Hip Hop Speakeasy

Ok, now this is the second time I'm mentioning this kid Josh Michalec (check out his beat "Gray Skies" which I review HERE). Ever since hearing his first beat tape entitled "Beats," I've just craved more and more of his music. All of his beats got great 9th Wonder-like drums but his sample flips are so much different and so unique. Whether it's soul, or gritty guitar or futuristic laser type stuff, Josh has taken his style of drums to a whole new level. After listening to all of the albums in his "Beats" series, this one was definitely my favorite - Vol. 2. At first, I was a little eh; don't get me wrong, I like the first few beats, but it wasn't until "Givin' Up," track 4, that my head really started noddin'. From there on out, I'm tellin' you, the beats are crazy! Every single one, beat after beat delivers a jam most every beat junkie would enjoy. So if you like those classy, crisp 9th Wonder or Ayatollah drums, but want to hear a whole new sound in beats, check out my man Josh Michalec. The best part of it all, he's giving away all of his beat albums for FREE. Just go and check out his Bandcamp! You can also stream the entire album below; Enjoy!

3.03.2012

"Sloth Sunday" - Tut-Piece [2011]

8:14 PM

~Stone~

What's going on y'all. Today I'm lettin' you in on a producer by the name of Tut-Piece. Tut is a guy out of the Bronx who makes some pretty crazy beats. Using jazz, soul and other hypnotic samples, Tut-Piece really creates a melodic trance with these beats. It's almost like a 90s nitty-gritty instrumental album clashed with a Nujabes project. He's got other dope albums out, including a new release entitled "Gold Jury" and all of his albums are available for download on his Bandcamp, but this album really stuck out to me and I really enjoyed it. Dope, dope beats.

9/10

3.02.2012

The Hip Hop Speakeasy Mentioned on Neosonic Productions' Website!

8:00 PM

The Hip Hop Speakeasy

We were mentioned on Neosonic Productions' website cause of our interview of K-Murdock/Panacea! Huge shout out to K-Murdock, Raw Poetic and Neosonic Productions! Go check them out! Peace.

"G.O. Time" by Stone

3:00 PM

~Stone~

Ladies and gentlemen, we at The Hip Hop Speakeasy present to you, Grand Official.

Read their official bio below:

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"Straight out the dungeons of rap....."

Grand Official stands firm within all elements of hip hop. Established back in 2003, they've taken a patient approach to the creative process. With mad respect for the art form, Grand Official is not trying to reinvent the wheel, they're simply constructing a genuine feel based on dope beats, dope rhymes, and dope cuts.

The crew consists of two producers (GRIP & AONE) who understand that hip hop beats should be raw and full of drums that kick off a timeless memory. Then there's DJ HALUCIN-8 ripping needles on vinyl. Listening to Grand Official you will notice that the emphasis on the turntablist is not only important and necessary, it's the very structure that elevates the entire experience of both their live show and their records. No hip hop moment should go without rhythmical wordplay. Grand Official also takes on the presence of MC's ADOSE & ADLIFE.

Together and individually, they stand up to beats with rhymes that describe their lives, their perspectives, and their passion for true verbal skills. Grand Official is a promise to never forget what dope hip hop is. They represent the freedom to do what you believe in. They are the hard work, the selflessness of artistry, the voices, the faces, the touch, and the spirit of hip hop. Proof that real hip hop can still grow from the trenches and from the roots of Los Angeles.

You can check out there music on their website,

their Soundcloud or on Reverbnation.

3.01.2012

"Don't Hold Ya Breath (feat. Funky DL)" - Marcus D

3:00 PM

~Stone~

This is one dope single (off of a 5-track album, featuring instrumentals, remixes and acapellas) by Marcus D. This one was sent in to us, and we are glad that it was. Marcus D is one talented artist, as is Funky DL. This single comes off of Marcus D's upcoming album, "Melancholy Hopeful." A description found on Marcus D's BandCamp really puts this song into perspective:
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The fusion of sultry strings and mellow clarinet, coupled with biting, yet endearing lyrics from veteran jazz-hop wordsmith, Funky DL, displays both artists at the top of their game. Bolo, Marcus D's protege of sorts, also brings a classically smooth remix to the proverbial jazz-lounge table. The results are simply too good to be deemed "B-side" material in the traditional sense of the word.

This isn't just good jazz-hop, this is good music.

2.29.2012

REBLOG: "J Dilla Anthology - Vol. 1-2-3-4-5-6" (Originally from Rappamelo.com)

3:14 PM

The Hip Hop Speakeasy

Well guys, it's officially that time to close out Dilla Month. We want to give a quick shout out to James Yancey aka Jay Dee aka J Dilla, R.I.P. Shout out to Ma Dukes and all of those loyal J Dilla fans out there. This post comes from Rappamelo.com where they gave out all 6 volumes of a crazy Dilla Anthology. On each album, you'll find a bunch of crazy, dope remixes and other songs produced by J Dilla. We have put download links after the tracklists. Enjoy:

Tracklisting:

1) "Stupid Lies" - Slum Village

2) "F*** the Police" - J Dilla

3) "Sometimes (Ummah Remix)" - Brand New Heavies

4) "Can U C The Pride In The Panther (Jay Dee Remix)" - Mos Def

5) "Without You (Jay Dee Remix)" - Lucy Pearl

6) "Who Smoke Sunshine" - T Love

7) "Got Til It's Gone (Ummah Jay Dee Revenge Mix)" - Janet Jackson

8) "Get It Together" - Slum Village

9) "Purple (Ummah Remix)" - Crustation

10) "Little Brother" - Black Star

11) "The Light (Remix)" - Common

12) "Eve (Jay Dee Remix)" - Spacek

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Tracklisting:

1) "Aerodynamic (Jay Dee Remix)" - Daft Punk

2) "As Serious As Your Life (Jay Dee Remix)" - Four Tet

3) "Dedication 2004" - Phat Kat

4) "It'z Your World (feat. J.Isaac & Kurupt)" - Slum Village

5) "Stakes Is High (feat. Mos Def & Truth Enola) [Jay Dee Remix]" - De La Soul

6) "The Rhyme (Jay Dee Remix)" - Keith Murray

7) "Come Close (feat. Q-Tip, Pharrell, & Erykah Badu) [Jay Dee Remix]" - Common

8) "Frantic (Dilla's Remix)" - Vivian Green

9) "Ill Vibe (Jay Dee Remix)" - Busta Rhymes

10) "Fall In Love (Jay Dee Remix)" - Slum Village

11) "I Try (Jay Dee Remix)" - Macy Gray

12) "Who We Are" - Slum Village

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Tracklisting:

1) "Life Goes On" - Royce da 5'9"

2) "Secret of the Sand (Jay Dee Remix)" - Mood

3) "Rock Shows" - 5 Elementz

4) "Concrete Eyes" - eLZhi

5) "Bring it to Me" - Proof

6) "Oblighetto (Jay Dee Remix)" - Brother Jack McDuff

7) "Why" - T Da Pimp

8) "Butterfly" - Bizarre

9) "Woo Hah!! (The Jay Dee Bounce Remix)" - Busta Rhymes

10) "Nothing But Your Love (Jay Dee Remix)" - Toshi Kubota

11) "In Yo Face" - Que D

12) "You Used To Love Me (Unreleased Ummah Remix)" - Faith Evans

13) "Runnin' (Jay Dee Remix)" - The Pharcyde

14) "Everybody Get Up" - Frank N Dank

15) "Anitquity" - Dwight Trible

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Tracklisting:

1) "That Shit (feat. J Dilla)" - A Tribe Called Quest

2) "People Make the World Go Round (J88 Remix)" - Innerzone Orchestra

3) "Rock 'n' Roll (Jay Dee Remix)" - A Tribe Called Quest

4) "Got Til It's Gone (Ummah's Uptown Saturday Night Mix)" - Janet Jackson

5) "Crypto" - J Dilla & DJ Uppercut

6) "Front Street" - 1st Down

7) "Love Junkie (Jay Dee Remix)" - DJ Cam & Cameo

8) "Me & Those Dreaming Eyes of Mine (Jay Dee Remix)" - D'Angelo

9) "Fingertips" - Poe

10) "E.G.O." - 5 Elementz

11) "Don't Say a Word" - Chino XL

12) "New Year's at Jay Dee's" - The Roots

13) "Ya Heard Me?" - Phife Dawg

14) "Da Science" - Proof

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Tracklisting:

1) "Black Capricorn (feat. Slum Village) [Jay Dee Remix]" - Jamiroquai

2) "The Look of Love, Pt. 2" - J88

3) "Why You Looking Hard" - T Da Pimp

4) "Put It Down" - A Tribe Called Quest

5) "A Day Wit the Homiez" - 1st Down

6) "The Hustle (feat. Busta Rhymes)" - Slum Village

7) "The Ultimate (Jay Dee Remix)" - Artifiacts

8) "One Indian (Jay Dee Remix)" - One Little Indian

9) "Say How I Feel (feat. Slum Village & Dwele)" - Rhian Benson

10) "Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (feat. Rampage) [Jay Dee Remix]" - Busta Rhymes

11) "Get It Together" - J88

12) "Forth & Back (Original Unreleased Version)" - Slum Village

13) "Supa Shit (feat. J Dilla)" - Que D

14) "Girls (The Ummah Mix)" - A Tribe Called Quest

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Tracklisting:

1) "World Full of Sadness" - Slum Village

2) "Searching" - 5 Elementz

3) "Ascension (Jay Dee Remix)" - Maxwell

4) "Pack Da House" - Natives of Da Underground

5) "Yum Yum" - Slum Village

6) "Game Day" - Phife Dawg

7) "Cash Flow" - Que D

8) "Listen" - Q-Tip & Heavy D

9) "We Be Dem (Jay Dee's Atomic Dog Mix)" - Slum Village

10) "Love It Here" - eLZhi

11) "Microphone Master (Jay Dee Remix)" - Das EFX

12) "Dangerous Ground (feat. 50 Grand)" - Keith Murray

13) "Now" - Da' Enna C

14) "Black Capricorn Day (Jay Dee Remix Pt. 2)" - Jamiroquai

15) "The Jam" - Mad Skillz

16) "Let's Grow" - Royce da 5'9"

*Shout out to Rapamello for the post*

2.28.2012

An Optimist's Most Anticipated Albums of 2012

7:08 PM

Goose