Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Mos Def: 30 Minute Freestyle (Live at Blue Note, NYC)

Lupe Fiasco recently performed a series of 4 shows at New York City's Blue Note with the Robert Glasper Experiment. It's All The Way Live was in the building for that show, and was able to witness and record a full 30-minute cypher session when Lupe brought out special guests Kanye West and Mos Def. Here's what they had to say:

The trio freestyled, spit new verses, classic verses and then Mos did fantastic renditions of Umi Says and Black Radio, all backed by the incredible Robert Glasper Experiment. It was truly epic and the intimate venue made the performance even more special.

Sound like it was a great time. Check out the audio below, via It's All The Way Live. You can also stream it at their website.

Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Mos Def: 30 Minute Freestyle (Live at Blue Note, NYC)

Atmosphere: "Puppets" (Live in Rochester, MN)

Atmosphere performing their cut from Lemons in Rochester for the recently completed Welcome To MN tour. I was at the show and it was terrific. This video will provide a good taste of how Atmosphere's live show has evolved, for those who haven't seen them recently. The live band allows for more improvisation and subtlety in their shows now, which makes the experience even more enjoyable and memorable.

Mac Lethal: "Feel It In The Air" (Video)

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"

Illuminous 3: "We Happy" (Prod. Julian Fairbanks of Audio Perm)

This is the thirteenth installment of Illuminous 3's 'Illuminous Free' program. Have they really been doing this for a year now? Regardless, the group is now going to dedicate the next few 'Illuminous Free' sessions to highlight the young local production collective Audio Perm. The first member of that group to be featured is Julian Fairbanks. Check his interview with the group above, and download "We Happy" below.

Illuminous 3: "We Happy" (Prod. Julian Fairbanks)

Toki Wright on MPR (Audio)

Toki Wright was recently invited to Minnesota Public Radio to partake in a discussion about the new book The Anthology of Rap a collection of rap lyrics over the history of the genre. Toki, along with Adam Bradley (author of the Anthology of Rap) and Mark Anthony Neal (Professor in the Department of African and African American Studies at Duke University), discuss the power and the poetry of rap music, across its relatively short history.

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)

The Cool Kids: "Bundle Up"

The Cool Kids are back, and finally ready to release their debut full-length LP When Fish Ride Bicycles. The Kids recently signed a deal with Mountain Dew's Green Label Sound. Despite the unconventional nature of that decision, it seems like the label will actually be a good deal for the group in the long term. Green Label Sounds is forgoing many of the normal revenue sharing fees that goes to music labels, leaving more money directly in The Cool Kids' pockets. When Fish Ride Bicycles should be out in the Spring. Here's the first single, "Bundle Up."

The Cool Kids: "Bundle Up"

Slug Speaks on the Welcome To MN Tour (Video)

Mike The Martyr: "Not Me" Pts 1 & 2 + Mixtape Announcement

Local rappers Mike The Martyr and Aquafresh will be putting out a mixtape in the near future, titled In Search Of The Wondrous Punch. While we wait for that, here are a couple other songs from Mike The Martyr.

Mike The Martyr: "Not Me, Pt. 1"Mike The Martyr: "Not Me, Pt. 2"