Hip Hop

Saul Williams posted his latest album, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust (produced by Trent Reznor), a couple months ago for free download. (It's now $5 for the download.) Williams brings a spoken word poetry to experimental hip-hop arrangements. He's not a typical rapper.

More tracks from The Cool Kids -- retro beats with a fresh sound.

The Cool Kids tracks, "Mikey Rocks" and "88". Retro experimental beats and nice rhymes. The new, black Beastie Boys...

hip hop group consisting of MF DOOM (MC/producer) and Madlib (MC/producer) unique approach - short songs, obscure lyrics, few choruses and a sound which is generally unfriendly to commercial radio -> source: Wikipedia

Madlib went on KCRW's Chocolate City and did a live mix. KCRW archived that mix and have offered it as a free download.

RBMA radio archive - interview + spinnin choice tracks - killer A - Bs from tha D - woop

Here are links to Black Milk's Beats Tutorial Pt. 1 and Beats Tutorial Pt.2 mentioned in the interview.

urgent music with a message - tries to avoid gangsta rap clichés and posturing - vocal style comparable to Eminem - you think you know hardcore? - K'Naan, a Somali, knows hardcore

Live on Radio K feat. songs What Up Man/Black Mags & Check Me Out. Laid back but nimble rhymesayas. Is "fresh" overused? These cats legit.

HUMPH - that's how AS can come at you like the power of a well thrown punch to the gut. Ffsshh - that's the cool breeze he can fan your way. Emcee and spoken word poet Amir Sulaiman has depth and range that few rappers can claim today. Powerful and beautiful like a tiger poised to take his prey.

Come get clever lyrics and experimental beats/samples to satisfy your esoteric hip hop tastes. Plenty of tracks from his first LP Breaking Kayfabe & new release Afterparty Babies.