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Arson Optics feat. Young Nick & KaiZenPut It In The Air

Austin native, Arson Optics has just put out a new full length album, Lionheart, as a free download. The album features some crisp production from THX (Snoop, Clipse, David Banner), Cory Mo (Bun-B, Slim Thug) and of course Arson himself. Also there’s some guest emcee features from fellow Austinites, Young Nick and D.O.S.  From first listen, overall a solid effort and always good to see Austin continuing to make quality hip-hop.

Links
Arson Optics on MySpace

Download
Arson Options - Lionheart

A few months ago I posted up a track by Virginia based band, The Five One, off of the latest series of work they have out entitled the Virginia Complex. If you missed that post or missed their latest, “The Green Complex” go check it out now. If you have checked it out and are fiending for more, starting this week, Medium will be putting out a weekly track of cutting room floor and mixtape material. This week we have The Five One Remix of Lupe Fiasco’s “Fighters.” Peace.

Download
Lupe Fiasco- Fighters FiveOne Mix.wav

Links
Five One Official Page
Five One on Myspace

Download
Flowmasters

Two of Austin’s most active artists have posted up their first mixtape from a few months back online for free download. Containing songs from not only Zeale and Phran, but also a lot of other underground Texas artists.Get it while it’s out there. Peace

Links
Phranchyze on MySpace
Zeale on MySpace

Dj Rhettmatic - Live at The Do-Over

Beat Junkie, Dj Rhettmatic posted up an 87 minute mix from June 1st’s ‘ “The Do-Over” a weekly  party going down in LA this summer. The mix includes some hip-hop, funk, reggae, and even some Dilla exclisives. From the sounds of the live mix, definitely sounds like the only place to be at on an LA Sunday, so my LA people make sure yall check out the website and RSVP for the next one. Peace

Links
The Do-Over

Download
Dj Rhettmatic - Live at The Do-Over

One of the most influential artists of his time and one of my biggest influences, Alton Kelley, passed away a few days ago and will definitely be remembered. NPR ran a great story on his life and his art. Here’s an exceprt from the story:

Some call the art a visual extension of the music. Others call it the visual for a psychedelic experience. Mouse says it was both, and that the joke between the two of them was that you had to be under the influence to understand it. But ideas, Mouse says, came from trips to libraries and art galleries. Kelley and Mouse poured over books of Gustav Klimpt, Japanese poster art, and art nouveau.

Go over to NPR to listen to or read the complete story.