DOWNLOAD: I Self Devine "Reports From The Field: In The Trenches (Free Mixtape)"

I Self Devine "Reports From The Field: In The Trenches (Free Mixtape)"

Image borrowed from I Self Devine's Newsletter

Whew, this is nice. And that is such an understatement. I Self Devine brings his seemingly effortless A-game to this project.

I started playing this while I was multitasking, but it didn't take me long to focus my attention and say, who's that again? Then I went back to see the name of the track; several tracks actually.

You must listen to "Flat Black"

• interesting intro material
• great lyrics
• confident, but not egotistical delivery
• hype music
• dj antics (i.e. cuttin and scratchin)

The mellower beats also work for this guy; the flow is easy to understand and it just all fits together nicely. The tracks are a bit short, but they're complimentary as a project. That's cool.

And what't not to love about a free download: no pain, all gain hip hoppers. kfox.

MIXTAPE: Excursions by Mick Boogie - Rarities and Remixes of A Tribe Called Quest

MIXTAPE: Excursions by Mick Boogie - Rarities and Remixes of A Tribe Called Quest

I want to say that I think I'm missing out on "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest." But in reality, I know that I'm missing out on this documentary about A Tribe Called Quest! One of the downsides to living abroad - can't get much legally. Maybe it will eventually come to iTunes where I can get that legal download.  Anyway, the doc's been making the rounds on the big screen in the U.S.

When you're in my position - feenin for that hip hop culture - you're both happy and lucky for the likes of dj extraordinaire @MickBoogie. Mick put together this crazy mix of Tribe tracks. Love that!

You don't have to check the rhyme hip hoppers, just check the link below for the FREE download. kfox.

Excursions by Mick Boogie - Rarities and Remixes of A Tribe Called Quest

Jean Grae "Cookies or Comas" Mixtape

Jean Grae "Cookie or Comas" Mixtape

Jean Grae can roll w/the best ... crazy to think that the "Cookie or Comas" mixtape is a prelude to the bigger "Cake or Death" which won't kick out until later this year.

For this mixtape, it's Grae and DJ Drama bringing it. Grae takes advantage of her talented circle of friends too like Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch and more. 

It's good ish hip hoppers and you'll agree. kfox.

Jean Grae - Cookies or Comas - Mixtape Listen and Download

For Your Listening Pleasure :: 2

So I think I will make this a regular feature - For Your Listening Pleasure. It's a work in progress, but I am thinking of highlighting one or two artists. We'll see how it goes.

Check out Konshens. Found out about him via AndreaHGal on Twitter. I saw that Tabi Bonney was doing a show and Konshens was also on the bill. Had to be a nice show.

• Here's Konshens music.

Next up is Purple Monkey Sircus. I am smitten w/the name of the group. Very cool. Oh and they are reppin the Northcoast (that would be Cleveland for those not in the know).

• Here's a link to a Purple Monkey Sircus Mixtape hosted by Mick Boogie. Just click on the red text to download the mixtape.

Viva La Hova :: Jay-Z and Coldplay

Before I can fully consume and enjoy one mixtape - VH1 Hip Hop Honors, here comes another. This one much anticipated.

Mick Boogie and Terry Urban's Viva La Hova :: that mix of Jay-Z and Coldplay that you have been dreaming about. Oh, and nice cover art, eh?

So go forth and be happy cuz it's free ... kfox

MARK YOUR CALENDER for Oct. 6 - VH1Hip Hop Honors

It's the VH1 Hip Hop Honors on Monday, October 6, 2008 @ 10 p.m. Awesome except I don't have cable and I will be feenin to hear/see the show. I'm trying to figure out a remedy for that.

The honorees are:

• Cypress Hill
• De La Soul
• Naughty by Nature
• Slick Rick
• Too Short

Meanwhile, you can do some voting like best webbie - I want to cast my vote for Okayplayer since that's how I stay afloat.

Oh, and Mick Boogie is supposed to be droppin some crazy, awesome, ridiculous VH1 Honors Mixtape ... I'll keep you posted on that.

Nothing like salutin the old heads ... stay true hip hoppers, kfox.

Jay-Z's "American Gangster" :: Times Three

I've been listening to three different versions of Jay-Z's "American Gangster".

The Jay-Z version is quite likeable. Good thing he did not really go into retirement, eh? I am a lover of beats and there is a barrage of that. But Hova's real skill is in the lyrics and he does not disappoint (I know that this is all old news, but ... well, I'm tardy).

The next version is from dj extraodinaire Mick Boogie. He mixed up an edition that is backed by tunes from the legendary Marvin Gaye. This is slick. I wanted to listen solely because I love Marvin Gaye and I thought the infusion of both artists would work. It does. What I like about mixtapes is how the songs are arranged in an order that is different than the original. Some of the slower Marvin Gaye beats give a sultry vibe that was absent on Jay's version. You can get a comp download of this one here.

I can't really recall how I got my hands on the Jay-Z and Chief Sneed version. I think it came by way of Oh Word. I just know that I was quick to download it and check it out. I love how each dj makes the song different yet recognizable and still likeable. In Sneed's case, he takes "Roc Boys" and makes it thinner; he removes the horns, which I really liked, but Sneed's version holds strong - or it could be Jay's lyrical presence is that much stronger. Sneed's edition just goes in a direction, that for me was, unthinkable but not in a way that makes me say, why the heck did they do this?

I like the creativity of the mixtape world. I'm glad that copyright restrictions isn't hampering this genre.

Time to get down w/the get down hip hoppers. --kfox