bang the box

Stones Throw graciously and generously hooks it up with a digital download of the recently released 6-track banger J Dilla Donut Shop.

I don't really need to say much else. Go download and turn it up!

DOWNLOAD: J Dilla Donut Shop

Taken from Madlib's latest long-player Madlib's Medicine Show #7: High Jazz

Hella funky and absolutely brilliant. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Generation Match - Electronic Dimensions [prod. Madlib]

A hero (in my book) has hacked into Solar's e-mail and Twitter accounts and is pushing this scumbag forward to bring a little justice to the situation. Following the tragic departure of one of the iconic vocal pillars of hip hop, this new string of leaked communications confirms the sketchiness everyone suspected from day one. I'm overjoyed to see Solar taking the fall.

Keep fallin' Solar, keep fallin'.

LINK: Solar Exposed

Clipz comes back under a new pseudo, Redlight, dropping some serious old school rave business. I've only heard a handful of joints, but Stupid is his latest coming on Digital Soundboy. The original features vocals by Roses Gabor, but the instrumental is where it's at. Bass is proper, killer track. Heavy.

Brand new from Jay Electronica featuring Diddy, paying homage to the black rhinoceros of rap. It ain't no Exhibit C, but it's pretty dope -- although I think Jay sounds a little buried in the mix. Flows are on point, as you can expect from Jay and Diddy doing his usual.

Grim news this morning as MTV UK and Baller Status report that the legendary Guru has lost his struggle with cancer at age 43. The entire story is and has been extremely controversial pinning Solar against family, family against Guru and Guru against Premier but sadly, never any "official" word from Guru.Known for his involvement with Gang Starr and his classic Jazzamataz album series, the MC leaves us a wealth of music that spans decades. Make today a Guru/Gang Starr day on your beatbox. More updates as they become available.

You see now? Here's just another reason why Dilla will forever remain one of my favorite producers. This familiar little bit comes hand-picked by J. Rocc from the Dilla archives, a flip of the Men Without Hats original The Safety Dance. Scoop this with 5 additional unreleased tracks bundled together with the Stones Throw, Serato & J Dilla Estate collab release of J Dilla Donut Shop.

Pre-order the 2LP (with Serato Control Tone on 2 sides), Donuts slipmats & gatefold package now for a May 10th release.

DOWNLOAD: J Dilla - Safety Dance

This is the sound for this morning. I'm not sure if it's the fact that this has to be, hands-down, one of my favorite sampled Les McCann joints or that Scratch just worked it so well -- or both. I could let this loop ride for hours. The vocalist is a beautiful setup for the soulful murder Rae delivers with his verse. I'm particular about female vocals, but whoever this is has a serious set of pipes and absolutely nailed the vibe.

DOWNLOAD: Raekwon - Lizz [prod by Scratch]

via Metal Lungies

By now I'm sure most of you know that Guru suffered a heart attack yesterday, is in a coma and is set to go into surgery sometime soon. Keep Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal in your thoughts and prayers. Marinate on this and hope he pulls through, 43 is too young.

Terry Urban pays homage to one of the greatest beat-smiths Hip Hop has ever known, J Dilla. All the blends sound pretty dope, but my personal favorite and the best sounding (in my opinion) has to be the Mobb Deep Hell On Earth blend. That particular snare shares a lot of characteristics with something you'd hear on a Mobb Deep track circa The Infamous and Hell On Earth. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Terry Urban presents The Dills (Unreleased Dilla Blends)

I woke up this morning and suddenly (and quite unexpectedly actually) Kraftwerk popped into my head. Not a bad thought to have first thing, but imagine doing the robot and trying to say TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS with a mouthful of toothpaste.

Rendezvous on Champs-Elysee... Leave Paris in the morning on T.E.E.

Duck Down meets Mick Boogie & nVMe to salute two of the industries' veterans, the teacher and the B-D-I. The tracklist is a solid dose of classics reinterpreted by a handful of up and comers. My pick is the Talk Shit Remix featuring Torae and Skyzoo, but that Gotcha Opin rework by Tanya Morgan ain't half bad either. Thanks, LouHa.

Tracklist:

Survival Kit (Intro) by DJ Sherazta
Gotcha Opin Original (RMX) – Tanya Morgan (produced by NVME)
South Bronx (RMX) – Cause, The Kid Daytona & Chaundon (produced by NVME)
Buck Em Down (RMX) – Christian Rich (produced by NVME)
Sound Of Da Police (RMX) – Diz Gibran & Shawn Chrystopher (Produced by ILL TAL)
Shit Iz Real (RMX) – Ruste Juxx (produced by NVME)
Step Into Our World (RMX) – Team Facelift & Jade (produced by ABADDON)
Talk Shit (RMX) – Torae & Skyzoo (produced by NVME)
MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know – Sha Stimuli, Promise, J.A.M.E.S. Watts, Fashawn (produced by NVME)
I Got Cha Opin 09 – Kardinal Offishall & Buckshot (produced by Havoc of Mobb Deep)
Past Present Future – KRS-ONE, Buckshot, Melanie Fiona & Naledge of Kidz In The Hall (produced by 9th Wonder)

DOWNLOAD: Duck Down Records presents The Survival Kit Mixtape

Never mind the fact that I've been silent for a bit, I'm always listening, even when I haven't much to say. It's the end of the year and the fam at Metal Lungies have asked me to throw my two cents alongside some reputable producers, bloggers and other notable characters on 2009's heaviest beats. So far it's a 2 part joint, but a 3rd part might surface with out-takes and the like.

Metal Lungies 2009 Beat Drop: Part 1 / Part 2

Go on, be a rap nerd.

Duck Down has compiled some if its most recent offerings from their roster into a sampler mix, so you don't have to bust a mission. Based on the labels' rep, you know it's going to be quality and the flip of the Do The Right Thing cover and concept is a nice touch.

Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Duck Down Sampler - Download The Right Thing

Another one taken too soon. RIP to the great GM Roc Raida.

Taken from the Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfa collaborative album Jazz Samba Encore! this gem features Maria Helena Toledo on vocals and might be recognizable to some of you as the samples flipped on the JayDee-produced Pharcyde classic Runnin'.

DOWNLOAD: Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfa - Saudade Vem Correndo

Enjoy.