I came across this cat a couple years back when he dropped “Rise Up,” which became one of my favorite underground hip-hop albums of ‘07. Latin Revenge is a track off of Azeem’s latest project, “Air Cartoons.”

If you like this, check out Dollaz Outta Dimez video. Album coming soon.

This week’s track of the week is K’naan’s America, the first track to really jump out at me from his new album “Troubadour,” which I only paid $1.99 for yesterday because of an Amazon fuck up! America is just one of a handful of tracks that have already jumped out at me from the album, and features guest verses by Mos Def and Chali 2na. Click below to listen:

André Kostelanetz was an orchestral music guru known for arranging and recording light classical music pieces for mass audiences, as well as orchestral versions of songs and Broadway show tunes. Recently, ScholarMan took one record by the late-great Russian composer and created this FREE mixtape. “A Meeting With Andre Kostelanetz” features guest appearances by some of my favorite underground emcees, including K-Mynez, Kats, Domer and Random. Click below to download the album:

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New video for Blaq Poet’s Aint Nuthin Changed single from his upcoming release “The Blaqprint.” Features DJ Premier.

From Cecil’s Strange Famous Records debut “Rebel Yellow.”

New video from Blueprint’s new album “1988.”

This week’s track of the week is Primetime Lyrics by X-Clan. This is one of my favorite tracks from the group’s new album “Mainstream Outlaw,” which I’ve been bumping all weekend. Click below to listen:

The Roots are making sandwiches. The band is holed-up in a Manhattan studio, preparing for their new gig as the house band on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” the NBC show that will take Conan O’Brien’s place when O’Brien moves to “The Tonight Show.” They’re working long days to create 200 “sandwiches” or “beds” — the intro and outros that will buffer each segment on the show.

“Right now, my whole life is this show,” said drummer Ahmir Thompson, better known as ?uestlove, in a recent interview as he lazily adjusted his fro pick in his trademark Afro, slightly exhausted in between rehearsals. Since forming in Philadelphia in the early 1990s, the Roots have been one of the best regarded bands in hip-hop and music, altogether. They were one of the first hip-hop bands to take up instruments and under the steady pounding of Thompson they’ve been an acclaimed act for nearly two decades, with respectable (though not huge) album sales. (more…)

RNR is one of my favorite of the NYC underground. His album “Another Level” was one of the best albums of 2008. If you like this track, check out former HHL track of the week Life Purpose, and be sure to check out the new album that features these tracks, “Truth Serum.”