New Music: P-Money - 'The Hardest' (Feat. M.O.P.)

When P-Money was growing up down here in little old Nu Zulland, working with the mighty Mash Out Posse must have seemed like a bit of a pipe dream.

But the boy's done good and crossed another wish off his bucket list this week following the release of 'The Hardest', the latest tune off his upcoming LP, Gratitude.

So what do you do when you're a producer cooking up a track for some of your favourite rappers? You come up with some heat, that's what. And Master Money does just that.

Fame and Danz are in fine form too, growling their way through the track in the way we all know and love. P-Money and M.O.P.? You're doing us proud, Pete.

You can stream 'The Hardest' below, and download it here. Remember to show a bit of gratitude for P's handiwork and pick up Gratitude on 17 May in New Zealand/Australia, and 21 May everywhere else.

New Music: De La Soul – 'Get Away (The Spirit Of The Wu)'

Listening to the latest tune from De La Soul makes me feel old for three reasons.

Reason two: De La have been at this music thing for 25 years now, apparently.

Reason two:  Maseo is rocking a goatee that's a LOT more salt than pepper.

Reason three: the track in question - 'Get Away (The Spirit Of The Wu)' - is De La's first single since 2004. Jeebus. I could have sworn it's only been a few years? I need a cup of tea and a lie down.

New Music: Joey Bada$$ - 'Day In The Life'

Joey Bada$$ and Harry Fraud are two of the real stars of the new wave of talent coming out of the Big Apple right now.

So when NYC radio geezer Peter Rosenberg set out to make his new mix tape, New York Renaissance, it made sense to pair up two of the best.

Harry has created an introspective, piano and horn-tinged beat which has become 'A Day In The Life', with Joey matching the tone with his rhymes.

New Music: Tall Black Guy - 'Mon Amie De'Troit'

The ever prolific Tall Black Guy took a massive step closer to releasing his long-awaited LP yesterday, 8 Miles To Moenart.

The TBG has dropped 'Mon Amie De'Troit' on the masses, the first single from what will be his debut full-length release (hard to believe, but true).

What to expect, what to expect? Trademark TBG, that's what.

New Music: Yasiin Bey & Mannie Fresh – 'Black Jesus'

Mannie Fresh and the artist formerly known as Mos Def are linking up for an album? Really? I clearly need to pay more attention instead of eating Easter eggs.

Now that the chocolate feeding frenzy is subsiding (kind of), I've finally noticed that Mannie and Mos (who, of course, now goes by the name Yasiin Bey) have premiered a new cut from said project.

Gig: Lion Rockers Hi-Fi Easter Monday Session

As much as we all like having a few days off at Easter, I quite often get to Easter Monday and feel the need to do something to work off the chocolate coma.

So what am I going to do today? Head to Tyler Street Garage in Britomart (that's Auckland, ya'll) and drink beer and eat jerk chicken. It's all about balance, people.

But the the main reason I'm pulling my expanding backside off the couch (it's not all about food) is to check out the Lion Rockers Hi-Fi, who are bringing their ribcage-rattling soundsystem out for a free Easter Monday throw down.

New Music: Bunty Beats & Chox [Chose] Mak - 'Sublime Innovation'

Jazzy business from Bunty Beats and Chox [Chose] Mak this morning, who link up for some 'Sublime Innovation' that fits the bill for a lazy A.M.

Household names they may not be, but Bunty and Chox (a Glaswegian producer and North Carolinian - is that right? - MC) certainly make smooth tunes together.

No idea how they paired up, but it's not really important. Just check the end product, 'Sublime Innovation': solid rhymes over a filtered piano sample and some drums of the head-nod inducing variety.

New Music: GUTS - 'Django' (Remix)

Here comes the first (and almost definitely only) post in a new series - Spaghetti Western Sundays.

Right, that's clearly not going to take off. But at least we've got one decent tune for the collection.

'Django' sees French beatmaker GUTS remix a tune originally composed by Luis Bacalov for a soundtrack to the Spag Western of the same name back in '66.

New Music: Tyler The Creator - 'Treehome95' (ft. Erykah Badu)

The last time I posted anything by Tyler The Creator on this blog, it was a video of him eating a cockroach and throwing up.

How's his for an about turn then? 'Treehome95' - a new cut from Tyler's new LP, Wolf, which is being released officially on Tuesday - is all sweetness and light, with Tyler showing he can hold a tune.

New Music: ScHoolBoy Q – 'Yay Yay'

ScHoolBoy Q's upcoming LP, Oxymoron, seems to be close to completed, so here we go with the leaky-leaks.

'Yay Yay' is on deck today, with Boi-1da hooking up a smoking beat for Q's drug chat.

That's about all I've got in me today. Curses to you, hangover.

New Music: Black Milk – 'Sunday’s Best/Monday’s Worst'

Black Milk has just dropped a nice little two-part ditty, 'Sunday’s Best/Monday’s Worst'.

This tune's got a bit of a gospel vibe to it, particularly in part one (that's the Sunday part... makes sense, doesn't it).

But the optimism of Sunday is swapped for a more sombre beat in part two (I don't know if this part is 'Monday', but it certainly feels like it. Damn you, Monday).

New Music: P-Money (Feat. Roc Marciano) – 'The Professional'

I'm enjoying this new back to to future-type business from P-Money, I am.

After carving out a career in hip hop, P turned his attentions to beats of a little more up-tempo persuasion for a minute, but an extended stay in NYC has lead to a return to his roots.

With a top notch cut from Havoc and Skyzoo already in the can and on the airwaves ('Welcome to America'), P's back at it today with another low and slow joint.

Mix Tape: Lord Finesse - Live From Tokyo Pt.1

If you're gonna start a crew called Digging In The Crates, it pretty much goes without saying that you're always down to get your fingers dusty digging for breaks and beats.

Just like his DITC comrades, Lord Finesse's digging credentials can't be questioned. And if you need a refresher, this mix tape is just the ticket.

Finesse headed out to Japan last month to show off the results of his lifelong search for beats and pieces, recording one of his DJ sets to share with the rest of us.

New Music: Rokamouth – 'Godmind' (Feat. AK)

A couple of gents from two of New York City's real up-and-coming crews join forces for a new tune today.

'Godmind' is the handiwork of Rokamouth (of Pro Era fame), who blesses a low and slow beat right nice.

But for my money, it's Rok's guest (AK of The Underachievers) who steals the show, tearing the track down, simple and plain.

New Music: Harry Fraud & Action Bronson – 'Morey Boogie Boards'

Harry Fraud and Action Bronson are a good combination. So why not start your day off the right way with a new jammy from the top two-man team?

'Morey Boogie Boards' is classic Harry/Bronson action; a beat from Harry that the youth dem might call 'wavy', and lots of raps about lots of random stuff from Bronson.

Turns out that this isn't a random flash in the pan though - Harry's releasing a mix tape tomorrow, and 'Morey Boogie Boards' is single numero uno.

New Music: Drake – '5AM in Toronto'

Drake's on a bit of a rapping roll right now, backing up from last month's 'Started From The Bottom' with a new rappy-rap tune, '5AM in Toronto'.

Boi-1da and Vinylz on the beat this time... you can stream below, or head over to Nah Right for the download.

New Music: Häzel - 'Turn The Lights Off'

Another joint to file in the "songs that make you go...oooooooooh" file, this time from a tres bon beats man form France who goes by the name of Häzel.

Turns out that Häz is - go go magic press blub - "hard at work in the studio finishing several new albums slated for release this year".

No doubt, our man will be cooking up some soulful head-noddery of the highest order.

New Music: P-Money - 'Welcome To America' (Feat. Skyzoo & Havoc)

Kiwi export P-Money has been holed up in New York off and on over the last year or so, working on something big.

As it turns out, that 'something big' has been a return to his hip hop roots, and signing on the dotted line for underground powerhouse, Duck Down Records.

P's apparently hard at work on a new album, Gratitude, with early reports making for good reading for you boom bap/true school enthusiasts out there.

Mix Tape: J.Period - Rage Is Back

I've rather been looking forward to this, I have.

J.Period is pretty flash at putting together a mix tape, as he shows on his latest effort, Rage Is Back - a companion mix tape to Adam Mansback's new-ish book (read more about that here).

Mr Period (hmmm, that doesn't sound right does it?) is of course skilled in the trade of turning mix tapes into ripping yarns (that's good stories for the benefit of my non-antipodean people).

Mix Tape: Gummy Soul - Freak The Funk!

Amerigo Gazaway is back with a new release today, dusting off his Gummy Soul hat and dropping a funk-heavy mix tape with a heavy hip hop twist.

Freak The Funk! is a celebratory affair, with Gazaway in a mood to raise the roof a little after being tapped on the shoulder to appear at SXSW Festival in Austin.