A few days ago I expressed my displeasure with the Clipse’s Til the Casket Drops album cover. Later that day my man Vex hit me with an idea to rework album covers that I think could have been done better (or differently). So with that… I’d like to announce the beginning of a new series. Shake’s (2)Dope Alternative Artwork. I’m not gonna put a certain day restriction on it or anything. I’ll just do them as I see fit. Something looks shitty, I’ll make it better. Or maybe I just had a different vision for it. Who knows… the point of it all is to make your iPod/Zune’s happy (and plug ArtByShake.com of course) haha. So click the image above for the full version and let me know what you think.

*ArtByShake is currently in a soft-launch. As it’s up and fully functional but I still have about 6 years worth of work to add to the portfolio. Feel free to spread the word. Thanks!

After a few delays and setbacks, DJ Green Lantern and Emilio Rojas are finally dropping The Natural tomorrow! Until then, enjoy the artwork (done by yours truly) and tracklist (after the jump).


Click to enlarge.

Haha.. classic cover. Hit the jump for the tracklist for the Extended Internet Edition, which drops December 1st.

1. Things Can Only Get Better
2. Nigga Machine
3. Empire Strikes Back
4. Never Forget Me
5. Stay High
6. In My Hood
7. Young’n On His Grind
8. I’m That Nigga
9. Big Biz 3
10. The Game
11. Thug Psalms
12. Rock Boys
13. I’m The Man
14. Murdergame
15. Fresh
16. 4 Da Streets
17. About To Be A Murder
18. The Wrong One
19. Pearly Gates
20. We Does This
21. It’s a Robbery
22. Bring Me Down
23. Imperial
24. Fuck Rap
25. How I Feel
26. Iodine Poison
27. Midwest Malcolm
28. G.I. Pride
29. Come Around My Way
30. Just Tryin’ Ta Make It
31. Neverending Cycle
32. Product Of The Hood
33. Freddie’s Dead
34. Block Muzik
35. Run Up To Me
36. Womb 2 The Tomb
37. F.R.E.D.D.I.E.
38. Murda On My Mind
39. Games U Playin’
40. On The Creep
41. In The Projects
42. For My Niggas
43. Fuck What Ya Heard
44. Hoes Betta Recognize
45. Fear No Evil
46. Nigga I’m Back
47. Boxframe Cadillac
48. What It Be Like
49. Goodies
50. The True
51. Let It Go
52. Midwest Muzik
53. Still Standing
54. Scary Gary
55. Bussashot
56. Gangsta
57. Hard Times
58. Life In The Fastlane
59. Flamboyant
60. Fuck Rap pt. 2
61. County Bounce
62. Another Day (In My Hood)
63. G.I. Swangin’
64. From Tha G
65. Straight Ballin’
66. Hold Me Back
67. Close Your Eyes
68. Smoke Away The Pain
69. Steel City Stick Up Kid
70. Can’t Stop Me
71. Clean Than A Muthafucka
72. Summa Dis
73. Breakin’ Necks
74. Talkin’ Bout You
75. Deez Hoes
76. Playa
77. Sumthin’ U Should Know
78. Stray
79. Dick In The Morning
80. Bussdown
81. How We Do (’93 Til…)

PREVIOUS: Freddie Gibbs – The Wrong One (prod. Buckwild)

On December 5th the Doomtree collective will be releasing the 15th installment of their False Hopes series; during their annual Blowout show at First Avenue in Minneapolis (then on the 6th for the rest of the world). What’s a False Hopes you ask? Well… imagine a run of short-order discs specially tailored for the Doomtree fan who is tired of waiting for the next official record. There, you’ve imagined a False Hopes. That wasn’t too hard was it? The project is eight tracks long with features from all five Doomtree emcees ( P.O.S, Sims, Dessa, Cecil Otter, Mike Mictlan) and production from Cecil Otter, Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, P.O.S, and guest Rich Roc (Mike’s older brother). Hit the jump for the cover art…

On November 17th you can pre-order the album from Dooomtree.net. And for the digitally inclined (which most of you are), FH XV is the first offering that Doomtree will make available electronically directly from their site. Starting on December 6th, you’ll be able to cop it from doomtree.bandcamp.com.

It’s a big winter for Doomtree Records, let’s do a quick recap: The Blowout is looming on the horizon: December 5th, First Ave, 18+. FH XV is in the bag. Paper Tiger’s 7-inch, called Cloquet, is ready to go and will be available at the Blowout. Dessa’s Record, called A Badly Broken Code, is slated for a January release–details to follow.

Shouts to my secret hip hop crush, Dessa. Shh… don’t tell the misses haha.

On December 8th the Living Legends member is releasing a new project that sounds like it’s going to be quite refreshing…

In today’s maniacally fast paced and highly interconnected digital world filled with 140 character updates, constant availability, and staggering voyeurism it is easy to become overwhelmed. However, this winter, The Grouch is taking his eyes off the rat race and urges his listeners to join him as he unplugs and reconnects himself to the physical and spiritual worlds. The Grouch offers, “What I’m trying to say with the title is that, I’m well aware of what’s going on in the world around me, and I too utilize all the tools available, but I will no longer participate at the level of foolishness that has become the norm. I think it’s time people get in tune with how powerful we really are.”

The quote above mirrors some of my exact thoughts as of late. Hit the jump for the tracklist…

01 Intro
02 Daddy’s Home ft. Rankin Scroo
03 Whatever I Say
04 I Love This Game
05 The Dangers of Online Dating
06 Make ‘Em Think ft. Marty James
07 Allieverwantedwas
08 Weight of The World
09 I’m Dreamin

PREVIOUS: BK-One – Here I Am f. Phonte, Brother Ali & The Grouch

Shouts to Illy for getting his mouse clicks on the cover for the Clipse’s upcoming album Til the Casket Drops (December 8th). Although I’m not really feeling it. Seems like a case of when an artist’s fame (in this case KAWS) outweighs the actual work. And the tracklist was already out there but fuck it. Incase you missed it, I’ve included it after the jump…

1. Speak of Freedom (prod. Sean C & LV)
2. Popular Demand (Popeyes) f. Cam’ron (prod. The Neptunes)
3. Kinda Like a Big Deal f. Kanye West (prod. DJ Khalil)
4. Showin’ Out f. Yo Gotti (prod. The Neptunes)
5. I’m Good feat. Pharrell (prod. The Neptunes)
6. There Was A Murder (prod. DJ Khalil)
7. Door Man (prod. The Neptunes)
8. Never Will It Stop f. Ab-Liva (prod. Sean C & LV)
9. Eyes On Me f. Keri Hilson (prod. The Neptunes)
10. Counseling (prod. The Neptunes)
11. Champion (prod. The Neptunes)
12. Footsteps (prod. DJ Khalil)
13. Life Change (prod. The Neptunes)
14. I’m Good (rmx) f. Rick Ross (prod. The Neptunes)

This Thursday, 810 will be dropping his latest project Glass Half Full, via dopeRoots & DJBooth.net. Hit the jump for the cover and tracklist…

Artwork is by Varan. Photograpy by Aliyah

This Monday 11/9/09 Mr. Peter Parker is presenting a tribute to one of the greatest emcees of all time. “Happy Birthday Big Pun” The Re-Mix tape showcases Pun classics remixed with all original production from up and coming producers like DJ Pain 1, JJ Brown, Rhaki Beats, and more. This is a must have mixtape for any Big Pun fan showcasing an artist who’s legacy in Hiphop music will never be forgotten..How Hard do You Hustle?

I’ll be completely honest when I say I’m definitely not a fan of these types of projects. I always feel the classic material from our fallen legends should be left how it was. There’s a reason they are called classic records, etc. With that said, I’m hoping for the best and will be listening this Monday.

Yesterday I posted some snippets, now here goes the artwork (above) and tracklist (after the jump). Spotted at HHNM.

1. Intro f. Dolo
2. Return Of The Dozen
3. Fugh University
4. Ugly Bitch f. Swizz Beatz
5. Da Name f. King Gordy
6. Pushin Peeps f. King Gordy & Rod Dae
7. Big Bombs
8. Skit
9. Flint Eastwood f. Rare, Fame & Black Milk
10. Return Of The Dozen 2 f. Trick-Trick
11. Big Proof
12. Tasty Juice f. Three 6 Mafia & Black Milk
13. Kun f. Trick-Trick
14. Prision f. King Gordy, Marv Won & Rare
15. Wake Up
16. Get U Fucked Up
17. Call The Cops
18. Skit
19. 3 Of Us f. Quest McCody & Lloyd Banks
20. Eminem
21. Its The Dirty f. Vanessa Marquez
22. Rondell, Outro
23. Forever (. Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem

Odds that Em is only featured on (the oddly placed) Forever?

On November 1st, Neako will be dropping his new project, Jabari & The NMC Present: Neako – The Rubix Cube: Blue Edition. Hit the jump for the (2)dope artwork (by Dae) and tracklist…

BONUS: Diggy Simmons* – The First Flight Prequel (prod. Neako)

*yes… Run’s House.