A banger that actually bangs. Star Slinger’s production on new track “Bad Bitches” is crazy; the intersection of so many diverse yet dope styles. (classic soul, southern booty rap, even world music) “Bad Bitches” is the new b3sci anthem.
Star Slinger 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.7
Mike Bigga and El-P have a collaborative album in the works (which means you need to be psyched) called R.A.P. music. “Don’t Die” is the third pass from the project and is 100% live. Anytime El-P is on the boards is a must listen and Mike is definitely on his A-game here. Listen NOW.
Killer Mike 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Georgia rapper I-20 rounds up a pair of big name features in Ludacris and Twista for new track “Little Boy”. The star here is most definitely the beat and its southern soul/spiritual sample. That said, the verses aren’t bad as a whole and do get better as the song progresses; I-20 is OK, Luda is adequate, and Twista just wrecks it. There’s something about Twista’s rapid-fire flow and the laidback buttery beat that really works. On repeat.
I-20 (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
You won’t ever see b3sci riding in a limousine. “Limousine” is the first single of Harlem rapper Ro Ransom’s upcoming Ransomnia project. This is some serious heat right here. Brandun DeShay’s beat is one of the freshest we’ve heard yet in 2012. The rhymes are 100% on point. We’re stoked for Ransomnia.
Ro Ransom 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
330. Stalley gets a run on the R&B tip on latest track “Home to You”. Featuring the soulful tones of NY crooner Anthony Flammia, it’s a bit of a different look for the MMG lil’ bro than we’ve heard thusfar but we’re digging it. Wale’s also on the spaced out track turning in what amounts to a relatively forgettable feature; he does however make hip hop’s (probably) first Samardo Samuels reference. Samardo, you made it.
Stalley 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
MMG soldier Meek Mill lets loose “I’m Rollin'” the latest from the Philly rapper forthcoming Dreamchasers 2 mixtape. Produced by “Rack City” beatsmith DJ Mustard, “I’m Rollin'” isn’t “House Party” but it’s still no doubt solid enough to get some run on hip hop radio. Listen.
Meek Mill 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.0
Check out this great new vibed out remix for our dude David Dallas done by his bud Nathan “41” Maclaren. This “Caught in a Daze” mix will be part of an upcoming remix package of Dallas’ awesome sophomore record Rose Tint, due April 3rd. Freddie Gibbs get fried like everyday is Friday.
David Dallas 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
First off, fuck Chris Brown. Now that we’ve got that out of the way. Self-promotion guru DJ Khaled is back with another summer smash with “Take It To The Head”. The smooth heater, sort of in the style of “I’m On One” with a side of current trends in indie R&B, sounds on the first couple listens like a hip hop radio juggernaut. The usual Khaled cast of suspects headline with Rozay, Crazy Nicki & DEWeezy (seriously whoever was running that DEWeezy street team at SXSW deserves a raise cause that shit was EVERYWHERE) making it rain radio-friendly bar after radio-friendly bar. Get behind “Take It To The Head”.
DJ Khaled 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
United Airlines elite status flyer Diplo current run rolls on as he picks up a production credit on this new Azealia Banks track. Diplo’s rapid fire snares nicely frame up Ms. Banks quick-on-the-draw spitting. Try to keep this one out of your head.
Azealia Banks (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
So if you’ve had urban/pop radio on at any point in the last couple weeks you’ve likely heard new Roc Nation ingenue Rita Ora’s RIP track. If you’ve been on the Drake train for a little while, then you’ll likely recognize the hook from his “I’m Ready For Ya” song from a couple years ago. (Oh and that other hook, “can you hear my heart is beating” that’s Nneka’s – “Heartbeat” song from ’09, which maybe more famously was then remixed by Chase & Status). Through the magic of the internet, all of R.I.P.’s component parts have now been fused together into one cohesive (monster) mix. Seems like a bit of a trend has emerged in hip hop (again probably though the magic of the internet and just the broadening of the emerging music dialogue/dynamic/audience) in sampling relatively current hit indie tracks Drake’s Jamie xx/Gil Scott-Heron sampling “Take Care” immediately comes to mind. Spin it and let us know what you think.
Rita Ora (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Yeah, so we scoured the internet, searched wide and far, etc and came up empty on information about the artists involved in this track. Obviously from the accent it sounds like Childhood is of some UK isles extraction and so we’re throwing a soft bet out there that Only Real is British too. (EDIT: We found his Soundcloud, our dude is from London.) Identity verification issues aside “The Drivethough” is a great UK pop/hip-hop track you need to be listening to. Listen.
Only Real (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.2
Last time Stalley and Spitta linked up was for the awesome “Address” which was one of our favorite tracks of 2010. The two MCs hook up again here on the smooth jazz-inflected “Hammers & Vogues” which will appear on Stalley’s upcoming debut LP Savage Journey to the American Dream. The soft rhodes, hushed hi-hats breed beat on “Hammers & Vogues” is the sort of thing $$$$ could rap over in his sleep (or high) (decide which of these two are true) & is the sort of beat that’s right square in Stalley’s wheelhouse too. “H&V”‘s not quite as good as “Address” but it still knocks pretty nicely.
Stalley (Facebook)
Rating 8.2
