Kanye West Leads All Grammy Nominations With Seven

 

Today, the nominees for the 54th Grammy Awards were announced, and Kanye West leads them all with seven nominations. His fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, has been nominated for Best Rap Album, but was disappointingly snubbed for Album of the Year. "All of the Lights", the third single from MBDTF, has received three nominations, including Song of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and Best Rap Song.

New Music: Emilio Rojas - Lord Knows Freestyle

Independent rapper Emilio Rojas drops a freestyle to the standout track from Take Care. When is Breaking Point coming out? We've been waiting long enough. And what label are you gonna go to? Maybach Music? G.O.O.D Music? Only time will tell.


DOWNLOAD HERE

Mixtape: Def Beach Society - Three's Company

Virginia Beach's Def Beach Society's latest work of art is something beautiful. It might just be the extra bit of love for a Virginian Rap Group but these guys certainly know how to form a mixtape. Every track is great, beats are solid, lyrics are definitely crucial as well, and the overall concept and production is just lovely. It's a concept tape so be warned all of you punchline after punchline lovers out there that this is not the tape for you. Not saying that there aren't any punchlines that stood out but this is more of a Common than a Lil Wayne.

The actual concept of the mixtape goes like this: there are three different sections which are the Feather, the Rope, and the Needle. The Feather is geared towards purists and the old school sound. The Rope is more like the current sound in their eyes. The Needle is their Nostradamus piece where they attempt to predict where they believe the future of Hip-Hop will end up. Also the audio of the Mental Health Disorders set a ripe, Illusionistic tone to the mixtape.

Download Here - Def Beach Society - Three's Company

Waka Flocka Flame Has Big Plans For 2012

Waka Flocka Flame has realized that he will NOT retire after the years end. He apparently has way bigger plans than before.

Mixtape: Somaya Reece - Rebel With a Cause

The El Salvadorian beauty has been making lots of moves these past few weeks. First, we got another look of how she does things from the second season of the VH1 Reality Show, Love and Hip Hop, THEN she debuts her single 'Fuego' on the most recent episode, which garnered so much attention with the catch phrase "Who run the world? B*tch I do", and her merengue single "Eh Mama" debuts on the radio, (and will be hitting channels MTV3 (MTV Tr3s) and Mun2) and NOW her mixtape Rebel With a Cause is finally here. We're proud of how hard working she really is, and we wish her the best of luck with her career.


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Mixtape: Drake x OG Ron C - Chop Care

Just as he promised, the OG Ron C Mix of Drake's sophomore album Take Care is finally here. Enjoy and Take Care. (Pun Intended)

DOWNLOAD HERE

UPDATE: Vybz Kartel DID NOT Escape

UPDATE --

"According to the Jamaica Observer, POLICE have thrown cold water on claims that embattled Deejay Vybz Kartel has escaped from the New Horizon Adult Remand Centre early this morning.

Reports have gone viral on the internet and on social networks that the Deejay and seven other inmates held guards hostage at gunpoint minutes after 1:00 am and stole uniforms and a vehicle belonging to the Correctional Services Department before escaping.

The police have also dispelled rumours that a guard died from a heart attack and 12 others were injured. Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green told the Observer early this morning that he had no knowledge of the reported jail break.

"I know nothing about that. If that had taken place I would would certainly have known," Green said."(Jamaica Observer)

Last night, we originally heard that he had initially escaped from prison, and was branded as Jamaica's Most Wanted criminal.

"So Vybz Kartel has found himself in a whirlwind of trouble as of late. First with being charged with murder, attempt to murder, and possessions of ganja and firearms. Now he's allegedly ESCAPED from the prison with seven other prisoners. They say he's the ringleader of them all and they escaped by hijacking a prison guard's car. I don't really know if it's true or not, but hey, we're reporting this. Story is developing."

SOURCE

Grand Closing of Official Drake Fan Site

The owner of the FIRST Drake blog ALLTHINGS-FRESH Karla Moy, has announced that the site will be closing. I was one of the first bunches around. Back when the posts were by Karla & Jessica (who I went to high school with) and when Drake shouted ATF out in his music. It does pain me to see such a huge blog go away, because this blog along with Octobers Very Own connected the fans directly to Drake and all Drake related things, music, videos, interviews, you name it.

Karla, I wish you the best of luck in everything you're going to do in life. I saw you on that Digital Power 30 this year :) Keep up the good work.

R.I.P AllThingsFresh 2007-2011

New Music: Yo Gotti ft. Gucci Mane & Juelz Santana - Colors

Yo Gotti has releasd the first song off of his upcoming mixtape called Colors. He asked Atlanta's Gucci Mane and DipSet's own Juelz Santana to get on the track as well.

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Reggae Star 'Allegedly' Escapes from Prison

So Vybz Kartel has found himself in a whirlwind of trouble as of late. First with being charged with murder, attempt to murder, and possessions of ganja and firearms. Now he's allegedly ESCAPED from the prison with seven other prisoners. They say he's the ringleader of them all and they escaped by hijacking a prison guard's car. I don't really know if it's true or not, but hey, we're reporting this. Story is developing.


SOURCE

Mixtape: Wax & EOM - Eviction Notice

I've been following this guy's music for the past 4 years via his youtube page and it's like Christmas every time he drops some new music or a whole project. Youtube rap veteran Wax and his producer EOM have dropped yet another project, entitled Eviction Notice. This comes 8 months after releasing his Def Jam debut mixtape Scrublife with DJ Skee.

Tracklist:

01. Doing Damage (Prod. by Wax)
02. Too Loud (Prod. by EOM)
03. Haagen Daazs Scrilla (Prod. by EOM)
04. Rosana (Prod. by Nobody Famous)
05. Roll It Up ft. Jes Hudak & Gotham Green (Prod. by Quickie Mart)
06. Coins (Prod. by EOM)
07. I'm Through (Prod. by The Fyre Dept)
08. Relax (Prod. by EOM)
09. Killing Me Inside (Prod. by Sam Barsh of Palter Ego)
10. Guess Who ft. Dumbfoundead (Prod. by EOM)
11. Its All Love (Prod. by EOM)
12. P.A.R.T.Y ft. Herbal T (Prod. by Lack of Afro)
13. My Future is a Big Wide Open Space (Prod. by Greg Wells)
14. NEED (Prod. by EOM)
15. Limousine (Acoustic/EOM Beatbox Live at Knocksteady)

DOWNLOAD HERE

New Music - DMX ft, Murda Mook, Drag-On, Swizz Beatz and The LOX - Worlds Greatest

DMX is hitting the ground running after his most recent release from jail. He reunited (most of) the Ruff Ryders family from those good old days, for this new street anthem. Everybody you can name jumped on the six minute track, (Drag-On, Styles P, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch) with everybody going in. He even included rap veteran and new Ruff Ryders' signee Murda Mook. Will there be another Ruff Ryders album coming in 2012? Only time can tell, and we think the future is looking bright for DMX and Ruff Ryders.

DMX ft. Murda Mook, Drag-On, Swizz Beatz and The LOX - Worlds Greatest

New Music: Blu - Ez (Prod. by Madlib)

Well, this is odd... the recently dropped 'Fix Up' Black Star track apparently isn't theirs. It's original owner is none other than the mysterious and poetic Blu. Okayplayer reports that Blu planned on dropping the track sometime in 2012. Best believe he doesn't disappoint. Download link right below.

Download Blu - EZ

New Music: 50 Cent - Stop Crying

He's baaaaaaaaack! In memory of dropping the phenomenal 50 Cent Is The Future 10 years ago, The General has decided to drop something for those fans that have been craving for an aggressive street record from 50 Cent for the past couple of years. He's back, ladies and gentlemen and it's like he never left. Link coming right after the jump.

50 Cent - Stop Crying

Wiz Khalifa 'Juices' up Taylor Gang

Atlantic Records' own, Wiz Khalifa recently announced that he has signed Three 6 Mafia member Juicy J to his Taylor Gang imprint. They say the two of them have big things planned for 2012.

"Yes sir, Juicy J is now with Taylor Gang," J revealed in an interview. "We're going in this year. 2012, we're going in. Y'all heard it, y'all know it's the business. It's going down, man. Man, man, it's going down. We got a big compilation album that we're doing. It's going down. When you hear it, you're going to be like, 'Wow.' You're going to be like, 'Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.'" (Hood Rich Radio)

This also comes after the October signing of model-turned-femcee Lola Monroe

Mixtape: B.o.B - EPIC

Well B.o.B has done it again ladies and gents. His new mixtape just dropped today, it features Mos Def, T.I., and many more artist. This will surely not disappoint any of you.

Download Here

Diamond in the Rough: Reema Major

Diamond in the Rough is a bi-weekly series we have in Certified-Fresh. In this series we tell about artists that deserve a spotlight. Last time it was Rockie Fresh. Today we cover Reema Major!

Reema Major is more than just a pretty face.She is from Sudan and lived in Kansas City. She started rapping at a young age of 14! Some people compare her to Lil Kim or Nicki Minaj because of her voice. Her flow is nice and has been approached by people like Diddy and Rick Ross. At such a young age she became successful and is probably better than some of the rappers who are getting undeserved spotlight.

I honestly just started listening to her but she made a good impression on me with songs like I Am Legend, Ghetto Kids, and Illest kid. Her mixtape I Am Legend did deliver.

Listen/Download her mixtape below

Reema Major- I Am Legend

Album: Nujabes - Spiritual State

The late music producer Nujabes will have an album put out posthumously in his name. His album spiritual state will consists of his unfinished and unreleased songs and few that pays homage to him. It is set out to be released in December 3.

1. Spiritual State (ft. Uyama Hiroto)
2. Sky Is Tumbling (ft. Cise Star)
3. Gone Are The Day (ft. Uyama Hiroto)
4. Spirale
5. City Light (ft. Substantial & Pase Rock)
6. Color Of Autumn
7. Down On The Side
8. Yes (ft. Pase Rock)
9. Rainy Way Back Home
10. Far Fowls
11. Fellows
12. Waiting For The Clouds (ft. Substantial)
13. Prayer
14. Island (ft. Uyama Hiroto & Haruka Nakamura)

Mixtape: Saint Nick - Born Hip Hop

Saint Nick, a promising young rapper, drops a mixtape with him freestyling on several different beats old and new. He actually holds his own on most if not all of them. His southern grit flow is captivatating, and raw to the ears. His rhymes are definitely on point with clever lines touching back to back. Overall the mixtape is worth a listen if you want some straight Hip-Hop for your face.

Download - Saint Nick: Born Hip Hop

Mixtape: Lupe Fiasco - Friend of the People

Lupe gave a gift out yesterday for thanksgiving and it is a strange one. Knowing Lupe though, I'm not surprised its sort of weird. The mixtape starts off with an introduction of a news report about the pepper spray incident that took place during an Occupy Wall Street protest. The rest is a lot of him rapping about social issues over rock-like beats. Interesting mixtape. Something to listen to. Check it down in the link below.

Lupe Fiasco - Friend of the People

New Music: Black Star - Fix Up

Yasiin Bey (Formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli reunite once again to bring back Black Star and are coming with a mixtape next month. They dropped a sample of their mixtape called Fix Up. It's a great listen. Listen/Download below.

Black Star - Fix Up

Lil Wayne signs 14 year old Torion Sellers to Young Money

Lil Wayne has made yet another addition to the Young Money/Cash Money roster by adding fresh, new and talented singer Torion Sellers. The 14 year old newcomer can sing and dance very well. In his second Public Service Announcement, Wayne had Torion demonstrate a song and dance to his single "Look At Me Now" with Chris Brown and Busta Rhymes. We at Certified-Fresh hope the best for young Torion.

"Hello world, this is PSA number two. Public service announcement number two" Wayne said in the video. "I got Mack Maine right here. We're here on behalf of Young Money/Cash Money Records. I want to reveal something new. I want to reveal something needed. I want to reveal something now. I want to reveal something then. I want to reveal the future. Not only the future of Young Money/Cash Money, but the future. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, my newest artist. I'm so, so blessed, so appreciative to be able to say I present to you, my new artist, Torion."

Mixtape: Kid Cudi - Rap Hard (Demo)

For all you Cudder fans who loved the old Cudder than youll love this. This mixtape is a short amount of songs but are all Cudi before he hit it big with Man on the Moon. Its pretty interesting and was something to keep the fans waiting for his Wizard and Man on the Moon 3.

Download it below.

Kid Cudi- Rap Hard ( Demo )

New Music: Common - Celebrate

Common just released his next single off of his upcoming album The Dreamer, The Believer. It's called Celebrate and its a pretty good track. The album really sounds promising. The album drops in a month on December 20.

Listen to the track below.

Common - Celebrate

Review: Drake - Take Care

Ladies and gentlemen, our review of Take Care is in, and we've got a lot to say about it. Does it over-shadow Drake's previous hit album, Thank Me Later? Or does it suffer from the sophomore slump?

Asher Roth signs with Def Jam

Yeah, you heard right. Asher Roth has signed a deal with Def Jam and is already hitting the ground running with the upcoming release of his newest mixtape Pabst and Jazz, which hits iTunes this Monday.

"Yessir. RT @ElliotWilson: @Therealpecas Asher on Def Jam? "

There you have it. Expect his sophomore album Is This Too Orange?, a follow-up of 2009's Asleep in the Bread Aisle to come in 2012.


IFWT

Ludacris Jabs Back At Drake, Big Sean

 

Could a new fued be on the rise for the rap game? Ludacris is not one to start beef, but he is definitely one to finish it. On the fifth and sixth tracks on his mixtape 1.21 Gigawatts: Back to the First Time, Luda addresses the stabs he has taken from rappers Drake and Big Sean (specifically Drake) and turns the knife back at them.

New Music - Rihanna ft. Jay-Z: ‘Talk That Talk’

 

Rihanna has joined forces with her mentor once again. This time, the Pop Princess and megastar rapper Jay-Z collaborate for the title track of RiRi's sixth album (the third in three years), "Talk That Talk". 

Mixtape - Nitty Scott, MC - Doobies x Popsicle Sticks

Finally, newcomer and Boombox Family's own Nitty Scott, MC has dropped her long overdue project with hip hop heavyweight, DJ Mick Boogie entitled Doobies x Popsicle Sticks. Which is a recap of how her summer went down. Although it has a relatively short tracklist, she doesn't disappoint. You know how the saying goes, quality over quantity, right? Tracklist and download link coming right after the jump.

1. Doobsicles (Summer Re-Cap)
2. Tell Somebody f. Mike Maven (prod. 6th Sense)
3. Auntie Maria’s Crib (prod. The Good Reverend Dr.)
4. Bullsh_t Rap (prod. Super E)
5. Sun-Kissed f. Moe Isaac (prod. J57)
6. Walk Like A Duck
7. FeminiNITTY (Remixed by J.Period)
8. Down With The King 2011 (Mick Boogie Remix) f. Tanya Morgan & 6th Sense (prod. 6th Sense)

DOWNLOAD HERE

Diamond in the Rough: Rockie Fresh

Rockie Fresh is that Chicago Native often compared to Drake and other successful Chicago Native Kanye West. He has put out a couple of mixtapes but his most popular have been The Otherside and The Otherside Redux. Personally I prefer The Otherside for the consistency. 

He’s a great rapper with some nice punch lines but has way more wisdom to speak than something witty. If developed a little more Rockie might be a great artist. His sound is something that is needed in the game because it isn’t limited to a specific genre like soul but is rooted in multiple genres. His upcoming mixtape seems to be more focused on rock samples.

Why should you listen to Rockie Fresh? Because he has a sound that’s reminiscent while being his own. His presentation is also something great as seen in his mixtape like The Otherside. If I had to recommend anything it would be The Otherside because it sounds very cinematic in a way. 

Recommended songs:

Rockie Fresh- About It

Rockie Fresh- So Gone

Rockie Fresh- No Fear

Rockie Fresh ft. Cassie Veggies - Duckin N Dodgin

Rockie Fresh- Fire Bed

Rockie Fresh- AC Green

Recommended Mixtape - The Otherside

Collabs We'd Love to See

We've seen countless rappers create hit songs with famous R&B and pop singers. B.o.B and Hayley Williams, Kanye West and Katy Perry, Jay-Z and Beyonce, Drake and Rihanna, Kelly Rowland and Lil Wayne, and Kanye and Chris Martin are just to name a few. However, there are still some singers out there that we have yet to collaborate with our favorite rap stars, and we've got some ideas about which ones could come together to make a hit.

New Music: Gym Class Heroes ft. Neon Hitch - Ass Back Home

If you didn't know Gym Class Heroes is back and they are back making The Paper Chronicles II. They released tracks Stereo Hearts and Life Goes on and now Ass Back Home ft Neon Hitch. With each track it sounds better and better. Go and listen to it or download it in the link below

Gym Class Heroes - Ass Back Home ft Neon Hitch

New Music: T.I. - Headlines (Freestyle)

The newly released T.I. hit the booth and freesyled over Drake's Headlines. He just replaced Drake's first verse but T.I. did his thing in it. Listen/Download below.

T.I.-Headlines ( Freestyle)

Video: Big Sean ft. Nicki Minaj - Dance (A$$) (Remix)

The queen of the asses makes her mark yet again. Big Sean released the official video for the remix to the third single off his album, Finally Famous, which features Young Money queen Nicki Minaj and all her gloriASSness (sorry, I just had to). Nicki lets her ass do the twerking, finally showing us all that she can do something with that mf'er. Us here at CF are still wiping the drool off our mouths. Click the link below to view the bodacious video.

Big Sean ft. Nicki Minaj - Dance (A$$) (Remix)