From Audible Treats:

MP3: Chosen Few feat. Pep Love & Opio - "Girls Gone Wild"      12.08.2009
Chosen Few Leak Preview For Upcoming Hiero-Backed Album

The Song:

Smooth vibes from Charles Cooper's saxophone open up the latest offering from Oakland's Chosen Few, which also features lyrical acrobatics from Opio and Pep Love from the iconic west coast collective, Hieroglyphics. Titled ''Girls Gone Wild,'' the song is a precursor to the Chosen Few's upcoming album, New World Symphony, and although it will not be making an appearance on the album, the group is giving it away now to allow listeners an early taste of what to expect from the Bay Area crew. "Girls Gone Wild" doesn't seek to resurrect the ghosts of spring breaks past, but instead touches "on the delicate balance of media influences and personal connections to what defines success for women in the, yet still, inequitable social norms of the world" says Cooper. Featuring production by beat maestro Unjust, "Girls Gone Wild" serves as a worldwide wakeup call to see through the media-manufactured smoke and mirrors, and, adds Unjust, encourages people everywhere to "foster their own individual shine." While rhymes and horns are at the front of this creative storm, at Opio's suggestion the song closes with audio from the movie Fame and the rest, as they say, is history. Chosen Few's New World Symphony will be available on January 9, 2010 via Hiero Imperium Records.

MP3: http://media.audibletreats.com/Chosen_Few-Girls_Gone_Wild_Feat_Opio_and_Pep_Love.mp3 .

The Background:

Chosen Few is Cold Showda, Unjust, Charles Cooper... and You. The mission of the group is to empower listeners and make them realize that they alone have the power to decide what music they listen to, instead of just picking up everything the powers that be are putting down. Originally from Ohio, the crew hooked up with regional talent like Hi-Tek, DJ Kweli, and Slum Village before moving westward to fulfill their musical manifest destiny. Cold Showda and Charles Cooper began their Bay Area careers by performing under the name Greans, collaborating with the likes of Mos Def, Common, Hieroglyphics, Pharcyde, Grandmaster Flash and more, while Unjust used his skills as a graphic artist to work with Dilated Peoples, Little Brother, Strong Arm Steady, Planet Asia, J. Dilla, Nappy Roots, and Dizzee Rascal to name a few. After achieving their respective separate successes, Chosen Few regrouped in 2008 and began building energy towards reviving the emotional range that seemed to missing from lady hip-hop at the time, and thus the idea that was New World Symphony was born. The sound of today's social consciousness is Unjust's soul and psychedelic rock laden beats, Cold Showda's relentlessly aggressive lyrics, and Charles Cooper's masterful saxophone playing and wordplay. Rounding out the album are guest appearances by Del The Funky Homosapien, Pep Love, Rakaa Iriscience, Phat Kat, DJ Babu, Tajai, Opio, Piakahn, Word4Word, and more. As Cooper says, "we are trying to encourage people to stand up, be your own individual and BE one of the chosen few." Become part of the movement at http://wearechosenfew.com and prepare to tune into New World Symphony on February 9, 2010, via Hiero Imperium Records.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/wearechosenfew .

Bandcamp: http://chosenfew.bandcamp.com/ .

Official site: http://wearechosenfew.com .

Label site: http://www.hieroglyphics.com .

Okay so technically Sade isn't rap, but I've loved her music for over 20 years, and I bet a lot of other hip-hop heads do too. The video is below along with a press release from Giant Step.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SADE RELEASES NEW SINGLE
OFF FORTHCOMING ALBUM,
SOLDIER OF LOVE

DEC 8, 2009

Today Sade releases the first single from a new album, Soldier of Love. The title track “Soldier Of Love,” which Sade co-produced with Mike Pela, was written by Sade along with longtime collaborators Andrew Hale, Stuart Matthewman and Paul Spencer Denman. The song, featuring a pulsating and anthemic drum beat along with haunting vocals that Sade is known for, is now set to hit airwaves and will kick off the countdown for Soldier of Love. Recorded in England and set for release worldwide on February 8th, Soldier of Love marks Sade’s first studio album since the multi-platinum release of Lovers Rock in 2000.

The first single “Soldier Of Love” premiered today at 7am EST on www.sade.com .

Known for their one of a kind timeless sound, Sade has enjoyed phenomenal success both internationally and stateside throughout the span of their twenty-five year career. Since the release of their debut album, Diamond Life in 1984 the band has seen all five of their studio albums land in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart selling a total of more than 50 million albums worldwide to date. They’ve been nominated for American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and have won three Grammy Awards – first in 1986 for Best New Artist, then in 1994 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for “No Ordinary Love”, and again in 2002 for Best Pop Vocal Album with Lovers Rock.

* WWW.SADE.COM *

From Kerosene Media:

Potluck to Release 'Dank Alumni Experience' EP in December

EP December 15th, 2009
***
 
Potluck has scheduled a December 15th, 2009 release date for their upcoming  digital EP, "Pothead Music Vol. 1: The Dank Alumni Experience", which will be made available through all digital retailers and www.SubNoizeStore.com . The Dank Alumni is Potluck, Absolute on End, and Garth "Culti" Vader (Mr. High Times).

"It was harvest time in Humboldt, a time when we all would come together, so we decided to record some songs and put together an EP as The Dank Alumni," commented 1 Ton from Potluck. "Lately there has been a major media blitz on Humboldt County with all these news stories and the A&E special 'Pot City USA' television special that aired. This EP is a snapshot of what underground Humboldt county weed life is really like, so don’t miss this underground classic. If you liked the previous tracks we've done together like 'Dank Alumni' and 'Hot Box Anthem' you will love this CD."
 
Potluck is riding high after completing a 2-month tour across the US with reunited hip-hop icons D12. Potluck's sophomore album, "Pipe Dreams", has been embraced by hip-hop fans from coast to coast who have been mesmerized by the group's lyrical depth, rapid fire flows and head nodding beats. The Source Magazine championed the group’s sound saying, "There are strong reggae and good vibe undercurrents throughout this 21-cut ode to the high life." Synthesis Magazine commented, “Potluck’s members are at the top of their game, so newcomers welcome to the movement.”
 
###
* www.potluckmusic.com *
* www.SuburbanNoizeRecords.com *

From Melanie J Cornish - Fokis Interviews Ty Fyffe (Part 1).

From Audible Treats - Fly Gypsy's video for "You" f/ Tattiana Aqeel-de Oliveira.

BeatMonstas :: Bomb 'Til We Hit 'Em
BeatMonstas Entertainment
Author: Emanuel Wallace

"The Chicago-based act joined forces in 2003 and released their first album, "The 3rd Weapon" in 2005. The reviewer of that album made it a point to mention that the BeatMonstas are at their best when diving head first into the murky waters of social and political issues. Upon reading that and the press mailer that pointed out the fact that most of their latest album, "Bomb 'Til We Hit 'Em, was recorded during the later years of the Bush Administration, made me think that every song was going to be a "Fuck George Bush" rally cry. To my surprise, they really aren't."

http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2009_12F_bombtilwehitem.html

CounterParts :: The CounterParts LP :: Beat Rock Records
as reviewed by Patrick Taylor

"CounterParts are a multiracial crew made up of MCs T-Know, Braelan B, Otayo Dubb, and producers Fatgums, Gamma Ray, and Vesk One. The crew hails from Norwalk, California, near Long Beach, and the San Francisco Bay Area. They mix the Golden Age hip hop sound of SoCal with intelligent, positive lyrics that reflect Bay Area culture. The beats are sample-heavy and loaded with cuts and scratches. Fatgums and Gamma Ray know how to work a dusty break, and create some classic boom bap that fans of old school hip hop will love. There are no synths here, just old funk and soul served up hot and fresh."

http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2009_12_counterpartslp.html

Darshan :: Lishmah EP :: Shemspeed Records
as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon

"So sayeth the hebrew hip-hop artist known as Darshan on the song "Why Wait" from his debut "Lishmah" EP. This writer must confess to not really knowing much of the Jewish faith other than how it is portrayed in popular culture and having done a little reading on Wikipedia about what is and isn't considered "kosher" - and of course who knows if ANYTHING you read on Wikipedia is really accurate anyway. As a result I can't put the statement in his press release that Darshan is "astral rap, liturgical jazz, audio alchemy" who is "Harmonizing Hebrew chant with hip-hop, folk rock with electro-pop, love poetry with kabbalistic psychology" to any test of truthfulness."

http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2009_12_lishmahEP.html

Half-A-Mill :: Milíon :: Warlock Records
** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series **
as reviewed by Matt Jost

"Earlier in the '90s, Half-A-Mill (original spelling Half-A-Mil) would be one of the many fighting for airtime late at night on NY radio. His first break came when Mister Cee introduced him to Big Daddy Kane in 1993, who wanted him on his label (Black Caesar Records) that never quite got off the ground. Reportedly he also recorded a demo with DJ Scratch before self-releasing his debut single in 1994. He was signed to Penalty Recordings for a moment, which was bought and then discontinued by Tommy Boy. His Firm internship eventually led to a deal with Warlock Records, where he released two albums. While working on a third one, he was shot dead in his home in Brooklyn's Albany projects October 24th 2003."

http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_halfamilion.html

Illy :: Long Story Short :: Obese Records
as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon

"Per capita I'm willing to wager the quotient of Australian hip-hop covered on RapReviews.com is greater than if not equal to any other magazine online or off in the entire United States. I can understand when other publications avoid French, German or Japanese hip-hop due to the natural language barrier, but it mystifies me that more people don't embrace this scene in North America. The likely culprit is those stupid Crocodile Dundee movies, the ones that set up absurd stereotypes involving kangaroos, boomerangs and "throwing shrimp on the barbie.""

http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2009_12_longstoryshort.html

Mr. Lif :: Emergency Rations :: Definitive Jux Records
** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series **
as reviewed byEric Sirota

"Boston MC, Jeffrey Haynes, aka, Mr. Lif, released the "Emergency Rations EP" on Definitive Jux in 2002. For Lif fans, the album is essential, not because it is by any means his best work, but rather because the EP is perhaps Lif's most transitional album. "Emergency Rations" finds this Jukie in the middle of an identity crisis, as he struggles with which side of himself to embrace – old school b-boy or futuristic sci-fi geek, conspiracy theorist or everyman, inspirational speaker or nihilist."

http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_lifemergency.html

O.C. & A.G. :: Oasis :: D.I.T.C./Nature Sounds
as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon

"On behalf of RapReviews.com and all of our loyal readers, I apologize. I realize a lot of you were upset with last week's review. I offered P a chance to revise the review once I obtained a full-length copy, but he was understandably dismayed at the negative reception the review got and felt he'd only be digging himself in deeper (no pun) by tackling it again. I offered the chance to several staffers to cover the album the full length themselves, but suddenly "Oasis" was the hot potato nobody wanted to hold. Everybody was afraid of the wrath of our site's loyal readers. That's either a compliment or a concern, but if you're checking out this review right now you deserve the credit either way. The voices of the people have been heard, they're not satisfied, and they want the legendary O.C. and A.G. to be given their proper respect."

http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2009_12_ocagoasis-full.html

Sage Francis :: Sick of Wasting... :: Strange Famous Records
as reviewed by Eric Sirota

"Sage Francis is passionate. He is passionate about his politics ("A Healthy Distrust," Epitaph Records, 2005). He is passionate about his personal life ("Personal Journals," Anticon, 2002). He is passionate about hip-hop (Non-Prophets, "Hope," Lex Records, 2003). Fittingly, on his newest "Sick of" mixtape, "Sick of Wasting...," we get a taste of all of these passions. On "Strange Fame," Sage gripes about his starving artist lifestyle. On "Conspiracy to Riot," he spits hot fire angst about our nation's political climate. On "SFR Pays Dues," Strange Famous Crew members, Sage Francis, B. Dolan, and Prolyphic, adeptly brag about their essential role in the rap game. Sage is ferocious and impassioned on every track. He has an ax to grind, and grind he does."

http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2009_12_sickofwasting.html

Type 4 :: For Sale :: World One Records
** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series **
as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon

"It's probably been a decade or more since I heard from Dave, and these days 181.4 is a minor footnote in my writing career, but at least one person out there didn't forget those days - Matt Reyes from Type 4. It seems the review I wrote of their debut album for Dave's internet rag was one of the most thoughtful, considerate and well written Type 4 received. After all these years, Matt tracked me down and asked me if I was the same man who reviewed rap for 181.4. It took me a minute to realize I actually was, because it had been that long since any thought of 181.4 crossed my mind, but Matt felt that after all this time I was the only one qualified to reintroduce Type 4 to the world. Tragically a lot of things have changed for Type 4 in the last decade or more - they lost vocalist Brian Cantwell in 2001 and drummer Eric Goodridge in 2002. As odd as it is to walk down memory lane back to my college days, it's even more odd to write a review of an album released in 2001 when a third of the band is now deceased - there needs to be a whole new definition of "late pass" for this one."

http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_type4sale.html

Details about Victory or Death remain mum as does the conceptual behind The RZA’s release.  What has been promised is a “reworking” of history onto massive canvas that focuses on the concept of “hearing the call” and revolution in an inspiring and provocative way.  In total, 360 prints will be available to the public on the January 1, 2010 release date.  When discussing the upcoming release, The RZA states, “It didn’t begin 20 years ago…more like 200 years ago. And when you see the piece we’re making right here, you’re going to know what I’m talking about.  We’re about to rewrite and change history.”

The origins of Victory Or Death began earlier this year as RZA started conceptualizing with When Art Imitates Life, a company focused on creating fine art with musical visionaries at the helm of the creative.  When Art Imitates Life (WAIL) is owned by legendary hip-hop statesmen Sway and King Tech of The World Famous Wake Up Show along with notorious Los Angeles creativity house SceneFour.  Victory or Death is the first release under the WAIL art label.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit www.whenartimitateslife.com to sign up for exclusive information on The RZA’s Victory or Death as it develops, as well as a chance to preview the piece before January 1.

Dope female emcees can be hard to come by. Sure, you may find one here or there, but as a rule, the majority of hip-hop shows and street corner cyphers are filled with male dominated line ups. The few females people get to hear on a mainstream level are, for the most part, using their sexuality to get attention, rather than attempting to learn, or hone, any kind of rhyming skills. This is why listening to Rita J’s debut album, Artist Workshop, is such a nice change of pace. She’s a smooth emcee with a style of her own, and what’s between her legs is not a topic of conversation. Point blank, Rita J has skills, and this week I caught up with her to find out more about her path leading up to her first LP, her thoughts on why there’s such a dearth of female emcees in the game, and how a hurricane picked her up and moved her.

Read the full interview at:  http://adambernard.blogspot.com/2009/12/artist-of-week-rita-j.html

From K-Murdock:

I'm sure for those who follow me or my blog, you have heard LOTS of talk about the 2nd installment of my "Mood Muzik" series aka "Piano-rama"... Well, i just got word from Tasteful Licks Records, aka the label releasing this album and many of my future, solo projects, that it'll be out in January on CD, itunes, etc.  I'm so excited by the news that i had to share the artwork design for the album they sent me with you all, check it...