NEW MUSIC: SMIRNOFF SIGNATURE MIX SERIES

The last remix has been released from the Smirnoff Signature Mix Series (If you have a minute click the link and check out the Mix Series site. Nice artwork and graphics)

The concept was to pair 3 iconic MC's with 3 of Hip Hop's elite producers to create 3 new interpretations of legendary hits. Here's the trio...

DL: Q-Tip - Midnight 2008 (prod. Cool & Dre) DL: Common - The Light 2008 (prod. Just Blaze) DL: KRS-One - Criminal Minded 2008 (prod. DJ Premier)

NEW AUDIO: Q-TIP "FEVER" (PRODUCED BY J.DILLA)

Q-Tip- Fever (Prod. By J.Dilla)

NEW AUDIO: STYLES, TERMANOLOGY & Q-TIP - "Stop, Look, Listen"

Styles P, Termanology & Q-Tip - Stop, Look, Listen

NEW VIDEO: Q-TIP ON JIMMY KIMMEL PERFORMS "WORK IT OUT & FEVER"

Q-TIP & COMMON= THE STANDARD

Word on the streets is Q-Tip and Common are forming a duo called The Standard and are about to start recording an album. I can't wait to hear the outcome. In an exclusive interview with XXLMag.com, A Tribe Called Quest frontman, Q-Tip, reveals he’s forming a new group with Common entitled The Standard. “Me and Common [are] getting ready to form a group,” ‘Tip tells XXLMag.com. “We’ll probably run it through the Uni [Universal Records] joint because we’re both on Universal.” According to The Abstract, it was Common who suggested the two from a group. “It was more of his suggestion,” he says. “He was like, “We just need to do a record.” So I’m really excited about that.” While the two haven’t started recording together yet, The Standard will start churning out material once the two starting touring together in a few weeks. As far as the production on the album, though, fans can expect Q-Tip to handle the majority. “I’m probably gonna do a lot of it,” ‘Tip says. “And we’ll get Kanye [West] on a couple things, but you know, that cat is busy.”

HIP HOP JAM SESSION OF THE YEAR IN NYC LAST WEEK

Here is what Miss Info had to say about the Hip-Hop session:

On the tiny, cramped stage of tiny, cramped, unventilated S.O.B’s (which was so hot back in the days of the weekly Soul Kitchen parties….sigh), we the crowd witnessed a jam session like no other. I’m talking Common testifying, then Q-tip world-touring, then Talib Kweli and Mos Def just getting by, then Swizz Beats telling us she aint got no money in the bank, then Kanye makin’ em say and more…..and all the while, they’re all on stage together, chanting each others lyrics like fans of this, not just superstars in this. Then Mos Def pipes up and tells the crowd that back when Swizz first produced “Hustler” for Cassidy, he did a remix verse that never came out….So, of course, Mos spits that lost verse off the top of the head. Acapulco, of course. Then Drag-on (yes, I said Drag-on) jumps out and straight murders “Down Bottom.” Like 8 years was a day ago. Then Rah Digga appears with full Poetic Justice braids and a B-Girl freestyle. Then Saigon shows why he and Joell Ortiz are like the only two new artists I actually think are dope. Then…..Queen Latifah comes up out of the crowd (at Enuff’s request) and even though she didnt really seem to know all the words to “Unity” just her being there was enough. (peep the expressions on Kanye etc). Then Mos Def performed again, and Consequence and Kanye did “Dont Forget ‘Em” and it just went on and on and on…. One of my co-workers Gigi said, “this was my summerjam.” Lol. amen. And I really feel like it was better than that because….it was totally organic. Unplanned. These legends werent booked for this. They weren’t paid big Pepsi dollars. Thats why it wasnt cheesy like some prepped overhyped closing segment of some BET Awards or whatever. Like, where suddenly Aretha Franklin and Lil Boosie start performing a tribute to Fred Sanford for absolutely no good reason. Nope, this was none of that. The artists were as excited and happy as the audience. The audience had as much invested in the music as the artists. It was a good night. You can watch more footage at http://www.missinfo.tv/

WILDSTYLE FREESTYLES

Mos Def - I'ma Hustla Freestyle live @ S.O.B.'s last night

Kanye West - HOT 97 Freestyle over "Show Me What You Got" & "I Get Money"

Q-Tip New Song Leaked... Hear it here First!!

XXL got a hold of the full version of Q-Tips new track Work It Out. Previously the song had only been available as a snippet on his official myspace page. Details about the new album are scarce, but it’s reportedly titled “The Renaissance”, and will be released in september on Universal.

In a brief interview with SOHH last month, Q-Tip noted that there will be no guest appearances on the album. It’s been quite a while since his last solo effort therefore he wanted fans to get a full dose of him to compensate for the wait. Tips last album Kamaal the Abstract was over five years ago. “Listen To Work It Out here