Ka • Grief Pedigree [Iron Works]

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Kinda late on this review--this album dropped a few months ago.  

I can't really describe Ka's music better than the man himself:  "I already know my songs are not for everyone. They're not for the radio, the club or the masses. My music is for those who miss early '90s hip hop when pain and struggle were the dominant themes. From my days with Natural Elements, then Nightbreed, I've always tried to remain true to what I believe is the real spirit of hip hop." 

-Agile 1

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Dwele • What Profit

Motor city soul brother Dwele returns with a head-nodding thumper just in time for the summer.

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Dwele - What Profit

Ab-Soul • Terrorist Threats ft Danny Brown & Jhene Aiko (radio edit)

For us radio-djs, responsible adults (who still wanna expose the kids to good music) and flat-out clean edit fiends...

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Ab-Soul - Terrorist Threats ft Danny Brown & Jhene Aiko (clean edit)

Santigold • Master Of My Make-Believe [Downtown/Atlantic]

Philadelphia native Santigold returns to genre-bending form with her sophomore effort Master Of My Make-Believe with elements of electronica, alt-rock, hip hop, soul, r&b and more.

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Santigold - Disparate Youth

Estelle • Do My Thing ft Janelle Monáe

English soul singer Estelle teams with pop-soul innovator Janelle Monáe over a high energy track and awesome things are done. 

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Estelle - Do My Thing ft Janelle Monáe

Mr. Muthaf*@kin' Exquire • Position Of Passion

The homie Lyfestile put me on to this dude a few weeks ago and I must say I'm glad he did. With subject matter and a name such as his, lyrical skill should definitely be the back-up. Exquire is an explicit emcee who weaves his colorful choice of words in nicely with decidely rough, non-commercial beats. Apparently Universal Records agrees as he just signed with the major label recently.

*parental advisory - explicit content

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ILL CLIP: Ab Soul • Terrorist Threats ft Danny Brown & Jhene Aiko

*parental advisory - explicit content



...from the album Control System.

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Timbaland • Break Ya Back ft Dev

Legendary beatsmith Timbaland has returned with "Break Ya Back" and shows heads why he's considered one of the architects of the current musical phenom of dubstep. With vocal assistance from Dev, Timbo drops a bottom heavy, electro slow burner!

Azealia Banks • 212 [Interscope] (explicit version)

Harlem native Azealia Banks stands nicely on the shoulders of fellow alternative/electro singer/emcees Santigold, M.I.A. and Jack Davey with her debut single "212". Packed with punchlines and commanding vocals over an up-tempo electro beat, this is a great introduction and teaser for her upcoming EP 1991 available May 29.

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DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles • wEaRe aT WaR

True roughneck boom-bap Hip Hop is always well-represented whenever DJ Premier and Bumpy Knuckles collaborate. "wEaRe aT WaR" is a no nonsense rap joint aimed at heads thirsty for real lyricism over a hardcore beat, flat-out. Check it out below and if you dig it, drop a few bucks for the full-length LP KoleXXXion.

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Killer Mike • R.A.P. Music [Williams Street/Grand Hustle]

Charging through 12 tracks with the ferocious social-commentative urgency once possesed by Ice Cube, Killer Mike delivers what is easily one of 2012's best Hip Hop albums. Beginning with the straight-up street banger and aptly titled "Big Beast", the album takes you on a funky, social and political ride through the mind of the Atlanta rapper. Over the 808s, samples and ass-kicking drums of El-P's production, Mike wins big when he goes old school ("Jojo's Chillin'") and shares the mic with the album's sole producer himself ("Butane"). Check out the afromentioned "Big Beast" below and get some R.A.P. Music in your life.

Fri June 1 • DIG ft Nappy DJ Needles, 18aC & special guest Onra

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The Internet • Cocaine (Little Dragon remix)

Little Dragon has managed to give the addictive single by Syd The Kyd and Matt Martian aka The Internet an even more intoxicating sound! This aint nothin but some ol' hip, fresh, electro-dope.

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Bun B • Stop Playin' ft Royce Da 5'9 & Redman

The Underground King along with fellow emcees Royce 5'9 and Redman urge self-righteous rap artists to Stop Playin'.

ILL CLIP: Yuna • Live Your Life

A New York City backdrop fits perfectly with Yuna's debut single.

ILL CLIP: Jill Scott • Blessed

A wonderful video for a wonderful song from the wonderful (and blessed) Jill Scott.

ILL CLIP: Hawthorne Headhunters • If You Were My Baby

The next visual to accompany the stellar sounds of Hawthorne Headhunters!

Tef Poe • Work

Fresh off of gracing the pages of XXL, Tef Poe hits us off with "Work", the latest single from his forthcoming, highly-anticipated album War Machine 2. Produced by Wolfgang Kid, this is classic Tef Poe speaking from the heart, shooting clever punchlines and collecting props with every line.

A$ap Rocky • Goldie

Dope jam from dope new-jack emcee, A$ap Rocky. 

*parental discretion advised/explicit version

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Fri May 4 | HBJB: A Birthday Jam for James Brown @ 2847 Cherokee

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