Volatile and Lava make up Rochester duo R.E.A.L., and while the rap acronym name might sound cliche, this well-conceived, well-produced 9-track EP is anything but unimaginative.

The post Spend Your ‘Short Summer’ Checking Out This Sizzling EP by Rochester’s R.E.A.L. (Reality Ends All Lies) appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.

Brooklyn hip hop's "writer's writer" drops a musically creative ode to Jay Z's classic album, while finding a way to make these beloved standards, his own. No small task, but done quite well.

The post Skyzoo Pays Homage, Makes His Own Mark on ‘An Ode To Reasonable Doubt’ [EP] appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.

Hip hop super-heroine Jean Grae has released "Gotham Down - cycle 1: Love In Infinity." For us, copping is a no-brainer. For you, it should be the same.

The post Jean Grae – Gotham Down – cycle 1: Love In Infinity (EP) appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.

Lingering in our email inbox was this slightly trippy gem, produced by Brooklyn's Keswick, featuring a couple of cats we're consistently digging, Skyzoo and YC The Cynic.

The post Keswick ft. Skyzoo, YC The Cynic – ‘For The Win’ appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.

An example of how to do hip hop today that maintains traditional NY-boom-bap DNA while making sure to stay progressive. If this is up your alley, The Brown Bag AllStars drop an EP worthy of your eartime.

The post Brown Bag AllStars – Brown Label Part 2 [EP] appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.

Inspired by the movie Drive, Harlem MC Kyle Rapps teams up with producer Diwon to create Tyrone Gosling, a free EP which incorporates audio from 80s crime movies into an interesting 5-track addition to your download folder.

The post Kyle Rapps & Diwon – Tyrone Gosling [EP] appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.

The post Infamous Team (Mobb Deep, Rapper Noyd) – Keep Getting That Paper (The Audible Doctor Remix) appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.

The post Tanya Morgan – You & What Army [EP] appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.

The post Andrew Kelley Presents: Raekwon – Dope on the Table [EP] appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.

The post 10 New York Hip Hop Albums, Mixtapes, EPs Worth Hearing [June 2011] appeared first on New York Hip Hop - Birthplace Magazine.