This isn’t on Self-Induced Illness but it’s nice regardless. Beat by Shakim Allah, video by A.Jay.D.

J-Love and Meyhem are both dropping albums over the coming weeks, so I thought I’d see what they have cooked-up for us on Egotistical Maniac and Self-Induced Illness. It’s worth noting that both records are double albums, which is always something I’m in two minds about. On the one hand, the amount of songs you’re getting is great value and it allows you the luxury of choosing the best songs to load onto your ipod or whatever, but the other side of that is there’s an art to creating to a cohesive album and do I really want to listen to 40+ tracks from anybody in a row?

Egotistical Maniac follows in the footsteps of J-Love’s other releases such as Acknowledge Greatness in that it delivers dope beats, top-notch guests and a whole lotta J-Love rapping. The quality of J’s rhyming can vary depending on the tempo and the subject matter – when he’s on a beat that suits his flow and he’s ragging on herbs in his trademark arrogant manner, it works. But he lacks the versatility to tackle faster or really slow tracks as effectively, revealing that despite his commitment to the mic he’s a DJ/producer first and a rapper second. You can hear the contrast between the quality of the heart-felt ‘Still Standing’, which is easily the best solo thing I’ve heard from him, and ‘Playaz & Dymez’, which falls flat as he attempts a party type joint.

The real show here, however, is the quality of the tracks with features. Joints like ‘Fuck That Man Up’ with Sean Price, Willie The Kid and LA The Darkman, ‘Whippin’ Out My Lasso’ with Sadat X and Grand Daddy I.U., ‘Suffocated’ with Ghostface and ‘em and ‘Trust Fund Children’ with Large Pro are just a few of the many outstanding moments to be found on this project. If J had combined these dope features with his four strongest solo shots and refined this project to sixteen tracks, it would have presented a far stronger argument for his brand of East-Coast Elitist rap. As it stands though, 43 songs just feels like hard work.

Meyhem Lauren follows-up the recent mixtape with his official debut, which is also far longer than it should be but remains the more consistent of the two. Tracks like ‘Guidance’, ‘Steak With A Glass of Red’, ‘Got The Recipe’ and ‘Classic Material’ deliver the goods as Meyhem’s gruff delivery blends with sharp beats for a satisfying dose of Queens Rap, while cameos are kept to a tasteful minimum outside of the Outdoorsmen crew. With a varied selection of tracks from PF Cuttin’, J-Love, Thorotracks, Domingo and more, Self-Induced Illness serves up a platter of traditional rap like it should be done.

Once again though, the main issue is the refusal to trim back the fat from the main course. Many of the older and previously leaked songs don’t add much to the package, as the new material is what we really want to hear when we cop an album. As with the J-Love record, Self-Induced Illness would have been a lot more cohesive and focused if it was restricted to the sixteen best songs, despite the majority of them being pretty good. Sometimes it’s what you don’t say that speaks the loudest.

Self-Induced Illness drops February 15.

Egotistical Maniac is out March 1st.

J-Love feat. Kool G Rap, Cormega and Roc Marciano - ‘Tricks of the Streets’

Produced by Nickel Plated, taken from the forth-coming Egotistical Maniac LP.

Meyhem pays homage to his hometown over a J-Love beat in this mini-documentary. Directed by Mrb Mrompeobca for Skillusions Films.

Here’s a new joint from Action Bronson, going in over the Marley Marl classic. Taken from the new J-Love/Bronson mixtape Bon Aptitie…Bitch!!!!!, which should beis available via iTunes right now.

Action Bronson – ‘On The Real’

Track listing:

1) EAST BOUND AND DOWN
2) T.K.O FEAT UNCLE PAULY PRODUCED DON PRODUCCI
3) MARK SANCHEZ
4) SHIRAZ PRODUCED BY ACTION BRONSON
5) THE COME UP
6) IMPORTED GOODS PRODUCED BY FALSIDE
7) BRONSON MAINA PRODUCED BY P.F. CUTTIN
DABBLE IN TRUFFLES PRODUCED BY R THENTIC
9) GROWIN UP
10) MOFONGO FEAT SHAZ ONE PRODUCED BY ACTION BRONSON
11) FUCK ME TILL I DIE FEAT MEYHEM LAUREN , JAY STEELE , A.K.A. MR
SATIN & SILK , FONDA , & J-LOVE
12) BORDERLINE
13) EASTERN PROMISES
14) 85 BARRITZ BRO-HAM
15) BODY LANGUAGE FEAT SCIENCE
16) AGED MANCHEGO
17) ALBINO GORILLA FEAT MEYHEM LAUREN & J-LOVE (PRODUCED BY J-LOVE)
18) ROASTED BONE MARROW FEAT A.G. DA THE CORONER & MAFFEW RAGAZINO
19) GET OFF THE P.P. ( PRODUCED BY TOMMY MAS )
20) TANGO & CASH FEAT MEYHEM LAUREN
21) SHAPE SHIFTERS FEAT MACHINE OF TEAM FACELIFT
22) NIGHT COURT PRODUCED DON PRODUCCI
23) CEVICHE FEAT SOLACE OF TIMELESS TRUTH
24) BLACK RAIN FEAT SHAZ ONE
25) DOUBLE IMPACT FEAT STARVING B
26) THE TEAM
27) MARIJUANA BRONSON
28) SHORTY BOP WITH A HOOK PRODUCED BY DON PRODUCCI
29) FRIENDLY FIRE
30) BRONSON HARD LEMONADE
31) I REMEMBER
32) AMUSE PUSCHE ( DON PRODUCCI )
33) ON THE REAL
34) RE ELECT DINKINS FEAT MACHINE OF TEAM FACELIFT & THE KID DAYTONA
35) CHILLI CHICKEN HAKKA STYLE

Having recently scraped myself off the floor, with a barely functioning liver and severely depleted bank account after a two-and-half week birthday/Christmas bender, I thought I should perhaps make a half-assed attempt to assemble 40 rap songs that didn’t induce nausea or feature any of Lil Wayne’s weed carriers. Basically just a lot of stuff that I posted over the year and a few things that slipped under the radar. Complaints to the usual address…

Unkut.com Presents: The 40 oz.

Track list:

40. B.A.M. – ’1000 Problemz’
39. Gab Gotcha – ‘The Devil’s Pie’
38. Branesparker & Nutso – ‘Here We Come’
37. Son of Bazerk – ‘Let Me Tell You Who I Am’
36. The Roots – ‘Doin’ It Again’
35. Smiley The Ghetto Child – ‘Battlestar Galactica’
34. Celph Titled & Buckwild – ‘The Celph Titled Show’
33. Will Vill – ‘That Sour’
32. Meyhem Lauren feat. Action Bronson & AG Da Coroner – ‘Ray Lewis’
31. O.C. & A.G. – ‘Supreme Squad’
30. Nas – ‘No Idea’s Original’ [Large Professor Remix]
29. 7L & Esoteric – ‘I Hate Flying’
28. Marco Polo & Rustee Juxx – ‘Watch Your Step’
27. Nutso – ‘Stronger’
26. Maffew Ragazino – ‘Get It Together’
25. Statik Selektah and Termanology feat. M.O.P- ‘Thugathon 2010′
24. KRS-One feat. Grand Puba – ’5%’
23. Kool G Rap – ‘Sad’
22. Capone-N-Noreaga-feat Raekwon – ‘Dutches v Phillies v Bamboo’
21. Raekwon feat. Jadakiss & Styles P – ‘Broken Safety’ [Remix]
20. The Closers feat. Nyoil – ‘Heroin Barz’
19. De La Soul – ‘The Return of DST’
18. Grand Daddy I.U. feat. Sadat X – ‘Rhyme After Rhyme’
17. Fat Joe – ‘Im Gone’
16. Milano – ‘Where You Been At?’
15. Doppelgangaz – ‘Doppelgang Affiliation’
14. $amhill – ‘Agony of Defeat’
13. Q-Unique – ‘BK BX BK’
12. Vado – ‘Large On The Streets’
11. Styles P & DJ Green Lantern – ‘Make Millions From Entertainment’
10. Action Bronson – ‘Shiraz’
09. Roc-Marciano – ‘Scarface Nigga’
08. Celph Titled & Buckwild feat. FT & R.A. The Rugged Man – ‘Mad Ammo’
07. AZ – ‘The Calm’
06. Roc Marciano feat. Sean Price – ‘Snow Pt. 2′
05. Ghostface Killah feat. Black Thought – ‘In Tha Park’
04. The Bounce Squad feat. Jadakiss – ‘The Bounce Is Back’
03. Vado – ‘Wake Up’
02. Ghostface Killah – ‘Starkology’
01. Roc Marciano – ‘Marcberg’

Meyhem builds with Maffew over a Shakim Allah beat. Cop that Self-Induced Illnesss, Feb 2011.

Meyhem Lauren feat. Maffew Ragazino – Even More Butter

Two tracks from the new J-Love mixtape Acknowledge The Takeover Part 23, hosted by Meyhem Lauren. J was kind enough to lace me with the original, no DJ versions as well. Cop it here for $6.99 if you haven’t spent all your dough on that 4 LOKO.

Willie The Kid - ‘Before My Time’ [Produced By J-Love]

Bonus: Action Bronson & Shaz One - ‘Mofongo’

Track listing:

1) INTRO
2) J-LOVE FEAT KILLA SHA & MEYHEM LAUREN – N.Y.C (OFF EGOTISTICAL MANIAC
LP DROPPING 2/1/2011
3) MEYHEM LAUREN FEAT J-LOVE – GENERALS OF DOOM (G.O.D)
4) MEYHEM LAUREN & AG THE CORONER – SOUND BOY MASSACRE
5) J-LOVE – STILL STANDING (PRODUCED BY J-LOVE) (OFF EGOTISTICAL MANIAC
LP DROPPING 2/1/2011
6) ACTION BRONSON & SHAZ ONE – MOFONGO
7) WILLIE THE KID – BEFORE MY TIME (PRODUCED BY J-LOVE)
GHOSTFACE KILLAH – BABY TOGETHER
9) CORMEGA FEAT SADAT X , LARGE PROFESSOR , O.C. – THE JOURNEY (RMX)
10) 50 CENT & JADAKISS – DUMP
11) AZ – THE CALM
12) M.O.P FEAT TERMINOLOGY – THUGATHON 2010
13) KANYE WEST FEAT JAY-Z , PETE ROCK , CURTIS MAYFIELD ,CHARLIE WILSON
KID CUDI – THE JOY
14) ROC MARCIANO – RUSTY GRAMMER
15) LARGE PROFESSOR – FOREVER
16) GHOSTFACE KILLAH – PURIFIED THOUGHTS
17) REDMAN – TIGER STYLE
18) GRAND DADDY I.U. – READY TO KILL
19) JOELL ORTIZ – OHH
20) SKYZOO FEAT STYLES P & BUCKSHOT – NOW OR NEVER
21) SWIZZ BEATZ FEAT RAKIM – KING TUT
22) LA THE DARKMAN FEAT UNCLE MURDA – SURVIVE THE 9
23) KRS-ONE FEAT GRAND PUBA – 5%
24) FREDDIE FOXXX – THE GANG STARR BUS
25) WAIS P FEAT BLACK ROB – I’M A HUSTLER
26) TRIPLE SEIS FEAT MARTYR – YOU & YOURS
27) STYLES P – LOVE BARBARA
28) DOO WOP FEAT PETE ROCK – RHYTHMATIC EXPLOSION
29) AZ – MAKE BELIEVE
30) PRSOPECT FEAT ARMGEDDON – ONE IN A MIL
31) YOUNG BOY BASTARD – SON

Another winner from the Outdoorsmen crew, continuing the theme of fine dining that Meyhem mentioned when I interviewed him. This is taken from the Dr. Lecter Jr album, which is due in the near future. Produced by Bronson and Team Facelift, directed by Tommy Mas and Matt Raz.

Official single from the Certified Butter mixtape. Beat by Don Producci and visuals courtesy of M.R.B. & Thirstin Howl III for Skillusions Films.

Meyhem drops the visuals for his love letter to the graff game. Check for a few cameo bombers you might recognise…

Check for his Clarified Butter mixtape out now via iTunes.

Home-made videos stay winning, as Dallas Penn gives this new track from Egotistical Maniac the visual treatment.

I learned some crazy shit doing my thing in New York City over the past forty years. Basically, the world is a huge place, but the people that vibe along the same frequency is the smaller subset and y’all will always find each other. That is what used to happen at record stores when you would go there on a Tuesday and meet up with other hip-Hop heads who were trying to copp that same release dropping that day.

I was on the Jamaica Ave strip with a bunch of my homies doing some shit called ‘Sneaker Fiends Unite!’ We travel around the city looking for kicks comeups and peeping how gentrification changes the urban landscape. At a store on the strip this husky dude told me that my ‘Lo scarf was official. I gave him some dap for recognizing that shit. Real recognize real always. Dude said he had some pieces to deal. This is the language that collectors use when they are selling and swapping I.T.’s (items). We exchanged maths and kept it moving.

Later that night when I got back to the lab and started uploading the video footage I had made that afternoon I stopped by UnKut for a minute to just check in on the old head rap scene. If you don’t cut your NahRight or 2DopeBoyz with some UnKut shit you will get rap diabetes from all the saccharine in the game right now. Funny story, true story is that very day Robbie had a drop on his page featuring the dude that I politicked with in that sneaker store – Meyhem Lauren

I ain’t even know son rapped. That shit is hilarious how real dudes find each other to build in some random shit, but basically by living their lifestyle which is by keeping shit realer than most. Fam knew by my presentation that I fuxed with the ‘Lo lifestyle hardbody so his salute to me was essentially on some brotherhood shit. When I see a dude rocking some shit that might be ancient or exclusive I give them their props and usually those dudes aren’t just collectors of clothes, but heads that are on their grizzly to be successful in life. We aren’t trying to look like preps or anglos. We are dreaming about owning boats and planes.

As soon as I saw Meyhem’s drop on UnKut I shot dude a voice-mail. Meyhem and I have been building ever since then. He is one of the most dynamic rappers coming out of NYC in a long time. I see him as a cross between Sean Price and Big Daddy Kane because he is a big hulking dude but he still has lyrical dexterity. What was even more crazy is that Meyhem Lauren’s big homie is J-Love. Me and J-Love got wild history from doing deals on the eBay system. Like I said earlier, if you vibe on the same frequency, the same sine-cosine(co-sign) you will find the people that get down like you do.

Meyhem Lauren and J-Love will be featuring some of their fly new shit, music and Polo Ralph Lauren gear at the ‘Lo-End Theory event. This event is gonna be for you to stunt in your freshest ‘Lo wares without worrying about getting your skull cracked for your ski jacket. New York City ain’t on that shit anymore, but we still make great rap music filled with reality.

Meyhem Lauren - ‘Reality’

My peoples, Timeless Truth, were invited to Fat Beats last week to record some video for U.K. superstar DJ Sarah Love. Timeless Truth always represents the Polo Ralph Lauren lifestyle to the fullest. It is deeper than just getting dipped and making sure you are color coordinated. Its about your presentation to attain the lavish lifestyle through rhyme or crime.

Polo Ralph Lauren is the most Hip-Hop clothing brand of all time. Mainly because PRL aspires to be something greater than it is and Hip-Hop does the same. Hip-Hop wants to escape the projects and the disenfranchisement of its birthplace just like Polo tries to imagine itself on a yacht, center court at Wimbledon or even at a polo match.

You will note that some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists have adopted a name for which to do their art – Crazy Legs, ZEPHYR, Redman and so on. Ralph Lauren changed his last name to present himself as an Anglo instead of a Bronx born jew. Hip-Hop and Polo are both buttressed by aspirations of the high life associated with private jets (no Curren$y).

The ‘Lo-End Theory was designed to show the history that Hip-Hop has with the Polo Ralph Lauren brand by featuring artists like Timeless Truth, Meyhem Lauren, J-Love and the Outdoorsmen, Sean Price and the founders of the ‘Lo-Life collective Fi-’Lo and Thirstin’ Howl the 3rd. The ‘Lo-End Theory will also feature Polo clothing from 1985 up to this very year that you have seen in videos from some vintage rappers like Zhigge and Grand Puba.

Stay tuned to Unkut for the date and location of the ‘Lo-End Theory. Until then make sure your collars stay crispy and keep your two L’s up.

World premier of the new track from my dude Meyhem, produced by P.F. Cuttin’. Taken from Self-Induced Illness, due this Fall.

Meyhem Lauren - ‘New York Where You At?’