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.

Damn, I like everything about this video:

• Dope rhymes from Fashawn and Ev.
• NorCal connecting with SoCal.
• Exile killing the beat.
• The homies U-N-I getting some cameo love.
• The message.
• The visuals.

Be on the lookout for Fashawn’s debut album, Boy Meets World, in spring of next year.  “Our Way” is the first peek off the project and judging by the quality here and on Fashawn’s One Shot, One Kill mixtape, you already know it’s gonna be fresh.

Cali’s on fire right now, but they also completely dropped the ball on the Prop. 8 ballot initiative banning gay marriage this past week.  With statistics showing that nearly 70% of black and hispanic voters supported the ban, it’s incredibly disheartening to see people vote for equality and discrimination in one fell swoop.  Hip-hop helped Obama win California (as if he needed any assistance), and then helped propagate homophobia and hatred.  Fail.

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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Chyea.  For those missing my Wack Lyric of the Day posts, this is hotter than LA sunshine.  Happy now?  Don’t worry, WLotD will be back soon.

But nah, for real, this is heat.  In case you can’t read above, the homies Thurz & Y-O linked up with Evidence, Big Pooh, Aloe Blacc, Fashawn, Mickey Factz, Theo, and Kes Kaos for the remix to their classic “Beautiful Day” cut.  Get that:

U-N-I ft. various artists – “Beautiful Day (Remix)”

And a little Sound Session throwback in case you forgot: