MIXTAPE: Curren$y - Here EP
The restless life of Curren$y – it's a wonderful thing. Not content with releasing a legitimate handful of quality releases in 2011, New Orleans' favorite Spitta returns strong with a five-song freebie entitled Here that was dropped during the Super Bowl with no warning or advanced promotion whatsoever. It's a short one – only 16 minutes – but it's certainly a nice hit of the good stuff.
MIXTAPE: Maino - I Am Who I Am
At the end of February, Maino will drop his sophomore album The Day After Tomorrow (a follow up to his 2009 release If Tomorrow Comes…). But in the meantime, the Brooklyn MC is teasing fans with a new collection of tracks on his mixtape I Am Who I Am. The 21-track compilation, hosted by DJ Green Lantern and DJ Infamous, includes a ton of features from artists like T.I., Lloyd Banks, Meek Mill, Yo Gotti and Wale, plus some memorable solo numbers such as “Pac and Big.” Stay tuned to see what Maino has in store for his upcoming studio release.
MIXTAPE: Kirko Bangz - The Progression 2 (A Young Texas Playa)
Kirko Bangz is indeed a "Young Texas Playa," and with the smooth, sizzurp-calibrated sizzle of "Drank In My Cup" and the bounce of "Play Me," this Houston rapper is ready to take his career to the next level. The Progression 2 (A Young Texas Playa) is his new mixtape effort, previewing a debut major label album to come on Warner Bros later this year.
DOWNLOAD MIXTAPE: Kirko Bangz - The Progression 2 (A Young Texas Playa)
MIXTAPE: Future - Astronaut Status
Future, a buzzed-about rapper from Indiana, is poised to have a mighty big year. His debut, entitled Pluto, is coming soon via Epic, but he's keeping the streets well-satiated with this new mixtape Astronaut Status. Hosted by DJ Esco, DJ Scream and DJ X-Rated, the 21-track effort features Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, Ludacris and Rocko, as well as a few of those ultra-menacing Zaytoven beats that made Gucci mixtapes so unmissable a few years ago.
DOWNLOAD MIXTAPE: Future - Astronaut Status
MIXTAPE: Rick Ross - Rich Forever
Rozay! Is there anything better than a new Rick Ross mixtape dropping on an unseasonably warm Friday afternoon? OK, maybe a wee bit of overstatement there, but Rich Forever does feature Diddy, Nas, John Legend, Wale, Pharrell, Meek Mill, Birdman and more. It serves as a free preview to Ross' upcoming (and really amazingly-titled) solo effort God Forgives, I Don't, and if it packs the wallop of his past mixtapes or stunning street burners from 2011, then 2012 will surely be Ross' year yet again.
MIXTAPES: Holiday Hip-Hop Roundup Featuring T.I., Raekwon, Fabolous, Clams Casino, The Weeknd + More
(Photo: Raekwon)
As yet another season of giving flew by, the rap world came through with its usual generosity. Yes, the last two weeks have seen a slew of original, album-quality mixtape releases from MCs and producers covering all corners of hip-hop. And while that's a treat unto itself, it was mighty hard to keep up with all the new jams in the midst of life's other responsibilities (mostly good food). Here's our recap.
Joe Goddard (Hot Chip): RCRD Collection
Joe Goddard, whether in his excellent main band Hot Chip or as a solo artist, is one of the best around at infusing electronics with emotion. A great songwriter and DJ with expert rhythm and taste, Goddard shows-off his conception of danceable soul on his newest release Gabriel. You've probably heard his mixes (and, let's be honest, used them to get up on the newest sounds), but we asked Goddard to comb through our catalog to present some of his favorites from over the years. Check out his RCRD Collection for selections from DFA artists past and present like Black Dice, Shit Robot, Hercules And Love Affair and YACHT, as well as Growing, Mount Kimbie and much more.
DOWNLOAD: Felix Cartal - Summer Mixtape 2010
Does a "summer mixtape" become less pertinent if it's made without the intention of being heard in summer? Because that's what this is, a "nice collection of tunes" Dim Mak aggro-house prodigy Felix Cartal just had lying around, "collecting dust". Our opinion? A good selection songs doesn't necessarily need a forethought vision–they can just be good on their own, and ELO, Thomas Bangalter, Booka Shade, and Wings,however disparate they might seem together, are all good on their own. So enjoy this without too much thought and hit the break for the full tracklist.
Felix Cartal - Summer Mixtape 2010
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