Friday, January 1, 2010

The RE:Union


After years of rumors and promises of a Reflection Eternal reunion, in 2009 the ball started rolling.  This tape, mixed by Statik Selektah, can be taken as proof of an album finally appearing this year.  It is a mix of old classics, unreleased material, and a healthy portion of new songs.  The newer Hi Tek beats are hit and miss and rarely feel as soulful as they were around the turn of the millennium.  If many of these are album b-sides though, it's not a significant worry.  "Just Begun" is the clear standout early on, as Kweli gets help from Jay Electronica, J. Cole, and longtime collaborator Mos Def.  The beat is one of the most notable as well, with vintage NY sample chopping laid over a slightly unorthodox jazz rhythm.

While most will already have the classic material, the previously unheard tracks make this mixtape a worthwhile download.

Download The RE:Union

Trunk Muzik


Yelawolf kicks off the New Year right with the anticipated Trunk Muzik mixtape.  If the leaks over the last couple months are any indication, we may have already been delivered one of the best mixtapes of the year.  It's no coincidence Yelawolf waited for a January 1 release.  He's making a case for re-branding 2010 as the Year of the Wolf, and if he can translate the critical acclaim he's receiving into popular recognition, hip-hop may be rushing into the future with more gusto than many had imagined possible.

Download Trunk Muzik