While Lupe Fiasco is snatching up all the hype (saw him on MTV...sigh) and all the credit as being THE up and coming Chicago emcee there is another talented dude lying in the background. Sure Lupe's sound is fresh and his track "Kick Push" is the hit of the summer don't over look this Rhymefest kid, he's no slouch.

Maybe some of you where able to check him out on his record, A Star is Born Vol. 1, released in 2005 (features a duo on "Build Me Up Buttercup" with the late O.D.B along with another track featuring a Strokes beat). If you didn't catch his first record don't miss Blue Collar as it has some solid hip hop tracks. One of my favorite hip hop tracks of the year has to be "Dynomite". While his team up on the track "Brand New" with Kanye is garnering the most attention and is the first single, Rhymefest's rhyming and DJ Just Blaze's work on the wheels of steel stand out on the "Dynomite" track.

Mp3: Rhymefest - "Dynomite (Going Postal)"
Mp3: Rhymefest - "All I do"

Buy it! Get Rhymefest's record Blue Collar here or here its only 9.99 for godsake.

If you are going to buy yourself a compilation disc this record buying season you need to look no farther than DJ B.Cause and Matthew Africa's Soul Boulders album. While Giles Peterson back in Brazil is good along with Tropicalia and Idol Tryouts Vol. 2 this soul mix to me stands out. The thing is genius and the the crate digging is superb. Not to mention they do a great job of mixing the entire 33 track disc into on flowing record. The backbone of the record is hand picked 45's and it tops out at a beastly 73 minutes.

Mp3: The Lijadu Sisters - "Life's Gone Down Low"
Mp3 link: DJ B. Cause's Myspace has some dope as hell mixes.

Buy it: Send DJ B.Cause 10 paypal bucks and get this disc.

Seriously, you will not find a better for your 10 dollars than this record right here.

Well it appears that the Supersonics are gone. Reports are that they have been sold to an ownership group in Oklahoma. I was a Sonics fan really before I was a fan of any sports team but it looks like by default I am now a Bulls and Sonics Blazers fan? Huh. Well I guess the Blazers are coached by Mr. Sonic himself so its not too much of a stretch and they have Brandon Roy as well so there is definitely Washington flavor there.

It does look like there might be some legal battles ahead given that the team has a lease on Key Arena that goes through 2010. Hmm this could be interesting. Now if I can only find that Sir Mix-A-Lot's song "Who's the Kings of the Westside!?" Sadly it might no longer be the Sonics.

The Crown Heights duo Ratatat is getting some serious hype right now (I mentioned them on Friday a bit) and from what I have heard so far they deserve every bit of it. Aside from them using a cougar logo that exactly like my high school logo they create a some great instramental cuts.

The following are some free stand outs. The tracks I have heard from the upcoming record Classics which is due out August 22nd are fantastic. Until the official release guitarist Mike Stroud and synthesizer driver and producer Evan Mast plan on releasing a series of 3 limited edition 12" vinyl singles featuring tracks from the new album as well as some exclusive b-sides and remixes.

Be sure to check'em out.

Link: Ratatat - "Wildcat"
Mp3 link: Ratatat - "Lex"
Mp3: Method Man - "PLO Style" (Ratatat Remix)
Mp3: Ratatat - "Seventeen Years"

Myspace em.

Not this Sway but the other Sway. This Sway is a 23-year-old British-born, Ghana-bred Derek Safo. His new record This is my demo has garnered praise from the dudes across the pond but hasn't remained relatively low key here in the States since its release. It hasn't even received the hype as some coming before him, specifically Kano and Dizzee Rascal. Something is does well to point out, "Cause when you do UK rap, you're No. 2/Cause the USA ain't givin' us space to break through."

Mp3: Sway - "This is my demo"
Mp3: Sway - "Products"

Ill talk about a couple more hip hop records that aren't recieving the hype they deserve in the coming weeks. Keep your eye to the ground.

Buy it: This is my Demo (Import).
Read: Ryan Dombal's Pitchfork Review.

The Brand New Heavies have a new record entitled Get Used to It. Why do I know this? First I dig the Brand New Heavies acid jazz/neo soul sound. Second they sent me the damn disc in the mail to review. Its officially my first free record I have recieved for runnin' AG.

This record comes to you via the essential Delicious Vinyl label. Honestly this is the best Brand New Heavies record in 14 years. Yeah their self-entitled record came out back in 1992. This record brings some serious funk and some hard hitting baselines thanks to Andrew Levy, but nothing compares to the soulful delivery of Ms. N'dea Davenport.

Here are a couple of my favorite tracks:

Mp3: Brand New Heavies - "We've Got"
Mp3: Brand New Heavies - "I've Been Touched"

Listen, free stuff is only cool if it doesn't suck. With this record you have nothing to worry about. Pick this thing up. Its the jam.

Buy: Get yourself the new record here.

Have to say I am pretty new to the whole football scene, sure I went to a couple qualifying matches back in the day, but this work cup was the first I followed from front to back. I didn't have much to cheer about as all my teams were sent packing fairly early in the tournament, but the games were great to watch nonetheless. And how about that final?

I am not an Italy fan and I was rooting for France flat out. The game was stellar and I would argue that the French were playing better ball through most of the match. Sure there was the questionable offsides call that was probably onsides but hey. But what about Zinedine Zidane going absolutely loco? Seriously. Supposedly Materazzi said some very nasty stuff (of the racist order) but you can't head butt a guy and take your team out of the match.

But here is where the debate starts. I think he should have stayed in the game. No red. Sure its a nasty nasty foul but its not up to the video screens to ref the game, its up to the refs. They didn't see it and had it not been for the video screens Zidane is still in the game. Sure punish the hell out of him after the match is over but the refs missed it and they should play on. Remember that Rooney Marcus Vickess stomp? Same thing. They missed the stomp but Rooney went on and shoved the player which got him the red he deserved. Another example is Christian Ronaldo getting cleated in the groin in the Dutch-Portugal game.

Its too bad that a top notch player like Henry was denied two championships in one year (his club team Arsenal lost to Barcelona). Regardless of Italy winning I still had an awesome time watching all the matches and following this World Cup and will be sure to do the same in 2010. Hell maybe I will even make my way to South Africa.

Crazy to think that Zidane tarnished his career by head butting a dude in his final game. Can you imagine Michael Jordan smacking Russell in the face instead of crossing him over?* Bill Russell punching Wilt Chamberlain in the face? or Elway kneeing a guy in the groin and being ejected? Its kinda tragic the way Zidane will be remembered for rearing back in anger, lowering his bald dome and driving it into the chest of Materazzi. Sad that a player of such skill lets his temper get the best of him on the game's biggest stage.

Anyways, the French make good music. Check these out courtesy of CallMeMickey:

Mp3: Teki Latex - "Electronic"
Mp3: Goon and Koyote - "The Dough"
Mp3: Sebastian - "Ross Ross Ross"

*yes I realize that Jordan came back but I am marking this moment as when he should have left the game.

"I don't think I'm easy to talk about. I've got a very irregular head. And I'm not anything that you think I am anyway."
-Syd Barrett, Rolling Stone, Dec 1971

Mp3: Pink Floyd - "See Emily Play"

Here are a couple tracks to ward off that summer heat. The first two tracks are by a group called Plastic Little which you may already know from other blogs. Check out these Philly kids they definately have some jams. Check'em out.

Mp3: Plastic Little - "The Jump Off" (A Side)
Mp3: Plastic Little - "Now I Hollar" (B Side)

Since "The Jump Off" features Diplo and Spank Rock I might as well discuss this next track. The cut is by Communidade Ninjitstu. One of the kids from Ninjitstu is Freddi Chernobyl who is also recording about half the bonde do role album. Check out this great summer jam.

Mp3: Comunidade Ninjitsu - "RAP DO TRAGO" (Der Kommissar)

Last cut. Yeah its pop. Yeah its Justin Timberlake. Yeah he was in a boy band. You're point? I am sorry this kid makes some great records and his pop ish has an undeniable beat (Cry me a river and Rock Your Body). You wanna be a hater fine, but I am digging this.

Mp3: Justin Timberlake - "Sexy Back" [Removed by request of RIAA]

Update: Spine Magazine has it here.

The track has some Timbaland production which doesn't hurt. I am not saying I am going to defend a Justin record but he knows how to make pop singles. There is going to be some great remixes of this track I just know it. On the flipside I am sure pop radio and "M"Tv will ruin this track in short order by playing it on loop 24-7. Good thing I don't listen to or watch either.

Sorry for no dig this week. Its hot and humid here and I just can't operate under these conditions. Here is some very very good music that you just have to hear from the kids over at Flou Kids. Awesome stuff.

Mp3: Teki Latex - "Disco Dance With You" (Spank Rock Remix feat. Amanda Blank)

I don't do French but you have to respect this blog as they put up a TON of great music. Who knows maybe the writting is fantastic as well...I may never know. Ohh and I almost forgot.

Mp3: Curtis Vodka as DJ Ca$hmere - "The Champagne Goldtone Mix"

Grab this too from the young kid, Curtis Vodka, out of Alaska. The dude makes some great mixes and remixes.

We all learned that the first leaked track off the new J5 record Feedback was wack, seriously what where they thinking? But I guess what can you expect when you team up with DMB. Sorry but DMB is just not hip hop, wasn't then, isn't now and will never be. Ohh and Pitchfork is not a fan of thier track "Radio." I feared a B.E.P. type sell out but these latest leaks provide hope.

Mp3: Jurassic 5 - "Baby Please"
Mp3: Jurassic 5 - "End Up Like This"

"Baby Please" is a definate improvement. I think they are working in some old Al Green if I'm not mistaken. Both of these are much more classic J5 and sound like what they should be doing. I am just going to try and forget that the DMB collaboration ever happened...we all make mistakes.

In case you missed this here is some more from one of the greatest ever to wield a mic. The track is called "Let's Go" produced by Black Milk (BR Gunna). The cut is taken from Monche's forthcoming album Desire out sometime.

Mp3: Pharoahe Monch - "Let's Go"

Thanks to Tobes at Spine Magazine for the tip.

Here is another track off the Roots upcoming album Game Theory. This track features Peedi Peedi and has a pretty big time beat. Lovin' it. Like this one better than "Don't Feel Right" which is good song as well.

Stream: The Roots feat. Peedi Peedi - "Long Time Coming"

2 for 2 so far on the new record. Is it me or is "P. Crack" the worst name in hip hop? Looking forward to the new Roots' record.

Update: Head over to the essential CallMeMickey for the mp3 version.

Here is a great video for the song "Get yourself high" by the Chemical Brothers featuring K-OS. Check it out.

There have been alot of takes on Gnarls Barkley's crazy and lets be honest most of them, if not all of them, have been pretty downright weak, yes I am looking at you Mr. Lamontagne and Mrs. Furtado. But there is still hope...

Check out this mix by DJ Dave Nada. Great take on it by mixing Angie Stone's lyrics with that great "Crazy" backbeat.

Mp3: Angie Stone - "Wish I Didn't Miss You" (Dave Nada Crazy Mix)

Hats off to Mr. Nada. Be sure to drop by his myspace and grab that "Summertime Kick Push mix."