[NEW] Drake & Future – What A Time To Be Alive

WATTBA

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past week, chances are you’ve already heard about the fact that Drake and Future have decided to join forces for a brand new mixtape titled What a Time To Be Alive. Though speculation around the existence of the joint effort ran rampant earlier in the week, Aubrey confirmed the project’s release date, album art and name through Instagram yesterday. After premiering the entire 11 track compilation during Drizzy’s OVO Sound Radio show earlier today, the duo has finally unleashed the full project on iTunes. Executive produced by Metro BoominWhat a Time To Be Alive  also includes additional contributions from the likes of Southside, Boi-1da and of course Noah “40” Shebib. Follow the link below to stream the album through Apple Music and check out the tracklist after the jump.

STREAM/PURCHASE: Drake & Future – What a Time To Be Alive

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[Hip-Hop] Kendrick Lamar – The Blacker The Berry (Prod. Boi-1da)

Kendrick Lamar
The Blacker The Berry

TDE fans rejoice, as we finally have the pleasure of hearing the second single from the much anticipated follow up to good kid, m.A.A.d city. After locking up two Grammy awards for his previous single “i,” Kendrick Lamar has returned with the far more aggressive “The Blacker The Berry.” The Boi-1da produced cut should appease fans who may have been disappointed with Kendrick’s last effort. With an audacious chorus that claims, “The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice,” this new joint finds a fearless Kendrick slaughtering verses while touching on some sensitive issues, including racial tensions and gun violence. Check out the song below, and be on the lookout for more details on Kendrick’s upcoming album, which is set to drop later this year.

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[NEW] Drake – Heat Of The Moment (Prod. by 40) + 6 God (Prod. by Boi-1da & Syk Sense) + How Bout Now (Prod. by Boi-1da & Jordan Evans)

We probably should have seen this coming, right? With yesterday being Drake‘s birthday, October’s Very Own decided to celebrate by sharing a preview of what he’s been cooking up in preparation for his next album, Views From The 6.  The three new tracks, “6 God,” “Heat Of The Moment,” and “How Bout Now,” (which you may remember first leaked earlier this week) seem to be related to Aubrey’s upcoming project, but there’s no confirmation of their origins. The accompanying artwork (above) does seem to imply there is a connection though.

The 28 year old emcee spared no expense with his shiny new gifts. Each single represents a different flavor of Drizzy; so whether you prefer his bombastic, “no-fucks given” attitude, or his more mellow, lo-fi, seductive sound, he’s got you covered. Stream all three tracks above, and make sure to download the free offerings as well. Expect to hear more from Drake’s View From The 6 as he readies the album for release next year.

’Drake – 6 God (Prod. by Boi 1da & Syk Sense)’
’Drake – Heat Of The Moment (Prod. by 40)’
’Drake – How Bout Now (Prod. by Boi 1da & Jordan Evans)’
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[NEW] Lil Wayne – Believe Me (Feat. Drake) (Prod. Boi-1da & Vinylz)

Lil Wayne
Believe Me (ft. Drake)

After plenty of teasers sprinkled throughout the week, the preparations for Tha Carter V are finally underway . Billed as Lil Wayne‘s final solo project, the New Orleans veteran had recently been building anticipation for the lead single, thanks to some unconventional promo from Kobe Bryant and Floyd Mayweather. Recruiting his number one running mate, Drake, for the assist on this one, “Believe Me” features the two emcees trading bars over an ominous instrumental by Boi-1da and Vinylz that’ll shake you to your very core. As they switch up their flows to coincide with a shift in the tempo midway through, “Believe Me” when I say that Weezy sounds hungrier than he has in recent memory. We won’t say he’s in classic mixtape form just yet, but we’d like to think his relative dormancy lately indicates that he’s bringing a new level of focus to this album.

Stream the new track above, and stay tuned for more information on Tha Carter V, including its new release date.

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[Hip-Hop] Mobb Deep – Legendary (Feat. Bun B & Juicy J)

Mobb Deep
Legendary (feat. Bun B and Juicy J)

We’re less than a week away from a Mobb Deep reunion album, as the “Legendary” rap duo prepare to bring things full circle with the release of The Infamous Mobb Deep. After touring together last year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut project, Juvenile Hell, the pair took to the studio to record their first full studio album in nearly a decade. This one pays tribute to another hip-hop classic, The Infamous, and it’s separated into 2 discs: one full of 17 fresh new tunes, and one that includes 14 unreleased songs from their 1994 recording sessions.

“Legendary” happens to be one of those newer tracks, and features contributions from Bun B and Juicy J, legends in their own right respectively. The single is as triumphant as they come, as the two team up with Prodigy and Havoc to look back in retrospect on their careers and reflect on their successes over some supreme production supplied by Havoc, The Maven Boys, and Boi-1da. It’s a relatively simple track overall, but it comes packed with plenty of advice and lessons learned for the younger generation to follow.

Also be sure to check out Mobb Deep’s recent collaboration with TMN favorite Kaytranada below, which proves that the old heads aren’t afraid to give the young guys a chance to shine too. If you’re feeling both tracks, feel free to head over to iTunes to pre-order The Infamous Mobb Deep before it drops on April 1st.

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[Album Review] Drake – Nothing Was the Same

’Drake – From Time (Feat. Jhené Aiko)’
’Drake – Furthest Thing’
’Drake – Tuscan Leather’
’Drake – Worst Behavior’

More than just the Adele of the rap game, Drake‘s ability to convey both sensitive and egotism with an ear for solid bars with catchy hooks have made him one of the highest selling artists in the industry. In just 4 years, the actor turned unlikely rapper/singer has achieved more with just 3 albums than most artists accomplish in a lifetime in the industry: sold out shows, millions of records, Grammy’s, and chart-topping singles. Now that Kanye West has chosen to explore more of an indie sound with his latest release Yeezus, Drake has arguably become the game’s new unchallenged crossover star. With his latest release Nothing Was the Same, he returns to the style of spitting about former relationships and braggadocious rhymes, but a little less formulaic than before.

Minus the obvious hits, “Started From the Bottom,” “All Me,” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” Nothing Was the Same features a more in-depth look into Drake’s life that further explores the upsides and downsides of fame on his personal relationships. On the opening “Tuscan Leather,” Aubrey takes a minute from crooning over hooks and choruses to deliver a straight rap that includes boasting and a mention of his short-lived fallout with fellow labelmate Nicki Minaj. “Too Much” featuring Sampha (of SBTRKT fame) delves into more personal and somber themes, as Drake spits about how the growth of his fame affects family ties.

Read the rest of the review and stream more from the album after the jump

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The Hip-Hop Dojo [Vol. 12]

Things are running a bit off schedule this week with The Hip-Hop Dojo, so I want to apologize. However, I assure you that the extra wait will certainly be worth it. Given the long wait, I want to cut the clutter down as much as possible so you can get right to the music.

We start things off with Blame One who explores some existential themes, even delving into potential philosophical and religious differences between him and the outside world. Things liven up a bit as we switch over to IAMSU! who dedicates this title to all the “Hipster Girls” obsessed with their Instagram feeds and Tumblr pages. F.Stokes is quickly becoming one of my favorite emcees out of the Chi, as he seizes the beat on “Carpe Diem.” Kanye West has undoubtably had an immense influence on the young minds of Chicago hip-hop, so what better way to pay homage than by crafting a sequel to one of his absolute classics?” Alex Wiley and Chance The Rapper attempt to capture the essence of the original with their rendition of “Spaceship II,” even snagging a feature from GLC who appears on both versions. Bird‘s new single, “Still Shine” features the first sighting of Little Brother we’ve seen in quite awhile. Before you get ahead of yourselves about a potential reunion however, be careful to note that the verses were actually recorded a few years back. Nevertheless, some new Phonte is always welcome in the Dojo. In preparation for his upcoming album, Watching Movies With The Sound Off on June 18th, Mac Miller decided to share two of the album’s most anticipated tracks, neither of which disappoint. C’mon, new Jay Electronica is still good for something right?

For some reason, this week featured a vast array of songs that incorporated incredibly dark tones and heavy content. Guys like Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire, Danny Brown, Flatbush Zombies, Ibn Inglor, Denzel Curry, Sir Michael Rocks, and A$AP Rocky all got in on the action, but there’s one artist I’d like to focus on in particular: Dillan Ponders. While little is known about the young Toronto native, one thing is clear: he has an extremely unique sound–so unique in fact, that I just had to share two of his singles with you all this week. If you’re feeling the material we’ve posted so far, I highly suggest checking out his full Overdose project as soon as possible. Additionally, I’d like to highlight another artist who coincidentally also hails from Toronto, P. Reign, who seems to have big plans for 2013 with his Dear America mixtape, set to drop later this year with features from the likes of Drake, French Montana, and Waka Flocka Flame. As he nears the one year anniversary of his signing with MMG, Rockie Fresh praises God for all the blessings  he’s received since.

If there’s one thing you take away from Action Bronson‘s “Strictly 4 My Jeeps” remix, it’s that LL Cool J can still rip beats with the best of them. Seriously, why can’t hear verses like this from him more often? It’s definitely a major upgrade over “Accidental Racist.” Smoke DZA and Harry Fraud prove they’re still winning as they bring us a triumphant anthem that sounds unlike anything we’ve heard from either of them before. With three straight hits under his belt now, I’m convinced that Hayk truly represents the “The Future” of hip-hop. Check out his latest track which features a fiery hot dubbed out sample of Boy Crisis‘ “Dressed To Digress.” Following in the same vein is West Coaster Jez Dior, who rips apart another dubbed out sample, this time Lana Del Rey’s Dark Paradise.” We’re really excited about what we’ve heard from Jez Dior this year, and are eager to hear what he has in store for us when his new project, Scarlett Sage, drops tomorrow. Make sure to check out the the trippy visuals for “Move On” as well. Angel Haze might be the hottest female emcee in the game right now. She’s murdered just about every instrumental she’s stepped on during the last few months, which now include the phenomenal remix to WoodkidsI Love You” and her latest single, “No Bueno.” Finally, we wrap things up with two Brits, who bring us a few feel good singles to jam out to all summer. The first of the pair features Amplify Dot (sounds like the name of a Kendrick song) flexing her skills alongside well-known veteran Busta Rhymes on “I’m Good.” Meanwhile, Londoners Rizzle Kicks attempt to resurrect the classic sound of the Roaring 20s on their upcoming album, which is available for pre-order now.

We hope you guys enjoyed our twelfth edition of The Hip-Hop Dojo as much as we did! As always, you can send all submissions/suggestions to baseer@themusicninja.com.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ALL THE FREE TRACKS

’Blame One & J57 – They Don’t Know (feat. Akie Bermiss)’
’IAMSU! – Hipster Girls’
’Warm Brew – Congregate ft. OxyXMoron’
’Chase N. Cashe – Me & Mine (feat. Casey Veggies)’
’F.Stokes – Carpe Diem’
’Frank Leone – Don’t Fight The Rain (Produced by Pigeon DO)’
’J.Nolan – For You (prod. zuCYDE)’
’Alex Wiley – Spaceship II feat. Chance The Rapper & GLC’
’Bird – Still Shine (Feat. Little Brother & Notes To Self)’
’Nipsey Hussle – All Get Right ft. J Stone’
’Mac Miller – Suplexes Inside Of Complexes And Duplexes (feat. Jay Electronica)’
’Mac Miller – Geez (feat. Schoolboy Q) (Prod. Chuck Inglish)’
’Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire – Tomorrow’s Gone ft. Danny Brown, Nacho Picasso & Flatbush Zombies (prod. by DJ SicksentZ)’
’Ibn Inglor – Track 6’
’Dillan Ponders – Empty Pool (p. Portishead)’
’Dillan Ponders – Just Drive’
’Denzel Curry x Nell – Shepherd ft. Sir Michael Rocks’
’P. Reign – We Them Niggas ft. A$AP Rocky (Prod. Pro Logic)’
’The KickDrums & OnCue – Machines’
’Rockie Fresh – God Is Great’
’Action Bronson – Strictly 4 My Jeeps (Remix) f. LL Cool J x Lloyd Banks’
’Winners Circle – Runner Up ft. Nipsey Hussle (produced by DJ Pain1)’
’Harry Fraud & Smoke DZA – Win’
’Irv Da Phenom – Y.B.W. REMIX (ft Dizzy Wright & Jarren Benton)’
’Hayk – The Future (prod. EVO Productions)’
’Jez Dior – Move On’
’Woodkid – I Love You feat. Angel Haze’
’Angel Haze – No Bueno’
’Amplify Dot – I’m Good (Feat. Busta Rhymes)’

’Rizzle Kicks – That’s Classic’

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