Category Archives: The Mic is the Message

The Latest Playlist: Best of 2013


Captain Murphy feat. Viktor Vaughn, Earl Sweatshirt and Thundercat – Between Villains

Run The Jewels – A Christmas Fucking Miracle

Richie Branson – Into Antiquity (12,000 B.C.)

Billy Woods – Tinseltown

The Doppelgangaz – Barbiturates

Danny Brown feat. Charli XCX – Float On

Mac Miller – The Star Room

Lorn – Bury Your Brother

Open Mike Eagle – Apologies

KA – Kinghthood

L’Orange & Stik Figa – Blind Tiger

Milo – Folk-Metaphysics

First Light – Los Lobos

Quasimoto – Planned Attack

CZARFACE – Hazmat Rap

Hieroglyphics – Golden

Paranom & Purpose – Rise Above

Black Milk – Monday’s Worst

Blame One & J57 feat. Akie Bermiss – They Don’t Know

JJ DOOM – Guv’nor (BADBADNOTGOOD Version)

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Five Track Friday #106


YUNGMORPHEUS & Eyedress – Four Week Cure

Theravada – Post Game Interview

Alsogood & Brainorchestra. – Ice Water

Isaiah Rashad – THIB

Ja’king the Divine feat. Yo OG – YANKEE KABUTO!

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Five Track Friday #105


Dave East & Harry Fraud – Diamonds

Lloyd Banks – Crown

J57 & DeeJay Element feat. The Audible Doctor – Tyson Fury

Declaime & Madlib – Cool Ways

Dave – We’re All Alone

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Five Track Friday #104


Tyler, The Creator – WILSHIRE

IDK – Dogs Don’t Lie

MIKE feat. Sideshow – alarmed!

PremRock feat. Zilla Rocca & Curly Castro – Reductive

Your Old Droog – So High

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The Latest Playlist: 2021 Notable Tracks Part III


Kota the Friend & Statik Selektah – Hate

Peter Rosenberg feat. Meyhem Lauren – Words of Meyhem

Benny the Butcher & 38 Spesh feat. Heem – Long Story Short

Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud – Live by It

BROCKHAMPTON – THE LIGHT

Uno Hype – Here We Are

Casey Veggies – Cold Game

Sideshow feat. MAVI – Sheets and Funnel Agenda

Awon & Phoniks feat. Kid Abstrakt – The Cool Out

Prince Shakir – The Kids Turned out Fine!

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Five Track Friday #103


Rome Streetz & Ankhlejohn – By My Side

Chris Crack – N***a Ain’t Runnin No More

Skyzoo ft. Karriem Riggins & MonicaBlaire – Culture-ish

Evidence – Pardon Me

K.A.A.N. – D.I.Y.

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RIP Gift of Gab


Blackalicious – Make You Feel That Way

Blackalicious – Shallow Days

Blackalicious – Brain Washers

Gift of Gab – Evolution

Blackalicious – Swan Lake

Blackalicious – Trouble

Blackalicious – Supreme People

Gift of Gab & L’Orange – Circles Around Circles

Blackalicious – Deception

Gift of Gab – Ride On

Gift of Gab – Up

Blackalicious – The Craft

Blackalicious – Chemical Calisthenics

Blackalicious – Lyric Fathom

Blackalicious – 40oz for Breakfast

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Five Track Friday #102


Hus KingPin – Traficante Wars

K.J. ft. skny – Life’s too Short

Ja’King the Divine – Liberty City Flying Rats

Bobby Sessions – Cog In The Machine

Bee Lyte – Ventin’

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Five Track Friday #101


Nappyhigh feat. Dizzy Wright & Casey Veggies – Level Up

Kai Fortyfive – Tears Tell Stories

Knowledge the Pirate – Righteous Tongue

Tony Allen feat. Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon – Crushed Grapes

Raheem DeVaughn & Apollo Brown feat. WESTSIDE BOOGIE – Just Fall in Love

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Artist Appreciation Post: Murs

The Latest Playlist: Murs

*Track listing at bottom of post


Check the latest playlist to hear my favorite tracks from one of the most important artists in independent hip-hop over the past 20 years.

Murs has dropped new music every year since 1997 through solo and collaborative projects (Living Legends, Felt, Murs & 9th Wonder, etc.). As an emcee he’s an exceptional storyteller that consistently promotes peace, love, and LA pride, and has provided fans with countless classics.  

His contribution to hip-hop goes far beyond his music. As an advocate of independent hip-hop, he’s worked tirelessly on a wide range of projects and collaborations aimed at promoting other independent hip-hop artists, most notably his annual “Paid Dues” festival that he organized from 2006-2013, in which he showcased most of the significant independent artists of that time. 

I’ve been a fan for many years and have been exposed to a lot of great hip-hop music either by or through Murs. He doesn’t get near the amount of credit he deserves, but independent hip-hop wouldn’t be what it is today without him.

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The Latest Playlist: Murs

Murs & 9th Wonder – Bad Man!

Murs & 9th Wonder – God Black/Black God

Murs & 9th Wonder – Funeral for a Killer

Murs – My Story

Murs – Love You Like This

Felt – Morris Day

Murs – A Lean Story

Murs & 9th Wonder – D.S.W.G. (Dark Skinned White Girls)

Murs & Fashawn feat. Adrian – This Generation

Murs – Skatin Through the City

Murs & 9th Wonder – L.A.

Felt – Don’t Do Me Like That

Murs & DJ.Fresh – Regulator

Murs – 4 the Record

Murs – Varsity Blues

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