Jamo Gang "Jamo Gang EP" (EP Stream)

Jamo Gang consists of Californian heavyweight Ras Kass, New York underground rapper El Gant and Long Island producer/rapper J57. They kick off the new year with their self-titled debut EP Jamo Gang. The project was released on Avenida Records, and is the first piece of work we’ve heard from the newly aligned trio. The group’s alias “Jamo Gang” pays homage to the famous Irish Whiskey Jameson. The trio spent most of 2016-2017 in the studio fine-tweaking their work, and even brought in a handful of special guest including Shabaam Sadeeq, Big Twins, Deejay Element and Canadian rapper Snak The Ripper. The project consists of 8 tracks, and if you’re a die-hard fan of hardcore lyricism over catchy beats, you won’t be let down. - The Source. Peace to my brother, J57!

DJ Soko "Detroit Make The World Go Round" (Mixtape)

Props to The Left's DJ Soko, reppin' out of Detroit, now living in New York City, who dropped this dope "Detroit Makes The World Go Round" mix today. The mix features tracks with Elzhi, The Left, RoSpit, Black Milk, Quelle Chris, Big Tone, Guilty Simpson, Danny Brown, Buff 1, Finale, Marv Won, Mr. Porter, and lots more reppin' the D. Described by DJ Soko, "Mixtape I did in 2011 for tour. I pressed up a limited number and sold them at shows when myself, Oddisee, Apollo Brown, and Journalist 103 did 2 weeks of shows in Europe." Always good to have merch! You can dig into the mix below.

Apollo Brown & Ghostface "The Brown Tape" (Album Stream)

Narrated by The RZA, this is Ghostface Killah’s brutal tale of gangsters, betrayal and one vengeful soul hunting the 12 most powerful crime lords in the World. The Deluca's pressed Tony's remains into 12 vinyl records - one for each member of the family. But little did they know - he would return... This project is a daring, full-length Crime/Horror concept album. Executive Producer, and Ghostface Killah's longtime Wu-Tang Clan collaborator, The RZA refers to the album as "groundbreaking" in the hip hop genre. Apollo Brown was asked to record an alternate album at the same time as Adrian Younge created “Twelve Reasons To Die.” Keep in mind, the legendary Detroit producer (Apollo Brown) was given access to Ghostface Killah’s recordings and constructed beats around GFK's work. This made the project one of the producer's most challenging projects to date. That hard work has paid of as “The Brown Tape” is also one of the best albums to date from Ghostface Killah or Apollo Brown. Cinematic and nasty, this is Hip-hop at it’s most raw. Dig into The Brown Tape below...

Khruangbin "Con Todo El Mundo" (Instrumental Album)

Formed of Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar, and Donald “DJ” Johnson on drums; Khruangbin’s sounds are rooted in the deepest waters of world music infused with classic soul, dub and psychedelia. ‘Con Todo El Mundo’ takes inspiration not just from South East Asia but similarly underdiscovered funk and soul of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, particularly Iran. ‘Con Todo El Mundo’ is in part dedicated to Laura Lee’s Mexican-American grandfather, a formative influence on the bassist. Throughout ‘Con Todo El Mundo’; Laura Lee’s melodic low-end theory, Mark’s lyrical, free-role guitar lines, and DJ’s ever-steady, ever-ready backbeat form something greater than their parts. A statement that crosses languages, ages, cultures and borders. Listen...

DJ Riz "In The Mix" (Mixtape, 1997)

Peace to DJ Riz, happy to see him & DJ Eclipse back on air together up at E's SiriusXM show "Rap Is Outta Control," every Sunday 10pm-12am EST on Hip Hop Nation. Take it back to '97 with this DJ Riz classic casstte mix. Forget a tracklist, enjoy the shout-outs instead, "Fat Beats (the whole f#ckin' crew), Funkmaster Flex & the Flip Squad, N.Y. Live (89.1), Mayhem, Sunset, Guy, Martin, Big "A", Rotate, A.Vee, Sizzahandz, Wildman Steve, Jeff Foss, Wax Axer, Erez, Necro, Non-Phixion, Stretch, Bobbito, Rub, A-Train, Red Alert, Clark Kent, Richie Rich, Dice, Scratch, Majesty, X-Men, Joie, AV8 Records, Spinbad, JS, Mighty Mi, Don Lou, Oakland "Raiders", Ed Powers and all the dirty debutantes, Baby's Got Back Series, The AVN Awards & all the porn spots that are left in NY. Keep supporting the lovely filth!!! Peace to Canarsie BK!!!" Much props to DJStepOne, who already had the links. #NSFW

Evidence "Weather Or Not" (Album Stream)

Evidence has returned to deliver his third solo album, Weather or Not, the final chapter in The Weatherman series before beginning the next saga. “As a writer and a rapper, I’ve been using the weather as a metaphor my whole career,” Evidence explains. “I had a line that said, ‘Some think I’m clever, others think I’m the one who makes too many references to weather… or not.’ Every time I would perform that song live, the crowd would always say the ‘or not’, so I knew I was on to something, and it would eventually be an album title.” For Weather or Not, Evidence tapped a stellar cast of producers to share duties with, including Alchemist, DJ Premier, Nottz, DJ Babu, and more. The album also features an all-star lineup of guests and friends, including Slug (Atmosphere), Rakaa (Dilated Peoples), Alchemist, Styles P, Rapsody, Jonwayne, Defari, etc. “I made this album with loyalists in mind,” Evidence says. “There’s nothing that’s unintentional. There are no wasted words.” While the album predominantly highlights his talent as a rapper, Evidence is also a well known producer, photographer and videographer. But, for all of his non-stop, high-level productivity, Evidence is most notably modest, a quality fully captured on Weather Or Not. “Now that the album is finished, I can see clearly that every single song serves its own purpose. To me, it’s like a playlist, or a greatest hits collection…except that none of these songs existed before I made them.” At the time of the release of his "Throw It All Away" video last year, I was unaware that his beautiful wife was fighting cancer -- my heart is heavy for him, his wife and their young son. Much respect to Evidence, please keep them in your prayers... and do support the LP! It's available to stream below...

Thanks to Rhymesayers for these rain drop stickers, too. Get the LP!

Tony Touch "Hip Hop 37" (Mixtape, 1994)

Tony Touch released Hip Hop 37 via Tape Kingz in 1994. Puttin' in mad work, Tony Touch dropped another mix that we look back on as a classic! This mix tape includes tracks from Biz Markie, M.O.P., Nas, Crooklyn Dodgers, Fugees, Nice & Smooth, Gravediggaz, Snoop Dogg, Lady of Rage, Masta Ace, Ill Al Skratch, Smif-N-Wessun, Black Moon, The Beatnuts, Gang Starr, Lords of the Underground, Das EFX, The Notorious B.I.G., Beastie Boys, Da Bush Babees, and more! Updated audio link below...

Planet Asia "The Golden Buddha" (Album Stream)

Planet Asia helped jump-start the West Coast independent hip-hop movement, and has solidified himself as one of the most consistent and respected MCs in the game over his 20+ year career. He dropped his debut EP with producer Fanatik in 1998. In 2001, The Source Magazine gave him the 'First Round Draft Pick' and 'Independent Album of the Year' awards for 'How the West Was One', which was recorded with fellow CA rapper Rasco under the group name Cali Agents. This landed him a deal with Interscope Records, where he was signed until 2003 without releasing an album. He has also collaborated on albums with the likes of DJ Muggs ('Pain Language'), Evidence ('The Medicine') and Madlib ('Cracks In The Vinyl'), among others, and released songs with artists such as Bun B, Talib Kweli and Ghostface Killah. For 2018, Asia teamed up with Bay Area producer izznyce for this true solo project, sure to be considered the next classic in his vast catalog. 'The Golden Buddha' was produced entirely by izznyce and features AZ, Hus Kingpin, Turbin, Marvelous Mag, Killa Kali, TriState, Xiomara and The Architect. Speaking on the project, Planet Asia says: "This album represents the foundation of what Planet Asia is about and that is 'balance'. Me and izznyce also took our time with the record, and had a chance to really vibe out and make the type of music we personally like that will stand the test of time!" Planet Asia shows no signs of stopping! Listen to the LP below...