DJ Pick

John Robinson - I Am Not For Sale

For some inexplicable reason, this album received mediocre reviews from many people who are generally fans of John Robinson and his work as Lil Sci (Scienz of Life). Well, they're wrong. While this might not be a milestone in hip hop or a revolutionary album, it is still a fantastic work showcasing JR's deep abiding love for hip hop in all its forms. If you wanna get down with the sounds of someone who truly believes in the importance of pure hip hop, give it a listen.

Throwback Pick

Method Man - Tical

Back to 1994, Method Man's first solo debut (and the first solo project from any Wu-Tang member), Tical is a fitting look at the dark, murky roots of hip hop. Exclusively produced by The RZA, and featuring guest spots from The RZA himself, Raekwon and Inspectah Deck, among many other Wu-Tang affiliates, the album should be considered and loved in it's proper context.

Pick of the Week (10/28/10)

Jaylib - Champion Sound

Not gonna say much about this album because it doesn't need me too. Produced by both Madlib and J Dilla and released in 2003 on Stones Throw Records, Jaylib is a fantastic collaborative album, especially since we get to hear both the production and vocal talents of both artists throughout. If you don't already have this album, go and get it, because your record collection is missing something without it.

California Pt. 1! (10/28/10)

West Coast, it's your turn! This will be the first of four shows sampling some of the best hip hop the great state of California has to offer, and hopefully will be a great time.

Check out Radio 1190 for more awesome independent music, concerts, up and coming album releases and such!

DOWNLOAD THIS WEEKS SHOW: Download Show

Playlist:

Strong Arm Steady - One Step ft. Talib Kweli

Murs & 9th Wonder - L.A.

The Grouch - The Bay to LA ft. Murs

Zion I - Doin' My Thang

People Under The Stairs - Ste. For Peter Pt. 2 "The Grind"

Styles of Beyond - Mr. Brown

Crown City Rockers - B-Boy

Rakaa - Aces High ft. Fashawn, Evidence & Defari

John Robinson - The Makings of U

L.A. Symphony - King Kong

Myka 9 - Soul Beat

Chali 2na - Lock Shit Down ft. Talib Kweli

Madlib - The Way That I Live

*The bold songs/artists will always be from the weekly region/city/state that we're checkin out.

Throwback Pick

Digable Planets - Reachin' (a new refutation of time and space)

The first of two studio albums from Digable Planets, Reachin' is so much fun to listen to it's almost unbearable. Funk, soul, jazz and hip hop all melded into one beautiful album, it almost makes you want to go back to the 90's. Almost. The group only released two albums, this one in 1993 and Blowout Comb in 1994, but they have since gone on to a reunion tour in 2005, and were planning on another one in 2009 but had to cancel due to Ladybug Mecca's other contractual obligations. Nevertheless, check them out if you miss good hip hop.

DJ Pick

Hieroglyphics - Full Circle

Not to stress the point, but how can you not be down with Del? Certainly making Oakland proud, The Hieroglyphics have been rockin' it since the early 90's, and continue to do so. This was their second studio album released back in 2003, and continues to stand as a testament to the groups status as a fantastic hip hop consortium. Enjoy.

Pick of the Week (10/22/10)

Freeway & Jake One - The Stimulus Package

The fourth studio album from Philadelphia rapper Freeway, and the second from producer Jake One (following White Van Music), The Stimulus Package is everything fans of the Rhymesayers record label have come to expect. Great production, old and new school tracks, and amazing guest spots from Beanie Sigel, Raekwon, and Bun B. Simply put, a great example of solid hip hop that has embraced but not been overrun by the current state of affairs in the industry.

New York Finale! (10/21/10)

Alright, so we have finally come to the fourth week of the New York focus. Have no fear hip hop lovers, there will be more from this wonderful region, but it's time to move on to something a little different for the next 4 weeks: California!!!

Enjoy this show, and hit me up if you can think of other places/regions/cities/countries that we should visit.

DOWNLOAD THIS WEEKS SHOW: Download Show

Playlist:

Talib Kweli - Get By (Remix) ft. Mos Def, Jay-Z, Kanye West & Busta Rhymes

Symoblyc One & Illmind - Been Gone ft. Strange Fruit Project, Proh Mic & S'ence

Big Daddy Kane - Raw '91

AZ - Magic Hour ft. CL Smooth

Living Legends - It's Us

Beanie Sigel - Nothing Like It

Buff1 - For U

Pharoahe Monch - Push

Strong Arm Steady - Best of Times ft. Phonte

DJ Krush - Meiso ft. Black Thought & Malik B

Camp Lo - Glow

Digable Planets - Where I'm From

Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar

*The bold songs/artists will always be from the weekly region/city/state that we're checkin out.

DJ Pick

Hi-Tek - Hi-Teknology

Cincinnati native Hi-Tek is well known as a rapper, producer and long-time collaborator of Talib Kweli's, mostly on their Reflection Eternal albums and on Talib Kweli and Mos Def's Black Star recordings. This was his first solo album, released in 2001, and is full of great material that points that way to bigger and better things. The album features guest spots from the likes of Common, Talib Kweli, Main Flow, Cormega, Mos Def, Buckshot and Slum Village.

Throwback Pick

Goodie Mob - Soul Food

One of Atlanta's finest old school hip hop godfather groups, Goodie Mob (The GOOD DIE Mostly Over Bullshit) is a testament to funk and soul influenced southern hip hop. This is their debut album, which was certified gold, and pretty much put Atlanta on the map along with Outkast's Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. Check it out.

Just Because It's Dope

Symbolyc One & Illmind - The Art of OneMind

Man, this album is so good!!! You might know Symbolyc One as the producer and one of the MC's of The Strange Fruit Project, and frankly this album definitely takes its lead from them as far as style goes. Paired up with Illmind, and featuring guests including Ghostface Killah, Little Brother, Kenn Starr, Strange Fruit Project, Median, Supastition, The Procussions and El Da Sensei you can't really go wrong. So much funky hip hop soul goodness!

DJ Pick

Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) - Train of Thought

This album pretty much describes itself. Talib Kweli and Cincinnati native Hi-Tek brought some real material to bear for their first duo debut back in 2000. Since then, they have mostly done solo stuff, but they just released a new album under their Reflection Eternal moniker Revolutions Per Minute. In the same vein as Talib Kweli & Mos Def's Black Star collaborations, this is the real deal. Enjoy!

Throwback Pick

Zion I - Mind Over Matter

Man, what even to say about these guys...Well, the group is composed of DJ AmpLive and MC Zumbi and hail from Oakland, California. While their music definitely has some Bay Area sway, AmpLive's production tends to transcend a lot of attempts at conventional categorization. This is their first studio album, released in 2000, and paved the way for their following 5 albums, with a new one (Atomic Clock) set to drop in November of this year!

Pick of the Week (10/15/10)

Strong Arm Steady - In Search of Stoney Jackson

The second studio album from SAS (as they have been mostly focused on mixtapes) is simply very very good. The group now consists of Phil Da Agony, Mitchy Slick, and Krondon, as Xzbit left the group in 2006. Produced exclusively by Madlib, and featuring such vocal talent as Talib Kweli (who signed SAS to his Blacksmith Records in 2007), Phonte (of Little Brother), Fashawn, Guilty Simpson, and Planet Asia, the album is a great collaborative effort. Dig it.

New York Pt. 3! (10/14/10)

So, we pretty much ROCKED Pledge Drive and are still on the air and going strong! Thanks to everybody who pledged and kept us going, and make sure to wear your t-shirts and hoodies when you get them and rep Radio 1190 for the world to see!

Getting back to regular programming, we are going to embark on the last 2 episodes of New York hip hop. I picked out some of my favorite stuff for this week, so tune in, download it or stream it.

(Big ups to Brent for phoning in a request for the DSL track, which was some awesome french electro hip hop.)

DOWNLOAD THIS WEEKS SHOW: Download Show

Playlist:

Sean Price - Onion Head

A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour

N.A.S.A. - NASA Music ft. Method Man & E-40

Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek - The Blast

The Roots - The Next Movement

Pete Rock - Rock Steady Pt. II ft. Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz

One Be Lo - House Rules

Felt - Woman Tonight

Group Home - Livin' Proof

Freeway - Microphone Killa ft. Young Chris

DSL - Find Me In The World

Guru - When You're Near

*The bold songs/artists will always be from the weekly region/city/state that we're checkin out.

Throwback Pick

Pete Rock - Lost & Found: Hip Hop Underground Soul Classics

A two album set (Center of Attention & The Original Baby Pa), this compilation was originally recorded and produced almost exclusively by Pete Rock in 1995. Released in 2003, both albums finally saw the light of day, despite the fact that Pete Rock publicly stated that it was released by BBE Records without his permission. Leaving all the industry BS aside, these albums are what real soul hip hop is and should continue to aspire too. One time for your mind.

DJ Pick

Edgar Allen Floe - Floe Almighty

Native of North Carolina and member of Justus League and The Undefined, Edgar Allen Floe definitely has the goods. Released in 2006 as his sophomore album, after True Links, Floe Almighty is a great showcasing platform for his versatility and intellect. Check it.

Pick of the Week (10/9/10)

Jurassic 5 - Quality Control

Formed in 1993 by emcee's Akil, Zaakir, Chali 2na, Mark 7even and DJ's Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist, Jurassic 5 is one of my favorite all-time underground hip hop groups. This album was released in 2000 (and the second album I ever bought) before Cut Chemist left the group to do his solo thing. Real vibe for your ride.

Throwback Pick

Big L - The Big Picture (1974-1999)

Just sit back and chill, and listen to what a real up-and-coming working hip hop artist used to sound like (Young Money, eat your heart out). The album was only half finished when Big L was killed, and was finished by producers and collaborators that he had worked with before as a kind of tribute album. The album went on to be certified gold, and Big L is referenced and remembered in many other classic tracks (see the Gang Starr track Full Clip for a good idea).

Pledge Drive Pt. 2 (10/7/10)

Week 2 of Pledge Drive is underway, and our second to last day is upon us! If you want to support independent music, pledge at Radio 1190 right now!

If you don't want to pledge online, you can call 303-735-ROCK and pledge that way! Talk to our volunteers for 2 minutes, get t-shirts, rocket cards, concert tickets, and lots of other schwag! Get with it people, keep Radio 1190 alive!!!

DOWNLOAD THIS WEEKS SHOW: Download Show

Playlist:

Gang Starr - Full Clip

Ladybug Mecca - Dogg Star

Wade Waters - The Quickening

Rakim - When I Be On The Mic

Jaylib - The Red

Big L - Fall Back ft. Kool G Rap

RJD2 - Ghostwriter

De La Soul - Thru Ya City

Gift of Gab - Dreamin' ft. Del The Funky Homosapien & Brother Ali

Evidence - For Whom The Bells Toll ft. Elzhi & Aloe Blacc

Felt - Marvin Gaye

*The bold songs/artists will always be from the weekly region/city/state that we're checkin out.

Pick of the Week (10/5/10)

Evidence - The Layover

A member of Dilated Peoples (Rakaa Iriscience, DJ Babu, Evidence), Evidence is a native of California and an influential producer and MC. This is his second solo album, released in 2008, and features production by North Carolina native Khrysis, DJ Babu, The Alchemist, and Evidence himself. The album features Phonte (of Little Brother), Blu, Defari, Krondon (of Strong Arm Steady), Fashawn, Aloe Blacc, and Elzhi (of Slum Village).

DJ Pick

J Dilla - Jay Love Japan

A little bit of misleading information surrounds this album, whether it was supposed to be a solely instrumental EP, an instrumental EP with a few vocal guest stars, or a straight up album. Despite all this, it remains a great album and one of the last works Dilla finished before he died.