Wale brings it hard again on his most recent mixtape, Back to the Feature which features him working with the studio genius 9th Wonder.  The mixtape before this one, Mixtape About Nothing, really turned me onto Wale and really got me following him, and his most recent release has kept me up with that same interest level that the Mixtape About Nothing had.  Wale brought it hard not only with his lyrical flow, but with the beats, and all the sick nasty featured musicians.  I don't think I have ever seen so many features on a mixtape before, especially for someone who is relatively new to the music game!  We covered one of the singles a while back by Wale on his track, "Chillin'," which featured the ever-so-popular Lady Gaga (P.S. Also check out DJ Benzi's remix of the track "Chillin'," it has some pretty dope video work done on it, and I highly suggest it, CLICK HERE to check it out!).  I knew that when that song leaked, that this tape was going to be mad dope and something special.

One thing that is great about Wale is that he doesn't just focus on one sort of Hip-Hop, he has various ways of sending his message and conveying his music to the masses.  There was a ton of hype to this mixtape, and surprisingly, the tape did not let down whatsoever.  Another thing I loved about this tape was that it featured some musicians that are already all-stars in the music industry, and at the same time, it featured musicians who may not be huge right now, but definitely have the potential to become something big one day (i.e. Daniel Merriweather, Curren$y, etc...).  The tape as a whole really brought out the best in Wale, and his features really went along with the tracks they were on.  Each beat really fit with the musician he chose to work with on the track, which is something that is generally ignored by many musicians out there!  Anyway, peep the rest of the review below, and be sure to check out the tape, if you don't you'll be missing out!

D.C. Chillin'... That's what's up folks.  With songs like that, it is hard for me to believe that Wale won't make it big in the music industry!  I mean let's take a look at the features on this mixtape, shall we?  You got Joe Budden, Curren$y, Young Chris, Freeway & Beanie Sigel, Talib Kweli, Joell Ortiz, Big Sean, Ken Starr, Mike Posner, Daniel Merriweather, Memphis Bleek, Jean Grae, Royce Da 5'9, Dre (from Cool & Dre), K'Naan, and so many more!!!  The crazy part about this is that you got musicians in that list who are all from different backgrounds of Hip-Hop and Rap.  I mean Big Sean is a totally different musician then Talib Kweli, and yet Wale finds a way for both sounds to converge on his mixtape!  It's kind of an impressive thing, and I think Wale should get some serious credit for doing that.  Well, I am running out of things to say on this mixtape, it has been in serious rotation on my iTunes/iPod since I downloaded it last night, and I think you all should download it, otherwise you will be missing out on something truly special!  I give this mixtape an A, and I am sure that I won't be the only one giving it that score!  Peep the track listing below, the album artwork above, and the download links below!

Back To The Feature Track Listing:

1. Wordplay (Feat. Curren$y & Tre)
   
2. Cyphr (Feat. Young Chris, Freeway & Beanie Sigel)
   
3. Chillin' (Catch vs 9th) (Feat. Lady Gaga)
   
4. Tito Santana (Feat. Joe Budden)
   
5. Minutes (Feat. Skyzoo)
   
6. Life's A B*tch (Feat. Talib Kweli & Joell Ortiz)
   
7. Night Life (Feat. Young Chris & Tre)
   
8. Sweatin' Out Weaves (Feat. UCB)
   
9. Hot Shyt (Feat. Peedi Peedi, Black Thought, Tu Phace & Young Chris)
   
10. Wonder Why (Feat. Big Sean, Ken Starr & Mike Posner)
    
11. Pot Of Gold (Feat. Daniel Merriweather)
    
12. Sharp (Feat. Torae & Kingpin Slim)
    
13. Warwick Avenue (Feat. Duffy)
    
14. The Sun (Feat. Memphis Bleek)
    
15. Rather Be With You (Vagina Is For Lovers) (Feat. J Cole & Curren$y)
    
16. Goodbye (Feat. Jean Grae)
    
17. Say It Again (Feat. Royce Da 5'9)
    
18. Talkin' Shyt (Feat. Bub B & Dre)
    
19. Nothing To Worry About (Feat. Peter, Bjorn & John)
    
20. Rhyme 'N' Reason (Feat. Tre)
    
21. Um Ricka (Feat. K'Naan)
    
22. New Soul (Feat. Yael Naim)
    

Download Back To The Feature Below:

[zShare] [RapidShare] [UserShare] [Badongo] [MegaUpload] [DepositFiles]

Check Out Wale & Lady Gaga In His Music Video For, "Chillin":

Check Back Here For More Wale Updates In The Near Future, Back To The Feature Out Now... Be Sure To Cop It And Give It A Listen, Stuff Is Mad DOPE!!!

While browsing Sketches of My Soul, I came across a great interview with none other than the sexxxy Keri Hilson. She talks about what it means to be sexy, and how happy she is to produce music. Music is her life.

After watching the interview, I continued on to the site that produced the interview, 24/7 Hip Hop, and realized that they had some pretty tight interviews with some pretty tight rappers and R&B artists.

"247HH.com gets to the essence of the artist, and brings you inside their world. Each episode includes interviews, exclusive freestyles, music videos, and concert footage. Some of the artists we have already filmed include: Busta Rhymes, Nelly, E-40, TI, Dilated Peoples, Three Six Mafia, D.J. Muggs, GZA, Ghostface Killah, Bubba Sparks, David Banner, Juvenile, The Clipse, Pete Rock, Little Brother, Large Professor, Tony Touch, Clinton Sparks, and many more. These Video Podcasts can either be watched here on the site, downloaded to your computer, or put onto any digital video player, just like an audio podcast."

And for your viewing pleasure, I have compiled a set of interviews from our favorite artists:

Keri Hilson
Ludacris
T.I.
The Game
Talib Kweli
Lupe Fiasco
Wyclef Jean
Common

Related articles by Zemanta

• Keri Hilson Turnin Me on Remix Ft. Busta Rhymes Mp3 Download (binside.typepad.com)
• Diddy Says 'Hip-Hop Is In A Recession': Mixtape Monday (mtv.com)
• Keri Hilson Releases "Turning Me On" Music Video (hiphoproll.com)
• Keri Hilson ft. Kanye West & Ne-Yo †“Knock You Downâ€� (idiomag.com)
• Keri Hilson Makes TV Work For Her [Videodrone] (idolator.com)

Tags: Interview, Keri Hilson, Ludacris, T.I., The Game, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, Wyclef Jean, Common, Hip Hop, Rap

Comin' at chu on June 9, 2009 is Mos Def's fourth solo studio album, The Ecstatic. You may know Def from Black Star, Chappelle's Show, the streets, or maybe you don't know him at all. No matter what you know about him, this cat is one dope playa. Just look at this album cover. It's hot, original, meaningful, textless, and PINK! As of right now, we do not have a confirmed tracklist, but we do have something. This album looks like it's going to be hot, featuring TALIB KWELI, Slick Rick, Jay Electronica, and Black Thought. The producers look pretty tight as well as we have J Dilla, Mr. DJ, Madlib, Kanye West, Chad Hugo, Oh No, Pete Rock, Just Blaze, DJ Khalil, James Poyser, Preservation, Mr. Porter. Wow that's a lot of producers!

I'm sure this album is going to be straight fire, and we here at TGLR cannot wait for this to drop. We will definitely cover it, and look forward to keeping you up to date on news about the album.

And as always...Enjoy :)

Tracklist (Unconfirmed):

"Life in Marvelous Times"

"Auditorium" ft. Slick Rick

"Super Magic"

"Twilight Speedball"

"Pretty Dancer"

"History" ft. Talib Kweli

"Pistola"

"Casa Bey"

"Wahid"

"Quiet Dog"

Tags: Upcoming Albums, Hip Hop, Rap, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Slick Rick, Kanye West, Pink

Here's some random media clips for you all to take a look at.  I don't really have anything to associate these clips with, but they are great for some random music information and some of them are pretty awesome to just watch and check out.  No, this is not a Random Crap post, that will come a little later in the week or maybe even tonight.  Expect an "Incoming Class of 09'" post tonight and pair that up with a possible Charles Hamilton post or something else, whatever I feel like doing.  Check the videos below and leave a comment!


Ya'll know my love for Talib & Blacksmith Ent., so check out this live performance at S.O.B.'s where Talib Kweli and his new musical group perform.  Idle Warship is definitely a group to keep an eye on for the 2009 year.  (P.S. Idle Warship is not the only Talib Kweli project in the works for this year, so be on the lookout for more information on the blog in the near future!)

Talib Kweli talks Hi-Tek and beef issues and what not, interesting information and stuff, definitely interesting to here him on the 50 Cent/Rick Ross debate and the beefin' that they have been doing for close to a month or two.

T.I. discusses how his upcoming T.V. show on MTV helps keep his mind off the jail sentence he has coming his way in the very near future.  We are rooting for you T.I., can't wait to hear your stuff once you out of the pen and a free man again!

Kanye West talks about himself, expresses who he is and why he does what he does.  Interesting interview, definitely check it out if you are a KanYeezy fan.

Kanye West Live @ The 2009 Inauguration Ball, man puts on a great show!!! I wish I got to see him while he was here on his Glow in the Dark tour, but that would consist of me spending some cash money that I don't have!  Anyway, check the performance out above, I know it is old, but it is definitely fun to watch and a good listen if you want to live the Ye' experience.

DINNER IS SERVED... You're getting your Remix of the Week a day early this week, but it is totally worth it!  This track is straight fire folks.  I have never heard of this guy named Novel, but dang, he has some good stuff.  You all know I am a huge fan of both Rock/Pop music and Hip-Hop/Rap music, so when the two combine on a remix, you know that I am going to be going CRAZY!  You can check the track out below, I am sure you will be satisfied with it, and be sure to hit us up with what your take is on the Remix of the hit song, "I Am" (originally by) Ben Folds!!!

Next Weeks RotW may not be able to top this one, but I sure hope it does!!!

Well, as reported earlier, Talib Kweli will be coming out with an album this year.  That fact has not changed, and neither has the title.  What we have that is so new is that not only will Talib Kweli be putting together a solo album effort, but it has now been announced that  he will be working with Hi-Tek and Res on two other albums.  So below will be a synopsis of the albums, and there names.  I am really excited for his up coming three releases this year, and if his solo album is as good as his one last year, then his 2008 release will for sure be fantastic.

Second Reflection Eternal:  The follow up album to Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek's ever so popular Train of Thought.  Just like on Train of Thought, DJ Hi-Tek will be producing all the tracks, and Talib Kweli will be MC'ing those same tracks.  So don't think of this album as much of a collab effort, it is more like a teamwork album in which Hi-Tek is just sort of helping out and not being too active (singing wise).  The only expected guest on the album so far is Dion, but I am positive that there will be more as more news comes out on this release.

Party Robot: The first album that will be put out by the brand new group that calls themselves, "Idle Warship."  This newly formed group is made up of obviously Talib Kweli and Res (who appeared on the opening track of Ear Drum by Talib Kweli).  There collaboration album is to be called Party Robot and should be an interesting listen.  I have never really heard of Res before, and I love Talib, so there really isn't much to say about how I think this album will work out.  There has already been a leaked track from the album entitled, "Industry Diary."  This leaked track has yet to be confirmed on the album, but you can listen to it just by searching around on the web.

From our past news on Kweli, we did not have any tracks which were either leaked or confirmed on the album, but now we have one!  This track is confirmed to be on the album and is produced by Kanye West.  The track is entitled, "Momma, Can You Hear Me Now?" and I am sure if you look around on the web, you could find a YouTube video featuring the song.  I hope you all know a bit more about what Kweli has in store for all his fans this year, the lineup for his releases seem jam packed!

I know, I know, I have posted up a ton of news about what is going on in the music industry now, so why stop!?  Talib Kweli, known for his lyrical beats, lyrical flow, and street sound is coming out with yet another solo album, just a year after his 2007 release entitled, Ear Drum. For those of you who have not looked at my review or listened to his most recent release, you are missing out!  This past album to come out was amazing, and I am sure his upcoming album that is to drop at some point in 2008 will be just as good.  More news to come when we hear more!

Out of all my favorite Rap & Hip-Hop artists, Talib Kweli has to be of my favorites.  His lyrical styles and beats created with hip beats and patterns are perfectly exemplified in his first solo studio album entitled, Quality.  Some may ask why Quality is better than some of his other older albums, and I have a good reason for you.  His debut solo release really shows more of the street and serious side to Talib's music.  Unlike The Beautiful Struggle, Quality does show a more serious side, which I like in my Rap & Hip-Hop.  If you are looking for a new artist who you have not heard before, pick up Quality by Talib Kweli.

Track Listing:

"Keynote Speaker"
"Rush"
"Get By" (V2 of Music Video)
"Shock Body"
"Gun Music (Feat. Cocoa Brovaz)"
"Waitin' For The DJ (Feat. Bilal)"
"Joy (Feat. Mos Def)"
"Talk To You (Lil' Darlin') (Feat. Bilal)"
"Guerrilla Monsoon Rap (Feat. Pharoahe Monch, Black Thought, & Kanye West)"
"Put It In The Air (Feat. DJ Quik)"
"The Proud"
"Where Do We Go (Feat. Res)"
"Stand To The Side (Feat. Novel & Vinia Mojica)"
"Good To You"
"Won't You Stay (Feat. Kendra Ross)"

Check Out The Hit Track "Get By" Below:

Track Off The Album/Mixtape The Taliban:

*Alternate Album Cover*

August 21, 2007, Talib Kweli's much anticipated album "Ear Drum" was released. His album debut numbers were extremely solid, coming at #2 on the U.S. billboard 200. In only the first week, Talib sold 60,000 copies of his new album, whose tracks were described and available to listen to for free on his website. After two weeks of sales, Talib had sold over 85,000 copies of his albums. Talib's album consists of many beats and lyrics in which the listener understands. Out of all the hip-hop and rap music artists out there, Talib Kweli is one of the best lyrical geniuses to ever write music.

Reviews:
Entertainment Weekly: "A procession of sharp cuts."
NOW Magazine: "That both 50 Cent and Jay-Z have named Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli as their favourite rapper hasn't changed the fact that sales of his last five albums have never reflected the level of respect shown to hiphop's smooth-flowing street poet laureate. Kweli appears determined to change that with the long-awaited Ear Drum. It's the debut release for the new Warner-distributed Blacksmith boutique label run by his manager, Corey Smyth, whose roster includes Jean Grae and the Xzibit-fronted Strong Arm Steady.

Throughout the 16 varied tracks of the collabo-crazy disc (which benefits enormously from the on-point production of Madlib, Hi-Tek, Kanye West, Kwame and Will.i.am), Kweli's curse- 'n' clich&eacute-free rhyme-ripping proves he needs no help on the microphone. He outshines his celebrated guests, including labelmate Grae, KRS-One, Norah Jones (!), Sonia Sanchez, UGK's Pimp C and Bun B, Musiq Soulchild and Raheem DeVaughn.

And judging from the fact that the track Nature doesn't appear to have made the final cut, Kweli's confident enough in his combination of righteous rhetoric and funky beats not to need to use his throwdown with Justin Timberlake as an added sales incentive."

The Onion (A.V. Club): "On seminal early albums with Black Star and Reflection Eternal, Talib Kweli rapped as if each line might be his last, and he'd stopped to stockpile words in case he never had another chance to use them. The results were exhilarating and exhausting. Kweli's recorded output has grown much spottier since, but last year's nifty collaboration with Madlib, the Liberation EP, found Kweli in a nice, relaxed groove that continues with his stellar new Eardrum.

Kweli has learned to use his voice as a warm, relatively diverse instrument, and not just a conduit for rapid-fire ideas and pop-culture allusions. Just Blaze's "Hostile Gospel Pt. 1" delivers the same goosebump-inducing heavenly rush as "Get By," and though Kweli still regularly speeds through tracks like a racehorse fearing a trip to the glue factory, the overall vibe takes its cues from the laid-back, chilled-out production of ringers like Madlib, Kanye West, Hi-Tek, and Pete Rock, as well as the ubiquitous Will.I.Am, who in spite of his death-penalty-worthy crimes against music, cooked up some mean beats for "Hot Thing" and "Say Something." Sexual and spiritual, conscious and just plain fun, Eardrum is a master class in lyricism from a man supremely comfortable in his own skin. While other rappers pump out music for ringtones, Kweli makes art for the ages."

The Track Listing:
"Everything Man" (8.5 out of 10)
"NY Weather Report" (8.3 out of 10)
"Hostile Gospel Part 1 (Deliver Us)" (8.9 out of 10)
"Say Something (Feat. Jean Grae)" (8.3 out of 10)
"Country Cousins (Feat. UGK & Raheem Devaughn)" (8.4 out of 10)
"Holy Moly" (8.6 out of 10)
"Eat To Live" (8 out of 10)
"In The Mood (Feat. Kanye West & Roy Ayers)" (9.3 out of 10)
"Soon The New Day (Feat. Norah Jones)" (8.5 out of 10)
"Give Em' Hell (Feat. Lyfe Jennings & Coi Mattison)" (7.8 out of 10)
"More Or Less (Feat. Dion)" (8.6 out of 10)
"Stay Around" (8.4 out of 10)
"Hot Thing (Feat. Will.I.Am)" (9.5 out of 10)
"Space Fruit Interlude" (N/A out of N/A)
"The Perfect Beat (KRS-One)" (8.1 out of 10)
"Oh My (Feat. Musiq Soulchild)" (7.8 out of 10)
"Listen!!!" (9.1 out of 10)
"Go With Us (Feat. Strong Arm Steady)" (8.4 out of 10)
"Hostile Gospel Part 2 (Deliver Me) (Feat. Sizzla)" (8.6 out of 10)
"The Nature (Feat. Justin Timberlake)" (8.7 out of 10)
"Hot Thing (Remix) (Feat. Jean Grae, Ne-Yo, and Luther Vandross)" (9 out of 10)