do my G.

What is the most meaningful song on Imaginary Enemies to you and why?

Definitely “ZeeZee’s Groove” without a doubt. My Brother’s family decided to move away from Southside Queens after my Brother passed. I totally agreed with the move, cause Southside ain’t nowhere to be without a Man in The House, but I became so close with ZeeZee that I felt like ‘my daughter’ was leaving me. So I wanted to leave her with an instructional on how to live her life despite facing such a deep tragedy so young. Thats why in the 3rd verse Im just talking to her about everything she went thru. Thats how I used to talk to her while driving past Baisley Park after picking her up from School. The whole song is supposed to feel like a conversation. I really talk to her like that man. “People are cruel ZeeZee. This world is a hard world. You have to be tough!” I didn’t sugarcoat stuff for her after My Brother left. I think she respected the fact that I vibed with her like that. And she dug it when she listened to “ZeeZee’s Groove” so Im happy. My whole family loves that song. First song of mine my father ever listened to.

I hear that you and Large Professor are collaborating on a song. How did you connect with him and is it possible that there can be more than a song being made between you two?

Ayyite! U doing ya research! I BEEN a fan of Large Pro since “Looking At The Front Door” and I had spoken to him briefly in 2004 when I was working for MF GRIMM. I had been hitting up his myspace telling him how Im doing my own thing and how I would love to work with him. He had this beat on his page called “Corona” and I hit him one day and told him I LOVED the track and he hit me right back for the first time ever saying, “You like that? Its yours!” Maaan I couldnt believe it!! Im working on that song now. Actually laid it down but I was sooo nervous because it was a Large Pro beat yaknow? I rushed thru the song. Tryin to flow all ill an shit. So I gotta relay it. Hoping that song will be well received. Its a concept song so who knows? In terms of doing more than one joint with Large Pro, sheeeiiiit, all I can say is that im gonna try to impress him with the one track he hit me with. If I get lucky enough to do more music with Xtra P, I’ll let cha know Fam.

Who else would you like to work with in your career?

Wow, another great one Killa. To me, Nas is the GOAT of this shit. So I’d LOVE to work with Mr. Jones on a track. Try an outdo him (yeah riiiight But Im Sooo SERIOUS!). Ima huge fan of Alchemist’s production so to work with him would be a dream come true. Also love The Neptunes beatwork. Big fan of no samples when its done right. Shawty Redd’s shit is dope!! Would love to see what I could come up with working with eL-P. I like that futuristic spacey shit sometimes yaknow? And eLZhi. Would like to do a banger with him. Evidence too. Oh, and DJ Premier! How could I forget him? And Moss too. Moss is dope! Oh, IllMind is a BEAST! Would love to do a track with Jadakiss and Styles P.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in being a rapper?

The more you can do on your own for yourself in This Game THE BETTER!!! Relying on people to make you pop is usually not a good look. So build relationships and work hard and people will respect your ability to connect with people and they will respect your work ethic. I honestly believe that Lil Wayne would not be at the top of the game if he didn’t start unleashing material like a madman in 2007. Pac still got records we ain’t heard cause of his grind in ‘95. In the End, they gotta respect Hard Work.

Who is Vstylez?

I’m from Detroit where people struggle hard to get heard. It’s not like NY or Cali. I’m a hard working dude that grew up in the culture. I’m a HipHop historian who takes my craft seriously. If you’re from Detroit you have to stay on guard at all times. I’ve been shot before and I’m not saying that like its a badge of honor. But I’m saying it to make people aware that we are in trying times and its dangerous, so be careful. I started rhyming  because I needed an outlet to speak after getting shot. I used it as therapy as weird as it sounds.

I understand that you are speaking of trying times and its heartfelt. How do you feel when you are expressing your art? What inspires the vision for the work?

I represent 100 percent for HipHop. People like Royce, Eminem, Elzhi and Ras Kas, they inspire me to write real rhymes. I hear a beat and I lose it. I never let people choose my beats; I pick all my sh*t.  HipHop is alive and well as long as I’m breathing.

So tell me the story of “Clash of the Titans”.

Clash came together after Royce, O.C. (HipHop Legend from D.I.T.C.) and myself did a remix for “First2Rise” which was produced by Moss, who also produced Clash. I said “Moss, send me some beats…I have an idea; I want to do a song with Royce, Elzhi and Phat Kat”. He sent me some beats and not knowing that I could really pull this off because I’m fans of all of these dudes even if they knew me.  I reached out and it happened , my DJ and business partner, HipHop legend in Detroit, MarkDaSpark  plugged me with Pooh. He already had a relationship with  the group, Little Brother. Pooh is forever more family  to me as well as Little Brother family. It happened an I’m glad people are being receptive to it.

The song definitely has a classic HipHip sound. How was it working in the studio with your inspirations accompanying you on this track?

Well Royce and I were in the lab recording together. I went in prepared because when you record with dudes like that you have to be! I went in  and knocked my verse out in one take. Royce was like “You already had your sh*t!” And I’m like, “F*** yeah!” (laughs) So he wrote his verse in 10-15 minutes and my jaw dropped.  I had Elzhi and Kat to come through later to drop theirs.  And from there it was sent to Pooh.  I knew what I had after Pooh’s verse. This is my  Symphony.

Who directed the video and what was the concept behind “Clash of the Titans”?

My dudes, Gerard Atillo and Darren Brown directed it. Darren wrote the treatment.  Boxing was originally in it. I want MMA so we went in that direction because I’m a huge fan and MMA is more popular now.  But its like a deception plot.

Now that the video has been released to the public, what is next for you?  upcoming projects… album? promo tours?

My album is almost done, I still have a couple songs to knockout.  Its called “Masterpiece Theatre: @ Oddz til I’m Even” .  The album features artists O.C.,  Royce da 5′9,  Big Pooh, Elzhi, Phat Kat, Wordsmith, Buff One, Guilty Simpson and Mr.Cheeks.  This is a collective work with production from  Moss,  Big Gov, DJ Dez, Apollo Brown and more. There is a part two of the album with the same title following its release.  I’m also working on a project with Mark Da Spark, its called RSM Recordings ( Rebel Soul Movement LLC.) I do have show dates across the country yearly but I’m not on tour. Definitely working on it.  It’s coming.

Any words for aspiring artists?

Yes, do not be afraid to be who you are. Every rap dude to me has the same story. I’m not knocking the streets but the point I’m making is to be original. You could be a janitor and you rap. It makes no difference. Just follow your heart and do it.

Follow me: @itsmekrucial

Check out: www.Vstylez313.com and twitter.com/Vstylez

This track is ridiculously stupid… In a good way I must say.  Detroit has this Hip-Hop game in a choke hold right about now with upcoming releases from Royce & company.  This track is produced by Toronto’s own MoSS who has a serious track record of his own.  Check it out.

Both by Elzhi of Slum Village from his album The Preface in stores now!

Elzhi – Colors – download

Elzhi – Guessing Game – download

Yeah, that’s cool but I won’t elaborate on ANY Elzhi posts until ELmatic sees the light of day…

This is the shit that I’m talking about. If you haven’t heard of Elzhi, you might as well have been sleeping under a rock. This guy is so good at what he does, there really aren’t many emcees in the game that can touch this dude. I personally would probably put him in my top 3 emcees right now without a doubt. Slum Village recently did a show out in LA, and this A Cappella is just a nice little snippet of the skill that El possesses.

Spotted @ Nah Right

Been a while since we heard anything from the fierce tounge of Elzhi…He spits a live accapella during the Slum Village show at the Conga Room this past weekend…

To this  day I have no idea why this guy is not on everyone’s best MC list as top 5!

If you can find it check out his Libido Speedo joints from back in the day. Amazing!

Shout out to Natural L, old roommate,  who hit me with the tracks from back in the day that blew my mind.

Pay Attention Please!

Man.  Last night was incredible.  Beautiful hip hop DOES still exist, you just have to know where to look.  Check the lineup at the Conga Room:

1.  Tunji got the entire place jumping.. At least 5 people asked me where to hear more from him.  Expect big things from my big brother!

2.  Goapele is insanely beautiful.. and her voice is paralyzing.  If we were friends, I wouldn’t let her talk.. I’d make her sing all the time.

3.  Slum Village set the place off.  They grabbed the crowd from the start and rocked the Conga Room until we felt like we were about to fall down.

Ummm yeah.  The show was incredible, I ran into a lot of familiar faces, and the entire crowd seemed to be in a good mood.  Plus, it always feels great to get on a guest list or two.  Anyway.. here goes a recap.

Tunji feat. Noah King - "Met her at a Slum show, standing in the front row.."

My big brother!

Ilia, Ev, and Marcel.. waiting for Goapele to take the stage!

Goapele. Milk and Honey..

S VILLA!!!

Reunion with my West LA girls.

(I know you see my Captain EO shirt.. go here to get your own!)

The crowd.

Basically.. it was a beautiful, beautiful evening.  Also, music > homework.

• via qttfreeze •

Detroit producer and emcee Nick Speed lets us know what he has on deck.

With the dream-team of Ghostface, Raekwon & Method Man forming like Voltron possibly even before ’09 kicks the bucket, heads everywhere should be drooling over the possibility of an album from the Wu-based trio.

Similarly, the three-headed monster Random Axe comprised of Black Milk, Sean Price & Guilty Simpson leaking “Monster Babies” off their upcoming collab album this year was monumental.

These combos really are dreams come true. So I got to thinking, what other combinations of MCs would hip-hop heads like to hear? Here are my choices for 11 of the ultimate hip-hop trios:

Jay-Z, Nas & Eminem

Group Name: Greatest of Our Time

Rakim, Kool G Rap & KRS-One

Group Name: Veteran’s Day

Kanye West, Talib Kweli & Pharaohe Monch

Group Name: Guerilla Monsoon

Scarface, Bun B & Slim Thug

Group Name: Anti-Confederacy

Q-Tip, Black Thought & Common

Group Name: Rewind Power

Snoop Dogg, B-Real & Redman

Group Name: Smoke Break

Posdnuos, Phife Dawg & A-Plus

Group Name: Under Rated

T.I., Ludacris & Big Boi

Group Name: Bottom’s Up

Black Milk, Royce Da 5′9 & Elzhi

Group Name: Motor City

Brother Ali, Jay Electronica & Blu

Group Name: Add Verbs

Wale, Lupe Fiasco & Phonte

Group Name: Fresh Breath

What about you? Who would be your choices for hip-hop trios?