88-Keys x J Dilla.

This is a Hip Hop Official Exclusive performance, live from our HHO Lounge. 88-Keys came through the spot to chop it up about his latest video shoot with Kanye West (more on that later). He rocked a couple of joints off his Death of Adam LP, and then asked the fateful question: "Got any Dilla?" This is what transpired...

...88 rocks to one of my favorite Dilla beats of all time, "E=MC2."

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".

Evidence - "For Whom The Bell Tolls" Behind the Scenes [Part 1]

Hip Hop Official was on the set of Evidence's latest video shoot for his song "For Whom The Bell Tolls" off the Layover EP. The song features Will.I.Am, Blu, and Phonte from Little Brother. The entire video was shot at a crazy dope graveyard and mausolem in Altadena, CA and provides the perfect backdrop for the vibe of this video. I'm telling you, this place was mad spooky. I swear dead people were climbing out of the walls. I was packing garlic cloves and a wooden spike just in case something popped off. The official video is going to look amazing, but you can get a sneak peak right here.

Check for Part 2 tomorrow...

[NEW] Jay-Z - "BK Anthem" (ft. MC Lyte)

Jay-Z likes Brooklyn. He made a song about it. Like to hear it? Here it goes. This is a world premiere, courtesy of DJ Skee and the Los Angeles Leakers. The beat on this one is gangster. MC Lyte on the hook. There are DJ tags on it, but it's not too annoying.

DOWNLOAD: Jay-Z - "BK Anthem" (ft. MC Lyte)

Eminem - "Number One" (prod by Dr. Dre)

Oh lord. This is dope. I don't know much about this, but this what I do know: It's a brand new Eminem joint. It's produced by Dr. Dre. It's unfinished, and sounds like a reference track. Em is actually spitting Dre's verse on this one, assumably scratch vocals for Dre to get the cadence and flow down so he can go in and record his final verse. It's also rumored that 50 is supposed to appear on the final version. Hearing this is like stepping into the studio with Dre and Em during the recording process. Don't sleep on this one.

DOWNLOAD: Eminem - "Number One" (prod by Dr. Dre)

Shout out to Illroots for the linkage.

[VIDEO] Kanye West - Love Lockdown

Kanye gives Ellen the exclusive...yeah, seriously, Ellen Degeneres. Not MTV, not BET, not Hip Hop Official, but Ellen. Does this dude even consider himself a rapper anymore? The obvious answer is no.

This video is mad random, and stays true to his recent Kanye emo-tradition. This comes off as a highly abstract Lion King rendition...or something. It's like a serious version of "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" but with more "feelings"...or something. I'm really not feeling the video. But to each their own.

[NEW] J Dilla - "Oxtopus"

I never pass up on new Dilla. Ever.

Word on the streets blogs is this is the last song he jumped on before he passed (R.I.P.), but there's no confirmation on that claim. It was supposed to appear on the Operation Unknown project, but disappeared until J Rocc played it a few months ago. It's Dilla spitting over a very primitive track, similar to "Grindin."

This, my beat digging friends, is super rare. So jump on it while it's here.

DOWNLOAD: J Dilla - "Oxtopus"

Exclusive: Farnsworth Bentley - "Everybody" (feat. Kanye & Andre 3000)

Saw this exclusive new track at Kanye's. It's kinda funky, and Andre delivers another memorable ill verse.

Bentley's dancing>Andre's dancing>Kanye's dancing

New Q-Tip.

When was the last time you heard those words? So the Abstract Poetic debuted a couple of new tracks on Mark Ronson's internet radio show, and now I'm debuting them for you.

I have to apologize upfront -- they are not the full tracks, and they are ripped from the radio, so Q-Tip is talking over them. But still, you get to hear some new Q-Tip, so you'll get over it. I assume these are from his upcoming album, The Renaissance.

DOWNLOAD: Q-Tip - "Getting Up"
DOWNLOAD: Q-Tip - "Won't Trade You"

Raekwon Talks About Only Built For Cuban Linx 2

We caught up with Rae at the LRG gifting suite in Los Angeles and he was getting his free swag on. The Chef talks about the album everyone and their momma wants to hear, OBFCL2, as well as his part time job as a fashion designer. What, you didn't realize?

You know who brought you this exclusive.

The Red Carpet at the BET Awards (Part 1)

Hip Hop Official comes to you live from the red carpet at the BET Awards that went down Tuesday in Los Angeles. This is Part 1, check back for Part 2 soon.

RZA Talks Digi Snacks.

In an Hip Hop Official exclusive, the Abbot talks about his upcoming Bobby Digital album, Digi Snacks, which drops July 1st. This dude actually compares his album to a box of Mike N Ike's. He's one of the GOAT interviewees in the Hip Hop game. Nobody thinks quite like Bobby Digi.

Enjoy

Omar Cruz: Raw

Bonus footage from our interview with Omar Cruz. Here he talks about the repercussions of being a Latino emcee.

Ali Vegas - "That's Nothing" (Live)

It ain't nothing for the Prince of New York, Ali Vegas, to come through and drop a song for Hip Hop Official. Here's the single "That's Nothing" produced by Scott Storch.

A fun fact about Ali: He's signed to Rich Soil Entertainment, which is the label run by childhood friend and L.A. Laker Lamar Odom.

Omar Cruz - "I Hang With My Dogz" (Live)

The Latin Lyrics Assassin, aka Omar Cruz, came through the studio to perform for Hip Hop Official. Check out the exclusive live performance of his street banger, "I Hang With My Dogz"

KRS-One Book Club

Peep this Hip Hop Official Exclusive. That Blast Master KRS breaks down his list of required reading to get your mind right. Because You Must Learn.


This dude actually makes books seem Hip Hop. Fresh, for 2008, you suckas.

U-N-I in the Building

Big up to the homies, Thurzday and Y-O, who make up the L.A. based Hip Hop group U-N-I. They came through the Hip Hip Official offices to bless us with an interview and performed 3 songs off their Fried Chicken and Watermelon album. They came prepared, straight equipped with an old school Nintendo, oversized hands, and a fresh shoe game.

We'll have the interview and live performances for you soon, so don't sleep.








In the meantime and in between time, check out their video for "Beautiful Day"

Behind the Scenes at the Justo Mixtape Awards

THe homie Shani Kulture was On the Run at the Justo Mixtape Awards that popped off last week. Peep the interviews, and give love to the true DJs.

Rewind that.

Rza Video Shoot for "You Can't Stop Me Now"

Today I attended the photo shoot for the Rza's new video for "You Can't Stop Me Now" b/w "Drama" (feat. Monk & Thea) off his upcoming Bobby Digital album Digi Snacks due out the first week of July.

The video was shot completely on green screen and is based off the Digi Snack cover art, with Bobby playing the role of Hip Hop super hero. Directed by Rage and Todd A. Check for that at beginning of June.

[VIDEO] 2 Pistols addresses his beef with Dolla

Florida rapper 2 Pistols came through the Hip Hop Official offices for an interview. We got your exclusive right here as he speaks on his hit record "She Got It" featuring T-Pain, and his beef with fellow rapper Dolla.

We got the full interview dropping tomorrow, so stay tuned.