Rasheed Chappell & 38 Spesh "Checks & Balances" (EP Stream)

In the Spring of 2020, Rasheed Chappell and 38 Spesh linked for their debut collaborative project, Ways & Means. I don't know if this would be considered a "surprise" release, but it is to me, as they've now dropped their follow-up EP/album, Checks & Balances. The 9-track effort has been released through Italian label Tuff Kong Records via limited edition vinyl. Rasheed always comes with through provoking lyrics and clever wordplay. 38 Spesh delivers more crafty production with cuts from DJ Eclipse and features from Maf, B.A. Badd and The Musalini. Dig into the archives to revisit Ways & Means; the collaborative album Saints & Sinners with Buckwild and Rasheed's new solo EP, 15 Minutes in Queens. As always, I recommend going back to Future Before Nostalgia too... Rasheed has been making a name for himself in the culture for over a decade. Props to the OG, DJ Eclipse.

Rasheed Chappell "15 Minutes in Queens" (EP Stream)

It's always a beautiful day when Rasheed Chappell drops new music! His latest project is a 5 track EP, entirely produced by Reckonize Real, and it's entitled 15 Minutes in Queens. With an impressive rollout I recommend you walk through on his socials, the lyrical giant presents an air of controlled dominance on all 5 of the records. I've been a fan for 10+ at this point; always anticipating new releases regardless of how long it took between his debut, Future Before Nostalgia and his follow-up, First Brick. After that, the Buckwild-produced Sinners & Saints came quick and it also did not disappoint! In between, the homie DJ Eclipse keeps me in the loop as his management, and through his radio show on Sirius, Rap Is Outta Control. Although Rasheed is originally from NJ, as a Queens cat myself... every track feels like a piece of nostalgia with a touch of today, making him one of today's most remarkable MCs to blend those two worlds. All that said, dig into this latest EP below...

Rasheed Chappell & Buckwild "Sinners and Saints"

On their ambitious collaboration, New York rap heavyweights Rasheed Chappell & Buckwild have perfectly captured the stress and tension, but also faint sense of the hope, of what it means to be a sinner or a saint. In just 11 tracks, 'Sinners & Saints' plays like an audio documentary series filled with expertly crafted beats and rhymes. When the two sat down to work together, Rasheed says that they only knew that they “wanted to address the now, the past, and the potential future.” And upon receiving the first batch of beats from Buck—the D.I.T.C. producer with decades of acclaimed work to his name—the NY emcee used a majority of them and knew immediately what they were doing. “My goal was simple: don’t try to recreate anything they have done, just create something that no one else can do, which is to be me,” Rasheed says. Buck echoed that sentiment when he talked about the record in a documentary, in which he expressed his excitement to work with not just a talented rapper, but a skilled artist. “Being an artist is just as important as putting two words together to rhyme,” Buckwild explained. That high level of artistry, from everyone involved, is what makes 'Sinners & Saints' so impactful. Props across the board, it's a dope project! 

Rasheed Chappell x 38 Spesh "Ways & Means" (Album Stream)

New Jersey lyricist Rasheed Chappell has a new project out called Ways & Means, entirely produced by 38 Spesh. While the project boasts only 7 cuts, it packs plenty of punch and features Jamal Gasol, Planet Asia, Che Noir and more. Rasheed Chappell is one of the best artists making music in the underground today - he's a superior lyricist with mindful content, unique flows and strong delivery. His ear for production is great and rooted in all the dynamics that helped me to fall in love with Hip Hop many many years ago. I know Eclipse is always pushing him to record and release more material, so it's good to new music after his solid "First Brick" LP, and the slow-burn classic in his debut album, "Future Before Nostalgia." Run through his catalog if you doubt... TRUST.

Reckonize Real "Bridges & Tunnels" (Album Stream)

Following the release of last years collaboration LP with Guilty Simpson, producer Reckonize Real started building on a concept sparked by an unreleased bonus track the pair had recorded. Connecting with lyricists around the country to represent their respective cities over tailored beats that bridge the gap between them. Bridges & Tunnels does just that with songs about harsh surroundings, vivid interactions and social issues told by talent from across the country including Guilty Simpson (Detroit), Blu (Los Angeles), Rasheed Chappell (New Jersey), The Bad Seed (Brooklyn), Nowaah The Flood (Dallas), Jamal Gasol (Niagara Falls), Teek Hall (Detroit), Mayhem of EMS (Boston), Paranom (Massachusetts), Junclassic (Jamaca, Queens), Vic Monroe (Chicago), Glad2Mecha (Arizona) and Antonia Marquee (Ohio). Stream Reckonize Real's production album Bridges & Tunnels below...

Rasheed Chappell "First Brick" (Album Stream)

"Nothing humbles you more or truly reveals where you stand in the music business like “downtime;” it truly reveals who is riding FOR you and who’s just riding along. It’s been almost 7 years since Rasheed Chappell and I (Kenny Dope) dropped "Future Before Nostalgia" & I want to thank everyone who’s been supporting us since then. This is for y’all; "First Brick" is a project that we put together to reintroduce ourselves." - via KD's FB. I can appreciate that, for sure, and as a fan of Rasheed Chappell, who has been waiting (more than 7) years for this project, I am glad that it's here now. "Franchise" is still one of my favorite tracks on the project, but plenty more to get into, check it out and be sure to support it below, featuring O.C., Daniel Son, Crimeapple, DJ Scratch, Recognize Ali, Hus Kingpin, Napoleon Da Legend, and the OG, Lil' Fame. Salute, DJ Eclipse, too. Dig in below...

Rasheed Chappel & Crimeapple "The Bridge" (Freestyle)

I don't post too many loosies here on the site, I am more of an album-minded fan, but something tells me this dope freestyle from Rasheed Chappell & Crimeapple won't pop up on an official release, so I've gotta support it separately here! Both lyricists drop bars over MC Shan's Marley Marl-produced classic, "The Bridge," live from the Diggin In The Crates studio to your ears, listen...

DJ Low Cut ft. Rasheed Chappell 'Deja Vu'

Another dope selection from DJ Low Cut off his brand new album 'Dead End.' The song is called 'Deja Vu,' featuring the homie Rasheed Chappell dropping science, and Soul the American Dream on the hook. 'Dead End' dropped 2 days ago via DJ Low Cut's Bandcamp; you can stream and order it HERE. I don't know if we have a release date yet, but Rasheed Chappell's 'Brick & Mortor' remains one of the most highly anticipated albums, for me. In the meantime, shouts to DJ Eclipse for all the jokes pressuring him to release it, lol, and much respect to DJ Low Cut out in Paris, France. Dig in...

Rasheed Chappell "Franchise" (2014)

It's been several years since Rasheed Chappell's debut studio release, 'Future Before Nostalgia,' but as a testament to the quality and replay value of the album, it's still in constant rotation. With dope features on projects by Apollo Brown, DJ Soko, and other guest verses sprinkled here and there, he's maintained my excitement for new music, but it reached a peak when I heard the first single off "Brick & Mortar," a teaser called "Franchise" in 2014. I recognized the sample immediately & his flow danced all over it - you can check that out below and I hope that "Brick & Mortar" drops sooner than later. Much respect to Kenny Dope, and the OG, DJ Eclipse. Hit the tags for more.

Rasheed Chappell "Future Before Nostalgia" (2011)

Another super talented MC that I've been following for several years, the homie, Rasheed Chappell. I was first introduced through my friend and co-worker at Fat Beats, DJ Dyllemma, when he and I were doing mixes together. He played me "Building 8," and my ears were wide open, then through the scene, Rasheed and I crossed paths at shows, PNC Studios, etc. I put Eternia on to the music, she became a fan and connections were built that are still strong to this day. An untold story: Rasheed was scheduled to do an interview with my homie, TCM, at PNC Studios years back and I was planning to check with him about possibly managing him. The music Gods had other plans - Rasheed was unable to make it in-studio for the interview, he had to do a phoner instead. Not long after, I was proud to hear that my OG, DJ Eclipse, was actually managing him, so it worked out better in the end, lol. Anyhow, check out Rasheed Chappell's phenomenal project, "Future Before Nostalgia," with Kenny Dope (released in 2011), and be sure to purchase a copy HERE! Listen below...