Monday, January 31, 2011

Lupe Fiasco: "Words I Never Said ft. Skylar Grey"











Above is a widget to stream the new single from Lupe Fiasco's long-delayed and anticipated Lasers, in stores on March 8. No download link for now, sorry folks. The song features the Chicago emcee waxing political over some bouncy synth-hop. The chorus is a little overdone, but Lupe's flow is absolutely on point, as always.

Atmosphere: "Minnesota Nice ft. Prof, Mr. Gene Poole & Felipe Cuauhtli"


Creating tour-specific songs seems to be the new trend for Rhymesayers artists, championed by Brother Ali (see "The Freshest Kids" and "Breakin' Dawn Boys"). This time around it's Atmosphere's turn, as the band released "Minnesota Nice" for their 5-date Welcome To Minnesota mini-tour. The posse-cut features Prof (of Stophouse), Mr. Gene Poole (of Dynospectrum!) & Felipe Cuauhtli (of Los Nativos). A big shout out, as always, to Rhymesayers Entertainment.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Toki Wright: "Time Zones" (Video)



Toki Wright shot a video for the cut of his BlackMale EP while up in Duluth, for a series called North Shore Sessions. Very cool.

Lazerbeak: "Pearly Gates" (Live at The Current)



Lazerbeak performed some songs from his Legend Recognize Legend solo release at The Current, complete with an all star lineup of local rap celebrities.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Mally: "Once We're Kings" (Prod. The Sundance Kid)

It's beginning to get difficult to heap praise on Mally and The Sundance Kid for their monthly releases, because each song they've done together is equally deserving of lavish praise. The music these two are putting out is easily among the best being created by Twin Cities hip-hop artists lately, and some of my personal favorite music to be released, regardless of region or genre. So, there you have it. Another month, another terrific track from Mally and The Sundance Kid.

Mally: "Once We're Kings" (Prod. The Sundance Kid)

Friday, January 28, 2011

Kidz In The Hall: "Pledge Allegiance To The Dope ft. Curren$y & Mikkey Halsted"

I haven't posted anything from KITH for quite some time. I have to admit, their last album was a bit of a flop. But I saw this one over at 2DopeBoyz and checked it out because of the impressive guest roster. It exceeded my rather modest expectations. If Kidz In The Hall would keep their sound a little rougher more regularly, I'd probably enjoy their music more.

Greg Grease: "You're Welcome" (Prod. Mike Frey)



Greg Grease will be releasing another free project this April, titled The Giving Tree. This song is the intro to the mixtape and features Grease's breezy flow over some airy production by Mike Frey. Dope stuff. Video up above, donwload link below.


Mike Mictlan & Freez: "Minne-Triple-Rockalis"

This collaboration between Mike Mictlan and Freez (of Illuminous 3) came out back in August, but somehow I completely missed out on it. I was kind of absent from the usual blogging grind this summer. Regardless, the local emcees definitely put it down for their hometown on this one. Sorry I'm horribly late, but I couldn't let this one get overlooked.

Mike Mictlan & Freez: "Minne-Triple-Rockalis"

Tree City: "Definement"

New material from the Ann Arbor, Michigan group Tree City.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Blueprint: "Keep Bouncing" (Music Video)



Blueprint's Adventures in Counter Culture will be out on April 5, 2011. Preorder the album through Fifth Element.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Lipset: "Distortion" (Music Video) + "Outro (Credits Roll)"



I have announced before that Lipset is strategically rereleasing his debut LP, Level Heads, produced largely by Lokes. The album will be released free digitally, track by track. Above is the music video for "Distortion", while below is a link to the first track on Level Heads, "Outro (Credits Roll)". Lipset and Lokes will be putting out one new track from the album every 15 days or so, so make sure to be checking back on Midwest Broadcast in order to not miss a track!

Kanye West Announces Next LP, Other News

Kanye took to Twitter yesterday to announce some very exciting news — some of it we already knew, some of it is new to us. First, Kanye reported he was in the studio working while watching Da Bears game. Kanye probably spends much of his free time in the studio, so this isn't terrible surprising. The exciting part is that he's apparently already working on the follow-up to his magnum opus, and in my opinion 2010's best musical work, My Beautiful Dark Twister Fantasy. The yet-untitled album should apparently be released this summer. According to Kanye, it will be "HIGH END RAP MUSIC." No surprises there. And my personal favorite Tweet of his is listed below, for fun.
In other Kanye news, he claims that the video for the mega-banger "All Of The Lights" will be released in one week, and that his Jay-Z collaboration Watch The Throne will be out in two months.

Freez & Mike Frey: "Man-Radio"

Since all the way back in 2009, Freez and producer Mike Frey have been working on a full-length LP titled Freez's Frozen French Freys. But while we wait for that, they're putting out an EP scheduled for release sometime soon. This song, "Man-Radio", is the title track to that EP.

Freez & Mike Frey: "Man-Radio"

Trey Lane: "Midwest Start It Up ft. V The Noble One, Blitz, Big Jess & Mally"

This song was supposed to appear on Trey Lane's Christmas-time Naughty of Nice mixtape, but it didn't get finished until a little too late. It features of Trey's rap friends from South Dakota, as well as Mally and Big Jess of Minneapolis rap renown. Good to see these long distance collaborations from local artists.

Trey Lane: "Midwest Start It Up ft. V The Noble One, Blitz, Big Jess & Mally"

Blueprint: "Keep Bouncing" (Music Video Teaser)

Add-2: "Dream Girl" (Music Video)



Here is the music video for a cut off Add-2's latest mixtape, Tale Of Two's City Vol.4: Better Days. The video was produced by Da Visionaryz, and has recently received clearance to get some air time of MTV2. Props to Add-2!

Friday, January 21, 2011

St. Paul Slim: "Soldier"

You know St. Paul Slim always takes a very no frills approach with most of his songs, keeping it very street. He does the same on "Soldier", the lead single for his upcoming record Personal Holiday, out in the spring. Props to Sound Verite.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Lipset & Initial MC: "Bottom of the Flyer"

New material from Lipset and Initial MC of Duenday. This track was produced by The Golden Boy, and will be featured on his debut album, The Green Room. On top of that, this track is kind of a buzz-builder for the rerelease of Lipset's Level Heads LP. The entire album will be released for free, and he'll be putting out some music videos in the near future.

Lipset & Initial MC: "Bottom of the Flyer"

The Adventures of Blueprint, Episode 2 (Video)



Via Rhymesayers: Blueprint continues his conversation about radio and its shortcomings in providing both the audience and the musicians true artistic expression.

Longshot: "I'm Back/Maybe" (Music Video)



This is the latest video for Longshot's "I'm Back/Maybe" off the DJ Serpico-assisted mixtape Future Of The Chi. Longshot's next project, Live From The Gravebomb, will be available on February 1.

Mike Dreams: Interview and Freestyle on RSE Radio

Mike Dreams hopped on Rhymesayers Radio not too long ago for an interview and freestyle session. Check it out.

The Usual SuspectS: Countdown to Wag City, Pt. 1 Mixtape (Video)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Atmosphere: 'Welcome to Minnesota' Tour

This February, Atmosphere will hit the road to perform shows in some Minnesota towns they haven't hit for a while. Should be a good time. I caught Atmosphere at First Ave about a month or so ago, and it was one of their best shows I've attended. No Twin Cities date, however, so all the city slickers will have to venture elsewhere to catch a show.

Illuminous 3: "Need To Let Go" (Prod. King Karnov)



Brand new monthly joint from Illuminous 3, who recruited King Karnov to handle production this time around. Stream it below or hit the link to download the song.



The Thank You Notes: "Twilight" (Music Video)



The Thank You Notes are a new band from Saint Paul, who have been performing regularly at local music venues. Here is their debut music video for their song "Twilight".

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

F. Stokes: "Soul Clap" (Music Video)

Kanye West & Jay-Z: "H.A.M."

Lead single from Kanye West & Jay-Z's collaborative project Watch The Throne, which apparently has an early March release date.

Jordan Looney: "Over"

Jordan Looney has the final installment of his Nerd-Hop series approaching. He's also been putting in plenty of studio time in both Minneapolis and Chicago with some good local artists, so be on the lookout for his next moves.

Friday, January 7, 2011

The Adventures of Blueprint, Episode 1 (Video)



If you missed the lead single to Blueprint's upcoming album, Adventures in Counter Culture, check out "Radio-Inactive" right here. It's a fantastic song. In the video above, Blueprint explains the message behind the song. More episodes to come, as we slowly approach March 1, when the album will be released.

Mac Lethal: "I'm Odd (Freestyle)"



Mac is coming out with a mixtape soon that will feature the full, mastered version of this song. Until then, here's a unmixed YouTube stream.

Freddie Gibbs: 12/16 Minneapolis Show Promo Video



Gary, Indiana rapper Freddie Gibbs is swinging through the Twin Cities very soon to rock a couple shows. Canadian rapped Shad, who has been getting lots of radio love from The Current, is on the bill as well. Should be a good time.

Fifth Element In Store
-Freddie Gibbs & Shad In Store Performance and Signing
-Sunday 1.16.11 @ 6:00-7:00 PM
-Free & All Ages!!

7th Street Entry Show
-Freddie Gibbs & Shad Performance
-Sunday 1.6.11 @ 8 PM
-$12 @ 8:00 PM, 18+

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Sims: "Burn It Down" (Music Video)



I posted once already about Sims' upcoming album Bad Time Zoo, another local album creating much anticipation already in 2011. The single for "Burn It Down" was leaked when the album preorder was announced, and now here is the music video. Remember, the album can be ordered in both normal and the deluxe packages.

The Tribe & Big Cats!: "Breakin Down The Walls" (Music Video)



The Tribe & Big Cats! upcoming album Forward Thinkers Movers Shakers is one of the local projects I'm most excited for in 2011. It can be preordered right now at Fifth Element.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Paper Tiger: "Palace" (Live on The Current's Local Show)



Paper Tiger's Made Like Us is available now.

Big Jess: "Get It In ft. Mally & Muja Messiah"

Interesting news from Big Jess of Unknown Prophets. He just announced the upcoming release of his fourth solo album titled Self Therapy, due out sometime in the Spring. "Get It In" features two of the best rappers in the Twin Cities recently, Mally and Muja Messiah, and is the lead single from that album. Jess also confirmed that Unknown Prophets are working on the follow up to their album World Premier, titled WP2.

Big Jess: "Get It In ft. Mally & Muja Messiah"

Toki Wright Live in China (Video)



Toki Wright and Sean McPherson of Heiruspecs recently went to Shenyang, China to perform at the Shenyeng Conservatory of Music. The trip was part of a cultural exchange that hopes to build bridges between the East and West. Here is some footage from that voyage.

In related news, on January 30, Toki and Sean returned from China, only to perform and absolutely shut it down at Cause in Uptown Minneapolis. Very fun night.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Mally: "Cloud Culture" (Prod. The Sundance Kid)

As you should already be aware, Mally and The Sundance Kid have been putting out tracks together for a few months. It seems like each new song is as dope as the previous one, and they've really been killing it in the local scene. To start out the new year, they've got another track for us, "Cloud Culture". Expect their collaborative album to be released in the spring.

Nametag: "Celebrate ft. Ro Spit" (Music Video)



Here's the music video for the Black Milk produced song from Nametag's album The Name Is Tag.