Kasey Jones - Haze (prod. Matt McGhee)

After taking some time off the air Matt McGhee's SHOW is back from hiatus and to welcome you back is the up-and-coming young star Kasey Jones. Now if you're a fan of the series you'll be sure to know that this isn't Mr. Jones first time on the SHOW, he had a supporting role in the previous episode "Dark". However, this time around for "Haze", star Matt McGhee stays behind the scenes and handles the production/direction of the episode while Kasey showcases his full talents for the episodes duration.

The two young stars make for the most exciting duo since Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's reign over the industry. As Scorsese said himself "The young people today are the 21st century." and who knows what the future holds for Kasey Jones but you can bet he'll soon have everyone's eye. As for Matt, rumors are buzzing that the next episode is the best one yet...guess we'll just have to stay tuned in and hope we don't have to wait as long for episode five as we did with four but if it truly is the best that won't really matter in the end.

CRASHprez - Leave a Note ft David Lopez

Substance. 

Something that, outside of a few, artists can claim to have. If it is one thing that has become apparent in this fast twitch age of social media is that music comes and goes. The "Hot Nigga" of today can easily become the dropped nigga of tomorrow. One of the reasons why Tupac is discussed in today's music scene is because he made timeless music with real weight to it from songs like "Brenda's Got A Baby" to "Dear Mama" to "Keep Ya Head Up" etc. etc. the list goes on. He often spoke on real issues going on in the African-American communities and in the world period. He didn't need to be motivated by the death of a young black teen to call his rap "friends" together to create a tribute track, he went in the studio and lead the charge himself. I'm not even what you would call a Tupac fan but for these reasons and more I have great respect for the man.

Enter Michael Penn II bka CRASHprez, now before you get ahead of yourself, no I'm not saying he is the Tupac of our generation he is however one of the few artists in this day and age of music that can claim to have the word that began this write up. Similar to Tupac, for the two or three years that I've know him, he is always using his music and talent to express his opinions and feelings on social issues. He doesn't need to see a news story for him to speak on the difficulties of America, he does so out of pure nature that just is who he is as a person.

Over the years CRASHprez has refined and tuned his self described Prote$tWaVe style of music and his latest "Leave a Note" just might be his best effort yet, inspired by all the craziness that has been going on lately with the police and African-Americans. CRASH is one of those rare few who can present these issues to you in a musical realm without coming off as preachy or self-righteous, something that today's "conscious" artists struggle with. I won't go into detail on the song itself I'd rather you listen and take away what you will from it. I just want to say, I'm proud to know CRASHprez and of all the things he has/will accomplished.

"Don't be afraid of the darkness"

CRASH's more perfect is scheduled for release by the end of 2014 via CATCH WRECK. In the meantime do be sure to check out his previous project fear itself. with longtime collaborator *hitmayng.

ILLFIGHTYOU - COPS_2

The ILLFIGHTYOU collective provides you with the motivation to "beat up on a bitch and turn her muthafuckin' crib into a stash spot" among other various things, this is arguably the hardest shit you'll hear this year most definitely coming from the Northwest. UGLYFRANK and GLENN head up this one as Khris P sticks to the background and handles the grimy hard hitting production. Be sure to peep Franklin's latest joint "DARTZ" and his BOBBYHILL EP and if you've for some reason still haven't heard ILLFIGHTYOU's self titled debut check that out.

[Video] SIR E.U - Nike boy

It's hard to believe it has been over a year since the ever enigmatic SIR E.U dropped "Nike boy$$$ilovethisbitch" seems like just yesterday I came across the greatness that it is. If you follow this blog you should know how I feel about this track (if not click the damn link in the title) and if perhaps you don't keep up with Digital Drop (kill yourself) I still won't go into detail on how I feel about the song (go click the link I wasn't joking).

Anyway, about two days ago E.U held a screening for the video and preceded to release it at 10:32 the following day for all us non-DMVers. I can honestly say I never expected this track to get a video nor did I think it would be possible for a video to capture the trippy psychedelic feel of the song but director Unkle Luc does exactly that. The best way to describe it would be the terms Luc used himself "Irrational parts to create a rational whole", glitch effects and other visual editing help to capture the eerie and unsettling feel of the track. Props to Luc for doing the seemingly impossible.

I have to say this is one of the best videos I've seen this year especially indie wise. Immediately after viewing it I thought about emailing it to some "major" blogs, as this could be the thing that could help E.U get over that indie blog hump and sure enough it was. I was pleased to see Pigeons & Planes and various other blogs feature the unique visual.

I hope this is just the beginning for one of, if not the hardest working artist I know. No bullshit E.U is one of the few whose discography could rival Wayne's in terms of consistency and output. It has been a long time coming and hopefully this is just the start of him getting the wide scale recognition he deserves. I hope for and expect him to do great things in this world, so seeing the reception to the video was great not only as a fan but more importantly as a friend.

Plus I ain't forgot about my daughters lol...all jokes aside I'm proud to say the least my good friend.

All hail King Hippo...

M A D A G A S C A R releases 10/32 (November 1st, 2014)

Be sure to check out E.U's interview with the good people over at ThankYouForNotSnitching and if you haven't heard DJ J-$crilla's "Unfamiliar Shirts" ft Ras Nebyu, Uno Hype & Da Hippo do that.

Ciscero - Never Make It ft SIR E.U

Maryland spitters Ciscero and SIR E.U come together to give you some knowledge and if you don't heed their advice it's a chance you'll "Never Make It", the pair drop multiple gems throughout their respective verses and the hook/message of the track is something that I'm positive would make the Based God proud. Cis' latest is reminiscent of his 2013 single "All I Need Is Soul", production wise at least, mainly due in part to producer Subdaio (of "Cocaine Castle" fame) who employs a spaced out druggy feel in his production often. That being said no word on when/if we'll hear Cis' Kids Wear Crowns anytime soon, according to his Twitter and I quote "Ain't no album get out." as long as we keep getting great tracks like these in the meantime I'm cool with however long it takes homie to perfect his album. You can't rush greatness as they say...

No Detox though, okay Cis? Anything but that...maaaybe a NEOGEO? Even then...actually...yeah think more NEOGEO less WolfMell that's a safe bet lol.

Cal Rips - Auto Pilot ft MoneyFourDrugs & SIR E.U

Goddamn. So much great music has been coming from the Klan lately and this just might be the best yet. "Auto Pilot" serves as the single for Cal Rips' upcoming project Phor You alongside Ripkens are fellow Klansmen MoneyFourDrugs and SIR E.U. This just might be my favorite Cal single of all time, it is definitely up there. All three emcees lyrically pick up right where they left off at on "The Real Jim Jones" spitting top notch verses over some incredible soulful production from the highly underrated Suede Moccasins. I am incredibly hyped to hear the rest of the project, man...September 24th couldn't come any quicker. 

Also check out MoneyFourDrug's "CONFETTI" low quality sound but high quality raps.

[Video] Lupe Fiasco - Next To It ft Ty Dolla $ign

In preparation for Tetsuo Season Lupe Fiasco links back up with director Alex Nazari for his latest visual work of art and single "Next To It" featuring Ty Dolla $ign who not only provides the catchy hook but co-produced the infectious bouncey production along with Shafiq Husayn. Lupe enthusiast will notice that Alex Nazari also handled the videos for "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)" and the incredible "#1234" so you can expect that same cleverness and quality for this video. I know Lupe Fiasco has caught a lot of flack for his past "attempts" at being mainstream but this record feels like a genuine Lupe track, he is good friends with Ty so it isn't so half-ass attempt at grabbing a hot artist etc. blah blah. I really hope this joint finds the radio success it rightfully deserves. Tetsuo & Youth coming soon...

Plus just when I thought I couldn't like this track anymore than I already do, Ty decided to share the story behind how he and Lupe recorded it in the studio with Complex. How awesome is that?

Gold Panda - Clarke's Dream

If you've been following Digital Drop you'll know that from time to time I like to hit you guys with something that isn't Rap/Hip-Hop well today is one of those days. You guys also know how rare it is that I post instrumentals at all, so with all that in mind enter "Clarke's Dream" from UK producer Gold Panda. I won't get into the details of way I like this track, I just do, simple as that. This is just here for your listening pleasure as a suggestion from your favorite anonymous blogger. I do want to link it all back to Hip-Hop though, I only know who GP is thanks to Pitchfork and more importantly Curren$y all because of this legendary piece of footage here. 

"All I know is..."

[Video] Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Harold's

For his latest visual Freddie Gibbs heads back to Indiana to grab some "Harold's" and as always with Gibbs' videos there is a loose story for you to follow. BTW spotting too! I'm glad to see this track get a video, definitely one of my personal favorites from Piñata which is still Album of the Year in my opinion. Also, if you haven't seen any of the other videos from the project check them out they help expand the album's story and tie together some tracks.

Although his next album Eastside Slim will feature production from other producers Freddie made it clear that Madlib would in his words "touch" the project in some form, I'll keep my fingers crossed for at least one MadGibbs track I can't get enough of these two. Anyway, if you haven't checked out Piñata I highly recommend you do so it is one of 2014's best offerings of all music genres period.

Kasey Jones - WYB ft Al Hostile

Kasey Jones is one of those rare artist in which I know nothing about but still somehow manage to capture my attention and get a post out of me. I first came across Jones on Matt McGhee's "Dark" he handled the hook on the song but I didn't think he was an rapper but just a friend of Matt or Al. Fast forward a few weeks later 3rdiiiUth's Al Hostile got me hip (which he has done a lot of recently, might have to let him be the new Drop God lol) to a collab joint he had with Kasey called "WYB (Where You Been?)".

The duo of Kasey and Al aka HostileTurtle (Kasey being the Turtle Gawd) surprised me with how well the two sounded over some ill Baze Knox production, they definitely have good track chemistry. It however was Kasey who impressed me the most seeing as I didn't even realize he rapped, to finding out he is pretty damn good at it. Al on the other hand continues his streak of excellent guest verses and slowly but surely is becoming one of my favorites from the DMV area. Mayor Whop Mike of Doom and Steezy Uglies Grizzlies make cameo appearances both drawing inspiration from Puff Daddy, with Mike providing ad-libs and Steezy talking that shit on the intro. All in all a great first impression, I'll be keeping my eye on Kasey Jones from now on and hopefully the young rapper can keep up the good work.

Sidenote: I actually just remembered in writing this that I first heard Kasey on "YAMS" from Al Hostile's The Finer Thangz. Forgive me Turtle Gawd, you'll soon realize I ain't shit...

Kool Klux Klan - The Real Jim Jones

I've been busy with other shit lately but it was no way I could let this track go unposted, it's been three weeks since its release but Kool Klux Klan's "The Real Jim Jones" has been in constant rotation. With all the current members at seemingly the same level of skill now their work comes off as more polished and focused. Another thing to note is how much fun it has been to hear these guys back together, we've had scattered tracks from some of the Klan on the group's individual projects but it has been a long since we've heard them put out material under the Kool Klux Klan moniker. If their previous effort "Hitmonlee" was the beginning of a new era for the Klan, their latest is the first example in which they truly as the infamous saying goes "ain't nothin' fuck with"...

One thing that I love about the "new" Klan if you will, is that it no longer is easy to guess who had the best verse on the track. If this was say 2011, I would have definitely expected E.U to have bodied this and everyone else follow suit with decent verses as well but nowhere near Hippo's. However, with three years of hard work and improvement under their belts (and a couple of name changes) that scenario is no longer the case. Every member can hold their own now and that wasn't something that you could say in the past, credit goes out to every single one of them for that. That helps the track's (& the inevitable Klan tape) cohesiveness, every verse flows well from one to another and every artist featured has a unique approach to the Obii Say production along with their own flow. 

Even with all this talk about the "new" Klan some of the old staples of the crew remain or in some instances return. Cal Rips leads off the track with his undeniable energy and punchlines, to Hymn's flawless hook who in turn flips seamlessly into his own verse and spits one of if not the best damn verse I've heard from hymn him filled full of his witty wordplay. MoneyFourDrugs' comes through and makes his presence felt with his brooding voice all while flexing his lyrical skill and wrapping it up is the Hippo Gawd himself who surprisingly comes threw with a almost lackadaisical flow and a verse that ironically is not to be slept on. Harking back to the 1032 days, the track ends with a signature Kool Klux Klan humorous tirade on Chad Hugo and bears interacting with bartenders. 

To wrap this up, I often used to wonder how come the Klan didn't put out a collective tape back in the "golden" days but hearing their last efforts I'm kinda glad they didn't. Of course it is bittersweet because of the unfortunate passing of the homie Avion (who would've spazzed on this) but I say I'm glad due to the facts that I brought up earlier. I think when/if we get a Kool Klux Klan project it'll be exactly that, a cohesive collection of tracks that make up the group's various members identities and at the same time represents them as a whole. I look forward to future tracks/projects and hopefully one day hearing a part two to this here. Pleaaaaase?