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:

1. Free Ice Cream “Bohemian Rap CD“
2. ScholarMan “Indomitable Will“
3. The Roots “Sandwiches“
4. Mystik Journeymen “Return 2 The Love“
5. Reflection Eternal “The RE:Union“
6. Oddisee “Odd Spring“
7. Toki Wright “Blackmale“
8. Rhymefest “Dangerous 5-18 Mixtape“
9. Domer “The Flaming Clipse“
10. Rabbi Darkside “The Darkside of 2009“
11. Mike Schmidt “Mike Murder“
12. Cymarshall Law “The Creator’s Craft“
13. Grieves & Budo “A Tribute to Felt3“
14. Everliven Sound “Freedom of Speech: The Last Word Benders“
15. ScholarMan “Fatherhood Dreamlovers Mix“

More underground hip-hop artists are planning, writing, producing and directing their own videos these days. Even more can now afford to have professional videos made for them. This list gives many examples of both. Click below to view some of my favorite hip-hop videos through June, 2010:

1. Greenhouse Cold Out Here
2. Bisco Smith Vibrations
3. Ruslan Domesticated
4. Element Self Explanatory
5. Richie Cunning Richie Cunning’s Day Off
6. Junk Science Really, Man
7. Sage Francis Best Of Times
8. Vinnie Paz Keep Movin On
9. Kosha Dillz Cellular Phone
10. The Grouch Whatever I Say
11. Type Man Crush (No Homo)
12. Kalae All Day O.G. Lyrikal Bookbagger
13. Cognito Outcast
14. Rel!g!on Lucid
15. ScholarMan Hopes & Dreams
16. Dessa Dixon’s Girl
17. Bohemian Rap CD Little High/Little Low
18. Hasan Salaam Angel Dust
19. Core Rhythm King
20. Metermaids Matchbooks

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 dope track/video I’ve come across from these cats. The Mass Effect is a track from Spectac & Amiri’s “Almost Famous.”

“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”:

Download

I came across Thaione Davis a couple months back when somebody sent me his video for Everybody Got A Say So. Quality Control is the second leak from his upcoming album “GOODENOUGH.”

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:

Download

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:

Download

Brand new video for I Know, a track from Breez’ album “Breez Deez Treez.” If you like this, check out his video for When You Fall.

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