Illuminous 3: Illuminous Free, Vol. 1 (Mixtape)

If you read Midwest Broadcast with any regularity, you should be familiar with local trio Illuminous 3's Illuminous Free series. The group has been linking up with one local producer to release a free song each month for quite some time now, and the group has just compiled their first 12 songs in mixtape form for you to download. The tape features production from the likes of Gmo, Greg Grease, Medium Zach, The Sundance Kid, Mike Frey, hell, basically all the dopest young producers in the Twin Cities. It even features one bonus song, from their 17th episode of the series with P.O.S. Download it below.

Illuminous 3: Illuminous Free, Vol. 1 (Mixtape)

Illuminous 3: "No Kings ft. P.O.S." (Prod. P.O.S.)

Even after posting their Illuminous Free, Vol. 1 mixtape, I think this deserves its own post.

Illuminous 3: "No Kings ft. P.O.S." (Prod. P.O.S.)

The Cool Kids: "Swimsuits ft. Mayer Hawthorne"

Here's another single from Chicago retro-rap duo The Cool Kids. "Swimsuits" features crooner Mayer Hawthorne on the chorus, and will be featured on The Cool Kids' upcoming album, When Fish Ride Bicycles. Stream only, but the single can be purchased on iTunes.

Freddie Gibbs: 'Cold Day in Hell' (Trailer)

Freddie Gibbs' Cold Day in Hell is dropping next month and it should be a good one. Here's a trailer detailing what to expect. Video via Fake Shore Drive.

Lipset: "A Toast To Us"

Here is the next release in the Level Heads Project, courtesy of Lipset and producer Lokes. This one is a break up song, "written before the break up." Stream it below or hit Bandcamp for the download link.

Lipset: "A Toast To Us"

Concert Announcement: Heiruspecs to 'Rap the Aster' Tonight

11th hour awesome concert announcement: Heiruspecs are performing TONIGHT at 10pm at the Aster Cafe in Minneapolis. It will be a special show, the band is debuting two new songs from their upcoming album (working title: We are the Future and We Know It). They are also performing some throwback gems, as well as reworked versions of the usual classics we have known to expect and love at Heiruspecs shows. If you can make it to this show, you should go.

Mike Dreams: "Champion" (Music Video)

Mike Dreams recorded this song over an instrumental from some UK rapper named Chipmunk. The video was recorded by Zeke, who may or may not still be a "Freak." Download the mp3 below if you like what you hear.

Mike Dreams: "Champion" (Music Video)

Danami: "Unusual"

Danami has recently returned to the studio to begin recording his new album, Delayed Gratification, due out in 2012. Consider this freestyle he did over Trey Songz's "Unlimited" the first of a few warm up sessions. More on the way soon.

Danami: "Unusual"

Mac Lethal: "Vodka Tonic with a Lime"

Mac Lethal just let this loose on Twitter to celebrate not signing with Sony. I hope he enjoys the extra 250k coming his way soon.

Mac Lethal: "Vodka Tonic with a Lime"

Hand Over Fist: "Shux ft. P.O.S." + "Hand Over Fist" (Live)

Mike Mictlan and Lazerbeak united for a semi-rare Hand Over Fist show on Thursday night at the Triple Rock. I biked to Target Field for the Twins game with some friends, and told them that we should go to this show afterward. Long story short, we didn't end up making it to the show, and I lost out big time. Here is some video of P.O.S. joining Hand Over Fist on stage to perform "Shux" and "Hand Over Fist."