“MASTERS OF THE DARK ARTS” FEATURES APPEARANCES FROM VINNIE PAZ, SEAN PRICE, THIRSTIN HOWL, SICK JACKEN & BIG LEFT WITH PRODUCTION FROM DJ LETHAL, ILL BILL, DJ PREMIER & STATIK SELEKTAH
MASTERS OF THE DARK ARTS WILL BE RELEASED ON 7-31-2012
Founded in late 2005, La Coka Nostra was more of a loose collective of artists connected through Danny Boy than an “actual” group. Having taken time off from rap after the break-up of House of Pain, Danny Boy met Slaine in Boston and the end result of that meeting transpired into Danny brining him out to L.A. to work on some tracks. Eventually, as they continued the creative process, things began to snowball organically and suddenly former members of House of Pain and ILL BILL joined the studio sessions and La Coka Nostra was born.
As there aptly titled 2009 debut LP proved (the group also has 3 mixtapes and 2 EP’s under their belts), the groups rabid fan base have come to know La Coka Nostra (Slaine, ILL BILL, DJ Lethal, & Danny Boy) as A Brand You Can Trust and their debut LP featured appearances from Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Immortal Technique and Bun B and though most of the production was handled in-house, they also enlisted Alchemist & Q-Unique for production as well.
Always known for tackling controversial topic matter, the group’s sophomore project, Masters Of The Dark Arts, (release date 7-31-2012) finds them once again in torch-bearing mode, addressing subjects that most artists shy away from as ILL BILL illustrates “as conceptually and musically dark as this album appears to be, there's also a flip side layer to it that you may not notice until you listen to it a few times. Masters Of The Dark Arts is a storm before the calm and a celebration of the good things in life that can only be achieved by walking directly into the heart of darkness and facing your inner demons head on."
While the group’s roster has been trimmed slightly due to Everlast having to leave the group (for personal reasons), La Coka Nostra returns re-invigorated and fresh off of a recently completed seventeen-city European tour which saw them rock crowds in eleven different countries “I think we approached Masters Of The Dark Arts with a chip on our shoulder and really took it back to our original mission of hardcore Hip-Hop amidst all the circus bullshit that is so prevalent in the current landscape of the genre. We are aware of the perception that somehow the group has suffered a loss we can’t recover from and in response we made an album that is the most conceptually focused and hardest hitting soundscape in the group’s history” Slaine asserts.
While DJ Lethal and ILL BILL continue to handle the majority of the production on Masters Of The Dark Arts, the group also enlisted Statik Selektah and the illustrious DJ Premier (on the must-hear “Mind Your Business”) and get contributions from Vinnie Paz, Sean Price, Thirstin Howl the 3rd & Big Left as well as Outerspace, Q-Unique & Jaysaun on 2 bonus cuts. "Masters Of The Dark Arts in my opinion is the quintessential La Coka Nostra sound, It has both bark and bite like true hardcore Hip-Hop should!” says Danny Boy.
La Coka Nostra’s Masters Of The Dark Arts will impact on 7-31-2012 and be released by Fat Beat Records.
Tracklisting and credits for La Coka Nostra’s Masters Of The Dark Arts:
1.) “My Universe” f/ Vinnie Paz (produced by Statik Selektah)
2.) “Creed Of The Greedier” (produced by Sicknature)
3.) “המוסד” (produced by DJ Lethal & Scott Stallone)
4.) “Mind Your Business” (produced by DJ Premier)
5.) “Electronic Funeral” f/ Sean Price (produced by Beat Butcha)
6.) “The Story Goes On” (produced by DJ Lethal)
7.) “Letter To Ouisch” (produced by ILL BILL & DJ Lethal)
8.) “Snow Beach” f/ Thirstin Howl the 3rd (produced by Jack Of All Trades)
9.) “The Eyes Of Santa Muerte” ft/ Sick Jacken (produced by ILL BILL)
10.) “Murder World” (produced by C-Lance)
11.) “Coka Kings” f/ Vinnie Paz (produced by C-Lance)
12.) “.38 револьвер” f/ Big Left (produced by Sicknature)
13.) “Malverde Market” (produced by ILL BILL)
14.) “Masters Of The Dark Arts” (produced by DJ Lethal)
Earlier this month, Kool Keith released the 13th album of his career, Love & Danger, via Junkadelic Music. Since release, Keith has walked the red carpet at the recent New York City screening of Ice-T's hip-hop documentary Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, and celebrated Love & Danger's release this past week with two hometown performances: a solo show at Brooklyn Bowl and a performance with Ultramagnetic MC's at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.
Today, Kool Keith is excited to release a new song, the non-album bonus track, "Acura." The track, which is produced by Junkaz Lou, features fellow New York rapper AG, of the legendary Diggin' In The Crates (D.I.T.C.) crew, and throughout the song, Keith and AG take turns behind the mic as they wind and weave bars atop a dark, harrowing instrumental. "I heard thugs got a team coming up, but they're all wack/ I'm walking up with the heat, the baby sawed-off looking like Count Drac."
Loyalty Digital Corp strikes again, this time with the second single off Sadat X’ upcoming album New York entitled "I Know This Game". Produced by Local-Mu12 Member Real McKoy, this record is gritty and hits hard. The scratches provided by DJ Grouch fit the song perfectly, Point blank; Sadat X goes in on this one like the true veteran he is. One of a very select few to record with both Biggie & Jay-Z it is safe to say when you see the title "I Know This Game" you better believe him. The single is a free download and includes a Digital Booklet with pictures from a Sadat X Photo shoot done by Producer/Photographer JFR (Producer of “We In New York”).
New single taken from Copywrite's new album "God Save The King (Proper English Version)" out on Man Bites Dog Records
Arachnaphobia, produced by the UK's Jaguar Skills, also features Wu Tang's Killah Priest, Lord Basis and London's Melanin 9. All 4 Emcees tear into Jag's driving beat, another example of the quality on display throughout the album which features many of the most respected Trans - Atlantic names in the game.
One of the biggest independent international hip hop releases for many years, further production is supplied by Stu Bangas, Curtiss King, Vanderslice, Marco Polo, Bronze Nazareth, Surock and Kount Fif.
His name says it all; standing at well over six feet tall and with the intimidating muscular build of a linebacker, Big Shug's physical presence alone is enough to command attention. His voice, a hoarse rumble effective for delivering both fearsome threats or smooth crooning as his alter-ego Shugie Diamonds, is one of rap's most instantly recognizable. As both a solo artist and founding member of Gang Starr, his name has consistently shown up in album credits alongside hip-hop's elite for over 20 years.
But despite that, Shug has never courted the spotlight. As countless other rappers, and even Gang Starr themselves, fell by the wayside, he has persevered through fans' evolving tastes and a changing record industry by staying true to the ideals - integrity, respect for the streets and love of music - that have fueled his career. Nowhere is that more apparent than on I.M. 4-EVA.
Stitching together the various parts of his career into one, this album, true to its title, is a comprehensive look at who Big Shug is, where he came from and where he is going. With his bruising flow over classic DJ Premier produced cuts bringing back nostalgic 90s memories, he pays tribute to the fans who have stuck with him since the beginning. I.M. 4-Eva - Shug's fourth solo album and his first since 2008's Other Side of the Game - marks the next chapter in his ongoing maturation as an artist. The album reunites Shug with old friends like M.O.P., Fat Joe and Premier, while also connecting with a new generation of hip-hop fans and artists alike.
In addition to the 17 all new studio cuts Brick Records has presented a timeless package; a hard back, 36 page book chronicling The True History of Gang Starr as told by Big Shug, plus anecdotes from his 20+ year career, rare never before seen vintage photos and more. Through his words and his music, Big Shug truly shows here why he is 4-EVA. Big Shug’s I.M. 4-Eva LP and The True History of Gang Starr will be released on 7-24-2012.
Tracklisting for Big Shug’s I.M. 4-Eva LP:
01. Still Here (Prod. By A Kid Called Quest) 02. Hardbody feat. Fat Joe & M.O.P. (Prod. by DJ Premier) 03. Spit Six (Prod. by DJ Premier) 04. For The Real feat. Termanology, Slaine, Singapore Kane & REKS (Prod. by Fizzy Womack) 05. Blue Collar (Prod. by DJ Premier) 06. Ass Mouth (Skit) 07. I.M. 4-Eva feat. Singapore Kane 08. Big Fly Homie (Prod. By A Kid Called Quest) 09. No More feat. Trumayne 10. War In The Club (Prod. by Lee Bannon) 11. We Miss You (Prod. by DJ Premier) 12. My Kids 13. I'll Be Here 14. Sixteen Go 15. New Era 16. True Love 17. Basically (Prod. by Fizzy Womack)
Following two successful collaborative efforts alongside fellow producer/rapper The Alchemist as the power duo Gangrene -2010’s Gutter Water and 2012’s Vodka & Ayahuasca- and the 2011 gem with The Alchemist as Gangrene & Roc Marciano, the Greneberg EP; The Oxnard, California based beat-smith and emcee Oh No returns for a solo mission.
Oh No (born Michael Jackson; younger brother of Madlib and son of singer Otis Jackson) was granted unprecedented access to the Rudy Ray Moore / Dolemite audio archives and given free rein to slice, dice, chop and sample his way through the classic-yet-absolutely-filthy catalog. He was able to use legendary material from The Human Tornado, Petey Wheatstraw, the Dolemite Soundtrack and more, plus a multitude of previously unreleased and alternate acapellas and instrumentals. The end result is Ohnomite (now available everywhere fine music is sold), a 19 track head-banging extravaganza of sloppy funk, dirty soul, and brainy lyricism, all aimed at one thing- making your head nod and your ass shake. And when you add to that guests spots from the likes of Evidence, Phife Dawg, The Alchemist, Erick Sermon, Rapper Pooh, MED, Guilty Simpson, Roc Marciano, Sticky Fingaz, Chino XL, Roc C, Prozack Turner, Termanology, Frank Nitt and this cut with MF Doom “3 Dollars.”
C-Rock Lyrical Addiction Vol.2 is available now featureing Guerrilla Republik/CEO Grind Time - The World's Largest Rap BattleMADD ILLZ, Kingpin,Sunni Hoffa,Chris Skillz,Blacklight,Hannah Hinderer,JL,JL Cream,ELG,Mac Milli,Mikey Vick,Epik Dawn,Mike Shaine,Sap Pioneer,Nick Boots,O'flame,Daniel Black..Download FOR FREE, SUPPORT THE UNDERGROUND
Illmaculate, with his Sandpeople crew, just wrapped a month-long European tour, performing across the continent and sharing stages with the likes of M.O.P. and Slaughterhouse. Now back in the US, and prepping for a forthcoming official album release party in Portland, Illmaculate is excited to release the latest single from his recent Skrill Talk album, "How You Do That," featuring Wu-Tang Clan rapper Inspectah Deck and OnlyOne.
Lyricism has long been Illmaculate's forte, and while he continues to shine throughout Skrill Talk, this latest single, "How You Do That," is most notable, aside from the guest 16 courtesy of Inspectah Deck, for the track's beat. That beat comes courtesy of producer Sapient, who is part of Illmaculate's Sandpeople crew, and the instrumental, with its blaring horns and synths, is nothing short of anthemic. "The beat inspired this song," says Illmaculate. "It's one of my favorites on the album."
