"There are 9 million stories in New York City. This is one of mine." Iron Solomon presents the first track leak off his debut album Monster, out March 27th on Royal/3D. "The Empire" is produced by Iron Solomon & Isaiah & features Talib Kweli.


Enlisting Talib Kweli and an incredibly tough beat of ominous bass-synths and orchestral movements is not a bad look for the first warning shot, either. And a far more serious mean-mug than we’ve ever heard from the often-playful Iron Sol–this plays almost like Kweli and Sol are doing to “Empire State of Mind” what Yasiin Bey did to “N**gas in Paris.” Somebody call the national guard, yo. Monster will be devouring a metropolis near you on March 27th (via Royal/3d) but “The Empire” is available as a single on iTunes now.

Planet Asia helped jump-start the West Coast independent hip-hop movement, releasing a slew of popular 12-inch singles on upstarts like Stones Throw and ABB Records in the late 90s that established him as one of the leaders of a crop of talent that included the likes of Dilated Peoples, Madlib, Murs, and Jurassic 5. Now a 15-year veteran, the Cali-based MC (born in Fresno, he's spent most of his career living in Los Angeles and San Francisco) shows no signs of slowing down. The first decade of the new millennium saw Asia briefly sign with major label Interscope, go independent again for his debut album The Grand Opening, release full-length collaborative projects with both Evidence of Dilated Peoples (The Medicine) and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill (Pain Language), form his own label (Gold Chain Music), and work with everyone from Linkin Park to Bun B to Ghostface Killah. Now, Planet Asia is back with his first retail album in four years, the star-studded Black Belt Theatre, which hits stores everywhere via Gold Chain/Wandering Worx/Greenstreets on February 28th, 2012.


Named after a 1980s Saturday-afternoon TV show and inspired by Planet Asia's favorite films, Black Belt Theatre combines the violent precision of classic kung-fu flicks with the calculated cool of classic blaxploitation movies. "I wanted to make the album like a movie, something you would see in a theater," says Asia. "That's why it has so many features. All the guests feel like different characters in the movie." These guests include veterans like Raekwon, Talib Kweli, Paul Wall, Ras Kass, Camp Lo, and Strong Arm Steady, as well as newcomers like Fashawn, Willie The Kid, Torae, and Nio Tha Gift. "They're basically just all people I thought were dope," says Asia. "Both young cats I'm feeling and veterans I've always admired." Unlike on his albums with Evidence and DJ Muggs, Asia also got to determine the sonic direction on Black Belt Theatre, resulting in a soul-heavy, blaxploitation-influenced sound. "It was fun because I got to reach out to guys like Oh No and Khrysis for beats, find the best tracks and put together a masterpiece," explains Asia. "It's some esoteric gangster shit…a full plate for the listener."






Tracklisting and credits for Planet Asia’s “Black Belt Theatre”:



1.) “Lost And Found” (produced by Khrysis)
2.) “Grown Folks Talkin’” f/ Talib Kweli (produced by Dirtydiggs)
3.) “Tell The World” (produced by Dirtydiggs)
4.) “All Mine” f/ Paul Wall (produced by Twiz The Beat Pro)
5.) “No Apologies” f/ Raekwon (produced by Oh No)
6.) “F*ck Rapers” f/ Fashawn & Willie The Kid (produced by Dirtydiggs)
7.) “Diamond Life” f/ Camp Lo (produced by Dirtydiggs)
8.) “Furniture” (produced by Dirtydiggs)
9.) “Mach One (produced by Dirtydiggs)
10.) “Daggers And Darts” f/ Rogue Venom & Tristate (produced by Dirtydiggs)
11.) “Bruce Lee” f/ Chace Infinite & Rasco (produced by Soulprofessa)
12.) “Golden State” (produced by Dirtydiggs)
13.) “Coons” f/ Killer Ben (produced by Dirtydiggs)
14.) “The Line Of Fire” f/ Krondon, Phil Da Agony & Picaso (produced by Brisk Oner)
15.) “Big Fish” (produced by Twiz The Beat Pro)
16.) “External Motives” f/ The Jacka & Mitchy Slick (produced by Twiz The Beat Pro)
17.) “Classical” f/ Ras Kass, Torae & Jasiri X (produced by Religion)
18.) “Stay Ready” f/ Mistah Fab, Dengee & Mo The Gift (produced by Oh No)
19.) “Whirlwind Patterns” (produced by Religion)
20.) “Dogon Outro” (produced by Dirtydiggs)

Heavy is the head that wears the crown! Over the course of his now decade long-career, Copywrite has been a lightning rod of controversy, engaged in numerous beefs (some of which have lived out in real time and not just on the microphone). Yet, in life, lessons are learned, you grow and mature; and above all else life has a way of imparting upon you what’s truly important. For Copywrite, the devastation he felt from the loss of close friends and family members has heavily impacted his view of the world and his place in it. Leaders are bestowed a great deal of responsibility and they can influence those around them to do the right things, or they can lead them astray; Copywrite has chosen the former as his path.



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DuBose Music Group's recording artist Joshua Gunn prepares for his debut mix tape release “Faithful Struggle”!

Executive VP of DuBose Music Group MC Lyte says “I'm in great anticipation for the world to hear Joshua Gunn. His lyrics cut through and are worthy of acknowledgment. I'm excited for him and his career"!

“Carolina Blue” is the second leak from from the North Carolina representative’s upcoming debut mix-tape, “Faithful Struggle,” which will be dropping in early 2012 and with his beloved Tar Heels poised to make yet another NCAA title run, what better way to show his Carolina Pride then this ode to Tobacco Road.

The Raw is back! Babygrande Records presents the lead single, “Get Yours” from M.O.P. & Snowgoons upcoming LP, “Sparta," which will be released on 11-22-2011.

Hailing from Brownsville, Brooklyn, Billy Danze and Lil Fame have solidified their reputation as iconic lyricists through their years of hard-hitting rhymes and unparalleled tenacity. Never compromising their style and having shared the mic with industry greats such as Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Styles P, Guru, ODB, Busta Rhymes, and Redman, just to name a few, the duo has rightfully earned its status as one of the most revered acts in hip-hop today.

In Late July 2011, Billy Danze took to Conspiracy Worldwide Radio to break the news that M.O.P.’s upcoming LP would be a collaborative effort with German & Danish production team, the Snowgoons. Speaking on the album, Danze said, “[Snowgoons] just sent us some fire…those dudes are incredible…when you hear this project, you’re going to be satisfied as an M.O.P. fan and a Snowgoons fan.” Ensuring fans around the world that this will be one of their most diverse sounding albums, the Mash Out Posse member went on to praise the Snowgoons, proclaiming, “they’ve got everything…they’re blazing through and coming from different angles. These guys providing us with that dramatic sound, with those theatrical sounds, with that hard hip-hop…they supplied us with everything. I’m really psyched about this project.” Further, listeners can prepare for what Danze and Lil’ Fame consider “their best project in 10 years.”

On the heels of releasing two critically acclaimed projects (2008’s “Children of God” and 2011’s collaborative effort with Rugged N Raw “Mohammed Dangerfield” which featured the well-circulated cut with Immortal Technique “Break Of A Star”), Hasan Salaam returns with a new EP “Music Is My Weapon” (appearances by Steele of Smif N Wessun, Chace Infinite, Reef The Lost Cauze, Eternia and production by Snowgoons) which is scheduled to be released on 12-6-2011; and even loftier goals.

While Hasan already spends a great deal of time doing community outreach (he organizes food and clothing drives in New Jersey every month), he is using his EP to spearhead another cause he is very passionate about and hoping it can help change people’s lives--- literally! Hasan will be donating all of the proceeds from the release of “Music Is My Weapon” to the “It Takes A Village” foundation to help aid the building of a school, medical clinic and clean water well in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa in an effort to provide change to a Country that remains one of the poorest and least politically stable in the world (Hasan saw this first hand in 2010 as he became the first U.S. Hip-hop artist to perform in Bissau as he headlined a concert there to promote freedom of speech).

On Monday October 31st, Hasan will release the video for “1911” and we will include more definitive information on the “It Takes A Village” initiative.

Here is a 8-minute LP sampler for Torae's forthcoming solo-debut "For The Record" which drops on 11-1-2011

Tracklisting & Credits for Torae’s For The Record LP:

1.) Intro (produced by Torae)
2.) Alive f/Wes (produced by Khrysis)
3.) You Ready? (produed by Marco Polo)
4.) What It Sound Like f/Pav Bundy (produced by !llmind)
5.) Shakedown (produced by 9th Wonder)
6.) That Raw (produced by Pete Rock)
7.) Do The Math (produced by Large Professor)
8.) Changes (produced by Diamond D)
9.) Over You f/ Wes (produced by E. Jones)
10.) Imagine (produced by Eric G)
11.) Only Way (interlude) (produced by 9th Wonder)
12.) For The Record (produced by DJ Premier)
13.) Thank You (produced by Nottz)
14.) Reflection (produced by Eric G)
15.) Panorama f/ MeLa Machinko (produced by Fatin)