Blu, Mickey Factz & Nottz "The Narrative" (EP Stream)

Blu, Mickey Factz, and Nottz, share The Narrative on the trio’s collaborative EP. Broken into six tracks, Inglewood’s finest Blu, Bronx bomber Mickey, and the Norfolk and Grammy-nominated producer Nottz deliver pure raw lyrics (“Stay Down“), trade raps with Asher Roth (“Reign“), and touch on the current pandemic “Roll Up." - via RapRadar. I never got all the way into Mickey Factz's music, but the combination of Nottz and Blu has already been successful at delivering quality music, so I'm all for this release. Blu is one of my favorite MCs, and Nottz is one of the greatest and most diverse producers of our generation, period. They deliver on The Narrative EP, check it out below...

Blu & Nottz "Gods In The Spirit..." (Album Stream)

"Blu & Nottz’s epic two-part saga officially reaches its final form with 'Gods In The Spirit, Titans In The Flesh,' which combines the previously released EPs into a single project that upgrades everything about the original. There is a care and attention to detail to this project that goes well beyond a standard reissue that clumps the previous projects together. GITS, TITF is a complete upgrade from the ground up with stunning new artwork by Dan Lish, remixed and remastered audio, and a reimagined tracklist featuring an ethereal new closing track (“Yesterday” feat. Sene & Elisa Meri). All of these fine touches really make the project a treasure for diehard fans, newcomers, and collectors alike. Blu personally wanted to restructure the tracklist because he believes it flows better than before, a sentiment that hits immediately when “Atlantis” kicks things off. And then there’s the one-two punch of hearing “End Of The World” (feat. Rashad) and “Heaven on Earth” back to back, which reveals the true nuances of these songs. “Gods in the Spirit was the beginning—an eye opener to the madness that me and Blu were about to unleash,” Nottz says, “While Titans in the Flesh unleashed the wrath.” “With both EPs now combined, it’s a wrap—the kraken has officially been released with reckless abandon,” Nottz adds." - via Coalmine Records. Listen below...

Rapsody "Crown" (EP Stream)

"Crown" is a 10-track EP from North Carolina's Rapsody. It features Raphael Saadiq, Ab-Soul, Anderson Paak and Moonchild, as well as production from 9th Wonder, Nottz, Eric G, Khrysis & Kash. Another solid release from JAMLA's first lady, as she continues to soak up market share across all demographics. Tune into the "Crown" EP below, I am not sure if physical copies will be available.

J Dilla "The Diary" (Album Stream)

The Estate of James Yancey has revived J Dilla’s longstanding company PayJay as a functioning imprint to release Dilla’s long lost vocal album, The Diary, in conjunction with Mass Appeal Records. Initially intended for release in 2002, The Diary is the final batch of unissued material that Dilla had assembled for release during his lifetime, lending crucial insight into the producer’s prowess and thought process in the period leading up to his break with the major label system and the extremely fertile period that followed (which encompassed the making of the canonical classics Ruff Draft, Jaylib, and Donuts). The Diary features vocal performances by J Dilla, Snoop Dogg, Bilal, Kokane, Frank and Dank, Nottz and Boogie, over production by Dilla, Madlib, Pete Rock, Hi-tek, Nottz, House Shoes, Supa Dave West, Bink! and Karriem Riggins. Rest In Peace, J Dilla. Listen below...

Rapper Big Pooh & Nottz "Home Sweet Home" (Album Stream)

Home Sweet Home, the collaborative album from rapper Big Pooh and Nottz: 13 slabs of soulful music and superb bars, released on Mello Music Group. It’s immensely relatable rap about having too many debts on the credit card, trying to make diamonds of out coal, and not being able to afford to eat for days on end. Behind the boards, the two-time Grammy Award winning producer, Nottz annexes a form of boom-bap that hadn’t yet been discovered. It’s what you’d imagine Gang Starr would sound like if they came out in 2015: fueled by battering ram drums and orchestral loops, beatific gospel and raw sinister slaps. It’s not hard to tell why he’s been a go-to producer for Kanye, Snoop Dogg, and Scarface -- or why 9th Wonder once called Nottz, "the best beatmaker on earth." This is an album to remind you of what you left and where you’re going. Home Sweet Home proves that you can go home again, but you’ll meet both the good and the band. The feeling of being around those you love, and the cousins asking to borrow money. Life in all its forms. Dig in.