Kendrick Lamar (Section.80) [2011]

People are all about this album. Now I'm not saying the man isn't talented (even though his style is a little different), I just would like to have heard an album with better beats because his flow can be ridiculous if the beat allows it! Just listen to his potential... he reminds me of an angry Kanye West but with a quicker tongue.

2. Hol' Up


3. A.D.H.D [Official Music Video]


12. Rigamortis


14. Blow My High (Members Only)


16. HiiiPower [Official Music Video]

Madlib (Shades of Blue) [2003]

Apparently I have never posted anything from Madlib on this blog, or anything by his other monikers: Mind Altering Demented Lessons In Beats, Quasimoto, or one half of the duo of Madvillain. So here, this is one of his earlier releases in which he teams up with Blue Note Records to remix a set of old jazz records. I absolutely love this style of music and having not listened to it for so long, I forgot how great it really was. The addition of a few hip-hop elements into classic jazz is always a good idea. Definitely check this out if you haven't before:

3. Distant Land


4. Mystic Bounce


7. Please Set Me At Ease (Hip Hop Mix)

LCD Soundsystem (This is Happening) [2010]

This is the best LCD Soundsystem full-length album ever released, and Dance Yrself Clean is the jam!

1. Dance Yrself Clean

LCD Soundsystem (Sound of Silver) [2007]

This is my favorite LCD Soundsystem track and it is off of Sound of Silver, which wasn't their best album weirdly enough.

5. Someone Great

Jay-Z & Kanye West (Watch The Throne) [2011]

Definitely better than Jay-Z and Kanye West's last albums. Take a listen...

3. Niggas in Paris


5. Gotta Have It


7. That's My Bitch


9. Who Gon' Stop Me


10. Murder to Excellence

Coughee Brothaz (Fresh Brew) [2011]

In 2007, Devin the Dude (Devin Copeland) launched his own record label, Coughee Brothaz Music, which allowed him the ability to release independent music. The Coughee Brothaz travel around on tour with him and are basically his backup sound, as well as a promotional label to launch the careers of other artists, groups, and producers. Check out some of the more well crafted tracks from their 3rd studio album Fresh Brew:

2. Blunts and Pens


3. Got Bills to Pay


8. Who Got That Funk? (Sorry No Link Available)

14. I Love Gettin Stoned

Foster The People (Torches) [2011]

Normally I wouldn't post anything from an Indie Pop Band, but "Pumped Up Kicks" is stuck in my head so I felt it was only fitting that it get stuck in your head too. Though I don't know much about this band I do know this is their first studio album.

1. Helena Beat


2. Pumped Up Kicks

OutKast (Big Boi and Dre Present...OutKast) [2001]

I do realize that 2001 was a long time ago, but I haven't posted any OutKast on this blog yet so shut up and listen. While there are other good tracks on this greatest hits compilation, I've only posted the one that received little to no radio play (possibly the best one as well)...

2. Funkin' Around

Devin The Dude (To Tha X-Treme) [2004]

Skipped over this track off this less than perfect Devin album. Just put it back into rotation...

14. The Funk ft. Eightball

Jazz Spastiks (12 Bit Spit) [2010]

Members: Coco D & Mr Manyana
Just discovered this Scottish hip hop duo that has an old school tribe kind of a feel. I believe this is their debut album but it seems like these guys have been making music for a while...

2. Penpusha ft. Selph Conscious


4. Yes, Yes ft. Rebels to the Grain (Sorry No Link)

8. Unkutfresh ft. Rebels to the Grain


13. Buzzin ft. Wes Restless & The Primeridian

Star Slinger (Volume 1) [2010]

Here is a dope, beat tape from Manchester producer Star Slinger. Other than the intro I can't say anything really grabbed me but you can decide for yourself...

1. Mornin'

TM Juke (Forward) [2006]

Yeah so I just kinda skipped through this album (not because I don't like TM, I'm just short on time) but I definitely felt intrigued by this one...

4. Bee's On Mars (Sorry No Link)

TM Juke (Maps From The Wilderness) [2003]

Genre: Electronica / Hip-Hop / Soul
Here is a 2003 release from this dope artist out of Brighton, UK. His music is basically a downtempo trip-hop and I thoroughly enjoy it.

1. Knee Deep ft. Alice Russell & Jim Oxborough


2. Just for a Day (Sunday)


5. Playground Games

The Foreign Exchange (Connected) [2004]

Members: Phonte & Nicolay (Producer)
This is the one and only Foreign Exchange album that I like. Nicolay's production is top notch on this album. Notable artists that appear on this album include Von Pea, Big Pooh, Phonte, Oddisee, Kenn Starr, Critically Acclaimed, and Darien Brockington.

2. Von Sees ft. Von Pea


4. Hustle Hustle ft. Critically Acclaimed


5. Let's Move ft. Big Pooh


6. Nic's Groove ft. Big Pooh


10. The Answer ft. Oddisee, Sean Boog & Kenn Starr


12. Happiness ft. Big Pooh

Mello Music Group (Helpless Dreamer) [2010]

Producers: Oddisee & Apollo Brown
Vocals: Diamond District (Oddisee, yU & X-O), Finale, Kenn Starr, Stik Figa, Tranqill, & Has-Lo.
I just got this album and after a few more listens may post more tracks, but there is one that definitely stands out from the rest. And of course my man Oddisee is on the beats and rhymes this time...

5. Different Now ft. Toine (prod. by Oddisee)

k-os (Joyful Rebellion) [2004]

More k-os? Yes please!

5. B-Boy Stance


7. The Love Song


9. Clap Ur Handz

k-os (Yes!) [2009]

Check it...

1. Zambony


6. 4 3 2 1 (Sorry Embedding is Disabled)

7. Eye Know Something (Yes!) ft. Becky Ninkovic

k-os (Exit) [2002]

I can't believe I had never heard this cat before a week ago. He's from Canada and has a style that parallels that of Zion I and Pete Philly. His music is all over the place and can be hit or miss, but there are definitely more than a few hits. He combines hip-hop, soul, funk, reggae, and other genres of music to give you an experience you won't soon forget. I will be posting more albums by him soon but here are the better tracks off his first studio album (Exit):

5. Superstarr Pt 1 (Yoshua's Song) (Sorry No Link)

6. Freeze


7. The Anthem


9. Higher


10. Masquerade ft. Kamau (Sorry No Link)

PNS & Zavala (Canciones Modernas Vinyl) [2009]

Check out the second half of this album, which features soothing and stimulating instrumentals from an up and coming, Chicago producer named Alex Zavala. If I were you I would skip the tracks by PNS as the beats are kind of flat (boring). I think Zavala has quite the potential, especially in Chicago, but he just needs to steer clear of some of the local MCs that distort his sound.

6. The City is Mine


7. Mal Momento


8. Devon Ave


9. Sin Esfuerzo


10. The Cincinatti Bears

Lupe Fiasco (Lasers) [2011]

After listening to this album my mind has been racing. It is clear that Lupe's record label is as greedy as any other major label today, especially when in a recent interview Lupe was quoted saying he "hates" lasers (because of his record label's involvement). It seems like any time I find a dope artist they tend to blow up, which in my mind severely handicaps their ability to control the direction of their music. After listening to Lasers in its entirety, you can hear how much pop, techno, and random bitches singing hooks have been added to broaden Lupe's audience, which is not necessarily the sound I was waiting all these years to hear. I hope Lupe Fiasco leaves his record label and finds one that fosters his true musical ability. Regardless of my overall feeling of the album, I still have my favorites, and here they are:

1. Letting Go ft. Sarah Green (prod. by The Future)


3. Till I Get There (prod. by Needlz)


4. I Don't Wanna Care Right Now ft. MDMA (prod. by The Audibles)


5. Out Of My Head ft. Trey Songz (prod. by Miykal Snoddy)


6. The Show Goes On (prod. by Kane Beatz)


7. Beautiful Lasers (2Ways) ft. MDMA (prod by The Future)


8. Coming Up ft. MDMA (prod by The Future)


11. All Black Everything (prod. by Wizzo Buchanan)