[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: June 2012

Summer is finally upon us! It seems almost everyone far and wide is caught in a nasty heat wave. Now that the season is in full swing, it's time to grab the coldest of beers, put on some sunscreen, toss on some killer jams and make the most of all of the sunshine. Of all the mixes we've made up to this point, I think all four of us can agree that this is the one we're the most pleased about. It seems the warmer it gets the tracks just get better and better.

Make sure to follow us over on 8tracks if you happen to enjoy the mix below. As always, you can learn more about why we've chosen the tracks that we did after the jump!

<3 <3 <3

kibbe, rocko, shey, & adrian

Some Kind of Mixtape - June from skoablog on 8tracks.

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[Watch] Aesop Rock - "ZZZ Top"

If I wasn't already in full Kung Fu movie mode after bumping every Wu Tang album all month and watching the trailer for The RZA's new flick The Man With The Iron Fists, Aesop Rock drops this EPIC (see: DOUBLE EPIC) video for the newest single from his upcoming album Sketethon, "ZZZ Top" featuring none other than Patti Li aka gold medal winning Chinese Wushu martial artist Hao Zhihua and directed by Pete Lee. The track also features production from our good friends Dirty Ghosts but thats enough of the details. I'm going to just stop talking and let you enjoy the awesomeness.

Skelethon drops in two weeks on July 10th via Rhymesayers Entertainment. Go preorder the album from Fifth Element or on iTunes.

[Watch] Aesop Rock - "Zero Dark Thirty"

Hip Hop is coming back with a vengence this year! And no, im not talking about your mainstream radio rappers/pop hits. I'm talking the once underground/independent scene which has now broke out into the public eye with artists such as Atmosphere, El-P, Brother Ali, Doomtree and more. And this year, indie hip hop label giant, Rhymesayers plans to deliver with awesome new releases from I Self Devine, Brother Ali, P.O.S. and this man, Aesop Rock. Don't believe me? Check out the video for Aesop's latest single "Zero Dark Thirty" above which is set to appear on his upcoming album Skelethon dropping this July on Rhymesayers. After you're done basking in it's greatness, head over to Fifth Element Online to preorder the brand new album.

If this isn't enough goodness to hold you over until July, check out our latest SKOA monthly mixtape which features a track from Aesop's upcoming collabortive project, The Uncluded, with singer/songwriter Kimya Dawson titled "Bats". If that doesn't hold you over, keep looking around SKOA for fresh new music. If that doesn't hold you over, then shit...You need new ears.

[Listen] The Uncluded (Aesop Rock x Kimya Dawson) - "Bats"

Been fiending for some new Aesop Rock since hearing his latest single "Zero Dark Thirty" from his upcoming album Skelethon? Then check out his latest collaboration with singer/songwriter Kimya Dawson, better known as The Uncluded and their Record Store Day single "Bats". We first posted about this collaboration back in February of last year when Aesop Rock debuted new tunes live at ZeroFriends in Los Angeles which consisted of Hail Mary Mallon tunes with Rob Sonic and "Bats" and "Delicate Cycle" with Kimya Dawson. After posting it, we found out from Mrs. Dawson herself that her and Aes were working on collabortive album as well as featuring on each others solo albums as we saw with Kimya's "Miami Advice" and "Walk Like Thunder" from last year's release Thunder Thighs.

If you didn't get your hands on the Rhymesayers Record Store Day single, fear not. You can check out the studio version of "Bats" in the player below and last I heard there are still some copies of the record available at Fifth Element Online. So do yourself a favor and pick that beautiful picture disc up which features sweet artwork by Jeremy Fish and features a new Atmosphere track titled "Someday Soon". If you want to hear more tunes from The Uncluded, check out their Daytrotter session from last year here and get ready for the release of the collaborative later this year after release of Aesop's Skelethon.

[Download] Aesop Rock - "Zero Dark Thirty"

Aes is back with the first single from his upcoming album Skelethon which drops July 10th via Rhymesayers. Peep the self produced cut titled "Zero Dark Thirty" in the player below as well as the creepy album trailer above featuring Aesop's cat Wiskers.

[Listen] Blockhead - "Never Forget Your Token"

Although he may not be featured as a producer on Aesop Rock's upcoming album Skelethon, long time Aesop Rock producer Blockhead is back with a new LP of his own titled Interludes After Midnight. The follow up from 2010's instrumental album, The Music Scene is set to be released on April 30th in Europe and May 1st in the US via Ninja Tune Records. Check out the album's tracklist below as well as the lead cut "Never Forget Your Token" from the upcoming album, which provides that wonderful downtempo sound that Blockhead is well known and loved for.

You can also head over to Blockhead's blog to hear more music from the upcoming album. Pre-order your copy of the album digitally (iTunes, Amazon) or pre-order the vinyl and bonus 7” here.

01 – Never Forget Your Token
02 – Creeps Crouchin’
03 – Panic In Funkytown
04 – Hungover Like Whoa
05 – Meet You At Tower Records
06 – Escape The Meadow
07 – Smoke Signals
08 – Tools Of The Industry
09 – Midnight Blue
10 – Snapping Point
11 – Beyond Reach Feat. Baby Dayliner
12 – The Robin Byrd Era

Aesop Rock Announces LP #6 'Skelethon" To Release This July On Rhymesayers

Acerizzle aka Aesop Rock (not to be confused with A$AP Rocky) announced today that his 6th solo album Skelethon will be released on July 10th via indie hip hop giant, Rhymesayers. Skelethon marks the first solo LP in five years since Aesop's last album None Shall Pass was released in 07. The album features guest spots from Ace's Hail Mary Mallon Co-horts Rob Sonic & DJ Big Wiz, as well as wifey Allyson Baker of Dirty Ghosts, Hanni El Khatib, Grimace Federation, Nicky Fleming-Yaryan and his Uncluded partner in crime Kimya Dawson. The new album is 100% produced by Aesop Rock which is awesome as Aesop is coming into his own as a producer, but at the same time sad as we won't hear Aesop spit over any El-P or Blockhead beats this time around. Check out the album's full tracklist below.

1. Leisureforce
2. ZZZ Top
3. Cycles To Gehenna
4. Zero Dark Thirty
5. Fryerstarter
6. Ruby '81
7. Crows 1
8. Crows 2
9. Racing Stripes
10. 1,000 O'Clock
11. Homemade Mummy
12. Grace
13. Saturn Missiles
14. Tetra
15. Gopher Guts

It may be a minute before we get our first taste of Skelethon but this April we will get our first taste of Aesop's upcoming collaboration with singer/songwriter Kimya Dawson, The Uncluded, with Rhymesayers upcoming Record Store Day 2012 Picture Disc. The split 10"vinyl will feature brand new, exclusive and unreleased tracks from Atmosphere called "Someday Soon" and The Uncluded (Aesop Rock x Kimya Dawson) titled "Bats". This release RSD release is a limited run with only 2000 copies, so make sure you get your hands on one. Check out more music from Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson from last year's Daytrotter Session.

[News] Dirty Ghosts Set To Release Debut Album 'Metal Moon', Co-Produced By Aesop Rock

Our good friends Dirty Ghosts, who helped us rock our SXSW party earlier this year, are gearing up to release their long awaited debut LP Metal Moon next year on Last Gang Records. For those that don't know much about the group, the studio band consist of frontwoman Allyson Baker, Carson Binks (both formerly of the SF rock band Parchman Farm) and her hubby, indie rapper Aesop Rock who has co-produced the upcoming LP. The 10 cut album is set to be released on Feb 21st and features the previously release single "Shout It In" (also peep the Aesop Rock Remix) as well as 2 other previously surfaced songs "Battle Slang" "and Steamboat to Concord". All 3 tracks have been re-recorded for the record but you can check out the older versions of each of them below and peep the album's full tracklisting after the jump.

Allyson and her live band (consisting of Allyson Baker, Erin McDermott, Nick Andre, Jason Slota, Lumpy Stapley) will be playing a couple of local shows in California leading up to the album's release as well the 20th annual Noise Pop Festival out in San Francisco. Make sure you check them out if you are in the area and stay in tuned to the group's website and Facebook page for more upcoming dates.

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