Mass Appeal 2009 Remix.

One of my favorite Gangstarr tracks of all time gets a make over by some of the westcoast's finest crop of new emees: Convinced, El Prez, Shawn Jackson, and Tunji from Inverse. The internets having been waiting for this joint for a long time. The wait is over. The FCC is knocking down doors.

DOWNLOAD: Convinced ft. Shawn Jackson, El Prez, Tunji - "Mass Appeal 2009"

Here's the order:

1. Shawn Jackson
2. Tunji
3. El Prez
4. Convinced

Let the debate begin on who had the best verse...because they are all fire.

Below check out El Prez talking about how the project came together.

[NEW] U-N-I (ft. Shawn Jackson) - "Monster"

Y-O, Thurzday, and Shawn Jackson connect like Voltron with fresher sneakers for this brand new joint. This one appears on U-N-I'S upcoming mixtape, Before There Was Love. You can bet your ballskin that I've have a download of the mixtape right here when it mmmmm, DRRRRRRRROPS.

DOWNLOAD: U-N-I (ft. Shawn Jackson) - "Monster"

[NEW] U-N-I ft. H.O.P.E. & Shawn Jackson - "California Soul"

Inglewood's finest links up with Shawn Jack and H.O.P.E. for an instant classic. I love the song they sampled for this one. "Like a sound you hear, that lingers in your ear..." (c) Marlena Shaw.

But on the real, and not to sound like a hater, but what's with the Dilla horns and adlibs on the track? Maybe it's an ode to him, but it kinda feels like Jay-Z recycling Biggie lines. It's don't sound right. That sound should be reserved for Dilla (and sometimes Madlib). But that's just me. Regardless, the song is cool.

DOWNLOAD: U-N-I (ft. H.O.P.E. & Shawn Jackson) - "Cali Soul"

The New West.

U-N-I. Shawn Jackson. Diz Gibran. Dom Kennedy. Say hello to the New West. Gone are the lowriders, drive-bys, and crack raps of the 1980's gangsta rap movement set in motion by artists like N.W.A. There is a new wave of hip-hop representing the Left Coast that is invading the nation and raising the creative bar.

The good people at Vibe magazine have finally realized the dope music that the westcoast, L.A. in particular, have been putting out in the past year. All this week, they are running a whole feature called New West of 5 different, but very fresh Los Angeles acts. Every single one of them has gotten shine on this blog and Hip Hop Official in general. So it's only right that they continue to blaze on. Check out the articles and learn a little something.

New West: U-N-I

New West: Shawn Jackson

New West: Diz Gibran

New West: Dom Kennedy

Check back tomorrow, for Friday's feature.

Johnson & Jonson/New Jack Hustle Live @ Fat Beats

For all my NY cats, Johnson & Jonson (Blu & Mainframe) and New Jack Hustle (Shawn Jackson & Newman) will be doing a live in-store at Fat Beats NY. No cover. Word on the streets is they might have an open bar. Ah shit.

L.A. to N.Y....We connect like JFK to LAX.

[VIDEO] New Jack Hustle - "New Shades"

Fresh new video from New Jack Hustle (Shawn Jackson + Newman). I'm feeling the video. It's mad simple, but really matches the song steez. New Jack Hustle's album, Soundcheck, is in stores today. Do yourself a favor...yup, go cop it.

Shout out to the home Shawn Jackson who is our Artist of the Week.

Artist of the Week: Shawn Jackson

L.A. emcee, and one of my current favorite rhymes spitters, Shawn Jackson, is the Hip Hop Official Artist of the Week. His debut album, First Of All... was released a few months back, and it has stayed in my current rotation. "Feelin' Jack" is one of the tightest songs of the year, no doubt. In this interview Shawn talks about his album, his music, and why he chose the name Shawn Jackson instead of something whack like MC Supaduper. After the video, download some Jack tracks. You'll thank me later.



[BONUS] DOWNLOAD: Shawn Jackson - "Feelin' Jack"
[BONUS] DOWNLOAD: Shawn Jackson - "Go There With You"
[BONUS] DOWNLOAD: Shawn Jackson - "Fix Your Face"

Shawn Jackson - Exclusive Live Performance

Funny story about this performance...Shawn Jack was scehduled for an interview, was having car troubles, so he was running late. He had a crazy hectic day, so he forgot to bring his instrumentals to perform "Feeling Jack" and "Go There With You"

So luckily, House Shoes had some beats on him, so we just threw one on and let Shawn do his thing. What transpired was this never seen before, heard before, that uncut raw. I think it turned out pretty dope.

Shawn Jackson on the spit. House Shoes on the beat.

[VIDEO] New Jack Hustle (Shawn Jackson & Newman) - "2 It"

The homie Shawn Jackson and Newman from Giant Panda are New Jack Hustle. Get it? Newman and Jackson. New-Jack. Yeah, I know you can see it. Newman on the beats, Jackson on the raps.

This is their first video. Epileptics prone to seizures should not watch this. If you don't fall into that category, then you should watch. And watch now.

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....

Shawn Jackson.

I've mentioned the name in this space before. Shawn Jackson is one of my favorite up and coming artist in the game right now. He represents Los Angeles, and that fresh, creative, cool ass hip-hop. I'm going to keep mentioning his name until the public takes notice.

He dropped 2 new videos this week.


Shawn Jackson - "Go There With You" (feat. Ty)


Shawn Jackson - "Soopafly" (feat. Ty)

DOWNLOAD: Shawn Jackson - "Go There With You" (feat. Ty)
DOWNLOAD: Shawn Jackson - "Soopafly" (feat. Ty & Kory)

[VIDEO] Shawn Jackson - "Countdown"

New video from one of my favorite up and coming L.A. cats, Shawn Jackson. Shout out to Tres Records. His solo album, First Of All..., is in stores now. Do yourself a favor, and cop it.

[BONUS] DOWNLOAD: Shawn Jackson - "Countdown"

New Releases: July 8th

Its new music Tuesday, so lets get you caught up on what's dropping today. As an added bonus to this already fantastic section of our blog, I'm throwing in a sample song from each album so you can get taste of what to expect. That way, if you like the music, you can go out a cop yourself a copy of the album. Support good music.

Jean Grae - "Jeanius"

First up, one of the dopest females in the game (well shit, I hope she's still in the game), Jean Grae drops her long awaited album Jeanious. The whole album was produced by super beathsmith 9th wonder, and it actually features 4 different album covers, which all pay homage to classic hip hop covers from Das EFX (pictured) Raekwon, Black Sheep, and my personal fav Public Enemy.

P.S. I fuckin love this idea, and if I ever release a rap album, best believe I'd reenact this bad boy.

BONUS: Jean Grae - "Love Thirst"



Killer Mike - "I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind, Vol. 2"

Up next, Killer Mike releases his third solo album, I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind, Volume 2. You might remember Mike from his work with dem Southernplayalistic boys, Outkast, but this ATL rapper proves he can hold his own on this new album, even amongst features with Ice Cube, Shawty Lo, Eightball & MJG, and Chamillionaire. The video for his song with Cube called "Pressure" just hit the net and has been sending shock waves across the web. It's being discussed as being the most powerful and poignant video of the year. Like to hear it? Here it go...

BONUS: Killer Mike (feat. Ice Cube) - "Pressure"



NYOIL - "Hood Treason"

One of the most outspoken and controversial emcees in the game is someone you might not be familiar with yet. Say hello to NYOIL (pronounced N-Y-Oil). He's no newcomer to the game; he's been rapping since the age of 12 and released his first album in 1991 with a group called U.M.C.'S under the name Kool Kim. This Staten Island emcee spits the uncut truth and voices his frustrations with society and the music industry through his edu-tainment style of lyricism on his new album Hood Treason. He started making noise about two years ago when he released a YouTube video for his song "Y'All Should All Get Lynched." The track calls for the lynching of a number of major-label rappers, and the video features pictures of current rap stars such as 50 Cent and Three 6 Mafia coupled with images of lynchings, slavery, and minstrelsy. Ignorance is not tolerated.

BONUS: NYOIL - "Y'all Should All Get Lynched"



Shawn Jackson - "First Of All..."

And last, but not least, for you west coast independent cats, Los Angeles native Shawn Jackson provides a breath of fresh air with his honest, soulful, and lyrically fulfilling debut album First Of All. His song "Feelin' Jack" is one of my favorite songs out right now..."Feelin Jack" got me feelin' good. And the beat is so sick that Syphilis is sacred to fuck with it. This album features Guilty Simpson, Double K (People Under the Stairs), Ta'Raach (C.R.A.C. Knuckles) and Comel from Time Machine. Be sure to check that out.

BONUS: Shawn Jackson - "Feelin' Jack"



**BONUS NON-HIP HOP, HIP HOP ALBUM**


Beck - "Modern Guilt"

Beck has always been a little hip-hop. You can't front on that, and this new album is produced entirely by Danger Mouse, the brilliant mind behind The Grey Album, The Mouse and the Mask, and well, Gnarls Barkley. If you're looking for something a little different, but still fresh -- look no further.

[VIDEO] Shawn Jackson - "Feelin' Jack"

That's what I'm talking about. Some new goodness. Here at the Notorious B.L.O.G. and Hip Hop Official, we love bringing new music to your guys. This is no different. Shawn Jackson is an independent emcee from L.A., who's signed to Tres Records, and down with acts like Time Machine, Blu, House Shoes and C.R.A.C. Knuckles. Stay tuned.