Looking for some of the week’s best hip-hop tracks? Look no further—we have it all here, in this week’s edition of Weekly Mixtape.

 
Big K.R.I.T., “Live From the Underground”

This track serves as both sonic and thematic introduction to Big K.R.I.T.’s studio debut of the same name. Atop a slinking, low-riding beat, Krizzle lays out his commitment to the Dirty South’s underground hip-hop scene, and the cash he intends that association to yield.

Not sure how a contract with Def Jam Records qualifies as “underground,” but with beats this flawless, the man can claim membership in whichever club he pleases.

 
Killer Mike ft. Bun B and T.I., “Big Beast”

I have 10 bucks for anyone who can tell me how/why the cinematic nods from this Killer Mike clip make any sense whatsoever. In addition to a loving recreation of the heist scene from Drive, the video also cribs the iconic Reagan mask from Point Break and straight-up rips off the climactic scene from that Mexican-stripper-zombie movie that exists only in my imagination.

Oh, and the song itself? Brash, iconoclastic, brilliant. I will be very surprised if R.A.P. Music doesn’t wind up being the best hip-hop albums of the year.

Chevy Woods ft. Juicy J and Wiz Khalifa, “Vice” [Prod. Lex Luger]

Chevy Woods, Juicy J and Wiz Khalifa tear into this bouncing collection of funk samples (courtesy of Lex Luger) with such collective energy as to make the whole thing sound easy. The lyrics reaffirm the Taylor Gang’s commitment to earning money and spending it on bottle service, but not even Khalifa’s latest releases have managed to sound quite so effortless.

It’s a credit to Luger’s production, as well as the talents of all three MCs, that you have to go back and pay closer attention in order to appreciate just how many gears are spinning on this single, and just how well they all fit together.

 
Del The Funky Homosapien and Parallel Thought, “Different Guidelines”

Though an epic, eight-year draught imbued his fan base with an earned skepticism in regards to the announcement of new albums, this time around, Del The Funky Homosapien (or is it still “Del Tha Funkee Homosapien”?) seems intent on delivering the goods.

This track, a collaboration with producer Parallel Thought, heralds the arrival of Attractive Sin, Del’s third studio release in as many years. Though the project is technically separate from Del’s upcoming solo LP (Root Stimulation), Parallel Thought’s saxophone samples and jazz flourishes manage to make the track sound an awful lot like classic Del.

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About the Author

Shane Danaher on MUSIC IS MY OXYGEN WEEKLY.

Shane Danaher's affection for pop music has peppered his adult life with a variety of aesthetically rewarding and financially disastrous decisions. After moving to Portland, Oregon for college (because that's where he heard Modest Mouse was from) Shane has wound up participating in the music world in roles ranging from 'drummer' to 'promoter' to 'bathroom floor scrubber.' He has toured without money, written about almost every band ever to have come out of the Pacific Northwest, and one time traveled all the way to Los Angeles just to see a catch hip-hop show. He currently resides in Portland, where he writes about hip-hop, pop and rock music for a variety of publications. He still plays drums. He wants to meet Kanye West.

Tagged: Big K.R.I.T., Chevy Woods, Del The Funky Homosapien, hip hop, Killer Mike
Posted in: Hip Hop Music

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