Musically, you might say Geoff “Double G” Gallegos fits somewhere between rapper Chuck D and jazzman Charles Mingus. As leader/conductor/composer of the daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra – a makeshift crew of 70-plus musicians that blends elements of classical, jazz and hip-hop – Gallegos, 39, has a little bit of both men in him.

“I would listen to (Chuck D’s) Public Enemy on the T on the way to class everyday, then go to school and learn about counterpoint or harmony or ear training while getting really into Charles Mingus and, afterward, Duke Ellington,” Gallegos said while recalling his days at Berklee College of Music. Gallegos, who now calls Los Angeles home, returns to Boston Sunday to lead a condensed chamber version of his orchestra at the Middle East in Cambridge. (more…)

From Snowgoons’ upcoming album “A Fist In The Thought,” which is dropping May 26. Track features Savage Brothers and Lord Lhus.

This is the final video in NWSO’s four-part video series for their CD/DVD combo “New World Side Order EP.”

For more on NWSO, check out their music videos for Dollaz Outta Dimez, The Beginning of the End, and Spiders, Roaches, Bed Bugs Etc.

Wow. This week’s track of the week is This Story, the first song from Eyedea & Abilities’ upcoming album “By The Throat,” which is scheduled to drop July 21. The album will be the duo’s first release in five years, and if this track is any indication, something we should all be looking forward to. Click below to listen:

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Or download the track for FREE here.

Brand new video for Cage’s I Never Knew You, from his upcoming album “Depart from Me” – set to drop in July.

Rating:
Review Date: May 19, 2009
Website: Mr. Lif Website
Label: Definitive Jux

Mr. Lif “I Heard It Today” Album Review
I’ve got to admit, I’ve been a little disappointed with hip-hop’s lack of awareness recently. While everybody came together in support of Obama, we all just seemed to drop off in the months following the election – as if there was no economic instability, housing crisis or social injustice being done in this country. Luckily, Mr. Lif stepped up with “I Heard It Today,” an album intended to create dialogue about various problems that plague our nation today. (more…)

This is a trailer for what appears to be a very interesting hip-hop documentary called “New Muslim Cool.” The documentary follows three years in the life of Puerto Rican American Muslim hip-hop artist Hamza Pérez, his family, and community – following his spiritual journey through America’s hip-hop scenes.

“New Muslim Cool” premiers on PBS Tuesday, June 23rd at 10 p.m.

Big ups to whoever sent me this. This track is from SwizZz & Hopsin, two members of a crew called Funk Volume, from their “Haywire Mixtape” – which is available for FREE download here.

I’ve been waiting for Ohene to drop something new for like two years now, since “Inner City Soul” became one of my favorite albums of ’07. However, due to contractual obligations and Ohene’s busy schedule touring with classical harpist Jeff Majors, I’ll still have to wait a little longer for a brand new album. Luckily, Ohene has just dropped “The O Files” FREE mixtape through RAHM Nation Recordings. Click below to download the album for FREE:

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Brand new video for Feel Alive, a track from the Metermaids dope album “NightLife.” This video is being released in conjunction with the group’s new Live EP, which you can download for FREE here.