We're a bit late with this one, but better late than never, eh? So, Elzhi is a Detroit rapper who released his mixtape Elmatic in May 2011. As the name of the mixtape suggests, the mixtape is deeply influenced by Nas' classic album Illmatic- in fact, all tracks of this mixtape have (almost) the same headings as the songs on Nas' album.

Now, don't get this wrong. Elzhi is not trying to "beat" Nas by turning his songs into his own, the mixtape can rather be looked at as a personal tribute to Illmatic & Nas and Elzhi's own take on the classic tracks. And the result is outstanding. Accompanied by a live band called Will Sessions, Elzhi brings the classic, raw hip hop from Illmatic back to life.

DOWNLOAD LINK: ELZHI - ELMATIC (2011)



Tracklist:
1. The Genesis
2. Detroit State of Mind (Houseshoes Shout)
3. Halftime
4. Memory Lane
5. The World Is Yours
6. Represent
7. Life’s A Bitch feat. Royce da 5’9 and Stokley Williams of Mint Condition
8. One Love
9. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (Pete Rock Shout)
10. Pete Rock Shout

I really like Stones Throw Records. Not only because they are the home for a variety of awesome artists such as Madlib, MF Doom, Aloe Blacc, Mayer Hawthorne and others, but also because they are kind enough to release cool stuff for free downloads from time to time. Here's one of these releases: Detroit rapper Guilty Simpson with Bumps on a track called Drums. Gymbag remix added as a bonus. Enjoy!



DOWNLOAD LINK: GUILTY SIMPSON & BUMPS - DRUMS (2011)



DOWNLOAD LINK: GUILTY SIMPSON & BUMPS - DRUMS (GYMBAG REMIX) (2011)