It’s that time again people, Christmas and hopefully you have hip hop heads in your family that love to listen to good rap music so here are some albums from this year that you can throw in your loved ones stocking!

Cloud 19 (Braille and S1)- Late last year Braille announced Cloud 19 I was a little skeptical because I wasn’t a big fan of The IV Edition. Cloud 19 came out and I was blown away by everything this album offered. S1 brought banging beats and Braille brought rhymes that made the listener think and made the listener appreciate the art of talented lyricism.

Restocked (TheBreax)- I was introduced to TheBreax early this year on the SphereofHipHop podcast where they played “For What” and “Success”. And yet I still wasn’t entirely sold on them, I ended up picking this and their previous record up because of the guests that appeared on them. And let me tell you TheBreax are legit. They have most mainstream sounding production but it’s still their own and unique. Ruslan is talented and his lyrics are thought-provoking and definitely ask for some introspection.

Black and Read All Over (Sharlok Poems)- Sharlok releases his best project to date in my opinion. This time Sharlok brings Theory Hazit and Oddisee to handle the beats and they we will beat you over the head with the crazy beats they came up with. It has guests Othello, Stro the 89th Key, Propaganda, LMNO, Pigeon John and others. I feel like this release flew under the radar and that people are sleeping on it so wake up and smell the fresh hip hop.

Friends Enemies Apples Apples (Mr. J Medieros)- While I haven’t listened to this album yet, Mr. J has always had a reputation of writing rhymes that dive straight into your heart and soul and make you think about yourself, world issues, the people around you and more. The production is entirely covered by J’s Procussions partner Stro the 89th Key and features guest vocals from Tara Ellis.

Modern Marvels (Theory Hazit)- It’s shipping out in about a week and half and people who’ve listened to it already say it’s sure fire! All the beats are by Toni Shift and features JustMe, Wonder Brown, Tanya Morgan, Aletta and more. Buy it from Sphere and you get the beats from the album a special Illect Recordings shirt and you get a bonus digital album from Theory Lord Fire 2 (which is unreleased Hazit material) for $30.

Honorable Mentions

Guest Room (Cas Metah)
Before the Twilight (JustMe)
Sojournalism (Sojourn)
Kings of Tragedy (Kings of Tragedy…..stop sleeping on this one kids)

Sareem Brings the heat with his latest effort "Black and Read All Over"

Sharlock Poems, Sharlok Poems, Poems, Sareem Poems whatever you wanna call him (I prefer Sharlok Poems), the guy can rhyme. The former L.A Symphony member has become a solid solo artist, releasing three albums in the past (The Movement, Left and the most recent Blooming Sounds). This time around the emcee goes by the name of Sareem Poems and has teamed with Scribbling Idiots member Theory Hazit and Oddisee to handle the production on the album. What do you get when combine these in one album?

Now as most of you know guests are really big for me when picking up an album (no it’s not the only thing). Looking at the tracklisting you see there are guests from everywhere and some that we haven’t heard from in a while. LMNO (from the Visionaries) Scarub (Living Legends) Pigeon John (L.A Symphony) and many others assist Sharlok with the lyrics on this record.

From the start of the album your ears a blessed with the intro track “Enter” which sets the tone for the entire album, it’s bangin’. The introduction to the track is followed by the track “Come Get It” which features one of the producers of the album Theory Hazit. It’s a track that pretty much says we’re two of the best emcees around and you’re crew is garbage. It’s sets the tone for this album very well and should get the listener psyched to hear the rest of the album.

“Hard Labor” continues the trend of banging tracks with features by LMNO and Scarub. The production on the track can only make you move your head up and down; I personally replay this track over and over while I’m jogging because it gets me pumped. Each emcee covers a different topic but I think the overall topic of the song is life is hard work, but we must push on regardless.

Like I said earlier the big difference between Sharlok’s last album Blooming Sounds and this one is the guests on the tracks. Most Christian Hip Hop tracks have the serious vibe to it, but if you need an emcee to spice up your tracks you call Pigeon John and he’ll give you a verse and background vocals you’ll never forget and that’s exactly what “Lower the Boom” is. A song that you play at parties to get the people to the dance floor, this song is energetic and you get a guest verse Akil from Jurassic 5.

“Shake It Up” is another track where Theory destroys the beat and Sharlok kills the rhymes. One gripe I kind of had with the album is that hooks aren’t really that creative, which I suppose isn’t that big of a deal, but I wasn’t feeling most of them. I think Sharlok kind of mixes up verse topics on this one which has him hitting you with numerous messages in one song.

One of my favorite songs on this record is “Impossible” for numerous reasons, first it features Stro the 89^th Key who we haven’t seen or heard from in a while, second we get another gest appearance from Othello from Lightheaded and last the topic of the song is amazing. It’s pretty much that nothing is impossible in life even though life can get rough and we might feel like we’re going to quit. Othello’s verse I think stands out the most on this.

“I can’t. Won’t stop nah. Push it forward, gotta crawl.

If I can’t stand tall, I’m a still make it all,

the way to where I gotta be.”

Now Theory Hazit handled most of the production on this album, but Oddisee of Diamond District handled the production on two tracks. “Tell It” and another favorite of mine “She’s So So”. I think everyone can relate to this song, basically it’s the whole boy meets girl, is too nervous to talk to girl, contemplates talking to her and then finally does realizes she was feeling him too. This is one of those tracks that just flow and have a nice vibe to them.

While I have only listened to 2 of Sharlok’s albums, Black and Read All Over improves on what Blooming Sounds sort of lacked. The production is superb on all levels, Theory Hazit and Oddisee did work on this one and it shows. Every guest on this album from Propaganda to Othello, from Georgia Anne Muldrow to Ragen Fykes all of them brought the heat on their performance. And to top it off Sharlok complimented the beats to perfection, with the exception of a few tracks where Sharlok seems to get lost in the beat (in other words the beat overpowered the lyrics if that makes any sense).

Sharlok is honestly on a roll right now with this release and with him and Dust releasing an album sometime before the world explodes it should be a great year for the former L.A Symphony member. A couple words of advice to the reader first go check out Sharlok and Dust’s myspace page for a music video a four tracks that duo has done together (trust me they’re all awesome). Second if you have not picked up the album yet; wait until the deluxe edition comes out on December 1^st because you get the album that I just reviewed here, the instrumentals to the entire album and some remixes. I know I will asking for the Deluxe Edition for my birthday. So pick it up!!!!!

Good

Beats are banging

Guests!!! (LMNO, Ohmega Watts, Othello, Stro, Ragen Fykes, Theory Hazit, Propaganda, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Pigeon John and more)

Sharlok brings the rhymes to compliment the beats

Bad

The beats sometimes overpower Sharlok’s lyrics causing the lyrics to be overlooked.

Rating: 4.5/5 (Get this Album Or You’re Missing Out)

If You Can’t Buy The Album Download These Songs

1. Hard Labor feat. LMNO and Scarub

2. Unless You Do

3. She So So

4. Impossible feat. Stro and Othello

5. Shake it Up

If you like smooth samples of jazz/funk, definitely check out the Sound Providers. They’re originally out of San Diego and have worked with Little Brother and Asheru, but haven’t been doing too much recently. This one’s called “5 Minutes” and features The Procussions. Check it!

http://www.juno.co.uk/products/206298-01.htm <- listen
http://www.discogs.com/Various-Jazz-Thing/release/880236

Various – Jazz Thing

Label: Grand Gallery Catalog#: GRGA-0007 Format: CD, Compilation Country: Japan Released: 2006 Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop Style: Broken Beat, Downtempo, Conscious Credits: Compiled By – Yasushi Ide Notes: Rating: 5.00/5 (2 votes) Rate It 1 has this / 3 want this

Tracklisting:

skladanka dobrze znana, wrzucilem kiedys na prosbe pewnej marudy, ktora i tak od roku nic nie skomentowala na stronie.

Pete Philly & Perquisite – Grateful

Noel Zancanella – Lovely

VA-Jazz_Thing_(JP_Import)-2006-41ST.rar (68.91 MB)
http://odsiebie.com/pokaz/3305796—f8c4.html

As some of you have noticed I reviewed Change’s The Stimulus Plan and the album is featured on this podcast along with other tracks that a dark sound production wise, but a very strong message lyrically…I call it The Lyrical Stimulus Plan! Take A Listen!!!

Click To Download

Track (Artist)- Album

Family Ties produced by Anno Domini (Change)- The Stimulus Plan

Crippling feat. R.U.S.H (Cas Metah)- Providence Road

If I Don’t Make (DeepSpace5)- Unique Just Like Everyone Else

Mama Don’t Cry (Surreal)- Pardon My Dust

Savior (Change)- Same As It Never Was

Dedication feat. Praverb (Change)- The Stimulus Plan

Inside Out (Mars ILL)- Backbreakanomics

Remember (The Tunnel Rats)- Tunnel Vision

American Fado feat. Renee Alston (The Procussions)- 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents

Forgive Me (Sharlok Poems)- Blooming Sounds

An Excellent Few feat. Sintax and ManChild produced by Mouf Warren (Change)- The Stimulus Plan

Perspective (TheBreax)- Restocked

Girl, Interrupted produced by Flynn (L.A Symphony)- Unleashed

Together (Theory Hazit)- Lord Fire produced by Vintage

Bonus Track feat. 3rd Degree (Cas Metah)- Guest Room

Seasons produced by JustMe (Motion Plus)- The Sound Protest

Not A Stranger feat. Elias (Change)- The Stimulus Plan

This is the podcast after Christmas so I tossed in a great assortment of music for ya’ll to listen to. This upcoming week for the blog is going to be very special and the last song on this podcast should reveal a Special Guest who’s going to stop by the blog and will be featured in next week’s Man of Hour Episode 2!

Click to Download

Track Name- Artist (Album)

It’s Christmas- L.A Symphony

We The Victory feat. Freddie Bruno and Theory Hazit- Motion Plus (The Sound Protest)

Parabolically Speaking (reprize)- Wonder Brown (The Wake)

Empty- Theory Hazit and Wonder Brown (FireArms Mixtape)

Fish feat. Freddie Bruno- Illtripp (Dialog of the Downtrodden)

Alexithymia produced by JustMe- Scribbling Idiots (The Have Nots)

You (Mash-Up) produced by Flynn- L.A Symphony (Unleashed)

Tell Em What- EDM (Def-Defying Mixtape)

Choc Promo- The Sound Providers (Looking Backwards)

F-Words- DeepSpace5 (A Night We Called It A Day)

The Find feat. Stro the 89^th Key- Ohmega Watts (The Find)

Damsel in Distress- LMNO (Economic Food Chain Music)

Who Am I feat. Freddie Bruno and Playdough- Sivion (The Spring of the Songbird)

Promise Halieyoos Fisherman feat. Sharlok Poems- Flynn (Louder)

Rock Rock- Othello (Elevator Music)

Planes and Trains feat. Pigeon John and Blueprint- Mars ILL (Backbreakanomics)

Extra Track produced by ?- Special Guest (?)

Christmas Song- L.A Symphony

I first heard of the Sound Providers when I listened to Surreal and the Sound Providers album True Indeed. I eventually learned that the Sound Providers weren’t a rap group they were in fact producers. Now some of you thinking I’m the biggest idiot, but I learned that the group have released numerous albums. Naturally I went out and got their debut An Evening With the Sound Providers and after listening to that I got Looking Backwards (some of their really old stuff).

First of all Christian Hip Hop fans might not be a big fan of the some of the swearing (there’s not much but it’s there) and the artists featured on the album are not Christian Hip Hop artists with the exception of the Procussions (who have the best song on the album: 5 Minutes). The Sound Providers work in a way that many producers should work and some do follow their example (check out The Strange Fruit Project presents: S1’s Music Box). The Sound Providers produce an entire album then Hip Hop artists (usually Underground Hip Hop Artists) rap on the produced tracks.

How good is the production, you ask. Their production is vintage to the extreme and it sounds amazing. They like to use the old school bass (like the orchestra instrument not the rock band bass), another sound they use well is a slightly changed guitar (that’s the best way to put it), the best example of these sounds would be “Night to Remember” off the True Indeed album, “5 Minutes” of An Evening With the Sound Providers and “The Field” off their Looking Backwards album.

Now I’m not exactly familiar with the Underground Hip Hop world, but from what I’ve heard off their debut album is a mix between Christian and just good moral rap you don’t hear about the club, money, and girls, but instead rap against the mainstream and rap about just being a better person. Artists include, Wee Bee Foolish, Asheru, Little Brother, Procussions and Maspke. Their old stuff (Looking Backwards) features Profiler (who was part of the group at one point) and his stuff is all good morals (with no swearing by the way).

The Sound Providers are the first non-Christian Hip Hop group I’ve listened to in a while and let me tell you it paid off. Their production is one for the ages and if they existed before most of the mainstream garbage came out they would be legends (that’s how good their production is). In my book any hip hop fan, Christian, underground whatever type of hip hop fan you are, you absolutely need to pick up this album, you will not regret.

Group Rating (this is not based off of Christian Hip Hop standards) : 4.5/5 (So Close to Classic)

Sound Providers: Must Downloads

5 Minutes feat. The Procussions (An Evening With The Sound Providers)

The Field (Looking Backwards)

Dope Transmission (Looking Backwards)

Its Gonna Be feat. Wee Bee Foolish (An Evening With The Sound Providers)

Jazz at the Cove (An Evening With The Sound Providers)

I’ve been gone for like forever with all types of stuff I had to do (Homecoming, Applying to College, Orthodontist appointments, a research paper). So what I did instead of doing a podcast I had a friend of mine the Defender of the Art put together a mixtape for me. So enjoy this is one of many mixtapes he intends to make for the sight so stay tuned.

Ajax Starglider- Nearsighted feat. Othello

Braille- Soul Rock feat. Ohmega Watts, Othello and Sharlok Poems

The Brainwash Projects (Pigeon John and Btwice)- MuchaChaChas

DeepSpace5 (Listener, Sintax, SevStatik, Freddie Bruno, ManChild)- Murder Creek

Future Shock (Sojourn and others)- Bomb Threat

Ill Harmonics (Playdough and another emcee)- Bowtie Jerks

Lojique (Othello and PageOne)- Instrumentalude Part I

Mr. J- Money feat. Pigeon John

Lightheaded (Braille, Ohmega Watts and Othello)- Lah Lah Land

Wonder Brown- Namesake

Lojique- Feisen Blue Yowd

Theory Hazit- Soph Sissy feat. Playdough

L.A Symphony (Sharlok Poems, Joey the Jerk, Flynn, Cookbook, Uno Mas) Put Up Or Shut Up

SevStatik- Disappear

Surreal and DJ Balance- Can’t Stop the Bumrush

Lojique- Throne feat. Braille

?- Dier’s Game

Illtripp- Fish feat. Freddie Bruno

L.A Symphony- Get Out The Van produced by Overflo

Theory Hazit- Jive Turkey feat. Ohmega Watts (three parts)

Click to Download

The Procussions are a three-man rap crew made of Mr. J Medieros, Stro the 89^th Key and Rez. I first listened to the Procussions on Ohmega Watts’ album The Find and I was intrigued by heard to listen to more and picked up their first album As Iron Sharpens Iron. My first impression of the group was based on the songs that was placed on a podcast I listened to called “ParisDj’s.com The Procussions: Hip Hop Somethings”. From what I heard from the group was amazing. Can The Procussions contend with other already amazing hip hop groups (The Scribbling Idiots, Lightheaded, DeepSpace5, Tunnel Rats)?

To tell you the truth the beginning of the album is kind of weak, not bad but weak. The first real track on the album “The Introduction” is the only real standout track in the beginning. The problem with the beginning of the album is the production behind it. The beats are soft and have a light jazz feel to them. That’s not to say that the entire first half of the album is bad. “All that it takes” is one of the standout tracks in the beginning (even though the remix towards the end of the album is better).

Ok I’m done ragging on the beginning of the album, while the beginning may have been weak the end of the album does a good job trying to clean up the mess. Each member of the Procussions has their own solo track on the album, Rez’s track wasn’t too good, but Stro’s (“Down to One”) and Mr. J’s (“Water’s Edge”) were decent tracks. There’s only one downside to these two tracks: there’s too much of them. “Down to One” is only about four minutes long, yet the first time I listened to it, it seemed like Stro tried to do 5 16-bar verses. “Water’s Edge” is actually about six minutes long. I don’t mind long tracks but at least keep me interested for that duration.

One plus about the Procussions is that when they make a good song they make an extremely talented song that (as long as you have ears) should be rotating on your music player for year’s to come. A prime example of this is “Leave Me Alone” my favorite song the album. “Leave Her Alone” covers love and for the most part the bad sides of it. It’s about how one person (if it’s the wrong one) can completely change who you are as person if you’re not careful. Mr. J’s verse has lines that I put in my quote book. Here’s a some of his verse:

She’s invading my subconscious when I’m just relaxing

She’s asking for my time, grasping for my life

Perverting for the desire meant for a husband and wife

She’s a master of the media…

Tempt you till at last she defeated you

Robbing you of your strength like the story of Sampson

She used to hold me hostage, but my father paid the ransom

In a distraction using flesh as her attraction

Tells me I need her and this my reaction

I can’t let her inside my home

I gotta back up my things and leave her alone

In my opinion Mr. J is the most talented emcee in the group and this verse is just one of the lines that shows Mr. J’s talent (my review for his album Of Gods and Girls will be coming soon).

Another tracks that shines both from a beat and lyrical standpoint is “All That It Takes (remix)”. I love this song so much that I’ve made it my Senior anthem for the class of 2009. It’s a perfect song to play at a dance, in the car, wherever. The song is energetic and the emotion that the Procussions give off makes the song that much more lovable.

The Procussions are a very talented group but this album only shows some of it. The beginning half of the albums isn’t a good example of what they can do. One aspect of the album I wish they would’ve experimented with more was the combo that Stro and the drums make. I’ve seen video with Stro on the drums and Mr. J with rhymes and I honestly believe they should make an entire album with just Stro on drums with a simple beat like the one at the end of “Make It Happen” and Mr. J should throw in his rhymes.

I love the Procussions I really do and I intend to buy all their future albums because they have such great chemistry and mesh well together.

The Procussions mesh well together

When the Procussions make an excellent song it really is excellent.

Most of the first half of the album is kind of lame

Stro and Mr. J should’ve experimented more with their drum and rhyme combo

Beats: 3

Lyrics: 4

Leave Her Alone Click to Download
Celebration

All That It Takes (remix) Click to Download

Down To One

The Introduction

Here’s the debut ABB release of the SoCal Jazz Rap group Sound Providers. Like other Californian groups of the same genre, the Sound Providers cleverly mash boom-bap styled hip-hop with smooth jazz blends. The album features guest appearances from Little Brother, The Procussions, Asheru and others. Fans of People Under the Stairs, INI, Crown City Rocks, and Kero One will love this one, but fans of old school cats like Tribe, De La Soul, and Pete Rock & CL Smooth should be able to feel this release as well. Download it and if you like it, cop it here.

01. Intro
02. Live at the Spot 1
03. For Old Time’s Sake – (featuring Asheru Of Unspolen Heard)
04. Night Steps
05. 5 Minutes – (featuring The Procussions)
06. Only Moments Ago
07. Autumns Evening Breeze
08. Live at the Spot 2
09. It’s Gonna Bee (Alright) – (featuring Wee Bee Foolish)
10. Jazz at the Cove
11. Throwback, The – (featuring Maspyke)
12. Live at the Spot 3
13. Prodigal Returns, The
14. Live at the Spot 4
15. Pacific Vibrations
16. Live at the Spot 5
17. Braggin & Boasting – (featuring Little Brother)
18. Never Judge – (featuring Soulo)
19. Live at the Spot 6
20. Outro
21. Throwback, The – (remix, bonus track, featuring Maspyke)

Download

j’ai bloqué sur l’esthetique de quelques clips, et, plus tard, j’ai découvert que c’était le même type qui les faisait…

et là je me suis dis; putain le type!

Hocus Pocus Hip Hop ? feat The Procussions

Dabaaz – La Plus Belle Ce Soir

Hocus Pocus – Mr tout le monde

alors? qu’est ce que t’en penses, poto?

bon petit cv l’gamin!

perso, ça reste Dabaaz, mon coup de cœur, suivit de près par HipHop? et enfin, “Mr ToutLeMonde” que j’aime pas trop…

son myspace