Talib Kweli and Res talk to KTV about why they decided to start Idle Warship, working with songwriters, their new project Habits of The Heart, and how not to die.

Money Making Jam Boys’ Truck North is busy prepping a new EP release, and holds us over with this freestyle.

K’Naan will deliver his More Beautiful Than Silence EP on January 24th, from which this collaboration with Nas comes.

New material from Rampage’s Everyone Ain’t Loyal EP, hitting in February. Produced by Felony Muzik.

Ski Beatz drops the third single off his upcoming album 24 Hour Karate School Presents Twilight in stores February 14, 2012.

Common called into WGCI’s Tony Sculfield and the Morning Riot to discuss his ongoing war of words with Drake and cleared up “Serena’s” involvement. He also discussed his willingness to settle this in a more physical manner if need be.

Last year we gathered up our 25 favorite “mixtape bangers” – that is, all the cuts released on the internet without an official album or artist-sanctioned mixtape to call home. Since nobody presses 12″ singles anymore, this was our way of picking out our favorite street singles – the “best of the blogs”, if you [cont.]

The last we heard of First Serve it was 3AM in a Parisian suburb at an out of control house party with ‘The Goon Time Mixtape’ blasting into the night. That was just a taste of things to come from De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2 present ‘First Serve’; a dynamic hip-hop group, [cont.]

Heems (aka Himanshu Suri of Das Racist) released a free album today – Nehru Jackets features Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, Action Bronson, Childish Gambino and more. The album also features youth members of Queens, NY community organization SEVA, with whom the tape was released to raise awareness about redistricting in the borough. More about SEVA here. [cont.]

M-Phazes drops the first official single for his remix album Phazed Out, which drops digitally on February 14th and on CD on February 28th through Coalmine Records. The single is a remix of Coalmine’s inaugural single “The Raw” which features Saigon, Inspectah Deck and Bekay and includes an updated scratch chorus provided by DJ Boogie [cont.]

Check out AHF‘s in-depth interview with Kendrick Lamar about the music that shaped him and led him to hip-hop. He discusses everything from the earliest influences on his musical tastes to the deep connection between him, DMX and Tupac. You may have seen bits of the interview in our sneak peeks (posted below) but they [cont.]

From BJ’s Pineapple Now & Laters, due February 14th. Cue the sax solo.

While Schoolboy Q saw the release of Habits & Contradictions yesterday, the next Black Hippy crew member out the gate is Ab-Soul with a new cut.

The cover above pretty much explains this, as J. Rocc mixes a handful of tracks from Stones Throw’s forthcoming 2012 release schedule. J. Rocc – “Stones Throw 2012 Preview” Podcast

The 1982 duo samples Drake for their latest joint, 2012 coming soon. The album, we mean.

First Family member Big Inf teams with Camp Lo for this collaborative record.

One of the most important songs from The Greatest Story Never Told gets a video, directed by Nastee.

Fast rap spectacular from Slay’s Rhyme or Die LP, hitting soon.