One of the big things I love about the current evolution of the hip-hop industry and business model is the new way tracks are released to the public. In preparation for their albums, both mainstream and underground hip-hop artists leak multiple songs to the blogs and websites. It is a great way to preview an album and to get free music. The tracks below are some of my favorite songs and quotables through June, 2010. Most are available for FREE download, and many have the lyrics posted:

1. Reflection Eternal City Playgrounds
2. The Roots Dear God 2.0
3. B. Dolan Earthmovers
4. Sage Francis Best of Times
5. Bohemian Rap CD Mama Mia
6. Dark Time Sunshine Primor
7. Everliven Sound Crack and The Electric Chair
8. ScholarMan Hood Stories Vol. 4
9. Kats Rich Dad Poor Dad
10. Random & DN3 The Won Too
11. Oddisee NYC Remix
12. Luckyiam TV In The Afternoon
13. Core Rhythm King
14. Debaser Don’t Sleep
15. Little Brother Curtain Call

This is the second leak from the Metermaids’ upcoming mixtape “HELLO,” which is hosted and mixed by DJ Rob Swift. The mixtape is being released at the end of this month in preparation for the duo’s new collaboration with producer 9th Wonder “Rooftop Shake.” Yellow Tape is a remix of indie rock band Grizzly Bear’s Two Weeks. If you like this, check out the mixtape’s first leak Girls and Music. Click below to listen to the Metermaids’ Yellow Tape:

[See post to listen to audio]

And right-click-save-as the following link to download the track for FREE: Download

This is the third leak from Mega Ran & K-Murdock’s “Forever Favicom” project, which samples all Nintendo beats. Hero Musik samples music from “Zelda II: The Adventure of Link,” and features a guest verse from Ilyas of Tanya Morgan. Hero Musik is available only on the bonus pack – a signed copy that includes instrumentals, beats and three unreleased songs. If you like this, check out Dream Master and Epoch. Click below to listen to Mega Ran & K-Murdock’s Hero Musik:

[See post to listen to audio]

And click the following link to download the track for FREE: Download

Rabbi Darkside is a local NYC hip-hop artist who has really impressed me this year with his “Darkside of 2009” mixtape and new collaboration album with Hired Gun and Zajazza called “Skillz To Take Brazil” – which I finally got around to checking out this weekend. Thank Hip Hop is a new track he put together in response to recent attacks on hip-hop based educational programs. The track below is the original, produced by Lotus, but the download includes a couple versions of the track – included one dope remix featuring a bunch of local cats, such as Mista Mayday, Hired Gun, Angel D, Appl Juic, Farbeon, Rabbi D, Doron Lev, Dyalekt & Caits Meissner. Click below to listen to Rabbi D’s Thank Hip Hop:

[See post to listen to audio]

And click the following link to download the tracks for FREE: Download

This is the 3rd leak from Everliven Sound’s upcoming album “Freedom II” – which I been bumping for most of the week. The album is scheduled to drop June 22. Elements features a nice verse from El Da Sensei. If you like this, check out Crack and The Electric Chair. Click below to listen to Everliven Sound’s Elements:

[See post to listen to audio]

And click the following link to download the track for FREE: Download

This is a dope remix of Yak Ballz’ latest track The Compass, created by Def Jux artist Cassettes Won’t Listen. Click below to listen to Yak Ballz’ The Compass (Cassettes Won’t Listen Remix):

And click the following link to download the track for FREE: Download

It’s always nice to hear new music from the Metermaids. The NYC duo is preparing the release of their new album with 9th Wonder, “Rooftop Shake,” but apparently still managed to put together a brand new mixtape titled “HELLO” in the meantime. Girls and Music is the first leak from “HELLO,” and is a remake of “My Girls” by Animal Collective. “HELLO,” which is hosted and mixed by DJ Rob Swift, drops June 22nd. Click below to listen to the Metermaids’ Girls and Music:

[See post to listen to audio]

And right-click-save-as the following link to download the track for FREE: Download

This was a nice little freebie set that hit my email this weekend. To promote Vinny Paz’ upcoming album “Season of the Assassin” – scheduled to drop on June 22 – two tracks are being offered for FREE download, Drag You To Hell and Street Wars. Both tracks are from the new album, which will be Vinny’s first ever solo project. Street Wars features Clipse and Block McCloud. Click below to listen to Vinny Paz’ Drag You To Hell and Street Wars:

Drag You To Hell:
[See post to listen to audio]

Street Wars:
[See post to listen to audio]

And click the following link to download both tracks for FREE: Download

Rhymefest’s much-anticipated “El Che” drops tomorrow! In celebration, here is a FREE download of Breakdown – a bonus track that is only being offered on the iTunes version of the album. I was amped to see this available for FREE, as I’m an iTunes hater and will be purchasing the album elsewhere, so it’s nice for those of us who want to get our hands on the track without going through iTunes. Click below to listen to Rhymefest’s Breakdown:

[See post to listen to audio]

And click the following link to download the track for FREE: Download

I was lucky enough to be given an advanced copy of Everliven Sound’s upcoming album “Freedom II” last week, and ended up bumping it for most of the holiday weekend. Ironically, Crack and The Electric Chair was one of the first tracks to jump out at me, so I was amped to check my email this week and find the track available for FREE download. Crack and The Electric Chair features Hakim Green. If you like this, check out Everliven Sound’s pre-album mixtape “reedom of Speech: The Last Word Benders,” and keep an eye open for “Freedom II” at the end of this month. Click below to listen to Everliven Sound’s Crack and The Electric Chair:

[See post to listen to audio]

And click the following link to download the track for FREE: Download