The Trap Door

"When I came on the scene, I was a shock to the system. I was the originator. They were like, 'Wait, if you come into hip-hop, you gotta be respectful. What are you doing? You’re crazy.'"

Folk and hip hop may seem like a ridiculous combination, but Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson are determined to show that the two can meld to form a beautifully imaginative combination that retains the best parts of both genres - and expands upon them in a way that hasn't been seen before. Aesop's cryptic, sometimes head-spinning lyrics are still here, although seemingly more lighthearted thanks to Kimya Dawson's charming awkwardness.

Having this on repeat while typing this, I'm liking it more and more with each listen. The Uncluded is different, very different. And so far, very good.

Keep an eye out for their debut album Hokey Fright due out May 7th through Rhymesayers Entertainment:

Billy Woods is a well informed lyricist hailing from Washington DC, but currently located in NYC. His latest release, History Will Absolve Me, is a mix of heavy street themes mixed with even heavier beats, making for a lyrically absorbing and headpounding experience that souldn't be missed.

You can find History Will Absolve Me here, directly from Mr. Woods studio, and as an even doper bonus, that shit's signed:

Hailing from Harlem, Vast Aire and Vordul Mega make up the hip hop duo Cannibal Ox. In 2001 they released The Cold Vein which has gone on to become an underground essential. Produced by El-P and released on his label Definitve Jux, El-P creates a dingy, urban soundscape that balances perfectly with Can Ox's often abrasively unforgiving lyrics. If you haven't heard this album by now, you're doing it wrong. This is the perfect album to introduce the thoughts and concepts of true underground artists.

Over a decade later, Cannibal Ox has announced they are in the studio recording a follow up to The Cold Vein which will be released later this year,

They have recently formed their own label for this release, and it appears that they've had The Cold Vein pulled from any online retailers that carried it before, including iTunes, so your best bet would be to keep an eye out at local record shops and see if you can snag a copy. I have a feeling that this may be hinting at a re-release, so we may see it available again in the coming months if we're lucky.

But for now you can check out the new EP they released earlier this month! :