Chino XL & Stu Bangas "God's Carpenter" (Album Stream)

After co-founding the duo Art of Origin, Chino XL was signed at age 16 by Rick Rubin's American Recordings label. In 2014 he formed a hip hop supergroup along with rappers Vakill, Copywrite, Tame One and producer Stu Bangas called Verse 48. Chino XL now reunites with producer Stu Bangas on this new project, God's Carpenter. It features guest appearances from Mystic, Dj Romes, Violet Revenge and Vinne Paz. I've had the pleasure of connecting with Chino XL numerous times over the years and he's always remained a humble giant. His razor sharp lyricism is an excellent home for Stu Bangas' hard, driving beats. More than anything, it's a gift to continue to see the release of music from Chino XL, who spent the bulk of his career without many physical releases, but maintaining the underground respect for the legend that he is. Stream Chino & Stu's God's Carpenter below...

Nas "Magic 2" (Album Stream)

Magic 2 is the sixteenth studio album by rapper Nas. The album serves as a sequel to Nas' 2021 album Magic, and is the fifth consecutive Nas album produced by Hit-Boy, following the King's Disease trilogy, as well as the first Magic album. I'm amazed at the output from Nas... I can't simply charge it to artists recording and releasing more music to keep up with the appetite of customers, because I just don't believe Nas is motivated that way. I believe he was inspired and caught lightening in a bottle with the production from Hit-Boy. Again. Magic 2 includes features from 50 Cent and 21 Savage. In other news, Nas will join Wu-Tang Clan and De La Soul on the NY State of Mind Tour coming to your city shortly! At last, go listen to Nas and Hit-Boy's Magic 2 album below...

Black Milk "Everything Good?" (Album Stream)

Everything Good? is the eighth studio from Detroit producer and MC, Black Milk. This talented brother has been releasing music for two decades and continues to push the envelope on creativity in his production. The 12-track LP features Quelle Chris, Karriem Riggins, Mick Jenkins, Raphael Saadiq and Phonte. Originally signed through Fat Beats Records, we crossed paths a lot in those early years and Detroit had a stronghold on heavy drums and soulful production at the time. "Long Story Short" off his Tronic album is still one of my favorite beats. Anyone remember the Prince instrumental project that lasted on the internet a cold 10 minutes before it got ripped from the internet? Lol. Listen to his progression on this latest effort, Everything Good? streaming below...

Speaker Bullies "Art of Disrespect" (Album Stream)

First working together on Supastition’s ‘Gold Standard’ album, Supa and Praise debut their new group, Speaker Bullies. The sound is described as "in the same vein as MF Doom or Run the Jewels where anything goes musically.” Supastition’s esteemed career includes acclaimed projects, world tours, and collaborations with KRS One, Little Brother, Royce da 5’9”, Jedi Mind Tricks, RJD2 + more. Known for hard-hitting drums and infectious bass lines, Praise has many production credits including Pharoahe Monch, BJ the Chicago Kid, Joyner Lucas, Torae + more. The group's album ‘Art of Disrespect' album is available below via Soulspazm Records, dig into it! Props to my brother Supa!

Emapea "Beat Catz Jazz" (Instrumental Album)

Beat Catz Jazz is an instrumental album from Polish beatmaker Emapea. The LP is full of chilled jazzy beats created with variety of dusty jazzy samples from vinyls, tapes and cassettes. Sounds been crafted with vintage samplers such as Akai s950 and s3000XL to add that lo-fi character. If you're into this such a vibe you'll definitely enjoy it. Using vintage samplers such as Akai s950 and s3000XL, you really get that throwback feel to the beats, and Emapea is really putting in the work to find some interesting samples and flipping them in creative ways to keep the music varied, funky, and fun to listen to. He’s also putting the work to make sure the tracks are nuanced and he develops them in such a way that you’re taken on a nice journey with each song. It’s not just a beat tape where he establishes a groove and then just stays there, these are fully formed songs with memorable melodies and beats that will keep your head bobbing. Beat Catz Jazz isn’t doing anything new, but it’s doing it very well. Certain styles persist because people like them and boom bap built from jazz samples is certainly one that has lived on because of this. Emapea is delivering an album in that style that is accessible, well-made, and just a lot of fun to listen to. - Scratched Vinyl. Dig in...

Killer Mike "Michael" (Album Stream)

Killer Mike's Michael marks the celebrated MC's first solo project since 2012's critically lauded R.A.P. Music; and serves as an introduction to the totality of Michael Render, a lifelong rap fiend whose consciousness is steeped in the sounds of community that raised him - multiple eras of southern rap flows, Sunday church service, and barbershop discourse. Michael features vocals from Ceelo Green, Mozzy, Young Thug, 6LACK, Jagged EDge, Andre 3000, Future, Ty Dolla $ign, 2 Chainz, Curren$y, El-P and more. The production is handled by No I.D., Cool & Dre, Don Cannon and El-P, among others. Destined for the award shows, best-of lists and all the other accolades it deserves, this is a fine mainstream release from a talented artist with a message. Dig into this album below...

Conway The Machine "Won't He Do It" (Album Stream)

Won’t He Do It is Conway the Machine’s third studio album and was going to be the first part in the Won’t He Do It duaology (but has now since been scrapped), following up his February 2022 album, God Don’t Make Mistakes. The album consists of fourteen tracks, with features ranging from Benny The Butcher, Dave East, Fabolous, Westside Gunn, Juicy J, Sauce Walka, and more. The album was preceded by four singles, "Super Bowl", "Brucifix", "Quarters" and "The Chosen". It is Conway The Machine's first studio album since his official departure from Shady Records and Griselda Records. With so much music released through this camp, it's hard to place Won't He Do It in their vast catalog, but critics are considering its release a highlight in his prolific catalog. What do you think?

Kid Abstrakt "Still Dreaming" (Album Stream)

Kid Abstrakt, the young MC from Los Angeles, CA represents the jazzy 90s rap sound like few else in 2023. Not only on the Westcoast but internationally. Kid Abstrakt is keeping the legacy of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and The Pharcyde alive and relevant by using it as a source of inspiration to tell his own story. Kid Abstrakt started out as part of local trio Revolutionary Rhythm before releasing his first album “Daydreaming” in 2017, produced by The Deli from Austin, Texas. With a growing fanbase overseas Kid Abstrakt started working with producers and bands like Cap Kendricks (Germany), Emapea (Poland) and Jazzbois (Hungary). “Still Dreaming” - his new album for Melting Pot Music - is entirely produced by Leo Low Pass from Amsterdam. Leo's signature sound of jazzy boom-bap and Lofi beats provides the perfect backdrop for Abs positive and skillful rhymes. Kid Abstrakt’s love for that jazzy boom-bap is all over the place. He even raps about it - with the same passion and humbleness that he raps about his life, his family and the world we are living in today. The album features Vsteeze, Tab One, Kamau, Awon, Rain Bisou and Hvmble. Dig into it...