New single from Respect Tha God off his debut album The Life In Times of Russell Ballegenger, which is in stores now. The album features Afu-Ra, Smif-n-Wesson, Fresh Daily, L.I.F.E. Long and more.

Respect Tha God – “I Rap” (MP3)

Footage from last night’s performance, with appearances from Raekwon, Ghostface, and Smif N Wessun. [Source: EW]

In a recent interview over at HipHopDX, Smif-N-Wesson revealed plans to team with Pete Rock, whom would handle all of the production for the group’s forthcoming fifth LP. While contracts are not signed yet, the wheels are in motion.

“We’re in the works, we’re talking, we’re going through the red tape and the papers and all of that, making sure everything is right, everybody is going to be taken care of and everything is happy. We kicked it with Pete, and he’s definitely excited about doing the project, and we know we’re excited about doing the project, this our fifth album. We thought about it, we were like ‘Alright, we can do it two ways: we can have Da Beatminerz do the album, or we can have Pete Rock do the album.’ We thought about, ‘Well, since Beatminerz is going to be doing the next Black Moon album, then we probably just need to do something a little different,” said Steele. – DJ Pizzo

    In the beginning it may seem odd to hear Tek with out Steele, but this isn’t the fist time that the Bucktown emcee has rolled dolo. In the past, he’s released Elameen Da Don Mixtape, and Amerikka’s Nightmare. While rhyming over beats by 50 Cent, Fabolous, Three Six Mafia, Busta Rhymes, R Kelly, and Wu-Tang Clan to name a few, the listener gets a full range of Tek’s lyrical skills. The power guitar chord laced, “Looptie Loop,” features Tek spitting some slick get money talk, but the chorus, “Shake your bod like a bowl of soup,” comes off as a bit cheesy. Don’t be discouraged; the rest of the mixtape goes down as smooth as a 40oz of King Cobra, filled with tough rhymes on tracks like, “Bust Them Things Bowy,” “St. Pat Day Massacre,” “Stackin My Dollars.”

   Tek, didn’t forget to include a little Timberland boot stomping, Boot Camp Clik flava for ya’ ears. “Trading Places; ft The Furious 4 (If you don’t know, Google them)” and “Oh Yeah,” both appeared on 2005′s, The Last Stand. Newer tracks like the hilarious anti-fat chick anthem, “Run Around,” “U.C.L.A. (Universal Corna Lexington Ave),” with its funky bounce-to-the-ounce style, and “I Like,” for those late night booty calls, are sure to be mixtape hits. 

  With 24 tracks, the tape runs quick, so it definitely needs to be listened to several times to be digested, but in 2007 look for more blazing releases to be dropped from the Duck Down camp.

     The album starts out with the Dru Kevorkian (aka Dru Ha) produced banger “Reloaded” which reintroduces the duo to the hip-hop world.  Tek and Steele spit fire from the mic and let the critics and fans alike know they always have and will be here.  The single “My Timbz Do Work” is an updated sound from “Da Shinin”, but the same grimy, dirty lyrics that made Tek and Steele hip-hop household names.  Justus League VP Khrysis lends his production skills to “Gunn Rap” and “Sick Em Son” adding his signature sound to Tek and Steele’s lyrical tirade.   New comer Coptic handles 4 tracks and the other up and comer to the fold, Moss lends his dark and eerie vibe to “Get Back”.  Speaking of up and comers one of my personal favorites on the album is the Ken Ring and Rune Rotter produced banger “War” utilizing the always popular Mobb Deep quote “There’s a war going on outside”.  This wouldn’t be a Smif-n-Wessun album without at least one Beatminerz produced heater, this time around Mr Walt and Evil Dee bring their sound to two of that albums stand-outs.  First being the mixtape favorite “Tools of the Trade” and the Tony Touch assisted “U Undastand Me”.  Both have an updated sound for 2005, but the Beatminerz haven’t missed a step.  Even the so-so tracks are better than most of the music that hits the airwaves nowadays, it’s just good to see people still doing hip-hop the right way.

   Though Tek and Steele are not the most lyrical cats in the game, they have never came wack. “Reloaded” is the an updated sound of a proven format that works, having Kweli, Dead Prez, Buckshot, and Heltah Skeltah can never hurt but they don’t need the help.  This duo can hold their own in this decade and beyond. The Duck Down family isn’t going anywhere, you can bet on that.