Rhymes: Rakotep - 2 (Artist Spotlight)

Since I started writing for Okayplayer and Rapreviews, I've been getting an influx of artists emailing or tweeting me asking if I could post their music. I've always done my best to at least check out the music and give it a couple of listens, but I haven't always been the best at actually posting about it. So I'm going to try and post artist spotlights more frequently. With that being said, BRL's first Artist Spotlight is a duo called Rakotep. They consist of vocalist/emcee Stacy Epps and French producer Astronote. These two tracks are off of their upcoming album.

//Rakotep = Stacy Epps + Astronote (2)//

Please check out the new musical offering "2" from Rakotep, the duo composed of veteran emcee/songstress Stacy Epps and French super-producer Astronote! Two songs from their upcoming debut self-titled debut, "2" satisfies your hunger for musical balance with the joint "Neva Know" featuring smooth sounds and soothing vocals and "Finish" a lyrical feel-good summer track with heavy bass-lines and hard drums.

Bandcamp: http://rakotep.bandcamp.com/album/2?permalink

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/stacyepps/sets/2-rakotep

Stacy Epps collaborated with artists such as MF Doom, Madlib, J Dilla, Oh No, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Flying Lotus. Astronote produced for artists such as Talib Kweli, Buff1, Donwill of Tanya Morgan, Joell Ortiz, Guilty Simpson and Mayer Hawthorne.

Stacy Epps website: http://www.japanubia.com/

Astronote website: http://www.theastronote.com/

Rhymes: Nas - "Daughters" (Music Video)

Hello my fellow beets, I know it's been a while, but I was super busy graduating and getting a job and all that jive. But I am finally back with a dope video/song off of Nas' upcoming album, Life is Good, which is set to drop July 17! This is the third video off of the up-coming album, and it is a really great song about being a father to a teenage daughter.

The song has recently gotten some flack from Nas' ex, Carmen for making their daughter, Destiny look bad. And I agree that the song and video highlight a lot of negatives including a line about her posting pictures of her condoms on Instagram. But at the same time, Nas is an artist and he is going to write about his life. He often blames himself in the song for not being a strict enough father or not always being there for his daughter. Overall this is a very moving and genuine song (produced by No ID, who is going to exec produce the album), and hopefully the rest of Nas' 10th LP will be as good.

Rhymes: Where in the World is Jay Electronica?

Let's talk about the hip hop phenomenon, Jay Electronica. Nobody can deny that this guy is one of the best upcoming rappers around, but why has he put out so little material? HipHopDX noted him as being "more of a myth or urban legend than a...rapper." While this does prove true for the elusive emcee, it is being more and more prevalent that Jay is about to make something huge. Ever since "Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (the pledge)" was released in 2007, we have been waiting on Jay Elec's debut studio album, titled "Act 2: Patents of Nobility" (interestingly enough). Releasing such tracks as his Just Blaze-produced Exhibit Series (check "C" below), "Shiny Suit Theory" and "Dear Moleskine," it's a wonder how long the rapper is going to hold out on us. He's only released a few songs and no official albums and the rapper has quite the extensive fan base, praise and perceived anticipation. Even after labels didn't want him for "taking too long" to put out material and finally finding a home with Jay-Z's "Roc Nation" label, Jay still avoids the spotlight, leaving us all to ask "when?"

Hopefully we won't have to wait any longer. Fed by random tweets, most believe that the album will be released this year, 5 years after Jay Electronica made a name for himself with his first release. Jay has said that the album is finished and that he has handed the project in to be finalized. He's certainly stirring up a storm and concocting one (hopefully) beautiful, musical masterpiece, with lead singles like "Exhibit C" and "Dear Moleskine." Both songs are amazing and can only make us wait just a little bit longer. After all, taking 5 years to make an album has only got to mean one thing: this album will be gold.

Check out the two songs that are supposed singles from the album and tell us what you think about Jay Electronica and his music.

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I hope you enjoyed my article and please check out my website at

www.hiphopspeakeasy.com

Rhymes: Tonedeff aka Peter Anthony Red

We all knew it was going to be a big year for QN5 founder, Tonedeff, but we thought it'd start with the highly anticipated Chico and the Man album with Kno.  But instead the rapper, who hasn't released a full length LP since 2005, threw us a real curve ball earlier this week when he announced his new project under the monkier, Peter Anthony Red.

Tone will release a free EP under the Peter Anthony Red name, followed by a full LP titled Hyperrealism, with the full version of the song above. This project will feature mostly singing, which is what fans have been begging  for since the release of "Gathered" in 2005.

Tone also reassured fans that Chico and the Man will still eventually be released, but he has a lot in the works, here is a list of projects that he will be releasing in 2012 and beyond:

• Peter Anthony Red - Untitled EP 
• Tonedeff - Polymer 
• Tonedeff and Kno - Chico and the Man
• Peter Anthony Red - Hyperrealism
• Tonedeff - Monotone EP Re-release

Also Tone alluded to releasing another Tonedeff LP that will be the sequel to Archetype, another RP of his infamous "fast raps" and the long awaited Asterisk 5 QN5 compilation are all also in the works.

BRL will keep you posted when we get more music and news.