The Audacity of Dope

I recently mentioned that Shad was one of my favorite discoveries of the past year (watch this video to see why) and I should also add Fashawn to that list as well.  The MC from Fresno (what up Blake?) killed every appearance I heard from him this year and he’s dropped a new mixtape to help close out the year in style.  In conjunction with the homies at NahRight and OnSmash, check out Higher Learning:

1. Intro
2. Fortified Live (Remix)
3. Freedom
4. Let Me See Your ID (Skit)
5. Day ‘N’ Nite (Remix) (feat. KiD CuDi)
6. Sunday Morning (Remix) (feat. K-OS)
7. The Far Left (feat. Alchemist & Evidence)
8. Turf Rap (Remix)
9. Seize Power (Skit)
10. Politics (feat. Krondon)
11. Jimmy (Ratatat Remix)
12. Fake ID
13. Life Is Too Short
14. Buyers Guide
15. Cold Shoulder (Remix) (feat. Adele)
16. You Lookin At Me (Skit)
17. Something Special
18. Do You (Skit)
19. Still Gettin Mine “5-5-9″ (Remix) (feat. Rickochet)
20. Beautiful Day (Remix) (feat. Evidence, Big Pooh, Aloe Blacc, Mickey Factz, Theo & Kes Kaos)
21. Over When Its Done (Outro)

Download here.

My friend: “There are so many dope videos dropping these days, it’s tough to keep up.”
Me: “Didn’t I just talk to you bout my new job?  Tell me about it…”

Here’s that video Al was talking about in my interview with him and Evidence off his new EP, The Alchemist Cookbook.  It’s always cool to see someone tackle making a video for a song like this in a dope and creative way.  Super dope, but if only they could have dropped this in time for Halloween…

Courtesy of OnSmash.

Like I mentioned a while back, I got a chance to catch up with the homies Evidence (of Dilated Peoples) and Alchemist when they came to Seattle at the start of the month for the “Still High” tour with Red & Meth.  We’ve had both dudes on Sound Session a few times before, but this was the first occasion where they came through together.  Every time I chop it up with Ev and Al, they’re cool as hell.

This time around, we talked all about their current projects, including Evidence’s Layover EP, Alchemist’s Alchemist Cookbook (which drops online today!), Al’s Gang Green album with Oh No, and their Stepbrothers group effort.  They also touched on how new media has affected their careers, the recent West Coast resurgence, who they list as dream collaborations, and much more.  Peep that:

Evidence & Alchemist on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?yzjtjgejieu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51481522ef6ce739/ )

Go grab Al’s Alchemist Cookbook at your favorite digital retailer and be sure to cop The Layover EP a week from today.  If you’ve been staying up to date on the videos so far, you know it’s crazy…

Another video from Ev’s Layover EP dropping on the 25th.  I’ll be posting up an interview later today that I did with the homies Ev and Al when they were in town a few weeks ago, where you can hear ‘em talk about all the dope projects they have coming up.  And no, we didn’t talk about what it’s like to look mildly similar. [jada] ah-HAAAA [/jada]

I just spent last night chilling with the homies Evidence and Alchemist during the Seattle stop of the “Still High” tour with Method Man, Redman, and Termanology (what up Term & Dan!).  We recorded a dope interview where they both broke down all the various projects their working on, but it may take a minute for me to toss that up online.  In the meantime, peep the new video for “The Far Left” featuring Al and Fashawn from Ev’s Layover EP , dropping on Nov. 25th.  Ev said they’ll be releasing videos for 7 of the 9 tracks on there, and so far we’re on #2 (if you missed #1, peep “The Layover”).  Fashawn will also be dropping visuals for his “Our Way” joint with Ev verrrrrrrry soon too.

Also, to tide you over, check out The Layover Mixtape that Ev put together with DJ Skee.  Guests include Defari, Chace Infinite, Fashawn, U-N-I, Big Pooh, Aloe Blacc, Theo, Crooked I, Strong Arm Steady, Bishop Lamont, Casual, Alchemist, and more.

Tracklisting and download link after the jump.

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