Tech N9ne - Unfair (feat. Ces Cru & Krizz Kaliko)
I honestly think Tech N9ne is the most underrated lyricist and rapper alive right now.
I first caught wind of him two years ago, only to find he’s flat out prolific. He’s put out 14 studio releases since ‘99 and he turned 30 this week. I feel as if he’s the rapper that rappers love, and his newest release isn’t for everyone but it’s definitely reminiscent of the heyday of rap music; it’s almost as if his measured commercial success gives him more room than most other artists can be afforded and the result is really special.
// http://www.therealtechn9ne.com/
// download
Theophilus London - Last Name London
Loving this track to death. Theo L has just announced his full length coming in July and done so with this freebie (you pay with a tweet) electo-pop-rap jam that’s got summer written all over it. This guy is flat out killing it…reminds me of the energy coming out of Kid CuDi early on.
Big K.R.I.T. - American Rapstar
This rapper put himself on the ‘expect big things’ roster in a matter of months just over a year ago, and his first studio album is due in a few days. He’s got the southern traditional rap thing about him and calls Pimp C a forefather, Wiz Khalifa a friend, and himself the King. If this tune’s any indication he may get some mainstream notoriety out of this album which could make him the next big Southern Rapper.
J. Cole - Higher
If you haven’t noticed we’re still catching up on some great 2010 tunes. J. Cole’s quite possibly the guy who’ll be this year’s Kid CuDi…he’s slick, catchy, and writes great lyrics on top of even greater beats. You may remember him from his boss’s album, on Jay-Z’s “A Star Is Born” off of The Blueprint 3, which is a track I’m pretty sure I posted last year.
T.I. - All She Wrote (feat. Eminem)
Next week T.I. is set to release his new album, throwing his hat in the ring with quite a long roster of hip-hop superstars that have offered up new material in 2010. He brings one of those heavy hitters onto this track, and I gotta say…Eminem’s second verse on this is flat out blistering.
Nelly - Just A Dream & She’s So Fly (feat. T.I.)
Special place in my heart for Nelly and his face band-aids. Country Grammar was background music for a significant portion of my time driving around St. Charles, Illinois. Also my sister went to college at SLU, so every time I talked to her I asked if she was hanging with Nelly. One night, she called me in a frenzy because SHE ACTUALLY WAS.
bonus track!
Matt Nice - Nuthin’ But A Freaky Thang (Dr. Dre vs. Leon Haywood Remix)
This beat has its hands on anyone who’s in their late twenties and early thirties. It literally put rap on the minds of white boys and soccer moms around the world, and it’s one we forget about often. MattNice has been DJing for 20 years, mostly disco and boogie, and his Soundcloud page (linked above) is a straight up TREASURE TROVE.
Eligh - Shine (feat. K-Flay & The Grouch)
I’m a huge, huge fan of K-Flay, who’s a Stanford grad and somehow managed to graduate and remain cool (not an easy feat). Here she is lending rhymes to Eligh, a completely badass indie rapper doing it on his own with no major label support. I highly encourage you to pick up his new album.
The Pharcyde - Runnin’ (Phillipians Remix)
Say what you will about remixes; every once in a while someone reaches deep into their memories and renews a tune you probably ignored when it came out more than a decade ago. This Pharcyde track from 1995 is given a rebirth that makes it sound like a leaked track from an upcoming mainstream hip hop album.
Wale - Hold You
I’m throwing a second song out today because I owe you tunes and this song is completely f*cking hot. Going out tonight? Bring this with you, stick it in at the party, and watch people literally climb the walls to dance on the ceiling. I may listen to this until Monday. Happy Friday everyone!
Shout out to @jamievaron and @nicoleisbetter…I know you’ll love this.
