Foul Mouth "Soul Louis" (Instrumental Album)

Producers I Know (shouts to Dart Adams) presents Foul Mouth's "Soul Louis" beat tape: 20 really solid instrumentals of Detroit's gritty soul. Give it a full listen below and let Producers I Know be a standard for what to give instant support and attention to any time something drops through their site/label. I know Dart is A&Ring and executive producing a handful of projects, so keep it locked.

Skyzoo "Music For My Friends" (Album Stream)

Coming off of the success of his critically acclaimed sophomore LP "A Dream Deferred" and the heralded "Barrel Brothers" collaborative album with Torae, Skyzoo returns with his third solo effort "Music For My Friends". The album finds Sky back to what he's known for best: vivid storytelling, using elite lyricism to paint the scenes. Backed by production from !llmind, Apollo Brown, Jahlil Beats and more, with guest features from the likes of Jadakiss, Black Thought, Elzhi and Bilal, "Music For My Friends" is sure to fill the void of New York City soundtrack storytelling that Skyzoo's fans have been yearning for since his last solo release. Another real solid release, check it out below...

Cyrus The Great "King Kong Ain't Got Sh​*​t On Me"

Cyrus The Great releases his production album, "King Kong Ain't Got Sh*t On Me." Known to me originally as the producer from Film Skool Rejekts, then later work with Skyzoo & more, I am eager to check out this release with Torae, King Mez, DJ Prince (who mixed the original Film Skool Projects mixtape), Roc Marciano, Skyzoo and of course, Future Joyner now known as Joyner Lucas. I've heard the Roc Marciano and Skyzoo joints, both are dope, so I'm very optimistic. Dig into the album below. (Update: added is the new Deluxe, Bandcamp Edition, which includes four additional tracks).

The D&D Project (Hip-Hop Connection, 1995) + EPK

"Over the last few years D&D studios has become an icon in the east coast hip-hop culture. The lush New York studio, rumored to be equipped with Philly Blunt vending machines, is the venue notable producers and emcees choose to record. These include KRS-One who, along with the proprietors conceived this compilation. The opening cut "1,2 Pass It" by the D&D All-Stars is the spine of the album. Patrons consisting of Mad Lion, Doug E. Fresh, KRS-One, Fat Joe, Smif-N-Wessun and Jeru The Damaja go all-out over a smooth Primo beat, scratches and all." Cont'd...

"The rest of the album showcases the production talents of some of New York's finest and the rhyming skills of some underground unsigned hype. This includes offerings from Ill Breed and Fabidden Fruit, Beatminerz and Guru proteges respectively, however the noteworthy cuts include efforts of The Maniac Mob who serve up "Get Up" produced by the legendary producer The 45 King and "Look ALive" by Big C. Overall D&D Project boasts a fine body of work from unadulterated hip-hop talent. For purists eager to hear rhymes from emcees still hungry - this is the shit." - HHC

The full review in Hip-Hop Connection (1995) is below...

Leschea "Rhythm & Beats" (Vibe Magazine, 1997)

"Leschea comes off like a hardcore Brooklyn rapper who's trying the R&B side of the street by singing over recycled hip hop beats. Partying, street dreams, drug games, and hanging out on the Ave. are themes that keep popping up on Rhythm & Beats, especially on the current single, "Fulton Street," and "Let Me Know," an auto-biographical story about Leschea's relationship with a drug dealer. Leschea stays clear of everyday lovey-dovey songs and, instead, voices the pain of losing a loved one to the prison system. If R&B singers haven't been keeping it real, Leschea is trying to change all that." - Vibe, June-July 1997. Leschea was born and raised in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn NY, and began singing and performing at the age of eight. In 1995 she sang background vocals on Masta Ace's album, Sittin on Chrome which subsequently landed her a deal with Warner Bros. records in 1996. In 1996 she scored chart success with the singles "How We Stay" and "Fulton St.". "Fulton St." was a top 10 best selling single in NYC for seven weeks. Some say her debut album, Rhythm & Beats was prematurely released and never got the attention it deserved. She was released from Warner Bros. after the production company complained of poor marketing and promo. She has been married to executive producer Masta Ace since 2001 and currently has an online radio show called the "Leschea Show." Check out "Fulton St." and the full LP streaming below...

The full review in Vibe Magazine, June-July 1997...

DJ Killa-Jewel "UP2015" (20th Anniversary Mix)

Under Pressure is a graffiti festival which focuses on community development, artist empowerment and positive youth development through ownership and responsibility of a shared space. Currently heading into its twentieth year, this festival is the longest running graffiti and hip hop festival in existence. To hype the event, DJ Killa Jewel released this 20th Anniversary mix, filled with razor sharp cuts, original blends, breaks, and tracks featuring the Beastie Boys, DJ Kool, Ol' Dirty Bastard, KRS-One, Q-Tip, Dr. Dre, Kool & The Gang, The Notorious B.I.G., MC Serch, Aretha Franklin, and more. At around 30 minutes, this mini-mix is quick-paced and BEST-used as a workout mix. Listen below...

J1K "The Vault Vol.3" (Instrumental Albums)

As promised, the Maryland beatsmith J1K delivers on his the third and final installment in his series of free beat tapes entitled, "The Vault." I've posted all three beat tapes, so dig into this latest release below, then go back in the archives for the other two beat tapes. What's next, J1K?

One Be Lo "Laborhood Part IV" (Album Stream)

"The Laborhood mixtape series is a collection of songs that One Be Lo has made guest appearances on, aside from solo material. Part Four features 15 tracks, mixed by DJ Dyllemma. This collection spans over the last decade, highlighting various artists throughout the Laborhood. Laborhood Part Four was recorded in: Pontiac, New Jersey, Chicago, Seattle, Melbourne, Oakland, San Jose, Los Angeles, Austin, Auburn, Portland, Grand Rapids. Featuring: Gameboi, RoSpit, CyMarshall Law, Longshot, Ang13, Magniff, Def Dee, Ken Starr, Fluent Form, DJ Twelvz, Zumbi, Tableek, JFK, Authentic, Mic Phelps, Logic, FYA, DMT, Zeb, Dox Black, Haseeb the Futuristic, SubKulture Patriots, J Ross Parelli, Toni Hill, Ceasar, Marcus D, DJ Sav One, and more." - Stream Laborhood Pt. 4 below.