Haphduzn, "TOFU feat. Slug"

Slug, Mally, Mike the Martyr and Haphduzn, "Shameless" (prod. Dimitry Killstorm)

Complex's Top 25 Rhymesayers Songs w/Slug

Slug provides color for Complex's Top 25 Rhymesayers tracks

#1: Atmosphere, "Always Coming Back Home To You"

Slug: “I hope these songs aren’t in any sort of numerical order because there’s no fucking way that this is the best song we ever did. This was one of the first times we used an instrument at the center instead of a sample. It was the first song our guitarist Nate was on. That’s why I don’t get why people have such an issue with us using so many live instruments and having a band now because, going back to here, we’ve had musicians for a long time.

"I wrote it as an exercise about a walk from the 43rd and Chicago Walgreen’s to 26th and Garfield to make something as visual as possible. Every few bars I tried to introduce a new rap cliche: a robbery, flirting with a girl, a hood runs up, stealing cars, but I wanted a twist in the ending for each one. We made it during God Loves Ugly, but then put it on the back-burner.

"I forgot about it, but when it came time to do Seven’s Travels, Ant said, “You know, we still have this song...” He liked it. I never had much faith in it. It’s not a very well-written song. We never had a video for it although I would have loved to make visuals. But you have to let listeners’ interpretations have their own life and that’s why I think people get so much from this song.”

Felt 3 teaser

Rhymesayers just dropped this track off of the forthcoming Felt 3. In case you couldn't guess from the chopped-up guitar riffs and off-kilter drums the album is produced by Def Jux underground star, Aesop Rock. I personally miss ANT's backdrop, but I'll wait to judge how well Aesop Rock's production lends itself to Slug and Murs' hijinx and storytelling.

Felt, "Protagonists " from Felt 3

Brother Ali Getting Bigger (not in size; in taste)

Ever since Brother Ali's sophomore album The Truth, dude has been getting a lot of well-deserved national exposure.  Despite his amazingly poetic lyrics, incredibly unique and precise flow, and a voice that can even hold a melody, I never thought his music would be as far-reaching as it has become.  He's been in some major magazine interviews, on national television, and featured on tracks with some serious emcees (and held his own I must add on every one including the Freeway joint that was no small feat).  As I was paging through the latest Source I noticed another track that he's featured on that I was unaware of.

Ali's last 8 bars are beautiful.  It was a great choice and gesture to break the beat down for his last 4 bars: "What is it about you that you/ have to capture that which you cannot master??/  If you can't grasp it you attack it/ trap it, slam it in a cage and latch it. /Everyday that you hold me in bars/ is another day I can't teach your soul to soar./  Here both of us are, linked to the song,/ and when you hear a caged bird - sing along!"

Zion I feat. Brother Ali, "Caged Bird (Pt. 1)"

Based on the title alone, I was half-expecting to hear Slug throw down on verse three.

Atmosphere, "Bird Sings Why The Caged I Know"

Here's a throwback (2000) Ali joint that's more lighthearted. It can be found on DJ Abilities' ...for persons with dj abilities (much more on this king of the turntables later, especially since he also reps for Minneap)

Brother Ali's DJ Abilities Exclusive