Run The Jewels released their highly anticipated second album recently and it's a damn fun listen.  The collaboration between underground hip-hop stars El-P and Killer Mike consists of super heavy beats and funny, yet "hard" lyrics.  Run The Jewels 2 is one of those legendary hip-hop albums that will keep you coming back again and again just for the good times. While they receive basically no radio play, they are currently in heavy rotation in lots of other popular media, from commercials, to Adult Swim bumps, to comic books.  Run The Jewels has exactly the right chemistry to take the world by storm. As an added bonus, on their new album, they even manage to rustle up a rare appearance by Rage Against The Machine's highly reclusive frontman Zach De La Rocha. What's not to love?

The hip-hop co-op that is Hail Mary Mallon is at it again with their fantastic beats, dark humor, and cool videos. For those uninitiated Hail Mary Mallon is a Rymesayers outfit bringing together the likes of Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, and DJ Big Wiz. Enough talk, its time to listen (and watch) now.

CunninLynguists have put out yet another great album packed full of nice beats and plenty of guest appearances. Strange Journey Volume Three is definitely worth a listen or two and can be streamed Here.  One of the highest points of the album is the very silly "Drunk Dial" featuring Murs and Grieves. Enjoy.

L.A. based rapper Rheteric Ramirez has a pretty mean flow about him.  He got his name by making big splashes in the rap battle pool and continues to kick ass all over the place. Check out this live rendition of "Roskin Doblin".

Apparently Atmosphere released a single last year called "Bob Seger". How did we miss that? They also have a brand spankin' new album coming out in May! Here is the video of last years one-off single. I suggest giving it a watch and listen separately to get the full effect, because the video is pretty captivating.

Like Hip-hop? How about weed? Well my friend this album is for you! Amen For Weed/ Hi-Life is a FREE album over at Bandcamp is a collection of Copenhagen artists expressing their love of the sticky icky. Take a nice sample hit below. It's pretty dope! (Look I made a pun!)

Don't fret! On this joyous day of celebration People Under The Stairs have your back. Now just click play and sit back and you know what to do after that.  Enjoy!

Sean Anonymous is keeping up the Minnesota Rhymesayers tradition by putting out solid, chillin' hip-hop. Check out "No B.S." featuring a helping hand from Rhymesayers staples Blueprint and Abstract Rude.

Why? lives in some strange world between Beck and Mc Frontalot.  Check out their newest single from Mumps Ect. called "Jonathan's Hope".

Even while taking a global soul searching journey hip-hop artist Sol still managed to find himself in the studio. This time he sends us his track from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.  As usual, Sol keeps it very laid back while lyrically working through his experiences abroad.  Here is "Old Him", and stay tuned for more as his travels bring him home once again.

[Via First Avenue]

"Marijuana Deathsquads are comprised of multiple drummers, a slew of electronic instruments, and highly effected vocals, their live shows are a violent onslaught of improvised electronic-hardcore. They began as a side-project of Building Better Bombs, which is why all members of BBB are also in Marijuana Deathsquads. Their live shows, as well as studio recordings, feature multiple colaborations with a ton of outsourced musicians. This results in a constantly evolving experience, teeming with spontaneity and surprise."

Marijuana Deathsquads' newest effort is a silly yet hard hitting hip-hop electronic adventure.  Titled Tamper.Disable.Destroy. and featuring a slew of Minnesota based artists such as P.O.S., Astronautalis, and Justin Vernon it's a must listen.  Better yet,  it's a free download! Enjoy!

Aesop Rock has done it again with his new album, Skelethon.  Check out this masterfully done video for "Cycles to Gehenna".

Oddisee once again proves he is one of the best in the game.  Check out "Ready to Rock" off his new album People Hear What They See. 

 What do you get when Snoop and friends drop some drums and bass over the Super Mario theme song? Good Times.  Enjoy!

 Hip-hop artist Nas has dropped another new track this week.  As expected, Nas delivers another solid effort with tight lyrics topped off with some smooth female vocals.   Get to it and grab the DL while it's still free!

 As part of Record Store Day 2012 Rymesayers released an exclusive 10inch vinyl that featured a previously unreleased Atmosphere single.  That's right.  We have a new(ish) Atmosphere track on our hands.  "Someday Soon" is exactly what we've come to expect from this amazing duo.  Ant puts down a super chill beat with Slug effortlessly flowing over with lyrics that cut right to the truth.  As of now the only way to get this track in your library is to order the vinyl from the Fifth Element website.  If that's not your style, the replay button is about to become your best friend. 

 Here we have a nice hip-hop instrumental by Fresh Cut Collective.  This Milwaukee based group has been making a name for themselves with their high energy live shows.  To check out more of their material head over to Bandcamp to stream/buy RE-FRAME (part one).  In the mean time, get your head-bob on with "The Source". 

Do you remember your favorite park growing up? That place that was just so perfect that it was impossible not to have a magical time? Oddisee has given us an album about just that.  Rock Creek Park is about, you guessed it, Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC. In his own words:

"Rock creek park is & has always been one of my favorite places in Washington, DC. It has a way of aging with you & adapting to where you are in life. When I was younger, it was a place for skipping rocks, bike rides & imaginary adventures in the woods. As a teen it was a place where I played basket ball, had cook outs with friends & walked through with dates. As an adult it's my short cut through the city, my quickest way from Silver Spring to George Town. One thing it still is and always well be is my retreat.

Listening to the Black Byrd's "Rock Creek Park" inspired me to create an entire album around the park & my relationship with it. If the park were to have a soundtrack, what would it be? What does walking along the trails of the park sound like? What does driving on the narrow tree lined roads sound like? This album is my interpretation of Rock Creek Park through break beats, samples & live instrumentation. "

 We can all identify with that.  Oddisee's album is available over at Bandcamp for the low price of $8, or take a listen below.  Highlights include "Skipping rocks" (available for FREE), "The Carter Barron" (also FREE), and the hip-hop infused "For Certain (Feat. Diamond District)".  Check it Out!

Atmosphere has released a masterfully made video for one of S.V.'s songs of the year for 2011.  The track is "Became" off last year's The Family Sign.  Watch the video below and head over here to check out a behind-the-scenes look at how they pulled it off.  Enjoy!

[Via COS]

As the release of their newest EP fast approaches (Feb. 29th), Bleed Electric have given us a first taste of what's to come.  Their newest track called "Trinity" is an emotional trip through layers of electronic beats, singing, rapping, and wailing guitars.  The track is available for FREE download through soundcloud, so grab it while you can!

Trinity by altpr. Uploaded with BandPage by RootMusic