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FallGuide2009

Brick-a-brac

Hub-hop courtesy of Brick Records
By CHRIS FARAONE  |  June 11, 2008
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Truth, Papa D, and Karma

Brick Records has been releasing joints from true-school hip-hop’s exalted talents since way before your baby’s mother’s other baby’s father and his people started Get Money Records. For more than 10 years, label heads Truth, Papa D, and Karma have helped local artists such as Esoteric, Mr. Lif, Insight, and Akrobatik cut records that shone from Boston to Belgium, all the while dropping exclusive 12-inch bangers from legends including MF Doom and Ras Kass. Building with Bricks Volume 3, the double-disc anthology that drops this week, features a DJ Beyonder–mixed, Bladerunners-certified spread of classic material and glimpses into the future of Beantown’s reigning rap regime.

Channel Live, “Mr. President”
Although written and released in 2004, Channel Live’s signature Bush bash is as relevant now as it was when America flunked the last election. Since becoming one of enlightened hip-hop’s most noted lecturers and activists, MC Hakim steps into the booth only when he has a worthwhile target. Needless to say, Mr. President gets impaled.

D-Tension feat. Termanology & Prospect,“This Is Our Year”
Bilingual dudes can spit lyrics that mere Anglophiles couldn’t dream of spewing. On the Puerto Rican party “This Is Our Year,” Terror Squad affiliate Prospect and Lawrence titan Termanology conquer D-Tension’s pristine piano loop with a barrage of onomatopoetic rhymes that I’ve been attempting to memorize for nearly two years now.

Reks, “Pray For Me / Suicide Note”
This is the most poignant rumination on the state of hip-hop that I’ve ever heard in rhyme. Reks doesn’t just assault rappers who are “too high on rims to see the writing on the train” — he also has the balls to accuse the South of spoiling the genre, and to tell Jay-Z that his puppeteers secretly laugh at how complacently he sells out his music, people, and culture.

East Coast Avengers (Esoteric, Trademarc & DC the Midi Alien), “Avengers Assemble”
Esoteric recently announced that his fans will choose the set list for this Saturday’s Pterodactyl Takes Tokyo release party at the Middle East. If that’s the case, be sure to bring your megaphone and demand to hear this Marvel-esque ego stomp and other tracks from the Avengers’ heroic forthcoming collaboration.
Related: The other white beat, Joe the rapper, Chairmen of the boards, More more >
  Topics: Download , Entertainment, Hip-Hop and Rap, Music,  More more >
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