November Mix 2011

God damn this month had releases! I tried my best to keep the mix short but I even ended up leaving projects out because there was just too much music this November. I guess that's where I got this whole HipHopSurplus concept from though. Regardless, this month had some pretty outstanding music. Besides the mainstream artists such as Wale and Drake (I'm sure you can tell how I feel about his album by the picture above) releasing their sophomore efforts, other new commers such as Freddie Gibbs, Pac Div, & ASAP Rocky dropped exceptional pieces of work that were 100x's better than that of the radio established rappers.

The youngin' Chuuwee also dropped some classic material with his Watching the Throne project and I'll even admit that the comedian/actor, Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino), left me surprised with his solid CAMP album. Last but not least, Mac Miller made it into the hip hop history books by accomplishing a #1 album on Billboard with his Blue Slide Park release. Not to say that no rapper has landed #1 on Billboard before, but the 19 year old did this without a major record deal; the last artist/group to achieve this was the Dogg Pound back in '95. Independent, young enough to be charged with underage drinking, and white... Props!

Download November Mix 2011

Statik Selektah - Live and Let Live ft. Lecrae (Video)

Never heard of Lecrae but this song is cool... Dope editing on the video as well. Off Statik Selektah's Population Control.

Download Live and Let Live

Black Milk - Black and Brown ft. Danny Brown (Video)

Even though it's been over a year since Black Milk dropped Album of the Year, "Black and Brown" still goes... These two actually have a project they're working on together. Should be pretty dope. Black Milk never disappoints.

Phil Ade - You're The One (Video) + PhilAdeFridays#2

“Ohh that’s your best friend? Ok that’s all great / Don’t worry she’s in good hands, All State”

My favorite track off Phil Ade's A Different World gets the visual treatment. Crazy how his producer, Sunny Norway, cooks up an amazing beat from that sample in the beginning. Phil's also currently working on his second PhilAdeFriday project set to release in the near future. He has about 7 tracks done so far, with him rapping over other artist's beats such as Dom Kennedy's Dream to Me, Dr. Dre's Still Dre, and J Dilla's Won't Do. Below are two other tracks with original instrumentals meant for the DC native that will also be found on PhilAdeFriday2.

Download Let It Shine

Download No Place Like Home

Kid Cudi - To Da Top

Old unreleased Cudder > New Cudder. His next album, titled WZRD, is set to drop January 30th (Scott's Birthday) and is supposably profanity free. First drugs, now bad words?

Download To Da Top

Must Have Music: Shyheim - On And On

With all this hype going on over The X Factor's Astro, I thought it was only fair to bring back a classic Lil G from the 90's . This youngin' went through all the ills that ghettos bring about and even served time in the penal system eventually. Not surprising, since he supposably spent his juvenile year's living with Wu-Tang's Raekwon. Life as a shorty shouldn't be so ruff...

Download On and On

The Roots - Make My (Music Video)

December 6th is the date. I don't know what the rest of the album sounds like but I already know it's a runner up for album of the year.

DOM KENNEDY - When I Come Around (Music Video)

Just another rapper reinforcing the fact that west coast rap is the shieeet. While DOM KENNEDY has a flow influenced by generations of G-Funk, the man is holdin' it down and innovating a sound that makes that style of music contemporary.

My brother's favorite line: "You ain't my wife, please I'm errrbody's type, girl I got what errrbody like!" hahah I hate to say it, but the man's got SWAG.

Download When I Come Around

Young Guru Speaks on New Marketing Strategies

Young Guru is one smart dude. If you're considering becoming an artist in the future, you must watch this video. Times are changing and new marketing strategies are necessary. Young Guru explains the importance of gaining a loyal fan base in order to deal with piracy (not to toot my own horn, but I alone came up with this concept on a 15 page report on music piracy spring of 2011). The producer also talks about J. Cole's success amongst other things. And if you wonder how album's leak, the man also explains that towards the end.

Mayer Hawthorn - The Walk (Video)

If y'all haven't picked up on Mayer Hawthorn just yet, I suggest you do; especially if you're down with oldies. It's nice to see artist bring back that feel good soul music. Awesome video too! Seems like it should be Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie firing at each other though. Hawthorn's How Do You Do is in stores now.

Download The Walk

K. Sparks - Sunshine (Video)

This is one of the two tracks from K. Sparks that I'm down with. This song made its debut back in 2009 before I picked up this blogging hobby and just barely got the visual treatment. Better late than never.

Download Sunshine

The Kid Daytona - Fly Lullaby (prod. 9th Wonder)

My favorite track off The Interlude and my pick for one of my prior monthly mixes, provides us with some visuals for this classic. 90's hip hop sound right here (this actually samples an interlude of Pete and Cl's Main Ingredient (1994)). Funny how the songs I chose for these monthly mixes end up getting videos... Music industry here I come!

Dee-1 - Uncle Tom

The man behind one of my picks for the August Mix delivers us with some hilarious Hiii Powered music/visuals. Dee-1 looks just like the homie Jamal haha!