Amoeba Music Berkeley Hip-Hop Top Five Week Ending 01:13:12

1) The Roots Undun (MCA)
2) Common The Dreamer/The Believer (Warner)
3) Pac Div The Div (RBC)
4) Onra Chino Series Pt 2 (All City)
5) Thirsty Fish Watergate (Mush)
Thanks to my man E-Lit for both the above latest top five hip-hop chart and the video interview in which the diehard Berkeley Amoeba employee/ hip-hop fanatic gives a nice run down of both brand new releases and some upcoming 2012 hip-hop releases that we should keep an eye out for. As E-Lit says and I fully agree 2012 looks like it is going to be a really exciting year for new hip-hop. E-Lit mentions some of the upcoming 2012 releases in the video clip above. I also mentioned some, including Gift of Gab's sure to be dope forthcoming 2012 album The Next Logical Progression, in last week's Amoeblog Weekly Rap Up and again in a recent Amoeblog on both Pep Love's forthcoming Rigmarole album on the Hiero label. Other upcoming 2012 releases to keep an eye out for include a new one from Blacastan and a DJ Premier produced joint by Big Shug that features guest spots from both M.O.P. and Fat Joe.


for the legal defense funds of Mumia Abu Jamal and Leonard Peltier. Aptly titled From Oakland to Freedom! Peltier Abu Jamal! Shut It Down! Free 'Em All this fundraiser has been inundated with artists wanting to donate their time and talent for a cause that strikes a nerve with so many. In addition to Dregs One artists scheduled to perform include Aztec, Fly Benzo, De-Colonized Rymerz, Sogorea Te Warriors, Salah Shambe, Eseibio The Automatic, Abdul Malik, Mestiza, Seneca, Jeremy Goodfeather, Mikhael, and Shango Abiola. The organizers, who say that there may even be some last minute additions to this line up, time permitting, in their official statement for the event say that, "We of Labor Black Brown as well as numerous allies are organizing a fundraiser for the Legal Defense of Mumia Abu Jamal and Leonard Peltier."
llective talents to this event and what he sees as the importance and implications of this concert? "Even though Peltier and Abu-Jamal were locked up decades ago, it's beautiful that people are still fighting for their releaese - and ugly that they're still in prison," he said. "I think it's important for people to know that there are American citizens who are jailed as political prisoners and it's sad that more folks aren't informed of their story. Hopefully we can change that through the music we make and events like this one!," said Dregs One who did an
holiday then seriously consider volunteering at John O'Connell High School in San Francisco with the 
the 37 year old emcee wears his heart on his sleeve and expresses how he sees his own personal mental/creative development as an individual who has been in the ever challenging rap music industry for so long.
with the late, veteran Trenton NJ producer (and emcee) Tony D who is best known for his work with Poor Righteous Teachers and YZ. Produced by The Custodian of Records "Thursday Night Live" is the lead single from the forthcoming 7 Immortals album - one of the many new releases to drop in 2012.
Due out later this month is Kid Cudi's anticipated new album which will feature the popular Dot Da Genius produced-song "No One Believes Me" that was released in advance several months ago. The video below, directed by Craig Gillespie (Mr. Woodcock), was featured on Fright Night movie soundtrack. Note that the album is not the follow up to 2010's Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager but rather the first release from the rock band he and Dot da Genius formed called WZRD (formerly Wizard). 
