Atlanta MC Killer Mike broke into the game as a running body of OutKast. For his upcoming sixth LP, R.A.P. Music, he enlisted another rap icon, Definitive Jux head El-P, to serve as producer. Our first taste of the album comes in the guest-heavy opener “Big Beast”, featuring even more star power thanks to cameos by Trouble, Bun B, and T.I. The resulting cut sees all four MCs spit their quintessential gangster ish over a beat that’s a bass-heavy barrage of noises, tweaks, and random, jumbled effects. Stream it below (via Pitchfork).

R.A.P. Music hits stores on May 15th via Adult Swim’s label Williams Street Records.

R.A.P. Music Tracklist:
01. Big Beast (feat. Bun B, T.I., and Trouble)
02. Untitled (feat. Scar)
03. Go!
04. Southern Fried
05. Jo Jo’s Chillin
06. Reagan
07. Don’t Die
08. Ghetto Gospel
09. Butane (Champion’s Anthem) (feat. El-P)
10. Anywhere But Here (feat. Emily Panic)
11. Willie Burke Sherwood
12. R.A.P. Music

The dominant theme of the effort is Bobby Ray’s braggadocio attitude. On each track, Ray brandishes his more thuggish tendencies, usually with the help of other, harder MCs. Utilizing the talents and weed appreciation of Bun B and Big K.R.I.T., “5 on the Kush” is your prototypical pot tribute, with lots of swinging southern rumble and an unidentifiable, vintage soul sample. The biggest collabo of the entire release, though, is “Boom Bap”, with cameos from T.I. and Mos Def. Dropping his verse last, B.o.B. does his best to make sure that people know the track is his, with the mutated bongo beat and rapid-fire rhymes, despite both Tip and Mos eking past him in terms of musical impact. Even uninspired collabos, like “Strange Clouds” with Lil Wayne and “Things Get Worse” with Eminem, serve a purpose: to illustrate that B.o.B. is too far out there even for a Martian and Mr. Mathers.

B.o.B.’s 2010 debut was remarkable for its spunk and quirk. “Wrong” is a return to that, a dynamo of hyperactive energy that takes Phoenix’s “1901″ and transmogrifies it into a personal anthem of overcoming the impossible with some of the tape’s bangin-est rhymes (“That’s why I’m never threatened by these little boys with big toys/They can’t aim, it’s piss poor, what you holding the clip for?/Put the gun down, get a clipboard”). Even “Guest List”, which once again falls prey to every hackneyed Southern rap tendency, exudes charm thanks to B.o.B.’s unique flow and nuanced delivery. That charisma reaches its most naive, yet worldly, apex with “What Are We Doing”, a slow, sexy ode that surprisingly rails against knockin’ boots.

Wherever B.o.B. soars next, he will undoubtedly continue to appeal to a baser sensibility. Musically, though, he’s at his most alluring when he’s in his own dimension.

Essential Tracks: “Boom Bap”, “Wrong”, and “What Are We Doing”

With a minimum of four months between now and B.o.B’s sophomore album, Strange Clouds, the Atlanta rapper has given fans something to help pass the time. As first previewed with the release of the Bun B and Big K.R.I.T.-aided “5 On The Kush”, Bobby Ray today released his new mixtape, entitled Epic: Every Play is Crucial. Spanning 15 tracks, the collection also includes collaborations with Lil Wayne, Eminem, T.I., and Mos Def. Stream it below and/or download your own copy at Dat Piff.

Strange Clouds is currently scheduled for a March 2012 release.

Epic: Every Play is Crucial Tracklist:
01.Epic (feat. Playboy Tre Meek Mill)
02. Wrong (feat. Spodee)
03. Guest List (feat. Rosco Dash)
04. What Are We Doing
05. Perfect Symetry (feat. 2 Chainz)
06. New York New York
07. Boom Bap (feat. T.I. & Mos Def)
08. Welcome To The Jungle
09. 5 On The Kush (feat. Big Krit & Bun B)
10. How Bout Dat (feat. Future & Trae The Truth)
11. Things get worse (feat. Eminem)
12. Fucked Up (feat. Playboy Tre)
13. Strange Clouds (feat. Lil Wayne)
14. Friday Night Star
15. High

As previously reported, Atlanta rap wunderkind B.o.B. will soon release Strange Clouds, the follow-up to his 2010 debut LP, B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. As a warm-up of sorts, Bobby Ray plans to precede the album’s release with a new mixtape entitled EPIC (Every Play Is Crucial).

Today, as Hypetrak points out, we received our first taste of said mixtape in the Big K.R.I.T. and Bun B-aided “5 On The Kush”. As you can hear below, the Southern trio have built a candy-colored hot rod comprised of lots of booming bass and some Houston-area swagger. The South has risen again, and it’s bangin’.

Stay tuned for more news on the release of EPIC (Every Play Is Crucial) and Strange Clouds as it’s announced.

With Mississippi rapper/producer Big K.R.I.T.‘s debut album Live from the Underground due out September 27th via Def Jam Records, the MC is breaking the world off with yet another mixtape before his proper introduction. Last King 2: God’s Machine features 21 tracks and a plethora of big-name cameos, including Slim Thug, Pimp C, Bun B, Yelawolf, Killer Mike, Cyhi Da Prynce, Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, and many more. Check out the entire tracklist below and head here to download a copy.

Last King 2: God’s Machine Tracklist:
01. Intro
02. The Big Payback
03. Yoko (feat. Chris Brown, Berner, Wiz Khalifa)
04. 2 MPH (feat. Dom Kennedy)
05. Cruise Control (feat. Mike Jaggerr
06. Pimps (remix) (feat. 2 Chainz and Bun B)
07. Hometeam (feat. Cyhi Da Prynce and Wes Fif)
08. Fulla Shit (feat. Yelawolf and RITTZ)
09. Grippin On The Wood (feat, Pimp C and Bun B)
10. 4eva And A Day (feat. Big Sant)
11. Where It’s At (feat. Cory Mo)
12. Comin’ From (feat. J-dawg and Slim Thug)
13. On The Corner (Smoke DZA and Bun B)
14. 4 Tha 1′s (feat. Bobby Creekwater)
15. Home Again (feat. Tha Joker)
16. Ova Da Sky (feat. Big Sant)
17. Happy Birthday Hip-Hop (feat. Yelawolf)
18. War Stories (feat. Self Scientific)
19. Hold You Down (remix) (feat. Laws and Emilio Rojas)
20. Born On The Block (feat. Big Sid and Killer Mike)
21. So Be It (feat. Rapsody)

Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV actually hits stores on August 29th via Young Money. According to Amazon.co.uk, the album features 15 tracks with guest spots from John Legend, Drake, Nas, Rick Ross, Tech N9ne, Bun B, Busta Rhymes and more. Scan the tracklist in all its glory below; also check out streams for the album’s already released cuts, “6 Foot 7″ and “John (If I Die Today)”.

“6 Foot 7″

“John (If I Die Today)”

Tha Carter IV Tracklist:
01. Intro
02. Blunt Blowin
03. MegaMan
04. 6 Foot 7 Foot (feat. Cory Gunz)
05. Nightmares Of The Bottom
06. She Will (feat. Drake)
07. How To Hate (feat. T-Pain)
08. Interlude (feat. Tech N9ne)
09. John (feat. Rick Ross)
10. Abortion
11. So Special (feat. John Legend)
12. How To Love
13. President Carter
14. Its Good (feat. Drake & Jadakiss)
15. Outro (feat. Bun B, Nas, Shyne & Busta Rhymes)

But earlier this year, the hip-hop duo of Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish signed up with the Mountain Dew-sponsored Green Label Sound. The beverage-flavored label helped them drop a few singles throughout the years, including 2008′s “Delivery Man” and this year’s “Bundle Up”. Now, the label has given When Fish Ride Bicycles a release date: July 12th.

The 12-track effort features collaborations with Travis Barker, Bun B, Ghostface Killah, and Asher Roth, as well as production credit for Pharrell Williams on the track “Summer Jam”. Grab your coat and “Bundle Up” to the first single, which is available for streaming below.

When Fish Ride Bicycles Tracklist:
01. Rush Hour Traffic
02. GMC
03. Boomin’ (feat. Tennille)
04. Sour Apples (feat. Travis Barker)
05. Penny Hardaway (feat. Ghostface Killah)
06. Bundle Up
07. Gas Station (feat. Bun B)
08. Get Right
09. Swimsuits (feat. Mayer Hawthorne)
10. Roll Call (feat. Asher Roth, Chip Tha Ripper, Boldy James)
11. Summer Jam (feat. Maxine Ashley) (prod. by Pharrell Williams)

Cold Day in Hell is due for release June 14th (the same day in which Gibbs’ turns 30). In the meantime, stream Gibbs’ recent collaboration with Young Jeezy in the form of “Stripes (Run D MC)”:

Paid Dues is not a place for the big time radio darlings. It’s not for the rappers who have chosen to reside in The Hamptons. And it’s certainly not for the rappers pushing almost 500,000 copies of their album in the first week of its release (sorry, Yeezy). Paid Dues is a place reserved for the pioneers of underground and the promising up and comers of the genre; the artists that have stayed true to the spirit of hip hop since the very beginning. It’s for those artists who have hustled their entire lives to be heard, never once forgetting their ideals amidst the hubbub of stardom. They aren’t so worried about the fame and fortune. They’re a little more concerned about one thing in particular: the message.

So it should come as no surprise that this year’s installment of Paid Dues was a pure blend of sermon and skill. Whether it was Lil B’s (cocaine induced?) rant on why there should be no such thing as the word “race”, or Immortal Technique’s potent rally for opening the Mexican border, there was no shortage of politically-charged messages. The hearts of these rappers are closer to the streets, which isn’t a knock on all the established artists putting out great music, but there’s a certain energy underground artists carry that those living the good life can’t quite convey as authentically. For the artists at Paid Dues, it’s not about the amount Yves Saint Laurent they own, it’s about life. Real life.

And so, it’s with that in mind that CoS entered the realm of San Bernardino, CA’s Paid Dues.

Tabi Bonney – Paid Dues Stage – 4:20 p.m.

As the Togo born, D.C.-based young gun Tabi Bonney set up on the stage that would eventually play host to legends such as Dead Prez, Bun B, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli, it was clear that he was in no way intimidated. Paid Dues is a place to prove yourself as an artist and Bonney was obviously up to the challenge. The small crowd that gathered to see the youngster was blown away by his charisma and lyricism, especially on the track “Rich Kids”. Oh, and the lively chant he started that went “Fuck the rich! Fuck the rich!” didn’t hurt, either.

Dead Prez – Paid Dues Stage – 5:00 p.m.

Dead Prez attracted what was by far the biggest crowd for a non-headliner at the Paid Dues stage. The crowd quadrupled from what it had been for Tabi Bonney, and it was abundantly clear that the poetic, free-spoken words of Dead Prez had reached the ears of many. As stic.man and M-1 took the stage, the crowd knew what a legendary presence they were in. Dead Prez’s sound ethical beliefs have been conveyed time and time again via flawless verses, something that was even more powerful live. As they closed their set with a vigorous version of “Bigger Than Hip-Hop” there wasn’t a dis-affectionate heart in attendance.

DJ Exile v. Blu & Fashawn – Grindtime Now Stage – 5:45 p.m.

Underground producer Exile did all the production on Blu’s 2007 album, Below the Heavens, and also on Fashawn’s 2009 effort, Boy Meets World. So it’s only natural that the DJ would spin for this double set of MCs. A more accurate name for the event might have been DJ Exile v. Blu/Fashawn, however, as the two rappers only shared the stage for two songs, but they both played impressive solo sets separately on the MMA cage-fighting style stage. Fashawn peaked with his track “Sunny CA” for which he employed the rapping styles of Alchemist, who happens to be Eminem’s current live DJ. Blu peaked during ballad-esque “No Better Love”. It was tough to decide who was the most impressive between the two MCs and the established producer. It’d be easier to withhold judgment, and enjoy them all for what they were: underground hip-hop up and comers.

P.O.S. -  Paid Dues Stage – 6:25 p.m.

Minnesota underground champion P.O.S. is a lot of things, but closed-minded he is not. The creator of the Doomtree collective doesn’t limit himself to just rap. Influenced by years of punk and hardcore, P.O.S. entered hip-hop cautiously as a means of expressing himself more fully (he was also more recently a part of the soft rock supergroup Gayngs). Little did he know, not only was he an incredibly gifted rapper, but his influence in punk would help him create a very unique production style, borrowing samples from live punk drums and guitars. As he brought his act to Paid Dues 2011, the sun set over the sizable crowd in San Bernardino. And maybe it was the size of the crowd, or  maybe it was because the night was upon us that P.O.S. decided to go all out, but it’s arguable that this Midwestern legend has never thrown down on-stage with this much energy or spoken with this much charisma. Before announcing that he had a new album on the way, the Minneapolis native played “P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life”, “Let It Rattle”, and “Purexed”.

Lil B – Dues Paid Stage - 7:05 p.m.

The two names everyone’s been following this year in hip hop: Odd Future and Lil B. The former is an LA-based, borderline psychotic collective, the latter is an overachiever from the bay. Both have been hyped all of 2011 as the two acts that will emerge to do great things. After seeing them both in the same weekend, I’m sure that this hype is 50 percent right – not in Lil B’s favor. Compared to the surreal showstopping that goes on with Odd Future, Lil B is kid stuff. Not only is he not as talented a lyricist or rapper, the kid can’t work a crowd. The leader of the Bay Area’s The Pack, Lil B has been releasing throngs of mixtapes to the masses, and much of it has been eaten right up. Some may have hope for the budding star yet, but it’s doubtful festivalgoers here did, as he may have been the worst performer at the festival.

The slow spitting 21-year-old filled up half of his already short half hour time slot with nearly 20 minutes of barely audible mumblings about a wide variety of topics, from proclaiming himself the most proven artist ever for producing the beat to a song that nobody had ever heard, to the “Tunami in Japan” (we’re pretty sure he meant tsunami, unless, of course, he was belatedly referring to Cartoon Network’s anime-oriented programming, Toonami that stopped airing in 2008. In which case, our mistake..). Lil B’s flow was so slow it almost became spoken word over massive bass beats. And when the speaker is a complete moron, spoken word can be a very bad thing. Not even the annunciation of a forthcoming EP with Jay Electronica or closing track “Base 4 Ya Face” alongside 9^th Wonder could save this train wreck of a set. Hopefully, he was just a little wasted. Charlie Sheen wasted, though. That would explain a lot.

Bun B – Paid Dues Stage – 7:50 p.m.

Arguably the most commercially successful rapper on the bill, Bun B was right at home up there on the independent hip hop stage. After giving the obligatory shout out to his fallen collaborator Pimp C (the two combined recorded as UGK for over a decade), Bun B got things started right quick. Producing one of the steadiest flows of the night, Bun played hit after hit, dazzling the surprisingly small crowd that had gathered to see him. It was unfortunate that Bay Area legend Andre Nickatina and Bun B were slated to play at the exact same time, but B took it in stride and put on the most OG show of the night with rousing renditions of “Let Me See You”, “I’m A G”, and “Git It”.

Slaughterhouse – Grindtime Now Stage – 8:25 p.m.

Arguably one of the hottest acts to appear at Paid Dues (what, after hitting the cover of XXL and joining Eminem’s revamped “Shady Records” alongside Yelawolf), Slaughterhouse came to play. Hosted on the Grindtime Now stage, there couldn’t have been a better pulpit for the supergroup to play. With raw, pile-driving beats over brutally good raps, a cage-fighting arena was ideal to suit the mood. Emerging one by one, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, and Royce Da 5’9” all took turns spitting on the standout track from their debut, “Sound Off”. They came out big, and only got bigger as the show progressed.

Taking turns to introduce one another to the audience (though introductions were hardly necessary), they all received massive cheers from the rowdiest audience Paid Dues saw all night. Joe Budden only fueled the flames when he emerged from the cage and egged the crowd on during the pinnacle track of the night, “Microphone”. Who knows if the addition of Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf will help to re-vitalize Shady Records, but after seeing Slaughterhouse in action, one can’t help but think Slim knows exactly what he’s doing.

Murs – Dues Paid Stage – 8:45 p.m.

As mentioned, this festival was created by Murs and is still run by the man, and for that he should be given eternal props. Before his set sub-headlining the Dues Paid Stage, he could be seen scurrying about behind the scenes, clipboard in hand, making sure all was going according to plan. Truly, the guy’s a stud.

His offstage toils were matched only by his onstage presence. Bolstered by the spirit of the day and the spirit of his own creation, he went into an impressive set. And I tell you this as a non-fan of Murs’ music. He went on early due to a scheduling change, and played almost twice as long as he was slated to play, having to compete for an audience with Immortal Technique but it didn’t phase the veteran. When he and comrade 9^th Wonder came on with “L.A.”, he was met with raucous applause by his adoring fans.

Immortal Technique – Paid Dues Stage – 9:25 p.m.

Immortal Technique shows are scary. His lyricism is scary (in more ways that one). Multiply his potent politically, ethically charged rhymes by an entourage 20+ big, all wearing Immortal Technique garb, and you’ve got yourself a bona fide nightmare. The Peruvian born rapper was an obvious fan favorite at the festival, attracting the biggest crowd of the night in spite of not being a headliner. Between playing masterful hits such as “Point of No Return” and “Peruvian Cocaine”, he got on his soapbox, as he is likely to do. He preached to the congregation about California – more specifically how we weren’t really in Southern California, but Northern Mexico and how we were on stolen land. His call to open the border was met to uproarious cheers. His advice on the topic was, “Revolution is not just about guns and violence. It begins in the mind.” He finished his set with an unexpected performance of his notorious track “Dance With The Devil” in its entirety, to which the adoring crowd responded enormously.

E-40 – Dues Paid Stage – 10:15 p.m.

Due to a minor shift in the schedule (and a prolonged period of backstage bro high-fiving from various members of entourages), Bay Area legend E-40 showed up 15 minutes late to his set. But when you’ve got the following that someone like 40 has, 15 minutes is chump change. E-40 was the perfect nightcap for the Dues Paid stage, which was primarily devoted to Bay Area acts. There’s no question, he’s the king of hyphy.

And to make the short headlining set even more Bay-heavy, Oakland legend Too $hort joined 40 on-stage for the majority of his set. For the hundreds of fans who had driven from San Francisco, this was the sugar-charged icing on an already mind-numbingly delicious cake. Starting things off nicely with a shout out to the Bay Area, followed by his verse from Snoop Dogg’s “Candy (Drippin’ Like Water)”. Things reached their hyphy climax as E-40 dropped his verses from “Snap Yo’ Fingers” as Too $hort sang the Lil’ Jon chorus. Without a doubt, E-40 has paid his dues to the game, and he proved it by putting on a 45-minute hyphy heat wave.

Black Star – Paid Dues Stage – 10:30 p.m.

Black Star were penciled in to play a 60 minute set. But for anyone who knows just how influential Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star is, multiplied by how incendiary each subsequent solo release by each artist have been, 60 minutes couldn’t possibly do it justice. Quick fix: push the set to 90 minutes, and then throw in a legitimately impromptu three-song encore.

Without many (or any) theatrics, two of the greatest rappers alive took the stage with DJ Hi Tek in a humble manner to be reunited for their incendiary 1998 album. While both artists have been equally successful in their own solo endeavors, completely evenly keeled in record sales/critical praise, it became abundantly clear from the get go which MC was going to take control of the night. Mos Def, looking Andre 3000 chic in his neatly pressed slim slacks, two-toned penny loafers, suspenders, and denim jacket, was the dominant entertainer at this show. Talib Kweli was there to spit tit for tat alongside him, but the mighty Mos Def took off from the starting gates working the crowd like only a seasoned pro would know how.

The set began with Black Star track “Astronomy (8^th Light)”, and they ran through Black Star tracks throughout the night with solo work peppered throughout. Kweli’s “Move Something” was the solo high for him, but true to his role in the night, Mos Def took over a half hour into the set. Playing solo material that spanned his career, he threw down especially hard (with help from Kweli, of course) on “Auditorium”, “Mathematics”, “History”, and two unbelievable freestyles. It’s easy to forget what a gifted rapper Mos Def is amidst his many other talents, but Mos Def is first and foremost an underground MC. The latter of the freestyles was one of a pair of new songs that Mos Def debuted (one of which was produced by Madlib), presumably for his forthcoming solo album. The set ended with Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides heavy hitter, “Umi Says”.

After the lights went on and the background music began to play over the P.A., many headed for the exits, but just as many lingered behind and began cheering for an encore where there obviously wasn’t meant to be one. The reunion of this untouchable duo was important enough to some fans to make them crazy for more – the performers understood this, too. Absolutely spur of the moment, Kweli re-emerged with Hi Tek, followed by Mos Def, to put on a three-song encore that included: “Twilite Speedball”, “I’m On One”, and “Quiet Dog Bite Hard”. The unexpected encore was a testament to two things. First, what a force Mos Def and Talib Kweli are together and just what a massive impact they’ve had on the hip hop world and their fans; and second, what talented performers they both are. Black Star re-uniting to headline this event is something that is going to be hard to top in future Paid Dues events, but that’s as much a good thing as it is bad – that is, if you were one of those lucky enough to be in attendance.

Photography by Winston Robbins.

Appearing with Black Star and Immortal Technique on the Paid Dues Stage will be Bun B, Sage Francis, Dead Prez, Asher Roth and Nottz as Rawth, Heavy Metal Kings (Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz), P.O.S., Binary Star and more.

The second stage, called — wait for it — the Dues Paid Stage, will be headlined by Murs and hyphy hero E-40, and also feature fellow Bay Area rappers Lil B the Based God, Andre Nickatina, and Mistah F.A.B., as well as Eligh of Living Legends, Nipsey Hussle, The Shock G Trio (Humpty Hump and DJ Fuse), Visionaries, and DJ Nu-Mark, among others.

The third stage is called the Grindtime Now Stage, named for the hip-hop battle league, and will accordingly feature emcee battles in addition to regular performances. Paid Dues is going with a “vs.” theme, with Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs presiding over battles featuring Planet Asia, Bambu, and Sick Jacken of Psycho Realm, as well as DJ Exile vs. Blu and Fashawn. Also billed for the stage are Grind Time Now All Stars, featuring battles between names you will have heard if you’re into that sort of thing.

Slaughterhouse will headline that stage, which will also feature performances by Chino XL, Opio of Hieroglyphics, Grieves w/ Budo, and more.

Take a look at the full lineup below, or at Festival Outlook page. It’s all happening April 2nd at the N.O.S. Events Center in San Bernardino, CA. General and VIP tickets are priced at $45 an $148, respectively, and can be purchased here.

B.o.B. is on top of the world. His debut LP, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, is one of  best selling hip-hop LPs of the year, he’s considered among the 10 best MCs in the game according to MTV, and he’s up for a total of five Grammys. Of course, we’re also sure Bobby Ray is aware that this rocket ship ride could end at any second, and the only thing to do ensure a continued flight is to give the people what they want: more music. Also, if it’s free, that’s even better. Case in point, the Atlanta MC has released the No Genre mixtape. Featuring fellow MCs T.I., Playboy Tre, Donnis, Young Dro, Bun B, and CyHi Da Prynce, B.o.B. is back to proving that he started his whole journey upward as a verbsmith with the word gift. Check out the tracklist below and download your copy here.

No Genre Tracklist:
01. Beast Mode – (Prod. by Infinity)
02. So So – (Prod. by Jim Jonsin)
03. How u do that – (Prod. by Kutta)
04. Feet Don’t Fail Me Now – T.I. & Spodee – (Prod. by Kutta)
05. Higher – feat. Playboy Tre – Cyhi Da Prynce & Bun B – (Prod. by Polow da Don)
06. Shoot up the Station – (Prod. by Kutta)
07. Not Lost – feat. T.I. – (Prod. by JR Rotem)
08. Cold As Ice – (Prod. by Mike Caren & B.o.B)
09. The Watchers – (Prod. by B.o.B)
10. Batman Flow – feat. Donnis – (Prod. by Dr. Luke)
11. American Dreamin – (Prod. by Mike Caren & B.o.B)
12. Grand Hustle Kings – feat. Young Dro & T.I. – (Prod. by Quincy Jones)
13. Dr. Aden – (Prod. by Jack Splash)
14. Attraction – (Prod. by B.o.B)
15. Game Time – (Prod by J. Lack)
16. I’m Beaming – Remix (All City Chess Club)

One’s a Wu-Tang Clan member and one might be, and despite the hip hop outfit’s plans for a winter tour, both Ghostface Killah and Redman are gearing up for new studio albums. What’s that say about RZA then? Anyhow, Redman’s record will come first on December 7th. It’s titled Reggie (like what’s his Mama calls him) and will feature collaborations with Bun B, DJ Kool, and longtime collaborator Method Man. Ghostface’s ninth studio album, Apollo Kids, will follow on December 14th. As Rap Radar points out, the 12-track record suffers from a lack of publicity (there’s still no single or music video), but it does sport a guest-heavy tracklist highlighted by appearances from Busta Rhymes, The Game, Fabolous, and Wu-Tang brothers U-God, Raekwon, Method Man, and GZA. Redman makes time for an appearance, too.

Above, you can peep both album’s covers (it should be pretty self-explanatory as to whose is whose), while the tracklists are below. Also, don’t forget to see the reunited Wu-Tang Clan minus RZA on tour this winter.

Reggie Tracklist:
01. Reggie (Intro)
02. That’s Where I B (feat. DJ Kool)
03. Def Jammable
04. Full Nelson (feat. Ready Roc, Runt Dawg & Saukrates)
05. Lift It Up
06. All I Do (feat. Faith Evans)
07. Lemme Get 2 (feat. Saukrates)
08. Mic, Lights, Camera, Action
09. Cheerz (feat. Ready Roc & Melanie Rutherford)
10. Rockin’ Wit Da Best (feat. Kool Moe Dee)
11. Lite 1 Witcha Boi (feat. Method Man & Bun B)
12. Whn The Lites Go Off (feat. Poo Bear)
13. Tiger Style Crane

Apollo Kids Tracklist:
01. Purified Thoughts (feat. GZA & Killah Priest)
2. Superstar (feat. Busta Rhymes)
03. Black Tequila (feat. Cappadonna & Trife)
04. Drama (feat. Joell Ortiz & The Game)
05. 2getha Baby
06. Starkology
07. In Tha Park (feat. Black Thought)
08. Handcuffin’ Them Hoes (feat. Jim Jones)
09. Street Bullies (feat. Sheek Louch, Wiggs & Sungod)
10. Ghetto (feat. Raekwon, Cappadonna & U-God)
11. Troublemakers (feat. Raekwon, Method Man & Redman)
12. Rockbox
Bonus: How You Like Me Baby (feat. Fabolous)

What was formerly a “dusty, rhythmic, and slow burning recreation of an Idlewild outtake” now takes on a vaguely psychedelic vibe thanks to a slow, almost menacing shift in pitch and volume, turning the track into something fitting for a Prohibition-era strip club. The addition of Ross and Bun B’s verse in particular help move the track into a darker direction and add new life to a fairly vibrant ditty. The American dream isn’t dead; it’s alive and kicking in the club down the road.

Check Out:
“Tangerine” (remix)

His third album, and the followup to 2009′s The State vs Radric Davis, The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted promises to be a big release for Mr. Zone 6. While the last release’s promotion was, um, interrupted by his unfortunate incarceration, this album looks to actually benefit from his freedom. Although with production by Swizz Beatz and appearances by Bun B, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell, and even Wyclef Jean (shouldn’t he be campaigning or something?), he can violate his parole and still probably push a few hundred thousand units easy.  Now that’s star power.

Peep the tracklist below. The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted hits stores September 28th via 1017 Brick Squad/Warner Bros. Records.

The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted Tracklist:
01. Lil Friend (Feat. Bun B)
02. Trap Talk
03. Missing
04. What It’s Gonna Be
05. Making Love To The Money
06. Gucci Time (Feat. Swizz Beatz)
07. Party Animal
08. Remember When (Feat. Ray J)
09. Haterade (Feat. Nicki Minaj and Pharrell)
10. It’s Alive (Feat. Swizz Beatz)
11. O’Dog (Feat. Wyclef)
12. Dollar Sign
13. Brand New
14. Weirdo
15. Grown Man (Feat. Estelle)

Since then, as XXL reports, Barker has recruited even more hip-hop heavyweights, including Eminem, Drake (duh), T.I., Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, RZA, Lupe Fiasco, Clipse, Yelawolf, and The Cool Kids. In other words, basically everyone except Kanye… but he has an excuse.

XXL reports the still-untitled record is due for release in October, and that Barker not only handled the album’s drumming but its production as well.

Of course, we’ll update you as more details become available.

The track (probably done when ‘Kwon wasn’t busy becoming friends with Kanye West and Justin Bieber) is a study in contrasts. A heartfelt, light jazz ditty, complete with the soulful siren call of a husky-voiced singer, plays gently in the background while Bun B and Raekwon lay out some of the most gangster-esque lines known to man. But more than calling out snitches and putting people in their place, there’s a great undercurrent of actual pain and emotional resonance to their rhymes, as opposed to meaningless words other rappers just repeat.

Enjoy the track below courtesy of Hypetrak.com. ‘Kwon’s Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang is due out in September. Stay tuned more news on that and any other releases.

However, life goes on. For Bun B, there was no other choice. Bun began his solo career with Trill in late 2005, purportedly in response to Pimp C’s incarceration. After Pimp’s death in late 2007, Bun B again returned to the studio, and responded in spring of 2008 with the grief-ridden, somber but serious II Trill. Now, third quarter 2010, Bun returns with the third musketeer in his trilogy (pun…intended?), Trill OG.

We see the same things in Trill OG that we saw in the two previous efforts: amazing beats that literally drip and drool in that Southern easy-going swag, with the masterful production that is a standard for anything “UGK4LIFE,” and finally, the intelligent, thought-provoking, tasty lyrical goodness that we have come to know so well from Bun and his compatriots.

All of those virtues, should, in theory, make a valid competitor for a hip hop record of the year, and to be honest, I really believe this will top many “Best Of” lists in that vein. Maybe even my own. However, there is something to be said about the nature of hip hop today (see: Jackie Chain), and even more so with formal albums. The proverbial “game” has changed a lot, and what I have always loved about Bun B (and formerly, Pimp C) is that they stay true to what they believe in. When other artists follow the herd, eyes set on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, they have stayed true to their roots, preaching appreciation for all who helped them get to where they are.

We find some truly great things happening in Trill OG, like the DJ Premier produced, “Let ‘Em Know.” With Premier on the wheels in the chorus, and Bun laying down booming, stand-off raps such as “When I get to (Gladiatin’) on haters like Leonidas/Niggaz gonna have to admit that he the tightest/You talk a big game mayne, but mine’s bigger bro/Aiyyo Premier, let a motherfuckin nigga know!” we discover that this is not a standard gangsta pride show. It truly contains tracks that tell a story. In “All A Dream”, Bun tells a nostalgic tale of his dream-come-true life: “It was all a dream/thinkin’ bout the fortune and fame/hopin’ one day I could get in the game/wishin’ for the money and cars/and to live the lifestyle of stars.”

The negative material that befall this album, I believe, are most likely label-induced. In the unfortunate arena of making music in hopes of turning a profit, especially with the way hip hop exists today, one is likely to make more money on an LP if one snags artists like T-Pain and Drake on the album. Whoever thought T-Pain and Bun B would mesh together well (see track two, “Trillionaire”) probably hit the blunt one too many times…but that’s the beauty of Bun B. He can take someone that I (or we) don’t generally enjoy, or even dislike, and spin it in such a way that the track is still enjoyable to listen to.

Lots of questions come to mind when one pictures Bun B in the studio creating a track like “Sext Me”, carrying a chorus that flows, “I’m lookin’ sexy, I’m feelin’ sexy, you wanna sext me?/then take a picture baby, text me! / you wanna freak me? Baby all you gotta do is tweet me.” It’s terrifically easy to see why this album is so good– it is Bun B, after all– but its pitfalls are also readily apparent. Again, this album will surely make more than one genre-specific “Top 5” list, and The Source even gave it the coveted “5 Mics” award. But this album doesn’t come close to topping anything UGK ever did, and while it may not be the worst in the trilogy, I cannot, in good taste, say that it is the best.

Stream the track below, then grab Str8 Killa via Decon when it hits stores the first Tuesday in August. Gibbs has a whole bunch of other releases due out in the coming weeks as well, which you can read all about by clicking here.

This is the point of the year when you don’t even need an excuse to venture away from home or the workplace. It seems like there’s always something going on somewhere. And, yes, most of these things aren’t exactly free. This is especially true of music. Summer is, after all, the time of extensive tours, unbelievable festival lineups, and a list of must-buy albums that never seems to end. Here at CoS, we’ve got plenty of ways to for you to drain your funds.

Oh, we’ve also got a steady supply of entertaining tidbits for you each week, ranging from links to goofy viral videos to breaking news.

Well, at least that’s free.

– As if Lollapalooza attendees don’t already have enough tough decisions to make, the festival’s official aftershows were announced this week.

– Also, Lollapalooza promoter C3 Presents’ radius clause is under fire.

– The second installment of the Epicenter music festival dropped its lineup. Among the artists playing this year are Eminem, Blink-182, and a recently reunited Bush.

– Super-fans, let the salivating commence: there might be a new Radiohead LP later this year, according to guitarist Ed O’Brien.

– Remember the last time D’Angelo, Leonard Cohen, and Swans released albums? You don’t? Well, look for them in the future.

– Pearl Jam and Interpol have new songs available for listening.

– It turns out Brian Wilson will NOT be reuniting with The Beach Boys.

–Kinks bassist Pete Quaife passed away. He was 66 years old.

– NME Radio unexpectedly came to an end.

–  More details revealed about Google Music.

–LimeWire will relaunch as a legal, subscription-based service.

–Legal issues may postpone the release of The Game‘s highly anticipated new album.

– Dirty Projectors and Bjork announced a collaborative EP and it’s be available in just four days.

– Rice University students are in for something special next semester.

– A slew of Cocteau Twins reissues will soon be available.

– Public Enemy‘s Chuck D never holds anything back. This week was no exception.

– And speaking of people who never hold anything back… But seriously, just watch this.

– Watch this, too.

– Michael Roffman shared his thoughts on Lewis Black‘s latest effort.

– Winston Robbins reviewed Eminem‘s Recovery.

– Mates of State brought their magical US tour to Chicago. Read Meghan Brosnan’s report here.

– Philip Cosores covered Make Music Pasadena.

– Don’t forget. We’ll be hosting two showcases at this weekend’s Northside Festival. Be there or be square. (Wow. I can’t believe I just wrote that.)

According to HipHop DX, the rapper told XXL Magazine he would be teaching a hip-hop/religion course next spring at the Houston university. Bun B, who is from Houston and whose third solo album Trill O.G. is out this August, reportedly weighed in on topics such as keeping office hours, student attendance, and accepting demos from the aspiring MC’s that will inevitably fill his classroom.

The rapper said, “If they’re coming into the course specifically to give me a demo…that’s a wrap on the first day.” Don’t let go of hope just yet though — Bun B is an understanding man. His compromise: “My plan was to put a [demo] box on the desk, and the box is going to stay there and everybody stays there until the course is over. Nobody gets to listen to [any demos] until the course is over.” So, if you actually put in the effort and show you’re in it for the material, Professor B might decide to hear your voice. Not a bad deal.

We predict a 300 percent increase in new applications to Rice for the spring 2011 semester.

As 2DopeBoyz points out, almost every song on the former UGK member’s third full-length release features a collaboration; among the names appearing on the tracklist are Drake (twice), Raekwon, DJ Premier, Twista, and Young Jeezy. And in case these names don’t already lend plenty of credibility to the album, Bun B has taken the ultimate measure to ensure that credibility — signed on some late rap legends.

Both on the same track, no less. “Right Now” features the very much alive Trey Songz, as well as Bun B’s fallen UGK partner Pimp C and none other than 2Pac himself. That’s right, not only does 2Pac unbelievably have another new album coming out this year, but he’s found time in his hectic schedule to contribute a verse to Bun B’s album. Not bad for a guy who’s been presumed dead for 14 years. There must be some kind of 2Pac vault you can donate a certain amount of cash to in exchange for a verse.

For an early taste, check out Trill O.G.‘s Young Jeezy-featuring first single, “Just Like That”, below. Complete tracklist after that.

Trill O.G. Tracklist:
01. Church
02. Trillionaire
03. Just Like That (feat. Young Jeezy)
04. Put it Down (feat. Drake)
05. Right Now (feat. Pimp C, 2Pac & Trey Songz)
06. Countin’ Money All Day (feat. Gucci Mane & Yo Gotti)
07. Ridin’ Slow (feat. Slim Thug)
08. Speak Easy (feat. Twista & Cedric the Entertainer)
09. Lights, Camera, Action
10. I Get Down for Mine
11. No Competition (feat. Raekwon, prod. DJ Khalil)
12. Let ‘Em Know (prod. DJ Premier)
13. All a Dream (feat. Latoya Luckett)
14. It’s Been a Pleasure (feat. Drake)

Beyond the overarching album concept, the point of the album is that you take Kweli and his counter-mainstream flows and put them together with the intricacy of Hi-Tek’s behind-the-board skills. The problem is that it doesn’t always match up so well. It’s not that the production work is bad; it’s solid, with small variances throughout while maintaining a level of consistency, and with the right amount of catchiness. But the production value seems to be so minimal, specifically in the first few tracks, that things don’t connect like they should. “Midnight Hour”, even with the sexy satin tinge of Estelle, sounds like any ’60s-sampling hip-hop track from circa 2004. “Just Begun” has a beat that is like bad smooth jazz on a loop and that burns and eats its way into your brain. Want to know what Mos Def was saying by the final verse? Me too. But Hi-Tek isn’t simply to blame. Kweli is a veteran of the game, and with that said, the lack of variances in his flow can be a hindrance. In the most basic sense, Hi-Tek seems to be a big fan of heavy rhythms on loop. “In The Red” and “So Good” work well because there’s more playfulness in Kweli’s delivery, more shifts in tone and the way in which he delivers the lines, in order to brilliantly counter his partner’s often monotonous style.

But the tracks that work the best are the ones that find that happy middle ground between interesting production and showing off the flow of Kweli. “Strangers (Paranoid)” and “Got Work” are worthy of some marathon head-nodding in that they tow the ever-important line between being something of straight sonic flash and something with substance that deserves to shine. Even then some of the album’s better selections stem not from the dynamic between Kweli and Hi-Tek, but rather from their guests. “Midnight Hour” fails because there’s nothing interesting from utilizing Estelle; “Get Loose”, which features Chester French, is, if nothing else, interesting. Estelle was in her comfort zone of sorts, while bringing in this pop-dance version of The Zombies creates a song that is nostalgic in the best kind of way: dirty and rhythmic, like from a seedy club on the wrong side of Pasadena. That and you have Bun B rapping about AIG in the aforementioned “Strangers (Paranoid)” and sometimes you can see the value of having a diverse group of friends.

Because its successes and failures correspond near perfectly with the successes and failures of the album as a whole, we come to the album’s concept at last. While Kweli is notorious for his social awareness and conscientious rhymes, much of the success in the album doesn’t come in the form of crazed rants about technology and the inadequacies of modern man (the end of “Get Loose”). Instead, it’s the light touch, like the balance that’s struck between telling a compelling story of a simple charcater and critiques against the world at large in “My Life (Outro)”, where the whole concept shines the brightest. But in much of the album, the record has found itself simply skipping.

And though you’ve probably heard it a million times by now, if you are interested in donating to the Haiti relief efforts, please click on the appropriate links below.

Also, if you know of event not listed, please let us (and everyone else) know in the comment section!

Haiti Benefit Concert:

What: All donations will go to Partners in Health.

Who: Amy Millan, Plants & Animals, Jeremy Gara and Tim Kingsbury (of the Arcade Fire), Martin Cesar (of Think About Life), Shapes & Sizes, Jahnice, Tony Ezzy, Doody Le Tigre, & Vox Sambou

When: Sunday, January 17th at 8:00pm

Where: Club Lambi in Montreal, QC

How: $10 – $20 via ticketfly.com

Houston For Haiti:

What: All proceeds will go directly to the Haiti relief fund through CARE.

Who: Bun B, Slim Thug, Trae The Truth, ESG, Lil O, Candi Redd, Just Brittany, Corey Mo, & The Party Boyz

When: Monday, January 18th at 4:00pm

Where: Warehouse Live in Houston, TX

How: $20 via warehouselive.com

DMV Helps Haiti Benefit Concert:

What: All ticket sales will be donated to  Wyclef Jean’s YELE and Partners in Health Organization.

Who: Wale, D.C. Don Juan, Tabi Bonney, Phil Ade, XO, Kingpen Slim, K-Beta, & Que (formerly of Day26)

When: Monday, January 18th at 6:00pm

Where: 9:30 Club in Washington, DC

How: $20 – $100 via ticketfly.com

Benefit for Haiti:

What: 100% of door fees, and 10 % of alcohol sales will go to Doctors Without Borders.

Who: Surfer Blood, John Ralston, Sweet Bronco, & Kill Now?!

When: Monday, January 18th at 8:00pm

Where: Propaganda in Lake Worth, FL

How: $10

Hope for for Haiti:

What: Proceeds from the concert will go to Real Help for Haiti.

Who: Aaron Ivey, Matt McCloskey, Miranda Dodson, Kevin McKinney, & Courrier

When: Monday, January 18th at 7:00pm

Where: The Parish in Austin, TX

How: $10

Emergency Benefit Concert for Haiti:

What: 100% of donations will be distributed to Partners in Health, Doctors Without Borders, and Wyclef Jean’s YELE.

Who: Patti Smith, Yo La Tengo, The Swell Season, John Wesley Harding, Lewis Black, Willie Nile, Vernon Reid & Corey Glover (of Living Colour), Rosanne Cash, & more TBA

When: Four nights (January 20, 21, 24, & 25)

Where: City Winery in New York, NY

How: Prices varies depending on day. Find more info via warehouselive.com.

Hope for Haiti:

What: Two-hour television fundraiser; proceeds will be split evenly among five relief organizations currently operating in Haiti: Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, and Wyclef Jean’s YELE.

Who: Anderson Cooper, Wyclef Jean, George Clooney, and more TBA

When: Friday, January 22nd at 8:00pm

Where: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1 and CMT

How: Watch and donate

A Benefit for the Vicitms of the Earthquake in Haiti:

What: 100% of the proceeds will be split between Save The Children and Partners In Health.

Who: Jimmy Fallon, Cold War Kids, Ted Leo, The Wrens, Sondre Lerche, Eugene Mirman, AC Newman (of the New Pornographers), Rhett Miller (of the Old 97s), Nicole Atkins, Here We Go Magic, and more TBA

When: Wednesday, January 27th at 6:00pm

Where: The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY

How: $50 via ticketweb.com

Remixes are nothing new for the Swedish trio known as Peter Bjorn & John. If you need any evidence of this, look no further than the selection we debuted a little while back.

But PB&J have never seen their name attached to an entire album worth of remixes. That will change come Thursday, August 27th, when Re-Living Thing hits a blog near you.

As you may expect from the title, the 12-track effort features reworkings of the trio’s most recent studio effort. Created by producer Mick Boogie, the man behind last year’s Jay-Z/Coldplay mash-up mixtape, Viva la Hova, the result sees all 12 of Living Thing‘s tracks reworked and remixed by an impressive roster that includes Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA, Kardinal Offishall, Wale, Talib Kweli, Bun B, Three 6 Mafia, Trouble Andrew, Amanda Blank, 88-Keys, Young Chris & Rhymefest, and Big Sean, as well as DJs like Jazzy Jeff, nVMe, and The Kickdrums.

“Because of the success of that Jay-Z thing, great things have been happening,” explained Boogie in a recent interview with MTV.com. “This time the idea was not just remixing, but adding some vocals and getting two to three incredible, known blog-worthy MCs and putting them on every song.”

Boogie went on to note that all the artists appearing on the effort were chosen by Peter Bjorn & John. “We talked music and production and artists and it showed me what a global phenomenon hip-hop is, because these guys who grew up in Sweden were quoting Wu-Tang lyrics — and they knew all the underground stuff, too, like Amanda Blank and Kidz in the Hall,” he said.

Re-Living Thing will be released on the 27th as a free online mixtape on “on all your favorite blogs.”  Get the tentative tracklist (via MTV) below…

Re-Living Thing Tracklist:
01. J. Cole & GZA – “The Feeling” (remixed by Marco Polo)
02. Kardinal Offishall, Donnis & Heno – “It Just Don’t Move Me” (remixed by Jet Audio)
03. Big Sean & Black Milk – “Just The Past” (remixed by nVMe)
04. Wale, Young Chris & Rhymefest – “Nothing To Worry About” (remixed by The Kickdrums)
05. Bun B – “Losing My Mind” (remixed by 6th Sense)
06. Freebass 808 & Amanda Blank – “Living Thing” (remixed by Apple Juice Kid)
07. Talib Kweli – “I Want You” (remixed by William Russell / Good Life Mike)
08. Three Six Mafia and Trouble Andrew – “Lay It Down” (remixed by The Kickdrums)
09. Big Pooh, Chaundon and Phil Nash – “Stay This Way” (remixed by Jazzy Jeff)
10. Naledge & Mickey Factz – “Blue Period Picasso” (remixed by nVMe)
11. 88 Keys, Outasight & 6th Sense – “4 Out Of 5″ (remixed by 6th Sense)
12. U-N-I – “Last Night” (remixed by Remot)