Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y are like the 2010 West Coast gangsta version of Mos Def and Talib Kweli (aka Blackstar). Check out Huey Newton which features a Toto sample…now THAT’s gangsta.

Blackstar?! Blasphemy?!  Hear me out.  In 1999, very few people knew who Mos Def and Talib Kweli were.  They were both signed to Rawkus and somebody had the idea to put them together for an album to raise awareness ahead of their solo albums.  One hip-hop classic later, hip-hop heads are still talking about that album 10 years later.  It was an instant classic.  Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa have not made an album together (though they did make a mixtape), but they have made several dope songs together that, years from now, will go down as classics.  Feel me now?  Check out Huey Newton:

Click here to download.

Here are some other Curren$y and Wiz gems:

Here’s some Blackstar:

Oh.  And the Toto sample?

Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Fridays have turned into G.O.O.D. Saturdays but so what? It’s still damn good music and for free…Check out the latest called Don’t Look Down ft Mos Def, Big Sean and Lupe Fiasco.

Also, Kanye’s film Runaway is on BET tonight at 8.  Don’t Look Down is in the film and gives a pretty good recap of the story.  Below the picture is a preview of Runaway. Come back later to catch the movie if you miss it on BET.  Click here to download Don’t Look Down.

Whatever happened to the art of freestyling?

For most MCs, freestyling means kicking a verse that they’ve written and nobody’s heard…but true freestyling is the art of rhyming straight off the top of the dome.  Newcomer Donnis recently reminded us of the true art of freestyling with this rhyme that he spit on Sirius:

That inspired us to dig in the crates for some of the better freestyles of all time.  Check these out:

Kanye West continues to be G.O.O.D. to his fans. This week’s track is Lord Lord Lord ft Mos Def, Swizz Beats, Raekwon and Charlie Wilson.

This track is built on a 70’s funk jam.  It’s different from anything Kanye has done in a long while.  Check it out for yourself here.

The mighty Mos Def performs 2 new songs, Travellin’ Man and 24 Hour Karate School/Workers Comp. Check out the videos.

Here are the 20 most important hip-hop record labels of all time.

Before record labels were considered “the enemy” their brands actually meant something.  Artists dreamed of being on the same label as the MCs they grew up idolizing and some labels had such credibility fans would buy the record just because it was on that label.

Over the next several days we will look at the 20 most important hip-hop record labels of all time as determined by a host of factors including credibility, sales, enduring legacy and cultural impact.  And, the labels are:

#20 Rawkus Records

In the late nineties and early 2000s, many thought Rawkus Records was going to be the next Def Jam.  They were putting out singles, compilations and albums of some of the most well-regarded underground hip-hop of the last several years.  They also launched the careers of some artists who still today (10 years later) are seen as among the most credible in hip-hop.  They even put out one of the earliest Eminem singles…Here are some of the key releases by Rawkus in its heyday:

Definition – Blackstar

Before they were widely known as Mos Def & Talib Kweli, they were known as Blackstar

Umi Says – Mos Def

Get By – Talib Kweli

Simon Says – Pharoahe Monch

Any Man – Eminem

Oh No – Mos Def ft. Nate Dogg and Pharoahe Monch

1-9-9-9 – Common ft. Sadat X

Previously:  #20 Rakwus Records, #19 Loud Records, #18 Select Records, #17 Rap-A-Lot Records, #16 No Limit Records, #15 Sleeping Bag Records, #14 Uptown Records, #13 Ruffhouse Records, #12 Cold Chillin’ Records, #11 Jive Records, #10 Aftermath Records, #9 Cash Money Records

The Mighty Mos Def rocks a jazzy beat from Ski Beatz forthcoming 24hr Karate School Project

Ski Beatz’ Cream of the Planet (featuring Mos Def) and Scaling the Building with Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa are just the appetizer’s.  The line up on Ski Beatz’ 24hr Karate School album is looking promising.  The set also features Jim Jones, Jay Electronica, Jean Grae, The Cool Kids, Camp Lo (who dropped this Ski Beatz-produced jewel) and many others.  The album drops on 9/7.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

The Mighty Mos Def rocks a jazzy beat from Ski …, posted with vodpod

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Mick Boogie just dropped a mixtape full of Summertime classics.

When 1 of the greatest DJs ever links with 1 of the best mixtape DJs ever, you know it’s going to be fresh.  The tracklist below speaks for itself.  Click here to download.

1. Summertime Intro
2. Kool & The Gang: Summer Madness (Live Version)
3. Kool & The Gang: Summer Madness
4. Quincy Jones: Summer In The City
5. Ahmad: Back In The Day
6. Ice Cube: It Was A Good Day
7. Roy Ayers f/ Mary J Blige: Everybody Loves The Sunshine
8. Pharcyde: Passin’ Me By (Ffej Remix)
9. Jay-Z f/ Babyface: Sunshine
10. Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess
11. A Tribe Called Quest: Find A Way (Ffej String Edit)
12: Bush Babies f/ Mos Def: The Love Song
13. Jodeci: Get On Up
14. The Commodores: High On Sunshine
15. J Dilla f/ Dwele : Think Twice
16. Erick Sermon f/ Marvin Gaye: Music (Mick’s Marvapella Edit)
17. Bernard Wright: Who Do You Love
18. LL Cool J: Loungin’
19. A Tribe Called Quest: Hot Sex
20. Main Source: Live At The BBQ
21. Nuyorican Soul: Nautilus
22. Pharcyde & Sublime: Summertime
23. Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff: Summertime Remix
24. Michael Jackson: I Can’t Help It
25. De La Soul: Breakdawn
26. Musiq: Just Friends
27. Carl Thomas: Summer Rain
28. Faze-O: Riding High
29. Dionne Warwick: Walk On By
30. Skee-Lo: I Wish
31. Black Moon: Who Got The Props
32. Frankie Beverly and Maze: Before I Let Go
33. Nu Shooz: I Can’t Wait
34. Montell Jordan: This Is How We Do It
35: The Roots f/ George Benson: Breezin’
36: Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff: Time To Chill
37. Biggie: Can’t You See
38. James Brown: The Payback
39. En Vogue: My Lovin’
40. Bobby McFerrin: Sunshine Of My Life
41. Fifth Dimension: Let The Sun Shine In
42. Mos Def: Sunshine
43. Nine: Whatcha Want
44. Otis Redding: Sittin’ On The Dock
45. 2Pac: I Get Around (Mick’s String Edit)
46. Zapp: Computer Love (Terry’s Mirage On The Water Mix)
47. Seals And Croft: Summer Breeze
48. Jay-Z: Dear Summer
49. Weldon Irvine: Morning Sunrise

Meditations on Hip-Hop, Vol. Too

Think of this as hip-hop for chilling, sitting back and relaxing or just marinating.  It’s hip-hop for a rainy day.  Just click here, hit play, minimize your browser and let it ride.  Tracklist is below:

Kick it to the Beat – J-Live

The Lights – Nicolay & Kay

Do You Think About Me – 50 Cent

U.N.I.T.Y. – Queen Latifah

Nic’s Groove – The Foreign Exchange

Act Too…The Love of My Life – The Roots

Intergalactic Soul – DJ Spinna ft. Phonte

Nighttime Maneuvers (9^th Wonder Remix) – Little Brother

Magnificent – Rick Ross

Flashing Lights – Kanye West

Get Ta Steppin’ – Hi-Tek ft. Mos Def

Prescription – Wale

Just Another Day – Queen Latifah

Maybach Music – Rick Ross ft. Jay-Z

Losing My Balance – J. Cole

Jersey – Queen Latifah

Successful – Drake

Liberation – Outkast ft. Cee-Lo

Park Bench People – Freestyle Fellowship

If This is Love – The Foreign Exchange

SpottieOttieDopaliscious – Outkast ft. Erykah Badu

Umi Says – Mos Def