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MAN MANTIS
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A turntablist and producer hailing from Denver, Colorado via Madison, Wisconsin, Man Mantis is a hiphop megalith to be reckoned with. Blending soulful samples with tight, finely-chopped breaks, Mantis creates an impossibly classic, nostalgic hiphop feel.
Expect several mixtapes, an EP and a follow-up to his first solo record Dawn of the Def in 2008.
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LOUIS MACKEY
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Born of some obscure armpit in the great state of Ohio, Louis Mackey currently prefers to straddle the Illinois/Missouri border. Boasting an uncanny balance of lyrical prowess and unabashed conceit, Lou is habitually reckless, completely insane, overtly funky, and not to be trusted.
He is currently finishing primary recording for his first album, Funky Motherfucker, Yeah: The Best of Louis Mackey.
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DR. QUANDARY
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Boston-based producer Dr. Quandary is a kid obsessed with space, dinosaurs, old records and women. Running the sonic gamete from hiphop to electronica, Quan blurs genre lines while creating vivid, cinematic scenes through his expert layering of samples.
> Download Dr. Quandary's Quanny Sitar
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ADAM KADMON
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Best described as a modern day Renaissance man, Adam Kadmon not only raps and produces, he also makes and modifies his own custom equipment and instruments. As a result, he creates strangely organic and warm electronic soundscapes in which the vocals are often the only form of percussion.
Adam Kadmon is out saving the world in 2008, but he'll be releasing an album or two nonetheless.
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S. MAHARBA
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World-Around's first international member, British producer and illustrator S. Maharba of Ipswich, Suffolk brings a one-two punch of gloom-laden, atmospheric beats and stunning graphic design to the lineup.
> Download S. Maharba's She
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CHRIS DIZZY
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One of Vermont's foremost freestyle practicioners, Chris Dizzy creates a unique lyrical vibe by merging rap with elements of poetry and ancient shamanic mysticism. While probably best known for his mic skills, he's also an accomplished DJ and producer, often opting to work with his own brand of beats.
Dizzy is currently working on a highly secretive project with Vermont-based producer Kahlagh that should be available later this year.
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DJ M.S.P.
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Mixing two parts rap with one part performance art, DJ Multiple Sex Partners is the deranged producer alter-ego of WAR emcee Thirtyseven, crafting epic sound collages with heavily deconstructed samples and just the right sense of irony.
> Download DJ MSP's Japan EP
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MOHRER LES FRESH
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A product of Springfield's dirty city streets, rapper Mohrer Les is single-handedly responsible for putting the illin' noise back into Illinois. While his primary focus is crafting compelling, raw verses, he's also a self-taught producer, an illustrator and an accomplished photographer. If you've never heard of him, just ask your girlfriend.
Look out for several consecutive releases from Les later this year.
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DAIMYO!
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One of Albany's great up-and-coming beatmakers, 16-year-old Daimyo! (formerly Pyrotechnics) posesses a natural sensibility for production beyond his years. Using a variety of crates stocked with the best the local Salvation Army has to offer, Daimyo! blends crisp breaks with classic loops to create mellow, soulful atmospheres.
> Download Daimyo!'s self-titled EP
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STINK TANK
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Representing Madison, Wisconsin and Johannesburg, South Africa, Stink Tank is the brainchild of the NSFA's Creative Director, Laduma Nguyuza. Featuring some of the school's most accomplished scholars and backed by the flawless production of Man Mantis, Stink Tank strives to take the standard idea of the rap group to whole new conceptual levels.
> Buy Stink Tank's Books on Tape
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ALGORHYTHMS
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A collaborative effort between emcee Thirtyseven of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom and Boston-based producer Dr. Quandary, Algorhythms is a seamless integration of thought-provoking rhymes and lush, conceptual soundscapes.
> Download the Algorhythms EP
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