"Good as Gone" - Dilated Peoples

Well, hot damn.



In a year that has seen a lot of 90's vintage underground acts resurfacing with great music, Dilated Peoples announces a new album and tour, and they're doing it on Rhymesayers. The big surprise here is Rakaa coming through and stealing the show with a sharply cut verse that shows off his considerable growth in the years since Dilated Peoples was working the summer festival circuit. If you've never checked out his 2010 solo joint Crown of Thorns it is a rewarding listen -- not a lost classic, but definitely an awesome detour.

Their new album is called Directors of Photography, but the cinema here is courtesy of Andrew Melby. The video is crisp, clever, and gorgeously framed work. Rhymesayers stays winning, and this is good for us all.

Notes to Self: "Nobody" ft Evidence

The best part about being a real deal sleeping-ass hater? I'm always surprised by dope shit. No shocker that the track itself rocks -- we've covered Notes to Self already and Evidence is a legitimate legend -- but this video? This video right here? Holy shit, yo. This is ninja grade rap nerdery with an autistic devotion to detail. Facemelter status.

These cats are definitely one of the best crews to show up in the past few. Hopefully they don't release anything else for 3 years like Tool or Pink Floyd instead of getting caught up in the zombie hype cycle that passes for "success" in 2012. #CHEERS to dope art from dope artists.