Mr. Munroe, my bro……………. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!?!?! From 2008-10, this guy was arguably the most in-demand Canadian artist this side of Aubrey Graham. Fast forward to today, and the only appearances on record have been on Kendrick Lamar and T. Mills’ projects and the just-released Slaughterhouse track, “Monsters In My Head”. Then came this very welcome surprise. Personally, I think Pusha T could have been left off (especially considering he only spits 8 bars), but his rock reference-laced verse was a decent setup for the return of the Unsung Hero.

DOWNLOAD: Colin Munroe – The Fight of My Life (ft. Pusha T)

Aight, ya’ll. I’m back with another winner from the homie Lyriciss, “Big Gold Chain”. DMV producer J-$crilla takes us back to the golden era on the boards, while the MC weaves a narrative about a young boy caught up in the street life.

DOWNLOAD Lyriciss – Big Gold Chain (Prod. by J-$crilla)

P.S., the second EP of Lyriciss’ The Balance series, Money, is available now here. Next up is Heart.

Memphis MC Young Tero

Before I start….. HAPPY (belated) NEW YEAR, everybody!!!!! As we kick off 2012, I’ll begin by introducing an up-and-coming artist for which I am serving as an “online correspondent”.

Motor City-born and Bluff City-raised, Young Tero is a 17-year-old emcee making a buzz in Memphis’ high school circles and expanding as I type.

Already a recording vet with three mixtapes to his name, Tero and his group [undefined] – comprised of vocalist Nick J. and rappers D-Will and Retro – dropped their latest project, No Definition, this past Saturday.

DOWNLOAD: [undefined] – No Definition

FOLLOW: @RealYoungTero and/or @undefined901

Many apologies for the extended vacay, everybody, but I’m finally back. Now, I may be a week or two late hearing it, but this track certainly made my morning.

Up-and-coming DMV artist Lyriciss dropped a new project called The Balance EP: Respect last month. “Stop Scheming” is track 3 from the EP. With a fittingly hilarious vocal sample of Ray J (rather than a feature as said on the link), Lyriciss and producer J-$crilla are calling out the fraudulent MCs out there. The Balance EP: Respect is available for download at DJBooth.

Lyriciss – Stop Scheming [prod. J-$crilla & Chop-La-Rok]

The following press release from Olan of Dublin, Ireland-based All City Records will tell you everything you need to know.

So this is how the story goes.. A long long time ago in a galaxy far away, that is to say pre-internet, 1995 or 1996 to be not very exact, All-City co-founder Splyce found himself on one of his regular record buying sojourns to New York. Approached outside the Fat Beats store by two guys who had heard he was a DJ from out of town and were eager to spread word of their production work outside their homeland, he was given a mixtape demo of their beats. Named The Midnight Eez, from the Bronx, they were one of thousands of budding production units on Manhattan Island. The tape came only with a name and pager number, which hardly surprisingly now goes unanswered in 2011, but after relocating that same tape in a recent house move, in the spirit of musical altruism we have decided to give it the proper vinyl release it deserves. Hopefully this release will see The Midnite Eez get some belated but deserved shine. Tracklisting is precisely as per the original cassette, with 30 minutes of hip hop music over the two sides.

SAMPLER: http://www.usershare.net/uydaptk7ei1a/

It would be a huge understatement to say that I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for this since I first heard “Famous”.  Up-and-coming STL MC Bryant Stewart has finally released Not Quite There, his sophomore follow-up to 2009′s A Perfect Change.  I would write more, but I’m about to give this a listen. Peace.

http://www.mediafire.com/?6tcucdkvcab905b

NOTE: Originally written the week of April 4, 2011:

OK, so I just saw XXL’s Freshmen class of 2011. As always, lists of this nature are hardly unanimous. Of all my years reading XXL, this year’s class may be the most questionable in my mind. Sure, you have your no-brainers (check my “Dean’s List” below), but the others…? Anyway, my assessment goes as follows:

DEAN’S LIST [Shoo-Ins]
-Big K.R.I.T.: Won me over with the first listen to “Country Sh*t”. Definitely the brightest star of this bunch, with dope production skills to match his lyrics.

-Diggy Simmons: I would’ve preferred he be in the 2012 class (more time to develop), but cuz’s buzz is undeniable. Two stellar mixtapes, guidance from one of Hip Hop’s pioneers, signed to a major label at age 15 AND an AT&T endorsement? Talk about “Great Expectations”.

-Mac Miller: Same case here. He’ll need some time to develop. But the success of his K.I.D.S. mixtape – and a penchant for “weed raps” that he shares with a certain fellow Pittsburgh native – make him one of this year’s most likely to succeed.

-CyHi Da Prynce: More versatile than I was expecting from a rapper outta the A. Caught my full attention with a show-stealing verse on “I’m So Appalled” and the “Bone flow” – pause – displayed on Bobby V’s “Gotta Get Dat Money”. I figured he’d make it once I found out he was with G.O.O.D. Music.

-Kendrick Lamar: Definitely one of the most consistent MCs this year. Kinda slept on him back when he went by K.Dot, but his self-titled “EP” coupled with leaked track “The Relevant” made me recognize real quick. My sentiments are with the rest of his fans, hoping that his newfound affiliation with Dr. Dre actually amounts to something.

-Yelawolf: I can’t speak on him since I’m not familiar with his music. A cosign from Slim Shady and an ever-growing fanbase is good enough for me.

LATE ADDITIONS [Surprise Selections]
-Fred the Godson: Once you can get past his voice, dude’s kinda nice. Your typical New York MC: slick flow, swagger (f*ck “swag”, I hate that word) & presence on the mic, witty punchlines. Should grow on me the more I hear from him.

-Meek Mill: Still kind of an unknown to me. But I guess his signing with Maybach Music pushed his hat in the ring.

INCOMPLETE [Needs More Seasoning]
-Lil Twist: Aside from his Young Money status, I don’t feel he’s put in enough work at the major level to earn his spot.

-YG: Ditto. He needs WAY more than “Toot It & Boot It” to justify this selection.

DUNCE [WTF?!?! aka FAIL!!!!!! aka "Prerequisite Wack Artist On the List"]
-Lil B: Lil B? LIL B?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I would’ve even tolerated Waka in this category.

NOT SHOWN [Should've Been On the List]
-XV: There’s not really much to say here. Vizzy’s now been snubbed THREE years in a row (Yes, I believe he could/should have been on the ’09 list, but I guess they had enough “alternative” MCs, namely Kid Cudi & B.o.B). Who in their right mind would seriously pick Lil B over this guy?!?! I guess a “visitor from the planet Squaria” is somehow less marketable than a “pretty b*tch” who “looks like Jesus” that says he’d “f*ck Kanye in the @$$”? Smh *Kanye shrug*

-Skewby: Three words: More. Or. Less. Easily the frontrunner for the 2012 cover now.

-Stalley: Surprised he wasn’t in this year, but whatever. He’ll reach the top on his own terms.

-Dom Kennedy: Son’s get the Left Coast goin’ nuts. The rest of the country shall wise up VERY soon.

WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR (My 2012 Nominees)
-Skewby

-Dom Kennedy

-Stalley

-Jon Connor: Made a late push for this year’s cover, but it wouldn’t be wise to bet against him being there in ’12.

-Vado: Another one who fell just short this go-round. But would he accept a nomination?

-Thee Tom Hardy: Not sure if he’ll make it, but he’ll likely be in consideration.

-Gilbere Forte’: If his progression from “’87 Dreams” to “Eyes of Veritas” is any indicator, we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg..

-Phil Ade/Lyriciss/G-Two: Gotta go for the hometown boys.