
for those out there that need ideas for christmas gifts for a hip hop fan i can recommend mos def's 2009 album the ecstatic. this is most certainly the album of the year and likely mos def's best. the intelligence and melodies of this album remind me of the late '80s hip hop albums when hip hop was still innovative. in today's mostly bland music circus this album certainly stands out with latin and arab melodies mixed into fun raps. great album ... love it.

You might know Dame Dash as Number 2 of Roc-a-fella behind Jay-Z.
DD opened his own studio complex recently. Everybody is talking about the good vibes in this place - people from different musical genre, that are there for the love of music! Nothing more. Creative Control is a by-product. Well, not really. It's an online media network bringing you original web series and music shot by the artists themselves. If you have followed this blog for while you will have seen the sessions from the Blackroc project - no doubt! I just love the style shooting musicians in their creative process. Well, there are more videos and here they come... Enjoy!I haven't been able to stop listening to Q-Tip lately. He's got to be
one of my favourite rappers along with Murs, Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Both The Renaissance and Kamaal the Abstract are on heavy rotation on
my iPod at the moment. Check out his video for Renaissance Rap below.
I've also added another favourite of mine, Deltron 3030.
sparta - cut your ribbon (2002)

One of my favourite mini shows on youtube.
Big names diggin in the crates at Amoeba Records!
