On Monday, July 29th, the legendary group Tek and Steele, known as the duo Smif-N-Wessun, made a stop in Los Angeles for their Still Shinin’ Tour at the Lodge Room in Highland Park. The duo performed tracks from their previous catalog and paid homage to their longtime friend and collaborator Sean Price, as well as to the late Chino XL. Joining them was the waterproof emcee Ras Kass, who opened for the Brooklyn-based group. Ras delivered an epic performance, showcasing classics and spitting freestyles.
The Snowgoons are back with another visual 1st Of Da Month and they “Raise The Bar” with Ras Kass, Benny Holiday, Destro, Jacc D.Frost & DJ Illegalone of the best lyricists from the golden era. The 1st Of Da Month series is already in the 3rd round and the full Album is coming later this year.
This CD is one of those that you don’t get often. It had incredible and intensely clever wordplay, and was great for the culture because of the positive support it showed for hip hop. Back then everyone thought hip-hop was rap music and rap music was gangsta. It made people think twice before making an assumption like that. Any hip-hop purist who enjoys freestyles and great rhymes that make you think then this is the album for you.
GUTTR is a newly formed supergroup consisting of Ras Kass, RJ Payne & Havoc. All 3 of whom have been established within hip hop whether it be the waterproof MC’s debut Soul on Ice, RJ decimating anyone in the battle circuit that dared to step up against him under the original moniker Reignman or last but not least Havoc being 1/2 of the greatest duos of all-time Mobb Deep alongside the late Prodigy. Ras & RJ have worked with each other a few times previously, but got one of the East Coast’s most underrated producers as their 3rd member in time to put out a full-length debut.
“Roll Call” featuring Lil’ Fame & Method Man is a grimy way to kick off the album asking where all the real ones at in this bitch whereas “Nostalgia” incorporates a soul sample for the trio to pour one out for all the fallen soldiers we’ve lost along the way. The title track featuring Kurupt & KXNG CROOKED takes the cavernous route talking about how it’s only right for them to get the cheese but after the “RNR Ep. 1” skit, “Once Again It’s On” featuring Twista ruggedly finds everyone in their battle rap shit.
On the other hand, “Different” kinda has a jazzier flare asking not to be compared to any other artists out here while “Lo-Fi” right after the “RNR Ep. 2” skit soulfully talks about liking the atmosphere gritty. “Stop Playin’” featuring Freeway & Raekwon brings back the pianos to tell everyone to not fuck around with them but after the “RNR Ep. 3” skit, the final song “Old Soul” ends GUTTR’s debut warning that gossiping to them will leave you with your head blown clear.
The hardcore hip hop fans are really gonna find themselves gravitating towards GUTTR’s introductory album & hopefully this is only the beginning of more to come from what is recognized as hip hop’s very first unionization. Primarily due to Ras Kass & RJ Payne paying homage to Prodigy by channeling that old Mobb Deep energy, Havoc setting the musical canvas on an entire album for both lyricists to paint their bars, the guests all matching their intensity
Today, underground rap phenomenon & Sacramento native X-Raided reveals a new single & music video entitled “It’s Up” featuring Ras Kass & KXNG CROOKED. On the track, a triumphant horn loop booms through the beat as these three West Coast rap stalwarts lock into a head-spinning lyrical crossfire. Representing South Central, Ras Kass states his intent with a provocative proclamation, “When you too scared to go outside, I live in the wilderness, psychopaths live to kill, everybody kill to live, I’m somewhere in the middle trying to build a bridge.”X-Raided lives up to the claim of being “one of the dopest rappers on earth you never heard of no matter who you may be” with a fiery flow. Finally, Long Beach’s own KXNG CROOKEDbodies the production with a rapid barrage as he warns, “I don’t rap; I just speak violently as I read from a street diary. Long Beach is on each side of me.” In the accompanying visual, Strange Music co-founder Tech N9nemakes an appearance & bids the trio farewell as they take an intergalactic elevator up to levels unknown, reaching a room with fast cars and models sipping cocktails. Regarding “It’s Up“, X-Raided said, “I teamed up with Ras Kass & KXNG CROOKED for a west coast lyrical beat down constructed by 3 of its most well-known rap assassins. I am excited to give the fans some real bars in this era of fast-food lyrics. Hopefully this will cause other emcees where we’re from to get back to what made us who we are in the first place.”
In an convergence of Hip Hop juggernauts, Havoc, RJ Payne and Ras Kass (GUTTR) join forces with Method Man, Fame of M.O.P., and Sway Calloway in their latest track, “Roll Call.” This Fat Beats backed powerhouse collaboration ignites the underground with its explosive energy and lyrical prowess. From Ras Kass’s razor-sharp wordplay to Method Man’s signature delivery, every moment of “Roll Call” is a testament to the enduring legacy of hip-hop and the timeless skill of its pioneers.
Producer Amadeus360 released his sprawling Boom Bap opus The MPC Jedi via Soulspazm today. The headbanging Ras Kass and M.O.P-anchored album opener “How The Block Sound” received an animated visual treatment by Carlito Way(who also illustrated characters for Adult Swim’s hit TV show The Boondocks). The final product can be seen in the song’s official music video, shared this morning via the self-proclaimed Beat King’s YouTube channel.
El Gant, representing Hyde Park (NYC), dropped a new single “Pageants” which finds the NY lyricist reunited with his Jamo Gang brethren, Ras Kass.
The track is produced by acclaimed beatsmith Marco Polo, and starts off with an intoxicating bass line. MP blends an enthralling soul sample over hard drums while both emcees trade verses. The message is clear; El Gant & Ras Kass reflect on the days before fame and how that fuels them – not the pageantry of the rap game.
“Pageants” is available now through all major DSPs and is taken from El Gant‘s forthcoming LP “O.S.L.O.”due out September through Gant’s own Rule By Secrecy imprint.
After releasing joints with Conway The Machine & Kool G Rap respectively, Boston’s M-Dot returns with a new video for “Blood, Sweat & Tears“. This video (directed by M-Dot) emulates the famous rap battles seen all around the world. There’s a nod to the “The Office” as this is filmed in the mockumentary style format.
His latest album “Dining In Dystopia“ dropped at the end of January and features a gang of talented wordsmiths like Elzhi, Ras Kass, Big Shug and more. The production end is handled by The Mighty V.I.C., C-Lance, and others. If you are feeling this project you can pick it up in both Vinyl and Digital formats via M-Dot’s Bandcamp.
