DJ Smooth Denali "I Got A Story To Tell" (Mixtape)

When you think about Hip-Hop's greatest storyteller, you undoubtedly think of the legendary Slick Rick, but how about Nas, Kool G Rap, The Notorious B.I.G., The Pharcyde and more of the genre's more elite storytelling lyricists? Well, sit back and enjoy this throwback mix from DJ Smooth Denali, who compiled a mix of some of the best tracks from those artists, along with Noreaga, Jay-Z, Redman, Lost Boyz, The Firm, Diamond D, Cru, Snoop Doggy Dogg, EPMD, Common, Eric B. & Rakim, and some exclusive blends mixed in!! Also, if you haven't checked out Irv Gotti's TV show, Tales, they turn classic records into hour long mini-movies - it's a dope show with some really unique concept flips. Whoever did the artwork for this mixtape needs to put some respek on Biggie's name, but all jokes aside, enjoy DJ Smooth Denali's "I Got A Story To Tell" mix from a couple years ago, and please wish him continued health as a (colon) cancer survivor. Stay blessed and healthy, sir! Salute.

Jay-Z "Dead Presidents" (The Source, 4/96)

"Jay-Z is an MC outta Brooklyn whose "Dead Presidents" has already gotten much airplay on NY's Hot 97. The cut works off a smooth piano loop and a sample of Nas' famous line: "I'm out for dead presidents to represent me." But it stands out from your average radio jam because of Jay-Z's tight flow and deep lyrics. "Dead Presidents" is not the typical loot tribute that we've come to expect, but an intelligent, cautionary tale: "I'm here to tell n!ggas that it ain't all swell / there's heaven, then there's hell / one day you're cruising in your 7 / next day you're sweatin' forgetting your lies / alibis ain't matchin' up / bullshit catchin' up." Peep the Making of Dead Presidents...

"The B-side, "Ain't No N!gga," uses the same beat that the Alkaholiks wrecked on "Only When I'm Drunk." The extra catchy chorus has a female / male dialogue - "Ain't no n!gga like the one I got / No one can f#ck you better" - that you won't be able to get out of your head. Here Jay-Z displays his impressive tongue twisting skills as he details his honey slayin' exploits. But the track is almost stolen by guest rapper Foxy Brown, who made a name for herself on LL Cool J's "I Shot Ya" remix. Her x-rated lyrics will have brothers jumping for the rewind button. Jay-Z has delivered two very tight jams, and his full length joint, Reasonable Doubt, should be one to check for." - The Source

If you'd rather read it directly from the source, or save a copy, check it out below.

DJ Alkemy / Empuls / Shark "Delusions Are Grandeur" (EP)

UK's DJ Alkemy has teamed up once again with Shark, and Empuls, for a brand new EP titled, Delusions Are Grandeur. The EP or maxi-single as its advertised features three tracks and three instrumentals. If you haven't heard DJ Alkemy and Shark's LP from last year "A Fish In A Bigger Pond," then you may not know why this was immediately added to rotation, but go back in the tags and check their last record as well as this latest drop, ASAP. You can stream the maxi-single below...

Jaguar Skills "Hip-Hop Time Bomb: 2000" (Mix)

Jaguar Skills hits right back with another hour-long mix! This time tackling the year 2000 with tracks featuring Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul, Xzibit, Black Rob, Big L, Royce Da 5'9, Eminem, Terror Squad, Common, The LOX, Jay-Z, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Reflection Eternal, The Beatnuts, Dead Prez, Necro, Shyne, OutKast, M.O.P., Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Big Pun, and lots of original samples mixed throughout... Peace to DJ Step One for doing the knowledge on this fine mix. 

The U.N. "World Domination" (Mixtape, 2001)

The U.N. was a Long Island-based group consisting of Dino Brave, Mike Raw, Laku and Roc Marciano, whom had just separated from Busta Rhyme's Flipmode Squad to focus on The UN at the time. Having first appeared on Pete Rock's Petestrumentals album in 2001, the group had a solid co-sign entering the game with two cuts on what was otherwise an instrumental album from Pete Rock. As we awaited their debut LP, which would later be titled "UN or U Out" on Carson Daily's 456 Entertainment, a slept-on mixtape called "World Domination" was released (bootlegged?) also in 2001. The street album/mixtape featured the cuts off Petestrumentals, as well as unpolished versions of tracks that would later appear on the LP, exclusive freestyles, tracks and remixes. Both the mixtape and LP raised their popularity in the streets, but gained very little mainstream attention. The UN also presented Roc Marciano's "Strength And Honor" mixtape independently in 2004, which kicked off with his self-produced "L.I. Stand Up;" a stand-out track in his catalog. Roc Marci re-emerged in 2010 with Marcberg, one of the rawest and grittiest albums of this generation, and created a sound coming out of New York that has carried its trend to the present day. On a somber note, I received a text earlier today that said that Mike Raw had passed away, so I wanted to share this project in his memory. His raspy delivery and solid production were integral pieces of The UN's appeal. Uniondale, Long Island stand up! Rest In Peace, Michael Marr aka Mike Raw! Listen below...

FastLife x Madhattan "No Politics" (Album Stream)

Fastlife and Madhattan have given us a bar-heavy project with this latest offering, No Politics. The project consists of 9 hard-hitting tracks with production from Ice Rocks, Bodybag Ben, NV, The Working Man, Ahj Adams, Lexwiththerecords and a solid feature from Nems (FYL). This is coming straight from the underground, should get a lot of love on mixtapes, mix-shows, and on the streets.

J.Period "Rage Is Back" (The Mixtape)

J.Period presents Rage Is Back, a mixtape featuring exclusive cuts/freestyles from Black Thought, Common, Blu, Talib Kweli, The Kid Daytona, and Shad! It also features tracks from Nas & Alicia Keys, Steele, Sean P & Styles, Q-Tip, GZA, Mobb Deep, Joey Bada$$ and a whole lot more. The exclusive cuts had been released prior, but now we have the full mix to sit with and enjoy. J.Period's mixes are always high-quality with lots of exclusive content, so enjoy his Rage Is Back mix streaming below...

Godfather Don x Parental "Osmosis" (Album Stream)

Godfather Don is back with a new album, fully produced by Paris-based Parental. With 16 tracks in total, Osmosis includes all instrumentals, plus a bonus beat by Godfather Don. Godfather Don first appeared in 1991 with Hazardous, released on the Select imprint. The album established Godfather Don as an MC influenced by the blatant, hard-hitting style of Chuck D. A few years later, the Don appeared on and produced the Ultramagnetic MC's' Four Horsemen, which led to a collaboration with that group's standout, Kool Keith. The Cenobites EP was issued on Fondle 'Em Records, which was started by Bobbito Garcia. The material on the EP had originally been recorded as promos for Garcia's underground hip-hop radio show on New York's WKCR. The Cenobites EP was then reissued by Fondle 'Em as a full-length LP. Throughout the 1990s, Godfather Don continued to work as a producer, working on tracks from Kool Keith, Hostyle, and Ayatollah, among others. In 1999, he released his second album, Diabolique, on which his flow was very similar to the bludgeoning raps of his 1991 debut. The album included cameo appearances from Kool Keith and Sir Menelik, and appeared on the Hydra Entertainment imprint, for which Godfather Don continued to record, releasing several 12" singles in 1999, 2000, and 2001. Check his latest effort, Osmosis, down below...