Shock Mountain

More instrumental hip-hop/electronica coming at you folks. This 40 minute EP is full of funky, electro beats perfect for both dancing and head nodding. Based in Brookyln, Mux Mool has been releasing all kinds of 12″s and compilation tracks since 2006. One of his songs was featured on an Adult Swim compilation/animation, which we all know is a sign of quality, given their love for Dangerdoom and Stones Throw Records.

MySpace

Buy

-Max

Lately I’ve been really into instrumental hip-hop, whether it’s traditional J Dilla and Madlib stuff or more electronic stuff like Flying Lotus and Hudson Mohawke. Fans of both camps will love this, as it drops heavy beats amid that haziness I’ve come to love from Flying Lotus. This is definitely quite the achievement, as French producer Onra built this album based around samples of old Chinese and Vietnamese music, giving it a prominent Far East sound. One of the guys in our last.fm group asked for more instrumental hip-hop and this is some top-notch stuff!

MySpace

Buy

-Max

It’s sad here over at Shock Mountain, we rarely post any hip-hop, despite it being one of my favorite genres. Fortunately, a friend of mine who I had gone to school with for a long time was here to help us out. S7GHOST, the stage name of Chris Cannon, recently graduated with me and was one of the few kids in our school with a shred of musical talent. Having promising me this mixtape for months now, I’m beyond excited to share this with all of you. Not only does Chris have a knack for killer rhymes and a badass flow, but his Kanye West-inspired Auto-Tune experiments sound just as good, if not better, than their influencer’s. Pass this mixtape along, regardless of what you think, share it with a friend, your mom or your grandfather, I don’t care. This guy definitely deserves to be heard.

Facebook

-Max

I’m not even going to attempt to write about Jay-Z, the guy is unbeatable. I saw him last year at an Obama benefit and it kicked so much ass. Jay-Z is high up on my list of people I’m hoping to encounter in New York, I’d smoke classy cigars with him. But yeah, this new album leaked today and as usual, it’s phenomenal. Even the more pop songs featuring Alicia Keys or Rihanna are phenomenal and as usual, Jay solidifies his status as one of the best MCs in the game. Shit, it’s late, I have to sleep, just listen to this shit, it’s great.

MySpace

THIS ALBUM IS TO BE RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 FROM ATLANTIC RECORDS

-Max

Back in late March, I posted The Ocarina Of Rhyme, a collection of hip hop songs mashed up with songs from The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. For a couple of days it had been getting a lot of buzz and was being posted all around the blogosphere. Surprisingly, Team Teamwork saw mine of all blogs and shot me an email stating that a new collection of remixes were up on a bandcamp page. If you’re unfamiliar with the site, it allows artists to post their material in a variety of different formats and bit-rates. It also allows visitors a way to pay the artist directly. Anyway, whoever is behind this collection of remixes certainly knows their music. Much like The Hood Internet, this collection of songs combines big names in rap music with alternative artists. So don’t be surprised when you hear T.I. over Sigur Ros or Kanye West and Lil Wayne on top of M83.

Myspace

Download in other formats/give this artist $$$

-James

I think DoXX is a pretty cool guy, he raps about his life and doesn’t afraid of anything. Unlike most underground hip hop artists who rap about money they don’t have, DoXX is pretty realistic. He raps about his lack of money but deep desire to blow up, but he doesn’t let that desire hold him back from throwing up albums for free, such as this one. To be honest, I expected him to be a bit of an egotistical douche, perhaps because that’s the stereotype of rappers, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I first met him a few months back and every time I have seen him since, he has been nothing but the nicest person. This album starts off with a trip-hop style beat that reminds me of Portishead’s “Mysterons” and the track quickly picks up the pace and from then on the album is fast paced fun music. If you’re a Clevelander, this is a must-have. If you’re not, then check it out anyway because you never know where this guy will end up, but if  he keeps on pumping out material like this, it’s likely that he’ll get his wish of being famous after all.

Myspace

- James

I really try not to post iconic albums that everyone already has. That’s sort of what my last blog was like and it suffered because of it. I’m making an exception with this album because if you haven’t heard it before, you truly are lost. Don’t call yourself a fan of hardcore rap if you haven’t heard the album that set the tone for generations to come. This is where the new era of hip hop was born. This album launched the careers of some of the biggest names in hip-hop with it’s gritty feel and uncompromising lyrical content. No doubt, one of the most groundbreaking albums in hip hop and easily one of the best albums of the 90’s. Produced by RZA after the groups’ discontent with their inability to break through to the level of acclaim they felt they deserved, it hit with a quickness and raw energy that sparked as much controversy as it did obsessive fans and legions of imitators. If you already have it, which you should, then redownload this in VBR.

- James

Do you like Zelda?

Do you like Hip Hop?

If you answered yes to either of the above questions, then download this album.

To all the fella’s out there with ladies to impress, it’s easy to do, just follow these steps:

1. Cut a hole in a box

2. Put your junk in that box

3. Make her open the box

We’re all familiar with the ever popular SNL Digital Shorts that are eaten up on the interwebs. The Lonely Island is the collaborate effort of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone. You may also be familiar with the movie Hot Rod. Whatever the case may be, I haven’t ever heard anyone say that these guys are particularly “not funny”, which should give you some indication of it’s worth. The music itself is a mix of hip hop and clever one liners. The parody is made by the ease they exude when re-creating pop songs that top the charts, with distinguished pop artists no less. Guesting on the album is Natalie Portman, Chris Parnell, Justin Timberlake, Jack Black, and T-Pain among others.

Exile is a DJ out of Los Angeles, California. I know what you’re thinking: Who isn’t? The difference here is that this is one of the most brave and fun albums I have ever heard. Almost every sound on this record, if not all of them, are radio samples. This makes room for some incredibly intricate vocals and abrupt halts. The album in itself is set up so that you are actually listening to the radio. Songs will morph from one to another, leaving the listener to be perpetually mindfucked with a complete different sound. Smooth electronics are mixed with talk radio clips and backing vocals. Incredibly great driving music, no pun intended. Yet, despite all of the seemingly randomness to his samples, there is a definite narrative to each one of these songs. This album is a series of statements that Exile seems to be making to the entire world or whoever is willing to hear him out before changing the station.

One of the best albums that 2009 has brought me thus far.

Myspace

CYNE is a four man rap group made up of two singers and two producers. Their name is actually a very clever acronym for cultivate your new experience. To be honest, I am not very knowledgeable about Hip Hop at all. I barely listen to the genre as a rule because I find it very trite. Perhaps if there were more real artists such as CYNE, that would not be true. I’m keeping this post short and to the point because that is exactly what CYNE does with their art.

Myspace

Official Website