Matt McGhee - Get A Grip ft rMell (prod. Jaylen!)

Indie standout Matt McGhee recently released "Get A Grip" the second single from his upcoming album AWARD, which finally received a release date of February 19th. Matt decides to keep it in house once again grabbing fellow Grammy Family members rMell and Jaylen! respectively, to join him on the track. Backed by the smooth and soulful production from Jaylen!, Matt and rMell do their usual and spit that cool shit "that unfortunately you not used to" word to rMell. Another great track from Matt McGhee and expect to hear more from him as the release of AWARD is coming up. 

[Mixtape] Willie Jetts - Commercial Free

Commercial Free is the latest effort by Willie Jetts a.k.a.William Jettson (to his old hoes), if you remember Jetts' was featured on D:D awhile back for his project Parachutes.  One of my main gripes with Parachutes was that it was too long, with Commercial Free Willie seems to have heard me and other blogs out and decided to keep it short and sweet. Willie has definitely improved his writing ability and even his ear for production, he sounds much more natural and comfortable on CF than with Parachutes. Another aspect that has improved is his subject matter, it has become a bit more mature which is surprising coming from the same guy who made a song called Poonslayers. Willie seems to have found his sound and niche with Commercial Free, tracks such as "Freaky Friday" and "Square" prove such. Both being dark alternative joints with the latter featuring a clever flip of Common's "GO!", Willie spits verses intertwined with reality and fantasy with wordplay weaved throughout. All together an impressive project from an artist who continues to show improvement with each effort, definitely recommend that you give this tape a listen, it won't disappoint. 

Stream below or click download. Also check out the video for Willie Jetts' "Freaky Friday"

[EP] Cocaine 80s - The Flower Of Life

Cocaine 80s, a collective of artists such as Common, Jhene Aiko, James Fauntleroy II, Kevin Randolph, and Makeba Riddick, recently put out their fourth project The Flower Of Life. Featuring an alternative vibe this project isn't for everyone but if you enjoy alternative R&B/Hip-Hop I'd recommend you give it a listen. 

Danny Brown - Blunt After Blunt (Noah D Remix)

Noah D flips Danny Brown's "Blunt After Blunt" and gives it a raw bassline and adds a grime vibe to it. Overall pretty dope but it's definitely not better than SKYWLKR's original. 

[Video] Cal Rips - Yows & Arizonas ft Obii Say

Directed by Helena Bank$ of Kreative Khaos 

Earlier this week Cal Rips released some dope visuals for the track "Yows & Arizonas", from his latest effort Chemical X featuring fellow Klansmen Obii Say, watch as the two emcees spit some rhymes downtown about their two favorite vices. Shot by the talented Helena Bank$, who has built a quite impressive catalog in the last couple of months. Be sure to check out Cal's Chemical X and Helena's other videos.

[Video] A$AP Ferg Freestyle on Sway In The Morning

Fergenstein stopped by Sway's Morning Show and spit a true freestyle, something that's rare these days, over Scarface's "Mary Jane" and proceeds to go in on "Whoop That Trick" along with his brother Marty Baller who spits a pretty dope written. 

Joey Bada$$ - Unorthodox (prod. DJ Premier)

This collaboration was bound to happen, with Joey Bada$$ bringing back that "Golden Age" sound in Hip-Hop it was only right for DJ Premier and him to make it come to fruition. I'm glad to say this exactly what I expected, Joey brings the lyrics and Premo supplies his signature boom bap sound, hopefully these two have more gems hidden away for later use.

Leah LaBelle - Lolita (prod. Pharrell)

Songstress Leah LaBell recently released her single "Lolita" from her upcoming debut album, her i am OTHER label head Pharrell provides the groovy yet upbeat production. 

[Mixtape] Marki$ Apollo - XIII

Portland rapper Marki$ Apollo dropped his debut project XIII last October, and after spending sometime sitting in my inbox (this happens a lot) I finally got around to checking it out. I must say, I was quite impressed with the young man. We discussed his tape on Twitter after I finished listening to it and one of the ways he described it was "a lyrical exhibition" which XIII exactly is. A short project only around 16 minutes in length with tracks comprised of no hooks but Apollo plays that fact off well by having short tracks and good lyrics. I actually didn't realize there were no hooks until the end of the tape. I was caught up in the lyrics and that is something special about XIII. Apollo definitely has some of the nicest lyrical ability I've heard from an indie rapper and that is the main point of XIII, to show off his skill and to entice the listener to hear more.

Apollo has told me that he is working on his next project Voodoo and that it will truly show his full talent as an artist, until then check out XIII one of the few unnoticed gems from 2012. Stream below or download here.

Aceology - Ratchet & Clank / MK III

Trill Game General Aceology is back with another banger in "Ratchet & Clank/ MK III" which is reminiscent to his first D:D feature "Chinchilla Warfare". I definitely get that early SGP Blvckland Radio 66.6 vibe with the gritty/distorted vocals and the Mortal Kombat sample, although Ace has a more raw sound with this track. Homie has a knack for creating these trill joints with familiar elements but still putting enough spin on it to create his own unique wave. Look for Trxllxcxsm 2 to drop sometime later this year.

Sidenote: I need more video game samples in music! 

[Video] Mike of Doom - Yerp

Directed by Helena Banks of Kreative Khaos 

Mike of Doom is back with yet another excellent video, this time for "Yerp" from his project The Mane. Mike is one of the few indie artists whose visuals match the quality of the music and be sure to look for his upcoming project Rookie of the Year to drop sometime soon, until then check out his latest EP Isn't It Ironic?.

[Video] Curren$y Set At SOBs

Curren$y recently performed at New York's SOBs, performing some recent joints and some gems. A definite must watch for anyway true Spitta fan, seeing this makes me want to catch a live show even more now. Guest appearances happen along the way but I won't spoil the surprise for those who haven't peeped yet, all I'll say is some were expected and some weren't. 

High Class Filth - Filth Y Moi

I don't know much about High Class Filth other than that he is in Backwards Society (see: Aceology & Surp) and I haven't heard much from him besides a few tracks he has produced for some of the DMV fam. However, I have liked the few joints that I've heard and Filth Y Moi is no different, featuring only Toro Y Moi samples as the title would suggest, this is a short but strong example of HCF's skills. As I always state, it takes a lot for me to post a instrumental project but this is definitely worth it. Start off your New Year with a little something different and check out Filth Y Moi. Stream below or download here.

Mac Miller - All The Time ft Ab-Soul (prod. Chuck Inglish)

After dropping his collaboration with TDE's ScHoolBoy Q a few months ago, Mac Miller dropped another collab between him and the TopDawg camp grabbing the Black Lip Bastard himself Ab-Soul for "All The Time". Chuck Inglish brings his signature cruising music sound to the tracks production, while Mac handles the verses and hook with Soulo doing his best Andre 3K impression. 

Johny Locus - Geronimo (Prod. Rashad Stark)

Johny Locus is back with a new track "Geronimo" after a small hiatus, besides a few singles here and there, since dropping his last project Music Speaks Louder Than Lyrics in July. Johny seems more focused and intent on making excellent music and this track is a perfect example. 

[Video] Simple Minded - BITCHES

Maryland duo Simple Minded left this chill joint in my inbox sometime ago I've been meaning to post this for a while but better late then never unless you ask Drake. Anyway the song is about "BITCHES" just as the title would suggest, the video is simple with MiggFAM and EZITO surrounded in a room full of bad joints while spitting their respective verses but the simplicity of the video and the track is what makes it work. Look for more from the two in the future, especially for their upcoming project ENIGMATIC which drops sometime later this year.