Twista – They Want Efx (freestyle)

Twista – They Want EFX (Freestyle)

The absolute cream of speedrap (312)’s Twista got ahold of an instrumental loop of Golden Era legends Das Efx‘s 1992 U.S. Billboard top ten platnum single They Want Efx and rips the track like he was shot out of a circus cannon. It’s way too short at 1:40 but Twista swings nicely from his signature words by the pound double-time delivery to a slower, Das Efx type cadence which is true to the original. It’s 16 bars and he’s gone. Peep the joint and give some thought to giving Dead Serious a listen for the hell of it. – Skylar Woodman

Editor’s note: Don’t be scared off by the low budgetry of the accompanying image. The track is really nice. – S.W.

Dj Premier & the Berklee Symphony Orchestra – Regeneration (Remix featuring Nas & Apathy)

Dj Premier & the Berklee Symphony Orchestra – Regeneration Remix ft. Apathy & Nas

The all-almighty DJ Premier leaked the remix to his entry on Hyundai’s promotional film on their new Veloster sport compact car entitled RE:GENERATION. You could consider Preem’s cut the title track from the film and the second time around he turned the beat up and brought in Connecticut’s Apathy to round out the joint. It’s modern boom bap from the best in the business. Included is the video on the making of the original version. Download the remix and keep the box turnt all the way up. – Skylar Woodman

Tags: Apathy, Nas & Premier, Premier Regeneration, RE:GENERATION

Killer Mike & EL-P – Big Beast f. Bun B, T.I. & Trouble

Killer Mike & EL-P – Big Beast f. Bun B, T.I. & Trouble

Company Flow’s amazing El-Producto dropped a snippet last year of a track with onetime Outkast affiliate Killer Mike from their May 2012 LP R.A.P. Music and despite not even being a minute in length, I posted it here because it was just what I was looking for from these two. Yesterday EL-P leaked a full track from the project featuring Atlanta’s T.I. and Trouble, and it’s more of that patchy sledgehammer El-P production that we’ve never heard paired with dirty south trap rappers. You throw one of Texas’ all-time greats Bun-B in there, and you have a momentous posse cut can’t nobody front on. Mike is screaming on verses 1 & 4, Bun is super rhythmic and exhibits flawless cadence, and T.I. just spills syrup thick ATL drawl everywhere. Couldn’t like this track more. Download the joint and keep it turnt up to 10. R.A.P. Music is coming May 15th. – Skylar Woodman

Tags: Big Beast El-P, Bun-B, Bun-B Killer Mike, El-P Killer Mike, Killer Mike R.A.P. Music, T.I., Trouble

Jelani the MC vs. Wildabeast – Home School Sessions Live recording of Strandbeast EP

Streaming live video by Ustream

Tomorrow, Monday the 13th at 10am EST, Manifest Favorite MC & Producer Jelani Day is going to film the making of his fourth EP with fellow Harlem rapper/artist, Rawkus 50′s Wildabeast. This will also be the fourth time these kids have sat down and crafted a hip hop EP over the course of a day- They’ve already dropped 2010′s Beastroc, and 2011′s Thin Walls, and Rising Shadows. Jelani put me onto his ustream channel where you can watch the writing, recording, mixing & mastering of the entire project. As of now I’ve got the artwork and the address- Come check the below link come 10am EST to peep some live Hip Hop in the making, & support a couple of really creative cats. See you Monday morning. – Skylar Woodman

Tags: Home School Sessions, Jelani the MC, Strandbeast EP, Wildabeast

Torch – Slowdown F. Meek Mill, Wale, Stalley, Gunplay & Young Breed

Torch – Slowdown featuring Meek Mill, Wale, Stalley, Gunplay &Young Breed

Yesterday The Triple C’s consisting of Mayback Music Group’s Torch, Gunplay, and Young Breed dropped an ill new millennial posse cut ripping off the beat from EPMD‘s 1990 classic Rampage. Instead of Uncle L The Triple C’s brought along fellow label mates and Manifest favorites Stalley & Wale (no Pill?) along for numbers. It’s fun to hear cats in 2012 still using Lowell Fulsom’s twangy electric guitar loops, and I think the cut came out nice. Check out Slowdown, you won’t regret it. – Skylar Woodman

Clear Soul Forces – Get No Better (Track & Video)

Clear Soul Forces – Get No Better

Part of Detroit’s new generation of Hip Hop The Clear Soul Forces dropped the video for Get No Better, from their forthcoming LP (I’ve read like 4 different titles for the LP) Detroit #REVOlutions, dropping (3/13) in 2012. The track is produced by venerable Cali producer Kankick and it’s more of that classic lo-fi Kankick production that he’s been pumping out for decades. CSF has made some serious strides over the span of just a couple years, and I’m excited for Detroit #REVOlutions. Check the video and download the joint, and check on these kids again come March 13th. – Skylar Woodman

Tags: Clear Soul Forces, Detroit #REVOlution, Kankick

Busta Rhymes, Layzie Bone, Twista, and Jaz-O – 60 second Assassins (Kayslay

The video for DJ Kayslay’s rogues’ gallery of speedrappers 60 Second Assassins dropped today and while the cut is from nearly two years ago judging by Twista’s “2010″ proclamation- it’s a dope cut nonetheless and the new video serves as a solid intro to the track if you missed out on it. While the Araabmusik production is mediocre at best, we do get some solid micwork from some Manifest favorites. Peep the video out and keep an eye peeled for Kayslay’s forthcoming Rhyme or Die LP in 2012. – Skylar Woodman

Tags: 60 second assassins, Busta Rhymes, DJ Kayslay, Jaz-O, Layzie Bone, Speedrap

Albe Back – Boo Yow (Video)

Albert Daniels AKA The South South Bronx’s Albe Back just dropped the visual component to what’s probably my favorite joint off his Raphael DeLa Ghetto (Shout out to the Prince of BelAir) LP – This is the video to Boo Yow. Armed with a grip of that nasty ass Tijuana brass and sharp skills on the mic and behind the boards, the video joint compliments the tempo of the cut nicely and has everything from a nice morning jog accompanied by his cadre of comely NY honeys to Viewmaster (You know what those is?) cameo. Needless to say I’m very enthusiastic about this cat, who if you weren’t aware acted in the film ATL, writes and performs his own spoken word poetry, and came up under the tutelage of The Bronx legend Big Pun himself.

Here at Manifest we like to recognize the real, and if you haven’t checked dude out yet, he’s a must-listen. I’ve linked you to his free Raphael DeLa Ghetto LP, so do your ears a favor and download the joint.

http://hulkshare.com/s1agbch44vnr

Keep it locked and we’ll keep you fully apprised of what Albe’s up to in the future. – Skylar Woodman

Tags: Albe Back, Albe Back Boo Yow, Albe Back video, Raphael De La Ghetto

Apollo Brown & O.C. announce full length LP for spring 2012

Word leaked a day or two ago that one of my hometown hip hop heroes Detroit’s own Apollo Brown has been linking up with Brooklyn NY’s Golden Era treasure Omar Credle- who we all know as D.I.T.C.’s O.C. , and the result come March 27th is a 16-track, full length LP entitled Trophies. While there’s no snippets or cuts to provide you with as of today, the album was conceived in New York but recorded entirely here in the D. I have nothing but enthusiasm and the utmost respect for these two and while it’s fun to daydream about generational crossover projects- this time we’re gonna get to actually hear one. I’ll keep you updated as soon as something more tangible is released. – Skylar Woodman

Brother Ali – Writer’s Block (Produced by Jake One – Track and Video)

Brother Ali and Jake One – Writer’s Block

Modern hip hop diehards already have an incredible project to look forward to for 2012: The lyrical pride of Wisconsin/Michigan/Minnesota Brother Ali is joining forces with one of my favorite producers Seattle’s Jake One to record an entire LP of Ali’s raw, unmistakable pitch laid over Jake’s incredible beats. Entitled Writer’s Block , this is the first finished leak from Ali and Jake’s forthcoming album Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color..

These two cats never disappoint. The album’s already at the forefront of my mind, and it should be in yours as well. In the meantime, feed your eyes and ears. I’ll post the future joints from the Ali & Jake project as they’re released. Hope your 2012 is off to a good start. – Skylar Woodman

Tags: Brother Ali Jake One, Brother Ali Writers Block

The Union – Wings f. eLZhi (Damu the Fudgemunk Remix)

Paris, France’s The Union and Detroit’s eLZhi got together this summer to drop a joint named Wings. While the original was good, I think DC’s Damu the Fudgemunk took a strong track and built it back up stronger. The result is a very throwback cut from the horn samples and the classic Five Stairsteps drumloop. Peep the joint & give a look at the vinyl 7″ at Undergroundhiphop.com, who might actually have some of Manifest’s 2011 Winter collect still in stock. – Skylar Woodman

The Union – Wings f. Elzhi (Damu the Fudgemunk Remix)

Stevie Crooks – Gem Star (Video)

Bellflower, California’s Stevie Crooks channeling all kinds of 90s New York steez in this straight forward joint off his VLNS NVR DIE Mixtape. If the bulk of VLNS is anything like Gem Star, I can’t see how you could possibly front on this kid.

Gutta. Gully. Grimey. 3/3 for this banger from one of my new favorite underground Cali rappers. If like this joint, go get VLNS NVR DIE and check the other 13 joints on the tape. – Skylar Woodman

Tags: #VLNSNVRDIE, Gem Star, Razor Ramon Flow, Stevie Crooks, VLNS NVR DIE