Hot off the heels of his recent charity work with Boj za Kosovo, our favourite Serbo-Canadian Filip Filipihas hit us up with another brand new track from his upcoming mixtape 'Life, $$$ & Cashmere'. '624' is Filipi's own interpretation of Jai Paul‘s 'Jasmine' and clocking in at just under two minutes, it clearly isn't the longest track. However, though the track does leave the listener wanting more, it is for all the right reasons. Filipi's flow is tight, his lyrics are sharp and seductive and topping it all off is Jonathan Lee's stellar production. It just a shame there's no second verse...nevertheless the track is available for FREE download here and is a must listen for hip-hop fans.
We've been waiting on French duo Chill Bump'sthird EP and after the excellent first two efforts, it's safe to say our expectations for 'Hidden Strings' were high. Fortunately those expectations have been met, perhaps even surpassed by Bankal and Miscellaneous' latest release. Bankal's beats are, as always, well on form, with complex and unique use of samples and original material to create perfect audio backgrounds to Miscellaneous' words, it's very hard to pick a stand out track in this regard, but the mellow final track, '5 Minute Breather', is fast becoming one of our favourite hip-hop beats of all time.
On the lyrical front the story is much the same. Miscellaneous' vocalenergy is sublime, yet aggressive when he needs it to be. His flow remains unquestionably tight and his highly charged lyrics, discussing everything from politics, to creativity, to the condition of the modern man, serve to truly cement each tracks' status as a valuable work of art. Again, choosing a stand out track isn't easy, but in this case we've chosen the politically charged opener 'Life Has Value', in which Miscellaneous' aggressive delivery and revealing observations surmise perhaps his finest lyrical peak to date. As with previous releases this EP is available for FREE via BandCamp, so listen below and head on over to grab it. This is yet another exciting release in a string of commendable Hip-Hop efforts by Chill Bump, so grab the other releases if you haven't already and show some love on their Facebook. There's big things in store for these guys in the future and we can't wait to see what's next.
French hip-hop duoChill Bump's third EP is almost ready and will be available from June18th via Bandcamp. In the meantime, the guys have been hard at work on their latest single, the laid back 'Chillin' With The Bump' and its accompanying video, sharing Benoît Dogniez's vision of the group's first residence to the sound 'Chillin' With The Bump'.
Check the track and video below, as always it's a FREE download
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We're always in the market for decent hip-hop here at The HotBox, so when Atlanta's Dee Brown sent over his track 'Sleep Walking Diaries' he immediately grabbed our attention. We were admittedly a little skeptical, the signature Atlanta 'chopped and screwed' style isn't normally our flavour, however Dee Brown isn't your normal Atlanta rapper.
Tight flows, rapid word play and soulful beats; this ain't 'chopped and screwed hip-pop', Dee Brown spits 100% pure emotional hip-hop. It's refreshing, it's new, and most of all raw.....reminiscent of artists all the way from Blu to LeftBoy and ChillBump.
Check out 'Sleep Walking Diaries' as well as his other singles below, all of which are available for FREE via Soundcloud. This guy is going places, no doubts about that.
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What's that? A new, as yet unreleased collaborative track with two of biggest legends in Hip-Hop? Yep, that's right...looks like Mos Def is back with more hard hitting, complex word play and with J.Dilla on the beats...well, this track can't fail.
Although it ain't out yet, you can can't check out the radio rip below and grab it for FREE here
When it comes to laid back, easy going Hip-Hop, you can always count on EvanAwake. Whether it's a mash-up, a collaboration or an instrumental, EvanAwake always stamps his own recognisable mark on everything he produces....and each track he makes makes us love him just that bit more....
Below is a preview of his latest collection 'Minowa', check it out and as always the album is available for FREE here
Quality Hip-Hop is hard to come by, but we seem to be getting lucky lately here at The HotBox. French Duo Chill Bump have been around for a while, but are just starting to gain traction outside of France.
Production wise beatmaker Bankal's heavilysample-based beats are tight and bouncey and compliment MC Miscellaneous versatile flow and vocal delivery. According to the duo, 'Chill Bump is 100% DIY,' and their spontaneous, hands on approach really comes through in 'Back To The Grain', particularly in the stand out track 'It's Alive!'
The 6 track album is available at the duo's BandCamp for FREE or name your price.....can't argue with FREE...especially since the Chill Bump fellas believe 'real rap music ain't made under pressure'.....and anyone who quotes Gangstarr is alright by us.....the hip-hop resurrection continues
'Dunson resigned from his career as an investment advisor to become a full-time artist in 2010. After spending a multitude of years playing in bands of different genres, the Maryland native took the chance to become a solo artist focusing on lyrics and production.'
Unusual back story aside...this Maryland native - Financial Advisor turn Rapper - is showing some promising talent, both in terms of vocals and production. Yes the lyrics aren't exactly revolution and delivery isn't always on point, but nevertheless Dunson provides interesting potential in a sea of rap mediocrity.
Check out 'Count On It' and his contribution to The Foodchain's 'Traction' below and see for yourself.....plus both tracks and more are available for FREE on his Soundcloud.
So the 'OF Tape Vol. 2' has been out a few days and the reaction positive, though lacking the shock factor of previous releases. But this is a good thing for OFWGKTA, the album itself represents a move away from filler tracks and shock factor for shock factors sake. Yes, we did receive the "Rella" and "NY (Ned Flander)" videos; two high budget 'look at us!' head turners for the fleeting hipster-hop fans of Odd Future, but ultimately this album goes back to what made the OF boys really stand out (if only really coming to fruition a few times on the album) tight unified collaborations on beats, aggressive verses and spontaneous videos.....all of which is summed up in the 10min long epic finale of the album, 'Oldie'.
'Oldie' doesn't need to be 10 minutes long and it doesn't need a lo-fi spontaneous video with members stumbling over their verses, but both these factors are as deliberate as the inclusion of every OFWGKTA, member, up to and including Hodgy Beats, Mike G and Frank Ocean, hell even Jasper Dolphinspits his debut verse.....it might border on overkill but it reminds us all not just how each member can stand alone on their individual skills, but how their collaborative nature is what made them worth watching in the first place.....and yes while Tyler the Creator still dominates this album as he has before, it's hardly a bad thing.....plus Earl Sweatshirt's return is much appreciated.
Check the video for 'Oldie' below and grab 'The OF Tape Vol. 2' available via iTunes
Its been about 5 years since we last heard from Brooklyn's El-P, but it seems now that he's back with a bang, with a forthcoming album 'Cancer for Cure' on the way.
'The Full Retard' is just a sample of what to expect from the album....and a track as hard hitting as this can only mean good things for hip-hop....little more need be said really as the track speaks for itself.....El-P goes in hard!
Check it below and cop it for FREE here...'Cancer for Cure' drops on May 22nd via Fat Possum.
"You should pump this shit, like they do in the future"
It's rare that someone starts a sentence with 'I just heard about this great Austrian rapper', but that's exactly what we've found in Left Boy, probably the most promising talent we've heard off the continent in a long time. Left Boy's vocal delivery style is emotional and flawlessly tight, even if his lyrics (English for the most part) aren't necessarily the most complex, they are nevertheless often clever and frequently amusing....vaguely reminiscent of something Das Racist might put out. However, it's Left Boy's production that really shines, with perfect composition and stellar use of unique samples such as Charles Bradley's 'The World is Going Up in Flames' in 'Vie' and Radiohead's 'Talk Show Host' in 'I Want To'.
His talent really needs to be heard to be believed, easily trumping the majority of hip-pop in the charts these days. Left Boy might not be the future of hip-hop just yet, but he's certainly got the talent for it....it won't be long before his presence extends well out of Austria.
Check his tracks below, and grab them now while they're FREE.
First things first, I am little biased when it comes to UK rap, perhaps it's because i'm a southerner, but i've never really had the urge to check out the scene up north (despite being a now and again Leeds resident).
So when Skittles PR team sent over 'Poor With £100 Trainers' I have to acknowledge my immediate skepticism. This just made it all the more surprising, to discover that 'Poor With £100 Trainers' is, im my view, the biggest breath of fresh air since Example's 'What We Made'.
As an MC, Manchester's Skittles aka Liam Kelly, is way ahead of his 'Grime-turned-pop-turned-UK Hip-Hop competition. With a mature and meticulous flow, complete with meaningful, heartfelt lyrics, which are in turn laden with complex metaphor and intricate rhyming structures. Skittles is clearly on top of his game. Throughout the album his lyrical talent shines through, whether in the dark paranoia of 'Shottin', the laid back leisure of 'Watchin You', or the socio-political commentary of the album's namesake track 'Poor With £100 Trainers'.
Never the one trick pony, Skittles is also a talented composer, having been responsible for a great deal of the album's production, which for the most part is solid if a little conventional.
A particular personal highlight is the nostalgia laden 'Spiffy and Eclipse', especially for those of us that remember "Adidas Poppers....Opal fruits...and LA Light trainers".....if you're a 90s child, this track will absolutely bring back fond memories.
This may be a debut album, but it's by no means amateur, while not every track on the album is a winner, and there are a few skits, which while amusing, seem to be playing the album filler role more than anything else. Nevertheless the highlights of this album more than justify the investment for Rap/Hip-Hop fans, especially those that prize genuine lyrical talent and expression over gimmicky auto-tune pop music by numbers.
At it's best 'Poor With £100 Trainers' is a showcase of superb young talent, yet the fear remains.....let's hope Skittles continues to bring us more highly crafted and meaningful music, instead of going the route of endless UK MCs (Plan B, Example, Kano, Wiley) all the way to (hip)-pop.
Check out the album sneak-peak preview medley below (which I should point out barely gives scope of the albums stand out tracks) and see for yourself.
'Poor With £100 Trainers' drops Worldwide on March 12th via Estate Recordings SKITTLES - Poor With £100 Pound Trainers (sneak peak shadow section) by Skittlesuk
I've always had a certain respect for Bruce Springsteen, and yet I wouldn't consider myself a fan....the same can be said for the industry's other 'Boss', Rick Ross.
It's hard to say where mash-up producer Jonathan Lee's got the inspiration for this blend of bosses, and I can't even say whether I'm 100% confident whether it works or not. 'Born To Run' and 'Secret Garden' seem to work effortlessly, an eclectic blend of two great but far removed artists. Yet tracks like 'Blood Brothers' and 'Streets of Philadelphia' vary from moments of harmony to sounding like clashing records from separate speakers.
Regardless, even if only for it's sheer audacity this Mash-Up album is worth a listen. Some die-hard fans are bound to get upset, however the concept will bring a smirk to the mouth of most and maybe even a genuine intrigue and love for this unusual combination....just like whiskey and mint, it shouldn't work, but it does...and this album is arguably one hell of a julep.
Besides, it's a FREE release....so what have you got to lose, preview below and d/l here Rick Ross X Bruce Springsteen - Boss vs Boss by yearofthelee
I'm normally a fan of, well...Serbian/Canadian rap......and Filip Filipi's laid back and loose rhythm structure and lyrical construction wouldn't normally suit my style (more of a Kweli and Mos Def man I spose). However there's nothing like the tight production of Mansion On The Moon and The Neptune's Pharrell to spice up a track.
While Filip Filipi rhymes might not be the best, his delivery is solid and suits the overall chilled vibe of the track...factor in that it's a FREE release and this is an easy win for electro/hip-hop fans.
Check out the track below and grab the d/l for FREE here.
If Filip Filipi catches your earthen check out his harder hitting release 'Kosovka'...also a FREE d/l. Filip Filipi - Big City Chaser (feat. Mansions On The Moon) by Filip Filipi
Just a few weeks after Common starting dropping his new stuff, now Talib Kweli is back and better than ever...who says Hip-Hop is dead?
“Distractions” comes from Kweli's upcoming album “Prisoner Of Conscious“. The track is just as you would expect from Kweli, nothing but strong flow, sweet beats and hard hitting lyrics critically analysing the crap that occupies our lives these days. Check and d/l 'Distractions' below and keep an eye out for 'Prisoner Of Conscious' dropping sometime in 2012. Download Link
Common has a new album, 'The Dreamer', coming out December 20th. This single,'The Believer', is the first from that album. Common is on form as always, Jon Legend is on board......enough said, you need this in your life...
preorder via iTunes
