Ugly Duckling – Abigail Silk

Collective Efforts – Doin’ Alright

Hadn’t heard of Collective Efforts before this. I’m feelin’ it.

And was that a cut from People Under the Stairs I heard?? Enjoy.

Lady Leshurr – Juice

Any of you heard this yet?? Lady Leshurr seems to have a good formula going, and I don’t see how anything could get in her way. Maybe that’s it. Maybe that’s “the juice”?? You gotta love a good shine-on-the-haters song.

ShinSight Trio – Ocean Skyline feat. SayLove and Sondu

Happy Monday to all…

Woke up last Monday feeling a bit down, very tired, and felt like I was buckling under that week’s stress before it even started. Didn’t want to face the world! It was going to be a challenging day I would have liked a longer weekend, or a longer sleep for that matter. We all know how it is!

So what did I do? I reached for a tried, tested and true remedy for me, which is positive hip-hop. There was a time when I would have started bumping some hardcore tunes and just gritted my teeth through it, angry and all. But that’s even more exhausting, and that’s no way to start the week. Nowadays I’m really digging the positive energy, and The Shinsight Trio never disappoints.

Ocean Skyline, from their album Moonlight Sunrise, was a true blessing that morning out of the many great Shinsight Trio songs I listened to that morning. Takes your mind right away, and like a quick vacation, sometimes that’s all you need to get you started.

Hope you enjoy this one like I did.

Available on iTunes

Jason Da Hater — Black Randy

Lol, LOVE this.

This track from Culture Power 45’s latest vinyl-only release: Fruition, really stood out. Something about “vinyl only” just makes the music more appealing… As in, it makes you want to buy a record player, or at least dust off your neglected one. I think we all have a growing list of vinyl releases, and if not, here’s a start to your own. Many nice, clean, and fresh tracks on this compilation, but this was a shoe-in for our growing Rap Rock/Rap Metal category. And overall, this is definitely a hardcore track. Hardcore not just as in rough and hard, but it’s for those hardcore Hip-hop heads who really care about this culture and understand the dynamic between real hip hoppers… and the other guys. In other words, it never gets old hearing a good emcee talk about how good he or she is, in ever increasingly creative and witty ways. Because at the end of the day, there is still a lot of wack hip hop out there (hence why we’ve gathered here today).

But what is Culture Power 45?
Culture Power 45 is quickly solidifying itself as a staple in the limited vinyl release arena. Manifested from the thought that black artists could come together and succeed collectively through self investment, Culture Power 45 since its first limited/collectible 45 release in December 2016 has consistently sold out of its releases. Monthly the collective has released their color coded limited edition lathe cut 45’s from Infinito 2017, Thaione Davis, Max Ptah feat. Blueprint, Radius, and Rashid Hadee to name a few. Due to a high demand Culture Power 45 decided to put together a compilation that showcases the artists associated with the collective. That high demand along with Financial efforts from each artist gave birth to the 7th CP45 release ‘Fruition’.

K the Conjurer – BREAKS​!​! (The Incredible Caster)

The Grouch & Eligh – “People Of The Sun” feat. Slightly Stoopid

Intelligent Hoodlum – Black and Proud

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALCOLM X!!

Jazz Spastiks – Move Remix feat Apani B Fly

A+ – All I See

Forgot about this!! Haven’t heard this song since 1996!

I remember my older brother was watching TV and this music video was on. At the time I liked the beat (but remember it being faster for some reason). Asked him who the artist was and he said “A Plus”… later on I was checking the archives, trying to find out more about this emcee. But for some reason I couldn’t. After a while I thought that maybe my brother had meant to say “AZ”… I dunno, both are from New York, and for some reason I heard a resemblance in flow, crazy? Looks like they collaborated early on though. Anyway, I’m feeling invigorated off of this; not only does it bring me back, but it reminds me of how I came into loving this artform.

PEACE, and enjoy.