The Quiet Dude releases the third installment in his Appetizer EP series. This one is another assortment of tracks he's been working on while he prepares to release two solo LPs this year.
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: 
The Quiet Dude dropped Volume 1 of his EP series back in April of 2009. He's finally back for the second installment. All but two of these tracks were produced by my dude Egypto Knuckles, while Poorboy handled the rest. Check it out.
Slug and Murs gave away the a cappellas to Felt 3: A Tribute To Rosie Perez. Grieves and Budo made beats. Hence, Grieves & Budo: Felt 3 Remixes.
Prof just released his new EP, Kaiser Von Powderhorn 2, via Stophouse.Brace yourself, kiddies. Prof is back with the second installment of his Kaiser Von Powderhorn EP series. This much anticipated follow-up to his first Kaiser EP features eight of Prof's most humorous and polished tracks to date. The upbeat, light-hearted Kaiser Von Powderhorn 2 makes a perfect party soundtrack. Each track reinforces Prof’s status as the best Twin Cities MC, as he switches seamlessly between playfully pawing at and powerfully pouncing on the beat.Highly dubious claims from that press release aside, Prof is no slouch on the mic, and this should be an enjoyable EP. The download link is below, but keep in mind that you can also purchase the physical copy of the EP at Fifth Element or online at the Stophouse store.
The Tribe & Big Cats! collaborated for one of 2009's diamonds in the rough, their Supply and Demand EP. Just under one full year later, the three midwest artists have returned to share their latest joint project with us, The Let's Be Professional Mixtape, and Pwelbs and myself are here to present it to you.
Pwelbs posted this up a while back, so you may have seen it already if you check his site regularly. It's the debut solo project from Minneapolis' own Greg Grease. The EP is an 8 track free download with special guests Alicia Steele, Alissa Paris, Freeze (Illuminous 3), Akrite (T.U.S.S.), and Proper-T, with production by Benzilla, Pc, Javier Santiago, and Greg Birth. Grease is also working on his debut solo LP, The Giving Tree. Below is the download link to the EP, and the electronic press kit video.
DOWNLOAD - Toki Wright: BlackMale EPFriends and Family,
First off thank you for your continued support. Since the release of my debut full length album “A Different Mirror” in June I’ve been continuing to work hard to bring you more. In the last six months I’ve traveled tour the country, released new videos, and been working daily to provide you with more original work.
“BlackMale” is an 8 song digital EP of all brand new music. Seeing that it is Black History month it seemed like a fitting to release this interpretation of African-American manhood. I worked closely with Benzilla, Reggie Reg, Greg Greaze, PC, and Mike Swoop to craft this project. This project was also made possible by the Minnesota State Arts Board’s Cultural Community Partnership Grant. I set the foundation for this project with an organization called CRUNC (Community Roots Under New Construction).
“BlackMale” is available for free download, or as a “choose your own amount” donation. You can give whatever amount you see fit. My friend Jeanine Estime will be returning to her homeland of Haiti to hand out basic needs items (soap, toothpaste, asprin, etc) to people in her old neighborhood that were effected by the earthquake. All donations from the digital downloads will go directly to her via me.
I’m also proud to announce I will headlining my first tour titled the “Black Belt Tour” with Haziq Ali (Organized Rhyme/Atlanta), and Omaur Bliss. Stop by one of the tour dates below to hear new music from the EP and “A Different Mirror.”
Krukid, one-third of indie supergroup A.R.M., recently sent this new music my way to share with you. This particular track, produced by Minneapolis wunderkind G Mo, is part of Krukid's 7-song Snow Angel EP, which can be downloaded at his Bandcamp site.
Heidi Barton is a transgender rapper from Minneapolis, who just released The Familiar Pattern EP for free download. Here is the press release for that project: Transgender HipHop artist Heidi Barton Stink grew up in south Minneapolis where the themes of struggling with gender identity and addiction became prevalent in her life and art. After coming out as trans she released The Familiar Pattern EP.Heidi Barton: The Familiar Pattern EP
The lyrical content of The Familiar Pattern EP comes not only from a fresh perspective as far as traditional hiphop is corncerned but it also represents voices that aren't normally heard in mainstream gay culture. Shying away from the sexualized lyrics and party songs that have been a staple of "HomoHop," Heidi's songs hit on topics such as the lack of inclusion and visibility of gender variant people's needs in the mainstream ("Direct Action") addiction ("Pick your Poison") and the shame a transgender-queer faces growing up in a gender-normative "liberal" city ("Love Who"). Heidi's beats, like her verbal style have a wide range; from the warm positive midwestern style, experimental electro-pop to east coast epic with production by Homo-Hop MC/Comedian Soce The Elemental Wizard on the song "Direct Action".
A few moments ago I posted Manned Missiles' 2DMan EP. Here's the second free EP of the day from Central Standard Records. This one came with no official artwork, so I just posted a picture of Aeon Grey. The BandageYourHeavensGrey EP is a collaboration between Acebandage, Aeon Grey and Daniel Heavens. Four songs composed over an eight hour time period, it is a spontaneous piece of work created in Des Moines Iowa. Travelling through the Midwest Bandage and Daniel found themselves on Iowa highways with no real destination but home. Stopping in Des Moines for a quick rest turned into an overnight marathon of writing and recording. All lyrics were written and recorded during the stay over production provided by Acebandage and Aeon.Acebandage: Aeon Grey, & Daniel Heavens: BandageYourHeavensGrey EP
Here is the first of two free EP releases from Iowa-based label Central Strandard Records: The 2DMan EP is the first solo release by Manned Missiles (Jeff Blanchard, formerly of Cleo's Apartment). A D.I.Y. testament to what curiosity, caffeine, and a sizeable record collection can produce: an audio collage masterpiece that is dizzyingly brief and endlessly listenable, designed to occupy a sliver of a musical genre that encompasses comic-book funk, hip hop, 80’s electro, and Bossa Nova.Manned Missiles: 2DMan EP
The homegrown trio from Minneapolis dropped a fourth-quarter EP that showcased many of the likable aspects of the group: relaxed beats, smooth, yet intricate, lyrics, and a fun, easygoing musical atmosphere. They might make it sound like creating music this enjoyable is an easy process — but if you thought that, you’d be wrong.
9. Guante & Big Cats!: Start A Fire EP
Guante’s lyrics may not fit into the “listen to it anytime anywhere” category, but it’s hard to ignore the skill he brings to the table. On the production side, Big Cats! emerged as 2009’s unheralded star. His patience in letting each song develop gradually, as seen in “The Calm,” allows each track to breathe before the fiery Guante tears it apart.
8. Chantz Erolin & Cory Grindberg: The Good Company EP
Tru Ruts scored with yet another excellent release in 2009, this time from some local youngsters. But don’t overlook Chantz and Cory Grindberg because they’re relatively new to the scene, their music boasts a maturity seldom seen by artists twice their age. These two should be making waves in the Twin Cities for years to come.
7. F. Stokes & Lazerbeak: Death of a Handsome Bride (Review)
We all know what Lazerbeak can do to an instrumental. This EP, however, was the F. Stokes show. The Chicago/Madison rapper has a — dare I say it? — Kanye-esque ability to unite gospel and blues, tragedy and triumph, in his lyrics. Put this over ‘Beak’s lava bangers, and you’ve got yourself one soulful duo. The two should be putting out a full-length sometime in 2010.
6. Atmosphere: Leak At Will EP
“You can catch up with the rest of my best of,” Slug declared on ”Smart Went Crazy,” off You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having. Slug, we’d love to do so, but it’s not easy when you keep making ‘Best Of’ lists on a seemingly annual basis. No surprise with this pick.
5. Brother Ali: The Truth Is Here EP
Ali’s warm up to Us was an underwhelming effort. This is a testament to the standards he’s created for himself when a poor performance still lands you the fifth best EP of 2009. “The Believer” was one of my most played songs of 2009, and there were a few other solid tracks on this EP. But, in all reality, everyone was waiting for the full-length.
4. The Tribe & Big Cats!: Supply & Demand EP
This was my sleeper release of 2009. The Tribe and Big Cats! put together am unhyped, little-supported EP that ended up being one of the more sincere, passionate projects of the year. Raise your glasses, everyone, to the Do-It-Yourself method.
3. Slum Village: Villa Manifesto EP
Things have never come easy for Slum Village; we all know about the tragic losses of J Dilla and Baatin (R.I.P.). The group just seems to keep things moving, however. And in spite of the ever-changing group dynamics, they just keep pumping out first-rate music.
2. Greenhouse: Electric Purgatory, Pt. 1
Despite changing their name, Blueprint and Illogic still kept their style intact for this EP. Both members’ slow but purposeful lyricism remains contemplative and firm, and Blueprint is still one of the most overlooked producers in hip-hop (maybe because he doesn’t exactly kick out material at a break-neck pace). In this case, consistency was rewarded with one of 2009’s most thorough releases.
1. Doomtree: False Hopes XV
With each release, every member of this group continues to evolve and improve. In particular, Mike Mictlan has never sounded better. Their uncompromising style has resulted in some of hip-hop’s most innovative music in recent years. Don’t sweat the technique, fella.
New EP from Kidz In The Hall. Good stuff. Duckdown's press release reads as follows: This Holiday Season Kidz In The Hall are treating their fans to an early gift in the form of a free album entitled The Professional Leisure Tour presented by L-R-G. The 13 track freEP features all original music from the group which was mostly recorded last month on the road during Kidz In The Hall's National US Tour.Kidz In The Hall: The Professional Leisure Tour (FreEP) (Via LRG)
The Professional Leisure Tour is a prelude to Kidz In The Hall's next studio album, Land Of Make Believe, currently scheduled for a March 9th, 2010 release date. Today, "Jukebox," the lead single from Land Of Make Believe, is available at iTunes & all digital retail outlets
Sorry for the delay, people. This is the first time I've had computer access since 9:00am today. Either, way this new EP from Illuminous 3 is something that you don't want to miss. Word is bond.
Krukid and Budo collaborated on this neat little project, and who better to explain it than Budo himself? He says: Krukid and I (who, along with M.anifest make up the mighty A.R.M.) are proud to present our first ever collaborative project, entitled Noon. This 6 song EP was conceptualized as an "off the cuff" experiment...I sat down and fashioned the instrumentals during a 6 hour period, and Kruk executed the lyrical side of things at a similar break-neck pace. What came out is raw, roughly mixed, poorly mastered, full of energy, love, anger, pain, and joy. We wanted to give this to you as a gift, and also to put it out just as it came to us. No polish, no gimmicks...just dope music. We'll be offering this for free for a couple weeks before transitioning to a full iTunes digital release, so feel free to pass this link along, tweet it, facebook it, hire a biplane to skyrwrite the URL, etc to anyone that you think might be interested.We're grateful for all of you.
Six new tracks from Blueprint and Illogic. I think this is a good way to end my relentless stream of catch-up posts. Good stuff, right here, people. Gotta hit up Greenhouse's Bandcamp site to download it.
