For those of you not up on Fashawn, take heed. The kid is a beast. This is why we like to spotlight up and coming acts as our Artist of the Week so that you, the audience and loyal reader, can stay up and the latest and greatest. Fashawn is a 19 year old emcee from Fresno, California with a breezy flow packed with creativity, style, and intellect. As a ’90s baby, he’s got all the style and charisma of a modern-day emcee, but the rhyming chops of a veteran beyond his teenage years. “A lot of people can rap and spit bars,” Fashawn says. “But I write songs.” How refreshing.
He has a mixape out right now presented by Orisue called One Shot One Kill. You should find that right now. The homie came through the HHO studios and sat down for an interview, and rocked a fresh live performance on his song "Shut Up and Let Me Go" for us. Get to know Fashawn by peeping the interview below, and then download his new track featuring Thurz from U-N-I.
DOWNLOAD: Fashawn - "Relax" (featuring Thurz from U-N-I)
Tuesday, September 9
Artist of the Week: Fashawn
[VIDEO] Pacific Division - "Taste"
New music video from the homies Pac Div. This track is produced by Self Scientific's DJ Khalil. Shout out to Mibbs, Like and Be Young.
[BONUS] DOWNLOAD: Pacific Division - "Taste"
Monday, September 8
[NEW] Madlib - Gamble On Your Boy (feat. Defari)
New heat from the Beat Konducta aka Madlib, featuring West Coast mic wrecker Defari. Madlib is a genius. This guy has such an accute ear for samples and is one of the great producers of our era. I'm convinced producing comes so easy to him, it must flow through his bloodstream. This dude has more dope running through his veins than snitchin' Bubbs.
(PS...if you're unfamilar with The Wire, do yourself a favor and unplug your television until you Netflix that show. It's the Greatest TV Drama that has ever graced the idiot box.)
DOWNLOAD: Madlib - Gamble On Your Boy (feat. Defari)
[NEW] Illa J - R U Listen' (feat Guilty Simpson)
The younger of the Yancy Boys drops a new joint featuring Guilty Simpson. The one is again produced by his older brother, J Dilla, and the more music I hear from Illa J, the more I'm convinced this kid has natural ability embedded in his DNA and he's starting to tap into the inner Yancy talent. Nice to hear the Dilla torch being carried on.
DOWNLOAD: R U Listen' (feat Guilty Simpson)
Tell Andre 3000 He's Wack.
That's what he says, not me. I think he's one of the top 5 emcees in the game. But he uses that as motivation to make better music, and we all want better music, so tell him he's wack and he'll make mo' better music.
YOU'RE WACK, ANDRE BENJAMIN!
Now go to the damn studio.
[NEW] Tunji - "Still Risin" (prod. by Kno of CunninLynguists)
The homie Tunji, from L.A.'s own Inverse, just hit the inbox with this joint, and I'm so glad he did. This song is brilliant. Kno from CunningLynguists brought the magic on this hypnotically radiant beat. This song just makes you feel good. So if you're having a shitty Monday, hate your job, fighting with your girl, are pissed off because your football team lost this weekend, whatever, put this joint in your headphones and remember how bad life ISN'T.
Hip Hop saved my life. (c) Lupe Fiasco
DOWNLOAD: Tunji - "Still Risin" (prod. by Kno of CunninLynguists)
Teaser Video: Common - "Universal Mind Control"
Teaser video for Common's new single (which the people seem to have mixed emotions about. I, for one, am a fan of the song). Directed by Hype Williams. Yeah, that HYPE Williams. This video looks like it's on some 'old robotic, futuristic, George Jetson, crazy shit." (c) Craig Mack.
Official video coming soon.
[NEW] The Foreign Exchange - "Daykeeper" (feat. Muhsinah)
The Foreign Exchange return to drop their new single, available for FREE download from their newly launched website. The Foreign Exchange is Phonte from Little Brother and producer Nicolay from the Netherlands. They met on the message boards at okayplayer.com, and started exchanging beats and verse over Instant Messenger. Their whole first album was conceived across the Atlantic ocean via AIM before they ever met in person. And it was amazing. Their first album Connected is one of my fav joints from the past few years. Nicolay provides a beautiful soundscape of music and Phonte delves more into his introspective, grown-man side. Definite feel good, cool vibe shit for your ears. And their new album, Leave It All Behind, is sure to keep that winning formula intact. You can't front on good music.
DOWNLOAD: Foreign Exchange - "Daykeeper" (feat. Muhsinah)
Who Is Jay Electronica?
Hip Hop Official sits down with the enigmatic emcee/producer Jay Electronica. His name has been buzzing, but nobody really seem to know who he is. Jay has been notorious for remaining behind the scenes, and usually doesn't do interviews, so this is a treat. I had the pleasure of conducting this interview, and let me say it was one of the most unique interviews I have ever been a part of. Jay is extremely humble, passion, and highly introspective. He doesn't have your typical outlook on the world and looks at things uniquely, which is very refreshing. Enjoy the interview. This is one of my favorite segments I've had the pleasure of producing, and I think it turned out well. I'm looking forward to hearing more from Jay Electronica.
He gets compared a lot to Nas, but I feel like he has a MF Doom/Killah Priest vibe to him. Stream of consciousness rap with abstract wordplay and imagery. If you haven't heard any of his music, here's your Clif's Notes cram session.
DOWNLOAD: Jay Electronica - "Dimethyltriptamine" (prod by J. Dilla)
DOWNLOAD: Jay Electronica - "Extra Extra" (prod by Madlib)
DOWNLOAD: Jay Electronica - "Hard To Get" (prod by Mr. Porter)
DOWNLOAD: Jay Electronica - "The Pledge" (Act 1; Eternal Sunshine)
Saturday, September 6
The Game Smashes Bow Wow in Madden.
You heard it. If you haven't been following this fuckery, The Game claimed he was the best Madden player in the world, and Bow Wow objected challenging him to a game for $100K. The Game accepted the $100,000 challenge, and upped the ante saying that Ciara has to suck his dick, along with everyone else on his tour bus. Bow Wow responded back saying he was undefeated and Game couldn't touch him. Game responded back....again. This was all done over YouTube for the world to see. That's gangster.
So they faced off tonight in Los Angeles on the Xbox360 in a game of Madden NFL 09. $100,000 was on the line, and the Game destroyed Bow Wow 55-23. Bow Wow took the biggest L, and was crying and talking shit the whole time like a true champion.
Compton's in the house. And Ciara is sucking somebody tonight.
Friday, September 5
LL Cool J Old Spice Commercial.
Ladies Love non-stinky armpits. So if you're having trouble with the body odor, LL Cool J is here to help.
Now The Formula is This: Me, Tip and Ali.
Oh my God, yes Oh My God. This is ill. A Tribe Called Quest performing one of my Top 3 Tribe songs live on Conan O'Brien back in the day. I didn't even know Conan was up on his hip-op like that. Sick performance. Phife and Tip go back and forth effortlessly, complimenting each others verse with their ad-libs. These cats know how to rock like no other. Props to The Meaning of Dope.
[NEW] eLZhi - "Save Ya" (feat. T3)
The second single from eLZhi's latest release, The Preface (great album), gives a stern warning to all you gold diggers out there, and to look elsewhere if you're trying to reap the benefits of his hard earned success. Amen, brotha.
"Infatuated with material things / You only see your feet in those shoes, your ears in those rings / But, uh, you can come around on your best behavior / But sorry Love, I can't Save Ya."
DOWNLOAD: eLZhi - "Save Ya" (feat. T3)
I Used to Sell Mixtapes...
...but now I just download them.
A handful of new mixtapes hit the internets this week, and I have them all lined up for you right here and now. Call it a back to school gift. Get that index finger ready to start clickin'.
El Prez - "The Daily Show"
Inglewood's own drops his long awaited mixtape, The Daily Show. For those of you not up on the westcoast rhyme writer, this is the perfect introduction. Brought to you exclusively by the homies at Eighty's Baby and What Eye Thought.
DOWNLOAD.
A (2) Dope Mixtape: Cadillac Edition
The homies Shake and Meka from 2dopeboyz.com put together a banging new mixtape exclusively of fresh up and coming westcoast hip-hop. It features Pac Div, Blu, U-N-I, Shawn Jackson, Inverse, and more. This is definitely a dope download. Mixed by DJ Slimm and hosted by U-N-I.
DOWNLOAD.
Mikkey Halsted - "Uncrowned King"
Hosted by Chicago’s DJ V-Dub, the tape features new and unreleased material from Mikkey featuring a dope line up consisting of Chicago greats like Kanye West, NO ID, Common, Ab Liva and more. Courtesy of Fake Shore Drive.
DOWNLOAD.
Charles Hamilton - "Death of the Mixtape Rapper"
The Hamiltonization process is officially underway. The youngster from Ohio who has an affinity for Sonic the Hedgehog and pink, is also an emcee, songwriter, musician, and overall hippie. He thinks people tend to judge him too quickly, so he want's his music to do the talking. We're all ears. Mr. Hamilton delivers his first of 8 upcoming mixtapes - hosted by DJ Skee and presented by imeem.com. Courtesy of Okayplayer.
DOWNLOAD.
Until next time....
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