Rafael Casal – Bay Area Slang Top 100 [The Grinch Song].

yes, that did happen. 100 different bay area slang terms in under three minute, and done in the utmost style. made me want to hear what else my man rafael casal had to offer.

so i did some digging, and it turns out, i’ve seen this guy around before. nah, not on the rap circuit or anything. he’s actually a spoken word poet, who was getting a whole lot of shine on def poetry jam as early as ‘04. and probably one of the few that i can follow all the way through their acts, plus he’s funny, and insanely intelligent. in fact, let’s slide you some of that footage real quick:

yeah, he did just rip that, didn’t he (and if you didn’t watch, go back. trust me. he killed it.). footage from a workshop he did in DC (i wish i knew the man was in town). i don’t know if he’s permanently switched to rhyming on beats, but if he can make more jams as crazy as this, i’ll be all ears (previous stuff by him is on his myspace). my bay area connect, kayla, passed this gem my way, and even though i’m not from cali, i will be there on saturday for two weeks, and will use this as my guide to conforming to that yay area lifestyle. yadadamean, bruh bruh!? if i were you, i’d get familiar with mr. casal via youtube clips, because he’s saying some crazy powerful stuff. a big fan, converted all over this one bay area joint. hope i can help convert the rest of you all.

DOWNLOAD: Rafel Casal – Bay Area Slang Top 100

Hyperizers – Don't Criticize (Hyperize).

this has been played in my iTunes so many times since i got it that i’m embarrassed to give you the number. i’m pretty sure DJ quik wrote all the verses (he made the beat and is all over the commercial), but the actual rappers are fog raw (mo williams), velvet hoop (kevin durant), and ice-o (rashard lewis), with chief blocka (andre iguodala) on the hook. still debating whose flow out of the three is the best, but my vote is currently with velvet hoop (0:59 is when he starts rapping. listen closely):

“ooooh, weeee! it’s velvet hoop, wristband fulla loot, right next to my shoo-ting-hand / what’s the temperature, sam? 80 degrees, i make a D freeze, bring ‘em punks to they knees.  . .”

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DOWNLOAD: Hyperizers – Don’t Criticize (Hyperize)

PREVIOUSLY: Hyperizers Music Video For “Don’t Criticize (Hyperize)”

Big Sean – Glenwood [feat. Kanye West] x Okay [feat. GLC & Chip Tha Ripper].

big sean has been on deck for a minute, but recent acquisitions to ye’s G.O.O.D. music imprint had people thinking he didn’t have his shit together. well, you all thought wrong. the mixtape dropped a month or so ago, and his mouth is back in people’s mouths like good gossip.

two tracks. first one came out recently, and the second one was supposed to be on the mixtape, but whoever put the final files together forgot to drag it into the folder. no joke. they are both ridiculous, and you should become a big sean believer after jamming both of them. can’t wait to see what beats skateboard p is cooking up for him.

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DOWNLOAD: Big Sean – Glenwood [feat. Kanye West]

“y’all ride the beat, i’m about to pop a wheely, bitch.”

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DOWNLOAD: Big Sean – Okay [feat. GLC & Chip Tha Ripper]

Cush Cush – Late Night Session, Vol. 1.

re-up cuz my mp3 player site went down earlier!

so i hit atlanta last spring, solo like i usually do when i make power moves, and i posted up with my cousin for about a week out in an area called cascade. that’s when i was introduced to some of the greatest music ever made.

i introduce to you CushCush, a duo out of h-town, texas. made up of my man b*luckett (on the right) and his man ace boon coon, the two have been DJ’ing for a minute, and love to jam that stuff with heavy drum breaks, crucial synths, and good vocals. i don’t even really know the genre they specialize in, but if i had to call it anything, i would say it’s a vicious mix between drum ‘n’ bass (D&B, google that stuff, it’s big in the UK!) club/house, and hip hop. essentially, i’m talking about any music that you want to just jam to, they fuck with and incorporate into their sets. it can be madonna, it can be project pat. and typically, it’s a mash-up of both.

anyway, after they sensed my intrigue, they gave me some required [online] reading material to get more acquainted with this type of music, like discobelle. i’ve been DL’ing these mixes ever since. great gym music! i’m sharing it with you. i kinda figure this is the future of music, because it combines all genres and types of people (hipsters, hip hop heads, ravers, suburbs, city folk, you get the idea) and makes the ultimate party-going experience, if you’re the open-minded type. in fact, i was in the A a few weeks ago, and my cuz and b*luckett took me to this spot, MJQ, which was probably the illest experience i’ve had in a club. ever. let me know how you feel about this 30-minute set right here, and be on the look out for more mixes just like this in the future.

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DL: CushCush – late night sesson (vol. 1)

Gorilla Zoe – Man I.

ain’t nothin’ like some trap boy storytelling. especially when it’s by gorilla Z-O. instead of going the typical “look at my canary yellow diamonds”, he decides to spit something candid. sure, not the most verbose lyricist, but surprisingly, it works well. a simple but solid jam.

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DOWNLOAD: Gorilla Zoe – Man I

jay-z – when the money goes.

possibly off the blueprint 3. sounds like his version of 50’s “21 questions” to me, but like 30 times triller. he’s on another level. 40 and still rapping better than everybody else. the beat is ridiculous, the charisma is top-notch. but that’s just my thoughts. you be the judge.

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DOWNLOAD: jay-z – when the money goes

the carps – heaven's gates & hell's flames [redux] [feat. the cool kids].

the first time i heard the carps was on my man lo’s love unlocked compilation mixtape he dropped last month. they’re a duo from canada that makes some vicious rock-esque music, and i’m down with it. the beat is ridiculous. if you heard just the instrumental, you’d think it was something from kanye’s new album. the cool kids add one of their more potent verses on this redux of "heaven’s gates & hell’s flames," too.

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DL: the carps – heaven’s gates & hell’s flames (redux) (feat. the cool kids)

my man seun threw me a video of their track “from compton to scarsboro,” and it’s pretty awesome. partially because I’M IN IT. yerp, around :45, listen and watch closely. you may just hear my name.

ok, i lied. but you definitely watched that shit because i said i was in it. got’em. anyway, i just picked up all their music, so if you like what you hear, e-mail me and i’ll send you a little more. it’s not free, so after that taste, you’ll have to buy it!

naeto c – kini big deal [video].

in nigeria, this joint is a BANGER. in fact, i need it to come to the US immediately, and hit the radios hard. i heard it while in vegas, my uncle put me on. the intro is kinda long…but the song drops at like 1:15 or so. enjoy.

i need more info about this guy! he’s too nice with it. and i think i’m about to make a mix compilation joint of international jams like this, because too much $#!t gets overlooked! my question to you all is, can this make it to the US and be successful!? why or why not?
DOWNLOAD: naeto c – kini big deal

janelle monae – metropolis.

janelle has been in a heavy rotation recently. saw her in the A, as well as in the bean, and she killed both performances. felt like i needed to share some joints from her first album, "the audition." it’s so damn elegant, i felt like i needed to throw it up. girls, forget beyonce. bump alicia. this is the baddest girl in the game right here.

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DL: janelle monae – metropolis

if you like what you hear, e-mail me. i’ll throw some more of her extra crucial joints your way.

wiley feat. daniel merriweather – cash in my pocket.

my dude smokeYYY threw me an e-mail about this track a minute ago, and i finally got the chance to jam it. UK grime MC wiley and australia’s illest crooner daniel merriweather collaborate on this craaazy track. the video is pretty dope too. the concept and execution is awesome. i feel like it’s a take on the recession, because you know everybody in the world gets affected when the US economy is failing. peep.

i’m pretty sure his label did a contest and told people whoever makes the most vicious video for this single would get 10 G’s. this was the winner, i guess. i woulda liked to see more wiley and daniel, though. cuz clearly they aren’t the white guys and gals in business suits singing along. but still, though.

DL: wiley feat. daniel merriweather – cash in my pocket

PREVIOUSLY: wiley – wearing my rolex