Yo we got a handful of good hip hop being released today. The first one is probably the most popular out of the batch and that’s the sophomore release from Freeway — Free At Last. It’s been four years since Freeway released his debut on Roc-A-Fella Records; I feel like I’ve been waiting for this release forever! I actually got a quick listen to Free At Last and I must say it’s pretty good. Not great, but good. It’s got some good solid production, even though we are missing beats from Just Blaze; and Freeway’s flow is just as good as ever. This album is a little more soulful than his last, but I see that as a good thing. Make sure to check this one out.

Next up is a compilation album from Blacksmith artist Jean Grae. If you’re not familiar with Blacksmith, that’s Talib Kweli’s label. And if you’re not familiar with Jean Grae — GET FAMILIAR. Jean Grae, formerly What? What?, has been huge on the underground scene for quite some time. To me, she is the best female rap artist out there today. Why she isn’t a household name yet is beyond me. Anyway, this new release actually caught me by surprise. I didn’t know this was coming out. Supposedly it’s a compilation of unreleased recordings, but it doesn’t include any of the work she did with 9th Wonder for the Jeanius LP that leaked online a year ago. Anyway, it should be worth checking out. If you want to hear more Jean Grae, cop This Week, her 2004 album.

Another underground act is releasing something today — Atmosphere’s 10th EP in the Bad Clown Bad Dub series. Atmosphere has been around for close to 15 years and they have released a vast amount of material either in the form of EPs or albums (LPs for us oldheads). I’ve never really gotten into Atmosphere, but I hear they’re great. I guess since they have so much music I don’t know where to start listening to them. If there are any Atmosphere listeners out there, point me in the right direction!

Last but not least, we finally get The American Dream from Mike Jones.  Who?  Mike Jones, fool! (Sorry, had to do that).  Yeah, it’s been a minute since Mike dropped his debut.  The American Dream was supposed to come out over the summer, but he decided to wait to release it at the same time as his movie.  Yes, he did a movie called The American Dream.  Supposedly it aired on BET the other night.  Anyone see it?  I don’t know what happened though, cuz what started out as a full album ended up being released as an EP.  And not only is it just a 6-track EP, but 2 of those tracks are his previous hits “Still Tippin” and “Back Then”.  WTF? When will these record companies learn that album delays are not good business practices?  As far as delays, we’ve missed out on Eve’s new album, Mario’s new album (which eventually got leaked), and Mya’s new album (which also has been leaked).  Just put the album out when it’s ready.  All we want is the music!  Anyway, I don’t know what’s in store for Mike Jones, but something tells me that he’s gotta drop something big next year or we’ll all be saying, “Mike Who?”

Read on for album details…

Freeway: Free At Last

Producers: Bink!, Cool & Dre, JR Rottem, Dame Grease

Singles: “Roc-A-Fella Billionaires”

Tracklist:

1. This Can’t Be Real (featuring  Marsha Ambrosius)
2. It’s Over
3. Still Got Love
4. Roc-A-Fella Billionaires (featuring Jay-Z)
5. When They Remember
6. Take It To The Top (featuring 50 Cent)
7. Spit That Shit
8. Reppin’ The Streets
9. Free at Last
10. Baby Don’t Do It (featuring Scarface)
11. Nuttin’ On Me
12. Walk Wit Me (featuring Busta Rhymes & Jadakiss)
13. Lights Get Low (featuring Rick Ross & Dre)
14. I Cry

Jean Grae: The Orchestral Files

Tracklist: 

1. Trouble Man
2. Soul Clap
3. Mean
4. My Angel Is You
5. What Ya Gona Do
6. The Story
7. The Band
8. Jean Experience
9. Break
10. It’s A Wrap
11. It’s Alright

Atmosphere: Sad Clown Bad Fall, Vol. 10

Tracklist:

1. Peyote
2. Party Over Here
3. Makes the Sun Come Out
4. Rooster
5. Lyndale Avenue User’s Manual

Mike Jones: The American Dream

Singles:  “My 64″, “Turning Headz”

Tracklist:

1. Turning Headz
2. My 64 (featuring Bun B & Snoop Dogg)
3. Mr. Jones
4. Like What I Got
5. Still Tippin’ (featuring Slim Thug & Paul Wall)
6. Back Then

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