And we’re back! New visual from the Chicago legend Common for ‘Celebrate‘ – one of the many cold ass joints on Common’s new album “The Dreamer, The Believer”. Go cop that.!

I once told Sulaiman that I wanted to find the art that was on the walls in that scene of Belly (by Thierry le Goues) and suggested he use it for (RDV7). I’m big on art and the walls of my apartment have always been lined with it. He delivered immaculately. The talent on the Blind I staff never ceases to amaze me. Our imaginations are all over the place.  For this volume, Noah asked me the usual, “What do you want the cover to look like?” I responded with my usual abstract (albeit unhelpful) explanation of what I had in mind.  It went something like this.

Me: Ummm this is what I’m thinking (Shows a classic photo of Kate Moss smoking a cigarette). I like the idea of a beautiful woman smoking a cigarette. Probably because I want someone to take an edgy picture of me with a cigarette. Even though I don’t smoke.  (Shows photo of Naomi Campbell naked pointing a gun at the camera). Like a good girl gone bad vibe.
No: I feel you. Let me look at all of these pics. I’m in full agreement with having titties on the covers of RDV now. I’m glad Pam Grier was the first.
Me: Well… it’s not about the titties, Noah. More like raw sexuality and strength, you know?
No: Yeah…All that. And titites!

The one we ended up with was the first image I sent to Noah. And I love the way he flipped it! If you’ve noticed, we’ve posted less and less of these compilations. It’s not because we don’t love them or don’t care. We just want to adhere to our mantra of quality over quantity and allow you to really spend time with each one.  It’s always a joy for me to highlight artists that are friends of mine on here and this month there are several.  Hopefully you enjoy this one! Tracks/links after the jump.

MAIYA PRESENTS RENDEZVOUS VOL.15 [DOWNLOAD]

It’s been a minute, but now I’m back in it. Truthfully, I went away from the compilation game for selfish reasons. If you’ve browsed around Blind I in the past year or so, you’ll know that I do my artistic thing. The deeper I got into my craft, I found myself with less & less time to check out new artists. But your hunger was strong for a staple that we’ve been known for since 2006, and we weren’t about to let that just drop so quickly. So I decided to smack myself in the face a few hundred times, sift through some of the wack new developments in this hip-hop shit, some of the over-saturated others, and give you guys a cool crop of fresh records encompassed in my NEW compilation continuation – Vanguard. So from here on out, only shit I’m fucking with in the flesh will make this comp. If it’s short, you know why. If you got dope shit, keep sending it. You too may very well be a part of the Vanguard moment in music. For my inaugural piece, I’ve got features from legends DJ Premier, Nas, Common, and The Roots…..some new-age heavyweights like Black Milk, Thom Yorke, DOOM, Pac Div, Asher Roth, Freddie Gibbs and Big K.R.I.T….and dope newcomers like Casey Veggies, YP, Rockie Fresh, Chance the Rapper, D2G, Vic Spencer, Schoolboy Q, ASAP Rocky, L.E.P. Bogus Boys, Mathien and yours truly. The future is now…partake!

[DOWNLOAD Vanguard:Novem]
Track listing after the jump.

Rashid and Nasir connect for the visual for their new collab. These are 2 of my top 5 of all time, so needless to say I’m in STAN mode.

Blind I faithful, I almost didn’t do it. I looked at the new music that the world had to offer, at our submissions, and I just didn’t feel like what was presented was strong enough to make it to GO! You know me, them ordinary things don’t move me. I need some shit straight out the movies, word to Mighty Mos. So, being the critical mind that I am, I scoured my music database for what felt right, refreshing, and in taste with my current mood of happiness, hard work, and the chase of perfection. A parallel universe, you might say. So without further ado or delay, enjoy the June 2011 version of Blind I Says GO! and let me know how you like the shit! Cause I love it! Hit the jump for the download link + track listing.

[DOWNLOAD Blind I Says GO! June 2011]

So this was an idea I had back in 2007. $ even made me a cover & everything & I never put it out. I decided to pull from that & make this to give y’all for this months edition of NKD, thus we going back in time, to a place where I was coming up as a MC I bumped the schitt outta everything on this edition. Broken tape decks & everythang! This past Saturday I was up @ my DJ W1shOne’s Audio Playground all day working on a mix of this for y’all but was not able to complete it the way I wanted to within such a short time, thus, expect a mix with songs that are not on this to be intertwined with some of these songs & more a lil down the road this year. Ill drop it randomly so stay TUNEd for that. Until then, go inside my mind/ears & enjoy some NOstalgia.

TL & DL after the after…

NO KNOWS DOPE | NO KNOWS NOSTALGIA | MAY 20XI | DOWNLOAD

Last Monday, April 11th at 10:43AM, my daughter Ajané arrived into the world. It was the most beautifulest thing in the world without a doubt. Being “on call” for the whole month of March & April kinda put a roadblock in my head as to what ‘theme’ I wanted to execute for Aprils NKD & as I pondered the thoughts I lowkey was already playing the soundtrack & not even knowing it. Playing songs that I felt related to what I was going through or have gone through or what I want to achieve as a man & as a father to my children. About a week before the 15th (sorry for the delay… been busy changing diapers n schitt. pun.) I finally decided to dedicate this months NKD to the babies. The children. The kids! But no… not on some Yo Gabba Gabba or Kids Sing Along schitt… naw… on some grown folks – grown biz – type of musical growth if you will. Whether you are a mother or a father, raising your sons or daughters, this edition goes harder to marauder & slaughter any biologicals that don’t bother. I breaks water! hahaha Naw pho trill tho… I’m on Cloud 9000 & 99! Blind I For The Kids… literally.

TL & DL after…

NO KNOWS DOPE | NO KNOWS BABIES | APRIL 20XI | DOWNLOAD

Despite the fact that most of the country is still dressed in boots and coats, spring has arrived. It’s a time for physical, mental and audible rejuvenation.  These songs make me feel like I’m inhaling a breath of fresh air, so I decided to share them with you.  You have no idea how much I enjoy putting these together each month. Blind I faithfuls keep us going. Enjoy.

MAIYA PRESENTS…SPRING SOUNDS-[DOWNLOAD]

[DOWNLOAD--Tracked Out Version]
[DOWNLOAD--Mixed Vesion]