The Combat Jack Show "Joe Budden Episode"

On the latest episode of the Combat Jack Show, the crew welcomes back the Jersey eMCee Joe Budden. Joe discusses his new album with AraabMuzick, Rage & the Machine, maturation in Hip-Hop (and life), the success of I'll Name This Podcast Later, his historic beefs over the course of his career, Slaughterhouse, and the crazy shit with the kids that ran up on his property. Sidenote: Drake following those kids after that whole ordeal ... that's not smart at all, but super petty lol. With Joe Budden, you never know what'll come up, you just know it'll be entertaining, so dig in below.

Tiff The Gift "It Gets Greater Later" (Album Stream)

"It Gets Greater Later" is the 3rd studio album from Don't Sleep Records' Tiff The Gift. The LP features production from Phoniks, JR Swiftz, LinkRust, F. Draper, Kalvion & Kameleon Beats, as well as vocals from Dephlow and her husband - and dope MC - Awon. Oh, and peace to DJ Sayeed too, that's the homie! In a thought similar to "this too shall pass," Tiff shares optimism with her title, as well as a tip to the progression and growth in her life and her music. The Don't Sleep Records brand is about quality every time, so by the time the music reaches us, you can rest assured it's a solid listen from start to finish. With that, click play to stream Tiff The Gift's latest offering below. 

Cormega "Mega Fresh X" (Song + Rap Pages, 2006)

"I don't even know how this song came out. It's a freak accident and a blessing. It's like having Jordan with Abdul-Jabbar, etc. I always said that if I had to do a song that reflected NY, I'd get some of the top people from those boroughs. So Kane was the pinnacle of Brooklyn, KRS-One is The Bronx, I said I'll hold down Queens even though I'm not from that era. For Westchester, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, the outer areas was Grand Puba. Then Long Island is Rakim. I wanted to get Force MDs to rep Staten Island, but they're there in spirit. I had an alternate for every slot since people like Rakim are hard to get. My second choice was EPMD for LI. So Parrish Smith came through and did it. If I couldn't get Kane, somebody suggested Special Ed, but he said he wanted $10,000! I said hell no, he ain't had a record out since The Smurfs was on. Kane came through and blessed it, plus he ain't kill my pocket. KRS-One came through and did it with no problem. Then Puba came through and we had the stack of money waitin' and he did his thing. I'm not afraid to admit I was a fan of somebody. For me to sit and watch Kane spit was a crazy honor. The song is my greatest achievement as an artist. No matter what I sell, I'm trying to get Red Alert to do the intro, he'll rep Manhattan. Now I just gotta get Ralph McDaniels to do the video. I have a title, but I'm not gonna say yet..." The track was originally released to blogs/radio in July '08 with the title "Fresh," but when Cormega's Born and Raised album officially dropped in October 2009, it was called "Mega Fresh X," with production from the legendary D.I.T.C. producer Buckwild. Listen to it below...

Mister Cee ‎"Best Of Jay-Z, Lifetime Pt. 2" (Mixtape, 1998)

Mister Cee's Best Of mixtapes are always legendary, starting with Notorious B.I.G. and Redman, as well as Mobb Deep and others. That said, this Tape Kingz release of The Best of Jay-Z, Lifetime Pt.II is another tape to keep in your walkman. Over two dozen tracks from Hov, some featuring artists like The Ranjahz, Memphis Bleek, Big Jaz, Sauce Money, Puff Daddy, Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Lil' Cease, Christion, Rell, Ja Rule, DMX, M.O.P., Jon B, Amil, Kid Capri, Foxy Brown, The Lox, Beanie Sigel, Timbaland and more. With Jay-Z's illustrious career still in progress and having succeeded so much since '98, this Best Of tape feels premature and doesn't tell the full story, but you should listen anyway... it's Hov! Props once again to DJ Step One for the quality rips. Click through for more.

CM Jones "Motions" (Album Stream)

Creestal (French producer) and MoShadee (New Jersey MC) are CM Jones. "Motions" is a cerebral and personal release with dope production and features from Blu, Georgia Anna Muldrow and King Krab. The release comes with the following note: "The aura, feelings, vibe, and sound of a life story. Movements, ups and downs, emotions, trials and tribulations forming the title "Motions." Also added is a personal note from the label sharing that "It took a year plus to get to this point. Major sacrifices were put into effect to reach this very moment. More than anything, CM Jones deeply emptied themselves into this project. Motions is now available for stream & purchase on cassette, vinyl, and of course digitally. It's been a very long anticipation from us on this side and, we couldn't be more than anxious to present this creation to you all. With more than love" - Munchie Records

Cru "Just Another Case" (The Source, May 1997)

Now this ain't funny, so don't you dare laugh / Just another case about the wrong path... "Just Another Case" pays homage to old-school storytelling tales like Slick Rick's "Children's Story." Fittingly, the Ruler makes a regal return, adding his genius on the song's final verse. The thumping, soap-opera style, piano laced groove is sure to be a favorite for jeep pumping, and will provide needed exposure to this unusual crew. Cru's album "Da Dirty 30" was a slept-on album that had bangers like "Pronto" and features from Ras Kass, The LOX, Black Rob among others elsewhere on the album. Rumor had it that Yogi, Chadio & the Mighty Ha, as Cru, were set to blow until a less than stellar live show performance derailed their efforts. Any truth to that? Check out the abbreviated video for "Just Another Case" below, and definitely revisit "Da Dirty 30." - The Source.

The full review in The Source is available below...

The Game "1992" (Album Stream)

Compton's The Game delves into his childhood and life of gang banging during a time of high racial tensions in the nation on his new album, 1992. The Game explains, "1992 was inspired by what was going on in my life, my city and the world when I was 12 years old coming into my teenage years: The Los Angeles Riots, Michael Jordan and the Dream Team who won Olympic Gold... Crips & Bloods were pulling me in both directions and joining one of the gangs was almost a normality for a young African American male growing up in Compton & the surrounding areas of Los Angeles County... Rodney King getting abused by the cops was an unforgettable incident and caused mass hysteria worldwide and the famous OJ Simpson car chase/trial was a huge worldwide televised situation that racially divided a country... So these are some of the many topics based around my childhood touched on in this album. To understand my life you have to understand what I've been thru, live where I've lived, and watch lives of people you loved get erased because of their colors." Another solid LP from The Game, even with the Meek Mill beef that helped promote its release. The Game's diss track over Young M.A.'s "Ooouuu," called "Pest Control," made it entertaining at least. Dig in...

Tony Touch "Hip Hop 28" (Mixtape, 1993)

I have been listening to a lot of Tony Touch mix tapes lately. I'll eventually post about each of them, but I may bounce around between years depending on my mood. This is Hip Hop 28, released in 1993, and featuring a bunch of recognized classics from artists like Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, Lords of the Underground, Yo Yo, The Beatnuts, Funkdoobiest, Mobb Deep, Dr. Dre, Redman, Tim Dog, The Pharcyde, Freestyle Fellowship, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Erick Sermon, Run DMC, Souls of Mischief, Nine, Big Daddy Kane and even Biggie's early smash "Party and Bullshit." Updated the audio below...