If you know me, if you’ve been in my vehicle or been in my dorm room while I was in college, you’d know that my affinity for A.B. The Pro‘s music is probably unrivaled. I have a lot of confidence in this SE representer’s sound, and he’s my favorite artist on DC’s Studio 43 imprint. I felt like his mixtape he dropped back in ’09 was criminally slept on as far as production and the artists featured. You can tell that he cares a lot about putting DC on the map, and he without a doubt brought out the best in artists that otherwise may not have been able to convince you of their talent. In my eyes, “Stussy on My Back” with Young Marley could have been a local smash if the proper push was behind it (Stussy could have easily jumped on that joint and licensed it out and more money could have been made!), but 43 made the poor decision to push “W On The Fitted” instead, which was by far the worst joint on the entire tape. No offense to any of the artists on that track, but…that joint was so weak.  But hey. I’m not hear to chastise too much. That’s the past. We’re on to the future.

A.B. let me hold an early version of the mixtape to give him some feedback and criticism, and it’s so awesome to see that not only did he take it well, but he actually listened to the majority of what I said! Swapped some songs out, changed the tracklisting, and dropped a lot of freestyles over industry beats. In order to give you A.B. as an artist as opposed to just a producer, I feel like he needs to rap over his own $#!t. The one thing that I wished he did was to start the album with “Young Jimi Hendrix” (which is the first preview I’m gonna give you), or at least make that joint #2! It goes way too hard and kinda introduces you to what the entire album is gonna be like. Besides that, I don’t have too many gripes. The beats are mixed and mastered to thump in the vehicle or through your headphones, he has some club bangers that’ll make you raise an eyebrow and wonder why he doesn’t have stuff on the radio (or with bigger artists outside of DC, to be completely honest), and while he’s not exactly a rapper, you can’t be mad at his lyrics, cuz it’s all stuff people can relate to.

DC is proud of this, but I’m tryna make sure everybody beyond DC hears this product. Featuring a lot of untapped and under appreciated talent that you can read about on the back cover, this is a really good project that I’m proud to have been a fake-me-out A&R on, lol. Nah but really. Jam the previews, and then grab it below.

DOWNLOAD: A.B. The Pro – Crown Vic Music [Mixtape]

curren$y the hot spitta has been so consistent as of recent. i wonder how wayne feels now that he’s established himself as a brand without the help of young money. and how does mack maine feel!? he’s still under wayne’s wing, but he isn’t making any noise!

one new joint, one old. both beats are insanity, because his beat choice is second to like only a couple people. and that’s a huge skill to have, because too many great rappers pick wack ass beats to flow on.

DOWNLOAD: Curren$y – Rapper Weed [Ruby Hornet Exclusive]

DOWNLOAD: Curren$y – Galaxy Rap

roc nation’s first signee, j. cole, has released his highly-anticipated mixtape, the warm up. you probably typed in “j. cole – the warm up mixtape” in google and came across my site first. why? it’s cuz i had it before the masses, the johnny-come-latelys, the hop-on’ers. somehow, some way, i finagled a copy of it before the masses. don’t underestimate the little blogger.

this could be the best mixtape of the year. everybody’s been saying how hip hop has been on the steady decline, and there’s nobody out there bringing that fire like back in the days. i’ve jammed it just once. a few of the tracks were leaked earlier this year, but those who are on the fence about his ability to make a good song or the hype surrounding his name will be silenced, and quickly. jam this, and spread it to the world. i’ll bless you with one sample for those unsure of the man’s skills. the download link is below. enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: J. Cole – The Warm Up

BONUS: Pardon Me Duke x J. Cole – The Warm Up to The Warm Up: Overtime [Video Interview]

this is one of those joints that should do me great work in the google search bar. let’s get it. the ever-so-prolific lil wayne raps about how he is essentially kobe bryant. don’t believe me? play/download it below to hear him plead his case, complete with sound bytes from interviews and quotes from #24 himself

. sounds like a soundtrack joint to me. not bad, though. i feel like he made it a few hours ago. know where you saw it first. oh, and kobaybay is officially the cover guy for the world’s greatest basketball video game. if you played live, convert to 2k sports, immediately.

DOWNLOAD: Lil Wayne – Kobe Bryant

oh my lord. studio 43‘s A.B. the Producer has delivered with this one.

this among is the most enjoyable mixtapes i’ve jammed in a while. i didn’t say the most technical, or the most ingenious. A.B. is a producer first, but as a rapper/singer/whatever you wanna call it, he’s definitely entertaining and can make some catchy songs. agree or disagree, i don’t really care. i’m all about those craaaaaazy beats. that’s what i live for. and apparently, so does A.B. i remember after i heard his “charisma” last year, i was beyond impressed with his production skills, but to see such tremendous growth in such a short period makes me pretty excited to see what the future holds. from samples to original compositions, he rocks every single beat. i even think some of these joints should be held for some A-list talent (meaning world famous, not like the artists on the mixtape aren’t good. you know what i mean!) if you ask me.

i really dig how the DMV artists all support each other. virtually anybody who is anybody on the scene blesses the mixtape with a verse. literally. you name them, they’re probably on it. yes, that means wale is on the joint. but so are raheem devaughn, lyriciss, marky, pro’verb, mouse, X.O., ra the MC, and a slew of other emcees and singers. you gotta check the tracklisting after the jump to see who else blesses the mixtape.

A.B., this joint cranks. great work. everybody needs this in rotation right about now. i’m throwing up a couple samples, just in case all these words didn’t persuade you to download it yet.

*note: you need some nice speakers to jam these. trust me. at least have some bass at your disposal.*

DOWNLOAD: A.B. the Producer – Producer’s Credit [Mixtape]

tracklisting after this.

OH BOY!

damn, man. i actually need to clown gucci mane (gov’t name: radric davis) because at the end of the clip, he attempts to pull a "hip hop made me do it" excuse. lame.

i know what you’re thinking. no more zaythoven-produced trunk thumpers. but my man theo hooked me up with the latest mixtape w/ dj drama that dropped a few hours ago! goodness. gucci fans, rejoice. and those who aren’t yet, we’ll convert you.

pictures are worth 1,000 words.

because there was no neptunes beats. you already know i’m a skateboard p groupie, so i’m co-signing. check out complex mag’s vicious article chronicling the break ups of rappers and their go-to producers, and see why TI needs to go back in the lab with DJ toomp, and why snoop & dre need to address their differences and make more gin & juice-esque joints.

want to know what the album could have sounded like with some different production? rapper/producer j. cole can help. yeah, the same dude who made this track. here’s a beat he produced for the final version of the album. i’ll give you both versions to jam, and you be the judge as to whether it’s better than the original beat. oh, and j. cole made these BEFORE the re-up gang x nahright.com remix contest, too.

j. cole’s version of “million dollar corner”:

vs.

album version:

download: j. cole’s version of re-up gang’s “million dollar corner”

if you like, e-mail me. i got more of his clipse beats.

wale’s new mixtape just dropped over @ elitaste.com. but we’ll help you out and link you to it.

download the mixtape about nothing: pt. 1 and pt. 2.

it’s actually marvelous. and there was one part where i said, “uh oh. too many slow joints on this thing.” and then he did something i’ve never heard before. that joint is called “the manipulation,” and it is INSANE!i’m giving props where they are do, and this man is one clever ass guy. he hit the game with an unheard of angle. and i co-sign it all. i hate to be on anybody’s johnson but he wins mixtape of the year. early. yes, i’m biased. but it’s also that good.

my opinion means nothing though. but it’s a crucial mixtape. i just gave it 4 stars in itunes. and that’s rarer than that steak i was eating in paris.

bonus track: the hacksaw jim juggan (feat. skyzoo)

candidate for greatest track i’ve heard this year. why didn’t it make the mixtape!? and the song title makes sense after you hit that wikipedia.