Big Jess Presents: Honorable Mention, Volume 1

If you've been following Big Jess on Twitter over the past several months, you should be aware by now that he's been actively working on a compilation project featuring tons of local artists. The concept seemed simple enough. Jess produces a bunch of original beats, and gets his friends to hop on and do their thing. I'm not sure if there's much more to it than that, but looking at the roster on the album, I'm excited to give it a few spins. For those of you who are still curious, I included the tracklist after the jump. You can download and stream Honorable Mention, Volume 1 over at DJBooth.net.

Big Jess Presents: Honorable Mention, Volume 1

Big Jess: "Not About Ya'll" (Music Video)

This one's from Big Jess' Self Therapy album. It's been out for a while now, and it's free, so go get that if you don't have it.

Big Jess: "Rollercoaster"

If you haven't grabbed Big Jess' albums Good Clean Fun 3 or Self Therapy yet, here's another single from the Minneapolis rapper to show you what you've been missing.

Big Jess: "Rollercoaster"

Big Jess: "Evil Woman ft. Sab The Artist" + Self Therapy/Good Clean Fun 3

Here's another song off Big Jess' Self Therapy/Good Clean Fun 3 double album. For "Evil Woman," off the Self Therapy side, Jess recruited the artist formerly known as Musab to kick a guest verse. The beat to this one knocks.

Both Self Therapy and Good Clean Fun 3 are available at Big Jess' Bandcamp site.

Big Jess: "Evil Woman ft. Sab The Artist"

Big Jess: "Evil Woman ft. Sab The Artist" + Self Therapy/Good Clean Fun 3

Here's another song off Big Jess' Self Therapy/Good Clean Fun 3 double album. For "Evil Woman," off the Self Therapy side, Jess recruited the artist formerly known as Musab to kick a guest verse. The beat to this one knocks.

Both Self Therapy and Good Clean Fun 3 are available at Big Jess' Bandcamp site.

Big Jess: "Evil Woman ft. Sab The Artist"

Big Jess: "Not About Ya'll" + Album Release Party

Here's another new track from Big Jess' upcoming double album, Self Therapy/Good Clean Fun 3. The albums will be available for free tomorrow, via the Unknown Prophets website. They feature guest appearances from MaD SoN, Braille, Musab, Muja Messiah, Mally, and more. Keep in mind that Big Jess and Big Zach of Kanser are throwing a concert together to celebrate the release of Jess' double album and Zach's New Crayons album. That will be on Thursday, March 24.

Big Jess: "Not About Ya'll"

Big Jess: "Self Therapy"

Here's another track to Big Jess' upcoming double disc project Self Therapy/Good Clean Fun 3. This one is the title track to Self Therapy. A cool tidbit is that Jess did the scratches with the Flare Scratch app on his iPhone. I'm young and it makes me feel older writing that sentence. Pretty soon producers will be composing entire songs on their cell phones.

Big Jess: "Self Therapy"

Big Jess: "Incredible ft. Jellyfish"

Big Jess of Unknown Prophets is planning all sorts of musical treats for us in 2011. First, he is getting set to release his 4th solo album, the double disc project Self Therapy/Good Clean Fun 3 in the spring of 2011. This first single "Incredible" features Jellyfish and is off of the Good Clean Fun 3 side.

Also keep in mind that Unknown Prophets are working on their long-awaited followup to World Premier, World Premier 2.

Big Jess: "Incredible ft. Jellyfish"

Big Zach: "Disco Balls on Venus" (Prod. Big Jess)

Big Zach of Kanser is preping his second solo album, New Crayons, for a March 21 release date. The album was produced entirely by Big Jess of Unknown Prophets, so you know it's bound to be another fine local release from these two stalwart artists. Here is the first single, "Disco Balls On Venus."

Big Zach: "Disco Balls on Venus" (Prod. Big Jess)

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"

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"

Abstract Pack: "Skills ft. Big Jess"

Minneapolis' Abstract Pack is returning from a decade-long hiatus to release their long awaited album Ear-Responsible in 2010. Though the album won't be out until springtime, the group is beginning their promo push right now. First is the track "Skills" featuring Big Jess of Unknown Prophets (the song was also on Jess' Whatever I Want mixtape). Then, on January 17, the lead single from Ear-Responsible, "That's Life," will be released. So stay tuned.

Abstract Pack: "Skills ft. Big Jess"

Trey Lane: "Until There Is Nothing Left ft. Big Jess"

Here is a new Trey Lane track, produced by and featuring a guest spot from Big Jess. Keep in mind that Trey's All Things Considered will be available on December 18. Also, the Unknown Prophets' new album, Le System D, is avilable now on iTunes, and will be in stores tomorrow.

Trey Lane: 'Until There Is Nothing Left ft. Big Jess"

Big Jess: Whatever I Want (Mixtape)

Big Jess, one-half of the Unknown Prophets, just went solo for a fresh little mixtape project. 25 tracks, featuring guest spots from Mad Son, St. Paul Slim, Alicia Steele, New MC, Most Official, and more! And remember that the UPs upcoming album, Le System D, will be in stores on December 1! Download link and tracklist below.

DOWNLOAD - Big Jess: Whatever I Want (Mixtape)

Big Jess: Studio Tour + Last of the Record Buyers Promo (Video)

Big Jess of the Unknown Prophets gives a tour of his home studio. That keyboard he had set up at the beginning of the video looks on point! No wonder he's one of the finest producers in the Twin Cities. That silky Big Jess beat you hear during the middle of the video is the instrumental for "Sunshine," one of my favorite tracks from Kanser's latest album.

Lastly, Big Jess will be hosting Last Of The Record Buyers on April 16 — why does it always happen on weekends I'm not coming home? Huh, Medium Zach?