Supastition & RJD2 "According To..." (Album Stream)

'According To…' marks the first collaborative release from critically acclaimed producer and DJ RJD2 and legendary underground rapper Supastition. Together, they merge their distinct styles to deliver an album that feels both familiar and unexpected, pushing creative boundaries while staying rooted in classic hip-hop sensibilities. The album was fully produced by RJD2, with Supastition delivering all vocals. Guest appearances include J-Live, STS, and E. Smitty. An incredible, genre-bending album from two phenomenal artists! According To... is available on Vinyl + CD HERE, and streaming below...

J.Cole "Birthday Blizzard '26" (EP Stream)

Birthday Blizzard ‘26 is a four-track surprise EP of freestyles released by J. Cole in celebration of his 41st birthday and in anticipation of his seventh and "final" album, The Fall-Off. The EP is hosted by Queens' own, DJ Clue. On the brief project, Cole raps over four classic Bad Boy instrumentals, particularly The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya?,” Diddy’s “Victory,” and The LOX’s “Can I Live” and “Money, Power, Respect.” The EP was first teased by Jadakiss on his podcast, Joe and Jada, with Fat Joe, announcing that Cole would be tearing up some classic instrumentals from The Lox. Cole has utilized unique marketing approaches for his projects in past years, so I expect more of the same for The Fall Off. In past years, I've discussed DJ Clue's Birthday Blizzard '94 and Birthday Blizzard '96 mixtapes, so this is a nice nostalgic full-circle moment. Stay tuned for The Fall Off in February. 

Skillz "2025 Rap Up" (Happy New Year!)

What began in the early 2000s as a clever year-in-review record gradually became something fans came to expect — a lyrical snapshot of the year’s biggest moments across music, pop culture, politics, and everyday life. While many artists have attempted similar concepts, Skillz’s Rap Ups stand apart because they balance humor, critique, and perspective without feeling disposable or gimmicky. "2025 Rap Up" continues that lineage, but with a noticeable shift in tone. This year’s installment is explicitly dedicated to D’Angelo (R.I.P.), and that dedication shapes the entire record. Skillz raps over D’Angelo’s “Lady” and the smooth, soulful feel of the track slows the pace and gives the song a more reflective atmosphere. Skillz still touches on familiar Rap Up territory — notable events from the year, cultural shifts, moments that dominated conversation — but the approach feels less like rapid-fire commentary and more like reflection. The humor is still present, but it lands alongside fatigue, awareness, and perspective rather than punchline overload. The result is a record that feels less about racing through headlines and more about acknowledging the [obvious] emotional residue left behind by the year. We needed this! Listen to "2025 Rap Up" below + happy new year!

Nas & DJ Premier "Light-Years" (Album Stream)

GRAMMY-Award winning rap icon Nas and DJ Premier —two of the most influential and revered figures in hip-hop history—have released their highly anticipated collaborative album Light-Years. After decades of anticipation, Light-Years is a 30-year working legacy reborn. Nas and DJ Premier’s partnership is embedded in the DNA of Hip-Hop. Their origin story began in 1994 with Illmatic, which resulted in hits such as “N.Y. State Of Mind,” “Memory Lane” and “Represent.” Illmatic helped establish Nas as a generational talent and furthered Premier’s then burgeoning legacy. Their chemistry deepened over the next decade through classics like “I Gave You Power,” 2nd Childhood,” “Nas Is Like” and “N.Y. State Of Mind Pt. II.” Spearheaded by Mass Appeal’s groundbreaking Legend Has It..., a series celebrating and spotlighting some of the most important and influential Hip Hop artists of all time, the series has gifted a year long run of historic releases from culture defining artists including; Slick Rick, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, Big L & De La Soul. With Light-Years, Nas and DJ Premier deliver the grand finale to close out the legendary series where their undeniable synergy remains elusive. In 2006, Nas and DJ Premier appeared on the cover of Scratch Magazine, teasing a joint project that again refueled fan frenzy and two decades worth of anticipation. Last year, Nas and Preem linked up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Illmatic with the release of a new track, “Define My Name,” where they first announced their landmark collaborative album. Light-Years is a true testament to both artists' influence, legacy and the timelessness of the music they create together. Listen to Nas & Preemo's album Light-Years below...

You can cop the vinyl, cassette and CD from Fat Beats, HERE.

Erick Sermon "Dynamic Duo's Vol.1" (Album Stream)

Erick Sermon, one-half of the legendary duo EPMD, isn’t reinventing himself here — he’s reminding people what chemistry sounds like when it’s real. Dynamic Duo’s Vol. 1 is built around partnerships, not just features, and that distinction matters. This isn’t a random guest list. It’s a deliberate look at how collaboration has powered hip-hop across eras, from groups that helped define the culture to newer alliances that still move with purpose. The album rolls out alongside the video for “Sidewalk Executives” featuring M.O.P., and the pairing makes perfect sense. It’s gritty, direct, and rooted in that hard-earned New York energy both sides are known for. That tone carries throughout the project, which pulls together a wide range of voices — Redman, Method Man, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg, Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Tha Dogg Pound, Salt-N-Pepa, Heltah Skeltah, 38 Spesh, Conway the Machine — without it ever feeling cluttered or nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake. The centerpiece is “Test Me,” the first new EPMD record in over a decade. No announcement energy, no victory lap — just two veterans picking the conversation back up where they left it. That alone tells you what kind of album this is. Sermon has said the project challenged him creatively, forcing him to think like a producer and a curator, and that comes through. Dynamic Duo’s Vol. 1 isn’t about reminding people how long he’s been here. It’s about showing that the right partnerships still matter — and always have. More volumes are planned, but Vol. 1 stands on intent alone, marking another chapter in a career that’s never relied on shortcuts. Listen to the Green Eyed Bandit's Dynamic Duos below...

Brother Ali "Brother Minutester: The Uskudar Sessions" (Album Stream)

It started a decade ago as a creative exercise to hype up new projects on social media. These self-produced one-minute freestyles, constructed a few bars at a time without pen or paper, were only meant to be an artistic escape. But the deeply personal stream of consciousness series, "Brother Minutester", developed into a prolific chapter in Brother Ali‘s creative catalog. Brother Ali reminds us that sometimes the most powerful move an artist can make is to slow the world down and speak softly — trusting that the right listeners will lean in. Volume 2; called the Uskudar Sessions features 16 tracks - each one to two-minutes long, and can be streamed below. I'm still a huge fan!

Anti-Lilly & Phoniks "All Good Things" (Album Stream)

There’s a certain kind of album that doesn’t demand attention — it meets you where you are. All Good Things by Anti-Lilly & Phoniks is exactly that type of record. Quietly powerful. Thoughtful. Built for late nights, long walks, and moments when you need something honest playing in the background — not background music, but companion music. Phoniks handles the boards with a soft but confident touch. The production is soulful without being heavy-handed — warm samples, gentle drum patterns, and a dusty jazz feel that nods to boom-bap tradition while staying comfortably modern. Nothing here is rushed or overcrowded. The beats breathe. They give space for reflection. You can feel the care in the sequencing — like the album was meant to be played straight through, not cherry-picked. And Anti-Lilly fits this sound perfectly. His delivery is conversational, almost diaristic. Anti-Lilly leans into clarity, vulnerability, and self-awareness. He talks about growth, anxiety, creative doubt, love, gratitude — the kind of internal conversations most people have but don’t always articulate well. What makes All Good Things stand out is its emotional sincerity. There’s optimism here, but it’s earned — not forced positivity. Anti-Lilly acknowledges the lows alongside the highs, understanding that both are part of the same journey. The album feels like a checkpoint rather than a victory lap — a moment to pause, reflect, and keep moving forward. Tracks flow naturally, each one building on the last without dramatic swings. It’s cohesive, calming, and deeply human. The title says it all — not as an ending, but as a reminder that moments, phases, and feelings all pass… and that’s okay. Anti-Lilly & Phoniks deliver another record that feels genuine, comforting, and should absolutely stay in rotation. Dig into their new album All Good Things below...

De La Soul "Cabin in the Sky" (Album Stream)

De La Soul returns with their 10th studio album, Cabin in the Sky, a deeply personal and emotionally charged album. More than just a collection of songs, this project serves as a journey through reflection, love, and healing, a space where pain transforms into art, and remembrance turns into rhythm. Cabin in the Sky features production by Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and Supa Dave West, among others. The album honors the legacy of Dave “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur and extends that tribute to all loved ones lost along the way. Through reflective lyricism, soulful samples, and the unmistakable De La groove, Cabin in the Sky captures the beauty and the heartbreak of carrying on. One of the most beautiful collection of songs to be released this year - it's in constant rotation. Favorite track: "Yours," feat. Common and Slick Rick. Cabin in the Sky also features Killer Mike, Yummy Bingham, Q-Tip, Nas, Bilal and more. De La Soul is one of the most important groups of all-time.  Props to Mass Appeal and Nas for releasing this phenomenal project. Dig into the LP below...

Rest In Peace, Trugoy the Dove. Show respect: cop this album HERE!

Awich "Okinawan Wuman" (Album Stream | Prod. by RZA)

Awich is a prominent Okinawan rapper, known as the "Queen of Japanese Hip-Hop," who blends traditional Okinawan culture with global hip-hop influences. Her new album, Okinawan Wuman, is fully produced by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, and showcases her journey, resilience, and unique perspective on life, love, and heritage. Okinawan Wuman features collaborations with A$AP Ferg, Lupe Fiasco, Westside Gunn, MIKE, and Joey Bada$$. The album explores themes of grief, strength, and identity, drawing from her experiences moving between Okinawa and Atlanta, her husband's murder, and raising her daughter as a widow. It's a solid release! Listen to Awich's album Okinawan Wuman below...

Apollo Brown & Ty Farris "Run Toward The Monster" (Album Stream)

Run Toward The Monster is one of those albums that doesn’t flinch. It sounds like two artists meeting at the exact right moment — not to chase relevance, but to tell the truth clearly. Apollo Brown lays the foundation with production that’s heavy and soaked in soul. These aren’t beats built for spectacle. They feel lived in. Weathered. Like they’ve already survived somethin. And then Ty Farris doesn’t waste a second. His approach here is direct and disciplined. No overreaching. No fantasy rap. Just grown-man perspective, delivered with precision and weight. He raps like someone who understands the cost of avoidance — that running from fear only gives it more room to grow. The “monster” in this album isn’t a metaphor you have to decode. It’s anxiety, trauma, responsibility, doubt, pride — the things most people circle around instead of confronting. Apollo’s beats amplify that tension perfectly. The soul samples are gritty, sometimes ominous, sometimes reflective, always grounded. Drums knock without overstatement. The music leaves space — and Ty fills it with clarity. This is the kind of pairing where neither artist overshadows the other. They move in sync, locked into the same emotional frequency. There’s nothing flashy here. No attempt to modernize the sound for playlists. No empty hooks chasing momentum. Just intentional rap music, built on survival, self-awareness, and standing firm in who you are — even when it’s uncomfortable. This is cold-weather listening. Headphones on. World muted. An album that doesn’t offer escape, but instead encourages confrontation. And in that honesty, it finds its power. Dig into Apollo Brown & Ty Farris's LP below...

Big L "Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King" (Album Stream)

Big L's Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King is a posthumous release that celebrates Big L’s lyrical brilliance and features unreleased gems, rare freestyles, remastered classics and more. Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King features contributions from Nas, Method Man, Mac Miller, Jay-Z, Showbiz, Herb McGruff and others. The album is intended to both preserve and elevate Big L’s legacy as one of hip-hop’s most gifted lyricists and is the result of Mass Appeal, Nas and the rapper’s family and estate all working together to ensure its completion. The artist’s family wrote: “Big L has a long history with Nas as they both signed to Columbia in 1992. This is a full circle moment and we are excited for y’all to hear what we’ve been working on. As some of you may have noticed, many Big L songs have been removed from streaming services over the past few years. Those songs were unmixed/unmastered, samples were not cleared and many of the producers weren’t paid or credited properly. Thanks to the team at Mass Appeal we will be re-releasing the best versions of these songs, rare freestyles and a few surprises...” Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King is the fifth installment in Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It… series of records by hip-hop trailblazers, following Slick Rick’s Victory, Raekwon’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, Ghostface Killah’s Supreme Clientele 2 and Mobb Deep’s The Infinite. Rest In Peace, Big L. Listen to the album below...

You can cop the physical versions HERE.

Mobb Deep "Infinite" (Album Stream)

Mobb Deep returns with Infinite, the duo’s final studio album via Mass Appeal. The project unites unreleased vocals from Prodigy with new production from Havoc and longtime collaborator The Alchemist, extending the sound that defined Queensbridge and reshaped New York rap. Across the record, guests add texture without diluting the core: appearances include Nas, Clipse, Jorja Smith, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Big Noyd, and more. Lead-up singles “Against the World,” “Taj Mahal,” “Down for You,” and “Look at Me” set the tone — grim, cinematic, and precise — before the full album’s release. Infinite closes one of hip-hop’s most influential stories with intention — both tribute and continuation — affirming why Mobb Deep’s voice still cuts through. Rest in Peace to the legend, Prodigy - Havoc paid an excellent tribute to P with this release. Listen to the LP below...

Raekwon "The Emperor's New Clothes" (Album Stream)

Raekwon’s The Emperor’s New Clothes is a sharp return to form, showcasing the Wu-Tang veteran’s lyrical precision and timeless street wisdom. The new album (his 8th solo album) was produced by Swizz Beatz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Nottz, and Frank G. & RoadsArt with features by Nas, Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Inspectah Deck as well as Griselda's Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, and Westside Gunn. Marsha Ambrosius and Stacy Barthe provide smooth, soulful hooks, adding emotional layers to the hard-edged verses. The LP is a reminder of Raekwon’s enduring power as a lyricist and curator. A veteran artist showing that mastery doesn’t need excess. The Emperor’s New Clothes is regal, streetwise, and sharply tailored for those who value craft. The album is also part of Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It series (props to Nas) and captures the raw spirit of New York at its finest. Listen to Rae's The Emperor's New Clothes streaming below...

You can cop The Emperor's New Clothes on CD and Vinyl HERE.

Clipse "Let God Sort Em Out" (Album Stream)

For the first time in over a decade, Clipse returns with a full-length album, and Let God Sort Em Out arrives with the weight that kind of absence naturally carries. From the opening moments, Let God Sort Em Out makes its intentions clear. This is not a nostalgia play, and it isn’t an attempt to modernize Clipse’s sound for relevance. Instead, the album leans into what made the duo distinctive in the first place: cold precision, uncompromising subject matter, and a sense of consequence running through every verse. There’s no attempt to soften the edges or reframe the past. The record doesn’t apologize for where Clipse came from, nor does it romanticize it. Much of the album’s gravity comes from the renewed dynamic between Pusha T and No Malice. Their contrast has always been the engine of Clipse, but here it feels more pronounced. Pusha’s verses remain sharp, observational, and unflinching, while Malice brings a reflective, measured presence shaped by time, faith, and distance from the lifestyle they once documented. Rather than clash, the two perspectives coexist, giving the album its tension and balance. Production across Let God Sort Em Out stays intentionally stark. The beats favor minimalism and atmosphere over excess, allowing the lyrics to sit front and center. There’s a sense of restraint throughout the project — nothing feels rushed, padded, or engineered for singles. The sound design reinforces the album’s specific themes: 



patience, judgment, and the long arc of accountability. It’s music that assumes the listener is paying attention. Lyrically, the album revisits familiar territory — street economics, loyalty, betrayal, survival — but the framing has changed. These aren’t victory laps or shock records. The writing feels older, heavier, and more resolved. The title itself functions less as a slogan and more as a philosophy: a recognition that outcomes, consequences, and moral reckonings don’t always arrive on our schedule. That idea runs quietly through the album without needing to be overstated. What stands out most is how comfortable Clipse sound operating at their own pace. There’s no urgency to prove relevance or compete with current trends. Let God Sort Em Out trusts the listener to meet it where it is. Let God Sort Em Out feels like a continuation rather than a comeback — a record made by artists who understand exactly who they are and see no reason to explain it. "The Birds Don't Sing" is easily the song of the year... to me. Listen to the Clipse's brand new album below.

Apathy "Mom & Dad" (Album Stream)

With Mom & Dad, veteran wordsmith Apathy delivers his most personal and conceptually rich project to date—an album steeped in nostalgia, anchored in sharp cultural critique, and draped in the breezy textures of his new “Shore Life” sound. The title nods to Ronald and Nancy Reagan, casting Apathy as a child of the '80s raised under the shadow of Reaganomics. But this isn't just a trip down memory lane—it's a reflective deep dive into the socio-political climate that shaped his youth, told with the masterful penmanship fans have come to expect from the CT legend. The first release from his newly launched imprint, Anchors Up Rec, Mom & Dad showcases Apathy’s evolution as both emcee and producer. He helms the boards for 9 of the 12 tracks, crafting lush, sample-heavy beats that blend laid-back vibes with surgical precision. Additional production comes from rising star Playa Haze and longtime collaborator Little Vic. Standout tracks include the haunting “Lee Harv” (feat. Little Vic), the soul-drenched “All Good,” and the sharp, shoreline serenade “WHALERS.” Guest spots from Suave-Ski, Slaine, Ryu, and Little Vic round out an album that’s both personal memoir and lyrical masterclass. Listen to Apathy's new album Mom & Dad streaming below...

David Begun "A Tribe Called Soul" (Album Stream)

Every once in a while, a mashup project comes along that feels less like a gimmick and more like a proper tribute — thoughtful, rooted in respect, and crafted with real ears. David Begun’s A Tribe Called Soul is one of those projects. Released with zero fanfare and all substance, the project fuses the unmistakable vocals of A Tribe Called Quest with the deep, velvety textures of De La Soul classics. David Begun, who’s quietly built a rep with similar projects handles the mashup format with a producer’s ear — not just cutting and pasting, but restructuring. Rearranging bars. Matching tones. Honoring both sources. The results don’t sound forced — they sound meant to be. Q-Tip’s smooth baritone floats over Rhodes chords like they were written in the same session. Phife’s bounce feels right at home against Dilla-inspired swing. It’s less of a remix and more of an alternate timeline. And what really sells it is the feel. There’s warmth all over this project. For heads who dig concept blends with depth, this one’s a keeper. David Begun continues to build one of the more interesting catalogs in the remix/mashup world — always rooted in love for the music, and it shows.

Mathematics x Wu-Tang Clan "Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman"

After enjoying its heyday in the 90s and 2000s as arguably the greatest hip-hop group ever, the Wu-Tang Clan spent the late 2010s to mid-2020s solidifying its legacy in various ways--a television series, a docuseries, a Las Vegas residency, a cross-generational pop-culture touchstone. But fans who've wanted a Wu-Tang Clan album have often had to accept consolation prizes; 2015's Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was a single copy auctioned for millions of dollars. Mathematics is as legitimate as anyone to continue the Wu-Tang Clan's legacy. He isn't one of the original nine members, but he's produced songs on some of the group's most beloved solo and group albums (The W, Supreme Clientele, and Bulletproof Wallets, for example), has served as their longtime DJ, and is even the creator of its iconic W logo. Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman is his second collaborative album with the group, and earns its Wu-Tang Clan co-billing: All the members of the group make appearances here, and he capably continues the group's distinctively dark, cinematic aesthetic. There aren't any songs that feature more than 3-4 Wu-Tang Clan members at once, but everyone shows up and delivers authentically sharp verses, and with Mathematics' expert understanding of the Wu sound, fans of the group will be satisfied with this addition to the catalog. - Apple Music.

Noreaga & Beanie Sigel "Badman" (2005)

My stomach was growling so I just made a midnight food run. On the way back, a song from Noreaga and Beanie Sigel randomly popped in my head. "Badman" was part of the "Tracklist Magazine Mixtape: Def Jam Edition (The Inc, Roc-a-Fella, South)," a compilation that highlighted various artists under the Def Jam umbrella in 2005. The song "Friendz" by Noreaga with Mariah Carey and Big Pun was also on that project (go find that, too!). Originally written by The Who in 1971, "Behind Blue Eyes" was redone by Limp Bizkit in 2003 and the sampled hook went: "No one knows what it's like / To be the bad man / To be the sad man / Behind blue eyes / No one knows what it's like / To be hated / To be fated / To telling only lies." "Badman" was produced by the underrated Scram Jones. At one point I believe the project was available to stream through Spotify and other DSPs but it's since been removed. I'd have to search through my vinyl, but I believe the NORE tracks were on a Killah Kuts 12" or something similar as well. Nevertheless, that catchy hook has been replaying in my head and I thought I'd revisit and share it with y'all tonight. Listen below...

Apollo Brown "Elevator Music" (Instrumental Album)

Apollo Brown returns with Elevator Music, a full-length instrumental suite that’s anything but passive. This is mood music in the purest sense: rich, warm, and tailor-made for thinkers, builders, writers, and late-night drivers. Brown has always been a master of soul-chop alchemy, and this project proves he doesn’t need a single voice to make you feel something. The concept? Simple but sharp: reclaim the phrase “elevator music” and turn it into something head-nodding and meditative. Each track floats, but never drifts. There’s intention behind every loop. The textures are dusty but lush — think vintage Detroit warmth, filtered and fat, with drums that thump just enough to stay grounded. You can hear echoes of Clouds and Thirty Eight, but this is its own thing entirely. It may seem minimal on first listen, but the layers are all there. Apollo Brown knows the power of a perfect loop — and he leans into that with full trust in the craft. Pure instrumental soul, filtered through a Detroit lens. A quiet storm for the real heads. Artwork by Chris B. Murray. Listen below...

Smif-N-Wessun "Infinity" (Album Stream)

Smif-N-Wessun's new album, Infinity, is a cumulative reflection of their life experiences. Executive produced by college professor and world-renowned producer 9th Wonder and the Soul Council, 9th explains the thought process with the album. “I wanted to make sure that it didn't sound dated. It sounds like them (Smif-N-Wessun), but it's also new. They are our generation's version of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Donald Byrd.” Illustrious MCs featured on the album include Buckshot, Pharoahe Monch, Conway the Machine, legendary artists Sean Price and Prodigy, multi-platinum RnB legend Ralph Tresvant, along with rising stars Sweta and Jalisa. Infinity cements Smif-N-Wessun's status as creators of nothing but classics. This is their eighth album and the second collaboration with 9th Wonder and the Soul Council. Showcasing buttery beats from Council members, 9th Wonder himself, Khrysis, SND*TRK, Kash, Mu'aath, and Nottz, the album delivers a sonic smash that will satisfy everyone from the rap purist to new school connoisseurs. Listen to it below...