Rap

Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, DMX

Wordsmith: Prelude To The King

Practically a regular here in the Frostclick blog, Wordsmith returns with a brand new Mixtape, Prelude To the King. True to form, the album is a great display of smooth beats, catchy rhythm, as well as awesome mic skills from Word and crew. There's really no need to argue whether this mixtape is worth your time. Pretty much anything Wordsmith has released has always held the bar high enough to warrant a listen and eventually a download. Prelude To The King is no different of course, marching in with 15 tracks that bob and sway with beats worthy of welcoming any hip hop royalty.

John Graham: Success In Retrograde

One exciting hip hop artist to watch out for, John Graham rolls out licks and rhymes that create a different kind of hip hop. He doesn't only have that rare talent but he's also bringing hip hop back to its roots while also incorporating a positive vibe. The man behind Ego Free Productions, John runs the company along with his partner, Amir. According to the singer, the company name was appropriate for the singer's brand of sound since he provides music that's "filled with positive messages meant to inspire growth and insight change." Success in Retrogade EP is an amazing record complete with 7 tracks. Each song carries a special message that you won't normally expect or associate with the hip hop genre.

The Paragons Of Goodness: The Edge Of Winter

What happens when two talented individuals join forces to create a record? You get one interesting and special R&B hip hop compilation that's definitely worth your while. The Paragons of Goodness is a two man crew made up of songwriter/producer/illustrator and vocalist Greg Blackman as well as engineer/producer/musician and owner of Long Track Studios, Nathan Wacey. Together they release this 18-track compilation that's filled with a host of lovely music. From smooth R&B to soulful hip hop and rap, the record has plenty of surprises for its listeners.

Mike Schpitz/Grumpy Old Men: Sunday Skool

Marking his second appearance here in Frostclick, Mike Schpitz has released his latest record, Sunday Skool. The artist first debuted on the pages of the blog after releasing his second album, Spring Cleaning which to date has reached more than 200,000 downloads! For that album, he collaborated with a variety of artists and musiciansto create a stunning, laid back hip hop record anybody can enjoy. This time around, Schpitz collaborates with Pete Sayke, forming a new group called, Grumpy Old Men. Sunday Skool is their debut record and it seems to be heading the same route as his earlier release. It's packed with good beats that should get you to take notice.

Karizma: Cup Cakes & Duct Tape

Cup Cakes and Duct Tape is a 21-track (yes, that many songs included) hip hop compilation from rapper Karizma. This is the latest album from the 16-year old rapper since his debut EP, Every Other F, was released in 2011. Not much has changed since then, in fact his sound has gained more focus now and there's also a bit more variety. Karizma is Morgan Parriott, a teen who enjoys music, making people laugh, wrestling and hails from Minnesota. Despite the young age, the artist is showcasing a whole lot of talent up his sleeve. This one is for fans of Eminem, Nas and J Dilla.

The Specktators: Familiar With Floss

The Specktators is a two piece crew made up of Matt Duda (known as Moe-T) and Patrick Duda (known as Packi.) Creating a sound that's mainly a blend of hiphop with a hint of electronica, R&B, pop and even dance; the brothers make a good impression with this compilation. These two share a passion for their craft and have recorded/produced their own tracks since they started back in 2009. They've released various projects before include the Never-Ending Mixtape where they constantly added recorded tracks every month. Most of the songs there are now part of this new compilation.

The United93: The United93

The United93 is a rock band from the Korea. In a country where rock music is a minority and pretty much pop music reigns supreme, it's amazing and a real treat to find groups that rock out as much as these guys. Although it's a bit tough to find info about them, it does seem that they're quite popular in the Korean rock scene. They were named as Band of the Month in a prestigious music magazine in Korea. This self-titled EP was released back in 2010 and available as a free download under a Creative Commons license. The compilation is an uncharacteristic marriage of prog, punk and industrial elements.

WolF J McFarlane: UpSideDownDay (Tapemix)

This mixtape from WolF J McFarlane might be a few years old, but the sound is as current as ever. Blasting your ears with a great mix of samples, catchy beats and uptempo tracks; the album is a great audio experience from beginning to end. UpSideDownDay was released back in December 2009 and combines a flurry of tracks that's best described as "neo hip hop." Mixing traditional beats and samples with unexpected rhymes and sounds; the album is a refreshing take on the usual hip hop sound.

K.Raydio: Significant (Other) – Part II

K.Raydio is a great example of someone pursuing their dreams regardless of the odds. The 22 year old singer was broke yet had big dreams of going after her passion for sound. The result of her perseverance include two EPs, a host of performances around in landmark concert venues in the hometown, plus a good and solid following. The singer was able to do all of this in just under a year. Real name, Krysta Rayford, the singer hails from Minneapolis and was born from a family filled with musicians. "Her mother was a singer and guitarist and her father was the son of a blues musician."