The West Come Up: Aug 8, 2012

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Skeme Ft. Jay 305 - Ain't Bout That Life (Music Video)

Directed By Daniel Czernilofsky

New music video off Skeme's upcoming album, Alive & Living, dropping October 16th.

Download MP3: Skeme Ft. Jay 305 - Ain’t Bout That Life

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Ft. BJ The Chicago Kid - Shame (Music Video)

Directed By Jonah Schwartz

Rewind: Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Ft. BJ The Chicago Kid - Shame

Isaiah Toothtaker Ft. ShowYouSuck - Talkin Bout (Music Video)

Music Produced By Sixtoo

Sea Punk Funk is available now!

Rewind: Isaiah Toothtaker & Sixtoo - Sea Punk Funk (Mixtape)

Billboard: Ab-Soul's Timeline: The Rapper's Life From 5 Years Old To Now

Written by Erika Ramirez for Billboard.com

"Man… At 25, I lost my world and I got the world at the same time," Ab-Soul said, hours before stepping on stage at his first headlining New York show.

"'The Book of Soul,'" I say, under my breath. "Yeah," he says, followed by a deep sigh.

You can't listen to "The Book of Soul," featured on Ab-Soul's second digital independent album, "Control System," and not meet the affliction the West Coast rapper carries. In one of his most personal songs, Ab-Soul, born Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, gives you two verses of heartbreak and resilience, touching on the loss of his best friend and love, Alori Joh.

Ironically, in the same year he lost a part of his heart, Ab-Soul found success. Top Dawg Entertainment -- the independent label which serves as a home to the Black Hippy rap collective consisting of Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock -- signed a joint venture deal with Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment.

Read the whole story over at Billboard.com.

HorseShoe Gang - Sunglasses & Advil

New music off the HorseShoe Gang's upcoming EP, True Story. The EP drops September 11th.

Download: SoundCloud

Support: iTunes ($1.99)

Rewind: HorseShoe Gang - We Here

DaVinci - In My City

Produced by Al Jieh. Dope new track from DaVinci. This one is off his upcoming project, The MOEna Lisa, dropping in October. Click through for the official tracklist.

Download: SoundCloud

Rewind: DaVinci - Long Way From Home

Download: BandCamp

Rewind: Kida - The Re-Up

Jimmie Reign - She Loves

First single off Jimmie Reign's upcoming project, The Other Side Of Love, dropping in September.

Download: Hulkshare | Sharebeast

J. Pinder - No Fault Of Mine (Music Video)

Directed By Trevor Traynor
Music Produced By Kuddie Fresh

With a synthesized chorus ushering in what may be J. Pinder's most personal song off his emotion filled LP Careless, "No Fault Of Mine" is as heavy in content as it is soulful. Supported by sparse instrumentation and simple delicate melodic guitar lines Pinder tears the track to shreds with sharp delivery and thoughtful lyrics across one short verse and follows with a heartfelt refrain. Pinder again skillfully and, seemingly effortlessly, demonstrates the depth of his talent and heart with this unique cut off his full length debut Careless. Music can truly move the soul. J Pinder is proof.

Download: J. Pinder - No Fault Of Mine