Like color blocking and floral prints, artists name dropping their favorite designers is also trending. Nikki Minaj has rapped about sitting front row at Oscar De La Renta, and both Christian Dior and Margiela have been mentioned in Kanye West lyrics. After appearing in the T by Alexander Wang spring campaign, Die Antwood is following [...]

Stream/Buy: 9th Wonder's Jamla Records Presents: Actual Proof "Black Boy Radio - Extended Airplay" ( iTunes ) First in Flight State crew Actual Proof have come together with Jamla Records and The DJBooth to offer their latest album, Black Boy Radio - Extended Airplay, for digital purchase. A concept album telling the story of a young African-American boy growing up in Raleigh, N.C., the project features 17 original cuts (and 3 Deluxe Ed. bonus tracks) from Sundown and Enigma, including reader-approved leaks "All the Way" and "I [...]

Die Antwoord will release their sophomore album, TEN$ION , on February 7, 2012. The follow-up to their 2010 debut, $0$, the zef rap-rave crew also plans to hit the States for a U.S. tour beginning February 9 in Philadelphia. Leave a comment below and get a chance at winning this CD or Vinyl of the album TEN$ION. Die Antwoord came together in 2008 in South Africa and consists of Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er, and DJ Hi-Tek. Their debut album, [...]

Download audio file (Fall-In-Love-Chopped-Screwed. mp3) I was hoping the cover would be complete in time for me to post this on Dilla's birthday. But, I'm glad that we waited a little bit because it allowed me listen to the songs a few more times, and make some last-minute tweaks. I've decided to theme my Rendezvous mixes this year in order to challenge myself and take them to the next level . It's February, so doing a tribute to one of my favorite producers and a true visionary was [...]
To put it plainly, Armani Cooper definitely has what it takes to be the next big thing out of the Bay Area. As one of the founders of Teambackpack ( check it out here ), he and his team have improved and expanded upon the hip hop scene through the creation of cyphers they now put out weekly. I'll post one featuring Armani below for those of you that don't know about them yet, and we'll try to share some of their new cyphers on the site in the future. Anyway, besides the work with Teambackpack, Armani recently dropped his [...]

Our Cleveland Superfriends re-unite once more on "Gloryus". Featuring production from b3sci fav beatmaker Hi-Tek, the vibed out track puts Cudder on some of the strongest shit we've heard out of him in a minute. Chip's awesome just-released Tell Ya Friends mixtape is out now. Chip Tha Ripper - Gloryus (Feat. KiD CuDi) (Prod. Hi-Tek) Chip Tha Ripper ( Facebook ) Rating 8.0

Every superstar started somewhere, no one becomes successful overnight, even in the fly-by-night world of mainstream hip hop. The MCs that dominate the conversations of today were newjacks at some point, raw and hungry. This Friday playlist is dedicated to the dawn of artists who are now staples in the genre. Some have come a very long way since, a few have changed their sound drastically, and others are no longer with us. Take a trip down memory lane with these five selections. [...]

Featuring Donte, Main Flow, Brian Digby Jr and Crunch, Hi-Tek 's "Breakin' Bread" offers everything one could ever want from a classic Hip-Hop track. It'll take you one half of one listen to understand why it's my favorite tune off his decade old Hi-Teknology 1 LP. " The Sun God " featuring Common & Vinia Mojica is a close second though. Hi-Tek - Breakin' Bread (feat. Donte, Main Flow, Brian Digby Jr and Crunch)

New music from Famous Mr. Nobodys "FMN" produced by Hi-Tek.

1. "NutraSweet Noise" (Intro) by 88-Keys - prod. by 88-Keys 2. "Memories" by Nemo Achida - prod. by Nemo Achida & Clutch 3. "In This World" (Freestyle) by Mann95 - prod. by Hi-Tek 4. "This Means War" (Freestyle) by Little Vic - prod. by DJ Premier 5. "See Money" (Freestyle) by Robert Akins III - prod. by EZ Elpee 6. "Deep In My Heart" (Snippet) – by ? 7. "Bright-Ass Yacht BiyOtch" (Intermission) by 88-Keys – prod. by 88-Keys additional vocals by DJ Dras79 [...]
Hi-Tek Feat. The Willie Cottrell Band, Ghostface Killah & Pretty Ugly - Josephine Buy US: Buy UK:

Next week, Passion of the Weiss will be counting down the 50 Greatest Producers of All-Time. Before then, we're highlighting some of the best to ever yell at people for labeling them "beat makers." (It's better than the excessively pause-worthy, "knob twiddlers.)" Before you ask, #1 is going to the guy who made the beat for "Still Tippin.'" It seemed like the only sensible option. Rick Rock What was the point of [...]
A rising hip-hop artist like J. Nolan has a notable amount of temptations in the studio alone. There are countless numbers of production gimmicks aimed to disguise an artist's insecurities, inspired by an age where cameos and pop culture references help sway an artist's hype/PR abilities one way or the other. The most noteworthy new [...]
Ohio stand up! This is the s econd single from their 2000 Reflection Eternal album.

Most often, hip-hop covers bring to mind images of indie bands rapping something that could be found on one of those Now Thats What I Call Music compilations, with their tongue firmly in their cheek. Well, that's not quite the case here. For this Friday Five, I've gathered a collection of songs by hip-hop artists that are covers of non hip-hop songs, not just samples for production or rehashed for their hooks. It took a bit of digging, but I was able to find songs by the likes of Mos Def and Ol' Dirty Bastards [...]
I know that there are a lot of people that would love to hear some new music from Little Brother. The reality is though that it's pretty unlikely that we'll see a reunion anytime in

Hot. I haven't heard Busta Rhyme's blaze a track like this since "Woo Ha." Chris Brown: " Look At Me Now" ft. Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne (Produced By Afrojack & Diplo) by diplomaddecent Oh wait, actually, Busta killed the track "March" on Hi-Tek's Hi-Teknology 2 Busta Rhymes: "March"

Can we go ahead and give DZA his own strand of O.G. Kush already? The man reps for marijuana like a D.A.R.E. commercial (just on the opposite spectrum). Amazingly though, Big Smoke Dog has avoided the four walls and convenient roofing of being boxed in as "weed rapper" as he consistently paints his life's memoirs in between the papers lines, amongst the blunt ashes. In his latest act of greatness the young Harlemite has finally penned, published and packaged the good book to his success's secrets with T.H.C. (The Hustler's [...]
Heatwave - Chiddy Bang featuring Mac Miller - Another heater track from Chiddy Bang. Mac Miller is...

Ok, let's see... where did it start at? Well it started in a high rise Manhattan apartment building overlooking the Hudson River... wait, who I am kidding it started years and years before that. My brother Hector has one of the most extensive musical minds of anyone I've ever met, and this comes from a lifetime of constant exposure and involvement in all things music. I can't count the number of conversations me and him and have had about sacrifice... sacrifice of many common place things to ensure we live for our music. The songs that are chosen [...]