Listen: Nas - No Ideas Original (Cicero Remix)

As I gear up for 'The Cicero Remixes' release, I wanted to share another one from Nas.  I tried to keep some gritiness in the production, while adding feeling and insight to one of my favorite hooks in Hip-Hop history.  Listen below

Nas is one of the all time greats in my opinion.  Although it's not important to his legacy, here's hoping they get it right and give him some Grammys for Life is Good in a few weeks. Let me know what you think!

What's the Sample: Trinidad James

Ahh yes, the biggest Love/Hate artist in Hip-Hop right now still has to be Trinidad James.  I checked out his mixtape, Don't be S.A.F.E, before Christmas after hearing a few interviews. Could this guy be anything more than All Gold Everything?  The tape surprised me with its mood and beat selection; especially on todays What's that Sample selection.  One of the standout tracks for me was 'Givin no F*cks' and mostly because I quickly recognized the sample, Listen to James' version below.

The opening sample over his short monolouge is pulled directly from the song 'Voices' by Nosaj Thing off the 2009 album Drift.  Check the original below


Drift was a critically acclaimed album on the electronic beat scene, and it obviously influenced whoever flipped Voices into a southern banger (help me out, I looked everywhere for the producers name). Who knows if Trinidad James ever heard the original, but his willingness to use experimental sounds is all over Don't be S.A.F.E. I say go pick up the Trinidad James mixtape and also check out the new album from Nosaj Thing Home.

Go Get It: B Hardy - P.s.y.c.h.o

The Dallas homie B. Hardy dropped his new album, Psycho earlier this week.  Dude blessed one of my beats a while ago when he jumped on the song Do it Live with Tycity.  B. Hardy is a bonafide spitter, go download his project here for FREE.

Dope Tracks: Emancipator - Minor Cause

New single from Portland producer, Emancipator.  I always enjoy dudes work, and have been listening to him quite a bit lately as I work on my first downtempo EP, Soundscapes.  Look out for his new album Dusk to Dawn, coming out Jan 29th. Enjoy!

Go Get It: 9th Wonder - Black American Gangster

Adding a new series to the blog this year called 'Go Get It'.  I'll be posting great free music I suggest you go get (complicated I know). Anyways, starting the year off with 9th Wonder remixing one of Jay-Zs last great albums in my opinion, American Gangster. Click below to Go Get It!

Pure Hip-Hop Blogspot: 9th Wonder - Black American Gangster: