The Hip-Hop Dojo: May 2015 (Artist Spotlight: Mayo)

mayo

Welcome back to the Hip-Hop Dojo, everyone. By now we assume you all know the protocol, but in case you need a refresher, the Hip-Hop Dojo is a monthly feature split it up into three distinct components: the artist spotlight, our monthly playlist and our mixtape roundup. May was a busy month for hip-hop, there’s no denying that. Our latest edition of the Hip-Hop Dojo is a little lighter on the playlist side, but it’s definitely not lacking in quality tracks. Meanwhile, our mixtape section is loaded, with about 20 different projects we believe you absolutely need to check out.

The selection process for our monthly spotlight is never easy, and there’s often an internal struggle as we narrow down the list of names we’d like to approach about the opportunity. When we found out that Mayo had re-emerged onto the scene recently though, we couldn’t think of a better choice to be our Spotlight Artist for the month of May. The LA via Chicago transplant recently ended an eight month hiatus with the release of his latest song, “My Girl”, the first in a revolutionary series of singles that will comprise his Summer Story. You may or may not have heard of Mayo, and one look at his SoundCloud will let you know that the man likes to keep his releases tight and his lips even tighter. We had a chance to sit down and chat with Mayo and he opened up to us about everything from long distance relationships to dropping out of college and his breast cancer awareness campaign. After hearing from the man himself, we promise you’ll never forget the name.

Read on to find out what Mayo had to say, and afterwards click over to the next page to listen to this month’s playlist. On our final page you’ll find reviews of all of our favorite projects to drop during the month of May.

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The Hip-Hop Dojo: April 2015 (Artist Spotlight: Jazz Cartier)

hiphopdogjo

Welcome back to the Hip-Hop Dojo, your premier destination for all the best hip-hop from the past month. We know we’re a little late with this edition, but we promise it was well worth the wait. If you’re unacquainted, or if you need a refresher, the Hip-Hop Dojo is a monthly feature designed to showcase the most exciting up-and-coming talent in the game right now. We accomplish this by splitting it up into three different components: the artist spotlight, our monthly playlist and our mixtape roundup. We’ve got a number of exciting names spread throughout, but we have to say we’re most amped about this month’s spotlight artist, Jazz Cartier.

The Toronto music scene has experienced a sort of renaissance as of late, and although Drake remains the only true household name to emerge from the city, artists like The Weeknd, PartyNextDoor and Tory Lanez make for an exciting cast of stars poised to breakthrough to the next level. From a talent standpoint, Jazz Cartier has already proven himself capable of holding his own amongst those names. Building off of the moody aesthetic that’s become a staple of his hometown, Jazz has been able to forge his own unique sound. The enigmatic emcee possesses the uncanny ability to create songs that are easily accessible to the masses, with a penchant for crafting memorable hooks, yet he has no problem with making tunes that are also deeply personal and complex. All of this becomes apparent as you listen through his recent project, Marauding In Paradise. The fact that the mixtape spent four years in development should tell you all you need to know about Jazz’s unrelenting work ethic and his desire for perfection. We had a chance to get Jazz on the phone to talk about his recent album, his experiences moving around the world and why he believes Drake is his Jay Z.

Read on to find out what Jazz had to say, and afterwards click over to the next page to listen to this month’s playlist.  On our final page you’ll find reviews of our favorite projects to drop during April, as written by ninja Ash.

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The Hip-Hop Dojo: March 2015 (Artist Spotlight: YoAstrum)

hiphopdogjo

What up y’all? Welcome back to The Hip-Hop Dojo. As you know, since the very beginning, we’ve aspired to be your one stop shop for all things hip-hop. At first, we started this as a simple weekly playlist to help you keep track of what’s trending. After a long hiatus, last month we relaunched the series with an added twist: the inclusion of an artist spotlight that would allow us to recognize some of today’s freshest talent. Well, the construction crews have been hard at work, because today we’re expanding the Dojo once again. Along with our new multi-page format, we’re also adding a “Mixtape Roundup” designed to showcase the top projects to drop in the last month. We believe we’ve highlighted some very special independent releases, so please check out what we had to say when you make it to page 3.

In the meantime, we’d like to introduce you to our spotlight artist for the month of March, YoAstrum. For the uninitiated, the 20 year-old New Jersey native is a one-of-a-kind wordsmith who weaves his way through complex instrumentals that few would dare to navigate. Armed with unwavering confidence and an inexorable work ethic, YoAstrum is surely a name you won’t forget anytime soon. We caught up with the eclectic rapper to chat about his upcoming projects, anime and Charles Hamilton‘s comeback. Read further to see what he had to say, and click over to the next page once you’re done to listen to this month’s playlist. On the final page you’ll find our newest addition to the Dojo, our “Mixtape Roundup.”

SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: YoAstrum

Yo_Astrum

’回 YoAstrum 回 – Wishing (Prod. By Geotheory)’
’回 YoAstrum 回 – Like Whoa (Prod. By TEK.LUN) #allrapperssuckexceptme’
’回 YoAstrum 回 – Megaman X (Prod. by AbJo)’

 

TMN: When did you first start making music, and how did you decide that it was something you wanted to pursue full time?

YoAstrum: I started making beats when I was 17; when I turned 19 I decided to start rapping though. It was a couple of months after I graduated from high school, I was living in Harlem at the time and went to college out in NY. I left school after only one semester though, college didn’t feel so much for me; I used to skip class to make beats. Once I fully decided I wasn’t going to school anymore, I realized how much I loved music and really wanted to live it so I was like “fuck it, this is what I wanna do. I’d rather just be getting by and happy doing what I love rather than secure, but sad as shit that I never pursued my aspirations.”

TMN: Is there any significance behind the name YoAstrum?

YA: Ever since I was a kid I was into stars and space. Not only that, but I always liked how Latin sounded when it was sung. A lot of older cartoons on some Tom & Jerry shit would have opera randomly in episodes and when I got older, I found out the words they were singing were in Latin. I read somewhere that Astrum is Latin for constellations, stars, heavenly body, and other worldly. Threw a Yo in front (of it) and got YoAstrum.

TMN: You’ve always done a great job of selecting unconventional production from the likes of Lakim, Mr. Carmack, AbJo, etc. What initially drew you to that style and how does it challenge you to evolve as an emcee?

YA: I came across all of them a bit after I got put on to TeamSupreme. Awhile after, I found out about Soulection and then all I was listening to was those two crews. After a while of hearing those beats you want parts. Going over their individual styles of melody is the most fun and challenging part.

TMN: Beat selection aside, you’ve proven yourself to be a worthy producer as well. What’s your process like when creating a completely original song from the bottom up?

YA: Appreciate that bruh. My process is pretty free. I usually make the beat first to set a tone, then build in whatever direction that sends me. The mixing is usually one of the most experimental parts for me.

TMN: You first caught our attention with your last project, Alchemy In Heav3n, which came out nearly a year ago. Was there any significance behind that record, and did you take a different approach at all when recording it? Did you have any specific goals you set out to achieve with that project?

YA: The energy put behind it felt personal. I want people to really feel the shit I make if anything. It was a big ass experiment built from an idea. There’s a lot of little details in that project that I know everybody didn’t catch, but it was cool for me to do. I try to approach every project differently than the last too. I hate redundant shit, so I like to do something different every time. As far as goals, I wanted to grow as an artist more than anything, and ever since then I’ve been getting a more defined vision of my direction, identifying more with myself and figuring out what I really want to create.

TMN: Your style is so unique, that it’s kind of difficult to pick out who your influences are. What artists do you find have been the biggest inspiration to you in your music?

YA: So many. From N.E.R.D. to FlyLo, to old Adult Swim bumps, to Nas, Nujabes, Cudi, Ye, and Lupe. Charles Hamilton was a big one too. He made me decide that if I were to ever rap I was gonna make my own beats too.

TMN: Speaking of Charles Hamilton, have you peeped any of his new material? What are your thoughts on his comeback?

YA: Yeah, I peeped two tracks I think. One reminded me of his older vibe, can’t think of the name but it was tight. I’m low-key amped to see him come back though. Him, Ye, Pharrell, and Cudi were my high school soundtrack. I watched the freestyles he did on Sway (In The Morning) and Hot 97 too. He’s still that guy with the off-tops.

TMN: You’re a part of the Organic Geniuses tribe along with such artists as Rakeem Miles and Mike Melinoe. Can you tell us a bit about how you first got involved with them?

YA: Yeah, I actually got hit up by Keem (Rakeem Miles) over Twitter one day. He was telling me how he and Mike (Melinoe) were starting a crew up, and at the time me and my homie Hijayy were doing the same thing (Zero Saga) so we figured why not connect? Later on, we linked up with Matt Granpap and Cash Jay. The tightest part is we’re all from different places in the country.

TMN: Jersey doesn’t get the quite the same recognition in the hip-hop community as its neighbors New York and Philly. What can you tell us about the hip-hop scene where you’re from, and has it influenced your music at all?

YA: Yeah man, I’m trying to change that. Jersey is slept on, but the music scene where I stay is low-key looking promising if you’re talking Jersey as a whole. North Jersey I’d say is eating a bit more than South though. The biggest influence Jersey has on me is how big of a melting pot it is. To me it’s a grey area. It inspires me to find that grey area in music where we all can be in tune. Here you’ll find every type of person from hood niggas to suburban hipsters, from skaters to Jersey Club heads. Jersey’s identity is tight because it can be a bridge between Philly and New York natives too.

TMN: What else can we expect from YoAstrum in the coming months? Any projects of yours on the horizon?

YA: A few surprises and shows for sure. I’m dropping my next project Days Of Violet this Fall, and plan on releasing my first beat tape too sometime in April.

TMN: We noticed you take heavy influence from anime and Japanese culture in general. Can you tell us what you’re watching right now, and if you could be any one anime character who would it be and why?

YA: Right now I just finished up Tokyo Ghoul and am watching 7 Deadly Sins. Waiting for that new season of anime to kick in. But if I were any one character, I’d be a cross between Mugen and Jin from Samurai Champloo. Mugen to me is like a rough around the edges genius that’s built off instinct. That nigga’s unconventional as fuck and goes about things free-spirited, and he’s a savage. Jin on the other hand, is a lot more calm minded and disciplined throughout situations, but he’s just as strong. They kinda remind me of fire and water.

TMN: What’s one quality you think you share with a ninja?

YA: I’m a low-key dude and I fuck with hoodies.

YoAstrum’s Shuriken Six

Each month we’ll be asking our spotlight artists to tell us which artists or songs they can’t get out of their heads at the moment. This will be known as their “Shuriken Six.”

’R.O.M – #daydreaming’
(dc) – SWITCH’
’Melo Zed – For Real’
’AbJo – From Now, ‘Til Then (v.2)’
’Future – Move That Dope (LAKIM Remix)’
’Mike Melinoe – Fear Within Melinoe (Prod. By Hijayy)’

 

We’d like to thank YoAstrum for graciously agreeing to be our Hip-Hop Dojo spotlight artist for the month of March. Continue on to the next page to check out our March 2015 playlist!

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The Hip-Hop Dojo: February 2015 (Artist Spotlight: Joey Green)

HH Dojo Feb

If you’ve been a fan of the site for awhile now, you may recognize The Hip-Hop Dojo as a playlist series that used to run on a weekly basis. Designed to showcase the best rap music that might have been overlooked from the past week, the playlist served as a way for us to catch you up on the latest in the hip-hop world, while also highlighting the freshest talent out there. Though we tried our best to keep up, ultimately the task proved too tall for us, and the series eventually faded away due to a sheer lack of time. We’ve been planning a revival for quite awhile now, but we wanted to make sure we did it in a truly meaningful way.

Well, the wait is finally over! The Hip-Hop Dojo has returned, complete with a fresh new look and revised format. In order to remedy the time commitment issue we touched upon earlier, The Hip-Hop Dojo will now become a monthly series. Don’t worry though, because we won’t be skimping out on the music. In addition to the playlist, we’ve also decided to focus on one up-and-coming artist each month. This artist spotlight portion of the Hip-Hop Dojo will allow you to tap into the mind of some of the rising +stars of the hip-hop realm, and gain some insight into who they are behind the music. This artist will be able to tell their story in their own words, and allow you to gain intimate access to their lives.

Our first featured artist is D.C.’s very own Joey Green. Armed with a resigned confidence, Joey is one of many new names to add to a growing list of exciting talent emerging from the DMV area. Fresh off the release of his most recent single, “Swim,” Joey took a few minutes to sit down with us and discuss his music, his thoughts on the DMV, and his favorite video game character. We’re excited to share with you the first of many artist spotlights to come! Check out the interview below, and then hit the jump to stream the full playlist.

SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: Joey Green

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’Joey Green – Swim (Prod. By Herrvahl)’
’Joey Green x K.eYe.D – Girls Love Clothes (Prod. trash.goon)’
’Ozzie. – The Ave (Feat. Joey Green) (Prod. Ozzie Clarke)’

TMN: When did you first start making music, and how did you decide that it was something you wanted to pursue full time?

Joey Green: I started in high school and decided that I wanted to take it seriously when I got to college.

TMN: Is there any significance behind the name Joey Green?

JG: No, not really. I didn’t really want a stage name and plus I like my name, so I went with it. I think it works for my music too because I pride myself on self-expression and genuineness. To me, it feels right because I know who I am and I’m happy with who I am.

TMN: Your last mixtape, Manifesto, was kind of our introduction to your laidback, lo-fi style. What was the recording process like for that project, and did you have any specific goals you set out to achieve with that mixtape?

JG: It was a very long process. I spent about a year and a half (on and off) working on it. A few months in, I had a lot of songs done for it but I wasn’t satisfied with any of them. I scrapped every single one and decided to start over, the only song from the bunch I kept was “Ric Flair.” Starting over was what the project needed, because I was able to go back to the drawing board and give it a better structure. I recorded all new songs over the summer, kept experimenting, and was introduced to lo-fi. The lo-fi sound was also new to me, but I fell in love with it–it’s so dope to me. My goal was to craft a cohesive project with a variety of tones and moods. I think I achieved that.

TMN: Who would you say your biggest influences are?

JG: My biggest influence is Kanye by far.

TMN: The DMV has seen a huge influx of talent lately from names like GoldLink, Chaz French, DP, D.R.A.M., etc. What are your thoughts on the growing hip-hop scene in your area?

JG: I think it’s great and it’s good to see to see my area coming up. There’s so much talent from here. DC is heavily overlooked as far as sound goes, but with the talent we have here, that will change in due time. With that being said, this area isn’t too keen on supporting one another either. If artists from here could put their egos to the side and stray away from trying to bring each other down, we could make so much noise.

TMN: You’ve had quite a few collaborations with K.eYe.D over the past few months, and we hear you have a joint EP coming up soon between you two. Can you tell us what to expect from that project?

JG: Yes! K.eYe.D and I are working on a joint EP. We don’t have a title for it yet, but you can expect nothing but good vibes honestly. eYe is like a big brother to me and we clicked from the jump. This project will reflect our personalities as well, but of course I don’t wanna give too much away.

TMN: What else can we expect from Joey Green in the coming months?

JG: More flows from me for sure! I can’t sit still for too long so I’m always plotting on what I wanna cook up next. I’m looking to do more visuals as well. I storyboarded and co directed my “Beyond” music video, shout out to the director DanSam too!

TMN: If you could be any video game character, who would it be and why?

JG: Aiden Pierce from Watch Dogs, no hesitation. He hacks into any and everything with his cell phone. One minute he’s detonating explosives, the next minute he’s causing a blackout with a single tap. That’s a bad mothafucka right there (laughs).

TMN: What’s one quality you think you share with a ninja?

JG: We move in silence, but make our presence felt at the right time.

We’d like to thank Joey for graciously agreeing to be our first Hip-Hop Dojo spotlight artist. And now without further ado, we’d like to present to you our February 2015 playlist!  

Check out the full Hip-Hop Dojo Playlist after the jump!

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The Hip-Hop Dojo [Vol. 16]

It’s no secret now that The Hip-Hop Dojo hasn’t been the most consistent playlist here at TMN, and that’s due to a multitude of different factors. I’m not here to make excuses however, and the lack of hip-hop goodness lately is totally on me. It’s a new year though folks, and my resolution from here on out is to continue providing you with the dopest hip-hop content from across the net on a regular basis.

Let’s get the ball rolling quickly with this first edition of 2014, because it’s definitely one of our strongest playlists to date. Right off the bat you may notice that we’re starting things off with a Christmas anthem. We know the Holidays are over, but that Peanuts sample by producer J1K was way too good to pass up. Since we didn’t have a December edition anyway, just think of BIZ’s “Christmas Time Is Here” as a late present from all of us to you. Speaking of Christmas, we follow our first entry up with a laidback  single from Michael Christmas named after the Quentin Tarantino classic, “Jackie Brown.” Our next few items carry on the chill vibes, with many of them utilizing a throwback sound similar to the one employed by Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era. Of course Joey and his collective are featured here as well, spreading the love on the eclectic “Sol Luna.” While those dudes from Brooklyn keep with the sweet talking, Nemo Achida prefers to take a more “Hands On” approach, teaming up with 88-Keys and BJ The Chicago Kid for a smooth new cut.

Our next selection would’ve been a perfect one to start your day off with, as rapper Chris Morris opens with “Yo it’s like Sunday morning waking up,” over some supremely ill production from Nabeyin. Moving on, we’ve got the return of Dojo veteran and TDE signee, Isaiah Rashad, who brings us a sly tribute to “Brad Jordan,” better known to the rap community as Scarface. You should be familiar with two of our next collaborators, as Waldo and Sango have both been featured on this page multiple times before. This time around, they’re accompanying British femcee Little Simz on the juicy cut, “Mandarin Oranges.” Speaking of familiarity, hip-hop heads should definitely recognize the instrumental on GoldLink‘s “The Heart,” which is the same one used by Kendrick Lamar for “The Heart Pt. 2.” It’s always tough to beat an original from K Dot, but the West Virginia brings his A-game here, with a spastic delivery definitely that gives the track an edge of its own. Meanwhile, Azizi Gibson hops on some bluesy Flying Lotus production to ring in the New Year properly with “Libras Don’t Die.”

Things take a darker turn in our next suite of entries, with the always slick Rapsody leading this group off over some dope, downtempo 9th Wonder drums. Hefna Gwap is certainly not in a celebratory mode on “Happy Birthday (Fuck That)”, while Dillan Ponder brings us another ominous track with his latest single, “Hive.” While Alexander Spit‘s “Bitter Suite Symphony” sounds nothing like The Verve classic, it’s certainly a formidable number all its own. Sa-Roc shows us her “True Mastery”  of the English language on this fierce new cut, while Verbal Kent teams up with Khrysis to give us all a gritty lesson in “Raponomics.” If there ever were an expert in that subject though, it would be Raekwon, who brings along T.I. and the late Doe B to help him out on “I Wanna Know.”  Like most rappers, Truck North is out to prove he’s the number one “Chief Rocka,” hopping on a revamped version of the Lords of the Underground classic. Find out if he does that one any justice.

 Alexander Dreamer employs his “Freedom of Speech” on this dope tune that samples the intro to Coldplay‘s “Charlie Brown.” Julian Malone keeps things rather abrupt on the hard hitting “Bitche$,” but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a mean punch. Bodega Bamz brings us a real banger on the Electric Bodega remix of his single, “Don Francisco,” featuring French Montana. Next in our lineup, we’ve got a few well known commodities, as Audio Push strive to prove they’re better than all these other “Juveniles,” hooking up with Logic and Jill Scott over a spectacular beat provided by Hit-Boy. Miami emcee Eskeerdo is out to fight the “Devil’s Work,” hopping on a sample of Miike Snow‘s single of the same name. Meanwhile, Topaz Jones questions whether he’s “Living A Lie,” on his recent introspective single. K.B. Starr is ready to plead his case for why he thinks “New England Girls” are the best over some incredibly fresh production from SevnthWonder. Our final pair of tracks comes in the form of two upbeat remixes, first with Yonas putting his own stamp on Lorde‘s “Team,” and then Zak Downtown closing things out with the addicting “City’s Ours,” which flips another remix, the Flume revision of Hermitude‘s “HyperParadise.”

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

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ALL THE FREE TRACKS (ALT. LINK)

’BIZ
Christmas Time Is Here (Produced by J1K)’
’Michael Christmas – Jackie Brown ft. Manu Manzo (prod. Jasper Sheff)’
’SK The Greatest – Ounces (featuring Mad One, D.O.S. & Poppadop)’
’Dessy Hinds – Mo’Wetter Blues (Prod. 6thBoro)’
’Mike Melinoe – Steady Vibe (Pro. By Stereo Symphony)’
’A$hton – Knighty Knight’
’Termanology – Set It Off (Feat. Ransom)’
’Chris Faust – Black Manta Featuring Donwill (prod. Hannibal King)’
’Chox Mak And Henny Tha Brain – 40 Ounces (Prod. By Bunty Beats)’
’PRO ERA – SOL LUNA (Feat. Joey Bada$$, Dyemond Lewis & A La $ole) (Prod. Navie D.)’
’Nemo Achida – Hands On ft. BJ The Chicago Kid (Prod. 88 Keys)’
’Chris Morris
Morning Dew (Prod. Nabeyin)’
’Yo Dot – Never Shines (Produced By Regular Joe Productions)’
’Isaiah Rashad – Brad Jordan feat. Michael Da Vinci’
’Little Simz & Waldo – Mandarin Oranges (Prod. Sango)’
’GoldLink – The Heart’
’Azizi Gibson – Libras Dont Die (prod. Flying Lotus)’
’Rapsody – Illuminaughty (Chinchilla) Prod. by 9th Wonder’
’Hefna Gwap – Happy Birthday (FUCK THAT)’
’Dillan Ponders – Hive (p. DMNDBK)’
’Alexander Spit – Bitter Suite Symphony’
’SA ROC – True Mastery’
’Verbal Kent  – Raponomics (prod. Khrysis)’
’Raekwon – I Wanna Know (Feat. Doe B & T.I.)’
’Dag Savage (Johaz & Exile) – God Body ft. CO$$, Gonja Sufi & Blu’
’Truck North – The Man’
’P.Genz – Grandslam!’
’Lashaun Ellis – Whatever You Want’
’Alexander Dreamer – Freedom Of Speech (Soundcloud Bonus)’
’Julian Malone – Bitche$’
’Jourdan Jackson – Triple Crowned Ft. Marion Write & TR@bb (prod. by Bliss)’
’Bodega Bamz – Don Francisco (Remix) Feat. French Montana’
’Raz Fresco – Slang Rap (Prod. By Raz Fresco)’
’Audio Push – Juveniles ft. Logic & Jill Scott (prod. Hit Boy & Rey Reel)’
’Eskeerdo – Devils Work (feat. Miike Snow)’
’Topaz Jones – Livin’ A Lie’
’K.B. Starr – New England Girls (Prod. By SevnthWonder X Rilla Force)’
’Jered Sanders – Boys On the Radio’
’YONAS – Team (Lorde Remix) prod. sean ross’
’Zak Downtown – City’s Ours’
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The Hip-Hop Dojo [Vol. 15]

Guess who’s baaaaaaccckk? Did you miss me? The Hip-Hop Dojo’s finally ready to reopen its doors for business, and I’ve got plenty to share with you today. I’ve traveled far and wide, sailed across the seven seas, climbed the highest peaks, and braved the hottest deserts to hone my craft, learning from the very best, meditating, and planning my return (basically picture the whole training sequence from Batman Begins). In all honesty though, I appreciate your patience over the last few months, and hope I can finally get back on my grind to deliver you the freshest hip-hop product on a consistent basis.

So without further ado, let’s get this party started. This very special fifteenth edition of The Hip-Hop Dojo features plenty of familiar names, from hip-hop heavyweights like Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Raekwon and Kendrick Lamar, to Dojo frequenters like Kings Dead, MeLo-X, Audio PushTito Lopez, and Devine Carama. We’ve even got a few fresh faces for y’all like Michael Christmas, Dom McLennon, A La $ole, GoldLink, and Fresco Nerd. Given the sheer size of our comeback playlist (over 45 tracks!), I’ll keep it light on the words this week to conserve your precious time and keep you focused on the music. However, if you like what you hear from any of these artists and want to check out any relevant projects from them, I’ll include a link roll below.

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

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ALL THE FREE TRACKS (ALT. LINK)

Roc Marciano – The Pimpire Strikes Back

Jabee – Deliver Us From Evil

MED & Blu – The Buzz EP

Waldo – NSDE/OUTSDE

MoRuf – Shades.Of.Moo

Alexander Spit – Dillinger

Eddie B & Harry Fraud – Paper, Piff & Polo

Lecrae – Church Clothes Vol. 2

Fresco Nerd – Unexpected Expectations

Village of Pharaohs – Pharaodysseus (1996 A.D.)

Fly.Union – Loose Releases

OverDoz – Boom

MeLo-X – GOD: Pièce de Résistance

Tyrone Briggs – Scattered Thoughts

’Eminem – Don’t Front (feat. Buckshot)’
’Busta Rhymes – Thank You ft. Q Tip’
’Raekwon – It’s My Thing’
’A La $ole – Been Swank (Prod. Hames)’
’Devine Carama – 16 Bars In A Clip (produced by J
Ideas)’
’Devin Miles – Show You The Cool {Prod. Air Kalo} Ft. Scolla’
’Audio Push – So Far To Go (Freestyle)’
’Hollywood FLOSS ft. Like of Pac Div – Underdog Remix’
’Roc Marciano – Sincerely Antique Ft. Action Bronson & Willie The Kid (prod. Alchemist)’
’Styles P. – All I Got (feat. Action Bronson & Easy Money) (Produced By Statik Selektah)’
’ELMNT – Tesla’s Son (Prod. Cam)’
’Jabee – PLVYVHVT3 ft. Kool AD’
’Stik Figa – Untitled +1 ft. Add 2′
’MED & Blu – The Buzz feat. Mayer Hawthorne (prod. Madlib)’
’ShowYouSuck – 80’s Boobs (prod by J. Arthur)’
’Waldo – Kobe’s Room (Truth Be Told) (Prod. by Sango)’
’MoRuf – Homie.Lover.Friend ft Jesse Boykins III’
’Isaiah Rashad – Ronnie Drake feat. SZA (Prod. by The Antydote)’
’Casey Veggies – Faces Remix (Ft. Dom Kennedy)(prod. Rob Holladay)’
’Casey Veggies – Life$tyle Remix (Ft. Curren$y)’
’Smoke DZA
Legends In The Making (Ashtray Pt.2) (Ft. Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y) Prod. By Harry Fraud’
’PrezSport – Same King (prod by Jansport J)’
’GoldLink – Creep’
’Blended Babies – See The World Ft. Asher Roth & Chuck Inglish’
’Alexander Spit – 94 Logo Blur feat. Chuck Inglish’
’Eddie B – The Warning ft. Sean Price & Termanology (Prod. By Harry Fraud)’
’Sean Price, Billy Danze & Maffew Ragazino (feat. DJ Babu) – Land of the Crooks (prod. by M Phazes)’
’Kuniva (of D12) – Michiganish ft. Jon Connor, Boldy James, Guilty Simpson’
’Lecrae – Was It Worth It (feat. Derek Minor & Crystal Nicole)’
’Shelton Harris & Tyler Dopps – No Gods’
’MoRuf – Fallen (prod. MeLo X)’
’Fresco Nerd – Real (Feat. A.J. Crew) (Prod. By ToneBeatz)’
’Brian Fresco – CIRCUMSTANCES ft. CRich’
’Dom McLennon – UNTLTD FLX’
’Jon Waltz – LNIA (Last Night In Atlanta)’
’Jon Waltz – Magic City (FNIA)
’Ryan Hemsworth & Starlito – “Can’t Get Over You”‘
’Fredo Santana – Jealous (Ft. Kendrick Lamar)’
’Kid Ink – My Own Lane (Prod by Ned Cameron)’
’Village of Pharaohs – Back to Cairolina (MMA & IV League) (Prod. by Ski Beatz)’
’Fly.Union – I’m There’
’OverDoz – These Niggas Ft Nipsey Hussle (Prod by. THC)’
’Kings Dead – Don’t Need Much’
’Tito Lopez – #BUSSIN (Prod. By Lone Lez)’
’Michael Christmas – Kunishi (Prod. Jasper Sheff)’
’MeLo X – Remember Remember (Feat. Cheri Coke)’
’Rockie Fresh (Feat. Lunice) – HEADQUARTERS Freestyle’
’Phive – Blowing Up! (feat The Graduates)’
’Tyrone Briggs – LOSER (Prod. by Mike Cash)’
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The Hip-Hop Dojo [Vol. 14]

After way too many delays, I finally present to you the fourteenth edition of The Hip-Hop Dojo. These playlists keep getting larger and larger, which is really a good sign for the state of hip-hop, as it means there’s way too much quality material for me to even sort through on a weekly basis. Like a trooper though, I’ve powered through to bring you some of the best the game has to offer. We have quite the eclectic group here for you, with a few artists showing off their versatility by making repeat appearances throughout the playlist. Among them are returning veterans like Chance The RapperHit-Boy, Alchemist, Action Bronson, and Domo Genesis as well as newcomer, Sean Dee. Hit-Boy in particular had a strong showing this week, tackling some recent singles from two of his favorite idols. For his first effort, Hit-Boy recruits Rockie Fresh to aid him with a remix of Jay-Z‘s “Somewhere In America.” While Jay’s line about Miley Cyrus had everyone in stitches, I have to say Rockie’s little jab at Amanda Bynes might actually be just as clever. On the second cut, Hit-Boy puts his own stamp on Kanye’s “New Slaves,” flashing his shiny “New Chains” for the whole world to see. It’ll be interesting to see what Hit-Boy has ahead of him now that he’s officially parted ways with G.O.O.D. Music.

Leading off this week’s lineup is one of my absolute favorite groups from the 90’s, Camp Lo, who team up with Pete Rock and Mac Miller for a fun little ode to the always alluring Megan GoodAlchemist came through this week as well, releasing a mini-EP in collaboration with streetwear company SSUR, featuring the likes of Freddie Gibbs, Domo Genesis, Action Bronson, Blu and more. If I had to base my decision on production alone, then the dreamy soundscape on Na$im Williams‘ “61 Lilies” would be a lock for the top honors this week. Luckily, each emcee that touches the record has the bars to match. Devin Miles reminds us of at least one reason why summertime happens to be the most beloved of all seasons through his latest single (hint: it has something to do with “Sundresses”). Bishop Nehru recently dropped off one of the most impressive mixtapes of the year with strictlyFLOWZ. We’ve only provided you with a small bite here, but we’d like to think that at only 16 years old, it’s pretty evident that Nehru has a bright future ahead of him.

With the feverish temperatures escalating throughout the country, it’s only appropriate that Ibn Inglor would come through with a furious “COLD STORM” to help rescue us from this blistering heat. If Cazzie Jetson sounds familiar to you at all, it’s probably because he constitutes 1/3 of TMN favorite, THEBLKHANDS. Cazzie brings that same focus and dedication to quality to his solo effort, “$eminole.” Jarred A.G. and Dally Auston continue to show off why Chicago is one of the preeminent cities for hip-hop at the moment, ruthlessly shredding apart this C-Sick produced number like the “Barbarians” they claim to be. Meanwhile, Da YoungFellaz display why they’ve been a constant staple on these pages over the last few weeks with yet another excellent single in “Presidential Rolex.”

Words cannot describe my excitement when I first discovered Atmosphere‘s new single, “Bob Seger.” While the title may seem odd at first, it has plenty to do with this exchange right here. I guess Slug draws his inspiration from Twitter now. With a rumored seventh studio album in the works, we’re hoping “Bob Seger” is just a taste of what’s to come from one of the most accomplished hip-hop acts of the last fifteen years. Speaking of accomplished underground artists, Tech N9ne surprises us with one of his most personal tracks to date, addressing much of the criticism he’s received towards his art, and how he handles it. It doesn’t hurt that he gets a fiery new verse from Kendrick Lamar too.

If you need any more convincing that MeLo-X is one of the illest emcees doing it right now, look no further than “Natural Vibez,” which is equal parts chill-out anthem and equal parts trunk rattler. In case you missed it, check out MeLo’s terrific GOD: HiFi project; it’s an absolutely must listen. Chance The Rapper isn’t quite done with the acid rap, teaming up with ProbCause to bring us a trippy new ode to “LSD.”  It’s a well known fact that Space Jam is easily one of the greatest films ever made (anyone who tries to argue this just doesn’t understand modern cinema), so when I saw this single from Audio Push appealing to my nostalgia, I just had to press play. Sampling a portion of the classic theme song, the West Coast duo transforms the hyped up tune into a certified dance floor anthem.

We hope you guys enjoyed our fourteenth 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

’Camp Lo & Pete Rock – Megan Good Ft.Mac Miller’
’Alchemist – Camp Registration feat Step Brothers, Action Bronson, Blu & Domo Genesis’
’Alchemist – Tesla feat Domo Genesis, Freddie Gibbs & Hodgy Beats’
’Na$im Williams – 61 Lilies feat. Scheme, Doc, & Sulaiman’
’ANTHM – I Remember’
’Rapsody – Dark Knights featuring Wale’
’Devin Miles – Sundress’
’Bishop Nehru – Mobb Dizzle’
’Joey Bada$$ – Norwegian Breakfast’
’Sean Dee – LiT.’
’Kami de Chukwu – Won’t Not.’
’Mickalas Cage – Cross Roads ft. Chance The Rapper & Vic Mensa’
’Martin $ky
PEARL GAWD’
’Ibn Inglor – COLD STORM (prod. Mhone Glor)’
’Ken Rebel – Rebel Life (Remix) Feat. Brandun DeShay’
’Cazzie Jetson – $EMINOLE’
’Snoop Dogg – Passenger Seat (Prod. Cardo)’
’Curren$y – I Can’t Stop’
’Dom Kennedy – Erica Part 1 (Prod. by Lord Quest)’
’Jarred A.G. – BARBARIANS ft. Dally Auston (Prod. C Sick)’
’Willie The Kid – Medusa feat. Action Bronson & Roc Marciano’
’The Procussions – Fall to Fly’
’True 2 Life Music – We Go’
’Da YoungFellaz – Presidential Rolex (feat. Kepstar & DeVo D)’
’The Underachievers – The Proclamation’
’Blame One & J57 – B.L.A.M.E.57 (featuring DJ Rhettmatic)’
”Ezko – Wake Up Feat. Andy Gruhin, Scolla & THURZ’
’Hit Boy – SomeWhereInAmerica (Remix) Feat. Rockie Fresh’
’Atmosphere – Bob Seger’
’Archie Bang – Blasphemy (prod. By 12 Keyz)’
’Tech N9ne – Fragile feat. Kendrick Lamar, ¡MAYDAY! and Kendall Morgan’
’Doley Bernays – Till We Fall’
’Hayk x dFresh – Elevate (prod. Mike C)’
’Kings Dead – Honest Abe’
’MeLo X – Natural Vibez (Prod. Tom Richman)’
’ProbCause – LSD ft. Chance The Rapper’
’Sean Dee – Bow and Arrows (Feat. Anna Yvette)’
’Audio Push – Space Jam ft. Lil Wayne’
’Chuckie – Makin’ Papers ft. Lupe Fiasco, Snow Da Product & Too $hort’
’DJ Katch feat. Izza Kizza – Let Me In’
’E40 – All My N*ggas featuring Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q’
’Hit Boy – New Chains (James Sommerset)’
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