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.

14KT - Crown feat. Black Milk & MED (Free Download)

Michigan producer, 14KT liberates a free single in anticipation of his upcoming instrumental album "Nickel & Dimed". Released on September 3rd through Mello Music Group, it will include a bonus vocal EP including artists such as Blu, Kokane, JMSN and others.

The first single features Detroit's Black Milk and LA's MED, which you can stream or download below for free.

Oddisee on The Process

Peter Rosenberg sits down and talks to one third of Diamond District and fello DC native, Oddisee. The Mello Music Group has a heavyweight line up of talent and Oddisee is scarily good as an emcee and producer. In the video he talks about his start and what his influences were, amongst other things.

 

Nitty Scott, MC - Skippin' Clouds (Video)

Seriously, people need to spend less time checking for anything that happens to feature Nicki Minaj. She definitely has skills but hasn't chosen to use them as of late. One young lady who has been putting in work for a number of years now, is Nitty Scott, MC.

Last year she dropped her first album proper, "The Boombox Diaries Vol.1", after a slew of mixtapes which are all definitely worth getting a hold of. This video, along with "Flower Child" below it, are both taken from the former and need more people's attention. If you enjoy either of the videos, please make sure you spread the word.

Here's the synopsis of "Skippin' Clouds" followed by the video. "Flower Child featuring Kendrick Lamar" can be seen below that.

"In “Skippin’ Clouds”, Nitty Scott, MC takes on the roles of a depressed 50′s house wife, a 70′s socialite who likes to party, and even a grungy heroin addict as the visual explores drug culture in different eras. The song’s airy high provides the perfect backdrop for a walk down trippy lane, deep in a substance-induced trance as she raps about everything from Bob Marley to vicodin and chakras. Whether taking drugs is about escapism, pure indulgence, or a quest to find deeper meaning, the stories show the duality of drug use and how they can lead to both pleasure and pain."

Camp Lo & Pete Rock - 80 Blocks From Tiffany's Part 2 (Mixtape)

Geechi Suede and Sonny Cheeba reconnect with The Chocolate Boy Wonder, Pete Rock, for the second part to their 80 Blocks From Tiffany's project.

Download at DatPiff or stream it in it's entirety below.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

Also look out for Camp Lo on an upcoming episode of Juan Epstein. *Now added*

JT - Take Back The Night (Video)

Here's the video to the song Mr.Timberlake was teasing his new album with. "Take Back The Night" will be on his upcoming album in September.

 

Rizzle Kicks - Lost Generation (Video)

Posting pop music? How dare I? It's pop music because it's popular. Funny how that works.

Anyway, here's the new video for Rizzle Kicks single "Lost Generation" from their upcoming album "Roaring 20's". No doubt this will get stuck in your head like a lot of their songs seem to do.

I'm also a little biased, as it's produced by hip hop's most hip hop, Pete Cannon. If you don't know about him (!?!), have a read of what Enlish had to say on his site. He writes it better than I ever could!

Check the video below.

Talib Kweli on The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Talib Kweli sits down with Combat Jack, Dallas Penn, Premium Pete and DJ BenHameen for the latest edition of The Combat Jack Show. In the first episode, he talks about how he got started and what made him choose hip hop as a career over the usual 9 to 5.

Catch part 1 below. Other parts will be added when released.

*Part 3 added*

The Kid Daytona - Picasso Baby Freestyle (Video)

The Bronx own, The Kid Daytona, drops visuals for his latest freestyle. This time he goes in over Hov's "Picasso Baby". Shot in St. Emilion, France, he lets a few of the locals get a little camera time.

See the video below. Also listen to a recent collaboration with France's DJ Cut Killer, who you might remember from his appearance in "La Haine" as he DJ'd from his project window.

Kevin Couliau: The Soul Of Silence

Kevin Couliau, photographer and co-director of "Doin' It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, New York City", put together a small tribute to the city's playgrounds from his time filming there in 2010 and 2011.



This and more of Kevin's work can be seen on his site, KevinCouliau.com

"Doin' It In The Park" is available here. Watch the trailer below.

Prodigy - Gangsta Love feat. Esther Seems (DJ Q Garage Remix) (Audio)

Something a little bit different, especially if you're a Mobb Deep fan.

Last week on Twitter, Prodigy expressed interest in hearing a remix of one of his old songs. UK producer DJ Q obliged and came up with the garage alternative you can hear below. It sounds OK to me. Takes me back to the late 90's/early 00's, so not a bad thing. I expect mixed reviews though.

The remix and original video are beneath.

Tech N9ne - So Dope (They Wanna) feat. Wrekonize, Snow Tha Product & Twisted Insane (Video)

Tech N9ne drops off his new video for "So Dope (They Wanna)" with a little help from Wrekonize, Twisted Insane and Snow Tha Product. Iggy who? Nicki who? Azealia who? Snow Tha Product's next.

The album, "Something Else" is released on the 30th.



Also. Winning.

TLC Movie Teaser Trailer

I'm not too sure how I feel about this one. On first glance, there is an eerie resemblance to TLC and the recreation of the music videos look exactly the same. There's just something about it that doesn't feel right to me.

Anyway, take a look at the teaser trailer for VH1's "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story".

Throwback Thursday: Wu-Tang Edition

With the Wu-Tang Clan being in Manchester today, it was only right that I start a whole new segment; Throwback Thursday.

In addition to the nine original members (ten with Cappadonna), there are many other affiliates under the Wu umbrella so their back catalogue of music is both awesome and exhaustive. As you can imagine, it's difficult to only pick a handful of videos. To narrow down the pool of music to choose from, I've decided to dig in to the soundtrack and compilations they've featured on that often get overlooked.

Check a selection of videos below and also details of Wu shows happening in Manchester tonight.







 
 This one's from Ghostface's "Supreme Clientele" but I had to include it.




Wu-Tang play at the 02 Apollo, Manchester tonight. Tickets here.

And afterwards, make your way to this...

Will Not Be Televised presents Wu-Tang Aftershow Hosted by Raekwon

Bodega Brovas - Believe In Bodega EP (Free Download)

Bodega Brovas are here with their new EP, "Believe In Bodega"! Travii, HeadKrack and Keynote are back with a little treat for the fans. With appearances by Brown Bag AllStars' Koncept and Disturbing The Peace's 4IZE to name a couple, this is something you need. And there's no excuse not to as it's FREE. Get it downloaded and check the new video for "Getting It" while you're waiting.

Make sure to check the Bodega Brovas website too.