The internet is truly a beautiful thing. Whilst boping around I came across a link that led me to the The Stuyvesants. I’m not usually into just beat tapes but this one caught my ear. If your driving in your car, cleaning the house our just thinking about life you can play this in the background. I hope some MC (a good one) decides to get these brothers to produce there album or better yet just add words to all these nice tracks. You can take a listen below first or click here to get to the download. Enjoy

BTW this is from their website about what The Stuyvesants are all about: “The Stuyvesants” is a collaborative effort between music producer Allan Cole (Algorythm), and record collector Darien Victor Birks (Flwrpt). Both reside in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. The two wanted to work together on a project where they could incorporate several of their talents, related to music and design. They wanted to do this under a moniker that would pay homage to the ’70s. The collaboration allowed them to do four major things, design, beat dig, produce amazing music, and simply have fun.

The Stuyvesants

Female MC Narubi Selah Could Save Hip Hop

First off, I know that’s a big claim. Narubi Selah is a newcomer to the hip hop scene, with only one album under her belt and far more poetry bonafides than tracks.

But she has the same number of hip hop albums as the (in)famous Ms. Hill, who as the most universally lauded female MC she’s bound to draw comparisons to. Like Lauryn, Narubi hails from New Jersey, and has a similarly raspy, lower-register voice. But Narubi is no clone.

On her debut album “I AM Living Math,” she annihilates each and every track with dope delivery, clever wordplay and an intent behind her lyrics as potent as a bullet to your brain. She aims to take you higher.

The girl spits burning embers on tracks like “Birdee” and “Living Math,” unapologetically gutting jokers of both genders with ease, while not compromising the lessons in self reflection and nation-building contained in the songs. It’s really no surprise to learn she maintains her secret identity as a teacher.

Narubi Selah also comes with some pretty impressive names behind her. Prior to her 2008 debut on Def Poetry Jam, she performed with KRS One, Lauryn Hill, Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers, and Styles P.

After hearing her perform at the 2001 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, former Editor in Chief Susan Taylor said “Her words could save our nation.” Narubi’s debut performance in the independent film, “What Goes Around” won the film the Best Urban Feature Film Award at the 2004 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.

She’s also written and starred in her own ninety-minute play, “The Classifieds,” which premiered at the Nuyorican Poets Café. And The National Education Dance Institute sponsored her educational play “Free Your Rhyme,” in conjunction with the Trenton Dance Institute.

Hopefully we’ll hear more from Narubi Selah in the coming months. Meanwhile, cop Living Math. I’m already calling it a contender for Album of the Year.

EDITORS NOTE – We usually don’t like to make this into a review but Resident Alien just loooooooved the album so much we didn’t have a choice by the way, don’t forget, these are not the complete songs—just 90-second clips so you can get a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, go out and buy the CD.  Quality hip hop grows when we support the artists.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

New CD from rap vets still ridin to infinity

From the groups website

Souls of Mischief is an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California, that is also part of the hip hop collective, Hieroglyphics and is composed of emcees A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, and Tajai.

The group informally formed in high school before making their major-label debut on Jive Records with their well-received album 93 ’til Infinity, in 1993. In January 1998, their début was named one of the Top 100 Rap albums by The Source magazine. The group stayed with Jive for one more album, 1995′s No Man’s Land, before being released from the label during that same year.

Following the release of the group from its major-label contract with Jive, the group officially formed the alternative hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics, with emcees Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Jaybiz, and producer Domino. The group participated as full members in both Hieroglyphics’ studio albums: 1998′s 3rd Eye Vision, and 2003′s Full Circle. The group has released two albums on the Hiero’s self-owned independent label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings, 1999′s Focus, and 2000′s Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution.

The group recently released their first album in almost ten years Montezuma’s Revenge featuring production from the legendary Prince Paul (De La Soul, Stetsasonic) to stellar reviews.

Go here for more info and product from the entire Heiro Crew

Just a reminder: these are not the complete songs, just 90-second clips so you can get a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, buy the CD. If we want good hip hop to flourish, we’ve gotta support the artists.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

This St Louis rapper ain’t scared to sing, but he’s no Nelly. Listen.

Since there is “love” in the title it’s unlikely our own Hip Hop Purist will enjoy this album. But To Serve for Love is not just for lovers, just if you like your Hip Hop a little different. But we better stop this isn’t a review. Check this from the his Myspace page -

Armed with little more than his father’s extensive record collection of jazz, soul, psychedelic rock, folk, comedy and a Kurzweil 2000 keyboard – Black Spade’s music is a melting pot of sounds hailing from St. Louis by way of New York, Detroit, LA, and everywhere that hip-hop has carved a distinctive and influential sound for itself.

Despite his strong ties to hip-hop, Spade’s taste in music walks across genres. He listens to Prince and Dilla, alongside Bloc Party and Radiohead while using all these sounds as a blueprint for his future, one that sits under the guiding light of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew era electronic sax skronk. Then there’s his rapping – Spade’s cadence flutters up and down like Pharoahe Monch, but stays introspective like Common. Before you know it, he’ll switch to singing and suddenly his songs become less like hip hop experimentation and more like fully fleshed sketches.  CLick here for the rest.

ANYway, don’t forget, these are not the complete songs—just 90-second clips so you can get a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, go out and buy the CD.  Quality hip hop grows when we support the artists.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Check out another free album preview featuring Moka Only. Hip Hop that’s new to you.

from one of his current/former labels
With a catalogue that is unmatched by many, Moka Only is often considered to be a pioneer and driving force behind Canadian West Coast hip hop, as well as an important component in popularizing the art of freestyling in Victoria and Vancouver. In the 13+ years since his debut, Moka Only has released more than 40 albums, both solo and collaborative. He records under a variety of aliases, with the most popular being Ron Contour, Flow Torch and The Durable Mammal. He has been a contributing member of numerous groups and collectives, including Perfect Strangers, Code Name: Scorpion, Cryptic Souls Crew, The Dominant Mammals, City Planners, Nowfolk and Swollen Members, along with many others. Amongst all of that, Moka has worked with underground hip hop heroes like J Dilla, Aceyalone, OH NO, MF Doom, Buck 65, K-Os, Sixtoo and more.  CLICK HERE for the rest.

As always, these are not the complete songs, just 90-second clips to give you a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, buy the CD. We’ve gotta support if we want real hip hop to flourish.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

I was originally going to start this post by saying “We’ve featured Brother Ali before…” NOT. That’s really a damn shame as GOOD as brother Ali is. Our man The Hip Hop Purist has been down for years and HE wrote a piece about the Brother before. But for some strange reason this is his first feature on Audio Sessions I guess that gives us a reason to go back and post his ealier albums. I mean its all new to you right?

From Wikipedia 
Jason Newman better known by the stage name Brother Ali was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1977, and spent his early childhood moving from city to city in the Midwest (mostly in Michigan). Ali’s family settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1992. It was in Minneapolis that Ali converted to Islam and was given the name Ali. He has a son, Faheem, from his first marriage, and remarried in 2008.

Ali was born with the rare genetic condition of albinism, a disorder characterized by a lack of pigment in skin, eyes, and hair. Brother Ali often makes fun of the media’s constant urge to mention his condition in the first lines of their reviews or newspaper articles.

While Brother Ali’s family is white, he has often described a childhood marked by cruelty and exclusion by his white classmates as a result of his physical abnormality. He’s often explained that, from an early age, he felt “most at home amongst African Americans.”

When Ali’s career began to blossom, he began to field questions about his race. Due to his stage name (a common reference among religious communities, particularly Muslims), many writers assumed Ali was black. When questioned on the subject, Ali declined to comment. In hindsight Ali regards this early decision as a mistake. It was wrongly reported that Ali was black.

In 2003 Brother Ali released his first studio project titled “Shadows On The Sun.”  Although the album had no major national distribution, “Shadows” was heavily praised by independent hip hop fans and publications. Ali used the album to explain his childhood and identity.

In September 2009, Brother Ali dropped his current release.  The album was originally titled “Street Preacher” but later changed to “Us.” It debuted at #56 on Billboard’s Top 100. Ali is currently on tour to support this album.

As always, these are not the complete songs, just 90-second clips to give you a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, buy the CD. We’ve gotta support if we want real hip hop to flourish.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Straight out the Chi its Kidz in the Hall. We featured there second album The In Crowd almost a year ago. It seems like they keep changing labels with the release of every album.  Last time out they were down with a restarted Rawkus Records and now they’ve aligned themselves with Duckdown Records home of Black Moon, Helter Skelter, and Sean Price.

Don’t forget, these are not the complete songs—just 90-second clips so you can get a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, go out and buy the CD.  Quality hip hop grows when we support the artists.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Once again there back. After the release of his major label bebut Mr. Murs is back with 9th Wonder for their 3rd collaboration. You might think we’re Murs fans (we are) we have featured Murs more than once. Like one time, two time, three times. So apperently we have a little love for the man.

Just a reminder: these are not the complete songs, just 90-second clips so you can get a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, buy the CD. If we want good hip hop to flourish, we’ve gotta support the artists.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Basic Vocab (consisting of Miami, FL natives Mental Growth, JL Sorrell, Tony Galvin) used their debut, The General Dynamic, (2006) as a platform to fully introduce and integrate themselves with the Hip-hop populous at large.

JL Sorell and Mental Growth once again offer a diverse subject matter, delving into politically tinged themes, relationship odes (“Why You Do Me Like That”) and feel good party (“There You Are” f/Don Will, “Prescription,” “Just Dance”) starting vibes turning them into a contemporary and old school sound with A Better Way.

While Basic Vocab continues to climb the Rap hierarchy, the group’s sound architect, Tony Galvin already has a few Platinum plaques on his wall, as he has produced hit singles for Trick Daddy (“Shut Up”) and Trina (“Baddest Bitch”) and produced tracks for Cee Lo, T.I. (“You Know Who”), Young Jeezy (“Show You What It Is”) and T.I. and Nelly’s “Show It To Me”; Tony’s work with T.I. earned him a production deal with T.I.’s Grand Hustle/Atlantic imprint.

Just a reminder: these are not the complete songs, just 90-second clips so you can get a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, buy the CD. If we want good hip hop to flourish, we’ve gotta support the artists.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Hailing from Boston MA Raydar has been in it for a minute as a producer and rapper. We featured Mr. Ellis before just a few months ago with his collaboration with Quite Nyce. We promised then that we would post his first album to give you a chance to peruse his earlier work.

Just a reminder: these are not the complete songs, just 90-second clips so you can get a feel for the music. If you like what you hear, buy the CD. If we want good hip hop to flourish, we’ve gotta support the artists.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com