Uptown Swuite - Beneath the Lights
The second online release from the Samoan Vacaville, CA native spitter Uptown Swuite. After two strong free music releases last year, I wasn't sure how well he'd be able to follow up. Based on Beneath the Light I was definitely unfounded in my doubts, as Uptown Swuite delivers an even better solo release than last year's Church Sweet Blues. This release sees the rapper accompanied by the rappers REKS, S.O.L. and Uptown's partner from The Seed, Kahlee. Personal favorites here are "Cukui Forever" ft. Kahlee, "Exhibit", "Night Sky" ft. REKS & S.O.L., and "Halfway Crooks" ft. Kahlee (Prod. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League) Pick it up on DJ Booth: Download
Uptown Swuite - "Be (Intro)/Humble Beginnings"
Emilio Rojas - The Breaking Point
Rochester NY native and half-Venezolano Emilio Rojas is back with a new mix tape "The Breaking Point" which features a bit more of the thorough spitting and double time flow that made me respect and love his Life Without Shame. Here, fresh off cosigns and rumors of being signed by Rick Ross, Emilio takes a bit of a detour from some of the more personal aggression and heartfelt experiences that categorized his first album in favor of more swag stamped lyricism, which he pulls off pretty well. This project also sees Emilio carrying the majority of the rhyming duties, with most features being from R&B/Urban Pop singers on hooks. Though I found Life Without Shame a more well rounded project, The Breaking Point still has a lot of what I love about Emilio Rojas' music with songs like "SPIC", "Middle Finger", and "Breaking Point" being stand outs on this one. Get it at DJ Booth: Download
Emilio Rojas - "Middle Finger" [prod. M-Phazes]
Honors English w/ Needlz - State of the Art
So every now and then you run into an artist that you never heard of before....you give them a chance and you say "Dope." then forget about them later. I admit that I did this with Honors English at first, but as the first signee to producer Needlz' record label Dry Rain Entertainment (producer of Lupe Fiasco's "Hurt Me Soul" and "Till I Get There") there should've been a guarantee of how dope he would be. In all honesty, this is probably one of the best free albums I've heard in my life. Honors English brings wit in the form of really clever punchlines and uses them to spice the deep subjects that the album details. Needlz is a monster with the production on this one, with nearly every track featuring a major tonal or melodic shift (weird describing hip hop this way). I'll be reviewing this one in depth so that's all for now. Pick it up free at: http://honorsenglishmusic.com/ or buy the deluxe version for $25...it comes signed with a shirt. Not a bad deal.
Honors English - "Cymbals on the Sidewalk" [prod. Needlz]
Rick Ross - Rich Forever
As a Miami native, I'm fairly inclined to be a fan of Rick Ross. As a "hip hop head" I'm supposed to be the opposite. I find myself leaning more to the roots on this one, and Rich Forever is the Ross that I can enjoy. I can laugh at the ad-libs, laugh at the lyrics, and bob my head to the beats. Dope combination. With probably enough features for most people's taste, I have to admit Rich Forever is definitely an experience: if I was rich I'd definitely never want to go back to being working or middle class. Rick Ross feels very strongly about this obviously, and the fervor of his spitting here is not only infectious, but also remarkably solid. We won't ever expect Rick Ross to "keep it real" but this is probably as close as you can get with "fantasy rap". Faves here are: "Triple Beam Dreams" ft. Nas, "High Definition" and "Party Heart" ft. Stalley & 2Chainz. Pick it up on Live Mixtapes: http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/15656/rick_ross_rich_forever.html
Rick Ross -"Stat Schemin'" ft. Drake and French Montana
Phresh James - Universal Lve Period
Speaking of Miami...next project comes from Miami underground rhymer Phresh James, who delivers a whole project theme around love, relationships, and great music. Personally, here I don't have a stand out, but I did find the vibe of this one relaxing and insightful. Mixed and produced primarily by Bodega Creative Co. ULP finds Phresh James laying vocals over delicate sound beds and speaking on personal love, struggles and trying to make it in the rap race. Features come from Miami's J Nics and QuEST, along with some other well known artists like Phil Áde. Pick it up at DJ Booth: Download
Phresh James "I.D.C." ft. Phil Áde & The GTW
Sundown x Chuuwee - The Adventures of the Millennium Falcon (Episode 1)
Probably one of the biggest fanboy moments of my life occurred when I discovered this project had been released. I found myself tweeting "I did the funniest fat boy dance..." and I did. If you've read any of my other posts, you'll know that I'm a big fan of 9th Wonder's Jamla and all that it stands for (maybe not all but most) and seeing a project completely produced by Sundown of Actual Proof and featuring Sacramento rhyme sayer Chuuwee made my week that week. The music itself doesn't disappoint, with each giving some quality bars over really nice production; and the star wars imprint is enjoyable as well. Though I like both of their separate projects more than this, Episode 1 implies that there will be more, and hopefully we'll see even higher quality collab work in the future. Top picks of this one are: "Back to Tatooine" ft. Intalek "Calm Down" ft. Big Remo and "Carbonite" ft. Carbin & Drique London.
Sundown & Chuuwee - "Attacking the Clones" ft. Thee Tom Hardy
J. Nolan x Reese Jones - The Archetype EP
Almost at the homestretch for this week, next up is another of my favorite emcees, J. Nolan and his collab ep with producer Reese Jones. Five tracks of good solid spitting with some major flow switches which I especially like. Reese Jones definitely has a great ear and hand at production, with every song sounding fresh and different. Since it's short there's not more to say about it except my top pick from this is "Tonight's the Night" which sees J.Nolan kick it a bit old school. Pick it up on J. Nolan's band camp: FREE DOWNLOAD
J. Nolan - "Excel" [prod. Reese Jones]
Jon Connor - The Blue Album
Next up is Flint, MI rapper/hard spitter Jon Connor trying his hand at the "tribute/prove your skills" project with The Blue Album, which contains beats from Jay-Z's The Black Album, and his The Blueprint series. If you don't know who Jon Connor is...if you've never heard him rap before...prepare to have your mind blown. Although I'm a die hard fan of extremely conscious, hardcore, political, hip hop; the general hip hop fan in me loves a good cold flow, which Jon Connor provides. Each song on the project (from only one listen O.o) has his own mark on it, and he avoids borrowing hooks/lines for the majority of them. The song that stood out most to me was his version of "Renegade" although I can tell you that it's not the best one on the mixtape. Check it out yourself and tell me what you think: Jon Connor – The Blue Album
Jon Connor - "Renegade" ft. Mickey Wallace
Soul Khan - Wellstone
Last but not least is retired battle rapper and emcee Soul Khan's newest EP, Wellstone, five songs of the New York and Brown Bag All-Stars lyricist letting loose on topics that range from politics, to women, and those less than good rappers that every "good" rapper has to talk about. Not even striking at Khan on that, it's just something worth saying. On this EP, Soul Khan's presence and lyrics hold down the fort, keep things interesting and made Wellstone the most exciting fifteen minutes of my week, so much so that I had to listen to it three times in a row (which is rare if you're not giving a full review) Best part is since it's so short you're not spending a great deal of time hearing the whole album, and you'll want to hear it again...and again. Top pick of this EP for me is "Not Like That" ft. Akie Bermiss. Pick Wellstone up on DJ Booth: Download
Soul Khan - "Wellstone" ft. Akie Bermiss
That's all for now...look for an Album/Mixtape review of State of the Art later today, and another review next Friday. Until then, keep your ears open. Dope music's all around.
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