The Come Up: A&R Gabriel “G-Code” Zardes via The Source

Many of the homies around town know this dude, and the fact he works closely with a great, Nas, makes this a guy to watch out for and support. I recently came across an article about him on The Source's website. Since I'm about supporting the city: in front of the scenes or behind them. He works with some other folks we support around these parts too. Hit the jump to read the article.

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BEST of 2012: HIP-HOP ALBUMS

I have a few of these Best of 2012 lists to post but I wanted to start with the one every blog/website loves to do: ALBUMS!!! For this category I'm going with major label releases, and I'm keeping it to five, but I do share a few honorable mentions. I'm also proud to say that one of the homies made this list along with two emcees I'm huge fans of [like Top 10 emcee status]. Don't worry I'll have a Best of 2012 R&B albums going up next.  Hit the jump to see my choices for 2012. Remember these are my thoughts...so no need to argue.

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NAS - NASTY (MUSIC VIDEO)

Nas - "Nasty" Music Video (NasirJones.com) from Nasir Jones on Vimeo.

I keep this song in rotation...that vintage Nas feel.  Has a bit of the Hate Me Now nostalgia (instead of Diddy we get Ciroc bottles to cameo) mixed with son old New York style visuals.  Enjoy.

NAS x REEBOK CLASSICS x ROCK THE BELLS

“Reebok Classics and Rock The Bells bring you Classic Albums by Classic Artists featuring Illmatic by Nas.”

Now this was a smart idea...and makes me a bit more upset that I missed Rock the Bells.

COMMON f/ NAS - GHETTO DREAMS (MUSIC VIDEO)

If I could only tell you a backstory to this...oh and for a bonus, here's the behind the scenes down there.

H.O.P.E. - SINCERE: THE NAS TAPE (MIXTAPE DOWNLOAD

Everyone has been waiting on an actual release date for this project but HOPE has had the fans at his mercy by not giving one.  After a few leaks and a freestyle with Skeme over a Kanye beat folks have been anxiously waiting to see if this tape would drop...well it's here.  All Nas beats with features from Diz Gibran, CurT@!N$, Chase N Cashe and Kent Jamz and presented by the L.A. Leakers; H.O.P.E. says this all about getting to the rapping.  Enjoy.  Shouts to Fresh 2 Def and LA's Finest.  Oh yeah and shouts to me for the artwork, haha.

Sincere: the NaSTape - H.O.P.E. x L.A. Leakers

NAS x THE 305 INTERVIEW (VIDEO)

Conversation With Nas from The305.com on Vimeo.

It's Nas, it's a rainy Monday in Los Angeles, the internets are a bit slow on the western front...so why not?

Here’s a very candid video I shot of Nas outside of Club Play on South Beach where he was hosting last night. We had a little conversation with Nas discussing his daughter, his take on hip-hop’s future and also, when exactly he’ll stop performing and doing what he does. – The305

H.O.P.E. - DEATH'S DOOR (prod. DIBIA$E)

Rather than give another leak from the Sincere: NaStape that will drop next week, HOPE gives us a leak from his other forthcoming project "Believe In HOPE Wright.  The track is produced by Dibia$e, you may have heard of him...

Death's Door (prod. Dibia$e) - H.O.P.E.

H.O.P.E. f/ CHASE N. CASHE - STREET DREAMS (MUSIC DOWNLOAD)

Just in time for Nas' birthday, H.O.P.E. drops a new leak from his forthcoming mixtape with the L.A. Leakers "Sincere:The NaStape"...the compton emcee's ode to one of his favorite emcees Nas.  Download now and get the tape when it releases on the 29th of this month.

Street Dreams f. Chase N. Cashe - H.O.P.E.

J. COLE - VILLEMATIC x DEVIL IN A NEW DRESS "FREESTYLE"

While J. Cole dropped BARS over Kanye's new single here and sent the internet in a bit of a frenzy, I was more concerned about the tape that J. Cole is doing next, pictured above.  A number of Nas tapes hitting the internets...first Fashawn next is HOPE and now J. Cole.  I'm interested to see how these turn out.  So should you.

RAEKWON, GHOSTFACE & NAS - VERBAL INTERCOURSE LIVE (VIDEO)

Ok let me get my old school NY rap fan on real quick...I missed Rock the Bells but now I wish I went to some of the shows outside of LA.  For the DC stop, Rae brought out Nas for the classic Verbal Intercourse.  Man to have been there would've been an accomplishment in life for me, lol.

H.O.P.E. - GRAVEL TO THE SCREEN (MUSIC DOWNLOAD)

H.O.P.E. drops another track from his upcoming mixtape with the L.A. Leakers where he will spit over some of his favorite NaS tracks.  This leak finds the Compton emcee over "No Idea's Original" off of Nas' Lost Tapes.  Enjoy.

Gravel to the Screen - H.O.P.E. 

H.O.P.E. - 1LOVE (NEW MUSIC DOWNLOAD)

From H.O.P.E.'s upcoming mixtape with the L.A. Leakers...the project will be called "Sincere: The NaStape.  You should know One Love like I know One Love off of IllMatic.  Here's H.O.P.E.'s take, enjoy and spread the word.

1Love - H.O.P.E.

NAS & DAMIAN MARLEY x DJ SKEE (VIDEO)

Nas & Damian Marley sit down at KIIS FM to talk their new album Distant Relatives.  Check it out, the only thing bothering me is the Ed Hardy logo in the background.

KARMALOOP TV : NAS & DAMIAN MARLEY | DISTANT RELATIVES (VIDEO)

Karmaloop sits down with one of my favorite emcees and another talented member of the Marley family.

NAS & DAMIAN MARLEY on JIMMY KIMMEL (VIDEO)

This is some footage of the "Distant Relatives" getting it in on Hollywood Blvd.  Enjoy.

NAS - HEY YOUNG WORLD (VIDEO)

Nas for Levi's Pioneer Sessions from nation on Vimeo.

Levi's commissioned 12 artists to cover classic records from their genres...in this case Nas gets to cover Slick Rick's "Hey Young World".  Check it out.

NAS & DAMIAN MARLEY on HARDKNOCK TV (VIDEO)

With their album dropping yesterday, the promo tour is in full effect, peep it out as they sit down with the good folks of HardKnock TV:

HardKnockTV caught up with Nas and Damian Marley to talk about how K’naan influenced the making of Distant Relatives, why they picked Nneka as the opening act of the tour and about Nas jumping on the remix to Heartbeat. The interview concludes with Nick Huff Barili asking Nas about his lyric on Ludacris’ I Do it for Hip Hop “(They say I’m so low key, I’m socially awkward”). After the credits Nick asks Nas about the possibility of him doing a hip hop/jazz album with his father.

NAS - THE.LIFE FILES INTERVIEW (VIDEO)

the.LIFE Files Sits Down With Nas!! from the.LIFE Files on Vimeo.

Nas sits down to talk about a number of relevant topics in regards to hip hop, politics, etc...you know what you would expect from Nasir.  Check it out and enjoy.

NAS at the BMI "HOW I WROTE THAT SONG" PANEL (VIDEO)

Some more footage from that panel that Devi Dev hipped me to the other day.  In this clip the homies at Hip Hop Official get Nas talking about writing Hate Me Now after the reception for Illmatic, the new album with Damian Marley and his contribution efforts for relief in Haiti.  Check it out.