MC Ren "Kizz My Black Azz EP" (June 30, 1992)

Before there was a group called N.W.A. there were individually, angry, young Black males; roaming through darkened alley ways, surviving the roughest of street tests and emerging, once again as survivors. All of them had a story to tell; all of them wanted to be heard; all of them searched for an answer. But the true base of power for any group has been the individual strength and character of its members. And now, since they've stepped the fuck off! another MC emerges for the fall out -- "The Black N!gga that they call Ren." At a time when we were starving from a lock of hosts to boast about the west coast, Ren was rehearsing for his debut. "I had a rep at Roosevelt Jr. High, me and DJ Train (of JJ Fad)." M.C. Ren went on to high school with his reputation in tow. By the time he graduated, Eazy-E, from around the corner, was knocking on his door. Back in 1987, "Eazy was trying to get me and Train to sign on Ruthless for a solo deal, but Ice Cube had left to go to school. Eazy had me write some material for the N.W.A. album, so me and Train's solo project had to be put on hold." Now, Ren is ready to rock the mic on his own. He's out to show and prove what he is made of, 'cauz "Real N!ggaz Don't Die." Listen to Kizz My Black Azz, cont'd below...

Kizz My Black Azz, the debut EP on Ruthless/Priority, is the first sign of life since N.W.A.'s EFIL4ZAGGIN. This six track EP was produced by Bobcat, a member of the Boogie Men Production team, which ironically produces some of Ice Cube's songs. "The Final Frontier" is the first single to hit the streets. "The Final Frontier" expresses Ren's lyrical intent to handle all MC's that think gangsta rap is just a category. "Rap is getting away from where it started," explains M.C. Ren. "Everybody is trying to be like Hammer and have a band playing behind their raps." The hook on this will have even the most passive of listeners thinking of Ren, whenever real rap is the subject, "Who iz it? - The Black N!gga that they call Ren." The intro kicks in with the 'back in the day' piano riff from "The Bridge Is Over," and is woven throughout the entire cut with a nice sax handling the breaks, while Ren flows like melted I-C-E. "Right Up My Alley" begins as a neighborhood eviction of the local smokers (crack addicts) from the alley in which Ren reigns supreme and turns into the news story of the week. Our reporter Ren spins the rhymes and weaves the tell tell story of the day to day events in the alley; "90% of the black males from the streets got a spot in their neighborhood where all the dirt goes down -- gambling, drinking, dope-selling -- you know." - Press Kit (Priority Records, 1992). Also, check out the write-up in The Source (August, 1992) below...

Lupe Fiasco "Samurai" (Album Stream)

Samurai is the ninth album by rapper Lupe Fiasco. It is a concept album dedicated to the life, work and career of the late neo-soul singer Amy Winehouse. In Lupe's own words, he shares, "A loving & living portrait to and of one of my favorite artists, Amy Winehouse. I've done many portraits of people I admire over the years. Some public and some private. This one took on a life of its own and became an album. Looking forward to sharing it." Specifically, it was inspired by a quote from the 2015 Amy documentary film, where Winehouse told her producer Salaam Remi, "I keep coming out with battle raps and they're just pouring out of me. Like Wu-Tang stuff, but really neat, very beautifully alliterated little battle raps. So next time you wanna come for me and have a battle rap-off, I'm gonna kill you. Because I'm a samurai." Lupe shared, "For me, it was literally just that one quote. I wouldn't dare try to rewrite or even postscript her legacy in any way other than just imagine everything like, 'Yo, what if she was a battle rapper?'" It began as a single portrait, unintentionally becoming an album." Hear Lupe Fiasco's conceptual album, Samurai, streaming below...

Da Beatminerz "Stifled Creativity" (Album Stream)

Da Beatminerz defined the dark, gritty sound of underground Hip-Hop in the '90s. Formed in 1992 by brothers Walter “Mr. Walt” and Ewart “DJ Evil Dee” Dewgarde, the production duo pioneered Hip-Hop's brooding vibes, a tonal shift that came with the release of Black Moon's classic debut album Enta Da Stage. As producers of the seminal 1993 project in its entirety, Da Beatminerz set a precedent for hardcore Hip-Hop. Their sample-heavy, gutter tracks laced with heavy basslines, and hard kicks and snares helped reshape the music genre. Da Beatminerz continued to refine their distinct sound and identity with countless classic records for other artists and two albums of their own (2001’s Brace 4 Impak and 2004’s Fully Loaded w/ Statik) over the course of their illustrious 30-year career. Stifled Creativity is the duo’s first full-length album in 20 years. “We started working on this album in 2009... We had one focus and the focus was to stick to our core sound. We just wanted to bring back our traditional way of attempting a classic album. Everybody has their own type of hip hop that they love. Well, this is ours.” - Mr. Walt. Stream their new album below...

Maticulous "The Expanse" (Album Stream)

Brooklyn-based producer maticulous returns with his latest project, The Expanse, which is an exploration of time and space, both musically and personally. The record veers from the usual producer-album approach by shying away from the feature-heavy norm, focusing instead on one artist per song to develop a complete story on each track. “The inspiration for The Expanse flows from a long stretch of being stagnant, which renders the tracks with a variety of new sounds and ideas,” maticulous says. From the incomparable eLZhi’s tragic tale on “Two Kids” to the jarring, jaded truth of Rasheed Chappell’s “Bitter Pill” to The Audible Doctor’s “Butterfly Effect,” which closes the album with optimism and reflection, The Expanse once again proves that maticulous is among the elite in the world of modern hip hop producers. Props to fellow Fat Beats alumni! Listen to it below...

CRIMEAPPLE & Big Ghost Ltd "Bazuko" (Album Stream)

When CRIMEAPPLE and Big Ghost Ltd first linked up on their "Aguardiente" collaboration in 2016, the two came to shake the game up. The iconic Antioqueño bottle left a mark in underground hip-hop that still stands strong to this day, and to follow up they cooked up the deadliest material to do that once again with "Bazuko". Named after the deadliest and most addictive street drug in Colombia, basuco, the album embodies the raw, uncut and unfiltered essence of their artistic process, much like the gritty remnants of cocaine paste. CRIMEAPPLE's razor-sharp lyricism cuts through Big Ghost Ltd's masterful, hard-hitting beats, creating a visceral, addictive and immersive soundscape. With "Bazuko," the two aren't just following up on "Aguardiente"; they're raising the stakes, delivering a project that is as potent and unforgettable as its namesake. Listen to it below...

Supastition "All That Was Left Unsaid" (Album Stream)

This is the second part of a 2-part series which included last year’s ‘Every Last Word.’ This project, ‘All That Was Left Unsaid,’ dives deep into reflection and gratitude. In Supastition's own words,  "It's a nod to the struggles I've faced, the losses I’ve mourned, and the victories I've celebrated. After two decades in the game, I'm understanding (and accepting) my place in music and history. It's a humbling realization, but one I'm honored to embrace. And to all my fans who've stuck with me through thick and thin, your support means the world. This time around, I’ve enlisted the talents of some guest artists including Shad, Silvandgold, and E.Smitty. Production was handled by yours truly along with Praise (Speaker Bullies), The Mighty DR, and Max Zipursky." I'm proud of my brother for his authenticity and his consistency throughout the years. Supa has an incredible catalog that I highly encourage you to tap into (if you haven't already). Meanwhile, listen to the new album below...

Ghostface Killah "Set The Tone" (Album Stream)

Ghostface Killah is ready to "Set The Tone" with his new album, featuring a blend of tracks catering to both male and female audiences. Expect a mix of hard-hitting New York rap and melodic, laid-back records. Additionally, Ghostface has collaborated with hip-hop heavyweights such as Kanye West, Nas, Raekwon, Method Man, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Ja Rule, Remy Ma, AZ, Jim Jones, Sheek Louch and more. Ghostface also has a special edition release on CD in a collector's tin with unique art inspired by the album title. Whatcha think of the album? Stream Ghostface's Set The Tone below...

Copywrite "T.H.E. Last Supper" (Album Stream)

Underground Hip Hop veteran and esteemed lyricist, Copywrite enlists indie golden age emcees and producers from his early Rawkus, Eastern Conference and Fondle 'Em Records days with his seventh studio album, "The Last Supper". The album boasts thirteen tracks bringing back that early 2000's Weathermen feel. DJ Mighty Mi and Cop link back up for a few songs that are guaranteed to tide heads over until their joint EP drops later this year. The Juggaknot's resident monster, Breeze Brewin also shows up alongside underground champion Bobbito Garcia over a banger by Swab who handles a good portion of the albums tracks and the outcome is pure 89-tek-9 nostalgia reminiscent of the WKCR hey days. The always honest and lyrical depth of Atmosphere's Slug compliments Copy's tales of lost ones and pain over the years on "Turn the Page". This is Copy's best work if you ask me. The songs are all super dense and packed with effortless detail that all require several listens to fully digest. Twenty years of being one of independent rap's elite shines on Pete Nelson's magnum opus, "T.H.E. Last Supper". Listen to Copywrite's T.H.E. Last Supper below...