Kendrick Lamar - HiiiPower (Video)

Produced by J. Cole. Section 80 coming soon. Super excited for this tape... And I hope he and Cole are still planning on dropping that joint tape as well... TDE, SON!

Milk Crate's Top 10 Albums: That Bullet Proof Saint #2

This next pick is one of the albums in everyone's top 10. All my picks thus far are probably rarely going to come up in someone's top 30....let alone 10. But these have all been selections that have meant the most to me. This is probably the one album (aside from maybe my #6 pick) that are highly praised by the masses. I believe it was one of my older sisters boyfriends that left this TAPE at my house back in 93'. I was only 9-10 years old, and was a highly influenced kid. Praise the Hiff Hof god's that He hadn't left behind Snow's "infromer". I remember first being drawn in by the angry, curse laden delivery. There was no album or sound for that matter that at the time sounded alike it.....



#2 Wu - Tang Clan - Enter The 36 Chambers


BRING DA MOTHERFUCKIN' RUCKUS!!! A 10 year old mexican from a So Cal hood was immediately pulled in. A 9 man crew from Staten Island put together a masterpiece by outdated and budgeted means. Nearly 20 years later, that release hasn't grown tired or lost any of its initial allure. The crew may have faltered and let ego's undermine the clan...but their first effort still stands on its own untarnished and unscathed over time. Here was a group of emcees coming together and creating music that trampled across uncharted territory. They did it the way they wanted and stayed true to themselves. They forced the project down the mainstreams throats and dug out a niche in for themselves. It's rare to get an emcee that is as hungry as the wu tang clan fresh out of the gate....LET ALONE 9 of them all vying for the same jump off verse on a song.

Favorite Songs:











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Stalley - Chevys And Space Ships

Maybach Music's newest representative drops off a new joint for Maybach Mondays. Soooooooo dope. Seriously, if you're still sleeping on Stalley, you need to try running with scissors around a pool's edge. And the pool's filled with broken glass.

DOWNLOAD: Stalley - Chevys & Spaceships.mp3

Sleepy Brown - You're My Lady

Now, Im not saying Im biased or anything... But basically, I'll post anything from Dungeon Fam. Sleepy Brown returns with a new joint called, "You're My Lady," from his upcoming album, Sex, Drugs & Soul. If you're not a fan of raw vocals over a barely-there-beat, then give this one a pass. But if you like good music, then grab this immediately.

DOWNLOAD: Sleepy Brown - Youre My Lady.mp3

T3 ft. Illa J - Motor Freaks

Slum Village alumni, T3, grabs a verse from fellow Detroit emcee, and the late, great J Dilla's little brother. T3's solo album, 3iLLA drops June 21st.

DOWNLOAD: T3 ft. Illa J – Motor Freaks.mp3

Mr. J. Medeiros ft. Stro The 89th Key - Neon Signs

The Procussions front man lets loose of a new joint from his upcoming album, Saudade, which drops June 14th. Joining him on this song, is another Procussions veteran, by the name of Stro (aka Stro The 89th Key). If you dont feel this joint, you probably arent very good at enjoying music.

DOWNLOAD: Mr J Medeiros - Neon Signs.mp3

Laws - Momma Miss America

As Laws preps his new mixtape, Yesterday's Future, he drops off a new joint called Momma Miss America. The full mixtape drops tomorrow, and features Laws rapping over some classic Paul McCartney instrumentals... Should be interesting...

DOWNLOAD: Laws - Momma Miss America.mp3

Rapsody ft. Mac Miller - Extra Extra (Video)

9th Wonder's newest protege Rapsody, links up with PA's own Mac Miller for a smooooooooth new joint. I dont know (or care) how you feel about Mac Miller, but this joint is dope...

Milk Crate's Top 10 Albums: Kannon #3

In the summer of 2000, I was up late watching music videos (as I had a tendency to do), and I came across an incredible song by a group I was entirely unfamiliar with. I spent the following two weeks hunting down the album in music stores where no one working there seemed to be familiar with the group either. After some work, I finally found the album and upon listening, fell in love with hip hop all over again... That album was...

03. Jurassic 5 - Quality Control

On that late evening, when I first discovered Jurassic 5, the song that caught my attention was this album's title track, "Quality Control." Aside from the fact that the song was something incredibly fresh to me, the video was also super entertaining. But the sound was what really grabbed me. I'd never heard 4 emcees rap a verse in unison, and still so so dope. It showcased them as individuals through each of their solo verses, but also as a full functioning group in the first segment, and the hook.


Jurassic 5 - Quality Control

The year 2000 was also the year that I started rapping. Although that's really not too notable, that was the time when I first started paying closer attention to cadence, flow and verse structure. And when it came to those, J5 was leaps and bounds above the Cash Money records that had been piling up in my room... To this day, I credit this album as being the first step I took into the world of "underground/conscious hip hop."


Jurassic 5 - Influence

Aside from the beats, and the technical aspects of the rhyme, another reason I loved the album so much was due to it's content. Their music had meaning and purpose. Songs like, "Contribution," really made me pay attention to the intricacies of the story, and think deeper than the music. Couple that with the amazing production of DJ Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist, and this was just another song that I had on constant repeat...


Jurassic 5 - Contribution

While the album had some throwback sounds, and some deeper lyrics, it also gave everyone something to throw on in the car, and thump while you were cruising. To this day, when I'm putting together a "Cruisin'" playlist on my iPod, I'll add this joint. The crazy schemes, and hype beat are too awesome not to...


Jurassic 5 - The Game

The album as a whole was just something so fresh to me. The perfect blend of old school simplicity with new school flavor. Any rap fan could find at least one beat on the album that would have them going crazy. And the combination of 4 voices into one powerful output was something that was reminiscent of the past, but still so ahead of its time as well. I was blown away by the album when I first heard it, and still love it today...


Jurassic 5 - W.O.E. Is Me (World Of Entertainment)

High Point: Influence. Although Quality Control was my favorite track for a long time, I kinda took more to Influence later. Although I could probably rap both songs front to back...
Low Point: Swing Set. Now, dont get me wrong, this is an amazing composition by DJ Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist, but when I bought this album I didnt expect a jazzy 30's style instrumental track. I have grown to appreciate the song, but at the time, I would always skip it...

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D. Willz - Watermelon (Video)

I swear this is a complete coincidence, but Poet just posted a "random acts of f*ckery" type of post, and here I am to contribute... A good buddy of mine went to college with this rapper named D. Willz, and this is his music video. My friend showed me the video back in March when it first dropped, but I'd forgotten about it until this weekend. The song is kinda not amazing, but the video is incredible. So enjoy. Ironically or not...

Dviousmindz - After The Weeknd (Beat Tape)

After Dead Poet's new favorite R&B singer, The Weeknd, put out his mixtape, House Of Balloons, producer Dviousmindz was so inspired, he decided to create a new beat tape sampling different songs from the mixtape. If you havent heard any of Dviousmindz's past work, do yourself a favor and check out his bandcamp. He's got some dope stuff on there...

J. Cole - Return Of Simba

Cole said he was gonna give us a new joint, and here it is. Now, I liked "Disgusting," but a lot of people didnt... Hopefully this one goes over better...

DOWNLOAD: J. Cole - Return Of Simba.mp3

Frank Ocean - Acura Integurl (Video)

Frank Ocean “Acura Integurl” from Team OnSMASH on Vimeo.

Frank Ocean drops a quick little video for one of his songs from his Lonny Breaux days...

Justin Timberlake, Andy Samberg & Lady Gaga have a Threesome...

Uh.
Maze.
Ing.

From the season finale of SNL...

Milk Crate's Top 10 Albums: That Bullet Proof Saint #3

I've said a couple times in the past month while doing these write ups that I was a avid No Limit Records heads. I'll stand behind my love for a good deal of the albums that came out between 96-98. To me they had a about 15 albums in that span that are solidified classic joints. It would be hard press to find another non major that can make that claim. I remember for a good year and a half they'd put out a quality album EVERY WEEK. A huge feat, but I think when it was all said and done, that was also a huge part of their downfall. That along with a huge falling out with their distribution deal and of course multiple soldiers dying, convicted of crazy crimes, and just jumping ship. My #3 pick was only half on No Limit. He ran with C Loc and the Concentration Camp. They decided to link up with Master P in Jan of 1998 and put out a Co produced album....


#3 Young Bleed - My Balls & My Word



This album has not only stood the test of time for me and stayed with me throughout the 'phases' and styles that I've preferred. I feel it's gotten better over time...which says a lot because I loved it from the day it came out. The bluesy southern soundscapes paved the way from production like Dj Burn One, K.R.I.T., and Banner just as much as the Dungeon Fam did. The bulk of the production was handled jointly by underrated producer Happy Perez & The Beats Pound stable. The Continuity of each beat painted a PERFECT backdrop for Bleed's laid back delivery. This album won't blow you away lyrically....but it is a prime example of an artist coming together with his producers and making each song with the entire album in mind for the grand scheme of things. Every song is a great song from top to bottom. Music never overpowers the emcee....and the emcee's never over power the production. They compliment each other perfectly, More-so than any other album I've heard. And I'll stand by that statement in any circumstance.


Favorite Songs










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