[VIDEO] DJ Quik & Kurupt - "Do You Know"

Here's a video from the duo's upcoming album, BlaQKout which hits stores June 9th. We interviewed these 2 about their first ever collaborative album, if you missed that go here.

IN THE LAB w/ DJ Quik.

Quik's opening line of this piece says it all...

"I never do this for camera...you are luuuuucky.

In this brand new segment, you get to step into the studio with iconic producer and westcoast legend, DJ Quik, as he shows off some of his favorite studio toys and drops some production insight on the people. Any production junkie or true hiphop fan will love this one of a kind segment. This is some one of kind access right here, courtesy of Hip Hop Official.

DJ Quik x Kurupt.

Two westcoast legends teaming up on one album? This sounded too good to be true. So we had to the get to the bottom of this. Fortunately, I had a chance to sit down with the O.G.s, DJ Quik and Kurupt, to talk about their upoming collab album called Blaqkout (no Meth and Red). Lucky of us, the rumors are true. Quik is producing, Kurupt is spitting, and tons of other dope artist are contributing. Check the interview where they talk about how they recorded the album and motivated each other. And make sure you stay tuned for the out takes from this interview. Classic hilarity guaranteed.

Artist of the Week: Strong Arm Steady - Part 2

The S.A.S. gang returns as the Hip Hop Official Artist of The Week, as Phil, Kron and Mitchy speak on the long awaited Arms & Hammers LP as well as an upcoming Madlib collabo album, tenatively titled, MADSTEADY. That's right! You heard it hear first.

Check the interview for an exclusive listen to 2 tracks, "New Love" and "Ambassador".

Artist of the Week: Strong Arm Steady

The Strong Arm Steady gang is too big for just one week, so we had to make them Artist of the next 2 Weeks. The Westcoast collective allowed us into their recording studio to talk about their crew dynamic and getting signed by Talib Kweli. Part 2 drops next Monday.

FCC Presents: DJ Spintelect - "The Terminator Mixtape: Rise Of The Mc's "

*hands in late pass*

My apologies to Spin for lagging on posting this joint. If you're not familiar with DJ Spintelect, he's the resident FCC disc jockey. And you know how the FCC rolls. Nothing but the finest talent, so his resume is guaranteed legit. Download this one and see for yourself. I'm gonna stop talking because a dope mixtape is worth a 1000 words.

[DOWNLOAD HERE.]

[NEW] Diz Gibran - "Stereo"

New Dizzy! This one appears on the VIMBY Mixtape that dropped last week as a stream, and drops Wednesday as a download. Bet your bottom dollar you'll be able to download that joint right here. This is one of my fav Diz tracks. If you're wondering why it sounds familiar, it's because you heard Diz perform it live for HHO first. That's right, we stay breaking new artists. Call us the new Unsigned Hype.

[DOWNLOAD] Diz Gibran - "Stereo"

[NEW] Pacific Division - "Mayor"

If you've seen Pac Div live, you already know this joint. It tears the house down every time. The song everyone's heard, but nobody had finally drops on the masses. I know ya'll are excited. I am too.

*Does The Mayor" dance*

[ DOWNLOAD: Pacific Division - "Mayor"]

Westcoast Wednesday.

Today is Andre Young's 44th birthday, so it's only right we pay homage on this edition of Westcoast Wednesday. Hell yeaaaaaaaaaah (c) Dr. Dre.

Artist of the Week: Young De.

Repping Philly, down with Cypress Hill. Young De is making a name for himself in these LA streets. Check him out on the upcoming B-Real album, Smoke N Mirrors as well as the new Cypress Hill and Soul Assassins album. His mixtape with Cashis is hosted by DJ Whoo Kid and called, Homeland Security. He talks about his background and what it's like being signed by Kurupt, Xzibit, and B-Real... which ain't half bad

[NEW] Blu - "Amnesia"

Another day, another Blu gem. This one comes to you via his Myspace by way of the 2 dope boyz. Blu has the old timely, 40's swinging jazz swag on lock. Ya'll can't touch that.

DOWNLOAD: Blu - "Amnesia"

[VIDEO] Shawn Chrystopher - (I’m Not Your) N.I.G.G.E.R.

The Inglewood native goes over Nas's instrumental and puts his own spin on the song title. Here are the accompanying visuals to go with it. Here's what Shawn has to say about it:

“I really hope people enjoy this video. It seems Black History Month really doesn’t mean that much to us anymore, and though I won’t be able to change it single-handedly, I would however like to draw some attention to show everyone, especially my fellow artists, where exactly we came from.

I watch Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled” religiously and realize that a lot of the Black musicians today take their notoriety and success as something that is owed to them. I really hope after watching this video, that mindset changes; for the better.”

[VIDEO] Strong Arm Steady ft. Chace Infinite, Planet Asia and Affion Crockett - "Black History"

In honor of Black History Month, Blacksmith Music presents the latest video from Strong Arm Steady, "Black History," featuring guest verses from Chace Infinite, Planet Asia and Affion Crockett (yes, dude can spit!). Directed by the Image Addikts. This song is taken from SAS' latest mixtape, Clinton Sparks & Talib Kweli Present: Strong Arm Steady - Gang Mentality

Courtesy of YearOfTheBlacksmith.com

[VIDEO] DJ Revolution - "Man or Machine"

This. Is. Dope. DJ Revolution battles a machine for turntable supremacy. The song is from his latest album, King of the Decks, which coincidentally is one of the best albums of 2008. Mhmm, that's right.

Shout out to Duck Down for sending it over.

[NEW] TiRon - "No Change"

The homie TiRon, who happened to be our Artist of the Week a few weeks back, drops a new track off his upcoming mixtape, Ketchup. Appropriately titled for all those of you are still sleeping on Tiron and need to..umm...catch up. Check back for that mixtape dropping next week.

DOWNLOAD: TiRon - "No Change"

El Prez - "Hammerman" [LIVE]

Inglewood emcee and FCC representer, El Prez, slid through the HHO studios to perform his song "Hammerman" in which he flips a classic Hammer track. Don't get it twisted, this one bangs. Off the Perfect Strangers EP, which is available for free download here.

El Prez & Dale Danja - Perfect Strangers EP

Here's a free download of the new project between El Prez and Dale Danja called the Perfect Strangers EP. It features appears from FCC fam, including Convinced, Tunji, Chris Focus, Shawn Chrystopher, DNEZ & C-San, as well as the song the world is talking about, "Hammerman."

HHO will be dropping an exclusive live performance of that song later today. So come back for your FCC fix.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM HERE.

Artist of the Week: El Prez.

Hailing from Inglewood, California, it's the HHO Artist of the Week, El Prez. Take notice, the El Presidente is making moves and making a name for himself in the Los Angeles hip-hop scene. As part of the FCC fam, he's been putting out projects left and right, including his Perfect Strangers EP which drops TODAY right here, so come back and get your fix. In the meantime, download his Daily Show mixtape and bump that all day.

DOWNLOAD: El Prez - The Daily Show (mixtape)

Mick Boogie presents U-N-I: Before There Was Love (Mixtape)

The people waited. Thurzday and Y-O plotted. Mick Boogie mixed. Anticipation grew. Tracks leaked. Bloggers blogged. The wait ended.

U-N-I teams up with mixtape extraordinaire Mick Boogie to bring you the prequel to their next album, A Love Supreme. This mixtape is 27 tracks of hip hop euphoria, featuring almost every rapper you can think of (and some that you can't). But don't take my word for it, experience it for yourself...


DOWNLOAD HERE.

TRACKLIST

1. Mick Boogie Intro
2. Cali Soul f/ Shawn Jackson and Hope (prod. by Dibia$e)
3. See LA f/ Damani (prod. by Faahz)
4. Cast’ Em Out (prod. by Dibia$e)
5. The Press Play Show Interlude Part 1
6. On Tour f/ Bambu (prod. by Ro Blvd)
7. Think About It f/6th Sense & Vandalyzm (prod. by 6th Sense)
8. Half Off f/ Evidence
9. Run Son f/ El Prez, 310, C-San, & Casey Veggies (prod. by Ro Blvd)
10. Stakes is High (prod. by 6th Sense)
11. The Press Play Show Interlude Part 2
12. Beautiful Day Remix f/ Big Pooh, Evidence, Aloe Blacc, Kes Kaos, Mickey Factz, Fashawn, & Theo (prod. by Dibia$e))
13. Yesterday (prod. by Ski Team)
14. Hey Neighbor (prod. by Ro Blvd)
15. Wildin’ f/ Chen Lo & Tunji (prod. by Ro Blvd)
16. The Press Play Show Interlude Part 3
17. Castle Vee Re-Up f/ Black Milk (prod. by Dibia$e)
18. Arcade Fly Remix f/ Wildabeast, 6th Sense, Buff1, Donny Goines, Fashawn
19. Night Nurse (prod. by Cook Classics)
20. Relax f/ Fashawn (prod. by FredNukes)
21. Return f/Talib Kweli (prod. by Bannon)
22. Mainstream Consumers f/ Free Speech & Bambu (prod. by Ro Blvd)
23. Monster f/ Shawn Jackson (prod. by Jaguar Skills)
24. Vitamin B f/ CurT@!n$ (prod. by Bannon)
25. The Press Play Show Interlude Part 4
26. Start My Day f/ H.O.P.E. (prod. by Ro Blvd)
27. Herb f/Co$$ & Bad Lucc (prod. by Ro Blvd)

Shout out to IllRoots and 2dopeboyz.

[NEW] U-N-I - "Night Nurse" (Remix)

The dynamic Inglewood duo links up with Cook Classics to remake one of my favorite reggae joints of all time. And they came with it. It's not easy to flip a classic. This track will appear on the Vimby Mixtape, New Classics which is supposed to drop sometime this month. Also, U-N-I's mixtape with Mick Boogie drops later today. Check back in for that, for sure, for sure.

DOWNLOAD: U-N-I - "Night Nurse" (Remix)(prod. by Cook Classics)

Link courtesy of 2dopeboyz because Thurz is too big of a punk to send it to the rest of the FCC. It's cool, two can play that game. *plots revenge*