The artist formerly known as Mos Def, and now Yasiin Bey, presents the video for his highly charged “Niggas in Poorest,” launched today in honor of Malcolm X’s death anniversary. Performed over the same hard-hitting instrumental that The Throne rocked over, Bey is ferocious as he takes a socioeconomic approach to what people have dubbed “luxury rap.” While Mos Def wanted to know what “Umi Says,” Yasiin Bey is now telling it like it is.

A nice treat for music fans has arrived in the shape of the original version of J Dilla’s classic tune “Crushin.” Produced by Waajeed, the original version, recorded back in 2002 and has now been refixed with a slightly more uptempo sound. The tune comes courtesy of J Roc.

Cypress Hill and Rusko offer an intriguing example of the fusion between hip-hop and dubstep in the shape of the video for “Roll It, Light It.” The tune serves as the lead single from their collaborative EP Cypress X Rusko, which is due in April. The video invites the viewer to witness the Los Angeles hip-hop group and the UK producer on an epic and psychedelic freight train journey through various mountains and deserts.

While the music world is awaiting a new project from J. Cole, the North Carolina-native has taken things to Twitter and liberated a brand new track, titled “Grew Up Fast.” In true Cole fashion, the emcee delivers a set of thought-provoking lyrics over a soulful instrumental.

NSA was recently commissioned by High Rise to paint a huge mural in Birmingham. The London-based artist went with his trademark Heels graphic, which reaches five floors high and covers two sides of the building. Check out the video above to see the process and final result.

West coast lyricists Prometheus Brown (Blue Scholars) and Bambu recently joined forces to drop an album, Prometheus Brown and Bambu Walk Into A Bar. Today, we get some visuals from the album – live from the Beatrock Music 2-year anniversary celebration, here’s “Lookin’ Up” (Fatgums on the beat). Video directed by Jordan Ching.

This coming Saturday February 25th the Legends of Hip-Hop tour curated by prolific artist Justin BUA is touching down in NYC for Black History Month. A two-day, multimedia whirlwind of visual hip-hop, music and workshops, the whole thing is also a benefit for The Boys & Girls Club of NYC (yes, Beat Street is a lesson, too). You might have to be an art collector or journalist to gain entry to some of the daytime events but Saturday night’s performance from “The Legends of NYC” (legends include: DJ Kool Herc, Chuck D of Public Enemy, DMC of Run-DMC, DJ Q-Bert, Big Daddy Kane, Dres of Black Sheep, Crazy Legs, Tracy 168 and Grandmaster Caz) is open to the public.

Give me Madliberty or give me def. Or: give me both–as is the case on this snippet of the best rhyme Jadakiss ever spat (“Run”) cross-bred with MF Doom on a Madlib beat (2 beats, really. Tuff stuff–listen below). It is a teaser from Madlib’s forthcoming Medicine Show 13: The Black Tape, which drops March 1st (pre-order here). Would have come out sooner but apparently the cover art was so dutty, stinking, filthy X-rated that nobody would print it! True story. Or at least that’s what they said at Stones Throw:

Although a few loosies from this project were included on the limited edition vinyl Filthy Ass Remixes, this is the full 35-track, 60 minute CD. Comes with an 8-page booklet and um, collectible cover art. Strictly 18 and over. All of which reminds me–is anybody going to put together a Doom x Melanie Fiona mixtape when her new LP comes out and call it MF Doom Life? Food for thought, DJs.

As a prelude to his The Vintage Album, NY emcee/producer Fokis comes through with this free mixtape, A Vintage State of Mind (Hosted by Sadat X and DJ Chonz). As you may have guessed from the title, the tape is infused with that old school feel and has features from Sadat X and King T among others. The mixtape comes with a graffiti inspired black book with many legends doing tags,throw ups, and pieces (also check the book to find out how to win some free prizes from GoodWood NYC). Enjoy the 19-track freebee and look for the LP coming soon.

A couple of months back the Powell-Peralta team hit up Thrasher Magazine’s skatepark, Double Rock, on a road trip through San Francisco. In speaking of the experience Thrasher commented “the Powell crew came motivated and ready to rip, but a surprise visit from Godfather Steve Caballero escalated their efforts to the next level.” For those of you with a keen eye, keep your peepers trained for the fakie flip nose blunt.

First single from Crooked I’s upcoming mixtape Psalm 82:6 dropping March 8th.
Produced by Boi-1da and T-Minus.

Last we heard, The OF Tape Vol. 2 is due out March 20.

In a few days, Detroit emcee/producer, Black Milk will be setting out on his national Claps and Slaps Tour with his live band, Nat Turner. The 25-date tour will feature special guests J.Pinder and A.Dd+. It all begins on February 25th in Providence Rhode, Island. Look out for Milk’s instrumental project, The Practice, set to drop this spring.

Saturday, February 25 – Providence, RI – Fete
Monday, February 27 – Boston, MA – Middle East
Tuesday, Feburary 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Silk City
Wednesday, February 29 – New York, NY – Knitting Factory
Thursday, March 1 – Pittsburgh, PA – Shadow Lounge
Friday, March 2 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
Saturday, March 3 – Kalamazoo, MI – The Strutt
Tuesday, March 6 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig
Thursday, March 8 – Toronto – Great Hall
Friday, March 9- Chicago – Subterreanean
Saturday, March 10 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
Sunday, March 11 – St. Louis – Gramaphone
Monday, March 12 – Nashville – TBD
Friday, March 16 – San Diego – House of Blues
Saturday, March 17 – Scottsdale, AZ – Chaser’s
Sunday, March 18 – Los Angeles – The Roxy
Tuesday, March 20 – Santa Barbara, CA – Velvet Jones
Wednesday, March 21 – Fresno, CA – Fulton 55
Thursday, March 22 – San Francisco – 330 Ritch
Friday, March 23 – Portland, OR – Crown Room
Saturday, March 24 – Vancouver, BC – Fortune Sound Club
Sunday, March 25 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
Wednesday, March 28 – Minneapolis MN – 7th Street Entry
Thursday, March 29 – Iowa City – Mission Creek Festival
Friday, March 30th – Toledo OH – Frankie’s Underground

Even if we are “working from home” on President’s Day, you will still need sounds to get you through the rest of the week, when you are trying to get 5 days of work done in a 4-day week. So the soundtrack to your week officially starts here! Of course the only officially Presidential mixtape is POTUS Barack Obama’s Spotify playlist. And, as our dude Mick Boogie pointed out: “Everyone was describing [it] as a mix. Well, it wasn’t.” UNTIL NOW. Yes, Mick Boogs and homie Terry Urban have mixed the tracks from the infamous playlist into an actual “Obamify” mixtape, and here it is (stream or download below):

Continuing his Fool’s Gold Radio 2012 mixes, A-trak drops his latest February Mix. Affirming the well-known DJ’s notoriety, A-trak’s latest downloadable mix is segmented via a 22 tracklist. Given the sounds of the consecutive two releases thus far, we can only hope the 2012 consistency continues to the same caliber.

1. A-Trak & Zinc – Stingray (A-Trak Intro Edit)
2. Monkey Safari – Fat Papa (Country Club Remix)
3. NT89 – Voices
4. Kwanzaa Posse – Musika (Ralph Falcon and Oscar Gaetan Murk Miami Mix)
5. Samuel Dan – Let Me See You
6. Claptone – Cream
7. NTFO & Rhadow – Don’t Stop
8. Machinedrum – DDD
9. Hoshina Anniversary – Chicago
10. Wax Motif & Neoteric – Das Machines
11. Zeds Dead – Rumble In The Jungle
12. Kill Frenzy – Booty Clap
13. Epworth – Ain’t Hard
14. Djedjotronic – Walk With Me
15. Rihanna & Calvin Harris – We Found Love (Solidisco Remix)
16. Treasure Fingers & Malente – Crusaders
17. Alec Carlsson – Paris Fried Chicken (J Paul Ghetto Remix)
18. Oliver Twizt – Love Trip (David Jones Remix)
19. Martin Solveig – The Night Out (A-Trak Remix)
20. Laidback Luke, Arno Cost & Norman Doray – Trilogy
21. Boys Noize & Erol Alkan – Lemonade (Gesaffelstein Remix)
22. WhoMadeWho – Inside World (Digitalism Remix)

A silhouette that is no stranger to customizations and stand alone designs, Nike’s storied Air Force 1 Low gets a bespoke design at the hand of Zhijun Wang. Paying homage to the “Year of the Dragon” – a year that also signifies the 30th anniversary of the Nike classic, Wang mocked up the predominantly white AF1 in a traditional Chinese pyrography in black. Thematically the iteration gives nod to traditional Chinese tales that speak of the Dragon, Sea, Eight Trigrams, and the Five Elements. In addition to the custom upper, the Nike Air Force 1 Low 30th Anniversary rendition is advanced alongside a custom-etched wooden shoe box, bamboo iPhone 4/4S case, and additional wood lace buckles.

Mega, Action, Roc and Saigon (with the help of Large Pro) are M.A.R.S.

The perfect marriage of court and culture, Nike is honoring the Air Force 1 with a pinnacle footwear collection as the shoe approaches its 30th birthday. Launching March 3, the Nike Air Force 1 Pearl Collection begins with three colorways and premium design details representing the shoe’s three-decade legacy. The first colorway within the collection is the Air Force 1 Lux MX Air ‘08 featuring a full-length visible Air Max unit, a first for the AF1, with a Mother of Pearl-inspired reflectivity throughout the upper. It’s inspired by the original colorway and remixed with Vac-Tech construction. The second is a low top featuring a black denim upper, ice outsole, premium leather accents, and the first denim wrapped midsole in a AF1. The final drop is a low top with an all-white reflective upper, translucent milky-white midsole, and is a crisp modernization of a classic. Each of the styles within the collection carry some consistent design cues including Mother of Pearl-finished deubres and aglets for the laces, retro AF1 grid graphic on the sockliner, and special edition pearlized finished box with commemorative tissue wrapping.

Fresh off three Grammy wins and a successful tour still underway, Skrillex unleashes the new visuals for his title track off the recent Bangarang EP on Big Beat/Atlantic/OWSLA. The emerging theme of Skrillex’s videos – don’t underestimate the youth. Peep the carnage above.

Visualtraveling – ‘Holy Cow’ from Patrik Wallner on Vimeo.

The latest video from Patrick Wallner’s ongoing Visualtraveling series is Holy Cow, a short ten minute skate film documenting a month-long journey through the countries of South Asia. Along for the ride were Walker Ryan, Laurence Keefe, Michael Mackrodt and Kenny Reed.

Looks like Joe Budden is going to be hitting us with more freestyles. Here is the latest one over ‘Stay Schemin’.