Bowties & Applause (EP) - Tru Fam

This one surprised me right here. Now, don't take this the wrong way, but I didn't expect much from this EP. Not that Tru Fam are bad, because I loved what I heard on their track Rebound, but I just see a lot of artists put out one or two dope tracks, and then just kind of disappear, or release a really shitty mixtape. But, what I'm getting at is that Bowties and Applause is fantastic. Each track stands on it's own, but manages to maintain a consistent sound, which is great. Their flow is tight on each joint, and their rhymes are gorgeously strung together. The melodies, beats, and samples on all the tracks are amazing, as well as extremely catchy. Overall, a fantastic EP that you shouldn't sleep on. I can now say that I am officially a Tru Fam fan. Enjoy some of my favs, but then go grab the whole EP, and I know you won't be disappointed.

Always On You - Tru Fam ft. Neako



Mrs. One Night Stand - Tru Fam



Beautiful Nightmare - Tru Fam ft. Brooke Nolan & Apache Chief


Download: Bowties & Applause

Somebody Told Me - EQ

Now this is sick. I don't know much about this guy, other than that he's an emerging artist out of Richmond VA, and his flow and lyricism are fantastic. This is a video that he just dropped for one of his older tracks "Somebody Told Me", but it's the first time I've heard it, so it's new to me. Overall, it's a dope track, and it's definitely going to make me keep an ear out for this guy, so watch for more from EQ in the future. Enjoy the track + video.

Pocket Full Of Dimes - Luke Christopher

Dope 'new' track from Luke Christopher. This is one that he dropped a couple days ago for his new series #MarvelousMonday. Pocket Full Of Dimes is actually an old track he wrote an produced when he was only 15, which is pretty crazy if you ask me. Anyway, check this one out for sure.

Love Poem - Kiddo

This is sick. Here is the latest drop from Kiddo, the dope artist out of NY. Love Poem is a dope showcase of Kiddo's flow and lyrical ability. I am seriously impressed with this one. I'm also extremely glad that I got sent an email about Kiddo, because otherwise, I would have never had the pleasure of hearing this gold. Check it out below.



I also realized, as I was writing this, that I never posted Kiddo's last drop. He released a dope remix of B.o.B and Wayne's track Strange Clouds, and wrecked it. Watch out for Kiddo, because he's got a dope sound. Enjoy the tracks.

HiPoP (Mixtape) - Cato

So I slept on this one. A friend of HotLeaks, Cato, dropped his anticipated mixtape on the 20th, and I downloaded it right away, but it just so happened to fall on a day when I was busy as hell. This meant that I downloaded the zipped filed, but never unzipped it, so it never ended up in my iTunes. The sound HiPoP is really high energy, and a lot of the tracks have an electro infused feel. Since his Nite Owl tape, I feel like we've heard Cato grow as an artist. His flow is getting tighter, and his sound is getting bigger, which is dope. Overall, a solid mixtape, so definitely check this one out. Enjoy some of my favs, then cop the whole tape below.

Stay Face - Cato

Gather Round - Cato

Pull The Trigger - Cato

Download: HiPoP

Sun Down - Radical Something

Just as a crazy cold snap hits my town, and the first snowfall warning comes in effect, Radical Something brings back the warmth of the summer with this great new track. As always, Josh blesses us with amazing vocals, Red puts together a beat that is unbelievably catchy, and of course, Loggy kills the flow. Enjoy this one, and let it warm you up a little bit.

**Update: Radical Something dropped the DL for a "holiday gift", and I'm not complaining. I love this track**

Warm Up Sessions (Freestyle) - Childish Gambino

I'll be honest, Camp disappointed me. Not that it was a bad album, it just wasn't as great as I thought/hoped it was going to be. Maybe my bar was set too high for Donald, but I expected some more gold like Freaks & Geeks. Anyway, the moral of my little story is that this freestyle reinvigorated some faith in Gambino. He goes hard on the Imma Boss beat, and kills it. I feel like Childish Gambino's lines and flow fit a lot better on hard beats, as opposed to some of his softer beats (like those on Camp). Check out the freestyle above he did for SB.TV.

Kick Us Out - OCD: Moosh & Twist

Moosh & Twist drop some brand new visuals for one of my favorite tracks off their tape, The Welcome Mat. The video is extremely well done, and it fits the mood of the track perfectly. Also, I'm pretty sure this is the first (that I've seen at least) OCD video that HASN'T been shot by Rex Arrow. Anyway, great track that now has a great video. Enjoy it.

Stage Dive - Sol

Alright, I'm back. Sorry for being MIA for the last few days, but I was doing a ton of family stuff, so I haven't actually touched my computer in about 3 days. To start you back, here is some fantastic new Sol. It's a great new single off his upcoming mixtape, Your Truly, which from the sounds of these tracks he has been releasing, is going to be dope. Enjoy.

Can You Feel It - Gate City

Time to slow it down a little bit for you. Some brand new GCS, in celebration of reaching them 1100 fans on facebook. Once again, they manage to really show their musical diversity. This track sounds a bit more rock-ish than their normal hip-hop vibe, but it still has the Gate City sound to it, which is dope.Truly the sign of great artists when they can consistently change the feel of their tracks, but maintain their signature sound. A great new song, so enjoy it.

Learn To Fly + The Kick (Video) - XV

A double dose of Vizzy for you. First off is another new amazing new track. Learn To Fly is a real smooth track that really showcases Vizzy's dope flow. It also has an AMAZING hook from Betty Trouble, on top of the always sick, The Awesome Sound beat. Second is his latest video for his Inception inspired track, The Kick. Nothing too much to say about the video other than it's very classy, to say the least.



The new video:

Gettin It - Fashawn

Here's some tough stuff for you. It's been a minute since we've heard from Fashawn, but here is a new one for you. It's got a whole gangster feel to it, so I feel like I should get into a fight while listening to it. Fashawn has got a real tough spit, and his sound reminds me of the kind that first got me into rap. Don't miss out on this one.

Possessd By The Devil - Xaphoon Jones ft. Elbee Thrie

Some new ish from Xaphoon, and as always, the beat is extremely catchy. He also grabed a guy who I have never heard of, Elbee Thrie, to jump on and give the track a vocal treatment. I feel like we're going to hear this beat pop up somewhere else, at another time, because it's just that good. Anyway, enjoy it.

Blow Up (Video) - Sam Adams

I love the track, and the now I love the video too. Sammy's latest single get some great visuals to accompany it. Nothing artsy, no real deep meaning, just an enjoyable video. Check it out, and cop the track below.

Christmas (Timeflies Tuesday) - Timeflies

I didn't think anyone in the entire world could flip this track, without it sounding horrible, but of course, the guys that can do it, Timeflies. This is so sick. For the first half of this Timeflies Tuesday, Cal does a little cover of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, on Rob's dope beat. Cal then does his normal freestyle out of a hat, but it has all Christmas topics. A perfect Timeflies Tuesday to take us into Christmas. Enjoy it.