New Music: JSWISS - 'Who Run It'

Anyone young buck who's willing to take on the classic 'Theme From S.W.A.T' by Rhythm Heritage is alright in my book.

JSWISS - an MC claiming North Carolina and NYC from what ,y sloppy detective work tells me - falls into that camp.

The youngster cites golden hip hop as his major influence, so hearing him rework the obscenely funky S.W.A.T. break into 'Who Run It' isn't really a surprise.

New Music: MellowHigh - 'Go'/'Timbs'

Odd Future-ers Hodgy Beats and Domo Genesis have been trickling out a few leaks from a collaborative project over the last few weeks.

But as is the way with the ever-prolific OFWGKTA lot, they like to confuse us older folks.

Why the confusion? Well, the pair is known as MellowHigh. Not to be confused with MelloHype, Hodgy's partnership with fellow OFWGKTA-er Left Brain. Those crazy kids. Whatever will they come up with next.

But just like MellowHype, MellowHigh (so many mellows, so much confusion) seems to be a pretty damn good combination.

Video: Nas - 'The Don'

It's nice to see that not all videos are filmed on a flip cam these days. So hats off to Nas for investing a bit of coin in his latest effort for 'The Don'.

There's no flashy visual effects here mind you, just New York City as a rather spectacular backdrop, courtesy of  plenty of aerial shots. That's what Def Jam dollars brings.

'The Don' shines a light on the two sides of Nas: the urbane playboy who likes the finer things in life (good food, good women and chequered woollen pants...seriously); and the rough and ready kid from Queensbridge who isn't scared to look menacing in a ring of fire.

New Music - Illy + M-Phazes - 'Rock & Roll'

Before you click play on this tune and wonder if I've gone senile, let me defend myself. I am not posting a Skrillex song to ruin your weekend.

You'd be forgiven to think today's post is some sort of ill conceived prank of course, when the opening bars of the angular haired wonder's 'Rock & Roll' hit your ears.

But stick with it. Why? Because the dross stops about 20 seconds in when producer M-Phazes (who you might remember from here) grabs the reins and flips the beat into something a bit more palatable for hip hop ears.

New Music: Nas - 'Daughters'

Nasty Nas just keeps keeping on these days, doesn't he?

Following on from the reggaefied banger 'The Don' (the video of which is due tomorrow), Nasir switches down the pace a little with a No I.D. produced gem, 'Daughters', and ode to... you guessed it, daughters.

Nas is in a reflective mood on this one, waxing lyrical on the trials and tribulations of raising a young girl these days over a suitably serene beat. It is a family story, after all.

New Music: Action Bronson - 'A Simple Man'

Saying that beardo all star Action Bronson's Twitter game is no holds barred is a bit of an understatement.

The master of the hirsute ginger tinge certainly doesn't mince his words. And why should he? He's obviously pretty good with them.

But Bronsolinho doesn't use social media merely to take down the non-believers out there. He's pretty decent at using it to spread his music around too.

New Music: Gangrene (Alchemist & Oh No) - Odditorium EP

The Alchemist and Oh No - collectively known as Gangrene - are hip hop multi-taskers, with both gentlemen being willing and able to fire up some banging beats or drop a few rhymes if need by.

Alc and Oh made a few waves back in January with their LP Vodka & Ayahuasca, a grimy, heavy number that gave them the platform to show their do-it-all repertories.

Now they're back with a free EP, Odditorium, delivering more of the hard stuff that Vodka & Ayahuasca introduced. Dense beats, gritty lyrics, the whole nine. Get in there.

New Music: The O'My's - 'Living Wrong'

As much as I love me some dusty samples and studio beats, it's mighty nice to hear a bunch of players get together and belt out some quality live music.

From what I can figure, many-piece group The O'My's are combining the best of both of these worlds with their new mix tape,which sees them team up with producers Blended Babies.

I don't know much else about the project, but I can tell you what my go-go-magic-Google-search helped me find out.

New Music: DJ Soko - 'Biters' (Feat. Guilty Simpson)

Mello Music Group has been releasing some consistently good records lately, and the latest tune they've let off is no exception.

DJ Soko - the man at the controls for hip hop crew The Left - has assembled a good crew to join him  on the latest instalment of an ongoing MMG 7" series.

And to whet your appetite, he's giving away one of the tunes from this 7" in digital form. Good man.

New Music: Darling Lure - 'Hang On'

Current AGOMWAB producer of the moment Tall Black Guy keeps packing this site with high-grade hip hop treats (check him out here and here if you need a crash course).

One of TBG's many recent ventures is a project with The Primeridian (a.k.a. MCs Simeon Viltz and Darshon 'Race' Gibbs, who you might remember from this little jam).

The trio formed like a mini Voltron last year to create Darling Lure, a group that creates the sort of soulful, sincere hip hop that has made TBG a regular feature on this site.

New Music: A$AP Rocky - 'Goldie'

Hip hop hipsters rejoice! A$AP Rocky is in the building.

Fresh off the stage from performing at Coachella, A$AP has made good on his promise to unleash the first single from his upcoming album, LongLiveA$AP.

The Hit Boy-produced 'Goldie' is most probably what you expect: a slow, semi-screwed beat; lots of talk about swag; lots of talk about money; and lots of talk about talking shit. It's all rather...well, trill.

But it's all good fun, and it's done right. You can listen to 'Goldie' by A$AP Rocky below:

Live: Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg Live @ Coachella 2012

There's not really much point me saying much about Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg's performance at Coachella earlier today.

This is definitely a case where it's best to let the pictures do the talking. Or holograms, as the case may be.

So watch on below as the good Doctor and the Big Boss Dogg burn through a ton of classic tunes backed by a tight band and some questionable haircuts (I see you, Snoop).

Oh, it's not just a two man show, mind you. Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar and Wiz Khalifa all roll through as well. So does Tupac, in digital form at least.

Mixtape: Children Of The Night - Queens...Revisited

Queens cats Children Of The Night have been plugging away in the New York City underground for a while now, releasing a string of self-funded albums through BandCamp.

But the Kids have received a bit of a leg up thanks to Big Apple-based clothing label Мишка, who have picked up the group's latest opus, Queens...Revisited, and given it a bit of a push.

The trio of Remy Banks, Nasty Nigel, and Lansky Jones - all rather big Star Wars fans I think you might find - make the kind of jazz-tinged hip hop that gets a lot of play on this here site.

Mix Tapes: Kenny Dope - April Hip Hop & Funk Mixes

A Southern Hemisphere Sunday double today from the mighty Kenny Dope, who follows up last month's tasty hip hop and funk mix in the best way possible: by one-upping himself.

The Dope man is on deck with not one but two quality selections of the hip hop/funk/soul persuasion - and best of all, they're both free and ready for your downloading pleasure.

As you'd expect, quality tuneage is the order of the day on both mixes, with tracks spanning a chunky spectrum of low and slow genres (that's code for "these aren't house mixs").

Competition: KRS-One @ Auckland Ticket Giveaway

How often does the mighty KRS One touch down in New Zealand to perform? Up until now, never. So when the Blastmaster hits Auckland and Wellington next week, you better be ready for a show.

And now, a couple of lucky folk out there will be well and truly ready - because AGOMWAB has two tickets to give away to the Auckland show, which takes place next Saturday, 21 April.

Let's keep this simple: to enter, all you need to do is head over to the recently re-established AGOMWAB Facebook page, show some 'like' love, post your favourite KRS One tune on the wall, and you'll go in the draw.

New Music: Snoop Dogg – 'Breathe It In'

It turns out that Curren$y isn't the only 'sativa lover who has got something a bit more special planned for 4/20 than merely smoking a joint.

The one and only Snoop D-O-double-G's love for the stickiest of the icky is hardly a secret.

And when 20 April rolls around next week, you can hear exactly how much he loves it - for that is the day that Snoop has chosen to release the Stoners EP. No prizes for guessing the subject matter for this project.

New Music: Maseo – 'I Bring The Soul & He Brings The Funk' (Feat. Mac Miller)

While De La Soul's Plugs One and Two have been off enjoying the good life in France, Plug Three (a.k.a Maseo) has been keeping busy States-side.

No red wine and stinky cheese for our man; instead, he's been holed up in the studio working on a new album titled DJ Conductor.

The first leak hit the web a few days ago, and sees Mase link up with youngster Mac Miller for a tune called 'I Bring The Soul & He Brings The Funk'.

New Music: Schoolboy Q - 'Hands On The Wheel' (Feat A$AP Rocky)

Right, so this track isn't new in the strictest sense of the word. But it's not particularly old either (a few months), and sometimes I forget to post things. Blame it on an ageing brain.

So for the sake of having a complete historical record of what I listened to when I was a whippersnapper, I'm going to post Schoolboy Q's 'Hands On The Wheel'.

The Black Hippy Crew member has been tearing up blogs for the last few months with this tune (amongst others), which sees him and A$AP preach the virtues of getting bent over a Best Kept Secret track.

News: Q-Tip signs to G.O.O.D. Music

It's pretty easy to take pot shots at Kanye West, but there are still moments where he serves up a pleasant surprise (instead of a Kardashan surprise. Whoops...there I go, pot shot).

Today's pleasant surprise? Word is that Yeezy has signed Q-Tip to his G.O.O.D. Music label, with Tippy Tip set to release a new album - tentatively titled The Last Zulu - for his new team in 2013.

Tip had this to say in a press release: “I’m excited to be a part of the great iconic Def Jam label. I’m humbled to be a part of such a storied history."  

New Music: The Stepkids - Suburban Dream (Remix)

After releasing one of the best albums of 2011, The Stepkids are back at it again today with a little rework of one of their better tunes, 'Suburban Dream'.

Producer Union steps into the fray to put a new spin on the track, adding some electronic tinkerings to the soulful original.

To push the boat out even further, Union calls in some rhyme support, with Pharoahe Monch and The Stepkids' Stone's Throw label mate Homeboy Sandman adding a hip hop twist.

You can stream the Union remix of 'Suburban Dream' by The Stepkids featuring Pharoahe Monch and Homeboy Sandman below, or download it here:

New Music: Suburban Dream - 'Wandering Around'

Ciaran 'Suburban Dream' McCarthy - AGOMWAB's favourite Irish producer, don't you know - is back with a new tune today, continuing the good run he's been on over the last year plus change (more about that here and here).

The Dream's new single, 'Wandering Around', is a quality piece of down tempo loveliness which would fit in right nice on a Mark Farina Mushroom Jazz adventure (check the vocal sample for the nail in the coffin).

Hang on a minute: the magical press release says that "the track is actually a tribute to Mark Farina's acclaimed Mushroom Jazz series which Ciaran has repeatedly found inspiration from over the years." Great minds and all that.

Under The Radar: Common & Sa-Ra Creative Partners - 'So Cool'

It's always nice to unearth little musical gems that have gone unnoticed. So a tip of the cap is due to the team at the excellent MOOVMNT blog, who've gone digging and come up with a little Common joint that I've certainly never laid ears on.

'So Cool' is an upbeat, cheery little number produced by Sa Ra Creative Partners (pictured above) which featured as a UK-only bonus track on Com's Be LP. Check it below:

New Music: Smoke DZA - Cuz I Felt Like It EP

After last week's mix tape offering from Young Roddy dropped, fellow Jet Life crew member Smoke DZA decided that he'd quite like to get in on the act with a little somethin' somethin' too.

Why? 'Cause he felt like it, that's why. What's the name of his new EP? Cuz I Felt Like It, that's what. Can't argue with the logic.

Here's what Smoke has to say: "I was on Nah Right on Saturday scrolling thru being a fan, trying to see what’s going on in the music world. 

"Young Roddy dropped a tape on Sunday and I got inspired and felt like rappin. So I called my engineer Mat Cody up and told him to come to the trap. 

New Music: Jay Electronica - 'Dear Moleskine'

To say that there were high expectations for Jay Electronica's debut album a few years ago proper would be a mighty understatement.

But here we are in 2012, and said album has become a bit of an urban myth.

Apparently, Jay-Z plays the album (which apparently goes by the name Act II: The Patents of Nobility) constantly. Although as a business, man/business man, and Jay Elect's boss,word is he's concerned there are no viable singles.

The Patents of Nobility has also been rumoured to have made angels weep with joy, if you believe everything you read on the internet. But will us mere mortals get a listen? I'm not sure.

There have been a few promising signs over the last few days, though.

New Music: Lee Bannon - 'Kings & Stones'

You might have heard of Lee Bannon thanks to his work with an impressive list of hip hoppers, with the likes of Talib Kweli, Inspectah Deck, Curren$y and Saigon all gracing a beat or two for Lee.

But the Sacramento producer has gone down a slightly different path for the first tune from his newest project, Caligula Theme Music.

Lee employ a more atmospheric style on 'Kings & Stones', toning down the boom-bap and shooting for a more Burial-esque beat style.

You can check  'Kings & Stones' - which will feature on the Spin.com-sponsored Caligula Theme Music set to be released on 11 April - below:

New Music: Grooveman Spot - 'Too Awakening'

I'm in the midst of a jazz upswing of sorts. Nowadays, weekend play lists at mine feature a rising tide of abstract noodlings, which smoothes out the rough edges of the hip hop and electronic business that's centre stage during the week.

But thanks to one of Japan's finest musical exports - Grooveman Spot of Jazzy Sport fame - this week's play list combines the best of both worlds. And it's only one song. Kind of.

New Music: Kanye West - Mercy (feat. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz)

It's been a little quiet on the Kanye West front lately. But as it turns out, this silence has proved to be more of a calm before the storm type-deal.

What have we seen over the last few days, then? Oh, not much really. Just two new 'Ye songs and confirmation that he's tapping Kim Kardashian, and that he indeed loves her.

That, my friends, is how to single-handedly lock down music blogs and gossip sites in one foul swoop.

New Music: Artifacts - 'Easter'

Here's a record that's novel for a couple of reasons.

Reason one: Its by mid-90's icons the Artifacts, the graffiti-loving kings of New Jersey who have buried what ever differences led to them splitting up way back when and reformed.

Reason two: Who the hell makes a record for Easter, and drops it on Easter? Christmas, yes. Easter, no.

Actually, will mentioning hell and Easter in the same sentence see me cast into a fiery pit? Time will tell I guess. But as is the case with all of the little tangents I tend to go off on, it all comes back to the music - and 'Easter' is worth a spin.

New Music: Adi Dick - 'Runnin From Marvin'

The first of April shouldn't be reserved for silly practical jokes. No, I have a far better idea: from now on, April Fools is out, and Marvin Gaye Appreciation Day is in.

It's hard to deny the charmin' of Marvin, an undeniable force who left this earth far too early and in tragic circumstances, back on 1 April, 1984.

So instead of carrying out some elaborate prank on Bob from accounts the next time 1 April rolls around, why not join with me and do the right thing by giving a Marvin Gaye record a spin. Good. It's a deal.

Funnily enough, in another small example of how the world works in strange ways, I was listening to a bit of Marvin just before today's tune arrived in my inbox.

New Music: Curren$y - 'What It Look Like' (Feat. Wale)

If you were planning on releasing an album called The Stoned Immaculate, there's a pretty good chance that 4.20 is one of the few numerical sequences you don't have trouble remembering.

Curren$y is an MC who's not afraid to claim his love for the sticky green.

So it makes sense that the man affectionately known as Spitta has chosen 20 April - that's 4.20 in American calendar speak - to release his new LP of the same name.

Under The Radar: Quasimoto - 'Broad Factor'

Madlib alter-ego Quasimoto's spin on a Mad Skillz classic well and truly slipped under my radar when it hit record stores back in 2005.

But I'm always partial for a bit of re-writing history, particularly when it comes to my music knowledge.

So thanks to a cheeky little post on the Stone's Throw homepage that I came across today, I'm going to pretend like I've been down with this tune since my record store days.

New Music: Kendrick Lamar - 'The Recipe' (Feat. Dr Dre)

There's some definite upsides to being down with Dr. Dre - and I'm not talking about a free lifetime supply of overpriced headphones.

Kendrick Lamar's one person who's probably pretty happy to be in Dre's corner these days.

He's already signed up through a tie-in between Dre's Aftermath label and the Top Dawg Entertainment label he's called home for a while.

He's even announced that he'll feature on the unicorn of all hip hop albums, Detox. Why the unicorn? I'd really like to believe I'll see it one day, but I remain sceptical.

But Detox or no Detox, a guest appearance on your song from the good doctor is a good look. And when Kendrick came calling to his fellow Comptonite and boss of sorts, Dre was there to answer the call.

Mix Tape: Young Roddy - Good Sense

Young Roddy - one of the talented whipper snappers from Curren$y's Jet Life crew - is on deck today with his first solo mix tape, Good Sense.

And after a quick spin this evening, it's clear that it makes perfectly good sense to skip to the bottom of this post and click the download button.

New Music: De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 present First Serve

A new De La Soul LP would normally be a shoe-in for a spin on this site as soon as I lock ears on it. But First Serve isn't necessarily De La as you or I might know them.

The identifiable faces of the daisy-agers, Pos and Dave, hold court on this new album, but the often erstwhile Maseo is nowhere to be seen.

Instead, the De La MCs have hooked up with a couple of French producers, 2&4 (aka Chokolate and Kahlid), to create a 'concept' album which is based on the work of real live musicians instead of samples.

A First Serve video and mix tape have come and gone, but I've not been compelled to write anything about them until today. I blame Pos' Black Eyed Peas-esque haircut which you can see above.

Mix Tape: Stalley - Savage Journey To The American Dream

When Ohio MC Stalley signed with Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group (MMG) a while back, it seemed like the resplendent beards of the hip hop world were beginning to align.

All Ross needs to do now is sign Action Bronson and Freeway and the all-beard super group I've hoped and dreamt for will be on and popping. Watch out now, ZZ Top.

But Stalley didn't sign with MMG for grooming tips. No, he signed to make music (and, I'd guess, a bit of money while he's at it).

After a long build up, the first fully fledged fruits of this new partnership have finally been unveiled. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Stalley's first MMG mix tape, Savage Journey To The American Dream.