VIDEO: Cam'ron (feat. Juelz Santana & Dame Dash) - "Dipshits"

Dipset makes a return in the latest video from Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, and Dame Dash. Cam'ron and A-Trak's new EP is scheduled to drop later this year.

VIDEO: Deltron 3030 - "Do You Remember"

Watch Deltron 3030's new video for "Do You Remember" off of their 2013 album "Event II", the follow-up to their classic self-titled debut released in 2000. Buy the CD version of "Event II" here and the iTunes version here.

SINGLE: Deniro Farrar - "Notice"

Listen to a cut from Deniro Farrar's upcoming project EP "Notice" which will be out on May 20th. Pre-order the project on iTunes here.

SINGLE: Meyhem Lauren & Buckwild (feat. Troy Ave & Retch) - "Street Hop"

Listen to Meyhem Lauren & Buckwild's new track from their upcoming album "Silk Pyramids" due May 27th.

SINGLE: Freddie Gibbs & The Worlds Freshest (feat. Sir Michael Rocks) - "I Wanna Do It"

Check out the latest drop from Freddie Gibbs and The Worlds Freshest's collaborative project "The Tonite Show" which is due for release on May 13th. You can preorder the CD here and the digital version here.

VIDEO: Big K.R.I.T. - "Mt. Olympus"

Big K.R.I.T. drops the video for his epic new single "Mt. Olympus", the first offering from his upcoming sophomore album "Cadillactica".
 

SINGLE: Jon Connor - "Take Off"

Having just been announced as one of XXL's 2014 Freshman, Aftermath signee Jon Connor releases a brand-new track.

REVIEW: Tech N9ne Collabos - "Strangeulation"

7.75/10

Coming off of the success of last year's critically-acclaimed "Something Else" LP, Tech N9ne releases the fifth entry in his Collabos series, "Strangeulation". While "Something Else" was an album filled with prominent guest features, Tech abstains from any outside collaborations this time around, making a bold statement by keeping it strictly Strange (aside from some guest vocalists) on "Strangeulation". The title itself refers to "the act of Strange Music artists collectively having the industry in a choke hold", and all of Strange's artists appear on the album at least once, while the production is entirely handled by Strange Music's in-house producer Seven.

The most compelling feature of this album is the much-anticipated Strange Music cyphers, something the fans have been requesting for years. Broken up into four parts spread across the album, the cyphers feature all of Strange's artists—minus Jay Rock, unfortunately—rapping over a new take on a beat Seven produced years ago, his first collaboration with Tech. Tech spits some humorous bars in response to fans' comparing him to dream collaborator Eminem, and then relates why he thinks a tour with Em might not be possible: "And when she compare me to Eminem I said "I'm different" / She said "How?", I said I'm black and I can say nigger bitch! / To him I may just be another bro with a flow / Will probably never tour cause it'll be thousands of Juggalos at a show / And I heard fatalities happen on each side so there's never no let it go".

Tech provides a proper introduction for newly signed Strange Music artist and underground Hip-Hop veteran MURS on "Hard (A Monster Made It)". The eerie organs heard during the intro and hook sound like they were borrowed from a Dracula movie. This is followed by the lead single, "Over It", in which Ryan Bradley belts out a rousing hook to complement Tech, in rare braggadocios form: "You got to know by now that I'm really unstoppable / Try now/ You'll be silly in a hospital / Lie down /Got the pilly in a lock & load / I'm takin' everything / Breakin' everything you'll spit / This ain't nothin' to me child's play /That's why I'm takin' over this bullshit". "Make Waves" is another Rock/Hip-Hop fused track that Tech can add to his rapidly expanding resume. Tyler Lyon, lead vocalist of metal band Evalyn Awake, sings the hook while Strange spitters Krizz Kaliko and Rittz provide some slick guest bars. Tech recently said in an interview that he wanted to take some of his artists out of their comfort zone on this album, and asking Rittz to jump on this track is a good example. Thankfully, Rittz performs very well, rapping with his usual rapid-fire flow but also harmonizing with the beat's guitars at the end of his verse.

Tech N9ne gets his thuggin' on in "Red Rags", a fitting title for this Blood gang anthem, which features all of Strange Music's Blood-affiliated artists: Big Scoob, Kutt Calhoun, and Jay Rock. The bouncy beat incorporates a vocal sample from his 2006 album "Everready: The Religion", and the bass is reminiscent to that of "Big Scoob", a track from his first Collabos album, "Misery Loves Kompany". One of the album's most personal tracks is the heartfelt "Fear", in which the daughter of Strange Music's CEO, Mackenize O'Guin provides chilling vocals on the hook. Tech raps about the pain of having to witness his mother's mental condition worsen to the point of her not being able to recognize him: "My heart it just fluttered when mama picked up she would utter / 'Who is this?' I said 'Donnie', but she thought I was another / Didn't even know me, and she's not an oldie / It's the lupus or epilepsy / Maybe the psychosis solely". He questions God's existence in his final verse: "Now my mom's worse and a lot ill / My fear is that this God I'm prayin' to for my mother is not real".

It wouldn't be a Tech N9ne album if there wasn't a track for the ladies. Stevie Stone and Rittz accompany Tech on "Na Na", a slow sexual track in which they show their appreciation for the females, marred by some corny lines ("My goodness, you're the reason for my woodness").  Tech describes his relapse into alcohol and drugs on "The Calling" (again featuring Tyler Lyon), a dismal track equipped with guitars and monk-like chanting: "And I'm back to the drinkin' / Soakin' wet every bottle's open / Can't believe it I'm occasionally smokin', again / With a deep and cloudy ocean, I'm in / Have a lot of trouble copin', my friend".

Tech N9ne is generally lyrically sharp throughout the majority of the album's seventeen tracks, however the abundant "shit" metaphors in "Stink" felt a bit... unnecessary, with awkward lines like: "But if I really gotta explain it, it ain't because I'm famous / The reason ya thinkin' that it's potpourri in the anus". Keep that in mind while considering the hook of "Hard" as well: "My shit is hard! Constipated / They wonder why it's so killa, cause a monster made it / My shit is hard! I'm the greatest / Look around, that's why everybody's congregated".

Another slight complaint is the lack of Jay Rock on the cypher and only one verse from Brotha Lynch Hung and Prozak. On any other album, On any other Tech N9ne album, the lack of Lynch and Zak verses wouldn't be so conspicuous, however, because"Strangeulation" features all other artists at least twice each, it's puzzling why those artists appear just once. Although, in an interview, Tech N9ne mentioned that he cut any verses he thought were not up to par, so perhaps that explains their lack of presence on this album. The album also felt like it was missing something else—Krizz Kaliko's wonderfully epic hooks. He only sung one hook on "Strangeulation" (as well as on "Something Else"), compared to the four to five hooks he used to sing per Tech N9ne album. ething Else"*), compared to the four to five hooks he used to sing per Tech N9ne album. The singers Tech chose to do the hooks on this album are certainly not bad, and the variety is welcome, however Krizz Kaliko's involvement has been an integral part of Tech N9ne's music (some people still think Tech N9ne is a band) since 2002.

Throughout the course of "Strangeulation", Tech N9ne maintains his "fuck the industry" attitude, with bold proclamations of Strange Music's dominance and celebrations of the label's independent spirit. "Strangeluation" should reassure longtime Strange fans that Tech is still loyal to his core listeners, hopefully eradicating the notion that he "sold out" after his collabs with Wiz Khalifa, B.o.B., and T-Pain last year. However, "Strangeulation" may also prove to be detrimental at this point in Tech's career. Tech's made it clear that he wants to continue his quest of global musical domination, and releasing a Collabos album with zero outside collaborators may halt the momentum "Something Else" sparked. On the other hand, let's hope that it helps the other artists on the roster rise in much-deserved popularity. Either way, Tech's core fan base will undoubtedly continue to support his movement and appreciate what he's accomplished thus far.

REVIEW: Kevin Gates - "By Any Means"

7.75/10

It's easy to understand how a Hip-Hop fan may take one glance at Kevin Gates and write him off as another generic "face tattoo trap rapper". However, doing so would be foolish—Gates is one of Hip-Hop's freshest talents and is literally on the verge of his major breakthrough. Gates is very intelligent, having scored a 31 on his ACT at age 16 from prison (where he also obtained a Bachelor's degree in Psychology), and is an avid reader. He possesses an uncanny songwriting ability, bridging the gap between more lyrics-based underground Hip-Hop and the catchiness of mainstream radio hits. Perhaps Gates himself described this best when he said he prefers the lyrics of the East Coast and the beats of the South. His lyrical delivery is also very unique, a skillful blend of singing and rapping that's unlike any other—at one point his voice may be no louder than a croak-like whisper, but then he effortlessly transitions into rousing singing. This allows Gates to very effectively convey moods and emotions in his music. He's also riding a wave of success, having released two critically-acclaimed mixtapes last year: "The Luca Brasi Story" and "Stranger Than Fiction". He followed those two releases up with his latest project, "By Any Means".

It begins with "Wish I Had It", in which Kevin Gates fantasizing about the success he could have enjoyed from a single he released last year ("Roaming Around"). He wonders why his label apparently wasn't feeling the track and apparently didn't push it to radio: "In the car while roaming around / All my thoughts been roaming around / Where I come from like a hole in the ground / Silly me still holdin' it down / Every car pass by with the music on loud while bumpin' Roaming Around / Tellin' me to make a hit but I really don't get why they walked on Roaming Around".

Gates prefers Southern production, so the beats will continue to primarily be trap. Fortunately, unlike other albums that follow one style of production, the beats on "By Any Means" do not become exhaustively repetitive within a few track—Gates has a very good ear for production and all of the beats set themselves apart. Two singles Gates released before the album follow one right after the other, "Don't Know" and "Amnesia" (featuring the late Doe B), and both sound like potential radio hits, however they still retain substance, such as the storytelling in Gates' verse on "Amnesia"—while it's hook is relatively simple and memorable (it will get stuck in your head), Gates uses his verse to recount an altercation with someone that resulted in murder.

Gates compares the events in his life to those in a movie on"Can't Make This Up", and seems to be in disbelief that he progressed this far already, as he sings the hook: " Started from the bottom with narcotics, what I'm selling / Who thought I woulda made it from a trap with no electric / Oooh, Migos work my wrist with cocaina / Made all of my haters all believers (I can't make this up". Despite his humility, he still warns his opposition not to fuck with him unless they want to "see him incarcerated" over the menacing synths of "Keep Fucking With Me", featuring Plies.

"Movie" is a heartwarming track in which Gates describes the birth of his son in detail. This track sharply contrasts the events described in "Posed To Be In Love", a song about a relationship gone awry that results in Gates and his girlfriend getting into an argument that escalates into physical violence. While somewhat off-putting, this is an example of his unflinching honesty, a quality that makes him so likable. The man has been through a lot and has seen a lot, but he never glorifies his wrongs, he simply makes it known to the listener—Gates has said that music (as well as tattoos) are his therapy, so what better way to vent?

He continues his unwavering honestly over the alarming keys of "Homicide", the perfect canvas over which Gates paints a dramatic tale that he delivers in growls, about avenging a friend's death: "Had to draw down, lay the law down for a month straight /  Ain't no sleepin', nigga beefin', this a month straight /  Band-aids on my fingertips, with gloves on I clutch chrome / Duct tape the bottom of my shoes, with the snub on / Up it, spray it to the pavement you a blood donor / Infrared, white shirt, red all the blood on it / Throw a bag of drugs on you, for the crime scene / Drug-related homicide, closed case, crime scene."

On one of the lighter tracks one the album, R&B crooner Rico Love sings the hook over the gentle horns of the slow-paced beat. "Go Hard" is dedicated to the ladies, and actually includes a fitting dripping sound effect in the instrumental. In "Stop Lyin'", Gates directs his verses towards a former friend who betrayed his trust, inviting them to own up to their bullshit to prevent themselves from looking foolish any further. His tone on this song is not so much angry, but more pragmatic.

There are few low points of the album. The last few tracks are less memorable than the rest of the songs, specifically "Again" and "Get Up On My Level", both songs' hooks are tinged with auto-tune and are not as strong or creative as the rest of the album (especially "Get Up On My Level's" repetitive, been there, done that hook).

"By Any Means" is a very strong body of work that should catapult Gates further into the limelight. He's literally one or two radio singles or high-profile guest appearances away from widespread mainstream recognition. He has the distinct advantage of being accessible to both casual Hip-Hop listeners and more critical fans, and his talent cannot be ignored much longer. 

NEWS: XXL Reveals Freshmen 2014 Cover

XXL has revealed the cover of their annual Freshmen cover. This year is the first year that twelve candidates have been chosen, and as the cover states, R&B artists are now included. Chance The Rapper, Rich Homie Quan, Isaiah Rashad, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Durk, Kevin Gates, Troy Ave, Vic Mensa, Lil Bibby, Jon Connor, and August Alsina were staff picks while Jarren Benton was voted in by fans.

What do you think of their list? Do you agree with who made it, or do you feel like there are other candidates more deserving who should have made it?