In this episode of Tony Williams’ #Road2KoTF, he recounts his time in the studio during Kanye West’s Graduation LP. In the clip, he shows never-seen-before footage of Kanye playing the track “Big Brother” for Jay-Z, which makes him a bit “emotional”. Surely one of the dopest cuts in Kanye’s catalog.

Keith Murray speaks with Young Jack Thriller about his next mixtape and album release, as well as fighting 2Pac. Hilarious interview.

Birdman weighs in on YMCMB’s stance on the Common/Drake beef. He don’t want it…..

While Big K.R.I.T. will be releasing his Def Jam debut, Live From The Underground, in 2012, he will first release the next mixtape in his “4Eva” series with 4EvaNaDay. He announced today via Facebook that the tape will hit on February 20th, with the first single, “I Got This”, due February 1st.

Decent use of an overused Axe sample on this track. It can be found on the CPR Blendtape hosted by DJ Lo’ Down Loretta Brown aka Erykah Badu. Features guest appearances from Maimouna Youseff, RatheMC, XO and yU of Diamond District, KingPen Slim and more. Shouts to ’89 Spike Lee.

Donnis kicks off the new year with a new “Snack Pack”, featuring new tracks “Gimmie” and “Wanna Be Bad”. The “Hoes” video is coming soon, check the preview below. Donnis “Snack Pack Vol. One”

Pusha borrows fellow G.O.O.D. Music emcee Common’s “Sweet” instrumental and shoots a video for it. What’s the meaning of him taking of his Clipse chains at the end of the video and putting them on the kid? Directed by Samuel Rogers.

Above, Kris gives an in-depth interview with The Archivest. Meanwhile, KRS has reunited with Kenny Parker for The BDP Album, which on sale now on Itunes.

Thisis50 & Young Jack Thriller recently spoke with Prodigy for an exclusive interview. In part 1, he talks about his biggest misconception and the origin of the Tupac beef. Stay tuned next week for part 2 of our interview with Prodigy.

We decided to skip the “Biggest Songs Of The Year” or “Best Club Bangers” list, for a few reasons. One, we can’t tell good from bad when we are drunk in the club, two, this shit has been covered ad nauseum, and three, it makes us feel like we’re at work. We’re tired enough of [cont.]

Jay-Z and Beyonce celebrate of their daughter with the release of this new track. Hello Hello Baby Blue. We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012. Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. She was delivered naturally at a [cont.]

Uh-Oh. Common let’s Rick Ross and Drake’s original ride, then goes on the attack in the third verse.

Fresh off a stint in prison, the self -proclaimed, “King of the South”, T.I., returns with his latest musical offering to start the year off right. The Grand Hustle leader presents a mixtape full of all original music to prep fans for his inevitable studio release coming sooner than later. If it feels like we’ve [cont.]

UK’s own Paul White presents “The Doldrums” music video from last year’s album “Rapping With Paul White.” “The Doldrums” is the second official music video from the album, which features Danny Brown, Guilty Simpson, and others. “The Doldrums” video is an animated mind trip courtesy of Plastic Horse.

So, last year we picked 25 of our favorite mixtapes, but this year we narrowed it down to a concise 10 selections. Why? Well, how many times can you hear freestyles over the same “hot” instrumentals? So, this year, we trimmed the fat, instead choosing the cream-of-the-crop. As far as the 2011 mixtape game is [cont.]

Malice explains the meaning behind the title Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind and Naked and why he decided to write it.

Huntsville, Alabama’s Jackie Chain linked with Freddie Gibbs for a joint off his upcoming mixtape with Fool’s Gold Records’ Nick Catchdubs.

Directed by Sucre and Thirstin. From Big Vic Lo’s Natural Born Skiller LP. Nice use of a GZA vocal sample.

Undun‘s show-stealer releases this freestyle over Gotye’s “Game Of Thrones”. Just a year after my car accident I’ve put out more music than I have in my whole career. I will continue to release plenty more in the up-coming year including the next installments of ‘The Greatest Rapper Never’ trilogy ‘Transformation’ and ‘The Realization.’

BBC’s Sound of 2012 runner up Frank Ocean talks to the BBC about his inspiration, playing live, Odd Future, videos for “Swim Good” and “Novacane” with director Nabil Elderkin, and his hopes for the year ahead.