Awesome Hip Hop

(PG-13: Language) “I hit the bank today and tell them color me bad, Blue faces, get that new money, and it’s breaking me down to the top.” Kendrick Lamar raps about resisting materialism and the power of money then ends with a fiery shoutout to his label.

(PG-13: Language) The debut music video of up-and-coming technical rapper Jamal Gutierrez, aka A-F-R-O. From his free mixtape Tales from the Basement. You wouldn’t know it from his booming voice and verbal gymnastics, but the kid’s just 18 years old.

A coffee table book featuring beatmaker Ross Schwartzman aka DJ Ross One’s extensive collection of hip hop t-shirts, sweaters and other merchandise, including bootlegs and one-offs. LL Cool J should bring back the Troops while he can. More at NYT.

“Entertainer entertaining everyone and every mass, enemies is envious ain’t even peep the elbow pass” Hip hop duo Blackalicious remix their classic tune Alphabet Aerobics, replacing the lyrics with sports-related lines.

(PG-13: Language) Ever heard Drake with the Wii Shop Channel? How about Kendrick Lamar with Mega Man, or Nas with K.K. Slider? Because they’re all great things that go great together, as proven by 14-year-old beatmaker Toonlink.

(PG-13: Language) “A bunch of girls do it and the s**t looks fun. That’s how they do it where we from.” Missy returns with the help of Pharell’s ice cream beat, throwing shade at the artists and fans who promote a sexualized caricature of hip-hop culture, particularly its dance moves.

Beat Breakdown shows us how producer Nineteen85 turned Timmy Thomas’ Why Can’t We Live Together? into the beat for Drake’s Hotline Bling. You may not get all the jargon, but the video is a good reminder of hip hop’s underappreciated depth.

(PG-13) Hopsin thinks there’s something worse than poorly written rap songs: the ones where there are barely any words in them. Watch him poop on Young Thug, Future and the other Bon Ivers of hip hop in this skit from his album Pound Syndrome.

We think Drake and Future’s combo mixtape would’ve been better off without the online hype. It’s no Compton, but it’s a solid effort. Drake’s doing his angry Kanye impression and Future’s still mumbling. Nice beats though.

(PG-13) True to the song’s message – about being a cheapskate – Lil Dicky begged rich folks in Los Angeles to lend them their time, house, yacht, cars and establishments for free to make this low budget music video.

Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake’s crazy eyes run through hip hop hits once again, featuring Whodini, Public Enemy, Fetty Wap, Ace Hood and more. The best part is when they go up to the audience and you try to imagine some of those folks trying to rap along.

Inspired by the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton the 50-year old rapper and producer proves that he still has it, while also giving way to new stars like Kendrick Lamar and Justus.

(PG-13 Language) “You berries and you honey for the bear that’s here to tear and eat” Earl is locked in a violent city in the creepy animated music video for Off the Top, from the album I Don’t Like S**t, I Don’t Go Outside.

(PG-13 Language) Rising hip hop star Chance the Rapper collaborated with social media mogul, professional air chef and living meme The BasedGod to create the six-track mixtape Free (Based Freestyles).

(PG-13 Language) “If you wanna do this, then you won’t get far acting like a little bitch.” “Nah, that’s my niche!” Lil Dicky lays out his mission and vision for his career as a rapper to Snoop Dogg.

(PG-13 Language) Drizzy dropped three new tracks in his Apple Music radio show. Charged Up (his response to Meek Mill’s allegations), Right Hand and a remix of DRAM’s Cha Cha. Stream the whole show on Pitchfork.

(PG-13 Language) Wu-Tang vet Ghostface Killah assumes his mob alter ego Tony Starks with the help of soul maestro Adrian Younge once again in the sequel to their head-spinning 2013 album.

The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor JIMEK recently turned in this medley of classic hip hop tunes. We can’t decide if it it was more fun to hear Sure Shot or Get Ur Freak On played this way. (Thanks Michael!)

(PG-13 Language) The Weeknd is that bad news that Yeezy told you to run away from. Here’s the music video for his single The Hills, which he originally called Mood Music. No one wants to mess with a dude who has palm trees on his head.

(PG-13 Language) “Today I didn’t even have to use my A.K. I got to say it was a good day.” YouTuber nekocekoBiH recreated the music video for Ice Cube’s It Was a Good Day in Grand Theft Auto V. Watch them side-by-side here.

(PG-13: Language) Jay Shells has paid homage to east coast and west coast rap, so now he heads to the South. The street artist went to Atlanta to continue his site-specific installation, citing locals such as Killer Mike, T.I. and Outkast. More here.

(PG-13: Language) Comedy rapper Lil Dicky narrates what actually goes down when he and his crew plan a boys’ night out. No Bugattis just Lyfts, no Hood By Air just plaid by Gap, and no dope ladies – or any ladies.

“Our art is a reflection of our reality.” The latest trailer for the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton sums up the gangsta rap pioneers’ troubled origins and rise to fame. Witness the strength of street knowledge on 8/14/15.