d.whale - Revelations EP

'Revelations is a metaphor for an awakening. South Jersey Hip-Hop conglomerate Music Crave Ent. (d.whale, EPIK & YK) release their debut EP “Revelations.” The project is a narrative of the lives of the artist beginning with their adolescence glorifying bankrolls, cars, clothes, hoes and drugs. Towards the middle of the project the artist experience their “Revelation” in which they realize what is priority and most important in their existence on the planet. It’s not all bout being a rapper but being a leader and being a source of inspiration for your generation. The question is what’s you “Revelation?”' - via Soundcloud

Really nice free mixtape helmed by the young and talented DeJuan Whaley (d.whale) and a plethora of producers with some really nice features including the likes of Mick Jenkins.  This covers a lot of ground appropriately for its conceptual design, magnified by all the hands in the pie throughout the project.  The constant is the presence of d.whale, whom has shown with the scope of this EP that he'll hopefully be in your ear for the foreseeable future.

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IDE - Sound The Horns (Prod. Lucky Loopiano)

IDE just released his new single/video/EP for 'Sound The Horns', which can be copped in single, clean, instrumental, and acapella form from iTunes.  This track is featured on his upcoming 2016 full length 'Breathe Easy', produced mostly by Lucky Loopiano and featuring many of the Creative Juices crew (IDE's label) like longtime favorite Alucard.

"Sound The Horns" Official music video
Directed by Serringe [Element Tree]
Director of Cinematography: Serringe [Element Tree]
2nd and 3rd cameras: Kenneth Shumaker, Aquiles Torres
Costume Design and Make up: Charlie De Leon
Opening Titles/Score: Kenneth Shumaker
Cast: Ryan Gallogly, Charlie De Leon, Jesus Himself, Geraldo Barreto, Roy Johannessen
Lyrics: IDE
Beat: Lucky Loopiano
Recording & Mixing Engineer: RVM Sounds
Mastered: Manuel Roessler
Single from the upcoming release "Breathe Easy" coming 2016 on CJMHipHop
www.CreativeJuicesMusic.com
@CJMHiphop
IG: @ide1043
Twitter: @ide1043
FB: IDE (Creative Juices)
Youtube: IdeologyTV

Jasper Redd - Jazz Talk

Jasper Redd is a comedian from Tennessee who gained some attention being featured on a season of Last Comic Standing.  Not sure if he won...but he probably should have.  I discovered him after the fact, and quickly caught on to his 'Jazz Talk' podcast which interlaced jazz music into his comedy, featuring new songs and samples for each episode he released, usually 2-5 minute chunks relating to one topic.  He also later did a stand-up special released on Netflix called 'Jazz Talk' which features a few of the same bits but without the music continuously intertwined, which released in audio formats via the same name.

His stand up is great, really funny dude, but the Jazz Talk podcasts specifically -- altogether about an hour of material -- is an incredible mixing of music and comedy that's unlike anything I've heard before.  He even commented on Youtube that he just threw on a jazz mix CD and just spoke over them but the result is eerily impressive for how smooth he molds the two together.  The levels of chill are through the roof on this, definitely one of my favorite comedians around today.  You can check out his stand-up performances or hear him via interwebs.

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Mick Jenkins - Wave[s]

Mick Jenkins' new 9 track mixtape 'Wave[s]' streaming on NPR.   

Officially out on 8/21.

RIP Sean Price

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Nine - The Difference

The latest from one of the greatest, New York's NINE!  I'd been anxiously awaiting his next official release since the incredible 2011 offering 'SoN.Y.' -- all the loose tracks he did between these releases are also consistently amazing, both under Nine and his other alias Quinine Milli.  Gotta check Youtube too for some others.

'The Difference' is aptly nine tracks that individually stand as their own unique incarnations of hip hop, professed in my opinion from one of the greatest MC's to ever do it.  I'd be lying if I said I haven't had this on repeat since its official release on June 19th.  I uploaded two tracks to Youtube (below) and hopefully they convince any new listeners or long time fans to give Nine his proper respects.  Opening track "Go Again" blazes out the gates, and when it reaches the concluding track and arguably the most seasoned Nine track to date, "B4", you'll likely find yourself hitting the repeat on "Go Again" to hear it all over again.

IMO Nine has never released a less than great album, and I believe he deserves all the veneration and accolades compared to anyone doing it then or now.  Not to mention that all of his releases manage to consistently stay fresh and different.  The best news?  He has even more material planned for this year.  RESPECT!

Buy on iTunes

Buy on Amazon

The Velvet Teen - All Is Illusory

  
The Velvet Teen's first album in nine years.  Available for streaming on NPR before the official release on June 30th.  I'm about three tracks in and lurving it.