Guante & Big Cats! 'Don't Be Nice' Mixtape Release Party Tonight

If you can't stand the heat, get out of Hell's Kitchen. Check out Guante & Big Cats! latest mixtape Don't Be Nice right here.

Black Milk: "Welcome (Gotta Go)" (Music Video)

Off of Black Milk's spectacular Album of the Year.

Lazerbeak: "Let It Go" (Music Video)

Off of Lazerbeak's Legend Recognize Legend. What do you guys think of the album?

Lazerbeak: 'Legend Recognize Legend' Release Party (Video)

Paul Yutaka: "Fair Game" (Music Video)

Paul Yutaka is a new artist out of Minneapolis. This first single of his was produced by Brandon Allday of Big Quarters.

Paul Yutaka: "Fair Game" (Prod. Brandon Allday)

Rhymesayers Radio (9/25/2010)

I usually don't post these radio episodes (maybe I should start), but this one is unique. RSE Radio holds a weekly show hosted by Siddiq on KFAI Fresh Air Community Radio. Twice a year the station holds a pledge drive to help keep the broadcast commercial free. To promote this occasion, RSE brought in a ton of special guests: Slug, Brother Ali, P.O.S., Lazerbeak, M.anifest, Mike Mictlan, Travis McCoy, and Astronautalis. Some of these artists got some time to discuss recent projects of theirs and more, and a freestyle cipher may or may not, but definitely did break out at one point.

Remember to go to kfai.org and pledge any amount of money to help keep the station running.

LISTEN -- Rhymesayers Radio (9/25/2010)

Nottz: "Blast That ft. Black Milk"

New Nottz, featuring one of Detroit's finest, off his upcoming album You Need This Music:.

Nottz: "Blast That ft. Black Milk"

Jordan Looney: "We're Here"

First new single from Jordan Looney's upcoming Nerd-Hop, Vol.3: Side B. "We're Here" features Looney spitting some braggadocio over a funky double-time break beat that gets extra lively when the horns kick in. Expect more of the same from his upcoming mixtape.

In other Looney news, he was in Chicago last weekend to film a video for "Pour Up", off Nerd-Hop, Vol. 3: Side A. Also, he'll be back in the Twin Cities to perform on Wednesday night at the Kitty Kat Club in Dinkytown. Here is the link to the Facebook invite for that event.

Jordan Looney: "We're Here"

Mankwe Ndosi: "Out of the Hole" (Music Video)

Many of you should be familiar with Mankwe Ndosi through the work she has done with Atmosphere, first appearing on You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having. She has also collaborated with Big Quarters, and has now released a solo EP Do Gooder's Blues, a collaboration project with Medium Zach. This is a live rendition of "Out Of The Hole", available on that EP. Medium Zach directed this video, as well.

Wide Eyes: "Borrowed Time" (Music Video)

Here's the new music video for Wide Eyes' single "Borrowed Time", off of their album Hands Tied. The eerie video, directed by Justin Staggs, appropriately complements the sense of urgency conveyed in the song's lyrics. Well done.

Kanye West: "So Appalled ft. Jay-Z, RZA, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, & Cyhi The Prynce"

Happy GOOD Friday!

This week, Kanye hit us with a track that had been floating around the Internet for quite a while in its unfinished version. With some additions from Jay-Z, Pusha T, RZA and others, this new version is drastically expanded, in length and content. Perhaps it will be on the Kanye x Jay collaboration EP Watch The Throne.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I had a busy week.

Kanye West: "So Appalled ft. Jay-Z, RZA, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, & Cyhi The Prynce"

Kanye West: "Lord Lord Lord ft. Mos Def, Raekwon, Swizz Beatz & Charlie Wilson"

Another new song from Ye's GOOD Friday series, and another killer track. I don't know how many of these will be featured on actual releases or not, but one can only hope Kanye's forthcoming album is full of quality material like he's been releasing lately.

Since this new track is such a big file (17MB!) and I'm struggling with a lazy Saturday morning, I'm just going to link you to Kanye's GOOD Friday site to make the download.

Kanye West: "Lord Lord Lord ft. Mos Def, Raekwon, Swizz Beatz & Charlie Wilson"

Lazlo Supreme: "What Makes You Happy" (Music Video)

Lazlo Supreme switched up their style for this track, opting for more singing and less rapping. But the core elements that define the band, the bouncing piano lines and tight drum patterns, are still there. Just a fun, loose song all around.

Mally: "Lights Off"

Mally has been a monster in the Twin Cities underground hip-hop scene, holding it down for over a year and running. Which, while I'm on topic, begs the question: why did he not get a performance slot on the Fifth Element stage at Soundset? Regardless, he's some new heat from the rhyme spitter, with production from The Sundance Kid. This is the first of many songs that Mally and The Sundance Kid will be releasing from their collaborative EP. Check back on the 15th of every month until it comes out in Spring of 2011.

Mally: "Lights Off" (Prod. The Sundance Kid)

Muja Messiah: "Live To Die Another Day ft. M.anifest"

Here's a joint off of Muja's new M-16s mixtape, which is another local project you should acquire ASAP. As always, Muja brings that gully yet technical street rap to a local scene that largely lacks in that domain. Add in a guest spot from M.anifest (as well as P.O.S., Dodi Phy and Maria Isa on the rest of the tape) and you're good to go. Pick it up at Fifth Element.

Muja Messiah: "Live To Die Another Day ft. M.anifest"

Toki Wright: "The Soul (Go There)" (Music Video)

Here's a new video from the opening cut to Toki Wright's BlackMale EP.

A Message from Slug from the To All My Friends Tour (Video)

Black Milk: "Deadly Medley ft. Elzhi" (Live)

Black Milk got an assist from Elzhi to perform this superb cut off Album of the Year at his release party. Spotted at 2DopeBoyz.

Soulcrate Music: "Sleep Awake" (Music Video)

Off of Soulcrate Music's album The Heartland Panic, which is available not now, but right now.

Kristoff Krane: "Savior Self ft. Cas One, Alexipharmic, Sadistik & Eyedea"

Kristoff Krane put this together with some of his rap friends while on tour out west. You can follow the link to stream and download the track.

Kristoff Krane: "Savior Self ft. Cas One, Alexipharmic, Sadistik & Eyedea"

Mike Dreams: "Any Day Now"

I linked to this live video last week, now the studio version of Minneapolis' Mike Dreams new track is available for download, whose album Just Waking Up will be released in October through DJBooth.net.

Mike Dreams: "Any Day Now"

Kanye West: "Runaway ft. Pusha T" (Live at MTV VMAs)

2010 MTV Video Music Awards - More VMA Video

Kanye closed out the VMAs tonight with "Runaway", a track that features Pusha T and will be on his forthcoming LP.

Update: For some reason I called this "Runaway Love", which was the wrong title. I believe that was actually that Justin Bieber remix, ironically. The track is really titled "Runaway".

Joell Ortiz: "So Wrong ft. Talib Kweli, Brother Ali, & Jean Grae"

Brother Ali got a guest spot on Joell Ortiz's Farewell Summer EP, along with some pretty great company. Ali's known for being respected by some of the best emcees to ever do it (see: Rakim and Chuck D), this time Ortiz gave Ali some props for his killer verse via Twitter.

Joell Ortiz: "So Wrong ft. Talib Kweli, Brother Ali, & Jean Grae"

DOWNLOAD - Joell Ortiz: Farewell Summer EP

Lazerbeak: "Land's End" (Music Video)

Off his upcoming Legend Recognize Legend long player. I've got my preorder, have you?

Fifth Element TV Presents Microphone Mathematics: Slug (Part 3 of 3 - Atmosphere Rehearsal)

Unfortunately no live sounds. Follow the links to view Part 1 and Part 2.

F. Stokes: "Blessings" (Music Video)

Here's the music video for a Lazerbeak produced cut from F. Stokes' Death of a Handsome Bride EP.

Fifth Element TV Presents Microphone Mathematics: Slug (Part 2 of 3)

View Part 1 here.

Brother Ali on UStream 9/8/10 (Video)

Brother Ali hopped on UStream last night to shoot the breeze with his fans for a while. Here's the rebroadcast.

Watching it right now. Lots of questions about him collaborating with people, where he's doing shows, what artists/music he likes, with some occasional insight sprinkled in. All depending on what he was asked. Step your question game up people! Ok, it starts getting much more interesting at about the 20 minute mark as Ali speaks on recent political, cultural and economic issues.

Atmosphere EP hits #1 on iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap Charts

Released just yesterday, Atmosphere's new EP, To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs, has hit the #1 sales ranking on the iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap charts and claimed the #2 rank overall. With many similarities to the trajectory that we have seen the Minnesota Twins take in the past year, the indie hip-hop band from Minneapolis can officially no longer be regarded as a small market group (if they even were at this point). It was no modest achievement, as Atmosphere had to outsell Billboard heavyweights Eminem, Drake, Katy Perry, and indie juggernauts Arcade Fire. The group has truly earned their spot, congratulations to Rhymesayers.

Atmosphere is beginning their tour in support of the EP today in Badgerland at the Orpheum in Madison, WI. They'll wind around the country for a month, before returning home to play two newly announced shows at First Ave in Minneapolis in late November, 11/27 (all ages) and 11/28 (18+). Tickets go on sale Friday morning at 11am. They'll surely sell out quickly, so be sure to get them early.

BONUS: Atmosphere playing "Americareful" at Soundset 2010

Blueprint: 'Blueprint Who EP' + "Dream Big" (Music Video)

Rhymesayers' own Blueprint has been in the lab working on new material over the past year or so. Partly with his rhyming partner Illogic as Greenhouse, and partly on his own prepping his next solo album. It seems as if a lot of progress has been made on the latter, as just this morning Blueprint released a new EP through his website. The Blueprint Who EP is a five-track collection of new songs from the Columbus artist. It can be purchased in 3 different versions:

1. CD version: $4.99 plus shipping, comes with a 11x17 free poster and instrumentals to all songs
2. Deluxe digital version: $4.99 download with instrumentals to all the songs, the music video to "Dream Big", and PDF files of all the artwork
3. Free digital version: free download of all 5 songs on the EP

The EP isn't available on iTunes because of sample clearance issues. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out who Print's sampling heavily from on this EP. Ill stuff though. Choose whichever version you like. Below is the music video for "Dream Big". Enjoy!

Mike Dreams: "Ready For Me" (Live)

Mike Dreams announced that he's finishing up a new album, titled Just Waking Up, and it's scheduled for an October release date. He recently had a performance at Hell's Kitchen restaurant in Minneapolis and debuted a few new tracks for the very first time. Up above is "Ready For Me." There are also videos on YouTube for "Any Day Now" and "No More Trouble".

Freddie Gibbs: "Oil Money ft. Chuck Inglish, Chip Tha Ripper, Bun B & Dan Auerbach" (Music Video)

Fifth Element TV Presents Microphone Mathematics: Slug (Part 1 of 3)

Cool new FETV series from the newly updated Fifth Element website:

Microphone Mathematics is a new FETV Show with Kevin Beacham and Carnage focused on analyzing lyrics, song writing, hidden meanings, etc…

With a new Atmosphere project, To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs, out today (9-7-10: Available on tour and at Fifth Element), we caught up with Slug to knock out the first episodes.

Here in part one Slug talks about how he may have been influenced to rap by Eddie Murphy, who inspired him to take it more serious (Rakim, KRS, Big Daddy Kane), how God’s Bathroom Floor may be one his most important songs, his writing rituals, dealing with writers block and how he goes about writing stories!!

Then check back tomorrow for part 2 as we take a close look at the new EP, including breaking down song meanings! Then part 3 with a sneak peak of Atmosphere in rehearsal!!

Guante & Big Cats!: 'Don't Be Nice' (Mixtape)

New mixtape from Guante & Big Cats!. Definitely excited to give this one a listen. Guante claims it will be more "accessible" than their latest LP An Unwelcome Guest. There's a handful of remixes and live performances of previously released tracks to complement new material, like the promising "Don't Vote For Michelle Bachmann".

Guante & Big Cats!: Don't Be Nice (Mixtape)

Muja Messiah: "Gary Coleman" (Music Video)

New Muja Messiah, produced by Benzilla and from his upcoming mixtape M-16s, which will be out September 14. Muja is also throwing a mixtape release concert on September 9 at the 7th St Entry with I Self Devine, Black Blondie & Benzilla.

Muja Messiah: "Gary Coleman"

Atmosphere: "Free Fallin'" + New EP

Nice news to wake up to from Rhymesayers:

To support their upcoming To All My Friends Tour and to hold you over until their next official album Atmosphere is releasing a double EP full of brand new material titled To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs. The Atmosphere EPs will be available digitally through iTunes & Amazon September 7th (the day before the To All My Friends Tour starts) with CD copies of The Atmosphere EPs sold exclusively on tour and through Fifth Element.

To help build anticipation for the EP, Atmosphere is also releasing "Free Fallin'". The track can be downloaded over at Rhymesayers Radio, or by clicking the link below.

Atmosphere: "Free Fallin'"