(August 13, 2010 – Brooklyn, NY) Since the release of their 2009 sophomore album Brooklynati, the hip-hop crew Tanya Morgan has been delivering stellar shows to fans throughout the East Coast and the Midwest. They now set off on August 20th on their second tour of the summer season to impart their musical genius to audiences in major cities throughout the Wild West. They will be blazing through Texas, New Mexico, California, and the State of Washington.

(August 12, 2010 – Brooklyn, NY) The Niceguys, a four-man Houston-based hip-hop group with southern roots and musical sensibilities that stretch far beyond the city’s limits, are excited to announce the release of their debut full-length, The Show. The album, being offered both as a free download and through digital retailers, will be available September 28, 2010 via 265 Pro/The Pi Group.

(August 11, 2010) – New York, NY – Acclaimed and controversial Jamaican-born emcee Cannibus is proud to announce the release of his brand new LP entitled C Of Tranquility. The 15 track album will be available on October 5th from Interdependent Media, the label responsible for releases from Tanya Morgan, Finale, J*DaVeY, Moe Green, K’Naan, and co-founded by Evan “TRUTHLiVE” Phillips.

After months of talking about their much buzzed-about concept album, Grammy winners David Banner and 9th Wonder are excited to announce a release date of November 9th for Death Of A Pop Star. The album will be released through Banner’s own Big Face Entertainment. The seemingly unlikely partnership grew legs when the two Southern boys discovered they shared a lot in common, including misconceptions due to their fame about how they hold the power to resurrect hip-hop music.

With their new single, “We Ztay Shynin'” (Treats Remix), Brooklyn natives Metermaids lace their brash lyrics over the ear splitting beats of Sleigh Bells’ “Treats.” The song is just one of five Sleigh Bells tracks on the new remix EP that can be downloaded from the band’s website now. The track blends the in-your-face and unapologetic style that both acts exude.

After releasing her first single, “Zane One,” from her debut album L.A. Woman, Zane One is back with another track from the LP entitled, “Kingdom”. This time, she exposes the flaws of hip-hop over a dub-influenced beat, filled with crispy drums and a thick riding bass line. With “Kingdom”, Zane One continues to set herself apart from the masses, as her verses aggressively confirm the current state of hip-hop.

In a time when hip-hop and rap have branched out in to multiple sub-genres, the emcees of SWTBRDS – Davinci, StreetMedia, and Adrian Champion – have kept things traditional and raw. Titled SWTBRDS Mix # 1, the podcast is an excellent showcase of what the young label has to offer. The mix was put together expertly by Ammbush, a member of the famed Oakland Faders and the Drums & Ammo beat clique, whose membership includes producers Al Jieh, REL, and 6fingers. Flowing through 22 songs in 38 minutes, the mix offers multiple tastes in one short and sweet package.

Track List:

01 Intro

When we think of summer we think of relaxation. The preview video for “Summer” off Erk Tha Jerk’s upcoming album Nerd’s Eye View shows the opposite: hard work. Erk says, “We had a show on Thursday so we were at the venue until 3am, then we went straight to the airport to go to another show, did soundcheck, went back to the hotel to shower real quick, then did the show, then the afterparty. There’s always work to do, even at an afterparty. It’s not like I sit in the VIP and talk to girls.

Moe Green hits his fans with a motivational video for his track “KIM” portraying the life of an aspiring emcee. The video echoes the intentions of the song, depicting the day to day struggle of an artist hitting the streets and working to get his voice heard. Although Green has seen a recent swell of recognition with his inclusion on KMEL’s Freshman 10 and a great deal of buzz over his new album Rocky Maivia: Non-Title Match, Moe continues to push hard for recognition. “The video and the song highlight the fact that I’m still working to reach new plateaus,” says Green.

Amidst the darkness and sorrow that surrounds the murder of Oscar Grant, Roach Gigz presents a profound music video that captures the air of indignation that permeates the Bay Area and cities and towns across America. The video was shot in Oakland, California on the days leading up to, and the day of the verdict. Fortified store windows, mobbed city streets, and armies of riot police are a few of the images seen through the lens of Oakland filmmaker and frequent Gigz collaborator, Aris Jerome.

As a follow up to their previous EP, HelloGoodbye, Stik Figa & D/WILL bring us their latest project, Alive & Well. With their last release being themed as a suicide note to Stik Figa’s son, Alive and Well provides a much different perspective on life, yet equally thought provoking. The EP is filled with substantial lyrics, and serving as a true concept-related project, each song is significant to the overall message: Stik Figa & D/WILL are alive and well.

Despite the staggering amount of creative output, Brooklyn – Williamsburg in particular – frequently draws intense criticism for its “hipster” community. Metermaids, two natives of this particular borough, are now releasing “The Bedford Kings,” their tongue-and-cheek take on a situation that hits close to home. The track is a remix of “Riot Rhythm,” a song originally appearing on the album Treats by another Brooklyn-based duo on the rise, Sleigh Bells, and, in context, proves to be an intelligent choice.

Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2 August 2010 – Afrikaans Rap artist Dokte has released a 16 track mixtape for free via his website at http://dokte.com.

A member of each of possibly the two biggest Afrikaans hip hop groups put their skills together to cook up an Afrikaans Rap mixtape of the highest caliber – and best of all, it’s free.

DJ Azuhl, member and DJ of Brasse Vannie Kaap, manned the decks while Dokte, member and producer of Kallitz, dropped his rhymes on a wide selection of a few of the best beats.

Selected as a member of 106 KMEL’s (the biggest Bay Area hip-hop station) Freshmen Class of 2010.

“…The Day the Turf Stood Still feels like an attempt to do something unique within the Bay’s insular world, all while retaining the new Bay’s characteristic cannibalizing of different moments in rap history.” – 7.6/10 Pitchfork.com

“I’m keeping DaVinci on my “artists to keep an ear on” list – he’s got enough moxie and production to keep moving on his turf, rising from the merely above average to something special as long as he doesn’t stand still for too long.” – RapReviews.com

“Seasons,” the latest Apollo Brown single off of The Reset, is very much an exercise in melancholy. “I really wanted to hear something on the sad side, some grasping-onto-life type music,” Apollo explains of his vision for the track. The old-time radio crackle, sparse guitar work, and echoing hook provide the perfect backdrop for the wistful lyrics of rising Kansas City emcee Stik Figa, currently working on a full length with producer Oddisee.