De La Soul - "We Made It (Skit)"

New De La. Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present: First Serve. April 2nd. On Duck Down Records.

Goddamn that label has everyone worth talking about it seems.

Here's a video from one of the skits which serves as a teaser for the album. I know you probably don't like skits. Well, just remember that De La Soul and Prince Paul pretty much invented the skit on their debut album to further a theme and turn an album into something more cinematic. It was a bunch of other rappers that ruined it with their uninspired bullshit in years to come.

Who has two thumbs and can't fucking wait for this album??

De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 present First Serve -- The album out April 2nd. Watch the 'We Made It Skit' from the animated world of De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 present First Serve. The video follows our heroes Deen Whitter and Jacob 'Pop Life' Barrow from their early days of laying down demos and mixtapes to hitting the big time, signing to Goon Time Records. 

Monumental

After the announcement of Pete Rock & Camp Lo's collaborative venture 80 Blocks From Tiffany's was announced and a promotional mixtape blending the two artists was released soon after, it got me wondering what happened to the Smif-n-Wessun album that Pete Rock was going to be the sole producer on? That was announced long before the Camp Lo project.

Well, I'm glad to say it has not been shelved. In fact, the album, titled Monumental, now has a set release date (June 28th) and will be released on the label I was just praising on here the other day - Duck Down Records. See the trailer below (damn, the internet has made trailers for albums popular, huh?), and a mention of featured artists below that.

Who's excited?!?!?!



Pete Rock & Smif N Wessun have joined forces to record an entire album together titled 'Monumental'. Album will be released June 28th on Duck Down Music. Monumental is entirely produced by Pete Rock with features from Raekwon, Bun B, Pharoahe Monch, Styles P, Memphis Bleek, Hurricane G, Sean Price & Buckshot. Album Teaser directed by Daydream Film Works for Sundree brand Management.

Skyzoo Interview

Nice interview here w/ Skyzoo conducted by Mr. Peter Parker covering his appreciation of his fans, and artists that are maintaining relevance/making a comeback with a younger audience that's relatively new to hip hop. Skyzoo is a great person to ask this question to because Duck Down is such a good blend of new and seasoned artists right now it's amazing. The label as a whole has made one hell of a resurgence - and they've done it with the help of several older, legendary artists instead of forgetting their roots and starting fresh. They deserve a lot of respect for that - and for the fact that the majority of the music is so damn good.

Pharoahe Monch, Styles P, & Phonte - Black Hand Side

First, let me just say that having Phonte on a track with Pharoahe Monch and SP and just singing is...well, like having Pharoahe Monch featured on a Slaughterhouse track and just doing the hook. It's kinda shitty to leave fans hanging like that. You know what we want...bars.

That being said, this track is nice and I hope all of you are planning to support W.A.R. when it comes out on March 22nd.



Pharoahe Monch "Black Hand Side" feat. Styles P & Phonte' by duckdown

The Away Team

The Away Team are the latest signees to Duck Down Records' ever-expanding roster since their comeback to the top of the underground got some real traction a few years ago thanks to a few veterans of the label. Sean Price emerged as the dopest MC out of the BCC and has proven his talent with project after project of quality material. Buckshot teamed up with 9th Wonder to help bring back the days where one MC and one producer could make an entire, cohesive album together.

Duck Down used the momentum wisely to scoop up a bunch of talented free agents to make the label back into the powerhouse it once was. In fact, they are probably even much stronger now than they were back in the mid-90s when they originally made a name for themselves. Their roster today is ridiculous. Coming out of the same NC camp as 9th Wonder, The Justus League, is The Away Team. I guess the JL don't have themselves a Dru Ha to make them into their own label. The group is made up of MC Sean Boog and producer Khrysis, a beatsmith many have said is more talented than the much better known 9th Wonder. The group's previous work has been solid, but with this new deal they say their best material is ahead. And, with a title like Scars & Stripes, it's hard to doubt them.

If Duck Down's recent track record is any indication, I'd say this is an album to look out for in early 2011. I'm not sure how JL and DD got together in the first place, but I'm glad they did. The merging of talent from different regions for this label has been good for music so far.

So, pick up the Independence Day Mixtape by The Away Team online if you haven't yet to see what they have to offer. And, I'm gonna go pull out some old O.G.C. and enjoy my weekend.

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W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)

Late last night, I spotted the tracklist for Pharoahe Monch's upcoming Duck Down Records Release, W.A.R. Here it is:

1. Intro – Skit (feat. Idris Elba)
2. Evolve
3. W.A.R. (feat. Vernon Reid)
4. Clap
5. The Hitman
6. Black Hand Side (feat. Styles P & Phonte (of Little Brother))
7. Let My People Go
8. Shine (feat. Mela Machinko)
9. Haile Selassie Karate (feat. Denaun Porter)
10. Assassins (feat. Jean Grae & Royce Da 5’9”)
11. Illusions
12. Mama’s Boy
13. Still Standing (feat. Jill Scott)

Unfortunately, no word on production credits for each track just yet. For those that don't know though, Monch produced his biggest hit, "Simon Says", himself.

Now, it's not as if Monch needs any help from guest MCs to hold down his album. He's unquestionably one of the greatest lyricists ever. But, I gotta say I'm pretty excited about some of these features. Phonte & SP; Jean Grae & Royce. Not sure why Stringer Bell is on there, but we'll see what happens. I'm guessing it'll be similar to the American Gangster intro. But, Elba was in that movie, so it made more sense. I know he's trying to break into Hip Hop now, but having your rhymes compared to Pharoahe Monch isn't the best way to garner attention.

Take a look at the video below where Monch talks Hip Hop with D-Nice, including the making of "Oh No", and rhyming about his problems with Asthma on this new album.

Skyzoo & Illmind - "Frisbees" Video

Here goes the first video from Skyzoo & Illmind's collab album on Duckdown Records, Live From The Tape Deck. Definitely creative and has me ready for the album to drop. They make a good duo, and Sky is a goddamn animal on the mic.

I like his stuff more and more the more I listen because there is a lot to dissect in his rhymes. He's crazy lyrical without relying on punchlines. Meaning you have to really pay attention to what he's saying and the way he's putting words together because it doesn't just come together for you at the end of each bar. I definitely need to pay attention when I'm listening to Skyzoo spit, and listen again and again to digest it all. I actually still have Salvation in my iPod.

Survival Kit

I've been busy with real life shit lately, so not a lot of time to post new stuff. But, this came to me by email today, so I figured I'd post up the link real quick. Some of you may have heard about this project being in the works. It's a mixtape put together by Mick Boogie (& NVME) through Duck Down Records with a bunch of artists paying tribute to the two MCs who came together in '09 to release a joint project called Survival Skills - KRS-One & Buckshot.

Below is a link to the Duck Down webpage where you can d/l for free after entering your email address. The tracklist also appears on the page. Enjoy!

http://www.duckdown.com/survivalkit/

Kidz In The Hall FreEP

I looked in my inbox today and was happy to see an email from Duck Down Records giving me a link to an EP that their artists Kidz In The Hall are giving away.

Here is what they had to say in the email:
This Holiday Season Kidz In The Hall are treating their fans to an early gift in the form of a free album entitled The Professional Leisure Tour presented by L-R-G. The 13 track freEP features all original music from the group which was mostly recorded last month on the road during Kidz In The Hall's National US Tour.

The Professional Leisure Tour is a prelude to Kidz In The Hall's next studio album, Land Of Make Believe, currently scheduled for a March 9th, 2010 release date. Today, "Jukebox," the lead single from Land Of Make Believe, is available at iTunes & all digital retail outlets.


I'm a fan of Kidz In The Hall (although to be honest, some of their stuff takes a few listens to grow on me - like their last album, for instance), so you know I followed the link immediately and downloaded it. I haven't had a chance to listen yet, but I would assume it's good shit. Plus, it's free. If you like what you hear, then think about buying the single on iTunes to support. And, look out for the official album next year. Free music is a great way to motivate me to spend my hard earned money the next time around. Such was definitely the case with Atmosphere. Damn, Duck Down has come back in a big way in the last couple of years, huh?

Link is below. Enjoy!
http://www.l-r-g.com/