Blitz The Ambassador - The Warm Up EP (Free EP)

Blitz The Ambassador's full length album "Afropolitan Dreams" is due mid September so until then he's dropped the free project "The Warm Up EP". The set includes features from Fashawn and the UK's own Ty, amongst others.

Willie The Kid - Aquamarine (Mixtape)

Michigan's Willie The Kid releases his latest mixtape for free through Dat Piff. Having had a quick skim through the tracks, it sounds great and the production is top notch. Listen for a couple of features too.

Download here.

Fat Joe - The Darkside 3 (Mixtape)

Earlier this morning Fat Joe released the third installment of his Darkside series. "The Darkside 3" has some nice underground producers, namely DJ Premier, 9th Wonder and Diamond D, but keeps the guest features to a minimum. The Premier orchestrated "Your Honor" featuring Action Bronson and "The Cypher" with Nick Shades produced by the legendary Diamond D are highlights here. So good to hear Joe take it back to some Hip Hop.

The album is available for free download at Dat Piff.

Fat Joe - The Darkside 3

Rapsody - She Got Game (Mixtape)

Rapsody releases her new mixtape "She Got Game" which is hosted by DJ Drama. Plenty of big name guest appearances on here and a bit of shouting over records by Mr. Drama, no doubt.

Download and stream link at Dat Piff.

Dizzy Wright - The Golden Age (Mixtape)

Funk Volume member Dizzy Wright releases his new mixtape "The Golden Age". The album features appearances from Joey Bada$$, Wyclef, Hopsin and more.

Find the download link below and also see the video for "The Flavor" featuring SwizZz from the album.

The Golden Age

Vado - Slime Flu 4 (Mixtape)

Vado returns with the next installment of his Slime Flu series. "Slime Flu 4" has appearances from Jadakiss, Raekwon, N.O.R.E., Pusha T and more.

Tracklist and download link beneath.

Download

100

So after a little over a month, I've made it to my 100th post on the blog. For the past couple of days I was trying to think if there was anything special I could do to mark the occasion. I was going to do a whole piece on Hip Hop turning 40 years old but I decided to do a short history lesson on that yesterday instead.

As I haven't really plugged my Mixcloud selections on here, I thought I'd make a fresh one to add to my little collection. This time I've made quite a lengthy compilation made up of tunes I've gathered over the last few months, some songs featured on the blog and also a few old tracks thrown in too.

Stream "Raise Your Limits" below. I'll also have a download link for it soon. You can also find more of my mixes on Mixcloud.

Raise Your Limits by Watchdeez on Mixcloud

Camp Lo & Pete Rock Talk About Their New Album (Video)

Following last month's release of their joint album, "80 Blocks From Tiffany's Pt.2", Camp Lo and Pete Rock break down a few tracks with Esteban Serrano for Fuse TV.

If you missed the album, you can get it here.

Stalley - Honest Cowboy (Mixtape)

Stalley just dropped his new mixtape "Honest Cowboy". This serves as a free warm up album before his debut on Maybach Music Group coming soon.

Stream and download in the player.

Throwback Thursday: R'n'B Edition ('95-'96)

After the Throwback Thursday a couple of weeks ago with forgotten gems from the Wu-Tang, I wanted to bring it back to the mid nineties with a selection of R'n'B videos. Unlike these days, quality R'n'B was actually in the charts and there was an abundance of it. There is so much to choose from that I just picked four artists that came to mind from that era.

D'Angelo, Aaliyah, Mariah Carey and Jodeci. All four of these acts took very different paths later in their careers. The tragic loss of Aaliyah in 2001 is still in everyone's mind. The derailment of Jodeci as a group with their live show exploits, leaving fans disappointed. Rumours of D'angelo's return to the spotlight after a spate of live appearances recently and Mariah Carey's breakdown, return, marriage and motherhood all keeping her in the news.

Luckily for us, we can simply go back to what made them stars and amazing artists in the first place. Dwelling on what could've been or might still be is getting old now, so just relive and replay the classics.

Have a listen and look at four of my favourite videos from that era. I've also included a Mixcloud playlist I put together called "You Sing, I'll Rap"of 90's remixes which can be streamed below the video.

You Sing, I'll Rap by Watchdeez on Mixcloud

  

DJ Eveready - Listening Therapy (Mixtape)

Here we have a new mixtape from Melbourne based Dee Jay Eveready. I'd never heard of him until today when I was put on to him by Alter Ego (who's production you can hear on The Regiment's "Off The Record EP"). An exercise in boom bap Hip Hop.

Dee Jay Eveready -

“I devote a lot of my time to putting out Mixtapes, when I say mixtapes I don’t just mean a mix with just one track after another and that’s it. I put months of work into my product, trying to give the listener an experience that they don’t usually receive.”

Stream or download the mixtape below. Found at Stasheverything.

Jonwayne - Cassette 3: The Marion Morrison Mixtape (Download)

Stone's Throw artist Jonwayne releases the third part of his Cassette series with the "Marion Morrison Mixtape". The first two parts of the trilogy were only available on cassette (naturally) but this time around Stone's Throw have made it a download.

The reason behind the name of  the mixtape is new information for me and quite interesting. Spotted this at 2DopeBoyz -

"Jonwayne’s real name is Jon Wayne. Marion Morrison is the real name of the Hollywood cowboy guy John Wayne, who took his screen name from Jonwayne’s great-great-great-great-great uncle. What comes around goes around."

Aaron LaCrate - Milkcrate Athletics (Mixtape)

The DJ and producer Aaron LaCrate, well known for his Milkcrate apparel, releases his "Milkcrate Athletics" mixtape. Appearances from Raekwon, Cool Kids, Mobb Deep, Rakim and many more.

Download or stream below.

Cappo Back With New Album

Notts' finest, Cappo, returns with a new album with some help from producer Theorist. Over some different  production than we're used to hearing him on, Cappo delivers 12 new cuts for a "name your price" download. Preview/buy the album "G3TOUT" below.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Mick Boogie - Summertime Vol. 4 (Mixtape)

The fourth installment of Jeff and Mick's annual "Summertime" mix series. Stream or download below.

"Jazzy Jeff and I are so thrilled to once again unleash [another] Summertime mix into the world. This is our fourth year,” said Mick in a press statement. “Jeff created something timeless in the ’90s with [the song] ‘Summertime,’ and we are so excited to keep pushing it further and further to new generations. Enjoy it and see us in a city near you."

Kings English - Dykstra (Mixtape)

New free music for the weekend. 

Kings English drops his first solo mixtape to add to your playlists. The tape is executive produced by his brother, Party Supplies, who you should know from his collaborative album "Blue Chips" with Action Bronson last year.

Kings English and Party Supplies were previously a hip hop duo named Folk & Stress who had a number of solid singles with features from Aesop Rock, Vast Aire, Blu and also GZA. Unfortunately their album, "The Box", never materialised. A shame, but they're both still making music which is the main thing.

Get the mixtape below and also check a few of the projects both Kings English and Party Supplies have been a part of after the link. (Incidentally, Folk & Stress' "New York Ginseng feat. GZA" was the first track I ever featured on my Watch Deez Mixes ")

Shad + Skratch Bastid - The Spring Up

Just a small post for an EP that was released early last month from Shad and Skratch Bastid. A good little collection of tracks as a warm up to the upcoming new album from Shad. How the EP came about is explained below, followed by the Bandcamp link. A couple of videos of Shad's older music can be seen after the link.

"The Spring Up is the result of fortunate timing, grapefruit Perrier, a shared high school obsession with Outkast's Aquemeni, and a couple of sessions at Skratch Bastid's Toronto studio this April. The 5 track collection marks a moment in time for the pair; embodying the spirit of Spring and also serving as a sort of prelude to Shad's upcoming full-length, to which Skratch Bastid also contributes. The collection features a production assist from DJ Jazzy Jeff, and a turn on the mic from compatriot Cadence Weapon."

Joey Bada$$ - Summer Knights (Album Download)

As promised, Joey Bada$$ releases his new album via LiveMixtapes.com. Tracklist and download link below.

01 Alowha [prod. by Kirk Knight]
02 Hilary $wank [prod. by Lee Bannon]
03 My Youth [ft. Collie Buddz] [prod. by Chuck Strangers]
04 Afterlife [ft. Kirk Knight] [prod. by Chuck Strangers and Patrick Eulmi]
05 Right on Time [T'nah Apex] [prod. by Kirk Knight]
06 Sweet Dreams [prod. by Navie D]
07 47goonz [ft. Dirty Sanchez, Nyck Caution and Rokamouth] [prod. by Lee Bannon]
08 Sit N’ Prey [ft. Dessy Hinds and T'nah Apex] [prod. by Navie D]
09 Word Is Bond [prod. by Statik Selektah]
10 Trap Dour [prod. by Alchemist]
11 Satellite [ft. Chuck Strangers, Kirk Knight and Dessy Hinds] [prod. by Lee Bannon]
12 95 Til Infinity [prod. by Lee Bannon]
13 Amethyst Rockstar [ft. Kirk Knight] [prod. by DOOM]
14 Reign [prod. by Chuck Strangers]
15 Sorry Bonita [ft. Dyemond Lewis, Chuck Strangers, Dirty Sanchez, A La Sole, Kirk Knight, Dessy Hinds, and CJ Fly] [prod. by Oddisee]
16 #LongLiveSteelo (Bonus track) [prod. by Kirk Knight]

Joey Bada$$ - Summer Knights

If you missed them, check the video interview on The Combat Jack Show and the music video for 95 Til Infinity here.

El-P + Killer Mike = Run The Jewels (Free Album)

For the first post of my new blog, here's the eagerly anticipated project from Run The Jewels aka El-P and Killer Mike. A ten track record that can be downloaded for free through Fools Gold Records. You can also buy physical copies in both vinyl or CD formats on the site. Check the track 36" Chain, beneath the site link. 

 http://foolsgoldrecs.com/runthejewels/