Last Minute Hip hop Holiday Gift List

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but if some of these items ended up in my stocking, I would not complain and neither would any hip hop fan this holiday season:

Some ideas for this year.

HOUSTON RAP BOOK
This photo book and culture study of the Houston rap scene is pretty intriguing
http://www.peterbeste.com/home/index.php?/photography/houston-rap/

BUN B COLORING BOOK
Fun Bun B rap coloring book with detailed character studies for the rap fan:
http://www.amazon.com/Bun-Rap-Coloring-Activity-Book/dp/1419710419/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370633378&sr=8-1&keywords=bun+b%27s+rap+coloring+and+activity+book

PUBLIC ENEMY MEGA SET
If you want to pay homage to Public Enemy, this is an awesome collection: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009TSA8TM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009TSA8TM&linkCode=as2&tag=conseofsound-20

CANT STOP WONT STOP
Classic reader from Jeff Chang with a detailed history of the origins of Hip Hop Culture:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312425791?ie=UTF8&tag=aolmusic-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=031242579

MOVIES - BIG FUN IN THE BIG TOWN
DVD - Dutch Hip Hop documentary and history of the 1980s hip hop scene in NY: http://www.getondown.com/product/item.php?id=15035

80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANYS
movie about 1985 NYC gang culture (think THE WARRIORS movie) http://www.getondown.com/product/item.php?id=15032

BDP USB HUB
Boogie Down Productions - handgun USB hub: http://www.getondown.com/album/list.php?format=13

Fine Art Friday: Analog Africa Musical Archives

Kind of a different twist on Fine Art Friday, but I was really impressed at both the back story and dedication to the vinyl history that has gone into archiving the record label Analog Africa and its body of recorded history. Though I was initially suspect of yet another white guy capitalizing on authentic Black music from Africa, his interest seemed genuinely driven to share the music and help the artists archive their own cultural and personal history.

Listen: Sareem Poems X Imperial - "God Bless the Child"

Cali emcee and LA Symphony member Sareem Poems and producer Imperial, in conjunction with label Illect, recently dropped a humble ode to fathers and children, expressing his views as a proud father and dedicated grown man. Not a lot to report, just a mellow, jazzy track to honor his family and what it means to bring a child into this modern universe. Nice grown man soundtrack to vibe out to whether you have kiddos or not.

DOWNLOAD LINK
http://illect.bandcamp.com/album/god-bless-the-child-2

Listen: COARSE COMPANY (TENACITY X KONCEPT) - "SAME PAGE" EP

Brown Bag All-Star and Brooklyn resident Koncept continues to drop EPs with producers from all soundbeds and just dropped the collaborative effort known as Course Company with LA-based producer Tenacity. The two have collaborated on various songs in the past but decided it was time to do a project and they knocked it out in one week. The album "Same Page" features guest appearances from J57, Natalie Andrea, and Shi Dog and serves as a nice winter treat from the busy BBAS crew and their ever growing catalog of projects and collabs. Check it out and see how quality and quantity can be one in the same.

DOWNLOAD LINK
http://www.audiomack.com/album/tenacity/same-page

Video: Ed Rowe - "Close But No Cigar"

Brooklyn native and current Atlanta emcee Ed Rowe recently dropped a video for "Close But No Cigar" as the lead track from his album "Exercise In Tuition" out now. Though I admit I don't know much about Ed, I appreciate the quality of his lyrics and sound, as it reminds me a bit of NC's Supastition at times, and never tries to cater to the trap sound that ATL is known for these days. If this track is any indication of the type of thinking mans hip hop that Rowe is bringing to the table, then I am all aboard. Always glad to see a young emcee staying true to self and message despite the current trends happening all around him.

DOWNLOAD LINK
http://edrowe.bandcamp.com/