Illa J – “R U Listenin” feat. Guilty Simpson / Yancey Boys Release Date Announced

The Song:

Dilla beat. Illa J & Guilty Simpson verses. ‘Nuff said.

Also, Delicious Vinyl has just announced that Illa’s album Yancey Boys will be released on November 4th.

Yancey Boys Tracklisting:

1. Timeless

2. We Here

3. R U Listenin’ feat. Guilty Simpson

4. Alien Family

5. Strugglin

6. Showtime

7. Swagger

8. Mr. Shakes (skit)

9. DFTF feat. Affion Crockett

10. All Good

11. Sounds Like Love feat. Debit Nova

12. Everytime

13. Illasoul

14. Air Signs

The Background:

When Jay Dee passed away from complications relating to lupus in February 2006, he left behind an extraordinary legacy of production work, including hits for Common, Janet Jackson, and Busta Rhymes. One mother lode of previously untouched beats dates from his time working on the Pharcyde’s sophomore album, Labcabincalifornia (Delicious Vinyl, 1995). As Delicious Vinyl owner and founder Michael “Mike Floss” Ross explains: “From ‘95 through ‘98 Jay Dee was my go-to guy for hot beats and remixes. He was always making beats, always. So there was a select amount of tracks that he composed for me during that time, tracks as good as anything he’d done, only they never got used. When I finally met Illa J last year, I gave him a CD containing those unreleased beats.”

In a case of pure serendipity, 21 year-old Illa J had just relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles and constructed a studio built using Jay Dee’s recording equipment. He dubbed it Yancey Boys Studios in tribute to their fraternal bond. “Dilla was 12 years older than me,” Illa J says. “So back in the day in Detroit I was just a little kid, sitting on the stairs in our house, watching him make those first beats for Slum Village. I always felt my brother’s tracks and had an instinct for what I wanted to do over them.” When Illa J set to work in early ‘08 recording the album, the project flowed quickly as he entered the proverbial can’t miss zone. The name of the studio rightly became the title of the finished album, Yancey Boys, which will be released on November 4th, 2008 via Delicious Vinyl.

RUSTE JUXX UNLEASHES DEBUT LP, SEAN PRICE PRESENTS: INDESTRUCTIBLE, ON 10-28-08 ON DUCK DOWN RECORDS

INDESTRUCTIBLE FEATURES PRODUCTION FROM BLACK MILK & PF CUTTIN AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY SEAN PRICE

Ruste Juxx is the newest sensation coming out of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. After several years of collaborating on Boot Camp Clik projects, such as Sean Price’s, “Monkey Barz,” “Master P,” and “Jesus Price Supastar” albums, along with being featured on Boot Camp Clik’s “Casualties Of War,” album and touring with the likes of Sean Price, Ghostface and Jedi Mind Tricks, Juxx is preparing to release his first solo project, entitled “INDESTRUCTIBLE,” IN STORES OCTOBER 28th on Duck Down Records.

Ruste Juxx blazed the hip-hop scene with his single “VIC FLAIR,” which received heavy support from New York’s HOT 97, and the accompanying video became an underground favorite online.

“Indestructible” is Executive-Produced by Sean Price and is spearheaded by the lead tracks “Wipe Off Ya Smile,” and “Get Up.” There is production on the album from PF Cuttin, Dan The Man, and Black Milk. After years of grinding, Ruste Juxx is finally seeing his hard work and dedication to what he loves paying off. Playing off the title of his debut, “Indestructible,” Ruste proves that success is the only option.

Read about Ruste Juxx in next month’s XXL Magazine as he was selected for a “SHOW AND PROVE” feature and catch Ruste Juxx and Sean Price live on tour as they are currently touching down in over 54 Cities throughout North America.

Tracklisting and credits for Ruste Juxx’s Indestructible:

1.) Wipe Off Ya Smile f/Blaze (produced by Black Milk)

2.) System On Blast f/Reek (produced by PF Cuttin)

3.) Get Up f/LiL Vic (produced by PF Cuttin)

4.) Machine Gun Skunk f/Jahdan (produced by Masse Salazar)

5.)  Grave Digga (produced by Masse Salazar)

6.) Morge Truck (produced by Masse Salazar)

7.) Let Me In (produced by Dan The Man)

8.) Pimpin Ya Wife (produced by M-Nasty)

9. To All My Enemies (produced by Dan The Man)

10.) Duck Down! (produced by Black Milk)

11.) Homicide Ni**az f/Reek (produced by DJ Large)

12.) Love Is Worth Waiting For (produced by Blastah Beatz)

13.) Blaze Freestyle Interlude

14.) Blaze My Fire ft. L.A.W. (produced by DJ Large)

15.) Optimistic (produced by Blastah Beatz)

eLZhi – “Talkin In My Sleep”

The Song:

In the latest single off his critically acclaimed album, The Preface, eLZhi takes us through a world of fantasies and nightmares where it’s unclear whether he is really sleeping or just living the dream. He says “Could it be a dream / I’m finally rich in wealth / I’m not convinced / Let me pinch myself” as the listener follows him through the revolving doors of multiple dreams, featuring run-ins with foxy ladies and menacing enemies, enough to give this Slum Village alum some serious night sweats. While eLZhi is on his A-game lyrically, it is really the production that takes center stage in this track. With a sleepy reverb effect and dizzying echo, producer Black Milk lets us tag along on this ride to dreamland.

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=286292424&s=143441

Like what you hear? Keep up with eLZhi and other artists like Freddie Foxxx, Ill Bill, and Black Milk on the Fat Beats Blog where you can learn about upcoming performances, releases, and in-store appearances.

Also, check out this video on the history of Fat Beats Records, bringing you fresh, independent hip hop since 1994.

The Background:

In the late-nineties, eLZhi made a name for himself by moving his way up through the ranks of Detroit’s underground scene and teaming up with Slum Village for his first big taste of success. He has since been making the rounds, working with local Detroit luminaries such as J Dilla, Waajeed of Platinum Pied Pipers, and Dwele, in addition to a well-received solo tour of Europe during his early years in the game. Hip-hop enthusiasts across the globe consider eLZhi to be one of the most skilled emcees in the entire scene, and bloggers and critics have been trumpeting this sentiment since the release of the last Slum Village album in 2005. With the release of The Preface, eLZhi looks to cement his name amongst the greatest emcees in the game. The 16-track album, produced almost entirely by rising star Black Milk, features guest appearances by a who’s who of the Detroit hip-hop scene. Royce Da 5′9″, T3 (Slum Village), Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, and more add to what many have predicted will be one of the most noteworthy hip-hop releases of 2008. The Preface is in stores now via Fat Beats Records.