Though the family hasn’t released any formal announcements, industry sources say that Michigan rap pioneer MC Breed died in his sleep last night.

He was hospitalized to treat kidney failure in September, after collapsing during a pick-up basketball game in Atlanta. TMZ reported that Breed’s kidneys were only 30% functional, and manager Daryl Morris said that he was planning a benefit concert to pay for a transplant. He was taken off of life support days later as his condition improved.

Born Eric Breed, the Flint, Mich. rapper was one of the first successful rappers to emerge from the Midwest. AllMusicGuide’s web site lists his single “Ain’t No Future In Yo’ Frontin'” as peaking at 66 in the Billboard’s Top 100 in 1991, and his song “Just Kickin It” would land in its Top Rap Singles charts the following year. He would work with the likes of 2Pac, Too $hort and George Clinton throughout his extensive, ten-plus album career. Continue reading →

Mayer Hawthorne is Stones Throw’s newest artist. His debut track “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” (aka “I’m Sorry”) premiered on Giles Peterson’s Best of 2008 (BBC Radio 1) a few weeks back. Mark Ronson picked it up for his show, saying “I have no idea what this is, old or new, but it’s fucking good!”

We held off on saying anything about Mayer Hawthorne while we waited for these heart-shaped 45s to roll in. We’ve got them now: “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” b/w “When I Said Goodbye” – limited 1000 copies.

Mayer Hawthorne is from Detroit and now lives in Los Angeles. He wrote, played, recorded and sang on these tracks. As for the rest of “what it is,” check out Mayer Hawthorne’s bio written by Ronnie Reese at the link below.

Mayer Hawthorne bio:
www.stonesthrow.com/mayerhawthorne

The heart-shaped 45 & high-quality digital download:
“Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”

The song:
[audio:http://www.michiganhiphop.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/mayerhawthorne_justaint-mihiphop.mp3]
Download

[via:stonesthrow]

Tenacity “Glitches” (Free Album Download)

Click Here To Download

Tracklist:

1. Begin Now
2. Decisions
3. Programs
4. Big Pocket Takes Little Pocket
5. Try More (featuring Lo Key)
6. Wrong Place, Wrong Time
7. Time Flies (featuring S.A., & Shi Dog)
8. It’s Not Good
9. Savages
10. Questions
11. Predators
12. Never Enough (featuring Guilty Simpson, & Shi Dog)
13. Don’t Blame It On Me

Black Milk’s Tronic came out on Tuesday, if you haven’t picked it up (read: bought it) already you can order it online from Fat Beats or download it at iTunes. It’s definitely worth it. We’ll be posting an interview with Black real soon but in the mean time you can check out this interview my homegirl LC Weber @ TSS did with Black by clicking here.

The man, the myth, the legend… PREMIER… PREMIER… PREMIER… P… P… P… P… P… P… PREMIER…

This man needs no introduction… Primo has been a driving force in hip hop since his arrival in the late 1980’s.  He is a creator, an innovator, a musician, a technical genieus, and arguably the best hip hop producer on the  planet. One half of Gangstarr, he has crafted hits for the biggest artists in the game, from Notorious BIG, Nas  & Jay Z to Christina Aguilera & Janet Jackson. This is a rare club performance from the legendary DJ Premier.

The real HIP HOP. If you don’t know, now you know.

Don’t miss this exclusive performance, up close and personal with a living legend!!

Saturday October 4, 2008
Plan B Nightclub (205 W. Congress, Detroit 48226)
18+ w/ID – 9pm
Tickets @ GrooveTickets.com (Gen. Admin Tickets or VIP Tickets) & Burn Rubber

Maureen Yancey (Dilla’s Mother) is in need of your help. Here’s a message from House Shoes explaining the situation:

ATTENTION…. TO ALL HIP HOP BLOGS AND SUPPORTERS OF MADUKES
DONATE TODAY

Maureen Yancey gave birth to one of the greatest producers of our generation, James Yancey aka Dilla. She suffers from Lupus, the same disease which claimed the life of her child. Lupus is an auto-immune disease which results in cell and tissue damage and a host of related medical issues.

Mrs. Yancey is currently struggling to pay for her own medical bills and to keep her household running after the loss of one of her children. She reached out to us in an attempt to contact the fans that were supporters of her son & his music. Please consider donating to her today. Continue reading →

If you haven’t already picked up The Preface over at FatBeats.com, you can listen to the entire album over at eLZhi’s MySpace: www.MySpace.com/ZhiFi. The album is insane, go ahead and check it out and be sure to pick it up on the 12th.

eLZhi “The Preface,” which drops August 12, 2008
eLZhi “The Preface” listening party @ Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique on 8/9 from 5-7pm. Click here for more information.

Well, thanks to the good people over at Fat Beats, you can now buy and download the mp3 version of eLZhi’s long awaited album The Preface. Click Here To Buy The MP3’s.

eLZhi “The Preface,” which drops August 12, 2008
eLZhi “The Preface” listening party @ Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique on 8/9 from 5-7pm. Click here for more information.

Buff1’s There’s Only One and eLZhi’s The Preface, which both drop on August 12, can now be pre-ordered at FatBeats.com as a package deal or individually (eLZhi, Buff1). Both albums are crazy (so far my favorite two of 2008), so don’t sleep on them and this deal.

eLZhi “The Preface” listening party @ Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique on 8/9 from 5-7pm. Click here for more information.
Buff1 “There’s Only One” CD release party @ the Blind Pig on 8/9 from 9:30pm-2am. Click here for more information.

Pre-Orders for eLZhi’s upcoming album The Preface have been posted over at FatBeats.com. They have also posted snippets of every track on the album. Pre-Orders on Fat Beats will be shipped to arrive on or before the street date (assuming you don’t wait until the last minute of course).

eLZhi “The Preface” hits stores on August 12, 2008.
eLZhi “The Preface” Listening Party @ Burn Rubber in Royal Oak on August 9, 2008 from 5-7pm. There will be free food & giveaways.