Free Mixtape: Dub MD & Illmind Presents “Blaps, Rhymes & Life”

“Blaps, Rhymes & Life” is the exclusive new mixtape project from Dub MD and one of the most accomplished producers in Hip Hop Illmind. A producer that balances both the mainstream and underground successfully, working with a full spectrum of artists from Heltah Skeltah to 50 Cent, Little Brother to Black Eyed Peas, the list goes on. This new project features some of the artists Illmind has been working closely with over the past year or so including the likes of 50 Cent, LL Cool J, Heltah Skeltah, Skyzoo and many more.

Lookout for Illmind dropping his brand new studio album currently “Untitled” coming soon, along with his highly anticipated group album as “Fortilive” with Mushmouf and Slo-Mo and his exclusive collaboration project with North Carolina’s Supatition and make sure you check out his new beat-tape “New Blap City” + limited edition T-shirt which is available right now, cop them @ http://www.illmind.biz.

Also keep your eyes out for Dub MD’s exclusive new mixtape project for the purest called “Hip Hop Renatus” which features the whos-who of underground hip hop emcees (44 MC’s / 34 Tracks) doin what they do best over the greatest hip hop producers of all-times instrumentals, out next month for exclusive free download!

01.) Get Ya Ass Up! (Intro) (Produced By Illmind)
02.) Heltah Skeltah – Everything Is Heltah Skeltah (Produced By Illmind)
03.) Brooklyn Academy – Raise Ya Hands (feat. Jean Grae) (Produced By Illmind)
04.) Fresh Daily – Get Over (Produced By Illmind)
05.) D. Black – The Come Up (feat. Skyzoo) (Produced By Illmind)
06.) 50 Cent – Make A Movie (Produced By Illmind)
07.) Supastition – Thankful (feat. Kil Ripkin) (Produced By Illmind)
08.) Naturel – The Bullets (Produced By Illmind)
09.) K.O. (K-Otix) – 48 Seasons (Produced By Illmind)
10.) Torae – New Blood (feat. Skyzoo, Emilio Rojas & Fresh Daily) (Produced By Illmind)
11.) Fortilive – The Come Up (Produced By Illmind)
12.) Broken English – Different World (Produced By Illmind)
13.) Skyzoo – Lyrically Inclined (feat. Wale) (Produced By Illmind)
14.) Naps N Dreds – Do What I Should (feat. Copywrite) (Produced By Illmind)
15.) Quan – Geez Like Deez (feat. Rapper Big Pooh) (Produced By Illmind)
16.) Naturel – Resurrect (Produced By Illmind)
17.) 8th W1 – A Fool’s Lullaby (Produced By Illmind)
18.) Faro-Z – Clap Ya Hands (Produced By Illmind)
19.) A.P.E.X. – One More Time (Produced By Illmind)
20.) LL Cool J – Queens (feat. Prodigy, 50 Cent, Kool G Rap, & Tony Yayo) (Produced By Illmind)
21.) Wannabe? (Outro) (Produced By Illmind)

R&B/Hip Hop Duo Steelo Releases First Music Video “Make Up My Mind”

The Seattle-based Urban Group Continues to Gain National Radio Spins and Support With Release of First Music Video to Major Networks and Internet Platforms

Seattle, WA / August 26, 2008 – Seattle-based, R&B/Hip Hop duo Steelo released their first music video, “Make Up My Mind,” this week to both online video outlets and major networks.  The video was filmed in New York City and directed by James “Latin” Clark, with photography direction by Matt Workman, whose reel includes Busta Rhymes and KRS ONE.  The video also features cameos by DJ Master Millions, T-Weaponz, Magic Juan formerly of Proyecto Uno, DJ Delicious and female-rapper K.Tana.

“Make Up My Mind” is a bouncy club track that boasts searing vocals and a party feel, it is currently #4 on the Rap Attack Lives College Radio Chart and has earned almost 200 national radio spins.  It is the second single off their forthcoming album Music (Steelo Entertainment, 2009) which is produced by Fingazz for Streetlight Music, whose radio hits include Criminal feat. Fat Joe’s “Drop It And Rock It” and Kilo/Down’s “Lean Like A Cholo.”

Steelo’s first single “Let It Roll” was released in 2007 and garnered over 450 national radio spins, as a result the group opened for Pitbull and Sean Kingston.  “We hope that adding that all important visual through a music video will really help this single take off at radio and catch the attention of some major labels” says A.Uno of Steelo.

As the only R&B/Hip Hop duo in today’s popular music industry, Steelo blends pure R&B, slick rhymes and progressive beats, to create a unique and popular sound.  The group is comprised of lyricist A.Uno, who brings thought provoking rhymes and a smooth delivery, captivating audiences in English, Spanish, and Farsi, and singer/songwriter Bobby K, whose melodies and harmonies come to life through an exquisite vocal range.

In the past year they have appeared at Northwest festivals and Universities and opened for Pitbull, Sean Kingston and Rich Boy.  Steelo will close out the year traveling to Colombia in September 2008 for their first international show, as well as appearances in Los Angeles and Miami to support the video.

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About Steelo

Steelo is the perfect balance of Hip-Hop and R&B whose music is a lyrical fashion show of urban-pop styles that boasts vibrant colors and modern cuts.  The group draws its name from the Spanish word estilo, which means style and the urban slang steelo, with the same connotation.

The group is comprised of rapper A.Uno and singer Bobby K.  Steelo blends pure R&B, canny rhymes and progressive beats to create a sound that can be worn in any season and to any occasion – outright undeniable.

MC and lyricist A.Uno brings thought provoking rhymes and a smart, smooth delivery to their music.  He possesses a slick style and a witty tongue; A.Uno is the one the girls fall for, even though they know better.

Bobby K is a singer/songwriter heartthrob with Justin Timberlake appeal.  From soulful acoustic ballads to party tracks, his melodies, harmonies and exquisite vocal range come to life through his charismatic performances.

Steelo started their career on the Lowrider Car Show circuit opening for artist such as Baby Bash and Lil Rob, and they quickly discovered that their unique sound had a much more mainstream appeal – and that the ladies loved them.  “Our fan base is mostly younger girls, they come to our shows to have a good time and vibe out to the music, we take it as a challenge to keep it fresh,” explains Bobby K.  More recently Steelo has lent their talents to open for Pitbull, Sean Kingston, Rich Boy and Lloyd Banks.

College radio has embraced Steelo’s edgy and contemporary sound as a musical backdrop to study sessions and football games.  Steelo’s new single “Make Up My Mind,” a bouncy club anthem with searing R&B vocals and a party feel, was the #2 added record to national College Radio in it’s first week, second only to rap icon NAS.  The song has remained in the Top 10 for five consecutive weeks and is quickly becoming a favorite of campus fashionistas.

In stylistic contrast, the group’s first single “Let It Roll” was a smooth, feel good, summer cruising track.  It was dubbed “a sure fire summer hit” by Wild 96.1 in Riverside, California and has earned more than 400 national radio spins, including tastemaker-station Power 106 in Los Angeles and the increasingly popular Sirius Satellite Radio.

Steelo understands their appeal to younger fans and as such they feel a responsibility to not only make music but to encourage them to follow dreams and live with passion.  Steelo steps off the stage and onto the classroom catwalk, connecting directly with fans and conducting a student empowerment program.  They talk with classrooms about achieving personal and professional goals.  The school-based workshop creates a dialogue and builds a lasting relationship with music fans, on a personal level.

Steelo has just released their first music video for “Make Up My Mind” and recently recorded a 15-track album with hit-maker Fingazz of Streetlight Music, whose radio hits include Criminal feat. Fat Joe’s “Drop It And Rock It” and Kilo/Down’s “Lean Like A Cholo.”  The album Music (Steelo Entertainment) is set for release in early 2009.

If H&M had music on its rack, Steelo would be sold out in every size and color.

Freddie Foxxx – “Crazy Like a Foxxx”

The Song:

With a hunger and feistiness characteristic of early New York 90’s hip-hop, Freddie Foxxx’s title track “Crazy Like a Foxxx” rips through speakers with a beat-heavy sound that sets the mood for a battle. As the [self-proclaimed] diss track originator, Bumpy spits aggressive battle verses at the Ultramagnetic MC boys in the now familiar diss track style. The original recording wasn’t meant to take shots at other rappers, but after a back and forth competition emerged with the Ultramagnetic MCs, Foxxx felt he had to hit the studio and re-record. A decade and a half after recording the track Bumpy reveals, “I decided to switch up the title song “Crazy Like A Foxx.” There’s two versions on there that people are gonna hear. I gave them the original version, which was more of me doin’ my lyrical skill thing, and then I switched up and put my whole battle verses on there. I was trying to feed the audience what they wanted.” Foxxx’s inspiration for his battle rap set the tone for a new trend in hip-hop and fans everywhere can thank Bumpy for paving what is now part of hip-hop history.

The Background:

Freddie Foxxx’s Crazy Like A Foxxx was recorded in the early ’90s in New York and intended for an official release by MCA. However, for reasons unknown, the album was shelved after promotional cassettes were serviced to radio and press. This newly remastered release includes both the 1993 demo version on Disc 2 and the 1994 completed version of the album on Disc 1. Largely written for the emcee’s friends in prison, the album has ominous overtones and provides insight into Bumpy’s dark state of mind at that time period. The album is a veritable time capsule from the early 1990’s, with guest spots from legends such as 2Pac, Chuck D, and Kool G Rap as well as production from from D.I.T.C.’s Showbiz, Lord Finesse, and Buckwild. Crazy Like A Foxxx is available from Fat Beats Records now.