Portuguese Rap #2 – LDNM

Today I'm bringing another portuguese classic group, Líderes da Nova Mensagem, that also made their debut on Rapública, but disbanded after their first album, and I found even less information about them than from Black Company, I only know that Líderes da Nova Mensagem were:

Pio (MC)
Newton (MC)
Beat Box King (MC)
DJ Jawasp (DJ)

The good news is that I've found the most important, their one and only album, they have a more old school vibe than BC, enjoy:

Líderes da Nova Mensagem (1997) Kom-Tratake

01. Yntrodução
02. Líderes da Nova Mensagem
03. Kom-Tratake
04. Sttop
05. Passamumicrofone
06. Cuidado! A Mentira!
07. O Que Lá Vai Lá Vai E O Que Virá Virá (com Vania, Samuel e Pacas)
08. Pausa
09. Ponham As Mãos No Céu (com Vania, Samuel e Pacas)
10. Diálogo do Vinil
11. Estilo Livre 1 (com D-Mars, Double V e Sanryse)
12. Lembra-me Quando Lá Estive...
13. Levanta-te
14. Sarilhos
15. Mensageiros do Massacre (voz off de José Mariño)
16. Separa-nos a Neblina
17. O Puto do Bairro
18. Estilo Livre 2 (com Melo D, Black Bird e G Pump)
19. Eis O Nosso Show

They're BACK!!!

X-Clan [2007] Return From Mecca

After the death of hip-hop cultural leader Professor X in March 2006, hip-hop activists X-Clan return to the spotlight with a new album. The group's first disc since 1992.
Led by founding member Brother J, X-Clan are looking to recover some of the critical acclaim they garnered more than a decade ago with their first two releases, To the East Blackwards and Xodus.
Some big name collaborators lent X-Clan a hand on the new disc, including Jurassic 5's Chali 2na, KRS-One, RBX, Abstract Rude, YZ and Damian "Junior Gong" Marley.

1. Intro
2. Aragorn
3. Voodoo ft. RBX & Quazedelic
4. Hovercraft
5. Why You Doin That
6. Weapon X
7. Speak The Truth ft. KRS-One
8. Positrons
9. Mecca ft. Jah Orah
10. Prison ft. Christian Scott
11. Atonement ft. Jah Orah
12. Brother Brother
13. Funky 4 U ft. Chali 2NA
14. Self Destruct
15. Space People ft. Quazedelic
16. Trump Card ft. Hannah B
17. To The East ft. YZ & Abstract Rude
18. Locomotion ft. Brad-X and Tri-State
19. Americans ft. Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach
20. 3rd Eye ft. Tri State
21. Culture United ft. Damian Marley
22. Untitled (bonus track)

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RZA [2007] Presents... Afro Samurai (The Soundtrack)-

There's no need for introduction, everyone knows RZA, and who better than him to make a soundtrack to the bad ass Afro Samurai animation series? Expect the usual dope beats and Kung Fu samples, plus some Samuel L. Jackson ones from the show. Great guests, an amazing soundtrack.

-

01. Afro Theme
02. Afro Intro (Inst.)
03. Certified Samurai (Feat. Talib Kweli, Lil Free & Suga Bang)
04. Just A Lil Dude "who Dat Ovah There" (Feat. Q-Tip & Free Murder)
05. Afro's Father Fight (Inst.)
06. Oh (Stone Mecca)
07. The Walk (Stone Mecca)
08. Bazooka Fight (Inst. 1)
09. Who Is Tha Man (Feat. The Reverend William Burk)
10. Ninjaman (Inst.)
11. Cameo Afro (Feat. Big Daddy Kane, Gza & Suga Bang)
12. Tears Of A Samurai (Inst.)
13. Take Sword Pt. 1 (Feat. Beretta 9)
14. The Empty 7 Theme (Inst.)
15. Baby (Feat. Maurice)
16. Take Sword Pt. 2 (Feat. 60 Seconds & True Master)
17. Bazooka Fight 2 (Inst. 2)
18. Fury In My Eyes/revenge (Feat. Thea)
19. Afro Samurai Theme (First Movement) (Inst.)
20. Afro Samurai Theme (Second Movement) (Inst.)
21. Insomnia (Feat. Jay Love) (Bonus Track)
22. So Fly (Feat. Division) (Bonus Track)
23. We All We Got (Feat. Black Knights) (Bonus Track)
24. Glorious Day (Feat. Dexter Wiggles) (Bonus Track)
25. Series Outro (Inst.)

I was going to upload the new Sean P. album too, but today my internet connection sucks...

Remindstate

Pete Philly & Perquisite [2007] Remindstate

After the release of the incredible Mindstate album, the Dutch group is back with Remindstate, a totally remixed version of their critically acclaimed debut. Remindstate contains all 16 tracks of the debut album remixed by Pete & Perq's favorite beat creators and groups from all over the world, such as Seiji (Bugz in the Attic, UK), DJ Mitsu the Beats (Japan), Laidback Luke (NL), Nicolay (Foreign Exchange, NL/USA), Morgan Spacek (Spacek, UK) and the New Generation Big Band (NL) and many others. Don't sleep on this, even Talib Kweli (who also guested on Mindstate) declared that Pete Philly & Perquisite are musically light years ahead of the game.

1. Intro (Perquisite Remix)
2. Relieved (New Generation Big Band Remix)
3. Insomnia (Laagman Remix)
4. Motivated (Crackman Remix)
5. Eager (Perquisite Remix)
6. Lazy (Collective Efforts Remix)
7. Respect (C-Mon & Kypski Remix)
8. Cocksure (Laidback Luke Remix)
9. Conflicted (Metropole Orchestra Remix)
10. Grateful (Nicolay Remix)
11. Mindstate (Arts the Beatdoctor Remix)
12. Mellow (Morgan Spacek Remix)
13. Paranoid (Darin G Remix)
14. Cheeky (DJ PCM Remix)
15. Hope w/ Talib Kweli (DJ Mitsu Remix)
16. Amazed (Seiji Remix)

Big props to HHB for posting this one.

Ruff Draft

J Dilla [2007] Ruff Draft (Re-Issue)

J Dilla's early masterpiece, Ruff Draft, will be officially re-released with bonus tracks, interludes and instrumentals in March on Stones Throw Records.

01 Intro
02 Let’s Take It Back
03 Reckless Driving
04 Nothing Like This
05 The $
06 Interlude
07 Make’em NV
08 Interlude
09 Crushin’ (Yeeeeaah!)
10 Shouts
11 Intro (Alt) *
12 Wild *
13 Take Notice, feat. Guilty Simpson *
14 Shouts (Alt) *

*previously unreleased

Rest in Peace J. Dilla

Hip-Hop Is Alive

Statik Selektah and Q-Tip

The Look Of Love (Hip-Hop Is Alive)

I'm not a big fan of this DJ hosted mixtapes, but Statik Selektah has been putting out some dope stuff lately, so here's a fresh mix cd for download.
After killing recent mix CD releases with Nas ("The Prophecy 2") and Termanology ("Hood Politics IV), mixtape master, Statik Selektah returns with "The Look Of Love", a tribute to the late great J. Dilla and to real Hip-Hop, hosted by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest! 25 tracks including exclusives, blends, and remixes.
I'm currently hooked up to some tracks, like Skillz "Hip Hop Died?", Termanology's "This Is Hip Hop" and Busta Rhymes verse on Imagine remix is also dope.

1. "Q-Tip One Love Intro"
2. "I Used to Love H.E.R. (Look of Love Remix) - Common (feat. J. Dilla)"
3. "Act Too... Love of My Life - The Roots (feat. Common)"
4. "What They Do - The Roots"
5. "Hold the Torch - Busta Rhymes (feat. Q-Tip)"
6. "Hold Tight - Slum Village (feat. Q-Tip)"
7. "The Light (Original and Remix) - Common"
8. "Find My Way - A Tribe Called Quest"
9. "The Love - A Tribe Called Quest"
10. "The Love Song - Bush Babees (feat. Mos Def)"
11. "Q-Tip Interlude"
12. "Lovin' It - Little Brother"
13. "Much More - De La Soul"
14. "This Is Hip Hop - Termanology and DC"
15. "The Old School (Showoff Mix) - Biggie and Pac"
16. "Hip Hop Died? - Skillz"
17. "Can We Go Back? - Hi-Tek (feat. Talib Kweli)"
18. "Love of My Life - Erykah Badu and Common"
19. "So Far to Go - J. Dilla (feat. Common and D'Angelo)"
20. "Love Is... - Common"
21. "Two and Two - Talib Kweli"
22. "Imagine - Snoop (feat. Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre and D'Angelo)"
23. "Music is Life - Hi-Tek (feat. Nas, Common and Marsha)"
24. "Can't Stop This - The Roots"
25. "Only One Can Win - Termanology"

Rapidshare link:
Parts 1 & 2

Sendspace link:

Natural Selection Vol. 2.0

Nature Sounds - Natural Selection Vol. 2.0

[2007]

1. Pete Rock feat. Styles P and Sheek Louch "914"
2. Hell Razah "Buried Alive"
3. R.A. The Rugged Man "Super"
4. Mathematics feat. Raekwon "Trees"
5. DJ Babu feat. Little Brother and Joe Scudda "Fan Mail"
6. Psycho Les, Al Tariq and Problems "Chedda"
7. DJ Babu feat. Defari "Truth Be Told"
8. Mathematics feat, U-God, Masta Killa, Buddah Bless and Solomon Childs "King Toast Queen"
9. Masta Killa feat. Inspectah Deck and GZA "Street Corners (MF Doom Remix)"
10. Hell Razah feat. Talib Kweli and MF Doom"Project Jazz"
11. Psycho Les "Bonus Beat"
12. DJ Babu "Bonus Beat"

Rap Dungeon Selection #05

Rap Dungeon Selection #05

Here's a new pack of tracks that have been flowating aroud on the last weeks, the first track will be on Afro Samurai's soundtrack. Peace out.

01. RZA - Jus A Lil Dude(Who's That) (feat. Q-Tip, Free Murder)
02. Papoose - Fruits Of Labor (Feat. Rell)
03. Skillz - 2006 Rap Up
04. Muro - The Roosevelts feat. Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Trife Da God
05. Lord Finesse ft. Grand Puba - Real Talk
06. Redman feat. George Clinton - I Ain't Trippin'
07. Sean Price - P Body
08. Canibus - Salute
09. Will.I.Am ft Krs-One - Take it
10. Raekwon feat. Smif N Wessun - I Recall
11. Tech N9ne Feat. Kalibur, Kostic - Killin It
12. Bekay - 2006 Year In Review
13. Royce Da 5'9 - Return of Malcolm (Freestyle)
14. Joe Budden - Unforgiven

Note: I named the file RDS4, but it's actually 5, my bad.

Roadkill Overcoat

Busdriver (2007) Roadkill Overcoat

Brand new album from Busdriver , an alternative hip-hop MC known for his staccato, jazzy, free-association rap and electronic, and the eccentric personality he expresses through it. Don’t expect the typical rap album, but yes a great hip-hop/electronic fusion.

1. Casting Agent And Cowgirls
2. Less Yes's. More No's
3. Kill Your Employer (Recreational Paranoia Is The Sport Of Now)
4. Ethereal Driftwood
5. Secret Skin
6. Sun Showers
7. Go Slow
8. Troglodyte Wins, The
9. Pompous Posies! Your Party's No Fun
10. (Bloody Paw On The) Kill Floor
11. Mr. Mistakes
12. Dream Catcher's Mitt

Portuguese Rap #1 – Black Company

I’ve been wanting to do this post for quite a while, but laziness always go the best of me, and finding info about the old school groups isn’t easy, and of course there are those classic albums that I also can’t find.

As I said before, Rapública was a Landmark for Portuguese rap, and most of the artists who were featured on that compilation, released solo albums, a lot are nowadays forgotten by most of people. I’ll post some of my favorites:

Coming from Miratejo, Black Company released the first big hit on the Portuguese Hip-Hop scene, and the first video, “Nadar” from Rapública.

Black Company were:

Guto(MC)
Bambino(MC)
Makas(MC)
KJB(DJ) (who was replaced by DJ Soon)

They released an album in 1995 called “Geração Rasca”, but unfortunately, the rip of the album that I own is protected with a wma licence, and the quality is pretty shitty, so I can’t find a way to convert it. “Filhos da Rua” is definitely on of my favorites, it has good beats, story-telling songs (“Tony” in particular, the story of a psychopath), party songs, deep songs, great scratches and the “Skills” skits, that contain freestyle battles. Classic.

Black Company (1998) Filhos da Rua

01.Intro (Depois da Tempestade, o Flavor)
02.Escuta
03.Gina
04.Skills DJ (There Is No Competition)
05.Chico Dread
06.Sombras
07.Julieta & Romeu
08.Skills 1
09.Inveja (Interlúdio Gutto)
10.Tony
11.Skills 2
12.Império da Calçada
13.Meu People (Interlúdio Bambino)
14.Anjo Vingador
15.Lágrimas
16.+ Principalmente (Interlúdio Makkas)
17.Genuíno (com Boss AC)
18.Skills DJ (There Is No Competition)
19.DJ
20.Skills 3
21.Estrilho
22.MC's

I have some Requests for my portuguese fellas, if anyone has any of this albums from back in the day, please rip it for me, so I can share it with everyone,

Black Company - Geração Rasca
General D – Kanimambo
Djamal - Abram Espaço

Talib Kweli and Madlib

Talib Kweli and Madlib (2007) Liberation

Brand new free EP/Mixtape from Talib Kweli, look out for "Eardrum" this month (I think).

Update: The Kweli's myspace link is off, here's a new one:

Best of 2006

Now that the year is almost over, here's my 2006 top 12, I have to say that the year wasn't so bad as a lot of people say, if Hip Hop was really dead, there wouldn't be all this great albums, have fun and see you next year.

UPDATE 31/12: Changed the list to top 12, because I couldn't leave Pigeon John and Free Speech out of the list.

1. The Roots - Game Theory

01. Dilltastic Vol Won(derful)
02. False Media
03. Game Theory (Feat. Malik B.)
04. Don't Feel Right (Feat. Maimouna Youssef)
05. In The Music (Feat. Malik B. & Porn)
06. Take It There (Feat. Wadud Ahmad)
07. Baby (Feat. John-John & Malik B.)
08. Here I Come (Feat. Dice Raw & Malik B.)
09. Long Time (Feat. Peedi Peedi & Bunny Sigler)
10. Livin' In A New World (Feat. John-John)
11. Clock With No Hands (Feat. Mercedes Martinez)
12. Atonement (Feat. Jack Davey)
13. Can't Stop This
14. Come Together (feat. Zion I) (Produced By J.Period) (Bonus Track)

2. Sam The Kid - Pratica(Mente)

I’m sorry, I’m not going to post this album, because as much as I would like to promote Portuguese hip-hop, I’m not going to post the newly released albums for respect for the artists.

3. CunninLynguists - Piece of Strange

01 Where Will You Be?
02 Since When
03 Nothing to Give
04 Caved In feat. Cee-Lo Green
05 Hourglass
06 Beautiful Girl
07 Inhale (Interlude)
08 Brain Cell
09 America Loves Gangsters feat. Tim Means
10 Never Know Why feat. Immortal Technique
11 The Gates feat. Tonedeff
12 Damnation (Interlude)
13 Hellfire
14 Remember Me (Abstract Reality)
15 What'll You Do?
16 The Light feat. Club Dub

4. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale

1. The Return Of Clyde Smith (Skit)
2. Shakey Dog
3. Kilo feat. Raekwon
4. The Champ
5. Major Operstion (Skit)
6. 9 Milli Bros feat. Wu Tang Clan
7. Beauty Jackson
8. Heart Street Directions (Skit)
9. Columbus Exchange (Skit)/ Crack Spot
10. R.A.G.U. feat. Raekwon
11. Bad Mouth Kid (Skit)
12. Whip You With A Strap
13. Back Like That feat. Ne-Yo
14. Be Eay feat. Trife
15. Clipse Of Doom feat. Trife
16. Jellyfish feat. Theodore Unit
17. Dogs Of War feat. Raekwon, Theodore Unit
18. Barbershop
19. Ms. Sweetwater (Skit)
20. Big Girl
21. Underwater
22. The Ironman Takeover (Skit)
23. Momma feat. Megan Rochell
24. Three Bricks feat. Notorious B.I.G., Raekwon

5. Jedi Mind Tricks - Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell

1. Intro
2. Put 'Em In The Grave
3. Suicide
4. Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story feat. R.A. The Rugged Man
5. A Blood Red Path
6. When All Light Dies
7. Serenity In Murder
8. Pariah Demise (Interlude)
9. Heavy Metal Kings feat. Ill Bill
10. Shadow Business
11. Triumph And Agony (Interlude)
12. Razorblade Salvation
13. Outlive The War feat. Sean Price, Block McCloud
14. Gutta Music feat. Reef The Lost Cauze, Chief Kamachi
15. Temples Of Ice (Interlude)
16. Black Winter Day

Bonus Tracks:

01.Heavy Metal Kings Ft ILL Bill (TERROR Remix)
02.Pretty Little Whores Ft Vinnie Paz And Outerspace
03.Blitz Inc. Ft King Syze Vinnie Paz 7L & Estoeric

6. NAS - Hip Hop Is Dead

7. Vakill - Worst Fears Confirmed

1. Intro
2. Worst Fears Confirmed
3. Cold War
4. Introducin feat. Ras Kass
5. When Was The Last Time
6. Serpent & The Rainbow
7. Monstaz Ink
8. Farewell To The Game
9. No Mercy
10. Heart Bleeds
11. The King Meets The Sickest feat. Royce Da 5'9”
12. The Confirmation
13. Man Into Monster feat. Vizion
14. Flow Fever
15. Acts Of Vengence

8. Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road

1. Recapturing the Vibe
2. Clown Prince
3. Hard Road
4. Stopping All Stations
5. Conversations from a Speakeasy
6. What a Great Intro
7. What a Great Night (DNR)
8. City of Light
9. Obese Lowlifes
10. Circuit Breaker
11. Breathe
12. Blue Blooded
13. Monsters Ball
14. Audience with the Devil
15. Captured Vibe

9. Pigeon John (2006) And The Summertime Pool Party

01 Welcome To The Show
02 Scene 1 / I Thought You Was A
03 Do The Pigeon
04 Higher
05 Scene 2 / I Was Just Looking A
06 Money Back Guarantee
07 Freaks Freaks! (Starring DJ Rhettmatic)
08 One For The (Starring Brother Ali)
09 The Last Sunshine (Starring RJD2 & J-Live)
10 Weight Of The World
11 Scene 3 / Black Man On A White
12 As We Know It
13 I Lost My Job Again
14 Scene 4 / The Girls The Fantas
15 Brand New Day
16 Growin Old

10. Hi-Tek - Hi-Teknology 2 - The Chip

1. The Oracle (Intro)
2. The Chip
3. Keep It Moving feat. Dion, Q-Tip, Kurupt
4. I Think I Got A Beat feat. Lil' Tone
5. Can We Go Back feat. Talib Kweli, Ayak
6. Josephine feat. The Willie Cottrell Band, Ghostface Killah, Pretty Ugly
7. March feat. Busta Rhymes
8. Where It Started At (NY) feat. Dion, Jadakiss, Papoose, Talib Kweli, Raekwon
9. 1-800-Homicide feat. The Game, Dion
10. Money Don't Make U Rich feat. Strong Arm Steady Listen
11. Baby We Can Do It feat. Czar-Nok
12. Let It Go feat. Dion, Talib Kweli
13. People Going Down feat. The Willie Cottrell Band L
14. So Tired feat. Dion, Bun B, Devin The Dude, Pretty Ugly
15. Music For Life feat. J. Dilla, Nas, Common, Busta Rhymes, Marsha

Bonus Tracks

16. How We Do It feat. Snoop Dogg, Talib Kweli & Slim Thug
17. Time is Now feat. Talib Kweli (Reflection Eternal)
18. We Get Down feat. Mos Def, Raphael Saadiq & Bootsy Collins

11. Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor

12. Free Speech - Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth

01. Intro // Free Speech
02. Shake Your Laffy Taffy // Free Speech
03. Become of Me // Free Speech
04. I Wish // Plat
05. Everything is Different Now // Free Speech
06. Come and Go // Stereo Type
07. Replace U // Stereo Type feat. Free Speech
08. Lovin' Cali // Free Speech
09. Kick, Push (RAD Edition) // Lupe Fiasco
10. Brekfast Club P.S.A. #1 // Ro Blvd., Free Speech, & TalkSik

Other good albums:

The Coup - Pick a Bigger Weapon
Mos Def - Tru3 Magic
AZ - The Format
Tech N9ne - Everready (The Religion)
Valete - Servico Publico
Tumi and the Volume - Tumi and the Volume
Kidz in the Hall - School Was My Hustle
Lord Jamar (of Brand Nubian) - The 5 Percent Album
Masta Killa - Made In Brooklyn
Method Man - 4-21... The Day After
Bronze Nazareth - The Great Migration
Boot Camp Clik - The Last Stand
Marcelo D2 - Meu Samba é Assim
Pack FM - Whutduzfmstand4?
Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo
J Dilla - The Shining
Main Flow And 7L - Flow Season
MF Grimm - American Hunger
PSALM One - The Death Of Frequent Flyer
Mr. Lif - Mo Mega Louis
Logic and J.J. Brown - Misery Loves Comedy
The Strange Fruit Project - The Healing
Block McCloud - Spittin' Image
J Dilla- Donuts
Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
Ghostface Killah - More Fish
KRS-One - Life
Sway - This Is My Demo
Classified - Hitch Hikin Music
Dan The Automator - Presents 2K7
Soul Position - Things Go Better With RJ and AL
Murs and 9th Wonder - Murrays revenge
Juggaknots - Use Your Confusion
Cut Chemist - The Audience's Listening
Sadat X - Black October
Dert - Sometimes I Rhyme Slow - A Remixtape
De La Soul - Impossible Mission T.V. Series Part 1
Dave Chappelle's Block Party OST
Tanya Morgan - Moonlighting
Roots Manuva - Alternately Deep
Visionaries - We Are the Ones
Aceyalone and RJD2 - Magnificent City
Footsoldiers - Live This
Camp Lo - Fort Apache - The Mixtape Album
Celph Titled - The Gatalog - A Collection Of Chaos
J. Rawls - Liquid Crystal Project
Plan B - Who Needs Action When You Got Words
Skyzoo And 9th Wonder - Cloud 9 The 3 Day High
Swollen Members - Black Magic

Feedback about the list would be apreciated!

Merry X'mas

I’d like to wish to everyone on the blog community, a merry Christmas and a happy new year, here’s a little X’Mas compilation that I’ve put together.

Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante, MC Shan - A Cold Chillin' Christmas
De la Soul - Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa
Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin'
Run DMC - Christmas Is
Run DMC - Christmas Time In Hollis Queens
Run-DMC, Mase, Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg, Salt N Pepa, Onyx & Keith Murray - Santa Baby
Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Daz, Tray Deee, Bad Azz - Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto

Treacherous Three - Xmas Rap

EDIT: Link fixed, sorry about that

Spittin' Image

Block McCloud (2006) Spittin' Image

This album is around for a while, but I never gave it a listen, I only knew that Block Mc Cloud was on Brooklyn Academy and on Jedi Mind Tricks “Outlive The War”. When I listened to the album I was surprised because it’s one of the most slept on releases of 2006, the beats are bangers, the rhymes and the chorus are fresh, and the guestspots (Jean Grae in particular) are on point.

1. Isabella's First Skit
2. So Excited feat. War Bixby, Sean Price, Blanquito
3. Livin' For
4. The Dues feat. Jean Grae
5. Donnie Dipskit feat. Young Tae
6. Where's Brooklyn At? feat. War Bixby, Pumpkinhead, Mr. Met
7. Show U
8. The Haunted feat. China
9. All A Game feat. Jean Grae
10. Chaos
11. Masters Degree feat. Jean Grae, O.D., Pumpkinhead, Killah Priest
12. A Square Skit
13. Blockstar
14. Good Or Bad feat. Melody, Pumpkinhead
15. No You Won't feat. O.D.
16. White Noise Skit
17. Pick It Up feat. Melody, A.B.
18. Take Me Home feat. Pumpkinhead
19. My Soul’s In The Music