I constantly talk to hip-hop artists who are looking to get signed, get a record deal, and make a lot of money. Unfortunately, the chances of that continue to appear slimmer and slimmer as the record industry evolves. These days, more and more artists are moving away from the old business models and putting out FREE albums. Below are some of my favorite FREE album downloads through June, 2010. Click on each to download the album for FREE:
“HELLO” is a brand new mixtape by NYC hip-hop group the Metermaids. Mixed by DJ Rob Swift, “HELLO” is a bunch of remixes of popular indie rock songs of 2009, including tracks by Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, The White Stripes and more. If you want to sample some of the tracks before downloading, check out Yellow Tape and Girls and Music. Click below to download the Metermaids’ “HELLO”:
Def Jux affiliate Cassettes Won’t Listen continues to impress me with his remix projects. Earlier this year, he created dope remixes for Bisco Smith’s Time Zones and Yak Ballz’ The Compass. Now CWL is back with his latest remix project “Animal Ox” – a mix of Indie rock back Animal Collective and underground hip-hop legends Cannibal Ox. Keep your eye out for his new solo joint dropping later this year. Click below to download Cassettes Won’t Listen’s “Animal Ox” for FREE:
First, I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the homie ScholarMan on the recent passing of his father. Scholar is one of the realest people I know, and I’m sure a lot of that can be attributed to his pops. In honor of him, Scholar dropped this FREE EP on Father’s Day – filled with tracks that are fatherhood inspired. The “Fatherhood Dreamlovers Mix” EP was created with samples borrowed from The Dreamlovers, a favorite doo wop group of ScholarMan’s pops. The EP features artists Anonamas and Silent War. Click below to download ScholarMan’s “Fatherhood Dreamlovers Mix” EP for FREE:
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:
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:
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:
And click the following link to download the tracks for FREE: Download
Visual is an underground hip-hop artist out of Chicago who makes that feel-good music. His albums “Figured It Out” and “Working Class Legend” are two nice examples. Now Visual is back with “Never Sold Crack” a FREE mixtape mixed by DJ ASIATIC that is definitely worth the download. Click below to listen to download Visual’s “Never Sold Crack” for FREE:
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:
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
