Video: Slum Village - Reppin'

It is hard for me to even call this a Slum Village song, but I am glad to see T3 still making music. Given how many versions of the group there have been, the new lineup is sufficient to keep the underground sound of the D alive.

Illa J seems to be the rap equivalent of Sam Worthington in Avatar, a sub for his famous brother, trying to make his own lane in a field dominated by veterans. It makes me miss Dilla that much more and the verbal gymnastics of Elzhi too, as T3 and Illa J and the mystery man hold their own, but seem to be lacking on any real stand out verses. 


Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what they are doing, but it is a little like watching the Tupac hologram earlier this year.....you know the skills are there but it is not the same thing as hearing SV for the first time in all the glory of Fantastic Vol.2.

More like "Slum Villagers" then the real SV, but any positive tunes coming out of the D is a good thing. On to the next one!

Brother Ali x Jake One

Brother Ali has hooked up with Jake One for a full length album, Ali's fourth, entitled Mourning in America and dreaming in color. Both of these cats always bring quality music to the table, so I am sure it will be dope. I am hoping that Jake One will hook up all the Rhymesayers crew members with full lengths at some point, since the Freeway/Jake One album Stimulus Package was so well executed a few years ago.

Check out the Rhymesayers website for more info, but I will keep you posted as it gets closer to the August 21 release date.

To get an idea of what to expect, check the quote from Brother Ali himself:

“This is not just a new album, but a new chapter. There’s a kind of democratic reawakening in people at this point in time. I was really looking to take these topics and really hit them hard. To try to open ears and hearts and invite people to take some action and feel empowered. To be engaged and take some agency and responsibility for what’s going on in the world.”


Should be dope. Stay Tuned!

yU - I Believe (Oddisee Remix)

I'm a big fan of the yU sound coming out of the DMV (D.C. - Maryland - Virginia) area. He has been a part of the Diamond District "modern throwback" vibe and much more self-conscious hip hop coming out of the nations capital since the early 90's. He reminds me of Resurrection-era Common with a Southern drawl and links up with Oddisee, Kev Brown, Dunc (of DTMD), Apollo Brown and other torch-bearers of true school rap production from the hip-hop underground with regularity.

The "I Believe" remix above should be proof enough to check out more of his stuff and other offerings from the Mello Music Group.