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Thurz & YO have proven that they are far more than just sneaker rappers. The new Mixtape with Mick Boogie and the leaks we’ve heard from A Love Supreme demonstrate the guys growth as emcees and as people. But let’s not forget that these dudes are still sneaker crazy. I mean, Y-O lovingly referred to the sneakers he had on this new Keys 2 the City segment as his Mork & Mindies (remember that sitcom with Robin Williams as an alien), who names their sneakers? These guys do. Thurz [always] has a new pair of kicks that inspire such envy. So this song might be old, and these guys might be beyond it by now, but let’s not forget where they came from and how dope this song still is. KREAM people.

Nuff’ said really!

Bonus: U-N-I – “Calendar Girls”  [exclusive snippet off A Love Supreme]

Peace, Love & U-N-I

Speeakz

Shouts to J.J & Will

Instrumentals/beat tapes have been the focus of many conversations between my good, good homie* and me recently. See, I’m very fussy when it comes to beat tapes and instrumentals, especially when they’re Jazz focused. I have this very strange relationship with Jazz music and if it’s too obscure or too out there – I tend to stay away from it. But when something like this lands in my lap, I dive right into it…

I don’t know much about Skipless, other than that he’s from Finland and that he makes really dope beats! I guess sometimes, that’s all you need to know about a person init? Anyways, he’s just released this second EP called Rooftops and I must say, it’s freakin’ great! I’m feelin’ this so much right now. It’s jazzy, soulful and it’s Hip Hop too. It gets right to the point, from the very first track - this EP is an homage to the Golden Era.

Click cover to download

 Through finding this Rooftops and migrating to his myspace page, I also discovered Skipless’ first project Jazzamentals, which I downloaded also (you can’t not love and appreciate free music!). Jazzamentals is…well, it’s what it says it is – it’s more Jazz-fused. It’s colourful but chilled. A whole bunch of snare led, minor-chords, fused with some really beautiful beats. But don’t worry, if you’re like me and you don’t like the “let’s drink strong coffee and talk about the relative nature of the universe and how it depicts the very meaning of life” type Jazz, then you too will love this haha! I’m sure I’ve just offended a bunch of people, please ignore me. My uncle is a Jazz musician, I know it’s all good!

Click cover to download

I highly recommend you download both these EP’s. They’re both super dope and yo,  they’re both FREE! Make sure you show some love to Skipless too and let him know who sent you!

Peace, Love & Skipless

Speeakz

*I see you Ma

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As I said, watch for my review of Ryan’s new album tomorrow.

Peace, Love & Ryan Leslie

Speeakz

Spotted over at H.E.R

I’m gonna assume you alre Daady have Black Milk’s Tronic. If you don’t, this is the kind of sh*t you be missing out on…

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Ha! You serious? This track is ill. The whole album is. Feelin’ this video too, shouts to Anthony Garth who directed it.

Peace, Love & Black Milk

Speeakz

Anthony I see you…!

Termanology drops his video for “Circulate” off his If Heaven Was a Mile Away (A Tribute To Dilla) Mixtape which dropped in January…

[vimeo 3184929]

Peace, Love & Termanology x Dilla

Speeakz

High off the success of his UK number 1 single “Day N Night”, CuDi drops a new track produced by Mr Music Ryan Leslie…

KiD CuDi – “Can I Be” (Prod. Ryan Leslie)

Hmmmm…I can’t say I love this track. It’s funny a homie and I were speaking about CuDi and if he’ll be able to engage the audience (esp those who don’t check blogs on a regular) after “Day N Night”. We were wondering if he’s gonna find it hard to adapt to what people now expect of him (“Day N Night” was a very stylised track). Personally I think he can. I think he’s crazy talented and is offering up something very fresh. As I said, I’m not loving this track but that’s ok.

Oh, speaking of Ryan Leslie – keep an eye out for my review which should drop tomorrow.

Peace, Love & KiD CuDi

Speeakz

Check footage of CuDi and Leslie working in the studio…

It’s been a minute since we heard anything from Missy. The luke warm reception to her ‘lead’ single “Best, Best” resulted in an album delay, but with the surfacing of this track it seems that Misdemeanor is on her way back…

Missy Elliott Feat Teyana Taylor - “Put It On You” (Prod. Pharrell)

I’m feeeeeeelin’ it! I really am, which is surprising to me coz I haven’t really liked Missy’s music for a while now. Personally I think the problem Missy has had over the past few years is that her whole career was based on being 100% original and unique. When she burst onto the music scene in the mid-90′s with Timbo they were like nothing we’d ever heard before. But then she became a bit too repetetive and that originality became almost…predictable (=boring) – which is a pretty hard beast to beat…

HOWEVER…I’m liking this. Pharrell on decks, Teyana Taylor at hand, Missy doing what she do – I like it. Looking forward to the full version and more from the Elliott camp!

Peace, Love & Missy Elliott

Speeakz

Billboard has just released their annual top ‘music money makers’  list and man, there are some staggering figures bouncing around! Before you read on – think about your bank balance for a second…Now read:

1. Madonna: $242,176,466
2. Bon Jovi: $157,177,766
3. Bruce Springsteen: $156,327,964
4. The Police: $109,976,894
5. Celine Dion: $99,171,237
6. Kenny Chesney: $90,823,990
7. Neil Diamond: $82,174,000
8. Rascall Flatts: $63,522,160
9. Jonas Brothers: $62,638,814
10. Coldplay: $62,175,555
11. The Eagles: $61,132,213
12. Lil Wayne: $57,441,334
13. AC/DC: $56,505,296
14. Michael Buble: $50,257,364
15. Miley Cyrus: $48,920,806
16. Taylor Swift: $45,588,730
17. Journey: $44,787,328
18. Billy Joel: $44,581,010
19. Mary J. Blige: $43,472,850
20. Kanye West: $42,552,402

 Sorrrrrrry?!?! Honestly, cannot even grasp those figures. The list is compiled by combining artists’ revenue from concert tickets, albums and digital downloads.

$242,176,466? Are you kidding me? Madonna earned $242,176,466 in one year? Just bonkers! Her “Sticky & Sweet” tour is about to take it’s second trip around the world, her latest dates sold out in minutes (AGAIN!). Craziness. It’s strange that only Lil’ Wayne and KanYe West represent Hip Hop in that list – with most of Wayne’s fortune coming from his massively successful Tha Carter III and Ye’ from his worldwide Glow in the Darktour. Oh and big up to to Mary J. Blige – boi?

It’s no secret that nowadays, with albums sales on continuous downturn, that the big bucks are in touring. Madonna, Celine Dion, Billy Joel and Neil Diamond are examples of this. But yo, Miley Cyrus? The Jonas Brothers? I swear they’re all under 18? It’s just not right! LOL.

But yea, take another look at those numbers coz I can’t stop!

Peace, Love & Get That Paper

Speeakz

Fashawn honors Dilla by covering “The Light” backed by a full band…

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Cannot tell you how much I love this track man. It’s definitely in my top 10 Hip Hop tracks of all time.

Peace, Love & Fashawn

Speeakz

Shouts to Mike for sending over!

I tried ignoring this, but it was errrrywhere and each time I saw it I had a lil’ chuckle! Ex-Danity Kane member Aubrey O’Day enjoys her new found freedom by posing nekked for Playboy. O’Day was reportedly paid $500,000 to pose nude for the magazine and the above picture is the cover for the said issue.

…Erm, anyone notice anything different here? Yea, maybe it’s that Aubrey looks like a cartoon? Blow up doll? WTF? Hef’ best get his money back, paying my gyal half a million to pose and she comes out looking like something out of XXX-Disney? Takin’ the piss really? Don’t get me wrong, I ain’t hating the game – truth is Aubrey ain’t gonna have a number one record any time soon (sad, but true) and them bills ain’t gonna stop dropping, but if you’re gonna do something like that at least make it look like you? Especially when she said the shoot made her feel “empowered”.

The photo’s were taken by Markus Klinkos (one of O’Day’s requirements) who has previously shot both Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi and E=MC2 album covers < the man is clearly a miracle maker. The pictures make sense now init?

Tis some funny sh*t if you ask me.

Update: Aubrey O’Day’s Playboy pictures (Uncensored)

Peace, Love & Aubrey O’Day

Speeakz

DJ Graffiti just shot me this Astronote remix of Badu’s “Real Thang” and while I often disagree with touching tracks that are already pretty damn dope, this is cool…

Erykah Badu – “Real Thang”

It’s cool right? Astronote lends his talent to tons of artists and remixes on wide range of tracks and I gotta say – I’m liking his touch. It’s good to hear a different take on a track that you really love.

Download yourself some happy!

Peace, Love & Badu

Speeakz

Why am I getting emails from the US with new Estelle tracks? Smh! Haha! But check it, our Grammy Award winner drops two new tracks. The first is a cover of (my favourite) Stevie Wonder track “Superstition” and the other is a new joint produced by Cardinal Offishall…

Estelle – “Superstition”

Estelle – “Star”

I know many won’t, but I actually like the cover version! I think she sounds really good on it, I quite like her version. I’m not loving “Star” but it’s still a good track. Really looking forward to hearing more new material from Stelly – can’t wait for the new album!

Peace, Love & Estelle

Speeakz

Ye’ speaks on Big Boy’s Neighborhood radio show and speaks about his views and Hip Hop’s view of gay people, as well as touching briefly on the Rihanna/Chris Brown scenario…

[vimeo 3174191]

I swear, everyone I’ve spoken to over the past 2 days, Chris Brown/Rihanna has come up in coversation lol! It’s crazy. I’ve kinda given up reporting on it only because there are SO many rumours flowing at the moment – I’m actually loosing track. I keep saying it but we ain’t a rumour blog so, until facts come out – imma leave it to the those good good gossip sites.

Peace, Love & KanYe West

Speeakz

Brand new Jadakiss cut, coming off The Last Kiss…

Jadakiss – “Hard Times”

Dope joint right here. It’s Jada baby! You can’t go wrong right? Download and enjoy mo’fos!

Peace, Love & Jadakiss

Speeakz

P.s I’m more than aware that Jada’s new mixtape just dropped, but I’ll have to post this later today coz I’m having a few problems downloading it myself! Hold tight (or peep the blog roll – one of those guys/gals will hook you up nicely!)

Apparently this is an album cut. Boi, will B.O.M.B ever drop? I’m bored of writing out release dates! Anyways, “Number One” features Akon (who don’t see featured in these neck of the woods too often) and T.I…

Busta Rhymes Feat Akon & T.I – “Number One”

I’m naturally inclined to dislike anything that features Akon. I’m sorry, I hope I don’t offend you Akon stans but…ergh, really! BUT…The great thing about this track is – it’s a Bussa Buss track! You know he comes through – ain’t no one like Busta. Ignoring the hook, Busta & T.I take care of this joint…

Peace, Love & Busta Rhymes

Speeakz