Apollo the Great - "5AM Eastern Time"

Apollo the Great is an inspired MC. The way it should be. He's talking about real grit and true crime like nobody else. See, Apollo is from Camden, New Jersey. Consistently one of the most dangerous and poor cities in America. A city where half of it's police force were laid off late last year because they didn't have enouch presence, control or effect. They needed to bring in a non union force and double their presence. How can you not rap about that?

Taking the instrumental from Drake's "5AM in Toronto," Apollo gives more of that Camden scary tales raw that is his staple. It's dark and street but clearly based in remarkable skill and true hunger for an escape.

Check out the free stream and download below. His latest album, 'Hennessy Diaries,' is available now on iTunes.

  

Mistah F.A.B. - "This Is What's Cool?" Music Video

image via XXL

Social responsibility. A seemingly entirely lost idea in Rap music. The content is out there but online outlets, program directors and record labels don't give it any play. Instead we're constantly bombarded with sex, drugs and violence. A host of variations on the same exact theme. Every time. Without fail. Yet, for all of the repetitive garbage, people buy it. These labels spend millions promoting it and we give it all back to them plus some.

The art of Rap was replaced by the business of Rap. 

Mistah F.A.B. is a very interesting artist to me because he was a part of the problem and then made the conscious decision to become part of the solution. I couldn't tolerate the music that made him famous but I'm completely behind his new material. The Bay Area staple has pointed his lyricism to more socially responsible content in spite of knowing it won't spread the way his earlier music did. That's the mark of a real man, a God inspired soul and an exemplary father. 

In "This Is What's Cool?" he tackles the ridiculousness of the fascination with death and destruction in his hometown of Oakland (and every neighborhood like it.) It's an important message that used to have a much more prominent place in Hip-Hop. Rap music should uplift up more people than the very few who profit from selling sex, drugs and death. But "that's the type of shit niggas really think is cool..."

I'm 100% here for this effort, Mistah F.A.B. Thank you for doing what is just and exemplary for your children and others! 

Check out the video below and SUPPORT THIS MAN! The game needs it.

Leikeli47 - "$$$ Ina-Bind" Music Video

What the hell is this? Who? How? When? I don't even know where to begin with this one!

Meet Leikeli47. Yes, that is her name.... I don't know what to tell you. It's pronounced leh-kay-lee. That's all I know.

This one came through via the stylish fellows over at Stuff Fly People Like. I am completely mesmerized by everything I saw and intrigued by everything I did not see. This girl is OUTTA HERE! She is dopeness on a stick... in a mask. You haven't seen or heard anything like this since Missy Elliott was at the peak of her career and Leikeli47 is going to establish a whole new movement in Hip-Hop culture. That "it" factor that people always talk about? Yeah.

I seriously don't know what to say. I'll only end up gushing superlatives so just watch this joint IMMEDIATELY

I have a link to the mixtape but I'll post it later. I need time to get my senses back after this...