I make sure everything remains raw

A bunch of mixtapes worth checking have dropped lately. I haven't really kept up with them so try at your own risk but I bet there's at least a couple of good ones among them. (ht: Get Right Music)

I like what I've heard from Red and Meth's latest so far. Blackout 2 is out soon. This is definitely worth a listen.

DJ Green Lantern & Red and Meth - Lights Out

I'm still not totally sold on The Cool Kids but I've heard this 'tape is good. I've only heard a few tracks so far. It hasn't blown my mind.

The Cool Kids - Gone Fishing

Rae's Cuban Linx 2 is almost getting into Detox territory. Still, he's been working hard and the songs that've been leaking are strong. Check it.

DJ Absolut & Raekwon - Blood on Chef's Apron

Busta's new stuff is promising (if a bit ridiculous). I'm looking forward to listening to this one through.

DJ Scratch & Busta Rhymes - I Bullshit You Not

A cool mixtape of Wu Tang and other golden age stuff. It's an education. Definitely check this one.

DJ Fricktion & The Lovesoul DJs & Wu Tang - The Golden Chamber

Ice Cube hasn't been the same since the mid 90s but he's got plenty of material for a best of mixtape. One of the best angry rappers.

Mr Peter Parker & Ice Cube - No Sleep 'Til Compton

Method Man & Redman ft. Saukrates - A Yo

Protect Ya Neck

The Wu boys are working hard at the moment:

First, Raekwon's flipped Jigga's Brooklyn (We Go Hard). Dude's definitely going hard at the moment, a stack of his OB4CL2 stuff has been leaking and if that album is ever actually released it should be great.

Raekwon - Staten (We Go Hard)

Next, Ghostface is looking out for the ladies. His Message from Ghostface is a response to the Chris Brown/Rhianna saga.

Ghostface - Message from Ghostface

Finally, Red and Meth are back at it. Hopefully they're working on another album together.

Method Man & Redman - Ay Yo

Taking it back - Naughty by Nature

I was listening to 19NaughtyIII this afternoon. I got it years ago for about $3 in a 2nd hand cd shop in Hobart. I've been listening to so much new music lately it was a relief to relax with something more familiar. Naughty by Nature seem to be largely forgotten these days but looking back, they had a pretty big impact in hip hop and had about a 10 year stretch (1989-1999) of doing great music.

Treach wrote Kris Kross' song 'Jump', Vin Rock is Mike Tyson's cousin and I don't know anything interesting about DJ Kay Gee. Treach was in the movie Juice (which was directed by a guy who directed some episodes of The Wire) along with Tupac and a bunch of other movies.

Check out my New Jersey playlist featuring Naughty by Nature, Redman, Outsidaz and The Fugees

Redman live with a band

The Funk Doctor Spock keeps it funky.