Just in time, as the front door slowly closes on 2011, The Kid Daytona slides his new project right into our living rooms all slick-like.  Still buzzing off the impeccable first edition of The Interlude, ‘Tona heard the streets talking, got back in the studio and cooked up some more marvelous treats showcasing his signature smooth, deliberate NYC-bred bravado.  As usual, putting the trust in his homie / beatsmith 6th Sense (who handles most of the production duties), it’s just another walk in the park.  New York is is very good hands whenever The Kid steps in the booth.

DOWNLOAD | The Kid Daytona – The Interlude II

I’m very happy and proud of what this guy has accomplished this year.  It’s a testament to what fruits can be produced with a little motivation, hard work and determination.  I know that sounds a little after school special-ish but it’s the truth.  The homie Outasight (who signed on the dotted line with Sire / Warner Bros. back in October) got up with the good folks at LRG to shoot out a free album entitled Further.  That one word title has a plethora of connotations when it comes to Outasight’s journey to where he stands now. 

The album, with the bulk of the production handled by 6th Sense and Cook Classics, shows tremendous growth and potential.  It’s pretty much a clinic on how not to be classified as one type of artist.  This isn’t just hip-hop.  It’s damn near everything.  Highly recommended.

DOWNLOAD | Outasight – Further (presented by LRG) 

p.s. Here are some flicks taken from the official Further album release party courtesy of Elizabeth Allen (EMA Photography).  This took place on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at Gallery Bar in the Lower East Side section of NYC.  I’m in there somewhere.

Personally, I think he’s one of the hardest working men in the underground.  Or should I say Notherground?  6th Sense, the man behind the boards of some of my favorite new artists (Outasight and The Kid Daytona to name a strong couple) sometimes finds time out of his crazy schedule to spit over some of his own creations.  He goes the organic soul route on this one.  A nice string / guitar loop carries some heartfelt bars for this short and sweet joint.

DOWNLOAD | 6th Sense – “Yeah”

Just a tad late on posting this one as far as the Internet blogosphere time-space continuum goes.  But I’m doing it regardless.  From the soon-to-be release album From Here To Eternity, please peep my man Outasight‘s first official single from said project.  The homie 6th Sense gets full credit for the lush production.  I just want to say that I’m very glad to hear hip-hop in such a new and refreshing way.  People always say there’s nothing new when it comes to this craft.  And it’s songs like this that prove that theory wrong time and time again.  I hope you guys agree with me.

DOWNLOAD | Outasight – “Brand New Day”

In a crop of newcomers out of New York, only a select few really grab me by my collar and make me pay attention.  The Kid Daytona is one of those cats.  I went to a release party for this last week and was amazed that he was giving out an album of this caliber for free.  It’s a new day and age though, so I understand.  Sometimes you need a little young, fly and flashy bravado rap in your life.  That’s what alot of NYC hip-hop has been about over the years.  Why should it fade now? 

This album also marks an incredible progression in the production skills of my good homie 6th Sense.  He amazed me on this one.  Not to take away anything whatsoever from the rest of the producers.  Everyone contributor on this mixtape lit their own match and built this fire.  This is just a solid debut as a whole and I hope Daytona breaks some barriers in this here ever-evolving game.

01  Just Fly (prod. 6th Sense)
02  Air Jordan f/ Harlem’s Cash (prod. The Government)
03  The Groove f/ Mickey Factz  (prod. Deputy)
04  Honestly f/ Avriel Epps (prod. Cook Classics)
05  Twilight  (prod. Jet Audio)
06  Contact! f/ Kardinal Offishall (prod. 6th Sense)
07  Flava Season (prod. Double 0 of Kidz In the Hall)
08  The Minimum f/ Tiara Wiles (prod. 6th Sense)
09  In The Wind (prod. 6th Sense)
10  Lately f/ Amanda Diva  (prod. Ill Bomb)
11  Eye Know f/ Mike Maven (prod. 6th Sense)
12  Perfect f/ Outasight (prod. 6th Sense)
13  Right Now Till Then (prod. 6th Sense & Frequency)
14  Air Born f/ Bun B (prod. 6th Sense)

DOWNLOAD | The Kid Daytona – Come Fly With Me

I located this over at the Notherground headquarters.  I f*cks w/ Outasight heavily these days.  Especially since him and the homie 6th Sense have been grindin’ it out heavily on the late night tip (super duper PAUSE).  According to 6th (who produced “In My Sleep”), this song  is set to appear in an online ad campaign for Amp Energy Drink sometime in the near future.  Sounds like a winner to me.

p.s. If you’ve never heard Outasight’s From There To Here (An Album Prequel), correct that IMMEDIATELY.  Homie’s album is shaping up to be a monster.

DOWNLOAD | Outasight – “In My Sleep”

6th Sense is one of the most talented cats I have had the pleasure of meeting within the past year.  Simply put, it’s only a matter of time before 6th gets is “outta here.” Like into the stratosphere, professionally speaking.  If you frequent the blogosphere, you’ve probably seen his name everywhere.  That means he’s doing his job correctly.  Poppin’ up rhymin’ here, doing a video there. 

This project showcases his true passion – production.  A showcase of 32 incredible beats with incredible range (and an intro) packed nicely into a ZIP file for your listening pleasure.  I wish him nothing but success.  Peep this now so you can join in telling folks “I told you so…” when the time comes.

DOWNLOAD | 6th Sense – It’s a 6th Sense Beat Yo!!

So I found this over on Aeon’s blog the other night (as he’s the producer of this track).  I lost my mind on first listen because it’s probably one of the best songs off Che Grand‘s soon-to-be-released debut opus (Everything’s Good Ugly) I’ve heard to date.  However it was streaming and not available for download.  But, using my uncanny HTML code-breaking abilities, I snatched the MP3 anyway because I’m a nerd like that.  And I ALMOST posted it with reckless abandon because I was feeling it THAT much. Then I realized there was probably a good reason why it was streaming in the first place.

So I did the nice thing:  asked for permission.  After a few emails back and forth w/ Che, I was given the greeeeeeeen liiiiiiight (© John Legend).  Ladies and gents, a TREES FOR BREAKFAST EXCLUSIVE! The rough cut of “I Know You Still Want Me” complete with alot of ad libby shit talkin’ @ the end that might not be there when the album finally drops.  So consider this is a collector’s item.

p.s. Mega-daps to 6th Sense tickling the keys on this joint on some Teddy Riley ish.

DOWNLOAD | Che Grand – “I Know You Still Want Me”

NOTE: “I Know You Still Want Me” can be found on Che’s 2009 debut album Everything’s Good Ugly, which can be purchased via Bandcamp.

I’m really late with this so pardon.  When I was told about this mixtape, I thought it was a really fresh idea.  Hell, I’m a sneakerhead.  So I could probably relate to another person’s love of kicks expressed in a musical fashion. 

But somehow I had no idea that Nike actually invited Mick Boogie and 6th Sense out to their facilities recently to chill and spin at some events.  That little out-of-town trip was the spark for this here mixtape.  Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD | Mick Boogie & 6th Sense – Just Do It: A Mixtape Ode to Nike

This is something I have been waiting on ever since I got a taste of it on Mick Boogie & 6th Sense’s Go For It mixtape.  The chap above is Wildabeast of Notherground Music (6th’s mic cannibal homie).  He likes Portishead.  A lot.  So he decided to do a whole mixtape rhyming over Portishead stuff.  You take Wildabeast and Portishead, mash ‘em together and you get either Wildahead or Portibeast.  Either way, the outcome is monstrous.  illRoots is also on board for this trip.

Below, you can peep a quick video of Wil breaking down his inspiration for the project and his genuine love for Portishead.  And after that, the all-important download link (and an extra treat).

DOWNLOAD | Wildahead Portibeast (mixtape)
DOWNLOAD (bonus) | Mick Boogie & 6th Sense – Go For It (mixtape)

6th Sense (the bored looking guy in the bottom right) and Wildabeast (the scruffy guy in the middle chewing on some delicious hoodie strings) are collectively known as a duo by the name of Both Nice.  And the name is pretty on point.  6th sent me over this little number that makes me want fried yuca right now.  I don’t know what that means at the moment, but it’s got to be good.

These two are also releasing a special mixtape in the near future.  Rhyming all over Portishead beats.  Yes, it sounds just as ill as I just typed.  Can’t share that one yet.  Have fun w/ this in the meantime.

Both Nice f/ Jelani – “The Cuchifritos Groove”  LINK