Planet Asia x Dirty Diggs – High End Cloths (Empire Distribution) 9.10.2013
West Coast veteran MC Planet Asia (The Last Opening, The Grand Opening, The Medicine, Pain Language, Black Belt Theatre, etc.) releases his first project since the well received and critically praised collaborative LP Abrasions with producer Gensu Dean from earlier this year (which was featured on WYWS), High End Cloths.
This 10 track release is produced entirely by Gold Chain Military affiliate Dirty Diggs and has the sound and aesthetic we’ve all come to expect from Planet Asia and his cohorts in recent years. If you enjoyed the feel of the Gold Chain Military Chain Of Command album or the Durag Dynasty 360 Waves LP then you should also be feeling High End Cloths which can be acquired from fine musical (I almost wrote retail) outlets such as iTunes, Amazon & UGHH.
Various Artists – DEMOS: An Independent Artist’s Guide To Success OST (HipNOTT Records/Empire Distribution) 9.10.2013
Back in 2010, the documentary film “Demos: An Independent Artist’s Guide To Success” was initially announced as a creation of the head of HipNOTT Records in association with Velv Somersault. Here it is in 2013 and the release of the documentary and the soundtrack are both finally upon us and have both turned out to be more than worth the wait. The film’s soundtrack features music from The Barrell Bros (Skyzoo & Torae), Tanya Morgan, Chaundon, Supastition, Rapper Big Pooh, Sha Stimuli, King Mez, El Prez, General Monks (Planet Asia & Triststate) and more.
In addition, the soundtrack features production from IMAKEMADBEATS, Trox, Kash, Kuddie Fresh, Dae One, THX, ArtOfficial and more. If you’re searching for a film about the independent music industry with an ill soundtrack featuring underground rappers and producers (and you really should be if you’re reading this) then you need this in your collections. Look for it on iTunes, Amazon & UGHH (CD + DVD). Get your learn AND your head nod on…
LMNO x Evidence – After The Fact (Up Above) 9.10.2013
LMNO (Leave My Name Out, Economic Food Chain Music, P’s & Q’s, Selective Hearing, James Kelly, Selective Hearing 2, Born Again, etc.) has been an active MC for the past two decades and he’s a member of the crew Visionaries with numerous solo albums to his credit over the past decade and change. His first proper release of 2013 comes in the guise of his collaborative LP with Evidence (Dilated Peoples & Step Brothers) titled After The Fact.
LMNO is no stranger to making albums with the same producer as he’s done it successfully several times over in the past with notable producers such as Kev Brown, DJ Babu, Astronote, Dert, Mr. Brady, Theory Hazit, Georgia Anne Muldrow and others. The blend of LMNO’s bars over Evidence’s raw beats makes for another excellent LP from Up Above Records. After The Fact can be copped from iTunes, Amazon, Fat Beats, UGHH & a special t shirt & CD bundle is available if you buy it directly from Up Above Records.
SLEPT ON BONUS PICK: YC The Cynic – GNK (YC The Cynic) 8.26.2013
Even though this feature is called While You Were Sleeping and I’m trusted to keep abreast of all the best of the latest independent and underground Hip Hop releases from time to time I overlook one or under/overshoot a release date. That is the case with YC The Cynic’s excellent self released LP GNK. I thought it was going to drop September 3rd when it actuality it hit iTunes and Amazon the previous Tuesday. Had I known? It would’ve made Part 2 of my August WYWS post a few weeks back. Since I don’t own a time machine this is the best I can do to rectify my oversight. This album is so good that I fully expect to see it in a gang of end of the year lists. GNK can currently be purchased from both iTunes and Amazon. Do me a favor and cop it.
EVEN MORE RAWNESS: Stainless Steele – Everything Is Sacred, Nothing Is Sacred (Bandcamp) 9.2.2013, Fitz Ambro$e x 0hbliv – Zen Vapors (Cascade) 9.3.2013 & B.O.M.B. (Oliver Sudden x Luca Brazi) – B.O.M.B. (Boom Bap Professionals) 9.6.2013
While You Were Sleeping will return in a few more weeks to showcase the rest of the best underground & independent Hip-Hop releases from September. Until then, this is Dart Adams saying “Don’t sleep”.
