Video: XV – “U.F.C.”

XV, the kid with the green backpack, released a fresh set of visuals for one of his recent mixtape’s hardest-hitting songs, “U.F.C.”, which also features vocals from Kristina Rose. If you watched Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, you’ll definitely enjoy the Joker Thugs trailing along throughout the video, which was shot throughout Chicago by Rex Arrow Films.

Check it out below. Vizzy’s debut album should be out in 2012. Hold tight.

Video: Common – “Blue Sky”

Ever since Common first released his new single “Blue Sky”, I’ve been listening to it excessively. There’s something special about that Electric Light Orchestra sample…

Below, you can watch the newly-released music video for the track. The Dreamer, The Believer out on November 22, 2011 through Warner Bros. Records and is entirely produced by No I.D. From what we’ve heard already, the album (Common’s ninth) is set to be a great one. As he put it himself: “It’s going to be positive hip-hop. Hip-hop that can really generate good spirit, the spirit of the music and just good energy.”

Mixtape: Phil The Thrill – Barely Awake

Virginia’s Phil The Thrill has just released his long-awaited mixtape, Barely Awake, for free download. Talented and quite humble, Phil The Thrill is still finding his bearings as a rapper, but has already garnered quite a bit of press for himself and even met Compton MC Kendrick Lamar (peep the intro track). For some more information on the album, you can also check out my interview with Phil from a few weeks ago, where we discussed a bit about his rapping career and this mixtape in particular.

Chill beats and quality songs from an up-and-comer. Fly thoughts! You can download the mixtape below or alternatively, stream it after the break.

Download:
Mediafire
Hulkshare

Listen: Pusha T – “What Dreams Are Made Of”

Here’s a brand new track from Clipse‘s Pusha T titled “What Dreams Are Made Of”, which will be included on Pusha’s forthcoming album Fear of God II: Let Us Pray. The new album will be out November 8th via Decon and G.O.O.D. Music and also includes Pusha’s well-received collaboration with OFWGKTA‘s Tyler, the Creator.

Listen to “What Dreams Are Made Of” below and also be sure to check the album’s tracklisting after the break.

MP3: Pusha T – “What Dreams Are Made Of”

Fear of God II: Let Us Pray Tracklisting:
01 Changing of the Guards (feat. Diddy)
02 Amen (feat. Kanye West and Young Jeezy)
03 Trouble on My Mind (feat. Tyler, the Creator)
04 What Dreams Are Made Of
05 Body Work (feat. Juicy J, Meek Mill, and French Montana)
06 Everything That Glitters (feat. French Montana)
07 So Obvious
08 Feeling Myself (feat. Kevin Cossom)
09 Raid (feat. 50 Cent and Pharrell)
10 My God
11 I Still Wanna (feat. Rick Ross and Ab Liva)
12 Alone in Vegas

Listen: Kid Cudi – “Bigger Than You” [Unreleased 2007]

In 2007, rapper (and now rocker) Kid Cudi linked up with producer Emile for the first time to create a song called “Bigger Than You”. Here’s what Emile had to say about the song in a 2009 interview with Complex:

“He had in his head what he wanted to start the album with. Like way back it was a song called “Bigger Than You,” which some people might of heard because it leaked. It was a really dope record. “Bigger Than You” was actually the first record me and Cudi ever did together. It was on the first day that we met, we cut that song. Once we cut it, he was like, “That’s the intro to my album.” It stayed that way for a while, but that record was cut a long time before the album was ever done, so eventually it kinda faded out.”

MP3: Kid Cudi – “Bigger Than You”

This isn’t the first time this song has appeared on the Internet, making its initial appearance as “Do It Alone” on Cudi’s demo tape. This, however, is the completely mastered version from Emile. Listen for yourself above.