Apollo Brown & OC - Prove Me Wrong

A little late on this one, but this is the first single off the album that OC and Apollo Brown are putting out title 'Trophies' that is set to release on April 24th. Be sure to check it out.

Mello Music Group Compilation

I posted one song from this last week from Finale and Apollo Brown and was able to dig through the rest of this compilation over the weekend. Plethora of Detroit artists do their thing on this and it only costs $7.99 so I recommend the purchase. If I had to pick, I would say the Boog Brown track is my favorite. She's been killing it lately. Check out the Detroit related tracks below. In non-Detroit hip-hop news, Kendrick Lamar has been steadily establishing himself as the preeminent rapper ever since he released 'Section.80' last summer, and the single off his upcoming Aftermath debut 'The Recipe' comes complete with a Dr. Dre feature and helps solidify his status.

Boldy James ft. Logic & Aaron Williams - Take Whats Ours

If you don't know Boldy James, you get what you need to know from the introduction to 'Take What's Ours' which features Ricky Ross (the real Rick Ross) talking about modern rappers claiming to sell drugs or be a gang member, notably Wayne and Rick Ross. Talking about 'Freeway' Rick Ross (the drug dealer) and the rapper known as Rick Ross can get confusing and it raises an interesting point of character-theft as the drug dealing Ricky Ross has sued Rick Ross over basically profitting off of his life. Of course, Rick Ross' rise to rap fame occurred partially while the actual Rick Ross was in jail, which is something the bombastic music of the rapper Rick Ross never mentions.

And this is where Boldy James comes in. If you're looking for something like 'B.M.F.' or 'Hustlin', look elsewhere as most of his stuff isn't very bombastic, but more ominous (see; 'I Sold Dope All My Life'). Freeway Ricky Ross is seen throughout the video, and while every rap fan can debate the extent of authenticity of every story told through rap and a large part of the genres magic comes from its ability to blend fiction with reality, I tend to believe Boldy James more than most others.

Look out for Boldy James' next project "Consignment: Favor for a Favor" coming soon.

Apollo Brown & Finale - Protocol

Apollo Brown is such an underrated producer and Finale is such an underrated rapper, particularly flow wise. This song is off the Mello Music Group compilation album 'Self Sacrifice'. I haven't checked out the whole thing yet, but there's some good Detroit stuff on there from the likes of Boog Brown, Black Milk, and some more Finale as well.

There's a nice Odissee track on there too titled 'Slow Down' that's definitely worth checking out. Check out the entire album here.

Fall In Love Covers

This stuff has been out for a minute, but both these covers of J Dilla's "Fall In Love" beat are, quite frankly, heavenly tracks. One is a cover from a young jazz group out of Toronto called Bad Bad Not Good. They do a lot of really good hip-hop covers in general (Hard in Da Paint, Lemonade, World Is Yours are all fantastic jazz covers) and I encourage you do check them out here.

Bad Bad Not Good - Fall In Love

The other is a tribute from a couple of years ago, and it is an orchestral arrangement that Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood Ferguson put together for Suite for Ma Dukes, as they did a live performance and sold records with all proceeds going to Dilla's heirs (if you don't know all the drama behind Dilla and his inheritance, just know that it is a messed up situation). For more information on this project, check out this Stones Throw page.

Suite For Ma Dukes - Fall In Love

One Be Lo - K.I.C.K. P.U.S.H. Mixtape

One Be Lo released his latest work over on Kevin Nottingham this weekend, and it's quite legit. This record is prototypical Mitten music in that it is somehow celebratory in the surveying the dysfunction and destruction that is the majority of southeast Michigan. In particular, One Be Lo speaks on Pontiac a lot in this one. You know, that place where they used to make cars and where the Lions used to play where they now don't have a police department or a democratically elected head of their government. Download it and check the explanation from the man himself over at Kevin Nottingham.

Danny Brown - Grown Up

A bit of a different sound from Danny Brown that doesn't focus so much on shock value type of stuff.

One Be Lo - RAHLO

Oh hey, One Be Lo has another album coming out! Kevin Nottingham has the debut and it will be produced in its entirety by the Autocons, is titled K.I.C.K. P.U.S.H. (man, One Be Lo loves acronyms for album titles) , and this is the first single, RAHLO. It's coming on Friday, so watch for it.

Also, Kevin Nottingham has a whole bunch of promotional type things going on for the release such as a One Be Lo 'L.A.B.O.R.' remix contest, a One Be Lo trivia contest, and a real good article where the artist himself delivers the meaning behind his lyrics a la "Decoded". It's good to see One Be Lo getting some shine so check it all out at Kevin Nottingham.

One Be Lo - RAHLO

Spring Time in Detroit

The first 70 degree day in Detroit is like a city-wide holiday. This video encapsulates the feeling pretty good.

One Be Lo - Laborhood Part 3 Mixtape

One Be Lo has released Laborhood Part 3, which can be purchased for just $3. One Be Lo is criminally underrated and I've seen him open for countless bigger out-of-town acts so the $3 would be well spent. The tape, consistent with the whole Laborhood series, is a collection of songs that One Be Lo has made a guest appearance on. This collection spans over the last decade. Artists on the features are Bishop Lamont, Dyme Def, Elzhi, Essence, Fashawn, Oddisee, Opio, Ras Kass, Roc C, Roc Marciano just to name a few. Check out the stream below.

Clear Soul Forces - Detroit Revolution(s) Mixtape

Clear Soul Forces consists of Detroit rappers L.A.Z., Ilajide, E-Fav, and J. RoC and they just released their project Detroit Revolution(s). It's a real nice sound, check it out. Here is their website.

Stryfe-Shells (Prod. by illingsworth)

This track will serve as the single for Stryfe's prelude EP "The Opening Act" as he prepares to release his debut LP "The Last Resort".

Mello Muve Compilation

More SXSW compilations are rolling in, this one centering around the fast-growing indie record label Mello Music Group. They feature a few really talented Detroit artists such as Boog Brown and Apollo Brown and also put out The Left's exceptional 'Gas Mask' album in 2010 which was a pleasant surprise concerning its success. They also feature some great artists from outside of the Mitten, my favorite probably being Oddissee. If you haven't checked out his 'Rock Creek Park' album you are really missing out and it's a perfect spring time jam. Here's the compilation.

Whatupdoe SXSW Showcase

If you are luckier or richer than I, you might be heading to Autsin, Texas to check out SXSW. If you do, the Whatupdoe showcase at the Whiskey Room from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. looks like its going to be an incredible sampling of Detroit hip-hop.

Whether you're going or not, here's a compilation of some of the artists that will be performing and it's a great listen.

Whatupdoe SXSW Compilation

Black Milk: Deadly Medley x Losing Out Live

Black Milk has been on a tour lately with his live band Nat Turner for the Slaps and Claps Tour, something that has been done a few times in Detroit but I don't think has been taken on the road for a full-scale tour. I had the privilege of checking him out with Nat Turner a while back, and it is certifiably insane. The Slaps and Claps tour is fairly extensive and gets all the way to the west coast, so if you're outside of the Mitten check the dates.

For a little taste, here is a video of his performance at the Bling Pig in Ann Arbor from earlier this month.

And because it's officially spring time in Detroit City (high 60's this week!?) and 'Deadly Medley' is a quintessential roll through the city with windows down and system up song, here is the video for that too.

Mittens Up

A new track from Mike Posner with Elzhi and Dusty McFly. I'm not the biggest Mike Posner fan, mostly because he sounds a little too close to Justin Beiber for my liking while singing about having sex and doing drugs. It kind of creeps me out.

But I love the James Blake sample here and have been waiting for that piano to make some hip-hop mixtape beat appearances. Also, if you don't know by now you should realize Elzhi is fantastic.