Spine TV meet up with Amir Abdullah, label manager with Wax Poetics and one half of famous crate digging duo Kon & Amir, on a tour of some of his favourite downtown NYC vinyl spots. Enjoy and be educated.

Giving you a glimpse into his life, West Coast emcee Kendrick Lamar let the Rocksmith Tokyo team document his moves for an entire day. Speaking with the highly respected brand, Kendrick touches on his Top Dawg Entertainment family, his recording process, working with new music talent, and much, much more. By the way, how was this man left off MTV’s “Hottest MC’s” list?

Speaking of Kendrick, he and Danny Brown will be covering the Spring issue of The Fader. You can read Kendrick’s cover story now by clicking HERE.

Wax Poetics Issue #50, purchase here

In my opinion, Wax Poetics holds the crown for best music magazine. They cover all types of music genres, and keep their articles interesting and informative.

While browsing through their website, I came across a few articles that would definitely be worth peeping. If you are looking to brush up on your music knowledge, click on the links below and get to reading. Enjoy and be educated.

• The Crate Diggers: The D.I.T.C. crew reflects on their careers and the late Big L
• Frank Ocean: Soul Caliber (from Wax Poetics Issue #50)
• Ain’t It Good to You: Jonny Sklute reflects on the origins of Good Records NYC
• Dedicated: Microphone fiend Rakim is back
• Elbow to Elbow: Crate Diggin’ at the Roosevelt Hotel

Unfortunately, last week’s episode of “Fresh Out The Box” did not make the internet due to technical difficulties. To make up for it, the Purple Tape Pedigree crew gave listeners an ear full with brand new exclusives, and a freestyle session from Huntsville, Alabama’s very own Slow Motion Soundz.

Geng-Grizzly on the check in:

After having suffered a minor setback with a previous ep’s recording, we at Fresh Out The Box radio had to act on logic and double up…big time. No one is left with an empty stomach. This is why we had the honor of hosting a portion of Huntsville, Alabama’s Slow Motion Soundz collective (specifically ST 2 Lettaz of G-Side, Zilla, Norty Hugh of Play Cousans, plus CP, Mali Boy, and R-Dot of the always-powerful Block Beattaz). Not only did they literally drive from Huntsville to Brooklyn, courtesy of the Slow-Mobile, but they then proceeded to take over BBOX as R-Dot connected his laptop and previewed/supplied exclusive backdrops for the monstrous freestyle session with ST, Zilla, and Norty (plus an additional El-P “classic”)!! Some completely historic shit…thus fulfilling the meaning behind the old saying, “there’s power in numbers.”

Let’s not forget that there was a slew of SMS newness and rarities played during the show. Peep the attached playlist.

Special note for those who were listening live: The freestyle session, that originally got cut short during the broadcast, is now fully present thanks to some post-recording magic applied.

Tune into “Fresh Out The Box” on BBOX Radio, every Thursday night, from 7:30PM-9:30PM (EST)

Fresh Out The Box x Purple Tape Pedigree “#SlowMo” | Download

Tracklist:

1. Ka – DNA
2. Ka – Cold Facts (Produced by Ka)
3. Action Bronson – Bronsonmania Deluxe (Prod. by PF Cuttin)
4. ScHoolboy Q – Gangsta In Designer
5. G-Side – Bass!! (Feat. Freddie Gibbs, Prod. by Block Beattaz)
6. Yung Clova (G-Side) – Wi-Fi (Feat. PH)
7. Zilla – Fuck You Mean (Feat. Grille & J.I.G., Prod. by Bossman)
8. Zilla – Consistency (Feat. Laron, Prod. by Block Beattaz)
9. G-Side – Gettin’ It (Feat. Stalley & Joi Tiffany, Prod. by Block Beattaz)
10. Stalley – BCGMMG (Prod. by Block Beattaz)
11. The S.L.O. – Purple Onion (Prod. by Caness)
12. Chief Keef – Bang (Prod. by DJ Kenn)
13. Squadda B (Main Attrakionz) – Hail Squadda (Prod. by Marlee B & Star Status)
14. Danny Brown – Gob Stopper (Prod. by The Joker)
15. Buck & Fix Dot’M – Intro Complex City
16. Giggs – Have It Out
17. Youngs Teflon – Faded (Feat. Blade Brown, Prod. by Carns Hill)
18. Zilla – Cheese (Feat. Yung Clova & Monster)
19. St 2 Lettaz (G-Side) – Warning Shots (Feat. Bentley, S.L.A.S.H., Kristmas, Prod. by Block Beattaz)
20. Boog Nice aka Harlem Boog – G-Stack
21. Freeway – EMG (Prod. by El-P)
22. MSG – NYC (Feat. Kool G Rap & Uncle Murda)
23. The Union – Preset Mars (Feat. Roc Marciano)
24. Twista – Purple Swag Freestyle
25. Slow Motion Soundz Crew (ST 2 Lettaz, Zilla, & Norty Hugh) – FOTB Live Freestyle Takeover (Feat. Block Beattaz on (most of) the beats!!)

Previous “Fresh Out The Box” Episodes:

• #BusFare
• #GodBlessYou9.7
• #Mishkloudboy

Questlove of The Roots was today’s guest DJ for Hot 97′s “Throwback At Noon.” To celebrate Dilla’s legacy, Quest spun an hour of his music for the listeners. Rest in Power J. Dilla. Enjoy and be educated.

Questlove “Throwback At Noon Mix (J. Dilla)” | Download

In need of a mixtape that calms the soul? Don’t worry, DJ Zimmie got you covered. Rainy Day is the soundtrack to your next day off. Listen as the Pittsburgh native mixes a nice set of mellow music from the likes of Bob Marley and The Wailers, DJ Shadow, Herbie Hanock, Aretha Franklin and many more. If you fall asleep while listening this mixtape, Zimmie won’t mind.

DJ Zimmie “Rainy Day” | Download

Tracklist:

1. The Rain Song – Led Zeppelin
2. Day Dreaming – Aretha Franklin
3. In/Flux – DJ Shadow
4. Loran Dance – Idris Muhammad
5. Transitions – Beastie Boys
6. Holy Thursday – David Axelrod
7. Make It Happen – J. Treds
8. Left The Floor – Derek Dumont
9. I Be Blowin’ – De La Soul ft. Maceo Parker
10. My Song – Labi Siffre
11. Right On – The Roots ft. Joanna Newsom & STS
12. Etoh – The Avalanches
13. Concrete Jungle – Bob Marley & The Wailers
14. Harvest Moon – Neil Young
15. Tell Me A Bedtime Story – Herbie Hancock

As a bonus, I have included some brand new remixes from Zimmie. Enjoy..

DJ Zimmie “Levels/Good Feeling” | Download

DJ Zimmie “Gotta Have It (Zimmie Godfather Transition)” | Download

DJ Zimmie “Raise It Up In Paris” | Download

Take a musical journey with DJ’s Das and E.R.O.C., as they tell the story of Bronx native and Diggin’ in the Crates crew co-founder, Diamond D. The man who could emcee, DJ and produce, Diamond proved that you could wear multiple hats in the ever-changing Hip-Hop world. Das and E.R.O.C. showcase Diamond’s multiple talents in this double-disc, 47-track mixtape previously only available in Japan. Time to get your fingers dusty.

Das x E.R.O.C. x Diamond D “The Legendary Series” Disc 1 | Download

Das x E.R.O.C. x Diamon D “The Legendary Series” Disc 2 | Download

Tracklist:

Disc 1
1.Diamond D – Superman (Prod by DJ Scratch)
2.Showbiz & A.G. feat. Diamond D & D-Flow – Put It In Your System (Prod by Lord Finesse & Showbiz)
3.Lord Finesse & Diamond D – Do Your Thing Kid
4.D.I.T.C. (Diamond D, Big L, A.G., Lord Finesse, Fat Joe, O.C.) – Day One (Prod by Diamond D)
5.Fat Joe feat. Grand Puba & Diamond D – Watch the Sound (Prod by Diamond D)
6.Justice System – Dedicated To Bambaataa (Diamond D Reminisce Version)
7.Lord Finesse – Bad Mutha (Prod by Diamond D)
8.Brand Nubian – Punks Jump Up To Get The Beat Down (Prod by Diamond D)
9.Diamond D – I Went For Mine (Prod by Diamond D & Jazzy Jay)
10.Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs – Streets Of The Ghetto (Prod by Diamond D)
11.Ultimate Force feat. Fat Joe – C’mon (Prod by Diamond D)
12.Yaggfu Front feat. Diamond D – Slappin’ Suckas Silly (Diamond D Remix)
13. Diamond D – Best Kept Secret (Diamond D Remix)
14.Cypress Hill – When The Shit Goes Down (Diamond D Remix)
15.A.G., Cedric Ceballos, Dana Barrous, Diamond D, Grand Puba & Sadat X – Ya Don’t Stop (Prod by Diamond D)
16.The Alkaholiks – Let It Out (Prod by Diamond D)
17.Organized Konfusion – Questions (Prod by Diamond D)
18.Diamond D – No Wonduh (Prod by Diamond D)
19.Illegal feat. Diamond D – Crumb Snatcher (Prod by Diamond D)
20.Scientifik feat. Diamond D – I Got Planz (Prod by Diamond D)
21.Broadway (a.k.a. Party Arty) – Enjoy Yourself (Prod by Diamond D)
22.Ras Kass – Soul On Ice (Diamond D Remix)
23.Diamond D feat. Fat Joe, Big L, Lord Finesse & A.G. – 5 Fingas Of Death (Prod by Kid Capri)

Disc 2
1.Diamond D – Check One Two (Prod by Diamond D & DJ Mark The 45 King)
2.D.I.T.C. feat. Sadat X, Grand Puba & Diamond D – I Flip Styles (Prod by Diamond D)
3.Diamond D – U Can’t Be Me (Prod by DJ Scratch)
4.Diamond D feat. John Dough – MC2(Prod by Diamond D)
5.Mos Def – Hip Hop (Prod by Diamond D)
6.Leaders Of New School – Classic Material (Diamond D Remix)
7.Showbiz & A.G. feat. Diamond D – Still Diggin (Prod by Showbiz)
8.Showbiz & A.G. feat. Diamond D & Lord Finesse – Diggin’in the Crates (Prod by Showbiz)
9.House Of Pain feat. Diamond D – Word Is Bond (Diamond D Remix)
10.Sadat X – You Can’t Deny (Prod by Diamond D)
11.Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs – Love Comes & Goes (Prod by Diamond D)
12.The Fugees feat. Diamond D – The Score (Prod by Diamond D)
13.Apache – Get Ya Weight Up (Prod by Diamond D)
14.Diamond D – Im Outta Here (Diamond D Remix)
15.A Tribe Called Quest feat. Brand Nubian & Diamond D – Show Business (Prod by A Tribe Called Quest & Skeff Anselm)
16.Diamond D – Fuck What U Heard (Prod by Diamond D & Lakim Shabazz)
17.Diamond D – Freestyle (Yo,Thats That Shit) (Prod by Diamond D & Large Professor)
18.The A.T.E.E.M. – Yeah (Diamond D Remix)
19.A.D.O.R. – The Kid Is Crazy (Prod by Diamond D)
20.Red Hot Lover Tone – Give It Up (Diamond D Remix)
21.Raekwon feat. Ghost Face KIllah & Jodeci – Rainy Dayz (Mr.Dalvin Remix Production Diamond D)
22.Xzibit feat. Catastraphe, Hurricane G & J-Ro – Bird’s Eye View (Prod by Diamond D)
23.Outkast – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (Diamond D Remix)
24.Celph Titled & Buckwild feat. Sadat X,Grand Puba,A.G.,O.C. & Diamond D – There Will Be Blood (Prod by Buckwild)

This year DJ Revolution celebrates the 25th anniversary of his professional DJ career. To celebrate his successful career, Revolution will be releasing a monthly mix entitled “Series 25.” Each mix will feature some of Revolution’s favorite Hip-Hop tracks from throughout his career. In this mix you will find music from such artists as Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Main Source and many more.

This year I’m celebrating 25 years of professional DJing, I’ve decided to put together a mix every month this year featuring one or two of my favorite cuts from each year in order leading up to 2012. The first one is late….but i’ve been busy.

I often find myself questioning why I’m still wasting time doing this shit, but when i go back and play some of these tracks it reminds me.

-DJ Revolution

This mix you’re about to hear was originally done at B.Real’s “Meditation” show on December 30, 2011. Enjoy and be educated.

Okayplayer is in your world with exclusive-clusive! Two of the greatest crate-digging, coast-to-coasting, break flipping, scritchy-scratching crew of all time–Da Beatminerz and the X-Ecutioners–will be joining forces this Sunday February 12th (that’s 2/12/12 for the numerologists out there) for a live event at NYC’s Highline Ballroom featuring heaps of special guests (use your imagination). In order to commemorate this historic meeting of the mines, they have put together this unique mixtape cut together out of six short sets from DJ Precision, Total Eclipse, DJ Esquire, Boogie Blind, Evil Dee and Rob Swift, which we are proud to bring you as an OKP exclusive!

-Okayplayer

Da Beatminerz vs. the X-Ecutioners “Pass The Crate” | Download

2/08/2012 Update: Physical copies of Poetic Prophets are now back in stock (for a limited time) at Mix Unit. Mix Unit ships both domestically and internationally.

With each new year comes change, and Hevehitta and DJ Unexpected are determined to bring change to their mixtapes in 2012. With new concepts already in the works, Hevehitta and DJ Unexpected will be changing up their format when it comes to making mixtapes, and distributing them to the public. Consider this change a good thing, as Hevehitta and DJ Unexpected will be working hard in bringing the best mixtapes possible for each and every one of you to enjoy.

Going back to their Diggers Union roots, Hevehitta and DJ Unexpected focus on the street poetry and witty word play of Nas and Mobb Deep with “Poetic Prophets.” This 43-track mixtape is not your typical “best of” mixtape. Hevehitta and DJ Unexpected flip the script and provide vintage cuts, exclusive remixes done by DJ Unexpected and Hook & Eye Productions, and an entire “Look What I Found”-style break beat section all packed into 80 minutes of CD time. A mixtape like this is
only the beginning of what’s to come from the mixtape game’s premier duo.

“Poetic Prophets” will be a limited-edition release with only 250 copies being pressed for the public. Once they’re all sold, no more copies will be made.

Purchase this mixtape (digital download) for only $3 from the Diggers Union Web Store.

Tracklist:

1. DJ Unexpected- The Empire Of Queens Intro
2. Mobb Deep Feat. Nas- Get It Forever
3. Mobb Deep- Conquer
4. Nas- It Ain’t Hard To Tell (DJ Unexpected Remix- Scratches By DJ Unexpected)
5. Mobb Deep- Hold Down The Fort
6. Nas- Got Yourself A Gun (DJ Unexpected Remix)
7. Mobb Deep Feat. Nas- Dog S**t
8. Mobb Deep Feat. Nas- The Set Up (Hook & Eye Productions Remix)
9. Mobb Deep- Love Ya’ll More
10. Nas- Tales From The Hood
11. Mobb Deep Feat. Big Noyd- The Perfect Plot
12. Nas- Black Zombies (DJ Unexpected Remix)
13. Mobb Deep Feat. Nas- It’s Mine (Hook & Eye Productions Remix)
14. Nas- Nasty
15. Mobb Deep Feat. A.C.D.- Street Life
16. Common Feat. Nas- Ghetto Dreams
17. Mobb Deep Feat. Big Noyd- Give Up The Goods (Just Step)

Mobb Deep Breaks

18. Break #1
19. Break #2
20. Break #3
21. Break #4
22. Break #5
23. Break #6
24. Break #7
25. Break #8
26. Break #9
27. Break #10
28. Break #11
29. Break #12
30. Break #13
31. Break #14

Nas Breaks

32. Break #15
33. Break #16
34. Break #17
35. Break #18
36. Break #19
37. Break #20
38. Break #21
39. Break #22
40. Break #23
41. Break #24
42. Break #25
43. Break #26