Words By: Daniel Bowen

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So, I finally got a hold of Kanye’s new album, 808’s & Heartbreak, and I think it’s a classic. It is totally different from any other rap album, with Yeezy’s Autotuned half-singing voice turning some off while broadening his reach. It is a true hip-hop concept album, pushing the Autotune effect to regions even T-Pain could never dream of. It can at times be relaxing and at other times ominous, even strange.
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With the Beijing Olympic Games right around the corner, Coca-Cola wanted to celebrate by finding some lesser-known talent to steal use their music for one of their fantastic commericals! Anyway they end up asking for Onra’s permission to use The Anthem (shouts to Pinglewood). Obviously he accepted. I mean, it sounds like it could give his career some shine right? welllll, not exactly. The sour story that follows is just below the jump…

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Nosaj Thing – Bach 1685 [Stream Video Here] (Dancing: Lunice)

Nosaj Thing, a producer based in LA, is a self-proclaimed Sound Innovator. His work has been praised by Hip-Hop enthusiasts and Electronica lovers alike. Similar to the treatment other “Get To Know” artists have received, Nosaj Thing will be interviewed soon. Enjoy the sounds and tell us what you think.

[Download Link & Tracklist Inside]

What a way to start a Thursday.
Presented by Plain Pat, Emile & 10.deep.
Via onSMASH.
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“If Jason Bourne was to record and join forces with Zack Morris, they’d form my performance.”

Asher Roth – A Milli Freestyle

Ahhh, Asher Roth. The rapper you love to hate, or hate to love. Like it or not, this guy has been everywhere as of late. Signing to Steve Rifkind’s SRC Records with the likes of Akon, The Wu-Tang Clan and Pharaohe Monch, the impact homey is destined to make is huge. His skills stand alone, and on his latest mixtape with DJ Drama and Don Cannon, it is so very clear. Jay-Z thinks he’s hot shit, Andre 3000 is down with the cause, and his next stop is right here on illRoots.
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Words By: TheProdigy

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Top 5 Tracks:
Inner Me
The Pledge
Lucifer’s Joyride
Middle Of The Map Part 2
Drivin’ Down The Block

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Words By: Hallway Jay

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Words By: Hallway Jay

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Words By: Hallway Jay

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Words By: Hallway Jay

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Words By: Funk D

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Words By: A-One of KnowGoodMusic.

I might be repeating myself but so what. I think a lot of people talking like they were always big UGK fans are frontin. I’m from the land where Suave House, Rap-A-Lot, & the non-east coast Jive artists reigned supreme & I don’t remember UGK getting so much props until they popped up on that Jay-Z song. As I type this I do remember conversations with Wendy Day where she was telling me they had contract issues & those issues went on for a long time (basically they refused to record & the label refused to allow them to appear on other peoples albums) so maybe that has something to do with the surge in people screaming their names but I still say most of you are frontin. And to be real, that kinda made me discredit them a lil bit. Read the rest of this entry »

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Common is one of the few emcees on TV regularly that is from the 90’s era. Two years ago Him and Mr. West blessed the 2000’s with one of the best albums its ever heard. Now there back for Finding Forever an illRoots is here to tell you whether or not we think they came correct yet again.

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The underground music scene has been in question lately on how “underground” they actually are. I mean, some artists have a larger following then most mainstream artists. Well are boy Heartbeat is here to bring that real underground feel back and at the same time stay away from the cliche style that other “underground” artists have relied on lately, especially with his new album Phantasmagoric: SE. illRoots is here to give you the word on how dope Heartbeat is and how this album stacks up with the rest of the releases in 2007.

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Whether it be beef, mishaps or mistakes, Canibus has had quite a long career. At this point most emcees would hang up the mic. Not Canibus, he just dropped his eighth album and illRoots is here to tell you how it is.

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Review written by: Maza

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