The Grouch. This guy is frequently collaborating with Murs, Eligh, Zion I etc.. He has a good organic Hip-hop flow. Grouch doesn’t really have a traditional Hip hop dialect. He pronounces the letter “R” in his lyrics, for example. Grouch tends to get a bit political sometimes, with the lyrics. Some of his stuff, I absolutely love. Some of it, I can’t stand. I first heard his music playing over in the overhead speakers at an indoor skate park, that doesn’t exist anymore. After a couple of songs, I had to go ask the guys running the place who the artist was. Grouch has a new album out, it’s called “Show you the World.” I really like most of the stuff on it. I have been listening to it for about a week straight. The song I’m sharing is called “The Bay to LA,” featuring Murs. It isn’t my favorite song on the album. But, it is nice and clean. Plus, it is pretty good. Bend an ear.

I was first introduced to Zion I by my good friend and skate/snowboarding partner from college, Jay Varini. Come to think of it, Jay introduced me to a lot of the less prominent hip-hop that I listened to in the early 2000′s. So, thanks, Jay. I know that a lot of the music that I post on here is of the throwback variety. So, I thought that I would serve up something with a little more freshness (age-wise), this week. It just so happens that Zion I recently released a new album, called “The Take Over.” It is a bit of a deviation from their previous stuff, but still hot. If you don’t already own it, check out their album “Mind over Matter.” It is one of those records that you can listen to without skipping a single track. Zion I is a 2 man outfit from the Bay Area, consisting of Zumbi (vocals) and AmpLive (beats). Zumbi has a pretty distinct vocal quality. It is kind of a mix between Wycleff and Q-tip. The song that I’m sharing is called “DJDJ,” and is track number 4 on the latest album.