Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

K9 Kev is an interesting musician that brings about a whole new balance of hip hop and production with his latest record. “The Dear Diary EP” is a collection of 5 tracks coming straight out of the coastal town of Oban, Scotland. This unassuming EP is quite strong, and you'll get hit hard if you pay attention, as there's some great honesty in the songs, and excellent timing with the rhythm that is set forth in this release. The lyrical measurements that K9 Kev has on this record are nothing short of epic. The rhymes are good, but it’s the story telling that really takes center stage. I love when emcees focus on telling you more than just how great they are, and that’s something nice about this record. This is a story book that is quite personal, and while it’s deeply rooted in hip hop, there’s so much more to it. The character of the music speaks volumes about the artist, and the ear he has to production. The production is spot on here, with vocals soaring over the melodie...

10K comes out swinging with the latest catchy hip hop song you’re going to absolutely love. I’ve heard a lot of rap and hip hop tracks this year already, but a lot of it is just boring. The rhymes are just repetition, or the words just get slurred across some mediocre beats. But this, this is pretty cool, 10K drops a story rhyme that is all out catchy, and fun. 10K goes across several different thoughts in just 2 minutes and 58 seconds of music, never letting up and continually processing consciousness with rhyming ability. You’ll get hit hard up front, and by the first chorus, you’re going to be singing along. This is the type of song that really showcases a good ear for beats, rhyme schematics, and professional flow. 10K is no slacker here, he throws down as many adjectives and ideas as he can without losing the audience. Often time’s when rappers have a lot to say, they speed it up and try too hard to spit out as many sentences as possible, but not here. Here it’s a bit laid...

A Tribe Called Quest People’s Instinctive Travels and Pathsof Rhythm (25th Anniversary Edition)  “Can I Kick It?” is the stand out song that I recall from Tribe. It has been 25 years since the hip hop group threw this out to the masses. With the anniversary here, the group has decided to re-release the record and has been received very well. You may already have this record, as I have purchased it several times time in my day. However, today, it just feels like a new day, because the recording is a bit crisper than I remember. Perhaps it’s due in large part to the fact that A Tribe Called Quest has grown up , or my audio recording devices are light years away from where it was in 1990 when I first got a hold of this record on cassette tape. With the release of this special edition, you are going to get the original release, plus a few remixes, new artwork and more. There are 17 tracks found on this record, with over an hour of samples, rhymes, and the thing that you expect ...

I’m always on the lookout for new music, and if you follow my blog, you know that I’m all over the map reviewing records that I find hitting my ear. This includes a lot of music that most people skip over. Malichi is one of those artists that you may not know about, yet, but here I am to say that the music he’s putting out is quite good, and deserves more attention. With the release of “Real Life”, the MC puts on a showcase of relevance, with a touch of spiritual prowess as well. It’s rare to hear from Christian hip hop the type of flow that Malichi pushes with this recording. He isn’t emulating someone, he’s not trying to be the second coming of a secular rapper, he’s just himself here. With every track you hear a mix of fluid beats, and his lyrical points that come through with honesty, and fresh air. He focuses on a mix of rhymes, special guest singers, and a touch of reggae to mix things up. There’s so much here, 20 tracks to navigate through, and each one has a special flow to...

The only artist that I know with the name Thelonious is Monk. You know, the jazz pianist and composer that is one of the most recognizable artists of our time. But if you were to ask people to name another person with the name, you’re most likely going to hear them say Thelonious Martin . This is a rapper that has a lot going for him, especially amidst a lot of terrible rappers. I was recently in Los Angeles and my sister put on the radio, the only thing she listens to is hip hop radio from Los Angeles. Every channel was playing the most terrible and contrived rap songs, with the occasional mix of NWA, Warren G, Tupac, Biggie, and the rest of the classics. Other than that, people trying to sing, people trying to rap, and nonsense spilling from choruses of being drunk, high, or having sex. I’m not knocking that, but I need more than just the same old tropes in hip hop, and that’s where Thelonious Martin starts to come into frame. The rapper doesn’t shy away from topics that you’...

I first heard of Matisyahu long ago. I was in college and found out about his reggae and rap stylings, and was absolutely floored. I picked up the original set of records, before anyone else was into him, and then he got into rock radio in Los Angeles. When KROQ started playing his records nonstop on the hour, every hour, I saw a huge influx of fans go his way. That meant that I was not going to be able to see him live because the ticket prices started to get absolutely insane. I ended up selling the out of print recordings of his initial records on a Jewish record label, and kept tabs on the rapper, reggae artist. I noticed a stylistic change in the records that he was putting out, and while I admired some of the songs, and the lyrical elements, there was a point of disconnect with the original works and the new updates. He also wasn’t the same Jewish icon that he was, and well, I moved on, like many others. However, with the release of “Live At Stubb’s Volume 3” , the artist comes ...

I discovered Murs thanks to John Cena. John Cena and DEF JUX were something new I discovered a while back. Murs did a video for his track “HUSTLE” and it featured Cena in the video. It was from that point forward that I wanted to listen to everything that MURS ever put out. I did and have been blessed by some of the lyrics that he’s pushed out. Through the affiliate with DEF JUX that MURS and others had, I was able to discover all sorts of hip hop heavyweights. The creation of lyrical elements has always fascinated me, and though I’m not a rapper, I would like to think of myself as a fan of poetry. I mean, I am in a master’s program for Humanities. With the release of “Have a Nice Life” , the rapper from Los Angeles has created a kaleidoscope of music released through Strange Music. From the starting line of “Have a Nice Life”, you get into a car with the famed rapper. He presents a slice of life that is somewhat autobiographical, but so much more. It’s a fascinating trip through t...

Vero snuck up on me. “Passed Grass Education” starts simple enough, with a smooth flow, and good beats. But while you’re slowly melting into the nuance that Vero brings through, you get taken into the real crux of this record, and something happens. A sonic boom of cool starts to drop through focused beats. There’s relaxation here, don't get me wrong, but there's a control element that only the best MC's in the game have, and that's what you get here. Controlled lyrical elements over smooth beats. Vero has a flow that is laid back, he’s not attacking you, he’s talking through the clouds of smoke and peace he’s bringing. You’re going to be bobbing your head, as the beats come through simply.This is the type of record you want to cruise through a skatepark with, no crazy tricks, just cruising along, hitting some hips, dropping in and mellowing out. “Just Trust” is just the beginning, as you flow through the rest of the tracks, you start to get a slow moving painting ...

Ditch the Drake, and Kendrick Lamar for a moment, and get your speakers turned up as loud as possible to hear 3 hip hop tracks that are absolutely grand. They are conscious hip hop songs that are going to talk about more than just drugs, women, sex. I know that many people won’t see this, but if you love hip hop and you want new music, here are 3 tracks that are going to absolutely floor you, because they floored me absolutely. Wow, where are these tracks when you need them in the mainstream? These are solid, listen to them, buy them, share them, let someone know! Murs “Surprises” My man Murs knocks it out of the park with this incredible offering. The chorus is amazing, and you’re going to be introspective upon hearing it. Murs delivers his signature rhymes, and “Ryan “Myagi” Evans drop some knowledge about this. Tedashii “Dark Days, Darker Nights” A man looking back at the heart break and lows that come with excess drinking, sex, and more. It’s rare to find rappers that flo...

Word to the wise, don’t blast your speakers too loud, because you’ll fly into the speaker’s ala “Back to the Future”. I learned the hard way, but that’s not here nor there. XT Dream comes through with his latest release entitled “Future’s Future”. I’m always up to listen to new hip hop, rock, or just about any genre, and this caught off guard a little. I’ve been drenched in a lot of metal lately, with a lot of artists hitting me with the same old chugga, chugga, roar, so when I started to listen to “Future’s Future”, I was glad to finally get out of the old and into something new. XT Dream pulls you through a variety of moods through the beats that are layered into an ethereal transmission. His words are tied together with a spiritual message, but not a preaching message. It’s more of a positive tutelage, which focuses on the positive rather than the bravado that you get from other hip hop artists. The goal here is prominently displayed, with words that uplift rather than just poin...

He's better than your favorite rapper, he's the man, the myth, the legend, MURS! He just dropped a new record, I haven't reviewed it yet but will. He performed live for SKEE TV and this live video just dropped yesterday, but I forgot to post it up first. The following is MURS doing a track from "Murray's Revenge" the anthem, "L.A.", check his work out he's one of the best rappers in the game, and NO he's not talking money, women, and chains. - Get More Music - If you're going to buy music, and listen to the records I mention, please do so by checking out Amazon below. It helps me continue to build my collection, and it's much appreciated. Thanks. Amazon.com Widgets

Violent Ground is no joke. They have found a way to tap into a sector of hip hop that is usually seen in major hubs of the United States. These two brothers from Quebec and Labrador present a lyrical giant of a record that blew me away upon first listen. The beats are strong, and the lyrical presentation has a duality that is definitely going to take them far. I was very impressed with the track “Born With Tha Mic”, before the guys championed a set of tracks that absolutely will blow you way. “Reborn”, “Never Fade Away”, “Rap”, “Nuthin’ On Me”, all stand out amidst a solid 13 tracks, but this is a whole record to be consumed and listened to as a whole, not just singles. I appreciated the way that things work so well together, flowing through various themes, topics, and ideas. From love, loss, politics, and so much more, the duo paints a picture so well that it feels so complex and yet they make it seem so simple. The flow goes slow, fast, and through various stages, creating a kaleid...

T.Lee throws out a hard hitting record that starts with one heavy handed mix of beats and lyricism. “Before The Overpower” builds on an empty canvas and gives you a deep look into a versatile rap game that T.Lee is overthrowing. “The Crash Part.2” is a provocative track that speaks volumes with raw power and a beat that drives the point the rapper is trying to make as an opening. It’s like a kick to a locked door before rushing in and taking no prisoners, solid in the approach, and smooth through the ending, a well-placed starting point for a hip hop record that truly goes through several defining lines. It’s not all harsh and heavy handed, T.Lee knows how to flow through various moods, beats, and rap styles. You’ll be surprised how he a story can unfold from introspection to commentary on love, life, and so much more. Just when you think you figured out everything, the record takes a left turn and a new picture is painted for you, which is usually reserved for the best rappers. It...

“Conformity is Over Rated…” the first track ends with a serious note as to what’s to come and it most certainly comes through on this record of great importance. Hip hop has been sewn up with a lot of mediocre rappers, and the mainstream seems to have lost the ethos of the past yet again. Then rappers come out like you hear on this record and you get a whole new hope for the future. It’s with that in mind that “Tears In Your Eyes” opens up, the storytelling that you’ve heard in the past gets a new twist with rhymes and beats that showcase the harsh realities of life, love, and more. A.S.H.E.S The Chosen comes through with rhymes that matter, paint a picture, and beats that are connective tissue to the body of “ID, Ego, Superego”, and it’s expertly done. Every track has been carefully chosen, words presented as more than just rhymes, and something that hits you right in your mind’s eye. At times it’s bouncing, others it’s raw, but overall the words are put together to show you a lar...

I previously reviewed a track from Shid Latta here , and was impressed with his delivery and lyricism. This time around he’s got a new record out, and a single that smashes together some incredible beats, in order to create a whole new track of epic proportions. This track, “High” produced by Hippie Sabotage drops serious lyrical elements. Shid Latta bounces through serious emotional heart felt lyrics about loss and the honesty is up front. It hits you hard with reality, and if you’ve ever loved and lost you know exactly what he’s talking about with this track. I’ve heard a lot of remixes and productions, but this is one that is done right. Right when you think you’ve figured out where this is going, Shid Latta comes through with a different take, a new verse, and rolls it into the beats with relative ease. It’s the craft that really works here, and promotes the right elements of hip hop with a far more diverse range of ideas than you would normally expect. By the time you hit th...

Shid Latta is coming out strong from Baltimore and brings about one of the most compelling tracks that I’ve heard in a long time. It not only hits you hard with the beats and production by EVOLUTION MS, it comes through with a lyricism that hits you like a prized fighter to the face. The delivery of the lyrics is hard, delivered within words and ideas that are filled with dreams. The writing brings about a swagger that comes over the top and brings you to the experience that the rapper is trying to present like a painting. If you close your eyes you will start to bounce a bit as the delivery showcases a lot of different elements moving forward. This is the type of song that you are going to hear playing as loud at a stop light because it’s full of incredible timing and influence. It makes you want to throw a fist up in the air at times, it makes you want to listen carefully to the lyrics, and it’s the sign of a rapper that knows how to divide the beats and inspire within the words, b...

I grew up on Christian music, and with that, I had to hear a lot of terrible rappers try to rhyme. Then something happened, call it a spiritual awakening, but Christian music started getting really good. A.K.A. FiSHEЯ proves that yet again, and you get a super flow that is going to surprise even the staunchest of critics. With the track “It’s A Jesus Thing”, you get the power of secular beats with a flow that is going to push you into thinking twice about what Christian rappers are all about. The lyrical flow here is impressive, A.K.A. FiSHEЯ makes this seem too easy. When you start to dissect the track, you will find that there are a lot of elements that the best rappers in the game have, only this time around you are getting pure food for the soul. Whether you’re a believer or not, this is going to hit you hard. The beat alone is going to make you want to turn up the stereo, and once the flows start, you’re going to be cast down into a world of incredible music. I found it to be ...

I’ve listened to a lot of hip hop tracks, and a lot of rappers try to get a flow as smooth as butter, but most of them are lackluster. The Swavy One comes through correct and drops one of the most eclectic and compelling hip hop song I’ve heard in a long time. It’s smooth, the flows seem easy for the rapper as he goes through several themes fast, and within the beats of an isolated track of beats. The looping is classic, the song just keeps a good stride before you get hit with a chorus that makes you get up out of your chair and start to, well, “Bounce”. The Swavy One is talented on this track he spits an interesting flow, and delights with spelling out what his ideas are through hot rhymes, clean pronunciation and instructions that should make you, well, “Bounce”. (See what I Did there?) It’s rare for me to be so delighted by a hip hop single, but this is definitely one of the better options I’ve heard in a long time. It’s smooth, it’s well written, and the hook is delightful. I ...

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this free album from M00kie-M00K M00-You. I knew it was hip hop, but you never know with independent releases. After getting an intro from none other than Peter Griffin, what is left is awesome. M00kie-M00K M00-You unleashes a serious flow over beats that you’re going to find to be downright reverent. “Getting to know M00-Y0U” is a solid release full of rhyme schemes and raw beats that will definitely find a home with any hip hop head out there. You get a full sense for the artist on “Awready Know” a 3 minute banger that features a full scale of ideas going through the mind and rap lyrics of this interesting artist. From there, things keep getting better with standout tracks like “Let It Go”, “Down I-45”, “Opinion”, and more. M00kie-M00K M00-You definitely works like an artist. The lyrics combined over some very interesting beats makes this release vital, and creates a lavish overall reality laced hip hop rhyme scheme that you will definitely appre...

I’m always interested in hearing up and coming hip hop, and when I got a chance to sit down and listen to the latest from Heist International, I was floored. The latest release of “36” The Mix Tape is an incredible accomplishment. It’s 18 total tracks, nearly an hour of music, and it brings you through all sorts of moods, ideas, with an assault on the senses that will have you repeating the songs over and over again. Often times hip hop mixtapes aren’t that well produced, but that’s not the case here. Heist International brings a well crafted, well recorded, and highly poignant release that features the best beats, a great slew of talented elements, and something that just makes you stop what you’re doing. You can’t really appreciate this while doing anything else, although, you could try. I had to stop and just listen several times while crafting this review, because the quality on the tracks brings a good and eclectic vibe to hip hop. From the initial set up of “36 Meaning” to ...