Video: The Funk League - On & On Ft. Sadat X

Continuing on from last post with some more international producers comes The Funk League, a production duo from France consisting of Hugo and Soulbrother Suspect that originally met while DJing a monthly breakdancing party in Paris. These two vinyl collectors really know something about capturing a funky break and putting it in its place. Just hit up the video above for a jazz-funk-hip-hop inspired fusion track off their soon to be released album "Funky As Usual" (worldwide release on January 24th). The track features Sadat X spitting an up-tempo narrative of his upbringing in the NYC hip hop culture over two decades ago. The video is unlike any I've ever seen for a hip hop track, using a healthy dose of arts & crafts and creativity to create a fluidly entertaining scenery. I'm really looking forward to hearing the album in it's entirety. Until then, keep yourself entertained with another track by The Funk League below.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Otherside Remix Feat. Fences (Video)

Every now and then an artist will actually make a music video for a song not based on the song's popularity, but because the song deserves a video. I know, in this day and age in hip hop it becomes rarer and rarer to find substance in this music, but I have to say that Macklemore is an artist that doesn't do any song or music video half-assed. Although I loved the original "Otherside" off of the VS. EP, I must say that the remix above has grown on me with each consecutive listen. I think it's beautiful and I hope you enjoy.

Can't wait for Mack's new album... coming not soon enough.

Video: Jay-Z & Jimi Hendrix - A Watchtower Problem (Nasty P Mashup)

Shouts to RemixTheVideo for putting me onto this mashup of my favorite Jimi Hendrix song mixed with one of Jay-Z's most controversial and perhaps best video. Now, I've never been a fan of the original beat of HOV's "99 Problems", so any remix of the song comes to welcome ears. However, not that many people have succeeded with a remix that actually sounds appropriate to the tone of the song (huge exception being DJ Roli Fingaz remix with Talib Kweli's "Get By" beat which you can download on my Filet-o-Mix: Jay-Z - The BLACK[EST] Album). However, this remix really kicks ass and makes watching the video for the song way more fun. This is a jewel. Enjoy.

Video: Turn My Dreams Into Reality

 New Looptroop Album 2011 

"Professional Dreamers"

There are days when you just can't seem to figure out what you're doing with your life or where you're going, but you know where you want to be... or at least you think that you do. The first video below is for all you daydreamers thinking about making it to the "big time" and the second video is for all my people who realize that they're already there because they are striving everyday for something that they believe in. "We've been on this trip with no end station, seems hopeless, but this is the destination". Life's a journey, so let the music convince you that you're already living the dream. And if you're not yet, then what are you waiting for?

David Dallas - Big Time (Video)

Download: David Dallas - Big Time (Produced by Forty One) [right click to save]

Looptroop Rockers - Professional Dreamers (Video)

Download: Looptroop Rockers - Professional Dreamers [right click to save]

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Gods of Music

It's been nearly 1 month since I've posted new music. I guess I just had to take some time away to figure out where my priorities lie. Music will always be that inescapable #1. Perhaps the only thing in the world that I can't live without (excluding food and water). That being said, the below is the best of the best. It was a sign for me to get off my ass and post this. New videos and new music from my favorite artist this past year - MACKLEMORE and his faithful producer Ryan Lewis. Mack will be huge - mark my words.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Wings

A track about coveting sneakers and the traps of materialism. "Wings" is the first leak off the full length Mack & Lewis album coming not soon enough. I CAN'T WAIT!

Oh yeah, and there are two new Macklemore videos that dropped recently below. 1) "Irish Celebration", the smash Irish pride drinking anthem released in late 2009 on The VS. EP and 2) "My Oh My", a tribute song to and catch phrase of the late Seattle Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus (featured in my last post).

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Irish Celebration (Video)

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - My Oh My (Video)

And please let me know if you love it in the comments down below. I miss you guys.

-FiletOfSole

#NewMusicFriday - 12/24/10 Edition

Download #NewMusicFriday - 12/24/10 Edition

So it's Christmas Eve 2010 and I've got some presents for you... Yup, that's right - It's this week's edition of #NewMusicFriday! (the best new hip hop singles from the past week along with album recommendations and videos). Highlights this week include an incredible single from Seattle rapper Macklemore and his talented producer Ryan Lewis about a baseball announcer from their city "The Town". Also, check out "I Did It To Myself" by Ryu with a beat by Apathy that conjures visions of Charlie Brown Christmas. Very appropriate for this time of year. Stream the 9 songs below or download the whole bunch at the link up top. There's so much good hip hop coming out these days - you just have to know where to look to find it. The rappers and producers that I feature on #NewMusicFriday are keeping the genre alive and healthy. Bump this music and come back every week!

#NMF Songs
Doc Ish - She Did It Again (Feat. Crooked I And Billy Danze)
Family Business - Sunshine (Ft. Skeme & Coolroy)
Fashawn - In the Rain (Ft. Bravo & Grafik) (Prod. By Hecktik)
Joe Budden - Ordinary Love Shit Pt. 1
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - My Oh My
MindsOne - Break (Prod. Kev Brown)
Rapper Big Pooh - Zone Out
Ryu - I Did It To Myself (Prod. Apathy)
SonReal - Clap For Me (Prod. Chanes)

Video
SonReal - I Tried (Video)
-Canadian MC SonReal rapping over Asher Roth's "I Love College" beat - trying to wrap his head around the importance of individuality in rap music.


Albums That I've Copped In The Past Week
Big K.R.I.T. - Krit Wuz Here (2010)
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty (2010)
Reflection Eternal - Revolutions Per Minute (2010)
yU - Before Taxes (2009)
SonReal - The Lightyear Mixtape (2010)
Joel Ortiz – Free Agent (2010)
MED – BangYaHead III Pt. 2 (2010)
Rakaa - Crown Of Thorns (2010)
Doc Ish - The First Treatment (2010)
Big Boi vs. The Black Keys – The Brothers Of Chico Dusty (Mashup) (2010)
Reek Da Villian - The Gift Mixtape (2010)

Enjoy the music. Hope to see you again soon (peep last week's #NewMusicFriday here). There might just be some best-of-the-year lists from yours truly next week...

#NewMusicFriday - 12/17/10 Edition

Download #NewMusicFriday - 12/17/10 Edition

It's been another fantastic week for hip hop, as you can tell by listening to the #NewMusicFriday top 9 songs of the week below (or hit the link above to download all of them). I've gone through about 100 songs, albums, and videos this week to bring you the below selections, so you know my picks are about quality hip hop over quantity. On an extremely important tip: Ghostface Killah's new album Apollo Kids just leaked on the internet, but if you're looking for a Christmas present for the real hip hop fan in your life - this is it! (Drops December 21st). You definitely need to have this under the tree on Christmas morning and need to be playing it when the relatives arrive. Peep "The Wallabee Kingpin" in the video below for some classic Ghostface.

Top Songs of the Week
Asher Roth & Nottz - Break Bread
Ghostface Killah Ft. Black Thought - In Tha Park
Joell Ortiz Ft. The Lox - Put Some Money On It
Madwreck Ft. Torae, John Robinson & Talib Kweli – Someday Remix
Neek The Exotic Ft. Large Pro – Guess Who
Oh No Vs. Percee P - Praise
Sheek Louch (Ft. Bun B & Jase) – Ol Skool (Prod. J. Cardim)
Smoke DZA - Ralph Lifshitz (Prod. Boi-1da)
Vast Aire Ft. Cappadonna – I Don’t Care

Videos
Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids (Video)

SonReal - I Tried (Video)
Eligh - Soul On The Road (Video)
The Niceguys - The Good Shepherd (Video)

Albums I've Copped This Week
Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids (2010)
*This just leaked, but buy it for Christmas on Dec. 21st because this one's gonna be a classic!
Evidence – I Don’t Need Love (FreEP) (2010)
DJ Premier Presents – Year Round Records: Get Used To Us (2010)
Boog Brown & Apollo Brown - Brown Study (2010)
Brown Bag AllStars - The Brown Tape (2009)
H.O.P.E. – Sincere - The Nas Tape (Mixtape) (2010)
Buff1 – It’s A 1derful Life (Mixtape) (2009)

If you can't tell, Friday is my favorite day of the week. Come back every Friday to have some new hip hop to enjoy for the weekend.

-Filet Of Sole

#NewMusicFriday - 12/10/10 Edition

#NewMusicFriday - 12/10/10 Edition

Download the 12 new songs here!!

So it's my favorite day of the week, and hopefully yours too... #NewMusicFriday! The fact that I can provide you about 10 new incredible hip hop songs a week should give you an idea that the hip hop genre that was claimed to be dead by Nas is actually alive and well. Actually, the term "dead" really is inaccurate and oversimplified and I'm surprised that a rapper as "conscious" as Nas would make that claim. It might even be somewhat inaccurate to say that hip hop has been "misguided" and wrongly portrayed by the media. I'm starting to believe there's something even bigger happening here. Never before has there been a musical genre so bifurcated amongst its own that it's beginning to feel as though mainstream hip hop and underground hip hop are two giant land masses slowly separating from continental drift. I'm really advocating for this separation, but it's not happening fast enough. I'm tired of calling what's played on the radio these days "Hip Hop". I want there to be a CIVIL WAR and get this split over with. Consider this a post a declaration of a "Hip Hop House Divided". If you are with me then fucking take a stand and lead your friends on a journey to discovering what real hip hop means by sharing this post and turn off the damn radio. Thanks and I look forward to having you back next week. Until then, enjoy the fantastic music from the past week below.

Songs This Week - (Full download link above!)
Fashawn - Going Home
Grynch Ft. Sol - All I Wanna Do (Prod. Jester)
Jay Electronica - Jazzmatazz
Joell Ortiz - Battle Cry (Just Blaze Mix)
Malcolm & Martin – Movement Music (Prod. Marco Polo)
Promise - Awake (Prod. Algarythyms)
Rapsody - Win Ft. Rah Digga
Smokey Robotic - SuperVicious
Snowgoons - Cant Go On Like That (Ft. Torae & Skyzoo)
Statik Selektah - No Shame (Ft. Termanology, Easy Money & Wais P)
T.Calmese - Call My Name
The Los Angeles Leakers - Purp & Yellow Ft. Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, The Game, Thurzday, Snoop Dogg, YG & Joe Moses

Video You Must See
Joell Ortiz - Battle Cry (Video)


Albums I've Copped This Week (and you should too)
Buff1 & DJ Rhettmatic - Crown Royale (2010)
Kooley High – Kooley is High (2010)
JR & PH7 - The Update (2010)
Soul Khan - Soul Like Khan (2010)
Bun B - Trill O.G. (2010)
Rapsody - Return Of The B-Girl (2010)
Koncept - Playing Life (2010)
Sha Stimuli - My Soul To Keep (2009)
B.o.B – No Genre Mixtape (2010)

Don't be lazy when it comes to your music selection. It's too damn important. Share it!

Much Love,
-Filet Of Sole

#NewMusicFriday - 12/3/10 Edition

#NewMusicFriday - 12/3/10 Edition
Download "New Songs" Here

Another #NewMusicFriday for my few, but dedicated followers. Just hit play on the songs below and get acquainted with some underground gems. There's a lot of new talent on the scene these days so you best get with the times. Here are my highlights from this past week in Hip Hop. Use these songs to impress friends who have absolutely no knowledge of decent hip hop music. Oh yeah, and check out last week's #NewMusicFriday - 11/26/10 edition here in case you missed it. Download the 9 songs below at the link up top and also check out the video and album sections for new items that I've found in the past week. You might just find something you like and your iPod will definitely thank you.

New Songs
Big KRIT - Can't Be All
[Original beat used by Outkast on classic song "Jazzy Belle"]
Big Sean - Big Nut Bust [Original] (Prod. The Monsters)
Elite - Sing My Song
JR&PH7 - The City Ft. Elzhi & Frank-N-Dank
Koncept - Day Dreaming
Kooley High - POGO
Spice1 - Rollin And Smokin (Ft. Scarface & Devin The Dude)
Strong Arm Steady - Makings Of You (Prod. Pete Rock)
[Beat used for Kanye West's "The Joy" G.O.O.D. Friday release]
Talib Kweli - Palookas (Prod. Marco Polo)

Videos
Rapsody – Imaginaton (Prod. Oh No) (Video)
*Gotta love the Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory sample


Scheme - Chicano (Video)


Albums
AZ - Do Or Die 15th Anniversary (2010)
Chuuwee & Cookin Soul - The Date Tape (2010)
Deacon The Villain & Justme - Tragedy & Dope (2010)
Deacon The Villain & Sheisty Khrist - Niggaz With Latitude (2010)
DJ Muggs & Bambu - LA to Phillipines Mixtape (2010)
Joell Ortiz - Pre Agent (2010)
Joell Ortiz And Novel - Defying The Predictable (2010)
Kali - Timeless (Hosted by Clinton Sparks & Statik Selektah) (2010)
Khingz - Khake & Khool-Aid (2010)
Redman - Pancake N Syrup Mixtape (2010)
Scheme - Same Rebel, New Cause (2010)
Stik Figa & Oddisee - From The Top EP (2010)
The Lyricists - Constructicons Mixtape (2010)
Various Artists (Mello Music Group) - Helpless Dreamer (2010)

Don't forget to catch all the updates by following on Twitter and Facebook. Until next time...

Artist Spotlight: Joell Ortiz - Free Agent?

Joell Ortiz on stage: Where's The After Party?

I wanna talk to you about a rapper who has been on my radar for over two years now. This man would be Joell Ortiz who released his first studio album in 2007 called The Brick: Bodega Chronicles. Although the album didn't scream classic, it was a solid album and it had what I believe to be one of the best odes to the golden age of hip hop ever. This song titled "Hip Hop" (video below), that I featured on my most recent Filet-o-Mix CD: Recapturing That Feeling, seeps with passion from every line. Although lyrically it might not focus exclusively on the golden era, Joell gives you the "feeling" of what it was like back in the good ol' days. No corny gimmicks, no fake gangsters - just real talk. If you want to understand the soul of what hip hop really means, you'll digest the song below in all of it's reminiscing braggadocio. It truly captures the spirit of that time period (early to mid 90's).

Joell Ortiz - Hip Hop (Video)


When I first heard this song, I was sure Joell would be an underground star. His passion is incredible, his delivery is top notch, and his heart is in it. I'm telling you, 90% of rappers these days don't have any of those three qualities. They just rhyme over a beat and no one could care less about what they're saying. However, I see Joell being able to crossover and have more mass appeal by hybridizing mainstream and underground hip hop. For example, check his newest video below which is a story about the average man's struggle with a beautiful R&B chorus by his sometimes partner-in-music, Novel. I'm really in love with this damn song.

Joell Ortiz Ft. Novel - Night Train (Video)


By listening to the last two songs, you can tell that Joell's style is extremely versatile, yet manages to remain sincere even when switching between being both pompous and humble. Recently, Joell has made headlines as 1/4th of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, which also includes lyrical powerhouses Royce Da 5'9", Joe Budden, & Crooked I. They are in talks right now to sign to Eminem's label Shady Records, which would be an awesome move for the group.

If you are loving these two songs, I suggest you pick up a copy of Joell Ortiz's new album Free Agent, which drops sometime in 2011. The album was slated to be released today and the songs used to be up for preview on Amazon.com, but were taken down this morning (and I must say they sounded good!). Both the song "Night Train" (above) and the song below "Sing Like Bilal" are on Free Agent so you know it's gonna be a hot one. And if you already know Joell Ortiz then this is for you... YAOOOOOOWA!!

Joell Ortiz - Sing Like Bilal (Prod. DJ Premier)

Free Agent (Coming Soon)

Artist Spotlight: J. Cole - Who Dat!?!

J. Cole performing "Last Call" this past Sunday. The crowd throws up the ROC diamond.

So this past Sunday, two amazing things happened that were worthy of a big WHO DAT!! First off, the New Orleans Saints won 34-3 over the Carolina Panthers. Second off, I helped produce a J. Cole and Fabolous concert on the campus of William Patterson University in NJ, which involved constructing the stage, sound, lights, and being involved in minor police altercations. Now if you find yourself saying, "J. Cole, who is that?" then you're about to get your introduction right now with this SWEET ASS VIDEO below (unless you've already helped make up some of the 7 million views this has on YouTube).

J. Cole - Who Dat (Video)


In case you didn't know, J. Cole was the first artist Jay-Z signed to his new label Roc Nation two years ago. His real name is Jermaine Cole and he was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina (you will often hear him mention "The Ville" in his music). Since being signed, he has been steady climbing in the hip hop world collaborating most famously on Jay-Z's the Blueprint 3 track "A Star Is Born" and most recently on the radio smash hit "All I Want Is You" by Miguel (this is one of the only songs on the radio that I actually enjoyed recently).

J. Cole is not a commercial artist per se. He is not at all like Drake, although he has been compared to him due to his protégé status (J. Cole : Jay-Z :: Drake : Lil Wayne). Whereas Drake is a pop artist who sings and raps using a gimicky lyrical device that I would call "punchwords" instead of punchlines, J. Cole is exclusively a lyrical/story telling rapper catering to a more cult-following of dedicated hip hop fans. These two guys should never be compared in their styles, but they both follow the similar pattern of blowing up in popularity from their mixtapes before they even drop an actual album. J. Cole's debut studio album Cole World has no release date yet, but I will continue to wait patiently while I snag up all his mixtapes below. Make sure to catch the new one coming out this Friday here!!


Download The Mixtapes
J. Cole - The Come Up (2007)
Preview: J. Cole - Throw It Up

J. Cole - The Warm Up (2009)
Preview: J. Cole - Show Me Somethin

J. Cole - Friday Night Lights (dropping Nov. 12, 2010)
Preview: J. Cole - Before I'm Gone

Spread that real hip hop y'all. It's the only way to keep it alive.

Album: Grynch - My Second Wind (2008)

As of recently I've been a little more than obsessed with Seattle hip hop. Why? Because the region BY FAR has the most musically creative, intelligent, and all around best hip hop in the nation right now, hands down. It's so easy to miss this fact though if you're an East Coaster like me. That's why I have come to rectify the situation. ATTENTION EAST COAST - THIS IS SOME DOPE SHIT ALERT!

So who is Grynch and why in the hell should you care? Maybe watch this video below and get an idea.



Awesome right? Perhaps even more awesome though than the song's video is the Sabzi produced remix of that track "My Volvo (Bolbo Riddim Remix)" [right click save as to download]

But don't get it twisted, Grynch doesn't just spit gimmicks - he is a damn good MC who is committed to making great-sounding hip hop music and writing quality lyrics. That's why I present to you his sophomore album below and a few tracks to preview - don't miss track 13 "If Only" featuring Macklemore (If you wanna stream the whole album, check out his bandcamp site here). Life's too short to listen to crappy music. Expand your musical intelligence with this dope hip hop below.

Download HERE

01-It's A New Day
02-I Won't Lose
03-Dear Grynch
04-The Youngest In Charge (Feat. Fatal Lucciauno & D.Black)
05-All Night (Feat. Too Good & Billy Patron)
06-Euphoria
07-Summertime (Feat. Geologic)
08-My Second Wind
09-Memory Lane (Feat. Sonny Bonoho)
10-Good Morning
11-Home (Feat. Speedy Gonzalez)
12 -Peer Pressure
13-If Only (Feat. C-nik & Macklemore)
14-The Perfect Imperfection
15-Sara
16-One Love (Feat. Portia)
17-When The Beast Comes Out
18-That's Hip-hop

For more music by Grynch, check out http://www.getgrynch.com/

Album: Skyzoo & !llmind - Live From The Tape Deck (2010)

DOWNLOAD HERE

Stream It HERE

Cop The iTunes Bonus Track HERE

Skyzoo & !llmind - Speakers On Blast

I've been very selective about my new hip hop these days because I only have time to bring you the best of the best when I post. Here is an album that dropped two days ago. As soon as I heard the first single, I could tell what was going down. I mean I love Skyzoo as an MC and I love !llmind as a producer, but to synthesize like they do here is downright dope! They created a solid project from start to finish that gives the listener a reason to do a rewind several times. A straight up beats-and-rhymes-focused cassette-tape-influenced banger for the 2010 era.

In Live From The Tape Deck, Skyzoo takes his lyrics to the next level, as he seems to have matured in his style since he started releasing mixtapes in 2005. In the video for their first single "Frisbees" below, Sky spits bar after bar after bar with a superbly unique flow and meter. For example, start the song and follow along: 

"I guess how I set it off will determine how I finish 'em, finishing this is fine, the finish line is the scrimmage, scrimmaging a design, and designing this by the witness, witness it from the side, as I'm drifting up out of the ending. Ending another Stanza, by beginning you explaining, explaining an explanation and waiting while you arrange it, arranging it around, and I'm astound' from where you place it, the placement was out of place, just try to keep it adjacent, to the couplet, tercet, quatrain, cinquain, sestet, septet, octave and in plain..."

His use of the poetic terminology of stanza structure was the first thing to really catch my ear. I mean what other rapper that you know has half of those words in their vocabulary, not just the ability to conjure them up in the old tried-and-true hip hop tradition of counting in your song (think Snoop Dogg à la Nuthin' But A "G" Thang). Needless to say, the rest of the album doesn't disappoint in the lyrical department.

!llmind produced the entirety of the album and boy was that a good decision. When a producer has the ability to do every track on the album, automatically they are concerned about making the project cohesive. !llmind wanted to keep this tape sounding analog, but in a 2010 sorta way. You can be the judge, but I think he did an amazing job. The beats are dark, grimy, and occasionally switch up in style midway through the song which is totally a refreshing touch. You know this album was meant for true hip hop fans and not radio play.

!llmind (above)

Enjoy fellow hip hop heads.

-FiletOfSole

Filet-o-Mix 12: Songs With Swagger

Download HERE

Tracklist

01 Termanology - So Amazing

02 Fort Minor - In Stereo

03 Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See

04 DMX - Who We Be

05 Jay-Z - Renegade (Ft. Eminem)

06 Nas - Street Dreams

07 Kanye West - Two Words (Ft. Mos Def & Freeway)

08 Clipse - Mr. Me Too (Ft. Pharrell Williams)

09 The Roots - You Got Me (Ft. Erykah Badu & Eve)

10 Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.

11 Fabolous - Damn

12 Mos Def - Ms. Fat Booty

13 Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push

14 Jay-Z - Can't Knock The Hustle (Ft. Mary J. Blige)

15 Blackalicious - Alphabet Aerobics

16 Missy Elliott - The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)

17 Dr. Dre - Nuthin' But A G Thang

The concept and the 17 tracks for this new Filet-o-Mix were chosen by my friend Kate who describes the concept behind the mix "Songs With Swagger" below in her own words.

"So my theme with this group is 'swagger'. They are the types of songs that come up on your iPod when you're walking down the street, and immediately cause you to change your stride, walk confidently, bob your head. So much of hip hop revolves around that swagger, that ego and self-assurance, so I thought it deserved a mixtape at the very least."

I think Kate has picked a great bunch of songs here that really bring out the swagger in all of us, yet the term 'swagger' should not be thrown around willy nilly. I encourage you to watch this awesome video interview that I saw 2 years ago (HERE) where one of my favorite hardcore yet conscious rappers Styles P dismissed the overuse of the term swagger as a trend in hip hop (Probably since swagger is one of those things that if you have to tell people you have it, then you probably don't have it). To me, 'swagger' is defined by being so original in style and downright cool that it makes others want to emulate you. These songs embody that 'swagger' in musical form. Sometimes you can just tell those who have swagger from those who don't. For example, Ghostface Killah, who I have selected for this mixtape's artwork (above), defines the term to me. I mean just do a google image search of him and you'll know why immediately.

As always, these tracks were officially approved and arranged by me (Filet of Sole) for your listening and swag inducing pleasure. Be sure to let everyone know you're bumping that good good hip hop wherever you go by bobbing your head to the beat and letting your friends know where you got it (HeadPhoneHome.com). Keep the tunes flowing and hit me up with your mixtape concepts at headphonehome@gmail.com and we'll collab. Now some visuals below of two tracks on the mix to go along with the aural pleasure.

Track 10: Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.


Track 1: Termanology - So Amazing


Peace.

Sol - Dear Friends Vol. I + II

Download "Dear Friends Vol. II"

Don't let the average looking album artwork fool you, this EP is AWESOME and a must download for the summer! You probably don't know Sol, but you probably should. Probably you'd hear about him in 5 years though because he's only 21 years old and already making some of the most well-polished hip hop coming out of Seattle's underground scene - and that's saying a lot considering there's a laundry list of amazing talent out in the Northwest right now such as Blue Scholars, Macklemore, Grynch, Dyme Def, The Physics, Jake One, Common Market, and many others. This 6 song FreEP came out May 21st and has some pure hip hop to vibe and nod your head to. This is beautiful music that I can only imagine how great it must sound to Sol when he's high as shit. Loving all the classic samples he uses in the chorus on the track below (The bonus track #6 on this EP) with accompanying visuals of the 4 artists in the studio making the song.

Sol - Spliff (Remix) Ft. Grynch, Prometheus Brown, and Thig Natural

And if you like the above...

Download "Dear Friends Vol. I"

You will definitely want to check out Sol's first installment of the "Dear Friends EP" series. This is what turned me onto Sol so you already know it's good music. Enjoy!

Filet-o-Mix 09: Dedicated To The Struggle

Download "Dedicated To The Struggle" HERE

Tracklist

01 2Pac - Me Against The World

02 Scarface - On My Block

03 Big L - Street Struck

04 Styles P - Listen

05 2Pac - Keep Ya Head Up

06 The Notorious B.I.G. - Miss U

07 2Pac - Changes

08 The Notorious B.I.G. - Everyday Struggle

09 Nappy Roots - Po' Folks

10 2Pac - Keep Ya Head Up (Ft. Ann Nesby)

11 Styles P - My Brother

12 Ja Rule  - So Much Pain (Ft. 2Pac)

13 DMX - Slippin'

14 2Pac - Dear Mama

15 The Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy

16 Trick Daddy - Thug Holiday

17 Dr. Dre - The Message

I've been making hip hop mixtapes since pressing the record button on my tape deck to catch some 2Pac on the radio. Ah, those were the days. I remember it like it was yesterday. Fast forward about 5 years. Now computers have CD burners and I'm downloading mp3's and turning out mixes for myself and friends (Remember Napster in its heyday and how good it was?). What am I getting at? Well now it's 2010 and downloading singles seems to be the most popular way that we consume music these days (No more satisfaction of sifting through the shitty tracks on an album just to find the few true gems). But seriously, don't you miss the mix CD's you used to share with friends? In my eyes, the mix CD is still king even though the compact disc is essentially a dead format. Why you may ask then do I care so much about making Filet-o-Mix CD's if I know that the format is dead? Several reasons:

1) It's about the nostalgia factor that a mixtape evokes (Who doesn't love a good throwback?)
2) It's about creating a memorable, replayable, and permanent body of work
3) It's about taking the listener on an hour long journey instead of a 4 minute one. It's about me being able to convey my thoughts and feelings to you through the songs I pick and the order I put them in.

I feel that the next generation of iPod shufflers will lose touch with this last concept because the album is becoming less and less important as the technology shifts to an all digital format. Thus, since we no longer consume albums like we used to because much of albums these days is just filler, I have decided to put together no-filler mixtapes to acomplish what the "album" can no longer do. I'm taking a personal stand to keep the mixtape format alive by bringing back the feel of the old fashioned CD burner mixtape...

 This picture defines an era to me

In honor of this concept, it's time to take you back to the good old days. Back to the time when I was just hitting my mixtape stride. It was 2004 in my senior year of high school when I decided to make my very first themed mix entitled "Dedicated To The Struggle", which I have put here on my hip hop blog for download six years later. This single mixtape essentially birthed the entire concept for my current series of "themed" Filet-o-Mixes (I have about 30 more in the works right now). This Filet-o-Mix might be #9 in the series, but it will always be the first one I ever created and the songs on it definitely stand the test of time (all classics). Now what's the mix about?

As you could probably guess, this mix is about the artists' hardships/struggles in life and the will it takes to overcome them with central themes such as death, drugs, violence, poverty, and other social issues. You don't have to personally relate to the content of these songs to appreciate their universal themes and the feelings they evoke. Songs like these are filled with emotion and wisdom and beg for you to question the deeper meaning of life. Ultimately, that's why I love hip hop so much and appreciate the artform as much as I do. Please listen to these songs with your whole mind, body, and soul. I guarantee you will see a different side of hip hop then the one you're used to. Keep good hip hop alive my headphone-homies and spread this gift of music on your social networks. You never know whose day it will make or life it will change...

Peace & Love,
Filet Of Sole

2Pac - "Keep Ya Head Up" --> This song is beyond classic

Artist: Blu

BLU

If you want to know why I moved to Los Angeles this Winter, all you have to do is listen to the good hip hop that comes out of the region. When I listen to these artists, I feel Cali seeping straight out of their words and their flow. Blu is one of those artists. To describe the artist: his lyrical creativity seems boundless, his flow is complex yet nonchalant, his beats channel the spirits of old souls trapped in the records he samples, and his lyrics are a reflective account on life - putting his insights, anecdotes, and emotions into his songs. Blu only speaks what's true to him and doesn't rap about anything not part of who he is. I really respect artists like this - one's that don't have to brag and fabricate stories to be either interesting, entertaining, or thought provoking.

I was first introduced to Blu by downloading his debut album, Below The Heavens (produced entirely by Exile) released in 2007. I must say I have vivid memories at college of where and when I listened to this album over and over again. It really is a stunning piece of work. Great songs such as "Soul Amazin' (Steel Blazin')", "The World Is...", "In Remembrance...", "Good Life (Show Me)", and "Blu Colla Workers" stand out in my mind for their sincerity. --> Download Below The Heavens

Blu - Blu Colla Workers

Then I moved onto the So(ul) Amazing (2008) mixtape, which again delivered a bundle of great songs like "Mars Remix", "Its Okay (Pt. One)", "Maintain", and "MyBoyBlu". Even though the mixtape didn't have a consistent feel (it was just a random collection of Blu songs), it showed his versatility by spitting on all different types of beats. It is a great compliment to his debut album. --> Download So(ul) Amazing

Next listen came an album entirerly produced by Blu and rapping by Sene called ADayLate&ADollarShort (2009). The album as a whole doesn't have much replay value, but the following songs are amazing: "JusASuggestion", "QuarterWaterSupporter", "PressPause", "TheWonderers", "WonLover", & "EyesDry: TheAfter". I can also remember exactly where I was when listening to this album. --> Download ADayLate&ADollarShort

Now I've just started dabbling with another new Blu mixtape (!!) called HerFavoriteColo(u)r released on for free on Valentine's day this year on Blu's MySpace page. Oh how I wish this mixtape was longer (it's only 30 minutes!). It uses many old time sounding jazz and soul samples that give the feeling of being in a 1930's movie (see video below for song "Amnesia"). By rapping over uniquely sampled beats, including a few instrumental tracks, and monologues from old recordings to paint the picture, Blu juxtaposes old and new sounds beautifully and in a way that no other rapper to my knowledge has done before. Way off the beaten path, this mixtape is for those looking for a change of pace in the rap race. --> Download HerFavoriteColo(u)r

Blu - Amnesia

Filet-o-Mix 08: J Dilla - Live Forever Vol. 1

"J Dilla - Live Forever Vol. 1"
Download HERE

Tracklist
01 A Tribe Called Quest - Get A Hold
02 Skyzoo - Hooded Angels
03 Little Brother - Hiding Place (Ft. Elzhi)
04 Common - The Light
05 De La Soul - Much More (Ft. Yummy)
06 Slum Village - I Don't Know (Ft. Jazzy Jeff)
07 The Pharcyde - Runnin'
08 Finale - Heat
09 MED - So Real
10 J Dilla - Make 'em NV
11 JayLib - The Red
12 Common - E=MC2
13 Oh No - Move (Ft. Roc C)
14 Common - The Movement
15 J Dilla - Won't Do
16 Raekwon - Ason Jones
17 Common - So Far To Go (Ft. D'Angelo)
18 The Roots - Can't Stop This
Leave a comment below if I left your favorite J Dilla produced tracks off here so I can include them in Vol. 2!

J Dilla (aka Jay Dee) is/was/will always be one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time, period, no questions asked. Here I have compiled my absolute favorite 18 Dilla produced songs. There are no straight up instrumentals on this mixtape since Dilla did so many amazing beats that it would be nearly impossible to choose his best ones without having a rapper on there to help discriminate (Although I will attempt to put out my favorite Dilla instrumentals mix later). Most of the time in hip hop music it's the MC that gets all the credit even though half of the track is clearly the producer's work. It almost feels like the rapping is the artwork and the beat is just the frame that surrounds it - well in the case of Dilla's beats, the frame is often the masterpiece. The documentary below on J Dilla reveals just how talented of a musician he was.



Dilla's beats have inspired the greatest hip hop visionaries from Common to Busta Rhymes to Questlove to A Tribe Called Quest. His work is extremely unique, yet he has a signature sound that can be identified by the trained hip hop ear. Dilla had the ability to make tracks that would inevitably make your head nod, whether it be a chill track like "Get A Hold" or an upbeat track like "E=MC2". Once described by a musical friend of mine, Dilla tracks often have something that many other producers can't capture in a song - Movement. A Dilla track often feels like it's propelling you forward with the mixture of its drums, chopped samples, deliberate pauses, and unique timing of layered sounds. It's like the track has a soul and its stirring. Jay Dee beats just seem to have more soul than other producers' beats. He had a superb ear for sampling, but what's more impressive is the way he arranged his samples to bring a track to life. If you like what you here on the mix, I highly recommend you buy J Dilla's beat tape Donuts (talked about in the documentary above), which he painstakingly edited in the hospital before his death from the autoimmune disease lupus in 2006. Honestly, his work could change your life. I know it changed mine.

You can order a "J Dilla Changed My Life" t-shirt HERE

{All proceeds go to Dilla's family}

Now I don't claim to own or have heard every J Dilla produced track/collab (frankly that's nearly impossible), but from the TON of Dilla songs that I do have, the tracks above are real standouts to me. And if you like these tracks, there will be a Vol. 2 lurking sometime in the future. Enjoy fellow hip hop heads.

Track 15. J Dilla - "Won't Do" --> btw Dilla was a great rapper too!
The video is just as futuristic as the beat.

Mixtape: Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik

Download "Trunk Muzik" HERE

Tracklist

1. Trunk Muzik (3:40)
2. Stage Lights (Remix) (3:35)
3. Good to Go (feat. Bun B) (3:39)
4. Pop the Trunk (3:49)
5. Box Chevy Pt 3 (feat. Rittz) (4:23)
6. F.U. (3:15)
7. Lick the Cat (feat. Diamond) (3:36)
8. Speak Her Sex (feat. Nikkiya) (2:53)
9. I Wish (feat. Raekwon) (4:30)
10. In This Club (4:00)
11. Love Is Not Enough (3:46)
12. Mixin Up the Medicine (Remix) (feat. Juelz Santana) (4:06)

Yelawolf is an unlikely character in hip hop. A white guy from Alabama with a long black rat tail who is obsessed with Chevys and shotguns. But guess what? He has carved out a niche for himself that has gotten him enough buzz to get signed to Interscope. Now you might think to yourself that this is just a short-lived novelty thing, but after hearing this mixtape I know that this dude has a real future in the hip hop game. He has such a unique style, mixing trunk rattling bass heavy crunk music (hence the title Trunk Muzik) with a captivatingly intense and dexterous flow spitting about rural Alabama themes (just peep the video below to see what I mean). The only true way to appreciate this album is to put it on your car stereo and turn the bass all the way up. If it doesn't make your mirrors shake then your speakers suck and you should probably get that corrected immediately. Although there isn't too much depth in his lyrics, there is one true gem on here - track 11 (listen above) where Yela spits about heartbreak from a breakup with his girl. I was psyched to see that he could do a track like this and I await to hear more like it in the future. If you are skeptical about Yela's place in rap music then he has one thing to say to you, "I wish a muthafucka would tell me that I ain't hip hop. BITCH YOU AIN'T HIP HOP".

Yelawolf - Pop The Trunk (Track 4)

Album: Macklemore - The Unplanned Mixtape (2009)

 Download HERE

Preview this dope mixtape HERE

01 The Town

02 At The Party
03 The Club
04 American
05 Nxnw Remix Ft. Geologic &
06 Fallin
07 Church Ft. Geologic
08 Letterhead Remix Ft. Sapient & Illmaculate
09 Keep Marching Ft. XP
10 And We Danced

I have been bumpin' this mixtape in my car for 3 weeks now. I can't seem to get over tracks 1, 2, & 7. This is some real hip hop right here. The first track "The Town" is Macklemore's tribute to Seattle and the hip hop culture that exists there. Macklemore fills the track with emotion as he connects his city, his music, and their past all in one passionate song. Check the video below for "The Town" performed live. In the second track "At The Party", Macklemore tells the story of hip hop's past to present with a slight twist. He overviews the entire history and transitions of hip hop music in less than 5 minutes telling the story as if he walked into a party in 1979 and ended the night in 2009. Every single line in the song is a chronological reference to something that happened in hip hop's 30 year history. Then in the 7th track, Geologic of the group Blue Scholars teams up with Macklemore to talk about their views on religion in the song "Church". Both rappers come to the same conclusion over a simple but compelling beat; that you need to question organized religion and that God or faith can be found in the music itself. As Macklemore explains, "The spirit's right here and I don't have to see it. Now everytime I wanna connect with God put my headphones on, then I nod, grab my pen my pad let it seep in. And that's my process. God's always watching. Got God in my Walkman. Go ahead and top that". I can really connect with this message.

I ran across a quote on Macklemore's MySpace page recently by Bruce George (Def Poetry Jam Co-founder) that read "He is Common and Eminem personified". Two of my favorite rappers in one person? I knew there was something I loved about him that I couldn't figure out. Macklemore's newest project the VS. EP produced by Ryan Lewis is being released for digital download on December 15th. Check back here for my post on that soon! I'm ridiculously excited.

The two videos below are of Macklemore live in concert. Can't you just feel his positive energy flowing through the crowd!? He looks absolutely elated to be rapping for his fans.

Macklemore - 'The Town' (Live at Bumbershoot Festival 2009 in Seattle - w/ live violin and trumpet)


Blue Scholars bring Macklemore out on stage at Soundset 2009 in Minneapolis to freestyle...

"Alright, we travel down a long road. Now, who knows where these songs go? I know. I rock it like this with the scenery, photoshop the overcast city that just lives in me. Southside Seattle, a whole lots happening, probably not a lot different than what's in Minneapolis. And my profession out here, making heads nod. And I wear headphones to my desk job. That's my revival, that's my freestyle, get onstage and forget my verse in this freestyle. That's right, they call me a terrorist, afterwards steal some shit from the Mall of America. Come back to the audience, share with ya. That's right, as Sabzi's snares hit ya. Speak the truth, honest, you know we be on it. Macklemore and Blue Scholars, hands up."- Macklemore's Freestyle