Es - Feud for Thought

I somehow just found out about Mississauga emcee Es, even though he's been doing the damn thang since 1991! Met him at the Big Mic TO show this past Tuseday, unfortunately missed his set, but he hailed me up on FB and sent me the link for his most recent album, Feud for Thought. Intelligent lyricism? Check. Complex flows? Check. Originality. Yup. Es is an all around dope hip hop emcee, and this album is sick.



“Feud For Thought” is a collection of my thoughts which illustrate my views on what is hurting this culture, music and community that I love. This beautiful forum of expression is being exploited for capital gain at the expense of the impressionable minds of the youth. Hip hop is much more than the one dimensional imagery depicted in various mainstream media. The entire story isn't being told. The industry powers- that-be would rather force-feed the masses watered-down, dumbed-down rubbish than evoke thought, knowledge of self, introspection, messages of love, peace and respect. They will have you believe that hip hop is supposed to look and sound a certain way. A bunch of cookie-cutter mass produced cloning has negatively impacted the creative element of the music. My war is with the media brainwashing. My feud isn't necessarily with the clones themselves. My feud is with the “puppet masters” controlling minds and insulting the intelligence of the masses. The dumber they make us, the more money we put into their pockets. Let's fight for mental freedom. Let's fight for creativity and originality. Let's “Feud For Thought”. 

Peace. 
~Es~

Mazaman - If I

Toronto's own Mazaman keeps on emailing us videos and music...and there's yet to be a submission that doesn't get posted. Why? Just watch the video and listen to his music...it speaks for itself. Dropping much wisdom in his lyrics AND he produced this track himself...wow...

Portuguese hip hop: Likido - Controlador de Ritmo (Rhythm Controller)

This is some dope music. I don't understand a single word of the Portuguese this man is speaking, but the production is jazzy with Latin flavour and the flows are tight (Likido self-produced the entire album). I did hear a "FUCK THE POLICE" on track #9 though, and that ensures that the content is relevant! Hip hop, like music, is a universal language. It's amazing to actually be able to enjoy rap songs without understanding the lyrics. Big ups to Likido!

Likido is a underground producer/MC from Portugal. A decade ago, his mentor Kilu taught him the basics of how to create a beat. It was the beginning of his strong relationship with music.
After seeing a skateboard film in which the protagonist walked the streets of New York at the sound of Miles Davis, the Jazz has become one of his biggest inspirations and one of the key elements in his production, sampling names like Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong and many others.

His references are names like J Dilla, Madlib, DJ Premier, (among others legends) and he takes each of these influences to his music.  ''Controlador de Ritmo'' is an album about pursuing dreams and living through the struggles encountered on the way, with a classic soundtrack in the background. Real Hip-Hop!"

Important: The album is available for free download, but if you want to order a copy, please contact lkd_beats@hotmail.com 
Listen/download track by track: http://soundcloud.com/liquido-album/sets/liquido-controlador-de-ritmo
Full download: www.mediafire.com/?r1la4cizm78h51b

Tona - Vietkwam

Big Tone from the Freedom Writer's collective setting it off with his latest release, "Vietkwam" (Kwame is Tona's African name), a dub over the "Closed Chapter" instrumental by Black Milk. The first line sets the lyrical tone for the kind of verse you're about to listen to: "I got poutine dreams of getting cheese until everything is gravy..." Video by Big Sproxx.



"In preparation for my upcoming Mixtape "Reform School" mixed by world renowned Dj Wristpect scheduled for a February release, here is some new video work I call "Vietkwam" The title comes from my African name "Kwame" and the everyday war I articulate in the lyrics using Vietnam as a metaphor for it.

Do not cheat yourself and watch the video in anything less than HD Quality. Enjoy!

Download Song Here - http://bigtona.bandcamp.com/track/vietkwam"

New Track: ELMNT - 4A Way feat. Slakah the Beatchild (prod. FS Green)

Smooth new track by Toronto MC ELMNT (Element), featuring the soulful vocals of Slakah the Beatchild. On some love-storytelling vibes, nice flows and rhymes by El, groovy beat by FS Green.

ELMNT - 4A Way Feat. Slakah the Beatchild (prod. FS Green) by ELMNT

Tona - New Year (feat. Torae & Eternia) Produced by Lyve

New music from Big Tona featuring Torae and Eternia (produced by Lyve). Big tune to start off the new years! Cheers! Love the use of the Bill O'Reilly clip at the beginning...

2011: Year Of The Audible Doctor Remix (Instrumentals)

Recently became aware of a ridiculously talented producer from Madison, Wisconsin called The Audible Doctor from a crew called The Brown Bag AllStars. Just before the new year, he put out this great project that showcases some of his incredible production. The first half of the tracks are instrumentals, the rest are remixes of songs. Safe to say that all of them are DOPE. Take this is in, and buy the 20 track compilation for just $7 if you're feeling it!

New Music: J-Shiltz - Ridin' Out feat. SonReal (prod. by Rich Kidd)

Check this banging new tune from J Shiltz off his recently dropped album What I Stand For. "Ridin' Out" featured Van-city's SonReal, produced by T-Dot's own Rich Kidd.


J Shiltz - Ridin' Out feat. SonReal (Prod. by Rich Kidd) by J Shiltz

Music Video: Notes to Self - Nobody feat. Evidence

Very creative idea and excellent editing job for the new Notes to Self video for "Nobody" featuring Evidence.  Sick track, nostalgic video. Nnnnnnnnnnnnotes to self!





Notes to Self returns with the second video from their upcoming project "Used to Dark [RECOIL]."  Notes and Ev hopped in the DeLorean and made a video with all their favourite rappers. You have to see it to believe it.

 --  Remember back back in the day when you had that 1 Homie who would video tape & record every rap video on TV, or every rap show on the radio? Fast forward 15 years, the Homie has a box of 30 or so VHS cassette tapes sittin dusty in a drawer with things like "Rap City", "Summer Jam", "The Box", "In Da Round" scrolled on the side of'em in some youthful hand styles fit for a wall or 2 - and you're like, I need to watch these, takes you back, rappin along with every word like it was yesterday. But you ain't mad raps evolved, cus you fuck with the new shit, cus back then "this was the new shit". You were at home thinking, "How can I rap like that?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzlThqNOe1Y&list=HL1322103569&feature=mh_lolz

 Artist: Notes to Self
Song: Nobody with Evidence
Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) for Course of Study & Bookworm (of Beatface)
*AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve

Directed by JR of Motioneer & Matthew Bronson
*[ MOTIONEER & NOTES TO SELF ]*
Edit by MOTIONEER
VFX by The Farm Team [Kyle Sim, Mike MacInnis, JR]
From the forthcoming Notes to Self project "Used to be Dark [RECOIL]".
@NNNNNotestoSelf
www.notestoself.net

The Cypher - Chi-Town road trip highlight reel

Check out the highlight reel of The Cypher crew from a summer road-trip they took to Chicago to run The Cypher down in the windy city:

New Video: Scott Ramirez - Inspired Flight

Check out the new video for H3 community member Scott Ramirez for Inspired Flight, which is the first single off of his new album, Mad Work, Low Pay, Big Dreams. Peep the witty lyricism. Then go download his whole album (it's FREE!):