FASHAWN - ODE O ILLMATIC

It ain’t hard to tell, the day has finally arrived! XXL and Orisue clothing are proud to present Fashawn’s Ode to Illmatic mixtape for free download.

The disc, hosted by DJ Green Lantern, features the 2010 Freshman paying homage to Nas’s classic 1994 debut LP, Illmatic, by putting his spin on the album’s 10 instrumentals. With only one feature, from Brooklyn lyricist Talib Kweli, the Fresno MC is on a mission to showcase his pen game, and address the critics who compared the 21-year old artist to God’s Son.

“What I wanted to do with this was pay homage to the God, Nas Escobar, one of the greatest MCs of my generation, of our generation, and I want to pay homage to this album,” Fash prefaces on the tape intro, “Genesis.” “I just didn’t wanna bite it and rip it like it’s mine, I wanna pay homage, ’cause Illmatic was one of them kinda albums that really impacted my life in a big way so hopefully this does the same for you.” —XXL Staff

Tracklist
01. The Genesis
02. C.A. State Of Mind
03. Life’s A Bitch feat. Talib Kweli
04. The World Is Yours
05. Halftime
06. Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park)
07. One Love
08. One Time For Your Mind
09. Represent
10. It Aint Hard To Tell
11. Represent Remix prod. by DJ Qvali (Bonus Track)

DOWNLOAD

LOOTPACK - PACUMENTARY + WILDCHILD - WILD N YOU DOCUMENTARY

This is from an old VHS doco put together about Wildchild of Lootpack but covers all the Lootpack guys as well. A great watch if it's your biz!

"Wild 'n You" - FULL DOC on WILDCHILD of the LOOTPACK from Xylophone Films.

AFRICA HiTECH @ CROFT INSTITUTE

DYL THOMAS

Urban Monk of Polo Club and Intergalactic Spokesmen fame has switched up his solo game and with it his persona. He has been reborn as Dyl Thomas and his first offering is a free collection of beats and past ideas. A talented local Melbourne lad to keep an eye on!

Get it here!

ROC MARCIANO - MARCBERG

Another new joint dropping next week is the album by Roc Marciano 'Marcberg'. Touted by many as the hip-hop album of the year for 2010 so far.

It's entirely self produced by Roc himself. Some may remember him as being a member for a while of Busta Rhymes Flipmode Squad. Think minimal classic production style with some rugged street lyrics similar to Mobb Deep.

We've got the CD and vinyl sampler EP dropping! Check out a great little interview by Unkut.com's Robbie Ettelson here.

KRS-ONE - THE GOSPEL OF HIP-HOP: THE FIRST INSTRUMENT BOOK

Coming this week we've got a few copys of KRS-One's new book '
The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument' for the hip-hop purists/philosophers out there. It's 800+ pages!

The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument, the first book from the I Am Hip Hop imprint set for launch in Spring 2009, is the philosophical masterwork of KRS-One. Set in the format of the Christian Bible, this 600-plus-page opus is a life-guide manual for members of Hip Hop Kulture that combines classic philosophy with faith and practical knowledge for a fascinating, in-depth exploration of Hip Hop as a life path. Known as "The Teacha," KRS-One developed his unique outlook as a homeless teen in Brooklyn, New York, engaging his philosophy of self-creation to become one of the most respected emcees in Hip Hop history. Respected as Hip Hop's true steward, KRS-One painstakingly details the development of the culture and the ways in which we, as "Hiphoppas," can and should preserve its future.

The Teacha also discusses the origination of Hip Hop Kulture and relays specific instances in history wherein one can discover the same spirit and ideas that are at the core of Hip Hop's current manifestation. He explains Hip Hop down to the actual meaning and linguistic history of the words "hip" and "hop," and describes the ways in which Hiphoppas can change their current circumstances to create a future that incorporates Health, Love, Awareness, and Wealth (H-LAW).

Committed to fervently promoting self-reliance, dedicated study, peace, unity, and truth, The Teacha has drawn both criticism and worship from within and from outside of Hip Hop Kulture. In this beautifully written, inspiring book, KRS-One shines the light of truth, from his own empirical research over a 14-year period, into the fascinating world of Hip Hop.

WAX MUSEUM JAM - JUNE EDITION

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST @ FESTIVAL HALL

MARLEY MARL - IN CONTROL VOL 1

Coming soon from Cold Chillin is another great reissue. This one will appeal to all the old school hip-hop lovers as well as Marley Marl fans.

Cold Chillin's limited-edition deluxe set of the Marley Marl classic with 2LP colored vinyl (in signature pink & blue), and two slipmats.

Track List:
1. Droppin’ Science feat. Craig G.
2. We Write The Songs feat. Biz Markie and Heavy D.
3. The Rebel feat. Tragedy The Intelligent Hoodlum
4. Keep Your Eye On The Prize feat. Master Ace
5. The Symphony feat. Big Daddy Kane, Craig G., Kool G. Rap, Master Ace
6. Live Motivator feat. Tragedy The Intelligent Hoodlum
7. Duck Alert feat. Craig G.
8. Simon Says feat. Master Ace
9. Freedom feat. M.C. Shan
10. Wack Itt feat. Roxanne Shanté

In the early 1980s at the beginning of his career, Marley Marl was taken under the wing of original Juice Crew members and given a life-changing opportunity to be the official DJ for the legendary New York City rap show “Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack.” This experience, coupled with his internship at Unique Studios under Arthur Baker, helped Marley both understand how a record was produced, and served as a launch pad for him to develop his own recording techniques and earn his own credits on early Hip Hop and electro classics.

By 1988, Marley Marl was the man. His production and connections had catapulted him to being the “in-house” producer for the second coming of the Juice Crew, creating hits for MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap and Biz Markie.

In Control Vol. 1 was released in 1988, the first time we can think of where the producer was the headline artist of a hip-hop album. With an impeccable balance of the hottest rappers of the time and newest talent in the Juice Crew, In Control Vol. 1 can easily be identified as a true hip-hop classic.

MARK B - BLACK MARKET BREAKS DOCO

Mark B well known for his production with pioneering UK hip-hop act Mark B & Blade and also having produced local MC Delta's first album 'The Lostralian'.
Here he has put together a a little 4 part doco about beat making for BBC Radio 1. It features Marley Marl, Dilated Peoples plus many more.
You can DOWNLOAD the whole for free.

OH NO BANGING IPAD BEATS

RAP CITY @ ESPY

TOM TRAGO @ CROFT

UPDATE: DILLA x SERATO DONUT SHOP PACK

Just an update to let those of you know who have preordered this pack that due to manufacturing issues we'll have the pack mid june.

This is strictly limited like the last Stones Throw x Serato pack so don't sleep like some did!

MADLIB - MEDICINE SHOW #5: HISTORY OF THE LOOPDIGGA 1990-2000 DELUXE 3LP

Coming very soon to the store is the 3LP Deluxe version of the new Medicine Show release. If you like early Madlib production such as his Invazion/Beat Konducta releases or Lootpack then this is a must grab. Only 1350 copys released and different hand screened covers. We'll be getting a limited amount so make sure you come and preorder your copy today!

P.S: We'll also have the CD version available.

CD 34 tracks, 12-page booklet/comic (64:00 mins)
3-LP DELUXE 34 tracks + 10 track bonus disc, limited edition, numbered, with individually screened LP covers (98:00 mins)

Back in the 90s, “beat tapes” were literally that: cassette tapes of beats that a producer made either for himself, friends, or potential collaborators. Madlib made a bunch of them in the days between his early productions for the Alkaholiks (circa ’92) and the release of his Quasimoto album (2000), after which he took a couple of years off of the beats to focus on making jazz music before beginning a new era of hip-hop with Madvillain, Jaylib and Beat Konducta.

This collection of beats showcases the way that Madlib’s early hip-hop demos were filtered out to his crew of friends and associates, providing an opportunity for a unique view into Madlib’s working process. These beats, often freestyled on SP1200 or whatever machine he had at the ready, were picked up by rappers over a period of many years. Trainspotters will find it interesting that beats later destined for the likes of Wildchild and Percee P were made some years before those albums saw release.

This album is punctuated with a series of early solo-raps by Madlib and his Quasimoto alter ego and features the crew known collectively as CDP – those rappers who worked side by side with Madlib during the days of his Oxnard CA-based “Crate Diggas Palace” studios. The Madlib Medicine Show series is a combination of Madlib's new hip-hop productions, remixes, beat tapes and jazz, as well as mixtapes of funk, soul, Brazilian, psych, jazz and other undefined forms of music.

NEW MADVILLAIN

A brand new joint from Madlib and Doom just released in the last few days show that Madvillain 2 is indeed coming soon!