Polyester the Saint | Sumthin' ta Creez To

Polyester the Saint follows up his debut album Peace, Love, Unity, Respect with a summertime classic (yes, I said classic) Sumthin' Ta Creez To. A high energy album with undeniably L.A. sounds, the solo project (no features) showcases Real Deal P's dexterity as a songwriter and producer. Check the first single and video "El Co" below and download Sumthin' Ta Creez To for the free HERE.

Dom Kennedy | Grind'n

Dom Kennedy has the internet going nuts waiting for From the West$ide, With Love II. Until then, The Infamous Green Streets serves an appetizer: the first "leak" from the project, Grind'n. Produced by Cardo on the Beat.

Nesby Phips ft Trademark Da Skydiver | Chemtrails

Rather than sell dope off his iPhone, Nesby Phips puts it to good use by filming, producing, and editing the visuals for Chemtrails. Nesby explains the motivation behind the track, the chemtrail conspiracy theory:

The video concept is based on the chemtrail conspiracy theory. The theory claims that trails left by government aircrafts contain chemical or biological agents targeting communities where higher-ups seek to influence population and climate control, violence stimulation, respiratory disease, and other health problems.

The fact that he calls upon his J.E.T. affiliation and enlists Trademark Da Skydiver for the hook takes the concept of the song to the next level. Another one in the steady stream of exceptional work from the New Orleans native.

JETS (and possibly government chemicals) over everything.

The Things We Carry | Kyle Bryant

If you're in the Vacationland you might see the wood cut and intaglio prints of Kyle Bryant wheat pasted around town. If you can't catch him on the street you can see his work on display June 8th-25th in Edward T. Pollack Fine Arts at 29 Forest Avenue. Click the image above to visit Kyle Bryant's online portfolio and print shop to see more of his work.

His work can also be seen on the cover of Portland, ME, hip hop group Sandbag's newest album. And as long as we're on Maine hip hop be on the look out for new music by the prolific South Portland, Mainers Dynamo-P & Ryan Augustus/Ghost.

Changing the Game? | Ode to Illmatic x Elmatic

Illmatic is one of the most impactful HipHop albums of all time. Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones penned a classic that continues to inspire emcees the world over. Lately, and most explicitly, it spawned two mixtapes, beginning with Fashawn's "Ode to Illmatic," released in June of 2010. The mixtape, sponsored by XXL magazine and DJ Green Lantern, featured original Illmatic beats, and paid homage to the influence that Illmatic had on Fashawn's state of mind.

Last month, Elzhi followed suit, releasing "Elmatic," paying his respects to Illmatic. The tape features the remaking of the beats featured on Illmatic by Detroit band Will Sessions, and was sponsored by XXL magazine. Like Fashawn, Elzhi stayed true to the lyrical structure and cadence of the original.

The genre of HipHop has always toed the line between biting an original and creating something new. The use of samples in HipHop production immediately comes to mind, with artists whose work has been re-appropriated often catching feelings, and paychecks, over sample clearance. The integrity and intentions of the artists and projects posted is unquestioned--both Fashawn and Elzhi are true lyricists--but such similar mixtapes, in such a short amount of time, sponsored by the same magazine, gave me pause.

We want to hear what you think. Hit us on facebook, twitter, or post up in the comment box below.

L.A.U.S.D. | Ignite ft. Thurz x Y​-​O x Vida Jafari

The Los Angeles Unified Sound District (L.A.U.S.D.) is responsible for a lot of those west coast sounds that end up finding their way to your eardrums, having produced for the likes of Dom Kennedy, Blu, U-N-I, etcetera. Made up of artists/producers Polyester and L4ZY LOU, L.A.U.S.D. enlists Thurz, Y-O, and Vida Jafari for "Ignite," off their upcoming project L.A.U.S.D. *Board of Production.

Jay Ant | You Don't Understand

Bay Area emcee Jay Ant laces a beat, riding out to some smooth production sounding like summertime on the visuals for "You Don't Understand" (filmed and directed by Aris Jerome). Off his latest mixtape All About Being Cool 2: F%#! it, Smile.

Ses da Great | Dream Chaser x Cartoon Dedication

I've been told that the worst thing you can do to a person is take away their sense of purpose, and I'm going to go ahead and say that this applies to music as well. When swag saturates with no substance, the results can be (and often are) disastrous. Such is not the case with Newburgh, New York emcee Ses da Great and his TRUSIC movement--True Righteous Unique Successful Inspiring & Creative music. Ses laces tracks you might otherwise confuse with the industry standard with a distinct narrative and uncompromising message and mission. Check these two cuts off his latest offering, Live Great. Ses spits the obstacles he's overcome and the rewards that lie on the horizon in "Dream Chaser" and articulates what all that Saturday morning tv did to his brain on "Cartoon Dedication." Not satisfied with two cuts? Get some more trusic on your playlist, download Live Great HERE.

Ses da Great | Dream Chaser

Ses da Great | Cartoon Dedication

Skeme | The Statement

I've been waiting for this one since Pistols & Palm Trees. Inglewood's own, Skeme, drops his highly anticipated sophomore mixtape The Statement. Featuring Casey Veggies, Dom Kennedy, Freddie Mac and G Austin; production by Boi-1da, The Futuristiks, Bink!, and others. Download The Statement HERE.

While we wait for new visuals from The Statement, keep your appetite up and musical palette wet (pause) with these two drops from Pistols & Palm Trees, respectively.

Blu | je s u s ▲

In an era where most music is overproduced, or not deemed acceptable by any standards other than HD, it's refreshing when a project comes along that embodies some of the grit that hiphop has lost since the bling era. Such is the feeling that Blu's newest project je s u s ▲ invokes, which dropped today without warning. Featuring production from alchemist, madlib, hezekiah, knxwledge, 9th wonder, nathan & g o d barnes.

And if you're stuck on that apocalypse shit for this coming Saturday, we invite you to check out TwentyTwelve's take on things HERE. Don't fret, it will be beautiful.

J*DaVeY | Evil Christian Cop: The Great Mistapes

Hailing from Los Angeles, Jack Davey and Brook D'Leau are J*DaVeY. Their style and sound is best understood through experience, but they phrase it nicely, dubbing it a "...merger of hip hop culture, electronic innovation, with a soul/funk spirit and punk attitude." Inspired by the dark undercurrents that exist in the phrase, "To protect and serve," their latest project, Evil Christian Cop: The Great Mistapes goes a long way in showcasing their distinct taste and unique sounds. It's a solid tape with dope inspiration, but Brook admits that, "We cannot provide the message, we simply provide the mental playground for listeners' minds to go wild upon."

Consider this a formal invitation to go wild.

Noey | By the Acre

Noey sparks up and flips the flow. To quote Jigga Man, you gotta puff a J to this one.

"Eyes lookin' like the Black Swan, get the mission?"

Culture of Creativity

To live in America is to live under constant assault from advertising: media, promoting an endless number of products, is constantly shoved into our field of vision. Nothing exists in a vacuum though, and so products aren't merely products--they're a reflection of a state of mind, a set of intentions. Marketers understand this. Their goal is to get you to consume.

The Culture of Creativity also understands this. Their mission? To inspire you to create. They accomplish this by documenting the people around them who are pursuing their passions, committed to the actualization of their dreams, by any means.

For those who were privileged enough to witness it, Jordan inspired a lot of this same sense in us. The way he played the game moved many to action; who amongst us hasn't attempted to recreate and recapture the essence of his intensity on the court? Linking up with The Madbury Club, the Culture of Creativity took to the streets to document those paying homage to the legend who's influence on the game forever changed it. A prelude to the Asphalt Warriors spread.

From the B.A.Y. | Rafael Casal. GETBACK!

Reppin' the East Bay, CA, Rafael Casal has been doing his thing for a minute since he started blowing up television screens with "Barbie & Ken 101" on Def Poetry Jam. Maybe you didn't notice, maybe you couldn't hear with all the noise they put into the airwaves these days, so maybe you didn't take note, but this is an emcee artist who chooses his words and imagery carefully. Reppin' The Getback, a bay area collective dedicated to keeping good art in rotation, Casal showcases his crisp high-energy flow in this Get:Live episode, and delivers the cool in "Spitter" off his Monster LP (which was released in 2009--long before 'Ye, Jay, and Nicki decided to play dress up with the word).

Download Rafael's latest work, The Bay Boy Mixtape, HERE

#GETBACK!

This is not your job.

I don't know how many of you saw the season premier of Southpark, but that shit is crazy (pun intended). Dug this image up out of the old external hard drive. Don't get convinced that that's your purpose, even when people get paid to make you believe otherwise.

Word to Cartman.

Polynice Pictures x J Royal | Don't Stop

This one is a trip. Brooklyn emcee J Royal enlists Polynice Pictures to shoot the visuals for his aggressively laid back track "Don't Stop." Shot in Brooklyn and LA, you get a freshly unique understanding and perspective on two cities that have been filmed countless times over. Directed by Abteen Bagheri.



Sample: One Way | Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)

A couple other gems that also sampled Don't Stop:

Stop, Drop, Shut 'Em Down, Open Up Shop

The TwentyTwelve Art shop is now up and running, but just warming up. Prints are available, originals are coming soon, and send an e-mail for inquiries about clothing. Check back often for additions from various new artists and restocking.

Kane | Catch the Sun ft.VanGogh and Jaja Gibore

Kane drops the visuals for his solo joint Catch the Sun, which dropped last Wednesday as a holiday snack for those celebrating their residence in the 420 area code. The video, another solid production by Intell Hazefield, captures the smooth tone of the track and the spark of light that we feel in cyphers when Mary acts as a muse. Featuring fellow Albany emcees VanGogh and Jaja Gibore.

Meet Yulia Pinkusevich

Wandering the Stanford campus yesterday with friends, we had the pleasure of meeting and stumbling upon the studio that belongs to current MFA student Yulia Pinkusevich. Hailing from Kharkov, Ukraine, Yulia is an interdisciplinary visual artist whose works include Atomic Bomb Portraits, installation art, and orgami on a scale the likes of which I had not previously witnessed. We were privileged to get a look at one of her most recent installation pieces on display, "Icarus," a kinetic fan composed of Aluminum, steel, and Tyvec paper. The paper and metal mesh seamlessly into simplicity and elegance; what's more, due to the Icarus's mechanical nature, it can take on many forms, being as inviting and open or as closed and rigid as it cares to be. Check out and explore the influences and messages behind Yulia's impressive body of work on her website, www.yuliapink.com

Life of a Wall on E. Houston & Bowery

Around this time last year, Shepard Fairey was catching a lot of buzz for his trip to New York City, where he put up a mural in the west village. It was a nice piece of work, to be sure, done by an artist recognized the world over. However, nothing--in life, arts, culture, or most certainly in the streets--is permanent. Who knows how many hours it lasted in its original state, but it only took a couple days for the sticker slaps and tags being thrown up on it to get some press (including, of all things, a Target sticker). To his credit, Shepard was cool with the transformation of his work, which was, after all, influenced by and therefore also a product of the same culture that was destroying it.

I decided to take a visit and see what had become of this wall. I don't know which artist(s) work this is, nor when it went up, but there it is.I think I like it. It grabs the attention of people and casts a haunting image on the reflective surfaces around it. The characters are an expressive bunch, attempting to smile amidst the grind of the City.