Guru "Gang Starr Mix Freestyles" (2005)

It's not all that noteworthy, but this is only my second leap year post (on this site). Back in 2016, I shared my brother One Be Lo's new album (at the time), The Original B.O.R.N. O.N.E.S., which is still a solid album, dig that up! This year? I was gonna do a post about Ja Rule, who celebrates his born day today, but I wasn't in the mood for that. So... I looked at my desktop screen, and on it was a file I'd downloaded from DJ Step One's website about Guru. Guru hosted a mix tape back in 2005 called The Official Gang Starr Mix CD, where he dropped a handful of exclusive freestyles. I owned that CD at the time and even included one of Guru's freestyles from it on my niche mixtape called FreeOfStyle in 2012. DJ Step One made one single MP3 out of all the individual freestyles on there, which I think is genius, and very much worth sharing/revisiting. Guru was a one-of-a-kind artist - his voice and the messages in his music were an integral part of my childhood. Click the tags, you'll see references time and again that Gang Starr is my favorite group of all-time, so it's no surprise DJ Premier and Guru pop up every couple of months on this site. I'm constantly revisiting the music and remembering memories where they were the soundtrack. Peep some tracks as elusive as 2/29...

Planet Asia x 38 Spesh "Trust The Chain" (Album Stream)

Planet Asia has recorded a number of albums with single producers (or production teams) throughout his prolific career. He has dropped classic material with DJ Muggs, Apollo Brown, Gensu Dean, DJ Concept, and of course his boys DirtyDiggs. However, according to King Medallions himself, his 38 Spesh-produced album "Trust The Chain" might be his best single-producer album yet. The pairing of PA’s funky linguistics and Spesh’s soul loops is a match made in Hip-Hop heaven. To further bolster the flavor on this fly affair, the LP also features Rasheed Chappell, The Musalini, Fred The Godson, and Elcamino. Planet Asia has definitely earned his spot in the sun... enjoy his new LP below.

UFO Fev & Statik Selektah "Fresh Air" (Album Stream)

East Harlem's own UFO Fev hooks up with the legendary DJ/Producer Statik Selektah for his latest release, “Fresh Air”. Entirely produced by Statik Selktah, “Fresh Air” combines smooth, soulful driven loops to which Statik is best known for. Accompanied by UFO Fev's slick verses, the listener can visualize the sharp wordplay provided by the NYCHA-raised emcee. In a time of repetition, “Fresh Air” is just that: Fresh Air! Don't let this one slip through the cracks, UFO Fev's projects have all been solid - dig back in the archives for the EPs produced by BackPack Beatz, too! Listen...

DJ Smooth Denali "Follow The Leader" (Mixtape)

Smooth Denali asks who's the greatest MC on this mixtape featuring Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, KRS-One, LL Cool J, Slick Rick and Kool G Rap. Smooth Denali runs through selected tracks from each of their catalogs, presenting some of his favorites from each MC and then leaves the decision up to the listener. Who do you got? As an MC, I'd take Rakim from this list ... but as an overall artist, I gotta take Big Daddy Kane, because his live show tips the scale. He's a tremendous performer! IMO. I'm not sure when DJ Smooth Denali released this particular mix, but luckily the music is timeless.

Royce Da 5'9 "The Allegory" (Album Stream)

Most known for his confident wordplay, revealing accounts of his life growing up in Detroit, overcoming addiction, and holding Rap peers accountable, Royce sits with Hip-Hop’s elite and continues to be one of raps most trusted brands. Through his hard work and dedication to his craft, Royce has built and maintained a cult following and the artistic pedigree of Ryan Montgomery has never been called into question. Instead, through recent releases, including Layers (2016), and Book Of Ryan (2018), Royce has been credited as a leader in the culture by making thought-provoking, thematic releases. The once self-proclaimed “best-kept secret” of Rap, this platinum-selling, list-topping MC continues to earn his accolades though his ability to release new music with an unmatched consistency. Enjoy Royce's Da 5'9's self-produced album, The Allegory, streaming below...

Elcamino x 38 Spesh "Martyrs Prayer" (Album Stream)

Elcamino is one of the most important talents emerging from Buffalo, New York currently, and yet he’s still treated as the stepchild of Griselda. As with Benny The Butcher before him, he’s been quietly playing the background until it’s his time. However, considering the momentum he built in 2019 and what he has planned for 2020, that time might be right now. After dropping his self-titled debut in early 2018, Camino appeared on almost every track on Benny’s "A Friend of Ours" EP the same year. He then followed that up with a strong sophomore effort titled "Walking On Water." In 2019 the Buffalo rapper dropped his third LP, "Don’t Eat The Fruit," the well-received "Lot and Abraham" EP, a joint project with Dutch beat architect Oh Jay titled "Where’s My Pyrex?," and finished the year strong with his "Elcamino 2" album. You would think that would be enough to start getting on the media’s radar, but as to not leave anything to chance, he's dropped yet another album titled "Martyrs Prayer." This latest offering is fully produced by 38 Spesh. Listen to it below...

Real Bad Man "On High Alert, Vol.1" (EP Stream)

Real Bad Man is a clothing brand based in Los Angeles…known for bold psychedelic graphics that "sample" imagery from the worlds of music, art and genre films. Now Real Bad Man is making music too, taking the same ethos of their clothing and bringing it to rap music with their release of ON HIGH ALERT, Real Bad Man’s first official release coming out through Tuff Kong Records in Italy. The five song vinyl album features a curated blend of new as well as iconic MC’s such as Roc Marciano, Kool Keith, Eto, Maxo, Masta Ace, Flee Lord, A.G., Pink Siifu, and Sadat X rapping over beats produced and arranged by REAL BAD MAN. The album is filled with the type of sample-heavy hard drum rap beats you’d want to hear your favorite MC’s to spit over. Listen to the EP below...

Take It Personal Podcast "Ras Kass Episode"

On Episode 58 of Take It Personal Radio, they continue with Part 2 of their Homage to Collabos special. They’re joined by one of the greatest lyricists to bless the mic, Ras Kass. They discuss collaborating with Xzibit, DJ Premier, Dr. Dre and Saafir. Additionally, they learn about his relationship with Coolio and the initial concerns with appearing on Chino XL’s "Riiot," as well as finding out 2Pac once requested 50 tickets to his show + learn what happened with The Horseman. Check out the dope interview down below. Props to Philaflava and the Take It Personal Radio team.