Taken from the album MK Ultra: Operation Hypnosis.

Nick Wiz on the beat, from the forthcoming Pre-Magnum Opus mixtape.

Video for the title cut from S-Double’s new Keepers of the Lost Art LP. Directed by Olise Forel for Moving Silence.

Shabaam Sahdeeq’s been quietly killing the game for almost a straight decade, and that’s not even counting the work he put in with Rawkus and Raptivism in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Besides logging some highway miles with Sean Price and P.F. Cuttin on the Grown Man Rap Tour and hosting his own showcase, It’s Alive, in New York City, S-Dubs quietly released one of the stronger albums of the 2014 in Keepers of the Lost Art, an album that features cameos from the likes of Stimuli, Wais P, and Skyzoo along with production from Harry Fraud. When he’s not getting shouted out by Dave Chappelle or prepping for the Czech’s largest hip-hop festival, Hip-Hop Kemp, the part-time barber, full-time MC took some time to chop it up with us about Keepers of the Lost Art, his 2014 state of mind, the Shabaam Sahdeeq legacy, what’s been up with DJ Spinna, if a Polyrhythm Addicts reunion is possible, how often “5 Star Generals” gets referenced, his workout regimen, and much more in this insightful and exclusive interview.

DJ Eclipse tells us: “In 1998 both L-Fudge and Shabaam Sahdeeq released 12″ singles on Rawkus Records. Rawkus had been around for a minute, but it was with this era of releases that they really started making some noise (along with Company Flow, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Sir Menelik, The High & Mighty and others). Here’s footage from the Fat Beats NYC in-store celebrating the release of these two singles. Like most FB in-stores, it was never limited to just the advertised artists. In this clip you’ll see L-Fudge, Talib Kweli, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Skam2? & A.L. Skills all performing. Shout out to Max Glazer on the wheels although he’s unseen.”

Produced by Lando Beats.

Shabaam releases his comeback LP, Keepers Of The Lost Art, available today. Peep it in its entirety below.

Next Tuesday, S-Double will releases his new LP, Keepers Of The Lost Art. Here is one of four the album’s digital bonus tracks, “Do You”, produced by DJ Spinna. Bodya…

Brooklyn veteran spit kicker Shabaam Sahdeeq has returned with his fifth studio album, Keepers Of The Lost Art. The relentless lyricist delivers a body of work that puts his lyrical aptitude at the forefront, while placing an emphasis on top shelf production and cuts, courtesy of Ran Reed, Lewis Parker, DJ Dister, DJ Ready Cee and DJ Skizz, to name a few.

What originally started as 40 tracks, Keepers Of The Lost Art was eventually boiled down to 20, reflecting S-Dub’s most comprehensive longplay release to date. The LP details his motivation to stay in the game and fight for the culture with bars as tough as the mic in his hand. The production runs the gamut from laid back as exemplified by the nostalgic piano chords on the Lewis Parker produced “Walk with the Light,” to electrifying, as demonstrated by the DJ Skizz produced street banger “That Dope,” which boasts features from Brooklyn’s premiere panderer Wais P, and the lyrically sharp Sha Stimuli. And complain no more club deejays, Shabaam has you covered for a dance friendly cut to spin late Friday nights with the DJ Wonder produced “Fall In Line.” It’s safe to call it a comeback as his rhymes are as polished today, as they were when he made his Rawkus debut in ’97 with “Arabian Nights” B/W “Side 2 Side.”

Artistically, the album cover reveals a scenario where Hip-Hop’s younger generation discovers the cultural keepsakes of yesteryear. From a solid gold boombox, to jewel crusted crowns, drum machines, and outboard gear, S-Dub is here to confront the generational disconnect, as spelled out on the Eric Rico featured “Grown Man Hustle” — “Some of these young boys consider me a throwback, I birthed your style you need to give me my flow back,” spits S-Dub. When explaining the album cover, Shabaam states: “Imagine the world came to an end in an apocalypse and some kids survived in a bunker. Now when the dust settles and the smoke is gone, the kids come out the bunker and discover a treasure chest in an old music store that contains all the elements of Hip-Hop, and started having fun with it.” Whether you see it as a time capsule or the last defense of Hip-Hop’s watchmen, Keepers Of The Lost Art could be played ten years ago, today, and ten years from now with high praise.

Keepers of the Lost Art includes guest features from the likes of Tragedy Khadafi, REKS, El Gant, Wais P, Sha Stimuli, Skyzoo, F.T., Mic Handz, General DV (DV Alias Khrist), Spit Gemz, and Bekay among others, and becomes available April 22nd via digital download and CD, through Below System.

Tracklist:
01. Keepers Of The Lost Art (prod. by Res Nullius)
02. Conceited Confidence (prod. by Ran Reed)
03. Playing Games (prod. by Lewis Parker)
04. Speak Truth (feat. Reks & Kamala) [prod. by DJ Ready Cee]
05. Walk With the Light (prod. by Lewis Parker)
06. That Dope (feat. Wais P & Sha Stimuli) [prod. by DJ Skizz]
07. Hardbody & Heavy (feat. Half A Brick, EastKoast & DJ Dister) [prod. by Lewis Parker]
08. Tranquilo (prod. by Harry Fraud)
09. Grown Man Hustle (feat. Eric Rico) [prod. by Lewis Parker]
10. The Come Back Kid (feat. Skyzoo and F.T.) [prod. By DJ Skizz]
11. Seasons Change (prod. by Lewis Parker)
12. City of Fame (feat. Mic Handz) [prod. by Teike van Baden]
13. He Who Dares (feat. Lewis Parker) [prod. by Lewis Parker]
14. Fall In Line (prod. by DJ Wonder)
15. O.G. Certified (feat. Tragedy Khadafi & DJ Ready Cee) [prod. by Lewis Parker]
16. Done It All (feat. Bekay) [prod. by DJ Dister]
17. Relax (Remix) [prod. by DJ Dister]
18. Energon 2 (feat. Spit Gemz & DJ Dister) [prod. by One Take]
19. Honor Me Now (Remix) [prod. by Science of Vinyl Villains]
20. U Don’t Want None (feat. General DV) [prod. by AlterBeats]
Bonus Tracks (Digital Only):
21. Cut From a Different Cloth (feat. Hakim) [prod. by Donald Robinson Cole the 3rd]
22. Do You (prod. by DJ Spinna)
23. Motion Picture (prod. by DJ Spinna)

“Tranquilo” is Shabaam Sahdeeq’s First single released on the Netherlands label Below System, This single will be included on the Album Keepers of The Lost Art. Release date April 22 2014 on Below System. Intro Video of Dave Chappelle provided By; Sandi Genetti and G Lite of Good Boy Clothing. Video Directed and edited by Andy Martinez / Uncommon ERA.

S-Double returns with the second offering from his forthcoming album, Keepers Of The Lost Art, following up, “Seasons Change” off of the same album. The new album that will be available on Marvial ENT/ KingUnderground records, distributed digitally with Hardtime records in 2014.

S-Double is back. Produced by DJ Skizz.

Directed by Olise Forel for Moving Silence. Beat by Lewis Parker.

Starting the year off with a limited edition 45 Vinyl produced by DJ Spinna available on pre order next week. For now here is the sneak peek. The art of story telling is still alive, taking a page from Slick Rick and Nas, Shabaam Sahdeeq engages in a action packed story with the backdrop provided by DJ Spinna. Digi 12″ drops next week also with the B Side ‘Do You’.

S-Double returns with the Degrees Of Separation mixtape, Hosted and mixed by DJ Ready Cee & Dj Mixx, featuring Smoke Dza, Bekay, Harry Fraud, Sadat X, Smoke Dza, Dj Spinna, Royal Flush, Lewis Parker & more.

Shabaam Sahdeeq – “Degrees Of Separation” (Mixtape)