Benz and a Backpack

Ricky Shabazz & the Boom Bap Boys and Juan Deuce present No Sweat. After the major success of his collaborative tape with Falside for The Mechanics EP, Juan recruited a team of slick producers to craft the music on No Sweat: Falside, J57 and Audible Doctor (of The Brown Bag All-Stars), The Doppelgangaz, Fonzi Wells, pJAYd, Fakts One (The Perceptionists), and ACB. Juan flexes over the diverse production, showcasing his growing lyrical muscles with a little help from fellow New Englanders Jon Hope, Romen Rok, and Dj Emoh Betta. Stream, download, share and enjoy! Note: Physical copies of No Sweat and Sweat Band Bundles will be available for purchase via Strange Famous Records later this month.

Tracklist after the skip!
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Lester Bangs do their best to combat obeatsity. Download for free from their BandCamp!

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After four months of hard work and dedication, I am incredibly proud to present Detroit emcee Doss The Artist’s (@DossTheArtist) album #9Lives. Complete with 10 captivating tracks, 9Lives showcases the many sides of Doss’ lyrical brilliance: he’s fun, charming, caustic, poetic, contemplative, desensitized, thoughtful, boastful, and provocative all on the same tape. With production from Hir-O (Detroit), pJAYd (Brooklyn), and ACB (Kansas City), Doss gleams atop a myriad of engaging musical backdrops, proving beyond question that quality trumps quantity every time. Keep tabs on Doss via Twitter (@DossTheArtist) or Tumblr (theartistgrows.tumblr.com)!

Download: Doss The Artist – 9Lives (Album) || Alternate

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I am very proud to present to you Week 7 of Doss The Artist’s #9Lives Series, this week in the shape of “Katie Couric,” a track inspired by the former CBS anchor’s interview with Sarah Palin. Doss’ go-to producer Hir-O deftly massages Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Places” into a mix anchored by steady drums, stretching the perfect canvas for Doss to paint remarkably contrasting lyricism. Follow Doss on Twitter (@DossTheArtist) and Tumblr (theartistgrows.tumblr.com) to keep tabs on 9Lives! Hit the skip to download. Artwork by Falside.

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I am very proud to present to you Week 6 of Doss The Artist’s #9Lives Series, this week in the shape of “Hand On The Button,” a Phantogram-sampled beat from the exceptionally talented producer ACB. Doss and ACB have collaborated on a number of songs before, including the very well received “Princess Peach” off Doss’ previous tape Computer Blue. With ACB’s refined production as the foundation, ”Hand On The Button” is a prime example of Doss’ well-roundedness, replete with complex wordplay and delivery, sophisticated similes and metaphors, and an earnestness that truly sets Doss apart from his peers.

“But I’m still a Question Mark Guerilla/birds on the lap, pigs on the back, bros call a ni**a Ace Ventura/ flow so damn sick it’s like I ate then threw up/ open with a bang bang, hope I ain’t interrupt.”

Download after the jump!
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This is really that shit. Hard at work over the past several months, Doss The Artist unleashes “Shapeshift The Whip,” a street anthem and the first single off his upcoming mixtape 9Lives. “Shapeshift The Whip” knocks harder than Guns N Roses and boasts a verse and grungy choruses from Doss’ fellow Detroit emcee Greenlee as well as production from the immensely talented producer Hir-O. Here’s the scoop, straight from the good homie glassran:

“Acknowledging the great response on Computer B!ue, Doss The Artist is proud to announce his forthcoming installation entitled 9Lives. A weekly release series starting this Friday, October 14^th, 9Livespromises to highlight all the glittering facets of the Doss The Artist sound. The first track in the series, “Shapeshift The Whip,” features Detroit-based emcee Greenlee, along with particularly robust production from Hir-O (The Voyage Home). It is a seriously entertaining and fun street anthem with potent but infectious rhymes. The series is nine tracks deep with one song to be released per week. It is a warm up to the upcoming LP from Doss The Artist, entitled 86 Miles Tall.”

Download: Doss The Artist – Shapeshift The Whip [prod. Hir-O] | Alternate Link

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Juan Deuce unleashes his newest video for “Jimmy Buffett,” featuring production from ACB and directed by Falside. Watch Deuce take wack rappers to task while copping the best capicola money can buy.
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In case you haven’t been keeping up, here is the full compilation, with a track list and D/L after the jump. The artwork has all been from celebrated hip-hop photographer Mike Schreiber, who recently dropped a collection of his favorite hip-hop pictures called True Hip-Hop (available via Amazon.com). Each of his pictures captures some fundamental element of hip-hop: Biz’s playfulness, Nas’ cerebral disposition, Mos’ introverted artistry, Meth’s larger-than-life persona. The release of Mike’s anthology in 2010 is just one of the reasons it was such a wonderful year for hip-hop. Here’s to an even better 2011!

Previously: Dizzy’s Best Singles Of 2010 [Part 5]
Previously: Dizzy’s Best Singles Of 2010 [Part 4]
Previously: Dizzy’s Best Singles Of 2010 [Part 3]
Previously: Dizzy’s Best Singles Of 2010 [Part 2]
Previously: Dizzy’s Best Singles Of 2010 [Part 1]
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Look at that beautiful face.

Shit and Giggles is set for release on the first of many wishful days this year, 1/11/11.  In true mixtape fashion, Deuce hopes his fourth release highlights his versatility and growth.  Expect to find tracks with serious over-arching themes, silly ones done just for fun, original underground production, and time-tested industry beats.

Juan Deuce – Rug $urfing [Prod. by Falside]

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Like all great inventions, Deuce stumbled upon the title by accident. “I was trying so hard to like the titles that were up in the air but they were all so serious.  Shits and Giggles came about spontaneously and worked because the term is used everyday by someone somewhere, and its light and fun, and the cover art backs up that attitude.”

Juan Deuce – Chivalry and Chandeliers [Prod. by ACB]

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Grab his previous releases on Deuce’s website and keep in touch via Twitter. Hit the skip for the full track list and video for “Rug $urfing”.

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Juan Deuce #2 through Roc Marciano, with representatives from the DMV, Detroit, and T Dot. Includes R&B crooner Miguel, a re-established Lloyd Banks, plus Johnny Blaze, Tony Starks, and Lex Diamonds.

Previously: Dizzy’s Best Singles Of 2010 [Part 3]
Previously: Dizzy’s Best Singles Of 2010 [Part 2]
Previously: Dizzy’s Best Singles Of 2010 [Part 1]
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Curren$y through Earl Sweatshirt, including newcomers Das Racist and Doss The Artist as well as seasoned vocalists Dwele and Marc Anthony.

Previously: Dizzy’s Best Singles Of 2010 [Part 1]
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If executed tastefully and appropriately, chivalry does not have to be an overblown perpetuation of gender inequality. That form of gendered chivalry is more a relic of our grandparents’ generation (and really, Medieval Times), whereas nowadays acting chivalrous should translate to heightened awareness of and courtesy towards people (of both genders) and your surrounding environment. As such, Juan Deuce and ACB link on this track, which hearkens back to the chivalrous and chandeliered days of yore. Look for Deuce’s upcoming mixtape Shits and Giggles, slated for a 1/11/11 drop!

Download: Juan Deuce – Chivarly & Chandeliers [prod. ACB]

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