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

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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.

The i.l.y's - I've always been good at true love

Free project posted by the Death Grips twitter/website.  No info released. Guessing it involves Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos/Death Grips) in multiple capacities, keyboard player Andy Morin and Zach Hill.  Maybe Barney the Dinosaur?  Methinks MC Ride didn't show up to practice one day and this happened.  Then again I haven't really heard him not yelling before...

The album itself is a mutated garage sounding album with lots of modulated vocals/keys/strings.  Nine songs just under thirty total minutes, but it's a quick trip worth taking again.

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LONGEVITY - KINGDOM OF BEAST Vol. 2

The follow-up release to prob my favorite album of 2013.  
10 new tracks featuring production by Longevity, Duke Westlake, Logik Provider, and Luke Cage.

The album is up for name your price but show support if able.

Bandcamp/DL

Systems - Ghost Medicine

Systems are a hardcore/skramz/post-punk group from North Carolina.  To date, they've only released one album, 2011's 'Ghost Medicine'.  I noticed they played some shows with Circle Takes the Square, and perhaps some similarities run between the two aesthetically; vocals are often quick and enunciated, blurred in a cacophony of screams and sings.  They also have a very strong ambient lining throughout their song writing, though to the former perhaps venture even further from the heart of their sound.

Really cool stuff, definitely spring for the vinyl if available (a few weeks ago they posted on their Facebook that 30 copies remain), definitely worth it for the meticulous artwork alone.
The band is still active, so hopefully their 2nd release isn't far behind.

https://systemsnc.bandcamp.com/

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