Black Star - Definition

Walkin' the streets is like battlin', be careful with your body
You must know Karate or think your soul is 'Bulletproof' like Sade
Stop actin' like a bitch already, be a visionary
An' maybe you can see your name in the column of obituary

The late 90's were awesome for hip-hop! One of my favorites is Black Star, made up of two MCs who went on to make big, big names for themselves individually: Talib Kweli and Mos Def.

I listen to their 1998 debut quite often, but it was recently brought to the front of my mind while watching this awesome Vox deconstruction of rap by Estelle Caswell. If you've not seen it you should watch. Like right now. Thank me later.

You're welcome. Also, check out Estell's playlist on Spotify. It's awwwwwsome.

Banks & Steelz - Giant

Fuck CNN, this is ghetto editorial
See me like milk and Oreos
Dipped inside the audio
Platinum plaques in my portfolio
My lines are fine as wine
And blow your mind like coco

I know yesterday I disregarded a fairly cool collaboration of alt rock and rap, but I'm making up for that with a much cooler one today. Paul Banks, from Interpol, and RZA, leader and emcee in the Wu Tang Clan - also filmmaker and actor - who hang out and play chess (!) one day decided "If we put our [musical] sandwich together, it will be great" and it is.  I'm really looking forward to the full album, out in August, especially the track that features Florence Welch, and to seeing this surely intense act perform live at ACL in October.

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Aesop Rock - Dorks

I used to floss the albatross like Daddy Kane with the chain
I'm trying to jettison the ballast with the hazardous waste
The kid is comfortably numb, routine a tedious crutch
Steep in a self-imposed Stockholm and Lima in flux
Maybe an occupation popular with demons and ducks

Been digging Aesop Rock's new album, The Impossible Kid, especially the Funcrusher Plusesque "Dorks." It's got a sweet video as well.

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