Raekwon - “Sweep Week Freestyle"-mp3

Wu-Tang general Raekwon Shallah throws out an easy ball with "Sweep Week", the real deal is the upcoming Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang with guest Nas & Black Thought, dropping Mar. 8th. via NR

Raekwon -“Sweep Week Freestyle"-mp3

Vivian Girls - "I Heard You Say"-mp3

Girl group throwbacks Vivian Girls unleash the first track from Share the Joy, out April 12th. It's also the debut for new drummer Fiona Campbell of Coasting. Cheers to GVB

Vivian Girls -"I Heard You Say"-mp3

Atmosphere -"Minnesota Nice"-mp3

Atmosphere currently touring the state of Minnesota, Slug & crew release new posse track "Minnesota Nice".

Atmosphere ft. Prof, Mr. Gene Poole & Felipe Cuauhtli of Los Nativos -"Minnesota Nice"-mp3

The Kills -"Satellite" -mp3

The Kills return with the lo-fi swagger of "Satellie" the first single from the upcoming Blood Pressures, out April 5th on Domino.

The Kills
Cold Cave
First Ave
May 5th

The Kills -"Satellite"-mp3

Greg Grease -"Your Welcome"-mp3

Minneapolis indie hip-hop scene just got stronger with MC/producer Greg Grease of Unsual Suspects who's prepping his solo joint The Giving Tree, April 2011. The first track the lyrical "Your Welcome" with it's brooding, melodic beat is indeed a welcome head-rocker. The video is directed and edited By River Life Media shot by Alicia Steele & River Life Greg.

Greg Grease -"Your Welcome (Mike Frey)"-mp3

Bright Eyes -"Shell Games"-mp3

Bright Eyes latest chapter in emo from The People Key. via Punkreas

Bright Eyes
First Ave
April 5th

Bright Eyes -"Shell Games"-mp3

Mally -"Once We're Kings (Prod. By The Sundance Kid)"-mp3

Minneapolis quick rising rookie Mally starts the year off with a bang with his new jump "Once We're Kings". Recently City Pages listed Mally alongside indie kids Tapes N Tapes, Pink Mink, Grant Cutler, P.O.S. & Slapping Purses in their Twin Cities bands to listen for in 2011.

Mally -"Once We're Kings (Prod. By The Sundance Kid)"-mp3
Big Jess ft. Mally & Muja Messiah -"Get It In"-mp3

Sleigh Bells -"Rill Rill"-video

CSS
Sleigh Bells
First Ave
May 19th

KRS One ft. Showbiz -"Improve Myself"-mp3

From the original knowledge dropper KRS One with an easy head-nodder by D.I.T.C. producer Showbiz. From their upcoming collabo record Godsville, out Feb.15th. via NR

Showbiz ft. KRS One-"Improve Myself"-mp3

Soothsayer - "IX" -video

From Moon Glyph records head Steve Rosborough's solo ambient project Soothsayer. Directed by Tomas Aksamit from Soothsayer's Inflow Illusion out now on cassette via Moon Glyph.

Soothsayer -"V"-mp3

Blaqstarr -"Rider Girl"-video

Baltimore's Blackstarr with his debut video from The Divine EP on M.I.A.'s imprint N.E.E.T/Interscope.

Sleigh Bells – "Tell ‘Em (Diplo Mix)"-mp3

Brooklyn's Sleigh Bells comes off a great year with the M.I.A. approved long-player Treats. Diplo takes their cheerleader anthem "Sleigh Bells" for a ride. Cheers to A Heart Is A Spade

Sleigh Bells -"Tell ‘Em (Diplo Mix)"-mp3

Lykke Li -"Untitled"-video

The Swede breakout Lykee Li preps her new indie release Wounded Rhyme, out Mar.1st.

Lykke Li- "I Follow Rivers"-mp3
Lykke Li- "I Follow Rivers (Dave Sitek Remix)"-MP3

Jaylib - "Louder (Blast Your Radio Theme)"-mp3

Malib releases a never before heard track from Jaylib, his collab project with the legendary J Dilla. From Madlib's latest Medicine Show #11: Low Budget High Fi Music out now on Stones Throw.

Jaylib -"Louder (Blast Your Radio Theme)"-mp3

St. Paul Slim -"Soldier" -mp3

St. Paul Slim always goes hard with street lessons and jewels. St. Paul Slim readies the follow-up to last years Bald-Headed Samsun with "Soldiers" from Personal Holiday coming this spring on Last Triumph.

St. Paul Slim -"Soldier"-mp3

Junip -"Always (Prefuse 73 Remix)" -mp3

Jose Gonzalez-led Junip gets re-imagined by Prefuse. Prefuse takes on "Always" from their 2010 release Fields. via p4k

Junip -"Always (Prefuse 73 Remix)"-mp3

Reks -"25th Hour"-mp3

Boston spitta Reks goes for the throat, line by line on new DJ Premier-produced track. via 2db

Reks -"25th Hour (radio-rip)"-mp3

PJ Harvey - "The Words That Maketh Murder"-video

PJ Harvey's awesome new Seamus Murphy-directed video for "The Words That Maketh Murder" from her upcoming stunner Let England Shake, out Feb.15th. Hugs to TwentyFourBit.

M.I.A. – “Internet Connection” (Huoratron Remix) -mp3

M.I.A. quickly following her well recieved new mixtape Vicki Leekx, she releasing an ep full of remixes of "Internet Connection" available via Itunes. I agree with Mojo at Switchblade Comb, that her "Bad Girls" off Vicki Leekz is on some vintage shit. From the fine folks p4k

M.I.A. -"Internet Connection"(Huoratron Remix)-mp3
M.I.A. -"Bad Girls"-mp3

James Blake -"The Wilhelm Scream (live)"-video

James Blake previews "The Wilhelm Scream" from his new record James Blake live for BBC Maida Vale Studios. James Blake debut James Blake reviewed by Sound Verite and others at Reviler.

ToneKrusher Smith -"Big Bombs of Love" -mp3

New from the Background Noise Crew, ToneKrusher Smith, a transplant from Austin, Texas who references 2005 as "old school". Over jazzy production with flows that are straight out of Souls Of Mischef school of "feel good" rhymes and we could use some feel good. Cheers to MWBroadcast

ToneKrusher Smith
Carnage
Breakneck The Mage
B Mc C
Cause Spirits and Soundbar
Feb. 16th

ToneKrusher Smith -"Big Bombs of Love"-mp3

Talib Kweli -"I'm On One"-mp3

With a nod to the Beastie Boys, Brooklyn's Talib Kweli is back with a banger. Gutter Rainbows arrives Jan. 25th. Peace to 2DB

Talib Kweli -"I'm On One"-mp3

Win Freddie Gibbs tickets to 7th Entry

Sound Verite has tickets to Gary's hardrock rap revitalist Freddie Gibbs, who will be making his debut appearance in Minneapolis. After crushing XXL Mag, Pitchfork, Fader, SXSW and LA Weekly, Gangster Gibbs is readying his with a brief Midwest tour. Win tickets to see Freddie Gibbs by telling us the name of Gibbs track that features a member of The Cool Kids and The Black Keys? Send answers to blackjon66[@}gmail.com with headline Freddie Gibbs. Gibbs will also be at Fifth Element for early in-store with Shad 6-7pm.

Freddie Gibbs
Shad
7th St Entry
Sun. Jan. 16th

Freddie Gibbs -"Face Down"-mp3
Sound Verite inteviews Freddie Gibbs

Best Coast – “When You Wake Up” -mp3

Best Coast and the Wavves hit the road together and released The Summer Is Forever EP on Itunes with new/old tracks from Best Coast, Wavves and No Joy. via listen before you buy

Best Coast
Wavves
The Varsity Theather
Feb. 11th

Best Coast -"When You Wake Up"-mp3

Raekwon – "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang"-mp3

Wu-Tang just left town and boom, new Chef Raekwon from his upcoming Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang project dropping March 2011. "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang" is hard as a motherfucker, checkout Gimmie Noise Wu-Tang Clan at Epic and B-Fresh's Wu-Tang Clan + MPLS 4eva: Rappers and fans show off their gear from Wu-Tang in Minneapolis minus RZA. Glook via NR

Raekwon -"Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang"-mp3

PJ Harvey -"Bitter Branches"-mp3

PJ Harvey is right on target with the rock action of "Bitter Branches" from Let England Shake. Let England Shake is shaping up very nicely as Harvey returns to form in glorious fashion, KCRW debuted 3 new tracks. Good look via JP's, who also is streaming two other new tracks "Hanging In The Wire" and "The Glorious Land". PJ Harvey Talks New Album, Let England Shake with P4k. Updated: with "The Words That Maketh Murder" the fantastic first single tfrom PMA.

PJ Harvey -"The Words That Maketh Murder"-mp3
PJ Harvey -"Bitter Branches"-mp3
PJ Harvey -"Written On The Forehead"--mp3

Ghostband - "No Nutzzz" -mp3

Ghostband, Jon Davis (Dosh/Black Audience/Haunted House) a musical provocateur among a handful of Minneapolis revolving/expanding experimental musicians who loves to challenge audiences through electronic, jazz and improv channels. On his debut release Verdical for Moon Glyph Davis, glitches, grooves, through movements, songs and arrangements. On "No Nutzz" Davis ambient beat journeys are not far from the compositions of Autechre and Flying Lotus. And we look forward to it, also there's a Mux Mool (Moodgadget/Ghostly International) remix of "Mongols". Check out Davis' avant music at SOMETHIN'ELSE and shoutout to Moon Glyph.

Ghostband-"No Nutzzz"-mp3
Ghostband -"Mongols (Mux Mool remix)"-mp3

Kanye West & Jay-Z – "H.A.M." -mp3

Kanye West and Jay-Z's collabo project looks to be on deck, with Watch The Throne’s cool, if unspectacular debut single "H.A.M." out Jan. 11th, full record in March. via NR

Kanye West & Jay-Z -"H.A.M."-mp3

James Blake -"Limit To Your Love"-video

U.K. sensation James Blake takes on Feist classic "Limit To Your Love". Check out upcoming reviews of James Blake self-titled debut James Blake, out Feb.7th at Reviler soon.

Nas – "Courthouse"-mp3

Nas Escobar with a couple of new joints,a throwback from 1996 and a unreleased gem "Courthouse". Rumors that Nas could be singing to Kanye West G.O.O.D. Music alongside Mos Def, Common and Pusha -T (Clipse)have been gainging steam, G.O.O.D. fit?. via 2DB

Nas -"Courthouse"-mp3
Nas -"Source Freestyle ft. Kid Capri (1996)"-mp3

Dearling Physique -"Discipline Your Hands"

Minneapolis latest electro-dreamscape artist Dearling Physique debuts his new video for "Discipline Your Hands" from Deadeye Dealer. Directed by Ansel Wallenfang, Art Director Scott Anderson with costuming by Kevin Kramp. via LOL/OMG

Dearling Physique -"Discipline Your Hands"-mp3

M.I.A. - "Gen N-E-Y"-mp3

M.I.A. with another pair of heatrockers from her new mixtape Vicki Leekx. via PMA & P4k

M.I.A. -"Gen N-E-Y"-mp3
M.I.A. -"Bad Girls"

Madvillain -"Avalanche / Victory Lap"-mp3

Madlib and MF Doom get ready for the return of Madvillain. With "Avalanche" and "Victory Lap" both teasers from Stones Throw podcast mixed by Peanut Butter Wolf who also has new tracks from Madlib, Dam Funk, James Pants and more. Spotted at via GVB

Madvillain -"Avalanche" / "Victory Lap"-mp3

Tapes 'N Tapes -"Badaboom"-mp3

Minneapolis indie kings Tapes 'N Tapes return with their spankin' new Outside out next Tues. Jan. 1st. From the fine folks at Ear, Eye, Nose Candy

Tapes 'N Tapes
Jan. 11th
Electric Fetus 7pm
Nick & Eddies 10pm

Tapes 'N Tapes -Badaboom"-mp3

Kanye West -"Eyes Closed'-mp3

"With a bad white bitch like Ice-T" Kayne West with another new track that didn't make last years finest My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Hear it at Culture Bully

Kanye West ft. John Legend -"Eyes Closed"-mp3
(Removed by Request)

Phantom Tails -"All Good Things"-video

Minneapolis rambunctious and adorable Phantom Tails pays tribute to all good things...of 1979 with a new video directed by Sam Thompson. Phantom Tails was recently named to various year-end list including City Pages, First Ave Best New Bands, Star Tribune's Best Local Albums and Best Local Singles, as well as Sound Verite's Favorite Local Albums, they're definitely a band to watch.

Radio K & First Ave Best New Bands
Phantom Tails
BNLX, Pink Mink, Grant Cutler, Hastings 3000
First Ave.
Jan. 26th

Mally & The Sundance Kid -"Cloud Culture"-mp3

Mally and his production partner The Sundance Kid start the year off right with another melodic banger. Shout out Pwelbs, The Airtime Collection and Wear Eric for bringing that freshness.

Mally & The Sundance Kid -"Cloud Culture"-mp3