:::Download:::

It is...

Anticipation

It's from...

Trey Songz

The skinny...

With his third album, Ready, due out this late summer, he probably thought all the leaks were not enough to keep us salivating and decided to go for a mixtape. Anticipation has no kinks and forecasts a sweet summer's end. Dig in!

50 Cent - War Angel LP

It took me a while to put it up, but I've been enjoying this goodie, and I know you will. Seemingly out of the blue, Fiddy decides to drop a mixt-eerrr street album on us. All new beats. All new verses. The hard-to-hate-it trash talk is abundant. You gotta love it! This is the first of three... Sincerely Southside Part 2 soon come.

:::Download:::

It is...

Man Or The Music

It's from...

J. Period

The skinny...

Look, J. Period never never (ever ever!) disappoints. I was secretely praying for his to do a Michael Jackson tribute mix and I thank God that wish came thru. And J. Period came thru. But then again, he always does.

:::Download:::

It is...

Man in the Mirror

It's from...

Mark Ronson and Rhymefest

The skinny...

A couple days before we rang in 2008, I spent a couple of late night hours on a really slow connection to download this one. And I'll never regret it. This is as fitting a Michael Jackson as ever. Mark Ronson and Rhymefest came out with a timeless banger and enlisted the help of their friends and fellow artists like Wale, Talib Kweli, Dres and Daniel Merriweather. They go thru Michael's catalog and rework some select cuts with additional verses and reinterpretations. Other jams get sampled. Jams that sampled MJ get a nod. The whole package is kept together by some humorous exchanged between the King of Pop and El Che. Dig in!

:::Download:::

It is...

Michael Jackson: The Soulful Years, Vol. 1

It's from...

DJ Jaycee

The skinny...

You know it by now. The true King of Pop succumbed yesterday afternoon. He lives on through his great and timeless musical output, a sample of which The Aphilliates' DJ Jaycee presents with this timely mixtape. Rest in Peace MJJ.

Chen Lo - So Much To Say

So the track is nice. The message is heartfelt. You can't knock the hustle... 'So Much To Say" is from the forthcoming The Ink Well Mixtape and here's the premise:

"Most people don't understand the trials of an artist's journey, especially those of an artist with a noble mission. His/her judgement is challenged by both his elders and his peers because music is a career for very few and a hobby for most.[It] intensifies if this artist gets a little love from mainstream television networks and blog sites. [...] Everybody tends to think this artist has made it or arrived. This couldn't be further from the truth. 'So Much to Say' is Chen Lo's insight into this scenario he knows quite well. He only wants to do what he loves, be heard and live comfortably in the process. He hasn't lost who he is in the midst of all the trials and triumphs...the grind continues"

Royce Da 5'9" - D.O.A. Autotune

Slaughterhouse went on the Green Lantern show a few days back and proceeded to tear the mic over Jay-Z's "D.O.A." instrumental. Probably because he was pressed, Royce turned in some verses that had been heard before. In comes the apology and yeah-so-what-fuck-you appropriately dubbed "D.O.A. Redemption". Also peep the infamous DJ Green Lantern Freestyle and "Slaughter."

K. Michelle - Self Made

Roundin' up the buzz from Hitz Committee is singer K. Michelle. The bootylicious lil missy is drivin' the independent lady slogan with her debut single, "Self Made." There's two versions of this one. One with the baddest chick and the other with Gucci Mane.