Check this sweet hip-hop track by D. Huston feat. Kenn Starr. Mello Music Group maintains a high standard, releasing innovative, intelligent tracks that are as street-legit as they are entertaining. Tight, unhurried flows, over a smart, minimal tapestry of samples and turntablism. So good.

D. Huston
“So Good (feat. Kenn Starr)” (mp3)
from “So Good (12″)”
(Mello Music Group)

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In the former site of one of the world’s greatest ever industrial booms – The American auto industry – You will currently find one of the most desolate urban landscapes in the western hemisphere. As it happens, Detroit has also long been a MAJOR music hotbed, giving us gr8s from blues giant John Lee Hooker, to Motown Records, to the car factory noise inspired Stooges, all of whom left immeasurable marks on popular music worldwide. It is therefor NO surprise that some of the hip-hop coming from the motor city today would also be significant. Taking us around the streets he knows, here is  Apollo Brown assisted by The Left, representing the NEW sound of Detroit.

Apollo Brown
“Real Detroit (feat. The Left)” (mp3)
from “The Reset”
(Mello Music Group)

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‘Nuther thought crime from SF’s seasoned battle rap veteran, TOPR. On his latest collection of dire yet hilarious street screeds, “L. Ron Hustler,” we find our hero in a nihilistic mood, spouting venom in every direction, fighting, testifying, smokin’ drinkin’ and spittin’ verbal apocalypse with abandon. The bay area’s Charles Bukowski of hip-hop? Approximately. Don’t be alarmed by the cold ending to this track. That’s just how they do it in Gurp City. Parental advisory: this record is dangerous and wrong, and it could make your kids deface their Justin Bieber posters with depictions of degenerate sex and drug mayhem. Enjoy!

TOPR
“Follow the Leader feat. Mode, Luke Sick & Eddie K” (mp3)
from “L. Ron Hustler”
(Gurp City Digital)

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Git funky. Over a classic Chic-esque disco track, Sum-in-1 reveals a hip-hop style plea to his true love for another chance. This young artist knows something about second chances, having survived a near-fatal car crash in 2004, just as his career was starting to kick. Re-dedicating himself with a new-found appreciation for life and music, Mostow aka Sum-in-1 has a slew of new material for 2010, informed by his experiences. The music is ear-friendly and tight, behind pop-y vocal flows that come refreshingly humble and sincere. Lemonade from life’s lemons, in a big way.

Sum-in-1
“Anywhere (feat. Noah Lowman)” (mp3)
from “Anywhere”
(acropolisRecords)

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From his time as a “bedroom producer” to being signed as a Mello Music Group producer, yacht rock aficionado Apollo Brown has a novel take on the sound of hip-hop. On the hard hitting street fable, “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill,” he is joined by Diamond District who drops some heavy turns of phrase about urban reality, race, and determination. From “The Reset” – one of four full lengths set for release in 2010 on MMG from this emerging artist and his crew – this single is a hard, luminous gem, forged in the streets of Detroit. If you like your hip-hop safe and fluffy, or full of tired gangsta clichés, skip this, cos it is intelligent, innovative, and completely real.

Apollo Brown
“Streets Won’t Let Me Chill (feat. Diamond District)” (mp3)
from “The Reset”
(Mello Music Group)

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First, an appreciation of the artist name. ill.gates. heh =) It’s perf. Here with a massive digital sound manipulation we have ill.gates featuring Meesha remixed by Heyoka. My but that’s a kitchen full of cooks, but don’t fret, they do not spoil the broth. An absurdly packed sonic feast of ‘lectronic hip-hop instrumental vibes to get your groove on to furreals. No patch or service pack update required. Just party.

ill.gates, Meesha
“Irma Vep” (mp3)
from “Irma Vep feat. Masia One”
(Muti Music)

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Pure dancehall fun from Sleepy Wonder, outta Virginia Beach, VA. Well known for his work with the wonderful and overtly political Thievery Corporation, here we find our Sleepy in a decidedly club partyin’ mood. I’ve been digging this record since I posted the hit “Bounce” last year. Here’s another dose of that hip-hop-reggae hybrid that fills dance floors around the world.

Sleepy Wonder
“Ass On Her” (mp3)
from “Injustice”
(No Choice Music Group)

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I’m diggin’ this trippy little hip-pop ditty on an overcast Saturday here in Oaksterdam. Puttin’ up the tracks from Washington D.C., the artist known as yU has a new full length called “Before Taxes” that is more proof if u needed it that hip-hop is alive and well. Mello Music Group is one of the labels that keeps poppin’ out the goods and this record is right at home in their roster of forward thinking artists. “Fine” an exceedingly contemporary sound-collage version of an old school 2 minute radio song. Defiant, hopeful, courageous and creative. And those are good things.

yU
“Fine” (mp3)
from “Before Taxes”
(Mello Music Group)

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Ok this one is huge. Let’s first talk about the production. Freakin’ mighty. The sounds in this track are indelible on a purely audio geek level, ominously arranged into a soundtrack of impending cataclysm. There’s also some an unusually unusually ferocious turntablist vibes sprinkled throughout. On to the lyrics. OMG. Tight, hilarious ensemble spittin’ on a par with the best of the genre. Underground hip-hop is alive and well, and its new name is Taiyamo Denku. Their “Mona Lisa” is an instant classic.

Taiyamo Denku
“Mona Lisa” (mp3)
from “Mona Lisa”
(Uncommon Records)

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Lots of pillow fights happening lately. It’s all the rage. This could be the theme song. Animal Nation spills some “Pillow Talk” that just gets naztier and better as it goes along. It’s bizarre and irreverent and sexy and vulgar and loud. Rather like having a flash mob pillow fight in the middle of any big city. A charming little rap headrest on a clever weird music bed. Sweet dreams.

Animal Nation
“Pillow Talk” (mp3)
from “Basti Made Me Do It – EP”
(Camobear Records)

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