J-Live - Money Matters (Video)

The musical triple threat J-Live reveals the video to his new single named "Money Matters". This time he leaves the production to Oddisee and lays a few verses that will definitely relate to listeners who actually work for a living and to support their craft.

The single will appear on J-Live's forthcoming album "Around The Sun". The single is available now.

BVA - This Love Is Love (Video)

Four Owls and 3 Amigos member BVA is set to release a new solo album called "Be Very Aware" in February. Here we see the video for his track "This Love Is Love" produced by Leaf Dog.

"Be Very Aware" is available for pre-order through High Focus.

  

Ramson Badbonez - January - In Da Blitz Time (Video)

Ramson Badbonez releases an animated video for the track "January - In Da Blitz Time". The track is lifted from his new album "A Year In The Life Of Oscar The Slouch" which is out now on High Focus.

The Foreign Exchange - Better feat. Eric Roberson and Shana Tucker (Video)

From their album "Love In Flying Colors", The Foreign Exchange release the visuals to "Better". With guest vocalists Eric Roberson and Shana Tucker on the assist, Phonte and Nicolay deliver another great track and video.

"Love In Flying Colors" is available now.

Isaiah Rashad - Soliloquy (Video)

The first video from TDE's Isaiah Rashad new project dropped a couple of days ago along with the video for "Soliloquy" taken from it.

The album "Cilvia Demo" is available now.

Mr. Green on Rhythm Roulette (Video)

New Jersey producer Mr. Green takes a shot at creating a nice beat from three random records on Mass Appeal's latest episode of "Rhythm Roulette".

Melo-X - Drunk In Lust (Video) and Yoncé-X EP

Brooklyn producer Melo-X recently dropped an EP of a handful of Beyonce tracks named "Yoncé-X". Revolt TV captured Melo-X performing "Drunk In Lust" from the project.

Watch the video below and download the EP.

DJ Kay Slay - The Rise Of A City (Mixtape)

As the drama king DJ Kay Slay prepares to release his album "Rhyme Or Die" this year, he still has time to drop a mixtape or two full of exclusives. Here he delivers "The Rise Of A City" with a couple of noticeable collaborations with long time rivals Fat Joe and 50 Cent on a track together as well as The Game and Young Buck, both formerly of G-Unit.

Stream or download the mixtape for free below.

The Incomparable Shakespeare on Showoff Radio (Video)

On his promotional run for "By Any Dreams Necessary", The Incomparable Shakespeare recently appeared on Statik Selektah's Showoff Radio to kick a few rhymes. You need to watch this. There's only so much I can say.

Check the video below and pick up his album for free here.

Shouts to Al Lindstrom, Rob Markman and Statik Selektah.

Tay Walker - Karma (Video)

Gearing up to release his just announced upcoming album "25 Hours A Day", Tay Walker drops the video to "Karma" which will appear on it. After turning a few heads with his self titled EP and appearance on The Internet's "Feel Good" album, 2014 should be a big year for Tay.

Chris Paul and Kendrick Lamar Interview (Video)

NBA superstar Chris Paul and TDE artist Kendrick Lamar both appear together on the January edition of ESPN The Magazine's "Music Issue". During the photo shoot they were interviewed and a short video was put together.

The NFL's Calvin Johnson and some guy called Eminem appear on an alternate cover too. A third cover with Kobe Bryant and Nicki Minaj will be available also.

Check the video below.

Otis Clapp - #ATB (Free Album)

This week saw the release of Otis Clapp's sophomore album "#ATB". If you can't tell what that stands for from the album cover, it'll become apparent after a few seconds in to the first track. Coming in at 18 tracks, this project from Otis displays his versatility over equally schizophrenic beats. That's a good thing.

Stream or download the album for free below.

Evidence & Alchemist on The Mixdown (Video)

Evidence and Alchemist join Fuse TV's Esteban Serrano to talk about their new Step Brothers album "Lord Steppington" and break down a few tracks from the set.

"Lord Steppington" is available everywhere now.

TJ Mizell & DJ Scratch - Jam Master Jay Tribute (Video)

Yesterday, on what would have been Jam Master Jay's 49th birthday, his son TJ Mizell and the turntable whisperer himself, DJ Scratch, paid tribute to Jay in appropriate fashion. A tag team turntable display in front of the JMJ memorial in Hollis, Queens.

Phife - Dear Dilla (Audio)

A couple of hours ago Okayplayer premiered the new single from A Tribe Called Quest's Phife named "#Dear Dilla". Just in time for Dilla week, the track is a fitting tribute to arguably one of the best producers we've seen (heard). The song is brilliantly put together by DJ Rasta Root and features soundbites from some of Dilla's more well known productions.

Check the audio below along with the press release and be on the look out for an upcoming solo album from Phife this year named "MUTTYMorphosis".

Thanks to Jeff of the Soul Twins for the link to the track.



Phife is set to release his new single ‘#dearDilla’ on Tuesday, January 21st. on Smokin’ Needles Records. #dearDilla is an open letter to his long time friend and producer, the legendary J Dilla (James Dewitt Yancey), who passed away on 2006 from complications from a rare blood disorder. With a soundscape created by DJ Rasta Root, Phife talks to Dilla about the current state of music and how much he and his work are missed.

“Before J Dilla passed, he and I were playing phone tag, I didn’t even know he was that sick until it was too late,” Phife said. “We didn’t realize we were both going through a lot with our health and never got to sit and talk about it together.”

I felt like this song is that conversation. “I’ve been wanting to record a dedication to J Dilla for the longest, it just seemed to finally be the right time to do it,” said Phife from his home in Oakland, CA. “It was very therapeutic for me to do this. There are a lot of people dealing with renal failure and I wanted to make this a conduit, a way for people to put their health issues out there.”

#dearDilla combines the drum loop that Dilla used for Slum Village’s “Hold Tight” layered with Dilla’s distinct ad-libs sprinkled through out the track. Rasta Root enlisted the help of the DMV’s own V.Rich for the beautiful keys that make up the song’s hypnotic melody and a warm bassline by Atl’s own “DETOXXX”.

“The song organically came together piece by piece. Originally I looped it up to just have a new way of mixing in that song. Then it snowballed in to what you hear today. I wanted fans of Dilla and Phife to feel right at home with this track. I am very proud of Phife for opening up like this and giving the world this musical gem.” said Rasta Root from his Atlanta home studio.

#dearDilla also has an amazing visual directed by Chicago’s own Konee Rok. They shot the video over three days in Chicago and Detroit. ‘This is the most heartfelt project I’ve ever been blessed to be a part of.’ said Konee. ‘and represents the return of honest Hip Hop.’ Of the song, Konee also adds, ‘This is not just another rap song, but meaningful music. Art. If this was my last video, I would die happy.’

The visual for #deardilla will have a premier in Atlanta on Feb. 6th at the Midtown Art Cinema (7:30-9:30pm) with a Q & A. Then also premiere at Dilla Day in Detroit on Feb. 7th.