Gregory Pepper & Madadam "Big Huge Truck"

Expanding the Backpack, 6/29/13

New free EP from weirdo indie-pop hopper Greg Pepper and Canadian producer Madadam, offered up courtesy of Fake Four Inc.  This follows in the steps of Gregory Pepper's excellent "Escape From Cystal Skull Mountain" album that dropped last year, and has been billed as more of a hip hop style side project that him and Madadam closely worked on together for a while.  Even if Gregory Pepper's moronic singing and humorous lyricism aren't your cup of tea, this free project is still worth checking out for the collaborations that him and Madadam have roped in from their Fake Four fam.  Featured over the course of the album are verses from Ceschi, Noah23, Awol One, Open Mike Eagle and Kirby Dominant to name.  Stand-out songs include "House on Wheels" and "Let's Be Friends," though the album's crowning achievement may be "Walrus for Mayor," which finds Awol One and Gregory Pepper waxing poetic over a very warm and optimistic Madadam beat.  My only gripe with this project is that the sound is mixed very low, which means you really gotta crank up the volume if you want to hear it clearly next to other recordings.  Still definitely worth a free download over on the Fake Four Inc Bandcamp Page, or a stream under the tracklisting below: 

1. Sisypheon Rock (Gregory Pepper Mix) 

2. Mechanical Head (feat. Blue Blue Heron) 

3. House on Wheels (feat. Noah23) 

4. Cautionary Tales (feat. Ceschi) 

5. Pinch the Hooch, Double Helix, Jizz Cracker 

6. Walrus for Mayor (feat. Awol One) 

7. Stone Airplane 

8. Madadam Interlude

9. Stirring Dead Leaves (feat. Open Mike Eagle) 

10. Let's Be Homies (feat. Kirby Dominant) 

11. Fronting In Your Heartbone (feat. Livestock) 

12. Sisypheon Rock (Madadam Remix) 

Destro Destructo "Day of the Dead"

Expanding the Backpack, 6/17/13

 

New album from Destro Destructo of Oldominion/Boom Bap Project, "Day of the Dead," available on a donation basis (or as a free download) via Destro's Bandcamp Page.  This album is entirely produced by a producer from Zaragoza, Spain by the name of Cash Flow, who tragically passed away in 2011 over a battle with leukemia.  Destro decided to complete the project and offer it up to the masses in Cash Flow's honor, and the album is an achievement with plenty of stand-out boom bap hip hop jams to nod your head to.  Cash Flow's simple loop-based production is a great compliment to Destro's steady voice and style, and the plethora of guest spots from the always excellent Oldominion crew further boost the quality of the product.  Early favorites to me are the title track and "Along for the Ride," though the whole thing is pretty solid and well worth a listen.  You can download the album for free over on Destro's Bandcamp, but if you choose to donate something for it 65% of the proceeds will be donated to cancer research/care in Cash Flow's name.  

1. Dream Big 

2. Along for the Ride 

3. Undertow 2.0 (feat. Snafu & NyQwil) 

4. Sweat Equity 

5. Day of the Dead (feat. Goldini Bagwell & Pablo) 

6. Filthy (feat. JFK) 

7. Fever (feat. L Pro) 

8. Grizzly 

9. Heaven & Hell (feat. Bishop I) 

10. Black Cobra (feat. Onry Ozzborn, Iame & Laura Ivancie) 

11. Served Cold (feat. Luck One) 

12. Occupational Hazard 

13. Electrico (feat. Oldominion) 

14. Champion Sound (feat. L Pro) 

15. Eyes Wide (feat. Josh Malm aka Redwood Son) 

16. Fade Away 

17. Code of Conduct (feat. Silas Blak & Serge Severe)

nosunnofood "nosunnofood"

Expanding the Backpack, 6/5/13

New self-released project from Edison, under the moniker of nosunnofood, available now on a name-your-own-price basis.  This new album is an accoustic driven project that was apparently recorded over the course of four years and underwent various moves and metamorphoses in the process.  Edison is one of the Bay Area's finest producers, and this collection of songs offers up a quieter and more meditative approach to his beats while maintaining his trademark excellence.  The folky guitar elements of the production here remind me a bit of the awesome instrumental hip hop album that 2econd Class Citizen released last year "The Small Minority," though nosunnofood definitely stands out on its own and delivers a very strong emotional palette of sounds.  Some great music to write or make art to, but also an album that you can really pay attention to in your headphones.  You can download the album for whatever price desire (including Free Fifty Free) via Edison's Bandcamp Page or you can stream it in full below:

1. the sighs
2. slow climb to the common corners
3. there is no war in love and hate
4. astringent
5. the repeating fades grayer everytime
6. until the day your keys own you
7. my modesty, your venn diagram
8. where she walks, i will walk too
9. that dream of falling face first
10. breaking through to find more to go through
11. last time, that stuff you said was wrong

Dillon & H20 "The New Blues Brothers EP"

Expanding the Backpack, 5/22/13

New free EP from Dillon and H20 of Mass Influence, who are touting themselves as "The New Blues Brothers" and who got the funky chops to prove it.  Dillon is a rapper who I wasn't immediately sold on when I heard his earlier work, but who's gotten progressively better with each release to the point where he's kinda killin' it on this new EP.  Mass Influence also released a hell of a comeback song "Morning Breath Chasers" last year, and it's great to hear some new rawness from H20 on here.  The Blues Brothers concept is fun and ties the project together nicely, and the whole thing has the enormous benefit of being produced by one of funkiest hip hop producers on the map, Batsauce.  Good stuff, you can download "The New Blues Brothers" for free (or whatever you wanna donate) on Dillon's Bandcamp Page or stream the EP below:

1. 106 Miles to Chicago (Intro)
2. The New Blues Brothers
3. Outlaws
4. Something in the Wind
5. Waddap Y'All (feat. Chop)
6. Get Your Mackin' On

Corina Corina "Come Again: The Eargasm Extended"

Expanding the Backpack, 5/15/13

New free EP of quality music from NY-based R&B singer Corina Corina.  "Come Again: The Eargasm Extended" is a solid collection of mostly extensions and remixes from Corina's last full length solo album "The Eargasm."  It serves as a nice companion piece to that album, but also functions well as an entry point for people who have yet to hear Corina's music.  Tracks like the remix of "Express Train" benefit from the inclusion of some great new guest verses, and it's awesome to hear fresh material from Corina with Angi3 on "Walk a Mile," but the EP's crowning achievements are the impressive remixes of the songs "O.D Love" and "Royalty."  With "O.D. Love,"  Connecticut producer Deto-22 transforms a previously mellow number into a dark electronic tour de force that seems constantly on the verge of leaning into drum n' bass territory, with exciting results.  Similarly, Willie Green's remix of "Royalty" completely abandons the quiet lounge atmosphere of the original in favor of some strong percussion and funky organ sounds, reworking the song into something entirely new.  Great EP all around, accompanied by some very tasteful cover art.  You can download "Come Again: The Eargasm Extended" for free over at Corina Corina's Bandcamp Page, or stream it under the tracklisting below:

1. Express Train (Remix) (feat. Roc Doogie)
2. O.D. Love (Deto-22 Remix)
3. Royalty (Willie Green Remix)
4. I'm Free (Francois Merryweather Remix)
5. Cost of Living (Remix) (feat. Julius Jones)
6. Walk a Mile (feat. Angi3)

B.I.C. (Bitches Is Crazy) "Influence"

Expanding the Backpack, 4/19/13

 

New free full length album from New York hip hop crew Bitches Is Crazy, brought to you by NY's often underrated High Water Music label.  I have very little to share about these guys since they're a new name in my book and I can't find a bio listed anywhere, but from what I can piece together the group consists of a bunch of rapper types (Yesus 199, Pete, Ill Spills, Izzy OZ) and a couple frequent producers (VESA, MP the God, Chuk Le Garcon).  This "Influence" album of theirs earns them some strong points in the "classy hip hop street vibes" department, with their gruff voices complimenting the  soulful production nicely.  The album has a couple misses, and content-wise the constant raps about bitches and blunts do leave something to be desired, but overall this joint succeeds in my book off the strength of atmosphere that it evokes.  I really do feel immersed in the world of hip hop that B.I.C. lives in when I toss this on, and there's something to be said about hip hop that can convey that feeling to you even when you can't always relate.  Sucio Smash of High Water Music tends to be somewhat of a don when it comes to picking strong slept-on rap talent from New York (Homeboy Sandman, Fresh Daily, Senor Kaos, etc.), so it's always worth casting an ear to his picks of the litter.  You can download B.I.C.'s "Influence" free of charge over at the High Water Music Bandcamp Page, or stream it under the tracklisting below.  

1. Yinfluence 

2. NEVERCHILLIN 

3. This Money 

4. Shinin' 

5. WAVE 

6. Basic Bitch (Typaniggayou)

7. Ever Since 

8. Yo Soy Widdit 

9. What's Up (They Know) 

10. That's Right 

11. Groupie Love 

12. Taking Shorts 

13. Busty Love 

14. Food For Thought 

15. Wise Words 

16. DOPM 

17. Happy to be Here (Shoutro) 

18. Mechanism 

19. Split 

Ecid "Post Euphoria" EP

Expanding the Backpack, 3/31/13

Late on sharing this one, but I was under the impression that it was supposed to later in the month and the single that premiered on Rolling Stone's website (props!) threw things off.  I've actually been listening to Ecid's new freEP since around the beginning of March, and it's another strong showcase of his smarty pants rapping and beat-making expertise.  The EP kind of picks up where his 2012 masterpiece "Werewolf Hologram" left off, following a similar pattern of choppy production techniques and snide rap verses while adding more live instrumentation into the mix.  "Post Euphoria" is mostly lighthearted in tone but deals with a lot of dark subject matter, and Ecid keeps things clever and interesting for the course of its short duration.    I hear that a new full length "Pheromone Heavy" is in the works for 2013, so color me intrigued.  You can download the "Post Euphoria" EP free of charge via Ecid's Bandcamp Page, or stream it in full below.

1. Burn Everything
2. Dream Boat
3. Kum & Go (feat. Ashley Gold)
4. Insomniac by Choice
5. 2Pac Cobain (feat. Sean Anonymous & Rapper Hooks)
6. Akmude Sallam (2013 Version)

Moodie Black "Moodie Black" EP

Expanding the Backpack, 3/5/13

New free EP from one of the latest signees to the almighty Fake Four Inc, Moodie Black.  Consisting of vocalist/producer K., guitarist Sean Lindahl, and drummer David Norbert, this Arizona based hip hop noise outfit is new to me but has a pretty impressive sound.  They used to go under the name GAHEDiNDIE which vaguely rings a bell to me, but this is definitely my first time hearing their material and I'm enjoying the extra noisy and distorted approach they're bringing to the table on this EP.  Their jagged sound immediately stands out and the production kind of reminds me of Ecid's beats on the recent Sector 7G album, with plenty of discordance highlighting some well thought-out flows and melodies.  Strong material that's got me looking forward to more.  You can download the EP over at the Fake Four Bandcamp Page or stream it below:

1. COMPLEXION
2. NO BLOOD (feat. Ceschi)
3. TOTEM
4. HIPSTER DEATH
5. CROW

Tommy V "Mockingbird"

Expanding the Backpack, 12/31/12

New free EP of extra fun music from Tommy V, "Mockingbird," out now via Fake Four Inc.  It's been ages since I last heard a solo album from Tommy V, and I'd kind of assumed that he'd quit making new music at this point, so when the Fake Four guys announced that this was dropping for free in December my curiosity was piqued.  It's been some 12 odd years since his last solo project "Quarter Life Crisis" dropped and garnered a cult following amongst LA underground heads, and I have a major soft spot for the Convenience Store album he put out with evs and Neila in 2007, so it's great to hear him back in full form here!  Tommy has always had a very fun and creative vibe to his music, and this EP shows off both of those attributes with great humor and sincerity.  Not one track in, and the man is already picking grey hairs from his nutsack and hologramming himself to avoid bottles being thrown at him!  Great upbeat jazzy music with fun melodic rap styles and memorable lyrics (check out his critique of hipster cafe's on "Cafecíto Orgánico" or his funny second-hand story "Pawn Shop").  I guarantee that you Pigeon John fans out there will go absolutely crazy for this shit.  One of the best free hip hop albums 2012 has to offer, so don't you dare sleep on it.  Download Tommy V's "Mockingbird" on Fake Four's Bandcamp Page or stream it below:

1. Cepillín Intro
2. Remember Me?
3. Son of a Gun
4. Disillusioned
5. Cafecíto Orgánico
6. Dollar Bin Delectables
7. I Hate Music
8. Useless Labels (feat. David Ramos)
9. How's Cali (feat. Ceschi)
10. Pawn Shop
11. Seu Amor
12. Always Heal
13. For Infinity
14. Can You Hear Me?

The Understudies "CC5: Collected Compliments"

Expanding the Backpack, 10/16/12

Not in the habit of sharing mixtapes on this blog, but this new 19 track collection of unreleased joints and loosies from Berkeley CA's Understudies Crew is surprisingly tight.  I've been watching these fellas grind in the Bay Area rap scene for a second now, and their hearts and heads are all in the right places when it comes to this hip hop shit.  "Collected Compliments" is the fifth and finest installment of their "CC" mixtape series, and features some of the best recorded Understudies stuff I've heard to date.  Core members of the crew such as Gee, Citizen, Sean E Depp and Manifest are all accounted for on the raps while production credits include the likes of Digital Martyrs, Myers, Cyberclops, and more.  Plenty of highlights to point out here, whether it's Poe effortlessly killing his verse on "Pressure Cooker" or Gee straight clownin' on fools on "Disclaimer."  Sean E Depp delivers one of his strongest songs with "Can I Help You?", flexing his calm flow over a smooth self-produced beat that perfectly compliments his style.  My favorite track on the album is probably Self Advocate's solo joint "The Tiller," a beautiful introspective number where Self flips some impressive styles for 6 minutes over a keyboard and guitar driven beat of his own crafting.  Hard to pick a proper "digital blog single" for this mix since a lot of the songs are short and unfinished, but "Without You" is a strong number by Gee and Foss that gives you a good sense of what this crew is like to listen to live.  Stream the song below and download the entire "CC5: Collected Compliments" mix legally for free HERE.  Also, be on the lookout for the long-belated official full-length Understudies album "One Night Only," which is dropping sooner than you think.

1. Kushy (Myers)
2. Blood, Sweat & Cheers (Gee, Manifest, Maintain)
3. Any Other Night (Foss & Fly Cobb)
4. Pressure Cooker (feat. ABNG) (Poe & Sean E Depp)
5. For The Moment (Gee, Foss, Manifest)
6. Disclaimer (Gee, Poe, JB Nimble)
7. Road Cats (Fly Cobb & Foss)
8. Gentlemen (Maintain & Myers)
9. Inhale (Remix) (Manifest & Foss)
10. Can I Help You? (Sean E Depp)
11. Kick Off (Manifest)
12. The Tiller (Self Advocate)
13. Without You (Gee & Foss)
14. Space Revisited, Part 2 (Foss)
15. Take'Em To Space (Sean E Depp & Poe)
16. Time Bomb Tickin' (Gee & Sean E Depp)
17. Cipe (Myers)
18. The Elders (Jazzmatazz) (Foss & Manifest)
19. One Night Only (Foss & Poe)

Download CC5 and visit the Understudies website

  The Understudies "Without You" (produced by Dakota) by elitwack

QM & Maclane "Take Me to Your Liter"

Expanding the Backpack, 9/16/12

Bottles up!  If you haven't heard it already, QM and Maclane are about to Rec your life in the most awesome way imaginable with this new FreEP of extraterrestrial debauchery.  Proe and QM both blessed us with some solid free music earlier this year, but "Take Me To Your Liter" captures Rec League's infamous live show better than any previous RECording in my opinion.  QM goes in with the poppy hooks and alcohol-intensive verses as he does best while Maclane flexes his production muscles something fierce.  Enormous beats like "Juice" and "Finish the Cup" are sure to incite dance riots at your local SF dive bar, while smoother jams like "Cups Up" and "Birthday" will have you feeling like a boss as your cruise down Mission St. in your vehicle at 2 in the morning.  Maclane's rapping is surprisingly great on this as well, and proves that he can hold his own on a song next to Rec heavy-weights like QM and Richie Cunning.  This thing's being offered absolutely free, which means you can spend that money on a 40 and appreciate these tunes properly.  Download "Take Me to Your Liter" on QM's Bandcamp Page or stream it below, just remember that you ain't blasting it loud enough until you receive a noise complaint from Mars.

1. Take Me to Your Liter
2. Juice
3. Finish the Cup (feat. Stranger Day)
4. Celebration (Remix)
5. Birthday (feat. Ernie McCrackin)
6. Cups Up (Can I Sip?) (feat. Richie Cunning)

See & Be "Talksicology"

Expanding the Backpack, 7/28/12

New music from long-time Bay Area rap talent Joe Dub and veteran producer AC75, who're using the moniker See & Be for their collaboratiion here.  Been a minute since I heard some new music from Joe, and one listen through this reveals that San Francisco is still beating in his heart even when Hawaii is his home.  Some real funky feel good music that you ride around the Bay to or get live with at a Gurp City show.  At only 4 songs long this thing's like a maxi-single, but hopefully it's a hint that that long-waited Contra Band album "Praise Dirt" that Joe and AC have been working on will be dropping in the near future.  You can download See & Be's "Talksicology" EP over at the Isolated Wax Bandcamp Page, or stream it in it's entirety below.  Errrray:

Sixo "Tracking Perception EP"

Expanding the Backpack, 3/3/12

Terrific new free EP from Texas producer Sixo, presented to you by Fake Four Inc. Sixo's last full length "Fruits of Labor" was kind of an undiscovered gem that was handed to me at a Busdriver show. The album was good enough for me to feel the need to review it long after having originally received it, which is a rarity for strange CDs handed to me at shows. It's great to see this guy rolling with the Fake Four roster now, and also great to hear that his production has continued to improve while maintaining its grimy qualities. Like Sixo's last full length, this EP boasts a scary amount of MC talent: Ceschi, Onry Ozzborn, Awol One, Noah23 and Sole all make noteworthy guest appearances amongst others. You can stream Sixo's new EP under the tracklisting below, or download it for free via the Fake Four Bandcamp Page 2012 is officially the best year for free music in... ever!

1. Snowballs 2012 (feat. Ceschi & John McGee on guitar)
2. Daggers (feat. Noah23 & Gregory Pepper)
3. Dance With Stars (feat. Sole)
4. Calculated Trust (feat. Cainam, Poindexter & Onry Ozzborn)
5. For the Blind
6. Melting Away (feat. Awol One)
7. Cop Gods (feat. Heir Max, Poindexter & Sixo)
8. Mammoth

Edison "The Full Mustafa"

Expanding the Backpack, 2/27/12

Adding to this year's already stellar line-up of free releases is this new collection of beats from one of San Francisco's most talented producers, Edison. This button-mashing tech wiz has produced for the likes of Aesop Rock and Bleubird amongst others, and just recently released a split LP with Doomtree's Lazerbeak on Fieldwerk Records. Plus, the man can rock his beats live like it's nobody's business. This free full length instrumental hip hop album is dubbed by Edison as "shit your uncle hippy wished he had heard while he was ripping tubes," and the mysteries abound. Why are there no song titles? In what order are the tracks meant to be listened to? What is that chicken doing on the cover? Who IS the "beastmaster"? And how in the name of God can music so free sound so banging? One thing's for sure - you beat fiends need to download this album with a quickness over at 900 Bats and take note. Possible tracklisting(?) below:

1. before20
2. double zero
3. eighteen (feat. beastmaster)
4. o-3
5. o... eight
6. oh one (feat. EVAK1)
7. one zero
8. one7
9. onetwo
10. six
11. zero four
12. zero7
13. 009
14. 05
15. 0two
16. 15
17. 1four
18. 1three
19. 20

Void Pedal "Pair of L"

Expanding the Backpack, 2/21/12

There were no instrumental hip hop albums in 2011 that moved me as much as Void Pedal's "Omni-Colour," so it's super exciting to see a new EP of songs from the ultra-talented Chicago beatsmith. And believe it or not, this new "Pair of L" mini-joint is being offered to you for FREE via the Fieldwerk Records website! Acquiring this download for yourself is a serious no-brainer. There are no labels in hip hop currently offering the high level of instrumental music that Fieldwerk has at their disposal, and this is a perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to Void Pedal's tunes (or expand your collection of his music, if you're a major fan like me). Tracks like "21 Guns Pt. 2" and "Strugs" will leave you scratching your head over why this guy hasn't blown up to RJD2 levels of popularity yet. Really complex and moody layered instrumentals. Download Void Pedal's "Pair of L" on Fieldwerk's website, or preview a song from it beneath the tracklisting below.

1. Observer
2. Solace Eye
3. 21 Guns Pt. 1
4. 21 Guns Pt. 2
5. 21 Guns Pt. 3
6. Strugs

QM & Pudge "No SleE.P."

Expanding the Backpack, 2/21/12

Round two of 2012's Rec League takeover comes in the form of this new free EP from QM & Pudge, who deliver some really chill West Coast vibes with this extra nice shortplayer. This project is not quite on par with Proe's superb full length "Be Brave, Gladiator", but comes damn close to matching it in quality and is another great free release from the rowdy SF clique. I'm really impressed by how much QM's rapping has improved on this EP, as he's developed a very smooth sound with his verses that stands out more than any of his previous recordings. This EP is really fun feel good music that should work great at a live show (as Rec League songs always do) or through car speakers on a sunny drive through Cali. You can download the "No SleE.P." for free via QM's Bandcamp Page, or stream it under the tracklisting below. P.S: "Ernie McCrackin" is a pretty sweet name for a guest rapper as well.

1. No Sleep (produced by Juicy the Emissary)
2. Out Rage Us (produced by A Sims)
3. White Boy Wasted (produced by Grip Grand)
4. Woke Up in the AM (feat. Proe) (produced by Juicy the Emissary)
5. Time to Get Paid (produced by A Sims)
6. Know My Name (feat. Ernie McCrackin & DJ Yeah Def) (produced by TLit)

Brother Ali "The Bite Marked Heart" EP

Expanding the Backpack, 2/14/12

In honor of St. Valentine's Day, Brother Ali and Rhymesayers entertainment are offering up this free collection of romance-inspired songs. Produced by Jake One and Ant, this is the first EP of brand new material from Brother Ali in a minute, and features collabs with folks like Phonte and Aby Wolf. It's far from the best Brother Ali EP you'll ever hear, but dude is undeniably a great MC and it's nice to hear him delivering something new to dig into. I'm not as big of fan of Jake One's production as I am of Ant's production, but I'll be checking for his upcoming "Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color" LP when it drops never the less. Download the free EP Here to hear it for yourself. Tracklisting and production credits below:

1) Shine On (feat. Nikki Jean) (produced by Jake One)
2) Electric Energy (produced by Jake One)
3) I'll Be Around (feat. Phonte & Stokley Williams) (produced by Ant)
4) I Can't Wait (produced by Jake One)
5) Years (produced by Ant)
6) Haunted Housebroken (feat. Aby Wolf) (produced by Jake One)
7) The Bite-Marked Heart (produced by Jake One)

Jonti "Sine & Moon (The Album)"

Expanding the Backpack, 1/12/12

New free album from the quirky Australian producer Jonti, featuring lots of dope beats and interesting off-kilter melodies. I didn't have a chance to cover Jonti's excellent Stones Throw debut "Twirligig" from last year on this blog, but it stood out to me as one of the more interesting electronic releases of 2011 and got a fair amount of rotation from my end. "Sine & Moon (The Album)" features mostly new (or old and unreleased) songs from Jonti with a few alternative takes of "Twirligig" tracks, and while it isn't mastered as well as his debut, there are definitely some gems on this freebie. Personal favorites include the gorgeous instrumental "Flesh Of Morning" and the simple sparse pop music of "Saturday Night Songs." Apparently, Jonti has a new official album "Tokorats" dropping on Stones Throw in the first quarter of 2012 as well. Keeping things busy in the beat scene down under, apparently. For now, you can download "Sine & Moon (The Album)" for free via Stones Throw's website Pretty tunes.

1. Saturday Night Songs
2. Red On Green
3. Confused Birds
4. Nagoya Train Station 3 AM
5. Nightshift in Blue (Alternative Version)
6. Koi Moon's Daughter Pt. II
7. By This Shore
8. Flesh of Morning
9. Lost Machines
10. Young Wildebeest
11. Nagoya Interlude
12. Moon Goddess
13. Sugar High
14. Lovers Stone (Alternative Passaros)
15. Vendas Newly Won Dream (Bonus Track)

Proe "Be Brave, Gladiator"

Expanding the Backpack, 1/6/12

Awesome new free digital album from Rec League's very own Proe, entitled "Be Brave, Gladiator." SF's Rec League has been throwing killer shows and putting out good music for a minute now, boasting talented rap types like Richie Cunning and Grip Grand as part of their Bay Area roster. I saw Proe open for Glue with Richie Cunning and DJ MF Shalem at Elbo Room years ago, but hadn't really heard any of his recorded stuff prior to this album. "Be Brave, Gladiator" proves to be quite the introduction, showing off Proe's songwriting and production skills while sounding like a complete album of stand-out cuts. Proe has a very interesting approach to his music, combining left-field pop sensibilities with his strong flow and raw beats. The whole thing sounds professional as hell, and is one of the strongest entries in the Rec League catalog to date in my book. You can download Proe's "Be Brave, Gladiator" for free on Routine Fly's website or via Proe's Bandcamp Page should you feel like making a donation. Or if you're not the downloading type, you can also stream the whole thing under the tracklisting below:

1. All Day
2. City on Fire
3. Cuss By Candlelight
4. Be Brave, Gladiator
5. She's a Cutter
6. Don't Wake the Babies
7. Box Cutter Johnny
8. EVOLution
9. Come Sunday
10. The Worst
11. So Last Year
12. Don't Wake the Babies (Remix)

Various Artists (Acid Lab Records) "ALR Elite"

Expanding the Backpack, 12/25/11

Caution: contents of Acid Lab Record gifts are highly flammable and should only be opened with goggles and a pair of radiation proof gloves. This new free compilation from Gajah and BeOND's Acid Lab label is actually one of the strongest legally free albums you're likely to download this year. The free EPs that Gajah put out earlier in 2011 were good, but this project feels a lot stronger and more cohesive, showcasing some impressive verses and grimy beats from Acid Reign and their extended fam. If you were a fan of Acid Reign's "Diversity" album earlier this year, then you definitely need to give this album a listen, as it sounds like a natural extension of the sound they were aiming for on "Diversity" only with more impressive stylistic MCs involved. Excellent tracks from BeOND and Olmeca, some really good stuff from Gajah and Express Fresh... the only dude on here who doesn't have me completely convinced is Damien Rodriguez, but even his songs are decent. This project feels less like a compilation and more like a complete crew album, and I can that it's one of the few free albums that's gonna get some fairly regular rotation from me in these last days of 2011 and beyond. Excellent artwork by the super talented Albane as well. If you're a fan of LA chop-shop styles, don't miss this one! Download it at the Acid Lab Records Bandcamp Page or stream it in full below:

1. Acid Reign - "Wake Up!"
2. Express Fresh - "You'll Never Beat Us (feat. BeOND)"
3. Olmeca - "En Pie De Lucha"
4. BeOND - "My Way"
5. Damien Rodriguez - "OccuPIE"
6. Gajah - "Sucka MC Diet"
7. Express Fresh - "Resilient Son"
8. Olmeca - "Remember Your Foundation"
9. Gajah - "Walk"
10. Damien Rodriguez - "Faceless"
11. BeOND - "Silence is Golden"
12. Express Fresh - "Outside"
13. BeOND - "Quick Rip"
14. Gajah - "Penny Pinchers (feat. Express Fresh)"
15. Gajah - "Black Knight"
16. BeOND & Destruct - "Travelin' (feat. Gajah)"
17. DJ Ethos - "ALR Elite Medley"