Mac Miller’s created an almost unrivaled buzz over the past couple years, proving to be one of the best rising MCs in hip hop. He’s shown his relentless work ethic by throwing his smooth flows on a variety of different (free) tracks and features with other artists. Before he became label-mates with Wiz Khalifa on Rostrum Records and put out K.I.D.S. and The High Life, Mac (‘EZ Mac’ at the time) spit alongside fellow rapper from the ‘Burgh Beedie to form the group The Ill Spoken. I always enjoy hearing rappers’ early work because it shows a more raw version of their talent, and how they’ve refined and grown as artists over time. How High: The Mixtape showcases just that — rhymeskills over more traditional hip-hop beats than what Mac’s used on his recent work. Definitely worth a listen for any fans!

+jangbar

The Ill Spoken – How High: The Mixtape | Mediafire

Bonus

New track from Mac & Chiddy. Also, mixtape that came out a while back hosted by Mac and friends entitled “Sour Hour.” Handful of tracks from Mac and others including Chevy Woods about Ms. Jane.

Mac Miller ft. Chiddy – Open Your Eyes

The Sour Hour Mixtape hosted by Mac Miller and TreeJTV

New track from Kendrick. I suggest heeding the advice of the first few seconds and play it real loud on some good speakers. Song concept is pretty sick.

Kendrick Lamar – Sex With Society

Mediafire

Couple new videos dropped today:

First is Fashawn – “Down That Road,” the catchiest song off his last mixtape, Higher Learning 2. The track features Sam Hook on the… hook which works well as a complement to Fash. Leaked yesterday but was removed quickly, this is the final version. Check it below.

Next is the visual representation of “Rooftops,” the track from 18 year-old Luke Christopher ft. Asher Roth. 2 and a half minute video of the two rhyming from where you’d expect. Keep an eye out for Christopher in the coming months, dude’s got talent.

BONUS

2 Unreleased tracks from Big Sean. Both sound like his earlier work. If you liked Finally Famous: The Mixtape you’ll like these.

Big Sean – Home
Big Sean – Not Good Enough

+jangbar

Jermaine’s back at it with “How High.” Another good track from Fayettenam’s finest, seamless transitions of wordplay from line to line. Real raps with a little inspiration… really happy to see Cole not get sucked into the tendency to strictly rhyme about success that a lot of artists do after experiencing some. Definitely something to enjoy with some smoke on this Memorial Day, enjoy!

+jangbar

J. Cole – How High

New video for ‘Hiii PoWeR’ released by Kendrick Lamar this week. Features some powerful short clips and shots of influential world figures, including Malcolm X, MLK, and Barack. The Compton native shows that he’s truly a conscious rapper on the track, which is produced by J. Cole. Any time these two get together it’s gold. A collaboration mixtape has supposedly been in the works but no recent news on that. Very inspirational video for a great song.

“The sky is falling, the wind is calling; stand for something or die in the morning.”

This week, don’t sleep on Colorado’s finest: Pretty Lights. Consisting of Producer/DJ Derek Smith with Adam Deitch bangin’ the drums at live shows, Pretty Lights is one of the leaders in what’s quickly becoming one of my favorite genres: a fusion of electro and instrumental hip-hop. This perfectly welded sound comes from a seamless integration of hard electronic synths with the strong bass and snare elements of hip-hop. Throw in a myriad of other delightful sounds, including piano melodies, and his craft has succeeded in creating what you’d call groovy ear candy. If your head or body has no impulse to move/groove/shake/nod/whatever while listening to a track, I’d contact a physician ASAP because I think you might have mono. The best part of artists with this type of sound is it’s very easily enjoyed by anyone — it’s a great gateway style for those that are turned off by glitchy rough electro, especially those whose tastes lean in the hip hop direction. After performing at Coachella in 2010, the duo has gone on tour and pleased many crowds with what is apparently an amazing live show that features visually stimulating components (this has always been a no-brainer to me for artists). I still haven’t had the chance to catch a performance. (Skinny Genes went last year and forgot to hit me up about it… still harboring a good amount of hatred deep inside). If all this isn’t good enough, ALL his music is available for free on his website. You can catch him at Identity Festival in LA on September 4th, as well as Vegas, Northern California, and other cities across the country on the festival’s tour.

+jangbar

Pretty Lights – Fly Away Another Day
Pretty Lights – City of One
Pretty Lights – Chicago Bulls Theme Remix
+had to include this, since the Lakeshow crumbled I’m pullin for DRose and Co. Plus that theme has always been ‘epic,’ great spin on it.

BONUS

The latest offerings from Drake… seeing some maturity from Drizzy. A lot of people hate what he’s become but I’m still a fan.
Drake – Dreams Money Can Buy
SBTRKT – Wildfire Remix ft. Yukimi (Little Dragon) & Drake+++

Tyler, the Creator’s ‘Goblin’ debuted this past week and peaked at #2 overall on the iTunes charts, a feat for the 19 year old that would have sounded extremely far-fetched a year ago. Since then, however, the hype for himself and the rest of Odd Future has grown in uncontrollable proportions. The album itself has a very similar sound to Tyler’s other work so far — slower, gritty beats and twisted lyrics that mesh extremely well together. The production is solid; Tyler produced every track on the album, and interestingly didn’t make use of any samples. You gotta have a tremendous amount of respect for artists that produce their own songs — in Tyler’s case it works so well because his beats create a mood for the song to go in on.

His shit will always receive mixed responses from listeners because of the message and content. Some will jump on board with the message and further the hype, while others will find reasons to hate it because they feel the hype is unjustified. In order to look closer and digest it, you gotta take it for what it is. He’s just a 19 year old fucking around with his friends and making music. Fans and the industry in general are always quick to make the next big artist someone to be worshipped and aspire to be. Tyler makes it very clear in the album that he’s ‘not a role model,’ and he has issues. He’s the voice of troubled/rebel youth who take different life paths than what’s been created for and expected of them. ‘Radicals’ and ‘Goblin’ both shed some light on this. ‘Sandwitches,’ which features Hodgy Beats, has anthem-like qualities. ‘She’ features Frank Ocean, whose voice on the hook works as a sick complement to Tyler’s. Other standouts include the viral-sensation ‘Yonkers’ and ‘Fish,’ which embodies the type of song people have come to oppose the group for.

No filler on this album, Tyler goes hard on every beat — his flow is definitely not matched by many. One more comment that came up when I was having a discussion with a friend that doesn’t listen to much hip-hop — the style of songs like Sandwitches has a moshing vibe that I think would appeal to fans of dubstep. (You can catch OFWGKTA at HARD Summer this year). Definitely recommend heading to iTunes or the nearest store and grabbing a copy.

+jangbar

Nigga had the fuckin’ nerve to call me immature. The fuck you think I made Odd Future for? Wear fuckin’ suits and make good decisions? Fuck that.

1. Goblin
2. Yonkers
3. Radicals
4. She (ft. Frank Ocean)
5. Transylvania
6. Nightmare
7. Tron Cat
8. Her
9. Sandwitches (ft. Hodgy Beats)
10. Fish
11. Analog (ft. Hodgy Beats)
12. Bitch Suck Dick (ft. Jasper Dolphin & Taco)
13. Window (ft. Domo Genesis, Frank Ocean, Hodgy Beats)
14. AU79
15. Golden
16. Burger (ft. Hodgy Beats)