My boy Ev Boogie at Up North Trips has been telling me about the Harlem bred pothead MC Smoke Dza for a while.  So when his new mixtape dropped last week, George Kush Da Button, I was excited to check it out, especially when I saw that more half of the production is by Ski Beatz (you probably know him best from his work on Reasonable Doubt and Camp Lo’s first album).  Well I’ve been thumping it for the past few days, and I like it.  There’s some nice songs on there.  Ski did his thing, and Smoke Dza’s pretty sharp with the mic (coincidentally he flows like a young Jay-Z at times).  Definitely worth checking out if you like weed-influenced rap music.  My favorites are the opening track “Continental Kush Breakfast”, and the Ski Beatz produced songs “Sour Hour” and “We On”.  Stream and download for free HERE.

Another rapper out there from the new school who loves smoking is Curren$y.  I first heard him on Lil’ Wayne’s song “Grown Man” years ago, and since he’s broken off and started his own movement, dropped a bunch of mixtapes, and now, along with Smoke Dza, is part of the Ski Beatz collective.  His new album, Pilot Talk, also features production from Ski, and guest appearances from heavy smokers Smoke Dza (they’re both on each others projects), Devin the Dude, and Snoop Dogg, as well as guest spots from two of the best up and coming rappers Mikey Rocks from The Cool Kids and Jay Electronica.  My two favorite cuts on the album, “Skybourne” (featuring Smoke Dza and Big K.R.I.T.) and “The Day” (featuring Jay Electronica and Mos Def) were both produced by Ski Beatz.  Again, if you like your trees to mix with your rap music, you might want to check this out.  Cop it HERE.

*I zipped up my faves from both joints for you to download.  That’s how much I care about my loyal readers.  Get them HERE.  And be on the look out for Ski Beatz 24 Hour Karate School project, which I previewed a few months ago, featuring all these same dudes and more.  It drops next month.  Light up!

Shout out to Matty B for putting me on to these dudes The Wood Brothers.  I like their style.  Just two bros with an acoustic guitar and an upright bass, and some down home vocals and harmonies (one of them was formerly in Medeski Martin and Wood).  Nice job boys.  Check them below as they perform my two favorites for Paste Magazine from their album Loaded, “Lovin’ Arms” and “Twisted”.  And I quote, “I know what it means to be twisted”.  Me too.  Cheah!

“Lovin’ Arms”

“Twisted”

I realize I probably need a late pass for these dudes and the Avett Brothers (I posted their video last week), but hey, this is what’s in heavy rotation in Westcheddar right now!  The Wood Brothers actually have a few albums, one that’s even newer than Loaded, so if you like what you hear, go check out the rest of their stuff.  That’s what I’m gonna do!

One.

Oh Canada!  The big homie Nardwuar the Human Serviette from Vancouver is back with another classic interview, this time with Toronto native Drake (and his producer pal 40).  This one’s a doozy, as usual.  Nardwaur you’re the king!

If you missed Nardwuar go one on one with Matisyahu, check it out HERE.

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Kenny Powers is coming back for season two of Eastbound and Down this fall.  But during his time off, he’s been negotiating endorsement deals for himself.  Watch above as Kenny and his assistant Stevie take a meeting with K-Swiss.  Hilarious!  And if you missed it, watch some bloopers from last season HERE.  Hollerrrr.

I don’t know much about The Avett Brothers, other than they got a strong co-sign from legendary producer Rick Rubin, and their song “I and Love and You” is the shit.  Peep the video above, and if you feel it, go discover the rest of their music.  Hope everyone is having a great summer!  Peace and love…

I guess it all started with the leak of Drake and Jay-Z’s duet, “Light Up” last week.  Killer beat, Hov sounding brand new on an extended second verse.  Yeah, it was a good look.  Then, Kanye West’s new song “Power” leaked.  Whoa.  Really dope.  Everything you love about Kanye West music stuffed into one track.  Hard drums, amazing sample, ill lyrics, crazy flow, and controversy.

Also, Raekwon’s new mixtape Cocainism dropped, which definitely has some heat on it (check out “Alphabet Soup” and Ms. Sincere” right off the bat plus a collabo with Mobb Deep and joints produced by The Alchemist), and the Cool Kids mixtape Tacklebox came out, where they show off their signature production style while kicking lots of fly raps (just let it ride, but don’t miss “Flying Kytes”).  Then, Drake’s album Thank Me Later leaked in its entirety, and I gotta give it to the kid, he made a very hot album.  Combine all this with a solid release earlier in May from Nas and Damian Marley, Distant Relatives, and non hip hop, top quality albums from Band of Horses and the Black Keys, and I can confidently say that I’m overwhelmed with great music right now.  And I love it…

All links highlighted above are courtesy of Nah Right (except for one).  Looking forward to giving all this new music extensive burn in the whip through the rest of the spring and the summer, and I’m anxious to hear some more Kanye West shit.  Feel free to leave your thoughts on all these releases and leaks in the comments section.  Peace.

Pearl Jam and Band Of Horses invaded MSG last night.  I’m on call waiting for this baby to arrive so I wasn’t able to make it, but a lot of my buddies were in the building.  Woke up to a text about PJ bringing out BOH’s lead singer Ben Bridwell (which they’ve been doing basically every night of the tour) to perform one of my favorites from back in the day, Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike”.  Great front row video above.  Check it out.  Gotta say, it’s very cool to see Pearl Jam embracing Band Of Horses like this.  PJ was my favorite band growing up, and BOH are my dudes of the present.  Hopefully this experience on the road together will lead to a studio collaboration of some sort.

Oh, and listen to Band Of Horses interview/performance on WNYC’s SoundCheck HERE.  Peace…

The Black Keys new album Brothers came out today, and it’s really dope.  I thoroughly enjoyed my first listen to it.  They have a great sound.  Here’s a video off the album for the song “Next Girl”, which is my shit, and features a singing dinosaur in it…

Lots of other hot cuts on Brothers, so cop that album!

Just a couple pictures I want to share this morning.  Above is a shot of Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) and Ben Bridwell (Band Of Horses) on stage performing “All Along The Watchtower” together.  Band of Horses is currently on tour opening up for Pearl Jam, and it sounds like they’ve been bringing Bridwell out during their set pretty regularly.  And below is a picture taken in Alabama, tweeted out by the man himself.

Matisyahu will be at Jones Beach this summer, and PJ x BOH are at MSG this Friday.  Cheah.

Dirt Nasty aka Simon Rex is a funny dude.  Him and his boy Andre Legacy love to just film themselves freestyling back and forth.  They have a hilarious flow, and say absurd shit.  Dirt Nasty’s been known to also go solo and film himself freestyling in the oddest of places, like on a horse ranch in Kauai or in a Port-O-Potty.  Well, some kids decided to do a parody of their videos, and it’s amazing.  Check the latest Dirt Nasty x Andre Legacy freestyle above, and below the parody video.  Funny!

More Dirt Nasty freestyle videos HERE.  And if you missed our Up North Trips interview with him, check out all the parts HERE.  Toodles.