Myka 9 began his career as a musician, rap was in a radically different place. Say whatever about the “current landscape” in hip-hop, his name isn’t the only thing that’s changed over the years. What has remained constant though, is his focus on straight-up no bullshit hip-hop, on full display with Mykology, the LA rapper’s fifth solo outing.
On first listen, the most striking moment on the album comes early with “Mind Right”, where Myka’s tone sounds relaxed over the thumping instrumental, but in actuality he’s in full mic-attack-double-time-flow-mode. For every instance that Myka flexes his emcee skills, he’s showing versatility as a vocalist somewhere else with cuts like “Hey” and “Tell Me”.
Album highlight “I Must Cross” finds Myka juggling the roles of rapper and vocalist effortlessly to create a head nodding perspective on American immigration. If that wasn’t enough, Myka, along with Organized Elements, handled the production as well. The west-cost jazz infused funk serves as the backbone for the rest of the album to build itself.
Mykology clocks in with 11 tracks at a bit over 40 minutes. What it may lack in length it makes up for in focus and cohesion. No frills, no superfluous interludes, just no gimmick hip-hop. It’s been over two decades since Myka 9 made his first marks with Freestyle Fellowship, and the experience shows. Mykology sounds confident, inspired, and still every bit as fresh Myka 9 has been throughout his career.
01) Bright Flashbacks
02) Mind Right
03) Where Would You Be
04) Hey
05) Oh Yeah…Alright (ft. Aceyalone, Sunspot Jonz, Casual & Kirby Dominant)
06) Breathin’ Down Your Back
07) I Must Cross (ft. Viveca Hawkins)
08) Trimming
09) Tell Me
10) Face of a Waterfall
11) Don’t You Go
Known for witty wordplay and street life induced lyrics, Styles P is far from your average ringtone driven rapper. Whether a part of the triple threat The LOX, or as a solo artist, Styles’ razor sharp slick talk has created a cult-like following by his countless fans within the hip-hop and “Gangsta” rap community.
Producers: Araabmuzic; Black Saun; J. Music House; Pete Rock; Phonix; Reefa; Statik Selektah; Supa Stylez; Ty Fyffe; Warren G
Song Title Audio
1. How I Fly featuring Avery Storm (Produced By: Warren G)
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2. We Don’t Play featuring Lloyd Banks (Produced By: Supa Stylez)
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3. I’m A Gee featuring Rell (Produced By: Supa Stylez)
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4. Ryde On Da Regular (Produced By: Araabmuzic)
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5. Keep The Faith featuring Aja (Produced By: J. Music House)
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6. Children featuring Pharoahe Monch (formerly of Organized Konfusion) (Produced By: Pete Rock)
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7. Street Shit featuring Sheek Louch (of D-Block) (Produced By: Black Saun)
Highlighter, People Under The Stairs’ most ambitious work to date, marks their 8th album release and captures the unparalleled group at the height of their 14 year career. More than just an indie hip-hop album, Highlighter’s outside collaborators comprise a group of influential LA indy-rock producers, engineers and live players featuring everything from full string sections to vintage vibraphones & keyboards. Recorded across a handpicked selection of Los Angeles studios, the duo dig deep into tape, consoles, obscure records and live players and emerge with a project that is both unique and yet familiar. Amidst the swirling musical landscapes, the P realize their most psychedilic album yet and continue to pioneer an alternate, innovative musical direction in rap music.
Los Angeles based People Under The Stairs, Double K (Michael Turner) and Thes One (Christopher Portugal) are the most successful fully independent hip-hop duo in the history of Hip-Hop. Since their initial full length release in 1998, People Under The Stairs have performed more than a thousand sold out shows, festivals and world tours spanning 6 continents and 40 countries. Their illustrious career includes an appearance on The Simpson’s 20th Anniversary Special, a John Peele Session at Abbey Road, and groundbreaking performances at key festivals such as Glastonbury, Coachella and Bonnaroo, the last of which was noted by SPIN magazine as “Simply the best performance of Friday… Period”. They continued to tour through 2010 with main stage plays at Outside Lands Festival, Governors Ball NYC and many others. The P will be heading out in September with Mac Miller and playing headline dates throughout the US in all major and minor markets.
1. Selfish Destruction (Produced By: Thes One)
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2. The Second Track (Produced By: Thes One)
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3. Can’t Hold It Back (Produced By: Double K)
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4. Talkin’ Back To The Streets (Produced By: Thes One)
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5. At The House (Produced By: Thes One)
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6. Too Much Birthday (Produced By: Thes One)
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7. We Got It (Produced By: Thes One)
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8. The Time Bandit (Produced By: Thes One)
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9. Foolish People (Produced By: Thes One)
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10. Ascension To Nowhere (Produced By: Thes One)
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11. Uprock Boogie (Produced By: Thes One)
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12. Electric Tookie (Produced By: Thes One)
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13. This Lifetime (Produced By: Thes One)
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14. Cookie’s Theme (Produced By: Thes One)
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15. Dewrit! (Produced By: Thes One)
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16. Mean Spirited (Produced By: Thes One)
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17. Sonic Elders (Produced By: Thes One)
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18. WRLA (Produced By: Thes One)
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19. Left Foot, Right Foot (Produced By: Double K)
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20. Ambien Hallway Music (Produced By: Thes One)
Bamboo Bros. (Dave Dar x Kurious) upcoming album on Benchmark Music “American Jibaro” will feature appearances from Pete Rock (“Beyond The Sensation”) & Talib Kweli (“Let It Go”). “American Jibaro” showcases 12 tracks spanning 45 minutes that’ll become the perfect soundtrack to this summer. The album is stepped in the traditions of Hip Hop including digging for those old Soul records we heard at the block parties, cookouts and house parties back in the days. “American Jibaro” is as much a celebration of New York & the urban Latino experience as much as it is a celebration of Hip Hop and the DJ. I’ve been listening to this album for close to a year now and I can’t wait for the rest of the Hip Hop listening audience to finally experience it, too…
01. Stay High feat. Robert Brentley
02. Make A 4Tune
03. Beyond A Sensation feat. Pete Rock & Mighty Buda
04. When I Bleed
05. Celebrate Life (Up In The Heights)
06. Pain Killer
07. Ring Master feat. L Fudge
08. Let It Go feat. Talib Kweli & Kendra Ross
09. Sunny (The Good Light) feat. Vonqwest
10. I Heart Thee feat. Prince Power & Fire
11. That 70?s Song feat. Kelly Valentin
12. Home
13. American Jibaro
14. Bienvenido (Bamboo) feat. Mr. Flores
DESCRIPTION
Producer Adamatic has given Rifleman a different kind of backdrop of beats to work with, and as Rifleman has shown in the past, he can adapt to any style the beat calls for. Very solid release. Featuring guest appearances by Luckyiam PSC, Big Arch, Riddlore, Pterradacto and NgaFsh.
CREDITS
Produced and mixed by Adamatic.
TRACK LISTING
1. On My Way
2. The Leader
3. Califormula (feat. Gajah (Acid Reign) / Luckyiam (PSC))
4. Go Getta (feat. Big Arch)
5. Grown On
6. Still Coming Up (feat. Riddlore / NgaFsh)
7. Maximum
8. Hip Hop Veteran
9. A Clear Thought
10. Holy Scriptures
11. Hip Hop Kclan (Hoooo) (feat. Pterradacto)
12. On Some
13. Get Bizzy
14. Message In The Music
15. The Speaker
