WYDU Top 20 Chart of 3-15/3-21

I missed last weeks chart. I knew that was bound to happen sooner or later. But we're back with MY personal favorite tracks of the week and tracks that got a lot of play, which doesn't always mean they are good, it just means I'm really trying to like them. Since we missed a week, there are quite a few new tracks that have come on the scene. We've had some decent albums drop lately, notably JR & ph7's "The Standard", Finale's "A Pipe Dream & A Promise", and Blueprint's "Sign Language" and even MF Doom's "Born Like This", who I usually avoid like the plague, got plays this past week.

We are going with a little different format than in the past, not sure if I'll stay with it, so if you have a preference, let it be known.

Without further Ado...

WYDU's Top 20 For 3/15 - 3/22

1. Capone N Noreaga - Grand Royal (Last Chart Position: N/A) (Weeks On Chart: New)
From: Channel 10

2. Spork Kills - Black Widow (N/A) (New) (*Sorry, I'd rather not post this mp3)
From: Beaches Love Us EP

Live:


Album Version:


3. Blueprint - Untitled (N/A) (New)
From: Sign Language


Blueprint "Sign Language" CD from weightless recordings on Vimeo.

4. Rise & The Avid Record Collector - WRA Cypher ft Wordsworth & Masta Ace (N/A) (New)
From: Present Risen

5. House of Repz - U Gotta Love Us (N/A) (New)
From: Single



6. Focus ft Kurupt, Sha Stimuli, Big Pooh - Homage To Pete Rock
(Last Chart Position: 1) (1)
From: Single

7. Cunninlynguists - Don't Leave When Winter Comes (N/A) (New)
From: Strange Journey Vol 1

8. TiRon - Shine On (N/A) (New)
From: Ketchup (Mixed by DJ Low Key)

9. Brother Ali - Palm The Joker (N/A) (New)
From: Truth Is Here

10. Kooley High - Kooley Is High (N/A) (New)
From: Kooley Is High Mixtape

11. Panacea - Epiphany (DJ Nu-Mark Remix) (Last Chart Position: 5) (1)
From: The Re-Route

12. Big Pooh - The Comeback (N/A) (New)
From: Delightful Bars

13. Castor Pollux & Ariano - Long Time Leaving ft 2 Mex & Life Rexall (N/A) (New)
From: In Name of the Father

14. Blame One ft. Blu & Exile - Wonder Why (N/A) (New)
From: Days Chasing Days

15. Low Budget - Tailor Made (Last Chart Position: 8) (2)
From: Laser Disc


Low Budget "Tailor Made" from Low Budget on Vimeo.

16. Script N Screwz - Help! (Last Chart Position: 16) (1)
From: The New Noize

17. Ameer - Never Be Shits (Last Chart Position: 14) (3)
From: Single



18. Blacastan - How Can You Be So Sure (Last Chart Position: 10) (1)
From: Leak

19. Cunninlynguists - Never Come Down (The Brownie Song)
(Last Chart Position: 3) (3)
From: The Strange Journey Vol 1



20. (Tied)
Raekwon ft Method Man & Ghostface - Wu Ooh (Last Chart Position: 12) (2)
Redman & Method Man ft Saukrates - Ayo (N/A) (New)

Tracks No Longer On Chart: Pugs Atomz - Roof Tap, Arablak - The Deed, Crew54 & The Jake - Back At It, Blue Scholars - Coffee & Snow, Kid Hum - Church, Bells, Prayer, DJ SoulClap & The Wyldbunch - Wake Up, Blacastan - Life of a Tape, Nobody Famous - Mocha Soul, Blaq Poet - Too Strong, C-Rayz Walz & Slug - In Your Soul, Joe Budden - Pray For Me, Braile & S1 - Megaphone, Whygee - Scott Free, Deep Rooted - Rock The Hardest.

Missing two weeks kinda screwed things up. I did my usual week routine of writing down what songs I seemed to be playing often, but when it came down to writing up the post, it just didn't happen. As you might happen to notice, only seven songs from two weeks ago remain on the charts. There was a core group of songs that I had been playing a ton of late, so I kinda started looking toward some of the newer material the past week or two.

The new number one song comes from a group that I can't say I've listened to a lot since their debut album. Capone N Noreaga come at us with "Grand Royal", and what can I say, I'm a sucka for a Primo beat. To be honest, I don't see this track lasting in the number one spot for very long as toward the end of the week I already started growing tired of it, but it had a strong run for a week. The beat is nothing mind blowing from Primo, but I think we are all spoiled by Primo's work, so we get used to brillance that he comes at us with. Speaking of Primo, he also has another beat on the number five track. The House of Repz are the latest in line of unknowns to get a dope Primo beat. I know "U Gotta Love Us" has been out since late last year, but I just recently stumbled upon it (Read: remembered it was out there). While House of Repz won't blow you away lyrically, I can see myself liking this beat and song more than "Grand Royal" in the long run.

A long time favorite of mine appears at number two. Louis Logic (now going by Louis Dorely, his government name) is back on the scene with his group, Spork Kills. I'm truly in awe at his new EP, Beaches Love Us which we will speak more on in the upcoming week, but it's a project that is innovative and original, and that's something difficult to run across these days. You probably will have to have an open mind toward music, but if you do, you will undoubtedly get down with "Black Widow". Coming with a cross of hip hop, surf rock and a bunch of other things, Lou and crew threw it all in a blender and spit it out in the form of this track.

My instrumental kick continues as Blueprint throws his hat in the ring for my favorite instrumental joint of 2009 with his Sign Language release. On that release, there is a song simply listed as "Untitled" that I must have played five times in a row the first time I listened to it. Soulful, dark, and soothing all in the same form, "Untitled" is a track that I will be listening to for a long time out.

I can never pass up a Masta Ace song, even if he just spits a quick sixteen and bes out. Not that I didn't like former(?) Demigodz member Rise anyway, but throwing Ace and Wordsworth on a track with him and I'm all for it. Coming at number four it's a track that features three different beats for each of the MCs, "WRA Cypher" brings back those classic Gang Starr tracks that utlized the same type of strategy. I've always liked Rise and wondered where he eneded up at after not hearing much from him the past four or five years. Oh, and Ace doesn't disappoint.

Rhymesayers related material is also on the chart, in both a Brother Ali track and a guest apperence from Slug. First off, two of my favorite artists team up as Slug does a guest apperence on a new track from Cunninlynguists, "Dont' Leave If Winter Comes". In some weird sort of mental block I have, quite often I have to give both Cunninlynguists and Atmosphere's music a few listens before it really takes off for me, and this track was no different. It's starting to build steam for me and the really only downfall is that it took these two this long to work together. The Brother Ali track is something out of the norm for me. While I've always dug anything Ant works on, usually I can't stomach Brother Ali's voice long enough to really get into any project he does. So far, that's not the case on the new Truth Is Here Ep. The soulful "Palm The Joker", brings out the best in Ali, as for some reason, his voice is easier for me to tolerate.

The new SoCal hip hop scene is one that more often than not ends up bugging me. I guess it's just to...what's the word I'm looking for, I guess it's just into that new retro hipster type of thing. It's a young man's scene, one that my thirtysomething mind frame doesn't seem to grasp all that much. We have two artists on the chart this week from SoCal, one falls smack dab in the middle of that scene, the other is more of a throwback hip hopper, but with Blu as a guest on the track (I do like Blu), it's treading near that line. The first is TiRon, whose Ketchup mixtape had some flashes of brillance on it as well as some of the same ole same coming out of LA. "Shine On", is a great track though, no matter where it was made. A simple piano loop and dreamy keys showcases what TiRon is capable of doing. The second track is from San Diego's Blame One. I've been watching Blame since comig across his dope EP from last year (it's posted somewhere on WYDU). Blame is all hip hop but with Exile and Blu on the track, you know it's them that's going to gain him some plays. I'm the biggest Blu and Exile fan as you'll find out there, so it's great that good hip hop is being recoginized and it's even better that they can gain "Wonder Why" some recognition. The track sounds like something that could have been left off of the Johnson & Jonson project or one of the lesser tracks from "Below The Heavens", which isn't a bad thing at all.

Another Cali duo that might not be on people's radars, but should be, is Castor Pollux & Ariano. I had a track from Castor Pollux in my top 10 tracks of 2008 ("1979"), so if you follow along on a regular basis, they shouldn't be too much of a new group to you. I go back to both Cas' Guts & Garbage and the album that "Long Time Leaving" came from, In Name of the Father, quite a bit over the past nine plus months. Both albums are examples of the great hip hop that is being made, yet not being heard. The track, which features underground faves 2 Mex, is full of hype energy and get's the juices flowing.

With a bunch of tracks that I've already covered in past Top 20 Charts, we'll wrap up this week. Quality hip hop is still out there kids, as usual you just have to dig for it. I've been rather unimpressed with the quality of albums out there that have been released this year so far, but tomorrow is looking like a good day that might be able to change that. So what have we learned this week? Trav is one weird dude, but you should've known that already....oh and keep looking, it's not dead yet.

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Summary only...

WYDU's Top 20 Chart for 3/1 - 3/7

So far I'm keeping on top of this chart thing. It's fun to do and makes me pay attention to more of what's coming out recently, which is a good and bad thing.


20. Deep Rooted - Rock The Hardest (Last Week: N/A, Up)

(From: D.E.E.P. R.O.O.T.E.D.) The second track from Deep Rooted's D.E.E.P. R.O.O.T.E.D. to appear in our Weekly Top 20 Chart, "Rock The Hardest" will admittedly not be for everyone. I'm a big fan of loud, aggressive hip hop, a flavor the track does encompass, but I'm almost turned off by the singing accompanying it. It's hard to enjoy some 'boom-bap, in ya' face hip hop when some crooning comes on. That said, I am learning to deal with it and enjoy the chopped guitar sound freaked so well on the track. The M.O.P. vocal sample makes the track even harder than a five pound brick. Solid track from a solid album.

19. Whygee - Scott Free (Last Week: N/A, Steady)

(From: The Adventures of Mr. Bitches) Denver MC Whygee blessed us a couple weeks ago with a free project, The Adventures of Mr. Bitches.For those of you still sleeping on Whygee need to wake up and at least check this track out. He happens to be one of the better MCs I've heard in a long while, nothing incredibly fancy, just straight up flow and dope lyrics. "Scott Free" features a fairly simplistic beat, which is what Whygee needs in order to let him shine over the track. Beats and lyrics, that's what it's all about.

18. Braille & Symbolyc One - Megaphone (Last Week: N/A, Up)

(From: Cloud Nineteen) The newest offering from Braille, Cloud Nineteen, was released this week to rave reviews. The album also features full production from Strange Fruit's Symbolyc One. I had two things going against each other when it came to the album. First, I'm not the biggest Braille fan usually. I can take him in small doses from time to time, but his albums are not something I usually get excited over. On the other hand, I'm a fan of Symbolyc's production and the whole one MC, one producer steez that the album was based on. After giving the album a few listens, I'm pleasantly surprised by the effort. Braille is still better in small doses, but as with his last album, The IV Edition, Braille can get the adrenaline pumping. "Megaphone" is that track on Cloud Nineteen, which has Braille bringing the heat with his aggressive mic style and Symbolyc One has the track juiced up. It even features some great scratching from (ex?) X-Ecutioners member, Rob Swift.


17. Joe Budden - Pray For Me (Last Week: N/A, Steady)

You either love Joe Budden or you hate him, but he evokes some strong emotions among the hip hop faithful. Personally, I don't mind his MC skills, but his choice in beats are usually lacking. I'll just say my favorite project from him was the Ill Poetic remixed Mood Muzik project. The newest album, whatever it's called, didn't do much for me. It did however contain "Pray For Me", which I thought was interesting. The concept isn't really anything new, in which the deceased Budden speaks to God himself, going over whether or not he belongs beyond the pearly gates. It is well executed though, as good and evil in Budden's life is gone over. Dude is talented, no denying that, just get the man some beats.

16. Script 'N Screwz - Help! (Last Week - N/A, Up)

(From: The New Noize) Coming in at a cross between Fort Minor and The Knux, the St. Louis duo of Script 'N Screwz comes in at number fifteen. The joint, "Help!", is almost rock like in it's sound, which I never had a problem with. It's kinda hard to describe, but vibe is that live band flavor. Some kind of fucked up autotune voice over the hook, but I actually think it makes the track. The joint is pretty damn catchy, in a way I could almost see this getting some play on the radio stations. You might need an open mind, but if you do, you should probably enjoy the "Help!"

15. C Rayz Walz feat Slug - In Your Soul (Last Week- N/A, Steady)

(From: C Rayz Walz's Who The F%@k Are You?) I'm not always the biggest C Rayz Walz fan. Every now and then, he'll drop something that will blow my socks off and "In Your Soul" is such a track. The hook is simply the type of stuff that says "Top 40 Hit", and I'm not talking of the WYDU variety neither. It's simple, yet extremely catchy. It has the over used chipmunk sample in the song, but it's more of an added piece than trying to build the song around it, so it makes everything all alright. I like C Rayz as an MC, when he isn't getting all Def Juxed out (read: weird as shit). It's when it he just stands up and spits is when he is at his best in my opinion. That's what he does on "In Your Soul". Everyone knows that I dig Slug as an MC, but while he does nothing to tarnish his image or rep, it's not him that makes this song. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't hurt it in the least and he drops a great verse, but he's not the focal point. I can see this song being in the top 5 for quite awhile, so you might as well check it out now.

14. Ameer - Never Be Shits (Last Week - 14, Steady)
Ameer dropped the The New Dream toward the end of 2007 and since then, I've been keeping my ear open for some new music and I finally got my wish. "Never Be Shits" is a soundtrack for all the underdogs out there. Over a sparse, but loud, drum pattern and a rolling piano sample, Ameer provides hope for those out there with the cards against them. It's nice to have meaning in a hip hop song, not nearly enough out there.

http://www.myspace.com/ameerasoulsupreme

13. Blaq Poet - Too Strong (Last Week - N/A, Up)

(From: B-Side to "Ain't Nuthin' Changed" 12 inch single) I'm a little late on Primo and Blaq Poet's latest opus, the single, Ain't Nuthin' To Change b/w Don't Give a Fuck and Too Strong. Apparently, it leaked back in December, but I've been off my blog route for quite some time. While the single is dope (check the video), this (entirely too) short track, "Too Strong", is a prime example of what I love about hip hop. Nothin' but straight up dope rhymes and a dope beat. I love New York hip hop, but for me, it's been off it's game the past few years, but this right here is the way it should be done. Don't fuck with Poet....now where is the damn LP?

12. Raekwon feat Ghost & Meth - Wu Ooh (Last Week - N/A, Steady)

Back in the chart after a week absence. This is the most Wu sounding track I've heard in a minute. After turning my noise up at "Wu Ohh" originally, it was saved by the iPod shuffle. It's another track using the vocal sample as a major part of the song which gives it that Wu like flavor. It's great to hear Meth do his thing over the track, as he provides a nice hook. I can't recall if this was on the upcoming Cuban Linx II or not, but this shows some promise.

11. Nobody Famous feat A. Pinks & Rhymz Well - Mocha Soul (Last Week - N/A, Steady)

I'm a little late to jump on the band wagon, but Nobody Famous has been getting shine on Kev Nottingham's blog lately. There is still that rumor of Nobody Famous signing to Kev's rumored label, but then again there was a rumor that I was dating Rosario Dawson, but it's just a rumor...or is it? Anyway, "Mocha Soul" has a very seductive beat, very soulful as it projects itself in the same category as "Electric Relaxation", "Ms. Fat Booty" and other classic hip hop joints dedicated to the ode of a female.

10. Blacastan - Life Of The Tape/How Can You Be So Sure (Last Week - N/A, Up)

While I was familiar with the name, I couldn't tell you much about Blacastan. I was sent a couple tracks from his promotion company and must say I loved both. This particular track is great as far as originality and it's concept. "Life of The Tape" is about...well, the life of a tape. You youngins won't appreciate it as much as us old fogies, but tapes were a big thing to us back then. You had your homemade ones, the ones you bought from the store, everything was on "tapes" back then if you didn't do vinyl. To top it all off, the beat is dope as fuck as well. A speed up vocal sample (done right) is used as an instrument of sorts as it's a true inspiring head nodder. This has to get you excited about future material coming from Blacastan. The other song sent with "Life of The Tape" appears in the form of "How Can You Be So Sure". The track tells a haunting tale over an equally haunting beat. Grimy and dirty, yet very addictive. Listen to the message, as it's very real.



10. (Tie) DJ SoulClap feat Wyldbunch & J Ruff - Wake Up (Last Week - N/A, Steady)

Clap will be the first one to admit that I don't play favorites. SoulClap, who I consider a good friend and a long time contributor on WYDU, probably even will admit that he's been pissed at me for not giving him enough shine on this blog. I guess in some ways, it's kind of the little brother thing going on, I expect more out of him than I do others. That said, Clap hit gold with this track. With a beat that would make DJ Premier proud, the Wyldbunch drops thoughtful rhymes and don't let a great beat go to waste.

9. Kid Hum Trilogy (Prayer, Church, and Bells) (Last Week - 8, Steady)

Kid Hum - Prayer
Kid - Church

Kid Hum - Bells

(From: The instrumental LP, Fossil Fuel) You simply can't listen to one of these three tracks without listening to the others. They appear all right in a row on the album, so usually, when I listen to it, those are the first three I go to, then start it from the beginning. All three, "Prayer", "Church", and "Bells" have been branded into my subconscious the past two weeks. I wake up in the middle of the night, "Prayer" will be going off in my head. My mom, who was in the room one day while I was blaring "Prayer" said she liked the song, asking me if it was on the radio. Kid Hum really created a masterpiece on the whole album, not just these three tracks, but these three beats get it stuck like a scratched record.

www.myspace.com/the6thgrade

8. Low Budget - Tailor Made (Last Week - 4, Up)

(From: Laser Disc) Who said Australians can't make hip hop? First there was Cee & Bekah and now there is Low Budget, who is comprised of Genetik on the mic and some dude named Polarity on the tables and comprising the beats. The track has a real disco like flavor to it, which makes it a fun "shake ya ass" type of track, yet still within the confines of hip hop rules. A strong bassline will rattle windows and annoy anyone in the next room. And who knew Darth Vader retired in Australia and is rollin with Low Budget now?


Low Budget "Tailor Made" from Low Budget on Vimeo.

7. Blue Scholars - Coffee & Snow (Last Week -5, Down) *better quality mp3 this week

This was a throw together track that came on a whim? Wow.....wow....Sabzi is one of the illest producers going at it right now. That is witnessed on the critically acclaimed (especially this critic) album Bayani from '07 and the Common Market album Tobacco Road that dropped last year, both of which Sabzi produced in entirety (or at least 99% of them). The story behind this track was they put it together after a winter storm came through the area (Seattle). The angelic keys are nothing short of amazing and Geologic does his thing lyrically. A truly impressive track that only makes me more hungry for more from the Scholars.



6. Crew54 & The Jake - Back At It (Jake's Story Time Remix) (Last Week - N/A, Steady)

The former Spotlight feature group out of Texas is back on the scene with a remix project from The Jake. The Crew54 combine their gruff yet smooth voices (think Barry White) with the soulful productions of Jake to give some tracks off of their Aggressive Soul LP some new life, most notably the lead off track, "Back At It". The Crew are masters at the style and are only getting better every time I hear new music from them. Very soulful, they are truly "Back At It" again.

5. Panacea - Epiphany (DJ Nu-Mark Remix) (Last Week - N/A, Steady)

"Epiphany" is a good word for what happened when I heard this track. I'll be the first to admit I'm not the biggest Panacea fan, at least not like some of my fellow bloggers. I do however really like The Re-Route project the released earlier this year. Thanks to tracks like "Epiphany", I've given the project some spins this past week. The track, produced by Nu-Mark, combines a smooth mellow beat with some blaring horns over the hooks to give it a very cool golden oldies feeling.

4. Arablak - The Deed (Last Week - 1, Steady)
****NEW LINK WITH FULL LENGTH TRACK****

(From: The Social Light Sounds 2009 Sampler) Our first track to be at number one for back to back weeks. Props goes out to Arab Blak and DJ Manipulator, your plaque (read: construction paper made into a trophy) will be in the mail. What can I say about this track though? I was talking about that authentic hip hop sound a few tracks up, and this track embodies that spirit as well. The spirit of '94? Quite possibly, yet it still sounds fresh. DJ Manipulator laces a blaring horn sample over boom bap drums. Oh, and there is some nice scratching. All that doesn't sound like anything unheard of before, which it isn't, but it just sounds doper than most. Arablak sounds like someone else, who I can't quite put my finger on yet, but it's a good thing. He has mic presence, commanding respect and delivering his rhymes with the utmost confidence which just adds to the whole overall auroa of the track. I've been jamming track since first getting it a couple weeks ago. I'm definitely going to be checking for Arablak, Manipulator and the whole Social Light Sounds crew in the upcoming year. Props goes out to Manipulator for the full track.

3. Cunninlynguists - Never Come Down (The Brownie Song) (Last Week - 10, Down)

If you have followed this blog long enough, you know that Cunninlynguists are a favorite of mine. Their last two albums have been named in the top three on my year end list. Word on the (blog) streets is they have a double LP dropping in the second quarter. Word is that it might be a two volume compilation set. I'm not sure, I've heard both, and haven't bothered to go to the source yet. This track had a resurgence of sorts for me this week as the beat got stuck in my sub conscious. Kno demonstrates why he is quite possibly my favorite producer going right now as he laces a soulful track as Deacon drops seemingly silly lyrics about pot brownies....or so it seems. As with a lot of Cunninlynguists tracks, I'm sure it goes much deeper than that. Looking forward to see what the dopest crew out of the south is going to bless with this year. The video also dropped this week, it has shades of "Half Baked" going on in it.



2. Pugs Atomz - Roof Top (Last Week - 3, Steady)

After Detroit, Chicago might be my next favorite region/city to be doing it lately. On "Roof Top", DJ Vadim drops an infectious groove, as Pugs Atomz just rides the beat perfectly. I'm a sucka for those old 40's sounding blues samples (not saying that's what it is, but it gives me that feeling) and this track has it. I'm looking forward to Pugs upcoming album by the same name as much as I am anything. The track is staying steady at number three although I thought it had a real good chance at claiming the top spot this week. Still paitently waiting on the album.

www.myspace.com/pugsleeatomz

1. Focus feat Big Pooh, Sha Stimuli and Kurupt - Homage to Pete Rock (Last Week - N/A, Steady)

So earlier this week, Has-Lo hits me up via AIM and tells me I have to check out the new Focus track. Now, I liked some of the material off of Focus' project that dropped last year, and the other two homage tracks were cool, but I didn't see any real reason to make a rush of it. Has ensured me that I wouldn't regret it. I click the link for the video and was immediately blown away. He did a nice job of emulating the great Pete Rock in his prime, the horns, the break, it's all there. I was very impressed with the homage. The MC's all do their thing as well. It's an interesting line up, but it seems to work. Great track and a nice homage to the Chocolate Boy Wonder.

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WYDU's Top 20 Tracks of 2/21-2/28

New Week, which means it's time for last weeks WYDU Top 20 Chart, where we play the underground hip hop version of TRL Live, just without that wack ass host. You'll see this week, we have some new additions, some subtractions, but you'll recognize the top tracks as they hold tight still.

In another update, I guess I'm getting old so I don't understand this whole Twitter phase going on right now, but I signed up WYDU for being on it, which is....well, me. I still have no idea why anyone on god's green earth wants to know what I'm doing and I'm not totally sure I want everyone on god's green earth to know what I am doing all the time. None the less, if you are really bored and feel like stalking errrrrr following me, the link is in the right hand column.

On to WYDU's Top 20 Songs of 2-21/2-27

Reminder, it's the song followed by last week's rating and the potential movement in the future in the parathesis

20. Deep Rooted ft Blu - From The Heart (Last Week: N/A, Steady)

(From: D.E.E.P. R.O.O.T.E.D. LP) Deep Rooted is a group out of San Diego (my second favorite city in the US), California, made up of Mr. Brady, Johaz, Brea, and DJ Artistic. They just dropped their D.E.E.P. R.O.O.T.E.D. album this year, and while I'm not always overly crazy about some of the singing found on the album's hooks (although Brea is like "wow" in the looks department), its among my top three favorite albums released so far this year. On "From The Heart", with the underground favorite of the moment, Blu, everything comes together with an engaging performance out of Blu, Mr. Brady, and Brea. The beat is an alluring combination of hard drums and a sing songy vocal sample and when you add Brea's vocal hook over the top, it's nothing short of beautiful. Not how you would usually describe a hip hop song, but that's what "From The Heart" is, beautiful.

www.myspace.com/deeprootedent

19. Kooley High feat HaLo & Charlie Smarts - The Bomb (Last Week - 13, Steady)

(From: Upcoming mixtape, Kooley Is High) Now, if this track was left off of the upcoming Kooley High mixtape, then oh boy, watch out. Charlie Smarts, one of the Kooley MCs and HaLo aka Mr Ben Ready (former Spotlight artist) drop precise rhymes over a rather tasty Oddisee beat. Lots of horns blare out and HaLo provides why he should be the next to blow up. Both MC's do their thing and bring the heat on the microphone. If you haven't seen the Kooley High Documentary, "One Day", then check it out here: http://vimeo.com/3077704

18. Taybot feat Scribes - We Stay Fly (Last Week - N/A, Steady)

(From: The Phil&Numberman Mixtape) I'm always checking for any artist coming out of the Great Northwest, and Taybot resides out of the emerald city, Seattle. Sea-town has been growing lately, with the emergence of Blue Scholars and Jake One out of the area, Seattle is slowly being put on the map. Taybot hopes to be the next in that line. By the time you read this, the Taybot Spotlight will already beat up and you will know all about him. This particular track comes the Taybot/Phil&Numberman The Mixtape, which possess several dope tracks. I'm not wholly sure who produced "We Stay Fly", but I've always been a sucka for some dope strings and he even throws some keys on top of it that gives it that "holier than thou" feel to it. Lyrically, everyone does their job and it's aided by a sort of rastafarian hook, which adds that little flavor to it.

www.myspace.com/taybot3

17. The Understudies - This Is The Beat (Last Week - N/A, Up)

(From: CC3: Or Something) My boys from the Bay Area, The Understudies, drop their debut video and in typical Understudies fashion, it's armed with an unique beat. The sample sounds like it might have been taken from a 30's album, but I've always been keen about those kind of sounds. I lose count of all the MC's that drop a verse (and who), but that's not important, as they all do a fine job on the mic. "This is The Beat" is simply smooth and suave kind of sound and one of their better creations. The video renewed my interest in the song. Some how I seemed to lost the digital copy of the album I had on my computer for awhile, but things are back in working order. If you dig this song, you should check out the album:


http://www.myspace.com/understudiescrew

16. Cy Yung feat Hanan - Special (Last Week - N/A, Up)

(From: The Cy Yung & Centric LP, Back II Lyfe) I need to come clean and admit I fucked up last week and meant to put this track on the chart and completely forgot it when I came down to making the list. "Special" is from one of the hardest hustlin' dudes in the game right now, Cy Yung. Singing on hooks for me is a very fine line. It can greatly add to a track or it can rip it down faster than 10 tons of TNT. Fortunately for this track, it adds up like 2+2. It gives me that feeling of a mid 90's track, and Masta Ace and the INC's Leschea or Kwame's singer in the New Beginning (alright, they were early 90's), Tasha Lambert. The beat is simple but effective in giving Cy a canvass to paint the mood he is trying to express. Hip Hop can't be aggressive all the time, so this track is a nice switch up.

www.myspace.com/cyyung

15. RCA Miles High - Island Jazz (Last Week - 16, Steady)

(From: Da Beat Tape) I've been on a big time instrumental kick the past couple weeks. Kid Hum's album was the main one, but this dude, RCA Miles High out of Oceanside, California, slid over his "Da Beat Tape" to me a couple weeks ago and "Island Jazz" has been stuck in rotation ever since. He has a couple other tracks that might crack the Top 20 here in the future, but for now it's all about "Island Jazz". The concept of "Island Jazz" is an interesting one in deed and the vibe of this track is exactly how I'd imagine it sounding. A smooth sounding sax sample over a soft melody invokes lounging on a Caribbean with a fruity drink. Chillin' in the true effect.

http://www.myspace.com/rca211411

14. Ameer - Never Be Shits (Last Week - 9, Steady)

Ameer dropped the The New Dream toward the end of 2007 and since then, I've been keeping my ear open for some new music and I finally got my wish. "Never Be Shits" is a soundtrack for all the underdogs out there. Over a sparse, but loud, drum pattern and a rolling piano sample, Ameer provides hope for those out there with the cards against them. It's nice to have meaning in a hip hop song, not nearly enough out there.

http://www.myspace.com/ameerasoulsupreme

13. i-El (Ilyas) - Telepathy (Last Week - 8, down)

(From: The free EP, The Prelude) One third of Tanya Morgan drops an ill jam over a dope J-Dilla beat. I needed a reminder why Dilla was such an amazing producer and this track (which I'm sure ). Ilyas sounds great over the trademark Dilla drums and synths. The vibe of this track is nothing short of great as it's just pure vibe out music, even the drums can knock books off the shelves. Shit's great

http://www.myspace.com/misterilyas

12. Harmonic 313 feat Phat Kat - Battlestar (Last Week - 6, Down)

(From: the project, Word Problems) Harmonic 313 is a Detroit producer, and we all know how I feel about D-town as of late. He brings the Detroit sound on the track "Battlestar" and that's not all he brings with him. He brought friends as well in the forms of Phat Kat and Elzhi. The track "Yeah" was one of my favorite tracks of Elzhi's "The Preface" album, so hearing this too again over bangin' ass drums is all I needed to hear to get me pumped.

11. Blaq Poet - Too Strong (Last Week - N/A, Up)

(From: B-Side to "Ain't Nuthin' Changed" 12 inch single) I'm a little late on Primo and Blaq Poet's latest opus, the single, Ain't Nuthin' To Change b/w Don't Give a Fuck and Too Strong. Apparently, it leaked back in December, but I've been off my blog route for quite some time. While the single is dope (check the video), this (entirely too) short track, "Too Strong", is a prime example of what I love about hip hop. Nothin' but straight up dope rhymes and a dope beat. I love New York hip hop, but for me, it's been off it's game the past few years, but this right here is the way it should be done. Don't fuck with Poet....now where is the damn LP?

10. Cunninlynguists - Never Come Down (The Brownie Song) (Last Week - 5, Down)

If you have followed this blog long enough, you know that Cunninglynguists are a favorite of mine. Their last two albums have been named in the top three on my year end list. Word on the (blog) streets is they have a double LP dropping in the second quarter. I'm usually DEAD set against double albums. I still stand by statement is there has never been a double album that wouldn't make a better single album, yes that goes for Wu, Biggie, Pac, all of those. But, if you have Dirty Acres and A Piece of Strange together in one package, I couldn't argue about that. Kno demonstrates why he is quite possibly my favorite producer going right now as he laces a soulful track as Deacon drops seemingly silly lyrics about pot brownies....or so it seems. As with a lot of Cunninlynguists tracks, I'm sure it goes much deeper than that. Looking forward to see what the dopest crew out of the south is going to bless with this year. The video also dropped this week, it has shades of "Half Baked" going on in it.



9. Blu - Vanity (Last Week - N/A, Up)

(From: Her Favorite Colo(u)r) I remember in the summer of '07, Eric and I were both trumpeting Blu & Exile's Below The Heavens, shortly after everyone was on the bandwagon, and for good reason. Below the Heavens is one of the best releases of this decade....easily. Right now, after signing to Sire Records this past week (why?), Blu is larger than ever. I truly hope he makes it and QUALITY hip hop becomes the rage....or do I? That's for another post I guess, anyway, I'm still getting my bearings on the free mixtape Her Favorite Colo(u)r, some of it seems too....simple I guess, like he is just going through the motions or I've heard it before from him under a different song title. This particular track though grabbed my attention and had me on repeat often this past week. It's nothing amazingly different from his past works, but it's all the reasons I started liking him in the first place.

8. Kid Hum Trilogy (Prayer, Church, and Bells) (Last Week - 4, Steady)

Kid Hum - Prayer
Kid - Church

Kid Hum - Bells

(From: The instrumental LP, Fossil Fuel) You simply can't listen to one of these three tracks without listening to the others. They appear all right in a row on the album, so usually, when I listen to it, those are the first three I go to, then start it from the beginning. All three, "Prayer", "Church", and "Bells" have been branded into my subconscious the past two weeks. I wake up in the middle of the night, "Prayer" will be going off in my head. My mom, who was in the room one day while I was blaring "Prayer" said she liked the song, asking me if it was on the radio. Kid Hum really created a masterpiece on the whole album, not just these three tracks, but these three beats get it stuck like a scratched record.

www.myspace.com/the6thgrade

7. Zimbabwe Legit feat YZ - Vicious Cycle (Last Week - N/A, Steady)

(From: the House of Stone LP)See last week's warning that every once in awhile, a track that might be a year or two old will sneak into the chart. Usually it means I missed something when it first dropped. This happens to be the case of Zimbabwe Legit's Stone House album that dropped toward the end of '07. I can't recall even reading anything about it, which is unfortunate if the rest of the album is anything like "Vicious Cycle", with the holy one, YZ. You might remember Zimbabwe Legit as being one of the first hip hop groups out of Africa to gain any major exposure in the states and they were always a group that I enjoyed but never got too deep into. The track sounds like some straight up authentic hip hop, which is all good with me. One of the members recently hit me up with some live performances the crew has been dropping, which makes me even more interested in the album (which I ended up copping on Amazon Saturday night).



Vicious Cycle Live from galactus 22 on Vimeo.

www.myspace.com/zl

6. Y Society - At My Own Pace (Last Week - N/A, Steady)

(From: Travel At Your Own Pace) Another track from a year back or so. The thing is, I didn't sleep on this album, but for some reason, when they FINALLY released the single for "At My Own Place", I don't remember the track sounding this fuckin' dope. Damu produces high energy, this track has that and more. It's truly a insane track, with scratching, mixin', cuttin', it's got it all and the beat underneath of it is baby butt smooth. It's like that sweet and salty popcorn shit you get. It's got the best of both worlds combined to make a tasty treat.

5. Blue Scholars - Coffee & Snow (Last Week - 2, Down) *better quality mp3 this week

This was a throw together track that came on a whim? Wow.....wow....Sabzi is one of the illest producers going at it right now. That is witnessed on the critically acclaimed (especially this critic) album Bayani from '07 and the Common Market album Tobacco Road that dropped last year, both of which Sabzi produced in entirety (or at least 99% of them). The story behind this track was they put it together after a winter storm came through the area (Seattle). The angelic keys are nothing short of amazing and Geologic does his thing lyrically. A truly impressive track that only makes me more hungry for more from the Scholars.




4. Low Budget - Tailor Made (Last Week - N/A, Up)

(From: Laser Disc) Who said Australians can't make hip hop? First there was Cee & Bekah and now there is Low Budget, who is comprised of Genetik on the mic and some dude named Polarity on the tables and comprising the beats. The track has a real disco like flavor to it, which makes it a fun "shake ya ass" type of track, yet still within the confines of hip hop rules. A strong bassline will rattle windows and annoy anyone in the next room. And who knew Darth Vader retired in Australia and is rollin with Low Budget now?


Low Budget "Tailor Made" from Low Budget on Vimeo.

3. Pugs Atomz - Roof Top (Last Week - 3, Steady)

After Detroit, Chicago might be my next favorite region/city to be doing it lately. On "Roof Top", DJ Vadim drops an infectious groove, as Pugs Atomz just rides the beat perfectly. I'm a sucka for those old 40's sounding blues samples (not saying that's what it is, but it gives me that feeling) and this track has it. I'm looking forward to Pugs upcoming album by the same name as much as I am anything. The track is staying steady at number three although I thought it had a real good chance at claiming the top spot this week. Still paitently waiting on the album.

www.myspace.com/pugsleeatomz

2. C Rayz Walz feat Slug - In Your Soul (Last Week- N/A, Steady)

(From: C Rayz Walz's Who The F%@k Are You?) I'm not always the biggest C Rayz Walz fan. Every now and then, he'll drop something that will blow my socks off and "In Your Soul" is such a track. The hook is simply the type of stuff that says "Top 40 Hit", and I'm not talking of the WYDU variety neither. It's simple, yet extremely catchy. It has the over used chipmunk sample in the song, but it's more of an added piece than trying to build the song around it, so it makes everything all alright. I like C Rayz as an MC, when he isn't getting all Def Juxed out (read: weird as shit). It's when it he just stands up and spits is when he is at his best in my opinion. That's what he does on "In Your Soul". Everyone knows that I dig Slug as an MC, but while he does nothing to tarnish his image or rep, it's not him that makes this song. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't hurt it in the least and he drops a great verse, but he's not the focal point. I can see this song being in the top 5 for quite awhile, so you might as well check it out now.

1. Arablak - The Deed (Last Week - N/A, Steady)
****NEW LINK WITH FULL LENGTH TRACK****

(From: The Social Light Sounds 2009 Sampler) Our first track to be at number one for back to back weeks. Props goes out to Arab Blak and DJ Manipulator, your plaque (read: construction paper made into a trophy) will be in the mail. What can I say about this track though? I was talking about that authentic hip hop sound a few tracks up, and this track embodies that spirit as well. The spirit of '94? Quite possibly, yet it still sounds fresh. DJ Manipulator laces a blaring horn sample over boom bap drums. Oh, and there is some nice scratching. All that doesn't sound like anything unheard of before, which it isn't, but it just sounds doper than most. Arablak sounds like someone else, who I can't quite put my finger on yet, but it's a good thing. He has mic presence, commanding respect and delivering his rhymes with the utmost confidence which just adds to the whole overall auroa of the track. I've been jamming track since first getting it a couple weeks ago. I'm definitely going to be checking for Arablak, Manipulator and the whole Social Light Sounds crew in the upcoming year. Props goes out to Manipulator for the full track.

www.myspace.com/arablakmusic

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