Freeness from Cecil Otter and Swiss Andy - Wugazi : 13 Chambers

It seems like this came out of nowhere, but its shaping up to be my favorite remix project that I've ever heard.  Everything sounds so natural and meant to be, just check it out and comment if you think differently.  Oh, and obviously it's free.  As I just learned, the name (and the music) comes from a mixture of Fugazi and Wu-Tang Clan, as described in more detail on the Wugazi website:

Wugazi is a labor of love by Cecil Otter & Swiss Andy. A year’s worth of cutting up every imaginable Fugazi record and trying out every Wu-Tang acapella they could get their hands on, resulted in Wugazi: 13 Chambers (a must listen for anyone who even looked at a skateboard in the 90’s).

Cecil Otter is an emcee & producer, and one of the founding members of Doomtree. He has contributed to over a dozen records. His most recent full-length, Rebel Yellow, was re-released by Sage Francis for Strange Famous Records. He’s now recording his solo project, Porcelain Revolver.

Swiss Andy is a musician & producer residing in Minneapolis. He has been a contributor to several bands including The Millionth Word, Field Guide and The Swiss Army. He is currently working on a remix of Rebel Yellow.

Freeness from Sareem Poems - Black and Read All Over

Another MMG Free Fridays Summer Giveaway, this time coming from Sareem Poems.  It is quite the quality release, and once you see the guest list you'll see huge amount of talent that worked on this album.  This was released several years ago, so it is not fresh enough in my mind to give a review that is to useful but just trust me and check out this free release (for a limited time only).

Freeness from Illuminous 3: Illuminous Free

So, my last post about Illuminous 3 turned into me raving about Doomtree, so I figured this next post should highlight the work of Illuminous 3 themselves.  It turns out that they've compiled their monthly series into a convenient album format, which can be downloaded here.  Tracklist is as follows:

 But lets be honest, this is going to turn into a Doomtree lovefest again.  The last producer to work with the Ill 3 crew is P.O.S., who is also featured on the vocals to this incredibly dope song.  Check out the setup and hear from the busy and exceptionally tired P.O.S., then download the song and enjoy.  Big ups to Midwest Broadcast for the links




http://www.divshare.com/download/15141020-f95

Freeness from Illuminous 3

Illuminous 3 have been putting out a free song every month as part of their Ill Free series, and they work with a different producer for each track.  Additionally, they do a producer spotlight to promote some of the unknown producers in the area and show their setup.

Not quite an unknown, Lazerbeak contributed this month's beat, and in the video talks a little about the upcoming Doomtree projects.  I really couldn't be more excited for whats coming from the crew, especially after seeing them at SoundSet and the Hand Over Fist show (with a surprise visit from P.O.S.) for $3 dollars at the Triple Rock social club. For proof that I was there, go on over to Midwest Broadcast.  The still shot that appears before you click on the video has some big (and tall) dumb idiot's head poised over everybody else.  That is me.

Watch the video and download the song now.






http://www.divshare.com/download/14909964-992 
In related news, the Doomtree crew got all fancy this weekend in celebration of Andrew Sims' wedding.

Yes, that is Lazerbeak up on stage running the show.  Entire crew pictured below.

Big congratulations to Sims and check out more photos at Doomtree.net and props to Midwest Broadcast for the musical links

Freeness from Trek Life & Oddisee - Everything Changed Nothing

In an egregiously flawed business plan, Mello Music Group continues to promote their artists by providing free full album downloads (available for only one week).  This one, which only came out last year, features the rhymes of Trek Life over Oddisee on production.

The album definitely has a west coast slant from Trek Life as well as Oddisee, who assumes a west coast mindstate to give it a bit of funk (as his Traveling Man beat tape shows that he is capable of).  Although I've heard some criticism of Trek Life, I don't really hear it.  He flow nices over this Oddisee ish, and really brings the energy on tracks like "As the World Turns" and "So Supreme" (this track really bangs).  Definitely peep the aforementioned tracks along with the title track, and as always, download if it pleases you.

Freeness from SMKA - The 808 Experiment Vol. 3

The third installment of SMKA's freeboy wonder mixtape series.  I was a fan of the first volume, didn't recognize many names on the second and subsequently gave it few spins, and I still don't recognize too many names but I had to give it a shot.  Save track 5 ("My Girlfriend" is an awful song), this release is definitely worth checking out.  Most notable are "Live My Life", "Cloud of Endo", "Quite the Fiasco", and "So Cruel".

Peep the tracks below, and if you like, download this freebie.

Project Mooncircle going crazy (Freeness + more!)

So i just received the email newsletter from Project Mooncircle by downloading so many free things on bandcamp, and they had a long list of projects that had either come out or were coming out.  So after taking a brief listen, I downloaded this:

http://free.projectmooncircle.com/pmc079-joe_kickass-mind_joe_remixes.zip



and happened across this absolutely mesmerizing video.



The song is amazing, and the video completely captures the hectic sound clashes and the subdued pauses.  Watch the entire thing, and if you're not awestruck then please comment and tell me that I'm crazy (I might be for doing this so early).

The entire project can be purchased from bandcamp



or if you do a quick search then it might be available here

Freeness from Oddisee - Mental Liberation

Not newness but freeness from Mello Music Group front runner Oddisee.  Way back when people actually used to pay attention to labels, who really sought to create the most talented roster and earn the trust of hip hop enthusiasts.  Even though I was just a youngster at this time, I do feel the same connection to Rhymesayers and Mello Music Group.  Both labels consistently put out dope music and actually work to promote their artists, and I'll check out anything that they do.

That being said, MMG is offering Oddisee's Mental Liberation as a free download via bandcamp.  This album came out in 2009 but it has kind of gotten lost in my collection.  In my several efforts to listen to more Oddisee, I have repeatedly made attempts to try to listen to this but it has not received much play (I am listening to it now though, and I like what I hear).  This should be an instant download just by virtue that it's from Oddisee, who always murders it on the production tip and completes his songs with his honesty and laid-back flow.  We've featured Oddisee several times on the show, and if you don't have this already, you need to check this out (Mental Liberation also has a pretty amazing guest list).

Edit:  Even if you have Mental Liberation, this download includes 3 bonus instrumentals that were previously unavailable.  For some reason, you can't download them individually (for free), so even I am downloading this again (yes, the instrumentals are that good).

Freeness from Mike Dreams - Just Waking Up

Not quite new ish from Mike Dreams.  We try not to provide you with an unfiltered smattering of hip-hop, so I have been listening to this for a little while and it has been growing on me heavily.  This album follows the theme of following your dreams and is full of positive, inspirational hip hop that still incorporates his fight through the daily struggle and trying to make it in the industry.  If you hate an r n b type influence on hooks, then listen cautiously but this is definitely something worthwhile to check out.  This was definitely a breath of fresh air from some of the other stuff that I was listening to, definitely not simply rapping about rapping.

Peep it here.

Nyle - Trailer*

Freeness from Nyle of Let The Beat Build fame.  I listened to the first few songs of this and I was kinda impressed, and then I saw the video for dundiddit and was completely blown away.  Definitely support this dude by downloading this mixtape.

Check it out at Refined Hype

Freeness from Mr. Chief - Assuming Power

Mr. Chief (FootWork4Self Records) is releasing a new album for your personal enjoyment.  If any of the other songs parallel the quality of the video below, then this project will be phenomenal.  I'm really happy to see a project from this guy, I got excited about his work a few weeks ago when the entire fw4s crew played a show in my hometown that I wasn't able to go to.  Peep the Mr. Chief's website for the free download link.


Mr.Chief ft. Guilty Simpson and Wrekonize of iMAYDAY! "Cant Stand It" from Mr.Chief on Vimeo.

Freeness from Kitchen Dip Recordings

SoulChef, Nieve, Incise, Robert Paul, Tank Lip and Hy-Definition offering free downloads for your personal enjoyment.  The first 3 artists have been on my radar so I was happy to check that out, and I try to support artists that intentionally give their work out for free.  So far song joints from the Nieve, SoulChef, and Incise albums have been dope, and once spring break hits I'll get a chance to listen to everything in its entirety.
Check it out here

Trebles and Blues - The Blue Note

Dope jazzy and soulful beat tape put out by Trebles and Blues called The Blue Note.  Follow the link to the Trebles and Blues page, where you can preview the album song by song (contains the inspiration for each song!) and download the album fo free.