Kanye West, Macklemore and Tyler, the Creator Battle Illuminati Shamans in 'Hip-Hop RPG'

I've only just discovered Dominick Raburn's 'Hip-Hop RPG', and I can already say that it's hands-down one of the most bizarrely hilarious and entertaining web series' I've watched in a long while. The story follows a group of post-apocalyptic warriors who send a chosen soldier back in time to recruit their younger selves, change the course of history and avert the apocalypse. Sound familiar?

What if I told you the revolutionaries were a broadsword-toting Macklemore, an apothecary Drake, a mysteriously cloaked Kanye West with a reflective mask, and the chosen one was none other than Kendrick Lamar? It only gets crazier from here on out, with Kendrick performing limit breaks and Tyler the Creator transforming into a giant cockroach to battle Illuminati Shamans.

Kanye's got mad stats.

As a avid fan of the genre, It's immensely satisfying  to watch Raburn's combine of two things that, at least on their face, couldn't look to be farther apart (Hip-Hop and Old-School RPGs) into a mini-series that wears its self-awareness proudly and comes from such an obvious place of love and appreciation. Not since Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden have I seen or experienced such an off-beat marriage of two niche hobbies and art-forms.

Check out the rest of the episodes after the break, Stop by the series' dedicated subreddit for news of in-progress episodes, and go follow Dominick and give him a shout-out on twitter!

Ghostface Killah - Ray Gun ft. DOOM

Director Rob Schroeder and Lodger Films' music video for Ghostface Killah and DOOM's collaborative track "Ray Gun" is certifiably funkadelic. Odd Future lieutenant Left Brain plays "The Mask"; A hard-nosed, trench-coated police detective on the edge with a Kamen Rider-esque helmet hailing from another dimension.

"Take Me To Your Leader"

He's on the case to rescue a young woman who's fallen in with some shady looking ne'er do wells. But can he really save a girl who might just not want to be saved, and will he ever return to his home-planet? Ray Gun is a delicious blend of Exploitation-era aesthetics and awesome visuals that perfectly complement Ghost and DOOM's killer bars. I'd love to see a follow-up short film if it matched the bar of quality set by this!

'Tag The Jewels' Celebrates RTJ2 Across The World

TUTS Jakarta, INDONESIA

When Hip-hop rap duo Killer Mike and El-P released the follow-up to their critically acclaimed collaborative project Run The Jewels this year, it was met with a praise almost eclipsing it's predecessor by both critics and fans alike. I myself have had the album regular rotation lately; a bruised and blistering barrage of bass-heavy bangers and bare-chested bravado.

LOW BROS Berlin, GERMANY

Late this past October, Run The Jewels teamed with Graffiti Agency FatCap to curate a world-wide street art promotional campaign in tandem with RTJ2's release. Over 30 artists across 6 continents with one shared project; A mission to re-imagine Run The Jewels' iconic pistol-fingered chain-fisted logo in their hometown. From Los Angeles to Lagos, Paris to Jakarta, Sao Paolo to New Delhi and more. Check out more pieces after the break and at the project's official website. The love for RTJ is real.

Killer Mike - Reagan

Aside from having a fantastic, stylish music video, created with a limited palette of 4 colors (The Red, white and blue, go figure), Killer Mike's hyper political ryhmes carry an interesting thread of truth about repercussions that past political decisions have had on generations to come. The music video is a stew of conspiracy theorist imagery, including illuminati symbolism, puppet political figures and undead powered killer robots destroying America and taking over the world. The track is from Killer Mike's R.A.P. Music album, which was published by the folks over at Williams Street.

Mario 64 Samples And Mass Amounts of Flow = Wax and EOM

Lately the forum has been getting quite a few awesome submissions, but this piece submitted by GFUNKALLSTAR is by the far the best (and so far the first) hip-hop track we've ever been given. The song which features a few samples from (correct me if I'm wrong) Mario 64, Luigi's Mansion and of course Super Mario World, all sampled by EOM. Wax on the other hand has some of the best flow I've heard in a while, mixing in some awesomely witty versus.

Thanks for the submissions guys, keep them coming over here!

Pre-Order Tyler, The Creator's new album "GOBLIN"

As it was announced through this site (and with a preview of Tron Cat) we were given a release date for Odd Future head honcho, Tyler, The Creator's new album on XL Recordings. It wasn't too long after that that Tyler went on to Twitter to confirm a preliminary track list.

While searching the Beggar's Group online store I came across the pre-order for Goblin. As expected Tyler's second album will be released on CD and Double LP. There also will be a Deluxe CD which will come with alternate artwork, poster, and three additional tracks. No word if these tracks will appear on the vinyl or not (although none will feature Odd Future's missing man Earl Sweatshirt.)

Hit the jump for the track list and the video for lead single, Yonkers.

(via One Thirty BPM)

DELS "Shapeshift"

I received a lovely little gift in my inbox the other day, that being this creatively put together music video for hip-hop musician DELS from the UK. With hip-hop and rap these days being inundated with crass and comically narcissistic lyrical "virtuosos," it was refreshing to see a music video and hear a track that avoids the smarmy tropes that put so many people (like myself) off of the genre. While I'm no hip-hop historian, I do understand that there's a public symposium revolving around who will come out as the proverbial "return to classic hip-hop."