Writer: Tracy Garraud

Kid Cudi is living the indie dream. A name once uttered only within the underground scene, Cudi got his cake when the eccentric yet oddly emotive, “Day ‘N Nite”—off his mixtape A Kid Named Cudi—dipped him into mainstream’s radio-friendly pool. During the summer of ’08, Kanye didn’t bet against success for the 25-year-old and immediately reeled the Kid in to work on 808s and Heartbreak while also signing him to G.O.O.D. Music. But that’s just the basics. Cudi’s still got ink stains from a fresh Universal Motown deal, is currently recording his debut Man on the Moon: The Guardians, and is building a lengthy list of check-happy extracurriculars.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBo-ttW8hVU]

YN is not quite through, here’s 10 funky Q breaks for you.

“Summer In The City”

{mp3}03 summer in the city{/mp3}

“Hikky-Burr”

{mp3}07 hikky-burr{/mp3}

“Up Against The Wall”

{mp3}15 – quincy jones – up against the wall speak ya clout{/mp3}

“The Slender Thread”

{mp3}16 the slender thread{/mp3}

“Kitty With The Bent Frame”

{mp3}08 kitty with the bent frame q.u. hectic and shook ones pt. ii{/mp3}

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP6dH4voz04]

Here’s a collection of YN certified bangers that all jacked Mr. Jones.

Above The Law “Livin’ Like Hustlers”

{mp3}03 livin like hustlers{/mp3}

Positive K “Step Up Front”

{mp3}36 step up front{/mp3}

Frescho & Miz “4 At A Time”

{mp3}05. 4 at a time{/mp3}

Sauce Money Featuring Jay-Z “Pre Game”

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Nice and Smooth “Step By Step

{mp3}12 step by step{/mp3}

The comrade Bfred over at Complex, is one helluva music junkie. In fact, when he’s not making P. Diddy sound like a complete douche, he’s getting his J-Love on at Uggh…Nice Watch.

“This is where I will archive the various compilations that I release on this blog, complete with download links. Currently you can find two old ones (The SWV Collection and The Jermaine Dupri Collection) and two new ones (The Backpack Rap Collection and The Maurice Starr Collection).”

This week, he gives props to mega producer Tricky Stewart with a double disc worth of his greatest hits.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HoxMka0GyY]

Kanye’s homeboy kicks a freestyle for the late producer, J Dilla.

Props to 2dopeboyz via HipHopOfficial

Yesterday, Quincy Jones turned 76. Besides founding Vibe magazine, the legendary producer has always been supportive of hip-hop culture and rap’s new generation. So it’s only right we at RR acknowledge the man.

Let’s start with the two biggest songs that sampled sounds from his extensive catalogue.

Ludacris “Number One Spot”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQW6zMWOnic]

Pharcyde “Passin’ Me By”

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Update: My bad. Make that 3! Duh!

Mobb Deep “Shook Ones Pt. 2”

-Y_BWlcfOeI

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Uncle Bun kicks a slo-flow freestyle for The Fader ‘s “Where In The World” series.

Bonus:

“Jack Tripper Three’s Company hoe!”

UGK featuring Raheem DeVaughn “Still On Tha Grind” (off the final UGK album, 4 Life)

{mp3}ugk_-_still_on_tha_grind{/mp3}

Update: Dre from Nah Right clarifies this pre-leakage.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/3634626]

Killa Cam sat down with JD Anderson of the.LIFE Files and touched on an arrange of topics from Rihanna-gate to not voting in last year’s election. He also talked about his relationship with estranged Dipset members Jim Jones and Juelz Santana.

On Jim Jones

JD Anderson: I read you had a phone call with Jim and now he

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Lil’ Bow Wow Lil Mama tells MTV.com that she would work again with baby Ike Turner. Sorry Niatia, but there’s nothing poppin’ about that.

“It’s like a leotard fest.”

I knew this guy when he was Zev Love X, I’m so confused. I listened to this twice and I still don’t know what’s goin’ on. All superheroes are gay? Anyway Robbie sent this over so here ya go. Analyze this!

Doom “Batty Boyz”

{mp3}doom-batty boyz{/mp3}

Props: UnKut

According to Bossip, Rihanna had a little gathering at Jay-Z’s Spotted Pig Restaurant last night. The paps got their photos at the end of the festivities and lookey here

According to radio personality Egypt, ole boy popped the question in LA on Thursday night and she said yes.

There’s no crying in baseball and no sleeping in hip-hop. But hey I’m still learning the Internets. I’m a work in progress! Ha! Anyways, Nah Right’s Dre explains what went down this morning. I hear this is a treat from the new Grand Theft Auto video game. I ain’t touched a joystick since NBA Live had the proper camera angles. Two versions of the same song here and I prefer the one after the jump. Remix baby!

Ghostface & Doom “Chinatown Wars”

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Maybe I woulda woke up earlier today if I knew OnSmash was gonna be droppin’ 3 new videos. Here’s the first.

Back in the Rotten Apple (Miami Lost!), Fat Joe romances and knocks up a brown-skinned fake Jennifer Hudson lookin’ sista. We all need love. Owww!

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I’m the topless nigga in the hood. Hood! Ricky recently shot a street video for his “Jumpin’ Out The Window” freestyle a.k.a. another 50 Cent diss in the home of hip-hop. This is some pretty excruciatingly boring behind the scenes footage.