Thorough "Cassette Tape Malfunction" (EP Stream)

The Jamaica, Queens eMCee Thorough and producer CrazyBeatsP are back with their new EP, "Cassette Tape Malfunction." Along with the lead single, "Distortion," the project features a total of 9 hard tracks to dig through and like Thorough says, "Me and P make music one way: aggressively." If you came up in the 80s, you remember the cassette tape days, don't let that sh!t pop! Dope artwork, too. Listen to "Cassette Tape Malfunction" below and hit the archives for more releases.

Sauce Money "Next" Feature in Vibe Magazine (March, 1999)

"Anything worth having," says Sauce Money ... "is worth working towards." Todd "Sauce Money" Gaither, a product of Brooklyn's infamous Marcy Projects knows of what he speaks. Best known for penning Puff Daddy's mega-selling 1997 B.I.G. tribute, "I'll Be Missing You", Sauce spent the better part of this decade serving hard time in hip-hop's underground scene. He did everything from ghostwriting for Shaq to rhyming on the virtually forgotten Big Daddy Kane posse cut "Show & Prove" from Daddy's Home (MCA, 1994), all while he maintained a full-time job - until misfortune struck. "Them bastards fired me," says Sauce, as exasperated as if it happened last week instead of nearly two years ago. "I was like, How dare you? I worked in the fuckin' mail room at this bank for five years, and it was pure hell. And then I got the boot!" But two days later, thanks to a stellar appearance on DJ Clue's '96 Show Me The Money mix tape ("You must be Chinese / The way you try to duck Sauce"), Money scored a recording contract with Geffen (around the same time he had written "I'll Be Missing You"). After the 1998 joint venture with MCA and Geffen hip hop acts, he became an MCA artist. In creating his debut, Middle Finger U (from the title cut: "If you interfere with how I'm trying to get this paper -- fuck you!), due in late March, Sauce applied the same drive he had playing sports for Allen University in Columbia, S.C. "I got a scholarship to play baseball and basketball, and I was real good," he says with a smile. "That's what happened with rap. Once you find something that you're good at, there's nothing like it -- especially if you can make money doing it." Now that things are really going his way, don't expect Sauce to rest until he reaches the top. "I'm up 5:30 every morning," he says. "While n!@@as is sleepin', I've already written three or four songs. God blesses me, and I'm gonna keep workin'." It seems a hit maker's job is never done. - Vibe (3/99)

Blu & Exile "True & Livin" (EP Stream)

After 2017’s 10 year anniversary tour of Below The Heavens and a b-sides/rarities release in In The Beginning many wondered whether or not Blu & Exile would ever reunite for a proper new release or if that year was as much a curtain call as it was a celebration. Putting those questions to rest, Dirty Science Records is proud to announce the True & Livin EP – as Blu & Exile’s undeniable chemistry is yet again put on display. “True and Livin feels like a spiritual call to all that have honor and truth in their being. It sees how present day and beyond is always trying to calculate or monetize what comes from God or what comes from an artist’s spirit, but it also recognizes the truth that is inside of Blu and Exile's music and brags about it, even in a humble way somehow. This might be the first hip hop braggadocio song that invites us all to feel the same about themselves as long as they connect to the spirit and truth that is inside this song and inside us all.” Exile says about the EP’s title track. Positivity and strength remain a theme on this EP, in Spread Sunshine and the stand out posse cut featuring most of the Dirty Science crew in Choosey, Johaz, Cashus King, Aloe Blacc, Fashawn & Blame One on Power To The People. Blu adds, “"Power To The People” is a call to the people, a call for the people to unite. Unification is power, power in numbers.” The title track is incredible, so order the EP over HERE via Fat Beats and listen below...

Pusha T "Exodus 23:1" / "Happy Born Day"

“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness," says Exodus 23:1 in the New King James Version. On Pusha's T born day today, I'm looking back at one of the most incredible diss tracks ever released, and no, it's not "Story of Adidon." On "Exodus 23:1" - which currently stands near 2M plays on the original Soundcloud link - Push says, "Contract all f#cked up, I guess that means you all f#cked up / You signed to one n!@@a that signed to another n!@@a / That's signed to three n!@@as, now that's bad luck..." If there's a tutorial on how to take shots without saying names, this is it ... Drake felt that shot across the bow. At the time, Lil' Wayne took no time in taking to Twitter to tweet out, "Fuk Pusha T and anybody that love em." With the gritty track, which parallels The Notorious B.I.G.'s "What's Beef," Push continues, "Beef will have you keying our cars / Heartbroke, yours don't look like ours..." The video - directed by Samuel Rogers - is the perfect complement to the already gritty, aggressive track. When the beef bubbled back up between Push and Drake last year, I was quick to say Drake might have the upper-hand using his celebrity, but he don't want it with Push. This track is the reason for me saying that. What we've learned since is that you can lose a battle and still sit atop the industry, but certainly Push further cemented his legacy with the victory. Leave Pusha T alone... and, HBD!

DJ C.S.P. "Still A Fan" (Instrumental Album)

DJ C.S.P. is a DJ and producer from Hamburg, Germany. His latest instrumental project, "Still A Fan," may have flown below the radar for some readers, but I'm definitely hoping to put you up game.... What we have here is 10 really solid boombap instrumentals, from a true fan of hip-hop. In his own words, he dedicates this record "to all the hip hop fans worldwide," and "without the DJ, hip-hop wouldn't be here!" Facts. If you've been following the breadcrumbs from past posts, you should be familiar with DJ C.S.P. from his sharp cuts on projects with KLIM Beats. You can stream the instrumental album below and definitely click through if you're interested in ordering it on vinyl, too.

Diamond D "The Diam Peace 2" (Album Stream)

Diamond D is a legendary producer and a part of the crew, Diggin In The Crates (D.I.T.C.) that includes members: Diamond D, Big L, Fat Joe, Lord Finesse, O.C., Buckwild, Showbiz & A.G.. Keeping with his legendary status, Diamond D enlist an all-star cast for The Diam Piece 2, the follow up to part one. The LP features appearances from Fat Joe, Snoop Dogg, Elzhi, Raekwon, Styles P, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Erick Sermon, Boot Camp Clik, O.C., Havoc, Xzibit, and more! Listen below...

Teo Frank "Underdogs" (Hip-Hop Documentary)

Téo Frank was just 18 and an aspiring director when he decided to try his luck at filmmaking on the other side of the Atlantic. After a series of encounters and experiences, his trip took a turn when he crossed paths with photographer Mason Strehl in Alaska. Their encounter took him to New York where he got the chance to work with underground Hip Hop artists Awon, Phoniks, Tiff the Gift, and Dephlow of Don't Sleep Records. From this adventure a documentary was born called UNDERDOGS. Who are the rappers in this film? Téo didn't know them when he began, and never dreamed their encounter would change his life the way it did. This is an inspiring documentary, now available to stream on Netflix! In the meantime, check out the trailer below and much love to everyone at Don't Sleep Records! You'll want to hit the archives for all of their great music, too! Update (2021): unfortunately the link to the documentary's trailer has been removed (I don't know why), so I added a behind the scenes video instead. I still highly recommend that you check this out!

DJ S&S "F#ck Everybody" (Mixtape, 1997)

Takin' it back to 1997, this is DJ S&S's F#ck Everybody mix tape via Tape Kingz. Me and my boy were talking earlier about Ron G and Dirty Harry, a few other mixtape DJs, then we both agreed that DJ S&S had some classic tapes back in the mid-90s. This one is sure to dig up some old memories for you, as well, as it features tracks from The Notorious B.I.G., Tracey Lee, Rampage, Mobb Deep, Heavy D, Mary J. Blige, Big Pun, KRS-One, Royal Flush, Money Boss Players, 2Pac and more. This tape was heavy on Biggie tracks, and you can imagine why at the time. Classic shit, dig into it below...