I was literally thinking, “you know what, I wonder what Yassin Bey has been up too since the name change” and then boom, this gem falls into my lap from the college radio promoter gods. It’s a very fresh, jazzy, keys and bass heavy remix of the original song that came out a little while back. Very good. Props to Pete Rock for the remix. Props to Robert Glasper for the piano. Props to the promoter gods. 

Some ill sampling fused with some slick r&b funk. Enjoy you cool cats. (s/t album btw)

Strong Arm Steady is a west coast hip hop collective. From their original 8 members they’re now down to three (after Xhibit left to pimp rides or something). Statik Selektah is a vetren producer/promoter/industry man from the east coast with a long tradition of MC/producer team up albums. The two camps compliment each other extraordinarily well. The three members of SAS hurl dark gritty rhymes, usually accompanied by a  guest or three. Statik lays down soothing hypnotic beats that balance the assault of 5 people rapping at you in 4 minutes. 

Gonjasufi … MU.ZZ.LE … 2012

This cat is a yoga instructor turned psych-hip-hop folk artist. He specializes in left-field wonked-out bliss that befuddles anyone looking for genre tags. Kinda like a Mody/Sufjan/Eels burrito. Nothing terribly groundbreaking but well done.

Killer Mike … R.A.P. Music … 2012

Bad-ass rap out of Atlanta. This guy is anti-big production, glitzy-bling-glam hip hop culture. This album is about being a rapper, being from Atlanta, and being Michael Render. Highly recommended!