Over the weekend, Big K.R.I.T. delivered the next leak from his forthcoming Live From The Underground (dropping June 5th)–except ‘leak’ makes it sound like helium escaping from a balloon and this joint feels more like a leather-upholstered two-by-four upside your head. You might want to black out that date, other rappers. This album is gonna be a tough one to compete with.

When doing these themed songs meant for soundtracks, video games, commercials etc. it’s always a little tricky making music that is good enough to stand on its’ own outside of the product it’s endorsing. Kendrick Lamar is the latest rapper to make an attempt with his new song “War Is My Love” which is featured in Tom Clancy’s video game Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (dropping tomorrow). While I can definitely rock to this while in the trenches about to snipe out the enemy in a first-person shooter styled game, I don’t know if I’d give it much burn outside of that (though I may just be setting the bar too high after his last two songs).

“When I recorded ‘War Is My Love,’ I did my best to put myself in the shoes of the Ghosts from the video game and capture that feeling of being willing to wage war and do whatever it takes to claim victory and when I started really getting into the game, I thought it actually matched perfectly.”

With his right hand to God, left hand holding the jewels, Frank Ocean debuts a work in progress tentatively titled “Summer Remains.” In a possible nod to youtube piano covers, Ocean documents his first stab at the new composition–chords somehow reminiscent of Prince/Sinead O’Connor‘s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” modified with Frank’s distinctive mix of vulnerability and attitude–in a demo tape/home movie style and signs off with ”just at home f**kin around, no judging.” I am gonna ignore those instructions straight from the door and judge it to be potentially pretty dope. Find a screencap of the lyrics-sheet at Ocean’s tumblr.

Oh No recruits the Metal Face Villain DOOM for this album cut “3 Dollars.” Despite what the song title may imply, joints like this are priceless (though we’re giving it to you for the price of free). Brief, swift, and deadly get all 1:28 below. OhNomite will be out June 5th via Five Day Weekend – Cop the “3 Dollars” 5″ single via Stones Throw. Artwork by Jeff Jank and Charles Munka.

First of all, happy belated bday to the homie Rhettmatic, who brought in another 365 by giving the fans a gift. Rhett teamed with FWMJ and RappersIKnow to release Excerpts From The SP1200. With this volume 1 release, we get loose beats Rhett created on his SP between the years ’94 and ’98. Says the Beat Junkie of the sounds you’re hearing “What you hear is straight, raw, gritty, 12-bit texture, mono SP1200 beats with the ringy tone samples & smacking drum sounds.” If you’re a lover of that raw 90s boom bap sound head over the jump and check this one. Also read Rhett’s words on the history of the vintage drum machine sampler and how he fell in love with it.

Ah yes, the E-MU SP-1200…..the vintage drum machine sampler that has been used on a lot of classic Hip Hop albums. I remember when i first got my SP back in 1991, when they reissued the SP1200 with the black finish. The original version had grey finish; i bought mine for $2000…..that was a lot of me back in the day. This machine was made popular by producers such as Marley Marl, Dr. Dre, Dj Muggs, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Madlib, & of course Pete Rock….i was inspired to get one because all of my favorite producers during the late 80′s & early 90′s were using this to make all the classic Hip Hop songs that we all know & loved so well. My first official SP1200 beat on wax was the Key-Kool & Rhettmatic’s “E=MC5″ song with Ras Kass, LMNO, Meen Green, & Voodoo…..

So now, what you hear right now is some of old stash of SP1200 Beats that were made from 1994-1998. I actually recorded the beats straight from the SP1200, without any additional mixing…..just straight arrangement, & added scratches & sound effects to keep a little things interesting. What you hear is straight, raw, gritty, 12-bit texture, mono SP1200 beats with the ringy tone samples & smacking drum sounds. I hope you enjoy listening to them (& hopefully you’re not making fun of them) while walking down memory lane with me. Who knows, if the response is positive, i might put out more beats to listen….& maybe actually make some new ones too!

is already the best senate resolution ever. Watch Senator Squadron kick it live above.

Looking forward to the upcoming Spider-Man film? Hate movie surprises? Got four minutes? Then you might want to check out this “super preview,” of The Amazing Spider-Man, currently slated for a theater release on July 3. Rather than simply show four minutes of a single scene, this preview combines the main elements of several previously shown trailers and fleshes them out without (hopefully) revealing too much into the plot. We’d rather wait until July to learn the secret behind Peter Parker’s family, and find the true origins of Spider-Man.

Curren$y gives us the 2 Chainz feature from his upcoming album The Stoned Immaculate in stores June 5th.

While Nike has yet to confirm the date, sources say the June date is it. Stay tuned…

Apparently, from the videos’ descriptions, it’s an on-going project.

This is a continuation of the Intro scene I made six months ago. Hulk and Superman are in the desert and the fight begins. This is a work in progress and there is more battle scenes to come, this is just the first part. There will probably be two or three sequences to follow this, but I’m doing it in parts because it takes forever to get it done and I want share as it’s being completed. I’m open to suggestions and ideas from anyone, so let me know what you’d like to see in fight scenes to come. When all the scenes are done I plan to combine them together into one epic fight.

This is the second part to my ongoing animation project, a tribute project to Superman and The Incredible Hulk. As you’ll notice, the models and overall look has evolved and will continue to do so in future sequences. I’m already working on a new look for the Hulk on the next one. I got professional help this time in the music and sound design department, provided by the talented Francois Gratecap, which has made the whole project that much better. So my thanks to him.

The video is very impressive. We enjoyed it. Who will win the battle in the end? Tell us what you think?

Summer released her last album, Crayons, in 2008. She also performed on “American Idol” that year with its top female contestants.

Whoever edited the closing credits for Percee P‘s “Mastered Craftsman” video seems to have found it improbable that the Bronx-native has really been rapping since 1979, crediting the lethal lyricist for only 23 of his 33 years on the mic. Even so, “Mastered Craftsman” might even be an understatement for a man with a third of a century’s experience in his field. What Percival shows us on this one is that he’s got that parking lot cypher deeply engrained in him– and that he knows how to chop the head right off those Madlib rattlesnake-drums.

Tomorrow would have marked the 40th birthday of cutmaster Roc Raida. Fellow X-Ecutioner Rob Swift put together a project dedicated to the legendary DJ in honor of his untimely passing. Check out what Swift has to say about the Roc for Raida mixtape below and watch the video recorded at the listening party, which prominently features some touching words from DJ Mista Sinista on his late friend/idol.

Roc for Raida is a collection of songs (some unreleased) and battle style routines that defined Roc Raida the artist. I also recorded original scratch/beat juggle compositions dedicated to Raida. In addition to the assortment of music, I included what I thought were lost interview archives (courtesy of John Carluccio) which take you, the listener, into the hearts and minds of X-men’s Steve D, myself and of course the man of the hour, Roc Raida. I’m happy to say, Mista Sinista, Precision and Total Eclipse also make cameos paying tribute to some of our favorite Roc Raida battle sets. *Proceeds from “Roc for Raida” will be donated to Raida’s family!

The headline says it all, Torae & Pete Rock, that’s pretty much all you need (you should already have pressed play by now). If you’re curious what kind of music The Young Veteran and Soul Brother #1 make, refer to the song title. Video directed by Brian Robinson of Hyerground. Torae’s LP, For The Record, is out now in digital, CD, and vinyl formats.

Mahagoni Music, the label of Detroit techno & house auteur Kenny Dixon Jr. AKA Moodymann, just released this snippet of their forthcoming Dillatroit EP, dropping May 25th in limited edition 12″ vinyl. Details are sketchy but judging from the official Ma Dukes Yancey drop on this soundcloud preview (and confirmed by our sources) it seems like this if going to be a special wax-only sampler of select tracks from the Rebirth of Detroit LP that’s in the works for June 12th on Ma Dukes’ own Ruff Draft records. Makes sense, since Dixon has been a vocal supporter of the Vinyl Preservation Society and Detroit-made music in general. I guess it’s too much to hope that the EP might also include one of his signature soulful techno reworks of the Dilla material–but we can hope. Get thee to a record store on May 25th and if you are in the D, make sure you’re at the Magic Stick that night for the Ruff Draft label launch event. We love you, Ma Dukes.

BBAS J57 goes back and forth with the leaks. Monday we premiered a leak off of his The Ports EP featuring Sene, and today we get a leak off his other forthcoming release, 2057. With “Elite Status” J provides the beat while Rasheed Chappell lends the bars, with DJ Brace on the cuts. This one’s hard. The Ports EP and 2057 both drop on May 22nd.

This is the iTunes bonus track off Statik Selektah & Termanology’s album “2012″ dropping next Tuesday.

Off Straight No Chaser out now on iTunes. Directed by MysterDL.

1. The Weigh In Intro
2. Were I Wanna Be Feat. Big Stan (Produced By Niam Son)
3. Shit Dont Change Feat. Snoop Dogg (Produced By Dr Dre)
4. Last Hope Skit
5. Last Hope Feat. Andreena Mills (Produced By Rich Kid)
6. Lil Wayne Interlude
7. Were My Dogs At (Produced By Wayno)
8. Tyrese Speaks
9. That’s My Baby Feat. Tyrese
10. Right Or Wrong (Produced By Dame Grease)
11. DJ Envy Interlude

Michigan-bred soulcat (and closet boogie expert–you should hear his DJ sets) Mayer Hawthorne does the well-known makers of fine ‘gnacs (not to mention Canada Dry!) a super-solid look with this boogie-ish tribute to his favorite cocktail. Sounds a lot like the mood and groove from Marvin Gaye‘s “Got To Give It Up“–if that party in the background was an actual happening, instead of just a loop of a Don Cornelius and Marvin’s little sister Zeola Gaye going “heyyyy” in Motown’s studios (true story). Hmm, kinda makes you want to hit stop and go have have yourself a time (exit, stage left).

UK producer The Purist brings a sound I like to think of as “ye olde pimp shit”–loops of pure blaxploitation swag–for Roc Marciano and Action Bronson to rock over, showing off their bad sides like you was holding out 5 dollars on them. It’s all part of his Double Feature EP. Speaking of vinyl-sided pimp vehicles, Bronson’s Dr. Lecter long-player is now available on two platters made of black wax.