[Beneath The Surface: A recap of various hip-hop styles on the radar, just beneath the surface (thanks GZA).]

The first edition features unreleased street heat from Raekwon hot on the heals of his critically praised Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II as his right hand Ghostface goes in over the Smokey Robinson’s adult hit “Crusin’.” New West Coast action with classical material from Snoop courtesy of the Death Row vaults and a radio freestyle of Kid Cudi spittin’ over J Dilla.

A slight left turn with the young spitta from B’more Rye Rye ft. M.I.A., Slaughterhouses’ Royce 5′9 go hard on “Taxi Driver” and new KRS-One & Buckshot featuring Atmosphere’s Slug. Wu-comrade Killah Priest drops ancient jewels, Westside rhyme animal Rass Kass returns. Rookie Curren$y samples Beck’s “The New Pollution” while riot starters M.O.P. get emotional, Brooklyn style, and there’s a dash of dub-step from Caspa ft MC Dynamite.

There’s also a blast from the south with OutKast affiliate Atlanta’s Killer Mike who teams with rookie OJ Da Juiceman on “In The Kitchen” for a sinister, bouncy coke tale. Rhymesayer Toki Wright goes in for a exclusive DJ Booth freestyle with the soulful “Do The Right Thang” repping the “Ice Pirates.” Wu-Tang’s Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck & GZA get cryptic on “Street Corners” remixed by the equally strange MF DOOM.

Beneath The Surface: 09/20/2009 (87MB) (zip)

Ghostface Killah “Crusin” (mp3)
M.O.P. “Rude Bastard” (mp3)
Raekwon “Can’t Hide It” (mp3)
Killah Preist “The Crowns” (mp3)
Royce Da 5′9″ ”Taxi Driver” (mp3)
Kid Cudi ”Cuditastic” (mp3)
Curren$y “Newer Pollution” (mp3)
KRS-One & Buckshot ft. Slug “We Made It” (mp3)
Rye Rye ft. M.I.A. Bang (Stanton Warriors remix) (mp3)
BK-One ft. Phonte, Brother Ali & Grouch “Here I Am” (mp3)
Cy Yung ”Da Hollywood Shuffle” (mp3)
Rass Kass ft. Nino Bless -”Sparta” (mp3)
Snoop Dogg “Fallin’ Asleep On Death Row” (mp3)
Killer Mike ft. OJ Da Juiceman ”In The Kitchen” (mp3)
Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck & GZA “Street Corners” (MF Doom remix) (mp3)
Caspa ft. MC Dynamite ”The Takeover” (mp3)
Toki Wright ”Do The Right Thang” (mp3)

Shout out the homies at Rock The Dub, 2 Dope Boyz, Pigeons and Planes, Nah Right, Midwest Broadcast and WeDoItRight.

[recap by guest contributor Jon Jon Scott]