One of the most revered and most heavily-sampled jazz tunes in hip-hop has been Bob James’ “Nautilus.”  Although it’s been used for a plethora of classic joints, the quickest reference point for most folks is the loop for Ghostface’s “Daytona 500.”  Know what I’m talkin’ about now?  Cool.  In steps The Kid Daytona. 

The Bronx native has an album dropping soon called Come Fly With Me.  Consider this a warm-up lap for the real deal.  Daytona commissioned the producers of his album to all re-work “Nautilus” in their own special ways so he could showcase his spit game properly on this free EP (with the supreme co-sign from the one and only Mick Boogie).  You’re gonna need your volume cranked for this one.

DOWNLOAD | The Kid Daytona – The Daytona 500

Twitter is the shit(ter).  It’s seriously dope.  And if it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have seen the Mick Boogie tweet about the mixtape I’m about to lace you with.  I probably would have came across it eventually but then I woulda been stupid late.  I first heard the Columbus, Ohio-based Fly.Union spit via their cameo on the Mick Boogie / Talib Kweli MCEO Mixtape.  I liked their style and energy.  It’s kinda hard to describe it.  But I like it.  They are making their own lane and not everyone has to balls to do that.  I guess Mick agrees.  Hence, this mixtape.

The joints are dope.  But the best part of this whole mix is the ongoing story of them trying to get signed.  Nestled in between all the songs and freestyles are accounts narrated by member Eyeon of them trying to meet Kanye West, Pharrell, Jermaine Dupri and eventually getting a ring from JD’s TAG Records.  I won’t spoil it.  I’m just gonna highly recommend that you download it.

p.s. Oh yeah, follow me on Twitter if you so desire.

DOWNLOAD | Mick Boogie presents Fly.Union – Closed Doors, Open Windows
re-upped May 5, 2011

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)