Listen: DICE ACADEMY X THE LOST TAPES - "THE UPRISING"

'The Uprising' is a beastly compilation project brought to you by The Dice Academy and The Lost Tapes, which brings that raw adrenaline fueled hardcore hip-hop sound you've been missing back to the forefront. Over a soundbed of knocking tracks, 'The Uprising' unites the emcees of tomorrow with some of the cultures established veterans. Amongst others 'The Uprising' includes new and previously unreleased music by Hell Razah, MF Grimm, SiLent Knight, MidaZ The Beast, Da Beatminerz, Soundsci, Rasheed Chappell, Paranom + Purpose and more, with introduction to MD's Tokyo Cigar, MA's Tony Moreaux and Manti Carlo. (via Dice Academy)

DOWNLOAD LINK
http://www.audiomack.com/album/claaa7/the-uprising

Fine Art Friday: Logan Hicks - "Love Never Saved Anything" Show

Pat Magnarella, a highly respected music manager, founded PMM Art Project along with Roger Klein, a former executive at the record label A+R, to help and support young emerging contemporary artists. They do not claim to be their agent, their gallerist or their art dealer. Instead, PMM Art Project’s goal is to protect the artists and their work and help them be recognized within and beyond the art world.

The next project for PMM (happening tonight) is a a special pop-up exhibition of New York-based artist, Logan Hicks, featuring nautical-based stencil paintings as well as photographs from his infamous urban explorations. Hicks is well known for his work as a street artist and urban explorer. After living near the sea all his life, maritime themes are his biggest influence. Underwater photographs are a source of inspiration for his paintings and it is even more explicit in his next body of work. A series of new photographs will be showcased depicting forbidden areas of the urban environment and unique vantage points.

The exhibition will be on view from March 7 through 19 at 154 Stanton Street.

EXHIBIT INTERVIEW VIA BOWERY BOOGIE
http://www.boweryboogie.com/2014/02/logan-hicks-pop-exhibition/

Video: Sivion - "The Best" ft. DJ Manwell

Super-producer S1 (of Strange Fruit Project) recently linked with fellow native Texan and emcee Sivion and DJ Manwell for the single "The Best" off the "Group Therapy" out now on Illect Records. The track is more laid back and similar to the SFP sound that S1 rocked with prior to collabs with Kanye and friends, so it is nice to hear a more jazzy and uplifting track from his squad. Always glad to see artists and producers like S1 stay true to their core audience despite having A-list contacts to their credit.

DOWNLOAD LINK
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/group-therapy/id691609514?at=11l4Me

Listen: Chief - "Echo Chamber" Album

Swiss beat master Chief has assembled a solid collection of 31 beats, demos and other goodies produced in 2013 to form "Echo Chamber", the new project available now as a free download! This release is a close look at Chief’s multi-faceted productions, it features both previously available and yet-unreleased beats, collaborations with the likes of Deheb, Ghostape and much more! “Echo Chamber” further showcases Chief’s evolution as a beatmaker, embracing different influences and ambient sounds to widen his musical spectrum while retaining the sound signature he came to be known for.

DOWNLOAD LINK
http://feelinmusic.bandcamp.com/album/chief-echo-chamber-a-collection-of-rough-beats-and-random-pieces

Listen: CunninLynguists - "In The City" ft. Zumbi (of Zion I)

One of the few talented hip hop acts out of Kentucky, I'm always glad to see the CunningLynguists dropping new music, so glad to share the latest track featuring another emcee worthy of praise, Zumbi (of Zion I). Taken from the forthcoming release "Strange Journey Volume Three" and produced by CL member Kno. Check it out and support some of the undergrounds slept-on cats from the South.

DOWNLOAD LINK
https://soundcloud.com/cunninlynguists/in-the-city-f-zumbi-of-zion-i

Listen: The Brown Bag AllStars - "Bleuvelour" ft. Akie Bermiss

Though I recently posted about the release of The Brown Bag AllStars' new imprint Brown Bag Records "Brown Label Pt. 1 and 2", the re-release of the AllStars' last two EPs, packaged together with a new bonus track featuring the incredible Akie Bermiss, the bonus track was recently dropped by the BBAS team to help remind us of all the talent they show and prove on the albums. The track from the Brown Bag AllStars is called "Bleuvelour", featuring multi-talented BK singer Akie Bermiss and produced by Pat Streater, so help shine a light on one of hip hops most significant NY squads by DLing the track below.

DOWNLOAD LINK
https://soundcloud.com/brown-bag-allstars/bleuvelour-feat-akie-bermiss?in=brown-bag-allstars/sets/brown-label-pt-1-2

Listen: Logan Hicks X LuvJonez - "Love Never saved Anything" EP

FREE DOWNLOAD LINK
http://luvjonez.bandcamp.com/album/love-never-saved-anything

I'm excited to announce a collaborative EP of instrumental beats inspired by the upcoming exhibit by legendary street artist Logan Hicks and the production of LuvJonez (yours truly) featuring nautical themes and soundscapes. The solo exhibition "Love Never Saved Anything" is Opening March 7, 2014 at PMM Art Projects pop up store in NYC, 154 Stanton Street.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
In the months leading up to the exhibit, I passed along some of my previous instrumental projects to Logan to serve as background music while he worked in the studio...

Throwback: Kev Brown - "Always" (9th Wonder Remix)

Many songs about relationships come and go, but rarely in hip hop, has any track been as honest and relate-able as the track "Always" by Kev Brown. Released in 2003, I picked up the 12" single for this based on the featured remix by 9th Wonder, who was bubbling with heat at the moment, so I figured if he was part of it, Kev Brown must be cool. After hearing both the original and the remix, I realized that this was, and still is, my go to song to explain to women about the life of being a creative person and still rock in my mixes (and ipod) today. The line "Give a dude room to breath/ then maybe you can receive/ somethin' real instead of the fake..." is the perfect quote to let some of the goofball ladies of the world know the truth about the when and where we need to create and how it may not align with your ideal mate. Great words, great song, great remix. Check it out and vibe out on some truth!