Kannon Presents - Best Songs of April 2013

Last month I found myself having to make a bunch of last minute cuts to get this list down to 20 songs... This month I found myself struggling to come up with 20. I dont know if music was just shitty this month, or if I was just stubborn this month. However! April did bring some dope music too. We saw Tyler The Creator release his sophomore album, and it didn't suck. Miguel grabbed Kendrick Lamar for a dope remix. Krayzie Bone, Zion I and Sid Sriram all released cool new EPs. Jay-Z made life difficult for the president for about a week. Hieroglyphics members Pep Love and Opio joined forces under the name First Light. Common stopped rapping with Big Sean and actually put out some classic sounding Common material. Joey Bada$$ rapped on the same track with Raekwon and Black Thought. Big K.R.I.T. released an incredible new mixtape. James Blake finally put out his sophomore album. And I even threw a little Jazz at the end... So enjoy the sounds of April with me.

DOWNLOAD/STREAM: Best Songs of April 2013


01. Gee Watts - WWGD
02. Tyler The Creator ft. Domo Genesis & Earl Sweatshirt - Rusty
03. Jay-Z - Open Letter
04. TreaZon ft. QuESt & KeilyN - One Time
05. Zion I ft. Nump & Povi Tamu - Breaking Bread
06. Ab-Soul ft. Mac Miller - The End Is Near
07. Action Bronson - Compliments 2 The Chef
08. First Light - Libel
09. Miguel ft. Kendrick Lamar - How Many Drinks?
10. Phreshy Duzit ft. Emilio Rojas - Hoes Down
11. Sid Sriram - Winter Mind
12. Chris Faust ft. Sunny Jones & ScienZe - Prom Queen
13. Krayzie Bone - A Good Look
14. Statik Selektah ft. Raekwon, Joey Bada$$ & Black Thought - Bird's Eye View
15. Common ft. Cocaine 80's - Congratulations
16. James Blake - Retrograde
17. Big K.R.I.T. - Meditate
18. Boldy James & Freddie Gibbs - Boat Races
19. DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - No New Friends
20. Trilok Gurtu - Manteca

J. Cole - Truly Yours 2 (EP)

New EP from Jermaine. Featuring that new SMASH, "Cole Summer." Grab it, and be back by June 25th for Cole's sophomore LP, Born Sinner.

DOWNLOAD: J. Cole - Truly Yours 2

01. Cole Summer
02. Kenny Lofton (ft. Young Jeezy)
03. Chris Tucker (ft. 2 Chainz)
04. Head Bussa
05. Cousins (ft. Bas)
06. 3 Wishes

Chance the Rapper - AcidRap (Mixtape)

It's been quite the day for new releases! This time up is Chi Towns Chance the Rapper, who has as of late been tearing out a lane. All the build up has come to a head with the release of this AcidRap tape. Check it out.

Download:AcidRap

Run the Jewels - Get It

Killer Mike & EL - P are now to be referred to as Run the Jewels. A few weeks back we got a glimpse of their next release. Now we get a full version of a new single. These dudes chemistry is astounding, you'd think that they came up on the same block or something.

The Black Opera - Queen of Hearts feat. Mayer Hawthorne (video)

The Black Opera - Libretto: of King Legend is a album that has some how went under my radar till now. Which is a pretty amazing considering it's on the quality train that is Mello Music Group. If you've also fell into error of sleeping on this release do your self the favor and check the project out. Vinyl | CD | MP3. Also Here goes the latest single/video that features Detroit soul revivalist Mayer Hawthorne.

Gene The Southern Child & Parallel Thought - Artillery Splurgin' (Album)

Parallel Thought has once again linked up with Bama Native, Gene the Southern Child. The album wasn't supposed to come out till next week, but they've surprised us by unleashing it today. Check this shit out, and if you feel so inclined to do so, cop that!

Scotty & DJ Burn One - F.A.I.T.H. (Mixtape)

The album that i've personally, been anticipating more than any other has finally arrived. Atlanta vets Scotty & DJ Burn One have once again linked up to drop some choice Country Rap Tunes. Fuck your forecast, Summer officially has arrived. SLAB music.

2.7.5. Amber London - Servin’ Fiendz (prod. DJ Smokey)

Amber London of that BRK Movement drops a banger.

Mndsgn – frugal earth (Instrumental)

I've pretty much stopped posting instrumental releases on here. Not exactly intentional...but I spotted this in the inbox today and thought it was interesting. That and they slopped up that Oh Honey joint form Delegation, which is always dope. Check it out. It's about 28 mins of minimal chops and slowing down of some classic soul and then blends right in to some ambient shit. Pretty good listen if you ask me.

Cryptic One - Truth: Whole Truth, Half Truths, & Lies (Album)

Well look at this surprise. Back in 2003 the Atoms Fam's Cryptic One started working on this album that for various reasons never saw the light of day. Fast forward to the present day and this is some much needed time capsule hip hop.

Here is the never released sophmore solo LP from Atoms Fam frontman Cryptic One "Truth: Whole Truths, Half Truths, & Lies". This album was recorded 2003-2004 and now finally nearly a decade later is released FOR FREE.

This LP was originally supposed to be released in 2005 but due to a million and one circumstances was never released.... until now.

Qwel and Maker - Long Walkers (Video)

Chicago veterans Qwel & Maker ready their latest album Beautiful Raw (May 7th). In anticipation of that here goes the latest single from said project. HEAT.

Big K.R.I.T. - King Remembered In Time (Mixtape)

K.R.I.T. is back and showing he hasn't forsaken the sample. Here goes his latest mixtape and it comes packed with heat, but what else would you expect?

Substantial - Jackin' Jill (Mixtape)

QN5 and Mello Music have joined forces again to bring us a brand new mixtape from DMV native, Substantial. And if that aint enough, Stan drew that amazing cover art too. Dude has got some serious talent. Anyways, Substantial has always been a big fan of Jill Scott, and this is his Jill Scott inspired project. Featuring 17 joints of unofficial remixes, and new songs using Jill Scott samples. Stan is an incredibly dope emcee, so do not sleep on this tape.

DOWNLOAD/STREAM: Substantial - Jackin' Jill

Killer Mike & EL - P - Banana Clipper (Snippet)

HOLY MOTHER OF GAWD! EL Producto and Mike Bigga let loose a monster of a snippet. Apparently the duo (i'm calling them that now, fuck you) have decided absolutely owning 2012 wasn't enough. The summer of 2013 has now been Bogarted, as the DUO have announced another project. I'm going to assume this time around EL-P will rap too. Here's to praying we get a full length and not just an EP.

Danny Brown - Express Yourself (Single)

Sir Daniel Brown drops another track. Not sure if this has a home on his upcoming project....but either way loving the groove he's been in as of late.

Parallel Thought - FAME (A Breaks Mix)

The duo that is Parallel Thought stays doing some cool shit. From their Eccentric Soul inspired Instrumental project to there work with Gene the Soulchild and Del they always seem to be pushing the envelope. This time around they've put together a 40 min mix of breaks that you've heard and a great deal of them that you haven't heard in the context you'd associate with a b-boy mix.

The Bronx, New York, the birthplace of Hip-Hop, and “The Shoals”, Alabama, the birthplace of W.C. Handy, “Father of the Blues,” both carry great historical significance in the world of music. While DJ Kool Herc and Coke La Rock were laying the foundations of a cultural phenomenon in New York, Grammy award-winning producer Rick Hall and the infamous “Swampers” were continuing to pump out hit records from a small town in Alabama.

Fast forward to 2013 and Parallel Thought’s latest release FAME. Parallel Thought, whose members have roots in both the Bronx and Muscle Shoals, brings together the unique sounds of these two musical meccas in a 40+ minute mix. Traditional Hip-Hop techniques are applied to music solely sourced from The Shoals, creating a masterful weave of breakbeats and samples. Additional original drum breaks recorded at Fame Studios capture the Muscle Shoals Sound, highly sought by iconic artists such as John Lennon, Aretha Franklin, and most recently, The Black Keys and The Civil Wars.

With FAME, Parallel Thought pays tribute to the South Bronx pioneers of hip hop’s origins while showcasing the rich musical history of The Shoals which will continue with the May release of their new album Artillery Splurgin’ with Gene The Southern Child.

Tracklisting after the jump

Speak - HILFIGERS (Video)

LA art goon SPEAK dropped by the Kinda Neat podcast last week and dropped a monster.

iNDEED - Crown Royalty (Ft Scotty)

The 5 Points day continues. DJ Burn One, Walt Live, Ricky Fontaine, and The Professor put in a lot of work last year and dropped one of the best albums of the year with iNDEEDface. Here goes the second video off of the project. If you haven't checked it out do so now.

Trek Life - Rap Time (Ft Hawdwerk & Bishop Lamont)

Cali native Trek Life and his Mello Music Group have released HOMETOWN FOREIGNER. In celebration here goes a free new single Rap Time, which features Hawdwerk & Bishop Lamont. Be sure to cop the album! Its the same quality product that we've come to expect out of the Mello Music Group.


Purchase Album: Itunes | Physical

Scotty - Conversations on that Brown (Ft Trinidad Jame$/Prod by Burn One)

Trinidad Jame$ on a DJ Burn One beat? You gotdamn right! Here goes the official art work for Scotty ATL and DJ Burn One's F.A.I.T.H. album, which will be out on April 30th. This shit is smooth. I could do without the outro though.