1. Showbiz & A.G. – Do It 4
2. Bumpy Knuckles & Flava Flav – Shake The Room
3. Showbiz & A.G. – You In Trouble
4. N.O.R.E & Bumpy Knuckles – This Iz Hip Hop
5. 38.Spesh – No More
6. Bumpy Knuckles & Nas – Turn Up The Mics [DJ Premier Remix]
7. Big Shug Featuring M.O.P. & Fat Joe – Hardbody
8. La Coka Nostra – Mind Your Business
9. Nas & Scarface – Hip Hop
10.ChrisCo Featuring Jon Connor & Elzhi – Straight Up
11.M*A*S*K Featuring Rhymefest – Make The Sound
12.Lil Fame & Termanology as Fizzology Featuring Styles P & Busta Rhymes – Play Dirty
13.Vinnie Paz – The Oracle
Baltimore MC Substantial jumped back into the scene with this fall’s Home Is Where The Art Is, a personal and powerful testament to Stan B. Robinson’s development as a man and MC. Fans and critics seem to concur. To keep the momentum going on this fantastic LP, Substantial and Mello Music Group drop the uplifting video for “See Hear.”
The video, directed by Ariel “Rel” Nuñez, opens up with a local elder speaking on Baltimore’s history, more specifically how the city experienced a stark decline after the Disco era undoubtedly due to the recession and crack epidemic of the early 80’s. Sub picks up the gentleman’s baton and takes us on a tour of B-more, exposing us to the good and not-so-good. Still, throughout everything Substantial looks optimistically to the future. Don’t think Sub sees everything through rosy glasses, he acknowledges challenges and divisions within the city but lets us know he’s still invested in the place and the people because “that’s real unity, remembering it starts with you!”
Produced by Algorythm of The Stuyvesants
In an age where many MC’s are either jaded or out of touch, it’s refreshing to hear (and see) someone so focused on the future!
Tracks 1-5:
Production and mastering by Matteo Grilli
Tracks 6 & 7:
Original production by Matteo Grillo
Additional production and mastering by Alex Gohorel
Super Helpful is Lee Bannon, Chuck Strangers & Kwame
Over Thanksgiving weekend, in a dusty Brooklyn home studio – Super Helpful arrived. With Lee Bannon producing and Pro Era member Chuck Strangers on the mic alongside Kwame, a full project was recorded.
With the year coming to an end, Maryland emcee Sean Born is giving a new offering from his Behind the Scale LP in the form of a bonus track “Flood and Drain.” For the track, Born stays in-house with Low Budget producer Kev Brown and creates a song speaking to the definition of ebb and flow – bringing the flood to a sometimes dry hip-hop landscape.
“Another underground spirit trial…” begins dahLak’s bluesy hip-hop spiritual. A hypnotizing groove sets the tone of dahLak’s open letter on the different ways he is “trying to make it”. A quintessential song off of his concept album “spiritrials” available on 12.12.12
Direction, Cinematography and Editing by: Francisco Ordoñez
Executive Produced by: Jon Huertas & Vic Manzano
Produced by: Val Valdez
Production Design: Michelle Millan