Grieves - 88 Keys & Counting [2008]

#1 IN UDERGROUND9's TOP TEN 2008 ALBUMS

Released: November 12th, 2008
Uploaded: January 14, 2009

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Catapults
3. Kings
   [You can listen to this song here]
   
4. October In The Graveyard
   [You can listen to this song here]
   
5. Dead In The Water
   
6. Life In The Hive
7. Gwenevieve
8. Identity Cards feat. Luckyiam
   [You can listen to this song here]
   
9. Nature Vs. Nurture
10. Lock Down
    [You can listen to this song here]
11. Learning How To Fall
    
12. The March
13. Greedy Bitch
    [You can listen to this song here]
    
14. Cloud Man
15. Eciting The Hive

[All tracks produced by Budo]

File Size: 64 MB

DOWNLOAD: Sharebee

INFO: MySpace
INCLUDED:

• Partial Album Artwork
• All Tracks Are VBR [Grouprip]
  

Artist Info:
Since the release of his first full length album, Irreversible, Grieves has been called a breath of fresh air, a breakaway phenomenon, and a lyrical mastermind. Touring constantly, Grieves stunned crowds all over the country with his distinctive voice, lyrical precision, and unparalleled style. Following Grieves' encouraging reception and a stint on the CMJ Top 20 Hip Hop charts, fans speculated on what would be next for the emergent artist.
88 Keys and Counting is the response. A joint venture with friend and renowned Seattle based producer, Budo, 88 Keys is a matured record with themes that will challenge fans old and new alike. Armed with a distinct and fluid sound that will delight your ears and rouse your cerebrum, Grieves' second effort is not to be overlooked.

Underground9 Overview:
This album incredibly reminds me of Blu & Exile's '07 album "Below The Heavens", two unknown artists teamed up to craft an amazing mixture of rich beats, unique rapping style and honest lyrics.
Take out the instrumentals and you're left with 11 songs, 2 of which have no rapping in it, that's right, Grieves sings and he's damn good at it too. "October In The Graveyard" is one of the two, took me a while to appreciate it but the beautiful beat and deep harmonizing made it into one of my favorites.
This is a very unique release, Grieves is nothing like what we're used to hear, starting from his weird persona and geeky looks to what you would consider immature acting, but he doesn't try to be what he's not, his lyrics express that, and he does well in approaching this subject in the laid back "Identity Cards".
No need to look for highlights in this album, there's no fillers nor bad songs, my favorite is the dark lullaby "Kings", amazing beat wrapped in the abstract lyrics. I just love the mature metaphors, the meaningful subjects, the visuals he describes, this album is definitely my favorite of 2008, it has everything I could ever ask for.
The piano has 88 keys and each key differs in sound, Grieves and Budo managed to expand into more than just that, it's uniqueness is what makes "88 Keys & Counting" a classic.


Flow & Lyrics:

Beats:

Download and enjoy.

Sadistik - The Balancing Act [2008]

Released: May 13, 2008

Uploaded: December 8, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Dawn Of The Dead
2. Playing God
3. Searching For Some Beautiful
4. Ashes to Ashley feat. Mac Lethal
5. Memento Mori
   
6. Clockwork Grey Interlude
7. Absolution
8. Murder of Crows feat. Louise Fraser
9. Writes of Passage feat. Vast Aire
10. Angel Eyes
11. November
12. The Exception To Everything

File Size: 70 MB

DOWNLOAD: Sharebee

INFO: MySpace
INCLUDED:

• Full Album Lyrics
  
• Partial Album Artwork
• All Tracks Are VBR [Grouprip]
  

Artist Info:
The groundbreaking new artist Sadistik is quickly raising eyebrows with his debut solo album “The Balancing Act.” At only 22 years old he has developed a sound that is truly unique as he seamlessly blends his signature of deeply poetic lyrics with brooding, symphonic soundscapes filled with beauteous live instrumentation.
In addition to his own innovative rhyming style, Sadistik collaborated with the likes of underground hip-hop icons Mac Lethal of Rhymesayers Entertainment and Vast Aire from the highly regarded duo of Cannibal Ox.
Sadistik can be found doing shows around his home state of Washington performing his shockingly energetic live shows. While he writes all of his own music, his biggest inspirations range the musical spectrum from Sage Francis all the way to Radiohead. And although traces of these influences can be found in Sadistik’s music, one thing is for certain: he has created a sound that is truly his own.

Underground9 Overview:
Look at the album's cover, notice the cold colors, shadows, and the sadness depicted; notice the beauty of it, levels of abstract regions opposed to reality. It perfectly symbolizes the album's tone, Sadistik's complex poetry and the dark, vivid production.
Perhaps the album's biggest weakness is it's complexity, a big jump trough Sadistik's thoughts, dark and depressing thoughts. While I enjoy listening to music in many different moments, some hypes me up, some cheers me up, but in the cold days where I'm alone and spend time reflecting I would enjoy paying attention to the deep poetry heard in this release.

But I gave in to all my fears instead
The only thing that ran more than me (were the tears you shed)
When you told me you cut inside ya flesh
Youre depressed and youd rather die instead
I could feel my heart tear to bits
(The first time Ive cried ever since my parents split)
And I knew, there was no you and I
I kissed you goodbye, it felt like suicide

- "November"

This is truly a work of art, good songs are too many to mention, my favorite is "Writes Of Passage", perhaps the lightest on the album, Cannibal Ox's Vast Aire drops a short and incredibly simple verse before Sadistik delivers his thoughtful lines.

We walked a broken path while the sun was bleak
And we were holding hands on these rusted swings
That I called "us" and my love would sink
underseas that we would drown underneath
When you would swim deep to catch my lip's speech
To try to catch drifts to catch what it means
And you found what would grow between us
So I thought about you while I wrote The Phoenix
And now my spine shivers from the notes that you speak
of perfect pitched melodies and emotions you seek

- "Ashes To Ashley"

I understand how this album can be overlooked due to it's meaningful lyrics, the production captured me enough to make me pay attention, sometimes that's all it takes to recognize a true jewel and I hope you all will, for now I'll keep it among my top three for this somehow unsatisfying year.


Flow & Lyrics:

Beats:

Download and enjoy.

Immortal Technique - The 3rd World [2008]

Released: June 24, 2008
Uploaded: June 19, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Death March
2. That's What It Is
3. Golpe De Estado feat. Temperamento Y Veneno
4. Harlem Renaissance
5. Lick Shot feat. Crooked I & Chino XL
6. Apocrypha
7. The 3rd World
8. Hollywood Driveby feat. PsycoRealm & Sick Symphonies
9. Reverse Pimpology feat. Mojo
10. Open Your Eyes
11. Payback feat. Diabolic & Ras Kass
12. Adios Uncle Tom [Skit]
13. Stronghold Grip feat. Poison Pen & Swave Sevah
14. Mistakes
15. Parole [Evil Genius Mix]
16. Crimes Of The Heart feat. Maya Azucena

Hidden Bonus Tracks:

1. Apocalypse Remix feat. Poison Pen & Swave Sevah
2. Watchout Remix Rebel Arms feat. J.Arch & Da Circle

File Size: 87 MB

DOWNLOAD: Sharebee

INFO: Wikipedia
INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are VBR [Grouprip]
  

Underground9 Overview:
This is a mixtape from praised underground mc Immortal Technique, a release that follows a 5 year long absence, hosted and mostly produced by DJ Green Lantern.
Green Lantern did a pretty disappointing job on the production which is simply awful on the track "The 3rd World", barely decent on the rest while surprisingly acceptable on "Death March", Chino XL did an even worse job on "Lick Shots", predictably, even Bronze Nazareth's beat sounds weak.
Immortal Technique does come up with good lyrics, even thought I can't say that I enjoyed his overaggressive approach on some songs and the senseless casual verses, politics is still a very used subject in the lyrics but tracks like "Reverse Pimpology" are embarrassing to listen to.
This release can show off one good gem that can be compared to Immortal Technique's previous work, that is "Crimes Of The Heart", an amazing song which comes along a beautiful beat and Technique sounds more relaxed, a similar approach to the one displayed on his previous albums.
So far this album sounds more of a commercial move by the rapper, what people should take in consideration is that this is nothing more than a mixtape, Technique has stated that he stopped working on his next album recently just to take care of this release, I'm expecting "The Middle Passage" to be closer to what we heard in his past albums, I sure hope it will.

Apparently some people got their feelings hurt by the words above, some idiots don't accept this being a mixtape, while others don't agree with my view.
I am a huge Immortal Technique fan, his second album is the only 10/10 rating on here, it had everything, from the feeling to the message, but this release is not even close to it's level.
I realized that i might have been a little harsh on the rating, now that I've passed the initial disappointment i can appreciate this release a little more, however, I still stand with what i wrote before.

Flow & Lyrics:

Beats:

Download and enjoy.

Nas & DJ Green Lantern - The Nigger Tape

Released: June 9, 2008
Uploaded: June 9, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Gangsta Rap [Remix]
3. Cops Keep Firing
4. Hero feat. Keri Hilson
   
5. Black President
6. Association feat. Stic Man
7. Legendary (Mike Tyson)
8. Ghetto [Remix] feat. Joell Ortiz
   
9. Seen it All [Green Mix]
10. Esco Let’s Go
    
11. N.I.G.G.E.R. (Slave And Master)
12. Be A Nigger Too [Remix] feat. Dante Hawkins
13. Surviving The Times [Original Cool And Dre Version]
14. Nas Timeline [Mixed By Statik Selektah & Nararated By Nas]
15. Outro feat. Richard Pryor

File Size: 63 MB
DOWNLOAD: ZShare

New Nas mixtape, haven't listened to it yet, i'll probably review it as soon as i do.
Yall heard "Black President" and "Hero", amazing tracks, let's hope the rest is as good.

ZShare link, the tracks are separated.

eMC - The Show [2008]

Released: March 25, 2008
Uploaded: June 2, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Who We Be
2. The Airport
3. Leak It Out
   [Watch the video for this song here]
   
4. The Check In
5. Traffic feat. Little Brother
6. Say Now
7. The Message
8. Don't Give Up On Us feat. ADI
9. Git Sum feat. Sean Price
10. We Alright feat. Strickie Love
11. The Interview
    
12. eMC (What It Stand For)
    [Watch the video for this song here]
    
13. The Angry Merch Guy
14. The Grudge
15. Make It Better
16. The Lobby
17. Winds Of Change
18. The Show feat. Ladybug Mecca
19. The Backstage
20. Borrow You feat. Strickie Love
21. Once More
22. U Let Me Grow
    [You can listen to this song here]
    
23. Feel It feat. Money Ham
24. Bonus Track

[All track names fixed]

File Size: 82 MB

DOWNLOAD: Sharebee

INFO: Wikipedia
INCLUDED:

• Partial Album Artwork
• All Tracks Are VBR [Grouprip]
  

Underground9 Overview:
This is the debut album from underground supergroup eMC.
Many of you should already know the rap legend Masta Ace, his amazing work in the past is very respected, right after the release of "A Long Hot Summer" a shocking rumor about his retirement started circulating around the web, but barely a year later the news about his new formed group surfaced, with members being Punchline, Wordsworth and Strick, the fans were excited about the following release despite the numerous future delays.
The album leaked two months before the stated release date, something that could have severely damaged the album's sales, but the album turned out to be a modern day classic, my expectations were overly exceeded.
The album's tone is something that impressed me, fresh lyrics and calm flows with a touch of irony on every track, the very original and capturing songs don't show off poetic or complex verses but simple words and light subjects, a tribute to music from these hip hop veterans.
Tracks like "Make It Better" and "We Alright" are cheerful and heart lightening, while the amazing "U Let Me Grow" is a deep tribute to the artists' mothers, a very personal, emotional track and perhaps the one that i enjoyed the most this year.
Another song that amazed me is "Winds Of Change" where the artists rhyme over an amazing beat, their verses are short and simple but it's what mostly makes it enjoyable on every listen.
Hip hop needs albums like this right now, support the artists and buy their album.

Flow & Lyrics:

Beats:

Download and enjoy.

Jazz Liberatorz - Clin D'Oeil [2008]

Released: January 9, 2008

Uploaded: May 15, 2008

Tracklist:

1.  Clin D'Oeil
2. Easy My Mind feat. Tre Hardson, Fat Lip & Omni
3. When The Clock Ticks feat. J. Sands 
4. I Am Hip-Hop feat. Asheru
5. Genius At Work feat. Fat Lip & T. Love
6. Indonesia feat. Tableek from Maspyke
7. The Process feat. Apani B. Fly
8. The Return feat. Sadat X
9. U Do feat. Stacey Epps
10. Cool Down feat. Rashaad Ahmad
11. Take A Time feat. Buckshot
12. Vacation feat. J-Live
13. Speak The Language feat. Lizz Fields
14. Qidar feat. Soul Clan
15. Outro

File Size: 111 MB

INFO: Amazon

DOWNLOAD: Megaupload

INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are 192kbps

Underground9 Overview:

Clin D'Oeil is the long awaited debut album by the trio of French producers, Jazz Liberatorz. As you would notice, the production is mainly jazz influenced. The Jazz Liberatorz bring a handful of American rapper to collaborate with them, including some of my favorite rappers, Asheru, Fat Lip, J-Live, Apani B. Fly & Buckshot. All of the other guest appearances on this album are great also, and the vocals suit the production well. Definitely an album worth checking out, and will go down as one of the best records of 2008. 

Killah Priest - Behind The Stained Glass [2008]

Released: May 20, 2008
Uploaded: May 14, 2008

Tracklist:

1. I Believe
2. 4 Tomorrow
3. A Crying Heart
4. Hood Nursery
5. Redemption feat. Jeni Fujita
6. Profits of Man feat. 60 Second Assassin
7. The World
8. Vintage (Things We Shared)
9. Looking Glass feat. Allah Sun
10. I Am
11. The Beloved (The Messenger)
12. Jeshurun feat. Victorious
13. God's Time
14. Born 2 Die feat. Victorious
15. O Emmanuel feat. Jeni Fujita
16. The End Is Coming

File Size: 88 MB

INFO: Wikipedia

DOWNLOAD: Rapidshare
DOWNLOAD: Rapidshare [C4]
DOWNLOAD: Rapidshare [Rapgodfathers]
INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are VBR [Grouprip]

Underground9 Overview:
Latest album from Wu affiliate Killah Priest, following last year's "The Offering".
I still didn't download it but i'm expecting a good album, i'll upload it myself by tomorrow and write my thoughts on it.

Download and enjoy.

Bizzy Bone - A Song For You [2008]

Released: April 22, 2008
Uploaded: April 27, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Prelude
2. A Song For You feat. DMX & Chris Notez
3. I'm The One feat. Joel Madden Of Good Charlotte
4. Muddy Waters
5. Money feat. Twista
6. What Have I Learned
7. Mercy Mary
8. I Truly Believe
9. Ballin' feat. Jim Jones
10. I Need You
11. Hard Times feat. Chris Notez
12. Memories
13. Real [Freestyle]
14. Crossroads [Outro]
    

File Size: 67 MB

INFO: Wikipedia

DOWNLOAD: Sharebee

INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are VBR [Grouprip]

Underground9 Overview:
This is the latest studio album by former Bone Thugs-N-Harmony member Bizzy Bone.
I've always been a Bizzy fan, even after numerous disappointing albums I still ended up waiting for this album before eventually forgetting about it.
This is not an album showing off an over the top production, nor does it contain amazing lyricism or powerful featured artists, but I enjoyed the album as much as I enjoyed Bizzy's debut "Heaven'z Movie", if not more.
Like most of his albums this one manages to entertain in numerous ways, smart lyrics are in place and the choice in beats is mostly right, but every single song is richened by Bizzy's great performance, beautiful spiritual songs and his harmonizing trough every track is a strong reminder of what made us appreciate numerous Bone Thugs albums in the past.
After seeing so many artists falling off lately I'm glad Bizzy managed to set up a good major comeback release, a very satisfying listen for every Bizzy Bone fan out there.

Flow & Lyrics: 7/10
Beats: 7/10

Download and enjoy.

The Roots - Rising Down [2008]

Released: April 29, 2008
Uploaded: April 23, 2008

Tracklist:

1. The Pow Wow
2. Rising Down (Humdrum) feat. Mos Def, Styles P & Dice Raw
3. Get Busy feat. Dice Raw, Peedi Peedi & DJ Jazzy Jeff
4. @ 15
5. 75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction) feat. Tuba Gooding Jr.
6. Becoming Unwritten
7. Criminal feat. Truck North & Saigon
8. I Will Not Apologize
9. I Can't Help It feat. Malik B. & Porn
10. Singing Man feat. Porn & Truck North
11. Up There (Unwritten) feat. Mercedes Martinez
12. Lost Desire feat. Malik B & Talib Kweli
13. The Show feat. Common
14. Rising Up feat. Wale & Chrisette Michelle
15. Live at WPFW, 1994
16. The Pow Wow 2

File Size: 95 MB

INFO: Wikipedia

DOWNLOAD: Rapidshare

DOWNLOAD: Sharebee

INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are VBR [Grouprip]

The new studio album from The Roots. Downlaod & Enjoy.

Buckshot & 9th Wonder - The Formula [2008]

Released: April 29, 2008
Uploaded: April 21, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Intro - The Formula feat. The Formula Crew
2. Ready (Brand New Day)
3. Be Cool feat. Swan
4. Go All Out feat. Carlitta Durand
5. No Future
6. Hold It Down feat. Talib Kweli
7. Whassup With U feat. Keisha Shontelle
8. Only For You (Lou)
9. Just Display
10. Here We Go
11. Throwin' Shade
12. Shinin' Y'all feat. Arafat Yates & Big Chops
13. Man Listen

File Size:

INFO: Wikipedia

DOWNLOAD: Sharebee

INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are VBR [GroupRip]

New highly anticipated album from Buckshot (of Boot Camp Clik & Black Moon) & 9th Wonder (of Little Brother). Thanks to DMXXX over at ChecktheRhime for the link.

Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold

Released: April 22, 2008
Uploaded: April 18, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Like The Rest Of Us
2. Puppets
3. The Skinny
4. Dreamer
5. Shoulda Known
6. You
7. Painting
8. Your Glasshouse
9. Yesterday
10. Guarantees
11. Mesmorized (B Rock Remix)
12. Wild Wild Horses
13. Can't Break
14. The Waitress
15. In Her Music Box

File Size: 76 MB

DOWNLOAD: Rapidshare
DOWNLOAD: Rapidshare
INFO: Wikipedia

INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are 192kbps

Brand new album from Ant & Slug. Pretty good from what I've heard. Download and enjoy.
- Links Updated

DJ Heat & Blu - (So)ul Amazing [Mixtape]

Released: April 4, 2008
Uploaded: April 4, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Blu - Piece
2. Blu feat. Move Ment & Trek Life - Give It Now
3. Blu feat. Cro$$ - City Of Los(t) Ang(e)les
4. Blu feat. Sene - Dope 4 Gold Rope
   
5. Blu - Spanish Winter
6. Blu - My Boy Blu
7. Blu feat. Myth & Definite - Its Ok (Part One)
8. Blu - Local Legend
   [Prod By Flying Lotus]
9. Blu - Respect
10. Blu feat. Jontel - Sun In My Face
    [Prod By J-Dilla]
11. Blu feat. Mumbles Flora Purim - Never Ending
12. Blu - Top 5 N Luv (Taking A Little Break)
13. Blu feat. Talib Kweli & Joell Ortiz - Hostile Gospel (Remix)
    [Prod By Just Blaze]
14. Blu- Bad News Barnes
15. Blu feat. Sene - Stoopid
    [Prod By Blu]
16. Blu - Mars (Remix)
17. Blu - Fly (Song Of Liberation)
    [Prod By Exile]
18. Blu feat. Donel Smokes Cross & Jontel - Maintain
    [Prod By Exile]

File Size: 99 MB

DOWNLOAD: MeadiaFire

INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are VBR [GroupRip]

This is a mixtape from DJ Heat, featuring Blu tracks both pre and post "Below The Heavens".
Basically all this "DJ" did is put together unedited Blu tracks and called it a mixtape, but i know many of you will enjoy hearing more from Blu.
Thanks to Breeze from RGF for the link.

I know that the blog is pretty much dead now, I'll try to provide more albums during this period.

C.R.A.C. Knuckles - The Piece Talks

UNDERGROUND9 RECOMMENDED ALBUM

Released: April 22, 2008

Uploaded: March 22, 2008

Tracklist:

1. What Up (Part 2)

2. Buy Me Lunch

3. Love Don't

[You can listen to this song here]

4. Major Way

5. Activate Too

6. CRACHAUSE

7. Respect

8. Pop Dem Boyz

9. 2.16.05

10. Mr. Big Fizz

11. Chill

12. Hello!?

13. Go!

14. Activate...As Well

15. Bullet Through Me

16. Cotton

17. Credits

18. Umm Yeah

19. Ready

File Size: 78MB

DOWNLOAD: Sharebee

INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are 192kbps

Download and enjoy.

Underground9 Overview:

If you guys didn't know, I am a huge fan of Blu. This is his newest effort with rapper Ta'Raach. 

Sheek Louch - Silverback Gorilla [2008]

Released: March 18, 2008

Uploaded: March 11, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Lottery (Skit)

2. I Think We Got A Problem feat. Bun B & The Game

3. Keep Pushin feat. Mike Smith

4. Good Love

[you can watch the video for this song here]

5. D-Block/Dipset

6. We At War

7. Scrap To This

8. Don't Be Them

9. Gettin' Stronger feat. Styles P. & Jadakiss

10. That's A Soldier

11. What What feat. Bully

12. We Comin'

13. Crowd (Skit)

14. We Spray Crowds

15. Rubber Grip feat. Fat Joe & Styles P.

16. 2 Turntables & A Mic

17. Mic Check

18. Go Hoodlums

File Size: 81 MB

DOWNLOAD: Sharebee

INFO: Wikipedia

Included:

• All Tracks Are VBR [GroupRip]

Underground9 Overview:

Coming soon.

Rakim - The Archive: Live, Lost & Found [2008]

Released: March 4, 2008
Uploaded: February 27, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Hip Hop
2. Love 4 Sale
3. Word On The Street
4. It's Nothing
5. It's Been A Long TIme
6. My Melody
7. Don't Sweat The Technique
8. Follow The Leader
9. Ghetto
10. Guess Who's Back?
11. What's On Your Mind?
12. Remember That
13. It's Nothing
14. Saga Begins
15. Move The Crowd
16. Paid In Full
17. I Know You Got Soul
18. I Ain't No Joke
19. Juice (Know The Ledge)
20. Mahogany
21. Eric B. Is President
22. Microphone Fiend

File Size: 78 MB

DOWNLOAD: Rapidshare
DOWNLOAD: Rapidshare

INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are VBR [GroupRip]
  

This is a collection of unreleased and live Rakim tracks, except for the first four tracks which are new.
Download and enjoy.

Pete Rock - NY's Finest [2008]

Released: February 26, 2008
Uploaded: February 23, 2008

Tracklist:

1. Pete Intro
2. We Roll feat. Jim Jones & Max B
3. Till I Retire
4. 914 feat. Styles P & Sheek Louch
5. Questions feat. Royal Flush
6. Best Believe feat. Redman
7. Ready Fe War feat. Chip-Fu & Rene
8. Don't Be Mad
9. Bring Y'all Back feat. Little Brother
   
10. The Best Secret feat. Lords Of The Underground
11. That's What feat. Rell
12. The PJ's feat. Raekwon & Masta Killa
13. Made Man
14. Let's Go feat. DJ Doo Wop
15. Comprehend feat. Papoose

File Size: 65 MB

DOWNLOAD: Rapidshare

DOWNLOAD: FastLoad

DOWNLOAD: FastLoad

INFO: Wikipedia

INCLUDED:

• All Tracks Are VBR [GroupRip]
  

Download and enjoy.