Medium

This is a new track from Hero, who we have covered here in the past as one half of the group Hero and Rad. This is the first single off Hero’s upcoming compilation, Stay Fresh Vol. 2, which is a collection of tracks from underground artists that Hero has worked with, along with a mix of other underground acts from Texas. This track is produced by digi.M.

Stay Fresh Vol. 2 is slated to drop in August, for the meantime, download the single and check out Stay Fresh Vol. 1 if you already haven’t. You can also preview Hero and Rad’s debut album, Resilience online at Last.fm.

Cover artwork by The Honest Ape

Mic Skills – Criminal

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Houston’s Mic Skills previews the video for “Criminal” off of Defiant. Available on iTunes and basically everywhere else you want it to be. Defiant has appearances from Mike and Ike, Zeale32, Cerebral Vortex, Karina Nistal and The Legendary KO.

Courtesy of RappersIknow.com

Video for “Beautiful World” off of Houston’s  D. Rose & DJ Cozmos – Taster’s Choice, available on iTunes (iTunes Link).

Originally Published on May 30, 2008, Re-published on April 14, 2009

Hero & Rad ft. Mike & Ike – Smoothness, Coolness

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download
Smoothness, Coolness.mp3

Southwest Houston’s Hero and Rad released their debut album “Resilience” on March 6 locally and it’s steadily growing a buzz from Houston’s underground. Featured on FWMJ’s Rappers I Know SXSW Showcase in Austin a few weeks back, appearances from The Legendary KO (K-Otix), Mic Skills and Digi M’s unique production is going to make Hero and Rad something you’re going to be hearing more of very soon, trust me.

Check out this interview with Rad from FWMJ’s Rappers I Know a few weeks back.

Smoothness, Coolness is the first singe off the album before they launch it nationally, with a video featuring Austin in the works. Download it now, don’t say I never did anything for you.

Links
Mike & Ike on MySpace
Hero on MySpace
Rad on MySpace

Original Post:
Nice smoothed out track for your weekend. Originally posted on the HoustonHipHop.com forums, had a slow day today so decided to make a little something for this track. Mike tells me that Hero & Rad have a coming out soon, maybe they have a bit more information for us, either way the track is good. I don’t have much more information on these Hero and Rad guys, outside of the fact that they’ve recorded some songs with Mike and Ike and that they’re from Houston. Either way, good to see Houston and Austin artist working on something new, going to have to wait to see what else comes of these collaborations.

Hero & Rad ft. Mike & Ike – Smoothness, Coolness

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I know my homies Mike and Ike both have worked with these two in the past and have nothing but good things to say about both of them and Mic Skills stays crazy busy supporting and promoting independent hip hop through his Mission Control events. Go over to RapperIknow.com to read more and check out some tracks from the Mic Skills and Rad.

Links
Mic Skills
Rad

Texas hip-hop artists Bun-B and Mike Jones put their Texas hip-hop knowledge to the test on XXL’s I Know Rap People – Texas Edition.

Hero & Rad ft. Mike & Ike – Smoothness, Coolness

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Houston based hip-hop duo Hero & Rad will be premiering their new album, Resilience, this Friday March 6 at Mission Control. Mission Control is a hip hop event that H-town resident Mic Skills has been putting on for quite some time and always promotes some solid independent Texas hip hop music. The venue is The Backroom, its 21+, its free and you get to check out some fresh off the press Texas hip hop.

Links
Hero
Rad
Mission Control

Listen to the entire mix Nintendbub by Squincy Jones (Running Time 40:46)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Tracklisting

Mario Ds Screwed Intro
Rogue State – Lions Paw (Metroid – Kraid’s Hide Edit)
Babylon System – Dancing Shoes (Draped Out Edit)
Walsh & Kromestarr – Panik Room (3 Kings Edit)
Marlow – Road Kill (Goonies Edit)
Benga – Zombie Jig (Wizards & Warriors Kryptonite Edit)
Rusko – Hornz Cru (Diet Kryptonite Edit)
Loefah – Disko Rekah (Goonies Pop Trunk Edit)
Unsolved Mysteries Theme
Chimpo – Lockoff (Freaky Girl Edit)
Nastee Boi – Bangorz (Knuck if you Buck Edit)
Mike Lennon – When Science Fails (Hektagon Remix) (that one broad Swing Edit)
Babylon System – Loaded
Dj Unk – Beatn Down Yo Block
Woogie – End Dub
Rustie – Response
DZ – Just Rolling
Rustie – Jagz The Smack (Zelda Edit)
Gerard McMann – Cry Little Sister
Kode 9 – 9 Samurai
Kode 9 – 9 Samurai (Quarta 330 Remix)

Yet another quality promo mix emerges from SXSW in Austin, this one by Houston based dj, Squincy Jones (aka Shane Rector) Definitely a great concept and executed well by Squincy. If you’re in Houston, check out Squincy every Thursday as he hosts Speakerboxx, a weekly party at The Backroom. Squincy describes the weekly Thursday night party as “… the house party your mom warned you about—it’s grimy, rowdy, and the kids ain’t alright. Yet the vibe is infectious, furious fun.”

“Nintendub” by Squincy Jones

Download
Nintendbub by Squincy Jones Running Time 40:46

Links
Squincy Jones
awwready.blogspot.com
Speakerboxx Thursdays

Artwork for Nintendbub by Haterzville