Ill Cuts

Sean Price feat. Tek-Onion Head

2010-03-11T18:57:00.000-06:00

Who? Sean P?

http://www.mediafire.com/?ejrcyyjdnz0
http://sharebee.com/ff4e5f01

The Grynch & Two Good Men feat. Geologic and Thig Natural-I'm A Dreamer

2010-03-11T12:56:00.000-06:00

You can find this one on Grynch & Two Good Men's Something More EP. I believe it was offered as a free download from BandCamp or something of the like, so you can cop that shit on the free and legal tip if you're so inclined. Regardless how you cop it, make sure you do so, this EP is some truly ill Seattle shit.
I'm A Dreamer is equipped with an dope instrumental and remarkable guest features. The only downside of this jawn is the incredibly corny hook. Still, don't let that stop you.

http://www.mediafire.com/?rwjmdx5wydq
http://sharebee.com/4075cc60

Jadakiss feat. Styles P & Eve-We Gonna Make It

2010-03-10T19:18:00.001-06:00

Just when I was unable to remember some of Alan The Chemist's most potent concoctions, I stumbled upon this jawn. He performed a number on this instrumental, a masterful flip of Samuel Jonathan Johnson's My Music. The hook is all too predictable and simplistic, but Jada manages to fit in quite a few punchlines, all the while P provides an solid background effort.

http://www.mediafire.com/?gozxe2wtwmj
http://sharebee.com/c7a38d18

Euphrates-Buene Testa Anti-Social Club

2010-03-10T12:37:00.000-06:00

Euphrates is one of the more interesting groups I have stumbled upon throughout my hip-hop adventures. Apparently, all three members are Iraqi's and are now located in Montreal. I'm not sure about more current material, but they released A Bend In The River in '03, and it is excellent. Thought-provoking rhymes from intro to outro, and instrumentals that supplement the rhyme skillz.
I also enjoyed the reference behind Buene Testa Anti-Social Club.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ttomztnmzm2
http://sharebee.com/55e7159f

Black Rob-Whoa

2010-03-09T20:58:00.000-06:00

I've never understood all the acclaim that Black Rob accrues. Dukes is a mediocre rapper with no particular penmanship abilities. And I hate to say it, but Black Rob has an abhorrent ear for instrumentals, dude picked out some god-awful beats for Life Story.
Still, Whoa was a big single off that album, and still holds up to be decent 10 or so years after the fact.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zn4xgwmnbmm
http://sharebee.com/4dc028a0

Kool Keith-Time Is Now

2010-03-09T11:49:00.000-06:00

I found this on a tape that the T.R.O.Y blog released a while back, which focused on Stretch & Bobbito demo's. Some honest to life gems on that tape.
Kool Keith's Time Is Now constitutes one of those gems. Dukes sounds immaculate over this jazzy instrumental, dropping that Socrates/Aristotle knowledge.

http://www.mediafire.com/?yfg2jxnhuzg
http://sharebee.com/b2717b1b

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince-Summertime

2010-03-08T18:51:00.000-06:00

This track is still a summertime staple, almost 20 years after it was released. Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith dropped some serious classics back in the day, believe that. It's somewhat ironic that two boys from Philly crafted the atypical Cali windows-down, chronic-puffin', summer time jawn.
On a sidenote, look at Willie's shirt. Speed Racer, come on B!

http://www.mediafire.com/?nmnyznonhyo
http://sharebee.com/4d1bd575

Statik Selektah feat. Termanology & Royce Da 5'9-Come Around

2010-03-08T13:58:00.000-06:00

You can find this on Statik Selektah's newest effort entitled 100 Proof: The Hangover. Another excellent album, but that's what's come to be expected every time Statik drops any material.
On Come Around, he enlists the help of Term and 5'9. On the promo version of this jawn, Kweli appears too, but on the album copy (or mine at least), there is no Kweli verse. Shit, still knocks something proper.

(Not the official version, no Kweli verse on the album)

http://www.mediafire.com/?dmdx4mn4wij
http://sharebee.com/2ae78285

Custom Made-Round Here (We Never Miss)

2010-03-07T18:52:00.000-06:00

Custom Made is a group from Cali, with a very distinctive and soulful sound. They tend to make the same song lots of times over, the only difference being the lyrics and a drum loop or sample here and there.
Still, Round Here (We Never Miss) is a dope jawn. These Cali boys chose an ill sample for the hook, and it makes the track that much more memorable.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ztm4wnzinx0
http://sharebee.com/4ac64419

Sticky Fingaz feat. Raekwon-Money Talks

2010-03-07T11:55:00.000-06:00

Last thing I ever thought I'd be listening to this morning is Sticky Fingaz. Rapps all full of corny racial cliches, and jokes that sound mad stoopid 10 years later. If you're even expecting some low-grade Bacdafucup type muzak, prepare to be more than disappointed.
Money Talks is one of the few listenable tracks to be found on Kirk Jones' Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones. Nothing particularly exceptional, but the Raekwon feature should afford a listen, ehh?

http://www.mediafire.com/?mj55mnm5jrz
http://sharebee.com/a9c99670

People Under The Stairs: Mid-City Fiesta

2010-03-06T22:12:00.000-06:00

I've really been getting into the People Under The Stairs as of late. Upon acquiring the necessary taste to 'enjoy' their particular brand of hip-hop, it's easy to listen to one album after another.
Mid-City Fiesta is a great storytelling jawn, where Thes One and Double K narrate the events of what sounds like a beautiful Cali night.

http://www.mediafire.com/?j234nmnqm5m
http://sharebee.com/f6a2e4eb

Originoo Gunn Clappaz-Danjer

2010-03-06T17:55:00.000-06:00

You can find this one on the OGC's debut album Da Storm. A fairly weak album all things considered, but the Boot Camp Clik membership/affiliation warrants an experimental listen at the least.
Danjer is some shit worth listening to, nahmean? That type 'a shit that might make you forget the OGC's infatuation with storms and lightning bolts.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zkjo2e4tjcn
http://sharebee.com/5101d67c

Tragedy Khadafi & Trez feat. Infamous Mobb and Lotto-Fahrenheit

2010-03-05T22:51:00.000-06:00

Despite my overt Tragedy Khadafi stannery, it took me a lot longer than it should have to check out his newest album with Trez called Lethal Weapon. The god released this album before he went up north, and it's some ill shit to remember him by.
Some more anti-government shit, it ain't no Arrest The President, but still a worthwhile listen, if only to know that Lotto still exists.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mddj2k5mm1y
http://sharebee.com/f126efa8

Jeru The Damaja-How ill

2010-03-05T13:51:00.000-06:00

You can find this one on Jeru's latest effort Still Rising. Although I'm a fan of the Damaja's earlier works, it sounds a bit hypocritical to hear a former/current 5%'er rhymin' 'bout "smoke a blunt with a leprechaun". Still, if you want a glimpse at the old Jeru, How Ill is your best look at it. He rolls deep with the metaphors and similes on this jawn.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zijmm20onmz
http://sharebee.com/c14b0026

MF Doom-Gas Drawls (demo)

2010-03-04T19:05:00.000-06:00

This isn't the jawn off Operation Doomsday, but I've been led to believe it's an earlier version, if not one of Metal Face's og demo's. Regardless, it's the subject matter you've grown accustomed to from Daniel Dumille. Yet, there's an descriptive nature to his verses that is far different from most of the material he releases today.
And I like the grainy quality, it adds a layer of illness. Fuck yo' 192 kbps rips.

(Not the demo version, but plenty similar)

http://www.mediafire.com/?lfbnmmg0vwy
http://sharebee.com/24998f24

Substantial-Ain't No Happy Endings

2010-03-04T12:44:00.000-06:00

Please press play for me right quick. You hearin' this beat? That fuckin' jazz riff? Do not sleep on the Nujabes production.
Ain't No Happy Endings comes off Substantial's debut To This Union A Son Was Born. He proves himself to be average spitta with an abundance of awkward flows. Still, Merlin's son comes through with some reminisce type shit on this jawn, and it don't sound too bad.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dmwwm2hzgoz
http://sharebee.com/ee4f80f6

Cover Art Something Visceral Vol.3

2010-03-03T21:27:00.000-06:00

You may have already caught one of the two previous posts. If not, simply prepare yourself for some of the illest cover artwork released in the hip-hop spectrum.

Edan-Beauty And The Beat
For once anyway, you can judge a book by it's cover. Beauty And The Beat is apt to cause musical dyslexia, yet it still flows together in a beautifully esoteric way. One of those Pitchfork albums for intellecutals, nahmean? Fuck that low-brow bullshit, nothing stimulates the mind like an cover engulfed with dozens of cutouts of random black men.

Aim-Means Of Production
Aim often chooses oft-kilter images as his artwork, that bear only a small relation to the title of his opuses. It's dope to think that dukes probably found this image in some oft-forgotten place, and now it adorns Means Of Production.

Gravediggaz-Six Feet Deep
This is that gully album cover that the Wu always lacked. Six Feet Deep just screams 'fuck ya moms'.

Theory Hazit-Lord Fire
I can't say I'm too big a fan of Theory Hazit's, but his Ohmega Watts commissioned album art is remarkably good. Words can't speak for the illness above.

EPMD-Strictly Business
There ain't shit to criticize on this cover. Erick & Parrish sittin' in the studio, about to make some dollars, what's fuckin' with that?

Juvenile-Rodeo

2010-03-03T13:30:00.000-06:00

Word, I know I just posted one of Juvie's jawns not too long ago. That type of repetitiveness is a trademark of not having enough time.
Rodeo is a track you can find on Reality Check, which is probably the easiest Juvenile album to get into. One of the smoothest instrumentals you've ever heard, even though Juve wastes his verses on some type insignificant talk. Regardless, this jawn should cement Terius Gray's legacy as a masterful hook-writer.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ddntkmu2jqw
http://sharebee.com/c9aea3c2

Jay Rock-No Mask On

2010-03-02T20:12:00.000-06:00

Some slow left-coast type shit from the young Jay Rock. I remember dukes made a mild impact on the blog world with this jawn a few months ago, but I ain't had the motivation to post it till just now. My apologies.
I don't know if I respect the mindless ignorance of tattooing your housing project across the entirety of your left wrist, but if it results in bass-shattering shits like these, it can't be all that bad.

http://www.mediafire.com/?qjym3v3qfwj
http://sharebee.com/38aba3a6

Inspectah Deck feat. LA The Darkman, Baretta 9, Killa Sin & Street Life-9th Chamber

2010-03-02T14:04:00.000-06:00

You can find this effort on Inspectah Deck's first album Uncontrolled Substance. Somehow, Deck manages to squeeze 5 verses into 3 minutes. Still, this comes correct for a posse cut, especially when Deck and cohort LA The Darkman exchange verbal barbs.

http://www.mediafire.com/?2dkzozfymhy
http://sharebee.com/9b6f112d

Will Vill-The Arrival

2010-03-01T19:50:00.000-06:00

I copped this album on a nondescript note a year or so back. Definitely did not do so because of the album art, believe that. Still, beneath the two-second Photoshop, you'll find one of the truest opuses of the '2000's. Will Vill has an special ability to articulate his thoughts with numerous literary devices that 'intellectuals' deem valuable in prose. Will Vill brings these techniques onto wax, and introduces the listener to various forms of alliteration and complex rhyme schemes. Like the first time older heads heard Rakim rhyme.
Anyway, this album is on an strong underground tip, and the production somewhat shows that it wasn't recorded on an large budget. However, Will Vill will drown out all those problems as soon as he starts putting words to the beat. This album might be a grower, but once you recognize The Arrival for the classic that it is, you'll regret that Mr. Vill hasn't done much since.

Choice Cuts:

Outshine The Sun/Dreams Of Getting Murdered

When I Come Home

Front Page

Headlock On Satan (starts 4:20 in)

Where To Cop From:
1
Word, shit's somewhat hard to find. Hopefully this link doesn't die.

Wale-Please Listen

2010-03-01T12:53:00.000-06:00

Yet another cut off 100 Miles And Running, the stannery runs deep, ehh? Anyway, this is another exhibition of Wale Folarin's truthful nature on the mic. For better or for worse, Wale speaks his mind in short segments of honest narratives. Doesn't hurt that dukes has an excellent ear for beats, most of the time anyway, and he puts his multi-dimensional flow to the test.

http://www.mediafire.com/?nmziyndtzj2
http://sharebee.com/e6ee0408

Virtuouso feat. Esoteric & Mr. Lif-Orion's Belt

2010-02-28T19:15:00.000-06:00

Verbal imagery is a special thing, an device used by the illest of emcees. Back in the day, you could hear verbal imagery from every prominent rhyme-spitta, in fact 'Pac used some of the most metaphorically visual language of any poet.
These days, you have to resort to the negative altitudes, to find such capabilities. Listen to Lif's verse on this jawn, shit is something special.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX3kpVfXWBs

http://www.mediafire.com/?mhdtzjji1jk
http://sharebee.com/d609a790

Best of the Ignant Witted Interviews Part 2

2010-02-28T15:30:00.001-06:00

I threw up the first part of this series a week or two ago, and today is as good a day as any to finish 'er up. In the below clips, dukes has some quality interviews that range in personality and cryptic-ness. I have to say the 'Mega interview is my favorite, but I'm also biased:

Juvie Interview

Cormega Interview

Kay Slay Interview Pt. 1

Pt. 2

Yung Joc- Pak Man

2010-02-27T19:09:00.000-06:00

This some experimental shit, for me anyway. First time I heard this jawn on Hustlenomics, I had to rewind for whatever reason. Sounds like some type stoopid shit, but on the real Pak Man stays in your head.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?gzmnz4gmomh
http://sharebee.com/ba058ad6