As a prelude to his upcoming S.U.P.E.R.T.H.U.G album, Noreaga is dropping a new mixtape creatively titled Crack On Steroids. While a radio rip was circulating the internet last week, 57thAve finally put out the CDQ version of his new single with Action Bronson from said mixtape, which is coming soon…

After having predicted the apocalypse many times through his album titles in the past, Busta is trying once more with his E.L.E sequel E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event) 2: End Of The World. This also marks his first single as part of YMCMB, so maybe the end of the world is coming…

Another great visual interpretation from the Seattle hip-hop collective’s outstanding Black Up album, which is available now…

Legendary skater Tony Hawk caught up with Tyler, Mike G, L-Boy, Left Brain and Taco at their Odd Future pop-up shop in Australia’s ‘Big Day Out’ for his Dissent program on Ride Channel. Tyler fools around as usual, talking about upcoming releases, including a Jazz album from manager Clancy and Reggaeton album by Mike G! He also talks skating and his favourite skate songs…

In an interview with NahRight on the set of The Weeknd’s upcoming visual for ‘The Zone’, Drake speaks on why he will not be continuing his beef with Common (who recently told ‘Rolling Stone’ that he will not be taking any more shots).

So people want to know: will you respond to Common?

No. Because despite how it’s been worded by him that situation is not a “hip hop moment” or a “battle for the sake of musical integrity”…it’s a ploy for attention around the release of an album. More than anything it was just disappointing cause what kid isn’t a fan of what Common has done for our genre. A guy who made such an incredible career for himself based off expressing genuine feelings about life and love is now targeting me for sharing my story.

Great answer if you ask me! Common’s not new to making diss records, but in this case his output was very disappointing and I don’t think many were fooled by this blatant publicity stunt to promote The Dreamer, The Believer…

For this week’s ‘Throwback Sundays’ post, DJ Jed 104 pays dues to some of the best ladies to ever grace the mic…

What was I thinking, a few months in to this feature and I haven’t given the ladies their props yet. Shame on me. So to set it straight I’m gonna get into a bumper feature on rappers of the fairer (in most cases) sex. I’ve not bothered trying to do a definitive list of female throwback queens here so if I missed your favourite or not paid some dues somewhere I do apologise. These tracks are just my picks of the female MC’s I’d like to introduce/re-introduce to you.

I’ve kept with the throwbacks of course but there’s a whole host of newer female MC’s worthy of mention (Eternia, Nitty Scott, Rapsody and Toni Monroe to name a few) so after you’ve refreshed your memory on the originators take some time to go check them out too. It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.

Mc Lyte – Cha Cha Cha

I’m not sleeping on MC Lyte’s 1st album and it’s title track ‘Lyte as a Rock’ (1988), you should definitely peep that but I actually got her second album first and this joint stood out to me. I think it’s the sample of the completely ill ‘Rockin it’ by the Fearless Four with those old school cuts on it that hooked me in. It’s a nice hard contrast with the laid back Four Tops loop and Lyte’s suitably laid back almost conversational flow.

(Roxanne) Shante Ft Kool G Rap – Deadly Rhymes

If you haven’t heard this yet I guarantee you’ll cop it straight away, either that or you have no concept of dopeness and need to give yourself a slap. Kool G Rap & and Juice Crew pioneer Shante trade fast paced verses over a production collabo between Kool G Rap himself and Large Pro. You may know about Shante’s rise to recognition through the ‘Roxanne Wars’ but if you ask me her best tracks such as this one, ‘Go on Girl’ (where she dropped the Roxanne and reverted to Shante) and ‘Have a Nice Day’ weren’t part of the feud at all.

Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y. / Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y. (Big Titty Version)

Got a lot of love for Queen Latifah and this is one of my favourite throwbacks regardless of the gender aspect. Beautiful production and consistent conscious subject matter. She had an excuse for wearing them cut off shorts OK? I wouldn’t have messed with her myself, she looks like a lovely lady but I bet she throws a mean punch. Also ridiculously dope is the much harder and inappropriately named ‘Big Titty version’, the boys at the label obviously had the last laugh eh.

Remy Martin – Freestyle with Big Pun

Ok maybe I’m being a little sneaky here, this is actually a Big Pun track with Remy Ma guesting. I just wanted to drop it cos it’s FIRE. Besides Big Pun (RIP) was Remy’s mentor and gave her her first break so I gotta give Pun his dues as always. If you wanna check more of the lady herself you could go for the Swizz Beats produced ‘Monster’ or just recite her verse from M.O.P’s Ante Up remix because you should be able to do that by now.

Paula Perry – Extra Extra

This underground heater from DJ Premier and Brooklyn MC Paula Perry had been a firm fixture in my thowback crates for ever. Classic material right here, copping the vinyl is a must for all you DJ’s.

Rah Digga – Lessons of Today

Another Premier beat, I’m a bit of an addict I admit it. Flipmode rapper Rah Digga is undeniably one of the best ladies to bless the mic and this joint is a throwback classic if ever there was one.

Bo$$ – Deeper

Taking over to the West Coast for a minute Bo$$ proves the ladies can keep it Gangster and I wouldn’t argue. Although, much to the damage of her career, it was later revealed she was from a upper-middle class background and attended private school. Hope that doesn’t ruin the track for you, it doesn’t for me and it didn’t for Russell Simmons who knew this when he signed her.

Lady of Rage – Get with the Wickedness

Famous for her breakout single and firm hip hop classic ‘Afro Puffs’ the Lady of Rage set herself apart from the crowd with her crazy Afro Puff hairstyle and double hard rhyming. This is a lesser known track of hers, I just love the spooky Anita Baker sample and the nasty old school drums which ripped from Run DMC’s ‘Its Like That’ I think.

Lil Kim – Whoa

Lil Kim needs no introduction, I guess even the youngsters have heard about Kim through her slightly lame beef with Nicki Minaj. This is my pick of her solo material along with ‘Lighters Up’ and ‘The Jump Off’ although if I was going for all time picks of her work I’d go back to the Junior M.A.F.I.A days and ‘Quiet Storm Remix’ by Mobb Deep.

Foxy Brown – Oh Yeah

Just because this is on the Ali G soundtrack don’t let that detract from it’s credibility, I used to tear down parties with this jam. Also worth checking, maybe more so is ‘Foxy’s Bells’ but I had to pick one and ‘Oh Yeah’ just brings back more memories, hopefully for you too.

Bonus

I’ve got to be running out of space by now but there will be a bonus dammit. Here’s a couple of harder to find goodies for ya:

Rah Digga (Ft Pharaohe Monch) – Tight Remix

Heather B – Steady Rockin’ (original version)

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Despite it featuring one of my most despised figures in music, I did enjoy Wayne’s verses on this introspective bonus cut from The Carter IV of which the video will be dropping next week. I’ve a feeling that with a tonne of radio play this is going to become an annoying one though…

Continuing his “Songs By Me, Stalley” series, the 330 representer lets loose of another unreleased collab with Ski Beatz…

Since it dropped two weeks ago Q’s Habits & Contradictions has been on constant replay on my Itunes, and this is definitely one of the stand out tracks with it’s haunting production courtesy of A$AP TY Beats. Do yourself a favour and buy Habits & Contradictions now!

The DMV’s Young Scolla drops a smooth new record featuring Phil Ade and Gerald Walker on guest verses…

After a little hold up, The RLES Society’s own Scolla is back for Week 3 of his weekly series #ScollasWebTour. On this smooth ladies record entitled “The Jones” Scolla enlists the help of the DMV’s own Phil Ade and Milwuakee’s Gerald Walker to speak on the women’s addiction for these young stars. Produced by fellow Detroit Native, Jerry Parker & Mixed/Co-Produced By Roscoe Wiki.